Monday, April 6, 2015

DAVE'S LIFE ALONG THE RIVER

The wild Siuslaw River

Dave is retired now. To him retirement just means he can do more of all the many things he enjoys. First and foremost on his enjoyment list is fishing for salmon and steelhead. He lives along the Siuslaw River where long about October of every year the river fills with salmon returning from their ocean wanderings to spawn in streams that are along the Siuslaw. He told me that you can actually see them in the river swimming in droves after a rain -- fighting their way back to spawn. 

Dave moved to his river home about 20 years ago from an Oregon farm in central Oregon. His, new to him, river home was originally a school house built in the latter part of the1800s. He told me the floor beams under the floors were fir with the bark still on them and were round rather than square. He has spent many years -- since moving into his home -- designing a garden and making all types of objects out of wood. 

He also picks his blackberries in the summer to make jams, cans sweet pickles, and cleans salmon on a special tray that he built off his river deck side where he cleans all his fish.  

Dave's cleaning tray

He has a large workshop on his property where he appears to be able to make anything with his hands and imagination. He told me that creating with wood just comes to him naturally -- he is self taught. 

I counted at least 20 birdhouses on his property. He also had a few bat houses placed near some of the birdhouses. Both bird and bat can live near each other he told me. "At night," he said "the bats swoop out over his property looking for insects."  

Neighbors -- Birds and Bats

He has lived in Oregon all his life. 

His drinking water comes fresh from a mountain spring, clear and cold, that is not far from his house.  

One thing stood out while I talked to him at his home -- that he is a kind man that loves nature and the outdoors. 

Before I left he gave me a jar of homemade blackberry jam, a jar of his famous sweet pickles, and a frozen piece of fresh salmon out of his river. I made this visit to Dave's home a week ago and guess what, I have finished off all the goodies he sent home with me -- DELICIOUS!

Thanks Dave!


24 comments:

  1. Dave seems to have found a contentment and way of life that satisfies his needs and creativity. He has a beautiful place to live.

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    1. June -- I wanted to take his photo but he was a bit shy of having it taken. He is full of history of the area and enjoys sharing it. I hope to revisit him this summer and hear about his latest projects and perhaps a story or two about Oregon. -- barbara.

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  2. How great to meet and be befriended by Dave. Guess you'll have pics of his house some other time?? Hope so. He does sound quite the great neighbor to have.

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    1. Barbara -- I do hope to visit him again this summer. He is an exhuberant man that loves what he does. Don't know if I will have a photos of his house but I will try and have something of interest. He lives in a small town a few miles from me. -- thanks -- barbara

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  3. Your photographs always make me want to be there, to have that experience. Such a contented life.

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    1. Carole Ann Carr -- I am constantly amazed at all the wonderful folks out in our communities. If I listened to the news and went strictly by their dire reports I would be afraid to leave my house. Thankfully I realize that the news is very slanted toward the worst. thanks -- barbara

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  4. I love to know of all the gentle folk living out their happy, unpretentious lives.

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    1. Joanne -- Since I started blogging in 09 I have met many gentle unpretentious folks just about everywhere I travel. They share their stories and I record parts of it as best as I can. I, like you, love meeting these types of people. thanks -- barbara

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  5. Yes indeed. My kind of place and lifestyle. Sounds like a nice guy.....;)

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    1. troutbirder -- I think you and Dave would get along well -- avid outdoor men enjoying their retirement. I am going to try and talk him into letting me take a photo of him if possible so that I can share it on this blog. But I will respect if he wishes not.

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  6. A very nice portrait of a man through photos and words, without actually showing his face. Well done.

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    1. visualnorway -- Thanks for the nice comment -- There are so many good spirits out in our communities. They are the backbones of a place. -- barbara

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  7. Wow how nice to be right on the river like that! I just bought salmon yesterday, and saw secretly wishing that my husband liked fishing :)

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    1. Melissa -- I have lived near bodies of water before but I am tottaly captivated by the wild Siuslaw River. It has a mystical feeling for me. For a fisherman it probably has some pull that I am not familiar with as I don't fish. Dave had about ten fishing rods leaning in a corner of his workshop -- shows that he is a dyed in the wool fisherman. thanks -- barbara

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  8. barbara, i so enjoyed reading about Dave...So much a part of America, of the American landscape, a quieter part than one experiences in the media and in big cities...How did you meet Dave? I'll bet he loved having you visit!! If you are out of the goodies he sent home with you, you must go back! This river country sounds very powerful.

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    1. Rita -- When I first moved here I noticed all the birdhouses around this house along the river road. . Eventually, over time, I thought why not stop and see what all these birdhouses are all about.That is how I met him. I plan to stop by again this summer and talk about the history of the area. I have to admit one has to be rather bold to stop and introduce ones self. Initially, when I started blogging in KY I was very reticent about introducing myself. I am very careful about my approach. I do not put myself in harms way -- everything is out in the open. What the scariest part of taking photos is being alone in the countryside with no one living close. But I am sure that I take the right precautions when I am tramping about in the countryside. In 7 years I have only had nice things happen (notice fingers crossed). thanks for your comment -- barbara

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  9. I hope to spend my retirement much like Dave is doing. Sounds like you met a very fine person.

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    1. Michelle -- I can imagine you now in your retirement -- gardening, tending to your hives, travelling and just relaxing under the shade of a tree overlooking your beautiful farm. thanks -- barbara

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  10. Dave knows how life is meant to be lived...what a beautiful glimpse of him you have shared with us all. I love that you are bold enough to introduce yourself to perfect strangers and that they are so warm and welcoming to you. just lovely. thank you :)

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    1. Starr -- Don't you feel that writing posts on your blog opens up new doors to everything around you. And also photography adds to the opeining of those doors. We train our eyes and inquiries over time and I think this brings life right up-front with us. thanks -- barbara

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  11. This sounds like the idyllic life in the Northwest. Blissful, really.

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    1. Hattie -- Blissful to some extent.Been following your post of Cuba -- you are on the cutting edge of experiencing the future of that country. It is good that you have all those photos -- you can publish them someday. thanks -- barbara

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  12. Sounds like a delicious life too. Wonderful post.

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    1. Raining Iguanas -- Interesting man, interesting place. Nice that he can step out his door and throw his rod in the river and have dinner ready in no short time. Thanks for your comment -- barbara

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