Cherries and Berries and Shoes - oh my!

I spent Sunday evening at Liz's family farm southwest of Hillsboro. The Eischen's have cherries, Italian plums, and honey. The orchards are beautiful to walk through, and the surrounding countryside is so peaceful.

Liz, Maile, and Elinor
The "shaker" that shakes the trees to harvest the cherries.
Maile's son Zach eating cherries with Liz's younger sister Sarah -- sweet, delicious cherries, by the way :)
Liz's youngest brother Jerry helping Zach pump the old-fashioned (but still working!) water pump.

Her dad told us the water source is 80 feet under -- and that the workers hand-dug their way to it years and years ago. (I can't remember... but I think it's over 100 years old!)

Oats!


I took these from inside my car on the drive home...

Today a small posse of us went berry-picking on Sauvie Island to extend the celebration of Jenny's birthday (it was Tuesday - and I suprised her by getting up super early to make her scones with fresh blueberries for breakfast!).

This is my boss's wife Michele and their almost 1-year-old Carter.

Holly, Michele, Jay (boss), and Carter

(Jay is one of my three bosses... but he's my "main" boss and direct supervisor for all my foundation work -- about 75% of my job)

Jenny, Jodi, and me with some spoils!

After 8 years of nearly giving up on the shoe industry (years of "too pointy" "too clunky" "too not-my-style" "too hideous" "gag"), I finally found not one but TWO pairs of shoes that I like (helpful since my old ones have been holding out for years)

These new ones are a little trendy, but I actually like them - in other words, I didn't just say "they'll do." And they were both on sale/clearance.

SO... I now have functional, versatile 2" brown and black heels for skirts, slacks, and jeans for work, church, and going places where flip-flops and barefeet probably shouldn't.

I especially like the brown ones.

Truth be told, I'm not so sure about the knot on the black ones...

Ideally, our culture would one day decide that it's much more preferable not to wear shoes - inside at least. But that's a different battle for a different day.