Happy Mother’s Day!

In tribute to mothers everywhere, some of our favorite quotes about Mom:

The mother is everything – she is our consolation in sorrow, our hope in misery, and our strength in weakness. She is the source of love, mercy, sympathy, and forgiveness. He who loses his mother loses a pure soul who blesses and guards him constantly. Kahlil Gibran

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. Honore de Balzac

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own. Aristotle

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. Washington Irving

When I was a child, my mother said to me, ‘If you become a soldier, you’ll be a general. If you become a monk you’ll end up as the pope.’ Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso. Picasso

A photograph never grows old. You and I change, people change all through the months and years, but a photograph always remains the same. How nice to look at a photograph of mother or father taken many years ago. You see them as you remember them. But as people live on, they change completely. That is why I think a photograph can be kind. Albert Einstein

When your mother asks, ‘Do you want a piece of advice?’ it is a mere formality. It doesn’t matter if you answer yes or no. You’re going to get it anyway. Erma Brombeck

Bird lovers rejoice! The Friends of the Refuge, in conjunction with Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge in Sherwood, welcome all to their Annual Tualatin River Bird Festival. This is a family-friendly, free event.

Visitors will experience a diversity of activities celebrating wildlife and wild places. Enjoy live bird shows, conservation exhibits, food, and guided walks for adults and kids.

Build a bee board, birdhouse or bat house; try your hand at casting a fishing line; stay under par at the migration putt-putt golf activity; and participate in hands-on conservation activities geared toward kids.

Please note, there will be no parking at the refuge on the day of the Festival. There will be a free shuttle from 12205 SW Tualatin Rd, Tualatin (Two-story Brick Building). Watch for the bright yellow signs. The first shuttle departs at 5:30 a.m., with the last shuttle leaving the refuge at 6:30 p.m. For more information visit:

http://tualatinriverbirdfestival.org/

Photo by Charles Hillestad, McMinnville

The regal and romantic Rose Suite at the R. R. Thompson House is perfect for honeymoon couples. The spacious suite features beautiful, carved furnishings and colors of rose, green and gold. A king-size bed with a luxurious pillow-top mattress, sitting area with chaise lounge, and large table and chairs are additional features of the suite. Find the music you love on one of 50 music channels on the HDTV!

The luxurious, marble and granite private bath has a jetted tub, separate shower with glass door and European-style bidet. Premium bath products and spa robes provided for a pampered retreat. Also ideal for couples celebrating an anniversary or birthday. Check out our website for photos of the suite!

10-Grain Luke Bread

Baguettes, croissants, 10-grain bread and fruit pastries.  These are a few of the wonderfully tasty baked goods available at Carlton Bakery in Carlton, Oregon. Tim and Ahmee Corrigan own and operate the bakery at 305 W. Main St.

Equipped with a custom-made, three-deck oven manufactured in Germany, the bakery has won fans in Carlton and beyond. After just one year of operation, the Corrigans supply some of the top restaurants in the area with delicious breads. These include The Painted Lady and The Dundee Bistro.

Guests of the R. R. Thompson House Bed and Breakfast, three short blocks down Kutch Street, have raved about the breads and sweet treats; many have enjoyed lunch at the bake shop, open Wednesday through Sunday.

The bakery is proving to be a good fit in Carlton and the wider Wine Country community. Come enjoy!

Ahmee Lifts Giorgonzola from Oven

Daffodils in Amity

The 19th annual Amity Daffodil Festival, held March 23 and 24 in Amity, Oregon, featured an amazing variety of these favorite early spring blooms.  The daffodil show was held at the Elementary School on Rice Lane and included judging.  In addition, an art show, volkswalks on Sunday, food, driving tours and a nursery products sale were all part of the two-day event.  It is still time to enjoy daffodils in the north Willamette Valley.  Drive around the countryside and you will see plenty of blooms and spectacular flowering trees.

Carlton Welcomes Visitors

A barbeque concludes the day’s activities and will be held at Carlton Cellars from 6 to 9 p.m. Winners will be announced at the dinner.

The R. R. Thompson House is offering a 10 % discount Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 8 – 10, to guests who tell us they read our blog or ‘liked’ our Facebook post regarding the Quest.

“A lovely home and a gorgeous room.  We felt very regal in the lovely master suite.  Your dinner recommendation to Cuvee was great.  We had a wonderful dinner after a day of wineries.  The weather cooperated and our breakfast companions were delightful.  A very pleasant experience.  Thank you!”  Vickie and Rich, Iowa (Stayed in the Rose Suite)

“We had the greatest time in Carlton exploring wineries.  Your hospitatlity surpasses ours in Texas.  Y’all really know how to make us feel at home.  Thank you!”  Susan and Sean, Texas

The R. R. Thompson House is located in the heart of Oregon Wine Country, just an hour from Portland.  Come and enjoy Carlton, “A Great Little Town.”  Leave your car and walk to all of the town’s wineries!

The Rose Suite

The tour is self-guided and so you can pick and choose the artists you wish to visit. It is a rare opportunity to see where artists create their art work and talk about the creative process.

The R. R. Thompson House B & B is located in Carlton, which is a convenient location to visit the studios throughout the county.  We still have availability for both weekends.

A few of the artists participating this year are Marilyn Affolter, photographer; Gene Davis, photographer; Doug Roy, papercarving and drawing; and Terry Peasley, water color painting.  Cost of the tour is $7 for all six days.  A tour admission button can be purchased at any of the participating studios.

Carre Heineck First in Women's Field

Runners in the Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon were welcomed with applause, medals and refreshments at the race’s end point in Carlton.  The race was held Sunday, September 4.  Cheers went up for Mario Mendoza of Bend, the fastest in the men’s field.  Second place went to Tahir Chakisso of Clackamas.

Carre Heineck of Portland, the 2010 defending champion, was impressive with another win in the women’s field.  Second place went to Natalie Bak, also of Bend.  Congratulations to the winners and all the race participants.

Gleaming Gold Medals

The R. R. Thompson House hosted six runners – three women and three men.  All completed the race and received a gleaming gold medal and something to brag about when they return to work!