American Red Cross Helps People in Path of Bootleg Wildfire

American Red Cross Helps People in Path of Bootleg Wildfire

A Trip to Walla Walla Wineries is Deliciously Esthetic

A Trip to Walla Walla Wineries is Deliciously Esthetic

Walla Walla, WA. A lifestyle story… About a four hour drive northeast of Portland, more than 100 wineries draw wine lovers. The Walla Walla Valley is home to 1,800 acres of vineyards and a beautiful agricultural landscape. Photos from a recent trip give you an idea of what to expect.

The new Long Shadows winery and tasting room are dramatically located on a hill with a grand view of surrounding countryside with very simple modern architecture highlighted by Dale Chihuly's glass art including a chandelier and several large organic pieces.

The new Long Shadows winery and tasting room are dramatically located on a hill with a grand view of surrounding countryside with very simple modern architecture highlighted by Dale Chihuly’s glass art including a chandelier and several large organic pieces.

Spanish for Bee, Abeja is named for the simple beauty of farming the earth.

Spanish for bee, the Abeja winery was inspired by the simple beauty of farming the earth.

A century-old farm with its beautifully restored buildings in the rolling foothills of Walla Walla’s Blue Mountains provides the setting for Abeja.

The luxury Inn at Abeja, is a lovely place to stay. It is a century-old farm with beautifully restored buildings in the rolling foothills of Walla Walla’s Blue Mountains.

Created by Portlanders Ken and Ginger Harrison, Abeja has private wine tasting just for guest of the inn.

Created by Portlanders Ken and Ginger Harrison, Abeja has private wine tasting just for guest of the inn.

In the 1980s L’Ecole only produced about 1,000 cases and they were all self-distributed. The wine can now be found in all 50 states and has also become popular in Canada and Japan, producing 35 times what it did at the beginning.

Walla Walla’s L’Ecole wine is sold in all 50 states, Canada and Japan.

Woodward Canyon is now offering small plates in the Reserve House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 11:30 AM.

Woodward Canyon has a small restaurant on site and is now offering small plates in the Reserve House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 11:30 AM.

There are some great restaurant located in downtown Walla Walla which receive good reviews:

The farmer’s market in downtown Walla Walla is also worth exploring.

The Walla Walla Farmer's Market is located & 4th and Main in Walla Walla, WA. 99362

The Walla Walla Farmer’s Market is located & 4th and Main.

http://www.gowallawallafarmersmarket.com/

There’s a website with lots of news about the market: http://www.gowallawallafarmersmarket.com/

Of course you'll find the famous Walla Walla swit onions.

Of course you’ll find the famous Walla Walla sweet onions.

The people are friendly, too.

The people are friendly, too.

The Market is open during the weekends.

The Market is open during the weekends.

During a trip to the Walla Walla wineries, you’ll find passionate winemakers eager to talk about their unique blends. Here are a few links to check out…

The experience is one to remember.

The experience is one to remember and don’t forget your camera!

 

 

The Junior Joy Team & Elementary Students Deliver Joy to ER

The Junior Joy Team & Elementary Students Deliver Joy to ER

Vancouver, WA.  Members of The Junior Joy Team and Hough Elementary Leadership Team delivered Happy Packets with hand-written notes of appreciation and candy to the entire staff of PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center’s Emergency Department over the holidays. The notes express thanks for all the care and healing the ER team provides everyday to people living in Vancouver, Washington. Founded in February 2010, The Joy Team is a 501c3 corporation based in Vancouver, Washington, with the mission of building community by spreading joy, optimism and inspiration.

Tourning an ambulance.

Touring an ambulance.

Donna Mairose teaching Abby Mowery about crutches.

Donna Mairose teaching Abby Mowery about crutches.

Donna Mairose masking Hough student.

Donna Mairose masking a Hough student.

The Joy Team and Hough Leadership Team at the hospital.

The Joy Team and Hough Leadership Team at the hospital.

Donna Mairose applying neck brace to Taryn Larsen .

Donna Mairose applying neck brace to Taryn Larsen .

ER doctor getting Happy Packets.

ER doctor getting Happy Packets.

The kids learning how to correctly wash hands.

The kids learning how to correctly wash hands.

An ambulance paramedic talking to kids.

An ambulance paramedic talking to kids.

There were lots of thank you notes.

There were lots of thank you notes.

bandaid thank you learning about cat scan thanks for saving grandma

ER Nurse Donna Mairose led a tour of the ER for the kids, who passed out Happy Packets along the way. The educational tour included hooking up kids to a heart monitor, applying wrist, neck and clavicle braces, measuring oxygenation of the blood and sitting inside an ambulance. Donna also stressed the importance of wearing helmets EVERY time kids ride bikes or skateboards and showed them the proper way to thoroughly wash hands as one of the best ways to stay healthy. 

The doctors, nurses and staff in the Emergency Department were selected to be recipients of The Joy Team’s Happy Packets because every day they’re working to save lives. “They take care of us when we need it the most,” said Michele McKeag Larsen, founder of The Joy Team, “and we wanted to say thank you.” On December 5th, ER nurse Stephanie spoke at a Hough Elementary assembly and the students wrote their thank you notes the following week.

The Joy Team has been partnering with Hough Elementary School in Vancouver since 2012 as a way to connect our youth in a new way to the community they live in, giving them the opportunity to express gratitude for the services that make our lives better in so many ways while spreading joy to the very people who provide those services.

From The Joy Team:

 Projects of the positive thought organization include putting up 100 positive messages (and counting), delivering over 2,250 Happy Packets to the staff of organizations serving the community through The Junior Joy Team, giving over 4,000 jars of joy-wrapped peanut butter to hungry kids through the PB & JOY Project and the annual Chalk the Walks event. Learn more at thejoyteam.org, like them on Facebook.com/TheJoyTeam or follow them on Twitter @TheJoyTeam.

A Trip to Walla Walla Wineries is Deliciously Esthetic

A Trip to Walla Walla Wineries is Deliciously Esthetic

Walla Walla, Washington, August 20th. A lifestyle story… About a four hour drive northeast of Portland, more than 100 wineries draw wine lovers. The Walla Walla Valley is home to 1,800 acres of vineyards and a beautiful agricultural landscape. Photos from a recent trip give you an idea of what to expect. The Long Shadows winery and tasting room have a grand view of surrounding countryside with simple modern architecture highlighted by Dale Chihuly’s glass art including a chandelier and several large organic pieces.

You need a reservation to visit Long Shadows Vintners. Please contact the winery beforehand for current hours and special wine-tasting events. Call 509-526-0905 for more information.

You need a reservation to visit Long Shadows Vintners, contact the winery for current hours at 509-526-0905.

Spanish for Bee, Abeja is named for the simple beauty of farming the earth.

Spanish for bee, the Abeja winery was inspired by the simple beauty of farming the earth.

A century-old farm with its beautifully restored buildings in the rolling foothills of Walla Walla’s Blue Mountains provides the setting for Abeja.

The luxury Inn at Abeja, is a lovely place to stay. It is a century-old farm with beautifully restored buildings in the rolling foothills of Walla Walla’s Blue Mountains.

Created by Portlanders Ken and Ginger Harrison, Abeja has private wine tasting just for guest of the inn.

Created by Portlanders Ken and Ginger Harrison, Abeja has private wine tasting just for guest of the inn.

In the 1980s L’Ecole only produced about 1,000 cases and they were all self-distributed.  The wine can now be found in all 50 states and has also become popular in Canada and Japan, producing 35 times what it did at the beginning.

Walla Walla’s L’Ecole wine is sold in all 50 states, Canada and Japan.

Woodward Canyon is now offering small plates in the Reserve House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 11:30 AM.

Woodward Canyon has a small restaurant on site and is now offering small plates in the Reserve House on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays beginning at 11:30 AM.

There are some great restaurant located in downtown Walla Walla which receive good reviews:

The farmer’s market in downtown Walla Walla is also worth exploring.

The Walla Walla Farmer's Market is located & 4th and Main in Walla Walla, WA. 99362

The Walla Walla Farmer’s Market is located & 4th and Main.

http://www.gowallawallafarmersmarket.com/

There’s a website with lots of news about the market: http://www.gowallawallafarmersmarket.com/

Of course you'll find the famous Walla Walla swit onions.

Of course you’ll find the famous Walla Walla sweet onions.

The people are friendly, too.

The people are friendly, too.

The Market is open during the weekends.

The Market is open during the weekends.

During a trip to the Walla Walla wineries, you’ll find passionate winemakers eager to talk about their unique blends. Here are a few links to check out…

The experience is one to remember.

The experience is one to remember and don’t forget your camera!