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| Humboldt Redwoods State Park |
We listened to talks with many Themes including:
"Christ-centered Unity", "Integrity and Virtue Lead to Happiness", "Courage Born of Our Faith in Jesus Christ", "Fear Not, I Am With Thee", "Love Like Jesus", "Jesus Lives to Lift", "Using the Language of Peacemakers", "O Be Wise", and many more.
Our dear Prophet, Dallin H. Oaks talked on "The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for All". He said, "We all have present or future concerns or struggles we are trying to overcome. Those may include questions or doubts. Whatever they are, the way to overcome them is to get closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. Again and again, He has taught us that He is the way. . . We are all a work in progress. We are all at different places on the covenant path. . . Never let your secular learning limit your spiritual horizons... Along the way we should work to draw closer to Jesus Christ by increasing our humility - Pres. Spencer W. Kimball defined humility as 'teachableness'. He explained". Teachableness is an ability to realize that all virtues and abilities are not concentrated in one's self . . . Humility is forgiving others in the realization that there may be errors of the same kind or worse that we ourselves commit. All around us we see evidence that many in the world are hungry for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His teachings. Latter-day Saints invite each other and all men and women everywhere to Come Unto Christ."
We look forward to Conference every 6 months - the best way to get ready for the Holiday Season and the end of the year.
OKTOBERFEST GATHERING
We had friends from Oregon, Arizona and all over Utah who gathered together and we missed those who were not able to come.
We enjoyed Kurbis (Pumpkin) Soup, Brats with sauerkraut, onions and peppers on Fresh Rye Bread, Schnitzel, German Potato Salad, Variety of Salads, Spaetzle, and special desserts - Sacher Torte, Oatmeal cake (District favorite), and Karen Russell's Mission famous Cookies.
There is a special bond with all of these people that we share. Serving Jesus Christ full time for 1 1/2 to 2 years was an experience that we helped each other, supported each other, traveled, cooked, and played together.
LOVE THESE PEOPLE
HOT GERMAN POTATO SALAD
John and Carol Homer and Eleanor Bitner stopped by to see him and visit. It was a delightful evening.
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the BYU College of Fine Arts & Communications and the Grand Opening of the New Fine Arts Building at an evening of award-winning performances form Music, Dance, and Theatre, shows from Film and Communications and exhibits from Art and Design.
We have been planning a Road Trip for several months to Northern California to see The Redwoods and then up the Oregon Coast to Portland for the last two weeks of October. As part of the preparations for our trip we added some things to our car to make the trip better. One of those items was to get floor mats. We drove to Salt Lake to purchase them and when we got to the car I said, "Let's make sure they fit before we leave so if we need to we can take them back." I got down on the ground and put them on the driver's side and my purse turned upside down and I heard my phone drop. I picked it up and put it back in my purse and put the purse on the car seat while I worked with the mat. They fit! We got in the car and drove to IKEA. When I went to pay I did not have my wallet. PANIC STRUCK. We searched the car and decided we needed to return to the first store. We checked the parking space we had parked in, all the garbage cans and talked to the manager. No one had turned it in. We had them check the security camera. They were able to see us back out of the parking space and immediately a man walked up and picked up the wallet and got in a vehicle and drove away. We contacted the police and they started an investigation. The picture on the security camera was not good enough to see what vehicle or the license plate because of a tree. Needless to say, it turned my world upside down. I had to cancel everything and get a new driver's license, insurance cards, medicare card, credit and debit cards and Sam's, Costco Cards and my Temple Recommend. Not a good time to be without some of them when we were going to be going out of town, I spent two days processing everything to be replaced and ordering new.
Bonneville Salt Flats - THE TREE OF LIFE
Day 2: Destination Redding, CA
The park's main road (called the park highway) is a 30-mile stretch of Highway 89 that runs through the park. The drive takes about an hour if you do not stop - we spent about 3 hours in the park. The elevation climbs to about 9,000 ft and drops at the end to about 1,000 feet.
The 1840's and 1850's saw the arrival of Peter Lassen and William Nobles. Each man established his own emigrant trail to this area with the hope that settlers would use them to arrive by the thousands, from communities and generate income that would make these two entrepreneurs wealthy. Neither man saw his financial dream realized, but because of Lassen and Nobles large numbers of emigrants found their way to the Central Valley.
On May 6, 1907 Lassen Peak and Cinder Cone were named national monuments by President Theodore Roosevelt. Lassen Peak's 1915 volcanic activity prompted reserving the area as a national park. It became the nation's 13th national park in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson.
Lassen Volcanic National Park protects a rare geological landscape featuring all four types of volcanoes (plug, dome, shield, cinder come, and composite) and active hydrothermal areas.
Alga give this shallow lake its eye-catching deep green hue.
Bumpass Hell is the park's largest hydrothermal area, featuring boiling springs, steaming fumaroles, and bubbling mud pots along a boardwalk trail.
BYU COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS & COMMUNICATIONS
There were tours of the new building, live music and dancing at the Museum of Art and refreshments.
The new Arts Building is state of the art and will be a great place to see shows and productions put on by BYU. We really enjoyed our evening together to see the opening of this wonderful Building.
Of Course, we ended the night at the Creamery for a dish of Ice Cream!
REAL LIFE
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| Daily Universe Newspaper Display |
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| Jazz Group performing |
We have been planning a Road Trip for several months to Northern California to see The Redwoods and then up the Oregon Coast to Portland for the last two weeks of October. As part of the preparations for our trip we added some things to our car to make the trip better. One of those items was to get floor mats. We drove to Salt Lake to purchase them and when we got to the car I said, "Let's make sure they fit before we leave so if we need to we can take them back." I got down on the ground and put them on the driver's side and my purse turned upside down and I heard my phone drop. I picked it up and put it back in my purse and put the purse on the car seat while I worked with the mat. They fit! We got in the car and drove to IKEA. When I went to pay I did not have my wallet. PANIC STRUCK. We searched the car and decided we needed to return to the first store. We checked the parking space we had parked in, all the garbage cans and talked to the manager. No one had turned it in. We had them check the security camera. They were able to see us back out of the parking space and immediately a man walked up and picked up the wallet and got in a vehicle and drove away. We contacted the police and they started an investigation. The picture on the security camera was not good enough to see what vehicle or the license plate because of a tree. Needless to say, it turned my world upside down. I had to cancel everything and get a new driver's license, insurance cards, medicare card, credit and debit cards and Sam's, Costco Cards and my Temple Recommend. Not a good time to be without some of them when we were going to be going out of town, I spent two days processing everything to be replaced and ordering new.
I checked every half hour for the first day to see if any charges were being attempted. The police said it would be easier to find them if there was a purchase made. I just kept having the feeling that there are good people in the world and they would turn it in.
Two weeks went by and I had received most of the replacements. I received a package in the mail and I didn't recognize the return address and I was not expecting anything. I opened the package and there was my wallet with everything in it and a note that he had picked it up in the parking lot and wanted it to be safe. He had my name and address but no phone number. He thought he would drive it to me - about a 45 minute drive. He got busy and decided to mail it instead. He said he did not trust the store to get it to me. While I no longer needed the contents of the wallet - the wallet was only a week old when it was lost - it was a relief to know it was not out somewhere with my information being used and also to know there really are good people in the world who are good samaritans. Always an Adventure!
TRAVEL TIME
We have always wanted to see the Redwood Forests in California and more of the Oregon coast. When we got the schedule for the Lindon Temple and saw that it would be closed the last two weeks of October we planned our trip during that time so that we did not have to miss our shifts that we serve on Tuesdays. It turned out to be the perfect time to travel and see the Fall colors and not too much rain - and just before the Winter snow came.
Come along and enjoy the photos and stories of our 10 day trip!
This is an 87-foot tall roadside sculpture created by Swedish artist Karl Momen between 1982 and 1986 in the Great Salt Lake Desert. He was inspired to create this piece after experiencing a vivid vision of a vibrant tree while driving across the desolate Bonneville Salt Flats. He wanted to bring color and life to the barren landscape and eventually donated the artwork to the State of Utah. It is built with 225 tons of cement, 5 tons of welding rods, and nearly 2,000 ceramic tiles.
We were looking forward to taking our Tesla on its first long road trip. We paid for the Self Driving Feature for the month and it was a game changer for us. It was a 10 hour drive on the straightest road out in the middle of nowhere and the self driving allowed for a relaxed very enjoyable drive. We were not as tired and the many stops we made along the way made a real difference in how we felt at the end of the day. We did a lot of planning and created an itinerary for the 10 days. I had every charging stop, roadside stop, shops, parks, etc. planned. I told Russ this was a trip to see things and not to just drive by things I wanted to see. Things like the Tree of Life above were on the list - just a quick stop on the side of the road and then on our way again.
Day 1 from Lindon, UT to Reno, Nevada was off to a great start. We stayed at the Western Village Inn in Sparks, NV and that was a really good choice. We checked in and then drove the 3 miles to Reno and found a great local ice cream shop for a treat - the coconut milk coconut ice cream was delicious! Then we drove down the Strip - very quiet - and settled in for the night.
Our first stop was in Susanville, CA for a pit stop. The Charging Station is at a Casino and they had a designated door for Tesla Charging guests and really nice rest rooms. It was a fun Hotel lobby all decorated for Halloween.
Susanville is the only incorporated city and county seat of Lassen county in Northeastern California, located along the Susan River at an elevation of 4,186 ft.
We then headed North to Lassen Volcanic National Park.
LOCAL FOLKLORE:
The volcano (Lassen Peak) erupted often enough in prehistoric times to form the mountain, so it is little wonder the Mountain Maidu in the northeast corner of California understood the majesty and power within the world. The ancient stories told the Mountain Maidu that after a great flood the world was cold and without warmth. When the water receded, Kohn Yah-mah-nee issued the smoke of the fire that would eventually provide warmth for the People. Since time immemorial, the People have recited the legend of the animals bringing fire from the summit of the volcano and that People could once more enjoy its warmth and prepare their meals. The mystery of steaming Lassen Peak faced their every generation. Sometimes dormant, appearing to sleep, it sometimes awakened to hide its peak in a plume of vapor, and occasionally its angry summit trembled and spewed out death dealing ash and rock.
Lassen Peak is the largest plug dome volcano in the world, rising to 10,400 feet, which famously erupted between 1914-1915.
Cinder Cone is a symmetrical cinder cone with dark basaltic lava flows and nearby Snag and Butte lakes.
Prospect Peak & Brokeoff Volcano: These are shield and composite volcano structures.
EMERALD LAKE
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| Interesting cloud formation |
Sulphur Works: Mathias Supan, in 1865, began extracting sulfur from this site and named his mine Sulphur Works. For twenty years Mathias dug sulfur and developed a variety of "mine medicine" products, which he dispensed ina Red Bluff drugstore.
This giant rock is lava rock - red dacite - formed 27,000 years ago when Lassen Peak first erupted. The boulder, along with other rocks, was torn from the mountain and carried here some three miles below the summit by the avalanche that occurred following the May 19, 1915 eruption.
Overnight the forest landscape changed, from a tranquil meadow-forest setting to a barren moon-like surface. Trees that once stood here were snapped, uprooted, and swept away by the avalanches and mudflows touched off curing the May eruptions.
The 2021 Dixie Fire burned 73,240 acres of park land and is the largest single source fire in California history. Five years later, Lassen continues to recover and repair from dixie's devastation.
Many large rocks, some of them hot, were thrown from the crater, or torn off the tip of the crater on the west side, and carried down the creek by the raging torrents. This area is known at the Devastated Area. The several-ton rocks were hot to the touch three days after it was ejected from the crater and photographed by B. F. Loomis.
Chaos Jumbles: This area was an enormous rock avalanche called Chaos Jumbles. Some 350 years ago, the northwest face of Chaos Crags, broke loose - three times in close succession - collapsing and sliding down the mountain's slope. The rubble from the first break traveled four miles at such force and speed that it washed 400 feet up the slope of Table Mountain, and then sloughed off to the west, edging near todays northwest park entrance.
The enthusiasm, talent, and dedication of Benjamin F. Loomis helped bring a national park into existence. His legacy started with the photographs he took, which today still spark understanding and awe of Lassen Peak's historic eruptive events. In 1927, in memory of their daughter, he and his wife Estella built the Mae Loomis Memorial Museum and Seismographic Station to showcase Benjamin's photographic records and monitor ongoing volcanic activity.
"In 1914 . . .I climbed to the top of Lassen Peak six times . . . taking pictures... I realized that if the mountain should blow off while I was looking into the crater, I would not be here to tell the tale. but for all that I never experienced the feeling of fear, for I was there to take pictures, and the pictures were the principal object of my thoughts." B.J. Loomis
The Loomises built the small seismographic station that is still operated by the National Park Service for educational demonstrations. Today nine seismometers within the park transmit seismic activity to U.S. Geological Survey geologists who monitor the park's ever-present volcanic rumblings.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the park with the unique beauty and stories of the Volcanos that are there. The drive back down to 1,000 ft. elevation was beautiful, peaceful (no other cars) and continued us on to our next stop - Redding, CA
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| Eruption of 1914 |
We found a Quick Quack Car Wash where we have a membership so we were able to get the car washed and then across the street was an In-N-Out Burger - welcome to California - great place for a quick dinner and off to bed. I picked up Josh at the Train Station and got a few more hours of sleep before we were off to the Redwoods.
HUMBOLDT REDWOODS STATE PARK
Avenue of the Giants is a 32 mile auto tour along Highway 101 on a parallel road featuring some of the most massive redwoods on the planet. Most of these pictures are from The FOUNDERS GROVE that has the world's largest strand of old growth trees.
Reaching heights of over 370 feet a single redwood tree can support an entire world high atop its canopy! Aerial plants such as mosses, ferns, berry bushes, and even small trees, take root on soil mats that have developed from centries of leaf-decay. These "hanging gardens" remained largely unknown until the 1980's, when scientists finally began climbing to the tree tops.
FOUNDERS GROVE
Save-the-Redwoods 1918 first organized
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| Width of cut tree shows how big compared to Russ and 6'4" |
FOUNDERS GROVE
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1921 Bolling Grove Dedication - First grove preserved in what was to become Humboldt Redwoods State Park
1920-28 The Save-the-Redwoods League purchases many redwood groves with donations. These groves formed the core of the California State Park system that was created in 1928
1997 The State Park currently encompasses over 53,000 acres and 140 memorial Groves. They continue the work of preserving the great redwood forests for future generations. As these parks are completed, the redwoods will be protected from man-made dangers. From that time on, it is hoped their own natural endurance will enable them to flourish as they have for millions of years past. FOUNDERS TREE is 346.1 ft tall, 12.7 ft. Diameter, 40 ft. Circumference, and Height to Lower Limb 190.4 ft.
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| Josh with large Maple leaf |
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| Russ inside burnt our trunk |
At the time it was 362 feet tall and the National Champion Coast Redwood
This area was the highlight of our trip in the Redwoods after two more days of seeing other Parks. The 1 mile trail was filled with Redwood groves, uprooted trunks, fallen trees and a magical feeling for all of us. It felt like sacred ground and I could not stop thinking about the majesty of the Tree (God) and the smallness of man. The umbrella of protection from the Tree and the work of man to be stewards of the forest. It truly was a beautiful experience.
Below is Russ and Josh standing in front of a fallen Redwood that dwarfs them.
What a fun little city filled with Victorian Architecture and Old Town. It is definitely an upscale tourist town filled with boutiques, restaurants and Humboldt Bay.
"One of my most unforgettable memories of the past years is walking through the Redwoods last November - seeing the lovely shafts of light filtering through the trees so far above, feeling the majesty and silence of that forest, and watching a salmon rise in one of those swift streams - all our problems seemed to fall into perspective and I think every one of us walked out more serene and happier." Lady Bird Johnson, July 30, 1969
Save the Redwoods League 1920
EUREKA, CALIFORNIA
The Carson Mansion is a landmark for the city. It is a private club and only available to the public as a photo stop. The pink house across the street was also a landmark and fun to see.
Finally on the coast and getting fresh seafood for dinner. We found a great Pub overlooking the Bay and filled with local fisherman sharing stories from the day - it was so fun watching and listening to them and seeing people come in off the streets just to say hello to them.
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| Victorian historical Home |
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| Humbolt Bay |
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| Old Town Business |
I had their shrimp salad served on lettuce, three bean salad, red cabbage slaw, pasta salad the fresh vegetable medley. I think there was at least a half pound of shrimp on top.
Josh had their crab cakes with rice and vegetables and really enjoyed it.
Russ had his normal hamburger - no picture needed.
Trinidad, California
Beautiful sunset on our drive North on Hwy 101 to Crescent City, CA
We spent two nights in Crescent City to that we could spend more time in the area seeing two more State Parks filled with Redwoods.
Elk sculpture at the Redwood State Park Visitors Center.
The intricate mosaics show the animal life in the forest in a very artistic way.
The ferns were impressive among the Redwoods - some of them 6 ft. tall. There are several varieties with most of them green year round with one variety that turns orange and dies down over the winter.
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| Side view of Elk |
The redwood forest reflects our human story - inspirations and imperfections- and is an ideal place for exploring the changing land use values of our society. To the first people, this landscape sustained itself. to many who followed, natural resources seemed limitless and were meant to be consumed. Despite early efforts to protect coast redwoods and their habitat, powerful interests in logging prevailed. The rate at which old-growth forests were being destroyed got the attention of those who understood that by saving the ancient forest, we were saving something much bigger than the trees.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
What is a "big tree?" At over 20 feet i diameter and nearly 300 feet tall, Big Tree is certainly a conspicuous specimen, as its name implies. There are larger and taller trees in the forest, this is just one example.
Height: 286 Feet
Diameter 23.7 Feet
Circumference 74.5 Feet
Estimated Age 1500 years
Lady Bird Johnson Grove - She came to this site on November 25, 1968 to help dedicate Redwood National Park. She returned on August 27, 1969 to be honored by President Richard Nixon with this grove of trees named in her honor, recognizing Lady Bird's devoted service to the cause of preserving and enhancing America's natural beauty for the enjoyment of all people.
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| Big Tree up close |
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| From a distance |
We walked the 1.5 mile loop through the grove.
This walk among ancient redwoods and Douglas-fir gives you an intimate look at a magnificent ridge-top redwood forest, with its complement of understory plants. Thee high, wind-whipped slopes and ridges offer redwoods a less favorable habitat than can be found in protected valleys.
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| Fire scorched tree |
Numerous groves were protected and redwood state parks created through the League's efforts, including Del Norte Coast Redwoods, Jedediah Smith Redwoods, and prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks.
CRESCENT CITY, CALIFORNIA
BATTERY POINT LIGHTHOUSE
This lighthouse was built in 1856. It was the 10th lighthouse built on the west coast. The longest keeper was Captain John Jeffrey, who was stationed here from 1875-1914 (39 years). The last official keeper was Wayne Piland, 1949-1953, when the light was automated. The Coast Guard continued to maintain the light until it was decommissioned in 1965.
The light remained off until December 1982, when it was reactivated and the lighthouse became a private aid to navigation, which continues to this day. The light is on 3 1/2 seconds, then off for 26 1/2 seconds, 24 hours a day, and can be seen up to 14 miles out at sea on a clear night.
it is only accessible during Low Tide. We walked out over the rocks and up the walkway. The tide was starting to come back in and it was a little scary thinking if we did not hurry we could get stuck at the lighthouse.
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| showing at High Tide |
BROOKINGS, OREGON
The sunset was almost eerie with the fog and mist.
This is the Point along the shore that we walked to. We thought, it is too steep to walk to and so foggy. We walked a little way and a lady came by and we decided if she could do it we could. So we walked over the bridge and up the path to the top. So glad we took the walk. The fog cleared and it was a different night.
On the top of the point is this piece of art.
"TWO RIVERS AND THE HEART OF THE OCEAN"
"It was created by Lee Proctor at Proctor Studios in Bigfork Montana.
This sculpture is a gift to the people of Brookings Oregon. Beyond this township, it is dedicated to the preservation of the great Oceans, Seas, and Rivers of the world and the boundless Myriad of life forms they support! Long may the live . . .Long may we live."
We stayed in the Lighthouse Inn in Crescent City and it had a fun Lobby filled with Doll Houses and Victorian things. It was nice to have two days in one place and was convenient to all the sights we wanted to see.
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| Doll Houses |
SAMUEL H. BOARDMAN STATE SCENIC CORRIDOR
7 iconic arched rocks and blowholes. You can only see 3 from the viewpoint and you have to take a trail down to the ocean to see the others. It was too steep of a trail for us to take and so we just enjoyed the beauty from above. We met a couple from New York and a family from Utah who walked up to the viewing area and asked, "who are the BYU fans/". we have a BYU magnet on our car. We had a fun visit and they took our picture.
SECRET BEACH
This is an area where the gray whales migrate in the Winter and Spring. We were not there at the right time to see them.
Below is ARCH ROCK.
Next stop -------
BANDON, OREGON
We then went to Cranberry Sweets - All things cranberry and more. They had samples of all of their products and we enjoyed the samples and picked a few of our favorites as a treat and gifts.
Bullards Beach State Park and Lighthouse. This one is still used by the Coast Guard.
WASHED ASHORE GALLERY
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| Western Gull |
This is GEORGE.
Debris on this sculpture was collected from Pacific Coast beaches by volunteers. It was so interesting finding all of the different plastic items that makes up this large fish.
STEVE THE WEEDY SEA DRAGON
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| Russ and Linda |
Weedy Sea Dragons are some of the most unusual fish in the sea. They can be found off the southern and eastern coasts of Australia, grow up to 18 inches, and use their long snouts to feed on small crustaceans. Take a close look at Steve's tail, can you see the eggs he is carrying? These creatures help us remember the beauty, diversity, and mystery of the animals in the ocean.
OCTAVIA THE OCTOPUS
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| plastic and aluminum cans |
Although they live an average of just four years, Giant Pacific Octopuses can grow over 20 feet in length. The octopus is one of the most intelligent species in the ocean. It has the ability to problem solve, use tools and communicate by changing colors. In order to keep these incredible creatures healthy, we need to keep their environment clean.
Umpqua River Lighthouse operated by The United States Coast Guard.
We arrived about 15 minutes too late to tour the tower and museum.
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| Winchester Bay Sand Dunes |
What an adventure and a friendly staff and the best food.
The restaurant is built from an old Coast Guard vessel. We got to sit upstairs in the crow's nest for dinner.
Russ was happy because they had a nice menu and he ordered a grilled chicken spicy pasta dish. I had Haddock Fish and Chips and Josh ordered a seafood pasta that was filled with mussel, clam, and an assortment of other sea creatures. He really enjoyed it. It was quiet, beautiful view and really nice staff.
I went downstairs to the Restroom and saw this interesting room through some portal windows. It was filled with art and hanging lights. When we were leaving I told Russ to look in the room. Our waitress came over and said, "go in and look." She then got the owner - who is the artist and he talked to us and told us about his art. They then told us he was an illustrator for books and was working on Book 3 and 4 in a series of Children's books. He went and got Vol. 1 and 2 and showed us his work. He is under a deadline for book 3 for it to be sold in a set for Christmas and was leaving to go work on it. It was really a special experience to end our dinner with the owner and hearing his story and seeing his work.
Finally made it back to Bandon to check into our Hotel. We had an amazing day seeing so many sights along the Oregon Coast and meeting wonderful people along the way. We were ready to call it a day and prepare for the next leg to Portland.
This is the beach by our Hotel. We went out on the observation Deck and watched the tide move in and the Sun come up. It was chilly and foggy but as the sun rose the fog lifted and we had wonderful views.
This Marine Garden was established in 2024 to protect the coastal rocky habitat and allow for public learning opportunities. It protects habitat from the top of the sea stacks to the rocky intertidal and sandy beach below. Harbor Seals make their home here but we were not able to see any.
Bandon, Oregon is known as the Cranberry Capital of Oregon! The area features roughly 80 commercial cranberry growers with over 1,600 acres of bogs, producing the vast majority of the state's crop.
The Books are : NIGHT HUNT! LIMPOPO, A Jungle Adventure; NIGHT HUNT! LIMPOPO, An African Adventure and NIGHT HUNT! RYUKYU, A Jungle Adventure
Author: Coco MCQ
Artist: Ron Covert
The books are an interactive children's picture book that blends science and storytelling as young readers (4-9) journey after dark throughAfrica's Limpopo region. This engaging read-aloud combines wildlife, geography, habitats, biodiversity, and STEM learning with the excitement of a nighttime nature hunt. Nonfiction back matter introduces young explorers to fascinating facts about the real animals behind the adventure. It is available on Amazon.
October is the peak month for harvesting but runs through mid-November.
During harvest, farmers flood the fields so the ripe berries float to the surface. The bright ruby-red berries floating against he water and changing autumn leaves create a unique landscape.
The Wilamette Valley Oregon Temple is the third LDS Temple built in Oregon and was Dedicated June 7, 2026. It is located in Springfield, OR just north of Eugene.
"Sir Timber Cawthorne" represents the past, present and future of Portland, made from the very roots and structures that first enveloped these lands and are still protected in many areas today. He was inspired by the lush old growth forests that surround this place we call home. He is a perch and shelter to many local native birds but his spirit and ancestry lay with the Portland crows. Sir Timer is also a nod to the artistic genius of Thomas Damo, who has brought whimsical trolls to the Pacific Northwest similarly made from the scraps and remnants of our forests.
Located in the hills of Portland, the Rose Garden is absolutely beautiful! It is enhanced by the many fragrances for the different varieties.
View of Downton town and Mt. Hood from the Rose Garden. If you look closely you can see Mt. Hood
TIMBERLINE LODGE
We drove around the countryside seeing many of the bogs. We found a local distributor of fresh cranberries and brought several pounds home.
I have already made a Cranberry Sangria and looking forward to tasting it after it rests for two weeks for full flavor.
CRANBERRY SANGRIA
Per Quart Jar
1 cup cranberries
1/2 cup blueberries
1/2 cup orange juice
2 Tbl. honey
Add ingredients to each jar (as many as you want)
fill each jar with hot water with a 1 inch headspace.
Fingertip tight lids.
Water bath for 25 minutes. Store in a cool dark area for two weeks before enjoying
It's time to take Josh home to Portland and spend a few days with his family. More adventures to come -
We were just able to stop and look and take a few pictures.
We made it back to Portland just in time to go to our grandson, Jamie's Grant High School football game where he plays the Tuba in the Pep Band. It has been awhile since we have been to a high school football game and it was so fun. It was a beautiful evening and we sat behind the band and enjoyed the music and the excitement of the students.
It would not be a trip to Portland if we did not take the light rail and bus to downtown or around the city. Josh and Julie love to be in town and usually spend some of their Saturdays there.
We started at HIPPO Hardware & Trading Co. It is a multi-level architectural salvage and hardware landmark operating for nearly 50 years. It features a quirky, museum-like environment with a hippopotamus theme throughout. It sells vintage, antique, and reproduction hardware, plumbing and architectural items dating form 1860 to 1960.
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| Wilamette Valley Oregon Temple |
PORTLAND, OREGON
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| Grant High School Pep Band |
It features hard-to-find hooks, hinges, doorbells, and clawfoot bathtubs popular with local restorers, designers and DIYers.
We found some really interesting things - good thing we were riding the bus and did not want to carry anything around so we just looked!
WILDWOOD - FOLLOW THE CROWS
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| Overgrowth by Rae Sheridan |
A free public art trail with 30 hand-painted crow sculptures is in Portland inspired by LAIKA's film Wildwood.
Josh and July have found and photographed all 30 crows since August.
Each one painted by a different local artist, are perched around the city through October 30. We just made it to see some of them. The crows will be auctioned benefitting the OHSY Doernbecher Children's Hospital.
The trail celebrates LAIKA's newest stop-motion film, Wildwood, that just opened in theaters nationwide. The movie is based on the novel by Portland musician Colin Meloy. It's set in a version of Portland where the forest is very much alive. Carson Ellis, the illustrator of the movie, also painted one of the crows. We got to see about 4 of the crows.
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| Sir Timber Cawthorne by Lizzie Keenan |
PORTLAND ROSE GARDEN
It contains a Test Garden: From hybridization to market, a rose variety release takes approximately ten years. The final step before commercial release is external testing, which is when trial rose varieties are planted at multiple sites to evaluate garden performance across different climates. Each trial lasts 2 years.
Royal Rosarians: Ambassadors for Portland
Since 1912, clad in an all-white suit and trademarks straw hat, the Royal Rosarians have been the official greeters and ambassadors of goodwill for the City of Portland. Members are "knighted" into the organization under their chosen variety of rose. The Royal Rosarian statue doffs his hat, welcoming you to Portland, the City of Roses.
Along the pathway in the Royal Rosarian Garden are the Prime Minister's plaques. Adjacent to each plaque is the rose under which the Prime Minister was knighted.
"FOR YOU A ROSE IN PORTLAND GROWS"
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| ST. TROPEZ |
It was nice to have an almost clear day so that we could see Mt. Hood.
On Monday Josh took us on a drive to Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood. You will see from the pictures that the weather changed and it was cloudy, foggy and even snowed on us at Timberline Lodge. We could not see the mountain but we knew we were on it as we climbed in elevation.
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| view on the drive |
Timberline has a firm respect for its tradition, yet a forward leaning sense of innovation. Timberline Lodge is not a static museum. It is a living, breathing, evolving place, operated for what it was originally intended to be . . .a working ski lodge, a quality hotel, and a mountain retreat. At Timberline, we celebrate a heritage of year around mountain recreation, excellent regional cuisine, and genuine hospitality. Our heritage means authenticity, old world quality, and dependability. These attributes and our rich history combine to create one of the most highly visited tourist attractions in Oregon.
The Lodge was built in 1936 and 1937 as a product of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal - arguably the most significant historic structure int eh state of Oregon. Unemployed workers, artists, and craftspeople on the rolls of the Works Progress Administration worked with the US Forest Service and representatives from the local construction trades to construct this monumental ski lodge in just 22 months.
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| Preserving a Living Legacy |
This is a typical WPA-1930s decor room. All furnishings are original, only the textiles have been handmade replicating the original designs.
ROOSEVELT CHAIR - WOOD FIR 1937
This chair was built for President Roosevelt in the WPA woodworking shop. This chair was used for the grand opening and dedication of Timberline Lodge in 11937. Elegant in its simplicity, the chair reflects the stately yet practical nature of the lodge and its surroundings.
We ended the day and our stay with Josh and family at SALT AND STRAW for Ice Cream! They are known for their Limited Edition flavors and this trip was no different - Halloween flavors that we were not brave enough to try:
We could not have asked for a better vacation than the 10 days we spent in California and Oregon in October. We logged 2,400 miles and the Tesla made the trip even better. We spent $260 for charging and were so grateful we were not paying $5 to $6 per gallon on gas for our Van. The pace of the car was good for our health as we stopped and walked around more often and did not tire ourselves out driving. If this sounds like a sales pitch for Tesla - it just might be- it went just as planned and helped us have a very enjoyable trip.
Witch's Brew Fruit Punch, Creepy Crawly Critters (not gummy - real bugs), Chocolate Graveyard Cookie Crumble
I picked cinnamon snickerdoodle and Russ kept to his favorite Freckled Mint Chocolate Chip.
Salt and Straw just opened their first Utah location in Riverton - we will have to go and try it out. They said it was the largest grand opening of any store in their history!
We decided to take a new route home and to continue to see new places. We drove South to Salem and then headed East to SISTERS Oregon
We were in rain and eventually snow over the pass. It blew over and it was beautiful the rest of the way.
SISTERS - named for the trio of towering peaks to its west, Sisters is a vibrant, artsy community with a charming 1880s facades and small-town ambience.
We walked the two block main street and found antique, vintage, thrift shops, restaurants, boutiques, clothing shops and the Sisters Bakery. We spent about 2 hours just enjoying the fun shops and the beautiful day. I will share our great vintage find next month.
SISTERS BAKERY
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| Antique Shop goods |
I had read all about this bakery and it was our last stop on the street. Oh my goodness - it was the cutest, best smelling bakery. Their specials for the day were the Pumpkin scones and Chocolate chip zucchini Muffins. We took one of each and when we were checking out the lady said, we are closing in 10 minutes and we have an abundance of product - would you like another scone on the house? So glad I did not have to share my scone with Russ. It was so big, moist, filled with cinnamon swirl and full of pumpkin flavor. It was a delicious treat as we continued our journey home.
We continued to Bend, Oregon and then on to Burns toward our final stop of the day in Ontario to spend the night at my sister's home.
At dusk, we came out of a canyon and over a hill and this huge, Hunter's Moon was straight in front of us. I was not sure what the bright light was shining in the distance and then saw that it was the moon. It was amazing watching it rise in the night sky as we drove toward it.
We had just encountered 10 deer on the road - scary! The car was on self drive and it saw the deers before I did and quickly braked. I was not sure what they were going to do. They were lined up on the road like a barricade. Eight of them went to the left and two went to the right and opened up just enough room for us to go through. Glad to have the light of the moon the rest of the way!
The next morning we left early for home and got to watch the sun rise. It actually got so bright we could not use the self drive feature because it was too bright for the camera until we turned South. The wonders of nature are stunning and we have seen it in so many different settings the past 10 days.
We stopped in Twin Falls, ID to visit my brother George and Irene who celebrated her 80th Birthday while we were gone. Always a treat to visit with them and to be in their home. Lunch at our favorite dive, The Buffalo and then on the road again to home.
I love the lessons I learned from the mighty Redwoods. I hope you can find the man in the picture.
HOME FOR HALLOWEEN
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| Hagrid's Hut |
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| Headed to the train! |
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| Caramel Apples |
We keep things a lot quieter in our home watching Hallmark movies.
This is by far one of my longest BLOGS. It has taken many hours to record these memories and I enjoyed writing about our October adventures. It was truly a month worth recording.
The best months of the year are ahead and we look forward to what lies ahead.
Continue in Hope and Faith and continue to invite the Light of Jesus Christ in your life as we face the challenges of Life.
With Love,
The Grimmett's
