The Oak Tree in Spring

Our Psych instructor lectured for two hours tonight and then let us go. It is Cinco de Mayo and I think she thought we all wanted to party..................or perhaps she did. At any rate, at 7:25pm we were free. Class is normally until 9:10pm so it was a surprise to see the daylight and also the sun!

As I drove home on Hwy 30, the clouds had parted leaving the sun to shine on freshly rain-washed trees and river. The light was beautiful and, as I drew closer to Scappoose Bay, I wondered what "my" oak tree would look like in this light. I dared not speed since there are many (and I do mean MANY) State Troupers out lately, but I was still rewarded with the oak tree set on a background of pink, light-drenched clouds. I wish I could climb over the barbed wire fence into the pasture. That would give a better view for photography. As it is, I must choose my spot carefully in order to avoid the telephone poles and wires that could spoil the picture. Still, I love this spot and the view it provides. All the cattle were at the other end of the pasture this evening. I was hoping for at least one grazing cow in the photo, but no such luck.

Early Spring in St. Helens

It's Spring! Whoopee, but it's still in the high 30s and low 40s at night and [maybe] in the 50s during the day. But, I know where I live and I'll take whatever sunshine I can get. I spoke with my son, Eric, today. [He lives in So Cal] He chose to rub it in that it was 70 degrees and he was in shorts, but then he had a cough and terrible cold; gosh, not accustomed some unexpected rain! Imagine that?

I worked outside today, after the requisite 4 hours of studying for Psych class, planting Spring flowers and pulling an appalling and amazing number of thistles from my back yard flower (?) gardens. I felt as if aliens had invaded my yard. I am accustoned to bindweed, but thistles!! Ugh! Tomorrow's weather report promises at least partly sunshine and 68 degrees. That would be wonderful and welcome. Mike is coming to help me with a [short] list of "honey-dos" that include a dripping kitchen faucet and measuring for some molding in my bedroom. I am hoping that we can just sit in the sun for a while and enjoy the day.

After working outside today I came back into the house and was happy to have banked my woodstove fire. By the evidence in the photo included here, so was Mellow, my orange cat. His mother, Cuddles, was fast asleep in my rocking chair when I snapped this picture. But the geraniums on the porch are unaware of the colder nights with the warm days. They are thriving and promise to bring color and cheer to the coming summer.

The seasons in Oregon are one of the greatest pleasure of living here. I really enjoy the changes in
colors and flowers. I look forward to every season for the uniqueness it brings to life.

The First Trilliums of The Year

We went for a walk this evening because the sun had come out for a few minutes. Mike wanted to look for Triliums. It's still a bit early, but we thought we might see the small, curled up stalks poking through the soil. As we had driven down the road several hours earlier, I had slowed to look for them in the usual places and had not seen any. So, beer and wine in hand, Riley and the two of us strolled down the lawn. The Star Magnolia is recovering from the bashing of fallen trees and is blooming beautifuly. There are some daffodils that the elk have not eaten. There are 5 and six foot baby hemlock trees growing from the top of the horizontal root of a large fallen hemlock tree. The root ball and stump have become a "nurse" log and will likely grow several new trees from what is left. As we walked a few feet further, we spied our first fully formed and blooming Trilium! It is pictured here. What a beauty. Further on, across the road, we saw four more Triliums in full bloom. This was the area that we had looked at four hours earlier and seen none. It is just amazing what just a few hours of sunshine will do.

On our walk we came upon a wheelbarrow that Mike had thrown some "sticks" into while cleaning up the area earlier in the week. Those "sticks" were growing! That is what is in the wheelbarrow pictured here. I swear, you could root a toothpick here and it would grow. Even the Salmon-berry bush was beginning to bloom. It has a lovely pink blossom and the plant is not anywhere near as obnoxious as a blackberry.

There are many areas that I hope to be able to work on and restore this summer. I wish I had more time to give this beautiful piece of property the attention it deserves. I love working in my tiny yard in St. Helens and in this large one as well. They are so different but both are very rewarding when they look good. One could make a career of this........which often seems very inviting.

A Great Invention

As a result of the many storms and high winds for the last three years, many, many trees
have fallen at the coast. There are huge fallen trees everywhere we look. It seems that
we barely get the debris from one storm collected when another episode of wind blows
through and fells another tree or two or three. It's very discouraging. Mike totally
dreads the wind these days and I can't blame him. I've helping drag branches and roll logs many weekends.

The [only] upside to these fallen trees is firewood. As we both heat our homes with a woodstove, we try to cut and split wood whenever we can. Using a chainsaw on a fallen tree is kind of like playing dice with rocks. One "nick" of the chain on a hidden rock under a log pretty much destroys the sharpness of the chainsaw. Mike has come up with an invention to raise even the largest of these fallen trees, even when working by himself. This tool is a large tripod of 6' 2x4s with a come-along suspended from a bolt thru the top. A steel cable attached to the come-along is wrapped around the girth of the tree. As the tree is raised, he simply places a short log or 6 x 6 under one end and then the other end. By placing this tripod in the center of the tree and sawing from first one end, then the other, he can use the chainsaw without risk of hitting the ground and a rock.

By the time I arrived to see this wonderful tool, Mike had sawn up over 6 large trees, including one that had fallen in a place where we had already removed two others last year. Of course, the trick is now to haul these rounds to the splitter, split them and stack them in the woodpile.

If wood is left stacked too long, some really beautiful things grow on them. The last photo here is a picture of the ends of some wood that was cut two winters ago and not yet split. These growths are quite hard and I've actually seen some "artwork" done on them that looks a lot like scrimshaw. I just like to look at them and take pictures. But they don't smell very good when they burn!

What a Difference A Day (or 48 hours) Makes

As I drive to work each morning I can't help but notice my surroundings. I used to think it was just because I was new(ish) to Oregon and was still dazzled by the beauty. But now I realize that I will probably always be dazzled by the beauty of this incredible state. I hope I never become jaded and "used to" seeing what I see. I will admit, however, that I no longer need to remind myself that I am not just on vacation, that I really do live here!

On the morning of Monday December 28th, as I started down Old Portland Road, I realized the sun was just rising. My next thought was of "my" oak tree on Scappoose Bay and that the sun would rise directly behind it of I were to be in just exactly the right place. I raced down the raod and pulled off near the Elk's Lodge on the old road into the cemetary and waited. At the right moment I went across to the edge of the pasture (where a few old Guernsey cows came to see what I had to offer) and snapped away with my small Canon camera. Looking at my photos later at the office I liked what I had done. I knew I would take a closer look soon.

On Tuesday December 29th, as the city left work for home, Portland was blindsided by a snow storm. We all spent hours (and hours and hours) on the clogged roads trying to get home. I was fortunate: I actually GOT home! The following morning (the 30th), driving to work and still thinking about the sunrise photos I had taken, I made the choice to again take Old Portland Road even though it hadn't been plowed. I wanted to see the Oak Tree in the snow. I again stopped and took just one photo-it was very, very cold-the difference is striking! These two photos were taken exactly 48 hours apart and yet they look like different seasons. This oak tree is most likely 200-300 years old and so beautifully formed! I just love to see it each day as I go to from work.

It Snowed in my Forest!

I have a miniature forest and some "boulders" on the railing of my deck. It's very cute and rather full of trees. I may have to do some logging soon, as I'm not sure there is room for all the hemlock and spruce trees that are growing in this little area.

This summer Mike had the house re-roofed and new gutters installed. This wee forest was growing in one portion of his rain gutter and was removed whole. Not being able to discard it, Mike saved it and I have adopted the trees for my own. The dish was found at Raintree and was the perfect shape and size. I have no idea how long my forest can survive here or exactly what kind of care it will need. It is very charming now and I'm hopeful that I can maintain it for quite a while.

And, about the snow. The storm took Portland by complete surprise this afternoon and resulted in a traffic snarl the likes in which I have never before had the displeasure of participation. My normally 50 minute trip home was three hours tonight and without my studded tires I would likely be one of those cars that you see in a ditch on the 11:00 0:clock news. As it was, I had no "incidents" other than not being able to cross the river for 2 hours. I am still trying to relax enough to sleep. Hence, I am updating my Blog!

So, goodnight to all and Happy New Year!

Christmas in St. Helens

Christmas day was beautiful here. It was suuny, just a slight breeze and 35 degrees. For those of you in warmer climates, 35 degrees may seem too cold to be considered beautiful. But, keep in mind that, just about 10 days ago it was 4 degrees and 11 degrees here. So, 35 is downright balmy for this time of year.

Seeing the sun out and not going out myself seemed more than I could stand, so I went for a walk. As I made my way down the several flights of stairs that lead from 2nd Street to the waterfront, I noticed that the old, corroded pipes that had served for handrails for untold years had been replaced with new shiny black powder-coated pipes. The last time Mike & I had taken those stairs we mentioned that those old pipes were getting sharp and dangerous. Someone else in my little quaint town must have noticed too.

Standing by the fence in Columbia View Park, I watched a tug (are they still "tugs" when they push and not pull?) pushing several large barges up the river. He was making good time against the current, perhaps 6 knots. Maybe the barges were empty. I hoped the tug captain was enjoying the solitude of the sunny quiet river on Christmas day as much as I was. I walked down onto the public docks, now completely empty save for a lone fellow fishing. He was bundled against the cold but seemed to be enjoying the day. The water was still and the reflection of the silently moored boats in the slips was irresistable for snapping a photo.

I continued on my walk around to the public boat launch, also totally deserted on such a fine day. Oh, there was the occasional person walking a dog in the distance (most likely at the dog's request) but not the people that this day deserved. Again, the reflection of a lovely red boat was more than any photographer worth the title could resist.....and resist I did not! Same to be said for the interesting black bird on the old pier piling. The bird noticed me and seemed to preen and pose for my picture. I obliged with several takes.

As I made my way back towards home Eric called to wish me a good day. He accompanied me all the way home chatting about Dylan (their new son) and about going to visit his sister Karen on Sunday. Eric is one of those folks that would think 35 is too cold for a pleasant walk. His loss!

A Long Needed Update

Well, here I am again afer a long absence. I could make excuses, but they'd be just that: excuses. Life gets in the way and I forget to blog. But then again, maybe no one really cares anyway!

Mike & I had a charmed and magical road trip this summer. We went back to where we met 50 years ago. I have spent the last 2-3 hours trying to get my Picassa program to upload a folder of our pictures onto this Blog site. To no avail, obviously, since you don't see a folder here. But, I will include a couple of the photos if I can.

In August of 1959 someone (we don't remember who) took a photo of the two of us in Reds Meadow campground. That was the weekend we met and both our families were getting ready to leave. The camera was Mike's but the photographer remains unremembered. Reds Meadow is near Mammoth, California in the Sierra Nevada range of mountains. We were determined to find that exact spot this summer and re-take that photo. We were indeed able to find "the spot" and found a kind fellow that tried his darndest to replicate the original. He held the original photo in one hand and my digital camera in the other while moving us to the right, the left, fore and aft. I'll include both photos here.

We also were able to hike where we hiked as children and young adults. Most of the area and campground is basically unchanged. There was a fire several years ago that destroyed a lot of very beautiful forest. I had hiked there the following year and was saddened nearly to tears. I was able to warn Mike, but, even with the growth that has taken place, the view was changed from what we knew before.

The trip was awesome and without problems. We had a wonderful time; so much so that we kept adding on and prolonging our vacation, finally ending up tacking on 3 days in Kahneeta before we finally drove home.

OK, OK, It's not Still Snowing in St. Helens

This winter has been filled with things other than snow.................although for a time it seemed as if that would not be true. After several weeks of snow and more snow the "normal" rain returned and most things returned to what a regualr winter is like here in Oregon.

The different part for me was that, after 35 years, I returned to college in January . I enrolled in PSU as a Psychology major with the ultimate (and far, far away right now) goal of earning my Masters of Counseling. First, though, I must finish my BS degree. I am enjoying school more than I ever imagined possible! I have made some really cool new friends, all of whom are younger than several of my grandchildren. But, it seems as if the classroom is the great equalizer and I am just another student trying to maintain a good GPA. So far my grades are great. We'll see how far that lasts when I take Statistics in the Fall. For the first time in many years I actually looked forward to Spring Break and am certainly looking forward to Summer vacation. Did you know that an almost 65 year old can get by on 5 1/2 to 6 hours of sleep for 10 or 11 weekes at a time? Well, I can if I can sleep in on Saturday morning. Of course, during Spring Break and Summer vacation I still have my "day job" which requires 40-50 hours a week. Bummer!!

The rest of the winter was filled with cutting and stacking (and burning) firewood. There were several weeks at a time where the weather was bad enough and cold enough that I couldn't even get to the coast to see Mike. That was not fun. But Spring has arrived at last and we are beginning to do things again. Last month we drove, in the Jag with the top down, to the Woodburn Tulip Festival. It was a beautiful drive, a long wait to get in, and the tulips were as pretty as ever.

Today we took a hike into some actual forest where, thankfully, there hasn't been logged in many years. It was so beautiful and peaceful we didn't want to leave. Riley came with us even though he had gome on a run with me earlier in the day. Mike found an enormous fallen tree whose roots had been wrapped aroung a volkswagon sized boulder. It had fallen and still had pieces of and imprints of the boulder in the roots. And growing on the ground side of the now up-ended roots was a beautiful Trilium. What a beautiful place we found. I'm sure we'll go back again.

So, I have a midterm exam on Tuesday. But as this quarter winds to an end I will try to be better about keeping up my BLOG. This summer should bring some interesting photos as we plan to retrun to Reds Meadow again to celebrate 50 years since we met. That should be a kick and the roadtrip there should be great as well.

Egads, it's snowing again!
The forecast is for more snow tonight and tomorrow and then rain starting Friday. At this point I am hoping for rain and above freezing temperatures. I am sooooooo bored and ready to go back to work. Yesterday I scraped the snow off my truck so I
might at least be able to go buy another book to
read. I am really out of things to do. I have
cleaned my house, split wood for the woodstove,

made chicken noodle soup, steam ironed all the cl0thes Karen gave me and on and on. This is not my style for sure. Now, at 11:00pm on Tuesday evening it's snowing again.

As some of you know, I am going back to college to get my degree inPsychology and Counseling.

I received my tuition bill for Winter Quarter this week. Mind you, I am only taking one class for Winter Quarter and the bill is for $837.00. Even given that $250.00 is for matriculation fees, that is still pretty steep for one class at a State University. And that does not include my text books. I sure hope the new administration will put more value on education than the last few. Education should not be an elitist thing. We are falling behind in this country with our lack of emphasis on and access to higher education.

So anyway, back to the weather (a safer subject). I sure hope the rain comes as predicted and melts the snow, at least in the valleys and lower hills. I really want to spend New Years with Mike and friends at the coast. And I'd love to get back to my regular schedule.

Have a Merry holiday, whatever you celebrate. Tomorrow is Christmeas Eve and the second day of Hannukah. So, Merry and Happy to y'all.

More Snow & Still Coming

It has snowed again almost all day. I can't imagine when this will end. Everytime I look at http://www.wunderground.com/ it shows snow on every day. I feel like I'm living in the Dakotas or something.

My next-door neighbors invited me to go into town with them this noon and I did. I wanted to buy another book to read. I wish I had my textbook.........I could have read it all by now.

I measured the snow in my backyard and it's over 1 foot almost everywhere. And it's still coming down. I wish I could capture a picture of the cute little birds that inhabit my front porch and hop around for seeds. They're so little and pretty. I wonder where they go at night.

I wonder if I'll be able to get to work tomorrow. The weather in Portland is so different from here. Oh, Rachel just called me. She's not going in. Apparently even Portland is a mess. Jeff told her he didn't know if the clinic would even be open tomorrow. Wow! That would be a first.

Stay warm and dry, if you can.

Snow #2

Here are some more of the photos that I took on my trip through town today. I suppose if I didn't take such high quality pictures I could get a dozen on my BLOG. But I like good photos and I never know when I will grab one that I can print in large format and possibly sell or display. So, enjoy and stay warm and dry.

SNOW in St. Helens #1

As far as I can figure, it's been snowing non-stop for >24 hours. It has snowed all week, but this session began as I arrived home from work yesterday and has not so much as paused since then. I have over 12" on my patio right now and it's still coming down.
After driving over 14 hours on the icy I-5 corridor to get home from Karen's in Rocklin, California on Tuesday I was ready for a nice hot shower, a woodstove fire and a relaxing cat on my lap or a book to read. I got the fire, the cat and the book. As for the shower, my pipes between the house and my shop had frozen. I had no hot water to the house (plenty of VERY COLD water though) and no water at all to the shop (read washing machine). On Wednesday AM I was referred to RLJ Plumbing (great folks!) and my pipes were thawed and I finally got my hot shower. However, my washer was spurting water ( over 15 gallons of it) all over my shop. Bart & I vacuumed it up, replaced the hoses and tried again. Smaller spurt this time, but apparently I burst a water valve inside the washer that needs to be replaced. (Also, my shop will need to be heated in the future when it freezes) The replacement was scheduled for Friday but Steve from the appliance repair could not get up the 4th street hill, so, no washer until next week.

After reading 3 books and cleaning my home office, I was finally able to get into the clinic for a while on Friday. Yes!!! But, today brought more snow and NO CHANCE of getting down my hill. Idleness not being my bag, I donned my warmest ski clothes and snow boots, put my camers in a plastic bag and tromped around my little town for a couple of hours taking photos. I have included some here and will post a second BLOG for more.

Snow is so quiet and squeaky. I just love the sights and sounds. I had hoped to get some photos of the marina and possibly the ships in the channel, but it was snowing so hard that I couldn't even see Sand Island, much less the channel. I could hear the ships from Columbia Park and listen to their horns sounding, but could not see them. Very eerie! I walked twice through the woods at the end of my street. The first time was from 3rd Street around to 4th. I went in the house to stoke the fire and doubled back to the woods again. My footprints were already hidden by the snow in the 5 minutes I spent inside. Good thing I know my way and was not trying to follow my steps or bread crumbs!

Go to the nest BLOG for more photos.