Hi all,
Not much happening on this blog -- everyone must be going 90 mph in 40 directions this time of year. Great post from Rian with his memories. I just wish I could remember more of when I was young... for some reason I cannot. I do remember the one time when Peggi and I both were wearing grandpa's plaid coat and following him down to the barn. (I think I might have mentioned this before.) We each had an arm in a sleeve and both of us fit inside. Oh to be that thin again !!!
Wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a great 2008. I may not get any holiday cards sent out this year.
We just returned from a trip to New Jersey to see Jim's Sister and her family. Had a great time. Went into New York city and "did" 5th Avenue. Went to Rockafellar (sp?) Center, Time Square and had lunch on 5th Avenue at a TGIF restaurant. And, since it was on 5th Avenue, the Hamburgers were almost $20.00. We bought one sandwich and shared it!!! The decorated windows in the fancy stores were amazing. I had to purchase a pretzel from a street vendor as well as a hat and scarf. Pretzels are a big thing on the East Coast. It was all very amazing and exciting. Rode the Ferry over from the NJ side and got to take photos of the skyline. Road the bus from the ferry terminal. I wanted to go on the subway, but Jim's Nephew and wife were a bit leary of doing that so we did not.
We explored a few really neat old towns in New Jersey...one down on the coast. Beautiful old victorian (huge) homes in that part of the country. Everything on the East Coast is so much older than the West Coast.
The crazy part of the trip was the rental car. I think those young guys at the rental car company saw a couple old farts that hardly know how to use a cell phone and decided to have some fun. They gave us a hybrid car... half electric and half gas. It does not even have a regular key. Took us 5 minutes or so to get the thing started. (No they DID NOT come out and show us how to run the car or anything about it.) It was covered with about 4 inches of snow and we did not even have a brush to clean it off -- had to use our hands. You punch a button on the dash and wait and it starts itself after about 15/20 seconds or so. Had lots of bells and whistles and a new-to-us way to close the windows that it took us time to figure out. Had to stop at the gate to give the rental guard our paperwork and it was snowing like crazy and Jim had all 4 windows DOWN before we figured out how to close the windows -- by this time we were starting onto the freeway in Philladelphia and starting to panic...well at least I was. I could see us driving all the way to his nephew's with all four windows down. I finally read the manual on the windows and a few other things as we went along. And there was much more fun with this car... like I said -- two old farts with a very modern car. And the worst part was that it is about the ugliest car in the world. Hope none of you have one and I hurt your feelings. Jim, mostly drives classic cars and motorcycles and here he is in this thing. His first comment was that he hoped none of his friends back home every saw him in it. We did get about 39 miles per gallon. And we did get used to it after a few days. Very wierd when you come to a stop sign/light and everything dies... even the engine.
Luckily we missed all the bad weather. Flew over the frozen central part of the country on the way home and left before it hit the East Coast.
Now it is "back to work" next week before I take the week of Christmas and New Years off. Have to take all my vacation before the end of the year or loose it!!
Anyway... Hope you all have a great holiday season.
Love, Bunny and Jim
Friday, December 14, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Memories of Scott From Rian
I would like to encourage the rest of you folks to be brave and share your memories -- I had been asked by cousin "Nance StClair ", to say some things for cousin "Scott", a bunch of yrs back after his passing and I didn't do it till now --mostly she wanted to share with his boys and wife -- but I let her down -- so --let's not be like me . Seems like the most of us has gone our own way and we think no one cares ----but all is good and we can still share without feeling ashamed ------I am the guilty one for not trying to find my family and discover how we connect.
* * * * *
Here is a story of Rian's: Yes, I do have some stories about Scott and I. Scott was a very charismatic male figure and had many friends...more than I. Even though I was a little older than he was, I always admired him. My first memories of Scott, was when we were young boys. I can't remember if it was Scott who got the scientific kit for Christmas or Myron. As young boys, Scott and I tried our hand at scientific adventures, but regardless of who got it for Christmas, Scott and I ended up with it. Scott decided that we should try to mix water and gas, and see if gas would still burn when mixed with water. Of course, we had to do it in a little hay barn, the one down by the big fir tree down by the big triangle...on the old property up on the hill in Drain. Grandpa and Grandma's place that became theirs later. Why in the heck we didn't do it out by the road, I can't imagine, but we put a match to it, and instantly there was fire! As I recall, Scott had gotten his hair singed off his face and some off his head.
Our first experience at smelling burning hair. Then we ran for our lives! It was not a good experiment. Actually, it was if you consider that we did learn that gas burns even diluted with water, as the gas lays on top of the water, and burns quite well. Some of the elders will remember this too, but I know there were damages. During this time, we would fish and hunt as much as we could. We hunted squirrels and threw rocks at grouse. We had sling shots,and Scott had taught me how to make a better sling shot than I already had. He introduced me to surgical tubing, instead of inner tube rubber for the use of sling shot material. He was always better at everything than I was. he would challenge me many times on any ability to be a better shot, fisherman, etc, etc.
We would go up to the cherry orchard and he would challenge me how high we could climb up a cherry tree, and jump down to the ground. He always climber higher, and jump farther than I could stand. I couldn't believe how high that guy could climb and jump out of tree. Then you folks moved down to the big city of Drain, and that summer, Uncle Bud and Aunt Marian decided to adventure into building and starting a business in the fast food industry. The summer that Uncle Bud built the "Big Burger", fast food place, I remember Scott introducing me to salt pills, as we were feverishly packing building materials up the road a ways from where you lived. The salt pills were in a big container, and were to be taken to replace the salt in our sweat, as we sweated like wild animals packing the lumber up the road. It may be an exaggeration, but this is how I remember it. That Big Burger stand was an icon for the Drain area, then you folks moved way up Smith River, twenty two and a half miles to Gunter, and lived on an old farm and stage coach site. After that, we didn't get to see each other so often. But, when I got a chance, I would go spend a day or a weekend as often as possible, maybe once or twice a year. Many good memories there. One of which I got the opportunity the spend the weekend with you folks, and it was after dark, and the dogs were barking and Myron, Scott, and you. Lucky maybe off gallivanting with a girlfriend. Dogs barking, we all went down to the orchard after getting permission from Bud to see what the commotion was all about with the dogs. We went down with a flashlight and a .22, loe and behold, there was a bear in a plum (or apple) tree.
Anyhoos, Myron being the oldest of the bunch, shot...and shot...and shot into the bear with the flashlight shining in the bear's eyes, and not seeming to phase the bear one iota. I think Scott and I took turns after Myron got tired of shooting! I'm sure you remember this Nanc. Well, we decided that we weren't hurting the bear so we figured we had better go back to the house and get some advice from your Dad. Uncle Bud said, "You'd better just leave it alone. We'll go down and check in the morning." Seems to me like we talked about it for another hour trying to go to sleep. "Why didn't the bear fall? Why didn't we kill the bear? Was it possible that a great Grizzly had wondered into the territory from the north land?" Finally, we hushed by Aunt Marian, telling us "You kids need to go to sleep now and be quiet!" We got up early as usual, and Aunt Marian had a fine breakfast feed, waiting around the old wood stove asking Bud if we could go down to the orchard and look to see what happened to the bear.
We all went down, like the warriors that we were, and loe and behold, there was the bear still in the tree looking at us. Apparently shot dead within the first few shots. His head caught in a crouch of the tree, and body just sitting in a position...dead to the world. Of course, we then had to determine who had actually shotand killed the bear, after all of us taking turns trying to shoot it. I'm sure Myron took this in hand and said that he was the killer of the bear. The rest of the shots didn't even matter. I'm not sure what happened after that, but I do believe Uncle Bud instructed you kids how to tan the hide. But, pretty good story!
One of those summers when you folks still lived at the Gunter place, Scott had decided that he and I should float the river clean down to the ocean. So we elected to make separate rafts. At first Scott and I gathered logs and timbers, tied them together like we had seen on TV and heard about from the old days, then we set off to go to the ocean. We only made it about two hundred yards, got caught on some logs and debris...and that was the end of that adventure with our logs breaking up and us in the water. We quickly recuperated and decided to go back and get some big truck inner tubes. Picked up a couple of water tubs and forced them into the inner tubes and we were on our way once again. We knew we would make it this time so we took a lunch. Aunt Marian fixed us a couple of PB and Js and away we went. We made it about a quarter mile and then another log jam. So we ended the rafting trip and packed our rafts back home. So much for that I idea, never did try it again.
In the fall of that year, that I got to spend another weekend with you folks. I know you'll remember the animals as you had acquired a couple of burrows, and Scott had bragged to me that we could ride these burrows through brush piles that a horse would never venture to go. One day, Scott and I had set out to ride the burrows up to an old gold mine camp that he knew of. We really only went about a half mile, challenging these burrows to go through these brush piles that no sane animal would go through. The burrows were named Homer and Jethro, neither of which liked to be ridden. Their bony backs and our skinny asses would collide as they would bray and buck. We howled and laughed like crazy kids that we were, and once again, decided to give up this adventure and go for easier prey. Scott said, "I know what we'll do! We'll go down to the orchard by the creek and we'll take turns climbing in the apple trees...one of shooing the steers and cattle under the trees while the other will jump on the back of the animal, and we'll get some bucking!" What a hilarious laugh we had!
Many more stories, but after that seems like you folks moved up to the Mohawk area above Springfield. We didn't get to see each other much after that. The summer I got out of high school, Scott had a old GMC or Chevy pick up, maybe 47 or 48. I had acquired a 1956 Mercury. Beautiful car, but wasn't quite my idea of a young boy's hot rod. Sometime that year, just before I joined the Army...and this is my last memory of contact with Scott. He being the challenger, and me being the acceptor of the challenge, Scott was not legally able to drive on the highway with that pick up. He knew some people that had some property. I don't know their names, but it wasn't too far from where he lived. He challenged me to play Chicken with his pick up and my car. Seems like he already had the pick up on that property, which was maybe ten or fifteen acres of farm land. We got to the property with these two vehicles...one of us at one end...and one of us at the other...we flashed our lights and we smashed our gas. We would go spinning across the field directly at each other's bumpers, not knowing who was going to turn right or left. We never smashed but came close many many times, tires spinning and slinging mud...howling like wild animals. This was the last great event that I can remember with my cousin Scott. I hope this is what you are looking to share as these are great memories of "Scott" as I recall. This is just some of my memories but hope you all enjoy . Ol'Rian -- Over and out --- Take care and keep in touch . ~Rian&Gina~
* * * * *
Here is a story of Rian's: Yes, I do have some stories about Scott and I. Scott was a very charismatic male figure and had many friends...more than I. Even though I was a little older than he was, I always admired him. My first memories of Scott, was when we were young boys. I can't remember if it was Scott who got the scientific kit for Christmas or Myron. As young boys, Scott and I tried our hand at scientific adventures, but regardless of who got it for Christmas, Scott and I ended up with it. Scott decided that we should try to mix water and gas, and see if gas would still burn when mixed with water. Of course, we had to do it in a little hay barn, the one down by the big fir tree down by the big triangle...on the old property up on the hill in Drain. Grandpa and Grandma's place that became theirs later. Why in the heck we didn't do it out by the road, I can't imagine, but we put a match to it, and instantly there was fire! As I recall, Scott had gotten his hair singed off his face and some off his head.
Our first experience at smelling burning hair. Then we ran for our lives! It was not a good experiment. Actually, it was if you consider that we did learn that gas burns even diluted with water, as the gas lays on top of the water, and burns quite well. Some of the elders will remember this too, but I know there were damages. During this time, we would fish and hunt as much as we could. We hunted squirrels and threw rocks at grouse. We had sling shots,and Scott had taught me how to make a better sling shot than I already had. He introduced me to surgical tubing, instead of inner tube rubber for the use of sling shot material. He was always better at everything than I was. he would challenge me many times on any ability to be a better shot, fisherman, etc, etc.
We would go up to the cherry orchard and he would challenge me how high we could climb up a cherry tree, and jump down to the ground. He always climber higher, and jump farther than I could stand. I couldn't believe how high that guy could climb and jump out of tree. Then you folks moved down to the big city of Drain, and that summer, Uncle Bud and Aunt Marian decided to adventure into building and starting a business in the fast food industry. The summer that Uncle Bud built the "Big Burger", fast food place, I remember Scott introducing me to salt pills, as we were feverishly packing building materials up the road a ways from where you lived. The salt pills were in a big container, and were to be taken to replace the salt in our sweat, as we sweated like wild animals packing the lumber up the road. It may be an exaggeration, but this is how I remember it. That Big Burger stand was an icon for the Drain area, then you folks moved way up Smith River, twenty two and a half miles to Gunter, and lived on an old farm and stage coach site. After that, we didn't get to see each other so often. But, when I got a chance, I would go spend a day or a weekend as often as possible, maybe once or twice a year. Many good memories there. One of which I got the opportunity the spend the weekend with you folks, and it was after dark, and the dogs were barking and Myron, Scott, and you. Lucky maybe off gallivanting with a girlfriend. Dogs barking, we all went down to the orchard after getting permission from Bud to see what the commotion was all about with the dogs. We went down with a flashlight and a .22, loe and behold, there was a bear in a plum (or apple) tree.
Anyhoos, Myron being the oldest of the bunch, shot...and shot...and shot into the bear with the flashlight shining in the bear's eyes, and not seeming to phase the bear one iota. I think Scott and I took turns after Myron got tired of shooting! I'm sure you remember this Nanc. Well, we decided that we weren't hurting the bear so we figured we had better go back to the house and get some advice from your Dad. Uncle Bud said, "You'd better just leave it alone. We'll go down and check in the morning." Seems to me like we talked about it for another hour trying to go to sleep. "Why didn't the bear fall? Why didn't we kill the bear? Was it possible that a great Grizzly had wondered into the territory from the north land?" Finally, we hushed by Aunt Marian, telling us "You kids need to go to sleep now and be quiet!" We got up early as usual, and Aunt Marian had a fine breakfast feed, waiting around the old wood stove asking Bud if we could go down to the orchard and look to see what happened to the bear.
We all went down, like the warriors that we were, and loe and behold, there was the bear still in the tree looking at us. Apparently shot dead within the first few shots. His head caught in a crouch of the tree, and body just sitting in a position...dead to the world. Of course, we then had to determine who had actually shotand killed the bear, after all of us taking turns trying to shoot it. I'm sure Myron took this in hand and said that he was the killer of the bear. The rest of the shots didn't even matter. I'm not sure what happened after that, but I do believe Uncle Bud instructed you kids how to tan the hide. But, pretty good story!
One of those summers when you folks still lived at the Gunter place, Scott had decided that he and I should float the river clean down to the ocean. So we elected to make separate rafts. At first Scott and I gathered logs and timbers, tied them together like we had seen on TV and heard about from the old days, then we set off to go to the ocean. We only made it about two hundred yards, got caught on some logs and debris...and that was the end of that adventure with our logs breaking up and us in the water. We quickly recuperated and decided to go back and get some big truck inner tubes. Picked up a couple of water tubs and forced them into the inner tubes and we were on our way once again. We knew we would make it this time so we took a lunch. Aunt Marian fixed us a couple of PB and Js and away we went. We made it about a quarter mile and then another log jam. So we ended the rafting trip and packed our rafts back home. So much for that I idea, never did try it again.
In the fall of that year, that I got to spend another weekend with you folks. I know you'll remember the animals as you had acquired a couple of burrows, and Scott had bragged to me that we could ride these burrows through brush piles that a horse would never venture to go. One day, Scott and I had set out to ride the burrows up to an old gold mine camp that he knew of. We really only went about a half mile, challenging these burrows to go through these brush piles that no sane animal would go through. The burrows were named Homer and Jethro, neither of which liked to be ridden. Their bony backs and our skinny asses would collide as they would bray and buck. We howled and laughed like crazy kids that we were, and once again, decided to give up this adventure and go for easier prey. Scott said, "I know what we'll do! We'll go down to the orchard by the creek and we'll take turns climbing in the apple trees...one of shooing the steers and cattle under the trees while the other will jump on the back of the animal, and we'll get some bucking!" What a hilarious laugh we had!
Many more stories, but after that seems like you folks moved up to the Mohawk area above Springfield. We didn't get to see each other much after that. The summer I got out of high school, Scott had a old GMC or Chevy pick up, maybe 47 or 48. I had acquired a 1956 Mercury. Beautiful car, but wasn't quite my idea of a young boy's hot rod. Sometime that year, just before I joined the Army...and this is my last memory of contact with Scott. He being the challenger, and me being the acceptor of the challenge, Scott was not legally able to drive on the highway with that pick up. He knew some people that had some property. I don't know their names, but it wasn't too far from where he lived. He challenged me to play Chicken with his pick up and my car. Seems like he already had the pick up on that property, which was maybe ten or fifteen acres of farm land. We got to the property with these two vehicles...one of us at one end...and one of us at the other...we flashed our lights and we smashed our gas. We would go spinning across the field directly at each other's bumpers, not knowing who was going to turn right or left. We never smashed but came close many many times, tires spinning and slinging mud...howling like wild animals. This was the last great event that I can remember with my cousin Scott. I hope this is what you are looking to share as these are great memories of "Scott" as I recall. This is just some of my memories but hope you all enjoy . Ol'Rian -- Over and out --- Take care and keep in touch . ~Rian&Gina~
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Max & Carol - 24 Years Later
Hey everyone,
Life and work have been busy and I've been extremely remiss in posting to THE blog. We haven't done a lot this summer but Max & I did just celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary September 10th (that's the pic at left). Cousin Shirley came up to help celebrate our anniversary. Also, we took a very quick trip to Montana to see Max's sister. You can read about both of those events on our other blog.
Last month (August 24th) Max turned 77. I turned 55 April 7th... so we're the the double digit, double trouble, duo.
See that splint on my left hand? That's another story from this summer. Took a flying leap onto a concrete pad (August 7th) when I tried to step over the lawnmower. Next time I need to walk around the mower before trying to make any adjustments. Thought I had broken both of my arms at the time, but only one continued to hurt. Went to the doctor a week later. He was convinced nothing was broken, so sent me home telling me to be patient. Still no relief after a month so went back to the doctor. He begrudgingly had x-rays taken to discover I had a broken arm (bone near my elbow). No wonder it still hurts.
There's more to the story but I found a wonderful injury recovery physical therapist with a chiropractic background who is finally helping me.
Life goes on...
Hugs from Max & Carol
Life and work have been busy and I've been extremely remiss in posting to THE blog. We haven't done a lot this summer but Max & I did just celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary September 10th (that's the pic at left). Cousin Shirley came up to help celebrate our anniversary. Also, we took a very quick trip to Montana to see Max's sister. You can read about both of those events on our other blog.
Last month (August 24th) Max turned 77. I turned 55 April 7th... so we're the the double digit, double trouble, duo.
See that splint on my left hand? That's another story from this summer. Took a flying leap onto a concrete pad (August 7th) when I tried to step over the lawnmower. Next time I need to walk around the mower before trying to make any adjustments. Thought I had broken both of my arms at the time, but only one continued to hurt. Went to the doctor a week later. He was convinced nothing was broken, so sent me home telling me to be patient. Still no relief after a month so went back to the doctor. He begrudgingly had x-rays taken to discover I had a broken arm (bone near my elbow). No wonder it still hurts.
There's more to the story but I found a wonderful injury recovery physical therapist with a chiropractic background who is finally helping me.
Life goes on...
Hugs from Max & Carol
Friday, August 31, 2007
St Clair - Tribou Bike Trip 8/07
Hi Everyone,
About time I get some photos of our trip on here. Came up to my sewing studio to "clean up" and get stuff organized...which is a lost cause. Anyway...got side tracked with labeling my photos so I could post some of them here.
We spent 8 days on this trip of approximately 1500 miles. Mostly had great weather -- except for one VERY WINDY day -- the first day out, and a rainy day. We happened to be at Mike and Candy's in Tillamook for the rainy day -- so chose to just stay an extra day. I got to go with Candy to a "stamping" party. Candy is really into scrap-booking and does some really awesome things...wish I had taken some photos. Actually we forgot to take photos quite often on this trip. Hope to do better next time. Speaking of Candy...she should just be returned from a scrap booking conference in Nashville. Maybe she has a story and photos to share ??? I know she was really excited and looking forward to this trip. Come on Candy -- let us know how it went. ;o)
Anyway, I have labeled the photos...as who knows what order they will be in when I put them on here.
We left here and headed a bit east and south to Hwy 395 and down to the Columbia Gorge. I could really have done without the wind...windy most of that day...not just on the Gorge...but even more windy there. With my windshield and the big pack on the back of the bike catching the gusts...I was having "lots of fun"!!! Jim has no windshield and was having fun keeping his head on his shoulders... had to stop once to rest--his neck was killing him. We stayed in the Mary Hill camp ground that night on the Gorge -- boy was I ever glad to get there!
Then the next day headed down Hwy 97 through Central Oregon. Spent the next night at Diamond Lake...great camp there with wonderful showers -- also found a great little place to have pizza and beer. Then the next day on down the North Umqua and to Roseburg and out to Dad's at Tenmile. We had a great overnight visit with Dad and Laveta and then on to the Coast on Hwy 42.
Stopped in Reedsport for a couple hour visit with Aunt Marian... one of those times we forgot to take photos was at Aunt Marian's. It was a good visit though and Aunt Marian looked great. From there we headed up the coast to Mike and Candy's. Spent three nights all together at their place...which was a good break. The coast traffic was awful and more wind of course.
From there we went on up the Coast and across the big bridge at Astoria back into Washington. From there we went inland a bit...tired of the wind and busy traffic of the coast hwy. We went up past Hood Canal and on to Port Townsend and across the ferry to Whidbey Island. Stayed one night with our friend Cyn in Anacortes and the next day over the North Cascade Hwy and home. Actually that Hwy has about 5 mountain passes between the coast and where we live....great hwy to travel on the bikes... not a lot of traffic and great scenery. The way it worked out we spent only two nights in our tent and the other nights with family and our friend in Anacortes. Most days were around 300 + miles. Some more, some less.
We got to see a little bit of a police chase over the Astoria bridge. A sheriff chasing a hot motorcycle...crotch rocket. The guy on the bike got away...they could not catch up to him once he hit that long straight bridge.
I was glad to get home and not ready to go again for awhile... but Jim was ready to leave again the next day if he could have. ;o) But I think it is sorta like child birth...you forget the bad parts and in awhile are ready to do it again.....maybe next year !!
Anyway... just wanted to share our big adventure with you guys.
Love, Bunny and Jim
About time I get some photos of our trip on here. Came up to my sewing studio to "clean up" and get stuff organized...which is a lost cause. Anyway...got side tracked with labeling my photos so I could post some of them here.
We spent 8 days on this trip of approximately 1500 miles. Mostly had great weather -- except for one VERY WINDY day -- the first day out, and a rainy day. We happened to be at Mike and Candy's in Tillamook for the rainy day -- so chose to just stay an extra day. I got to go with Candy to a "stamping" party. Candy is really into scrap-booking and does some really awesome things...wish I had taken some photos. Actually we forgot to take photos quite often on this trip. Hope to do better next time. Speaking of Candy...she should just be returned from a scrap booking conference in Nashville. Maybe she has a story and photos to share ??? I know she was really excited and looking forward to this trip. Come on Candy -- let us know how it went. ;o)
Anyway, I have labeled the photos...as who knows what order they will be in when I put them on here.
We left here and headed a bit east and south to Hwy 395 and down to the Columbia Gorge. I could really have done without the wind...windy most of that day...not just on the Gorge...but even more windy there. With my windshield and the big pack on the back of the bike catching the gusts...I was having "lots of fun"!!! Jim has no windshield and was having fun keeping his head on his shoulders... had to stop once to rest--his neck was killing him. We stayed in the Mary Hill camp ground that night on the Gorge -- boy was I ever glad to get there!
Then the next day headed down Hwy 97 through Central Oregon. Spent the next night at Diamond Lake...great camp there with wonderful showers -- also found a great little place to have pizza and beer. Then the next day on down the North Umqua and to Roseburg and out to Dad's at Tenmile. We had a great overnight visit with Dad and Laveta and then on to the Coast on Hwy 42.
Stopped in Reedsport for a couple hour visit with Aunt Marian... one of those times we forgot to take photos was at Aunt Marian's. It was a good visit though and Aunt Marian looked great. From there we headed up the coast to Mike and Candy's. Spent three nights all together at their place...which was a good break. The coast traffic was awful and more wind of course.
From there we went on up the Coast and across the big bridge at Astoria back into Washington. From there we went inland a bit...tired of the wind and busy traffic of the coast hwy. We went up past Hood Canal and on to Port Townsend and across the ferry to Whidbey Island. Stayed one night with our friend Cyn in Anacortes and the next day over the North Cascade Hwy and home. Actually that Hwy has about 5 mountain passes between the coast and where we live....great hwy to travel on the bikes... not a lot of traffic and great scenery. The way it worked out we spent only two nights in our tent and the other nights with family and our friend in Anacortes. Most days were around 300 + miles. Some more, some less.
We got to see a little bit of a police chase over the Astoria bridge. A sheriff chasing a hot motorcycle...crotch rocket. The guy on the bike got away...they could not catch up to him once he hit that long straight bridge.
I was glad to get home and not ready to go again for awhile... but Jim was ready to leave again the next day if he could have. ;o) But I think it is sorta like child birth...you forget the bad parts and in awhile are ready to do it again.....maybe next year !!
Anyway... just wanted to share our big adventure with you guys.
Love, Bunny and Jim
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Ireland-Scotland Visit
Here are a few pictures of our recent trip to Ireland and Scotland the first two weeks of June. These are all of the Rosslyn Chapel, which was built by William St. Clair in 1446. The one photo of the landscape with ruins in the distance is the remains of the St. Clair castle. The stonework carvings in the chapel were truly amazing.
Also, while we were in Edinburgh, Scotland, we was going to visit the General Register Office to research family history, but didn't have enough time. So we picked up a pamphlet explaining tracing your family tree at the register office, and it had a web site one could go to: www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/. Thought we would share this site for anyone interested in tracing St. Clair history back before Alexander St. Clair (Sinkler) arrived in America in 1698. We will probably so some research during the winter months. If you would like a copy (PDF format) of the family history that Aunt Marian did, let me know and I'll email it to you.
Take care,
Jay & Glada
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Luck and Kathy St Clair
We had a wonderful visit with Lucky (Frank) and Kathy St Clair yesterday, and we have to give them a big special "thank you" for doing so because we know they're on the road for long periods of time and probably wish that they could just stay home for a spell. Lucky is Bud St Clair's oldest son. They stayed for dinner, and we got to hear stories back and forth between the cousins. Lucky has got such a good sense of humor (St Clair trait) and he and Kathy are hard, hard workers...and well established in thier lives. Fantastic people! We hope to pay them a visit next fall when they have some time to afford it.
The visit was going along so well, them showing up around 4:00 pm, that it was after 10:00 pm when they left and still more to be remembered and talked about. Lucky remembers so many things about growing up that Rian couldn't. Like, Rian's father, Wes, selling Lucky his first bicycle for three pennies. And Lucky recalling the old mill cabins, and who lived where. Rian remembered some of the toys made of blocks of wood that Luck and Myron made, starting with Uncle Bud making them for Christmas gifts for the kids. Yes, they were homemade, but Rian thought they were much better than store bought toys.
They talked about fishing in the tiny stream down the hill from where they lived, and Lucky remembers catching a fourteen or fifteen inch fish in that stream, not having regular fish hooks, and using safety pins. The pins didn't have barbs on it, so they would have to yank them up on shore as soon as they saw them bite, otherwise...away they'd go!
Rian had found an old carosene lamp in the dump site up on Grandpa's place up by Drain when he was forteen years old, and has had it since. Luck thought it was interesting as it was from one of the first Ford cars ever built back in the early 1900s. It was attached to a platform which had a mechanical stick coming out from the middle of it. Rian says, some of the men folk will know what he's talking about. To Rian's recollection, it had to have belonged to someone before Grandpa and Grandma had bought the place.
I would have like to have spent more one on one with Kathy, but it's kind of difficult when the St Clair men folk are going at it, but she is a very down to earth person, very warm.
Rian has always looked up to Lucky and Myron like older brothers, and is good for him to be able to spend time with them. Rian hadn't seen Lucky for seventeen or eighteen years, so there was much catching up to do. There never seems to be enough time to get everything you want to say in, in the time allowed. We hope that they will be able to make the reunion.
Love to all,
Rian and Gina
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Cousin Clair & Beverly Klock's Tennessee Visit
Wow, talk about out of the blue. Last weekend I received a phone call from Clair, saying they were out here in Tennessee visiting Beverly's daughter and her kids. It turns out that they live about 3-4 miles from our house in Atoka. The daughter had retired from the Navy several years ago and had settled in this area. She was a Nurse in the Navy and now works at a hospital in Memphis (about 30 miles away). Clair wanted to get together and look over some old photos I have from Dad (Howard St. Clair), so on Wednesday evening Clair and his wife came over. We really had a nice visit and he was able to identify some of the people in the photos. He could remember when my Dad and Mom and us kids visited them in the Portland area back in the 50's. I of course did not remember any of it. I will be posting some of the photos on this blog in the future and let you all see if you can identify the unknowns.
As far as the pictures go above, in the first picture on the left is Clair, Beverly standing behind him, me, and my daughter Danielle behind.
I'm posting the picture on the right in hopes that someone can identify the individual in the painting. My Dad painted the picture and I can't remember who it is. I believe someone had told me in the past that it was a relative, just can't remember who. Hopefully, one of you will recognize who it is. I guess it could be a stranger in the painting, but doubt my dad would take the time to paint someone he didn't no or was mildly acquainted with. Glada seems to remember Aunt Marian saying this was a cousin of Pansy St. Clair, possibly named Vernon?
Hope this finds you all well! Love,
Jay and Glada
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Visit with Uncle Harold and Aunt Laveta
We had a very pleasant visit with Uncle Harold and Aunt Laveta yesterday. To our surprise, Mike was there, making it even more special. We weren't able to be blessed with Candy's presence, as she was doing the same thing with her mother in Roseburg that we were. Going over old photos.Mike had been fishing in Harold's pond when we arrived, and had caught a bass that was...what was it Mike? A fifteen pounder? Anyway, I'll never tell. Laveta had brought out old photos of the family, Harold's time in the service back in the 1940s, which some were loaned to us to put on the blog. I want to spend a little time on this before I post it, as I want to do it the justice it deserves.
Just for the record, as you can see in the photo of Rian and Harold looking at pictures, we did not try to get Harold drunk! The bottles on the table are actually Ginger Ale! We enjoyed a lunch of Alaskan King crab legs to go along with that Ginger Ale.
They talked over old times, and got to renew relationships. Harold is a wonderful man with great information that Rian was anxious to hear. Mike also was able to hear some family information that he did not know as well. Laveta shared with us information about her family as well. She's had many tragedies in her life and our hearts go out to her for her losses. But, she met a great man and has spent the last seventeen years married to one of the last remaining patriarchs of the St Clair family.
Hopefully within the the next week, I'll be able to post Harold's service period, and photos to go along with it.
To sum it up, we had a great time, and plan to go back for another visit when the weather warms up a bit. Rian has a hankerin' to go after that bass Mike threw back.
Love to all,
Gina and Rian
Friday, April 13, 2007
Hi everyone, just checking out the posting process. Received my book from www.clearwatermuseum.org today, about Great Grandma and Grandpa Reeve, Bonds of Love and Laughter. I wanted everyone to know that mine came signed by Alice Reeve Scriber if you are interested in checking them out. It looks like very interesting reading to me, so can't wait to settle down and get comfy with it.
I'm sure everyone is busy this time of year when the weather is just getting nice enough to be outside. Not much going on in my family, just the usual busy schedule and squeezing time in to hang around my back yard during the brief sunny days we've had. Lots of small projects to keep me busy this year......do any of you have a yard project of interest? It's really fun to check out new ideas, and see what others think up to do. My first project this year was moving my strawberry bed over a foot or two from where it was located....believe it or not this is the third move it has had in the past 3 years. I think I'm done with it, enough is enough! Last year I planted tomatoes in 5 gal buckets (my yard is tiny) but I need to fertilize better this year...any tips? Also, my raised beds are made from concrete and I've just read that it will affect my soil......always something! Anyone know about that?
Happy Spring to all!
Love,
Peggi
I'm sure everyone is busy this time of year when the weather is just getting nice enough to be outside. Not much going on in my family, just the usual busy schedule and squeezing time in to hang around my back yard during the brief sunny days we've had. Lots of small projects to keep me busy this year......do any of you have a yard project of interest? It's really fun to check out new ideas, and see what others think up to do. My first project this year was moving my strawberry bed over a foot or two from where it was located....believe it or not this is the third move it has had in the past 3 years. I think I'm done with it, enough is enough! Last year I planted tomatoes in 5 gal buckets (my yard is tiny) but I need to fertilize better this year...any tips? Also, my raised beds are made from concrete and I've just read that it will affect my soil......always something! Anyone know about that?
Happy Spring to all!
Love,
Peggi
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Family - Spring time and gardening
We hope the rest of you folks are enjoing your time digging in the dirt and pulling weeds and such -- we planted some vegetables and some flowering plants as well as started germinating some seeds this weekend, feels so cool to make plans of making the yard a place to enjoy and look forward to seeing things grow . We even are trying to germinate a date palm seed from which we enjoyed the fruit from last fall. By the way -- we haven't seen much activity here for awhile --so what's up? like the kids say !--- We feel so lucky to have a place that we can come home to and make plans. I still feel so grateful for my life and family connections --- soooo much to hear and relate to ---As we go along we are hearing more and more of our family history and people, like for instance, "Lauri" who worked with Mom "Marian" to do the genealogy work that we all are enjoying these days! THANK YOU LAURIE! AND THANK YOU MOM!
We had a call from "Alice Powner" yesterday and WAS SO COOL to hear her enthusiasm!! A wonderful woman with MUCH knowledge!! I was so inspired with our talking! ----- I can only ask you folks to be brave enough to call or write her about information on our Grandmother's side! I know that this information is VERY important to me to pass onto our family, such as the the kids and to keep our personal family member's memories a part of thier lives as it seems there is only a few of us left to jab the rib cage of you folks and be brave enough to pester a calling for such things!
Please help me! I know that my kids don't know much and that's MY FAULT, I promise you ALL -- my children WILL be @ our gathering and probably be very curious who most of you are as I have failed to inform them and involve them --- so here we go and don't feel alone as most of us are the same in my opinion -- that is my admittance and guilt, and so be it!
Momma Gina and I are enjoying a nice weekend here @ the old place and looking forward to another week of hard work also -- how many of you folks remember the doings of macrame? Gina and I were upstairs just enjoying the other part of our home and I was admiring my sister "Sharon's" work as we have a piece of her macrame works hanging on a pair of snow shoes an old indian pal of mine had made --- anyhoos -- my sis did a nice job and I am QUITE proud of her work -- Hey Sharon -- would be nice to here from you ----I'm sure the rest of the family would love to here how you and your kids are doing ! PLEASE write when you can .
Love to all ~Rian&Gina~
We had a call from "Alice Powner" yesterday and WAS SO COOL to hear her enthusiasm!! A wonderful woman with MUCH knowledge!! I was so inspired with our talking! ----- I can only ask you folks to be brave enough to call or write her about information on our Grandmother's side! I know that this information is VERY important to me to pass onto our family, such as the the kids and to keep our personal family member's memories a part of thier lives as it seems there is only a few of us left to jab the rib cage of you folks and be brave enough to pester a calling for such things!
Please help me! I know that my kids don't know much and that's MY FAULT, I promise you ALL -- my children WILL be @ our gathering and probably be very curious who most of you are as I have failed to inform them and involve them --- so here we go and don't feel alone as most of us are the same in my opinion -- that is my admittance and guilt, and so be it!
Momma Gina and I are enjoying a nice weekend here @ the old place and looking forward to another week of hard work also -- how many of you folks remember the doings of macrame? Gina and I were upstairs just enjoying the other part of our home and I was admiring my sister "Sharon's" work as we have a piece of her macrame works hanging on a pair of snow shoes an old indian pal of mine had made --- anyhoos -- my sis did a nice job and I am QUITE proud of her work -- Hey Sharon -- would be nice to here from you ----I'm sure the rest of the family would love to here how you and your kids are doing ! PLEASE write when you can .
Love to all ~Rian&Gina~
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Reunion Quilt
OK... I have heard from a few of the quilters in the family and received some good ideas.
Am mulling ideas and thoughts over and will make decisions soon.
In the mean time, I need to know how many will be making a quilt block?
How many will need a pattern of some sort -- maybe a simple signature block?
How many will want to do a photo block?
I need commitments so we can plan the sizes, etc.
There are lots of ways to make blocks... applique, pieced, color crayon a picture, photo transfer, embellished with fancy threads/beads/buttons; etc. The block does not have to be fancy, but can be if you choose. Please plan to participate.
Please send me your commitment at my e-mail cruize@theofficenet.com
Thanks,
Bunny
Am mulling ideas and thoughts over and will make decisions soon.
In the mean time, I need to know how many will be making a quilt block?
How many will need a pattern of some sort -- maybe a simple signature block?
How many will want to do a photo block?
I need commitments so we can plan the sizes, etc.
There are lots of ways to make blocks... applique, pieced, color crayon a picture, photo transfer, embellished with fancy threads/beads/buttons; etc. The block does not have to be fancy, but can be if you choose. Please plan to participate.
Please send me your commitment at my e-mail cruize@theofficenet.com
Thanks,
Bunny
Thursday, March 29, 2007
PANSY ST CLAIR
We received Alice Powner's book, "Bonds of Love and Laughter" by Alice Reeve Scriber. We're going to take it to work with us and I will read it to Rian as he drives. We're so excited. There are many pictures and very interesting copied documents as we quickly thumb through this book, just recieved it today.
A short note just to describe some interest and theme in which she has captured the Reeves Family, and I quote, "It's 1900, long past the (great migration), when Charlie and Rosella Reeve decided to homestead in Washington state with their five children. Sadly bidding farewell to their Minnesota family, all of the Reeve's travel in a single wagon, following the route of the Northern Pacific railroad across No. Dakota, Montana, and Idaho.
"Alone on the trail, this loving adventurous family must create a day-to-day life for themselves in unfamiliar territory: cooking meals, washing clothes, battling hardships, all the while trying to figure out what was around the next bend. Charlie and Rosella weren't famous or special, just ordinary Americans persuing something better for their children." Unquote. This book can be purchased through Amazon.com, just type in "Alice Reeve Scriber."
This is just a taste for those of you who may be interested in purchasing Alice's book. For us this is just another beautiful event in this gathering of The St Clair Family Reunion.
Also, we're thinking of a theme for the gathering, and in doing so, we have discovered the original St Clair family crest, being a rooster sitting upon a tether of rope, encircled by a belt (which we will research what these items represented to the family) with the logo of "Commit Thy Work To God", this dating back to 1180 AD. A lot more history here folks! We are also in search of the original Reeve's family crest. We have decided to make up a flag much like the Knights of Templar would have had that represented their family. These will be our efforts and we are not asking for any help in this area. We also will do the same for Pansy's side for the family crest.
We hope this sets on everyone in the "family correct" way. Rian says, we need more personal history and stories from everyone on Grandma's side, so come on guys and gals, bring it on!!!
Love to all,
Rian and Gina
A short note just to describe some interest and theme in which she has captured the Reeves Family, and I quote, "It's 1900, long past the (great migration), when Charlie and Rosella Reeve decided to homestead in Washington state with their five children. Sadly bidding farewell to their Minnesota family, all of the Reeve's travel in a single wagon, following the route of the Northern Pacific railroad across No. Dakota, Montana, and Idaho.
"Alone on the trail, this loving adventurous family must create a day-to-day life for themselves in unfamiliar territory: cooking meals, washing clothes, battling hardships, all the while trying to figure out what was around the next bend. Charlie and Rosella weren't famous or special, just ordinary Americans persuing something better for their children." Unquote. This book can be purchased through Amazon.com, just type in "Alice Reeve Scriber."
This is just a taste for those of you who may be interested in purchasing Alice's book. For us this is just another beautiful event in this gathering of The St Clair Family Reunion.
Also, we're thinking of a theme for the gathering, and in doing so, we have discovered the original St Clair family crest, being a rooster sitting upon a tether of rope, encircled by a belt (which we will research what these items represented to the family) with the logo of "Commit Thy Work To God", this dating back to 1180 AD. A lot more history here folks! We are also in search of the original Reeve's family crest. We have decided to make up a flag much like the Knights of Templar would have had that represented their family. These will be our efforts and we are not asking for any help in this area. We also will do the same for Pansy's side for the family crest.
We hope this sets on everyone in the "family correct" way. Rian says, we need more personal history and stories from everyone on Grandma's side, so come on guys and gals, bring it on!!!
Love to all,
Rian and Gina
Sunday, March 25, 2007
reunion quilt
Ok... I need to hear from the quilters in our family. We do need to get together to start planning the quilt as summer 2008 and the reunion will be here before we know it.
I have some thoughts and know a few of you do as well. We need to consolodate our thoughts and make some decisions as to size, specific background fabric or not, if we want a theme or not and lots of other things, including deadlines for getting the blocks to one of us to sew together, getting it quilted, etc.
Velda and Glada -- you are the two other quilters in the family that I know of. Please e-mail me at cruize@theofficenet.com with your thoughts, etc. And if there are other quilters, please contact me as well. The more help planning this quilt the better... then ...........
the rest of you... be thinking about what you want to put on your quilt block. I believe we will want each family to make a block... probably something to do with you/your family/your life/hobbies/pets/kids/or whatever.
Rian and Gina are hard at work making lots of plans for this reunion.
Us quilters can take care of the quilt thing... contact me soon.
Bunny
I have some thoughts and know a few of you do as well. We need to consolodate our thoughts and make some decisions as to size, specific background fabric or not, if we want a theme or not and lots of other things, including deadlines for getting the blocks to one of us to sew together, getting it quilted, etc.
Velda and Glada -- you are the two other quilters in the family that I know of. Please e-mail me at cruize@theofficenet.com with your thoughts, etc. And if there are other quilters, please contact me as well. The more help planning this quilt the better... then ...........
the rest of you... be thinking about what you want to put on your quilt block. I believe we will want each family to make a block... probably something to do with you/your family/your life/hobbies/pets/kids/or whatever.
Rian and Gina are hard at work making lots of plans for this reunion.
Us quilters can take care of the quilt thing... contact me soon.
Bunny
Friday, March 23, 2007
More of the Reeves Family
Rian just got off the phone with Alice Powner. His Mom, Marian, brought up her name, Alice having written and published a book on the Reeves family. She is on Grandma Pansy's side of the family. We will recieve this book shortly, and will pass along some pictures and information on Grandma's side. We will also make sure at the time of the reunion, you will all have at least some of the likenesses of what she presents in her book. This is good stuff!!!! Rian says, it's not just the men in this family that make a big difference, so help us out with the gals.
Love you all,
Rian and Gina
Love you all,
Rian and Gina
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