by Sandy Oldfield

When she was only 10 years old, Linda Smiley crafted her first “mud-pie” building, a miniature adobe village for a school project – it was a harbinger of things to come. Now a master cob cottage builder, along with husband Ianto Evans, they make their livelihood teaching others to create simple, affordable homes of their own. Linda and Ianto live part-time in a cozy, beautiful heart-shaped cob home they built themselves of clay, sand, straw and water, on land owned by their neighbors and longtime friends, Chip and Clara Boggs, of the Mountain Homestead community. It is dubbed “Heart House”, an appropriate dwelling for someone born on Valentine’s Day, into a family named Smiley.

 Linda grew up in the apricot orchards of northern California, where she learned to love nature and the rich soil. Educated in psychology and therapeutic recreation, Linda moved to Portland to direct a program in Urban Farming on the University of Oregon campus. There she met her future husband, a professor in Landscape Architecture, who had recently returned from a project in Guatemala, where he taught native people to build clay and sand cookstoves which burned efficiently and healthfully. It was their common love of growing and building things out of the earth that attracted them to each other and which continues to bind them. Together, they embarked on a lifetime of shared commitment to using the earth to provide shelter and heat.

While traveling in Ianto’s native Wales, they happened upon a cob building project, an historic building technique in the British Isles, where the environment is similar to Oregon’s, but there are few trees. Many of the structures there are hundreds of years old. Intrigued, they returned to Oregon and built their first dwelling, appropriately in Cottage Grove. As interest grew, the two formed a company with another partner, Michael Smith, the first of its kind in the U.S., to teach the principles to others.

 Though this is a revival of an ancient tradition, they have pioneered an Oregon-specific technique. They have taught professional contractors as well as children and older folks who have never built anything. Thousands of students later, there are now hundreds of cob structures scattered across the country. Through experimenting with various finishes, Linda has become a master and leads workshops on design, plaster finishes and sculpting in bas relief. Her organic designs are incorporated everywhere you look, on doors and gates, walls and windows.

 As well as being a practical, affordable place to live, Linda makes a cob dwelling a lovely, artistic expression, inside and out. In 2002, they jointly wrote and published a book, “The Hand-Sculpted House”, which is a practical and philosophical guide to building a cob cottage. Their workshops are held in Coquille during the dry summer months, and also in Cork, Ireland and Mexico. During the winter months, they travel to far-flung places like New Zealand and Australia to view other cob buildings. Linda says that they consider their life work to be an extension of their gifts and don’t consider it work so much as recreation. “We love enabling people to build an affordable dream house by hand, using earthen architecture, with no mortgage. Anyone can do it and it becomes their work of art!” she enthuses. She adds that they also have local contractors who are interested in learning the process. When they aren’t involved in construction, Linda and Ianto love to hike and camp.

 “I love the wild outdoors,” Linda says, smiling. In fact, her smile is her signature, not only her name. Blessed to live in a beautiful home of their own making, surrounded by flowers, fruit and herbs they have grown, doing recreation that isn’t limited to “after work”, they have created a sacred space they love to share with others. To learn more about their endeavors, go to www.cobcottage. com.

For one hundred years, there have been Geaneys living  on the land off Fairview Road. Bob Geaney, who was born  in the house where he now lives with Lou, his wife of  fifty-four years, says “I’m in competition with Walt Scolari  to be the oldest rancher on Cunningham Creek.”  Both Bob and Lou attended Coquille schools where they  dated but didn’t marry until Bob returned from Oregon  State University and Lou from a job in Seattle. When they  were first married, they lived in a cabin on the family property  but eventually they moved to Broadbent where Bob  managed a large beef ranch.

 Following that, they bought a  2,000- acre ranch in Bridge. Bob returned to the family  farm to help out when his father entered local politics.  Between the two properties, they had about 130 cows and  300 ewes. As well, they owned a meatpacking plant in  Coos Bay.  In addition to his farming duties, Bob was active in local  and state politics, serving as the president of the Coos  County Farm Bureau as well as the Coos County and  Western Oregon Livestock Associations. He also served as  vice president to the National Woolgrowers Association, for  which he traveled to Washington D.C., to testify before  Congress about the effect of coyote poisoning. “I liked the  challenge of going to meetings and arguing with the big  guns, “ he says.

As a representative for the Oregon Department of  Agriculture, Bob visited Japan for a trade relations  exchange program and hosted Japanese ranchers on a reciprocal  visit. He and Lou also visited London, representing  the Woolgrower’s Association. Governor Holmes appointed  him to the State Advisory Board on Livestock. Bob  enjoyed traveling and meeting people, seeing how other  countries did things differently.  Despite all of these achievements, Bob says he is most  proud of his two children, John and Jan. Family is important  to Bob. He remembers his mother telling him “you  have good blood in you!” (“and a good heart!”, adds Lou).  He credits his green thumb and his ability to make friends  to his grandfather Geaney.

Bob’s grandfather was an Irish captain of a British naval  vessel when he jumped ship in San Francisco at the turn of  the last century. With a friend, he walked all the way to  Oregon, arriving in Myrtle Point barefoot because his shoes  had deteriorated and his feet were too swollen to fit into  another pair. He later married an Irish girl who had come  from his hometown. In 1909, he bought the house Bob  lives in, on about 800 acres of land which Bob and his dad  both added to. Originally heavily wooded, his grandfather  cleared the land by hand and worked it with the help of two  horses and a hand plow.

Though Bob now has a large “cat” to assist, it is still  hard work. The family homestead and the land are a legacy,  passed down from his grandfather, one that is both a  treasure and, at times, a heavy burden. Part curmudgeon,  part Irish wit, part sweetheart, Bob is a Coquille original,  though he claims he’d rather live in Hawaii. He asserts,  “I’m here because it makes Lou happy and she’s a good  cook, and very polite.”  Asked what he’d like people to know about him, Bob  replies, “That I’m a good family man and I love everybody  and that I always had something to say,” he says with a  grin. And he still does!

by Sandy Oldfield

Cody Waddington has the quintessential teenager’s summer  job – lifeguarding. And he knows what a good thing  he has going. As a matter of fact, it’s his fourth summer on  staff at the Coquille Community Pool. “It’s a dream job!”  says Cody. “The best thing about it is working with the  other guards who I didn’t know before but who have  become my really good friends.”  In order to qualify for one of the eleven positions, Cody  took a lifeguard and first aid course, for which he must be  re-certified every couple of years. Although he is trained to  save a drowning swimmer and to deal with medical emergencies,  including performing CPR, he has never had to use  those skills. Always vigilant, he keeps an eagle eye out for  kids who are floundering and has pulled a few from the  pool.  Two people staff the large pool at all times and a third  will be added to guard the wading pool when that opens,  hopefully next week. At the moment, they are awaiting a  part to repair that pool, which is dedicated to kids up to  eight years old, who cannot swim.  The main pool was full of children on a chilly, breezy  Saturday afternoon, the first weekend since school let out.

Cody says that the kids are great and usually respond well  to requests to change behavior. Occasionally, he has to ask  a child to sit out for 10 minutes or, if that doesn’t work, talk  with parents. There are lots of kids who attend regularly  and he gets to know them well and watch them grow up,  summer after summer. His cheerful, easy-going manner  makes him a natural to work with youngsters. Sitting on  his high perch, he whistles to himself and calls out greetings  to new arrivals, all the while keeping a careful eye on  swimmers.  In addition to life-guarding duties, Cody and the other  staff must keep the pool, grounds and building clean and in  working order. They learn how to test and adjust the pool  for chemical balance and check on the systems. “The heating  system is pretty old and doesn’t work really well,” he  notes.

The worst part of the job, he says, is cleaning up  messes the kids leave in the pool changing/restrooms.  While the pool is popular with young people, Cody says  that it is underutilized by adults. “There’s a core group of  lap swimmers but it would be great to have more people in  the community using the pool – it’s such a great resource.”  He explains that there are summer passes available for $65  or family passes for 20 swims for $55. Or you can just  come for $3 a day.  Currently a student at Western Oregon State University,  Cody was only 15 when he began life-guarding. Born in  Coquille, he is a life-long resident and loves it here. “I love  this town and the people. It would be my dream to come  back here to live and teach.” He is considering majoring in  education, but hasn’t declared yet declared his major.  When he’s away at college, he never uses the pool. “I get  enough of that in the summertime,” he declares. Still, he  confesses that his favorite place to hang with his friends is  the beach!

Why is it that we say someone dressed to kill is  the “cat’s meow” or the “cat’s pajama’s” but we  don’t have anything akin to those expressions for  canines? Well, opening day of Coquille’s new dog  park was most definitely a Doggie Designer Day!  Part of the Gay Nineties celebration, the dog costume  contest, held at the Fifth Street Park, was well  attended by both humans and their pets.

The contest was divided into three classes: small,  medium and large breed dogs. There were a good  half dozen entries for each category and many more  undressed canines to cheer them on. Judges for the  competition were Linda Short, city council member  and originator of the dog park concept, Anne  Conner, Coquille librarian, and Colleen Balles, a  customer representative for Sterling Bank. Prizes  were baskets of dog goodies, toys and accoutrements.

Small dog category winner was “Maggie,” a  five-month old Boston terrier/Chihuahua mix. Her  owner, Gisela Colbert, of Coquille, made her frilly  outfit of a brown and cream print and an abundance  of ecru lace. She had a matching hat but resisted  wearing it for very long.

Her “brother,” “Chester”,  a pug, wore a complementary ruffle but was not a  contestant. He was quite put out but is a star in his  own right as a local “Furry Friend” therapy dog,  who pays frequent visits to the Myrtle Point Care  Center. Gisela is hoping that Maggie will join him  when she is old enough to receive training. All the  Colberts plan to visit the new park often.

Another “Maggie,” a 14 –year-old American  Cocker spaniel, won the medium size dog category,  dressed in a designer-made Can-Can girl costume  of black and white striped satin with underlying  layers of red taffeta and crinolines and a black and  white petticoat. She wore a matching headpiece of  striped satin and red netting. The outfit was conceived  by her owner, Jackie Dotzauer, owner of the  “Doghouse Grooming Spa,” and created by Mary  Graham, one of the new dog park commissioners. Maggie  looked enchanting but was exhausted by the ordeal and anxious  to get into something more comfortable.

The winner of the large breed category, “Chloe”, is a  five-month-old chocolate Lab, owned by April Smith of  Langlois. She sported a yellow and green satin and net  tutu, originally made for and worn by April’s mother, as a  little girl, many years ago. April said that she was very  proud of Chloe as she had never been dressed up before and  “I thought she might eat the costume!”

This was the fashion debut for all three winners and they  conducted themselves admirably, posing for pictures and  prizes following the contest. Other entrants included a  boxer wearing a hula outfit, a tiny dog dressed as a bumble  bee and a lab with electric blue aviator goggles. At the conclusion  of the festivities, attendants repaired to the newly  opened facilities, where refreshments awaited them.

“I miss home before I leave!” exclaims Betty Kramer of  the lovely house that she and her husband, Herb, built in  Coquille in 2003. As a pastor’s family, they lived all over  the United States and Canada, retiring to this area to be  nearer children and a nephew.

After moving from Spirit  Lake, Idaho, Betty discovered that her great-grandfather,  Charles Merchant, had been Asa Simpson’s mill supervisor,  and that she had deep roots in the Coos Bay area.  Herb, who had trained as an architect before becoming a  pastor in the Seventh Day Adventist church, designed and  built their home and much of the furniture that graces it.  His first project, a walnut Danish modern bedroom set, was  finished before they were married, 47 years ago. His hobby  has come in handy for the community as well as he has  built furniture by request, including kitchen islands, entertainment  centers, breakfast nooks, cabinets for the Sentinel  office, magazine and book carousels.

He is helping to refurbish  the Bandon Seventh Day Adventist Church, constructing  a massive paneled wall behind the altar. In his “spare”  time, he works on the beautifully landscaped property, once  a tangle of blackberries and brush.  Betty’s talents are also a boon to the community as she  runs a clutter consulting business on an informal basis.  Years ago, she discovered that many women are reluctant  to invite people into their homes because of their disorganized  closets, kitchens and lifestyles. Since helping a  friend who was going through a divorce, with three young  children, down-sizing into a tiny home, she has helped to  encourage women to look positively at their homes and  lives.

“Your home is your friend; it’s where you’re safe, comfortable  and where you enjoy yourself. You should feel  good about it,” Betty says. She explains that people have a  lot of emotion invested in their belongings, or they just  don’t know how to sort through, discard and organize them.  “But they’re just things – they’re not family and they’re not  sacred.”  Betty meets with clients for a designated time and will  work on whatever they feel is needed. She calls it the  “mouse nibbling on cheese” philosophy: it didn’t get that  way overnight and it will take time to reverse it but you can  just nibble a bit at a time. Often she has repeat customers,  and they are so encouraged that they give gift coupons to  their friends and relatives. The husband of an enthusiastic  client asked Betty to come back and organize his tool  bench.

“Now that takes a lot of trust!” she exclaims. She is  careful never to judge or be critical, but only be there to  offer help and encouragement. Often she begins with a  prayer if the customer is open to that. And she gives hugs,  too!  Discarded books, household items and clothing are  donated to libraries and Goodwill. She is a firm believer in  recycling. She has given talks on de-cluttering your life for  the Bandon Golf Club luncheon and for the After Five  Girl’s Night Out at Frazier’s. When she isn’t busy helping  people take charge of their lives and feel good about themselves,  Betty enjoys reading and writing poetry.  Herb admits that Betty sometimes tries to organize him,  too, but he admires the positive contributions she makes to  people’s lives. And she is a great booster of his carpentry  skills. Together, their complementary abilities have created  a beautiful and organized residence --their home really is  their castle!

Photo credit by David Oldfield

Paul Simon’s “Slip-Slidin’ Away” could be Ken  Peerson’s theme song. An avid mud-racer, Ken built his  own racing truck after first retro-fitting two rigs for his  nephews, who got him started in this venture three years  ago. He gets parts and services from Drip and Drizzle, Car  Quest, Shinglehouse Wrecking and Howell Automotive, all  of whose logos adorn the truck bed, but Ken works on his  truck about 30 hours a week.

“I have the least amount of  money in it of anyone – the only things new are the windshield,  sparkplugs and wires,” he says.  What makes his vehicle distinctive is its army green  color, decals representing all the armed services, his Sea  Bees serial number emblazoned on the hood and American  and POW flags flying from the bed. His tailgate sports the  slogans “Support Our Troops – Enjoy Our Freedom” and  “Got Mud?” It’s his way of showing his support for the  military.  Ken is a disabled Vietnam Vet, who suffers from Post  Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Born and brought up in  Coquille, Ken went overseas when he was eighteen and  returned on his 21st birthday, a different person. Unable to  settle back into routine small-town life, he struggled to find  his equilibrium in a hostile environment.

People didn’t have  any respect or appreciation for the sacrifices he and his  compatriots had made on their behalf; and the service  didn’t know how to deal with the young men who were  traumatized by their experience. Ken has now been through  the PTSD training four times but he still has problems.  “It’s something you learn to live with but you don’t get over  it,” he says.  Eventually, Ken became a log truck driver, married and  raised a family in the home that his great-grandfather built.  Attached to that, he constructed a huge shop where he once  worked on his logging truck. Now that he’s retired, that  space serves as his mud-racing rig garage. At the moment  he is replacing rods and pistons in the 6- cylinder engine.

“I’m the only guy around without a V8. Everyone says,  ‘here comes the old army truck’ when I pull up,” Ken  chuckles.  For those who have never seen a mud race, rigs are  divided into classes, dependent on things like wheel and  engine size, and race against each other on a track that has  been churned up, then molded into individual lanes with  wide berms in-between to prevent collisions. Generally, the  courses are 200-300 foot long straight-aways. It can get  pretty rough, with trucks careening from side to side and  occasionally flipping over, or catching fire. Ken carries an  extinguisher and has a strong, 3-point automatic release  seatbelt for safety.  He races from mid-May through October, from Coos Bay  to Camas Valley, as part of a group of 15 rigs called the  Barnyard Toyz. Their racing schedule ends about the time  mud season rolls around because it’s just too cold and wet.

Last year he participated in a race on New Years and ended  up mired in 36 inches of mud and had to be pulled out with  a caterpillar. Fourth of July at Riddle, where they race the  clock instead of against each other is more to his liking. “I  have a lot of fun!” Ken asserts.  But he is also proud to be able to promote the military  and is pleased when other motorists give him a thumbs up  or a salute. Recently, a woman told him how much she  appreciated his support; she had just lost her son in  Afghanistan. If you asked him what his theme song is, he’d  likely reply, “God Bless America”.