Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Page A-9
Winding trails: by al Hobart
Thursday, August 25, 1966
Illinois Valley News
Guests of the
Davises’
The one-time wild and wooly
west may not be so wooly any
more, but there are still large areas
that, from the standpoint of physical
ruggedness, are plenty wild,
and the classical example being
Curry County, Oregon’s ragged
and rocky southwest corner. And
when two young ladies make their
first journey to the far west from
their home in far-off Wisconsin,
what could make their trip more
memorable than to be taken back
among the rough mountains and
deep canyons of Curry County’s
fascinating Chetco country?
The two young ladles here
referred to are the daughters of Ted
Markham, a recent Wisconsinite
who now belongs to the Valley and
is building himself a new home
here. Not long ago he went back
to Wisconsin and brought his two
girls, Koleen, 13, and Pamela, 11,
out for their first visit to the West
Coast. As guests of the Davis’s they
were given a taste of roughing it,
back in the peaceful, upside-down
country of Little Chetco.
Just being back from my
Rogue River boat trip I learned
that Perry and Ruth were in town,
and when later I called on them I
was invited to come out and help
entertain the two star guests. They
returned to Little Chetco that day
with their thrilled young visitors.
Next morning I tossed my packsack
and sleeping bag in to the jeep and
headed for Babyfoot Canyon–and
the new irongate–on my way to
Davis’s.
A diversionary sidelight of
my trip was a bit of interesting
entertainment provided by a shy
mountain bird called Townsend’s
Solitaire, who, in trying to draw
my attention away from her nest,
in effect pointed it out to me.
Somewhat smaller than a robin and
of more slender build, this solitaire
is modestly dressed in dull grayish
brown. Like the robin, it is a thrush,
the highest-dwelling of this large
group of birds. The female builds
her nest on the ground, usually in a
nice niche on a mountain road bank,
where if she remained perfectly
still, the nest would he overlooked
by passers-by. But invariably she
invites the attention to its location
by darting off and away just before
an intruder reaches the vicinity of
the nest.
In this nest 5 newly-hatched
babies, each covered with fine
long black hairs, much resembling
some kind of fruiting mold. Before
taking a flash picture of the nest
and its downy occupants I tried to
get the obstinate little rascals to
open their mouths by acting like a
worm (which was surprisingly easy
for me), but they didn’t seem to be
interested in either eating or getting
their pictures taken.
When at last I arrived at the
Davis hacienda I found the place
deserted– all hands were down at
the river panning gold. When the
merry crew trooped back to the
cabin I was let in on a wonderful
secret: the deep cold “refrigerator”
pool in the little stream beside the
cabin was half full of canned drinks
(soft of course) and the place was a
goldmine of all manner of delicious
food.
In true old-timer style, dinner
was prepared on the big outdoor
grill, and all too soon the mountain
of delicious food and the merry
gabbling were reduced to a pile of
messed-up dishes and the contented
sighs of near-satiety.
Heroines of the occasion Pam
and Koleen, finding themselves
suddenly and miraculously
transplanted into this wonderfully
strange and beautiful environment
were overwhelmed with admiration
– for Tsing, the Siamese cat!
Girls are as hard to understand
as women! True, this Tsing cat is
very affectionate, and can even
speak a few words of English; but,
after all, she’s only a mobile mouse
trap, and with all that marvelous
scenery around–oh, well.
In the evening we sat around
the campfire till dark, jabbering,
drinking and nibbling, then the
party broke up and all sought out
various places of rest for the night,
some outside and some indoors. The
girls, with their dad, slept in their
sleepy-bags out under the stars.
On the way out next day the
girls were introduced to the wee
solitaires, all of whom seemed
unimpressed except one precocious
youngster who opened one eye and
winked at his pretty admirers.
The girls rode most of the
long rough way out with me in the
jeep. When I asked them if they
didn’t think Little Toot was a very
easy-riding little car they suddenly
remembered what a wonderful,
lovable cat is Tsing.
Now Ted is taking his
daughters back to their Wisconsin
home, after their short and exciting
visit out west. And on the Little
Chetco, Ruth and Perry are
struggling with a new problem
that may turn out to be a toughie:
Should they try to regain their
rightful place in the household, now
that their cat has gone snooty on
them after the royal treatment she
received from Koleen and Pam; or
would it be simpler to just give up
and let Tsing rule the roost, like a
Siamese queen is supposed to.
ROGUE VALLEY Senior SPoTLiGHT
COUNCIL
OF GOVERNMENTS
Food & Friends Menu
FRIDAY – AUG 26
ORANGE GLAzED CHICKEN
MONDAY – AUG 29
T
SMOKEHOUSE CHOP
WEDNESDAY - AUG 31
CHICKEN CHIP SUEY
OVER RICE
If you need meals
delivered please call
541-955-8839.
Sponsored by the rogue Valley Council
Alzheimer’s disease and meds
confusion, and problems with thinking
Although current medications can-
and reasoning) of Alzheimer’s disease.
not cure Alzheimer’s or stop it from
As Alzheimer’s progresses, brain
progressing, they may help lessen
cells die and connections among cells
symptoms, such as memory loss and
are lost, causing cognitive symptoms
confusion, for a limited time.
to worsen. While current medications
Types of drugs
cannot stop the damage Alzheimer’s
The U.S. Food and Drug Admin-
causes to brain cells, they may help
istration (FDA) has approved two
lessen or stabilize symptoms for a lim-
types of medications — cholinesterase ited time by affecting certain chemi-
inhibitors (Aricept, Exelon, Razadyne) cals involved in carrying messages
and memantine (Namenda) — to treat
among the brain’s nerve cells. Doctors
the cognitive symptoms (memory loss, sometimes prescribe both types of
Sponsored by
of Governments
medications together. Some doctors
also prescribe high doses of vitamin E
for cognitive changes of Alzheimer’s
disease.
To learn more about these medica-
tions you can visit www.alz.org. The
Senior Bulletin
Alzheimer’s Association has a 24/7
Gatekeeper Training at
helpline that you can call at 1-800-
272-3900.
I.V. Family Coalition, 535
To learn more about local senior E. River St. Sept. 17 at 10
resources you can call the Aging and
a.m. in the River Room.
Disability Resource Connection at
1-855-673-2372.
I.V. Grief Support
Group: Last Thursday of
each month, 12-1:30 p.m.
Even if you only experience this once in a while, it is a
at the I.V. Family Coali-
good idea to wait after you stand up before walking. If
tion, 535 E. River St. For
you experience this dizziness often or if it ever causes
more information or an
you to doubt your ability to walk until it passes, having
something sturdy to hold on to right where you get up
appointment please con-
is a good idea. How about those slippery porch steps or tact Lovejoy Hospice at
that rickety step ladder or those sticks in the yard? There
541-474-1193.
are many things which can predispose you to trip and
fall. A safety survey and potential hazard clearance of
Free for Seniors
your surroundings is in your best interest.
Please remember that many medicines and intoxi-
If you are a senior and
cants can increase your likelihood of falling. In this hot
want to place a FREE
weather, drink plenty of water. Dehydration can make
AD for a living or health
you less stable on your feet and also remember that cold
care need call Laura at
drinks can cause “brain freeze.” This will certainly pre-
541-592-2541 or email
dispose you to falling.
i.V. Wellness resources
Preventing a fall:
Falling or tripping hurts. Sometimes falls cause seri-
ous injury. The potential for a fall, serious and minor, is
something seniors should have in mind.
Tripping over a pet happens quite often. Pets seek
our company and try to attract our attention, especially
if they want something from us. Trying to walk faster
than usual or walking with a mental preoccupation can
make us less wary. If one has a pet and is trying to move
quickly with their mind on something other than walking
safely, the potential for tripping over your pet increases.
The same is true for that carpet or rug which seems
to always catch your foot. Clearing the spaces you walk
through of potential hazards, anything which might
cause you to trip, is a good idea. Lightheadedness, feel-
ing dizzy, for example, when one gets up from sitting
or lying down can easily predispose someone for a fall.
This is especially true when getting up from bed a night.
(You can contact I.V. Wellness Resources at www.ivwell-
nessresources@gmail.com.)
laura@illinois-valley-
news.com.
their business.
Bottom Line: Avoid killing your business
Ad ve r t i s e !
Share your business with the community.
Contact the Illinois Valley News Today!
Call 541-592-2541 or
Email dan@illinois-valley-news.com