The back yard view from my bathroom deck. The little fawn statue is waiting for Calypso's friends to visit. They keep a low profile while the tourists are around.

Lewis & Clark Historians


In preparation for the big Lewis & Clark events, the locals get to hear all sorts of famous historians speak. Rex Ziak gave an awesome talk filling us in on all the "local" things that L&C did in our area.

Fort burns to ground; cause unkown


Associated Press
WARRENTON, Ore. - Fort Clatsop, a replica of where the Lewis and Clark expedition spent the soggy winter of 1805-1806 after reaching the Pacific, was destroyed by fire, park superintendent Chip Jenkins said Tuesday.
Volunteer firefighters worked for hours Monday night to try to save the fort at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, Jenkins said, but "half of the fort was burned up, and the other half is essentially a loss."
A cause for the fire has not yet been determined. Fire investigators began looking for the cause of the blaze on Tuesday morning.
The fire happened just 40 days before a Lewis and Clark Bicentennial event was scheduled to be held at the fort, the culmination of a two-year, national celebration of the explorers' journey West.

Great Columbia Crossing


Every October the "Great Columbia Crossing", a 10K run/walk across the mighty bridge tempt us with participation. We planned to do it this year....until our Indian Summer weather changed and coastal weather gave us a dose of reality.


This is the reality. After staying up late for the auction, THEN... getting up ALL NIGHT LONG to place buckets, cups and bowls all over the house... well... we missed it again. We had a huge thunder, lightning, wind and rain storm. Our home is in dire need of a new roof (we are in the queue with the roofers) and it has dozens of leaks...PLUS... while it might have been thrilling to walk along the bridge... soaking wet, in wind and lightning... Brett and I decided to stay snug in our little bed when the 6am alarm rang. Maybe next year... for now we know how Lewis and Clark felt at "Dismal Nitch".

Education Foundation Auction. "An Evening at Monticello" Educa'cian in View!


For the past 13 years, the Ocean Beach Education Foundation has held a Dinner Auction. EVERYONE ... who is anyone... goes to this evening. It begins with a silent auction, followed by dinner and a live auction. Brett and I were delighted to be seated at the table with the new Ocean Beach School District Superintendent, Rainer Houser, and his wife (in the red)... and guests.


The "normal" beach cuisine. A yummy dinner of "Cedar kissed Columbia River Salmon with sorrel butter, chive tossed baby red potatoes, husk roasted sweet corn, poached prawns, fresh goat cheese on a sourdough bread salad, baby carrots with carmalized sweet onions, milk rolls with rosemary butter, and, finally, beef roast with garlic crust and panjus. Followed by a Marionberry Cobbler a la mode. Washed down with a Washington State merlot.


The typical Lewis and Clark explorer at dinner. With the signature Lewis and Clark expedition events happening this year.... everything seems to have taken a Lewis and Clark theme. We started the evening in a very large tent...filled with silent auction items, bear rugs, indians, explorers, southern belles, Virginia gentlemen, fiddlers, cranberry trail mix and cocktails. (loosen us up for the bidding)


The invitation said, "Attire: from Buckskin to Cotillon or Peninsula Casual". You can see the wide range of dress.


The Elk's Lodge was transformed into "An Evening at Monticello".


The locals line up for their favorite burger!

Long Beach Chowder Contest


Michael Lalewicz (Chef/Proprietor of The Depot), me, Nancy Gorshe (Manager/Proprietor of The Depot) and RD Williams (owner/Inn Keeper of The Whalebone House)... serving up a yummy "seared summer tomato base with maplewood smoked ham, fresh herbs and fresh Willapa Bay Clam Chowder.


Michael Lalewicz, Chef/Proprietor of The Depot and RD Williams, owner/Inn Keeper of The Whalebone House Bed and Breakfast.

Save The Seaview Dunes


Mike DeSimone, Pacific County Zoning, shows the map with the zoning boundaries being negotiated. As property values increase... the dunes are in danger of being developed. Local residents would like to see the land be rezoned and something worked out with property owners, State Parks and Pacific County to stop building in the dunes.


Friends of Seaview... the effort to stop the Dunes. We enjoyed a custom cake at the meeting.


Dr. Charles Johnston and Keith Swenson cutting the cake...the continuing effort to rezone the Dunes of Seaview.

One Year Ago


Aura in the security line at Seatac one year ago. On Sept. 10, 2004...she left for 27 months in Morocco serving in The Peace Corps. Months of interviews, preparation and packing (and repacking) culminated as she bravely hugged goodbye and walked up to the security gate.... to her new life. We are so proud of her! Visit Aura's blog: www.moroccanprincess.blogspot.com


Natalie brought her friend Bob over for a Paella dinner. Photo: Bob, Natalie and Brett


Our new watercolor print by Eric Wiegardt. This was painted for the Clamshell Railroad Days. It shows The Depot in Seaview 100 yrs ago. Our driveway is on the right. Both The Depot and our house are celebrating their Centennial this year.