Tour de Fresno: Downtown

Ma braved the 103 degree heat to join me on my tour de Fresno. Our first stop was downtown Fresno where we visited the Fulton Mall, The Buddhist Temple, the water protest at city hall, the Santa Fe Rail Depot, the Basque Hotel and other sites. The Fulton Mall is a neglected Fresno treasure. One of the nations first pedestrian malls, its midcentury architecture and landscape has gone untouched and sadly, the mall has fallen short of its mission to build community and serve as a destination spot in downtown Fresno. What could be thriving spot for arts, cafes, clubs and restaurants is now home to vacant store fronts, ammo shops, and retail outlets pushing polyester dresses. The mall was completed in 1964 and features modernist sculptures, tile mosaics, tiered garden beds and water fountains. Amazing. I did not take many photos but if you want to read more about the history and the art, the downtown association of Fresno has put together an excellent website and walking tour.

Clock Tower at Fresno's Fulton Mall

Fresno's Crest Theater

Fresno's Security Bank Building

Hotel Californian

The Fresno Betsuin Buddhist Temple -- The building is on the historic registry but members of the temple are moving to a new location in 2010

Across from Fresno’s City Hall is the old Santa Fe Rail Depot The rail depot still serves as the Amtrak station and was beautifully restored a few years ago with nice tile work and wood details. Shepherds Inn, just across the street is a Fresno classic – an old hotel that served Fresno’s Basque community — you can still get a traditional Basque meal in the restaurant and Picon Punch at the bar. Meals are served family style at community tables with red checkered table clothes

Fresno Santa Fe Rail Depot

Shepherds Inn

Dust, Dry Seed & Fishies

On our Tour de Fresno, ma and I stopped by Fresno’s City Hall for the protest organized by the California Latino Water Coalition to assert water rights for valley farmers. Things are really heating up in California’s Central Valley over water allotment for valley farms. Already desiccated by a few years of drought, the federal government has now limited the amount of water flowing into West side farms in an effort to protect endangered Salmon and fish smelt from dying in the pumps. Some farmers are reported to be receiving only 10% of their standard water allotment. Cali’s central valley is the richest source of domestically grown food in the United States. No water translates to no jobs, no food. Through out the state, farmers are taking to the streets to demand that water supplies be redirected to farms. On the other side of the coin, commercial fishing, coastal towns and environmentalist are in favor of protecting venerable fish populations during spawning season by reducing water flows out of the west’s largest freshwater estuary near the Sacramento river delta. Fish populations have been in steady decline over the past few decades – impacting commercial fishing and consumption. Since the 1970s, winter run Chinook salmon counts have gone down by 90% (according to a few articles).  What is the happy medium? Jobs, food and the environment are impacted on all sides. Water politics will be interesting and scary to follow over the next few decades. Water – the new oil? Watch out for organizations like the World Water Council – follow the money…privatization agenda? Domestic and Global water issues are a recent interest and I would like to learn more – does anyone know of any good books on global water politics, privatization? What is the proposed solution for the San Joaquin Valley situation? – I would appreciate an update if you know more. I will add pics from the protest…

Girls Weekend ‘09

It was so good to see my girls. I miss them like the dickens and this year they came from all parts of the west to get together for some smack talk’n gossip healing session bitch fest shenanigans. Everyone did manage to keep their top on this year. Oh age… We gathered at LW’s cabin in the Sierra foothills next to a big lake. The first night we drank margaritas and snacked on baklava, tostadas, hummus, peanut m&ms, an assortment of Trader Joes snacks, talked about Michael Jackson, men in general, hermaphrodites, Doing it, Wyoming, Jazzercize, the passing of time, new adventures, travel plans, the next city, career moves, food, anatomy issues, had a fashion show, looked at pictures of us from 6th-12th grade, had a clothing swap, a buffet of greens and a dance session. The next day we headed out on the Lake, floating in the Sierras, blasting tunes, drinking beers, going for swims and floats on inflatables — truly lovely…these are the moments I live for. Okay, so our girls weekends are getting mellower…I feel so thankful to have this time with my closest friends…I love them a ton. Some snaps:

Cali Central Valley Summer 09

Took a great trip to California’s Central Valley. Flew in and met Liz, Allison, Symph, Nicole, Courtney and Lea for a boats, beers and bikini weekend at Shaver Lake. On Monday got to visit with family — took a trip to Hearst Castle

Outdoor pool at Hearst Castle

Canoed down the San Joaquin River, and did an epic tour of Fresno which included Fulton Mall and Forestiere Underground Gardens. It was an amazing trip. Had some good breakfast with Grandma and her boyfriend, Ed. More details on each of these adventures to come…

Road Trip> Long Beach, Wa> Marsh’s Free Museum

On my road trip to Long Beach Peninsula I made the obligatory stop at Marsh’s Free Museum. Below are some of the finds, including its most popular attraction, Jake the Alligator Man.

Marsh's Free Museum - Long Beach, WA

I've seen this sticker on bumpers across Oregon and always wondered....

Who is this Jake the Alligator Man?

They feed him live baby rats & salt water taffy

Marsh's has a collection of antique dime porn machines - Back to Nature

A coconut couple complete with man boobs

Harmonica boy - plays for a dime

He was in the middle of telling a joke when they cut his head off - Party wolf

Two headed cow

Schlitz Goat Chicken Hotel - Rooms by the hour

Jake's girlfriend. She hovers over small children at night

Oregon Roadtrips> Long Beach Washington

Had a great weekend in Long Beach Washington. I had always wondered what was across the bridge from Astoria. This weekend I went exploring. After driving from Oregon over the Astoria-Megler Bridge I wound my way through the town of Ilwaco – past some cool murals – and arrived in Seaview where I stopped at Skookum Surf Co. to rent a bike. I got a rusty green cruiser and headed out for the Discovery Trail – a 9 mile paved trail that runs along the beach and features Lewis & Clark interpretive stops like whale bones and a bronze tree. This is a lovely, flat, relaxing ride through along a beach grass shore. Long Beach, known for its annual kite festival, was in true form — there were almost as many kites out as there were people which is not many. <p>

Tree along the Discovery Trail in Long Beach Washington

After my slow rusty ride I stopped in the Depot Restaurant. Its a spendy place to eat but it is very cozy inside and you can get a good bowl of chowder and a salad for $10. They have more gourmet options if you want to spend the money and I’ve heard good things about the food. After dinner I checked into my Falcon Airstream which was my sleeping accommodations for the evening at the historic Sou’wester Lodge. The Sou’wester is classic Seaview, WA. A bohemian lodge run by Mr. and Mrs. Atkins who offer rooms or lodging in a collection of old trailers. More about Sou’wester here. I stayed in the Potato Bug – a vintage Falcon Airstream with a little bed and bathroom — cozy in a dank, musty, yellowed pillow sort of way — bring your own bedding if you go. Below is a pic of what potato bug might have looked like in better days:

Vintage Airstream Falcon

And here is Potato Bug in present day – interior shot:

I curled up in Potato Bug for the night with a trashy novel and got a good nights sleep. In the morn I headed to 42nd Street Cafe for breakfast. YUM. This place is good! Fresh food, good bread and jam. I cruised down to the tourist pit strip in long beach where there are ice cream, tshirt, taffy and kite shops and the crown jewel: Marshes Free Museum featuring Jake the AlligatorMan. I’d seen this guy’s mug on the back of a lot of bumpers in Oregon — his sticker is all over the place. Ah ha – now I see, he is a small reptilian half breed gathering dust behind glass while sharing shop space with a taxadermic wonderland, a ceramic menagerie of costumed animals, bins of taffy, creepy dolls, tshirts with howling wolves, shells of endangered sea life and vintage dime slot porn machines. Awesome. More pics of the of Marshes Free Museum in a later post.

Having had my fill of stuffed animals, I headed to the historic town of Oysterville where the prized Willapa Bay Oysters are harvested. Oysterville has a collection of cool old homes & buildings — including the oldest post office in the state of Washington. I checked out Leadbetter State Park – the desolate forested tip of the peninsula just past Oysterville that offers amazing bird watching. Also, took a trip to the pioneer cemetery in Nahcotta where there is a tombstone for Chief Nahcati who passed in 1864. The highlight of my jaunt to Oysterville was visiting Oysterville Sea Farms and meeting 3rd generation oyster farmer, Dan, who treated me to some shooters and a spin in Willapa Bay on Shannon Rose, trusty oyster boat. Thanks Dan!! After a spin on the bay, including a up close look at Long Island, we stopped by Dan’s neighbors’ home to check out their amazing Rhododendron garden – a beautifully done garden & pond. More about Oysterville in a future post.

Oysterville Sea Farms & WillaBay

Overall, this was a great trip. I plan on going back soon with my roadbike. This area lends itself to just my kind of bike riding — flat rides with little traffic near water with lots and lots of little nooks and crannies to explore. Plus, I want to go back and explore Cape Disapointment, fly a kite and take some surf lessons. I love this place.

Oregon Road Trips: Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

Tulips. After visiting the Monks at Mt. Angel Abbey, Kenya, Molly, Tony and I headed to Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn. I am so happy we took back roads to get there because there was a 3 mile long line of cars waiting to get in the main entrance. Nutty. Who knew people are so into fields of flowers. Once I got there I realized the real drawl: the wooden shoe shoe train. There was also a cool collection of steam engine farming equipment and corn dogs – ya boy!

That is Mt. Hood in the background

Molly and Kenya make their way through the tulips

Hold on to your hats folks, this here is the wooden shoe train!

The wooden shoe train on its way to Mt. Hood

Oregon Road Trips: Mt. Angel

Close up of a mural in the new Mt. Abbey theology building

On Sunday Molly, Tony, Kenya and I headed south for a mini road trip to Mt. Angel in search of monks and beer . We couldn’t find Mt. Angel Brewery (weird, this is a small town, no one we asked knew of it) so we headed up the hill to the Mt. Angel Abby – the Benedictine Monastery. Mount Angel Abbey is a community of Benedictine Monks founded in 1882 from the Abbey of Engelberg in Switzerland. This place is a trip. The monastery has an interesting history you can read about on their website. Their grounds boast a random artifact museum with the worlds largest hairball (missed that, darn it), a 5000lb bell -Dong! muthafkr! and a new class room space that is LEED gold — pretty forward thinking. The monk and abbot we met were very inviting (right kenya?). We were lucky to get a personal tour of the Russian Museum in the back lot by the Old Believer Monk and curator of the Russian Museum. If you go, I strongly recommend checking this out — they have a room full of relics, saint bones, blood, martyr hair and nails. I was very appreciative of the time these brothers took to show us around the grounds and share their home and beliefs, I cannot say the same for my somewhat cynical and region-weary companions – but I think they secretly dug it. I really need to read up on the history of the Roman Catholic Church after visiting this place – anybody know of any entertaining reads?

Below: Mt. Angel Abbey. From the Russian Museum – paintings and relics passed down through the generations. Ornate boxes with tangible memorials to martyrs and saints. Ingredients for the preparation of the Holy Chrism.

Two previous abbeys burnt down. The big bell in the tower is 5000lbs!

Ingredients The Preparation of Holy Chrism:

Ingredients for the preparation of the Holy Chrism

“Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, two hundred and fifty, and of aromatic cane two hundred and fifty, and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin; and you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; a holy anointing oil it shall be. And you shall anoint with it the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils and the laver and its base; you shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them will become holy. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may serve me as priests. And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. It shall not be poured upon the bodies of ordinary men, and you shall make no other like it in composition; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.” (Exodus 30:22-33)

Square Foot Garden Update 4.2009

Update on the square foot garden:
Bed One: Flowers and Herbs.
This year bed one will have herbs and summer bulbs. Herbs that were planted in the previous year(s) are starting to come back including 2 lavender bushes, oregano, chives, thyme. I will be planting some summer bulbs in two weeks.

Bed Two: Bed two has strawberry plants from last year, coming back with healthy green growth. I also added Chard and arugula and a few squares of Oregon trail peas which I planted mid feb and are just starting to come up.

Bed three: Last week I planted seeds in bed 3 with 4 squares of peas, 2 squares carrot, 4 squares lettuce and the remainder squares will be planted with potatoes. I am setting up a bed extender for the potatoes so I can bury them as the greens grow. Can’t wait for everything to take off. We are starting to see the first of the sunny days in the PacNW but no surprises if we still get hail storms. Its fun to see everything begin to grow and bloom. Pics here.

Local road trip: PDX>Molalla>Woodburn>Oregon City

The sun was out and Kenya called to say he was in the mood to get out of town, but just a little out of town. We headed out of PDX in the afternoon and took the 213 to the city of Molalla — basically just out to explore and take in the country side. The cherry trees are in bloom and this area of Oregon is know for its many greenhouses and fields of spring flowers. It was lovely out – we found ourselves in Molalla drinking in the cowboy culture (lots of western styling in this small town – including apparel from “Spurs”, a few saloons and a feed store anchored next to a classic ladies’ salon. The plastic flowers and lawn chairs adorning the front of the salon signals a hotspot for Molalla gossip sessions). We stopped off at the Molalla historical society which was closed but features two old homes: The Dibble House built in 1856 by Oregon Trail pioneers and the Vonder Ahe House built in 1869 and moved to its current location from a nearby town in 1972. We peeked through some windows – the kitchens were great: large stoves, etc. I would love to snoop around when it is open — maybe for the annual antique toy show in March.

One strange item to note with the Vonder Ahe house is that it was covered in flies near the top left window. Kenya noticed this and pointed out – ’something is not right in there’ — maybe its a good thing its locked up for now…the flies were creepy.
Vonder Ahe House built 1869:

After visiting the infested old houses, we headed over to a cafe/saloon for food — Below is a pic of Kenya reviewing the menu and accompanying reading materials which included “10 signs that you are a red neck” and Will Roger quotes and wisdoms > one of which I will share: “Don’t kick a cow chip on a hot day”
Kenya: having learned about cow chip protocol, prepares to order:

After lunch we caught up with the 211 headed southwest to Woodburn. Along the way we passed the tulip farm which we are visiting soon when the blooms are out with Molly and Tony. We also passed a menonite woman mowing the lawn, buffalo, many green houses including a lovely facility which we stopped in. It was so warm and dank inside – I loved it.

Overall a great day of exploring — mellow country time.