the Ya-Yas

Annual YaYa Birthday trip...

2008-02-23T10:59:00.000-08:00

Well, it's about time again for our annual YaYa weekend away for my birthday. This year we are going to drive to Florence and letterbox all the way up to Lincoln City where Jen's brother got us a room for $30 in the hotel he works at. It will be nice to get away. More later.

Fam-Ya Boxing.............by M

2007-04-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

It's spring break...it's not raining...what should we do?.........Let's letterbox!
And that's just what we did last Friday. The 3 Ya-Yas gathered our children of all ages.....that's right - ALL 14 of them!...and met at Elijah Bristow State Park for a picnic, a beautiful hike and a marathon hunt.
Seven boxes in this series kept all of us busy for about 4 hours with only a moderate amount of whining. We got to visit with 3 horses while we were there and a few dogs as well. Cameras flashed from several angles all day as we captured pic after fabulous pic of our wonderful adventure. Spirits remained high all day and persistence paid off as we logged into all 7 boxes.
Laughter and smiling faces followed us all day and we made lots of memories together...again. Word spread of our little adventure and an interest was piqued in another family to join our letterboxing clan. Sounds fun to me...after all, what's another 6 or 10 people when you already have 17?!
Ahh, I can feel summer coming and I can't wait! Now, if I could only teach a few of them to carve we could do some major planting!!

All the World's A Stage...

2007-03-19T03:03:00.000-07:00

Good morrow, dear friend. I expect thou hast come upon this place to hunt a letterbox. Well then, I shall no more detain thee.

Surround thyself with the world of theatre. Cobblestone and sloping hill invite an afternoon's respite and entertainment if thou art in the right frame of mind. From hence, search out the smallish courtyard tucked tightly in the square that wouldst remind thee of dear Verona. I am sure good merchant Martino wouldst not mind though he hast hidden 't away. From there descend the stair, 5 flights in all, to the bottom near the market. There are two benches placed there for thy resting.

"Into the park: we two must go together. "
Merry Wives of Windsor: V, iii

If thee need not a rest, follow the path to thy left and look for the founding father's stone. At the stone go left again on another path. And yet again at number 4 to enjoy a stroll around the lovely pond. Find a small crossing to ford the stream and step upon the cobblestone path.
A choice lay before thee of two cobbled paths. Choose RIGHT, my friend. Both wilt take thee wherest thou wish; to where cobbles end and a new path begins. Travel right to the first lamppost and 15 paces down to the low stone wall. The Lord of this wood hath thought to provide benches to rest upon. If thou art wearied from thy walking I pray thee sit a while.
Avoid the CENTER of civility and follow the stone wall to where the oak and the pine intertwine. Stop for a moment's repose where Lord Harrison dipped his toes. Follow the laughter of wee lords and ladies where they play homage to Lord Butler.

"The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together"
All's Well that Ends Well: IV, iii

Across from the web is a hind's path above ivy. Westward along boundary's edge to where the paved path ends and onward... past the tree with stoney roots.
When you reach the footbridge do not be tempted with its crossing. The troll's toll is too high a price to pay for your honor.

"Ay, such a place there is, where we did hunt--"
Titus Andronicus: IV, i

Here is where thy hunting truly begins. If thou didst not think to bring along thy faithful companion, or if thou doest have no faithful companion, number 18 will stand readily at your side as thou observest those that have gone before thee. A lantern is hung from above. Stand thee in its shining and spy a round respite across the creek. Count your paces, two score full, and climb the winding stair which should now be at thy left.

"Run, run, orlando; carve on every tree"
As You Like It: III, ii

At the top of the stair bear right on the trail and take note of a large and twisted manzanita tree. Upon its sprawling arms lovers hath carved the mark of their truest love and friends in friendship do bind themelves hence.

"I found him under a tree, like a dropped acorn."
As You Like It: III, ii

The bannished box is near restored. It lies at rest in the bosom of this fine tree 'neath the forest litter. Well done, my earnest friend. Take a breath and rest thy weary bones. Enjoy a seat upon the path and pause to take good note how all the world's a STAGE.

"All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players: They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts,"
As You Like It: II, vii

Ashland is our Stars Hollow ...by M

2007-03-16T12:03:00.000-07:00

Under an oak, whose antique root peeps out upon the brook that brawls along this
wood...

-As You Like It act 2 scene 1

Well, my friends, it was time (far overdue in my opinion) for the Ya-Ya s to get away again. My wonderful husband gave me the best gift for my birthday when he sent us away to Ashland to visit the Shakespearean Festival. We saw Shakespeare's play As You Like It and of course it was exquisitely well done!
J and I introduced T to our favorite hobby: letterboxing. I wasn't sure how she would respond to it as she isn't known to be the "outdoorsy" type. I'm proud to say she held up very well to us dragging her about the countryside through puddles and mire and freshly budding poison oak. I dare say I think she may have even enjoyed some of it! We planted our first letterbox in Lithia Park and had so much fun doing so that we are planning on planting one in every location we Ya Ya to.
As it is with all Ya Ya trips to date, we seem to witness oddity after oddity. From T's snoring bus driver beside her in the theatre... to the drunken man (whom we apparently startled while he was peeing on someone's car) who barely missed throwing himself over a railing and smashing into the back of our car only to pass out in the middle of the driveway at the hotel... to the rowdy spur of the moment game of Red Rover T witnessed in the park between the punk group and the American Eagle Christian group (all adults, mind you)... to the midnight run to 7-eleven (where 35 people in line is not thought to be unusual at midnight!)...I really can say we have all the fun.
Ashland has lost none of its charm for me. In fact, it has a firm grasp on the title of one of my favorite spots of all time. The highlight of our trip, for me, was when we walked out of our hotel the next morning to a guy sitting in the back of his pickup playing his guitar. Ashland has a town troubador! Not just one......I counted 6 in all through the course of our day. The Gilmores would be impressed. It was our own little Stars Hollow.
It was truly one for the books. We will definitely be returning to Ashland. I propose it be at least once a year! T is addicted. She wants to see a play with actual Shakespearean costumes since the one we saw was slightly different than what we expected. I would happily accompany her again as I am sure would J. After all, what's a Ya Ya trip without all the Ya-Ya s?
Until we meet again......

Now we go in content to liberty, and not to
bannishment.

-Celia to
Rosalind

As You Like It Act 1 scene 3