people I have known

[doodlebug]

As we drove past Jim Yokes place up on Skate Creek Clara asked me if I had ever heard about Jim's deer. I had.
Jim was here when the first settlers showed up in the 1858 I believe.He and Mary Kiona both were.Jim was Taidnapaum and Mary was Kiona. They both lived a ways past 100 years. Mary crossed over in 1967.
It was a simple fact that Jim's ghost or whatever ran people off of his old land that hunted deer there.Right in broad daylight. He didn't seem to mind elk hunting.
I have visited there many times and always felt peaceful. I leave him tobacco presents at his old cabin every time. He often shows up as a Raven.
But deer hunters get chased by him and they say it is very frightening. I've only talked with one guy who had the experience. It was to me a funny thing because he was in high school and quite the obnoxious bully type.When he told me what happened his face was absolutely full of a left over fright. When the ghost chased him ,he was swinging a stick at him and didn't cease chasing him until Larry was all the way off of his land. Larry had never heard the tale and didn't even know it was the Yoke place. After he told his mother the day it happened she took him over to Mr.Paul's house and asked him to show Larry a picture of Old Jim. When Larry saw it he said that it was definitely who he saw except he had a very mean face on him. Mr. Paul then gave Larry a list of people who had seen Jim while hunting deer.. Paul owned the place and still does. Larry told him once was enough and he'd never go back.
Clara said it had been like that even before Yoke crossed over. He had moved closer to town ,down on the Cowlitz River back in the 50's.Somehow he protected his damn deer though! Deer were his medicine I suppose.

[doodlebug]

As soon as you turn down the hill off of Skate Creek to go up towards High Rock there is a huge rock slide on your right. That is the Devils Slide,named by Crow and experienced by many but only one time. What happens is, you are hunting up on top by way of Henderson Pass that rambles down to Ashford 28 miles away.One of the old roads that don't go through any more. It just ends where a bridge use to be.Then you get lost.Or rather confused. After wandering around the topography sorta guides you to the slide. Down below,not that far you can see Skate Creek and the High Rock road. just a little stroll down the hill. SO, you take the shortcut as you're already lost going the other way. As soon as you commit to the slide you're IN it. Rocks constantly shifting and rolling from above you chasing you down the hill. It is very steep and ends in a 12 to 15 foot drop off into the river. A cold and rushing river. It is a miracle if you make it uninjured. Crow told me of his trip down and just a couple of years ago my oldest son came that way. Both said they'd go back the long way if it ever happened again. As we went by there, Clara looked up the gray rock river and waved out the window, I didn't ask about that. It felt very personal from my side of the jeep.

[doodlebug]

After a steep climb up the last of the pavement the road turns to gravel and pot holes. You drive through alders and maples for several miles with canyons of Fir and cedar and little creases that run up the right side where it is mostly straight up. In those ravines the vine maples turn many shades of yellow,orange and red. The buck brush has turned by Berry season as well and the Ocean Spray has the clusters of white hanging off their limbs. The moss is thick and the ferns are going yellow.The Indian Hellebore is flowering. then there are stretches of Cow Parsnip on the road with their monster white flowers. The Bear Grass is bright on the hills with the white blooms shooting up out of the thick clumps of green and the world is one fine place to be living in. We mostly commented on the scenery and I enjoyed it seeing it through her eyes as an extra bonus. Sights shared are better than all the photographs you could collect. What is a sunset if you can't say WOW,LOOK at that! You know?

[doodlebug]

"I'd like to hear about Anthony,Clara. That is, if it isn't hard on you."
"well, I could talk about him all day if you like.Every day is a little hard on me,ha." she had started popping berries off the bushes and into her bucket." I had my eye on him since I turned fourteen but kept it to myself until I had made my mind up at close to sixteen. He came to town with his grandfather to deliver furniture. They built ladder back chairs,rockers,and salt or sugar boxes. Their boxes were beautiful and constructed with the neatest dovetailed joints. Their sugar boxes were two layered with the top smaller than the bottom. The lower box held twenty five pounds of white sugar and the top ten pounds of brown.They used pretty figured maple and polished them into fine pieces of furniture. They built special orders like beds and chests of drawers but not as many of that kind of thing as simple chairs. I saw this as him being one of the few around who could do something besides log the woods or work the tiny farms people had carved into the little valleys in the area. Everyone farmed what they could just to eat but making any kind of cash crop was impossible for most. There were the periods when we grew pigs and turkeys for market but they had to be herded all the way to Chehalis and that took three weeks 'round trip.
Anyway, what I loved about Anthony,he was artistic and clean.He thought along different trails than most. He enjoyed music and could paint or carve you just about anything you could name. After we were married that man never came to my bed unless he was spotless. He would bath in the creek before walking in at night if it was above freezing. He kept soap and a comb on a little shelf he mounted on a tree with a camp mirror hanging on a nail. I can see him now coming through the door ,hair slicked back,face shining and smiling.

[doodlebug]

now, from the beginning. Miss Martha had been the object of Anthony's affection. He came by the hotel and sat with her on the porch a few times and took her for horseback rides a few times. She announced one day that they were to be married as soon as school was finished. Little miss Martha was so sure of herself. Then one day he came by while she was running an errand for our landlord. I took the opportunity to grab him away. First I invited him in for a piece of my wild plum pie. Then I invited him to see if he could fix a stuck window up in my room.I suppose I should be ashamed of myself for what happened next.But I'm not. After I told him how I had felt about him for the last two years I proved it to him. When he left me his head was spinning and I swear his eyes were crossed. Considering the fact that I knew Martha had never allowed him the slightest peck on the cheek and wouldn't be seen holding his hand out on the porch for fear of tarnishing her reputation,I think I did the right thing. He did too. His interest in her dropped like a rock. I did have to ask about his former marrying plans. He said his folks were anxious for him to wed some one before he got too old to land a bride. He didn't think he really had a chance with anyone else. He came up with several other reasons but one was as good as another and I was just happy I had turned his eye. I was definitely falling in love.It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, See, I didn't like the life I saw women around here living once married. I wanted something more.Being with him gave me that something more. He was so smart,knew so much and had such an interest in the world around us there was always something to talk about.There was always a piece of news to discuss or a book to review. He didn't just sit underneath the stars and gaze. He pointed out stars,planets,and constellations with a happiness I wasn't use to. Most around here had a limited amount of interest and knowledge that amounted to how to drop a tree properly of how to hunt. that was about it. The outside world could be seen only in the baseball games and rodeos and horse races we had in the big field where the Cowlitz Lodge stands now. Fall always brought the tribes up here and the races were the best time ever. There was a lot of gambling and some pretty rough fights.

[doodlebug]

I interrupted her for a moment pointing out a sharp shinned hawk in the top of a tree that was eying something intensely."probably a bunny." she said.
Then I asked," Didn't it bother you any to take Marthas" intended "away? It was kind of mean."
"oh sure it did."Then she laughed." Martha didn't waste any time nabbing up Big Mike Olmstead though. They were hitched the first month after graduation. That made me alright with my decision mostly because I had seen how Mike looked at her all through the last two years of school. before Anthony let her go she wouldn't give him the time of day. It all worked out in the end. Her bonus ,of course,was that he came home after the war all in one piece. So, I guess ,in a way,she won that game.

[doodlebug]

"I roomed at the hotel through my last year.Anthony had received his diploma a year prior.He didn't come to town all that often. He said he was too busy with work and it was over six miles from their home place to town. When he did though ,he would stay as long as he could in my presence. He was eternally in a state of excitement.He stored up things in is thought to talk about. He was also getting rather romantic. I got quite the thrill when he quoted poetry or sang me songs. He wasn't shy and had a beautiful voice!
His grandfather's schedule was the time allotment in town.
A year had passed when he finally proposed. He said he had waited until he was sure I was over wanting to bake for any other man. In July we made a date to go out to their place so I could dine with his grand parents. He and his brother were raised by them. His mother died having her third baby and his father had wandered to the coast and worked building boats in Westport. He sent money home and an occasional box of gifts for the boys . He remarried over there and had a second family.
I knew with that invitation that we were on our way. The ride out there was pleasant with plenty of small talk. It wasn't the usual talk and it seemed kind of strained. As we turned up the Lava Creek road he said "I have a surprise for you."

[doodlebug]

" A half a mile up the road had a split, East and West. The road East was well used and obviously an old one.You could see the old scars on trees and big out of place rocks with years of moss covering them. To the West the road was new. Then I noticed in the fork there was a sign. An arrow pointing east had "Myers" written on it. The Arrow to the left said Mr.and Mrs. Anthony J. Myers.Beneath that, as though an afterthought, was another sign that said"Clara and Anthony" I looked up into Anthony's face and started crying. It was right then that I gave over to true love. I would never be the same. Seeing our names ON something, put together, took my very breath away. He just put an arm around my shoulders and said,"Us forever if you'll have it.Clara."
With that Clara suddenly removed her bucket from her belt and sat down on the ground and started sobbing so violently that I got real worried as she couldn't seem to ever get her breath fully. She would gasp and stop dead still for a second and then off she would go again.
I told her I was going for water and started back to the jeep. I stayed at the jeep long enough to roll a smoke and burn it up.When I returned she was blowing her nose and looking at the sky. She turned to me with her red eyes and a streak of dusty tear moving down and off of her chin. She pointed and said,"Look,a cloud shaped like a rabbit." I looked and caught it just as the breeze turned it into beaver.
I said,Clara,maybe we should pick berries and I'll tell you the story of how the skunk cabbage got it's flower." She grinned and said, "I know that one."
"Now,as I was saying,uh,turn in the road. That's it. Without a word of explanation Anthony headed down the West road. Two hundred yards through the tall Firs and we came to a small clearing with a house and a shed in it. The house had a river rock base with framed walls and cedar plank siding.I wonderful stone chimney sat at one end and there was a weather vein in the middle of the roof with birds for the arms. Around the covered porch were several varieties of flower in bloom and the front door had glass in it. It had fancy shutters that were shaped like trees that overlapped when closed. Around the house the land was cleared except for a few stumps for a hundred yards.There were no trees that could fall on the roof. Alone in the back yard he had left a nice big Maple. Underneath was a table and two benches. I guess I must have looked very happy because when I looked at him again he was one big grin and his eyes had a look like you see on a kid at Christmas. The little details slowly came into view as we got to the house up close. He had cobalt blue and green bottles mixed in here and there ,bottoms facing out in the stone mortar work running up the chimney.I wondered what kind of deal he made at the pharmacy. Jones was such a tight wad. On the side was a built in CCC style air cooled refrigerator. The back revealed another ,smaller porch with a mud room to pass through before going in. Two doors. I liked that idea. Then there was a small herb garden with the plants labeled with little painted wooden signs. He pointed to it as we walked by and said,"Grandma.She'll teach you some stuff about those." Already I was starting to feel like a family instead of just two kids in love. Looking at the herb garden made me feel like I had responsibility to be the best wife in the whole damn country.Some of my doubts and that tugging I had had to move out of this country just went someplace else. I was shedding my girl and emerging a new woman.It was somehow spiritual though that may sound silly."

[doodlebug]

"after circling the house he took my hand and led me to the table beneath the Big Maple and pulled back a bench for me. We sat down and he pointed out the stumps."I'll get them.I just ran out of time."then he swept this hand towards the area behind the shed and said"The garden will be there,if that's o.k. A clothes line can sit over there"he aimed his arm towards the other side of the yard. This will be as full of sunlight as we'll ever get back in here.We're more behind the mountain than I would like but this was affordable.A gift of seven acres from my Grandparents. They wanted to keep me close with Brother moving soon to the coast. He helped me take the trees down and trade them for sawed lumber. We split the shakes for the roof right here under this tree."
Clara said "I asked him when we could look inside.He said "When I carry my bride over that threshold."
"I thought I would die from the anticipation. That seemed to tickle him."
"So, how long was your wait?"I asked.
Three months. A very,very long three months.It gave me time to build my wedding dress with a little help from old lady Bevins.
O.k.a lot of help from her.I also started studying how women did things. Not any woman,just the ones I knew that had happy husbands. It is easy to pick those out. I tried to figure for sure how some women raised good kids and others raised brats that everyone hated to see coming.A person can learn many things if they just watch. If I had a question,I'd find some one I respected to ask. I also got a little work with Jones trying to make sense of his books.What a mess.Part of my deal was I got bottles after the pills or powders were gone.I loved the bottles with the stones idea and I had plans for the future. The cobalt blue were my favorites although there were some yellow ones that ranked up there towards the top.But I got to get back to the order of this fairy tale."
I said,"I can't hear berries hitting the bottom of your bucket any more.That is a good sign!"
She glanced down and smiled. Then she took a few berries and popped them in her mouth. "Sugar isn't very high yet.You know we have to come back ,don't you?"
I said,"Of course.But these aren't bad,really."
"No, not bad. But good jam berries they aren't yet. Pies ,well, o.k. We need a few warmer days with cold nights."
I said,"It is coming.another two weeks is my guess."
She sorta scowled at me and says,"What do YOU know?"
I said,"enough."

[doodlebug]

I told Clara that to think of an eighteen year old guy these days doing everything Anthony did is just crazy.What the hell happened in these last 50 years? You can't get any one to cut a cord of wood any more.She said "It is a shame too.Heck,me or Sis could cut a cord in a half an hour back when we worked trails."
I asked her if she wasn't about ready for some lunch.She agreed to a break and we walked back to the jeep. While we ate we both picked bugs,leaves and spiders out of our buckets. She was pleased with my coffee. When she had drained her cup she leaned with her back to a tree and promptly fell asleep and began to snore. I crawled into the back seat of my rig and took a nap.

[doodlebug]

I woke up to a tickle on my face. Opening my eyes I was staring into the face of a mosquito. It flew off as I tried to smack it. Clara giggled and I looked over at her. She was standing up with her bucket back on her belt. She had removed the pistol and placed it on the front seat."Tired of carrying that."
"I guess you're ready then?"
"Yes, and I think I'm about used up for today but I need a couple more cups worth."
"You can have some of mine if you want,Clara.I'll be getting plenty."
"No sir, I can pick my own. I don't want your germs."she laughed and walked off. I followed along pulling my belt back on while walking.
We picked in silence for a while. I asked if she had heard about the race between the raccoon and the big rock on top of Tower Rock. She said,"Heard that one too."
"Fine." I wondered if she really had.
I asked her then,"So after you looked at the house did you go to his Grandparents for dinner?"
"Oh, sure we did. Thanks,I forgot where I left off. We did and I'll always have that with me,I hope. His family treated me with a welcome and a half. They acted like I was something special.Miss Minnie wouldn't let me help with anything.Anthony had escorted me to the kitchen and pulled out a chair for me after introducing me all round. Then he left me there and went out to the porch with the men. There was his brother,his grand father and a neighbor who was over to help with a new fence they were building. The neighbors wife,Amanda sat in the kitchen with a skein of yarn and her needles in her lap. There was that click click from her working and a continuous sniffle sorta going in time with her needles.Miss Minnie seemed a little annoyed with her.Of course I was felling awkward and just sat there wondering what to say. Miss Minnie asked if I'd like tea or did I prefer coffee? I said I would love to have some coffee. She handed me a cup and pointed at the Wood range where a large speckled pot sat."There's sugar if you want it. No cream though.I used it all on after dinner treats."I said I liked it black. She smiled and said,"I know.I know all about you." She said it like an accusation. Then she laughed."let me see if I can get this right. First,you are the one that hung the moon and the stars. You're smarter than any teacher we've ever had in this area.Oh, and prettier than my prize winning tulips to boot. HA! I know you young lady and we'll be a famous pair,you'll see.We are so much alike!! Huh!" Minnie was to be my closest friend until her death. She never bossed me or asked for more than she knew I was able to give. A damn good woman. May she rest in peace.

[mmhmm]

Doodlebug, reading these posts is like sitting across the table from you, sipping a cup of tea. You've got a very special talent, my friend. I do hope you're saving these. I believe them to be publishable.

[doodlebug]

mmhmm, thank you. No, I haven't saved anything. These are simply therapy and a mind excercise. I've lost so much I am finding going through these thoughts are refreshing. It takes me a while to put the stories together. I don't like rereading them and finding I've left out so much. I've decided there are some things best left to myself. It is impossible to put the feeling in as it would be with anyone I suppose. I don't know for instance how to show what it is like to look into an eighty year old ladies eyes and seeing the eyes of a young girl,glowing with love or destroyed by pain. You know? Some times I am overwhelmed with a feeling of failing to paint the picture.

[mmhmm]

You just don't realize you know how to do that, doodlebug. Fact is, you do. As I said, it's a rare talent. It would be, I believe, worthwhile to collect these stories and submit them. They're very, very special.

[NancysSummerSip]

Agrred, mmhmm. It's like reading the equivalent of a string of pearls.

I would love to take these posts, edit them and put them together as a collection. A novella perhaps, or simply a short story collection.

[doodlebug]

" the remainder of the day was spent gossiping and listening to the sound of the needles clicking. Around four, Miss Minnie said she had to rest and we took that as a good reason to head back to town. Anthony took along a bedroll as he planned on sleeping on the river over night and visiting with me the following day. As we passed the fork in the road I got all excited again to see the inside of my soon to be abode. I tried to think of a proper name for the place like some folks had.That would take me awhile. On the trip home I asked at least a million questions of Anthony. I was curios to know what paths he had taken to secure the things he needed for our place that couldn't be taken from the mountain. He commented that it hadn't been too hard. "All I had to do was figure out something that a certain person needed that I could provide. There are some like Sara Jane that are hard to figure. Having every kind of fancy furniture you can get hauled in here I was at a loss for a while. The thing is,she had several sacks of mortar mixings in her barn. I needed that. One day I saw her down in front of the dress shop looking at her own reflection in the window. I got it. I built the prettiest hall tree you ever saw with a large mirror in the middle and deer antler hat pegs. It is all curly Maple with birdseye flaming out like a birds tail. When I was through with it I took it over to her place and set it on the porch and called her out. I told her I would move it into her house if she would have her boy, Del, help me load those sacks onto my wagon. She just hollered out "Del!" Now, we have a foundation and a chimney and some left overs." Now,I've watched men work wood. I knew even then that his payment for the sacks was not cheap or even reasonable on the market in some town but up here it was worth what he considered otherwise wasted time. You didn't find money on trees then any more than you do now. One thing about Anthony, when he wanted something, he would go out and find a way to have it.
That night I had a hard time getting to sleep .I tried to picture my kitchen. I wondered if he knew how to set one up. Then Minnie came to mind and I got the feeling that my kitchen would be absolutely perfect. I went to sleep counting flowers in my mind as they waved in a gentle breeze in MY garden.

[doodlebug]

The mosquito population was rising rapidly so I asked Clara if she was about ready to get back. She said she sure was."About an hour ago." I felt that we had broken the first berry trip ice and felt comfortable asking if she was up to going earlier next time. "I know it's a little chilly right off but there are no bugs either.If we can get two hours in before the sun gets too high we'll probably enjoy it more."
Clara smiled and said,"that,my friend, is great news to me. The berries pop off so much easier when it's cool.Count me in. I have an alarm clock." She is right ,too. At her house I got out and carried her bucket and pistol to the door. I said,"thanks for a lovely day." She took her bucket from my hand and leaned in and kissed my cheek."You're o.k. kid,no matter what the folks around here think about you." I said,"Thanks?"
Her eyes twinkled as she slammed the door in my face with a bang. I was getting in the jeep when the door opened and she hollered out,"See you at 5:30." I waved.

[doodlebug]

The next morning at 5:00 I got a call from Clara. "I'm too sore.Now,I'm going back to bed." Click. I was trying to decide whether I wanted to go alone when she called back."I'm ready. Are you coming or not?" I told her I'd be right there. We did pick a chilly morning. It was cold enough to make your fingers hurt after you picked a few berries and had wet hands from the dew.They ached. But, there were no mosquitoes and the berries jumped off of the bushes into your bucket. Almost. To start this time we walked about a quarter of a mile to some' high bush' berries.There are over twenty varieties of huckleberries. They all taste different. Some have a woody taste. Some are super fat and sweet. the "regulation" berry,the only one used commercially taste like HUCKLEBERRY. Ha! They are blacker and average sized. With high bush, there is no stooping or reaching way down below your waist. This is a real back saver and you tend to see more of what is going on around you in the fields. Everything that lives is in the fields when berries are ripe.The little mouse and the rabbit run around with the pine squirrels and the hawks and owls hang around deciding whats for lunch. The bears are around to put on some fat before they crawl into a hole somewhere for winter.The bug population is huge with everyone after the sweet juices that are surrounding them.Green and black garter snakes love bugs as do toads. Bobcats come through chasing grouse and bunnies. Deer and elk like berry leaves. Even the leaves have a sweetness. I use to add some ground up to my tobacco mixture.Where there are elk and deer there are cougars. Where there are cougars there are coyotes and Ravens to steal some meat from the cat sooner or later. You literally have to be blind to not see some kind of action during the harvest. On the drive in we had seen several grouse on the road picking up gravel down in the alders and cottonwoods. We had a discussion on picking up a few birds for the pot with the old .22 under the seat and decided "not until we're on the road for home." We both knew there wouldn't be any until right before dark. I was glad. I had to offer but I was not that excited about cleaning grouse after it got warm in a short while. That could wait until November. The birds would be larger then as well. A few of these snowshoe hares would be ready then and might make the trip worthwhile. There would be fewer animals to get by then because people were already after easy road shot grouse and early deer season for bow would start soon. this always took a toll on all things edible. Everyone has their favorite camp meat and come prepared. Still, I had my way and I liked it. To me there is a season for everything. It might not be the same season as the next guy but I reckon you need habits of your own. That works well because everyone isn't in each others way all at once.That is just dangerous.
Clara was moving a bit slower and I knew she was one sore girl.I kept my scout up for tall bushes with large berries to point out. We made great headway filling our buckets. After a full hour she called for a break, "smoke 'em if you got 'em".I found that pretty funny coming from her. We sat in the sun and let our fingers warm up. We had another hour of good picking to go before things took a turn towards discomfort. "How are you feeling ,Clara? You o.k.?"
"hell no,I'm not o.k. I'm old!"
"oh, too old? I guess you'll be wanting me to push you around this mountain in a wheel chair soon"
" Battery powered bah god. Electricity.Look it up. You might find it interesting."
I threw a small pine cone at her.
"Kids, I declare."
So, you wanna go home?"
"sure I want to go home. just as soon as this bucket is up to here with berries."Then she smiled and said" I am loving this. I hurt but that's my own fault for getting this damn old and not exercising enough to know I'm alive.Today will work out yesterdays pain. No matter because it is just so nice to be here. I might up and die here. That is how good I feel. You know, this is a good time and place type of thing.
I said,"I would kill you Clara!! You would rue the day!!" then I laughed."go ahead if you like but you can forget about grouse dinner here pretty soon.I'm not kidding.I hold grudges is all I'm sayin'"
Clara just giggled and said "don't sweat it.I have at least one more anniversary to celebrate. I am quite sure."
"Well Clara,it would be neighborly of you to just remained upright and breathing with present company till I can get you home."
"Deal,kid. Now, snub that smoke and lets get these berries picked."
"If you're waiting on me lady, you're wasting time." I got up and followed close enough behind her to catch her if she fell. I was wishing she hadn't said anything about croaking.Clara kept her promise and we both collected a nice two gallons of berries. That is very good time for me. She was happy and planning out loud for who was going to get her jam.She had a few stories to tell about local people but she had spent the time avoiding her own history. I didn't care. I was having fun just watching her have fun. Appreciation for these hills is rarely shown among the local residents.Clara couldn't have hidden hers.

[doodlebug]

We had several days of very warm weather with the perfect cool nights to make the berries sweet. The berries will get a sugar content high enough to cut back on your sugar when making jam. Makes for a tastier product. My system is to mark the gallon bags by date so I know which are the sweetest.The less sweet ones make good pies. I like to eat a few as time goes on right out of the bag still frozen. Delicious and crunchy. I am a jam making fool.Got it down to a science.
Clara and I headed back up the last week of September I think. I know it was a lot more colorful up high. A few of the berry varieties have the prettiest red leaves in fall. The others turn brown or fall off green.The later you are up there picking ,the more "trash" you have to clean out of your berries.The number of little bugs also increases. Tiny gray spiders are everywhere. There are less mosquito's after a few frosts. That frost sets the sugar well but also means you only have so much time left before the berries squeesh in your fingers or worse yet ,keep their stems attacked. That is a real pain.

[Deleted]

Doodlebug, are you writing a Novel.

Sorry...too overwhelming and I only pop in for light entertainment and some political jabs...and the tunes, I love music.

All the best to you, whatever that was all about...trying not to be rude here.

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

May 4, 2012 18:10:54 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

You just don't realize you know how to do that, doodlebug. Fact is, you do. As I said, it's a rare talent. It would be, I believe, worthwhile to collect these stories and submit them. They're very, very special.

I agree... I'm fascinated by the journey doodles is taking us on and sharing with us. I think I also suggested several months and pages ago that doodles find a publisher to have these stories of the people he's known made into a book - I think it would have a great chance of being accepted by a publisher. Even if the book was created for the sole purpose of giving to friends/family as a record/keepsake of your life, and the many paths its taken.

[doodlebug]

Rob not boB, I assure you I do not know what I am doing. glad you could drop by.

[doodlebug]

Clara proved to be a real talker as soon as she got in the jeep. It made for a nice ride up the hill.
"I haven't told you that I am a canoe builder have I?"
"No,Clara,you haven't."
"In the time before our wedding day I was back at home and having to try to catch a ride across the river three days a week. I got tired of being stuck. By then a bridge had been built to give access to the Jodys gravel pit upriver. The problem with that was it was five miles from town when you crossed.SO ,I decided I needed my own ferry. I talked it over with my father and he said he'd help me but I needed to recruit Cross John, an Indian that helped dad out from time to time. He was about forty or forty five and while he didn't mind hard work he didn't go around looking for it either. So,I asked Cross John what he would charge to help me build a canoe. He decided on a bag of shelled corn. He wanted to fatten up a hog. He said he wouldn't charge me anything if he could get by with it but he knew he couldn't. I didn't try to make sense of that but have always wondered what he meant.Look at me all these years gone by and I'm still curious. Sometimes I think John wanted to give me something to keep his memory inside my head. Nothing more. If so, he did a good job,wouldn't you say?"
"I would say. I bet you're right, too."
My boat was from a cedar log. We didn't just hollow it out. We shaped it. We would go so far and then pour water inside and add hot rocks. Steamed that thing into the most beautiful lines you could ask for. If the damn thing hadn't have got washed away it would be in a damn museum over in Olympia or something. I could give a good push off on my side of the river and a couple of strokes and I would be on the town side. That was freedom. Cross John and I took it all the way to Cosmos twice,fishing along the way.He could navigate that river low or high water. There were still a few spots where Indian families spent time along the river.Mostly in the salmon runs. When we would paddle by these people they would all wave their hands and holler HOH-HOH. They had an appreciation for the old ways. John never wanted to stop and talk. What I thought was fun was the looks on their faces. Each time it was like a big surprise!"

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We got hitched in March of '38. It was a beautiful wedding on a horribly wet day. We had it in the school gym with a reception that started off there and ended up for a lot of people at the Tavern.Mother and Miss Minnie put out a great feast and my Father roasted a yearling elk over a pit of maple coals with alder and wild cherry thrown in for flavor. We also had a couple of hams and a turkey.There was plenty and I was proud we could send people home with a little extra food.The best day of my life came and went in a big hurry. That evening we stayed in the hotel. I won't talk about that night but we hardly slept. I was too excited about my house and he was too excited to leave me in peace.HA!
The next morning I rushed him around until he was almost crazy. Anthony acted like he was in a hurry but was holding back some just to tease me. Driving into the house I thought either my head or my heart would explode. We walked up the steps. Anthony opened the door then bent down and picked me up.He carried me into the house and set me down and acted like I hurt his back. He sat down and said,"look her over.If you don't like it, I'll build one you do." I turned from side to side looking at the living room.The fireplace matched the chimney outside with the bottle bottoms here and there mixed in with the river rocks. The mantle was stained dark fiddle back maple. Two large carved bears with their hands to the sky held the mantle up. The horizontal board beneath the mantle top had musical notes carved in relief across from side to side. While I was studying this Anthony said,"it was kind of a waste of time getting fancy I know but I think it turned out well." I stepped over and kissed his cheek. Then I practically ran to the kitchen.

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What I found there was a mixture of pure craftsmanship with Miss Minnies' touch added.The sink was a long enameled cast iron affair with a big high sided draining area and shining brass fixtures. Above it was a double window with a light fixture in the ceiling. We didn't have electricity yet but he had planned for it. The cabinets ran all the way around the room up high and part way on bottom. A door led out to a pantry with enough shelving to keep you busy. The table was six feet long and had benches like a pic nic table down the sides with large chairs at either end.It was a beautiful piece made of walnut.The wood had streaks of purple and red down in the grain. Each end chair had carved cherubs in the backs and padded seats covered in leather. A door led of the right side into the bedroom. There were two wardrobes with book matched doors and a bed made from poles all highly polished yew wood.I had to comment on that." Do you think it's sturdy enough Anthony?" He said, "I am certain."and smiled."want to find out?""sure thing,as soon as I've finished my tour. So he grabbed my hand and herded me to the back porch. He pointed to a washing machine with a gasoline motor with a wringer mounted on it. "There,that's the tour." I said,"I'm hungry." He said "and you'll eat as soon as we're sure that bed works properly."He apparently had done all of the waiting he wanted to do.
Afterward I explored the kitchen cabinets more thoroughly. There were dividers in some drawers and a lazy Susan behind a lower corner door. This thing he had mounted on ball bearings and it turned easily. I always liked that thing.The cooler was built into the wall beside the sink. This was a door hiding a set of shelves with the bottom screened in and the top had another place for air to flow back out. It worked nice for butter and cream and pies.We didn't try to keep much cool.There was the root cellar for keeping things cool that you didn't need in the immediate pantry. Beside the stove was a long spoon rack that held carved spoons of different styles and shapes, Long handled "canning" spoons. a butter paddle,A deep spoon with small holes in the bottom.three smaller mixing spoons. Each one with a heart on the end of the handle with a C inside of it. I was satisfied beyond my dreams. I went out the back door and walked to the table beneath the Maple and sat down looking back at my home.I was full. That is,my inside was full. Could it be any better? Anthony joined me and I wrapped my arms around him and said,"I'm staying.It is the best,Anthony." He said "I'll go get your bags then my lady."and bowed sweeping his hat in front of him.

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1938 was a good year for us. Miss Minnie and I canned everything we could get our hands on. Anthony concentrated on meat and firewood for winter. I took on the splitting wood for the cook stove,feeding the livestock and talking to the chickens. They lay better if you have a good relationship with them. If it was light out he was working on one thing or another.I got my book keeping down to two days a week. However,I was also working on a surprise. I was learning to play piano from Pastor Evans' wife. I was a good student I think and I spent an hour plinking around on the keys over at the hotel every chance I got. Everyone was sworn to keep my secret. Every day Anthony sang, whistled or played his harmonica. I was intent on providing my share of the music.
We got that electricity in June of '39 but it would be 1947 before telephones came around. The electricity wasn't dependable enough to count on but was handy when it was working. Every time there was the smallest storm you could bet the line would go down somewhere.

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when Christmas came around I was ready. We had a plan for Anthony to go by the hotel to look at some cabinet doors that "needed to be replaced" While he was in the kitchen I sat down and played a fair version of Daisy Daisy or as most call it "Bicycle built for two." In a few seconds Anthony stuck his head back through the doorway, his eyes wide .He walked over beside me and burst into song waving his hands like he was conducting an orchestra. When I had finished the song I set another sheet of music up and played silent night. I messed up a little but he didn't act like he noticed. When that was finished I stood up and said"what do you think about that, Mister?" He picked me up and twirled me around in the air and knocked a vase off of the coffee table with my feet. He said' We have to get a piano now. I don't know exactly how that will come about,but it will.' His gift to me that year was a Winchester .30-.30 rifle with four boxes of ammunition. He had restocked it with the butt carved with a scene of elk on a mountain side.The forearm was checkered with oak leaf clusters on either side. What a beautiful weapon it was. It was no carbine either.Full length octagon barrel.
My next undertaking, in my own mind, was to give Anthony a son. Miss Minnie had used up every old wives tale that is suppose to help you get knocked up. I just didn't take. We kept trying and that part I enjoyed though I was distracted by thoughts of conceiving. Anthony assured me it would happen when it was suppose to. I began to doubt.

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As Clara and I ate our lunch I asked if she'd like to go up to Strawberry Mountain with me where I had Nisqually Indian friends camping on the coming weekend. She said she'd like to but also wanted to know if Sis Blakeley could come along. Sis wanted some berries and I figured it would be fun just listening to them talk. I've spent a lot of time with some of the older ladies in town. Some I've worked with and some I've worked for doing repairs ,getting wasp nests removed and repairing furniture.Some I dealt with when buying and selling antiques.Many have very similar stories of working for the forest service on trails,planting trees, or cooking for fire crews.A tougher bunch of gals you couldn't find. They are all low on sympathy and high on "you gotta do what you gotta do." They all have tales of survival in the woods. All not only "believe" in Bigfoot,they would all swear to it. You can't spend that many years in the wilderness areas and not see either Sasquatch or signs like footprints or nests. Some are not comfortable sharing their experience.
I agreed to our date. Clara was thrilled and after I said o.k. she admitted that her neighbor had been a little jealous that I had invited Clara and not her as well. I felt kinda bad about that though I don't think I would have enjoyed the conversation with all the interruptions. The Strawberry mountain trip would be a visiting trip with plenty of time for picking. A big bonus in my mind was the strawberry crop up there.Wild strawberries are plentiful but are so small it isn't worth messing with them for large quantities. Up at Strawberry though you can find places where you can sit down and gobble hand fulls. The flavor is so very intense compared to farm grown there is no comparison.

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When I picked the "girls" up on Saturday morning they looked like they were going to the circus. Faces were lit up and their eyes were bright for the time of day. We had decided to get up there by 7:00 and it was an hour and a half drive. Sis had a huge Stanley thermos of coffee which was a hit with me. She had an old baseball cap on and a colorful scarf tied around her neck.In her belt she carried a knife and a flashlight in a nylon holder.She was wearing hard leather spats that were world war one regular army issue. There was a short debate about who would ride shotgun and who would ride in the back seat. Sis won by saying "O.K., I'll ride in the rear but don't bitch at me when I puke down your neck,Clara." Clara knew she wasn't kidding.
It was fairly quiet until we started driving up the Cispus River. The memories started coming out concerning the old township of Cosmos,which was sent under water by the dam that forms Riffe Lake at Mosseyrock. It went from that to the "boys " they had known as kids that lived in the wilds of the Cispus Drainage. This was Crows' old stomping grounds and where he got his name.Everyone knew the story but these ladies were around back then. They added some details I hadn't heard. Every creek we crossed and every camp ground or trail head we passed, there was a quick little story about a friend, most of who had died already. The air in the jeep stayed light though and I was glad they didn't get overly sentimental. I hate it when people start crying because I end up blubbering like a little girl.It's a pain.

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There is an ancient fishing spot on the Cispus. Well, there WAS one. A new damn a few years ago covered the area.It was a great loss to the tribes. For over 2600 years that we know of, the area was a sacred gathering place. On that day when we passed by, Clara started talking about being a kid and coming here with her cousin in a wagon. They used pitch forks to fill the wagon with salmon.Once back home the fish were processed by canning some and smoking the rest.
She said the place was one huge camp, with people from several tribes involved in getting fish and having horse races and gambling on the outcomes. At night there were "stick" games,a game much like "thimble,thimble,who's got the thimble." The object is to guess who has the stick enough times to win all of the opposing teams sticks. Side bets are where the action is. While the stick is being passed around the team has drummers drumming and singers singing. The games last all night. When you camp with that kind of racket, you get use to it and usually only wake up when the sounds stop. Many times I've heard the drums echoing through the brain long after they actually quit singing. It's like you hear ghost drums rolling around in the canyons.
I asked the girls if they learned anything from the Indians when they were younger that they used all through life. Both were very quiet and I could feel their thoughts going through a search of their memories.