Ashland without the Shakespeare

Ashland, OR is famed for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF), but there is an off-season, roughly New Year’s through early March, when there are no plays on. Jonathan and I visited in this interval, and we had an excellent time, even with the Bard and company in hibernation. We spent a weekend eating and drinking, and it was just right for us.

       We were headed to a wine-tasting fundraiser for the public radio station, Jefferson Public Radio (JPR) based at Southern Oregon University. JPR reaches us in Eureka, and is a valuable source of news and programming. Ashland is about halfway between us in Eureka and my sister Paula in Portland, so we recruited Paula and her partner Wayne to meet us for the weekend.

internet photo.

       We left Eureka on a dry and sunny Friday morning,  perfect for a drive through the redwoods. Stands of trees were interspersed with views of the ocean. There are few towns or gas stations, only an occasional tourist stop. We passed Trees of Mystery with its huge models of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox.

At Elk Prairie, we pulled over to watch a herd of elk grazing in a front yard.

      In Crescent City, we stopped so I could do some beachcombing. It wasn’t low tide, or particularly good conditions, but I had a chance to wander around the high tide line and had a break from driving. 

internet photo.

         Back on the road, we headed inland through more forests into Oregon. The road shifted from two to four lanes and back, demanding driving, but the views were gorgeous trees, wooded hillsides, and meadows. At Grants Pass, the interstate reappears (I-5) and the final stretch into Ashland went quickly. 

        We stayed at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites, where the JPR fundraiser took place. We arrived around 4:30 pm, with time to rest and change then head to the ballroom. What a spread! We weren’t sure what to expect, and found a ballroom full of tasting stations including about 30 wineries, as well as restaurant samples, a couple of cider and beer brewers, cheesemakers and chocolatiers. And we were wondering whether we’d need dinner after the event (Hah!).

         There was a “cork pull” that I hadn’t heard of before. For $20 you picked a numbered cork from a bag and were given the bottle with that number. When you opened the bag and took out your wine, you could check a list to see the normal price of the bottle, anywhere from $29 to $99 values. Jonathan had gotten each of us a cork.

Even sticking to white wines and pouring out a lot of the more generous tastes, I could not taste everything on offer. Some wineries brought two or three whites or roses. I had to take a break and find a place to sit for a few minutes.

          The food was very good. My favorites were wagyu meatballs, tomato basil soup, and the raw oysters. There was a kale salad that was, dare I say it, delicious, and several varieties of pizza. The strangest food I tasted was a savory blue cheese/chocolate butter that I liked, but comparing notes with my group and a few random people, it’s not for everyone.

          A small combo played, accompanied by a very good singer in a very sparkly form-fitting dress that was admired by many. I am waiting to hear how much of a success the fundraiser was for the radio station, but judging by the size and enthusiasm of the crowd and the number of people leaving with wine purchases, they did well. It wasn’t until the very end that I discovered this year was the 46th annual wine tasting fundraiser for JPR. Maybe we’ll be back next year.

The next day we started with brunch at The Breadboard, where I had a marionberry scone with extra marionberry sauce on top. Marionberries are an Oregon specialty, and I wanted to take advantage. Others had biscuits and gravy, waffles, eggs, and bacon, and it was all good. Next up was a walk around Ashland to window shop and see what was new. Afterwards, it was overcast and getting chilly, so we drove around beautiful Lithia Park rather than taking a walk. The park goes up the hill from the grounds of the Shakespeare Festival complex and offers spectacular views over the city.

Back to the hotel to rest for a while, then we met up for late afternoon beverages and a few rounds of gin rummy. Each of us play a few hands of gin at the end of the day, and when we are together, we play a round robin until one person wins three hands.

Dinner was at Cocorico, recommended by a friend. I had some doubts, because it’s not an extensive menu, but it was a real treat. The starters alone could have been dinner. We shared manila clams, grilled octopus, olives, and garlic bread, accompanied by cocktails and a bottle of 2009 cabernet sauvignon from Simoneau, one of our prizes from the cork pull. It was delicious. My mushroom bolognese was one of the best mushroom dishes I’ve had, while Paula tried their carbonara. The men had lamb shanks, despite each of them having made lamb shanks just a week ago when they each cooked their birthday dinners (on nearly the same date) in different states.

Full of conversation and good food, we slept well and were ready for the drive home on Sunday. We said our farewells to Paula and Wayne, set off and then immediately stopped to have breakfast at Morning Glory. We arrived just before 9 am, and were seated almost immediately, though a line formed right after that. Reviews mention how crowded it gets on the weekend, but we got there relatively early for a Sunday. I had the lemon ricotta stuffed french toast they are known for, and Jonathan had a mushroom crepe that was among the day’s specials. Portions were very large and we took more than half of each home with us. The lattes were good sized, and we’d happily eat there again.

NB: This restaurant is particularly difficult for people with mobility issues. The tiny parking area in the rear has one handicapped parking space not visible from the street. Even if you know it’s there, the driveway is very steep and you must walk up to the front door, where there are still two steps. The rear entrance is up a flight of stairs. We parked in the neighborhood, as most people must, and found the sidewalks cracked and uneven up a slight hill. At the top the sidewalk is banked to tilt you toward the street, making it difficult for a walker or wheelchair. Inside the restaurant, tables are close and the waiting area is small. The host looked doubtfully at Jonathan’s walker, but we agreed we could find a spot for it that would not block others access to tables. It’s difficult enough to get around with a walker, and Morning Glory does not make your visit any easier. On the other hand, the food is good.

Having enjoyed beautiful weather on our drive to Ashland, on the return trip it rained the entire drive back to Eureka. The weather didn’t seem to bother the elk, who were still sitting by the side of the road at Elk Prairie.

You can have an excellent weekend in Ashland, even when it’s the off season.

NB: The banner photo of the area called “The Bricks” at OSF is an internet photo.

Eureka’s Distinctive Look

I enjoy walking through the neighborhood and around Eureka looking at houses and public buildings. This is a community with many vintage and historic structures, especially houses. Eureka was founded around 1850, as a port for shipping supplies to goldfields further north, and later as a port for shipping logs. Humboldt County was the source of a tremendous amount of the wood used in rebuilding San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.

Starting from simple structures Eureka, Arcata, and Ferndale gradually filled with Victorian and Craftsman style homes. What differentiates these communities from others around California is that the original architecture endured, much of it to the present day. Why the housing stock in Eureka hasn’t turned over seems to be the outcome of the boom and bust economy, first supplying the gold rush, then the lumber industry, and later, illegal cannabis. Each industry brought an influx of cash that was often used in construction. The town centers grew slowly around resource extraction industries. Rapid growth and expansion seems to have been in logging, converting marsh to pastureland, or planting new crops. There was no call for rapid production of housing concentrated within communities (short term housing was built for miners, loggers, and farmhands, but in dispersed, rural, and largely short term bursts. As a result, towns like Eureka are full vintage houses, with their pluses and minuses.

Not all houses are kept up, and I include a few of overgrown and somewhat ramshackle places.

It’s enjoyable to see a house before and after a new coat of paint.

Sometimes I wish owners could see their house from another person’s viewpoint. There is a house I like very much, but it is barely possible to see the interesting circular details because of overgrown plantings around it.

Today, strolling Eureka to admire the houses is part of my routine. Many vintage homes are in excellent repair. Here are some of my favorites.

Fall Days in the Finger Lakes

I haven’t been posting. There are many reasons, but let’s skip to today and my new post on a recent trip to New York.

October in upstate New York can be a riot of color as the last of the leaves change from green to yellow, orange, and red. October also lifts the curtain on winter. Warm, sunny days mix with rain, gray skies, and wind. Once or twice we could feel that cold breath of winter approaching.

A mid-month visit to my mother was the occasion of my recent short visit. I met up with my sister Paula from Portland, OR, and we spent a few days with mom who is very well for a centenarian. She’s a resident of The Nottingham, in Jamesville, NY. We chatted, ate lunch, and sat on her outdoor patio on one fine day. On a chilly afternoon, mom bundled up in her warmest coat and we took her wheelchair for a spin outdoors.

When we weren’t visiting mom, we were taking a quick look at the local scenery. There is a lot to appreciate in the region of New York State just south of Syracuse. My brother Tim and sister-in-law Margaret live on Otisco Lake, a beautiful, small lake about 30 minutes drive southwest of Syracuse.

(L) Otisco Lake in the fall; (R) View over the lake from Tim & Margaret’s house

A bit further west is Skaneateles Lake, 16 miles long and less than 1 mile wide. It’s said to be the cleanest water in the US, rivaled only by Crater Lake, OR (Wikipedia). Margaret and I drove over one afternoon. Overcast skies couldn’t spoil the view of colored leaves, and colorful small communities along the way.

We had dinner the previous evening at the Amber Inn, in Marietta, NY, a hidden gem for anyone near Otisco Lake. Our dinner companions told us about finding beach glass along Skaneateles Lake. After Jonathan and my success beach combing along the shore of Lake Erie, I was happy to look for Finger Lakes beach glass. We found some!

It was a good visit, and though short, makes me want to return another time.

Wild Blackberries

Berries are in season, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, thimbleberries, tayberries, boysenberries, blueberries, huckleberries, and even the everywhere-invasive Himalayan blackberries. You can pick your own berries along the roadside, you can buy them at the farmer’s markets, or in the Safeway. Even better, the last Saturday in July, you can visit the Westhaven Fire Department outside Trinidad, CA, and eat blackberry pie at the Wild Blackberry Festival.

I read that to actually purchase a pie, it would be good to arrive on the early side. We turned up in Westhaven about 10:30 am and found the road to the fire house was lined with parked cars and barely room to get through. Still, we had some parking karma and found a spot not too far from the entrance.

First things first, we got in the long line to purchase a pie to take home. When we got inside the sale room, pie boxes were piled high. We had our choice of blackberry or huckleberry, and since we rarely find more than a few huckleberries on bushes in the forest, a pie sounded terrific. I stowed the pie in the car while Jonathan got us slices of pie to eat right away. There’s nothing like pie and ice cream for breakfast. Sure enough, by 11:30 am, the only whole pies left for purchase were bake-at-home frozen pies.

Booths selling jam and jelly were next, and booths selling local crafts. We browsed around, and stopped for a photo with Smokey the Bear, and chatted with the Six Rivers Forest rangers in the adjacent booth. We said hello to the Westhaven Volunteer Fire Fighters, the sponsors of the fair. At this time of year, fire is on everyone’s mind.

By then, we’d sampled what the fair had to offer, bought a t-shirt, listened to the music, eaten pie, and were ready to move on. We didn’t go straight home, because we were so close to Trinidad. It’s a lovely, tiny, waterside community, with imposing Trinidad Head jutting into the ocean. A path to the top has spectacular view of the boats in the harbor and the offshore rocks. After a short walk around the beach we were ready to head home.

The day was sunny and warm with blue sky and none of the late morning fog that has been common around us. It was the best possible Saturday morning.

That Magical Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is one of the best moments of the year in Humboldt County, CA. The Kinetic Grand Championship takes place on this weekend every year. It’s a three-day race of human-powered contraptions that emphasizes joy, creativity, and problem-solving. It’s a festive, fun, and largely free of charge weekend, my absolute favorite time to be here.

When I took this photo at the starting line, I didn’t know that Fly t Less (above) would be the eventual winners of the race. Many, many prizes are bestowed, for everything from first crash after the starting line, to biggest splash entering Humboldt Bay, to best supporting crew.

Clockwise from upper left: Rainbow Man; Deep Sea Disco; Brown Trout, Brown Chicken; Cadaver-pult; Clusterduck; ? ; Ghoul-Scouts; Reno Cowsino; Moos Brothers

On Saturday morning, racers park around the plaza in Arcata. When they start moving, the vehicles circle the plaza and then take off down the hill in the southwest corner and head out of town. We watched them take off, and then went home. It’s possible to follow the racers along the back roads, though it’s easiest by bicycle. Racers stop in Samoa, a small community along the dunes, then continue along the spit of land that forms the margin of Humboldt Bay, and ride back across the bridge into town, ending day one after about 13 miles of pedaling.

Sparkle and Rhinestones at the start of the race

Sunday begins at the city marina where the racers form a long line awaiting their turn to pedal down the ramp into Humboldt Bay. Spectators can walk along the lineup taking pictures and chatting with the drivers and crews of supporters. A compliment may get you a bribe, a small token with the name of the device, a drawing, or motto. Many of us wear the bribes we received in previous years on our hats and vests. Last year’s “Ham-Tastic Glory” has been transformed into this year’s “Ghoul Scouts,” complete with black and purple uniforms and lots and lots of merit badges.

Brown Trout, Brown Chicken may have won the award for biggest splash

Among the many categories of racers are those who travel with the ability to enter the water at any time (Ace) and those who stop and strap on pontoons or flotation devices so that they can pedal their way the 500 yards or so downstream. When the vehicles emerge from Humboldt Bay, they follow a course of back roads that take them by Eureka Natural Foods, where they have lunch, then zig and zag to the coast, ending the day at Crab Park, almost 20 miles down the coast.

The fun doesn’t stop after two days. On Day three racers head for the finish line but to get there they have to cross the Eel River. This is another hilarious part of the race. Again, some racers have all their equipment on board and head into the river. Others take some time to attach pontoons and flaps and things. Once in the river, the pilots pedal like mad, as there can be counter-currents and countervailing wind. Most of the vehicles that entered the water made it across. Ironically, the point of greatest difficulty is exiting the water, when wheels seem to either get stuck in the mud, or fail to get any traction at all.

The finish line is in Ferndale, a small town with lots of Victorian storefronts. There’s a band, people in costumes, cheering friends, families, and spectators. The first finisher, Muffintop Barbie, arrived before the finish line was even officially open.

We were at the finish too early to see most of the finishers. I’ll give you some summary coverage of the event. Overall, it was a great weekend.

Enjoy!

Halcyon Days

Flowers are in full bloom and the weather is cooperating, giving us warm days and cool nights. Memorial Day weekend is upon us, and with it the official start to summer tourist season. Every weekend from now through October has a major event. There will be three or four farmers markets each week, festivals, and craft fairs everywhere you turn. The switch to high season is fine. It’s different, there is lots to do, but it is also busy, busy. Today, let’s look at the flowers.

Rhododendrons are the local feature. The Rhododendron Parade took place in late April, though blooming continues through May. First come the red blossoms, then pink, then purple. Unusual colors like yellow and rust tend to bloom late, as well. Some houses are engulfed by a single color, like the house in the banner photo. Others try to have a bush of every color.

Large rhododendrons obscure a residence, including pink, purple, red and fuschia colored blooms

A Gallery Opening For Me

North Coast Open Studios takes place over two weekends in June when studios all over Humboldt County are open to visitors. I participate in Open Studios, opening my garage, moving out the car, vacuuming, dusting, setting out tables with all the things I’ve made during the year, and hoping for a sunny weekend. People trickle in and out all day Saturday and Sunday, having a look, asking questions, and chatting. I even sell a few things, usually at least enough to cover the registration fee. I enjoy it a lot.

The Brenda Tuxford Gallery in Eureka, CA, hosts an annual preview show for Open Studios during May. It’s always fun to contribute a piece, because on drop-off day people are friendly, showing which item they brought, comparing notes on which days they’ll be exhibiting, and generally chatting.

The show opened during Arts Alive, the gallery-hopping and dining event that takes place in Eureka on the first Friday of each month (May 3). Some of the visitors to the gallery were downtown for Arts Alive and others were participants in the preview show and Open Studios. The guidebook for Open Studios listing each venue, type of work on display, locations, and dates was available, too. Local businesses sponsored refreshments including my favorite treat from Beck’s Bread, black shortbread (super chocolaty).

During the first half of the reception, I handing out name tags, catalogues, and posters. Jonathan and I revisited the gallery a few days later to get a better look at the show. The contributed works are arranged thoughtfully around the gallery. I particularly like the way my pieces were displayed beneath other three dimensional works. My part of the show is a shadow box of flowers made from sea glass and recycled china. I haven’t abandoned jewelry-making, but I decided to put something different in the show. I am working on three new necklaces that will be finished before the Open Studios event.

This exhibit will be in place for the month of May. Open Studios takes place the weekends of June 7-8 and 14-15. I am participating on the first weekend so that I can visit studios around the region during the second weekend. There are painters, ceramicists, jewelers, metal workers, and all kinds of other media. I can’t wait to go through the catalogue and map out my visits.

The poster for the preview show is on a repurposed political sign in my front yard.

This is one of my favorite events of the year.

Visiting with Julia Morgan and a stay at the Benbow Inn

Our first out of town adventure in ages was a visit to Redwood Grove, a house designed by Julia Morgan, the first woman architect in the state of California1. Morgan is best known for designing much of Hearst Castle, the estate overlooking the coast in San Simeon, CA. Her work at Hearst Castle spanned much of her career, though she had other clients, and in 1926 she accepted a commission to construction a summer home for Margaret Stewart as part of an extensive resort planned for Benbow, in far northern California.

Morgan designed Stewart’s property to harmonize with the Benbow Hotel, demonstrating her interest in the Craftsman movement, the Arts and Crafts style that preceded it, and the eclectic designs of her mentor Bernard Maybeck.

Entry to Julia Morgan Redwood Grove (see banner for Morgan’s drawing of the house).

We met owner Tanya Musgrave at the end of the long driveway to the property. She arrived in a golf cart to give a lift to those who weren’t ready for a hike before the site visit. Arriving at the property, we entered a large reception room that looks very much like a chapel. Morgan designed it to have the air of a chapel, with a peaked roof and stained glass panel, though it was not specifically used as a religious space. I sat in one of the outrageous chairs (Egyptian Revival?) while Tanya told us the story of the house. After Margaret Stewart, the house passed through several owners and gradually fell into disrepair. By 2000, the house was at the point of abandonment when it was taken on as a personal restoration project by Allison Huegel and Jim Sergi, a couple from the Bay area, who put time, effort, and a lot of money into restoring the structure.

From the reception room, we toured the open portion of the house with the woman who manages the house while her husband manages the outdoor portion of the property.

The house has been remodeled, and the elements of Julia Morgan’s design that remain are the overall structure, the redwood beams in the chapel, the built-in shelves and structural details that are hallmarks of the Craftsman style. Rosettes are carved along a number of beams; these were a hallmark of Morgan’s work. Birds appear in a number of details, such as the tile around a fireplace, and in wallpaper. Period details are part of the property’s charm.

We were impressed by the lengths the various owners have gone to reproduce some of the home’s original details. The “leaping gazelle” fabric was used in curtains found hanging in tatters. Tanya and her husband Greg tracked down the original maker, a German company based in Italy, and had new fabric woven. Panels of wallpaper painted with birds were restored and placed in a conservatory that looks out over the Eel River. The entire conservatory had to be shored up so that it would not fall into the river.

I’m looking out of the conservatory, standing on its new mint green carpet.

The grounds include seating areas and flower gardens between the different living spaces. The orchard overlooks the river, and has become a popular wedding spot. We roamed the outdoor spaces admiring the pond and the plantings.

Entrance to the orchard

At the end of the tour we rode and walked back to the entrance gate, and were let out to collect our cars. It’s just over an hour’s drive to Eureka, but Garberville is only a mile to the north, providing a stop for lunch.

A Stay at the Benbow Inn

L: The Benbow Inn today. R: Vintage sign for the Hotel Benbow

The night before our tour of the Julia Morgan Redwood Grove estate we stayed at the Benbow Inn. It was planned as the anchor for an extensive resort, and though the entire resort was not completed, the Benbows were visionaries in believing that the valley surrounding a bend in the Eel River would be an ideal vacation spot. Since completion of the hotel in 1926, and later campgrounds, the area has been popular with summer visitors who hike among the redwoods and swim in the river.

Benbow Inn from Julia Morgan Redwood Grove estate

The estate Julia Morgan designed is just across the river from the hotel, and the two structures are similar in overall design.

The Benbow Inn retains the vintage style of its origins. When we arrived, we entered the ground floor reception area. While Jonathan checked us in, I admired the library.

Renovations a few years ago included creating the ground floor lobby and added an elevator, which we appreciated, as reception is on floor 0, the lounge and restaurant are on floor 1, and our guest room was on floor 2. We had windows over a courtyard and the Eel River.

I laugh at myself, as the entire Inn is a tribute to “brown furniture”. While I’m not sure my children and their friends would agree, I liked the decor, old-fashioned and comfortable. I was ready to carry off one of their nightstands for myself.

We had a drink and played cards in the large lounge and then had dinner in the restaurant. It was very good. I was concerned about the restaurant, as guests are a captive audience. The menu was not large, but we each found things we enjoyed. I had a dinner salad with shrimp, and Jonathan had three different appetizers, one of which was truffled french fries. We enjoyed our choices, and shared a slice of chocolate cake, too.

A few details:

The lounge has information about the history of the hotel, and their web page has a list of the Hollywood celebrities and political figures who have stayed there, from Douglas Fairbanks to Eleanor Roosevelt.

We slept well, and were ready for our tour the next morning, delighted that we turned our field trip into and adventure.

1Morgan was a woman of many firsts. She was the first female graduate of UC Berkeley with a degree in Civil Engineering (1894). She was the first woman to receive a certificate in architecture from the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris (1902). She worked on several buildings on the UC Berkeley campus. Her first reinforced concrete structure, the bell tower on the Mills College campus (1904), withstood the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. That success and her knowledge and interest in reinforced concrete and earthquake-resistant construction launched her career, resulting in her designing and building more than 700 structures, mostly in the state of California https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Morgan (Wikipedia).

Spring comes to Humboldt

Every year is different in far northern California. Daffodils bloomed at the end of January, trees flowered in February. Temperatures got down to about 40 F. at night, rarely lower. Daytimes were warmer, though only in the low 50s, though that was nicer than anywhere else in the country.

Until last week when it began to rain. Every other day was a downpour, rain coming down so hard that you really didn’t want to go out, not even to run from the car to the grocery store and back. For about ten days, there would be a couple of days of rain, then a day or an afternoon of clear weather before the rain began again.

On a clear afternoon, we went out to Samoa Beach. The rainclouds hovered over the mountains and kept their distance. The wind was cold despite the bright sun, so we didn’t last long.

We found a piece of glass, an old metal hinge, and saw driftwood that reminded me of a harbor seal. Not a big day for beach combing.

Looks like a harbor seal.

The rain began again and continued most of the week. We’d get a pause for a hour at the end of the day and maybe even a ray of sun, then the rain began again. On Saturday, I watched the rain pour in the street behind this pretty shrub.

On Monday, the sun came out again, more flowers began blooming, and spring began in earnest.

You Don’t Turn 100 Every Day

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Syracuse, NY, 1/31/25

The end of January is not a great time for travel across the American continent. This year, there was snow in the east and south while atmospheric rivers drenched the west barely two weeks after southern California’s catastrophic fires. It’s a good time of year to sit tight watching TV or going to the gym.

Despite the less than optimal traveling conditions, my family gathered in Syracuse, NY, the heart of the snow belt, to celebrate a rare milestone. My mother, Rovilla Jeanne Mills Creamer, was born on Feb. 3, 1925, and turned 100 years old on February 3 of this year. We’ve always known that there’d be a party if mom made it to 100, and my brother Tim and his wife Margie planned the party over the past year, reminding us all to make travel plans, selecting a Saturday for the party to make it possible for all those still working to get there and home again in time for Monday morning in the office, and generally thinking of everything.

Jeanne at 100, looking pretty great

About ten days before the event, I made a color coded chart of comings and goings of one portion of the group (my siblings and children!) that showed the arrivals and departures of grandchildren and their families across the week or so. We didn’t want anyone to miss the party.

Naturally, the weather was wintry. There was rain, then snow, then everything froze solid. The temperature fell to single digits (F°). When it thawed we shoveled, when it froze we sprinkled ice melt.

I arrived on Wed. Jan. 29, at 11 pm and picked up my rental minivan. It was like driving a boat. The Airbnb I shared with my sister Paula and her partner Wayne was only four miles from the Syracuse airport, and I got to the house before midnight. Paula and Wayne had flown to Boston and driven to Syracuse, arriving before I did.

The next day, we visited mom to say hello, and started on our quest for party decorations. That evening, we hosted Paula’s son Brian and his family for dinner at the Airbnb. The children, Eliza and Sam, let off some steam exploring the new place and playing with the games available. After dinner, we taught Eliza to play Yahtzee while her mom Emily, currently in grad school, attended an evening class via zoom in our “office”.

Friday began with a trip to the airport to collect Sheila, my youngest sister, then on to the Loretto Rehabilitation and Health Center to have lunch with mom. Two weeks before the party, mom slipped and fell, breaking her arm bone near her elbow. It was in a soft wrap until this day’s appointment with the orthopedist. Paula and Tim spent the afternoon getting mom dressed and to her appointment, finding out how she’s doing and getting her home again. Mom came home with her arm in a hard cast and promptly complained that her arm inside the cast itched.

Everyone in town by Thursday night met at the Heritage Hill Brewery for socializing and dinner. (Except for mom, she was exhausted by her outing to the doctor.) It was great to see my sisters and brother, nieces and nephews, cousins, friends and relations. After dinner, we headed home to await the arrival of my youngest, Lillian, and her husband Neil, driving in from Champaign, IL. Instead, we got a call that they slipped off the road in heavy fog in Pennsylvania when changing drivers and had to get towed back onto the highway. We were not sure how long they’d be stranded, and I was very concerned because it had begun to snow heavily in Syracuse. Fortunately, they were back on the road after about 90 minutes. Thank you, tow truck!

Friday night, I was at the airport at 10:30 pm with my sister Sheila as navigator, to collect my oldest daughter, Amanda, and her daughter Aurora. I had to pick up a car seat, which went smoothly until I tried to attach it to the car. It was brand new, and I’d even gotten the instruction book from the desk, as neither of the men manning the desk knew how it worked. I managed to connect it in a way that would keep Aurora safe until we got home. Their flight arrived a bit early and we zoomed home to the Airbnb. That’s when we discovered that we loaded the backpacks and stroller and drove away from Amanda’s suitcase sitting on the sidewalk. Two frantic phone calls later, the suitcase was in the hands of airport personnel and we were assured we could collect it in the morning. We fell into bed, grateful for pillows and quilts. As mom of a toddler, Amanda travels with changes of clothing, and had all she needed until the next day.

Saturday, the big day, dawned cold and snowy. We dressed and loaded our decorations. Paula went to pick up Amanda’s bag, a nephew picked up the cake and corsage for Jeanne, and I picked up the three bunches of helium balloons, because I had the biggest vehicle. We met at the party venue, the dining room at the Nottingham, where mom lives when her arm is not broken.

Party time was 11 am, so we positioned balloons, strung streamers, arranged tables of photos, a large birthday photo that would be signed by all present and eventually framed.

Mom arrived at the Nottingham around 10 am so that she could dress in her own apartment, aided by daughter Catherine and granddaughter Julia. The attention meant that she looked her best, and was relaxed. She didn’t have to hunt for anything or struggle to get her arm in a sleeve.

Mom made her entrance down an aisle of family members holding images of her face. Once settled in a chair in the middle of the room, she began greeting guests. This went on for the entire three hours of the party. She took a break and ate when everyone else did, but stayed alert and enthusiastic the entire time. We were impressed by her stamina.

Photographs were scheduled for 1 pm, giving my middle daughter Lyra a chance to arrive from the airport. Her flight landed at 11:10 am on Saturday, giving her just about 24 hours in Syracuse before her return to LA. My favorite photo was the first taken, Jeanne’s six great-grandchildren with their great grandma. We forgot that small children are a law unto themselves, and the youngest three, Otto (1), Aurora (2), and Sam (3), were tiring by about 12:30, so the photo had to be moved up. In the end, mothers had to be added to the photo holding clinging toddlers. It’s still my favorite photo of the day.

L-R(Standing): The Great-Grands! Amanda Haas, Aurora Woodhead, Brian Stone, Sam Stone; (Seated): Otto Sunnekalb, Matthew Preis, Eliza Stone, Jeanne Creamer, Julianne Preis

There was a mass photo of everyone in attendance and a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday.

Next up was cutting the cake. Mom may have had a little bit of help with the candles, but they were extinguished to more cheers.

My brother Tim, a natural emcee, led off the anecdotes, and the rest of us tried to keep up.

Paula played a rendition of Happy Birthday to Jeanne sung by the entirety of the Oregon Repertory Singers (she is a member).

I told the story of mom and I getting stuck on the train in a snowstorm on our way home from seeing the Metropolitan Opera.

Clockwise from Upper Left: Catherine Creamer, Sheila Creamer, Winifred Creamer, Amanda Haas, Jeanne’s first friend at the Nottingham, Meaghan Creamer, Dr. Erika Hegland, Anne Dwyer and Mike Messmer

My sisters told their stories and Tim told even more stories, and so did everyone who had a story to tell.

THIS SLIDESHOW HAS MORE IMAGES:

People in slide show: Jeanne Creamer,

Jeanne Creamer’s children (Standing): Catherine Creamer, Tim Creamer, Paula Creamer; (Seated): Sheila Mockett, Jeanne Creamer, Winifred Creamer
Jeanne and her Grandchildren. L-R (Standing): Jennie Preis, Ian Bragdon, Lillian Haas-Feuerhelm, Lyra Haas, Brian Stone, Cy Creamer; (Seated): Aurora Woodhead, Amanda Haas, Meaghan Creamer, Jeanne Creamer, Julia Sunnekalb, Terry Creamer
Paula Creamer family (Standing): Wayne Christoffersen, Brian Stone; (Seated): Paula Creamer, Jeanne Creamer, Eliza Stone, Emily Stone, Sam Stone
Winifred Creamer family (Standing): Neil Feuerhelm, Lillian Haas-Feuerhelm, Lyra Haas; (Seated): Winifred Creamer, Jeanne Creamer, Amanda Haas, Aurora Woodhead
Tim Creamer family (Standing): Greg Preis, Matthew Preis, Tim Creamer, Margaret Creamer, Cy Creamer, Jack Spiva; (Seated): Jennie Creamer, Jeanne Creamer, Meaghan Creamer, Julianne Preis, Terry Creamer
Catherine Creamer family: Ian Bragdon, Nate Sunnekalb, Catherine Creamer, Jeanne Creamer, Julia Sunnekalb, Otto Sunnekalb
Jeanne Creamer, Sheila Creamer
Greg Preis, Jennie Preis, Julianne Preis, Jeanne Creamer, Matthew Preis
The Engaged Couple with Grandma: Meaghan Creamer, Jeanne Creamer, Jack Spiva

Terry Creamer and Jeanne Creamer; Lyra Haas and Jeanne Creamer; Ian Bragdon, Jeanne (resting), and Terry Creamer

Cousins, L-R: Winifred Creamer, Tim Creamer Theresa Pizzuti, John Ronan, Janice Creamer, Mike Messmer, Rich Johnston, Anne Dwyer, Marie Messmer, Sheila Mockett, Melissa Henry, Paula Creamer

So many other nice moments. The party began to wind down, photos were taken with people’s phones, contacts exchanged, and we were all invited to meet later at the Otisco Lake Community Center for family style dinner. Mom went home to rest. It was a lovely celebration, but the weekend was not over yet. The centenarian might have gone home to rest, but there were lots and lots of conversations still to be had.