Kla-Ho'W-Ya

Good Day in Chinook Jargon:)

Yesterday we decided to take advantage of two campus museums as they were free on home game weekends of the Ducks football season.

The Museum of Natural and Cultural History was so fascinating that we ran out of time to go to the Art Museum. Oregon.........where past is present. From the hands -on paleo lab and the Condon Fossil Collection to many different examples of Indian basketry and bead work........as well as evolution of the horse in this part of the country...........all well done and very user friendly. I always wonder why don't we come more often?

Local crops for the Indians consisted mainly of camas, salmon, berries, other roots, deer . On the way home we saw a guy selling fresh chanterelles from his truck......so we bought some for dinner. Maybe the Willamette Valley Kalapuyan Indians also ate these colorful shrooms? but probably not in Olive oil.................

Champoeg Camping

Last week we spent 2 nights and 3 days in Champoeg State Park in a cabin and found several interesting day trips which we greatly enjoyed. Sham-POO-eee is a name given to the area by the Kalapuya Indians.........it was also known as French Prairie and the French fur traders were in the area as well.

We have camped there many times with the grandchildren and the stately oak groves and lovely pink wild roses have left many fond memories.

The park has also added the old Historic Butteville Store which dates back to the 1880's and the only remaining commercial building in Butteville which was an old thriving river town. They have besides a great ambience, root beer floats and great sandwiches. The day we were there I purchased angel honey mustard made by the nuns at Mount Angel. Fresh picked peaches for fifty cents each added a nice find for our picnic we later had in the rose gardens at Heirloom Roses in St. Paul..........another charming town with French trader roots.

We went into Salem and toured the Mission Woolen Mills.....did a power walk with a living history tour guide and really enjoyed hearing all about the importance of wool in the local economy and walking into the buildings was like a trip back into time.........amazing stuff.........

Mike played gourmet chef and even did grilled steak with portobellos on the woodfire grill.........very good. Had my smore's with my new long fork purchased at Honeyman Park......so good to get out and enjoy Summer........nothing quite like that campfire at night.