Hanky Panky Face Masks

A New Look

We are now CDC compliant. In keeping with current government orders to avoid unnecessary travel, our face masks were made from materials on hand. One men's handkerchief, and one women's handkerchief. Fortunately, I made Rich's first. It was huge, Paul Bunyan sized.
I think we look a little bit like cute mummy monsters.

The Importance of an Emergency Exit

We've pretty much always pooh-poohed the need of an emergency exit. We've updated our thinking on that issue. Doing laundry is a necessary weekly chore. Recently, while in the laundry room, a small room with one door and a small window that a very young child could possibly scoot out, the door handle broke trapping us inside. My first thoughts were, what are our assets. We have water. We have heat. Unplug heater, if there is a fire we are then trapped in a burning building. We have plenty of clean laundry to make a somewhat soft bed and to wrap up in if we end up spending the night. We have light. Limited tools; whatever is in my wallet. Rich is dismantling the handle to remove it and hopefully then be able to exit the open door. Not luck there.  And, why is heavens name did neither of us bring a cellphone? Second lesson of the day, always have a cellphone handy. Okay, what are our options now. Wait until folks come to do their laundry in the morning? It is probably about 4:30 p.m., not too long of a wait. Fortunately, neither of us is claustrophobic. It is a small room. We quietly beaver away in our own way to solve the issue of how to get on the other side of door. At this point a fledgling thought drifts through my brain. Crawl up on the counter, and open the window, hoping that it will open. Okay, window will open a bit and if we are very lucky, a dog walker may pass and I could yell at them from the open window. Rich is still trying to unravel the mystery of  the broken door knob.

So...what was our fate? Was Rich able to remove the offending stuck piece of metal?  Did we spend the night in the laundry room and miss dinner? Did the heavens smile on us and the prayed for dog walker pass by? It was the latter. Tools were passed through the open window so that the door hinges could be removed. Once removed the door was stuck in the frame, of course.  A rescuer on the outside gave one mighty kick to the door, and the door slowly toppled inwards into Rich's waiting hands. Gazing out the open door, we see three guys. Discussions begin about guy things, doors, door knobs, the mighty kick, etc. Me. I go outside.  

Where are Rich and Cheryl?

We are happily sheltered at Whalers Rest, a private campground, until April 23 or when the governor changes her stay at home order. At the camp we have cell service and a site with a sewer hookup. We feel fortunate. Our next camp stop would have been in Pacific City. No cell service there and only a few sites with a sewer hookup. Doable, but much easier where we are staying. We are well and enjoying some quiet time.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Volunteering in the Welcome Center On a Very Rainy Day

February is a wonderful month to volunteer at Beverly Beach. Rainy, one day three and one half inches, but the rains bring the frogs. The male frogs arrive first and serenade us in the evening. Then the females arrive. At some point a blue heron arrives feasting each morning until most of the frogs leave. Then we start looking for frog eggs. It is such a joyful ritual; listening to the male frogs, waiting for eggs to appear.  

The Holidays

We are not used to so much sunshine.

Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving landing during the last few days of November and two days before we were scheduled to arrive at our next volunteer site, we elected to stay at the coast and not travel to be with family. A sad but sane decision. Thanksgiving day dinner was a pleasant community event at Thousand Trails RV Camp in Newport. We, meaning Cheryl, cooks a thanksgiving meal, also. This year it was very disorganized. A few items, the bread machine, rolling pin and ceramic baking dishes, remained forgotten in storage. Fresh baked  rolls were served post thanksgiving. A large glass mug was a good but slippery substitute for a rolling pin. Hey, everything was edible and tasty.

Solstice/Christmas

Christmas landing mid week meant another holiday without visiting family. All hosts at Beverly Beach have Christmas off which means the park rangers do the tasks normally assigned to hosts. Nine yurts were assigned to one ranger for cleaning. Rich, knowing nine yurts is too many along with all the other ranger tasks stepped up and worked cleaning yurts christmas day. The hosts gathered together christmas day for a pot luck dinner. Great food and friendship.

New Years

Ah, 2020. As a child looking to the future, I (cheryl) thought that the year 2020 would be a magical year. Will keep you posted.
Host orientation each month is on the first. 1 January 2020 found Rich and Cheryl arriving for host orientation at Beverly Beach at 9:00 a.m. No late night revelry. We watched Bohemian Rhapsody. A high energy but rather sad movie. A comedy would have been a more appropriate choice but are  watching the 2019 oscar nominated films as they become available to us at each host site. Hopefully, we will have viewed them all by the time the 2020 nominations are released.

Have a magical rockin' 2020. 

October 2019

Spirit Mountain. Photo taken from the site of the Ft. Yamhill bockhouse.

October found Rich and Cheryl volunteering at Ft. Yamhill State Park located near Grand Ronde, Oregon. A sweet site that we will return to in 2020. The fort was in operation for only ten years, 1856 -1866. An interesting piece of history. A small section of the Killamook trail, the inland route the indigenous people used to walk from the coast to Willamette Falls in Oregon City, borders the park. Fort Yamill was built to moniter the Killamook trail.

September 2019

Granary Tree. Acorn woodpecker food storage.

September. A lovely month as the maple leaves change color and begin to fall to the earth. Squirrels and acorn woodpeckers gather acorns. Humans return to school and work.

At Tou Velle State Day Use Park and Marina near Medford, Oregon, Rich and Cheryl gather mostly cigarette butts left by fishermen. Lots, and lots. They also gather confetti. Hordes of the stuff. Birthday confetti. Graduation confetti. Bridal confetti.

Two precious items gathered, two kittens. One we were able to reunite with its mother. The second, mother not found, we took to a no kill shelter. The little tyke spent the night with us. Mimi, our cat, nose bent out of shape went outside and refused to come in the RV.

We still think about the little guy and hope it is adopted by a good family.