Heartstrings musical duo entertains audiences with traditional 19th century music within historical settings. Married high school sweethearts, Rob and Nancy Downie, dress in period costumes while playing the string bass and the hammered dulcimer. Other instruments featured at events and on their CDs include the fiddle, banjo, Native American flute, acoustic bass, and mountain dulcimer. Heartstrings incorporates vocals as well as information on song history and instrument origin.
This local duo regularly performs at historical landmarks and can be hired to play at a variety of public and private events. We have the privilege of hearing them throughout the year at the Champoeg State Heritage Area, Stevens-Crawford House, Museum of the Oregon Territory, and Philip Foster Farm. Heartstrings Christmas music will set the tone at the Old Aurora Colony Candlelight Tour from 4-6:30 p.m. on December 1. For a taste of their traditional tunes, visit them at the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center at 1 p.m. on January 20 for “Music Along the Oregon Trail.”
Contact Rob and Nancy of Heartstrings to purchase CDs or for information on future performances. This delightful couple would love to hear from you!
(503) 885-1502
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The privately owned homes and vacation rentals accommodate a range of budgets and groups from personal getaways to reunions, corporate retreats, and wedding parties. Black Butte Ranch supplies its own post office, police and fire stations. It allows public access to restaurants, stables, and golf courses, but restricts the rest for seasonal guests and residents. Black Butte Ranch is open all year. For more information, go to blackbutteranch.com.
It’s almost un-American, but I couldn’t handle the taste of ketchup until I was a teenager. Even then, I only used ketchup for dipping my greasy, limp school cafeteria fries into just to make them palatable. The memory of the pairing still grosses me out. To this day, I can go without having general ketchup on anything, because I only tolerate its taste. Luckily for me, usually when ketchup is available, so is mustard—and I love mustard.
The cookbook From Portland’s Palate: A Collection of Recipes from the City of Roses by the Junior League of Portland, Oregon includes nearly 250 recipes that integrate local ingredients such as seafood from the Pacific Ocean, fruit from the Columbia River Gorge, and wine from the Willamette Valley. These recipes are both familiar and innovative. Each section begins with stunning artwork by Illustrator Jennifer Winship Mark along with a page of information and tips about a certain area or season. Not only is this a classic Pacific Northwest cookbook, but it’s also an entertaining read.
My favorite tea happens to be local, founded and headquartered in the Pacific Northwest! Stash Tea began in a Victorian house in Portland, Oregon in 1972 and expanded its headquarters just over the West Hills to Tigard, Oregon. Stash quickly grew to become a top specialty American tea company, selling products online, in a variety of stores, and around the world. Stash teas come in a variety of flavors and forms including loose, bulk, bagged, pods, sachet and iced. The company also sells treats and any kind of teaware imaginable.
The holidays coincide with birthdays in my home, so while everyone else plans holiday parties and menus, I focus on keeping my children’s birthdays separate and special. Rice cereal treats with a twist landed on one of our birthday menus, and fruity rainbow bars won over the many options of flavors and colors. This simple and economical treat can be changed to accommodate a variety of occasions and preferences. Here is the base recipe: