In the Footsteps of My Farmer Boy

When my wonderful hubby was younger,

he did some crazy things.

One of them was walking across railroad trestles...

something I would NOT ever advise anyone to do!

 

But,

thought I,

what would that be like...
to be so high above the ground?

 

And of course,
being me,

I had to find out--
in a MUCH safer manner though :)

On the Banks-Vernonia State Trail,
Buxton Trestle.
700 glorious feet long,
80 wonderful feet high.

Here is a link to the Oregon State Parks brochure on this great trail:
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/images/pdf/bv.pdf
and another to some Oregon State Park photos and information:
http://www.oregonstateparks.org/park_145.php?md=pic
(if you scroll down the photos you'll come to a photo of the trestle from below)

Where have you hiked, gone horsebackriding or ridden your bike lately?
If I can, I want to do more outdoor activities this autumn--I find my endurance very low.

Blessings,
Aimee  

On the Cusp of Autumn

This morning we woke up to a beautiful, refreshing drizzle...

another sign that Autumn will be here soon.

I also woke up to the sad fact that I was still unable to upload photos to blogger,

but now -- about 1 1/2 hours later --

I am.

Go figure:)

No matter,

I spent time lost in sweet memories of autumns past--

and came to the conclusion that I am more then ready to let summer go.

So what do you think of when you reflect on the season of autumn?

Is it wrapping yourself in a nice, warm quilt? 

Or perhaps it is something else?

There are so many things that are part of our autumn here in the US

(and perhaps where you are too)

Thanksgiving,

brightly colored leaves,

wisps of fog hanging on the hillsides,

snow falling in the mountains,

a lit fire in the fireplace

and more.

 

Blessings,

Autumn

 

Photos:

the 2012  St. Mary's Quilt + Craft Fair,

Vernonia, OR

(see yesterday's post for contact information)

Wish I was there today:)

Of Quilts, Afghans + Other Handicrafts

This was going to be a post filled with photos of the amazing quilts, afghans and other handicrafts I saw today during my trip to St. Mary's Quilt + Craft Fair in beautiful Vernonia, Oregon...but I cannot get any photos to upload from my computer and I no longer can use the old interface as a backup as I've been forced to do lately...
You will just have to believe me that the church was filled with quilts of every size and color you could imagine, pillows, afghans, dish gardens, table runners and a whole lot more! We truly loved it and, yes, a new quilt found its way home with me as did an adorable baby dress towel (that I would love, love, love to show you because it is the cutest!) ....

Additionally we had a great lunch of beef barley stew (love this stuff), apple pie (yum), a roll and a delectable marinated salad...oh and my friend and I had a lot of fun being waited on by some of the most respectable, cute, attentive kids that we've ever met! They were AMAZING and truly had servant hearts!

 

The fair is going on for a few more days if you want to enjoy time among some gorgeous quilts and more! It is located at St. Mary's Catholic Church. They are located next to the new Vernonia school (SO happy for little Vernonia who has been plagued by two very bad floods) at 960 Missouri Ave. The phone is: (503) 429-8841. Admission is $1 (yes, one dollar).


FYI:
Cell service can be iffy in this mountain valley; depends somewhat on your carrier and a lot--it seems--on your location.

Found a new, amazing way to get to Vernonia today---sometimes getting lost IS a great thing:)

In trying to keep up with my hubby who (foolishly) walked across railroad trestles in his youth, I walked across my FIRST one today...and I didn't crawl:) Of course, the one I walked across had a LOT of safety features and was meant to be walked across. BTW---the views from up top were very, very nice as were the ones on our NEW, preferred route to Vernonia!

And last but not least, we saw the following today: lots of horses (regular and miniatures too), alpacas (love them), dogs (of course), deer (3 does under some apple trees), bison (yep in an idyllic setting too)...no cougars though (BIG sigh of relief) or bear (ditto) during our hikes>

What are you up to?
Blessings,
Aimee

PS: Will post current photos later--if I can. As per my usual disclaimer I have no association with St. Mary's Church except being a repeat visitor. And now---politics:)



 

A Trip into our Past: Brownsville + Beyond

Recently we had a very busy day--
my Farmer Boy and I.

 We made a trip into town,

driving through this bridge on the way there
(perhaps you movie fans recognize it?)
My husband badly needed a haircut and shave
so we stopped in at the local barber first--
I highly recommend him!

Afterwards my hubby accompanied me to my appointment at Jo's--
my favorite beauty shop...
I needed a lot of work done, so he had a long wait
 but I emerged a different woman!

Then it was on to the dressmaker---

to get fitted for a new dress.

I wanted something really nice for the coming autumn church socials.

Wow! This photo makes me look a LOT thinner than my mirror at home does--

my hands and feet look a little strange though.

Our last stop was at the town grocer

where I picked up some staples for the kitchen

and a few other things.

And then we were off,

"over the rivers

and through the woods"...

to our ancestors sweet, Sweet Home

and elsewhere.

 Where have you been lately?

Blessings,
Aimee

Photos:
Bridge into Brownsville
(have you guessed the movie it was in yet?)
Photos 2-5
Linn County Historical Museum,
Brownsville
(see below for more info)
Photo 6
The Gilkey Covered Bridge

Notes:
A very special thank you to the volunteer staff at the Linn County Historical Museum who gave me permission to take photos inside their AWESOME museum! My hubby, who has visited some very fine museums--including those in Washington, DC said it was one of the best he had seen
(I agreed). We thoroughly enjoyed our time there and want to go back to do some research on our Linn County ancestors). Here is their website where you can see some more photos:  http://www.co.linn.or.us/parks/museums/historymuseum.html

In addition to the museum and the historic (and incredibly beautiful) Moyer house,
Brownsville was the location for quite a few scenes in the film Stand By Me...
which was one of the reasons we wanted to go there.

After Brownsville,
we traveled the scenic byway
"Over the Rivers and Through the Woods"
to Crawfordsville
(covered bridge there)
and into Sweet Home where we had to eat at our fav drive-in.
Then up to see two more covered bridges--Hoffman + Gilkey.
It was a great summer trip:)
Here is a link to Brownsville's Chamber of Commerce
with more visitor info:
http://www.historicbrownsville.com/

Last, but certainly not least, I need to thank Becky of
http://grandmabeckyl.blogspot.com/
for arousing my interest in
 seeing historic Brownsville from a post she did quite awhile back--
she and I both share a love of historic places, besides other things:)

Walking Among the Dahlias

A walk among the flowers can do the soul so much good.

It turns a sad day into a glad one as you find yourself caught up in the beauty of creation.

So many colors,
so many sizes,
so many varieties...

I love how the light of the sun makes each flower come alive--
makes them glow...

Beautiful, amazing, gorgeous...I need more adjectives to describe these blessings of the garden.

And then there is the life within the garden...

the amazing, captivating bees...

I didn't always enjoy bees.

In fact, we had a very bad relationship.

Every summer one of them would sting me...

every summer.

Now we get along---and I don't mind sharing garden space with them at all!

But I still don't like yellow jackets, wasps, hornets...

and right now they are their normal angry selves---

another sign that we are in the last days --

calendar wise--

of summer.

Do you get along with the bees of your summer garden?

Today is a very sad day for me--my trip to see my kids and grandkids has fallen through

(sigh)

and my hubby is resting so there will be no trips today among the dahlias at the farm

or the evergreens and vine maples of the mountains

or along the ocean beaches

to lift my spirits.

 

But I have come up with another way to help lift them...

today and tomorrow

(or on whatever day you find this post),

I give you permission to copy one of these photos as my gift to you

and use them for any personal, NON-commercial use you desire

(it MUST be a NON-COMMERCIAL use).

 

And a friendly reminder, permission is given for just this ONE post please.

 

I hope that you will find one that blesses your spirit today:)

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Photos:

The dahlias at Swan Island Dahlia Farm,

Canby, Oregon

Their website is:

http://www.dahlias.com/

 

 

Into the Unknown: Of F.E.A.R. and Detours (pt 2)

Sorry for the delay--life has been a bit busier lately:)

The miles passed, the astoundingly beautiful scenery continued---non stop---as we made our way over the mountains. But despite the fact that there was NOTHING I saw that was scary, my anxiety and fear continued at a high level. I had an idea though; I knew how to stop the nasty emotion I was feeling and how to regain safety and peace. As I had said before, I 'knew' this area...

Soon there would be another choice to make---

one road that would get us off the mountains

and onto the safety of the lowlands (the 'known').

 The other, a continuation of the official 'detour' and more of the dreaded unknown.

Despite my protests, my husband had made up his mind and he turned to the right--
the road that kept us in the mountains. He had no fear of the unknown,

even though this was unfamiliar territory to him too.

 I wish I could have felt that way.

  Again, amazing beauty

(these photos don't do it justice)--believe me!

Tree covered hillsides, woodlands, deep forests

(and even a little roadside 'waterfall')--

I knew there were bigger ones here too, hidden away in the woods.

And then we were there---in the realm of the 'known'.

I once again felt safe and my anxiety disappeared (for a.while) 

But what a price I had paid--all that emotional output for nothing. All those photos of the gorgeous forest and mountains lost forever by my need for control; my desire to feel 'safe'

when all along, we really were safe--

there in the middle of God's mountainside garden.

~

There is a time when fear is good; when it is even helpful.
I know this from an experience when I was a young, pregnant mom on a country road.

But sometimes fear is just this....false evidence appearing real,

and it takes a HUGE toll on us--body, mind and spirit.

I know, I've paid the price too many times.

 

And the funny thing is I am looking forward to repeating this same route ASAP,

this time to truly savor and embrace all that is there in that area.

 But it won't be the same...it never could be because of my CHOICE to live that day in the past

and in the future (instead of in the now).

And quite honestly because of my inability to let go and trust,

truly trust that HE is always with me,

even when detours come along my way.

~
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;

Courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

As it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

If I surrender to His Will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with Him

Forever and ever in the next.

Blessings,

Aimee

Photos: Oregon's northern coast range.

Notes: 

 From what I have read,
the first 4 lines were possibly written by Reinhold Niebuhr and the
remainder
of the prayer added later by an anonymous author. Source + link for more
information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serenity_Prayer

The acronym F.E.A.R.--false evidence appearing real is not my original work. From what I can find on the Internet, it may be the work of an anonymous author. If anyone knows differently, please leave me a comment so I can properly credit the source.

Recent Events II + the WORD on Wednesday

This blog will return to regularly scheduled programming--

sometime.

But recently Aimee has been busy

sharing her hubby's clam chowder at the coast.

And she has been...

traveling new hilltop roads in search of an elusive covered bridge

(but the views were awesome).

And Aimee has been busy...

gathering up the culinary lavender from her own yard

which has been drying on a line under the kiwi arbor...

which, by the way, are really BIG this year:)

And this gal has been making some very, very yummy apple butter today

By the way, beware of the hubby with a mug and spoon in his hand

AND

hunger in his eyes

(of course who can blame him as the sweet smell of apples, sugar, spice

and more spreads through the house).

Mental note to self:

contact Momzoo and ask her how one is to get any sleep with that yummy smell permeating all corners of the house:)

And before the apple butter,

the trip to the coast,

the search for the elusive covered bridge,

Aimee was busy making apple pie filling...

and

slicing a lot of apples

(a lot by my standards)

and eating quite a few too.

And Aimee has been busy

working on her other blog

and spending way too much time working on her family history.

She is also working on yard stuff

(but mostly her best friend is)

And did I say

peeling, slicing + coring a lot of apples!

 

Yes Aimee has been busy...

busy having FUN:)

 

What have you been up too?

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

The WORD:

And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Genesis 1:11-13 KJV

 

Notes:

Mo's clam chowder

(yum)

somewhere in rural Oregon

(more shall be revealed)

one of two bags of dried culinary lavender

(Yum! Made some lemon lavender sugar cookies too)

applesauce on the way to becoming yummy apple butter

(this is after about 5 hours in a crock pot, mostly on low)

easy, easy apple pie filling ready to be frozen

(I am SO hungry for apple pie)

apple slices taking a lemon water bath--LOL

my favorite kitchen tool right now.

 

Recipes:

Easy, easy pie filling

http://www.momzoolife.com/2011/10/28/apple-pie-filling-in-the-freezer-3/

(link to original poster, Julia also)

"Crock pot" apple butter

http://www.momzoolife.com/2009/10/15/apples/

Lemon lavender sugar cookies

No recipe really...

I just added a little organic lemon juice and some dried culinary lavender (about 2 tsp or so) to a

cookie mix I had bought some time ago. I was craving lavender that day...

(my hubby actually ate them).

Recent Events

Life has been a little busy lately:

a spur of the moment trip to a dahlia farm

and a (new-to-me) State Park.

A special trip for Elberta peaches

that led to BOTH peaches

and the elusive Gravenstein apples

we had been searching for:)

The harvesting of some of our heirloom apples

(alas I don't know their name--sigh)

A new family addition.

Another road trip to the Land of Linn

(LOVE that place)

and 3 covered bridges.

The chance discovery of an AMAZING historical museum

that my hubby

(who has seen many Washington DC and other museums)

called one of the best he's ever seen!

A visit to some of the locations where they filmed Stand By Me

(unfortunately it was a quick visit),

a trip along another scenic byway,

a root beer float at my fav drive-in

(the kind from my childhood; not a drive-up window!).

 

Sunny days,

a blue moon night over the mountains of rural Oregon,

traveling through -- at least -- 5 counties,

 a yummy blueberry peach scone from a farm bakery

and a homemade peach crisp

 

Tomorrow will be busy too with a whole lot of apples to be made into

apple pie filling,

apple butter

(or applesauce)

and maybe

(well who knows)...

 

What are you up to?

 

Blessings,

Aimee

 

Photos + PNW Farm Info:

1) Swan Island Dahlia Farm--Canby, Clackamas County, OR

Their festival is over but the fields are still open to visitors.  

I will post new photos soon;

photos from 2010 can be found here:

http://aimeeonthemountainside.blogspot.com/2012/08/another-day-another-journey-in-farmland.html

You can find a link to their website there too.

LOVE this farm--a wonderful place to visit!

 

2) Ernst Horseshoe Lake Orchards--St. Paul, Marion County, OR

Yummy Elberta peaches and Gravenstein apples 

can be found here in a beautiful rural setting with lots of scenic views of

hops, roses, corn fields and even a historic State Park nearby.

***I am told they will have the peaches for about one more week

and apples for a bit longer than that.***

 I am still celebrating our wonderful FIND of Gravensteins!

Contact: 3118 Horseshoe Rd., St. Paul, OR

503-633-4355

 

3) Land of Linn

(better known as Linn County)

Crawfordsville Covered Bridge,

Brownsville Museum

(love, love, love)--

more photos in a future post...

here is the museum's Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linn-County-Historical-Museum/291491264292446

I can't get enough of this county, can you tell?

BTW--what do you think of the mixer?

LOVE artifacts from times past:)

 

4) French Prairie Gardens + Family Farm

Yummy baked goods--I am particularly fond of their blueberry-peach scone!

LOVE it when we are in this area:)

Here is their website:

http://www.frenchprairiegardens.com/

Besides the yummiest baked goods, they have special events and much, much more...

LOVE the flowers beds in the front of the farm store!

 

Note:

Also coming soon will be the conclusion of my F.E.A.R. mountain trip...

I feel the need to rewrite it a bit.

As per my usual disclaimer--

I have no association with any of the farms mentioned here

 except I found them all great places to visit...:)

Into the Unknown: Of F.E.A.R. and Detours (pt1)

From awhile back---

so that I will remember.

We were headed up to one of my favorite areas in Oregon. I was anxious and not feeling well due to some stomach issues. We passed the area I hate, with no incident (of course); I began to relax and enjoy the scenery and then it happened...

A detour sign; road closed ahead...the familiar, the known was gone.

My hubby turned our car to the left and immediately (though there were no road signs), I knew where we were--it was the one road I feared and had always 'sworn' I would NEVER, ever go on. And we were now traveling up it.

My protests increased; my anxiety level did too as we continued upward on this twisty, narrow (one lane) road with no guardrails.  Yes, this road is meant for "the more adventurous" (really, that is the description for this road) and I wasn't feeling that way this day.  

Soon we were at the summit...of course my anxiety did not stop me from jumping out to take a photo or two.. The view, though pretty, was a bit disappointing in areas--I'll let you guess why...

but the beautiful outnumbered the not so pretty;

wildflowers being wonderful at this elevation this time of the year! 

  The curves continued--my hubby insisted we continue too (of course to turn around and go back now meant I would be on THAT side--something I didn't want to do either). The road really wasn't that bad--though very twisty and really, really narrow. To give credit to my husband, he was traveling SLOWLY (because of me, I'm sure) and we had enough room (though barely) to let the few oncoming vehicles, including a Sheriff, by. The road was in good shape too--it's surface smooth.

Just what was I afraid of? Ah, the unknown of course and the lack of control I had over this situation (reminiscent over some incidents in my past). And the road reports I had read...the questions not yet answered: Just what lay beyond the next curve; what dangers could we face here in the almost wilderness? What if we got stranded on this little traveled mountain road? Or accidently turned and got lost on one of the many unmarked, no cell service side roads?

So much beauty; so much fear in my heart...

To be continued...