"Columbia River Gorge" Travel Collection 2025

In June of 2025, my husband and I traveled out to the Northwest to explore the Columbia River Gorge, taste wines, experience culture and nature, and see a part of the country that was new to us.

This collection tells my story... a journey that humbled me when I learned about the Native Americans and the declining wine industry. It filled me with joy as I kayaked and saw a bald eagle, hiked to see waterfalls, and enjoyed the colorful ever changing landscape along the river. The taste of wines, pacific coast salmon and hood river cherries; and, the smell of roses, lavender and grapes just starting to pop in the vineyards were glorious. ​

​Traveling in your own country teaches you history in a way that books cannot... We met winemakers, fruit growers at markets, artists and collectors; observed indigenous people who have been marginalized and treated poorly; and saw people lost in a mental health crisis in American cities. We learned how life along the mighty Columbia River, once a terrifying river to cross in a covered wagon, has been controlled with dams and used to create power for local communities. The Columbia River Gorge is spectacular and vast and makes one feel wonder and humble at the same time.