Potlatch Tree Farm in Oregon

Every time we drive to Spokane on I-84 and go past the Irrigon exit, we pass a huge farm of hybrid-poplar trees. It's probably about a mile wide and who knows how far back it goes. It was a mystery to us, as we drove by, wondering what all those trees were for - rows and rows and rows, all the same, only a slightly different (where the branches started growing on the trunks, some groves lower, some higher). We could see a name from the highway, or just a big sign -- "Potlatch". Then one day, a section of the trees disappeared and a sign read "Harvested 2002". Hmmm.

So, one day, I got off the nearest exit and followed the signs that said "office". As I drove down the small paved road, going deeper into the forest of trees, a clearing appeared and there were trucks being filled with the trunks of newly chopped trees, and then I saw the trucks that were chopping the trees down.

Finally, I saw a huge warehouse, with trucks going in and out, and a smaller building, that must be the office, so I pulled into the parking lot.

As I got out, a scruffy looking fellow walked near me, so I asked him what was this place. And he told me the trees were an experiment for paper pulp. They were trying to find a fast way to grow trees to make paper pulp quicker, cheaper, and in great mass. He also said there was a creek that ran through the property and there were lots of wildlife there -- deer, elk, small animals and even cougars/mountain lions. The man was nice, he was even from my neck of the woods - he did have a hard-luck story to tell, but now he was happy working there - it was seasonal work, but good.

Anyway, now, as we drive by, I know what it is all about. I can tell when new trees have been planted, harvested, and in the winter, you can look down the rows and see inside the mystery forest.
BTW - now it has been bought out by another company, Greenwood Tree Company. Google it.

Teabag Folding

Well I mentioned in the last post how I like to do teabag folding - here's a video on doing the craft with round paper instead of squares - it makes an interesting medalion. Then browse around there at youtube and you'll find more videos on folding. I plan on making some as ornaments, maybe, later this year. I have a huge supply of books and paper, so I need to do something with it! Most people make cards, (like in the photo) so I want to do something different.

Making Mandalas

I like doing paper crafts -- teabag folding is my favorite -- but I found that making mandalas out of my photographs is a lot of fun too! I like the kaleidoscope-looking of it. I haven't printed any out yet, because my printer doesn't do photos well, but I like looking at them. The link in the title goes to one of the many how-to pages on the internet. Try it! You'll like it!

My Gambling

Me and my mom go gambling a lot - we go to area Indian casinos and have a lot of fun! And when we drive up to/back from Spokane, most times we stop at the casinos on the way. On I-5, there is the Rolling Hills Casino in Corning, and the Seven Feathers near Ashland, OR. On highway 97, there is Klamoya near Klamath Falls, OR. Then there is one called the Wild Horse Casino near Pendleton, OR, but that's off the regular route.

We mostly play blackjack and I play paigow now, and only do the slots a few times - they're kind of boring.

Most times we break even or lose, but there are times when we do win. You can't make a lot of money doing this - only if you win the big bonuses in paigow - so, we won't be getting rich!

But we have fun and it's a way of relaxing for us.

Now, we aren't gambling away "needed" money - we've done our budgeting and we've alotted a certain amount for this gambling fun. There aren't many other expenses that we have that are "fun", basically just traveling, so gambling is what we do. So no lectures please!

When I want to discover what casinos are on the route we're taking, I check this website -- Indian Casinos.com - and then search for the state we're in.

That's it.