Another Day; Another Beautiful Covered Bridge

Vintage things, antiques, historical items and places.

I never grow tired of seeing things of our  past.

In fact, as I type this, I am currently looking for a particular vintage item:)

We will see what happens with this new dream of mine...

One of the things I love most of all these categories are covered bridges;

I just cannot get enough of walking and sometimes even driving through them.

So far I've been to quite a few covered bridges:

In Benton County, OR

Harris, Wren area

(located south of the Ritner Covered Bridge)

In Linn County, Oregon

Short, Cascadia area

 (also seen in the link below)

Weddle, Sweet Home

(the link also has photos I took of the following) 

the Dahlenburg Covered Foot Bridge and the

Whitmore Covered Foot Bridge).

Shimanek

(this link also has photos I took of the following)

Hannah

Larwood

In Polk County, OR

Ritner, near Pedee

Recently we added another one---#10 for me:

the beautiful Drift Creek Covered Bridge, located in the Rose Lodge area of Lincoln County!

How many years had I passed the sign about it on the way to the central coast of Oregon.

Always wondering, always curious to see it.

This weekend we passed that sign again, twice,

and this time, we turned:)

The Drift Creek Covered Bridge was rescued by a local family who rebuilt and restored it.

The story of how that happened is an amazing story of how God works in His children's lives and faith.

If you go (it is less than one mile off Highway 18) you can read this story;

you can even take home a copy of it

(free copies are available on a bench located inside the bridge).

 I am SO thankful that they were able to save this bridge!

Located in a peaceful, rural area not far from its original home on Drift Creek

(BTW--my hubby remembers seeing this bridge when he was younger;

I am SO jealous...I should remember it too and I don't.

But I have memories of it now.

And now...

how many more covered bridges will I get to see this year?

And which ones to see...there are SO many:)

Have you ever been to a covered bridge?

a historic church, general store or schoolhouse?

(My grandma taught in a one room schoolhouse)

a fort or an old home?

(We lived in one old house when I was a teen.

It had a claw foot bathtub,

built in storage, glass doors and more.

 I didn't like it much then;

I feel much different about it today)

Have you ever ridden in an old truck or car?

(We used to own a car from the 1940's)

Do you think historic preservation is important?

(I do)

Has God ever worked a miracle in your or your family's life?

(Definitely...)

Would you like to share it?

(If so I would love to hear it! You can leave a comment or link to that story on your blog;

if you want to stay anonymous just use the drop down menu on the comment feature.)

Blessings,
Aimee

Of Gooseberries: A repost with updates

This morning my best friend came over and picked most of our gooseberries--which was awesome because it has been really warm out and I don't deal well with the heat. However, when she finished and took home the ones she wanted, I was left when the most time consuming task of pulling the tips and tails off these little jewels of the garden.
As of now, I still have at least 1/2 bucket left to do which I will finish in the morning as I am spending the night at my sibs.

For those of you who may not be familiar with these totally yummy fruits here goes...a repost from a few years ago:)

Today I spent a LOT of quality time removing the tips and tails from what was left of our garden's gooseberries. It was interesting...and a bit maddening. Actually it was a lot maddening but worth it..

Now, for those of you who've eaten a gooseberry before you'll understand why someone would be willing to spend hours and hours to preserve these delightful, totally yummy berries--for the rest of you let me tell you about my almost poetic love for them in hopes that you, too, will try some.

How do I love thee oh lovely berry of green? Let me count the ways.

1) You taste a bit like a lemon when you aren't totally ripe and I -- am the original lemon lover. For those of you who like their fruit sweeter, every recipe I have seen calls for sugar so you'll be happy too.
2) When you ripen totally you're a bit like a kiwi, sort of like the gold kiwis I bought last month. Yummy and sweeter then before.

3) You're a pretty little berry--all nice and green (actually I understand some of you come in red too) with a totally cool round design. So cute!!! Update: since this post I have eaten some of the red ones and they are fabulous; so good, in fact, that I am thinking of planting a red gooseberry!
4) I am told that you make the best pies and other desserts. I will soon know that for sure, for tomorrow -- if it isn't HOT again -- will be baking day around here:)
5) Preparing you for preservation takes a LOT of time and patience, and I need to practice the latter (actually picking you takes a lot of time and patience too--and a watchful eye for thorns.)

Have any of you ever tried gooseberries and what did you think of them?

Blessings from the land of gooseberries + (update) very sore fingers,
Aimee
--

Photos:
Gooseberries, before the tips and tails were removed. I read that you can do this with either a knife or your fingers, I used the latter and it worked well for me. Update: well=works, but takes LOTS of time.  Of course, you can help yourselves to the yummy little things to keep your strength and energy up...there are benefits you know to this process.
Gooseberries, after the tips and tails were removed.
Gooseberries in quart freezer bags (about 3 cups per bag). Dry packed without sugar. Update: today I put 4 cups per quart freezer bag; after all they hold 4 cups and I didn't want to waste bags.

Back in Time: Vintage Finds + WORD on Wednesday

We are still going through all the things from mom and dad's house. A very frustrating task to be sure, but sometimes made pleasant by little treasures we find from our past (and their past). This past Sunday I stayed with my dad, at my sib's house while they were out of town. I went through 2 large bags of clothes--some of which I kept--and then I found this medium box my sibling had set aside...inside were momentos from junior high and high school years, but there were also these treasures:)

I love the trim on this one, the hemline and -- of course -- the main color used! 

Can you see a little girl baking cookies with her apron clad mom in the early 60's?

And how about this cute, probably homemade, potholder?

In our childhood we spent quite a few days at Kah-Nee-Tah in Oregon's high desert

(Warm Springs Reservation) among teepees, Indian fry bread, dancing, horses and warm, beautiful blue swimming pools.  Good days!

When I was older, I attended a Pow Wow on the coast--the dancing, the Native American traditional costumes, the salmon baked in the old way were all wonderful! But another thing that stood out to me was the Native American's deep respect for their elders--that was deeply meaningful to me.

I think in our youth oriented culture we have lost that.

Not that our youth aren't important--no! That is our legacy;

they are our the only treasures we leave when we pass on.

But our senior citizens have so much to offer us--in cultural values,

rich memories of days gone by,

and much, much more.

What we stand to lose if we ignore this rich heritage we have.

Another little apron with pretty flowers.  

An old handkerchief.

Yes in the days before facial tissue, we used cloth handkerchiefs:) 

This reminds me of the story of the Three Little Pigs;

anyone else remember that?

"Little pig, little pig let me come in"

BAD wolf! LOL

Another, more vibrant, apron.

Very nice colors on this one.

An old pair of scizzors...hum, I am wondering if these might have been our grandma's...

do you know how old hey might be?  

And last, but not least, were these gloves.

They are embroidered at the wrists and also in the area that fits over the back of the hand.

Pretty colors; not sure when these were made...

Also found--

but not in the box

NOPE

were photos of my mom

in grade school.

These were adorable

and I excitedly told my sibling about them when they returned from their time out of town:)

THESE

were the truly priceless treasures:)

What treasures from your past have you found?

What is your favorite era?

What do you want to leave your children?

Your grandchildren?

WORD on Wednesday:

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing:

there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches...

a good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children...

Proverbs 13: 7, 22a KJV

Saturday Sparkles

Who doesn't like firework displays?

(except for some pets that is)

The colors...

 The beautiful reflections of color...

The excitement as to what colorful combination will be next...

I know I love them... 

 Do you?

Did you go to any fireworks displays this year?

Have you ever photographed them?

This is the second year that I have made an attempt to photograph fireworks  with my DSLR...

this time sitting in our car on some rural road.

I still have more to learn but I love trying:)

Blessings,

Aimee