Tillamook County Quilt Trail

Looking for a way to see inland Tillamook County? More than just looking at all the cows? We all know the main draw around here is the beach. We suggest you also adventure out on the Tillamook County Quilt Trail.

So here is how the trail got started: identify historic barns and other buildings in Tillamook County, enhance with a large painted wooden quilt block, share the history of the dairy farms and quilts through a self-guided tour for visitors and celebrate our Rural Heritage.

This idea, first voiced by Marti Rhea, has become a reality through a coalition of local citizens and organizations: the Farm Bureau, Tillamook County Dairy Women, Latimer Quilt & Textile Center, Tillamook Area Chamber of Commerce, the 4-H Leaders Association, the Fair Board and the Tillamook County Historical Society. Together, they put the plan into action.

The first Quilt Block Trail on the West Coast, Phase I was central Tillamook County. For Phases II and III the hope is to expand the Quilt Trail to North and South Tillamook County, that's where The Craftsman B&B is located. Phase I of the project began on January 4, 2009 and the goal was to have quilt blocks in place by the opening day of the Tillamook County Fair in August of 2009. Well they pulled it off! Twelve blocks are in place. Stop by the Chamber of Commerce, next to the Tillamook Cheese Factory, for a copy of the Quilt Trail brochure, which provides not only the route, but a history of the farms showcasing a quilt block. I'll be taking this tour soon and will post some pictures of the adventure.

This project captures a unique heritage, by combining the art of quilting and the rich history of the dairy and agricultural presence in this community. Most of the quilt block patterns come from “Patterns for an Oregon Quilt,” a book available at the Latimer Quilt & Textile Center and itself derived from a book by Eula M. Long. Many of the patterns were designed exclusively for Oregon.

When you're done with the tour, stop in at The Latimer Quilt and Textile Center is located at 2105 Wilson River Loop Road, Tillamook, OR 97141, also close to the Cheese Factory. www.latimerquiltandtextile.com

Better than S'mores

I'm not a big fan of S'mores. I know, an innkeeper that doesn't like coffee and now this? I don't mind chocolate, I have never had a craving for it and don't seek it out, yet another nontraditional trait of an innkeeper. Oh, and marshmallows, don't get me started. Besides the game "fuzzy bunny" I don't go near them. Graham crackers, not a staple of my pantry.

My guests last night at The Craftsman B&B had a great, alternative beach snack. They got Tillamook Cheese, a loaf of crusty bread, a beer and a tin can. They made a fire on the beach, melted the cheese in the can, with a little splash of beer to get it nice and creamy, and dipped with the bread. Mmmm, tasty, I'll call it Hobo Fondue.

Now cheese fondue, that's a great snack, appetizer or meal. Made the French or Bavarian style, it's soooo good. A trip to Portland, for me, usually includes a meal at Gustav's and Fondue for a start of a great meal. I used to work near Gustav's and ate there at least once a month, it's all about the cheese.

Now you may know that I'm a little bit competitive, so of course there are rules to fondue. The one rule I have always lived with is the first person who drops their bread in the fondue pot has to pay the tip on the dinner bill. But a little research truned up a few more rules via Martha Stewart:

Rule 1: If a woman drops her bread in the fondue pot, she has to kiss every man at the table.

Rule 2: If a man drops his bread in the fondue pot, he has to buy a bottle of wine for everyone at the table.

Rule 3: If someone drops two pieces of bread in the pot, they have to plan the next fondue party.

Martha's Tip: Make sure you invite men you want to kiss to your fondue party.

Next time your in Pacific City, without the kids, yearning for a beach fire, but not the "usual campfire snack" try the Hobo Fondue, then back to your cozy room at the B&B.

Tillamook Cheese is 100 years old

As you may know, I am not allowed in the kitchen here at The Craftsman B&B.  We have 2 entries into the kitchen, a solid swinging door that leads into the dinning room and a swinging gate Mike built that leads to the back hall and pantry.  This gate has copper pipes, kind of like a jail door.  I like to lay in the back hall and watch what is going on in the kitchen.  I especially hang out there when I smell cheese.  Mike and Laura cook with a lot of cheese.  We live in the best place for cheese in the country, so if I'm lucky, a piece of cheese will come flying in my direction.

Well, if you love cheese as much as I do, willing to beg for it, you should come visit me, stay the night and go to the first of many celebrations slated for 2009 as The Tillamook County Creamery Association is finally kicking off its 100th Anniversary this Friday, Feb. 6.  This particular party gets started at 10 a.m., and runs through 4 p.m., at the Visitors Center in Tillamook, Oregon. Activities will include cheese sampling, photo opportunities with Tillie the Cow and other activities throughout the day.

The main attraction will be the unveiling of the new historical display and the release of limited-edition products, including the 100th Anniversary Wheel, a traditional, wax-dripped two-pound round of 3-year naturally aged vintage white cheddar nestled beautifully inside a wooden crate.

Speaking of the anniversary, the Creamery announced the winner of their first consumer ice cream naming contest.  Nathan Rytting of Emporia, Kansas came up with the scrumptious suggestion of “Sweet Centennial,” and beat out hundreds of entrants to win a gift basket filled with an array of Tillamook goodies. Sweet Centennial will hit Northwest grocery store freezer aisles in Spring 2009.  The anniversary ice cream flavor consists of rich vanilla ice cream swirled with brownie batter and peanut butter-filled chocolate cows. Attend Friday's kick-off event for the opportunity to sample the new flavor in addition to other Tillamook products.

To find out more about Tillamook Cheese, read my post here.

So if you do attend any of the events at The Creamery this year, I expect, out of the kindness of your heart, a sample of the cheese, I love cheese!

I Love Cheese

I love cheese!  It's one of the people food's I get to snack on every now and then here at The Craftsman B&B.  I am not allowed in the kitchen, so Mike built a gate that separates the kitchen from the pantry.  When there is cheese out, I know it.  I lay in front of the gate and hope a piece is sliced just for me.  Mike and Laura like cheese too.  Laura prefers cheese to chocolate.  I know, some of you can't believe it, but it's true.  I sure am glad I live in Tillamook County, home of the best cheese in the country.  Don't believe me, our guests seem to think so.

One of the family traditions in Oregon is to take the kids to the Tillamook Cheese Creamery and Visitors Center.  School buses from camps and day trips to the Oregon Coast stop for the tour.  So all these kids grow up and want to return.  They take the tour and get an ice cream cone.  It's a good spot for lunch as well.  When Mike and Laura were working on the house, there was a lot of demolition and trips to the County transfer station.  They would reward their careful loading of the truck and dump of the junk with lunch at the Farmhouse Cafe inside the Creamery.  Try the Tillamooker, Mike's favorite with Tater Tots.  My friend Jackson, likes the Pacific, a grilled cheese with shrimp.  Mike also gets 2 large chocolate milks and skips the ice cream cone for dessert.

The self guided tour takes you through a view area's that show videos of life at the dairy and milking machines used to get all the milk, the best part is the name of one machine: BouMatic.  Mike loves made up words in marketing and advertising.  So after that, it's upstairs to overlook the packaging line on one side and the cheese making on another.  Back down stairs through the tasting area, try the squeaky cheese!  As all factory tours, it ends in the company store.  Buy some black label cheddar, Mike's cousin Brad from San Diego was so happy to get a loaf when he came to help paint for a weekend.  I like it all.

So the best part is how the Creamery works.  It is a  farmer-owned cooperative that was formed back in 1909. It grew out of the desire on the part of a handful of farmers to ensure that the cheese produced in the area was of the absolute highest quality.  Now the Tillamook County Creamery Association has expanded to approximately 130 dairy families.  It is the largest employer in Tillamook County.  Most people work at the Creamery or on the dairy farms. Profits from the cooperative go back to the farmer-owner to help keep their dairies economically sustainable.

So the dairy farmer needs land and cows.  They work on preserving the land and keeping healthy cows.  They also need people to process the milk and do a lot for the community.  We like looking at all the cows when we drive around.

OK, now for some "cow tips."  No, cow tipping is not a good thing to try, now matter what the beer gods may have whispered in you ear. 

#1 The line at the ice cream counter can get long, if you go upstairs, like you are going on the tour, they sometimes open an additional ice cream scooping area.

#2 Cheese need to be refrigerated, if you don't have a way of keeping to cool, don't buy more that you can eat in a day.

#3 If you are going to have lunch, they have menus at the counter, grab one while you wait in line and have someone decide what they are going to get and have them look for a table.  Turnover is good, you will find a table before you get your food.

#4 Dessert?  The slowest eater has to decide on the ice cream and hold the table while others stand in line.  Don't forget tip #1.