PARCHED

As we slide toward early fall here in Oregon I look around at the environment and wonder if our rains will return in time to build up our rivers for the fish  -- especially the fall run of salmon on our rivers. Oregon has been mostly void of any rains since May and this has resulted in low river flows with high temperatures that fish cannot do well in -- many have died. The trees and shrubs appear dried out in many places. Above is a leaf I spotted that represents the desiccated look of  the leaves that are falling in large numbers off many trees. Granted there are a major portion of trees still going fairly strong. A quick look at wild areas brings home the parched look of some trees and other plants. What can we do about it. I bet you know.  Everyone should know. It is everyone's problem.

This is a photo that I took of Oregon's Siuslaw River that was roaring along its 110 mile path toward the ocean in early summer of this year.  

This is the same river with its photo taken in the same spot as the above last photo. Now it looks more like a wading pool than a river. State officials are now either curtailing fishing on Oregon's rivers or prohibiting fishing altogether to reduce stress levels. 

My son took this photo a few weeks ago of an eagle sitting contemplatively by the Siuslaw River. Many eagles call this river home. In fact a whole population of wild critters and plants call Oregon rivers their home. 

The end of this tale is yet to be told. 

HOLIDAYS ARE FOR RELAXING

Look for the woman on the dock in the above photo, she has a fishing pole in her hands. She has the place all to herself. I spotted this woman not to long ago, fishing leisurely along the Siuslaw river. She must be a dedicated fisher-woman I thought. So I walked down the long non-skid metal ramp in order to get a bit closer to her  -- hoping to get the "skinny" on why she was out near the river in a non-populated area. 

She told me that she just bought her fishing pole and was learning how to use it. It was a beautiful day and the river was calm so why not try it out. She was perfectly content as she plied the waters with her pole. 

Now, if you are wondering how to spend your holiday this weekend just try a relaxed approach like this woman. Find a hammock or a picnic table and make it simple. Walk a trail in the city or in a natural area and take your camera or a notebook and record your findings. Or just sit on a bench or rock in some quiet area and notice your surroundings. So many ways to have a good holiday without the rush, noise, and shoulder to shoulder people. Make it your own special holiday. Enjoy.

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!

RIVER STILT HOUSES, MAPLETON OREGON

 Stilt houses --  probably Far East

photo credit: FACADE.

I've seen photos of stilt houses since I was in elementary school. They had a certain emotional pull for me -- how could anyone want to live on stilts? Well that of course was my young Midwestern mind at work -- unaware of the housing needs of people around the world.  

 House built of stilts

Mapleton, Oregon

However, now in my older years I have recently had the experience of seeing real stilt houses here in Oregon -- just about ten miles away along the Siuslaw River. The river does occasionally flood along certain parts of the river. So folks have adopted this ancient concept of building on stilts to stay dry in case of a flood.

House built on stilts

Mapleton, Oregon

Maybe some day along our two coasts we will begin to notice many houses on stilts as the oceans rise -- as predicted with global warming.

MY 1941 SMALL COTTAGE HOME

My new home

Finally I have everything moved into my new place. Moving is certainly not for the weak at heart. 

As a result of an exhausting move I have a new mantra -- for every one thing that is brought into the house beginning now -- one thing will be subtracted from the house. This will keep my living sparse and simple. I have the basics and that is all I need.

As one can see in the photo above my place is a small, clean, vernacular place -- built in 1941. It sits on a ridge along the mountainous Oregon Coast Range near the Siuslaw  (pronounced sigh-YOU-slaw) River which is truly a wild river -- no dams in its forks to slow it down. Its run begins WNW of where I live and travels 110 miles ending in the Pacific Ocean. 

About fifteen to eighteen homes sit here along with me on this ridge. A private one lane road fronts the homes with a posted speed of fifteen miles. 

No one lives across the one lane road. It is a large open flat area to enjoy however with woods surrounding it. Also across the one lane is a large fenced area for a community garden and another fenced area for chickens if one is so inclined to have chickens.

 Fenced chickens along one lane road.

My backyard is small and flat, about 40 ft. X 25 ft. Where my yard ends at the back -- the tree filled mountain begins its climb gradually. 

A very small post office is just down the main road with limited open hours of nine a.m. to one p.m. Since the homes on my ridge are considered on a private road I had to purchase a post office box for my mail.

Our private one lane road

Sounds are occasionally some wind, very seldom a few cars or a truck, a dog's bark infrequently, a night fright train whistle ever so often all the while the river constantly softly roars and races its wild body of water toward the Pacific. 

Overall my place is peaceful, beautiful, and private. 

FOUND: A COTTAGE TO CALL HOME!

Credit:

 nwsteelheader

Finally after more than a year of searching I have found the ideal place for me to live. Yesterday, I contracted to rent a cozy cottage that is twenty-two miles from the Oregon coast. It also has the added attraction of the Siuslaw river flowing past the property through this mountainous valley before entering the ocean at Florence, Oregon. I was discriminating and patient enough to find just the right area which was a reminder to me that all good things take time. Although I have to admit that at times it was very exasperating. 

It is out in the boonies yet there are folks nearby. I have a lot of work ahead of me with the moving and all. I will not be blogging for a few weeks. Will tell you more about the area and cottage when I return. 

Happy trails to everyone.