Lookin' at Oregon Through the Windshield with Sissy

Oregon's famous Douglas fir tree in Scotland...

2010-01-16T12:47:00.000-08:00

This is a picture the publisher took of a Douglas fir tree growing on the grounds of the Scone Palace in Pershire, Scotland. In fact, David Douglas planted it.

You see, in 1823 (after Scotland came up with fences to keep sheep and cattle off the castle grounds), they sent a 24 year old David Douglas America to gather seeds so they could then beautify those grounds. The first time he sailed to New York where brought back new varieties of apple trees, oaks and all kinds of other plants, trees and flowers.

The next time (to save money) they sent him here as a passenger on an annual Hudson Bay supply ship and he brought back:

1. Grand fir, white fir and Noble fir

2. Lodgepole pine, big-cone pine, sugar pine

3. Vine maple and broad-leaf maple

4. The madrona tree

5. California poppy

6. Sunflower

7. Honeysuckle

8. Lupin

9. Oregon grape

10. Forget-me-nots

11. Flowering current

12. Bluegrass

13. Huckleberry

14. Bear grass

15. Snowberry

If he hadn't been killed at the young age of 35 (when he fell into a bull pit on the Big Island of Hawaii), Great Britain might look just like Oregon.

Anyway, they named our tree after him and I think David Douglas is a nice name for it.

Luv

Sissy

You can surf the waves in Lincoln City...

2010-01-13T17:02:00.000-08:00

... The water may be cold but the surfing is hot according to Ben at the Oregon Surf Shop (the oldest one on the Oregon Coast). Glory be. I thought that was a California or Hawaii or Australia thing. He says they do it 12 months a year and they have pictures of people surfing with wooden boards at Agate Beach in the 30s or 40s.

Just when you think you know everything? Bam. The truth comes out. I guess you can't just watch for whales any more - you need to try and spot wave riders too.

More about this later after I catch my breath.

Luv,

Sissy

P.S. The surfing photos on this website will amaze you: http://www.oregonsurfshop.com/gallery.php

Music schedule for Mt. Angel Wurstfest...

2010-01-13T09:53:00.000-08:00

... February 12 - 14, 2010, at the Mount Angel Community Building (Biergarten) 500 S Wilco Highway in Mount Angel. Persons under 21 admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult; after 9:00 pm, adults only. Free commemorative beer or wine glass with each paid entry (while supplies last). Special Mt. Angel restaurant $10 gift certificate to each lady on Valentine’s Day. Call 503-845-9440 or visit www. oktoberfest.org.

Friday, February 12 - 5:00 to 11:00 pm

5 – 8 pm The Oregon Polka Band

8 – 11 pm Mount Angel’s Own Z Musikmakers

Saturday, February 13 – Noon to 1:30 pm

Noon – 1:30 pm Alpine Echoes

1:30 – 3 pm Jagermeister Volksmusik

3 – 4:30 pm Alpine Echoes

4:30 – 8 pm Paul Smith’s Still Kickin’

8 – 11 pm Mount Angel’s Own Z Musikmakers

Sunday, February 14 – Noon – 6:00 pm

Noon – 2 pm The Greg Meier Alpine quartet

2 – 3 pm Jagermeister Volksmusik

3 – Closing Paul Smith’s Still Kickin’

Really don't want you to miss this.

Luv

Sissy

Watch this Mt. Angel Wurstfest video...

2010-01-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

... from last years blast of winter at Wurstfest and you will want to do two things.

1. Dance.

2. Put this years dates dates on your calendar.

Make a note: February 12 - 14 in Mt. Angel (visit www.oktoberfest.org for the details). Just watch this and see ( don't tell anybody but I'm going to try and sneak in there myself).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvjEKNvpjok

Luv

Sissy

Shaniko continues to perk...

2010-01-12T08:55:00.000-08:00

... the old storyteller Bing Bingham checked in again. Tumbleweeds Grocery and Gas in Shaniko passed their last fire marshall inspection and now they are just calibrating the pumps so they can order the gas. Travel between Biggs Junction and Madras just got sweeter.

And sweeter yet, since your stopping in Shaniko anyway, you might as well go in and buy an ice cream cone from Mayor Goldie. Tell her Sissy sent you - that'll make her shake her head - smile.

Luv,

Sissy

Something's happening in Shaniko...

2010-01-10T12:34:00.000-08:00

... just heard from the old story teller Bing Bingham that Shaniko is getting gas. Can't wait to see what that is about. Ha ha ha. There's lots of things you can take for that you know.

I'm waiting Bing. Tell me more.

Luv,

Sissy

More from the country poet...

2010-01-09T07:22:00.000-08:00

I looked up at the evening sky

And watched a barn owl flying high

Wings stretched out on either side

Little mousies, run and hide

Luv,

Sissy

Eleanor's Undertow in Lincoln City...

2010-01-09T07:10:00.000-08:00

... is named Eleanor's Undertow because they specialize in take-out food. Undertow - away from the shore - get it?

Eleanor's Undertow is right on the ocean end of 51st Street. You go in, order something "to go" and take it down and eat it on the beach. Eleanor has been doing that for 40 years - doing it before take-out was in.

Way to go Eleanor.

Luv, Sissy

Lincoln City is getting as green...

2010-01-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

... as I am ( can't get much greener than a green iguana - heh heh heh). I just stayed at one of their green inns and never had such a good time.

Just think of an antique mall with beds in it that serves free home-cooked hot breakfasts, takes pets, is just a few blocks from the Jennifer Sears Glass Float Foundry (and all the other things along 51st street in old town Taft). They have a $39 winter rate on right now. Look 'em up at www.historicanchorinn.com.

I don't think you better stay home another minute.

Luv Sissy

Oregon Country poetry...

2010-01-03T13:35:00.000-08:00

Baby cows

And baby horses

Come from very

Different sources

Luv

Sissy

The making of Lincoln City's 51st Street...

2009-12-29T10:53:00.000-08:00

... has been going on for a long long time. It's at the south end of town where the Siletz Bay goes into the ocean.

First the Indians settled there - and why not. It is a few feet from the ocean, a few feet from the bay with woods and creeks and rivers all around.

Then the home steaders settled there - and why not. It is a few feet from the ocean, a few feet from the bay with woods and creeks and rivers all around.

Now visitors are discovering it - and why not. It is a few feet from the ocean, a few feet from the bay with woods and creeks and rivers all around - plus - motels, restaurants, shops, galleries and a place you can rent crab rings or blow your own glass float.

It used to be a quiet little place called Taft but now as 51st Street, it's a happenin' place to be. Take a tip from me, winter is a good time to go there.

Luv

Sissy

Happy holidays and...

2009-12-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

... since some think my poetry falls short of, well maybe several things, let me share one of my favorite Christmas poems with you.

"At Christmas,

A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year;

He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season's here;

Then he's thinking more of others than he's thought the months before,

And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for.

He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;

When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime."

- Edgar Guest

May you feel the love that comes down at Christmas, all year long.

Luv,

Sissy

Free things to do in LIncoln City...

2009-12-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

... Just because the sun is not shining, there are still fun things to do:

FREE THINGS TO DO IN LINCOLN CITY

It doesn't have to be expensive to be fun at the beach and Lincoln City has some fun things that don't cost anything at all. Try some of these with your friends and family!

Hunt for hand-crafted glass floats on the Beach from mid-October to Memorial Day.

Hunt for antique Japanese glass fishing floats on Presidents' Day Weekend.

Visit the North Lincoln County Historical Museum. Admission is free in 2010.

Hunt for glass sand dollars on the beach on February 20th.

Watch Glass Blowing at the Jennifer Sears Glass Art Studio.

Tide pool.

Hike Drift Creek Falls & Cascade Head.

Vist the playground and enjoy the view at Regatta Grounds Park on the lake.

Walk the beach.

Skateboard at Kirtsis Park.

Play tennis at Dorchester Park.

Visit the Connie Hansen Garden (donations appreciated).

Build a bonfire on the beach and have smores.

Watch the seals in Siletz Bay.

Whale Watch.

Storm Watch.

Build a sand castle.

Hunt for sea shells.

Visit Driftwood Public Library for a book, audio tape, or video.

Hunt for agates.

Pick up beach trash and register for a glass float.

Watch stunning waterfowl in Siletz Bay.

Fly a kite.

Visit the statue of Abraham Lincoln sitting on his horse reading a book
(on 21st St just east of Highway 101 - see my October 10th blog)

Now, get out and get going and let me know which of these fun things you liked best (I'm going to go over myself - smile). Let's hear it for the free "fun" things to do in Lincoln City.

Luv,

Sissy.

Watch this logging video and you'll want to kiss a logger...

2009-12-15T20:56:00.000-08:00

... after you take a look at this video. These guys hauled their big equipment (and I mean big) out Highway 22 to just east of Detroit and killed two birds with one stone. They made it safer for hikers and campers to go into the woods and at the same time they made better fish habitat in the Santiam River.

<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmjFCoh48pM

Never underestimate what goes on in the woods. Never.

Luv,

Sissy

Columbia River gets nasty...

2009-12-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

... makes me wonder why I left Mexico. Gosh. It did seem like such a good idea at the time.
Sunday (December 6), I drove through the Columbia River Gorge and watched the wind send waves crashing against the side of the John Day Dam. Damn!

I'm staying inside for awhile.

Luv,

Sissy

Lincoln City helps travelers lighten carbon footprint...

2009-11-25T16:36:00.000-08:00

... just got word (people tell me things you know), that Lincoln City (featured in the September issue of CTOL) is installing six electric vehicle charging stations next month. If that isn't thinking of the travelers needs I don't know what is.

This Gateway unit will have cell phone interface with Coulomb Network at a cost to customers for only $3 per charge and the city is picking up the monthly activation fee. Just think about it. While you get your soul charged up by being at the ocean, your electric car can get charged up too. Wow and kudos. There are going to be smaller carbon footprints in Lincoln City. Reminds me of one of my favorite carbon footprint poems:

"Mary had a little lamb

It's fleece was black as soot

And everywhere that Mary went

It's sooty foot it put!" - author unknown

Well that's the news for now,

Luv

Sissy

Oregon's leaves are falling - wow what a party!!!

2009-11-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

Was there anywhere that didn't get wind last night? This is a revealing time of year you know because you get to peer deeper into the woods. Leaves hide things when they are on the trees but oh, ho ho - that's all over as soon as they start flinging them on the ground. A lot of leaves hit the ground last night - including those from the nearly dozen quaking aspens growing between my house and the road. Better start watching my myself since you are going to be watching me too. Happy gawking - smile.

Luv

Sissy

Moldova vs Moldavia...

2009-11-18T19:44:00.000-08:00

... Get this: Moldova is a land locked country in Eastern Europe located between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east and south and Moldavia is but another name for Moldova.

Sorry to bother you if you knew that already, but I just found it out. "Live and learn," sez I.

Luv,

Sissy

Country Traveler Online welcome to the newest readers...

2009-11-18T19:20:00.000-08:00

... from six new countries. Come visit us in Oregon - in fact, let me know if you have any questions about anything. I'm not the smartest iguana in the world but I'm darn close. Who knows. I might just have the answer.

I made the countries that just joined us blue so you could see they are. My, my my. We've got our own little United Nations going on here.

Australia, Benin, Canada, Chili, China, Columbia, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, European Country, Finland, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, South Korea, Spain, Turkey and U.S.

See you around.

Luv,

Sissy

Hood River here we come...

2009-11-13T14:43:00.000-08:00

... A lot of people speeding down I-84 toward Chicago (or Japan via the Pacific Ocean), just go whizzing right on by Hood River. That is a big mistake. I never saw a town that worked so hard to keep themselves outstanding. It is almost impossible to buy a bad meal there - like Maui Meyer says, "The food that grows around here is so good it is impossible to ruin it." Well thank heavens no one is trying to.

When Lewis and Clark came through here in 1804 and 1805, they had to work so hard to find fresh salmon, duck and venison. Today, all you have to do is drive to one of many Hood River restaurants and order it (and more) from a menu. Boy wouldn't that make Lewis and Clark mad to find that out.

Well, you can tell them if you want but they sure won't hear it from me.

Luv Sissy

Country Traveler Online is hot...

2009-11-10T16:01:00.000-08:00

... I just looked over somebody's shoulder and saw a report that said people from 31 countries plus U.S. and Canada are reading my every word. I'm not going to tell you whose shoulder 'cause I don't want to let the cat out of the bag that I was snooping. But (tee hee), I wrote down where they're from:

As of 11/10/09 - Australia, Benin, Canada, China, Columbia, Croatia, Denmark, Egypt, European Country, Finland, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Germany, Great Britain, Japan, Latvia, Luxemburg, Moldova, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, South Korea, Turkey and U.S.

Guess I better watch what I say. Now I'm even trying to remember what I said. Man, I have tooooo many things to think about.

Luv,

Sissy

The leaves are turning color in Oregon...

2009-11-08T16:49:00.000-08:00

... Have you been outside lately? The deciduous trees are so eager to get to bed they are throwing their leaves everywhere. It looks like a teenagers bedroom out there - just shed 'em and toss them on the floor.

We iguanas shed too but we like to do it quietly in a nice cold and dark tight fitting place somewhere. Talk about exhibitionists, everything but the evergreens are stripping to the bone.

Good night sweet princes and princesses. We'll be glad to see you getting dressed again when you wake up in the spring.

Luv Sissy

Fall foliage in Oregon

2009-11-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

... She said it right on the Fun Places to Go page. You can look it up yourself.

I said to myself, "Self? What is this business of leafy trees undressing and getting ready for bed? What about those evergreens. I don't see them undressing. Does that mean they never get any rest?"

Well, I decided I better call my logger friend and find out.

"Logger friend, what's the deal?" sez I. "Well it's like this," sez he. "The evergreens sleep (it is really called going dormant) during the winter too - they just sleep with their clothes on."

Well, that's what my logger friend said, so now you know as much about it as I do.

Luv,

Sissy

Central Oregon Calendars on sale...

2009-10-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

The old story teller (who but Bing L. Bingham of Between the Fence Post fame) is debuting his 2010 Northern Central Oregon Photo Calendar this Friday night at Great Earth Natural Foods in Madras. There is going to be wine and cheese tasting and lots of good fun and Bing says it would be really cool to have you stop by. This great photo of the horses is in Bing's calendar!

Write it down - Party Time - Friday, October 30, at 5:00 pm - at the Great Earth Natural Foods in Madras (46 SW D St; 541-475-1500). If you can't make it and want a calendar anyway, email Bing at bingbingham@rconnects.com and he'll tell you how to get one.

Luv

Sissy

In defense of Abe Lincoln's long legs...

2009-10-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

Got a note from my Portland friend Marilyn, and she said, "Sissy, you ought to tell those tourists who question the length of Mr. Lincoln's legs, that Abe himself said they were exactly right - long enough to reach the ground."

Well Marilyn, that's good advice and I'm going to take it!

I can't wait until Marilyn goes to Mexico the next time because she is going to try and take some more pictures of my Uncle Ben. Keep traveling Marilyn and keep that camera ready.

Luv,

Sissy

Lincoln City here we come...

2009-10-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

Boy oh boy, we are going to Lincoln City next and when you get there, take a look (eastward on 21^st street just off Highway 101 on the north end of town - between the Dairy Queen and Barnacle Bill’s) and you’ll see an awesome statue of a young beardless Abraham Lincoln sitting on a horse just reading a book.There are only three of these statues in the world – one in New Salem State Park, Illinois, one in Salzburg, Austria and one in Lincoln City. I interviewed him one day – it was pretty interesting if I do say so myself.

Here's the way it went:

“Well Mr. Lincoln, I appreciate your taking time out from your reading to talk with me,” sez I.

“That’s quite aright, I enjoy the company,” sez he.

“You see, most folks don’t even know I’m here.

“I see a few passing by and a tour bus now and then, but otherwise I just sit here across from Kirtsis Park, listening to the ocean roaring and the cars rushing by on 101.

“I like visitors though. Some have a great admiration for art and some for history. Some wonder just what I’m doing here reading a book on a horse. Some are surprised I don’t have a beard, others think my legs are too long or my body’s too short. A lot of people don’t realize what I looked like in my 40’s. They only knew me as the President.

“There are people who come from far away that make a special point to look me up and there are folks who come to Lincoln City all the time and don’t know I’m anywhere around.”

“Well thanks again Mr. Lincoln,” sez I. “I’ll be back.”

I’ll tell you more later.

Luv, Sissy

Good Old Uncle Ben

2009-09-25T19:31:00.000-07:00

My friend Marilyn took some pictures of the Iguana Tree when she was in Mexico and lo and behold I recognized old Uncle Ben. A big fat devil of a guy isn't he? He and his cronies (there is about a dozen of them) that just lounge around in tree branches, snack on the foliage and watch the tourists. They don't have the travel bug I have and you certainly won't see them behind the wheel of any little red car. It must be dull just staying where you belong. Anyway, old uncle looked pretty good - thanks Marilyn.

Luv, Sissy

I Love Carrots

2009-09-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

Carrots grow up and down

The tasty part is in the ground

In a salad, mixed in jello

Make it green or make it yellow

Raw and cooked and blended juices

Carrots have a thousand uses.

By Sissy

"Let them eat cake!"

2009-09-17T16:17:00.000-07:00

Carrot cake that is. I wonder if Marie Antoinette really did say that and - well who knows - if she did she could have even meant carrot cake.

I went to a birthday party last Tuesday night, and had to watch everybody pig out on carrot birthday cake (we iguanas can eat grated carrots but not if someone puts them in a cake). Then Steve said, "I don't think people should be allowed to put vegetables in cake." Man Steve, lighten up. I would have loved to have had a piece of that carrot cake - it's tough being an iguana.

Luv, Sissy

OK, OK, I"m looking into it.

2009-09-12T10:36:00.000-07:00

You know, iguanas are famous for having selective hearing (you know - kinda like kids and husbands). Anyway, I've heard some of you talking about who figured out this carrot seed business in the first place so I just wanted you to know I'm looking into it. (OK Buttons from Green Belt Maryland, where are you now when I need you?)

Luv,

Sissy

Let's Hear it for the Bees

2009-09-04T11:25:00.000-07:00

Well guess who pollinates the hybrid carrots growing in the fields of Central Oregon. Honey bees. They fly back and forth between the male and female plants in their search for nectar and - voila! The carrots are fertilized and then it's only a matter of time and new baby seeds are born (or something like that).

Also, Bruce from Central Oregon Seed checked and said, "The easy answer to being able to tell the difference between male and female seed is, you can't. When the seeds are planted and grow into plants and produce a flower then you can tell the difference. They are already separated when we get them. Once the seed is set and harvested off the plant, nobody can tell if it's male or female."

And Buttons (that sounds to me like a name for a rabbit), from Green Belt, Maryland, emailed to say you can find out just about everything you ever wanted to know about carrots by visiting www.worldcarrotmuseum.co.uk (that even sounds like something a rabbit would come up with).

If anyone has any more questions, just email me at countrytraveleronline@gmail.com

Luv,

Sissy

Queen Anne's Lace Trivia

2009-08-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

I got a letter from Atticus about the wild carrot seed called Queen Anne's Lace (and no Atticus, I don't mind if you call me Sis though that's kinda dumb). Anyway, since Atticus lives in Rainier, where they can't raise hybrid carrot seeds because the Queen Anne's Lace that grows there and would contaminate it, he knows a lot about it. Here is what he told me:

Queen Anne's Lace is called Bishop's Lace in England and was introduced into the U.S. from Europe/Asia/Africa in 1739 (wow no wonder it grows everywhere - that was 270 years ago).

This plant is a biennial (that means it blooms in the second year and then dies).

It requires a climate that has at least 120 frost free days to reproduce (which is why it grows on Oregon's west side and not the east side).

A teaspoon of ground up seeds taken orally and pressing the flowers between your knees are ancient forms of birth control (oh come on Atticus, that's dumb too).

You can cut Queen Anne's Lace, put the flowers in a vase of colored water and they will turn from white to whatever color you made the water (just like they do with carnations).

So, now you know as much as Atticus does about Queen Anne's Lace.

Luv,

Sissy

Eating carrots...

2009-08-26T21:41:00.000-07:00

My favorite way to eat carrots is grated with a little water sprayed on them. Even though I like them, they don't let me eat them very often - has something to do with them having too many calcium oxalates which I guess isn't good for us iguanas. But, you humans can have all you want and this is a good way to eat 'em.

Luv,
Sissy

Carrot Sandwich Spread ingredients:
3/4 cup of finely grated carrots.
1/4 ounce of cream cheese, softened.
1 stick of margarine, softened.
2 tablespoons of finely chopped green olives.
2 tablespoons of grated onion.
Dash of white pepper

Instructions:
Mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly
Chill the mixture in a refrigerator
Spread into a sandwich, onto toast or however you like.

2009-08-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

Know where carrots come from?

Leaving Madras, heading south on U.S. 97, I was looking out the window at a field of hybrid carrot seed. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I thought I knew most things but I didn’t know that Central Oregon was a big carrot seed player – they grow 85% of the nations carrot seed and 40% of the world’s carrot seed.

Expensive to grow too – nearly $1200 an acre because they have to grow the male and female carrots side by side to get them to pollinate and that means it takes up a lot of ground with less yield. See the photo? Three rows of male plants to five rows of female (don’t ask me how you tell the difference ‘cause I don’t know).

We don’t see a field of carrot seeds in the Willamette Valley because we have the wild carrot called Queen Anne’s Lace and it cross pollinates.

What happens next? They harvest in September, send the seed to California, California grows the carrots and then sends them back. Who would have thought? Not me, that’s for sure.

You can find out more at www.oregonstate.edu/dept/coarc/crops/vegetable_seed