Hi there...this is gonna be a very fast blog post. I need to do it this way. I need a win. I am completely out of the habit of blogging. I have started so many posts but never finish them. So. Many. Abandoned. Posts. I always start out motivated, full of great intentions and inspiration but then...SQUIRREL!...and I move on to something else that involves not blogging.
So in an effort to exercise the ol' blogging muscle (I've been blogging for over five years so there has to be some muscle memory, right?!), I am repurposing an unfinished post to making it new! I will give myself a break and just catch you up with a fabulous weekend I had a few weeks ago when my brother and his daughter visited Portland. I will probably someday regret not blogging about my amazing trip to Baltimore and Washington, DC back in April. But thankfully, Kari blogged about it and so I am cheating and linking to her post for posterity. :-)
Okay, so onto a little blogging...my niece is an Irish Dancing champion! Well, not the champion, but she's definitely moving up! She was in Portland so she could compete in the Oregon State Championship Feis.
Before her four dances...
After her four dances...
Two third place medals and two first place medals! She's crazy good!!!
Also, while my brother and niece we in town, I took the opportunity to do lots of touristy stuff around Portland. My niece and I did the OHSU Aerial Tram, a little downtown tour and then went Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden. Then the next day, Glen and I took them to Multnomah Falls. The weather was spectacular while they were here so we didn't do much that wasn't outside.
Here are a few pics from the aerial tram...
And then a few others from along the way...
View of the Vista House in the Columbia Gorge from the Women's Forum Viewpoint. Spectacular.
Guess I'm into close ups of flowers lately. :-)
Okay...bam...that's it for now! Told you it would be quick! Next up will be pics from the Little Book Swap I hosted! SO MUCH WONDERFULNESS you would not believe!! Sneak peek of my little book...
xo
Hi Michelle! Welcome back to blog-land - life just gets in the way too often sometimes! That's good ya know :).
Posted by: Jana | June 17, 2011 at 11:47 AM
Good job, Michelle! When you post, you always do a good one!!! Your niece is beautiful and wow, what a dancer! She is on her way up. I do love Irish Dancing! Loved the pictures of beautiful Portland and the gardens and can't wait to see the swap books. We are doing ok. Jud is still feeling pretty good but is on his third type of chemo, searching for something that will help. We have a number four ready but hope this one will kick in. The good news is that he feels pretty good. He's tired and naps a lot in the afternoon but isn't in any pain or experiences any nausea right now. We are planning a couple of nice trips with the help of his doctors. He may even get chemo in Montreal! How is your lovely family? Is precious daughter still in California?
Big hugs,
Suz
Posted by: Susan Reaney | June 17, 2011 at 08:11 PM
Enjoyed this blog so much, as I always do. Beautiful dancer, scenery, and flowers!! ♥
Posted by: Momma | June 19, 2011 at 07:21 AM
That's the way to do it, I think! Fast blog post. Boom. Boom. Boom. Here it is. This is what's up, people.
:) Congratulations to your niece. I love her curly hair!
I LOVE the tiny book you made, Michelle. I was so happy to receive the happy, little bundle in the mail a few days ago. Talk about highlight of the week! ;D
Thank you so much for hosting, and if you ever want to swap tiny books in the future, sign me up now.
;) I hope you are having a delightful weekend!!!
Posted by: Jessica at Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping! | June 19, 2011 at 04:37 PM
WOW! Wonderful photos, Michelle, and your niece is just *gorgeous*!
Posted by: Laurie | June 19, 2011 at 06:18 PM
Congratulations to your beautiful and talented niece! I'm into photos of flowers myself these days, and I'm struggling to manage three blogs. Seems like everything that might have gone on Snips and Snails has been sent to the other two new ventures. Clearly, I need to be more creative!
xo
Posted by: Leslie M | June 25, 2011 at 04:59 PM
We really must be seesters, because I remember when my boys were 4 and Kendrick wanted to be Michael Flatley when he grew up. He would leap around the family room clicking his heels and beg us to move the tv up to the living room, because we had hard wood floors up there and he could hear his "taps" better! Those little books are adorable and I cannot bear to use any of the stuff I got from you...I could not replace it!
Posted by: Gina | June 28, 2011 at 08:38 AM