Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891
A friend named Mark showed off some of the food and shared a recipe for fish at the 19th annual Toftemark pig roast.
Some attendees enjoyed the shade under Poul Toftemark's grapes on Saturday. There was plenty of food for everyone.
One boy took a break from the slip and slide to jump off the dock into Seal Slough.
For the last 19 years Poul and Zenaida Toftemark have hosted a three day picnic/party/pig roast at their Rosburg home on the first weekend of August.
Everyone is invited: Neighbors, family, old friends, and potential friends. Their next door neighbors were in attendance. There were people visiting from elsewhere in Washington, from Oregon, California and Hawaii. Ages ranged from one to 80 something.
Some friends arrive as early as Thursday and leave at some point on Sunday. They take advantage of the Toftemark's serene and bucolic setting for some camping.
One year a hitchhiker saw the sign and joined the fun, even helping with the pig roast.
The Jesse Lee Falls Band from Astoria was playing on Saturday afternoon. The bass player was a friend of the family and had been coming to the event for years. Usually there isn't live music, but one time the Naselle High School marimba band played.
"It was great music to dance to," Toftemark said.
So was the Jesse Lee Falls Band, if the dancers swaying to a Stevie Wonder tune were to be believed.
According to Toftemark, the music and dancing would continue into the night, after the band left and the karaoke machine was turned on.
Usually they have as many as 200 people show up. This year, the turnout was a little less, but Toftemark attributed it to the weather.
"The weather has been perfect," he said. "Not too bright, not too hot, though the clouds may have scared some people away."
Poul and Zenaida also celebrated their anniversary. They decided to get married at the event 17 years ago.
A whole pig was roasted, starting in the early morning hours on Saturday. They were still barbecuing that afternoon with oysters and corn on the grill. There was fish, barbecued chicken, crawfish and more.
Zenaida had been cooking all day, but she seemed tireless, joyfully dancing on the grassy dance floor with her friends.
Participants enjoyed a game of tug o' war and another one commonly known as pantyhose bowling. Children jumped off the Toftemark's dock into the slough or flew down the slip and slide. There were jet skis, paddle boards and a canoe available for use.
"I just want to share our enjoyment of life," Poul Toftemark said. "I'm a liberal and I like to share."
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