Kilchis Country

When coast gals decide to take a break from the mop and broom scene, they could go to the Outlet shops in Lincoln City, or have a cuppa tea and crumpets at LaTeaDa in Tillamook, or do some antique browsing in Wheeler.

But if you are a coast gal who loves the woods of the coast range, you are more likely to saddle up the Forerunner and head for the hills. When SIL Diane called and wanted to know if we would like to go for a ride, we dropped the mop and broom like hot potatoes and grabbed the camera!


We ended up going up the Kilchis River road, a favorite drive. Diane wanted to show us what she and Terry ahd seen the day before while they were doing some target shooting and sighting in their rifles for hunting season (just a few weeks off).



The narrow logging road crosses several bridges, with enchantment around every corner. This looks like a painting waiting for a brush..

Clear Creek will soon be running hard and high with winter rains, and these mossy rocks will be scoured clean of their velvet covers. What a beautiful photo op!

My sketching kit is dusted off, and the watercolors are all arranged in the palette. This is the type of scenery we are blessed with on the coast. But you gotta know the right people to see these special secret places.

Other wise you will just end up at the beach...

In our "old age", we are learning to live in the moment, taking the time to smell the roses, and definately grabbing a ride when the woods beckon. What a glorious "recess" -

Oh. I almost forgot! The icing on the cake! We got back out to the main river road just in time to watch the Jersey herd head for the milking barn...another one of our favorite treats, watching cows!

It's OK honey, don't cry, you really ARE the prettiest one!

Cowboy, coast style.

And yes, they provide milk for our Tillamook cheese - and ICE CREAM!!

Which is what we had for dessert that evening.

Gotta love this Kilchis Country!

"You are my lucky star..."

OK, quiz time: who sang that song? The lyrics keep circling my head, along with the tune - but no name comes to mind. But here's a hint: it's older than me, I'm pretty sure!


Anyway, the reason it came to mind has me wanting to check my horoscope for this past week! First we had a 100th Birthday party for our town, with a parade and the whole works. One of the games was "Draw your lucky card," which involved buying a playing card for $1. The buck went into the pot. At the drawing, the lucky card took home half the pot! Guess who?!!

Oh, yeah. $33!!

Then a couple days later, I got a cool piece of mail. At first it looked like the typical junk mail ad. But on closer inspection, it was a FREE BREAKFAST! The favorite grocery store in the next town up the bay, Garibaldi, sent this coupon to to new move ins. Actually, The Food Basket is Garibaldi's ONLY grocery store. But it really is a nice little store, and I shop there frequently. Not as much traffic as Tillamook, and the turn out of the parking lot goes south so I don't have to dart across a lane of bumper-to-bumper tourist traffic to head home. That counts, in a small coast town that is a favorite destination for the flat-landers and out of state gang.

Bona fide legal and made out to ME!

Here's the loot...it actually came to over $13, but who's counting. We like the friendly folks there, and it has a surprising amount of "gourmet" items. But the basics are all we need, and it was a really nice gesture! Even if it did take them almost a year to catch up with me...

Just in time, too. Mom had picked the green beans and we needed some bacon to cook them up, with onions. Ummm ummm. One of our favorite meals - a childhood comfort food!

THEN. THEN we got a phone call, from the Art Space Cafe here in Bay City. During the birthday party, they had hosted some story telling and a drawing for a Brunch for Two. I had put in my name, and mom's name just for good measure.

Yep. We are going to have brunch! And they have lovely food, a view of the bay only about 50 feet away, and a great art show to browse. One of my favorite places in town!

Like I said. My lucky star. Sure was shining this week, eh?!

And lest you think we are one of only four people in town, let me just say we have a population of over 1200, and at least half of them were at the birthday bash!