07 June 2013

Exploring Our Heritage: Pt II

Is 2 weeks considered 'soon'?
Well time is passing by so quickly these days,
and things have changed SO much here lately,
 that my 'soon' (meaning coming soon) became 1/2 month before I knew it:)
Anyway on with our mini tour of the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center....
 
In a way, I would call YVHC a living museum, because they host several events that
let children experience, in very tangible ways, our state's past...
one of these is Pioneer Days, where kids can 'attend'
the actual one room schoolhouse on the grounds and
do typical chores of pioneer times
(candle making, making cedar shakes, gardening and much more).
 
I SO wish I could be a child for a day, dressed up in pioneer clothes!
Actually I DO have a pioneer outfit...
maybe I can play pioneer homemaker here at home:)
 
 
So many interesting things to see here.
One of the two stage backdrops at the heritage center...
(click on the photo to get a better view if you would like)
beautiful, beautiful!

 
I mentioned the tractors but didn't post a photo...
this was one of my favorites!
Such a great collection--our nation has truly been blessed with so many inventions
from so many creative minds~

 
Part of the logging exhibit--
this is where the school aged boys learn to make shakes that will actually be used!
Logging was once a very big part of the PNW...
 
 I should also add here that they have a blacksmith shop and sawmill,
 but  they are open on a more limited basis...

 
They have a garden here too and
in April they had a Farm Fest with draft teams and mules--
I would have LOVED seeing that!
 
Aren't these geese cute?
 
 
Love!
 
 
This is the historic schoolhouse they have on the grounds there...
looks very similar to the one my grandma taught in.
LOVE...
 
 
Oh, did I happen to mention the covered wagon they have?
Look at the wonderful cage on the side!
Several of my ancestors came to the Oregon Territory and took up donation land claims--
some of these pioneers settled in the Gresham area
and others eventually settled in southern Oregon.
  
Just to let you know...
YVHC has a very special event, their Harvest Festival, coming up in several months..
A wonderful opportunity for you, your kids, your grandkids to go back in time
and see how your ancestors once lived...
 
Questions of the day
(don't feel you have to answer all of these):
if you could go back to anytime, any era what time would that be and why?
Me: the late 1800's. I would like to see how women of that time ran their households and know how they felt about the circumstances of life--both bad and good.
 
Do you practice any skill/craft/task as your ancestors once did?
Me: I now wash my dishes by hand--although I have modern plumbing of course.
I also dry our laundry outside whenever I can.
Made soap once--but it was using a quick method (glycerin melt + pour)
 so I still want to do the old fashioned kind.
 
What skill/craft/task of pioneer times would you most like to learn?
Me: So, so many...crocheting, candle and soap making, etc.
My fellow bloggers--Alicia, Betsy, Gracie, Teresa and others constantly inspire me!
 
Do you have any pioneer heritage in the Pacific NW or in the area you now live?
Yep--also early settler heritage in many other areas of America.
 
Should you be able to time travel, what would you miss most from 2013?
Probably refrigeration and modern plumbing.
I think I would also miss being able to travel to so many places so quickly, but then I LOVE horses:) 
 
Blessings,
Aimee
 
Notes:
Their website
 

13 comments:

Linda W. said...

Wow - what a cool place. If I was a kid, I'd totally dig it (who I am kidding? I'd totally dig it as an adult too!)

aimee said...

@Linda~
My thoughts exactly...I had to restrain myself not to do the whole pioneer woman thing:)
Have a good weekend.
Blessings,
Aimee

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

This sounds like a wonderful place to take the grands- if only I lived closer. I would love for them to learn more about pioneer days. I would love it too.

aimee said...

@Terri~
I have a feeling you all would definitely love it...I bet your area has some similar heritage centers:)I just can't get enough of learning how my ancestors lived.
Hoping you have a wonderful weekend.
Blessings,
Aimee

Teresa Kasner said...

If I went back in time, I'd pick the Victorian period, but I'd want to come back to this time after a few days there, I think.

I spin on a spinning wheel. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

Oh, how much fun! This look amazing. I'll dress pioneer with you, LOL ;) I'm always looking for an excuse to dress up!

aimee said...

@Teresa~
That would be a great time in history to visit!! Wouldn't it be fun to be able to time travel?
I would love to see spinning in person one day:)
Blessings,
Aimee

@Jackie~
It was and I know you would enjoy it! I am already picking out more 'heritage' places to explore...and trying to figure out how to make a little pioneer costume for my youngest granddaughter so we can be pioneers together:)
Blessings,
Aimee
PS: I would happily let you join our pioneer family--anytime!

Willow said...

Hi Aimee, Our little farm house is 127 years old and before I moved here my great aunt and uncle lived here raising some chickens for eggs and having veggie and flower gardens. When my great uncle passed on at 94 ( my great aunt had passed before him) I our family inherited the property and continued along the same vein with the chickens, veggies and flowers. and a few extra animal friends here and there .
I have loved this farm since I was a little girl . A lot of heritage here.

aimee said...

@Willow~
The story of your farm is awesome! I am SO happy that it is Still in the hands (and hearts)of family...
Thank you so much for sharing; I will always think of the heritage of your place when I see your photos now:)
Blessings,
Aimee

My Dog Sam - Ruptured Disk said...

Hi Aimee, thanks for visiting my blog. My peeps are a few years younger and unfortunately don't have the perspective of their parents. Still things have changed a great deal in only a few years. My dad remembers using "punched paper cards" to run computer programs on big IBM mainframes. Now, he has more computing power in his phone than they did a few years ago.

aimee said...

Hi, Sam!
I am honored by your visit--you are one of my favorite furry friends and I love reading about your life!
Tell your dad that I remember computers that were the size of large rooms and am constantly amazed with my smartphone:)
Keep wagging that tail Sam!
Blessings,
Aimee

My Dog Sam - Ruptured Disk said...

Woofs, thanks Aimee for joining my bloggie. Sam

aimee said...

My pleasure Sam:) The furry ones send you sunny Saturday greetings from the PNW!
Blessings,
Aimee

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