High On The Mountain

Last month we were blessed to have a visit from a dear, out-of-state cousin.  He stayed for several days and we packed every moment full – but we didn’t have time to do all the things we wanted to do.  One of the things on his list – and a favorite of mine – was a trip up Mount Hood to see historic Timberline Lodge. 
I’ve shared the lodge many times here at different times of the year.  No matter how often I visit the lodge it seems I always find something I haven’t seen before.  That was the case this time.  There were things that had been there before.  Right in front of my nose!  Like this artwork on the main door.I had probably seen this beautiful ironwork handle on the door to the upper terrace before but I had never stopped to pay attention to the details.And I was intrigued with the huge iron hinges on the same door.The view from the terrace beyond this door is amazing.  On a clear day you can see forever – you can see the Cascade Mountains south of Mount Hood and some of the mountain lakes nearby.On the rock wall of the terrace in front of this spot is a plaque that has been there for many years.  President Franklin Roosevelt stood here to give the dedication speech for the opening of the lodge in nineteen thirty seven.The chair President Roosevelt sat in that day is on display inside.The chair is in a room that reflects the decor of the original rooms that were rented by guests many years ago.  The rooms today have been modernized quite a bit but they still have the rustic decor of the old lodge.In a little hallway we found a bench that must have been there every time I’ve walked down that hall.  It’s made from an old wooden hand truck that was used during construction of the lodge.I was amazed to find a gift shop that I didn’t know was in the lodge.  There is one in the ski lodge just below the main lodge but I didn’t have any idea there was another gift shop in the lodge.  The light fixtures caught my attention – they look like an oxen yoke.The view from the third floor is incredible.  I think it’s my favorite spot in the lodge.  The mountain is the focal point – what more could you ask?We went outside and walked on the terrace at the back of the lodge.  A tour group was gathered there so we stood at the back of the group and listened to the tour guide as she shared interesting information about the lodge and the mountain.  I couldn’t stand still very long – I just had to explore the trail that leads up the mountain.  Of course I didn’t go far, but I enjoyed a bit of ‘adventure’ while my family continued to listen to the tour guide. I discovered this sign just a few steps above the terrace – and I realized I was standing on the Pacific Crest Trail that goes through the Cascade Mountains from Mexico to Canada.  A few feet higher up the trail. . .a view of the mountain I had never seen before.  This was new territory for me! Oh, how I would have loved to hike up that trail.  Someday, perhaps. The view behind me. . . Our day on the mountain was wonderful.  I’ll go again.  The mountain calls me.  The seasons bring great change to this special place and I will return whenever I have a chance to go up the mountain.

Beside Still Waters

 God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
You find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to Your word,
You let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Psalm 23:1-3
(The Message)

Musings On A Stormy Day

It’s a stormy day in our part of the Pacific Northwest.  Rain is beginning to pelt down (again!) and the winds are fierce in places.  At my home it is windy with occasional very strong gusts - gusts that make me want to run and capture whatever may suddenly decide to take off flying.  It appears everything here is secure and I pray that those around our region will be safe from the storm.  I’m prepared – my candles and oil lamps (and flashlights and battery-operated reading lights) are close at hand.  There is plenty of firewood waiting to make a cozy fire in the fireplace later this evening.

Some have asked if I’ve posted more since my blog was returned to me.  Or, are there still problems?  And word of a new blog-in-process has leaked out.  I can answer each of these questions for you!

No, I have not posted anything since I shared that my blog access had been restored.  There have been no more problems with my blog - life has taken me in many directions and I’ve not had time to settle in and post a thing over the past days.  The summer has been extremely busy.  I’ll share in more detail soon. 

We celebrated our youngest granddaughter’s first birthday. . .
There was a wonderful visit from a dear, out-of-state cousin and outings to favorite places, including a trip to my favorite mountain. . .A campout with girlfriends in a beautiful place one recent weekend. . .A day trip with dear, long-time friends. . .And a visit to a wonderful camp where disabled kids can just be kids and their families can have a bit of time away for relaxation. See the Smiley Face in the wheelchair? Everything at this camp is structured to put smiles on the faces and laughter in the hearts of the kids and their families.

BLOG

Yes, there is a new blog in my future.  It is currently in the design stage and will be revealed sometime in the near future.

Over the next days I plan to share more about each of the things I’ve mentioned here.  There is so much I’d like you to know about where I’ve been and what I’ve done – it’s just too good to keep to myself!

Finally!

After almost two weeks of almost ‘tearing my hair out’, spending countless hours attempting to contact a real person at Google and writing more emails to the Help staff and Help Forum – with either no response or a programmed response that took me in circles – my blog is up and running again.  I was surprised one morning to read an email from a family member advising that my blog had disappeared.  Again!  This happened last year about this time.  My custom domain expired even though I had found someone to help me last year, and I was assured that the problem had been fixed and reset to auto-renew.  This time I was able to make a payment and was assured that my blog (that was locked) would be reinstated within twenty-four hours.  But it didn’t happen!  I watched and waited – and checked my bank account to find that my payment had cleared my bank.  Still, no blog.  I paid for services that I did not receive.  I left messages on countless help screens, begging and pleading for help and for a real person to contact me.  Two nice people at the company that manages Google/Blogger custom domains, helped put me in touch with some helpful information.  Something on my blog indicated that I had cancelled my blog and indicated that I did not care to renew my domain.  Finally – early this morning, my phone rang and a nice lady told me she had been assigned to work on my situation.  She stayed on the phone with me and carefully, patiently walked me through a process I supposedly should know – with passwords assigned over three years ago, which I didn’t know.  When she reached a dead end she asked if she could call me back.  And she did!  She had spoken with someone who could unravel the complicated ‘unusual’ situation.  Then she carefully guided me through the process until she could ‘see’ my blog again.  I don’t know what she did but suddenly – my blog was back.  I felt that an old, long-lost friend had returned.  I sat here and smiled and thanked her endlessly.  And then – I wished her goodnight!  You see, this sweet lady was in Eastern Europe.  Part of the Google ‘Enterprise’ billing staff.  She – who had originally told me she was about to go home for the night – stayed over a bit to return the call she promised to make with the information needed to solve the problem.  She stayed with me until the problem was resolved.  And then she wished me a good day.  Two ladies on opposite sides of the world – in flip-flopped time zones – spoke kindness and appreciation and words of friendship for a few moments.  And my faith in humanity (and Google) was restored a bit.  One early morning in Oregon.  One late evening on the other side of the world.

Out And About Again

I’m still here!  Well, actually, I’m here – and there.  We are on the go.  Busy people.  My dear cousin is visiting from out of state and we are spending time with family and showing him places in our part of the world.

My last post mentioned that we were going to the Oregon Coast with friends.  We had a wonderful time – such a good time I didn’t want to leave!  But, then, when do I ever want to leave the beach?  Here’s a peek of the view we enjoyed.  I’ll share more soon.  I wish I could return and take each of you with me.  Think of the fun we would have together.Summer is going so fast.  Fall is just around the corner and there will be time to reflect and share the memories of these sunny days with family and friends. 

Beach Time – Again!

We’re at the beach.  Again!  A few days ago I shared about our trip to the Oregon Coast where I met gals who were camping there with their vintage trailers last weekend.  I mentioned that we made a stop on the way home.  We headed up north up the coast a ways to stop and see friends from our church.  They have a beach house and we’re there with them this weekend with another couple from our church.  Last weekend we stopped to say hello and to have a glimpse of their lovely home.  They were there with friends from our church.  We had a great time together and made a few plans for this weekend before we headed home.  I took the photo above from their driveway just before we left for home.  It’s really just a teaser!  The view from their home is fantastic.  I’ll share it with you when we return in a few days.  If you didn’t already know that we love the Oregon Coast – you may suspect that now.  We've left a piece of our heart there!

In the meantime, stop by to see more of Daffodil’s journey.  You will be amazed – I’m sure – at the next part of her road to restoration.  You can see it here if you’d like to find out what happened next.

The Value Of Our Stuff

Early this morning I sat and wrote thoughts that just flowed from my heart.  I am taking an online organizing workshop with professional organizer Aby Garvey (Simplify101).  Over the past few years I have struggled to let do of ‘stuff’ – to simplify our lives.  My heart said that’s what I wanted but when it came right down to it, I just didn’t do it.  Something happened last night – really, maybe this morning as I thought about what happened last night.  These are the thoughts I shared on the workshop forum this morning:

In the course of life, things happen that get our attention - 'wake us up'. That's what happened last night, maybe it really happened this morning as I thought more about the meaning behind it. I want to share it because it may impact someone else the way it has touched me.
What is the real value of our stuff? Not the value we think it has, but the real, true value when all is said and done. Let me illustrate with something that happened next door to our home last night.
We have lived in our home for over twenty years. Our next door neighbor was one of the nicest men you could ever hope to meet. He was a highly educated man - a man whose life experiences held your attention when he shared them. He was a veterinary research doctor doing research to improve the life of the animals his research involved, as well as the lives of human beings through what was learned. I could listen to him talk about his life's work for hours. He was a quiet neighbor, a friendly neighbor who treated everyone in the neighborhood as if they were family. He loved our children, applauded our accomplishments and enjoyed meeting anyone who passed by.

His parents built his home in the 1970's. He never married so he was free to move in with his father after his mother's passing. The day came that his father was gone and he continued to live there by himself. The house and the yard were kept in pristine condition. Nothing was changed from the day it was built. It was a vision of the 1970's, right down to the dishes in the cupboards. He planted fruit trees and gardens that produced fruit and vegetables for his delight. Then, suddenly, one day a few weeks ago, everything changed. He could no longer live alone. His eyesight had failed so much that it wasn't safe for him to be there by himself. In what seemed to be the wink of an eye, his nephew found an assisted living apartment for him, a for sale sign went up in the yard and soon he was gone! He's not far away and we will keep in touch, but it's just not the same without him next door. He took very few things for his tiny, little apartment. I'm sure family took some things that had meaning to them. Most everything was left behind. The house sold quickly and rooms needed to be emptied.

Late yesterday afternoon a truck pulled up and people began to work next door. In about an hour's time an 'Auction Today' sign went up out front and another one down the street. I was gone when the auction started. I came home to find that my hubby was not at home. I was certain he had gone next door to be part of the auction. Soon he came home with some tools he had purchased and what he told me has made such an impact on the way I view my stuff! There were things that went for two dollars and five dollars and entire walls full of things in the workshop that went for ten dollars and fifteen dollars. Not many attended the auction and those who did weren't interested in some of the things at all. Afterwards, my hubby and I went inside with the neighbor who was overseeing things for our former neighbor. The furniture was still there, things were still hanging on the walls. The kitchen was in tact - no one wanted anything in there at all. As I opened cupboards and drawers and closets I saw things that would bring some big dollars on EBay or Etsy - things that are 'hot' items right now. But no one wanted them. Vintage bone china teacups and saucers that had belonged to our neighbor's mother still stood on the shelf where they had sat for many years.

This morning it all dawned on me. The value I place on things isn't their real value. When all is said and done and I have no more use for them, the only value they have is what someone else sees in them! I have a garage full of stuff and an attic full of stuff. And cupboards and closets packed with stuff! When I begin to go through boxes and shelves and try to simplify my life, I just can't seem to let go of much. Some of my family members tell me I 'can't just give it away' - because it's valuable. It’s worth something!  Today I would have to ask, 'to whom?'  Yes, I could hang on to things and let my children deal with them sometime in the future. Or, I could spend hours and hours of time and energy to have a garage sale. But I can't stop wondering, 'what is the real value of all of this stuff?'  Some has sentimental value. But it has been in boxes for years and years! Some has been saved 'because I might need it someday'.

After taking Aby's workshops through the last couple of years I thought I was getting it. But I was only just beginning to get it! This morning I think it has all come together - and I am ready to let go. I don't want an auctioneer to stand in my home, or garage, or yard and ask, 'does anyone want anything in this kitchen?' and then sell it for less than what he charges to ask the question. It's time to let go of the things that 'weigh' me down. The clutter, the things that I don't use or truly love enough to use or to give them a place.

This has been long but I wanted to share the big 'aha' moment that has finally gotten through to me. The things we value so highly may never be valuable to anyone. Over the next weeks and months there will be big changes in my home. My longing to simplify life - and stuff - will happen. For once I really understand the value of my stuff. The quote by William Morris will be my guideline: 'Keep nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.'  I think I've got it! Finally, I think I really understand!

This morning the house next door sits quiet and dark. In a day or two everything left from a life lived well will be put in a truck and taken away. The new buyers will soon begin work to make the house their own and it won't be long before it is full of stuff again. I hope they treasure everything that graces the house and yard. If they don't, it really has no value at all!

There’s no way to tell you how deeply this has touched my heart.  I have two beautiful teacups and saucers – a gift from our former neighbor.  I think every time I look at them I will think about what may be left behind when no one sees value in the things that mean so much to me!