Historical July

"As we give, we find that sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven, and in the end, we learn it was no sacrifice at all."~ Spencer W. Kimball


"The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark.  They brought many things that our people had never seen.  They talked straight.  These men were very kind."~ Chief Joseph.

 

     I'll be referring back to our family trip to Oregon once more.  We visited Fort Clatsop, a place where Lewis and Clark built a fort and named it after the Clatsop Indians who were friendly to them.  I have been intrigued with the Corp of Discovery, Lewis and Clark and Sacajawea lately.  We visited the Astoria Column, a structure that is 125 feet tall.  After climbing 164 steps, you have a beautiful view in every direction.  The column has a unique frieze cement artwork on the outer side which depicts the history of the area from Native American settlements to the coming of the railroad.  There is a beautiful statue of Lewis and Clark at the beach's edge near the condo where we stayed in Seaside.  This statue honors the traveling duo as they reached their goal in finding the Pacific Ocean.

 

Visitor's Center

Sacajawea



Fort Clatsop




Astoria Column

 





 

As I visited the Fort Clatsop Visitor's Center I had many questions about Lewis and Clark and the people they traveled with.  In order to answer some of those questions I purchased a book at about a fifth grade reading level.  The book was very informative and added to my curiosity about Sacajawea.  So when we got home I read this other book about her life and the great contributions she made to the success of the Corp of Discovery.  I loved learning about these brave people.

 

 

 

 

 

My neighbor and friend, Dana, gave me some cherries she picked from her relative's tree.  They were so good to eat by the handful.  We still had a few left so I put them in this recipe that my family enjoyed.  We also had homemade vanilla ice cream left over from our Fourth of July fun.  My motto is any dessert is better with ice cream on it.

 

 

 

Peach Cherry Dessert

3 (15 oz.) cans sliced peaches, drained                                 ½ cup butter, melted

½ tsp. almond extract                                                             1 cup flour

1 Tbsp. lemon juice                                                               ½ cup brown sugar

1 ½ cups fresh cherries, pitted                                               1 ½ cups quick oats

                                                                                                            Vanilla ice cream

Spray a 9x13” baking dish with cooking spray.  Place peaches in the dish.  Stir in almond extract and lemon juice.  Sprinkle the cherries on top of peaches.  Combine butter, flour, brown sugar and oats in a medium bowl.  Stir together using a fork.  Sprinkle this mixture over the top of the peaches.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.  Serves about eight.

 

     Here's a refreshing treat for a hot July evening.  Try a cherry chocolate milkshake.

 

Cherry Chocolate Milkshake

½ cup milk                                                       1 Tbsp. chocolate syrup

4 scoops vanilla ice cream                             5 pitted cherries

            Put ingredients in blender and process until smooth.  Makes two servings.