A Few Parting Scenes

It will be difficult for us to leave the beautiful Lost Lake Resort now that it has entered its prettiest phase, springtime! In a week we will pull up stakes, hook up the 5th wheel and drive on out to our next adventure in Montana. Our hopes are that we might return here in a few months, in the gorgeous autumn season.

 

 I love looking down on the old cabin from the exit road above it. This ancient building is 100 plus years old and sits on the shore of Lost Lake. I wonder what stories it could tell!

 The resort is filled with trilliums this spring. They are everywhere! After a month of blooming, many of them are entering their last stage, going from white to lavender.

 When we were here five years ago I found some striped coral root orchids, a strange plant with no chlorophyll, hence no green color. These were new to me.I was excited to happen upon this year's sprouting a few days ago. They are not blooming yet but maybe they will in the next few days.

Here is a favorite of mine, if I could name a favorite, the shooting star wildflower. So pretty and so delicate!

After a windstorm I raked and hauled off piles of branches from this now peaceful and sunlit glade. It's ready for a picnic once the tables are placed. I could spend some time here!

As we end our time at the resort I am comforted that I have left a legacy, Dufur, the old man of Lost Lake. Not many know he is here, half hidden in the trees and ferns, but I will think of him often and wonder how the forest is faring under his watchful care. Good-bye, Dufer, Good-bye, Lost Lake.

Spring in the Forest

 Always a wildflower enthusiast and indentifier, my joy in this hobby is intensified in the Pacific Northwest forest country. As I ride my little golf cart around I am delighted to find more and more wildflowers showing their colorful faces. This trillium is one of my favorites and is also one of the first to come forth. It is sometimes called an Easter lily, or, by others a wake-robin, because it blooms close to the time that robins return from their winter home.

 Another favorite, the wild current bush, blooms about the same time the trillium does. These smell good! They like to bloom in the more open areas where the sun gets in between the trees.

 So delicate, so sweet, yellow violets carpet the mossy areas.

 Here's a flower that is new to me. I found it in one of my iPad wildflower apps. It is a Nuttall's Bittercress. I picked a vase-full and to my surprise they had a wonderful fragrance, like hyacinths. They seem quite common all around the resort.

 This strange looking mushroom is not a flower, but I included it because I'd never found one before. It's a False Morel. I call it a "brain" mushroom, for obvious reasons. While the true Morel is greatly desired for eating, the false Morel is a poisonous variety.

This shrub, found all over the Lost Lake complex and in all the forests of the northwest, defied my powers to identify. None of my wildflower apps or books helped, and I didn't find it on the internet, either. How can such a prolific flowering shrub be left out? Does anyone know what this is?

Point Wilson Lighthouse

 This past Sunday we set out to spend a bright and sunny day with our friends, who live on the Kitsap Peninsula. They promised a trip to Port Townsend, a favorite of ours and theirs. We always like to look at this particular lighthouse, since it bears our name! Unfortunately I didn't get as many photos as I'd have liked. We were having too much fun talking and just being with our friends. The Point Wilson Lightouse is located in Fort Worden State Park, which, incidentally is the setting for the movie "An Officer and a Gentleman". It is just minutes from the historic seaport town of Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. On a cloudless day I believe Mt. Baker is visible from this point. We did see the gorgeous Olympic Mountains to the west.

 The lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, and was originally activated atop the lighthouse keeper's building in December 1879, and then moved to its current position in 1913. At 51 feet, Point Wilson Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in Puget Sound. From the main viewpoint the keeper's house is in the forefront. I would have liked to get just the lighthouse, but It would have taken a hike past some fences to get around to the other side. Though sunny, the day was cold and windy, and we didn't want to be outside for long!

 We did hike down to the beach behind the lighthouse. These are our dear friends, with their new hairdos arranged by the wind. Puget Sound is incredibly beautiful in any weather. We agreed, we could live there! Of course, we have an excuse to visit often with these special folks to show us around!

We ventured on to Diamond Point, the spit of land to the west of Point Wilson, to look at the KM Resort where our friends like to camp in their RV. We were treated to a delicious fish lunch at a unique, out-of-the-way restaurant, and then scrumptious latte´s next to an incredible store that specialized in bird feeders and bird supplies of all kinds, as well as some lovely gifts. When we walked into the store I saw this huge orange cat and immediately had to pet him and ask all kinds of questions about him. His name is Luther and he has his own Facebook page. The owners said that before they got him he was a prodigious bird hunter, but has been "on the wagon" for 10 years. No more birds for Luther, especially living in a bird supply store! Oh, yes, Luther and I are now Facebook Friends!

A Lesson from a Daffodil

Here at Lost Lake RV Resort we have an old, moss covered shelter that used to be a community picnic area, and is now used to house the workampers' golf carts. One day, being snoopy, I looked into a Chiquita banana box stored there. I saw that it was filled with bulbs — dry, sunless, waterless, abandoned, and I wondered why someone had not planted them last fall. Recently, looking into the box once more, I noticed that many of the bulbs had put out sprouts. I felt really badly. It bothered me. What could have been a whole garden of glorious spring flowers were sitting there wasted. So, I took one out and brought it home, curious to see what would happen if I planted it in a little dirt, watered it and gave it some light. I didn't expect much. The bulb was a tad soft, its one sprout was pale and thin, and the poor little thing had no roots whatsoever. I had no idea whether it might be a tulip, a daffodil, or some other spring flower. To my great surprise, almost immediately after I planted it, the sprout multiplied, put out a stem with a swelling that I knew was the flower, and literally within 7 days it put forth this little miniature daffodil, just a bit deformed but outdoing itself with that strong, wonderful daffodil fragrance! Amazing!

As the days have passed with no sign yet that the flower is fading, I kept thinking that there is a lesson here. In this world there are many, many people who have gotten a bad start in life, or have perhaps had a devastating experience in their adult lives. They've been abandoned, left without nourishment, perhaps abused, uprooted, neglected, and most of all, bereft of love, the sunshine of the soul. God looks into the box where they may be imprisoned, and knows what it will take to bring them out so they can fulfill their potential and be all that they were created to be. He puts them into the soil of His Word where their roots can grow down deep, finding nourishment and comfort. He waters them with His healing Spirit and brings them out into the brilliant sunlight of His indescribable love. He holds them and watches tenderly to see that they have all they need. As a result of His care these "people flowers" grow and have the beauty and the lovely fragrance they were destined to have, bringing joy to God Himself and to those around them.  

I was so encouraged by my tiny daffodil's new life that I took the whole banana box, dumped out the other bulbs under a fir tree beside the shelter, set them all upright and shoveled a fair amount of dirt around them, making sure the sprouts were above ground. I trusted the frequent rain to do the watering, and now I'm watching to see what will happen. My prayer is that I may be used by God to respond to need, especially among the "people flowers" I may encounter in my work or in my travels, expecting to see wondrous blossoms, always the work of God!

The Ocean!

 I had a hankerin' to see the ocean again, mostly for Mr. Keith, but for me also. Keith was raised in Santa Rosa California and got to go to the seashore regularly. He's been missing it since we've mostly been inland in our workamping jobs. So...the sun was shining and off we went! We made a stop in McCleary for a soda, and I enjoyed this mural on the grocery store wall.

 Another mural, this time in Elma.

 We decided, as we got to Grays Harbor, to go up the north side to Ocean Shores and then back around the south side to Westport. At last! The Ocean! The sand was packed so hard that many vehicles were driving on it, and the local seagulls were having a lucrative dining experience. We contributed a few bites of Keith's pretzels, of course! The tide was out and it was raining a tiny bit, so we didn't get out. We did relish the view and the brisk air.

 We traveled back around the Harbor to Aberdeen and got on the highway to Westport. I was determined to have fish so we found a little place called the "Fish Shack" in downtown Westport. I was not disappointed in this cod and fries meal. Mr. Keith, why on earth did you order chicken and fries? What were you thinking? I did let him have a bite of my cod, though.

 Before we started full timing in our 5th wheel I had a large collection of lighthouses. I found homes for most of it, and now  my lighthouse viewing is of the real thing, rare though it is. This is the Grays Harbor Light, and a popular tourist stop. I discovered it is the tallest lighthouse in Washington and the third tallest on the west coast.

 We talked with a workamper lady inside the Lighthouse and sighed, wishing that we could work at one of these beautiful historical icons. I stood in the center of the entryway, looked up, got dizzy, and snapped this photo. You can see a couple of hardy folks making the climb to the top. We didn't try, as I wasn't sure my legs would make it. 

A parting shot with me standing by the sign. Copied from Wikipedia: "Construction of the Grays Harbor Light began in 1897 and was first lit in 1898. Thirteenth Lighthouse District officials selected a site facing the Pacific Ocean, about 400 feet from water’s edge. Massive amounts of accretion, due in large part to the jetty system at the entrance to Grays Harbor, have since built up, and the lighthouse currently stands approximately 3000 feet from high tide." This lighthouse is still in use, though automated now. Seeing the ocean today was the high point of our trip, but seeing this lighthouse was certainly a close second.

Dependence

Psalm 62:5 is a commandment that David makes to himself. "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him." I find there is nothing better I can do for myself than this same thing, absolute dependency and surrender to God, believing that His way is best.



Verse 4 of the same Psalm has new meaning for me. "They only consult to cast him down from his excellency; they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly." If the "him" in this verse is applied to God, it presents a clear picture of what we in this country are doing to God--seeking to eliminate Him from all public places while continuing to give lip service.

 
Verse 11 says, "God has spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongs to God." Keith and I, now in our later years, have learned that everything we have comes from God. We own only our 5th wheel, our BigTruk and our little Focus as we travel to various campgrounds, working for minimum wage. This simple way of life is of our choosing. The beauty we see in each area, the people we meet, and our explorations make our choice completely worthwhile. We are poor by earthly standards, but rich in joy and contentment and peace as we depend totally upon His provision, especially during Keith's major illness. If we are tempted to trust in man and make our plans apart from God, while blessing with our mouths , we are delighting in lies, for without God we can do nothing. We cannot even choose where we pull our "house" next. He decides!

 
For me, Psalm 62 flows into Psalm 63. As I acknowledge my dependence and God's power, I begin to hunger and thirst to know more of God. "O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsts for thee, my flesh longs for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is"...v. 1. "My soul follows hard after thee: thy right hand upholds me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes." v.8-10. 



 Those things seeking to destroy my soul are unbelief, worry, temptation to other sins, the battle for my mind, etc. But as I stay in the Word, the sword of the Spirit defeats the enemy. As we make God's word our primary focus and seek to live  according to His precepts, wherever we may roam, He keeps us by His mighty right hand.



 Thank you, Jesus, for your Word, your power, your love for your children. Help us to be completely yours in every moment, every action of our lives, that your name will be honored.  Amen.

The Shack

 Bouncing through the underbrush in our golf cart out by the Lost Lake burn pile Mr. Keith and I came upon this old, moss covered, leaning shack. I can't see one of these relics without thinking about Wm. Paul Young's book "The Shack", which I enjoyed immensely several years ago. We couldn't resist walking through the abundant scotch broom to look inside. Too bad — there was nothing in there but junk piled up to the rafters and a few curious sounds of maybe a critter making a home there. The boards were coming loose and the floor had rotted away. 

Sometimes I feel somewhat like an old shack myself. This old house isn't as strong as it once was! I feel a little mossy, and I lean a little from Mr. Arthritis, tottering around with my cane. Like the shack, though, I'm in a beautiful setting, with tall fir trees, a meadow, and blue skies. 

Unlike the shack, I am not filled with junk — well, maybe a little, with some old memories I'd just as soon forget. I'm working on tossing all that out. I'm hoping, as in Mr. Young's book, that my house is filled with the glory of God, with contentment, with gratitude for life. My fireplace is burning warmly with the love of my family and friends. My heart is full with the wonders I've experienced in my life. My windows are clear and unbroken, allowing me to view the world with optimistic and wise eyes. This old shack will not crumble, but instead be made into an eternal dwelling place for all that is good, forever!