New Wine Fall Retreat

A couple of weeks ago, I and my fellow interns joined Dr. Metzger and his family as well as "uncle" Ron and his wife Linda for a much needed escape from the city to a quaint little cabin up at Mt. Hood. I forgot how much growing up in Alaska near trees impacted me...to say the least being surrounded by green trees and the sound of a rushing river stimulated my senses and gave me some much needed refreshment. I really love the concrete grey hues, steel bridges, and industrial areas of Portland...but sometimes I long to get back to my senses in the midst of pristine beauty...aka the forest. Anyways it was a great weekend of bonding, intense learning, and started the ball rolling on several of our projects for the year! Yippy! 

Check out New Wine, New Wine Skins to hear what we are all about!    

Us lovely ladies in the kitchen. We cooked some mighty good food, can you say, "French toast bake and  spiced up nutmeg burgers?!"

Oh yes, I forgot to mention ... there was no fun involved. We were complete slaves in the kitchen... (minus the laughing historically part) 

We learned to share the kitchen space and let BD get in on some sweet cooking action. 

They waited ever so eloquently while the smell of nutmeg wafted from the grill...

Life can't get much better than gathering around a campfire with friends... 

capping the evening off with s'mores and a round of truth or dare 

Ready, steady, go....

Hiking time! Mt. Hood is beautiful and I will get to the top one day but for now...

Ramona Falls will have to suffice.  

Because I am pretty sure this is one of the most breath-taking falls I have hiked to, at least in Oregon. The way the sun beamed off the falling water and danced its heart out until rainbows dazzled us in the cooling mist...