Sunday Scribblings: Ask

our campsite at Potter's Pond on the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge

Any time a traveler comes across unfamiliar territory, you can assume a homesteader lived there if there are lilacs on the property. photo by kathystanczak.ca

The beautiful flowering bush just doesn't grow in the wild on its own very often. In the spot we camped this week we started seeing clues that somebody had once lived there. I wanted to ask somebody, " Who was Potter of Potter's Pond or who lived here before 1939 when they changed this to a wildlife refuge? "
After noticing the lilacs, we discovered pieces of hand- mixed cement around our site that led us to believe there was a foundation close to where we were camping. Further investigation by JEJ found a old shower drain and pipes. All these clues made us wonder just who had lived here before.
Later that day I took a hike through the grassland into the cedar grove. There was quite a find, but I had to go back and ask JEJ just what in the world I had found. He always seems to know about things like this.There was a cement- like trough with moss and water that flowed down toward our camp site. It wasn't running much water this time of year.He explained it was an underground spring and the inhabitants of this land put in their own hand- mixed cement holding tank that kept water close to where they were living. It was like stumbling across another place and time. I was amazed how the whole thing had been preserved.I am sure the trees around the spring have grown. I am also sure the water has dried up a bit. Now I want to ask more questions and find out if there was a cabin or homestead at this site. Did they stay after it became a refuge, or did they have to move? Does Potter's Pond right by our site have anything to do with what we found? This week I hope to find some answers.
To find other Sunday Scribblings about ask go here.
this morning after the thunderstorm as the mist lifted at Potter's Pond

Camera Critters: Perfect Pose

Potter's Pond, northeastern Washington

Yesterday while in the cedar grove Annie thought she became a hound and it was time to tree "something" that moved in the boughs. We never discovered the "something", but she was determined to figure it out. To find other Camera Critters go here.

Photo Hunt: Dark

The other evening we hiked deeper into the cedar grove close to where we were camping. The trees blocked out the sun and created a dark, mysterious forest.
To find other photo hunts using dark go here.

Off to the Cedar Grove and Early Birthday to The Princess

We are heading out camping so I won't be near a computer for a couple of days. Tomorrow on the 8th day of the 8th month in 2008 my niece The Princess will turn 18! Happy Birthday early! As you move into the next chapter of your life may all your wishes and dreams come true!

Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge: A Gem in the Rough of Northeastern Washington

The Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1939 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge is over 40,000 acres in size and is 13 miles southeast of Colville, Washington in Stevens County. We had traveled there once before, but when the temperatures hit the 90's today, we decided it might be a road trip that would be a bit cooler. We loaded up dogs, chairs, a cooler, maps, and cameras for an afternoon road trip. It is easy to find and the roads are well marked. Our first point of interest was McDowell Lake. We didn't find it last time we toured through the refuge. Once we found it we understood why. You drive above the lake to an overlook and can only get down to the shoreline by hiking. Motorized boats are not allowed. We also learned today that swimming in not allowed in any of the lakes in the refuge. I just took pictures from the overlook. The trails down the steep bank were a bit intimidating. I was stunned by the beauty of the lake. I felt like I had stumbled back in time to a place people had not inhabited. There was an island and a tree-lined lake shore. Next we found Potter's Pond and Bayley Lake. Bayley Lake had dried up considerably from the last time we were there. It said no swimming, but we couldn't have reached water if we wanted. Potter's Pond is set up with a wildlife viewing place. We didn't hang around because of the dogs. Others were there viewing and probably didn't want the wildlife to take off because of two leashed, but excited dogs. All along the refuge there are primitive campgrounds. They are each set up with a fire pit and a clearning, but that is about it. We rested across from Potter's Pond at this campsite. The landscape changed. It was cooler as we set up our chairs next to the cedar grove. JEJ found a good place to rest. As I hiked in to the cedar grove to take pictures it was like an enchanted forest. The nice part of the whole day is how few people we encountered. After spending time in this quiet retreat among the cedars we decided to return tomorrow for a camping trip. I can smell the cedar again already! To learn more about the Little Pend Oreille National Wildlife Refuge you can go here.

Rekindling the Light

Picking Honeysuckle by Sophie Anderson

" Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light." Albert Schweitzer

I am blessed by an amazing group of friends I have met through blogging. This is a circle of friends I have never met, yet feel I know as well as friends I chat with after church on Sunday. I didn't expect this to happen through blogging. There have been many days when my light has been rekindled by reading a blog post, looking at a beautiful photograph, reading a newly composed poem. receiving a surprise in the mail, hearing about an award, or even winning a giveaway!
The surprise in the mail came from my friend Marcy at My Knitting & Other Stuff. I had gotten an email from her saying she was sending me a gift she saw at a church bazaar and as soon as she looked at it, it said "inland empire girl" to her. The gift was a beautiful book called A Victorian Posy : Penhaligon's Scented Treasury of Verse and Prose. The book is full of lovely Victorian pictures including the one above. It is also filled with poems and prose about the four seasons of the year and.... the book is scented. Every time you turn a page the scent of your grandmother's garden surrounds you. Thanks again Marcy. Here is a verse from "The Autumn":

Go sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.
The summer sun is faint on them-
The summer flowers depart-
Sit still- as all transformed to stone,
except your musing heart.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
This colorful award helped rekindled the light also. Rosanne at Firefly Nights bestowed it upon me. This is part of what she said about my blog. " Since I have many fond memories of state park camping trips in a Coleman pop-up, I enjoy reading about her outings in the family’s Jayco. She always tells us some of the history of the regions she travels through in addition to sharing many photos. " She did make my day and thanks for the award.

My last rekindling of the light came when I won a giveaway. I had won a handmade sampler last year from my friend La Tea Dah, but this was a photo giveaway from Rebecca at Rambling by Reba. You can go here and see the photo I won. It is the first one of the yellow leaf. I will have my own framed print to enjoy myself. Thanks again Rebecca for doing such a fun giveaway.

Go visit these blogs and you will see why they rekindle my light. Again, thanks to each of you.