A Vintage Christmas and other Shenanigans
November 24th, 2008
Last Saturday, my friends Paula, Robin and I treated ourselves to a day in The Town With The Name I Can Never Spell (Clatskanie, Oregon). We started off our adventure with a Vintage Winter Gathering at Stewart’s Point Church (Old Finnish Church) in Quincy, Oregon - hosted by Karen of Just Plain & Simple Me. I “met” Karen online through what is the thing that binds me to everything… food. Karen made much of (if not all) the delicious treats at Barn House’s Gothic Harvest. It didn’t take long for me to follow the cardamom bread crumb trail to her blog. Oh her cardamom bread is out of this world!
Darling setting and sooooo many goodies inside. Simply dreamy. Karen’s blog has gobs of photos of all the goodies. Karen was so sweet (as was her daughter) - and we all could have chatted for hours in the church kitchen. I had a serious lapse in judgment, and only purchased one loaf of cardamom bread. One loaf??? WHAT was I thinking!
After we loaded up my car - and there was surprisingly a lot of room - maybe because “our Karen” wasn’t able to come… we headed back into town and hit an antique store, Flowers n Fluff, and a darling little store called Picket Fences (which sadly was going out of business). Loaded up my car again (and we STILL had room for more), and then hit Hump’s for lunch.
Paula and Robin showcase the weird book selection in Humps Restaurant’s “gift shop” book rack. Ladies room sign… Mary Kate apparently is not allowed.
Clatskanie is a little town on Hwy. 30 between here and there (for us, it’s between Astoria and Portland). I’ve only ever stopped there for coffee and my red table (at Flowers n Fluff) and to make a contribution to the city (speeding ticket). We were all up for a little exploring, and Robin knew of some jems we’d sure to go gaga over (like The Castle).
We drove around (with me adhering to all posted speed limits) snapping photos, laughing, oohing and ahhing at all the charming homes, laughing… and lots and lots more of laughing, silliness and merriment. I had gobs of photos I took, but since I was stalking driving and clicking at the same time… well that = blurry photos. Some of the houses really struck me, like the ordinary little 50’s ramblers with stunning front entries. From ordinary to extraordinary with just a little molding and roofing. Robin spotted the covered wagon, and if ANYONE should be getting a ticket in Clatskanie… it’s the people who are using it as their recycling bin. We all fell in love with the vintage gate and fence… and the yellow farmhouse. I was even surprised to see a few stucco houses. Stucco… in Oregon? It reminded me of California, and I had a twinge of homesickness (which I cured with a another nibble of cardamom bread).
We had come to where Robin’s car was parked, but we just were having too much fun and didn’t want to call it a day. We realized there was another part of town we hadn’t explored… so off we went. We were greeted by a sign that had us baffled… “DEAD END - NO TURN AROUND”. So, do we drive in backwards? Do we go in, but don’t ever come out? Are Jon Voight, Burt Reynolds and Ned Beatty waiting for us at the end of the road?
We found some cool old trucks that had become one with nature. Paula was even brave enough to get behind the wheel of one of them. Amazing how the forest works. Or maybe it was gnomes who pimped their trucks. More delights to behold… even in the wilds of an Oregon forest… red and aqua is to be found. And I found out how milk jugs are grown - when we stumbled upon a secret milk jug farm.
If you’re ever driving through Clatskanie… do stop, and do explore!
Posted in I Heart Oregon |
Farting around with needle & thread and then blogging about it.
I love this post! The houses are great! I didn’t realize that you had milk jug forest too. I thought that they were only native to New England?! LOL!
November 24th, 2008Great houses! ANd that miserable old bastard book? Hysterical. I know a few people I could get it for!
November 24th, 2008You are very funny! Actually, I’m embarrassd b/c I didn’t make most of the goodies at Barnhouse’ Finale. I only made the marionberry coffee cakes and the cardamom bread. All the other things were made by the vendors of all the wonderful stuff. I know for sure and certain that Natalie (Did you meet Natalie, Sparrow, that day?)made the orange cake with that wonderful frosting. That was really good.
November 24th, 2008I love the photos you got, although I’m wondering exactly where you were. I remember seeing that old wagon, were you at the end of a road right in town, up from the castle? There are some gorgeous houses in Clatskanie, that’s for sure! And stucco, I know what you mean, stucco in Oregon! Well, my character limit is up! Hope to see you soon
What a charming trip! I love that house in the valley - how beautiful!
November 24th, 2008Still hootin’ over you two crazy chicks, still puzzled over the road of no-return, still mooney-eyed over that little yellow farmhouse, still tasting that cardamom bread! What a fabulous day~
November 24th, 2008I am adding this town to my list of must see places… in the meantime I enjoy your points of view!
November 24th, 2008What a day with you two. I laughed all over again looking at the photos and reading about our day. I didn’t see any of Paula’s favorites though:o). Wish I was here this weekend to go back for some of the bread. Yum Yum didn’t know I would like it. I had forgotten about the milk jug farm. That was just crazy looking. I love the way you look at things.
November 24th, 2008Robin
Ready for the next trip
Dang, I wish I was there. Don’t be dissing my Olson’s man. Poor MK can’t get a break. First too thin and now they’re talking about her ballooning weight. I can’t help it, Frankie and I have always loved them.
Anyway, love all the photos and wish I’d been there with you. I wonder if my old car would make it up there again?
November 24th, 2008Damn, just ’cause I went to New York without you, that was no reason not to invite me! Luckily, I know the way to Clatskanie all by myslef. Yes, I know it won’t be as much fun without you! Did you see any gnome houses near those trucks?
November 24th, 2008How funny, I just saw those truck photos last night on flickr, well before I saw this post. (Was searching for gnomes.)
November 25th, 2008What beautiful houses! The love the truck with moss all over it, it would look perfect in a cottage garden.
Sounds like you had a lot of fun!
Have a wondefrul day
November 25th, 2008I love the milk jug farm and the thought of gnomes pimping out those trucks. Didn’t they do a great job of it!!! It sounds like it was yet another adventurous day for you and your friends. I really need to get ahold of a loaf of that cardamom bread…
November 25th, 2008Fabulous post! Love the pics! Looks like you had a great time! I want to live in the house in the last house picture. ooxx`jod
November 25th, 2008Oh, I’m so jealous. A chick day out, in OREGON. I’m glad you girlies had fun. At least if you had been stranded you would have had food. That’s always a good reason to buy good food at each stop. :)
November 25th, 2008Those homes are so lovely. I really love that look. The ivy vehicle - wowie.
November 25th, 2008What a wonderful trip and great photos!! Love that bathroom sign :-)!
November 25th, 2008Monica…you are sooo funny I come here for the giggles….I be lovin you long time…thanks for sharing about the milk jugs I had nno idea how they were made!!! xoxox Jennifer
November 26th, 2008Monica… I am thinking of thankful things and I came to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! You make life more funner!
November 26th, 2008Oh my gosh Mon…you write the best travel stories. It is so very close to having been there with you, but just one of these times I’d really like to BE there with you…so much fun!! Take care and have a happy day tomorrow!
November 26th, 2008That milk jug trick is just DARLING. Do you think my neighbors would be impressed if I copied this unique decorating style?
Back to reality…DUDE…are they collecting morning dew with those jugs?, bugs?, or what?
I like the moss covered cars.
Do you think that when I get old and stiff enough I could sit really still in the forest for my remaining days and get covered in moss too? It looks so peaceful!
November 26th, 2008I’m a recent transplant to the Seattle area from the midwest. I love looking at your blog and knowing that I am near these places! Love love love your pictures, stories and adventures!
November 27th, 2008Ahhhhh Clatskanie - one of my old haunts. Isn’t it wonderful? I hope the gnomes have been pimping those trucks, for they’ve done a really good job! The milk jug farm is a wondrous sight to behold, isn’t it? I’ve seen that done in Battle Ground, too, and never had the courage to ask what they were for. I would’ve been laughed at, I betcha! Won’t be the first time, and certainly won’t be the last….
December 5th, 2008I think I wrote the CRS book, but I can’t remember!
Thanks for taking us along with you - I enjoyed the ride.
The trucks remind me of the TV show “Life After People”. We have an area like that here. You have such great times with your girlfriends! N
October 6th, 2012