Today's great trip to Darrington took the mystery out of what it is that has kept Gordon and Alice volunteering for the U. S. Forest Service, year after year. Their two week assignment is to help restore the Green Mountain Fire Lookout. The 1933 fire-detection observation post was built by the CCC and used by the U. S. Army during World War II as part of the Aircraft Warning System. The lookout was perched at the 6,500-foot level at the end of a four-mile hike in the Glacier Peak Wilderness. It received funding from "Save America's Treasures", from Snohomish County, and Washington Trust for Historic Preservation.

The base of the reconstructed fire lookout

    Restoration started on site, but it became obvious the whole structure was threatened by snow load, so the Forest Service dismantled the lookout and flew it off the mountain to Darrington Ranger District for further restoration.
    When completely restored, it will be taken apart (it is now put together with screws) and rebuilt at the same place on Green Mountain where it will be made available to rent to hikers for overnight stays. It will be refitted with the original equipment, including a big circular map of the surrounding area and special equipment that let them pinpoint where smoke plumes were seen.
    When we got there, Alice was busy reglazing windows that were removed last year. Having to learn the process from scratch, she is now doing a beautiful job. These windows are made up with multiple panes of glass, so it is a tedious and pains-taking operation..... which she says is just right for her. She loves detail work, and it shows.

Alice getting plenty of advice...

    Gordon was with another group of volunteers who will figure out how to replace some deteriorating logs that are the foundation for a huge barn on the ranger station property. That was where all the mules were housed that were used in the many projects of the Forest Service in that area over the years. I think he said the barn was originally built in 1913. It is huge. Because it is "restoration", they will find trees that will work, cut them down, and they will be "finished" using axes and adzes as were the originals.

The Forest Service barn

    Gordon and Alice's volunteer time was for just two weeks, so what they have done will be carried on by the next set of volunteers that come. They have done searching for old settlements, archeology, trail cutting and rebuilding, and all sorts of things. No wonder they stay interested.
    John and Nan drove us up there and Hildy and Dan joined us, too. We bought lunch from a deli and shared it with Gordon and Alice in that lovely wooded place. 'Twas fun.

    Dave retired from Boeing last Thursday, August 28! Maybe you don't think that made us feel old! Made us stop and remember that we have been retired since 1979, 24 years! Boy! Now I really feel up there agewise!
    We are very happy for Dave. He has lots of plans for his future, including his own testing company, which has been sorta in limbo for the last few years. Last I heard, he has already landed a contract.
    Vern and I took him, Anne, and Ryan to dinner at Anthony's to celebrate the occasion. He described his last two days at work as he visited shop after shop where he has been employed most of the time since he worked summer jobs there, starting in 1966, while at the U. Of course, he wasn't there while he was in Navy Air Corps (joining at age 23) for a few years.
    He and Anne spent the holiday weekend at her beach place and Ryan returned to college at Washington State.

Got this from Hildy:
    Thru no fanfare of his own, which is par for the course, Jeremy and band, Siamese, are on their second tour. (Mom Hildy found out by accident.) The schedule looks much more reasonable with a month spent in the NY, PA, VA, MD area. They play again at the 13th Floor on Sept. 4th and October 2 in Baltimore, MD. Check out www.SiameseBeat.com

    Dale Withrow's daughter, Jamie, age 14, was very recently accepted at MSSD (Model Secondary School for the Deaf) situated on the Gallaudet University campus. She'll be a freshman (person) Ha! Anyway, she's excited. Good luck, Jamie!

    Note from John-R says he is displaying the "bubbles" picture tht Hildy shared with all of us through e-mail in his home He also says they will be out on a couple of short cruises, taking up the month of September, but then will be back in San Diego for most of the rest of his time with his present command. Good to hear from him. He and I exchanged complaints that the weather is too darned hot.

    Must share this with you-all. Just had a call from Nancy. She was sitting on a cot she has set up in their back yard to sleep on since they are trying to get their newly adopted doggie, "Pup-pup", to re-accept her dog house in its new situation. She won't go near it, even though it was hers for all the years she lived with Nan's sister, Debbie. In the background, I hear doggie barks and some growling. Seems the barks are coming from Pup-pup, who comes running up to complain to Nancy. The growling, (now get this!) is from John, who is down on his hands and knees with his head inside the dog house, trying to make Pup-pup concerned enough to challenge his right to be there. So far, she just takes her complaint to Nan. Won't he be surprised if she gets upset enough to nip the part that is sticking out of the dog house? Might I suggest a psychiatrist for either one or both of them? Makes a great picture in your mind, though, doesn't it?

    I shall end on that note.

    Dixie/Dorothea, Senior Editor

    Hard to believe we are nearly at the end of August! That beautiful wedding seems as though it happened just yesterday. Of course, having all the CDs of pictures to "leaf through" keeps it very fresh in our minds. And, we haven't seen Dave's or the professional photographer's yet.

    Hard, also, to believe Vern and I danced at the wedding. We have been limping and shuffling around ever since.

    One memory I will keep forever is of me trying to convince Heather that I couldn't take her wedding bouquet and of Heather being just as sure she wanted us to have it. I have plans for it.

    Shortly after the wedding, Vern and I went out and had dinner with Margaret (the Miggs in my stories). She has a live-in caretaker, now, and I am much happier with her situation. Pat fixed a very nice salmon dinner. Margaret's daughter and son-in-law, Susie and Larry Thompson were there, and Dave came, too. I can understand why Margaret doesn't want to leave her nice home on Lake Sammamish. We had a great visit about the old times.

    August 17 was John's birthday. He and Nan joined Anne and Dave at Anne's beach place for a laid-back, relaxed weekend. Just what he wanted. I know it was a Happy Birthday, John.

    My writing got some neat attention this month. Memories of the Northeast Improvement Club (where Florence and I went dancing in the early 1930s) was published in the August issue of the Seattle Sun newspaper, and HistoryLink published my story about the streetcar wreck that changed our family's life by the permanent damage my Dad suffered when the car tipped over and broke against a telephone pole. My story triggered an historically researched account of the event, as well.

    Then, John asked their editor how to research for information about the bank holdup I experienced, but haven't been able to pin down the time it happened. Surprise! One of their researchers checked it out and that story is now also on HistoryLink, complete with pictures from the newspapers of the time and documentation!

    August 20, 2003
    The Duck ride! What a raucous, raunchy, noisy fun time that was! History House combined the August board meeting with a 2 1/2 hour trip on the sightseeing Duck, an amphibious landing craft that took us, music blaring and passengers acting like lit-up teenagers (and loving every noisy minute of it) through Ballard, over and around Queen Anne Hill, along the edge of Elliott Bay, over the Fremont Bridge, over to a launching ramp and into the canal with a splash and on...and on.... Duck noisemakers racketing all the time.

                                                                  Photos, Paul Nordstrand
I CAN'T BELIEVE WE DID THAT! Hope we can do it again, next year!

   August 22, Kirby and I had lunch at Debby's Cafe at Drift On Inn. Good Santa Fe Scramble. We talked and talked..... and talked. We never seem to run out of words. Must do that again, soon.    

     Last Tuesday, Hildy came in and we had brunch at the Blue Star. I introduced her to the Brazilian Omelet with fresh fruit that Vern and I like so well. She has a lovely baritone voice from her cold. While we were at Blue Star, Vern met with his friends Jim Laurine, Pat McClain, Roger Miller, and Bill Sroufe. These are all friends from his high school days.

Dixie/Dorothea, Senior Editor

    Heather Mary Lightfoot and Thomas Earl Withrow, Jr. were married in a unique and beautiful ceremony, today.


                                                                        Photo, Paul Nordstrand

For more photographs, see My Family Snapshots to left

    It was a wonderful, unforgettable day to remember forever. The weather, which had been teasing with tiny showers of mist, put on a sunny face so that it could be held outdoors, as they had hoped. A white arbor, decorated with twirls of white tulle and bunches of intensely sky-blue hydrangeas made the background for the bridal party. White chairs and benches were set on the green lawn for those of us who were there to watch the joining of two very special people in marriage.

    Pastor Paul Wiebelhaus, whose signing was strong and dramatic, was the officiant performing the ceremony. His signs were interpreted, even though he speaks perfectly well, to keep the marriage specifically for Heather and Thomas. Their vows to each other were obviously meant just for each other by their signing. It was lovely.

    Heather's wedding dress might have been designed for her. It suited her perfectly, with its simply cut, fitted satin bodice and flowing skirt and train. The wide, deep neckline displayed her Greek goddess throat (not to mention the sparkly silver necklace and earrings that were Gma and Gpa's special gift to her). A coronet of tiny flowers sat squarely over her forehead, framing a face that manages, somehow, to be beautiful and impish at the same time. Thomas was very handsome in his black tux, which accented his fair coloring.

    Bride's attendants, Misty Flowers (Maid of Honor), Tammy Murphy, and Dawn Jani Birley, wore gauzy gowns in lilac hue and groom'smen, Sam Sonnenstrahl (Best Man), Mike Weinstock, and Willy Moers, all looked great in black tuxes. Paul and Liz' daughter, Zoe, was a charming, pixie flower-girl, strewing petals of blue hydrangea. Amanda and Briana, Steve and Marcia's twin daughters, passed out pretty, triangular mystery packages, which, when opened freed butterflies to flit and dance, as though joining in the joy of the occasion.

    Jeremy and Jack, Heather's brothers, recruited a friend and put on music for dancing, later in the evening. Jeremy plays bass guitar and sings, Jack is a jazz drummer, and their friend plays lead guitar and sings. That was fun.

    We enjoyed getting to know Thomas' family; his father, Thomas Earl Withrow, Sr., his mother, Elaine, and his brother, Dale. I was happy to meet his Uncle Frank, with whom I have been exchanging e-mails for some time.

    A funny note..... Our John-Robin, immaculate in his dress white Navy uniform, was deligated to deliver the bride and groom to where their car was parked, so they could drive away unhindered. Unfortunately, somebody forgot to put their car out there, so, after driving around looking for it, he had to bring them back to where it was parked.....just outside the place where the wedding took place.

    Oh, well, every wedding has to have something funny, doesn't it?

August 15, 2003

    Had a phone call from Russ from the Grand Canyon! His friend, Mark, whom we met last year when he came out with Russ, had called him to say his car, with him inside, had been hit by lightning and was completely scrambled. He needed a ride from Durango to Flagstaff, Arizona, where he attends college. Can you believe he was not hurt? It seems a miracle.

    Of course, Russ hopped into his ailing automobile in Gunnison, Colorado, and drove down to help him. Something has been bugging Russ' car, so that it runs for about 45 minutes, then shuts down. Russ' car ran just fine the whole time, so now he thinks it is because he was doing a good deed. Sounds right to me!

    He is going back to Gunnison by way of the Grand Canyon, where he plans to run down to the bottom and climb back up all in one swoop. Then he said he might climb a couple of mountains he has to pass on his way home. Makes me tired just to write about it.

    Lots more news, but I'll save it for next time

Dixie/Dorothea, Senior Editor

    Just received phone call from Russ, from Gunnison, Colorado, where he is all signed up and ready to begin classes at Western Colorado University, a small college; 2500 students. He says he will be happy there in the middle of the mountains. The school has a cross-country ski team that has done well in competition.

    His small apartment is in a one story tall court built in the shape of a U. his number is #11. I forgot to ask how many units there are. He has a living room, bedroom, kitchen, bath and some storage, and has it all to himself. He is savoring that privacy, not having had any for so long.

    When we finally got around to discussing his major, he says it will be in history, he is quite sure. He will be starting as a third year student, being given credit for his classes at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado, where he began his college years.

    August 6 is HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAY for Megan, so, here are Best Wishes from your whole family, honey. Have a lovely day.

    Thursday, John and Nan and I went down to Sharon Nancarrow's in Tacoma to look through family pictures for any we can use in our project, and, also to identify for her some of the subjects. Sharon is my brother Jack's granddaughter....Gordon and Alice's middle child. She ended up with all the pictures from Jack's albums. It was a bonanza! There were likenesses there I hadn't seen before, but of people important to me. She let us bring home anything we wanted to copy!

    Gordon and Alice made it there, in spite of a very busy schedule. They are doing volunteer work for the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, searching areas for old settlements, doing some archeological work, and rebuilding aging buildings that have historical meaning. They just returned from Oregon and one of their upcoming assignments is near Darrington, so they invited John and Nan to come visit them up there in a couple of weeks.

    We got a chance to meet Sharon's two boys, Cole and Willie. Her daughter, Amber, now 21, has just moved into her own digs. Just as we were leaving, Sharon's husband, Wayne, drove up, to make the day complete.

    It was a great day! I loved seeing some of my kids and some of Jack's family together.

    Dixie/Dorothea, Senior Editor

    Well, he's home and we had a great visit with him! Who? John-Robin, of course. It seems a long time since we said goodbye, back in January. He will be returning to San Diego on the 11th. He promised to wear his dress whites to Heather and Thomas' wedding on the 10th.

    Heather and Thomas flew in last night. Slated for 9:30, their actual arrival wasn't until 12:08. I hear they are being given some free flying time for their trouble. Flying into Seatac must have been a lovely sight; clear skies after a picture book day.

    I hear from Nan that Hildy and Dan have had to lock the cat door into their kitchen to keep out some over-friendly raccoons.

    Jack and friends hiked in to Jordan Lake, John and Nan's favorite place to camp. They caught fish, pan-fried, and ate them. That's my kind of fishing. Of course, when I was a kid, we fished to add to our food supply, not sport..... Besides, Dad and I were very fond of trout.

    Another big annoucement. Son John and I were both published in the Seattle Sun's History issue for August. John's piece is about early Fremont and is very polished and professional. Mine is my memories of Florence and me dancing at the Northeast Improvement Club 'way back in the early 30s. Thanks to Nan's artistry with refurbishing an old photo of Florence and me, and John's locating a picture of the old building, my story looks pretty darn good, too.

    Dave and Anne and some of Anne's family are spending a few days at Lake Shushwap in British Columbia on a houseboat. I remember that place from many years ago when Vern, Hildy, Paul, and I camped on the beach and envied the people who were houseboating. It really looked like fun. I know they are having a great time.

    Russ is getting settled in at Gunnison, Colorado, where he will be going to college this fall. It must be a gorgeous area, deep in the mountains, where he so loves to be. We hope he finds it is just what he needs and that he gets the classes he wants. Last heard from, he was tired from the move and ready to take it easy for a while. Knowing Russ, I expect he won't slow down for long.

    Kirby, Amina, and Suzie are on vacation in Hawaii. I guess that says it all.

    Plans are taking shape for our TRAIL TO TIGER safari, a trip of discovery for our family to give all who can go a chance to actually walk on the homestead land that my folks proved up for title from 1911 until 1919. We will also visit my uncle John's parcel, where he was from 1911 until 1926. We have quite a few already who have said they want to go. Especially me. I believed for many years that land had been bulldozed to make an airfield during WWII. John and Nan found that wasn't true when they did their wonderful detective work last summer.

   Anyone interested, get in touch with John or Nan, the movers behind this adventure.

    Dixie/Dorothea, Senior Editor