Oregon City, Oregon - Week 1 - January 4 - January 10, 2021

Oh - I really liked typing our 2020...so easy to do....but the year was so hard in so many ways, so I will be happy to change it to 2021

I have set out a course in the woods that is a mile long.  I mapped it my "Map My Walk".  It crosses all of the bridges that I built and the one Malcolm made.  The trail is only walked twice in one place, but the trails cross in several places.  Kathryn Wilson came over and was the first person to walk the whole course with me.  She loved it, as do I.

Our hot tub is broken  - the computer doesn't work and the cover is so heavy it is nearly impossible to life up.  We've had the cover ordered (and paid for) for weeks.  Ditto on the new computer.  Don't think the pandemic has been good for hot tube companies when you have to wait for month for service and parts.  

The hot tub had me thinking about how we drain the hot tub.  Dad is certain that the drained water goes into the drain system in the house - the tubes of which go out the the woods at the west end of the barn.  I disagree - my recollection is that we found a drain pipe in the area of the hot tube and just stuck the hose into that.  So, we decided to test the situation.  Dad uncovered the controls for the hot tub.

While I went out to the end of the tubes........nothing.....not even after a long time.

Then he put the hose into the drain around the house, and water emerged at the end.  So I am likely right.  I think the exit is somewhere on the edge of Sector 2, but we probable won't be able to find the spot until the ground is dry when we might see seepage in the soil.  Pretty exciting, no?

Our poor little ATV was worked so hard over the last nine months that it really needed servicing.  It was so caked with mud that it took several hours to clean it up.  Then we took it to Mt Hood Polaris in Damascus.  They say there is a two week waiting line until it can be worked on.  I'm hoping the cost will be under $1000.00.

I'm starting to clean up the fence on the north property line between us and Chisolm.  For us who know the names of the sectors, it is the north boundary so Sector 6.  The bottom line of barbed wire is either broker of dangling in the soil, so eventually I will have to cut it completely off if I want to use the brush cutter to keep the area clean. In one place a tree has fallen on the fence and knocked it down.  I cut up the tree and cleared the area.  I have a lot of fence yet to go.

 

Today was Bjorn's farewell in his Orem Ward.  It was live broadcast to all of his family here in Oregon.  I feel badly that we couldn't go, but we are planning, this summer, but we planning a trip to visit some from (from Kazakhstan) who live in Nagadoches.  Who knows, we may happen to drive through whatever city Bjorn is in and see him on the street and honk and wave at him.

In this photo, he had just finished saying that their first effort at teaching a lesson is Portuguese turned into a train wreck.

Here is a message for the world from our Second Grade Science Class.....from Abby.

Oh - I forgot to mention that this week on January 6, the US Capitol Building in Washington DC was besieged by a mob of Trump supporters who had been "egged on" by Trump & Company -  "fight strong", "We will walk to the Capitol" and "Trial by Combat".  I worry for our country and our new president.  What evil people Trump and company are, and what stupid people who follow him.

 Oregon City, Oregon - Week 52 - December 28 - January 3, 2021

On Tuesday we all decided we wanted to go on a hike.  I offered up a bunch of options, and we decided to go to Tryon Creek Natural Area - it was close, not too hard, and so on.  We, it turned out kinda hard in one was because there were a million other people wanting to hike the trails.  We drove through the parking area one tie, and then on the second time there was a spot for Jessica.  On the third time through we got a place for Bev's car, and then I saw someone leaving and went to the spot and asked the lady if she would wait until our third car arrived---she did---and Jessica and Clay got the final spot we needed.  Honestly, I think our woods are as nice as Tryon Creek - probably not as big, but certainly closes and very private.  The little kids had a great time running and squealing,

 

Bev brought all the fixings for hot chocolate which we enjoyed in the parking lot.

Bjorn was set apart on the 29th

And the very next day he entered the MTC in the Orem Branch

And began his classes. ...in is basement. Just a day or two later, he learned that he will be reassigned to the Texas, Dallas East Mission.  Part of that mission includes parts of Louisiana where Warren served.

 

The previous week while I was installing the metal bridge between Sectors 2 and 3 I discovered a piece of metal projecting up out of the creek.  What could it be??

I couldn't leave it along and just forget about it or just throw a piece of wood on it.  No, I wanted that unnatural piece of metal REMOVED from that cute little creek.  So I began to investigate by digging and digging.  It was way harder to remove it than I thought it would.  Turned out that it was a big barrel lying on its side with the open end on the downhill side.

Dad even came to help me, but then he got a phone call or something.

It became apparent that we would have to use the Sawsall to cut out the exposed side.

I heaved and pulled and heaved and pulled and finally got it upright.  Bur it still had mud and guck in the bottom

So I finally had to use the saw to cut the barrel into more pieces and then I was able, piece by piece, to bring them up to the barn.  Ready for recycling at Metro South!

The filled in area where the barrel was buried was so mushy and muddy and gooey, that I covered the area with sticks and branches, whatever so that an unsuspecting deer or racoon wouldn't fall in the the mire.

The remains of the barrel -it all fit into the recycle bin.

For Natalie's reception, the greenhouse hoops were used for decoration.  They've been sitting at Jessica  for four months waiting for the perfect opportunity to be returned.  That happened when Ryan told Camille and Tyler that they could "carry" the hoops  and walk to to our house.  Dad thought that was as likely as seeing a pig fly, but.........it happened.

On New Year's Day Warren and Whitney wanted to get out of the house and take the kids on a hike.  Using a Christmas present book detailing hikes suitable for kids, we took a hike along Balch Creek in the Forest Park complex of trails.  The miracles of the day is that we found a parking spot right at the trailhead and the rain fell after re returned and were in the car.

Holland was a real trooper!  Dressed in pants and t-shirt covered with a Princess night gown, and topped with a blue parka, she walked more than half the way.  Unfortunately, in her excitement, she ran .......and fell several times and ended up with tell-tale mud splotches.

We got to the "Witches Castle" which was originally a restroom and comfort station built in1929.

Travis and family have recently bought a new and bigger trailer that better meets their needs.  They had gone to Ft Stevens for a week to test it out and to enjoy some family time at the beech.  So we drove there to visit an to have an outing.  It rained and rained and the wind was howling the whole way there.  In order to find them we had to drive through all of the camping loops until we spotted their car/trailer.  Had a nice visit, enjoyed their trailer and headed back home early so we'd avoid driving in the rain in darkness. 

Saturday, January 2nd was Copeland's first birthday.  On the way back from the beach we stopped by their house to sing to him!  Warren had made cupcakes for his virtual party - Beaver Cupcakes!  The tail is a peanut butter cookie.

Sunday evening was a "Tyler Evening".  His birthday is this week, so we celebrated after dinner.

Warren made him a chocolate mint ice cream cake which was delicious (there is a reason why I won't need to make a cake ever again).

Then singing and blowing (with a mask didn't work).

Since he is now 14 years old,  he received the Aaronic Priesthood and was ordained a Teacher. Hard to believe in 4 and a half years he'll likely be leaving on his mission.

I  can't seem to end an edition of this blog without another picture in the woods.  I installed my sixth bridge.  This one is from Sector 1 to Sector 2.   I know, it looks like the others, but to me it is different

And, in almost the exact spot where I took the above photo, I realized I was standing among numerous shoots of daffodils that the Brunners had planted forty plus years ago.

And so ends the year 2020!!  Yes, indeed, we all wish and hope for a better year - that would be better presidential leadership and covid vaccines for all.