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.

The Tillamook County Fair

This year it's August 5th - 8th. That's this weekend! This years theme is "WHERE PIGS FLY." The fair board chose this theme because the Tillamook County Pig-N-Ford Association will be celebrating the 85th Anniversary of performing their World Famous Pig-N-Ford Races during the fair.

The 2009 Tillamook County Fair is said to be one of the best County Fairs in the state, if not in the nation because it is so unique and offers so much for visitors to enjoy. See all of the 4-H/FFA exhibits that Tillamook County residents have prepared for the fair. The dairy cow judging is a lot of fun. They describe the animaals in dairymens terms that are a hoot. Pari-Mutuel Horse Racing for you gambling types and what is a fair without a Demolition Derby.


Here at The Craftsman B&B, we love motorsports, we think the highlight of the fair is experiencing the excitement of the Pig-N-Ford Races, that pigs really can fly. This is something everyone will need to watch the Pig-N-Ford Races themselves to see "WHERE PIGS FLY". Come on down this weekend a see for yourselves.

Mothers Day Fundraiser

I came up with a great idea today. I was watching Mike read a story in our local paper about the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity. They are raising money to build a house in South Tillamook County. So I nudged Mike into raising funds for Tillamook Habitat for Humanity.

The Craftsman B&B thinks you should treat your Mother to a stay at the B&B. Any gift certificate purchase made today through Mothers Day, we will donate 20% of the gift certificate amount to Tillamook Habitat for Humanity. The money raised will be directed toward the building of a house in South Tillamook County.

Mike and Laura know about how construction costs go after restoring this house and feel they will need money more than anything.

The Craftsman B&B suggests you hug your mom, or "mother of your children," as they say in the Soaps, and give her a gift certificate and help them build a strong community. You can purchase online at their secure website page, or call the B&B at 503-965-4574.

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!

Nestucca Bay Wildlife Refuge

It's that time of year again.  Every night just after sunset the skies are full of migrating geese.  We have a local gaggle that hang around all year, but now, I'm talking a ton of geese.  They fly over the house, squawking at each other.  That is how they keep in contact in the dark.  They are flying back to  The Nestucca Bay National Wildlife Refuge after a day of flying and munching on their way South for the Winter.  Started in 1991, the refuge provides a sanctuary for a portion of the declining Dusky Canada Goose population and for the endangered Aleutian Cackling Goose. The Refuge has seen many changes over the years, including the recovery of the Aleutian Cackling Goose, Bald Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon, and the restoration of 82 acres of tidal marsh and 50 acres of forest land.  It was just for the birds, but now, they have developed it for people to visit too.

In 2004 the Oregon Dept. of Transportation awarded a grant to the USFWS to design and construct visitor facilities on the Nestucca Bay Refuge. The completed project includes two parking lots; a paved, wheelchair-accessible trail that leads to an elevated viewing deck; road improvements; interpretive panels; and a single vault restroom. The paved Pacific View Trail and Deck, perched atop Cannery Hill, affords visitors a sweeping view of the Pacific Ocean, Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge (Haystack Rock at Pacific City), Nestucca Bay Refuge, the Coast Range, and the Pacific Coast Scenic Byway, US 101.

Next weekend will be the Grand Opening!  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with the Pacific City Arts Association, will host a celebration of Wildlife and the Arts on Saturday, Oct.11.

The refuge will open at 9 a.m. Refuge staff will be around until 2:00 p.m. to answer questions and guide you through the area.  This is going to be exciting, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:45 a.m. Guided walks around the site will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Here is your chance to explore the new Pacific View Trail. 

Beginning at sunrise, the Lincoln City Chapter of the National Audubon Society will sponsor “The Big Sit,” a nationwide bird-a-thon, where the object is to tally as many bird species seen or heard during a 24-hour period while those recording sit in a 17-foot circle.

Here are some events that will take place next door to The Craftsman B&B at the Nestucca Valley Presbyterian Church (if their construction is done in time).  Most likely at The Bible Church next to the Post Office.

Beginning at 2 p.m., Roy Lowe, Project Leader for the Oregon Coast Refuge Complex, will present the “Natural History of Nestucca Bay Refuge." This visual presentation will include an historical background of the new refuge and why it is important to wildlife.

At 3 p.m. Jeni Foster, a lecturer on the Chautauqua circuit, will present “BirdSong: Birds as metaphors in American folk music,” a performance/lecture sponsored by PCAA. Foster will explore the symbolism of birds within the rich heritage of American folk music and illustrate how the dynamic language of metaphor is essential to poets and songwriters.

Numerous galleries, restaurants and businesses throughout Pacific City will be showcasing wildlife works of art. Enjoy touring all of them throughout the day beginning at 11 a.m.

The refuge is located on the west side of Highway 101, approximately six miles south of Pacific City. To visit the refuge, turn west off of Highway 101 onto Christensen Road and proceed a half mile to the parking lot. 

So make a weekend of it.  Stay with me, I don't think I'll ever get to go out to the Refuge, I don't think dogs, especially bird dogs are allowed.

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.

Tsunami in Pacific City?

Today, we ran a tsunami drill here in Pacific City.  Mike started getting phone calls about a week ago, warning him of the drill.  Tillamook county has a reverse 9-1-1 system.  It's pretty cool, the system calls you to tell you about potential emergency type situations.  The drill also took place in the North County town of, Manzanita.

The sirens are tested each month, the second Tuesday at 11:00.  We love the siren here in Pacific City.  It's a mechanical siren, so it starts off low pitched and increases.  It's a block away at the fire station in town, so we hear it pretty clearly.  The best part is when it's shut off, it takes about a minute to slow down.

So today, a tsunami will hit Oregon's coast, causing destruction throughout Tillamook County. Again, this is a scheduled drill, no War of the Worlds confusion here please.

Today's event will test warning systems and command teams. The sirens sounded and the reverse 9-1-1 calls were made just after 11:00 a.m.  Amateur radio operators also pitched in.  The guy from the motel across the street had a radio for our evacuation meeting place.

It took us 6 minutes to get to the top of the hill.  Mike gathered his bag, grabbed some water and his wind up radio.  I got hooked up to my leash and away we went.  Why didn't we bring anything else?  Well it was a drill and if we were to get hit by a Tsunami, all the houses between us and the beach would wipe us out.  Walking is the best plan and to carry all you think you need would be tough.  I think I'm going to get a backpack to carry with supplies for the family.

According to an article in the Tillamook Headlight Herald, volunteers from agencies throughout the county will be on hand to guide participants to various evacuation areas outside of the tsunami inundation zones. Participants will then be asked to fill out a survey, which will ask about tsunami preparedness. Although there is no penalty for those who choose not to participate in the drill, volunteers will also be on the streets and the beach, questioning people who do not evacuate.

The drill is meant to get residents throughout the coastal towns in Tillamook County to think about their preparedness for a tsunami. Is there a 72-hour kit in the car, at the office and at home? Do children know which evacuation site to go to in the event they're split from their parents?

Another goal is to get people thinking about preparing for the upcoming storm season. Sheriff Todd Anderson also hopes the drill will result in people thinking about their vulnerable neighbors who may be disabled or elderly.

If you live along the coast, you should pick up the new Get Ready! guide and take a moment to review these tsunami tips. If you're not "Red Cross Ready" yet, you can also learn how to get a kit, make a plan and be informed right here.

Thanks to a blog from the American Red Cross for information in my blog, posted by Lise Harwin.

Why I Love Tillamook County

Today Mike and I went for a drive in the truck.  As you know, dogs love trucks.  It was loaded up with a bunch of stuff Mike collected when they remodeled The Craftsman B&B.  As it turns out, he saved too much.  He save a bathroom vanity thinking he could use it as storage in the cellar.  Drawers don't work so well for the items we have stored down there so out it went to clear up some space.  Also collected was a massive cabinet Mike got when Wy'east / Arcentia moved from John's Landing to Milwaukie.  It didn't look that big when it was in a room with 18' high ceilings.  So after a e-mail to see if anyone wanted it, Mike stripped the hardware and in to the truck it went.  An old door and some luaun painted pink went as well.

We drove up the coast, through the fog, before heading inland.  The hotter it gets in the valley, the foggier it gets here on the coast.  Today 94º was forecasted for Portland, us here in Pacific City it's 65º.  So as we head inland it got a little warmer.  We drove past Whalen Island shroud in fog and the tide was in.  This is Mike's favorite spot on the coast.  He likes tidal flats, birds come and go depending on the tide.  The landscape changes every 11 hours or so.

Heading through the forest to the pasture land for Tillamook's dairy cows.  We turned off highway 101 on a little back road to the County Transfer Station.  Belted cow alert! (fixed link)  Mike put the wood in the recycle bin as I watched all the gulls.  They were very noisy.

As we try to be as green as possible, I knew there would be other stops.  When we make trips out of Pacific City, we combine many tasks, to save fuel and our carbon footprint.  Safeway was next.  I had to stay in the truck for this stop.  Mike ran in and got what he needed for our guests this weekend.  He wasn't long, I watched two guys eat their lunch standing next to motorcycles, one had a side car.  I'd like to go for a ride in a side car, as long as there is enough room for me to lay down and take a nap.

Next stop was lunch for Mike.  He got his usual and lucky for me, french fries.  I get to eat the "bagglers."

Out of Tillamook we saw the herd of elk taking it easy near the Air Museum.  Saw more cows and hanging out in his favorite spot, an Oregon State Police officer in a Suburban, their tricky.  So long to the sunshine for the day as we head back along the coast.  Windows rolled up, it's chilly.  Back home, Mike is working on signs for Oktoberfest this weekend.  

So, why do I love Tillamook County?  The drive to Tillamook says it all, coastal landscape, waves, fog and cool temprature.  Forrest drive and views.  Pastures where the cows are hard at work making the milk to make my favorite snack, cheese.  Elk inland where it gets a bit warmer and sunshine.  We have it all, just a 30 minute drive is all it takes to make you want to stay forever.  All I have to say now is, when's dinner?