Our Day (From the Furry One): National Dog Day

Hi to all my furry, four footed friends and their owners  out there in cyber-land!

 

It's me---

the small, furry, extraordinarily cute, super talented and totally humble one writing to you

 from the lovely--about to receive a rain blessing--Pacific Northwest!

 

 

And why am I posting instead of Mom you say?

 

Well Mom is on a blog break right now, with a HUGE "to do" list,

and it just so happens that this is a VERY special day in America for us canine types!

 

And, since I am POSITIVELY sure she wouldn't have forgotten to post

 something for this VERY special day--

MY day,

and since she occasionally gives me treats,

I am going to cut her a little slack

and post about OUR special day myself--

being the totally talented pup that I am.

 

So a

HAPPY NATIONAL DOG DAY

to all my paw-d friends out there

and enjoy the photos:):)

 

This is me with my pesky brother.

He's the one I like to bark and jump at sometimes...

like ANYTIME there's something I can't get to that I don't like

(the neighbor's chickens come to mind).

 

And this is my brother again.

He is rather cute don't you think?

 

 

And, finally, this is our oldest brother when he was just a pup.

He's the one that got this whole thing rolling.

You see Mom fell in love with our types and one day came home with him in tow

and, within a short time, Dad loved him SO much --

well the rest is history

(or should I say our-story?)

 

Oh, oh.

It's time for our afternoon break.

I got to go

(literally)!

 

MOM!!!

 

Puppy love,

The small, furry, white one.

 

Oh, yea--please forgive the photo quality.

I may be SUPER talented but my photo editing skills are rather lacking:)

 

That's History: Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time there was a pretty white church with a steeple on top.

In time, the Baptist church members would build another one, then add on to the new church

 and this historic building would be moved to the city's park where it would be preserved for the generations to come.

 

And that's where I found it on one of my multiple family history research trips to Gresham,

where some of  my Oregon Trail pioneers settled and where their house,

though extensively remodeled, still stands today.

 

 

What stories this church told those who paused to listen ---

tales of sermons, worship songs and prayers,

joyous weddings,

sad funerals...

about families and individuals living in community with one another through good times and bad.

Stories of life.

 

Can you hear them?

 

Alas, these church walls can no longer speak to us or to anyone.

You see, about a year after this picture was taken, an arsonist silenced them --

forever.

 

No more pretty white church in the park.

No more stories.

 

Sad, how a violent act of one or two can affect a community for a very long time.

Can affect the many generations that follow who come to connect and remember their family's past.

 

I've seen it happen with this church,

 and in a cemetery my son and I once photographed years ago as a RAOGK volunteer.

Vandalism,  arson, destruction.

Truly selfish, senseless and loveless acts.

 

~ 

 

But, as I type this, my mind is on another historical church miles away from here.

A selfish, hateful act took its sad toll there this past week...

not on a building, but on the people who gathered there

 for peaceful prayer and study.

Sad. Incredibly sad.

 

Prayers for those touched by this senseless and cruel act of violence

that God will ease the aching of their hurting hearts.

May God bring some good from this evil.

 

Prayers also for the young man who took so very much from so very many.

May he someday find forgiveness and saving grace from the One who freely offers it.

 

Kyrie eleison.

Dona nobis pacem.

 

Blessings, Aimee

  

Notes:

Bethel Baptist Church, photo taken with my old camera in 2003

(found a beautiful pdf article on the church, but am no longer able to access it.)

 http://www.immigrantjourneys.com/stories/Engels_Prussia.html

(article, written by a descendant of Peter Engles who helped build the church. Has another

photo of the church, without the steeple--not sure when this was taken. Also has some very neat historical photos of the family.)

RAOGK=random acts of genealogical kindness. Their website is here:

http://www.raogk.org/

 

Next: a happier post. Peace.

 

The Coastal Welcoming Committee

Not far from this area is a nice long sandy beach that has its own welcoming committee...

 

 

You don't have to hunt for them...

they'll find you!

And they don't come bearing gifts to welcome you to their fair city

(but would love you to bring them some).

 

 

They're also not known for being shy--

in fact quite the opposite could be said about them.

 

 

In our numerous trips down to the sandy shorelines of Oregon I've seen

elk,

horses,

dogs, various seabirds,
a whale...
and not too long ago--
a baby otter--
(did I forget to post my photos of it?)

but this was definitely a first.

 

 

I have a feeling it won't be our last time here

(after all there's a pirate 'ship' here too...)

 

 

one that even comes equipped with play slides, a ship's bell and more.

 

 

Just a little ways from here I went to a summer camp...

I don't remember any squirrels at that camp--

although I do vaguely remember having to be towed back to a certain dock

when I couldn't get our canoe back there

(since it's a 'vague' recollection, maybe it was just a bad dream--lol).

The camp however was not a dream and it still exists to this day.

 

 

Actually thinking about camp reminds me of s'mores

(is there such a thing as a gluten-free s'more?),

campfires,

rides along the beach

and being young.

 

 

It is normal to think about your youth so much when you get older?

Perhaps it's the stressful, sad times of this current time that make me look back upon those days

with so much fondness.

Perhaps.

 

 

It seemed to be a whole different world then--

a kinder, gentler place.

Yes, there were sad, horrible, stressful times back then too.

But still, it seemed to be a much more innocent time when one didn't hear the sort of news

we hear on a sometimes weekly basis now.

Makes one's heart weary and sad.

 

At the young age of 17,

 I arrived in the 'Emerald City'...

a whole different place then where I had grown up in.

It was there,

in this beautiful city in the Puget Sound,

that I would roam a tree covered campus,

watch the ducks swim by on the many waterways of the area

and eat the best ice cream ever at a place near the University of Washington

(Go Huskies)!

It was there I would fall in love with a certain 'Needle' that stretches into the sky

and it was there that I would hear Corrie ten Boom speak.

 

It was there a note would lead me to change the spelling of my name permanently

and it was there where so many memories were made--

memories to last a lifetime.

But sadly it was also there where a man chose to take life this last week.

 

Prayers and much love to the families of my beloved alma mater.

May God be with you during this time and those to come;

may God be with our nation and its people.

Dona nobis pacem.

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Photos:

Rockaway Beach, Oregon

 

 

Remember...

The morning has dawned on this day--

Saturday of the long Memorial Day weekend.

It's cloudy outside,

but the showers have stopped and the forecast looks promising.

The TV is on--

our young guests have chosen, not surprisingly, a cartoon.

 

As we do every year at this time (and others)

my husband and I have talked about them...

our fallen...

the father of a five year old daughter who died during the Civil War--

the young man who left a young widow and his baby during World War II--

the numerous others who have fallen in wars since our nation's founding.

 

So many;

so young. 

Full of dreams, full of hopes...

 

Surviving families changed forever by that one horrible moment in time.  

 

 

"So long as we are not forgotten we do not die..."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You're his witness now.

Without a witness, they just disappear."

 

 

May God be with the many families and friends today who have lost a loved one during war.

May God grant our nation,

and all other nations of the world,

a long lasting peace.

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Photos:

Willamette National Cemetery

Vietnam Living Memorial

Damascus Pioneer Cemetery

St Paul's Catholic Cemetery

 

First quote:

unknown source

Second quote:

'Taking Chance', HBO films, 2009. USA

 

 

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..

Here's a link: http://yamhillcountyhistory.org/Harvest_Fest.php

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

http://yamhillcountyhistory.org/Yamhill_Valley_Heritage_Center.php

 

Memorial Day 2013: A Visit to Willamette National Cemetery

He was young,

just in the prime of his life,

when he died in a nation far from family and friends.

 

I never knew him,

but his photo and life's story touched me then,

and has continued to do so over the years.

 

 

 

I think of his family on days like this and

I wonder about his mom

and how she is doing this Memorial Day weekend;

I wonder how one continues to live when something

as precious, as priceless

 as a son or daughter is taken from you?

 

 

I think of her now as I lay flowers on her son's grave and

as I kneel silently besides this, his final resting place,

touching my fingers to my lips and then to his marker.

 

A bouquet of roses, lavender, Lady's Mantle and an iris fresh from our garden

seems like such a small gift for one who gave his all in service to our country,

but it is all I have brought with me today--

besides tears and a hurting heart.

 

It is a gift for that one mom too-

a tangible sign that someone remembers her son and his sacrifice;

it is a gift that has been laying in my heart for many years

 and at last it is laying where it belongs...

where I have so longed for it to be.

 

 

Some in my ancestral line and extended family have known

 (and still know)

the loss of a loved one from war.

Fathers who left children way too soon in the Civil War and in World War II;

families forever changed in that horrible moment of time.

 

 

This day used to be just a holiday to me...

just another day off of school or work;

it no longer is;

it no longer can be. 

 

 

Lord,

Bless those who have lost a loved one in war.

Give them strength, healing, comfort and peace as they go daily about their lives.

Draw them closer to you on this day and forevermore.

And Lord,

please keep our Armed Forces safe and grant them peace soon;

grant our world peace too.

In the Name of Jesus,

Amen.

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Photos:

Willamette National Cemetery

May 26, 2013

 

Exploring Our Heritage: Pt I

Here in the PNW there are many paths that lead to the sea

and one of those paths passes by a place that history buffs may find absolutely irresistible!

Recently the weather was less than conducive to good photography, or time outdoors, so my DH had a brilliant idea to visit this place that we had flown by more than a time or two.

 

 It didn't take me more than 5-10 minutes to get ready that day
 (I LOVE history THAT much)

and then we were off,

past rural landscapes and some smaller communities,

this time sans cute, white traveling dog (more about that decision later)...

onery little canine:(

 

Stagecoach...
 Can you imagine traveling by stagecoach over dirt roads?

At last we arrived at the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center --

a multi building complex located on Highway 18 just outside the city of McMinnville--

part of the area known as the 'Wine Country' of Oregon.

There we spent the next several hours exploring with the help

of a very informative, friendly tour guide--can I just say our time there was glorious!

 

How many of us have worn linen clothing?
I know I have.
 

 

 Do you know where linen comes from?

(I imagine all my crafter blogging friends do--LOL)

Do you know how flax is made into linen cloth?

Have you held flax in your hands before?

Did you know that flax was once a major crop in Oregon? I didn't.

Here's a link to learn more:

http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/entry/view/flax_and_linen_industry_of_oregon/

(the above is also a great source of Oregon history)

Stuff like this fascinates me...

 

 

And just how was mail delivered in the days before cars?

 In the Yamhill Valley area it was delivered by a mail wagon...

like the one above.

 

 

Do you know the purpose of the netting above the wheel?

I do now and I totally appove it:)

If you don't know I'll give you a hint...it has to do with horses.

I LOVE anything that has to do with horses!

  

 

A large part of the museum's awesome collection was tractors and all kinds of farm machinery--

from pioneer times to around the time of the Korean War.  

My Farmer Boy and I had great fun asking questions that occured to us and

getting very knowledgeable answers!

BTW, do you know what happened to the wheels of tractors during World War II?

And back a little...

do you know what the above machine was used for?

I do now:)

 

 

Another favorite of my hubby and I that are included in the museum's collection is old cars..

LOVE them!

 

More heritage coming soon...

 

What 'treasures' did you unearth this weekend?

My dear hubby brought me home local, juicy, yummy, red 'treasures' yesterday!

Mmm.

 

Did you create or cook something special this week?

I made a triple berry crisp for dessert...

Berry crisp + whipped cream=a happy Aimee.

Mmm.

 

Did you take time to nurture yourself this week?

I need to get back in the habit of daily devotion time again...

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Notes:

A BIG thank you to the two volunteers at the museum who spent time showing us through the complex and answered all of our multitude of questions. You were AWESOME and we really appreciated everything done to make us feel at home!

It is amazing that this center is run TOTALLY by volunteers!

More about their special programs soon...

LOVE it:)

 

Here is their link: 

http://yamhillcountyhistory.org/Yamhill_Valley_Heritage_Center.php

 

A BIG thank you also
 to the volunteers of YVHC for permission to photograph

and post photos here on my blog--thank you! Aimee

 

Rainy Day Thoughts

Outside it's stormy--

Raindrops are falling from the heavens above.

Leaves, branches and newly opened blossoms are swaying in the wind.

Yesterday's sunshine has been replaced by gray, overcast skies.

And yet, even today, there are a few moments of light...

as the gray clouds part momentarily and sunbeams light up the landscape. 

Such has this week been.

More frequently now we hear news from all over the world which

cause our hearts to grieve...

storms hitting our land and those far away.

Lives cut short,

life journeys changed forever,

 dreams brought to an abrupt end.

And these news 'clouds' of sadness and pain

increasingly bring darkness to the moments of our days.

It is not how things were meant to be from the beginning;

it is not how most of us want them to be as we live out our lives on this earth.

So many blessings we've all been given.

So fragile some of them are.

 

Blessings from our household to yours this Friday,

Aimee

 

 

Lord,

I ask You today to

 bring comfort and healing to those who have lost so very much this week;

not just those in Boston and Texas,

but to all those in our nation and worldwide

 who have suffered pain of unspeakable depth in recent times.

Grant them true peace Father God,

and may they again know joy and love in the years to come.

In Jesus' Name,

Amen

 

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Galations 6:2 KJV

~

Photos:

Cherry blossoms

 (thinking of you today M.)

Lilac

Apple tree blossom "Liberty"

Azalea "Ria Hardijzer"

Flowering crabapple tree "Prairifire"

Canadian Geese flying to their summer homes

Flowering dogwood "Cherokee Chief"

 

Blessings for the New Year

Dear God,
My prayer for this New Year's Day is this...
I pray that You will grant peace, hope and comfort to those who enter 2013 with tears on their faces and deep loss in their hearts.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Original Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7O9OqBd2us
See this website also for more information and videos: http://www.e-water.net

Happy Thanksgiving

From our family to yours...have a blessed Thanksgiving Day!

We plow the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all His love.

He only is the Maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread,

We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food;
No gifts have we to offer, for all Thy love imparts,
But that which Thou desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.

Thank you God.

Blessings,
Aimee, Farmer Boy + the Furry Ones
~
Notes:
We Plow the Fields.
Lyrics by Matthias Claudius
Translated to English by Jane M. Campbell, 1861
first appearing in A Garland of Songs
by Charles S. Bere, 1862.
Info as found on
Cyber Hymnal™,  http://www.hymntime.com/tch

This song or at least part of it, brings back some great memories of the play Godspell
(later put to film) and time spent living in view of the one of the waterways of the Emerald City.
I've always loved that beautiful city, this play and the lyrics to this song
on which the play's
All Good Gifts song is based.

Other links:
We Plow the Fields (song)
http://hymntime.com/tch/htm/w/e/p/weplowtf.htm
Thanksgiving overview
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)
To see some photos associated with the Pilgrims please see posts labeled "Thanksgiving"

Photo:
taken during a road trip with my oldest son, October 2012.

Today

I was going to post this morning about another lavender farm;

about the beauty of the world around us;

about a day filled with peace and many blessings.

I can't.

Last night, I stayed with my father and awoke in the early morning to reports

of the horrible tragedy in Aurora, Colorado.

I cannot make sense of this;

I didn't understand Columbine, Virginia Tech, Norway or any of the other mass shootings.

I've never been able to understand the mentality of someone who could take life like this--

so callously, so coldly and in such a calculated manner;

I cannot make sense of someone who would knowingly choose to hurt so many families,

including his own.

God did not create us to be like this;

He created us to love one another--as He loved us.
He condemns acts such as this one.

On this very sad day I send prayers and thoughts

 to those who have lost loved ones,

to those who are wounded and in hospitals-

some fighting for their lives at this very moment,

 to medical staff using every skill they have to save the wounded and heal broken bodies,

to firemen and the police who are dealing with the aftermath

(and those still in danger)

and to the family of this young man.

Lord, be with us on this very sad, very horrible day.

God, bring healing to our land
and the ones that follow it.

God bless,

Aimee