Now That's Country Living

We love to regale you with tales of the quiet life here on the Oregon Coast.  Locally sourcing our food listening to the sound of the ocean and smelling the clean air coming off it.  Sometimes country living can be a tad rougher.  Last week for instance;  A quick walk into the shed for some chicken feed was slowed by a offensive smell coming from the back room.  On closer investigation a tell-tale pile of leaves protruded from the space under sheets of plywood leaning against the wall. With no active critters in sight, although there was a dead rat, removal of the leaves/nest commenced.

By leaning the plywood backwards it was easy to start sweeping the leaves to one end.  Things got awkward when among the grey leaves a black bushy stick appeared and did not "sweep" with the rest of the leaves. A few more whisks of the broom revealed a white stripe and then a very dead skunk that was now a food source for fly larvae... an unpleasant sight to be sure.  The act of prodding the body out from under the ledge it once called home activated its death curse and an even more unpleasant odor that had to reach high heaven added to the overall ambiance of the surprise.  A gulp of air a hastily grabbed shovel full of skunk and it was a dash to the great out doors and a quick burial in the forest. 

Fortunately we had some Ozium left over from some of General Lee's skunk escapades and that was sprayed along with some lemon air freshener during mad dashes into the shed followed by a rapid retreat to fresh air.  After several days of this the last of the nest area was accessible enough for some hydrogen peroxide to be splashed around. A day later it was mild enough to sweep up and "By Grapthars Hammer We Live To Tell The Tale!"

OctoberFest in Oregon

So you want to enjoy a real OctoberFest? - Well you will have to come to Oregon next Fall.

Our resident expert on all things German (Sylvia) has never been to so many OctoberFest events in one year as she has along the SW Coast of Oregon!  Both events came with traditional Humpftata to entertain.

Our first stop this year was at the Honey Bear Campground in Ophir.  It is along a beautiful and isolated stretch of the coast.  When you come in the drive up to the facilities it is like a turn into a Black Forest Villa.  The food came in large and very traditional portions including Schweinshax'n, Rotkohl and Sauerkraut all with long tables of friends and wonderful beer

 The next OctoberFest was in Port Orford and put on by the Rotary as a fundraiser/auction. Again long tables of friends combined with great food and tremendous locally brewed Lager and Porter .  Frau Sylvia donated her old family recipe for Potato Salad that was used to feed the masses!