The Lilac Lady...Hulda Klager...Woodland, WA

 

THE STORY OF THE LILAC LADY...HULDA KLAGER

Again this past weekend Shane, Sadie, Elijah and I did some more sight seeing around our area. This time we stayed on this side of the Glenn Jackson Bridge in our own home State of Washington. Usually when we go to Woodland, Washington we go to visit the Old Grist Mill, but I asked the kids if they had ever visited The Lilac Ladies House and neither one had...so, we decided to go check it out.

I had been there about 15 years ago and just fell in love with the old Victorian Farm House and the Story of Hulda and her love for Lilacs. Of coarse going to her farm in  July...there were no Lilacs in bloom as their season here in WA State is April - May...but still it is a pretty place to visit any time.

Hulda Klager was 2 yrs old when her parents brought her to America from Germany in 1865. They moved to Woodland and purchased a Farm in 1877 when she was thirteen  years old. In 1889 Hulda built a home of her own on four acres of the original farm.

Even though for years she remained busy with the demands of home, marriage and family she always seemed to have time for her love of flowers.  In 1903 while recovering  from an illness, someone gave her a book about Luther Burbank...a man known for his work in propagation of trees and plants. This caught Hulda's attention and soon afterwards she tried crossing a mild Wolf  River Apple with a sour but juicy Wild River Bismark Apple, where she was successful at producing a larger fruit that took less time to pare.

Hulda's work with Lilacs began in 1905. By 1910 she had fourteen new varieties to show for her efforts.  In just ten years time she had enough varieties planted & propagated on her farm to host her first Open House during the Spring Blooming Season.  She continued this annual event until her death in 1960.  As her reputation grew, Hulda became well known as the Lilac Lady.

The location of the Klager farm, with the Lewis River at it's door and the mighty Columbia just a mile to the West was always vulnerable to flooding.  In 1948 the entire area was damaged by a huge flood. The Klager Farm and nearly all of Woodland was underwater for some six weeks. Virtually all of Hulda's work was destroyed. But at age 83, she wasn't about to be defeated by a little water, and went to work restoring the  gardens.  Many of the people who had previously acquired lilacs from Hulda sent her starts from their own plants to replace those she had lost.  Working hard for the next two years, she was able to restore her gardens and resume her annual open house.

Today the Gardens and House are owned and operated by The Hulda Klager Lilac Society. The farmhouse has been restored to its Victorian origin. All the changes to the house and gardens are weighed carefully to ensure authenticity and preserve the Lilac Heritage.  During Lilac Days (mid April through Mother's Day) each year the House and Grounds are open for tours and lilac plants are sold by Society volunteers to continue to support the gardens and house.

{most of this story comes out of The Lilac Gardens Brochure}

Their website is www.lilacgardens.com

Shane, Sadie and I decided we will try to go back next Spring during Lilac Days even though it is extremely crowded that entire Month. But they will get an entirely different appreciation for the almost 100 different varieties of Lilacs on the property. However there was much to be said about having the entire Farm to ourselves Saturday...as we were the only people enjoying the peaceful tranquility, shade and beauty on a 90 degree day. .  We got lots of gorgeous pictures of everything but Lilacs.

Our 4th of July Visit to McMenamins

McMenamins Edgefield, Troutdale Oregon

Peggy, Sadie, Elijah and Shane ( Photographer)

This past 4th of July, Shane and Sadie asked me if  I
would like to go McMenamins Edgefield Restaurant and
Winery. They said that we would have lunch there and
be able to walk the Vineyard and see a lot of other
interesting things. So, of coarse I said, "YES!" It
sounded like so much more fun than just sitting at home,
as Larry and I had made no special plans.

Well, Edgefield turned out to be so much more than I
could have imagined. It turned out to be a Hotel,
Winery, Brewery, Distillery, Spa, Movie Theater,
Golf courses, Restaurants, Gardens, Gift Shop and
an active 74 acre Farm and so many other things.
We were there for hours and didn't see half of all
there was to be seen and do. There were also two
Weddings taking place while we were there.

Edgefield is on Oregon's National Registry of
Historic Places and just Celebrated it's 103rd
B-Day.  But it has only been owned and operated
by McMinemans since 1993.

It was a very fun and educational place to roam
around. We had lunch in the main lodge and
shopped in their fabulous and large gift shop
then walked the herb and vegetable gardens.
It was a really great day!

BUT later in the week I was to find out that
I have a connection to Edgefield that I never
knew I had. Especially since I had never even
heard of the place before July 4th.

First of all let me say that for two days after
we visited there...I kept hearing the voices of
old men talking. Once I looked to make sure
that I hadn't left the Porch door open or a window.
No, I hadn't. I just shrugged and thought, "well that
was weird". Then the next evening I was loading
the dishwasher and I thought Larry had come in and
turned on the TV and I yelled at him that he had it
up too loudly.  He didn't answer me so I turned
around and looked and he wasn't in the living room
and the TV was off. But still there were those old
men voices again. Weird! I jokingly thought to
myself...maybe one or two of their acclaimed
ghosts had followed me home.  How come it had
to be the Old Ones???  LOL

On Thursday afternoon I talked to my Aunt who
lives in Gresham, she had called while we were
at Edgefield and we had missed each other on
several more phone attempts.  But she asked me
what we did on the Fourth and so I started to tell
her and she said,  "Oh, that is where my dad died
in the 1940's."  I sat on the other end of the phone
stunned and thinking, well if that was your dad, then
that was my Grandfather.  I had never known my grand-
father as he died before I was born.  But my
Aunt went on to tell me that the Edgefield use
to be what they called The Poor Farm or Poor
House and then later it became Egdefield Manor
Nursing Home.

After WW II (1943-1944 U.S. involvement)
people who were down on their luck and came
home mentally, emotionally and physically
crippled could go to Edgefield and work on
the Farm to pay for their room and board and
give them-selves time to heal and mend.
Later in the 1960's it became a State Owned
and operated Nursing Home.

My grandfather had a heart attack that he survived
but it had caused a debilitating stroke.  Once he was
released from the Hospital and sent home...he
had it in his head that my Grandmother was trying
to poison him.  So, he would only let my Mother
who was then a Sophomore in High School care
for him. She almost had a mental breakdown from
the stress of School and the added stresses of coming
home everyday to care for her dad until late into the
night. She finally talked her mom into seeing if  he
could be taken in at The Poor Farm and that is where
he remained until he died.  My mother always felt
guilty though because she found the place so dark
and dingy and depressing every time she went to
visit her dad.  To this day she will barely even
talk about it.  And swears she will never be sent
to a Nursing Home when she is too old to care
for herself.

After my Aunt told me all this about my Grandfather,
I got to thinking how interesting destiny is. I bet
my grandfather in the years he lived there never
thought that in 70 + years his own grand-daughter
(Me) and his Great Grandson (Shane) and his
Great-Great Grandson Elijah would be there
walking those same halls and visiting the
History of EdgeField Poor Farm.  Granted it has
a much more pleasant persona in 2014 but there
are still pictures of some of the people who lived
on The Poor Farm and the Nursing Home...and I
keep wondering if I saw him in one of those pictures...
but I wouldn't have known if I had....as I don't think I
have ever seen a picture of him.

Since my Aunt shared Grandpa's Story with me...
I have no longer heard Old Men's Voices,
in my house or in my head I'm happy to say.
Only my husbands. LOL
I know that my Grandfather died in his 60's in
the late 1940's and he was pretty much not in his
right mind from the stroke he suffered.

They say that there are ghosts in Edgefield and you
can go on the Internet and read stories....but it is on
the Registry of the Top Ten Most Haunted Places in the  U.S.
Which I found interesting. I don't know how I feel
about the whole subject of ghosts... But I feel
like I got to bump into him so to speak through
our visit to Edgefield on the 4th of July. And
I feel a lot closer connection to him because of
having been there and then hearing my Aunt and
Mother's stories and comments about their dad.

It is almost like my family story has come full
circle. And I was happy and intrigued to hear
and see with my own eyes a part of our Families
History. And let me just say that the day turned out
to be a Fourth of July I am not soon to forget!!!

Debby...I Miss You Sis!

Deborah Lynn (Pierce) Turney ~ died at age 57~

Today...July 8th, 2014 Marks Two Years Since My Lil' Sister Died!

And who would have guessed that my BIL...would have gone to join
her just a year and a half later. ~ Larry Turney ~ died at age 71~

For those of you who knew Debby...I'm sure that you loved her and
miss her too. She was a little Spit-Fire...but she was all ours.

For those of you who never had the opportunity to meet her and know
her...it's your loss.  It truly is!  The World Sparkles a little less with
out her in it.

Debby was MANY THINGS but "FUNNY" was her greatest trait.
She had a wicked sense of humor and she could tell a story about
every day life...that would have you in stitches, with tears rolling
down your face and your sides hurting from laughing so hard.
When life got a bit boring or dull...she would always say, "Hey, Sis
we need some Shits and Giggles!"  And then she would try to come
up with something to make us laugh until our mascara ran.
If I was on the phone and laughing my head off, Larry always knew
I was talking to my sister.  She made me laugh more than anyone.

I don't want to make this a long drawn out Memorial to Debby...
but I just had to share my heart for a moment and let you know that
if you have a sister who is still alive and in your life...then pick up
the phone and tell her how much you love her and how special she
is to you.  Non of us are guaranteed tomorrow...so, don't put it off.

My sister was very ill and bedridden for 4 years but we talked
everyday and we left no words unspoken and no
memories we shared together forgotten. We did a lot of strolling
down memory lane in those last 4 years.

I know Debby has half of Heaven laughing at her jokes and stories...
and the other half are just shaking their heads in utter disbelief. LOL

 I Love and Miss You Terribly My Beloved  Sister/My Friend!!!!

LOOK AT FOOD AS MEDICINE FOR THE BODY!

I just completed the first 40 days of the Daniel Plan and I must
say...I did not drop a lot of weight...only about 10 lbs...but I will
say that weight loss was NOT my primary reason for going on this
Plant Based Style of Eating.  I wanted to break my sugar cravings,
and learn to look at food differently and I have accomplished both.

I now ask myself...before I put anything in my mouth...Is this Indeed
good food (which is good medicine) for my body?  And if it isn't then
I don't eat it.   I would rather spend my money on great food to
heal my body than little pills in bottles.
If it was grown on/or as a plant it is good food but if it
came out of a manufacturing plant it is not. And I don't buy it.

Do I ever have a piece of birthday cake or a cup of Starbucks coffee or
a piece of Chocolate...ABSOLUTELY.  This program is NOT a DIET it
is a way of life and they highly recommend that you eat  great food 90%
of the time...which allows you 10% of the time to have those occasional
indulgences.  No Binges Please! LOL But when you do have them...you
can eat them guilt free. Now how freeing is that I ask?

Yesterday, I got back my yearly blood panel results and all my numbers
were in good if not great range except for two.  #1 My Cholesterol was too low
(what? you've got to me kidding?) #2 I still had a slight elevation in my
Triglycerides, but now I am eating only good fats. 

But my Diabetic Panel was 5.8 (totally under control by food alone) no shots, no
medicine. My kidney and liver functions were great and no proteins were passing
into the urine or blood stream.

See...healthy eating makes for healthy people!!  I am 62 years old and want to live
as long as I possibly can because I have 3 beautiful grand-children to help raise and
5 Step-grands and 2 great grandchildren...whom I love deeply and I don't want to
miss out on a second of time with them. They were my inspiration to get Healthy
and Heal My Body.

You too, I am sure have your own reasons to want to live a longer life.
Don't compromise your health or your time on this earth a minute more.
LIFE IS TOO SHORT AS IS!    It is a mere vapor my friends!
I want to leave this life "on empty" and "used up" not sick and worn out!

Spiraled raw Zucchini instead of Pasta

   With home-made Spaghetti Sauce on top!

I know...I know...Behind the Times but Catching Up!

We (Larry & I) just recently decided that we were sick and tired of paying for
expensive Cable TV and decided to take a stand and say, "Enough is Enough!"
Our last several Cable bills had been $200.00 plus.  Let's face it friends...Comcast
has a Monopoly going around here...and they have taken us ALL hostage. So, we
very happily let the Insanity Go and went back to Antenna TV.  Using a new
ultra slim Leaf Antenna (no thicker than a mouse-pad) and streaming Movies and
TV through our new Kindle Fire Box...we are enjoying a new style of TV watching.
We also signed up for Hulu Plus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. Now, we have more
options than ever before and our finding that we are enjoying TV watching so
much more.

I had always wanted to watch Downton Abbey when it very first came out...
but I knew it was a British Masterpiece Theater Production... and not something my
husband would enjoy at all, but it always came on at the same time something
else we  liked aired.  So, I never watched it. But now, I can pick the time of day
I want to watch it and so I am catching up on it fast and furiously.  To say that
I am "Hooked" would be an under-statement.  Hook, line and sinker...it reeled me in
from the very first episode of Season 1.

It has exactly the kind of British Charm I love and all the characters are bigger
than life. Whether it is the Rich Socialite Family Upstairs or the downstairs
family of cooks, maids and personal-service-help there is always some fascinating
shenanigans going on. They are always hip deep into scheming, venting, manipulating,
whining, gossiping, and other tawdry escapades...that it is like being right in
the middle of  Life Styles of The Rich and Famous.  Jolly Good Fun...I must admit!

My step-daughter Jennifer had warned me that after watching just three episodes
I would be addicted and there would be no turning back! LOL!
She was soooooooooo right!

Also, there is enough romance in the Story-line to feed the fantasies of all of us
Hopeless Romantics.

If you have never watched it yourself...I dare say...What Are You Waiting For?
You bloody well will thank me, I'm sure of it!  *smile*  It's delicious fun!