When my husband and I got married we decided not to bring a television into our home.
As a result we read a lot. Books were our entertainment. I went to the library once a week and took Peter to story time at the library. When it was time for Peter to potty train he sat on the potty with a stack of books next to him.
When Esther was born I read to Peter while nursing Esther. Reading was such a big part of our life.
When the nurse sent me home (I was pregnant with Elizabeth) because I wasn’t dilated far enough, I came home and to take my mind off things, I had Peter on one side and Esther on the other side of me and I read to them between my contractions.
When I went to college full time I read less for entertainment and we brought a television into our home.
Why am I sharing this information with you? Well you see by reading your exposed to more rare words.
#of rare words met per thousand..
Adult to child 6 months: 9.3
Adult to child 3 years: 9.0
Adult to child 10 years: 11.7
Adult to Adult: 7. 3
Prime time TV: 22.7
Children’s book: 30.9
Adult book: 52.7
Comic books: 53.5
Popular magazine: 65.7
Newspaper: 68.3
Scientific paper: 128
Since Peter had the most exposure to books throughout his childhood his vocabulary, spelling, reading, and writing skills are impressive.
We now read silently next to each other in the same room for 35 minutes each day. When we are driving we do it in the car. I set a timer on.
We also read 1 chapter of the bible aloud and 1 chapter of a fiction book.
On all of our previous road trips through Oregon we always go either along the coast or along highway 5. This is our first time driving through eastern Oregon so for us every single location was new and exciting. When we planned our trip we decided to visit 3 very unique and different locations that really blew us away. We were fortunate enough to be able to stay at a working ranch that defines the heritage and culture of Eastern Oregon.
Crater Lake
Crater Lake is a location we were excited to visit. On the way here we ran into a detour. The road was closed due to snow in June. We had to drive an extra hour to the other entrance and had to drive all the way back after visiting. You should look into this sort of thing before you visit. When we got here we found that it was all worth it. You see, the lake has a surface area spanning 20.6 square miles. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. The water is so blue and clear. We have been to Crater Lake in California but the one in Oregon is much nicer. We were planning to kayak but we figured the water was too cold due to snow and we couldn’t find a place to get down due to all of the closed roads.
Smith Rock State Park
Smith Rock State Rock is outdoor activity heaven. At the lowest point there is Crooked River which is surrounded by vegetation and trails. On the river you could kayak while on the trails you could run or walk. Higher up there are still trails until you finally see the Smith Rock. This location is a world famous rock climbing destination. It is considered to be the birthplace of modern climbing. And it really shows with how many people were rock climbing here. The views here are beautiful from top to bottom definitely worth a visit.
Located at 9241 NE Crooked River Dr.Tereebonne, OR 97760.
John Day Fossil Beds National Monument: Painted Hills Unit
Painted Hills are truly amazing, they are spectacular. These hills are covered with so many contrasting colors. With orange, tan, and black spread throughout. Some parts of the hills seemed to be lifeless while others were covered in wildflowers and green grass. We went on two small trails and got to see so many great things. Painted Cove Trail has a boardwalk that puts you right above colored rocks. We also hiked the Painted Hill Overlook which allowed us to get a great view of the painted hills all around us. There is just so much to see here. The location of this unit is so isolated that you will pretty much have it all to yourself. This is only one of the three units that make up John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and we can not wait to see what the other units have to offer. If you’re ever nearby you should visit the Painted Hills, you will love it.
Located at 37375 Bear Creek Rd, Mitchell, OR 97750.
Long Hollow Ranch Stay
We stayed in the Homestead House which comfortably sleeps six. At this rustic cabin we really felt like we stepped back in time. With its rocking chair on the porch, wood paneled walls, and an antique stove inside. We had our own kitchenette but we didn’t really use it because the meals were prepared for us at the main house. This is not your usual bed and breakfast where you only get breakfast in the morning. Here at Long Hollow Ranch you get all your meals. The fascinating thing about the meals here is that a lot of the ingredients are grown at the gardens. As a result you get a true farm to fork experience. The food was amazing, the view was breathtaking, and the company so kind. We had a wonderful and relaxing experience here.
Located at 71105 Holmes Rd, Sisters, OR 97759.
Long Hollow Ranch Ponds and Fishing
There are three ponds on the property. There is a pond with trout and two ponds with bass. In order for kids to have an enjoyable experience we decided to fish for bass. And oh boy did they have an amazing time. Peter caught and released 16 bass. He got enough action that he wanted to go fishing again after dinner. You can say he was hooked on bass fishing.
Thank you Long Hollow Ranch for hosting our stay.
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