Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill

On Wednesday, a group of us from work went up to Salem for a workshop.  On the way home, I decided to take a detour with Kerry, my coworker, and tag along as she previewed a trip location for the Adult Activity Center (as she plans their trips).

First off, I have never really spent any time in Salem.  I've taken a bus through it once and Cliff and I stopped in an Applebee's parking lot on the way up to the Portland Airport one time as our car was making a weird noise (oh the bug).  But that is it.  I know nothing about our state's capital. Well...I still don't really know anything about it but I got to check out a pretty nice cluster of historical buildings at the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill.

The Heritage Center is made up of an old wool mill and a few buildings that made up the township of the Methodist Mission that arrived before the Oregon Trail.  The mill isn't operational anymore and the Mission closed in 1844,  but they have done a really nice job putting together a museum and event space.  We got a mini tour and my favorite tidbit of information involves the daughter of the factory owner, Fannie Kay.  Apparently she kept close tabs on her father as he ran the mill and assisted in much of the mill's operations as he was illiterate.  When her father passed away he naturally left the mill to his son.  So Fannie packed up with her husband (who came from the textile sales family), moved east, and with her family started the Pendleton Wool Company.  Pretty cool right?

I took a lot of photos.  We don't get to see that many old buildings anymore and I really miss brick.  The first few photos are of the second floor where they did the carding and spinning.

On Thursdays, they open up the 4th floor for local weavers to come and use the looms.  I would love to go back and see people working on their projects.  They had pretty samples on the wall.  This makes me wish that I was crafty.

Connecting the Mill to the Mission is the millrace.  Apparently, this is a favorite spot of visitors as they can feed the ducks.

If you follow the millrace you arrive at our Mission buildings: the chapel, a parsonage, an apartment like building, and a single family home.  I enjoy old buildings.

It was a nice tour and I think I would go back with visiting friends and family.  Yay history!

We Passed Our Driving Tests

Yes, you did read that correctly.  In Oregon you are required to take the written driving exam to change out your out of state license.  As soon as we heard this I started to get myself worked up as I did not do so well 10 years  ago when I had to take the test to get my provisional license.  I won't lie.  I totally failed.  So needless to say I worked up some pretty serious test anxiety before going to the DMV today.  Prior to going Cliff and I took sample tests online and read through some sample questions.  We really needed to take care of car stuff today so there was no turning back.  We took our tests (32 questions) and we both passed!  I seriously couldn't stop smiling.  I had prepared myself to be devastated after failing.  I was that nervous.  Once the stress eased we chatted it up with three of the workers.  We heard about their dogs, date nights, living in South Carolina, and how lovely it is that we do not have to flight with bugs in Eugene.   Cliff got his photo taken super quick but when I sat down it took forever.  They had to take my photo three separate times as apparently I tilt my head when I smile into cameras and the computer doesn't allow this.  I was holding up the line and people apparently thought this was funny.  It was seriously a group effort between the two ladies, Cliff, and myself to get a clean photo.  With this said, I am pretty happy with the photo which is great since a license lasts for eight years here!

After the DMV we went out to Red Robin for a celebratory burger (we got a free one since it is my birthday month) and then See's candy.   I was already a big fan of Red Robin but the one here in Eugene is amazing.  The servers are always friendly and prompt, the burgers are actually cooked to order, the bottomless fries arrive almost immediately after ordering and they are always hot.  Their rewards card doesn't hurt either as Cliff and I have gotten two free burgers and quite a few other discounts.  If you like Red Robin, you should sign up!  Good day.