It seems like such a long time since we have posted any updates to the blog. Most of fall was spent cutting down many of our beloved cedar trees that have been killed off by the drought and pine beetle blight. It is sad to see so many tall trees going. We are planning to replace many with lodge pole pines and other pine/fir trees.
Jim did finish the sauna, and we tested it out in early November. It seems to work rather well. We still have some outside lights to hang on it and we need to finish the hand rail, but other than that it is done. Our neighbors, Dave and Paula (down the hill) put us to same with the amount of work that they do on their place. This year Dave built a tree house ALA Treehouse Masters style. It is enormous. Their place has many outbuilding and is an inspiration to us.
We managed to plant an Arkansas Red Apple this fall (we are hoping it will grow at our elevation). Our old apple tree, though bent and rather ugly, gives us enough apples for a few apple pies and a few jars of apple butter each year. The very large cedar that stands next to the apple, seems to have the blight, so if it goes, perhaps our apple will straighten itself out over time and give us more apples.
We spent Thanksgiving at the lodge with our EG neighbors across the street (Art and Don). Mary Beth requested that we cook extras so that she could take some left overs home to Nor Cal. So, for 6 people, we had three pies, a 24 pound turkey, a huge amount of mashed and sweet potatoes, etc., etc.
The girls and I went over to Reno to shop on black Friday (not your typical shop since we bypassed the retail stores and went to our favorite thrift stores). We did not purchase all that much, but we had fun shopping. This is a habit I need to break. I am thinking hiking would be better next year.
Jim completed a few small projects and watched football.
Friday night it snowed and I was a bit concerned that the big storm we were expecting was coming in early. But the next morning it was raining and our family was able to get out without any hiccups. Though the sound of the snow plow was a happy reminder that winter is near.
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Friday, August 22, 2014
August 2014
It has been a while since I have posted to our blog. We have been up to the lodge quite a few times this summer, but we have also been busy moving our daughter up to the north-most part of California. After her graduation from Chico, she was able to secure a music teacher position near Yreka. She will be teaching at 2 grammar schools, one junior high and one high school.
We continue to be concerned about the drought in the sierra and the possibility of wild fires. There were 5 fires in the Yreka area while we were moving Mary Beth from Chico. There have been at least 3 large fires in and around Yosemite. A small fire broke out at one of our neighbors homes down near Fulda, leaving the inside burnt and smoke stained, luckily it went no further than that dwelling. We have been very lucky so far, and keep knocking on wood.
Jim and I have been looking to secure a used 5000 gallon water tank for our Dutch Flat Volunteer Fire Dept to use in first response should a fire break out in our little hamlet. We have 4 homes in our little area and of course the Emigrant Gap School. Of course 5000 gallons would not be enough to protect all the buildings - but it would be a start. We plan to put the tank on the area where we will eventually be building our garage (for now).
We have also been cutting weeds and grass to keep the dry kindling down to a minimum. And next month we will be cutting down more dead cedars (we continue to be plagued by the pine beetle blight and it is taking about 10 cedars each summer).
To replace our cedars (and once this stupid drought is over) we plan to try sequoia, firs, pine and more apple trees. Wish us luck. With the changing climate, it is hard to tell what will work in our area.
In another year or so, the school will be turning the portable over to us (they will be decommissioning it and we have an arrangement for them to give it to us as part of a use agreement for the land they are using to get access to the school). We plan to pull the portable toward the cabin, which will entail grading, graveling and foundation of sorts, adding electricity (and if I get my way plumbing). We will use the structure as a game room (ping pong table etc) and for extra sleeping space.
For improvements to the lodge, we added an armoire to the remodeled bedroom and moved out one of the old plywood closets, Jim is also working on a cabinet for the microwave and drinking water storage that should be complete by September.
That is all I have to post for now. No new historic finds (I still need to go to the county offices).
We continue to be concerned about the drought in the sierra and the possibility of wild fires. There were 5 fires in the Yreka area while we were moving Mary Beth from Chico. There have been at least 3 large fires in and around Yosemite. A small fire broke out at one of our neighbors homes down near Fulda, leaving the inside burnt and smoke stained, luckily it went no further than that dwelling. We have been very lucky so far, and keep knocking on wood.
Jim and I have been looking to secure a used 5000 gallon water tank for our Dutch Flat Volunteer Fire Dept to use in first response should a fire break out in our little hamlet. We have 4 homes in our little area and of course the Emigrant Gap School. Of course 5000 gallons would not be enough to protect all the buildings - but it would be a start. We plan to put the tank on the area where we will eventually be building our garage (for now).
We have also been cutting weeds and grass to keep the dry kindling down to a minimum. And next month we will be cutting down more dead cedars (we continue to be plagued by the pine beetle blight and it is taking about 10 cedars each summer).
To replace our cedars (and once this stupid drought is over) we plan to try sequoia, firs, pine and more apple trees. Wish us luck. With the changing climate, it is hard to tell what will work in our area.
In another year or so, the school will be turning the portable over to us (they will be decommissioning it and we have an arrangement for them to give it to us as part of a use agreement for the land they are using to get access to the school). We plan to pull the portable toward the cabin, which will entail grading, graveling and foundation of sorts, adding electricity (and if I get my way plumbing). We will use the structure as a game room (ping pong table etc) and for extra sleeping space.
For improvements to the lodge, we added an armoire to the remodeled bedroom and moved out one of the old plywood closets, Jim is also working on a cabinet for the microwave and drinking water storage that should be complete by September.
That is all I have to post for now. No new historic finds (I still need to go to the county offices).
Thursday, July 10, 2014
July 4 2014 Family Reunion and Jim's Birthday Celebration!
Post reunion update.
Thanks to Doug, Vicki (our bonus mileage travelers), Dave, Pat, Ralph 3, Carol, Ralph 4, Meagan, Gina, Tom, Denise, Mat, Adam, Leah, Heather, James, Emily, Katie, John, Mary Beth, Amy, her best bud, James, Anthony, Carter, Warren, Abbey, Wyatt, and Clark for making the 4th of July/Jim's 60th a blazing success.
It was Uncle Jim's wish for his 60th to have as many of you as possible, attend the reunion. I think we did pretty darn well on that score. He was touched!
For those of you who were unable to attend - you missed a trip to Tahoe Lakeshore, two Lake Valley kayak, paddle boat and swimming trips, rides on the ATV, the best 4th of July parade/water balloon fight ever in Dutch Flat (thanks to Amy, her buddy and dad we had over 200 balloons to throw - even then we ran out quickly), fireworks and bouldering from the Summit over Donner Lake (as Anthony would say - Awesome!). Ping Pong and Kiddie Pool at the lodge, hanging out on the screen deck (blast you mosquitos), branding wood plaques out front of the lodge, soccer on the TV (with the Trips, Carter and Warren in the bear and wolf rockers). Food, food, food (thanks to all the sous chefs, cooks and clean up crew!).
Of course there is never enough time to do it all. It seems time runs out before we can see the waterfalls, all the lakes, hike, etc. However, I guess we can save that for your next trip to the Gap.
I will post Uncle Jim's pictures once we get them loaded off his camera. Please look at Meagan's post for the parade and others.
Thank you again for attending. Though it may seem like the reunion is a lot of work, the benefit of seeing everyone together makes the all the work worth it (in gold). We love you all so very much!
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
April 2014 Updates
I recently found a copy of the 1924 History of Placer and Nevada Counties by Lardner and Brock online. I was able to download it and found some updates for our history for previous owners Allen and Cavanna. I also found a bit more information about the first owners of the hotel, Mr and Mrs Caffyn (Mr. Caffyn's sister and the year Mr. and Mrs. Caffyn married). I added a bit more information about Mr Chinn (our notable resident of the Gap) and removed reference to the Airplane Crash in the early 1900s based on feedback from one of our readers. I also made some updates on our more recent history based on an email received from someone who lived at the lodge during the B& B era.
I consider myself to be an online sleuth and am getting pretty good at tracking down information on the early pioneers of the Gap. But what I really need to do is visit the Berkeley Bancroft Library, the Auburn Placer County Records office and perhaps, the California Museum and Railroad Library in Sacramento.
I am still trying to find out a bit more about the Bright Family and their use of the Hotel/ Lodge. It is possible that the information there is less easy to source because their family is one of the more current owners. Alas. I would love some midcentury photos of the lodge.
For our current visits, we have been working on the Sauna Hut off and on. We also got in some skiing this year, even though it was a record snow drought in the sierra. At home, I am working on refinishing a vintage wood couch that should match nicely with the easy chairs that sit in front of the fireplace. Love that Craigslist, we have used it to furnish most of the lodge.
URL for the book:
https://archive.org/details/historyofplacern00lard
I consider myself to be an online sleuth and am getting pretty good at tracking down information on the early pioneers of the Gap. But what I really need to do is visit the Berkeley Bancroft Library, the Auburn Placer County Records office and perhaps, the California Museum and Railroad Library in Sacramento.
I am still trying to find out a bit more about the Bright Family and their use of the Hotel/ Lodge. It is possible that the information there is less easy to source because their family is one of the more current owners. Alas. I would love some midcentury photos of the lodge.
For our current visits, we have been working on the Sauna Hut off and on. We also got in some skiing this year, even though it was a record snow drought in the sierra. At home, I am working on refinishing a vintage wood couch that should match nicely with the easy chairs that sit in front of the fireplace. Love that Craigslist, we have used it to furnish most of the lodge.
URL for the book:
https://archive.org/details/historyofplacern00lard
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Winter Holiday - December 2013 to January 2014
Another Christmas at the Lodge. This year most of the west coast Jacobs girl families were able to attend. I went up about a week before everyone else, to get the lodge opened up and cleaned for the throng. Mary Beth, Katie, John and Jim came in early followed by Jeremy, Jodie, Brandon and Brooke. Then Pattie, Mom, Noah and Rylie came in with Melanie, Jenny, Ryan, Alayna following. Mary and Lynn came up followed by Zac, Julia, Brayden, and Hanna for Christmas Day. Angela drove up from Elk Grove and Alayna's boyfriend came up as well. After Christmas, Jessica flew into Sacramento and joined us with her little boy Jackson (unfortunately her hubby had to work at his new store in San Diego area and could not make it).
Though there was not a lot of snow, there was enough to let the little guys sled and we added snow by the truckload as we dug it up from the drifts around the culdesac. The sled hill this year was long, not too bumpy and fast! The kids also got to play some basketball at the school and Rylie got to practice using her new bow and arrows in the back yard.
Uncle Jim took an entourage down the hill to cut down the Christmas Tree, while I lead a group of 2 year olds to adults in making our annual Christmas Craft ornaments. We watched Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation (for John), the Christmas Story (for Ryan - you'll shoot your eye out kid) and sang Carol's and then uncle Jim read night before Christmas before the little guys went off to bed on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day was a crazy scene of kids opening gifts, running around with their new treasured toys, food prep and the opening of our new lodge logo T shirts and Sweat Shirts and Coffee Cups (art courtesy of our resident artist Mat). Jim had shirts and sweats printed for everyone. Then we had the T- shirt shop from the samples Jim brought up. Jim also got us some branding irons so that we can burn wood with our names, etc. The irons can be heated in the lopi or over an open fire (if we ever get to burn outside again).
Christmas dinner was prime rib (yum!). Later that week, a splinter group went up to the summit and went kid skiing and tubing. Another trip was made to Northstar for ice skating and smores over the firepits. Those of us with colds opted out. People began to leave over the weekend, followed by the arrival of our next set of guests.
Karen and Larry came in for New Years. It was a sharp contrast from the noise of the family to having a New Years celebration with friends. We rung in the new year by going to Boomtown for Dinner then doing a bit of gambling at the slots. Karen, Larry and I are no gamblers, but Jim managed to win a bit at the blackjack tables before we headed back to the lodge for the actual midnight call. For New Years Day, we went down to old town Auburn and walked around the shops. For dinner, Karen made black-eyed peas and mustard greens for good luck (YUM!). Larry BBQd some tri-tip using Texas Mesquite. We used the new branding irons to burn a board with the Dillman name before they left the lodge. It was so great seeing both Karen and Larry, we are hoping next time they come up we have a bit more snow. But even without it we managed to have a pretty nice time.
Karen and Larry left to be followed by nephew and niece Adam and Leah and little Carter. Though Jim and I were still down a bit with colds, we still had a great time visiting! We were so very happy that they took time out of their schedule to bring Carter up for his first skiing experience on the Summit. He went snow tubing, on the tube carousel and got to try out downhill skiing at Soda Springs. Am I seeing an Olympic Downhill racer in the future? Maybe. I think he may have enjoyed sliding down the snow hill more than skiing. But again, he is only 2 1/2.
While Adam and Leah were visiting, we met some fellow historians that have been visiting the summit for over 60 years. They shared some information with us and we promised to share blogs, emails etc to match up what we know of Emigrant Gap history and hiking trails! Very exciting.
I also received a request from the Donner Summit HIstorical Society to write up what I know about the gap. I am pondering that request. And finally, I had a nice conversation with Eleanor for the new year.
ALL IN ALL a great way to close off 2013 and ring in 2014.
Though there was not a lot of snow, there was enough to let the little guys sled and we added snow by the truckload as we dug it up from the drifts around the culdesac. The sled hill this year was long, not too bumpy and fast! The kids also got to play some basketball at the school and Rylie got to practice using her new bow and arrows in the back yard.
Uncle Jim took an entourage down the hill to cut down the Christmas Tree, while I lead a group of 2 year olds to adults in making our annual Christmas Craft ornaments. We watched Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation (for John), the Christmas Story (for Ryan - you'll shoot your eye out kid) and sang Carol's and then uncle Jim read night before Christmas before the little guys went off to bed on Christmas Eve.
Christmas Day was a crazy scene of kids opening gifts, running around with their new treasured toys, food prep and the opening of our new lodge logo T shirts and Sweat Shirts and Coffee Cups (art courtesy of our resident artist Mat). Jim had shirts and sweats printed for everyone. Then we had the T- shirt shop from the samples Jim brought up. Jim also got us some branding irons so that we can burn wood with our names, etc. The irons can be heated in the lopi or over an open fire (if we ever get to burn outside again).
Christmas dinner was prime rib (yum!). Later that week, a splinter group went up to the summit and went kid skiing and tubing. Another trip was made to Northstar for ice skating and smores over the firepits. Those of us with colds opted out. People began to leave over the weekend, followed by the arrival of our next set of guests.
Karen and Larry came in for New Years. It was a sharp contrast from the noise of the family to having a New Years celebration with friends. We rung in the new year by going to Boomtown for Dinner then doing a bit of gambling at the slots. Karen, Larry and I are no gamblers, but Jim managed to win a bit at the blackjack tables before we headed back to the lodge for the actual midnight call. For New Years Day, we went down to old town Auburn and walked around the shops. For dinner, Karen made black-eyed peas and mustard greens for good luck (YUM!). Larry BBQd some tri-tip using Texas Mesquite. We used the new branding irons to burn a board with the Dillman name before they left the lodge. It was so great seeing both Karen and Larry, we are hoping next time they come up we have a bit more snow. But even without it we managed to have a pretty nice time.
Karen and Larry left to be followed by nephew and niece Adam and Leah and little Carter. Though Jim and I were still down a bit with colds, we still had a great time visiting! We were so very happy that they took time out of their schedule to bring Carter up for his first skiing experience on the Summit. He went snow tubing, on the tube carousel and got to try out downhill skiing at Soda Springs. Am I seeing an Olympic Downhill racer in the future? Maybe. I think he may have enjoyed sliding down the snow hill more than skiing. But again, he is only 2 1/2.
While Adam and Leah were visiting, we met some fellow historians that have been visiting the summit for over 60 years. They shared some information with us and we promised to share blogs, emails etc to match up what we know of Emigrant Gap history and hiking trails! Very exciting.
I also received a request from the Donner Summit HIstorical Society to write up what I know about the gap. I am pondering that request. And finally, I had a nice conversation with Eleanor for the new year.
ALL IN ALL a great way to close off 2013 and ring in 2014.
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