A Walk Through PNW History: Thompson's Mill

Not sure if it is my pioneer DNA,

or the fact that I love, love, love historical places,

or that the nearby town of Shedd is SO very close to my beloved Sweet Home...

but I just couldn't resist visiting this fairly new (2007) Oregon State Heritage Site!

Can I just say right something right now? I am so very glad I did!

Want to join Farmer Boy and I ?

We arrived at the mill one sunny Sunday morning and for quite awhile had the place to ourselves---except for the helpful park staff!

This is what it is all about!

Come to think of it...this would make a beautiful 'bouquet' for the table--

it's SO natural and earthy!

Old millstones used to grind the grain into flour; later they would use metal rollers instead of the stones...

I do love these though!

BTW--this mill is the OLDEST surviving gristmill in Oregon.

In fact, it opened not too many years

after some of our family's ancestors arrived in the PNW

and before Oregon's statehood.

Look at these old grain sacks..beautiful!

How would you like to get your flour this way?

And this amazing collection?

Beautiful--

and there was more!

Old posters, ads, photos are to be found on the walls --

throughout the mill, which is a really big place!

(BTW--they do give tours,

which I am sure would have been fascinating...

but we chose to do a self tour).

Whichever way you choose-

there are exhibits, machinery and equipment of every sort...

to help you understand the different parts of the mill, the equipment you are seeing,

the history and more!

Since my DH is very mechanically minded, he was able to help with info too!

(I love that about him)

Love this old building---

part of it is built over the water---and, have I said this yet, it is TALL and HUGE?
It was a high point of our trip that day--

and I am still enjoying it by looking through the many, many photos I took:)

A peaceful view...

why don't we stop and enjoy it for a moment?

See you for part 2 of the tour in a few ...

Blessings, Aimee

Of Squirrels, Oaks and Acorns in High Places

It was peaceful up there that day.

Over our heads was a mostly blue sky

with a few white clouds to add interest.

After a bit of a climb

we paused to take in the serenity of the place.

-

Soon--

a friendly couple stopped to visit with us for quite a long time

as we sat on a bench overlooking the beautiful valley below,

and the mountain range beyond.

---

But later we

spied another visitor (or more likely a resident)

who didn't have time to visit--

A very cute visitor/resident

A very athletic one too

Guess he couldn't stop and visit because
he was on a mission--

a food gathering one.
And we, his amused observers wish him much success always,

because even though he didn't stop and visit,

he blessed us anyway!

~

Blessings from the PNW,

Aimee

A Touch of Germany--in America

I knew where I wanted to go on the Sunday of our recent 4 day holiday weekend-

it was a place I remembered well.

A place where I had spent some happy times

with friends and family many years ago...

a place proud of its cultural and religious heritage-

And a place where a little bit of Bavaria lives on,

in the heart of those whose ancestors came from Germany long ago

and

--for awhile--

in the heart of those who come to visit,

including this great-great granddaughter of German immigrants.

It is Mt Angel,

a town

located in the Willamette Valley

of Oregon,

between the coast range and Cascade Mts.

A pretty place

where you will find...

dancing children-

during Oktoberfest

and

always over the water in this fountain!

Unique public art--

like this decorated pole and...

a glockenspiel

(which unfortunately we had just missed)

Here is a closer look at the paintings on the tower though:)

Lots of flowers--
in window boxes

and in beautiful hanging baskets.

There you will also find a beautiful historic church.

A town resident told us that many places,

including this church,

had suffered damage in an earthquake in the early 1990's and had to

undergo a lot of repair work to make it safe to use again.

I am glad that the repair work was successful!

You can see the church from quite a few places in town because it is so tall

and because it was built on a slope above the downtown district.

This is the church from the rear.

-

I do love historic churches

--from the small, simple, pioneer ones--

to those that are large and more ornate.

--

I also love towns and cities

which make an effort to preserve their history!

-

Do you have a favorite historic church?

A favorite town that celebrates its heritage?

Feel free to share...

Blessings,

Aimee

The Word on Wednesday

For those who mourn --

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die…A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance…” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2a, 4 KJV

-

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me; because the LORD hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted…to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…”
Isaiah 61: 1a, 2b, 3a KJV

-

“ …for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.” Jeremiah 31:13b KJV

-

“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4 KJV

-

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away..." Revelations 21: 4 KJV

~

Recently, I was reflecting on how Christ too experienced the loss of a parent during His time on earth. That's right--Jesus' step-father, Joseph, His childhood protector and provider, almost certainly died some time before Christ began His earthly ministry or at the latest, before Christ's crucifixion. And although the Bible does not answer the specifics of Joseph's death-the when, the where, the how-we can be sure that his family would have mourned his loss just as we do today when a loved one passes away.

This knowledge comforts me--

Jesus really does know what my family and others are going through as we say our last goodbyes.

He has stood at the graveside of a good friend and wept.

He has seen--firsthand--the suffering and pain of those around Him.

And, it is clear from the verses above, that while there is still death, pain, sorrow and grief on this earth, that God promises to comfort those who will take His outstretched hand and draw close to Him.

Blessings, Aimee

Notes: My mom is still with us as I write this. She is receiving good hospice care and both my father and sibling are able to spend much time with her. A heartfelt thank you to those who are praying for our family at this time:)
Photo: An angel at a cemetery we passed earlier this year.

Travels in the PNW

Our Labor Day weekend travels brought us to many peaceful places--
to the top of mountains,
into and past woodlands,
past many fields--both empty and those with crops still not harvested,
over and beside rivers and creeks,
to places of PNW history and culture--
then finally,
to a place I knew would speak even more joy, peace and beauty to my soul--
a place also located on a 'mountain' of sorts.
A place where people have gone to for a long time to do the very thing I wished to do
But before we get to that place,
here are some other photos from our 4 day weekend--
hope you enjoy them :)

A small, historic church we passed during our travels

A field being worked-
I love the green contrasted with the gold and blue.
I love a lot about this photo actually-
I have a lot of respect for farmers,
my adopted 'dad' -
my best friend's dad-
was a farmer...
I miss his smile, wit and love of life!

Not too bad of a shot considering it was taken from a moving vehicle!
Not sure I saw the trees and field until I was processing it;
now I like it even more:)
I often find 'surprises' like this!

A view of the beautiful Cascade Mountain range that can be found in
both Washington and Oregon.
I took this photo, though, because I liked the lines formed by the poles --
I love the patterns and lines that are found all around us-
in nature, on buildings and just about everywhere you look!

And the last one for tonight
--maybe--
a beautiful town church as seen from a nearby field.
-
Now this speaks peace to me:)
Blessings from the PNW,
Aimee
-
I want to take a moment
to thank both visitors and those who have been following my blog!
Your presence here is always appreciated,
and my sincere hope
is that you will leave my little place on the web feeling blessed!
Peace always -- A.

And the Trip Down

What goes up,

must come down

(or so the saying goes)

-
And we needed to come down...

since we don't have a cabin up there,

and since it was just a trip and it was time to head home.

-

Despite my making it up

and my immense joy at doing so,

I knew we should try another way down...

so we did.

---

Of course coming down a mountain,

the road involved a lot of beautiful curves and winding roads,

signs like this,

and road grades of about 17% in at least 2 places

-

BUT

it was a lot easier on me then the road up had been

and still very, very pretty

And as I sit here typing...

I'm thinking when will we go back?

Because, despite the fear, I really want to!

-

Blessings on your travels,

Aimee

Finally Did It!

I love mountains--I really, really do!

But there have been a couple places, in the NW mountains, that I have avoided because of past fearful incidents---

As of this weekend, there is one less of those places:)

-

So let's take a trip while I conquer THAT place!

The road up is an interesting one.

Lots and lots of trees.

And you know I love trees!

Lots of curves and...

views like this one.

Lots of clear views like this one...

as you climb higher and higher up the mountainside.

But after what seems like an eternity

(which is actually a lot less when the passenger

- yours truly -

is not asking the driver to travel 10 mph)

you reach the top

the peak

the summit

THE GOAL

(and yes I did consider dropping to my knees and kissing the ground).

But no time for that because now comes the hike--

a short hike

on a seriously steep hillside...

(memo to self: NEVER wear sandals to hike.)

Of course, mountain goat Farmer Boy does not need to worry--

he is sure-footed in all kinds of footwear--

but even he said the hillside was steep:)

However, the short hike in slippery sandals was well worth it for this-

BEAUTIFUL!

By this time I was giving thanks for the trees, I was leaning against-

first because I was still shaking from the drive up

and secondly..

they gave me something to hold onto while I was trying to get some photos of the beautiful vistas.

But I did keep thinking--in between the shaking--

wow am I glad we kept going!

(of course there were few places to turn around at)

But really, I was thankful...

because I love the views from mountains,

the moss laden trees,

plants that are hidden in the forests and

time with my DH--the mt goat.

Speaking of plants--there were many--some with red berries

(sorry but the camera--I mean I--was shaking too much on that photo),

this pretty little flower,

and these.

I really, really wish I had taken a better photo of these--

they were really pretty!

I have no idea what they were though.

My DH wasn't feeling well so he returned to the car-

and I walked a bit more-no longer shaking

in the mostly flat area of the lower part of the park.

There were only 2 other people there so I had the area mostly to myself.

Myself and the tall, tall trees.

And the views.

And the shadows.

And the tall, tall, tall trees.

And then it was over...well except for the drive DOWN!

-

BUT I did it

(and this time I won't wait some 30 odd years more to do it again)!

-

Have you conquered any old fears lately?

Found blessing in a special place?

Blessings from the mountainside,

Aimee

The Word on Wednesday

And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.“
Mark 6:30 NKJV

As we move closer to Labor Day, it is becoming more and more evident that mom will soon cease her earthly labors and go on to her heavenly rest. Every time our home phone rings I dread answering it because it is the line my sibling generally uses to call me and I don't want to hear THOSE words.

Yes, I don't want my mom to suffer and I know that in heaven she will know eternal peace, perfect love and joy, no pain, fellowship with Christ and happy reunions with family and friends long since passed on--but...
-
the thought of life without her always young spirit, her sense of humor, her constant love, her prayers, her smile, her conversations; it is something I am not ready for. I don't think it is an easy thing to say goodbye to someone who has been so much a part of your life, is it?
--
So I am tired--not physically, but definitely emotionally and spiritually. I am in need of a retreat for my soul. I need to heed God's call and come away for awhile--with Him--and rest my heart there, in His presence, under the shadow of His wings and I don't need to, as much as I'd like to, climb the mountains, visit the desert or find refuge in the forests to pray, meditate on His Word or just be silent before Him.
-
Blessings,
Aimee

Note:
“Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
Photo:
A valley view from the coast range.

The Word on Wednesday

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills,

from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD,

which made heaven and earth,
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved:

He that keepeth thee will not slumber.
Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is thy keeper:

the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand.
The sun shall not smite thee by day,

nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil:

He shall preserve thy soul.
The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth,

and even for evermore.
Psalms 121 KJV

-

May the LORD who made heaven and earth fill you with His presence this week.

Blessings,

Aimee

-

Photo: coast range and foothills

Note: this has been my favorite Bible chapter since I was a teenager.

A Mountain Retreat for the Soul

I needed to get up into the mountains of the NW again-

I knew it

To be among the tall trees of the forests

and the ferns and wildflowers there

To breathe in the peace that is found on the mountainside,

in a world far away from the noises of daily life

To listen, instead, to the restful sounds of nature

and

to feel my heart and spirit soar and yet be soothed

as the road would lead us upwards

To see the birds of the air

flying above the hillside

To see, too, the creatures of the meadows.

To leave my burdens behind --

to allow myself to be renewed in body, mind and spirit.

To remember, again,

that it is from the Maker of heaven and earth that my help comes from.

And
to be in awe, again,

at the handiwork of His hands--

The hands that created this garden--

the garden of mountains,

forests

and

meadows.

-

So I listened to the longing of my heart,
the call of my soul
and this past weekend my DH and I traveled up that winding road to those mountains.

And my heart again smiled

because I remembered.

-

Blessings,

Aimee

-

Where do you go when your soul longs for a time of refreshment?

A time of renewal?

-

Photos: coast range