Our Loveliest Rhododendron

Isn't this a spectacular example of Washington's State Flower?  We've pruned and fertilized and cared for this lovely shrub (tree!) for 12 years, and it is at its most spectacular this Spring. 

My New Piano

Yesterday, my new Fandrich and Sons upright piano was delivered to my music room at home!  It's a moment I've waited my entire life for--a brand-new piano, never used by anyone else.  It wasn't handed down to me, or borrowed.  It was something I looked for (it was a search that spanned many years), and I knew I wanted something unique, something that no one else had.

About 15 years ago, I studied jazz piano and improviation with David Christie, a well-known jazz artist and teacher here in Seattle.  He has two Master's degrees from Cornish School of the Performing Arts in Seattle, and I had over two years working with him, learning from him, and collaborating on a jazz curriculum with him.

David was always speaking about Darrell Fandrich, who at that time, had a small piano shop in Lake City.  Darrell is a Mechanical Engineer, and he developed what he called a 'vertical action' piano, creating a small piano that sounds like the finest concert grand.  His patent is in the Smithsonian Institute.

We made an appointment last week to meet Darrell and his wife Heather at their home and business in Stanwood, a small town 40 minutes north of us. I had the chance to explore and play all of the pianos in his showroom.

After looking at every piano, I finally made my choice.  I now own a Fandrich and Sons 122 Traditional Action piano, hand-built by Darrell.

Here are a few pictures I took last evening. 

Maltby Strawberries are Here!

Yesterday, we bought our first batch of Malby strawberries.  They are like no other strawberries we've ever tasted.  Aren't they lovely?  They are going into a Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie later this week.  Yum!

Cushions for the New Lawn Furniture

Our custom-made Sunbrella cushions arrived yesterday from Ohio!  We went to pick them up,and then came home and tried them out.  They fit perfectly, and they make the furniture truly "Summer-Worthy"!

Doesn't this look like a good place to while away a summer afternoon?

Update on New Picket Fence

Brian is coming along on the new white picket fence.  Last week, he removed the old fence and fence posts,and I used the weed cutter to trim the grass and weeds around the arbor vitae.  It looks ready for something new!

Here are some shots of the 8 sections that have gone up already.  Memorial Day Weekend, Brian will complete the project if the weather holds.

Rhododendrons in the Front Yard

Look at the size and colors of the rhodies in the front yard this year!  Our arborist comes by twice a year and fertilizes them, and you can really tell that it helps them grow.  They are beautiful to see from both inside and outside of the house.

Planting the Garden in the Spring

This last weekend, I gathered together my heirloom vegetable seeds and planted my garden!  It's one of the high points of my gardening year!

There are carrots, rutabagas, peas, two types of beans, and lots more.  The soil this year is excellent, as I put several loads of compost in the raised beds during the fall and winter months.

Tuesday, Our Day At The Beach

Tuesday turned out to be a perfect 'beach' day--72 degrees and cloudless sky.  That's a rarity on the Pacific Ocean!

We put on our hiking shoes, and started down the Beach Promenade, a new path through the woods down to the highway.  Once we crossed the highway,  we plunged into the thick forest, and followed the trail down to the beach.  The sandy beach was deserted, and we had fun looking for driftwood and shells.

Dorothy Anderson Cabin at Seabrook

Seabrook took possession of an old historic cabin last year, and is renovating it.  See the story below.

Dorothy Anderson was born in Norway in August 1891. She came to the United States in 1910 where she settled in Seattle to work for thirteen years in various city hotels. After a divorce and a desire for a change of scenery, she moved out to Washington coast community of Ocean City (located eight miles south of Seabrook). There, she fell in love with the area for its ocean beaches, its forests where deer and bear roamed, and for its abundance of wild birds. In so many ways, it reminded her of her childhood home in Norway and brought back fond memories of her native homeland. Feeling at home, Dorothy decided to build herself a beach cabin all her own.

She cleared her newly purchased property of brush and pulled stumps with her bare hands. It was in 1926 that she built her cabin from logs found on the beach which were transported in a wheelbarrow across Connor Creek. The ceiling of her cabin is made of wainscoting retrieved from a shipwreck. Eight more cabins were added with the help of a part-time handyman. Sadly, those cabins have long since been lost and remain a vague memory by the old-timers of the area.

 
The good news is that Dorothy’s very own little beach cabin was rescued from demolition and relocated right here to Seabrook, WA . She was an important figure this Dorothy, as she is mentioned several times in author Norah Berg’s 1952 autobiography, Lady on the Beach (available at Blind Dog Books). Norah Berg’s own brief brush with fame was when she was recognized and subsequently published by TIME magazine for her accounts of beach combing and living along the WA Coast back in the Depression Era of America. Dorothy, Norah’s close friend, died on January 22, 1976 and is buried at Fern Hill Cemetery in Aberdeen, Washington.   Here's a picture of the renovation-in-progress.    

     

Off to the Beach!

We left Scio and Crabtree Monday around noon, and headed up I-5 to Olympia, where we took the exit to the ocean beaches.  We had a nice, leisurely drive through the small towns east of Olympia, stopping in  Aberdeen for Starbucks and a walk for the dog.

We arrived at Seabrook at 5 p.m. Monday afternoon, checked in to Cedar Stump Cottage, and drove the mile to Pacific Beach for groceries.  Once we arrived back at Seabrook, we had dinner at the Mill 9 Pub.  The food was delicious!

Here's Nala in the car on the way to the beach, looking happy to be along for the trip!

Town of Crabtree in Linn County, Oregon

The tiny town of Crabtree, Oregon, goes back to around 1850. Crabtree Creek and Crabtree Lake were named for John J. Crabtree, a native of Virginia, who crossed the plains in 1845. After overwintering on the Tualatin Plains, John and Malinda bought the William Packwood claim east of the forks of the Santiam in the Spring of 1846.

They built a large log cabin to accomodate their 11 children.  Twins Fletcher and Jasper were the first babies  from the wagon train to be born in the Oregon Territory in the forks of the the Santiam River.

Phoebe Malinda Crabtree, daughter of George Crabtree, married my grandfather's father, George Washington Arnold, linking the two families.  Oregon land grant records show that Isaac Arnold (George's father) and George Crabtree had adjacent land grants, creating close proximity for my great-grandparents George Washington Arnold and Phoebe Malinda Crabree, to meet and marry, and start their family of 9 children.  My grandfather Markest Ernest Arnold was their first child.

Here is a look at the modern-day town of Crabtree, Oregon.

A New Tazo Tea Summertime Drink--Raspberry-Coconut Passion Iced Tea

A couple of minutes down the road in the town of Pacific Beach is a coffee shop called The Surf Board.  It's a trendy little place with wi-fi, coffee and tea, espresso, fresh baked pastries in the morning, and great ice cream.

We tried a new take on Tazo's Passion Iced Tea--here's the recipe. The barista said that Tazo sends their shop several new drink recipes each week to try, and this was their special of the week.

Brew 12 ounces of Passion Tea, and cool.  Put in a glass, and add coconut syrup (one pump) and raspberry syrup  (one pump).  Mix, and pour over over ice.  Yummy!

Seabrook, Washington--A New Beach Town on the Washington Coast

We arrived at Seabrook late Monday afternoon.  The weather was good, in the 60's with sun.  We quickly settled into Cedar Stump Cottage, a two- bedroom, two-bath cottage.  It's best  feature is the sunroom--all enclosed with carpet, lovely furniture, and all the dog supplies you can imagine.  It even has a dog-washing station outside the cottage off the back deck!

Tuesday we got settled in, and drove to Pacific Beach and Ocean Shores.  In the afternoon, we had lunch at the Mill 9 pub in Seabrook--great food!  The weather Tuesday was unbelievable, even for here--75 degrees and sunny--we had a cloudless sky!

We took a long walk on the Beach Promenade, a lovely trail through the woods that takes you to a white, sandy beach. The beach was deserted, and we enjoyed a long walk in the sand and surf.  Nala the Dog loved it, and did well hiking and climbing for an 11-year-old Australian Shepherd!

Evening was spent with a long walk, reading from the extensive book collection here in the cottage, and watching our favorite TV shows on the big-screen TV in the sunroom. Dinner was al fresco on the deck, and  I actually look like I got some sun.

It was a perfect day at the Washington coast!

Arnold Family Section of Providence Cemetery--Scio, Oregon

Here is the grave of my great-grandparents, George Washington and Phoebe Melinda Crabtree Arnold.  My grandfather Ernest Arnold was their first child, born in 1884.  George's father Isaac Arnold came west in a covered wagon caravan in the 1850's, and received 360 acres of land from the government.

Here is my grandparent's grave--Ernst and Alma Hantel Arnold. Next to them is my father's grave, Robert Hantel Arnold, and the grave of Elsie Arnold Cooper, my father's sister.

Here is Elsie's grave--this week is the fifth anniversary of her passing.

Llamas in Scio

There were two llamas in the pasture adjacent to the cemetery.  They were friendly creatures, and we had a few short conversations.  They have such appealing faces, and the amount of wool they carry on their bodies is amazing!

Providence Cemetery and Providence Pioneer Church

We arrived at Providence at 11 a.m. Monday.  The weather was in our favor, with warm temperatures and no rain.  The Providence Church has been beautifully restored, and is currently in use by the Vineyard Fellowship Church.

All of the Arnold family is buried at this cemetery, and it is always a great place for me to do my genealogy--I pick up a name or date here or there, and it helps me to more fully complete the picture of the Arnold family who settled in the forks of the Santiam River in the 1850's.

We spent over an hour cleaning up my father's grave, Aunt Elsie's grave, and my grandparent's grave.  It looked well-kept when we left, and the fresh flowers added a nice touch.  In Scio, the town turns out on Memorial Day (called "Decoration Day") to decorate the graves in the cemetery.

It's a beautiful location on the top of a hill, with a memorial to Joab Powell, founder of the church in the mid-1800's.

Linn County, Oregon--Lamb and Wool Capital of Oregon

Monday morning, we left Albany and stopped at a florist shop for flowers for Providence Cemetery in Scio. There was one florist open in Albany, and the owner was wonderful about helping me choose flowers.  Since the prior day had been Mother's Day, she had literally dozens of roses left, and she let me pick out any flowers I wanted for free!  I couldn't believe it--they were lovely.  I also bought a planter full of white annuals
to put on my grandparent's grave.

About 30 years ago, Scio became almost a ghost town.  All of the shops on main street had closed, and it was very depressing to see this decline when I was there five years ago. Now, I was shocked and amazed to see the re-vitalization of the town in a few short years.  All of Main Street had modern new businesses, even a coffee shop.  All of the historic homes nearby had been restored, and the area of Scio and West Scio had dozens of new homes, replacing the hollow shells of homes and barns there previously.

Here are a couple of shots of the town.  Scio is known for its covered bridges, and there is a well-marked tour through the country of 7 covered bridges.  I am including pictures of Shimanek Bridge here.

My New Picket Fence

Back in 2001 when we bought Crabtree Cottage in Maltby, the front yard fence consisted of unpainted 4x4's too tall for a regular fence.  In between the fence posts, 248 feet of chicken wire was stretched the length of the front yard.  It wasn't my idea of a fence for a home in the country.

Between 2001 and 2004, when my son got married in our yard, I managed to remove each section of chicken wire, cut off the 4x4's at a height of five feet, and buy 8-foot sections of wood picket fence.  Keep in mind that the 8-foot sections were raw wood, and had to be painted (by me!).

By June 2004, the fence built by me was complete, just in time for a late July wedding (which, by the way, was lovely).

By Spring of 2013, the fence was looking pretty shabby, and tree roots had moved some of the 4x4's, creating sections that leaned in toward the yard.  At this point, I called our contractor Brian, told him what I wanted, and he began my new picket fence.

In early May, Brian bought new 4x4'-s ("Gothic" style), and bought 30-8 foot sections of picket fence, which he had to paint, not me!  By the time we left on vacation last weekend, the entire fence, posts and all, was removed and hauled away.

Here are some pictures of the beginning of the project.

Providence Church, Scio, Oregon

On a gently sloping hillside overlooking the Santiam Valley stands today the historic Providence church between two groves of stately fir trees. Back of the church is a well-kept pioneer cemetery. The church is located about half way between Scio and Lebanon on a side road to the east.

The early history of the Providence Church is inseparable from that of its first preacher, the colorful Joab Powell. He and his wife and 10 children --  two had died previously and two sons had preceded the family West --  arrived in Oregon in 1850 from Missouri. They took up a 640 acre donation land claim on the forks of the Santiam River.

From the moment of Joab’s conversion in 1824 in Tennessee, his consuming desire was to save sinners from eternal damnation. No small wonder that upon arrival in Oregon his thoughts turned to organizing a church. On April 9, 1853 Rev. Powell and 19 others signed as charter members.

In discussing a fitting name for this the 14th Baptist congregation to be organized in Oregon, Joab suggested, “Since Providence has led us to this place and prospered us in the forming of a church, why not call it Providence Baptist Church.” And so it has remained through the years.

The first building was constructed of logs cut and hauled from some distance. It had a shake roof and puncheon floor. Home-made tallow candles placed in holders along the sides furnished light. A raised platform with a rude desk and chairs and a mourner’s bench were at the front end. The pews were straight and hard. The log church was replaced by the present church on the same site.

Joab Powell was a big man, weighing 300 pounds with a voice of incredible volume. He was described as a rugged character, preaching a rugged gospel in rugged times. He was known to convert as many as 50 in a day. The mourners’ bench was usually crowded. Immersion was in nearby Jordan Creek with Powell immune to the chilly waters in which he stood hip deep. The church numbered 400 members, the largest of any Baptist church in the Oregon territory. It is estimated that Joab baptized 3,000 persons in his ministry....

A fitting tribute to the Powells and other pioneer members of Providence was held July 2, 1922. A thousand people gathered including a number of distinguished citizens who had grown up in the area.  Those present decided to erect a monument to the original charter members.  Funds were solicited and two years later on Sunday, June 15, 1924, the monument was dedicated.  Speakers at the event included historian John B. Horner, professor at Oregon State University (then OAC), its president William Jasper Kerr, Oregon Journal editor B. F. Irvine, and Oregonian editor E. B. Piper.  Only one of the 20 names whose names appear on the monument was present, the lone survivor was Powell’s daughter Ann Carmical.

The church stands today as a reminder of the faith of the pioneers and especially of Joab Powell who was deep-rooted as an oak, stern yet full of faith and compassion for his fellow man.

Trip to Albany, Oregon--May 12, 2013

We left early this morning to make the trip to Scio, Oregon.  We are staying the night in Albany, Oregon, just a few miles from the small towns of Jefferson and Scio.

Albany is one of the world's largest producers of timber and ryegrass seed.

South of Portland, we passed field after field of ryegrass, waiting to be harvested for its seed.

Albany is Oregon's 12th largest city, filled with museums, antique shops, and 700 historic buildings.  We stayed at a hotel several blocks from Timber Linn Park, host to the worlds largest timber festival and lumberjack contests.

It was a lovely day for a drive, and the further south we traveled, the warmer it got.  This afternoon is a comfortable 73 degrees.

In the morning, we leave for Scio, bringing flowers for my father's grave, my grandparent's graves, and my Aunt Elsie's grave. This week is the 5th anniversary of her death.

Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve--Snohomish, Washington

Saturday, we drove down Broadway in Maltby to Connelly Road, turned left after the railroad tracks, and arrived on a warm, sunny afternoon at Bob Heirman Wildlife Preserve.  This preserve consists of 340 acres filled with birds and many types of waterfowl.  A short walk down to the river from the parking lot begins the three-mile loop through the area.

Here are some shots of this natural preserve.  All you can hear are the birds singing and the sound of the river.

Flowering Crabapple--Royal Beauty

Here is my Royal Beauty flowering Crabapple tree in full bloom.  It is truly the most outstanding tree on the whole property, and we wait every year for the two-week show of blooms each May.

Coral Rhododendron

My lovey rhodie is getting ready to unfurl its spring beauty in the back yard.  The color of this lovely shrub is unusual, and the flowers are very large.  They make for a huge splash of color in the middle of the back yard here in Maltby.

Clematis and Apple Blossoms

Talk about a profusion of purple and white blossoms!  The clematis vines and flowers have doubled in size in the last seven days, and the white blossoms of the five apple trees have created a white carpet of tiny blooms in the pasture.