Christmas Tree Fun at Loch Lolly Farms

Located off of Highway 26 (click here for directions) is Loch Lolly Christmas Forest, an excellent place to get Christmas trees and much much more. Loch Lolly has a wide array of different sizes and varieties to choose from, we definitely had a very enjoyable experience and ended up with the perfect tree.

Loch Lolly Christmas Forest & Gift Shop opens the weekend of November 22nd & 23rd, then opens daily beginning November 28th for the 2008 Christmas season. Our hours are 9 AM to 5 PM.

This year we will offer u-cut and pre-cut Christmas trees. Customers have said they love to come to Loch Lolly but don’t always want to cut their own tree. So now we have done the job for you. Each day you will be able to choose the perfect tree from our many beautiful pre-cut trees.

If you are in need of a tree or a holiday gift before that time, we would be more than happy to help you. Loch Lolly Christmas Forest & Holiday Gift Shop will be open each day.

I will be posting pictures of our Loch Lolly tree soon, please stay tuned!

Tags: christmas, christmas tree, family fun, family trips, good times, loch lolly, oregon, tree farm, trees, winter

Winter Getaway

Its cold outside and the holidays are just around the corner. No better time to escape to the Oregon coast and get a room, (for winter rates of course). The crowds aren’t there and the storms are great to watch from an oceanfront room. I would recommend a little known secrect of mine in the sleepy old fishing town of Astoria Oregon…. The Hotel Elliot

I love the Hotel Elliot because it offers wonderful ammenities and awesome suites at affordable rates. While its not on the ocean it offers great views of the Columbia River and Astoria offers wonderful cuisine and a budding local music scene. For Luxury suites at an affordable winter rate, Hotel Elliot is well worth the drive to Astoria.

Tags: astoria, get away, hotel, hotel elliot, oregon, oregon coast, romantic, vacation, winter

People and Animals Are Great We Should Respect All of Them

I have three dogs in my care, Brownie, Austin and Rex. They are all large dogs and can be quite cumbersome at times. Walking the three of them and doing just about anything can be a real challenge. However they are my good friends and I am willing to go out of my way. Animals in general are an important and valuable part of a family. I introduced my son to Brownie, (a Chesapeake Bay Retriever), at a young age. He liked the feel of her soft fur and would put his bare feet on her back and smile. He  is now old enough to pet and get kisses from the dogs which he loves and the dogs enjoy the young spirit of a boy who is fascinated with their every move. They have become as good of friends as anyone can and I feel that the presence of animals, dogs in my case, enriches ones life to an extent which is hard to match.

We enjoy taking the dogs with us when we leave the house. Sometimes to just run errands but a good trip to the dog park or a hike is what we are really all about. The Portland metro area offers some wonderful parks including some dog parks. Great places to take the family or the dogs or both. I live in Beaverton and get to take advantage of Tualatin Parks and Rec. department and the great job they do of providing an array of different park settings at a variety of locations.

I try to live a positive life and have been working at projecting my positive out look to others. Whether it be a stranger at the park or a friend who i see often. The attitude we carry around rubs off on others. This works with a negative or positive attitude, but the positive can overcome the negative. By not letting that negative comment or vibe effect us we reduce that instant of negativity to a second or two out of the day. Now it is easy to let something small balloon into a, “Bad Day”, but stay positive and dont let that negativity get past you. We all have  the choice to brush things off and I would encourage everyone to be conscious of how positive or negative their attitude really is.

In a time where there is economic and financial uncertainty it is easy to think,” woe is me what are we ever going to do?” Focus on the reason we do the things we do. We go to work to support the things we embrace. Maybe the money isn’t as good and its easy to worry and be negative, the media along with others in the community are telling us how bad things are. I am focusing on the things that really matter, my best friend/girlfriend, my son, my dogs, my family and friends. Those other things are important but not so important that they are going to rock my core. Stay positive and keep your focus, the things that matter haven’t changed!

Tags: Chesapeake Bay Retriever, dogs, fun, life extension, parks, pets, tualatin

Welcome to TadTheDad.com!

TadTheDad.com is a concept that started as many things do, with two people just sitting around talking. After hearing my stories of being a new parent my friend jokingly dubbed me ‘Tad the dad.’ We laughed and rolled with it for a bit. A good time was had by all (at my expense), even my girlfriend got involved making fun of the new catch phrase. Though ‘Tad the dad’ stuck with me for a few days and I got to thinking….What could I do as this Tad the dad? There had to be something that ‘Tad the dad’ had to offer. Even though I was lacking in the super hero power department, I still felt like I had something to give, whether a laugh or some helpful advice. I wanted to share my experiences as a parent with the world so I am starting a blog!

Blogging and the idea of being able to do this with my son have really become attractive to me. I ultimately would like to be able to spend as much time with my family as possible, be able to do fun things, write about it and get paid, but life is never that simple. Is it?

Hopefully my experiences as a parent and family man can be helpful or just provide a simple laugh in the daily grind we call life. I do enjoy some free time as well. All the parents and non-parents alike take some time for themselves every so often. If you don’t you should. I’m becoming more of a connoisseur of fine cigars; I also have a strong appreciation for wines of the region, Northwest varietals to be more specific. I enjoy paring cigars and fine wine, also occasionally food and wine as well. I hope my suggestions are flavorful and pleasing to the palate.  Check out the ‘About Me’ section if you are interested in learning a little more, and of course please stay tuned…

Tags: blogging, children, dad, fatherhood, northwest, oregon, parenting, portland, tadthedad, wines