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Contents
12 a disease hidden in plain sight
Writer Jacqueline Haskins got a surprise when she was diagnosed with diabetes... and then she got a second surprise
14 running around mount rainier
Three days, 93 miles, and bears, herds of mountain goats, marmots, picas, eagles and hawks — oh, and the stunning snowy mountain
16 first time ‘in charge’
You would expect some lessons were to be learned on extended trailer trip
20 Long time coming
Finished Peshastin house was years in the dreaming
page 7
Nature photos pretty enough for a calendar Downhill from Here by Brendan Morrison
Features
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Natural beauty
These photos appreciate our local wonderland
8 DON’T STOP BEING ACTIVE NOW
Jim and Carolyn Phillips lead the way to active sports at any age
February 2021 | The Good Life
Art sketches n Bronze artist Jim Moore, page 24 n Scrap metal artist Lynn Palmer, page 28 Columns & Departments 6 A bird in the lens: Swimming American Dipper 26 The traveling doctor: Are viruses alive? 27 June Darling: A bid for better relationships 30 Pet Tales: Goldendoodles for kids and parents 31 The calendar and a Dan McConnell cartoon 32 History: Good neighbors who gave a helping hand 34 That’s life: My Valentine
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OPENING SHOT
dronE OVER A COLD COLUMBIA RIVER By Ron Medeiros
This is a shot of the Sena®
Year 15, Number 2 February 2021 The Good Life is published by NCW Good Life, LLC, dba The Good Life 1107 East Denny Way, Apt. B-7 Seattle, WA 98122 PHONE: (509) 888-6527 EMAIL: editor@ncwgoodlife.com sales@ncwgoodlife.com
tor George Sellar Bridge that connects Wenatchee and East Wenatchee over the mighty Columbia River. This was a cold winter morning as the sun was rising. I was able to capture this 9 shot panorama photo using the
DJI mavic 2 zoom.
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Ad design, Linda Day
Editor/Publisher, Mike Cassidy Contributors, Ron Medeiros, Sarah Shaffer, Jacqueline Haskins, Linda Reid, June McCann, Jaana Hatton, Susan Sampson, Bruce McCammon, Donna Cassidy, Jim Brown, June Darling, Dan McConnell, Susan Lagsdin, Mike Irwin and Rod Molzahn Advertising: Lianne Taylor Bookkeeping and circulation, Donna Cassidy Proofing, Dianne Cornell
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Ron Medeiros is a local photographer, often using drones to capture unusual images.
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On the cover
O
utdoorsman extraordinaire Jim Phillips poses by his 1953 Willys CJ3A Jeep, useful for reaching deep into the mountains.
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editor’s notes
MIKE CASSIDY
The first time… oops! T
he story by June McCann this month about how she was in charge “for the first time” for an extended trailer trip struck a particular nerve with me. Often, “first times” are fraught with experiences that take some time to be able to laugh at. A few years ago, my wife and I achieved a long-held dream when we purchased a used sailboat — the first boat for us. After months of spending money replacing the sails and rigging, and having work done on the diesel engine, it was time to actually take the boat out. With my wife at the helm, and me providing the muscle should it be needed (and not to give anything away, but yes, it would be), she slowly starting backing out of the slip we rented at an Everett marina. Our boat was a classic from the 1980s — the boat next to us was not. Rather, it was a new stylish sailboat that cost about 10 times what we paid for our boat, called the Pandora (another way of saying “trouble in a box”?). Wishing to avoid clipping our neighboring boat, my wife backed very, very slowly out. This technique came from decades of maneuvering a car, when, if say, you are wedged into a tight parking space, you ever so carefully edge your way out. Sailboats don’t work that way. You need speed for the rudder to affect the direction of the boat. About two-thirds of the way out, the current caught us and began pushing us toward a line of other moored boats. Yikes! She fruitlessly spun the wheel, trying to straighten our boat, while I — using a long pole — tried to muscle us away from
the sterns of much more expensive boats than ours. Crunch! Our stern plowed (slowly, yes, but surely) into the stainless steel railing of one boat, then another, then another… leaving a trail of dented and broken evidence of our inexperience. We were finally saved when half a dozen fellow sailors came running to our rescue, pushed our boat out into the marina’s mid-channel and advised us to increase our speed. (They may have said some other things, too, but the powered-up diesel engine drowned those comments out.) Later one sailor said to us, “I heard you did the bumper boat.” After that first experience, we entered and left our slip dozens of times and never even as much as grazed a nearby boat. I had an acquaintance say you can learn from mistakes, true, but only if the mistakes are bad enough. And oh, boy, did we learn that day. We can laugh at that boating mishap now (and yes, we did leave notes on all of the vessels we damaged, and those captains were amazingly forgiving. Perhaps they had had their own “first times.”) We also realized that without a first time — even as clumsily as we were — there would have never been those dozens of wonderful days on the water, our sail flying in the breeze, our boat slicing through the waves towards a new adventure. Take a chance to have a “first time,” and then experience The Good Life. — Mike February 2021 | The Good Life
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MOVE TO MEXICO
TO JUNEAU They finally arrived! Brothers finish trek started 40 years ago
One more adventure: 'We felt like kids again'
plus LLamas are an aging hiker’s best friend
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heart disease in women: more deadLy than breast cancer
REVISITING THE CONTAINER HOUSE NOW THAT IT’S FINISHED They Built This City: NEW DOWNTOWN IS FlOOR kING’S lASTING lEGACy
becoming an american
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plus monsterlove art: letting the freak flag fly unlikely chelan home offers stunning lake views
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column a bird in the lens
American Dipper: a swimming and singing songbird I
By Bruce McCammon
f you walk along a mountain stream almost anywhere in the western United States, you may see a uniformly gray bird standing on a rock near a riffle or rapid in the middle of the river. The bird is slightly smaller than an American Robin. As you watch, the bird repeatedly bobs up and down. It hops into Bruce McCammon the water and is retired, colorthen hops blind and enjoys back up on photographing the birds in north centhe rock and tral Washington. bobs up and down some more. Then, believe it or not, the bird dives into the water and disappears, emerging a short time later, upstream from the rock you saw it use before and it is carrying a meal. This is an American Dipper, our only swimming and diving songbird. You may also hear it referred to as an Ouzel or Water Ouzel. John Muir referred to it as a Water Thrush. No matter the name, this bird is unique and deserves your attention for a few minutes. Watch it fly low, following the stream, land on a mid-stream rock, bob up and down, and then go for a swim. (When a bird flys underwater are their wings more appropriately referred to as propellers?) The rather chunky American Dipper is almost tail-less. They feed on aquatic insects, larvae,
The American Dipper has been called a trout with feathers for its ability to swim underwater, finding small aquatic life to eat.
snails and small fish. Imagine the bird flying underwater, chasing a small fish or disturbing rocks to uncover a caddisfly or hellgrammite larvae. Better yet, take a few minutes to watch a short video prepared by photographer, Mike Forsberg, titled A Trout with Feathers. You can find it by searching for A Trout with Feathers. The film documents the challenges of filming the bird underwater to show you how remarkable this little bird really is. Along the way you get to see some wonderful images of the bird. The American Dipper always nests near a river or stream and places its nest high enough above the water to avoid any high water or flood damage.
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Imagine the bird flying underwater, chasing a small fish or disturbing rocks to uncover a caddisfly or hellgrammite larvae. The first Dipper nest I was fortunate to see was under a hiking bridge in the Columbia River Gorge. There were two Dippers flying along the stream, stopping to dive to grab some food, then return to the bridge area. I approached the bridge from downstream, walking along the river’s edge. I set up my tripod and camera then sat down to
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February 2021
watch the birds in action. After about 30 minutes they seemed quite comfortable with my presence. They showed me their favorite rocks and I learned their schedule. Two hours and several hundred photos later, I packed up and departed. I could hear their lovely song and call above the sound of the river as I headed for the car, smiling the whole way. The next time you are able to visit one of our wonderful mountain streams, be on the alert for the American Dipper. If you can, spend some time with the birds. Young children will enjoy watching the “trout with feathers,” a unique bird in the American West. Don’t forget your binoculars and camera. Good luck.
Natural beauty for 2021 From May-October 2020,
Cascadia Conservation District — a non-regulatory grant-funded organization dedicated to wise stewardship of all-natural resources — hosted a photo contest and calendar that combines appreciation for the environment with the artistic talent of local photographers. The photo contest was open to all residents and visitors who share an appreciation for the natural beauty of Chelan County. Photo entries were accepted in six categories including plants,
wildlife, agriculture, recreation, landscapes, and water. Two winning photos from each category were chosen for inclusion in the 2021 stewardship calendar. In addition, first, second and third place “Best in Show” photos were chosen to be featured on the cover of the calendar. The 2021 calendars are available at Cascadia Conservation District’s office at 14 N Mission St, Wenatchee. Calendars are free, however, due to staffing limitations caused by COVID-19 restrictions, call (509) 436-1601 to arrange for calendar pick-up.
Featured photo info: Moonlight Paddle by Brendan Morrison (cropped on the sides to fit space above). Recreation category. Honeybee on Thistle by Karen Eadie. Agriculture category. Cedar Waxwing Feeding by Guy Miner. Wildlife category. February 2021 | The Good Life
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The Athletic Life
Jim and Carolyn Phillips — Don’t stop being active J
By Sarah Shaffer
im and Carolyn Phillips are local legends. I have heard their names through the grapevine over the years as being an extremely athletic couple and eventually randomly met Jim while at a crag up the Icicle. He came hiking up the trail to where my husband, myself and my child were bouldering. He said he noticed our vehicle that stated Wenatchee Outdoors on the back and he wanted to come meet us and introduce himself. Jim is well known for his route building for rock climbing routes in the Leavenworth region, as well as his downhill skiing. Carolyn is well known for her skiing, wood chopping skills (splitting copious amounts of firewood by hand even at the age of 81) along with her triathlon racing. Jim and Carolyn inspire by the amount of activity they fit in a day along with their youthfulness at 80 and 81 years young respectively while still competing in various athletic events. They inspire us, and we hope you enjoy getting to know them a bit in this interview. Question: Jim and Carolyn, please tell us a bit about yourselves. Answer: Jim: I enjoy spending time with family, skiing and climbing. Being on backpacking trips with our grandchildren as
well. Carolyn: Ditto, but I would add camping, fly fishing and quilting. Question: Carolyn, did I see on Facebook that you are 80? Jim, how old are you? Did I see you have been married for over 50 years? That is fantastic. How did you meet? Answer: Carolyn: I just turned 81. Jim: I am 80 years old. We met in Oakland, California when we were both working at Mills College. Skiing connected us forever. Question: What type of work did you do at Mills College? Answer: Carolyn: I taught physical education at the high school level for two years, then at Mills College and later at Pacific Lutheran University. Jim: I was assistant director of buildings and grounds at Mills College and the director of buildings and grounds at Pacific Lutheran University. Question: What food or sleep routines should I partake in to have as much energy as you do? Answer: Jim: Generally I get eight hours of sleep a night. We mostly eat at home and only eat out when we are on road trips. Carolyn makes great homemade meals. Our breakfasts are oatmeal, cream of wheat, eggs, waffles and French toast. Sunday, Carolyn makes her specialty: Swedish Hot Cakes.
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Carolyn Phillips: She began skiing 59 years ago, and still trains and skis 80-plus days a year.
First of all don’t stop being active. That’s the secret. Question: For those people who are in their 60s-90s who aren’t super active, what advice or suggestions can you give them to start being more active? Answer: Carolyn: First of all don’t stop being active. That’s the secret. If you aren’t active, start slow. Walking is a great place to begin. If the person is not mobile, there are a lot of exercises to perform while sitting in a chair. Question: Are you downhill ski racers? Answer: Jim: We do enjoy downhill racing on the USSA Masters circuit. Masters racing is an age group competition for older skiers. We do slalom, giant slalom, Super G and downhill. Carolyn: Our whole family is full of ski racers. Our children raced through college, and our daughter continues to race Mas-
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February 2021
ters. Our son also occasionally enters a Masters race when not coaching younger racers. Our grandchildren also race. Question: How did you get into ski racing? What type of racing is your favorite? How many years have you been ski racing? Answer: Jim: We occasionally entered local races early on, then when our kids were away at college, we started traveling to local, regional and national races. My favorites are slalom and downhill. I have been skiing for 54 years. Carolyn: I began skiing 59 years ago when I took my first teaching job and was appointed Ski Club advisor. I had never previously been on skis. My high school students were happy to show me how. The rest is history. Question: How do you train for ski racing? How long before race season starts do you start preparing? Answer: Jim: We have a coach
rock climbing, crew or triathlons? Or just books that inspire you? Answer: Carolyn: I don’t learn how “to do” from books. I learn by “doing” and getting good instruction. I am a self motivator. Jim: I really don’t get much out of books relating to climbing instruction or ski racing. I do get my inspiration from mountaineering and climbing-related books. I have collected rare and first-edition books on those subjects for many years.
I don’t rock climb but do alpine climbing. I have climbed Mount Rainier eight times by six different routes and all the other Cascade volcanoes at least once. that we train with once a week, starting in January every year. We also attend a five-day training camp at the start of each season. I just try to stay in shape all year. We train specifically for racing by running gates under supervision of a coach. We also do technical-free skiing under the supervision of a coach to improve the performance and speed of running gates. Carolyn: Jim and I train together, and I sometimes attend a summer ski camp at Mount Hood. During the summer, I run, bike and swim. Also I hike and backpack. I use the Skier Edge Machine, Rowing ERG (Ergometer) and bike on a trainer if the weather is too inclement to go outdoors. Prior to the ski season I attend a ski race camp to work on technique. During the season, I train slalom and/or GS one morning a week. Other than that, I ski a lot, 80-plus days per year. Question: Are you both rock climbers? Jim, I believe you have been cleaning and creating climbing routes for years now? What inspired you to do this? How long have you been rock climbing? Answer: Jim: I seldom repeat routes, so I am always looking for a new climb which leads to putting up new routes. I have been climbing for 62 years, and my first climb was in Yosemite in 1958.
Carolyn Phillips: During the summer, she runs, bikes and swims. She also hikes and backpacks.
Jim Phillips, keeper of the canyon.
My favorite is alpine climbing, but now that I am old and slow I spend almost all of my time rock climbing. I still love road trips and manage at least one each year. Carolyn: I don’t rock climb but do alpine climbing. I have climbed Mount Rainier eight times by six different routes and all the other Cascade volcanoes at least once. Question: Jim, how many February 2021 | The Good Life
climbing routes have you put up to date? Do you keep track? Answer: I really don’t keep track of the exact number of new routes that I put up. It is probably in the range of 200 to date. I do keep a journal of my climbs and know that I have climbed over 1,000 routes in the Leavenworth area. Question: Any books or resources you can recommend for training for downhill ski racing, www.ncwgoodlife.com
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Question: Favorite piece of ski gear, climbing gear or wood splitting gear and why? Answer: Carolyn: I love my Atomic GS Skis. Jim keeps them perfectly tuned. Condition of Marriage: I’ll cook his meals as long as he tunes my skis. And I do have a favorite splitting maul that is lightweight. Jim: I don’t have a favorite. I just try to keep my equipment up to date (and light as possible these days). Question: Favorite life quote for each of you. Answer: Jim: Each generation can — and shall — enjoy its own special time. Carolyn: Don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s all small stuff. Question: Anything else you would like to tell our readers? Answer: Jim: Carolyn is known for her skiing, but she is a two time National Champion in crew and a triathlete that has been on the podium many times as well as a National Champion in skiing so many times I can’t count! Carolyn: Jim is known as “Keeper of the Canyon.” Question: How did Jim get that title? Answer: Carolyn: Someone called to ask Jim to do something in the canyon. He began, “I know you are not the Keeper of the Canyon but could you replace a missing bolt hanger.”
Jim and Carolyn Phillips
Championships in Kona. She convinced me to enter a triathlon. I only do the Sprint Distance. Swim 0.5 miles, bike 12.4 miles, run 3.1 miles. Question: Jim, when we have seen you out at the crags, I believe you mentioned one time being home to have a stiff drink with your wife at a specific time every day? Is this true? What a nice evening activity. Answer: Carolyn: 5 p.m. is cocktail hour. Jim: I like a social drink, not a stiff drink, at what we call our cocktail hour, which is a time for Carolyn and I to get together at the end of the day.
}}} Continued from previous page After that Jim received numerous requests to replace missing anchors at top of routes, bolts, etc. and the name stuck. Question: Carolyn, how did you get into crew racing and doing triathlons? What is your favorite triathlon race? Answer: While at Mills, I was assigned to be faculty advisor to the Mills College crew. Since they rowed out of Lake Merritt Rowing Club facility, I decided to join the Lake Merritt Rowing Club and began rowing. I still have my own single hanging in the garage, but haven’t rowed in years. My daughter is an Ironman and has made it to the Ironman
The full version of this story appears on Wenatcheeoutdoors.org — the site covers such topics as hiking, biking, climbing, paddling, trail running and skiing in the region.
After Jim created (picked which route to take up the rock) and cleaned this rock (of lichen and debris) climbing route, he takes his first lap on the newly established crack climbing route.
Sarah Shaffer is the Executive Director of WenatcheeOutdoors.
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A DIABETES CALLED LADA Her journey IN discoverING a disease hidden in plain sight
T
By Jacqueline Haskins
he mountains roll away in jagged waves, range after range. I feel like a raven, floating. This morning we crawled out of the tent into dark specked by a million stars. As we climbed up and up, threading boulders and slipping on scree, the stars slowly dissolved like cream into coffee. We turned off our headlamps and found our way from cairn to cairn by dawn glow. Now, at the top of Aasgard Pass, we turn to take in the view just as the first golden finger of sunlight touches the dark jewel of Colchuck Lake. A breeze tinged with wet granite and moss skims our cheeks, and we snug our wool hats tighter. My son fires up the little stove and makes us steaming drinks and a hot breakfast, as we watch the day being born. I inhale the scent of his applecinnamon oatmeal, then stare glumly down into my own bowl, where dried cauliflower, crunchy yet oily, swirls in the hot water with wizened carrot strips like fossilized twigs. Huh, guess I should have cut those carrots smaller for the food dryer last week. I stir, I wait, I let them soak ’til
The author with a friend, both appearing to be thinking: “There’s no place I’d rather be than right here, right now.”
the water is tepid, but still they go down like leather shoelaces. And that internet blogger who extolled cauliflower dried with oil and sprinkled with brewer’s yeast — it’s lucky for both of us she’s not here right now, that’s all I’m saying. How did I end up here — not Aasgard, I mean this lumpy, greasy mess in my bowl? I was recently diagnosed with diabetes. And on that day, “What can I eat?” began running around inside my brain, squawking like Chicken Little. I’ve been searching for a backpacking breakfast that won’t make me go blind while having a heart attack with a side of stroke, and for dessert, my toes chopped off. I’m ashamed to admit that until my own diagnosis hit me like a falling cartoon anvil, I knew little about diabetes and cared, sadly, less. I was not aware that diabetes was sweeping America like a
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I was not aware that diabetes was sweeping America like a tsunami, and striking the least privileged hardest. I didn’t know that diabetes was the most underdiagnosed disease in America. tsunami, and striking the least privileged hardest. I didn’t know that diabetes was the most underdiagnosed disease in America. If I thought about diabetes at all, I assumed that my active lifestyle and healthful, largely plant-based diet protected me. Surprise! I was struggling with an attitude adjustment that was bigger
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than this bowl of greasy cauliflower. But good luck struck: twice more than I’ve been struck by lightning. First, I was diagnosed — by accident — very early. Second, a medical friend told me something my doctor had not: that there are more types of diabetes than I suspected. When I began to ask and advocate, a specialist ran tests. Now I have a disease whose name I always get to repeat, because no one has ever heard of it. A disease 3.4 million Americans share. I’m diabetic, but a different type. Knowing which type of diabetes makes an enormous difference, because different types have different causes. If you’re treating for the wrong type, you could be treating your foundation for termites when in fact it’s on fire. My friend literally saved my life when she asked: “Has any-
If you have 200 Facebook friends, odds are two of them have LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults)… and have no idea. one talked to you about LADA diabetes?” “About wha-a-a-t?” *** If you have 200 Facebook friends, odds are two of them have LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults)… and have no idea. Many people know there is more than one type of diabetes, and have heard of T1 (type-1) and T2 (type-2). Diabetes is a spectrum along which many interacting causes — genetic, epigenetic, autoimmune, chemical exposures, childhood infections, diet, and lifestyle — produce diabetes: where blood sugars get funked up. T1 and T2 are at opposite ends, and in between are several other types, including LADA. LADA is as common as T1. Like T1, LADA is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases (like MS, Lupus, and some arthritis) are “friendly fire:” we
mistake our own body for the enemy, and attack ourselves. T1s and LADAs are running out of insulin because our body mistakenly attacked our cells that make insulin. Most LADAs have lost three-quarters of our insulin-making cells when we are diagnosed, and for most the attack continues and we ultimately lose our ability to make insulin. We produce the natural hormone insulin because it is crucial for digesting carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are in most food: not just gummy worms but also carrots and bananas; not just tortillas and whole wheat bread but also black beans and humus. T2 is very different. T2s may have oodles of insulin, but their body can’t use insulin effectively. They have insulin resistance, which can often be reversed. LADAs are variable. We’re all T1-ish, and some have handfuls of T2 tossed in also: insufficient insulin plus resistance, such a deal. One in 10 of the 1.4 million Americans diagnosed each year as T2 are in fact LADA. If you and your doctor suspect you may be LADA, a simple, insurance-covered blood-draw for GAD antibodies and C-peptide reveals the answer. If you discover you are LADA, what will change? First, your doctor will immediately review your medications, because some medications, which are great for T2s, are harmful to LADAs, destroying our insulin-producing cells
February 2021 | The Good Life
more quickly. Second, the answer to “what can I eat?” may change. Most food advice “for diabetics” is actually for T2s, who make up 80 percent of diabetics. While some of this advice is also helpful for LADAs, some is not. I’d been eating that way my whole adult life, and developed LADA. For LADAs, healthful eating is about balancing carbs and insulin: either by reducing carbs, supplementing insulin, or both. And for all types of diabetics, staying active is one of our best medicines. If your T2 diagnosis doesn’t seem to fit in some way, for example you are lean when diagnosed, you may be LADA. Three million of us, hidden in plain sight, must educate and advocate for ourselves. Begin with a frank and friendly conversation with your doctor. I sure made my own life harder, chasing Chicken Little in circles, clucking: “What can I eat?” There’s an answer to that question, but it’s not a sound bite. And for LADAs it differs in important ways from T2 advice. I’m so grateful to have stopped chasing that chicken, to have my groove back, and to still have all my toes. With correct diagnosis, early diagnosis, and the right information — some big ifs — this gets a whole lot easier. Whether your own journey goes by way of Aasgard, Zumba, paddleboarding, or playing with your puppy, remember that well-
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controlled diabetes is the leading cause of… nothing. On my latest backpack with my son, we rested on a ridge among Ladies Lakes. West rose the brilliant peaks of Glacier and Baker, and south, mysterious Rainier, framed by stunning wildflowers, while about our feet gamboled redleaved alpine huckleberries: the most delicious manna on earth. May all our journeys be long, delectable and joyful. Jacqueline Haskins can see the Enchantments from the strawbale house she built 25 years ago with family and friends. Jackie’s writing appears in The Iowa Review, Terrain, River Teeth, Raven Chronicles, and other publications, and in a forthcoming physician-reviewed book on LADA diabetes. She invites you to learn more at healthylada.com.
Know of someone stepping off the beaten path in the search for fun and excitement? E-mail us at editor@ncwgoodlife.com
What Are You Laughing At? We’re looking for fresh, true stories from local people that’ll bring a chuckle to our readers.
Limit yourself to 500 to 1,000 words and send to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com
She’ll be comin’ ’round the mountain Three days of running around beautiful Mount Rainier
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and answer my many questions about how and why she chose to embark upon this nearly quadruplelength marathon which included 23,000 feet of vertical gain. This is not only the story of her journey on the Wonderland Trail, but of her 23 years of pushing her own limits (physical, emotional, and mental) while reinforcing her love of nature, her ability to be selfdisciplined, her search to challenge herself and her resilience.
Story by Linda Reid
have had a life-long, intimate relationship with Mount Rainier. In Seattle we were always grateful for days when we could say to one another, “The Mountain is out.” My family has camped and hiked the trails Question in Mount Rainier (Linda): How National Park did you prepare almost every year yourself for this as far back as my 93-mile, three-day memory takes me. trail run? These experiences Answer (Emhave allowed me ily): I decided to feel the full to do this run in impact and granMay, and I trained deur of this sacred for it by doing place. long trail runs To the local (at least 20 miles) Native American with substantial Tribes, it has alvertical gain. My ways been Mount training included Tahoma, meaning wearing a vest “the Big Mountain with safety gear where the waters and running with begin.” trekking poles for Everyone who stability. can, should exI also reEmily enjoys an easy section of the trail with a spectacular panorama before her. Photos by Ben Brauer plore Mount Tasearched how others homa in their hiking boots. be, Emily Kruger, would combut in her RUNNING shoes. had done it to take advantage It never crossed my mind that plete the 93-mile Wonderland I asked Emily if she would tell of their experiences. The most for three intense days this past Trail to circumnavigate the me her story about this advenhelpful book I read to prepare August my daughter-in-law to Mountain, not in hiking boots, ture, share her photos with me, me for what I might expect was
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Hiking the Wonderland Trail, by Tami Asars. When you do “ultra-running,” which means running longer distances than the 26.2 miles of a marathon, obviously you can’t carry a pack, so this kind of experience is impossible without support. My support team was made up of Jason, my fiancé, a friend who had previously hiked the Wonderland Trail, and his wife. We chose three access points (and there are not many possibilities) somewhat equally distanced around the Mountain where I would camp with them overnight and they would feed and encourage me. Linda: We were worried about you running solo, since this was different from the marathons you had run where you were not in a remote, wilderness area alone. Can you talk about that and how your family’s worries about your running alone were remedied? Emily: Because of COVID, all the races I had planned to do in 2020 were canceled. I asked myself, “What can I do instead?” That’s how I decided to do this run. A trail run is a completely different experience than a road marathon. It is a good fit for me since running is about being in the moment and being out in nature, spending time set aside from the usual stresses and “noise” of life. For me, it’s not so much about competing against others, or against the clock. It is
Emily makes one of several careful crossings over whitewater on a handhewn bridge.
about testing my own endurance and finding meaning and purpose in a challenging adventure. I did have concerns about the hazards I might encounter and the potential for injury. Fortunately, Ben, an old friend of mine with whom I share the love for long-distance running, committed to running one of the three days with me. Then, just a week before the run, he jumped in for the full three days. My support team became “our” support team, and it worked out great for everyone involved, including worried family members. Linda: What were some of the highlights of this adventure? Emily: I loved the scenery, especially around Spray Park, and the climb to the highest point on the trail at Panhandle Gap (6,750 feet). Wildlife sightings were an incredible reward. We saw three bears, herds of mountain goats, marmots, picas, eagles, and February 2021 | The Good Life
hawks. We encountered some other trail runners (supported by a company called Aspire Adventure Running) who were working toward the same goal, and we had some good camaraderie with them along parts of the trail. The final 10 miles were amazing because we knew we were going to make it! Linda: What were the most challenging parts of your experience? Emily: The hardest parts were those times when my energy was flagging, and I didn’t feel well. Ben strained a hamstring on the first day, and when your partner struggles, so do you. Also, on the first day, we missed a sign and went three difficult miles out of our way. That meant we did 37 miles that day instead of our planned 34 miles. We worried our support team www.ncwgoodlife.com
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by barely getting to our rendezvous before dark. We were aware that cell phone coverage was poor most of the way around the Wonderland Trail, but the inability to communicate at times like this was still somewhat frustrating. Linda: What advice do you have for anyone reading this story who might want to follow in your footsteps? Emily: Invest in learning the necessary survival skills to mitigate the risks. Your support team is critical to your success… choose them carefully. Do the research and do the training. My coach (David Roche, whose company is named Some Work All Play) was indispensable to me. My dad was an important running partner for me from the time I was 13, and we loved running together. I lost him six years ago, so when I run now, I run for both of us. That helps motivate me. I guess the last thing I need to emphasize is that this kind of adventure is NOT for everyone. In closing, as the interviewer and writer of this article, I would like to say I realize very few of us will attempt to run around Mount Rainier as Emily did, but when I reflect on her advice it reads like a metaphor for our life’s journey, and that has wisdom for all of us: Acquire survival skills. Surround yourself with supportive, encouraging people. Learn from the experiences of others. Train and plan, as best you can, for what lies ahead. Seek to understand what motivates and inspires you. Test your own limits, and… Always strive to balance work and play. Emily Kruger is a devoted long-distance runner who lives and works in Seattle. She is a life-long learner who loves to read, garden, cook, travel, bicycle, and tackle projects of all kinds. Linda Reid is a regular contributor to The Good Life, and lives in East Wenatchee.
First time ‘in charge’ You would expect some lessons were to be learned on extended trailer trip
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By June McCann
have been a camper all of my adult life; in tents, tent trailers, pickup campers, trailers, fifth wheels and motorhomes. However, I have never been the “in charge” person. That changed in the summer of 2020 when I bought a 16-foot vacation trailer. I had looked for a small vacation trailer two years ago but didn’t find what I wanted in the price range I wanted to spend. Then, in 2020 as I was having to deal with COVID-19, I began to rethink owning a small trailer. My daughter and grandsons live in Salt Lake City, Utah and my son lives in the Vancouver, Washington area. I was not willing to fly to Utah and with two little dogs, Suki and Lilly, and I didn’t want to drive and stay at motels either. So, it made sense to me to look into buying a small vacation trailer. In June I began a search in newspapers and online ads to see if I could find what I wanted. I wanted it to be no longer than 20 feet but I was flexible about what else it featured. A walkaround bed would be nice but seldom had I seen a short trailer with one. After about three weeks, I was getting discouraged. What I saw was either new for more money than I wanted to spend or several states away. Then one afternoon, I called All Seasons RV to see if they offered used trailers. The salesman said that they did offer some used trailers, as they received trade-ins, but that the smaller trailers were hard to find. I already knew that but at the end of our conversation, he took my name and number and said
A Sequoia and Coleman trailer: a road-worthy match-up.
that if anything came up, he would call me. We concluded our conversation at about 3:15. Then at 4:45 he called me with the news that a lady he had sold a 16-foot Coleman trailer to a few years ago had just called to say that she wanted to trade it in for a motorhome. I couldn’t believe it. Lesson learned: Shop local. So, my friend, Linda, and I went to see the trailer when it came into the dealer the next week. It was four years old but looked new in every way. And it had a walk around bed. It felt like that trailer was meant to be mine and I bought it. I had some concerns about my Chevrolet Colorado being able to pull it but I thought it would be easier finding a different vehicle than it was to find a small trailer I liked. Over the next several weeks a lot of things happened. Although I had planned to use my Colorado, it proved to be too small to pull the trailer with-
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out overheating. So, the search started for another vehicle. My son helped me look and found an ideal vehicle for me in Seattle. After a day or so of negotiations, I bought it and days later the dealer came to get my beloved Subaru and brought me a Toyota Sequoia. Wow, was it big! Then more time was spent to get a hitch on the Toyota, get the brakes on the trailer wired, get new batteries for the trailer and some other odds and ends. I took the trailer and Toyota to the Big Lots parking lot and practiced backing up until I could put the trailer where I wanted it… well almost. And I made plans to leave Wenatchee on Sunday, Sept. 20, and travel to Boise to see a friend then on to Utah to see my family. I’d meet two lady friends at Cape Disappointment and I’d come back through Vancouver to visit my son and daughter-inlaw, then head for home. On Saturday, Sept. 19, with the
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trailer packed with essentials, I was ready to hook it up to the Toyota. Like a lot of trailer owners, I had used a cinder block under the jack when I unhooked the trailer. Now, I couldn’t get the tongue of the trailer jacked up high enough to get the cinder block out. To get help with the jack, I called my friend, Jill, and she and her husband brought a floor jack the next morning. We got the trailer tongue off the cinder block and hooked up to the Toyota. Now I should be ready to go, leaving as I originally planned on that Sunday. Lesson learned: Don’t use the cinder block with my Toyota. My plan was to drive to Pendleton to spend the night at a KOA campground. Everything I was going to need for the next three weeks was in the trailer. I’d stop to visit an old friend in Boise, then go on to Salt Lake City. As I tried to pull the trailer into the driveway, it pulled so
hard that it was holding back the Toyota. I realized that the brakes on the trailer were locked, a safety feature in case the hitch comes off while traveling. So, for the next three hours, I tried to figure out exactly what was wrong. The trailer brakes were controlled by a computer program that was set using an app on my iPhone. I adjusted the brakes from my phone but it didn’t make any difference. When I couldn’t get the trailer brakes to release, I concluded that I was not leaving on Sunday but had to wait for help from All Seasons RV on Monday. The dogs and I slept in the trailer that night in front of my home because it was easier than taking all that I needed back into the house and bring it out again whenever I was able to leave. Monday morning, I ended up going to All Seasons RV to ask what could be wrong. An initial phone call went to an answering service and I thought the in-person contact would prove timelier. Mike at All Seasons RV showed me that a small plunger on the emergency braking system for the trailer had been dislocated and it needed to be put back. I came home and scooted under the hitch and pushed on the little plunger. In an awkward position where I could only use my left hand to push on the plunger, I was not strong enough to push it in all the way. I called All Seasons RV and asked if there was someone who did house calls. I live only two miles from them and thought that might be possible. But Mike said they didn’t have anyone who could do that. I decided I was going to drive slowly and stop along the way to cool the brakes but that I was going to have them help me push that plunger in. It took me 35 minutes to get to All Seasons RV, having to stop
About an hour out of Pendleton, near Meacham, the tire that the young man had said looked good, blew. I heard a loud sound coming from the right side...
Oops! The mailbox casualty that brought on a ride in the back of a police car. Shredded! When one tire goes, best to replace the other.
a lot to cool the brakes. When I got there, it was easy for one of the men to re-establish the connection of the trailer emergency brake. Now I was ready to leave! I returned home, got Suki and Lilly and set my GPS for Pendleton. I decided the GPS lady needed a name and soon “Gladys,” Suki, Lilly and I were on our way. We got to Pendleton before dark and backed into our campsite. (Well actually the manager offered to back in my trailer and I took him up on his offer. No sense in turning down good help.) February 2021 | The Good Life
The next morning with my destination being Boise, I pulled out of my campsite about 8:30. As I passed another camper, the man waved his arms in the air, signaling me to stop. I slowed and checked my rearview mirror and could see that I had left my step down on the trailer. (This is something a lot of campers have done.) I pulled over, walked around the back end and told him that I saw that the step was down. He said that wasn’t what he was waving about but that I had a flat tire on my trailer. Thinking out loud I said, “What do I do now?” www.ncwgoodlife.com
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Quickly the camper suggested that I see if the manager of the campground had a compressor to blow up the tire so I could go to Les Schwab for help. The manager did have one and blew up the tire. I quickly left the campground and traveled to the next exit to Pendleton’s Les Schwab tire shop. Lesson learned: Look to the campground manager for help. As the young man was putting a new tire on the trailer, I asked him to check the other one and make sure the spare had the right amount of air in it. As he examined the other tire, he assured me that the tread was good and it should be all right. I left there relieved that this flat had happened when I was close to a tire shop. I was off to Boise. About an hour out of Pendleton, near Meacham, the tire that the young man had said looked good, blew. I heard a loud sound coming from the right side and I pulled over onto the gravel shoulder. As I walked around the passenger side to see the tire, I could see that it was unbelievably shredded. I got back in the Toyota and searched for my Good Sam Roadside Assistance information. I had brought some binoculars and checked the exit several yards in front of me. It was exit 138. I found the Good Sam num-
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FIRST TIME IN CHARGE OF RV TRIP
Soon I was “invited” to get into the back seat of the police cruiser.
}}} Continued from previous page ber and called for help. Lesson learned: Take binoculars. I quickly told the guy on the phone that I was on highway 82, about 60 miles south of Pendleton, Oregon near exit 138 and that I had a blow out on my vacation trailer. He said he was having trouble finding where I was on the map on his computer. I told him I was on the highway between Pendleton and Baker City. Then he found where I was but the highway number was 84, not 82. Lesson learned: Watch the highway signs as you are traveling. (It was 82 in Washington but changed at the state border.) Also, watch for mileposts and keep track of where you are. Over the next several minutes, he asked me questions to help him understand what kind of help I needed. It was a confusing conversation as he thought I had a motorhome and wanted to know what size engine I had. When I corrected him by telling him it was a pull trailer, he thought it was a tent trailer. I corrected him again and there was confusion about something else. My patience was wearing thin as I tried to get him to understand what it was that I had. Ultimately, he understood and said that he would call someone to come change the tire. Soon, I knew that someone from the Les Schwab Tire Shop in Pendleton was on their way. The traffic on highway 84 sped by as I waited for the tire truck. I turned on my flashers to be seen, sitting on the side of the road.
Author June McCann, left, and her friend Twilene in Boise. They could smile now...
An hour later, the tire truck arrived. By then my battery was dead from using the flashers. The Les Schwab guy put on my spare tire and put a battery jumper on from his truck. Lesson learned: When buying a used RV, replace the tires. The tires looked good on the outside but were rotten from the inside out. When I told the Les Schwab guy I’d be buying another tire when I got to Boise, he strongly encouraged me to get one before then. He said that LaGrande was just 20 miles up the road, and that I should stop there to get another tire. (I thought to myself, why had Good Sam sent a tire truck from Pendleton, an hour away when LaGrande was 20 minutes away?) Lesson learned: Look at the paper map so I know where I am before I talk to Good Sam. I had been talking to my friend in Boise, keeping her updated. I had planned to be there around 5 o’clock, now it would be more like 7. I continued on my way, making a few stops for the dogs and to stretch my legs and around 7 p.m. I entered my friend,
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Twilene’s, development. Soon Gladys told me I had reached my destination. I looked around for the red door and shutters she had told me about but couldn’t see her house. Also, the house numbers didn’t match what I was looking for. I had pulled into an intersection so I backed up and called her for more directions. I was off one street and soon I was parked in front of Twilene’s house. She had told me that there wouldn’t be a problem with the homeowners association to park there for the three days I was visiting. Soon we had enjoyed a nice salmon, salad and dessert dinner. (Oh, yes, and wine.) We reminisced about our younger days when we were Girl Scout leaders for our daughters. (Now they’re 56! Yikes!) We laughed, then talked some more. We went outside to her patio where the dogs could play in her fenced yard and talked and laughed some more. We stopped laughing when a flashlight appeared over the fence and a man’s voice said, “Ladies, this is the police. Could I see both of you out front
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please?” I knew it: the homeowners association did not like me parking on the street in front of Twilene’s house. Shoot! (Meanwhile, I learned later that she thought the neighbors behind her had filed a complaint that we were being too noisy. This was after she had put up with late night noise from their backyard several times.) We joined the police officers out front, two of them. One explained to me that they had a neighbor call to complain that I had backed over her mailbox. She wanted me to come over and talk to her. Remember when I said that I had to back up because I was in an intersection before I called Twilene again? Well I didn’t realize it but with one of the police officers holding the cover from my trailer taillight, I knew that what he was saying was true. I looked at my Toyota and Coleman sitting there in front of the house. I shook my head and said something about not taking them over to the lady’s house. Soon I was “invited” to get into the back seat of the police cruiser. Oh my, that back seat had no soft upholstery, it was hard molded fiberglass and in front up me was a metal screen. The officers got in and took me to the lady’s house. Well, I not only knocked over her mailbox but there were two mailboxes on the stand. And the stand was laying on the ground pulled out of the bracket that had been set into the concrete. Lesson learned: Get out and make sure it is clear behind you before you back up in the dark. We exchanged phone numbers and I assured her I would call her the next day. The officers
took me back to Twilene’s. We had been laughing before all this happened and now, we were laughing even harder. Can you imagine the headline, “Former Girl Scout leader involved in a hit and run with mailbox stand.” The next day we were assured by the homeowner’s association president that the stands were readily available at Lowe’s hardware. The entire development had these stands serving two homeowners each. We went to Lowe’s to buy a new stand but they didn’t have anything like these. We went to Home Depot and they had nothing similar either. We went home and shopped on the web but could find nothing with black wrought iron and tubing similar to the stand. (When I told my niece this story, she said maybe I would have to replace all of the developments stands. I’m sure glad she didn’t live there with an idea like that.) Finally, I had an idea. We ended up putting the mailbox stand and mailboxes into the back of Twilene’s car and taking it to an iron works business. After laughing at my story, the men there said they could repair it and get it installed that very day. I left to continue my trip to Salt Lake City. By mid afternoon, Twilene called to say that the mailbox stand was back and installed. I have been to Salt Lake many times and have camped there many times. Since my daughter lives right in the city and the campground is just down the street from the Temple, it is quite convenient. My plan was to stay for about five days. On the third day of driving to her house, I started to hear a squeaking noise that sounded like it was coming from my front wheels. It didn’t coincide with pressure on the brakes so I discounted that. As time went by, the sound got more prevalent. With about an-
Lesson learned: A town of 3,600 people would NEVER have a traffic jam like this...
Cape Disappointment lighthouse. Once the fog moved in, it was time to leave the coast.
other 1,000 miles to go, I needed to find out what was wrong so I took it to a dealer and asked them to look at it. I expected to be there for at least three hours. And sure enough, I waited three hours or so before I got called up to the service counter. The technician said something about “you really had us going with that noise.” They had checked all four wheels and found nothing wrong. They had driven it before and after that work and couldn’t figure out what was causing the noise. Then one of the techs suggested removing the extended mirrors built to look down the side of the trailer to see if that helped. Sure enough, the wind was whistling through those mirrors and that made the sound. Thank goodness it was not more serious! Lesson learned: Remember that sound and if I hear it again, try adjusting the mirrors. After my stay with my daughFebruary 2021 | The Good Life
ter, my next destination was Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River. I had three days to get there but instead of coming north from Salt Lake City, Twilene suggested I go another way to view different scenery. So, I left headed west toward Nevada planning to make it to Battle Mountain in northern Nevada. Battle Mountain is a town of about 3,600 people named for confrontations between Native Americans and settlers in the 1800s. Gladys did a good job of getting me to Battle Mountain. She had me take an exit and once off that exit, she said to turn left. I exited and there was a huge traffic jam. I am thinking that everybody in town must be here. I couldn’t turn left so I turned right, found a parking lot to turn around in and got into the traffic line. The campground must be somewhere ahead. The traffic moved so slowly, seemingly one car at a time was getting through whatever was www.ncwgoodlife.com
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holding up traffic. Probably 15 minutes later, I noticed a lighted road sign ahead stating that these people were in line for flu shots. Lesson learned: A town of 3,600 people would NEVER have a traffic jam like this caused by an accident but everyone shows up for a flu shot. Ultimately, I called the campground and the manager came out and led me through the traffic to his facility. It seems this had happened in years past as well. It got chilly this night because we were up in the mountains. But the next bright morning, we got back on the road headed to southern Oregon. The rest of the trip went well with no flats, no whistling mirrors, no police encounter, and no more flu shot lines at campgrounds. I met a friend in her motorhome at the Washington coast. She brought another friend and we spent three glorious October days there. We watched cranberry harvest in Long Beach, shopped in Seaside and had lunch at Norma’s restaurant. (I highly recommend eating here.) I left the beach and stopped to visit my son in the Vancouver area and drove home in the rain. I couldn’t believe all that had happened on my trip. But I learned a lot that will help my on future trips with Suki, Lilly and Gladys. And I have enough stories to last for years. June McCann is a North Dakotaborn farmer’s daughter, mother and grandmother, who is retired and enjoys photography and gardening when not pursuing travel.
Long-time coming Peshastin home is a promise fulfilled, and filled with promise Story by Susan Lagsdin Photos by Mike Irwin
Tom and Shannon Reichert, her toddler in tow, each
moved their accumulated adult-life possessions from two large homes and squeezed into an air-force base basic, 1,074 square-foot ranch in Tucson. That was 18 years ago.
The house needed to grow from two to three levels, twice its height in this view from the south, with daylight basement and garages behind it. The architect and owners are pleased that the composition and colors make it surprisingly easy on the eye.
Southern light and a full wall of hand-placed decorative rock dominate the center of the house. The third level catwalk seen at top right visually divides the great room for both at-home coziness and full-house entertaining.
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This porthole, set deep into a north wall with barrel-like found materials, looks out on neighboring orchards. Shannon wanted at least one round window, and a team effort created this singular viewing spot.
“This place is so beautiful. I could live here forever.” “Someday,” Tom promised his new bride, “I’m going to build our house with a master suite that’s just as big as this whole place.” And so he did. Their new house idea grew and changed over the years. What never changed was knowing — from their very first years of dating — where they would build it. Tom had driven his new girlfriend on a whirlwind tour of the Northwest, centered on his own hometown of Brewster. They crossed through the Methow Valley, touristed in Seattle, headed east over Stevens Pass and dropped into Leavenworth. Tom remembers Shannon saying then, “This place is so beautiful. I could live here forever.” Being the dutiful boyfriend, he committed that comment to memory. They knew exactly what they wanted: “a place with ‘understated elegance,’” said Tom. They bought their Peshastin property in 2011 and had house plans drawn by Copeland Architects of Spokane (guided by a precise 12-page wants-needs proposal by the Reicherts) and then they bided their time, knowing that building the house would take their life savings and plenty of sweat equity. Shannon taught elementary
Tom and Shannon Reichert (pictured with a restless Molly cat) are still discovering the many ways their new Peshastin home can be used and enjoyed. So far, family, pets, work and play all fit perfectly. February 2021 | The Good Life
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school, Tom retired from the Air Force after 24 years of service and was piloting commercial airliners. Helped by occasional housing provided here by local high school buddies and with a lot of strategic planning and longdistance commuting, they initiated the complicated move from Utah to the Northwest. “We asked the architect to dust off the plans and create the builder set,“ said Tom. Excavation on the sloping 4.78-acre lot began in August 2018. A long burst of building was followed by 10 months of frustrating COVID-19 restrictions, but the neighbors remained neighborly, and friends and family, especially his brother in Idaho, volunteered copious hours of labor to help keep the project going. Tom said, “We received our Certificate of Occupancy on Dec. 4, 2020, about two and a half years after I brought the first tool on the place.” His experience building a few past houses taught him forethought was foremost, so Tom worked as general contractor on this shared dream. Aided by the internet and the advice of local experts, he also did most of the interior finish work, including plumbing, lighting, flooring and trim by himself.
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WESTERB984CF
Sold and erected by an independent locally owned builder.
FILLED WITH PROMISE }}} Continued from previous page
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The house totals 9,450 square feet with three levels, two 3-bay garages (one at main level, one at basement level), and “27,000 square feet of drywall, 2,800 of hardwood flooring,” Tom calculates. Some construction decisions were relatively small. Extra storage is built into dormers; there’s a dog-washing station, wiring in each room to accommodate technology, extensive rockwork inside and out, a tricky perspective-bending staircase, a bedroom-deck hot tub. But the most noteworthy choices are in the deep construction. A filtration system increases air flow and controls humidity throughout. Geo-thermal energy, using a system of pipes extended into the earth, transfers the ground temperature into room temperature. It was costly to install, but Tom feels over time the environmentfriendly HVAC system will save them 80 percent on power bills per month. The lowest level and first floor exteriors walls are Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs), 13-inches deep cast-in-place concrete walls sandwiched between two layers of dense foam and stacked with Lego-like connectors and rebar for stability. From Cornerstone Builders of Selah, they are fireresistant and low-maintenance, Tom says, with an “astonishingly high” R factor. Tom’s long months of labor created the structure, but he insists that it’s Shannon’s good taste and eye for detail that’s made it into a home. She came into the marriage with a few U-Hauls of family antiques and some collected
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Just for fun, this college-themed hallway bath incorporates the family’s three alma maters, which are conveniently color-compatible: Texas A&M, University of Texas and Washington State University.
living in Germany, so the house is warmed by good wood and traditional designs in hutch, piano, beds, tables. Defying the popular penchant for grayed surroundings, she also chose a warm bisque color for all the walls. One space Shannon especially appreciates is her big view office, from which she’s teaching online classes for Wenatchee’s Washington Elementary School this year. She said, “It is so important for me to be able to look up from the computer straight into the Enchantments. I love this room!” There’s a purpose and a plan for every one of the 20-plus
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rooms, but flexibility is a constant. The Reicherts’ own possessions, hobbies and interests are many, but another factor has gained even more importance: family. A downstairs suite with a central media room and two guest bedrooms is intended for their son Nolan as he matures and maybe brings his own kids to visit. He most recently used the space, plus the kitchenette for snacks and sodas, to host college buddies over the holidays. “They had the run of the whole first level,” Tom said. “It was nice — and kind of crazy.” The Reicherts call this hopefully their “last house” (because their combined life list has 24
moves) but they know its function needn’t be static. The first-level configuration now meant for Nolan could serve other uses: full-time living for the couple, craft/music/exercise rooms, an auxiliary space for caregivers, even a rentable apartment. 2014 was a forward-thinking year in the life of the blueprints. One major adjustment occurred early enough that the switch was seamless. Tom’s parents’ health needs increased, and the couple naturally wanted to include them in the home’s future. Though they were first meant for Tom and Shannon, the two rooms with a bath off the main floor great room were reconsidered and given ADA features as a convenient grand-master suite for the elders. His mom and dad will move in soon. The solution to provide yet another suite of rooms for the owners was easy: go up, not out. First drawings showed an artistic staircase floating to a large, south-facing third floor bedroom, huge closet and bath (yes, 1,074 square feet) but they and the architects agreed “the exterior looked like a tugboat from a distance.” To balance the bulk of the third-floor addition, they made a radical decision. Add a spacious shared office space on the north end, connecting the two with a long catwalk that would bisect a now double height, vaulted great room. Hmmm…. Three floors with elders and active mid-lifers in
Hmmm…. Three floors with elders and active midlifers in residence. How to solve the mobility issue? Easy. A small elevator.
A third bay in the downstairs garage serves as a shop and storage space for Tom, who acted as general contractor and, with the help of friends and the internet, did much of the interior work himself on his days off.
residence. How to solve the mobility issue? Easy. A small elevator. The potential lift from basement to main floor is already wired and ready to build into its dedicated space, and should the need arise it can extend to the top floor. This home, big and beautiful and just about all moved into, holds a lot of promise for the Reicherts and their loved ones. Tom and Shannon are grateful
to dozens of professional people who made the house, from architect to builder, suppliers and craftspeople to the county building department. But the biggest “thank you” is for a long-ago gift. When he was young, his father gave him a hammer, one belonging to own father. Tom said, “I’ve been using that hammer for five decades. It drove the first nail on the project, and it drove the last nail. I’m going to have it framed, along with a page of blueprints, and present it to my dad when he and Mom move in.”
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Welding a career, polishing a life Bronze artist starts fresh in Wenatchee
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By Susan Lagsdin
fter quickly summarizing several discreet steps in the process of sculpting bronze from clay to burnished metal (described more clearly on the internet than in this story), in a generous stroke of simplicity, Wenatchee artist Jim Moore suggested, “Just think of this bronze owl as if it were a chocolate Easter bunny. Hard on the outside, hollow on the inside.” That worked. The teacher in him prevailed. Though he transitioned from his art teaching job to full-time sculpting a dozen years ago, he has been crafting in bronze for much of his 52 years. He’s known mostly for his large garden bells, which are a blend of ancient Asian art forms and his fascination with western animals he’s observed. Recently from northern Colorado, Jim is happy with his new home base that’s complete with a small studio for shaping and detailing clay, and a separate close-by shop for assembling and finishing metal. His move may have physically distanced him from his timehoned reputation and strong art industry connections with foundries, galleries, shows, and fellow sculptors, but Jim says it also taught him some important lessons about how to use his time. “One of the great things about moving here is it’s caused me to reconsider exactly how I’m doing things,” Jim said. In Colorado he would spend full days of lost work time driving between home and foundry, or home and galleries, or home and client. Though he misses the occasional road trip, he says he’s become an expert packer and shipper. Aided by the folks at Pak it Rite, he’s sent finished work long distances in wooden crates, bubble wrapped, with Styrofoam packing peanuts, and that’s made a huge difference in his productivity.
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“I’m always amazed at how intensely emotional people can be about my sculptures. They create their own narrative around my work.” casting to the foundry. The decision to be hands-on, eyes-on means that Jim is two artists: he visualizes and shapes a completed piece in oil-based clay and sends it to the foundry; then eight to 12 weeks later he receives back hollow metal pieces in rough form and finishes the process. “This is really my favorite part,” he said, “working with metal.” He enjoys the exacting precision of welding, grinding and polishing the sculpture and adding a chemical patina. “My work has some interesting complexity, and yes,” he said, “I think you can see the difference. Handling the final steps gives me a lot more control.” He cited a one-time event where an artwork was sent In this 2018 photo, James Moore poses with his full-size sculpture, Bison Song, which now graces directly from the foundry to a client and he a collector’s garden. chose to fly to Phoenix to replace a broken piece. Though he’s respectful of his loyal collecProfessional artists learn to manage martors around the world, he said he’s proudest keting and put up with paperwork, but most when a person who’s admired a piece for of Jim’s time now is used in actually making a long time saves up and finally purchases art, and he says he’s probably a more proacit. Jim’s bronze sculptures range in price tive bronze artist than some, doing all the from $350 for a small vessel to $24,000 and handwork solo. up (way up) for a large garden bell, so he’s He explained that many full-service found- acutely aware of the commitment. ries offer to make the entire piece from re“I’m always amazed at how intensely emoceiving the first raw clay sculpture through tional people can be about my sculptures,” its final delivery to consignee or gallery, but he said. “They create their own narrative he leaves only the pouring of wax, the crearound my work.” ation of a ceramic shell, and actual bronze Because the smallest items may take a day | The Good Life
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Moonstruck is a table-top sized bell, showing the distinctive bronze patina and glow. The base and the striker are also handmade.
of his time and the largest installations may take hundreds of hours over months, he always has some in-progress project at hand. He said, “It’s getting a little harder to stand up all day. I can work at my best for about three hours at a time — then I have to take a break. That’s when I get my kayak or go swimming in the river.” The Columbia River is central to Jim’s love of this new place, and he was pleased to find the Wenatchee Row and Paddle Club soon after his arrival. But what drew him here initially was his now-wife Rachel, a counselor who has a fine arts background and a corresponding good critical eye. Married in the summer of 2019, the couple has settled comfortably into her chosen hometown, and Jim said, “We’ve created a place of peace. Those first nine months here with the new studio and shop space I was more productive than I’d ever been in that span of time.” One lost element of Jim’s art life that he’s still trying to reconcile has been compounded by COVID-19. He said, “My hope for the future is for this virus to diminish so we can get back to doing art shows!” The
These larger raw beige sculptures, destined to become distinctive garden features, were recently received from Jim’s favorite foundry 1,200 miles away. The smallest vessel has already been hand-finished by the artist in his Wenatchee shop.
acres of tents and booths, the friend-making and arts immersion at events like Loveland’s Sculpture in the Park and Cheyenne Frontier Days went dark in 2020. He did well in their on-line auctions last year, but he misses the conversations and camaraderie. That kind of connection doesn’t come quickly. This winter he’s taking it slow, looking around and learning the territory, gradu-
February 2021 | The Good Life
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ally meeting a few other creative people and sharing arts ideas. Someday, Jim said, when he can do it in person he’d enjoy teaching a workshop, and “I’d love to participate in starting a really good juried fine art show and sale — possibly just sculpture — here in Wenatchee.” To see more images of Jim’s work, visit his website: www.sculpturebyjgmoore. |
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column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR
jim brown, m.d.
Are viruses alive? Questions and insights into an often misunderstood biologic entity
Since this current pandemic
arrived on our shores, I have wanted to know more about viruses. The question as to whether or not viruses are “alive” is not a question with easy answers. Biologists and virologists don’t all agree on an answer. It depends in part on how we define “life.” Viruses are a biologic entity with a protein coating and some genetic material inside. Most biologists agree to be considered a “living” organism, they need to have certain properties. Can they grow, reproduce, respond to stimuli and carry out various metabolic processes? Do viruses reproduce themselves? Actually viruses don’t reproduce themselves but are replicated once they invade the cells of humans, animals and in some cases plants. We humans play a role in this whenever we inhale these viruses. They invade the cells in our nasal passages, upper respiratory system and lungs, making them burst, thus killing our own cells.
If our own immune systems don’t recognize these foreign invaders, we have little protection. If we have not had a similar viral infection like this in the past and have not been vaccinated previously for this particular virus, we have little to fight these sometimes-deadly infections. This is the main reason why vaccination protects us. Viruses don’t spread unless we help them. This also is the reason why we need to be wearing masks as much as possible especially when we are around other humans. When someone infected coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings around us and we are maskless, the viruses go to work on our cells. We give viruses and bacteria an assist by picking our noses and touching our eyes. One study suggests that 91 percent of us pick our noses. Sounds gross, right? When we do this, we are transferring germs including viruses from our fingertips into the nose, something we should be avoiding. This also is a good reason for frequent hand washing. Our
Most of us now probably think of viruses as serious dangerous entities to be avoided at all costs. bodies do their best with our immune system kicking in to fight these viruses, so why not help them? One wonders where viruses come from. There is no simple answer, but it is thought that they emerged over 3.5 billion years ago after life first appeared on our planet. It is easy to think that viruses are our enemies. After all, they are the cause of epidemics and pandemics with tremendous loss of life in our lifetimes. We have heard about or experienced pandemics like COVID-19, SARS-Cov-2, MERSA, Ebola, HIV, swine flu, bird flu and Zia to name a few. For various reasons most of the deadly viruses originate from animals in China and Africa. My own grandfather had the Spanish Flu in his 20s, and had enough brain damage that he spent the rest of his life in a Michigan state hospital. Most of us now probably think of viruses as serious dangerous entities to be avoided at all costs.
ask the doctor
Are there medical topics you would be interested in knowing more about? Send your ideas to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com.
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While obviously impossible anyway, experts suggest less than 1 percent of all viruses are pathogens or harmful to humans. Viruses affect all kinds of life forms, from bacteria, animals and plants to people. There is actually a body of knowledge suggesting the importance and potential benefits of viruses in our lives, in agriculture and in our health. I am quite sure the idea of a “good” virus is not something most would think possible. Yet, some viruses actually kill some bacteria while others fight against dangerous invading bacteria. The microbiome bacteria in our gut are extremely important to our overall health. Antibiotics taken for certain illnesses can kill off the harmful bacteria but also the good gut bacteria that are so important to our health. The collection of viruses in our gut can protect against intestinal damage caused by these antibiotics. There is research going on showing promise in developing viruses that can attack cancer cells. Some research suggests there will be a time when people infected with bacteria resistant to all known antibiotics might be treated by viruses that can kill that particular bacteria. The more I read about viruses, the more hopeful I am about the potential good they might offer all of us in the future. Jim Brown, M.D., is a retired gastroenterologist who has practiced for 38 years in the Wenatchee area. He is a former CEO of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.
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column moving up to the good life
june darling
Making a bid for better relationships “Successful long-term relationships are created through small words, small gestures and small acts.” — John Gottman
M
y husband, John, was totally engrossed in learning Portuguese when the phone rang. I could hear the voice of our 10-year-old granddaughter, Sophia, on the line when she said, “Hello Papa.” My ears perked up as I realized John’s predicament. “To turn or not to turn.” What I mean by that is that John was at a choice point. He could stay on his present track, refuse to be interrupted (not turn), OR he could choose to shift his attention to Sophia (turn). Long story made short is that he did choose to shift his attention and connect with his granddaughter. But why? John said he sensed the call was a little signal. If Sophia could have explained her signal, it might have sounded like this. “Hey, Papa. I am needing and wanting a little attention. I am hoping you can give it to me.” He was able to receive her cue, was touched by it, and able to lovingly respond. John did, what relationship expert John Gottman calls one of the most important things a person can do who wants to improve relationships and build trust. John noticed what Gottman calls a “bid” — some little sign that another makes when seeking connection, attention, affection, or affirmation. Gottman says when someone gives a bid, we have a choice. Our choices, made time and time again, hugely affect the
“I love the whole ‘bids — turning toward thing — because I can do this by myself. I can do this even if my spouse, coworkers, or friends or even my dog is or is not on board. And it works!” quality of our relationships. Those people who turn toward each other over 86 percent of the time (Gottman is not only a psychologist, but also a math and data guy) find themselves in high-trust, strong relationships. How does trust fit in with this? Trust is a foundation in strong relationships. Gottman believes that trust is built over time when a person perceives that we have his or her interests at heart, sometimes even at the expense of our own interests. It is as much, or more, “we” than “me.” As I have looked at people’s comments, and talked to some, who have worked with Gottman’s “love science,” it seems that understanding this notion of “bids,” recognizing when you and others are sending them out, and noticing how you and others respond, is a huge help in making relationships stronger. One person also said something like this: “I love the whole ‘bids — turning toward thing — because I can do this by myself. I can do this even if my spouse, co-workers, or friends or even my dog is or is not on board. And it works! I see my relationships changing. They are February 2021 | The Good Life
deeper… with me just doing this simple thing… noticing when someone is asking for attention and giving it as best I can at that moment.” Sure, there are times when we need to block out interruptions and take care of necessary tasks and deep-dive into projects, but let’s remember the importance of good relationships. They are absolutely the royal road to the good life — health, success and well-being. Bad relationships are awful not just in the way they affect our emotions, but also our health. (In one study following 9,000 people, those who reported “adverse” close relationships had 34 percent increase in the risk of developing heart problems, even after taking weight and other factors into consideration. That is big!) John and I sometimes kick ourselves in the derriere for some of the relationship blunders we have made in the past with friends, family, and especially in our own marriage. When we ask ourselves why we were so lousy, we remind ourselves that we just didn’t “know no better.” We did not have the skills. We did not even realize that good relationships required attention or intention or skills. We fell into the old ridiculous nonsense that if we had to work on our relationship, we married the wrong person. We had other more pressing interests; good relationships just happened naturally anyway. What baloney. It would not surprise me to hear that sort of naiveté has led to the 50 percent divorce rate in our country. Now, thanks to people like John (and his wife Julie) Gottwww.ncwgoodlife.com
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man, we all have a science of relationships, we can do better. February, the month of love, is the perfect time to examine, learn and experiment with relationship skills. You can read or find videos online about the Gottmans’ research. Start with those relationships you most care about. Notice this thing called “bids.” How do you give bids? How easy is it for you to realize when someone has made a bid? How do you usually respond to others’ bids? What is your track record? Would you like to kick it up — particularly with those significant others in your life? Play with the idea that bids are not always annoying interruptions, but rather could very well be an opening, an opportunity, for building trust and making a relationship stronger. “How might you move up to The Good Life by responding to small calls for connection?” .
June Darling, Ph.D. can be contacted at drjunedarling1@gmail.com; website: www.summitgroupresources. com. Her bio and many of her books can be found at amazon.com/author/ junedarling.
>> RANDOM QUOTE
Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart. Roy T. Bennett
The Art Life
// SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTISTS
One person’s junk is Lynn Palmer’s
L
By Jaana Hatton
ynn Palmer likes to work with her hands. Gardening, cooking and — welding. Yes, those things are related. They are creative outlets, sparks of ideas that become real through her fingers. It’s junk metal that really brings out Lynn’s enthusiasm. “I am constantly seeing things that get the wheels turning; how can I repurpose that?” Lynn said about her passion for metal. It all started with her recreational thrift shopping, finding uses for old stuff. After Lynn took a course in ornamental welding at the Wenatchee Valley College the next thing she knew she was opening up a yard art business. She had learned how to mold new life into old scrap pieces. “With the course, I became obsessed with metal art,” Lynn said.
Scrap metal yard art
LynnArt Gardens (302 N Miller St.) opened in the spring of 2020. “I got my business license on March 6,” owner Lynn Palmer said. “Then COVID hit.” Amazingly, said Lynn, the new enterprise has flourished and is continuously growing its customer base. Lynn’s license is a residential one, allowing five customers per day to visit the venue. Her home’s courtyard, patio, lawn and garage are all full of art for the yard — and indoors, too. You may find tiny ladybugs painted on rocks, quilts made of wood, whimsical pottery and lots of metal sculptures. Many of the works are contributed by other artists whom Lynn has invited to sell their work at her venue. It’s not unusual to find Lynn digging through junkyards and estate sales in search of material. Those would be rusty tools, parts broken off machinery, horseshoes —
Lynn Palmer looks over scraps she had collected, with an idea of turning it into such creations as a pig, left, or duck, above, or anything else she can imagine.
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Lynn’s moose creations are popular.
One of Lynn’s critters prowls the art garden grounds.
you name it, it’s all as precious as gold to her. “I love old stuff — it has character,” Lynn said. “I often fill up my Subaru on these trips.” Her weekdays aren’t filled with junkyard visits but a 9-5 desk job, instead. “I retired from the Army, worked for 911 for 17 years and now I work from home as a geographic information systems (GIS) analyst,” Lynn said. “It keeps me at the computer all day. I work both for Chelan and Douglas counties.” At the end of the day, she doesn’t have much trouble switching from the GIS job to creating art. “They are both spatial activities,” Lynn explained. Her art, of course, allows her all the spatial freedom she desires. Initially, Lynn had to look for places around town to show her creations. “Pan’s Grotto and the Radar Station displayed my art. They had deadlines, so it pushed me to accomplish my works.” Both places are now closed, but instead of giving up, Lynn opened up her yard for art. Not only for her pieces, but for several other artists. Twenty of them, to be exact. Local artist, Hillbilly (Ken Jeffreys) initially offered eight of his pieces for sale at Lynn’s new enterprise — he is now a regular contributor. “Most of my artists here are through First Friday encounters,” Lynn explained. “Hillbilly has been instrumental in all this.” Lynn has been amazed at the success. “The sales exceeded all of my expectations; I have sold much more than I anticipated,”
she said. “I’m always looking for junk metal, old tools and such. Just bring it here.” What exactly inspires Lynn? “I want my art to make me smile,” Lynn explained. “My owls seem to be a favorite (with customers), as well as the moose creations,” Lynn said. She has made them in several sizes and configurations. They are all one-of-a-kind pieces. She doesn’t work on one piece at a time, but more likely there will be a dozen works at different stages waiting for completion. “I am still looking for pieces,” Lynn said of some of the unfinished works. “None of my creations are the same.” If she really gets fogged up among her many works awaiting completion, a little dab of Manifester’s Blend essential oil on the forehead will help her focus. As a gardener, she knows all about herbs. And this is how we come to understand the “LynnArt Gardens” in plural. Lynn is a Master Gardener. One section of her property is reserved for vegetables. In the summer you will find the cucumber plant happily climbing along the side of her garage/workshop, numerous kinds of herbs releasing their scent, onions and garlic poking their long tips into the air. Besides being an inspired junk metal artist, Lynn also enjoys playing with other kinds of metal — her pots and pans. She is an enthusiastic cook and what could be better than creating meals from your own veggies. While her enterprise started as her solo undertaking, it has obviously flourished and
February 2021 | The Good Life
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Above is Banjo Man, made by Kelly Hough, Whimsical Art, of Waterville, who displays at Lynn’s art garden.
grown due to her open doors — or gates — policy toward other artists. Sharing the space has resulted in sharing the joy and success, she said. Lynn ArtGardens is open Fri-Sun 9-5 or by appointment. You can contact Lynn at LynnArt-Gardens. com or find her business on Facebook. The property is ADA accessible. |
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PET tales Tells us a story about your pet. Submit pet & owner pictures to: editor@ ncwgoodlife.com
“M
y son, Drew Davis and his wife Jennifer got Jupiter, a Goldendoodle this past summer,” said Pam Davis of Wenatchee. “(My husband, Mark and I) liked Jupiter so well we just got Copper Dec. 27,” she added. Jupiter is seven months old and Drew and Jennifer were visiting from Santa Monica. Copper is 9 weeks old. Pam said the best things about Copper is “he’s so soft, snuggly and loving.”
Love your pet Spay and Neuter
February is Spay and Neuter Awareness Month wenatcheehumane.org 509-662-9577
G
racie Helm of Wenatchee is holding Noodle. Noodle, a Spanish Waterdog, is very playful, loves to be outside, and already loves being in the water. She learns quickly. She’s hypo-allergenic and doesn’t shed, said Gracie. “We got Noodle the beginning of December. Puppies are a lot of work. I’m exhausted,” said Gracie. “When full grown, female Spanish Water Dogs weigh about 40 pounds making it fairly easy to travel with her during our retirement years!” she added.
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fun stuff what to do around here for the next month We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com
may also enter. Cost: $20, or $40 to receive a written critique on the submission. Info: writeontheriver. org.
Please check all events to make sure none has canceled.
Environmental Film & Speaker Series: Voices of transition, 2/2, 7 p.m. This film is stories told by diverse Voices of Transition that carry an emboldening message: by working more closely with nature, we can create incredible opportunities. And if we work together not only with nature but with other people, we can change the world. Preview the film at your leisure and join in for a virtual question and answer session with a local panel. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.
Mission Ridge is open 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Info: missionridge.com. Christmas lights will remain on until Valentine’s Day. Leavenworth becomes the Village of Lights with over half a million of them. Downtown Leavenworth. Cost: free. 1 million cups, every first Wednesday of the month. 8 a.m. Entrepreneurs discover solutions and thrive when they collaborate over a million cups of coffee. Come join this supportive, dynamic community and hear from two businesses that are between 1 – 5 years old. Discover how we can help move them forward in a positive environment. Zoom link: 1mcwenatcheevalley. eventsbrite.com.
Two Rivers Gallery, 2/3-27, WedSat 11-4 p.m., Sun. 1-4 p.m. Featuring Collage artist Sheri Trepina. Sheri uses local leaves and grasses that inspire her artwork, layering watercolor paints and papers referencing the world around us. Info: 2riversgallery.com.
Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center is closed however, the retail spaces, Gift Shop and 90th Anniversary Women Painters of Washington art gallery are open by appointment five days a week, Tuesday-Saturday. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org/reopening or call 888-6240.
Winter Ice Gala, 2/5, 7 p.m. The virtual gala will feature a formal dinner for pick-up, select photos, and live interviews with star professional ice skaters and special guests: Ryan Bradley, Kim Navarro, Kayla Kapeikiis, Liam Kapeikis and Miss Washington 2020. Info: towntoyotacenter.com.
Write on the River Writing Competition, deadline is Feb. 15. Six winners will be awarded a total of $1,200 in cash prizes for short fiction or nonfiction (maximum 1,000 words), on any theme or topic. The competition is for any writer residing in central or eastern Washington. Current WOTR members living elsewhere in the state
Winter Snowshoeing, 2/11, 18, 25. Meet at 327 Division Street at 10 a.m. every Thursday in January and February. Join area naturalist guides for a snowshoe stroll along the Waterfront Park Trail in Leavenworth. Snowshoes provided. Cost: free. Reservations: 548-0181 x5. Introductory Series to Wildlife Tracking, 2/16, 3/16, 4/20,
6 p.m. Explore the art of inquiry and engaging curiosity in the natural world, learn basic wildlife foot physiology and morphology, learn clear print identification, concepts in behavior and wildlife sign interpretation and how wildlife interacts with landscapes in the three part Zoom series. Wenatchee River Institute. Cost: $15 per class or $40 whole series. Must register: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Healing the big river – salmon dreams and the Columbia River treaty, 2/17, 6:30 p.m. Healing The Big River masterfully combines the art of visual storytelling with passionate essays. From the source, a tiny spring in the Canadian Rockies, to the sea, read-
What Are You Laughing At?
We provide over 600 guidebook posts for human powered outdoor sports in and around the Wenatchee Valley.
www.wenatcheeoutdoors.org February 2021 | The Good Life
We’re looking for fresh, true stories from local people that’ll bring a chuckle to our readers.
Limit yourself to 500 to 1,000 words and send to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com www.ncwgoodlife.com
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ers are guided on a journey back to the origins of the 1,243 mile river and learn about the complicated history and impact of the Columbia River Treaty. The twelve contributing authors, a mix of first nations, tribes, and salmon recovery advocates, speak of their relationship to the Columbia and advocate for a new treaty that honors Indigenous knowledge and starts the process to restore one of the greatest salmon runs the world has ever seen. Zoom webinar. Must register: wenatcheeriverintitute.org. Environmental film & speaker series: Canoeing the Vanishing arctic, 2/23, 7 p.m. A Zoom presentation of “Canoeing the Vanishing Arctic: Down the Hood River to the Arctic Sound.” This presentation by Andy Dappen details a canoe trip that local Wenatchee residents embarked on in order to explore the rapidly changing Arctic. The presentation is highlighted by a reading of Paul Hessburg’s ballad-style poetry that distills the essence of the trip in a compact, entertaining, and emotional way accompanied by a slideshow of pictures from the trip. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.
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column those were the days
rod molzahn
Won’t you be my neighbor? New white settlers had great needs but their pockets were empty
The importance of neighbors
was clear to the early settlers of north central Washington. Sharing what you have with those who have need was a common trait that kept communities healthy. It could be physical labor, foodstuffs, resources or knowledge. If you had extra you shared the abundance with neighbors. The Wenatchi/P’squose people understood the value of sharing. Their valley had the most productive salmon-river in north central Washington. There were far more fish than the people could ever use so they invited neighboring tribes to share in the bounty. During the height of the summer Chinook and steelhead runs more than a thousand people would gather around the fishery at the Icicle/Wenatchee confluence to catch, smoke, dry and feast on the life sustaining fish. They would fill their baskets and return to their own valleys with a year’s supply of protein. They came from the Kittitas, Yakima, Entiat, Chelan and Methow valleys where the salmon runs were not so abundant.
Imagine the fun you could have!
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Frank Streamer, wanderer and journalist, spent eight days at the fishery in the summer of 1882 where he wrote a detailed description of the gathering and the fishing. Streamer called it a “great fishery” filled with many Indians “from all over.” As he was preparing to leave he added that “each day brings fresh arrivals into camp, new tents are going up; immense numbers of salmon are being caught and everybody seems busy and all are happy.” Sam Miller and the trading post at the Wenatchee/Columbia Confluence financed the building up of the Wenatchee Flat and assured the success of many early settlers. They got the time they needed to develop rugged, sagebrush-covered homesteads into producing farms and ranches. New white settlers had great needs but their pockets were empty. They needed food staples — flour, salt and bacon. Clothes, shoes and gloves, worn out from hard work, needed to be replaced. Tools were a necessity — shovels, picks, axes and more. Sam supplied all these along with tobacco and whiskey, pain
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“(Sam Miller) will long be remembered for his innumerable acts of kindness towards the newcomer...” medicine, soap and rope. Some settler’s bills were years in the making. Tom Doak began charging goods in 1879 and paid off his $1,100 balance eight years later with $19 in cash and credit for 34 months labor for Sam. George Blair and his family began their account in the fall of 1883 and finally paid off the balance in the spring of 1891, three years after the store closed and Sam retired. Christopher Rickman took five years to pay his tab and Ira Freer took three years. No interest was ever charged on the bills. After Sam’s death in 1906, Clara Lanham wrote that he “will long be remembered for his innumerable acts of kindness towards the newcomer who was invariably poor. He gave them a
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welcome.” Alex Brender settled in his canyon west of Cashmere in 1881. His first white neighbor, Deak Brown, claimed a homestead near Monitor in 1884. During the winter of ‘84/’85 Brender shared his one-room cabin with Brown who spent the three months cutting and hauling logs for his own cabin. Lucy Brown, who married Deak in 1885, was a healer who shared her skills and home remedies with all her neighbors, Indian and white alike. Her granddaughter, Fern Kelly, remembered that “grandmother was never so busy that she didn’t have time to be an exceptionally good neighbor. She spent many hours caring for the sick, either going to their home or having them come to her home to be nursed back to health.” Lucy Brown was especially known for a “sticking” salve that could heal any wound. She made it from a combination of rosin, burgundy pitch, bees wax, mutton tallow, spermaceti and “British” oil. A farmer in the big bend wheat country could raise a crop
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on his own but needed the help of neighbors to harvest it. They all worked together hauling harvesting equipment from farm to farm until everyone’s crop was mowed, threshed and sacked. By 1884, the Blairs, Rickmans, Hollenbecks and Tripps had adjoining homesteads on the Wenatchee Flat from the Columbia River to Western Avenue and from Washington Street to Springwater Street. They were all determined to bring irrigation water to their lands. They banded together with a few other area farmers and spent two years digging the Settler’s Ditch from Squilchuck Creek to their fields. In 1901 Alonzo Collins Jones partnered with Joe Shotwell to build a mile-and-a-half long ditch to bring water to their Cashmere area orchards. A.C. Jones recalled, “We had not gone far with our work when a delegation of ranchers from Brown’s Flat (Monitor) came to see if some arrangement could not be made to build the ditch down to their land thereby adding several hundred acres to the project.” That would mean extending the ditch 5 ½ miles over difficult terrain needing expensive flume work. That was more work and expense than Jones and Shotwell could handle on their own. The Brown’s Flat farmers were “desperately in earnest” and swung the deal by providing labor and financing for the extension. By the spring of 1903, the seven-mile long ditch was complete and delivering water to 700 acres of farmland. It was 1887 when three Okanogan neighbors, Dr. J.I. Pogue, H.C. Richardson and Victor Ruffenach built a 3 ½ mile long ditch to bring water from Salmon Creek to their ranches on the large kame terrace above Omak and Okanogan. The terrace turned green and flowered with apple trees, soft fruit trees and alfalfa. It’s always a challenge to get an appointment with a doctor.
For the new settlements of north central Washington the challenge was to get a doctor. The people of the Entiat Valley welcomed Dr. Eugene Mead and his wife to the community in May of 1889. To show their appreciation the men of the valley, led by J.C. Bonar and Ed Adams, built the Meads a house in September. Logs were cut and hauled from the valley forest. Walls were raised and a roof set on top with shingles hand split by Axel Erickson. In October the Mead’s furnishings and household goods were moved to the new house from their previous home at Medical Lake just in time for the coldest, snowiest and longest winter the Entiat people had ever seen. As the Meads were settling in along the Entiat River, Laura and Fred Thompson were building their 12-by-16 foot cabin on Wolf Creek in the upper Methow Valley. They had little enough time to finish their home and no time to put up feed for their horses and cattle before winter struck. Their closest neighbor, George Thompson, six miles away, snowshoed through snow several feet deep to share his horse feed with Fred and Laura. He made other trips that winter to bring them food and tallow cakes for cooking. The only foodstuff that Laura Thompson had in abundance was flour. By March her neighbors were out of flour and Laura shared her supply with anyone in need. As young Abbie Williams recalled, “People were very friendly and everyone was your neighbor from one end of the valley to the other.” Historian, actor and teacher Rod Molzahn can be reached at shake. speak@nwi.net. His third history CD, Legends & Legacies Vol. III - Stories of Wenatchee and North Central Washington, is now available at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center and at other locations throughout the area. February 2021 | The Good Life
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y husband is unusually blunt. We met on a tourist scuba diving boat in Hawaii when I was a brand new diver. “When I see people flopping around in the water like that, I usually don’t get involved,” he said, “but you need to know you aren’t putting enough lead in your weight belt,” then, “Do you want to go get a beer to rehydrate?” He was living in southern California at the time, and I was living in Renton. The first time he came to visit me, we had planned to go hiking, but the rain pelted the area so hard that water was running down the street and flooding low-lying areas. He looked around my house and said “I’m a guy. What do you
He is not sentimental about Valentine’s Day. He doesn’t like Hallmark or anybody else telling him that he has to buy a card with pink hearts. want fixed?” I think that was the best pickup line ever, and by now we’ve been together for 20 years. He is not sentimental about Valentine’s Day. He doesn’t like Hallmark or anybody else telling him that he has to buy a card with pink hearts. Some years ago, a few days
before Valentine’s Day, he said, “Pick out a card for yourself, but hurry up,” and “Phew! Look at these prices.” But on a daily basis, he shows me that he cares. Every night, he sets up my coffee pot so that I need only hit the “Go!’ switch in the morning to start my day. He rarely lets me do anything for him — I once offered to iron a shirt and he said “If I had a shirt that needed ironing, I’d throw the f@#*%r away” — but he will let me stalk any spider that gets in our house. He has a phobia about spiders. Now, he is not a cowardly man. He served under fire in Vietnam. He was a pilot who repossessed airplanes that had been rented by drug dealers then abandoned in Mexico. He became an aeronautical engineer and
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streaked across the night sky in a military chase plane helping develop stealth jets. But he has a phobia about spiSusan Sampson ders. retired with I raised her husband to my two sons Wenatchee in 2009 before my after practicing husband and law in Seattle for 35 years. I met. I hadn’t wanted my boys to have irrational phobias about natural things, so I acted fearless. I told them that bugs wouldn’t hurt them without a reason. When a bee buzzed in the corner of the window, or a spider marched across the living room, I calmly clomped a jar over it, used a sheet of paper for a lid, carried the bug outdoors, and shook it free. (I have since changed my opinion about yellow jackets in the autumn; they are truly malicious.) My brave act wasn’t entirely successful. One son grew up having nightmares about ants. The other got too brave and was bitten on the finger by a copperhead snake that he picked up to carry away “so it wouldn’t scare some old ladies.” (He spent the day in the ER under observation, but survived without complications.) My husband must have seen me acting fearlessness, though, and he believed my act, so now I respond to the call, “Hey! Hey!” coming from the other end of the house. The spider may be only the size of a speck of dust, but I catch it. In our house, that’s what love is: He sets up the coffee pot the night before, and I remove all spiders from the house.
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