A New Beginning

Hello again! Long time, no posts. Perhaps it is time for a new beginning?

Actually, it just so happens that the word I chose for this new year is "new", and along with that comes the idea of fresh, new beginnings. So now that I am home, now that I have easier access to the Internet (thanks to my youngest son) and also since I would very much like to post some old to me, new to you memories in photos before I add a couple of years more of even newer photo memories, here I am. Oh yeah, speaking of my word for this year, it actually came from my key/theme verse for 2019--you'll find that at the end of the blog post today. It speaks to this idea of newness and so far has been a real blessing to me since the year began. I hope it will bless you as well. 

It’s been so many months since I last posted, and even longer since the events posted actually occurred. And these 2 1/2 years in time have been filled with a multitude of emotions and experiences--way too many to try and catchup with in just one post, and some photos are simply not organized to the point where they're even ready to post--or edit. That is what happens when you are as crazy as I am about recording memories :)

So where to start? I've thought about this quite a bit and just don't have the energy or time right now to go back to where I left you--in Utah, in the autumn of 2016 (the real date for the pictures from the last post). So, instead of continuing our first journey to the South, I am going to post a few favorite pictures I've taken and then, at another date, continue -- in some way -- with that journey.  At least with access to the Internet being easier now (it wasn't then) I might actually get us to the South before we're back there in real life --LOL :)

To start off, I think I'll post by season, and since we just happen to be in winter, I'll start there. Now to be honest, winter is not my favorite season of the year, but it does have its own special beauty...especially at two of my favorite places--the coast and the wetlands. These are a few of my favorite photos from winter 2016-2019--some are not as sharp as I would have liked, but all hold a special place in my heart and in my mind. 

Early morning at Cape Kiwanda

Viewpoint overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Netarts Spit + Netarts Bay

Sandlake Estuary (the new state park is on the left/south side of the photo)

Barview Jetty. Love the winter waves :)

View from Erratic Rock (the actual rock would be behind me in this photo)

Winter camping entertainment. 

Another early morning beach view. 

A new day has started here. 

A new beginning for me, 

a new beginning for you too. 

I wish you a day of peace, joy and love. 

I leave you with my Bible verse for this year. 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: 

old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

II Corinthians 5:17 KJV

Peace, 

Aimee

Return To The Nestucca River National Country Byway: The Canyon

Both Farmer Boy and I have fond memories of the Nestucca River

 from when we were younger...

 

I recall camping along it at least once, under the stars, with my then best friend and also of times spent at a park that was located at the base of a dam (no longer accessible).
My hubby recalls visiting the area of the Meadow Lake dam which failed in the early 60s, fishing the Nestucca River and also of a "swimming hole".

Not so very long ago it became our "mission" to find that somewhat elusive "swimming hole".

Just a note that I am arranging these photos from east to west so,
if you look at the links below,
you'll have a better idea of what to expect.

 

And now some green immersion for this warm summer day:)

 

 

The coast range is a wonderland of ferns, trees and more. I never tire of it!
 

 

Not too far from the site of historic Meadow Lake Dam
you'll enter into the lovely Nestucca river canyon.

 

 

Pretty overhead woodland canopy.

 

 

Our furry passenger on this mission on her way to her beloved dad.
Coming Papa!

 

 

The swimming hole from above.
Much prettier in person where you can truly enjoy the peace of the area.

 

 

Lovely, lovely green. Is it my Celtic DNA that makes me love this color?
There were places on the route that reminded me of a tree "cathedral"--so amazing!
I am constantly amazed at the artistry of our Creator!

 

A small detour off the main road brought us to this nice view.

LOVE (usually) those small detours--

of course there are those narrow, winding, cliff filled, car injuring forest roads

  that I am not too fond of:)
They are not too far from here.

By the way there are a number of waterfalls in this area--some easier to get to than others.

Can I also say that we had a very magical experience while in the canyon?
A beautiful butterfly accompanied our moving car for awhile--
almost flying through our open window.
Totally amazing!

 

 

Rural view as we draw closer to the coast.

 

 

Another thing I never tire of? Clouds, mist and fog on my beloved mountains and hillsides.

 

Good bye for now my beloved Nestucca River--

see you again.

Before I close this post--
in fitting with the beautiful creation experienced along this byway--
a bit of the WORD for your day (even though it's not Wednesday--LOL)

Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD...
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.
Psalms 113:1, 3 KJV

 

Blessings, Aimee

Some info:
There are two routes through this lovely area.
One, the Bald Mountain road is a one lane paved road and, as you may guess from the "mountain" part of the name, it'll take you up in elevation. Later, you will turn onto Bible Creek Rd (two way paved road) which will--in time--rejoin the main route after the campgrounds.
The second and main route is the one through the Nestucca River canyon. On this one, the road is paved except for a few miles of gravel. As I have mentioned, you can also camp here along the river. Both routes are meant to be taken slowly and enjoyed :)
http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/Nestucca%20River.pdf

 

My Collection --thus far--of Nestucca River National Country Byway Posts:

http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2015/03/of-unexpected-blessings-pt-ii.html

(Meadow lake dam)
http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2013/04/springtime-in-coast-range.html
(Bible Creek Rd, Lake, etc.)
http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2013/04/a-different-kind-of-exercise.html
(Bald Mountain/Bible Creek Rd Route)
http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2012/09/into-unknown-of-fear-and-detours-pt-2.html
http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2012/08/into-unknown-of-fear-and-detours-pt1.html
(Bald Mountain/Bible Creek Rd Route--first time)
http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2011/12/advent-journey.html
(Meadow Lake area and more)
http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2010/08/mountain-retreat-for-soul.html
(Meadow Lake area, viewpoint BLM)

And, somewhere, hiding in my files and possibly this website,
 are photos of two of the waterfalls along this route and
one of those narrow, winding, cliff filled, car injuring forest roads

  that I am not too fond of ;)

Coastal Collection (+ A Bit Of A Catchup)

Oh my have we been busy these past weeks.

 

Small One returned from her visit to summer "camp" and we had the pleasure of her company for several days, including a family reunion where we got to chat with relatives we hadn't seen in quite awhile! A lovely trip was made to my beloved mountains where childhood memories were revisited when we rediscovered a swimming hole. Time was spent along the always beautiful sea too where we enjoyed watching a historic train and ate a picnic lunch at a favorite place.

 

New memories were made at a beloved Scandinavian Festival in the valley,

 where a young one tried out folk dancing, and then just a day later, at a beautiful hillside setting, for a wonderful pow wow. These were some of our fun times.

 

More challenging times have been dealing with our house and its ongoing problems. Mature, beloved shrubs and trees had to be cut down---cut down with only a slight glimmer of hope that they will grace our life again. But there was no choice as repairs have to be made on the house before the autumn rain season begins and their continued presence would have endangered my Farmer Boy. Sigh, deep--deep sigh.

 

Speaking of rain--we badly need some. A soaking rain. Actually several soaking rains. This drought is really taking a toll all over the Pacific NW. With all this busyness and stress I feel a bit parched too and am thankful Elul begins this week--I badly need it!

 

And now, a few photos till I have more time:)

 

 

The Three Graces--near Garibaldi + Barview

(love, love, love these beautiful rocks!)

 

 

Neskowin Beach

 

 

Spoiled, cute, white, fluffy dog at Neskowin

 

 

Spoiled, cute, white, fluffy dog having some lunch at Neskowin

 

 

Local residents of Bayocean (bayside)

shot as usual during the not-so-golden hours

 

 

 Cape Meares Lake

and the Cape Meares community

(from Bayocean Dike Road)

 

 

A Neskowin Beach resident

 

 

LOL--love this one:)

 

Before I go, a WORD for Wednesday -- a good verse for Elul too.

 

You caused abundant rain to fall, O God.
When Your inheritance was weary You revived it.
Psalm 68:9 LEB

 

Revive us LORD.

 

Wising you all a joy filled August!

Blessings,

Aimee

 

 

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible.

Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.

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.

 

Answering The Call Of The Cove

This past weekend brought two lovelies into my life--

the first was a predicted negative low tide in several places;

the second was a certain lovely Small One who came to spend the weekend.

With that winning combination, it was a given we'd be exploring tidepools somewhere...

and, after some research I knew just which beach.

 

 

It was a beach from my childhood.

A beach with a pretty little creek that flows into the sea,

a lovely little cove and tidepools!

 

And as luck would have it, we arrived to some very lovely fog which made it all the more magical!

 

 

With high temperatures forecasted for the valley,

and this being a popular state park, I expected crowds.

Surprisingly, the parking lot was nearly empty.

Woohoo!

My thanks to the following for the lovely almost empty parking lot:

the Goonie Festival (Astoria)

and the Rose Festival (Portland),

the forecast of lovely fog,

those who love to sleep in on the weekends

and

the wonderful timing for the negative low tide.

Thank YOU, thank you all!

 

 

The north part of the beach was a different world--

a lovely rocky world with...

 

fossils

 

 

colorful agates and assorted pebbles

 

caves

 

 

and sea life.

 

 

I LOVED it.

I loved it a lot...

even after I slipped on a rock right into a tidepool I still loved it!

Even with an ankle that's still a bit sore and a scrapped up face,

I STILL loved it!

 

 

And I will...

 

I WILL be back.

After all, my camera survived the fall:)

 

Blessings,

Aimee

Links:
Oregon Coast Trail Guide for the area (pdf file)
Fogarty Creek State Park (state park info)
About tide tables
All about tidepools (species, safety and more)
The tide was forecast to be -1.2 when we went. LOVE those negative low tides!

That's History: A Certain Burger Family + The House That is No More

Yep, I recall those days.

The days of the Burger Family.

 

May 2012

Cold frosty glass mugs filled with yummy root beer...

Hot burgers of varying sizes with familiar names...

Yep, I remember.

Do you?

 

Found this bit of history on a drive through Hillsboro some years ago

(as opposed to a drive-thru...) LOL

Kind of makes me hungry for a baby burger, a float and maybe, just maybe, some French fries.

Good thing the Farmer Boy is asleep and I hate driving at night.

Oh well...

 

Another memory from the past some  might be familiar with is this building found on Highway 47...

 

2013

 for years it has stood (well more or less stood) near Forest Grove.

We always looked for it and I think my parents had an ongoing joke that it

would be their retirement home someday.

It probably was quite nice in its time

(I have a thing for old houses).

 

2014

A fairly well known landmark,

over time wind, storms, rain, age and more took its toll. 

You could see its days were numbered...

 

Then, very early this year,

when traveling through the area,

 I noticed something was very, very wrong!

 

2015

Oh, oh.

 

Sadly I didn't get a photo then...

but next trip through I snapped several.

 

I shall miss her.

The area just doesn't seem the same.

 

BTW, because I always, always just HAVE to know

(always)

this was the Heesacker house and

you can find a couple of interesting articles on its history on Oregon Live.

The first is from July 2013 and the second is from autumn of 2014 shortly after she collapsed.

 

 Well that's all on history for the blog tonight.

Now it's time to work on my family history.

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

When It Rains, Sometimes It Pours (But I'm Not Referring To Precipitation)

April was not a good month. No it definitely was not!

I was either sick, recovering from being sick and exhausted all month. Along with that I lost my inspiration for blogging at some point and our high speed Internet earlier in the month than usual.

Then there were the "other" things...

 

Sad sigh #1:

We found out that my Chef son is -- yet again -- moving south. I will really miss our conversations, hikes and drives together, his wonderful cooking...basically I will totally and completely miss seeing him. Sometimes it's really, really hard to be a mom.

Sad sigh #2:

Found out that my best friend of almost 30 years is also moving. She's been there for me through some of the hardest times of my life. And she's more than just a good friend, she's a sister-in-Christ...I already miss her immensely and the move hasn't happened yet. I just have to keep focusing on how grateful I am to God for blessing her with this wonderful opportunity.

 

Sad sigh #3:

A much anticipated trip to one of my favorite places in the US fell through--a place of many memories and lovely landscapes. Soooo disappointed.

Well, there's more---but I think that's more than enough sad sighs for one blog post,

don't you agree? :)

 

 

So, on a more positive note, here's some good things that happened this April...

#1)

Our furnace broke (thank you LORD for getting us through the winter, keeping us safe AND making me aware that there was a problem before something really AWFUL happened ). My wonderfully talented hubby was able to repair it for the total cost of about $10 (let me hear another thank you God!)...

 

#2)

 I -- finally -- had the courage to stand up to one of the slithery ones and, wouldn't you know it, he didn't back down...But at least I lasted a few seconds before my retreat. Yea!

 

#3)

My Chef son promises to send me his gumbo recipe this month! Ever since Teresa started to post her photos from New Orleans and Louisiana, I have been totally inspired to work on my family lines from the South (especially making progress on extended New Orleans family--yippee!). And then, with all those great photos of southern food, I started getting interested in the cuisine of the south--hence my need for the gumbo recipe. Mmm.  Now if I could just afford a trip south...LOL.

Maybe someday!

(And a BIG thank you to Teresa for sharing her trip photos and helping to inspire me)

 

#4)

Though technically in early, early May, I had the opportunity to try some new foods. The first, tendon, was -- well it was interesting. If you've ever had pho, you may have already had this. It doesn't taste bad at all...but the texture is -- well, the texture of tendon is memorable and stayed with me a long, long time. A very long time. However, the flavor of the pho was fabulous and I devoured every single drop of it - tendon and all.

 

#5)

Also in very early May, I had a most wonderful rhubarb hand pie at one of the most wonderful bakeries in all of Portland (Baker + Spice in SW Portland)...let's just say I will be making some of these soon God willing. YUM! Additionally, I've been munching on some yummy cardomom bread from a fav Scandinavian shop...

 

#6)

My Bible reading for 2015 is coming right along and I will most likely be done well before year's end. YEA! I've been much more disciplined and consistent about it this year...usually I have to play catch up:) And, speaking of reading, I was FINALLY able to located a beloved book I first started reading on a stay at Leirvangen, a Norwegian B+B years ago. Can't wait to immerse myself in the land of fire and ice again...oh, and pretend I am riding a Icelandic horse:)

Well that was April, but now it's May --

and May always brings some good, good memories!

 

By the way,

 Feliz cinco de mayo a todos mis amigos y mi familia :)

 

Blessings,

Aimee
 

~ * ~

 

Photos:

Marquam Hill Trail, photo 1

Seaside Beach (access at 12th Street), photos 2, 3, 4, 10

Tryon Creek State Park, photo 5

Seaside Beach (The Cove), photos 6, 7, 8

Yummy pho, photo 9

Link to Teresa's fabulous LA posts:
http://teresakasner.blogspot.com/2015/04/new-orleans-part-deux.html
(this is part 2 of 3 parts; they're all wonderful!)

A special thank you to my son for letting me borrow some of  his photos for the blog
and for forgetting the much loved and most wonderful "M" cookware here--tee hee!
Love you!

BAD HTML...oh well, time to do other things ;)