Astoria and Fort Clatsop

Thursday we had planned to go to the beach again as it was so quiet, gorgeous sandy beaches and we simply didn't want to drive anywhere today...however - the weatherman changed our minds.   We woke up to heavy clouds, no sunshine in sight so we decided to head up to Astoria.  Ed had mentioned the night before that he might want to take me there to the job corps center so when it was too cool to enjoy the out of doors I hopped in the truck with him no realizing that it would take us 11 hours to get back AND I would be in and out of the truck all day - no sweater or jacket!!  I did wear my walking shoes thank heavens.  We didn't even stop at the job corps.  I think Ed realized they wouldn't know who he was anymore!!  

The drive was green and beautiful as all of Washington has been so far.

 I fell in love with these gorgeous flowers -  it's hemlock!!!  Gee, do you just grind it up and put it in the salad of the person you want to get rid of??  Hah!!  Good thing I love Ed, cause this grows like a weed all over this state!  It is still pretty though!

 We went to Ft Stevens, North West of Astoria and found the ocean.  We got out and wandered around for a while, nice sandy beaches.

 There was a neat shipwreck skeleton on the beach.  I have no idea how old it is - it is however, steel not wood.

 What is it about waves that are so mesmerizing?  As you can see, the clouds are heavy overcast - cool, windy, but still beautiful

 Fort Clatsop is the fort that Lewis and Clark built to spend the winter...they had come down the Columbia River and checked out all the different possible wintering sites and finally chose this area (instead of Cape Disappointment farther North) due to the availability of game - elk, deer etc.  They said the first day they arrived they (the 30 members of the whole team) went out and shot 18 elk mainly for the hides so they could replace the ripped, falling apart deerskins they had been living in for the past months and months.  They had lots of protein to keep them alive that winter but very little else.  But they survived and headed back to St Louis leaving Fort Clatsop in March of 1806

 There was a couple of fascinating talks - one was a couple of ladies dressed in deerskin showing how to tan and brain and stretch the hides making them pliable.  Then we went into the fort itself and a fellow was sharing the history of the Lewis and Clark expedition.  Boy, he knew his facts well.  It was so interesting hearing him talk about how excited they were when they were able to buy 300 pounds of whale blubber from the Indians to add to their diet.  He talked about how tired they got of just elk and deer meat and how they would carve off pieces of whale blubber to chew on.  YUMM for sure!!  This fellow here gave a real cute fun explanation of how their rifles worked - how to load, aim and fire them.  He talked about the different guns carried by both Lewis and Clark - and how thankful they were for both types.

 This is a gun turret at Fort Stevens - the only other spot on the continental US that has ever been attacked (other than 9-11) by an enemy.  During WWII a Japanese sub fired on this fort (that had been in existence since the civil war!)...the commander of the fort held fire and after a while the sub went away after deciding that the fort was no longer in existence.   The guns would come up and over the edge of the wall and fire huge cannons 8 inches or bigger and then return down into the hole in the ground so they were completely hidden from anyone at sea.  This fort was about a mile or two from the ocean! The cannons could heft those cannonballs upwards of 10-20 miles away!

 This is the view of the 'whole' fort...it held two huge guns and amazing storage rooms for the ammo.

To finish off the day we drove back to Astoria and drove to the top of the town to the Astoria Column.  From the column you have the most fantastic views in 360 degrees.  It was built in the 20's ..you go inside the small door you see on the right side of the white square...and then proceed upwards -150 steps to the top.  I was worried about my knee but the stairs were deeper steps and it didn't hurt the knee but by the time I was half way up I was really feeling like I needed to hang on tight - I was NOT liking the heights!  But I made it up and back down without falling down the stairs!!

 We went across this bridge from Astoria to the island that held both Clatsop and Stevens.

 Here is a little better view of the gorgeous murals up and down the tower.

 The view from above down to the parking lot

 Thick green forests

Another view of the parking lot ---that's our truck in the middle.  It was a grey and wet day and we didn't get back to Sauvie Island until 9 pm that night but we had a great time and learned lots!!

Across Oregon

Monday we headed down from Bear Mountain to head to Oregon - first step of the way.  We had waited until Monday to head West from Boise because CamperWorld was supposed to have our new awning in so that we could get it installed before heading off on our trip.  

Not knowing when it would be in we gave up on it and decided to wait until we get back to Boise after our trip through Oregon, Washington, top of Idaho, Montana and back through Idaho and then finally home to Utah.  I decided to post a blog with a few daily pictures.

On our way - the weather is gorgeous...not a cloud in sight!

The first night we went to Emigrant Springs State Park in Oregon - halfway between Le Grande and Pendleton.  It was in the mountains and just simply beautiful

Oregon has some beautiful state parks...hundreds of them!!  Most for day use but many for overnight camping too.  The are

There is actually a freeway behind these trees.  At first we were concerned that it would be noisy and keep us awake at night but we slept right through it all.

This is Ed hooking up the truck to the trailer the next morning.  The picnic table in front of the trailer is where we ate dinner that evening.  I was going to serve breakfast out there too but it was a bit too cool. So we ate in the trailer.  This state park was halfway between LeGrande and Pendleton Oregon....we drove into Pendleton to do some sightseeing.  Evidently in the late 1800's the chinese community dug tunnels under the city to make delivery of laundry and such easier!  A whole underground city developed - a grocery store and restaurant...even an ice cream parlor (taking advantage of the cooler air underground for keeping the ice cream freezers cooler!)  However, it was closed on Tuesdays!!  Bummer !

This is where we stayed Tuesday evening.  Ainsworth State Park...along the Columbia River Gorge area (about 50 miles East of Portland).  This is the view behind our trailer (and of the trailer next door)

I love how the trees are green all over in this country.  Moss doesn't just grow on the North side!

We left Ainsworth State Park about 8:30 in the morning and headed on into Portland and beyond to a lovely little island in the middle of the Columbia River called Sauvie Island.  We got the full tour of the Island as my Google Navigator on my cell phone took us the wrong way TWICE!!!  The island is literally covered with small farms growing flowers and plants and berries and fruit.  Almost every house has a sign in the front yard saying they have fresh dairy or flowers or blueberries or homemade lace for sale.   This is the Columbia River (with a boat right in the middle of the picture)...I was trying to get a picture of Mt St Helen's.  Its there, but you will have to double click the picture to see it.

This was a big barge that went up the river while we were enjoying the beach.  It was one of several that went by and would create big waves after it went by.  I thought it looked like it might be fun for body surfing and waded out into the river to try it but the water was tooooo cold.  I said forget IT!!    Note please the beautiful blue sky...that is the only blue sky we have seen since Wednesday!!   It did clear up this afternoon (about 4:45) but was rainy and cool all day long till then.  Jo says that tomorrow will likely be the same! Oregon/Washington weather!

I loved this old tree on the pathway from the road to the beach!!!   It looks like it spent years growing in the water
Thursday morning we woke up to cool weather and so decided to leave the trailer at the campground where we were staying on Sauvie Island and head to Astoria.  

Hopefully I can get this to publish like I want to and will update you with our trip to Fort Clatsop and Washington State in a couple of days

Cold Springs Trout Farm

 We headed to Cold Springs Trout Farm to have a fun family time.  Ed and I and Makae met Mauri who had Adriana, Jerod, Joshua, Caleb and also Cade and Ethan, and Kecia, Jace, Emma and Leah.  Adrie really didn't want to fish so she carried Leah around and helped her enjoy the fish from a distance.  Meanwhile all of the other kids grabbed a fishing pole and bucket and headed over to the pool of fish.  What a fun time!!!  The only complaint to be had is that they had to QUIT fishing  because we couldn't afford to catch any more!  

 10 of my 16 grandkids...far left is Makae, Ethan, Cade, Caleb, Jerod, Grandpa Ed, Josh, daughter Mauri, JACE, Emma, Leah and Adrie and daughter Kecia.   We missed the other cousins - Dirk wasn't able to bring his boys up like planned and Brayden wasn't feeling well so Jamie stayed home with him and Taylie and Hudson.

J

 Here is Kecia helping Emma catch a fish - she got quite discouraged before she actually (with mama's help) caught a fish!

 Adriana with miss Leah Rose ...

 Emma caught her fish and then wasn't sure she wanted to get near it!

 We finally got her to hold the line when it quit splashing water on her - I can imagine what she would have done if she had had to put the worm on the hook!!

 Here Emma is at the bowery where grandpa Ed cooked the fish and we had a yummy lunch.  She thought that the fish was pretty tasty.

Cute grin from Leah...Caleb in the background.  I think Caleb was the only one who didn't like his fish...I didn't think he even tried it but he is holding his fish plate in his hands here.  Did he taste the fish?  

We made some good memories  today though.  Cold Springs Trout Farm offers a chance to come and fish WITHOUT  having to buy a license, bring our own gear, or bait our hooks.  They charge you per the size of fish that you catch with the average price being about $4.50 per fish.  That includes gutting, cleaning and filleting the fish for you!!!   We brought charcoal briquets and lemon juice to cook them with.  We had forgetten the salt and pepper so they loaned us a large jar of seasoning salt and we had also forgotten plates, silverware or napkins (we were brought our lunches - didn't really plan on eating the fish there until Cade and Ethan showed up without lunches)...anyway, I took the aluminum foil that we brought to cook the fish on and created out own plates!!  And we ate the fish with our fingers!!  MEMORIES!!

As we were leaving we found this lady at an upper pool where she and her husband were fishing for fingerlings to feed the parrot on her shoulder.  We decided next time we came we would fish in this pond as they would probably only cost a buck a fish...the fun for lots less money!

Grandma went through about $5 worth of quarters buying fish food for the kids to toss to the fish.  

 Cade, Ethan, Jerod, and I think Caleb and Josh all had fun catching the fish with their bare hands!!

This is a definite redo in the future.  Next time we will come more prepared but I don't think we could have any MORE fun than we had today!

Playing in the water!

I had the chance to have a couple of my grand daughters come stay with me for three days and two .nights.   We had so much fun.  I knew that four year old Emma would be tickled pink to come spend a couple of days but I really was afraid that Leah would be very unhappy to see mama Kecia and daddy Glenn leave..I dreaded bedtime because I just knew that she would be inconsolable .    Surprisingly enough she was all smiles and didn't mind in the least when her mom and dad left.  We got out the toys and started a two day party.  Grandma Susan had bought their favorite foods, black berries, goldfish, string cheese, and gogurt.  'We had a ball.  Miss Leah wanted to follow sister down the stairs every time Emma headed down.  At first I blocked off the stairs so she couldn't get through but about the time I needed to run downstairs to grab another mini chair for the kids table and had to climb THRU the block I said, uh uhh.  Knowing that Glenn was really afraid of Leah falling down the stairs I quickly helped Leah realize that she didn't go down the stairs without holding onto my hand.  Not only did the girls mind me without question, they ate anything I fed them and they slept for a good 12 hours every night.  During the day I was worn to a frazzle trying to keep up with Miss Leah.  She doesn't stop!  As fast as I cleaned up toys and stuff, she was pulling something else out.  Once they woke up I had NO time for me...no bath, no nap, no cleaning!  The first night it took Leah two hours to settle down and go to sleep.  She took an hour and a half nap the next day but she usually had a 3 hour nap at home.  Thinking I had 3 hours for a bath and a nap I spent 45 minutes mopping the floor and  picking up toys when she went down for her nap.  I barely had time for a nice soak and ended up with a quick nap when she woke up WAYYYY to early.  At that point, grandma got smart.  The girls and I headed outside and played in the swimming pool and with Great grandpa's clown for over two hours.  Then we headed back in the house, changed clothes and went to visit Great grandpa Merritt.  After that I took them to Arctic Circle for supper and let them play for another hour and a half on the climbing stairs and slippery slides.  They had a  ball.  It got up to 90 degrees in that play area though and so I finally called it quits.  Let me tell you, THEY slept the second night.  In fact Leah went to bed at 7 pm and didn't wake up until 8 am the next morning!  Emma is fantastic - she wakes up earlier than Leah but gets up quietly and finds something to entertain herself without making any noise.  Good training mom!    When Kecia  and Glenn got back on Saturday they slipped quietly in the house to surprise Emma - and they got the surprise when "Emma took one look at them and burst into tears, saying "I don't want to go home".  We had had too much fun - we even put some 100 piece puzzles together.  Emma is so full of love and so full of joy - 

..

The first day I had this set up on a more level area and had about 5 inches of water in the pool.  The second day we had to put more water back in the pool and the main hose was hooked  up to the clown head so we moved the pool right over by the fence so the front yard hose could stretch and fill the pool.  Leah quickly realized that by stepping on the side of the pool she had easy access in and out - trouble was it made easy access for the water to run out too!

This 30 year old clown head belonged to my dad and as we went through the house and picked out things we wanted I grabbed this clown head as I had years and years of memories of my kids and then my grandkids playing with this fun water toy every 4th of July in grandpa's back yard.

It didn't take Emma very long to figure out how to make it work right

Just a cute girl!  Miss Leah and her fun grin

The clown hat - get the water pressure going just right and the hat balances on the stream of water

Cute huh!

Emma loved it - Leah didn't want to get sprayed.  She preferred the pool

After Emma and got this 100 piece puzzle put together I told her we needed a picture of her with it before we put it back in the box

My cute Emma!                                                                                                                                                              


All in all - we had a great time.  Leah has decided that grandma is as fun to be around as mama - I had a great time.  I was ready to go soak in the hot tub by the time Saturday was over.  Thanks again Kecia and Glenn for letting me enjoy your girls

A life time of collecting!

Guess what.......I'm back, just like a bad penny!!!   I have spent hours this last week cleaning out cupboards and finding a bunch of other stuff.  There are a whole lot of books...most of which are church books but there are others too...I will list the non-church books first and then the odds and ends found in the kitchen cupboards (and downstairs)...then I will list all of the books!!  Hopefully all items will fit in one blog

Level

a kit to make a counted cross stitch Christmas stocking

The Quail Jill made at Monte Vista in about 1966

One of mom's gorgeous orange glass vases

More of the same (tall thin vase has been taken)

The final piece in her orange glass set - anyone decorating in orange?

I think this is a grandfather with two kids...I might be a dad

mom painted and fired this years ago - probably mid 70'

Two plastic bowls - Happy Halloween and Happy Santa

4th of July....cups, salt and pepper shakers, lights and napkin holder

silver plate

Avon 4th of July wind chimes

tableclothes anyone

take out the greenery and you have a darling metal bird cage

ideals books, Christmas book

Flower and bird books

Cute french onion soup bowls (4)

Chili or soup mugs (4)

Mend it kit

glass pie plates (3)

replacement lamp bulb

set of steak knives

four cup measuring cup

"Freedom is not Free" mug

sewing supplies

light up pouporri  jar

food that has not expired (:-D)

storage candle

Fall topper for jar candles

nutcracker bowl and crackers

cheese slicer

sugar jar

cold heat soldering gun

smaller level (battery operated)

set of three crystal salt shakers 

nicer 100 foot measuring tape

glass pitcher

nesting sieves

half gallon vinegar

tupperware pie mat

waffle maker

Fogger

mom's recipe boxes

caliper in nice wooden box

floodlight

1932 music book

"A Concise History of the Mormon Battalion in the Mexican War

Norman Rockwell's History of Scouting

Reader's Digest "How In the World?"

Clan of the Cave Bear, Valley of Horses, Plains of Passage and Shelters of Stone - first four books of Jean  Auel's series

Decades of the 20th Century

The Osmands

Take Care of Yourself

Book 4 of Jerry Borrowman's WWII seried

LDS love story by Jack Weyland, author of Charly

Self Esteem for Latter Day Saint Women by Anita Stanfield

Woman's Reach by Belle Spafford

LaVell Edwards

No More Strangers

On Wings of Faith

Just to Illustrate by LeGrand Richards

The Messiah in Ancient America

LDS Stories of Faith and Courage , Amos Wright (LDS books for young people) The Faith of our Pioneer Fathers

God's Greatest Gift by Theodore M Burton (temples)

Mormon Doctrine

Volume 6 & 8 of the Work and the Glory

Book 1 and 2 of The Kingdom and the Crown

Hallowed Journey - cassette tape dramatization

The First 2000 Years by Cleon Skousen

Saints at War

What is a Miracle?

Why I believe (various authors)

Howard W Hunter

Celestial Pursuit  - LDS trivia game

The Restored Church (used as seminary book YEARS ago)

More bird books

study guides for D&C, Book of Mormon, Old Testament and the Apostles

The Christmas Box

The Christmas Box Miracle

 Avon brand Duck (to store men's stuff)

 Easter Egg with bunny (two of them, I couldn't reach them by the time I took this picture and my knee was too tired to climb up on a chair...the other Egg is right to the left of this one)

 set of two speakers

 sign

 shelf

Glass box

 decorative egg

 Easter bell

ceramic Easter basket