CONVERGING RIVERS EXPEDITION!

 I had the great joy of participating in an outing with several ladies, that involved kayaking from Buffalo City on the White River, to the town of Norfork, Arkansas, which is also on the White River.  It is a distance of 12 river miles.  My assignment for the event was to be the shuttle driver, which meant I needed to go straight to the take-out location, and wait for the drivers of the pickup trucks to arrive with their emptied out trucks, because these pickup drivers had already dropped off their passengers and kayaks, at the starting point of Buffalo City.  (This included the kayak I was using).

I arrived in Norfork well in advance of what was necessary, so I could take photos and get in some walking.  The Norfork River empties into the White River, in the little town of Norfork, Arkansas.  A vehicle bridge and a train bridge cross over the Norfork River, to lead into Norfork's main street (AKA, Arkansas Hiway 5)

I wanted to drive down River Road, adjacent to the Norfork River, because its narrow pavement is competely encased by trees and bluffs, forming a scenic green tunnel.  When the river is high, sometimes the deck is covered by water, so I wanted to check it out.  Thankfully, it is now fully functional, and provides the handicapped-accessible fishing dock, allowing access for those in wheel chairs, to fish from this location:

There is also a bench for quite contemplation of the beauty here:

There is an overlook on the top of this bluff, accessible from Highway 5.

My next stop was a commercial outfitter dock on the Norfork River.  I have fond memories from this outfitter,  of a family outing  with my husband, his brother, and his brother's wife.  We had a most enjoyable excursion, trying to catch fish, with the help of a knowledgeable guide.  

A short distance away is the Norfork  public access on the White River.  There used to be a car ferry at this location, but it is no longer in operation.  

It is easy to see why the historic 1829 Jacob Wolf  House (www.arkansasheritage.com), located on a hill above the confluence of the Norfork and White River, had such a pivotal role in the early development of this area.   It is the last remaining two-story dog-trot public structure in the United States.  A while back I was attending a special open house event at the site, and was surprised to see one of my college sorority sisters, who lives in Little Rock, had made the long drive to the event, because Jacob Wolf was one of her ancestors!

When the pickup drivers and I made it back to Buffalo City, the other kayakers were thankful to see our return, so the kayaking could commence! I took this photo shortly before putting away my iphone into a waterproof box.  It shows Cindy, with camera in hand, preparing to take a group photo.  We are very blessed that Cindy is an OUTSTANDING photographer with a good eye for detail, and uses her waterproof camera to capture things along the river, that others frequently don't notice!  

This is the group photo.  I am the one in black pants.  Notice we all have life jackets, and wearing our lifejackets while kayaking, is a requirement for participation.  

One of the ladies took this photo, shortly after we launched.  

Here is another photo I did not take, because my iphone was in my drybox!

We stopped at Shipps Ferry for a break to stretch our legs and do the necessary things ladies need to do!

One of these ladies remembered to bring her collapsible chair to sit on, during the lunch break!

 

These access points along the White River, are maintained by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (www.agfc.com) and we all appreciate the good stewards they are being with the tax revenue, that supplies the funds to maintain these rest stops.   

We were very thankful for the clean portable toilets, with hand sanitizer,  at Schipps Ferry!

The entire landscape at Schipps Ferry is covered by kudzu, and I got these three to pose in front of it, because I have been at special events where a wall of ARTIFICIAL green plants is used for a photo backdrop, but this is the real thing!  The photo below shows me posing in front of a wall of kudzu, preparing to launch back into the river.  

 

Patti took this group photo at our lunch spot.  Notice the background is kudzu!

Some of the group used their kayaks as their seat, to enjoy their lunch break.  

After lunch, it was time to put the lifejackets back on, and get back on the river.

We all made it safely back to the take out location in Norfork, and started the process of loading the kayaks back into the pickup trucks that had been parked there, while we were on the water.   

Darrah put a red flag on her blue kayak, because it is longer than the others.  

Darrah also had a very helpful tool that I had never seen before.  It fits over the back tire of the truck, so a person can reach inside the truck bed, to hook up the straps of the tie-down that secure a kayak into the truck.  Darrah is also the one who took me back to Buffalo City, where my car was located, so I am VERY THANKFUL for her kindness to me!

At my advanced age, (which you can't tell because I am covered up in a red hat and red life vest), I treasure these days that I am able to be out kayaking with friends!  I try to get the maximum enjoyment of each outing with a mindset that this may be the last time I get to do this.  And, of course, one day it will be!  When that happens, I will just paddle my way through the pearly gates of heaven!  (Referring to Revelation 21:21 imagery)

This expedition gave me "12 MILES OF PADDLING SMILES"!  Tricia

Whole Health Architecture

This is simply a test blog post, because my regular blog about NWA was being blocked, with a warning that it had sensitive information.  I am completely baffled as to why!

 

OREGON EXPEDITION 2025!

I read that Southern Oregon has the world's only Big Foot trap.  Although I was not able to capture a photo of the actual trap, I was able to capture a photo of my son, assuming the iconic Big Foot stance.  Thus began our expedition into Oregon!

Our first stop was at the official welcome center ( www.TravelOregon.com ), which is at the first exit after driving the 13 miles from the California/Oregon border.  A friendly staff member at the welcome center, snapped this photo of my son and I, posing in their picture props.  I sat my purse off to one side for this photo, then absent-mindedly left it there, as we returned to our vehicle, and drove northward to the closest gas station.  When I reached for my wallet, I realized I had left my purse at the visitor center, so I immediately phoned them.  The kind gentleman who had taken our photo, also answered the phone (Bill), and assured me he would keep my purse, safely behind the reception desk, until I returned to retrieve it.  I thought it would be a quick trip back to the visitor center.  I was wrong, as there is NO SOUTHBOUND exit to get to the visitor center!  We had to drive nearly back to the border, to turn around and start going north again, in order to access the visitor center!  (Note to self:  remember to check your surroundings, after you have set aside your belongings to snap a photo!  I have walked off and left my hiking stick so many times, that I have bright yellow caution tape hanging like streamers on it, so it will be easier for me to find, when I realize it is missing!  I guess I need to do the same for my purse!)

 

Our next stop, after retrieving my purse, was the town of Ashland, Oregon ( www.TravelAshland.com ).  My granddaughter had gotten married in Ashland, Oregon, and the blogs telling about that experience can be found in the archives, dated, August 9, 11, 13, in 2014)  Ashland is a charming town, with dozens of cafes, that patrons can enter both from the street, and from their creekside patios  

 

My son patiently smiled for a photo, when I went for a stroll to take more photographs of this picturesque location, while we waited for our food order to be served.

After we finished our lunch, we took a stroll through the adjacent Lithia Park, which is situated along Ashland Creek.   The name of the park comes from its association with a nearby mineral spring, that contained lithium oxide.  The park was designed by landscape architect John McLaren, who also designed Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco.  (A blog I published August 13, 2014, has a more detailed account of Lithia Park amenities)

The photo below shows a youngster playing in the creek, which meanders through the 93 acres of forested canyon land that make up the park.  

The young man in photo below blends the tunes on his guitar, with the bubbling sounds of the creek, as it cascades over the smooth boulders below the arched bridge.

In another area of the park, a gray bearded gentleman gave a big smile for the camera, as he strummed enjoyable, mellow tunes on his cello, to those strolling along the sidewalk.

The ultimate goal of our walk through Lithia Park was to access the Japanese Garden there.  My son had recently returned from a trip to Japan, and stated he thought the Japanese Garden at Ashland, was as good as, if not better than, any he visited in Japan.   I took a photo of the YOKOSO (which means "welcome") sign, because decades ago, I attended a "Memphis in May" week, where Japan culture was featured, and there were banners and buttons and teeshirts with the saying "Yokoso ya'll" everywhere you looked!

The wooden entrance gate to the Japanese garden features typical Japanese architecture.  

We observed one of the garden staff giving an orientation to two volunteers.  He was telling them how quickly the bamboo plants he was pointing to, had grown in a very short time period.  

The Japanese maple tree (shown on left side of photo) provided a bit of color for the stroll.  I read that Japanese gardens are distinctive in their symbolism of nature, with traditional Japanese gardens being very different from Western gardens, which often display vibrant splashes of bright colors.  In contrast, Japanese gardens are modeled with spiritual and philosophical ideas in mind, conceived to represent a natural setting.  The scene below represents a promenade garden, meant to be seen one landscape at a time. Features of the garden are to be discovered when the visitor follows the winding path.  

The stone lanterns seen in many Japanese gardens often have symbolic meanings, with the base representing the earth, the section encasing the lantern's light representing fire, and the top section representing the sky.  The lantern shown here was adjacent to a water feature that contained koi fish, which are also a common amenity in a Japanese garden.  

A portion of the Ashland Japanese garden contains what some call a rock garden, dry garden,  or zen garden.  The rocks can represent islands, and the white gravel can represent water that surrounds an island.  

Plantings in a Japanese garden are carefully tended to add to the aesthetic appeal of the space.  I was intrigued by the very artistic way the white roots of this tree, were uncovered, and surrounded by black gravel, to create a thing of beauty.  

I asked the staff member to take a photo of my son and I near the entrance gate, and this is one I will cherish!

The way these bamboo poles have been lashed together reminded me of a "hashtag" symbol, like we would see on the Internet, to direct searches to a certain location.  For example, #ashlandjapanesegarden.

Fences in Japanese gardens are designed for purity and simplicity, which is well illustrated in this photo. 

No story about Ashland, Oregon, is complete without mentioning its famous Oregon Shakespeare Festival ( www.osfashland.org ). The photo below shows a portion of it campus, which was founded in 1935, as a three-day festival.  In the intervening forty years, it has become an important economic driver for Ashland, that presents a rotating repertory season of up to 10 plays and musicals from Shakespeare, as well as new works.  

Another economic driver in Ashland, is Southern Oregon University, and their unique "Featheroars" art installation.  The wooden oars catch the wind, and cause the bottom seats attached to it, to spin.  

Bright yellow "scotch broom" is prevalent along hillsides. 

I enjoyed seeing the bright yellow blooms that lined Interstate 5 in Southern Oregon. However, a plant nursery owner later told me these are called "Scotch Broom".  She said they were an invasive species, but quickly added her nursery sold a cultivar of the plant that was not invasive.  It is classified as invasive because it crowds out native species and negatively impacts wildlife habitat.  

After many more miles of Interstate 5, we finally met up with the rest of our group at a delightful venue in Oregon City.  It had a covered pavilion filled with picnic tables, as well as an indoor space for those who did not want to be outside.  The pavilion was surrounded by every kind of ethnic food truck  imaginable, so a large group with differing tastes could all find something to suit them.  

Across the street from the food trucks, there was a park, which was especially enjoyable for the little kids in the group, and those who were "young at heart".   This supper was on a Friday night, and we were all preparing for a big event scheduled for the next day, in Canby, Oregon.  There is another blog detailing that event, entitled "Sprinkle Expedition", dated June 9, 2025.   The joyous looking photo below, brought to mind Palm 78:4 about passing faith to the next generation:  "We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord."  The verse emphasizes the importance of sharing God's story and works with the younger generation, with the hope that future generations will also trust in God and remember His works.    When I keep this purpose in mind, my time with family gives me "MILES OF SMILES"! 

 

OREGON SPRINKLE EXPEDITION!

The photo below shows my first-ever invitation to a "baby sprinkle".  Turns out, it was a play on words, since a "sprinkle" is not a full "shower".  The parents already had one young boy (and, hence, many of the necessities a baby boy would receive at a baby shower), so the baby boy still in his mother's womb, would only need a "sprinkle", not a "shower"!  Clever, huh??!!  The golf cart on the invitation, along with the golf phrases, "PAR-TEE", were hints that this event had a golf theme.  

The hostess for the event graciously invited me to stay in her home the Friday night before, so that I was there all day Saturday, to watch the preparations get underway, and assist as needed.  The photo below shows Jan, Deana, Laury, and Stacy, in the process of blowing up balloons (with an electric device), then tying off the top of the balloons, then stuffing them into bags, in preparation for making a balloon arch.  I have always admired balloon arches when I have seen them at special occasions, but this was my first time to ever participate in making one of them.  Suffice it to say, it takes quite a while to get the balloons tied onto a rope, which is then hung on a wall, to form an arch.      

The hostess had ordered custom-made cookies, each with with a golf theme design incorporated into the icing.  Besides each one being a work of art, they actually tasted delicious!  Likewise, the custom-made cupcakes, had a round piece of chocolate on top, wrapped up to look like a golf ball.  A decorative golf club was also on top of each cupcake.    There was no sneaking around to eat one of the cupcakes, because as soon as you bit into it, your lips and tongue turned green, as shown in one of the photos of little Connor, later in this blog.  There were the usual adult beverages, plus the kids had their own "beverage station", cleverly placed in a little red wagon, surrounded by ice.  

We set up an assembly line to make club sandwiches, once again using the golf theme, by the word "club", and a golf club wooden pick, holding the layers together.  

They had a "pop up" canopy to set up, and we all had a hand in getting it out of its folded up position, and into the completely opened up position.  It definitely took a team to get this accomplished!

I was thanking God for the beautiful weather that we had for the backyard event, as there was no rain, very little wind, and the temperature was perfect!

One of the adult activities, was to guess how many golf tees were in the big baby bottle, with the winner getting a special golf-themed prize. The photo beside the bottle, shows little Connor, with a golf club and golf ball.

The centerpieces on the table were made from artificial turf, and filled with golf balls, tees, and photos of Dean, Kaylee, and Connor out on the golf course.  Also, shown is the "Who is the baby's daddy" game.  Each guest was given a scratch off card, and only one of the cards had an actual photo of the daddy Dean.  The other faces were well-known celebrities.  

This photo shows several of the guests holding up their "whose your daddy" card, but none of them won the prize.  

The balloon arch made the perfect back drop for photos, and this photo below shows the honorees---Dean and Kaylee.  

This photo shows the family of the host and hostess.

The photo below shows why I was invited.  My son is married to Kaylee's mom!  (There were dozens more photos of groups under the balloon arch, but for purposes of brevity in this blog, I just put the photos of people who hosted me for overnight stays.)

This photo shows four generations of my daughter-in-law's family:  young Connor (with green tongue from green cupcake icing), Stacy, with her daughter Kaylee and mother Jan.

And this photo shows just two generations---me and my son, known as "Pappy G", to Connor, because my son called my father, "Pappy Joe".   

However, there were additional generations of "Pappy G" represented in the gift I brought for the "sprinkle".   For decades, I have kept the perforated metal top that fit into a glass bottle, that "Pappy G's" great grandmother used to "sprinkle" the clothes with water, she would be pressing, with a heavy metal object, heated on top of a wood stove.  This was the pioneer's version of a "steam iron".  (for purposes of my air travel to get to Oregon, I had replaced the glass bottle, with a plastic bottle, which contained a gift check that could be used for the baby's diaper needs or other necessities).  The miniature iron I gave to Kaylee, is one that "Pappy G's" grandmother used to iron her doll clothes, whenever her  mom was ironing the grown up clothes.  The badly-faded embroidery shows an elf with wings, sitting on top of an old-fashioned iron.  It was a "tea towel", that had been in my mother's Hope Chest.  The Hope Chest was usually a hand-made cedar box, with hinged top, which girls would start filling as a child, with tea towels and doilies and aprons and baby blankets they made, in hopes of having a husband and family some day---hence, the phrase "Hope Chest"!  My father made numerous cedar "Hope Chests".  Also, included was an old-fashioned clothes pin, made from a single piece of wood, before the invention of hinged clothes pins.

I mentioned the games for adults, and there were also fun activities for the little ones.  The most popular was the bubble machine, which always makes for interesting photo opportunities!

My son and I played one of the children's games, which was new to me!

Connor really got into the idea of a "SPRINKLE", when someone gave him a water bottle with a hole punched in the lid, which he repeatedly filled, and proceeded to "sprinkle" anyone who could not get out of his squirting range!

This event was a wonderful celebration of the precious gift, currently in the process of being "knit together" in his mother's womb, as described in Psalm 139.  It was an expedition that gave me "MILES OF SMILES"!  Tricia