Not Quite So Dead of Winter

Sorry I've been so lax in blogging. Besides having to share the 'fast' computer (in the heated part of the house), it's been too darn busy. Who'd have thought? We move to the woods and there's too much to do?????

Take this weekend. Friday night, we had to CHOOSE.
Choice 1: The kick off for the Cabin Fever Festival in Trout Lake. First, a soup contest. I make a mean soup. Many mean soups. I'd have to choose which soup. Too much stress. The soup contest is followed by a pot luck supper at the Mt. Adams Grange.
Choice 2: The Klickitat Democrats pot luck at the White Salmon Grange. Man, I haven't said 'Grange' since I lived in rural Rhode Island. And I said it twice in one entry. Wow.
Choice 3: The Voodoo Philosophical Society pot luck, complete with mock debate among fictional candidates of the Burrows and Rhinoceros parties.

Since we were invited to Choice 3 by some really nice folks we met recently, we committed to that. And we weren't disappointed. Apparently this group of free thinkers was started years ago by a couple in Hood River. The hostess was an incredibly sharp and interesting 80 something year old former political science and history instructor. She attended University of Oregon after graduating from high school in 1939. She, like my girls, was a competitive swimmer. She shared some stories about how women in those days were not allowed to compete vs other women athletically. So they swam their races and compared times with the women from the other team. Amazing. She also competed in CA with Esther Williams. I can't wait to talk with her again. She reminded me of my friend Jenny's mother, who attended Wellesley College back in the '40's and was a hoot to chat with when she visited TX.

So that was Friday. Today was day 2 of the Cabin Fever Festival. We passed on the nordic ski race and headed up to the guided snow shoe trek. A retired fish and wildlife service guy took us out and showed us all kinds of tracks in the snow. We saw tracks of turkeys, grouse, rabbits, squirrels, elk, coyotes, and bobcats. Just the tracks. OK with me. We saw a coyote the other day on our way to ski, and think we saw a cougar run into the trees near our neighborhood on our way home one night last week. I'm okay with tracks. Then we stopped to check out a nordic ski gear demo area and sled dog rides at the school, and had wonderful Mexican Coffees at the little espresso place behind the Chevron station in Trout Lake. A good day.

Tomorrow we're heading up to Mt Hood for the first time since we passed by last July. There's a nordic ski club trip, followed by a stop at a local brewpub we've never been to. So that's a must. And in honor of Martin Luther King Day (is it a week off this year or what!?!) I just may be heading to Yamhill County to see my sister.

So many choices, so little time. I love it here. My new friend Shelley is afraid we'll get bored and move away. HA!

Go Pats! I've reserved Feb. 3 for you. Please come through. I've got all my fixin's for a New England feast, including homemade Baked Beans. The welcome mat is out.