New House in Nehalem
On our last visit to Shane’s sister and husband in Oregon, they were in the midst of finalizing the purchase of a new house in Nehalem. They showed us the house and it was beautiful with Miami Foley Creek flowing through their backyard. According to Tillamook County website, the word Nehalem is of Indian origin. One attributed meaning is “place where people live”. The prefix “Ne”, used frequently in Indian names of northwestern Oregon, meant a place or locality. The name “Nehalem” applies to a town, river, and bay at the north end of Tillamook County.
Yoga Deck
Maureen loves to have a yoga deck when Shane asked what his sister wants as a gift for their new house. The yoga deck will be under the big cedar tree located close to the creek. Shane has just finished building a sun room for me in our house in September. Now we are in Nehalem for nine days to build a yoga deck for his sister.
Building a Yoga Deck
The initial stage to building a yoga deck for Maureen was a team effort. We cleared the area under the spruce tree, cutting low branches and leveling the soil around the thick trunk. There was so much to do. Luckily they have a riding mover that we can attach a trolley to haul all the branches and grass away. James drove his truck next to the clearing to unload the lumber and concrete foundations. Afterwards it was solely Shane’s work because the deck was going to be a surprise for his sister. I only accompanied him and helped when needed. The yoga deck comprised of two levels with a few steps up. The surrounding area is expected to flood in winter when the creek water level rises.
Finishing Touch for Final Reveal
By the 7th day, Shane and I were doing the finishing touch for the final reveal to Maureen. The Yoga decks were sanded and ferns planted around them. I’ve created a vine wreath out of a bush they cut and placed it on the base of the spruce tree. Shane had bought a frog yoga statue which is so adorably cute and it was put in front of the wreath. Maureen is definitely going to enjoy this deck. She can practice her yoga under the cooling shade while listening to the rushing water. It was fun to watch the excitement on her face when the deck was revealed to her.
