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Astoria Column

October 13, 2011 by Shanna Hatfield

When Captain Cavedweller and I were on vacation a few weeks ago, one of the places we visited was the Astoria Column.

It is a very interesting piece of architecture and beyond that, the views from the column are breathtakingly beautiful.

To get the full effects of the view, you must climb up a gazillion stairs which would be why CC and my camera went to the top and I stayed at the bottom.


These would be the gazillion steps I did not wish to climb. CC climbed them and was still sore four days later.

If you ever find yourself in the Astoria, Oregon, area, take a trip out to the column. It is well worth your time.

Here are some details:

A COLUMN OF FACTS
  • Patterned after Trajan’s Column, Rome, Italy
• Constructed of: Concrete
• Depth of foundation: 12 feet
• Elevation, Coxcomb Hill: 600 feet
• Height: 125 feet
• Number of steps: 164
• Number of cartoons: 12
• Number of brown figures: 200
• Length of artwork, unwound: 500+ feet
• Decoration at top: State seal of Oregon
• Completed in 1926
• Dedicated July 22, 1926
• Original cost: $27,133.96
• Column restoration: $1 million 1995
• Plaza restoration & lighting: $2 million 2004

 

She Who is Not Fond of Stair Climbing

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Soldiers and Magicians

October 12, 2011 by Shanna Hatfield

Monday night I had to run out to my sewing/craft room (which is not attached to the house, but is across the backyard) to patch Captain Cavedweller’s work uniform. In my haste to get back to whatever I was doing before himself reminded me I promised to patch up his problem, I failed to give the room the usual sweep to make sure Miss Maizy had not sneaked in uninvited.

She has a unique talent of opening doors. It was a challenge all summer once she mastered the ability to open the patio screen door. Then there is the small problem of her sneaking in the back room into my craft room unseen. I will firmly close the door to the back room (which is CC’s domain of weight machines and whatnot) and go into my sewing room and push the door mostly closed. Then the next time I turn around, I’ll be scared half witless, because Miss Maizy will be sitting in the middle of the floor staring at me. She makes no noise, doesn’t announce her presence and I have no idea how she got in.

That is really starting to morph from a small problem to a big problem.

Last night CC ran out to put some chicken on the barbecue and looked over at the back room to see Miss Maizy sitting in the craft room window. Seriously? Apparently she snuck in while I was doing CC’s patching job and I failed to notice her presence before I shut the door.

Fantastic.

When I went running out back to rescue her, she took her own sweet time climbing out of the window and wandering her way outside. As if to say “Oh, there you are. I  wondered when you’d come back.”

Good grief!

I think I will start calling her Houdini.

Drooley

And while she is perfecting her break-in routines, Drooley, the Heinous Cat has been doing his best at pretending he is a soldier guarding the home post.

A stray cat has taken up residence in our neighborhood and attempts to sneak in and steal whatever food Drooley and Maizy leave behind. This covert activity is not settling well with Drooley at all.

Last night he was on perimeter patrols for hours. It was entertaining to watch him march along the fenceline, back and forth.

I told CC he needed to get the cat a little helmet to wear. Maybe a toy gun to carry. We wouldn’t want our little soldier to feel deprived of a full uniform as he defends his post and keeps up the guard work.

She Who Must Tolerate Two Crazy Cats

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Fall Leaf Party Theme

October 11, 2011 by Shanna Hatfield

It is really starting to look like fall in our neck of the woods. The leaves are beginning to change color, the weather is cool and rainy, and the apple pickers are across the road from my house busily gathering in the harvest.

I don’t know about you all, but I hate raking leaves. Absolutely dread it. Captain Cavedweller isn’t much better. We always hope for a wild windstorm to blow our leaves away before we get too ambitious and  get them raked and bagged.

What if you could combine a party with getting the leaves raked up out of your yard and that of your neighborhood?

Think about roping, er… I mean inviting, your neighbors to participate in a block leaf raking party. You could be the “host house” that provides the bags and refreshments and then all participating neighbors would go from lawn to lawn raking and bagging leaves. When it was finished, everyone could converge at your home for a fun fall-themed meal.

Sounds like a win-win situation, doesn’t it? You get your leaves raked, you get to spend time with neighbors and you all get to celebrate fall and a nice clean neighborhood.

Keep your refreshments simple – you could make a fall stew with hot bread, green salad and apple crisp for dessert. Sliders are another fun option. If the weather cooperates and you have somewhere to build a bonfire or a firepit, think about roasting wieners and marshmallows.

Send each neighbor home with a “bagged” sugar cookie cut out like a leaf and decorated in fall colors.

The main thing here (besides getting your leaves raked) is to connect with the friends who live around you and enjoy the fall season.

So give it a whirl and let me know how it goes!

She Who Must Rake Her Leaves This Fall

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Birthdays

October 10, 2011 by Shanna Hatfield

My Aunt Robbie has a theory about birthdays… they are the one day out of the year that belongs just to you, so make the most of it.

I like the way she thinks.

And I like her.

And I like the fact that her birthday is the day before mine. She’s just extra special that way.

Her birthday was Friday which means mine was Saturday.

I can’t tell you when I’ve had such a nice day.

It started the day before when Captain Cavedweller sent me these at work:

Then that evening he grilled tenderloin steaks for dinner that nearly melted in your mouth, they were so tender and good.

Saturday morning, CC woke me up with singing a rousing rendition of  “Happy Birthday” then made me cinnamon french toast and bacon. Then he cleaned up the mess in the kitchen while I took a shower and spent half the morning lazily getting ready for the day, which was a beautiful, perfect fall day.

We drove off to a bigger city so I could drool over these:

I couldn’t quite bring myself to test drive one because I wouldn’t want to give it back and that would have put a damper on the day when I was arrested for driving off in the car. Really, it would have.

After taking me to a fun restaurant for lunch where I somehow managed to order bacon on my sandwich, we spent the afternoon at some of my favorite stores before driving to one of our favorite steakhouses for dinner where I ordered prime rib. And amazingly enough the side dish of green beans had bacon. (Sensing a pattern here?) I think it is the only time I can remember eating bacon at every meal. I realize I will have to walk approximately 14.7 more miles this week to compensate for it, but it was worth every salt-laden bite.

We went home after dinner and I got to open my pile of presents, which CC had beautifully wrapped. I have to tell you, he’s come a long way since our first year together when he handed me a brown bag wrapped package finished off with duct tape. A really long way.

He bought me fun things like:

This beautiful velvet trench coat from Gallery. (And yes, I do wish I looked like this model, wouldn’t that have been a great birthday present!)

This memory foam bath mat. When we stayed in the Yurt, she had these on the floor in the bathroom and I loved the rugs. If you haven’t stood on one before, you must. They are positively divine and your feet will sing a hallelujah chorus.

CC also got me several more presents that all made me smile and my heart melt into a warm little puddle.

And my wonderful cousin Brad and his beautiful fiancée Denise sent me these:

Everyone needs more chocolate in their life – especially for their birthday!

It was a fabulous day and I want to say thank you to everyone who helped make my birthday so extra-special this year. I so very much appreciate it!

She Who is Very Blessed

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