Summer just isn't slowing down. In fact, I've invented the new word, "summertiming" to explain all the sunny adventures we've been taking lately. You can use it in a conversation like this:
You: "Oh, hey Lucy. What have you been up to lately?"
Lucy: "Oh, you know. Just summertiming, man. To the maximum."
It's a helpful word to summarize all the picnics and barbecues and mini-golf adventures you've been going on. Feel free to use it.
Anyway, picking up on what my last post alluded to, it turns out I was totally right about the secret picnic spot.
(Adorable heart PB&J's by our enchanted travel companions.)
We crashed Oregon's own tiny and time-warped Enchanted Forest theme-park with a posse of grown-ups and I didn't feel one bit creepy that we were the only ones there without children. In fact, I think we might have been even giddier about the sites than most of the under-13 crowd we saw there. Click on this map link and tell me you wouldn't be excited too.
I don't mean to bore you lovely readers who have been there before, but the park was built in the 1960s & 70s and hasn't had a lot of updates since then. It's hard to pick a best part but I think we were all pretty dazzled with the initial walk down Storybook Lane. How often to you get to see these things while on a stroll in the woods?...
I hadn't been to the park since I was a little lady but the two things I vividly remembered were the Crooked Man's House and the Haunted House (the latter of which I'm pretty sure I had to abruptly leave due to extreme panic at age six). Funny thing - these two things stood out to me the most as a grown lady too.
I wish I could tell you that I had outgrown my fear of the Haunted House but alas, no such luck. In fact, I may have screamed more than I did when I was six. I mean, who wouldn't crouch in fear of a site like this?
In cheerier news, we procured these trinkets for ourselves. I'm smelling a Summer '09 collection box of amusement prizes coming on. It was rather amazing how many of their trinkets had been on the shelves since the mid-70s. I was tempted to purchase the magnet that said "T.G.F.M." (which stands for the topical, "Thank God For Microwaves", obviously) but I resisted.
If you like fun and if you are ever in the greater Salem, Oregon area with three to five hours to kill, you should probably stop by.
Oh, and if you love summertiming too, check out Ryan's newest t-shirt design for Monsieur T. Do you like it when I have awesome marketing segues?
Summertiming. I like it!
I'm adding the Enchanted Forrest to our Portland road trip (once I get my licence..soon) itinerary, for sure. Thanks for the tip!
Oh, I went on the Ghost Train ride at the Royal Easter Show as an adult and was still freaked out by the vampire who's head was sometimes screwed on backwards. I'm feeling you on the haunted house fright.
Posted by: Becka | July 02, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Who is that cute ghost-girl wearing a striped skirt in the room with Gretel?
I really like the new t-shirt design, Ryan. It's very cool. Very T&C Surf Designs, and it looks amazingly, believably retro & quirky-cool.
I ate the last of those, heart-shaped sandwiches yesterday (out of the fridge), and I finished the rest of that bag of Hawaiian chips, and I felt kind of sad that Grant's moving away, but then I was happy, since the last week was so much fun hanging out with all of you guys.
Posted by: Josiah | July 02, 2009 at 05:30 PM
oooh, summertiming! I'm going to have to use that. Good job inventing a new and useful word!
I haven't been to Enchanted Forest since I was little either. My favorite was always the crooked house...I guess I've always had an interest in houses. ;)
Posted by: torie | July 06, 2009 at 06:31 PM
a) i want to go there.
b) i want that pennant.
c) it is funny how these posts are all attributed to ryan and yet mention his girlhood (it happens).
d) this reminds me of rock city in chattanooga. if you ever find yourselves driving between atlanta and nashville, you must stop by there.
Posted by: becky | July 21, 2009 at 02:29 PM