Paul Allen Smith

 We have enjoyed watching P. Allen Smith's many television programs that he has hosted.  Many are available on UTube.  There are Facebook and Instagram channels.   

"Paul Allen Smith, Jr. (born March 12, 1960)^[1] is an American television host, garden designer, conservationist, and lifestyle expert. He is the host of three television programs. P. Allen Smith's Garden Home and P. Allen Smith's Garden to Table are distributed to public television by American Public Television.^[2][3] His 30-minute show Garden Style is syndicated by The Television Syndication Company.^[4] Smith is one of America's most recognized gardening and design experts, providing ideas and guidance through multiple media venues. He is the author of the Garden Home series of books published by Clarkson Potter/Random House, including Bringing the Garden Indoors: Container, Crafts and Bouquets for Every Room and the cookbook, Seasonal Recipes from the Garden, inspired by the abundance of food from his farm and a family of cooks. In 2014, Smith's television shows were successful at the Taste Awards with Smith returning to Little Rock with four Taste Awards. In 2015, Smith was inducted into the Taste Hall of Fame for his significant impact in the world of taste and broadcast entertainment.^[5] Garden Home won a 2017 Taste Award for "Best Green or Organic Program".^[6]" 

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Harvest Blessings to All this Thanksgiving Day!

Happy Thanksgiving Day

(This Post was made in November of 2017.  Families enjoy gathering in the warm kitchen area on cold November days in North America. We look forward to Thanksgiving Day.)

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!

T   hanks for time to be together, turkey, talk, and tangy weather.
H  for harvest stored away, home, and hearth, and holiday.
A  for autumn's frosty art, and abundance in the heart.
N  for neighbors, and November, nice things, new things to remember.
K  for kitchen, kettles' croon, kith and kin expected soon.
S  for sizzles, sights, and sounds, and something special that about.
    That spells THANKS for joy in living and a jolly good Thanksgiving.       
-   Aileen Fisher, All in a Word

"They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty.  For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercising in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion.  All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees).  And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc.  Besides they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion.  Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports.”-   William Bradford, 1621 

In 1863, Abraham Lincoln, declared the last Thursday of November to be a National Day of Thanksgiving.

November: Quotations, Saying, Poetry

Months and Seasons

Neo-Pagan Holidays

The first photo shows part of our family in 2012, at our home in Red Bluff, on Thanksgiving Day.

Photos of families enjoying a Thanksgiving Day together.  

Willapa Hills, Chelais River Valley, Washington

We drove from Twin Harbors State Park on the coast to Raymond, then Pe El, then to Chelais at Interstate 5.  Beautiful lush green farms and many nice homes.  Autumn colors of brown, rust, and yellow.  

Beautiful cloudy morning drive.  Mick drove his Toyota Tundra truck skillfully and safely the entire distance.  It took him 2.5 hours to drive the distance.  

It is 53 miles east from Raymond on the Willapa to Chelais via Washington State Road 6.  Always a pleasure.  

Raymond's many metal sculptures.

Chelais

Centralia and Chelais, Southwestern Washington

Centralia  Population 18,183  Images
On Interstate 5 between Portland and Olympia    WA6 Junction   Timber industry, farming, city, businesses, tourism. 
Centralia is 84 miles south of Seattle.  
Centralia Outlets Shopping     Business Directory

Centralia: Weyerhaeuser Timber Company   The company owns most of the Willapa Hills forests to the west of Centralia.  

Chehalis  Population  7,259   Images   Chehalis is 88 miles north of Portland, and 28 miles south of Olympia. 
On Interstate 5 between Portland and Olympia.  About 12 miles north of the I5/WA12 Junction near Mary's Corner. 
Timber industry, farming, city, businesses, tourism. 

Grand Mond   Great Wolf Lodge and Waterpark

Lucky Eagle Rochester Indian Hotel and Casino 

Chehalis River    Images   Newaukum River

Chehalis Reservation Confederated Tribes

Native Indians of Southwestern Washington

Raymond

Raymond  Population 2,975  Pacific County  WB  Junction of US101, WA 6, and WA 105. 
The largest town on the east side of Willapa Bay and largest city in Pacific County. 
Raymond is 35 miles north of Naselle, 56 miles west of Centralia, and 25 miles south of Aberdeen. 

Raymond Images  WB  

Raymond:  Carriage Museum   Willapa Seaport Museum    Harbor/Docks    Sightseeing    Paddling    

Raymond:  Willapa River  Images   WB  There is a north and south fork of the Willapa River in Raymond.  

Raymond:  Steamboats of Willapa Bay   There is a huge Weyerhaeuser lumber mill in Raymond. 
Many fish canneries are in or near South Bend and Raymond.  There are numerous commercial and public docks in the area. 

Raymond Timberland Library

Raymond:  Willapa Paddle Adventures   Paddling canoes or kayaks on the many Willapa Bay rivers is very popular. 

Raymond:  Willapa Hills State Park Trail   56 miles east to Centralia.  River biking trail from Raymond to South Bend. 

Numerous rusted metal sculptures along the roadway in Raymond.  

Four Days in Grayland
By Michael P. Garofalo

Clam Digging at Twin Harbors

Mick and I spent the whole day at Twin Harbors State Park.  We liked the easy driving access to the sandy beach via Bonge Road.

Mick surf fished and dug clams.  You need to be strong to quickly dig into clam shows.  I helped some with clam digging; but my right shoulder can't work so hard for long.  It was around 55 degrees with an onshore breeze of 10 mph.  It was a 150 yard walk from where vehicles were parked to the digging area.

We both are licensed fishermen.  We dug today and yesterday and found 45 clams.  This season it is a 20 clam limit per licensed fisherman per day.    

Last month, Mick and April and I had no luck in digging up any clams.  

I personally witnessed Mick dig up 20 clams in 40 minutes this afternoon.

Many other people were out digging clams from 2 pm to 7 pm; both today and yesterday..  Low tide was from 5 to 6 pm.  

We drove up to nearby Grayland State Park beaches to surf fish for surf perch.  But no luck.  

We both took long walks in the Shifting Sands Nature Trails in Twin Harbors State Park and along the shoreline.  I did some beachcombing.  

20 clams limit per licensed fisherman per day

We both took long walks on the
Shifting Sands Nature Trails

The campground was nearly empty.
One old guy in his trailer and we in our cabin.
One family came in tonight using a cabin.

Four Days in Grayland
By Michael P. Garofalo

Clam Digging Razor Clams   Washington State Fish and Wildlife 

Clam Digging  Razor Clam Rules and Best Beaches for Digging  

Clam Digging Seasonal Schedule [Sept-Dec 2021]

Clam Digging Tides Grays Harbor

Clam Digging and Crabbing in Washington.  By John A. Johnson.  Adventure North Publishing, 1997, 125 pages.  VSCL. 

Clam Digging and Crabbing in Oregon.  By John A. Johnson.  VSCL.

Clamming in the Pacific Northwest.  By Ken Axt.  Frank Amato, 2016, 88 pages.  VSCL. 

Clam Digging Westport 

Clam Digging Grayland and Twin Harbors   This stretch of beach is referred to in books as the 'Twin Harbors' Beaches. 

Preparing and Cooking Razor Clams

The Secret Life of Clams: The Mysteries and Magic of Our Favorite Shellfish.  By Anthony D. Dredericks.  Skyhorse, 2014, 286 pages.  FVRL

Clam Digging Tools:  Waist waders with attached boots.  Waterproof top as needed.  Waterproof and warm gloves, hat, and warm clothing.  Cylindrical clams digging tube (metal or plastic) and a clam shovel (11'x31").  Headlamps for night clamming.  Mesh basket for holding razor clams.  Snacks in your pocket.  Friends to have fun with at the seashore. Your fishing license in your jacket. 

If you work at shellfishing and have some luck then you will need: A clam opening knife and cutting pad.  Pot in camp big enough to clean and cook clams, oysters, or crabs. Surf fishing for redtail surf perch is supposed to be very good using clam baits on the high tide immediately after the razor clammers have dug at low tide. 

Son and Father Trip to the Beach

 My son, Michael Delmer Garofalo, and I went together to the coast today.  I call him "Mick."
We went clam digging in October, but had no luck whatsoever, nada! Hope we do better at fishing this trip.  

We drove my favorite trip to Twin Harbors State Park: Tour 1 includes photographs and detailed tour guide.  Nice weather all day.

Arrived at our wood cabin, C3, at 5:00 pm.  Only one other person in the entire campsite.  

Four Days in Grayland
By Michael P. Garofalo

Magic Pearl Qigong: Medicine Ball Exercises

 Magic Pearl Qigong: A Tai Chi Medicine Ball Exercise Routine and Meditation Technique.

By Michael P. Garofalo, M.S.
   
Part I, Movements 1-8
Part II, Movements 9-16


The Magic Pearl Qigong is a body/mind movement art practice that was developed in 2009 by Mike Garofalo.  He studied the Chen style Taijiquan medicine ball (Tai Chi Ball) exercises, the Yang Style Taijiquan medicine ball exercises, qigong forms, and general gym styles of medicine ball exercise routines.  He has practiced Qigong and Taijiquan since 1985. 

The psychological, symbolic, magical, esoteric, and meditative aspects of the Magic Pearl Qigong involve Taoist, Buddhist, and mythological lore from China and worldwide.  Followers of Dragon motifs and lore will enjoy the associations found in this form.  Suggestions for related meditations on the concept of the Cosmic Sphere, World Egg, Magic Pearl, Casting a Magick Circle, and Sacred Circles are also provided. 

For more information on general training with a medicine ball take a look at the Medicine Ball Exercises webpage. 

The Magic Pearl Qigong exercise routine was designed for use with a medicine ball while holding the ball in two hands, so as to allow for the use of heavier medicine balls.  This exercise routine can be done indoors and does not require much space for the practice. Use a medicine ball weighing from 2 to 6 pounds to begin practice of this qigong form. 


A brief list of names of the first 8 exercises in the Magic Pearl Qigong has been provided (1 page, .pdf format).  A brief set of instructions for doing the first 8 exercises of the Magic Pearl Qigong has been provided to facilitate learning and encourage daily practice (2 pages, .pdf format).


Valley Spirit Qigong Website

[This article was originally posted to the Cloud Hands Blog on February 6, 2011.  Back in 2009,  I taught the Magic Pearl Qigong to my Taijiquan and Qigong classes at the Tehama Family Fitness Center in Red Bluff, California, and some variations to my yoga classes.  I enjoyed teaching mind-body movement arts for nearly 20 years.]