Thank You Mrs. G.

At Stayton Union High School we had two biology teachers. Dr. McKenzie taught six periods and Mrs Guttormsen, the girls PE teacher taught 7th period Biology. Long before the books became popular I was able to be part of "Biology of Dummies". That's what I remember. Me and the cheerleaders, so who is complaining. I passed and later, in my senior year, Mrs. G let me take her daughter Beth to the senior prom.

Through a little detective work on the internet and a helpful Beth, I was able to track Mrs. G down and yesterday I sent her a thank you card.

Not saying "thank you" before it is too late and a "missed opportunity" and I have had enough of those. I had some great teachers in my 12 years of education in Lyons and Stayton. Almost all are gone now. Mrs. G now represents all of them.

Riverside Mission Inn

The Mission Inn of Riverside is more than a hotel. It is a museum, an arts center, a historical landmark and a hotel. The inn evolved from the two-story adobe home built by the parents of Frank Augustus Miller after moving to Riverside in 1874. The home was not in the Spanish style. The family took in guests and started adding hotel wings. Frank took over the hotel-home in 1880 and continued to expand the hotel.

It became a winter destination resort hotel, with guests arriving on one of the three railroads serving Riverside. Later they would arrive by automobile. The inn now reflects the long neglected early Spanish and Mexican heritage of California. It fills an entire city block in downtown Riverside. The property includes several restaurants and two chapels. It has been fully restored and is a National historical landmark.

We only had the chance to enjoy the Mission Inn restaurant but plan on returning when The California Department of the American Legion next holds their conference in Riverside. The food was excellent and there is so much more to explore. Spending a weekend at the Riverside Mission Inn is now on our bucket list.

Healdsburg, California

The mountain at the end of the street has changed. Now it is Fitch Mountain and I haven't got a picture yet. There is rare snow of cold winter mornings. Today the mountain is during brown (Golden by local definition) as the spring rains end.

There is a river too. The Russian River runs past Healdsburg on it way to the Pacific Ocean. The picture at the left is the old highway bridge. It crosses over Lake Sotoyome at the Veterans Memorial Beach. In past years a seasonal dam created the lake between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Now the dam is delayed to protect a non-native fish population that has invaded the river. The lake was once site of beautiful water festivals.

I'm not sure what this represents but I have wanted to get a picture of it since it first appeared.
Healdsburg is a city of nearly 12,000 located on what was Rancho Sotoyome, a 48,800 acre Mexican land grant awarded to sea captain Henry Delano Fitch in 1841. Fitch promptly hired trapper Cyrus Alexander to manage his bountiful rancho (the magnificent Alexander Valley is named for this early tenant). The California gold rush of 1849 brought itinerants, squatters, and failed miners to the more generous farming land here. Over the years, these squatters settled on the verdant land owned by the Fitch family. In 1857, a fight named the "Westside Road Wars" commenced among the squatters. One of the winners of this colorful conflict was Harmon Heald, an Ohio entrepreneur.

Note, the name is Healdsburg. However a new owner remained the old A&W on Healdsburg Ave. I had to get a picture of their sign.

Though the town was not founded during Mexican rule, Healdsburg is centered on a 19th century plaza that still provides an important focal point for tourists and locals alike. I didn't get a picture of the plaza yesterday, but did get a picture of the Memorial to the son's of Healdsburg who lost their lives during WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm.

Stay tuned for more as I begin to explore my new home.