South to Silverton

Dear Liza,

Wednesday was the one day this week predicted to be sunny, so we took that day off and headed south to Silverton. Silverton is a small city about an hour south of us. We have gone there to visit the Silver Falls State Park and hike the trails. We also went there for the Homer Davenport Cartoon Festival a few years ago.

One of the reasons I love going to Silverton is that the drive there is so pretty. We go past Christmas tree farms with lovely rows just waiting for the holiday. Cows and horses, goats and even alpacas look peacefully out at us as we drive by. Rows of lavender, grapes, and filbert trees cover the hills. Barns and chicken coops in different stages of collapse stand at odd angles.

This time, we were heading to a different adventure. But first, lunch! Grandpa Nelson, as our Idea Guy, found just the right spot; The Milltown Pub, listed as a ‘historic’ building just on the edge of town. I must admit, it didn’t look very promising from the road, just a one story brown-ish building set in a small parking lot.

But as soon as we walked through the side gate, we were glad we had come! We heard a small waterfall and saw flowers. There were tables with large umbrellas and chirping birds.

Grandpa Nelson went inside to check in while we chose a table in the garden.

We ordered our salads, sandwiches and fries from the friendly waiter and sat, listening to the birds and one noisy frog, over by the pond. The sun was warm and the breeze just barely moved the leaves. It was like Heaven.

When our lunch arrived, it was delicious. We ate and chatted and rested up for the adventure yet to come, our main destination for the day, The Oregon Garden.

And next week, I will tell you all about it!

Love,

Grandma Judy