My Visit to Ashland, Oregon - Part II & Scripture Memory Verse Sunday

Hi everyone...It's Sunday. I hope everyone is having a good day. Here's the memory verse for this week out of John 7:38.  This is a photo that my friend Jennifer took at Yosemite National Park. Thanks, Jennifer, for letting me borrow this beautiful photo :) :) :) I thought immediately of this verse...

Feel free to borrow this and share it on your blog or with friends and loved ones!!!

Okay, today I'll finish up my little tour of Ashland, Oregon. This is just a small sampling of what there is to see. Here's another bridge that was donated to Ashland by the Lithia Springs Rotary Club in 1998.

More blooms...I like the white of this flower...


Here's a map of Lithia Park. It points out some of the walking trails and other highlights worth checking out...:) :) :)


This is just a teeny tiny glimpse of the Shakespeare Theatre. There's actually three theatres here...but this one is where all the Shakespeare plays are performed. It's an exact replica of "The Globe" theatre. Back when I was in college you could walk into the open air theatre and take a look at the stage. They don't let you do that anymore...


The downtown plaza area. This is the center island and there's all sorts of shops here... It really is a nice place to walk around...I love it here. Oh my favorite yarn shop "The Websters" is located here on the plaza. Click here to check them out.  They do ship to your door.  I buy my favorite German sock yarn here...:) :) The ladies are nice and know their stuff...

Another beautiful flower....


Ah yes...the famous Lithia Fountain. There's a long history here dating back almost 100 years or so..the water comes from a natural mineral spring about 4 miles away. Let's just say it smells like sulfur and tastes like it too...It was thought to have healthful properties. At one time it was even bottled and sold...but it didn't last long because of the extreme smell and taste....I actually remember the original fountain in this 1930s photograph. I tried the water once...and never again..just giving all of you a tip because I love you!!!


The water contains sodium, calcium, iron, bicarbonate and other healthful minerals...Again, it is a natural sulfur spring....tastes just like it smells.  I'm ashamed to say it but locals encourage tourists to "drink" it...but don't tell them about the taste...poor things. I am also ashamed to admit that it makes me chuckle a little bit.....remember, I know what the water tastes like.  I just walk a few feet over for clean, fresh drinking water at the other water fountain :) :)

Beautiful hanging flower baskets...I was walking along the plaza and noticed these. Very beautiful and charming!!!

I'm standing at the edge of the plaza looking onto cars coming down East Main Street...As you can see, traffic is heavy....not!!!


This is the backside of Alex's Plaza Restaurant and Bar. I've never been inside, but I love this building.  There are places to eat here that are nice...right beside Ashland Creek. There's also a crafter's market here every week. It's lots of fun...


I encountered this lady on my way back to the car. She's part of a group of actors who portray real life pioneers here in Ashland, Oregon...and other characters from the late 1800s and early 1900s...all pivotal in the development of the city of Ashland.  She was dressed up and passing out invitations to the event...

This is the corner of Oak St and East Main..if you look at the detail on that yellow house. That's typical of many homes in the downtown area. I'll snap photos of the houses when I go to Ashland on my next day trip!!! There are many old homes...Victorian to Craftsman style all over the place...my favorite types of houses :) :) :) Those homes have all the interesting nooks and crannies....I love farmhouses too. I'll see what I can do to get some photos...

Okay...I know some of you used to live near Ashland back in the day. This is actually at a used car lot somewhere in Phoenix or Talent, Oregon. There's a teeny tiny red, white and blue car stuck up on that pole. It's been there for DECADES ...ever since I was in high school. Not sure why...but it sure gets noticed. It's one of those quirky Oregon things. ...that and political protest signs....but it all adds up to making Oregon an interesting and beautiful place to live :) :) I love it!!!


I believe this is also Phoenix, Oregon. There's lots of farmland everywhere...I love it. I think it's beautiful. Here there are lots of cows...In Ashland a lot of farmers raise sheep...and of course, pears are THE FRUIT grown in this area too!!!!...We're known for the Royal Riviera Pears...also known as comice pears that only grow here ...and no where else in the United States..:) :)

I made homemade soap at my friend Julie's house last night.  It was fun and very easy.  Mixing the lye into the water was a bit anti-climactic. We did mix it outside because of the fumes...but still, I think we were expecting more to happen. NOPE...I'll be going over to her house today to take photos of her stamping and cutting the soap into bars... I'll make sure and blog about this tonight and have it up by tomorrow!!!

Oh, I slept with my window partially open last night...heaven...it has a screen so I don't have to worry about creepy crawly bugs...but it really helped cool down my room from the heat...I might try that again :) :)

That's the news from Oregon. Have a great week everyone!!! Lots of love and hugs to all, Heather :)