Lessons learned in Oregon

Oregon is a state that loves to recycle. Everything from grocery bags to electronics. For the most part those are great things we should all learn to recycle more and leave this world better than we found it (probably not possible at this point). I did learn that many people in Oregon are vey liberal. One of the very cool things I experienced is something I have thought should be done for years. I have seen grocery stores take perfectly good food off the shelves and throw it away. For a few years I was able to pick up some of that produce to feed to the pigs and chickens. I was amazed to see so much of that produce was almost perfect, maybe some brown spots or perhaps it had just "aged out" and had to be thrown out. Over the years the grocery stores would not allow me to get it for my critters but would throw it away. One manager told me I could go climb in the dumpster if I wanted to (I chose not to do that). I have tried to donate food to food banks around this area and found they are not allowed to distribute any food that is close to being out of date. (I know that I have eaten lots of stuff out of date over the years.) I learned that the stores in Eugene and Springfield were changing that stigma and donating their older food to a group called "waste to taste", and another branch that makes burritos for the homeless. In the waste to taste movement people in the area make an appointment to go into the "store" and pick out whatever they want. The people do not need to give their name, address etc. They just show up and get whatever they need for the week. I was happy to see this because so much less food is going to the landfill and people are not being shamed to accept a little assistance. The other part of this group the buritto brigade makes between 600 - 800 burritos every weekend and distributes them to areas where the homeless are more likely to be. The burritos are wrapped in foil and just left for them. They also have a lot of "Little free pantrys" I haven't seen many of those around here, but I know they are in the Liberty/Kansas City MO area. I love when people reach out to share good things.

My trip home

 I still have photos to share as well as thoughts but I want to get my thoughts about my trip home down before I forget everything.

I was scheduled to leave at 5 in the afternoon so needed to be there by 4.  I had carefully packed and weighed my luggage.  I went to lunch with Jim, Betty and Marge then on to the station.  I talked Marge into staying at home, I just didn't want all the crying at the station.  The train was late getting to the station and even later leaving ...3 hours!!!  Betty insisted they wait with me, silly woman!  

When I finally got onto the train I was seated across the aisle from a 30 something woman and her 2 chiweenies.   I did not even know that was a breed of dog until then.  She talked to them as if they were her babies and even had a baby buggy for them.  She was traveling from Seattle to New Orleans. 

Thanks to leaving 3 hours late, my layover in Sacramento was only a couple of hours.  I was fortunate enough to have no seatmate for all but 1 hour of my return journey.  I thought about flying home because the train takes so long but I really wanted to complete my journey as planned.  I am so happy I did.  I saw so many things I apparently missed on the way out, or maybe it was because I was sitting on the other side of the train on the way out.  In Sacramento I was amazed at the number of homeless camps, I saw them all along the tracks, some with fires burning (it was early morning when we got there).  There were some very large old buildings next to the station.  They were obviously abandoned and most of the glass was broken.  It was sad to see such destruction.  

About an hour east of Sacramento I saw a small town that looked like something out of the old west.  All of the buildings had that false tall fronts.  I wanted to go explore the town, but you can't leave the train to go play!  

I have really enjoyed people watching on the train.  My most interesting person on the return journey was a 30 something woman from the San Francisco Bay area. She said she had never been more than 50 miles from the place she was born.  She had never seen snow, had never seen a forest and had never driven a car.  She was traveling to Chicago for her mothers wedding.  Her Mom was obviously very young when she was born and I don't believe she knew her father.  She talked a LOT about her fear of flying (she had never done it) and that her mother had paid for her journey.  She was proud to tell everyone that she was going to "make" her mom pay for new clothing and lots of snacks for her journey back to San Francisco.  

Another of my favorites was a very tall thin woman who got out of the train whenever she could for a smoke break.  (I was amazed at how many people still smoked).  I asked her about her trip.  She said she began her journey on the east coast in Pennsylvania and journeyed to the San Francisco Bay area.  She got off the train and stayed in a hotel for one night.  From there she got back on the train to go back to Pennsylvania.  She said she simply wanted to see the USA in a way she could not see in any other way.

I left Oregon Tuesday afternoon and got back to Omaha on Friday morning (5 AM)    I am so happy to be home.  When I got home I took a nap then called Shannon to bring Buddy home a few hours later.  He was so excited he wiggled and moaned for about 10 minutes.   he was so happy to home (at least I think he was happy)  

Family dinners and lot of laughter

 I have been terrible about taking pictures of my family.  I have had so much fun being around them and basking in the love that I just don't think to take any pictures.  

Yesterday Marge and I went over to Betty and Jim's house for the afternoon.  Betty, Marge and I cooked together.  We laughed, told stories and managed to put a meal together.  Marge had wanted me to make Kuba, a Czech dish I remembered from our childhood.  It is made with barley and dehydrated mushrooms.  It has been years since I had it, and longer since I had eaten it.  Marge didn't remember it at all, I didn't ask if Betty did.  We also made a dish we all love, sourkraut and pork with dumplings (there is no way I can spell the Czech name we all know it by.  Oh my goodness it was so good.  

Joe, Theresa and Tammy came over while we were cooking and had dinner with us.  The chatter was deafening at times, with lots of good natured teasing each other.  I don't remember the last time I had such a fun day.  I wish it could have lasted longer, but we were all tired and needed the day to end.  

Marge and I drove home in a pretty impressive rain storm.  We got stuck in traffic probably due to the Oregon ducks football game in Eugene.  It took a very long time to make that 20 minute drive.  Thankfully I don't mind driving in rain, or in ducks traffic!

This is Joe.  He is Theresa's husband.  Until this trip I have not really had the opportunity to get to know him.  I am so thankful for the time we had together.  He is such a nice guy and so full of knowledge.  I loved talking with him and knowing him better.  I wish we lived closer ..  I really enjoyed him!

Theresa is my oldest niece.  She is the sweetest and kindest person I know.  I don't have enough words to describe her.  She is amazing.  She is also a great cook ... I was treated to lunch at her house one day.  It was amazing. 

Thats my family ... Betty has her arm around Joe's neck ... She actually does love him bunches.  

 

Tammy and I 

My trip to sisters part 4

 I wish this silly page would let me post more on each page .... that is the reason there are so many parts to this story!  😒

This was my first view of the 3 sisters mountains.  I am in awe of the snow capped mountains.  It is hard to imagine how tall these mountains are and how cold it is at the top.  

The drive on this highway is amazing.  I wanted to pull over everywhere just to look at the mountains, the trees, and the sky.  This is beyond amazing how beautiul it is. 

There are several dam sites above Eugene and Springfield.  This one was very cool to see.  The amount of soil need to hold all that water back is mind boggling. Looking down to the building and equipment needed is almost breath taking.  If this dam broke, not only would all of those buildings be wiped but so much devastation to the cities below.  I believe I was told the water for the cities comes from the dam sites on this mountain road.   

More views from driving

This pointed mountain just amazed me.  I loved watching it, wondering how far away it was and how in the world did it get hat point?

This ski lift made me shiver ... how frightening that would be to go up the mountain in just that little chair.  I also wondered where they ski down the mountain.  Is it only underneath the lift?

This is the lodge at the bottom of the ski lift.  I would love to see inside.  I am sure it is beautiful inside.  Can you see yourself sipping a cup of hot chocolate watching a roaring fire after spending the afternoon outside playing in the snow?

The end of our journey this day was this beautiful covered bridge.  

It is in such great shape.  We got here close to dusk.  There were lights inside the windows that made it look magical.  There is a sign on one side of the bridge announcing it is a one lane bridge and the cars on the far side must yield to the highway side.  I was awed by the bridge, and the history behind it.  

My trip to sisters part 3

 

These are lava beds along the McKenzie river.  I was in awe thinking that they were created by a volcanic eruption so many years ago.  What an amazing world we live in.  How awesome that God created all of these sights.  

My trip to Sisters, Oregon part 2

 One of the most beautiful places I have seen is Clear Lake, OR.  I was totally amazed that you could actually see all the way to the bottom in the entire lake.  It was created about 3000 years ago by a volcanic eruption.  The eruption blocked the area and submerged the forest.  I read that the water temperature is near freezing year around (I didn't test that).  No motors are allowed on the lake, only row boats.  It is a favorite area for scuba diving, and I understand my own nephew Tim has dived there.  

As a kid, I remember a picture hanging on Mom and Dads wall.  It was a lake in the mountains with trees reflected in the water.  This view of clear lake reminds me of that picture.  I think I could look at this view for hours and not be bored. 

Sahlie falls is totally amazing.  Yes I have seen water falls before but this one was so beautiful set among these giant trees.  The walk down to the falls was short with just a few stair steps along the way.  I could see that in the winter that short trail would be treacherous.  I wonder if the falls freeze in the winter but I don't think it gets that cold here.  As a kid from the midwest I am used to winters getting down to -20 degrees sometimes.  I don't think it gets nearly that cold here.  You can't see it in the photo but those trees behind us are loaded with pinecones.  Some of them are huge, I wanted to gather up a bunch of pinecones and take them home with me for crafts.  I just don't have enough room to take everything home that I want to!  

My trip to Sisters, Oregon part 1

 I have been here in Oregon for 6 weeks, and will be leaving for home next week.  I haven't been able to do much in the way of sightseeing so Jim and Betty decided I needed to go to the mountains for the day.  We left Springfield around 10 AM and headed to the McKenzie river.  First stop was to get a cup of coffee for Jim, He is seldom without a cup of coffee in his hand.  

The road is beautiful, the trees are amazing.  Our first stop was Leaburg.  This small town was devastated by a forest fire in 2020.  My nieces brother in law lived there in a log cabin.  That, along with every structure (as far as I know) was destroyed by the fire.  The town is coming back to life.  A new library is up and running.  A community flower area is being built.  There is a general store in the process of being built and quite a few modular homes in place.  The trees are going to take years to grow back, but I did find some holly growing wild out by the community outhouse.  

I was a typical tourist along the way gawking the huge trees and the devastation caused by the fire.  It's hard to understand the destruction unless you see it.  Betty said the residents of this city ran across the bridge to an athletic field when the fire got to close.  They were afraid the fire was going to jump the river and take them out.  I can't imagine the fear those people must have felt.