National Day of Service

Good Morning Dear Friends -

This past weekend my Mom took me (Ellie) to Yachats for our annual girls only weekend to celebrate my 43rd birthday.  Yippy!!!  What a relief it was to leave the land of the mold people, ascend through the fog, over the coast range and into the land of sunshine.  The Oregon Coast is often amazing this time of year and this weekend was no exception.  Sunshine, no wind, and all that the Pacific has to share.

This weekend we celebrated the inauguration of our 44th President and the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In honor of these two events President Obama asked us to volunteer for our National Day of Service.

“This is really what America is about, this is what we celebrate," Obama said while speaking at Burrville Elementary. "This inauguration, it’s a symbol of how our democracy works and how we peacefully transfer power, but it should also be an affirmation that we’re all in this together, and we’ve got to look out for each other, and we’ve got to work hard on behalf of each other.”

Waves crashing on the rocks at Yachats, Oregon Coast

My Mom and I chose to spend some of our time at the coast collecting garbage off our precious beach as our way of participating in this event.  Next time we'll bring larger bags and one of those "thingy-doodles" that grabs things so you don't have to bend over.

My Mom & our beach trash

We hope that one of the people that smiled and thanked us for picking up trash decides that next year or maybe even next week they are going to take a bag and gloves to the beach to give a little of themselves on behalf of each other and our amazing home - Earth.

Take care, be good & kind, and don't forget to laugh,
Ellie Efforts (aka Heather)

Happy New Year & A Visit To The Oregon Coast

Dear Friends - Earnie told me yesterday that many of you who visited him at the Holiday Market wondered why we haven't been posting here.  I guess I just lost motivation and didn't realize that there were so many of you enjoying our posts, so I'm going to make a point of delivering photos of our adventures if nothing else.  My apologies to all you voyeurs out there.

14 years ago New Year's day, Earnie took me to Bandon by the sea and asked me if I would live the rest of my life with him.  I think you know the answer to his question and yesterday we took our first annual trip of the year to Bandon and the Oregon Coast to celebrate our 3 months of pseudo-hibernation and a new year together.  The weather couldn't have been more beautiful.  Warm with NO wind and sunshine warming our bodies & spirits.  We ate at our usual favorite kiosk - Port O Call - right above the docks, browsed the bookstore - Winter River Books, and picked out our favorite sweets at Cranberry Sweets.

The following are photos from our adventure.  Only brought home a small piece of driftwood with beaver chew.  I was feeling less that motivated as I'm fighting my first cold in 4.5 years and my first cold since I quit smoking 2 years ago on 2 January.  I'll tell you what, fighting a cold as a non-smoker is cake!!!  Okay now, back to the photos...

We hope you enjoyed our photo journal.  Earnie is the master photographer!

Wishing you all an Amazing New Year,
Earnie, Ellie & Myrtle Jo Efforts
(aka Rick, Heather & the amazing Myrtle Jo Efforts as herself)

In Color Gallery & Design

In Color Gallery & Design in Historic Cottage Grove, Oregon

Dear Friends of Earnest Efforts -

On my way home from a most glorious day at our Eugene, Oregon Saturday Market, I had the rare opportunity to deliver the first batch of our natural wood baby rattles and spirit shakers to a shop.  Laura Harmon is the witty and gracious host and fellow artist of the cheerful and inspiring gallery In Color Gallery & Design on Main Street in Historic Cottage Grove, Oregon. 

My Mom & I spent the afternoon in Cottage Grove in early July and we truly fell in love with the quaint downtown atmosphere, friendly shops and all the delights that surround.  That's when we met Laura.  While chatting about a recent experience with my Nannie (Grandma), she shared the most amazing painting she had created of her beautiful Grandmother.  A phenomenal painting and such an incredible tribute to her Grandmother.

If you are traveling through the heart of Oregon down the Interstate 5, take the time to visit Laura, her gallery and the beautiful community of Cottage Grove.  I would also recommend the Fleur De Lis Patisserie & Cafe just down the street from Laura.  My Mom, owner & president of Old Dominion Collision Repair Centers in Eugene & Springfield, knows everyone, including Maureen Rosenberger, proprietor of this delicious patisserie & cafe.

We wish you a glorious day and remember...
Take care, be good & kind and don't forget to laugh,
Ellie Efforts (aka Heather)

Grateful Etsy Customer

Grateful Etsy Customer

Fossil Fuel Freedom

Ellie preparing to bike Etsy & wholesale orders to the post.  Myrtle says she wants to go with big mama.

Good Morning Friends of Earnest Efforts -

When I moved down to Olalla Valley in Southern Oregon I didn't realize that I would forsake my bicycle for 14 years because of a fear of being run over by a log truck or an unsuspecting motorist.  I grew up in Eugene and bicycling was a way of life for myself and my friends - normally our only form of transportation.  I've biked 741 miles along the West Coast from Eugene to San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, the road from the Lihue to Hanalei on Kaua'i, and rode the trails at Kaena Point on O'ahu.  My dreams are often filled with the freedom of gliding on my bike.  I needed to bring this dream back to life!

My brother & I invited our Pa to ride around Crater Lake in August as a birthday gift to him this spring.  Our excitement rubbed off on my Mom and she said she wanted to ride and then Earnie said he & Myrtle would camp and hold down the fort while we ride.  I've been weight training after yoga class a couple times a week since this winter, but I just needed to RIDE and this was the solution!!!

One night a few weeks ago it dawned on me that I could ride my bike to the post office in Tenmile to ship packages.  I couldn't sleep all night I was so excited.  Why was I suddenly not afraid to get on Olalla & ride?  I think part of the reason was I now had a purpose and that purpose had replaced the fear.

My bike in front of the Tenmile Post Office

It's been a few weeks of riding now and I am excited to announce that the hills are getting easier and I feel safe.  I can hear any log trucks coming from miles away and prepare to get off the road if I am in a tight spot, and the motorists out here have been amazing - slowing down & giving me a wide birth.  The more often people see bicyclists on the road the more they begin to think about us and anticipate our potential for being just around the corner.  There is one other consistent rider who collects bottles & cans (Oregon has a 5 cent deposit on water & soda containers) and motorists have seen him around for years.  Now there are two of us.  Maybe some day there will be many more. 

Take care, be good & kind, and don't forget to laugh,
Ellie Efforts (aka Heather) of the Earnie, Ellie & Myrtle show

Flat Stanley Visits Earnie, Ellie & Myrtle Efforts

 
Dear Friends of Earnest Efforts-

Earnie's daughter, Hickory, is a preschool teacher in Eugene, Oregon.  She had a kiddo in her class who needed someone to take her Flat Stanley on a little trip, so we volunteered to have him come out to Olalla for a weekend.  Here's what Flat Stanley saw...

In front of the Sawdust Cathedral

Helping Earnie cut boxes on the bandsaw

Helping Earnie sand boxes

This is Agnes, she hatches all the baby chicks

Agnes lives inside

My new friend Buddha

Earnie built this greenhouse with recycled materials

I LOVE garlic

Olalla Creek is blurry

Myrtle and I played ball

Riding on Mustang Sally

This is Teeter of the Teeter & Totter Show

Totter plays a little rough for me

Walking a log across Byron Creek

I'm A Tree Hugger!!!

A dandelion seed head

Making a wish for my preschool friend

Moss is the perfect place for a nap

Hiking trail

Native trillium along the hike

Bleeding hearts in the woods

Earnie, Ellie & Me!

Mama's Emporium

Hello Friends of Earnest Efforts -

We are delighted to announce the newest shop to begin carrying our natural wood baby rattles.  Mama's Emporium is located in Englewood, Colorado and online.  I enjoyed reading Amanda's recognition of the many people who encouraged the environmental entrepeneur she has become. 

"The love of recycling and re-purposing things have been instilled in me since I was very young. My Mom was super thrifty and she could make anything, She taught me her love of bargain hunting and I inherited her creativity. My Grandpa Ralph was the owner of Ralph's Emporium, a second hand store in Aurora, CO :) Grandpa was a patient listener and he encouraged the entrepreneur in me by telling me when he thought an idea I came up with was a pretty good one. My Aunt Gail taught me to be resourceful and to trust my gut. My teacher Mrs. Clark made the importance of recycling and being Eco-friendly real for me with hands-on projects. Mrs. Clark taught me that being thrifty and environmentally conscious go hand and hand and she encouraged me to follow my entrepreneurial dreams." -Amanda Dinkel

We hope that you will stop in and visit Mama's Emporium and shake a rattle for us, and remember to...

Take care, be good & kind, and don't forget to laugh,
Ellie Efforts (aka Heather or Big Mama to Myrtle Jo Efforts)