Joesph Oregon

   

"Rolling Thunder and Toma" by Dave Manuel

On a recent trip to visit my dad who lives in Wallowa County, Oregon, we wandered the streets of Joesph, named for old and young Chief Joesph who were the chiefs of the band of Nez Perce who lived along rivers and the lake during the summer months, grazing their horses on the meadow grass and lived in the canyons of the Snake, Imnaha, and Grand Ronde rivers in the the cold winter months.

The town of Joesph, population 1,054, has gone from a lumber and tourist town to a tourist and art mecca. Walking the streets there are a large number of art galleries, knick knack and souvenir shops, and restaurants. The town sits on the only road to pristine Wallowa Lake. A clear blue lake of melted snow from the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

"The Sentinel" by Austin Barton

The streets of Joesph are lined with flowers, trees, brickwork, and bronze statues depicting the area. The statues are donated by the artists. There is a man on a bucking horse, a farmer and his dog, Young Chief Joesph, and Young Joesph and his wife Springtime. Along with other statues.

Walking the streets was relaxing and enjoyable and brought back memories of  picnics at the lake and Chief Joesph Day parades we watch when I grew up in the county.

The statue "The Sentinel" by Austin Barton has been my favorite ever since I saw it at my brother's art studio. He molds, welds, and patina's bronze pieces for other artists and creates his own statues. But "The Sentinel" spoke to me and when my first mystery is out you will recognize a statue in the story that is similar to this one.

If you haven't visited NE Oregon and Wallowa County you are missing out on beautiful scenery, relaxed atmosphere, and crystal clear air. There is a reason the white man didn't start homesteading in the valley until the 1860's. It is surrounded by mountains, deep gorges and wide raging rivers. It is an isolated area which many of the locals like even if their main means of income is tourism now that the logging has dwindled.

Friday Faves

This bronze is by Austin Barton and is called "The Sentinel" My brother did the patina on this piece and I have LOVED this from the first time I saw it in his studio.

Today my friend and I are headed to Portland to shop and then attend the Romance Readers Luncheon tomorrow.

Last night I met with a writer who moved from Portland to Redmond and is trying to hook up with a critique group. She visited with a fellow RWA chapter mate of mine at the Portland RWA chapter meeting last Saturday and Jane told her about me and in turn e-mailed and told me about Kimila. She's a nice lady who writes Romantic Suspense and short stories. I volunteered to hopefully help her find some critique partners in the area.

We finally had some sunshine and 60 degree weather!!!!!!!! I was beginning to think we were never going to shed our sweatshirts again!

Heard from a past 4-Her who is dancing with a ballet in NY. She is a sweet girl who loves to dance.

I had two AHA moments with the WIP this week and managed to punch out 40 pages. I'm at the halfway point and this is when the story starts really flying onto the pages. I would like to have the first draft of this done by the time my company arrives on May 11th. Because with three grandchildren running around I know I won't get much writing time!!

How did your week go?