Back, again

We're back home after almost two weeks in Oregon. I had a good life in Virginia, and I feel happily settled in Georgia, but when I travel westward I'm convinced that Oregon is in my blood. The cool weather (such a welcome relief in July!), the lush green moss and ferns, the scent of fresh fruit wafting through the air from countless roadside stands and abundant wild trees and bushes, all struck such a familiar chord with me. And the smell of the air! I used to spend a week just breathing!

We had a great time visiting family, eating feasts at different relatives' houses every day. I miss my extended family, and hope my children can grow up with something close to what I experienced as a child. Right now, though, I'm just trying to catch up on the laundry.