Week 12

 Week 12 - Oregon City, Oregon - March 21 - March 27, 2022

This was a good week of spring.  For the first time in weeks and weeks, we left the doors open and walked outside without jackets.

We headed to Cannon Beach on Tuesday - of course, I'd rather go to Hug Point, but I seem to be the only one who wants to do that.  I just really like the "wild" feel about Hug Point rather than the "seaside town" feel of Cannon Beach...I do like the ice cream, however.  We took Holland which was kind of risky because she does not like to be separated from her mom or dad.  she threw a fit getting into the car but as soon as we backed down the driveway and the tires touched the street, she was as a clam.  Yes -we got ice cream.

I had to watch her carefully as she'd wander off thinking she saw Tyler or Logan in the distance.  Once I followed her a long way - - when she realized the kid was not a cousin, she turned around and was happy to see me.  And...there she goes....

I worked on the window more - also got eight panes of glass, and DAP33 putty.  I've got one pane in so far - not very professional looking, but it is puttied in.

Dad and Val dug up rhododendrons at Bev's brought them down here, and with the trailer to pull them into the woods, we planted them.

We also bought 15 plants (for $50.00 from Karam Nursery.  They are more likely to survive.  I got them all planted - I await their red blossoms.  I placed each one in a spot that can be seen from the top of Sector 2.

Lots of signs of spring.  What could be more predictive that Dad mowing

A baby Acer macrophyllm with its first two real leaves

Acer macrophyllum cluster of flowers.

A Trillium ovatum nestled up against an Acer macrophyllum tree trunk.

We celebrated Eric's 8th birthday.  Warren made him a shark cake.

My latest drawing - a picture of Abby on a bridge.  Taken when we went on a hike along the Salmon River.

 Week 11 - Oregon City, Oregon - March 14 - March 20, 2022

Lot of things going on in the woods.. Spring!

Ten tiny Acer Macrophyllum seedlings.  There are a bazillion everywhere.

Skunk Cabbage growing in the creeks and bogs

A beautimous Osmaronia cerasiformis on First Slope bathed in sunlight.

Three Deer on Far West Slope - we frightened each other.

I used the trailer to bring branches to a burn pile on First Slope

I discovered a new plant in the woods and was so excited!!!!  After some sleuthing Dad and I determined it is Wild clematis which is terrible a the plant is a noxious climbing vine which can kill huge trees - like ivy can.  As soon as I find it again, I will rip it out of the ground.

Ivan used some sort of app to determine how many acres comprise the woods.  His shaded part of the map is not totally accurate.....but the area is 3+ acres.

During the ice storm last year a 30ish year old Douglas Fir leaned over under the weight of the ice.  I tied it up last spring but untied it too soon.  This spring I discovered it was leaning over again, so Dad and I combined our might and brains and pulled it up again and secured it with two ropes to the Yew tree and to a Holly stump (the only good use a holly tree has.)

Dad and Val Glenn helped up at Bev's by cutting down three trees in the front yard and then cutting them into rounds.  I helped with the tractor.  Also picked up rounds from the tree that had fallen behind the shop.  Dear Whitney happened to drive by and stopped to help us with the heavy work.

We were going to split all of the rounds which are now in the orchard, but the splitter's motor would not start.  But I did have some pieces to throw into the basement where I stacked it in between two other sections.  It was kind of tricky because there was not a vertical 4x4 bracing the wood.  My Dad would have been proud of my solution.

I took Abby on a hike along the Salmon River near Welches, Oregon.  This is the same place I took grandchildren (but not Abby) last year.  It was a good day - no rain.

My new stove

Warren made 20 dozen cupcakes as part of a fund raiser for UNICEF to use in Ukraine.  His total was $350 with Intel matching his donation.  One of his cupcakes is in the corner of this photo taken at the RS Birthday Dinner.

Malcolm turns 34 on the 22nd of March.  We celebrated with him on Sunday.

My latest drawing - a toy stuffie of a Corgi dog on a blanket.

 Week 10, Oregon City, Oregon - March 7 to March 13, 2022

This was a good spring week - sun - rain - clouds - chilly.  Skunk cabbage plants are just starting to emerge in the really wet places.

The Osmaronia cerasiformis is just about finished blooming.  I don't see any seeds in the old blossoms.

I hadn't noticed this BIG Osmaronia cerasiforis before - which seems strange...maybe because it is so big.  But there it was on first slope and the sun shine made the blossoms really stand out.  Kind of looks like The Tree of Life.

Had two burn piles this week - one at Malcolm's Bridge

The other on in Sector 5

I used the new trailer to pull of three loads of branches I cut last year and just left in a pile.  Worked perfectly - I cut each one to be 55 inches long which will allow three cuts each of about 18 inches.

I discovered two BIG trees of Western Hemlock.  Can't believe it - I didn't know they were there, happily growing on the ridge in Sector 5   

Our Ward activity for the month was Pi Day on 3.12.  We had many delicious pies of all sorts for dinner - pizza, shepherds, chili pie, and fruit pies and cream pies - I made a lemon meringue pie.  I had the kids from Activity Days come and help set up the tables.  I think they had fun!

Camille turns 18 this week - hard to believe....but true.  We sang to her Sunday night.

I finally finished my drawing of the bunch of garlic.  I had to do it twice to be a little satisfied.

Oregon State was in a meet in Denver with Nebraska, Arkansas and U of Denver.  Sadly we came in second...loosing by 0.1 point to Arkansas.  Next week is the PAC 12 championship meet in Utah...which is a bit annoying.  The Championships are supposed to be in "neutral" territory......yeah - like the meet is in West Lake Utah...just a stone's throw from U of Utah.