We Like Yogurt

Fort Humboldt

David spent the day doing living interpretation at a state historic park, Fort Humboldt. Wearing a soldier's cap, red suspenders, and boots entirely unsuitable for running over uneven ground, he played a day long pick-up game of baseball. They used the equipment (no gloves!) and rules of the mid to late 1800's, and included all comers who wished to participate. 

That's David in the black shirt.

David looked like he was having fun, so Zoe wanted to give it a try. With Daddy's help, and a gentle pitch from friend Jeff, Zoe was able to connect with the ball. She ran fast to first base, and was satisfied with her baseball debut.

Jeff, in the orange shirt, is the one who coordinated the town ball demonstration. Jeff and David have done this sort of thing before - more than a decade ago, in New Mexico. David also helped coach Tball when Jeff's daughters were young. Full circle!

I wondered - did the soldiers who once lived at Fort Humboldt ever have the leisure time and energy to play baseball? This the record does not reveal. Ah, well.

In addition to the baseball game, we watched soldiers in uniform doing weapon drills, and heard the bugler play. The kids checked out the tents (breezy, buggy, wet place to sleep, I surmise) and did a little laundry the old fashioned way. The young lady who helped Zoe with the washboard, wringer, and clothespins was wonderful.

We saw a guy dressed like a mountain man in buckskins and furs, and watched some quilters doing beautiful hand sewing. The kids played with wooden hoops and sticks. We briefly watched some cross cut saw and axe demonstrations. The big thrill in that was sitting atop an enormous log.  

This annual event at Fort Humboldt is called Dolbeer Donkey Days, and is actually a tribute to logging history. Zoe was hoping for actual donkeys, as in the four-legged mammal. She speculated that when we found David (who drove separately), he might be dressed like a donkey. 

She had to settle for a donkey engine. It's a steam powered winch, which in this setting was used for moving logs. There is a working example at Fort Humboldt. Also, a steam-powered train named Lucy. Lucy has a nice whistle, and a bell, and she pulls an open car for passengers to ride in. But poor Lucy is confined to a small Y of track. We went up each arm of the Y and back, pausing at the ends for switches to be thrown. We stood in line longer than we were on the train! But waiting in line was pleasant (Vincent got to look at tractor things while we stood there - log lifters, I think the sign said), and the ride was fun. Each time Lucy let passengers on and off, the engineer threw another log on the fire. 

So now we've seen Fort Humboldt in full glory. I didn't know it existed until just last week, and I never would have thought to take the kids there. For goodness sake, it overlooks the mall. But the view was remarkably easy to ignore when so many interesting things were going on up close. We had fun, and I think the kids got a lot out of it. So did the adults. I am reminded how luxurious it is to have a washer and dryer, and David is appreciating anew the wonders of ibuprofen. 

Ephemeral Art Installation

Gonna Need Some Sunscreen

Hot (Warm) Chocolate

Zoe dove right into her cup of chocolate deliciousness, but Vince just pretended to drink his. 

Licker

Zoe, referring to her helpful self: Good thing you have a licker to clean your tools!

Orange and Rose

I like to have a container of pretty flowers right outside the living room window, which looks onto the back patio. The frilly primroses of earlier this year are kaput. In their place now are some nemesia 'Angelart Orange' and alyssum 'Rose'. I put more of the same in the container by the front door, along with a spectacular columbine called 'Maroon Madness.' It's blooming profusely right now, and I'm told it will continue to bloom through the summer if I deadhead. 

Sweeties