Saturday, April 29, 2006

Lewis and Clark Discovery Expedition


The official reenactors for the waterway portion of the national Lewis and Clark bicentennial commemoration passed through our community this week-end. They have canoed east from Fort Clatsop at the mouth of the mighty Columbia River to their camp at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers. The next portion of their journey takes them on horseback and foot to the Bitterroot Mountain range in Montana. Well researched and in authentic costume, they mingle and teach the history of the famous journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark as they explored the continent of North American from sea to shining sea.

Campside Protection

Making Cedar Canoe Paddles

Firearms for Hunting & Protection

Teaching About the Chinook Canoe

Deer Head and Heart


Chinook canoes were made by the Chinook Tribe of Native Americans who lived at the mouth of the Columbia River. These large and sturdy craft were considered a part of the family and were given great respect. The bow of the canoe is always formed into the head of a deer and a small block of charcoal covered wood is the 'heart' of the canoe. No angry words or conflict is allowed on this craft and is considered a great form of disrespect. If such contention takes place, the offending parties are paddled to the side of the river and are set ashore to find another way to their destination.

Chinook Canoe

Tipi


Tipis consist of four elements: a set of ten to fifteen sapling poles, a canvas or skin cover (the outer shape familiar from photographs), an inner canvas or skin lining, and a canvas or skin door. Ropes and pegs are required to bind the poles, close the cover, attach the lining and door, and anchor the resulting structure to the ground. Tipis are distinguished from other tents by two crucial innovations: the opening at the top and the smoke flaps, which allow the dweller to cook and heat themselves with an open fire, and the lining, which supplies a steady, controlled flow of fresh air to fire and dwellers in almost any weather. Tipis are designed to be easily set up to allow camps to be moved to follow game migrations, especially the bison. The long poles could be used to construct a dog or later horse-pulled travois.

Tipi covers are made by sewing together strips of canvas or hide and cutting out a semicircular shape from the resulting surface. Trimming this shape yields a door and the smoke flaps that allow the dwellers to control their fires. The lining is the most difficult element to measure, since it consists of lozenge-shaped strips of canvas assembled to form the shape of a truncated cone. The poles, made of peeled, polished and dried saplings, are cut to measure about six feet more than the radius of the cover. From Wikipedia.com


Sacagawea


Sacagawea was a 12 year old Indian maiden of the Shoshone tribe when she was kidnapped by a war party of Hidatsa Indians. She was taken from her home in the Rocky Mountains to the Hidatsa-Mandan villages near present day Bismarck, North Dakota where she was sold as a slave to the French-Canadian fur trader, Toussaint Charbonneau. In 1804 Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery arrived in the area and built Fort Mandan. It was here that Sacagawea gave birth to her son, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau. Her husband, Charbonneau was hired as an intepreter, but in effect, Sacagawea also fulfilled that role as she translated from Shoshone to Hidatsa for Charbonneau. He, in turn, would translate to French and a corpsman who spoke French and English would make the translation to the two English speaking captains. In addition to her translation skills, Sacagawea served as a valuable guide and pilot. Her resourcefulness and experience assisted in trade and good-will with others along the journey. She was incredibly valuable to the Corps as it traveled westward. When the expedition reached the place where the Columbia River joined the Pacific Ocean, the captains held a vote among all members to decide where to settle for the winter. Her vote was counted equally with those of the men. Two important experiences occured in Sacagawea's life during her time with the Corp: she met up with her brother whom she had been separated from when she was kidnapped as a pre-teen and she saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time (something she greatly desired --- to see the great waters). Sacagawea is remembered as a brave and resourceful woman in the history of the exploration of the west. Although her life was a short twenty-five years, her memory will live forever.

Medicine Chest

Captain M. Lewis, Reenacted

Dr. Rush's Bilious Pills


Snake rattle, sage, chocolate, and Dr. Rush's Bilious Pills were just a few of the medicines packed in the medicine chest of Captain M. Lewis. In preparation for leading the Corps west, Meriwether Lewis studied for one month with the famous physician, Dr. Benjamin Rush. Dr. Rush was a professor of medical theory and clinical practice at the University of Pennsylvania. Although many of the chemicals in the medicine chest would now be considered poison and toxic, they were used with some result in the practice of medicine popular at that time: the removal of disease by flushing it out of the body and by bleeding.

On a side note, Dr. Rush was a founding father of the United States. An original signer of the Declaration of Independence, he was a personal friend of Benjamin Franklin and fought for the removal of George Washington after a series of war defeats (something he later regretted).

Stars and Stripes in Red, White, and Blue

Mountain Man

Lewis & Clark Remembered

Contemplation

U.S.

Tool Man John

Instruments, Tools, Journey's Necessities

Copper Coffee Pot

Camp on River Bank

Friday, April 28, 2006

An Herb Farm Visit on a Spring Day in April

Lisa's Puddle Ducks Herb Farm is a cozy, inviting place to visit. Her love for plants and creating beautiful things is evident! She makes fragrant soaps, herbal seasoning packets, dried soup mixes, gift packages, lavender bundles, dusting powders and lotions, and more! Her herb farm even offers herbal massages by a licensed massage therapist! She excels in beautiful packaging and creative ideas! Rubber stamps, an abundance of ribbons and raffia, dried herb bundles, and her sewing machine make her work table a most interesting place! Her door is always open and she is a welcoming hostess! Wild geese, a pretty pond, specialty chickens, and an abundance of herbs and plants make her garden a serene and relaxing place to walk through. The visit was tranquility for my day!

Fragrant Herbs on Shelf

Garden Teacup

Herb Garden Welcome

Growing Clumps of Garden Green

Ladybug, Ladybug, Fly Away Home

Greenhouse Starts for a Spring Garden

Bunny's Thyme

Shovel & Barrel Garden

Puddle Ducks Shop

Pot for Herbal Tea

Dried Herbs for Tea and Cookery

Yummy Legumes with Herb Mixes

Cozy Herb Shop

Thursday, April 27, 2006

Dishwashing by Hand

Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the dishwater. This will help to stop grease from sticking to pans, pots and the sink. Then add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse water to make your glassware shine.

Tranquility



Days of Youth


"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth,
while the evil days come not, nore the years draw nigh. . ."

King Solomon

Nature's Treasures


"
Nature is full
of so many treasures. . .
such incredible riches
all around us
every day.

We only have to
open our eyes
to see them."

Marjolein Bastin

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

All Nations


"And He made of one blood
all nations of men
for to dwell on all the
face of the earth."

Acts 17:26

Affection


"Talk not of wasted affection;
affection never was wasted."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Colors of Tranquility


It was so beautiful. . .
the dewy quiet and serenity,
the calmness,
and the late afternoon shadows
on a warm and pleasant day.
Plants of green
and water blue,
both colors of tranquility.

Japanese Gardens
Portland, Oregon

Sharing a Bowl of Tea


"What is the most wonderful thing for people like myself who follow the Way of Tea? My answer: the oneness of host and guest created through 'meeting heart to heart' and sharing a bowl of tea."

Soshitsu Sen
Grand Master XIV
Urasenke School of Tea

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

A Visit to Columbia Gorge Hotel

White Wedding Garden CGH


A wedding garden at the
Columbia Gorge Hotel
features all white blossoms.
Garden beds line a small cove
designed for a garden wedding. Each flower
bed blooms with only white.
Very sweet!

Gardens at Columbia Gorge Hotel


The hotel initials, CGH, are sculpted
in a front garden from
beautiful boxwoods.
Flowering bulbs add color
to this garden bed.

Stone Garden Bridge CGH


A stream meanders through the hotel gardens.
Several stone bridges and white wooden bridges
make crossing the stream to garden paths a delight.

Tea Time at the Columbia Gorge Hotel


Afternoon Tea at the Columbia Gorge Hotel
Served on Sunday's from 1:00 - 3:00
  • A pot of Hot Tea (Herbal Available)
  • Assorted Columbia Gorge Hotel Specialty Sandwiches
  • Scrumptious Scones with Crème Royale and Jam
  • Savory Quiches
  • Seasonal Fresh Fruit
  • Juicy Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
  • Guilty Pleasures from the Pastry Chef
  • Delectable Seasonal Fruit Trifle

CGH Gardens & Gwin Gwin Falls


Gwin Gwin Falls are incorporated into the landscape decor of the Columbia Gorge Hotel Gardens. Located in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area in Hood River County, they fall 207 below to join the Columbia River on it's pathway west to the Pacific Ocean. Gwin Gwin is a Native American name meaning 'tumbling or rushing waters'.

Linen Fanned Decor



Tables set in anticipation of a banquet feature china with the hotel logo embossed in gold on each plate. Sparkling, white, clean, and fresh. . .each place setting is inviting and proper.