TENDING OUR GARDENS

Seashells for the Jones Kids

2012-02-09T14:11:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that it has been a while since I posted. We were/are having major computer issues, with the last two weeks ending with a crashed computer. As of today, we have a new one and I am trying to get the hang of the Windows 7 operating system.

I took these photos some time ago to share with my grandchildren, and am now going to try and post about them. Over the years I have collected quite a few seashells. Some from actually finding them on a beach, some passed on from my mother, and some from our friend Doris. She has been to some rather exotic places, like the Canary Islands or the coast of Africa, and picked up some beautiful shells.

This doesn't really give the exact feel of the size of the shells, but it was the best my camera could do. You have to click on the photo to enlarge it to see the wonderful and intricate patterns. I am quite fascinated with shells, and the detail and artistry God put into fashioning these houses for crabs and snails.

Some are smooth, some ridged, some spiny, some pointy sharp, some smooth & rounded like glass, and each amazing. The colors are wonderful too, both solid colors and combinations like tiger stripes, or a surface that rivals any pottery man can produce.

I don't pretend to know the names of each, but just marvel at creation. Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a small volume 'Gifts From the Sea', where each chapter is a lesson taken from a seashell. I have enjoyed the first chapter especially, about the intricacy and simpleness of a seashell.

Maybe 12-year-old Samuel can tell us the names of some of these beautiful shells.

Warm Food on a Cold Day

2012-01-24T16:07:00.000-08:00

We woke up this morning to a really good snowstorm. It snowed hard for about two hours, and was snowing when I left to go to the Church about 8:45. It was such a pretty drive, with the big thick snowflakes, that we haven't seen all year. I noted that it was 36 degrees. But just a little while later, it was raining hard (which it has continued to do all day) and only 33 degrees. Does that make sense to you? Weather is really not understandable, no wonder they have such a hard time predicting it. It is just good to know that God makes the weather each day, and we can just stand in that truth, and enjoy it. I do love a rainy day, it's pounding on my skylights right now, and it also makes me want some good hot comfort food. One type of meat that has been really popular for the last couple of years is pork loin. It takes a good marinade to make it flavorful, and I am going to print out a couple of my favorites.

Marinade #1

1/2 Onion, chopped

2 cloves of Garlic, minced

1/4 C Fresh Lemon juice

1/2 C Soy Sauce

1/2 C Red Wine Vinegar

1/4 C Olive Oil

1 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Thyme

1/4 teaspoon ground Pepper

1/2 teaspoon Rosemary

1/2 teaspoon Marjoram

1/2-1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning (to taste)

Marinade #2

3/4 C Olive Oil

1/2 C Soy Sauce

1/4 C warmed Honey

2 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar

3-4 Sliced Green Onion

1/2-1 teaspoon Ginger

3-4 cloves of Garlic, minced

For either of these, place ingredients in a bowl and whisk together. Place 2-3 lb pork loin (or more) in a large zip lock bag and add the marinade. Seal and shake to distribute. Place the loins in a dish and refrigerate. 24 hours is best, but it can be up to 48 hours as well. You do have to think ahead on this.

Here are my two loin pieces, placed in the marinade and ready for the refrigerator. It is good to turn them over after several hours, so that both side marinate evenly. By the way, Marinade #2 is for a larger cut of loin, so if you need just a small piece cut the recipe in half.

When it's time to cook, remove the loin from the bag and discard the remaining marinade. Put the loin on a rack in a shallow cooking dish, like the one above if you are going to bake it in the oven. It is also a good idea to line the pan with foil for easy clean-up. Pork loin is also really good grilled on the barbecue, and I will give directions for that at the end. I tend to oven bake this in the fall/ winter, and grill in the spring/summer.

Put the meat into a pre-heated 450 degree oven, and immediatly turn the oven down to 350 degrees. Roast until the internal temperature shows 170 degrees on a meat thermometer (it doesn't take all that long). Take it out of the oven, tent with foil and let stand about 15 minutes to distribute the juices.

Carve and enjoy the meat. It is juicy and tender and has great flavor with the marinade. *For grilling, place on a pre-heated hot grill and barbecue for 10-15 minutes per side or until 170 degrees internally. I like to quit the cooking process when it is still just a bit pink, and let it finish cooking under the foil, as it sits for the additional 15 minutes. It remains a bit juicier that way. Enjoy it on a cold snowy/rainy day!

A Quiet Escape

2012-01-20T14:22:00.000-08:00

Last week, the insurance man and I were able to get away for a few days to the Oregon Coast. What wonderful weather we had for January! It was cool, but bright, clear, and sunny, with no wind. Not even enough to fly our kite. It's rare to have the sky completely clear, day and night, but it was and we enjoyed it. We got in several really great walks on the sand, watching the waves. They were small-ish when we arrived, but bigger each day. We actually just got the best weather right up until we left last Saturday, with a monster storm approaching, in sheets of wind-driven rain, and the crashing of much, much bigger surf . We made it home and over the pass before the snow, but they did have snow on the sand that night, a fairly rare occurrence. We stayed at the home a friend inherited in Lincoln City, just two blocks from the beach, with a great access. It was so nice to have a whole home to stretch out and relax in.

We mostly ate in, as there was a complete, fully-equipped kitchen, but we did go to one of our favorites for lunch one day. We almost always go to the Otis Cafe for breakfast, but this trip it fit in our schedule to go at lunchtime.

It is just a few miles east of Lincoln City, at the 'big' town of Otis. It has been a favorite spot to stop for many years. I had a white cheddar tuna melt on home-made bread, with a truly gigantic chocolate milkshake, made like they used to in the 'good ol' days'....enough for both of us. The insurance man couldn't resist having his breakfast favorite...sausage gravy over home-made hash browns, a big plate full. Not a healthy eating place, even if it is all natural. Every thing's full of butter, cream, cheese....you know all the good stuff! It was full on a Wednesday, 14 of us in there...including the four guys with burgers at the counter.

The house was quiet, peaceful and just what we needed for taking the stress level down a few notches after the holidays. I actually took this photo for JoAnn, because her favorite colors are purple (or lavender) and green. There was purple (or plum or eggplant depending on which generation you are) all over the house, which suited me just fine.

The irony of this picture is that the insurance guy had to hold my coffee container so I could take his picture, smile. He just loves doing that....But again, sweatshirt weather on the beach in January...an unexpected blessing.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

2012-01-15T11:01:00.000-08:00

Today is January 15th, my Mom's birthday. She was born Susie Erskine in 1927, the 8th of eight children born to Guy and Mabel Erskine. There are no baby photos of her, and the one above is the earliest we have. She is in the arms of her oldest brother Art, and I love the adoring look on his face.

She is posing with her Uncle George's airdale pup in this photo. She is in grade school here.

Here she is with her Uncle George Kuentzel at the time she graduated from Queen Anne High School in Seattle. Most of the boys in her graduating class had already left to fight in WW II.

She married my Dad, Frank Vernon on March 12, 1946 in Seattle, right after the war had ended. Her best friend June was her maid of honor, and her brother Harold was Frank's best man.

Here she is as one happy bride, on her honeymoon along the Oregon Coast.

Four years later, she had her first baby, me. And four years after that my brother Joe was born. Susie never worked outside the home. She took care of her family and extended family all her life, and worked hard.

Frank and Susie in Seattle.

Later, Susie became a Grandma to five little girls, whom she dearly loved. Here she is with Julie, after we brought her home from the hospital. (Julie, is wearing the 'coming home' outfit, that my babies wore home, and all of Joy and Julie's have now worn...)

I wanted to honor her life today, and wish her a Happy Birthday.

Susie Erskine Vernon, January 15, 1927-January 5, 2000.

Already Memories

2012-01-09T15:20:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2011 is already but a memory. But I am just getting to sorting and printing my photos today, and I thought I'd take a minute to download a few of the highlights of the past month.

The month started out with my birthday on the 1st, and the insurance man and JoAnn took me out for breakfast for a pumpkin scone and coffee.

Shortly after that, granddaughter Kory turned 18 on Dec. 7th and we took her to Tacoma to see a musical version of the Christmas Carol, which was just wonderful. Here she is with our daughter Joy.

This is Joy & Kirk's HUGE beautiful, live Christmas tree, that they cut down on some friends' property.

We had such a good time with Joy and her family for the week-end, and here we are after a performance of their 'Singing Christmas Tree' in which Joy, Kirk and Kory all performed. My cousin Beckie brought her mom from Vancouver, and we all had a great time.

We hosted many dinners and enjoyed the company of friends and family throughout the month.

My in-laws and brother and sister-in-law all came for the Messiah Concert, and we stopped for a photo op at the Theatre.

On Christmas morning we enjoyed our stockings, traditional breakfast of Sausage Souffle and home-made applesauce, and a gift exchange after the morning Church service. JoAnn is currently enjoying this musical collection of Loudon Wainwright.

Joy and her family came over for New Year's Eve week-end, and we had another gift exchange with them. Here is granddaughter Macy, opening up her new penguin bathrobe.

Later on Christmas Day we drove to Burns, to celebrate there with the insurance man's family. His Mom had set such a pretty table for our 'next' Christmas dinner.

JoAnn had fun sharing some new crocheting stitches with Grandma...

and the insurance man shared a Christmas hug with his Dad.

On New Year's Eve we had a few friends over for a party to celebrate the New Year. Macy is really getting into it with necklace and hat. But her favorite part was the 'blower' that made noise!

Some of our New Year's party food...it was really good, but we are still eating the left-overs. Good to remember for next time!

Kory brought her boyfriend Sam with the family...a first for her and for us. He was so nice, and fit right in. We all had a really nice week-end. Thanks for going through the memories with me...and hope that your December was really fun and provided you with some good memories too.

Solitary January

2012-01-05T17:11:00.000-08:00

January is actually one of my favorite months. Everything seems minimalized, especially activities. It is my time to hibernate, after the whirlwind that is November and December. I have spent this first week cleaning up and putting away everything from Christmas and New Years and watching football. It's Thursday and I'm almost finished. There is no garden work for the next couple months, no busy social schedule and more time for the projects I love and need to do. I am not a people person at heart, and after weeks of social activities and family and friends I crave some much needed solitude. I am reminded of the times Jesus took out for solitude and prayer. We all need some time to rejuvenate and refresh, and January is my special time to indulge that craving. I don't always get a quiet January, as sometimes there are more important things on the docket, like the birth of a new grandson last January, or my Mom to care for in her last days. But this year God has cleared my calendar, and I am very much looking forward to the next few weeks. The insurance man and I have a quiet trip to the winter Oregon Coast planned, partly as a retreat to review and refine our 2012 budget and finances, and partly some time to be alone together. I have a couple of sewing projects: 1) a quilt needs repair that I made 20+ years ago from pieces from my maternity outfits, and toddler clothing, 2) I have a piece of flannel that is begging to be made into a nightgown for my granddaughter Macy and 3) a quilt top made by my great-grandmother for my mother in 1938 that needs to be quilted after all these years. My family history research has been left undone for too long, and I can't wait to get back into it. I have some writing to get back to, and finally several scrapbook projects including: finishing up an album featuring Julie's school years, our vacation last fall to the Grand Canyon and finally in the Asmussen family history I am working on an album of the life of my father-in-law. Actually as I look through this list I'm not sure I see the minimalization, but I think it is just exchanging and finding time for other projects....which brings me back to January and the time for indoor, quiet projects. The above photo is one I have kept for many years and always get out in January to remind me to be quiet, to slow down and to enjoy the indoors. May you be blessed in this new season, and find some time to be quiet and enjoy solitude and projects.

Yeah Huskies!

2012-01-03T10:09:00.000-08:00

When I was growing up in Seattle, I was the one selected to accompany my Dad to football games at the University of Washington Huskie Stadium. My Mom did NOT love football, and my younger (by 4 years) brother was too little. What fun Dad and I had, and those games instilled in me a life-long love for college football. The first time the Huskies played in a New Years Rose Bowl after I was married, found me in a bowling alley. The guys were at home watching the big game, and my sister-in-law had taken me in tow to go out and do something 'fun' with the rest of the girls in the family. Fortunately for me, the bowling alley had a small TV mounted to the wall by the concessions, and I remember well standing there totally absorbed in the game for several hours. It was the first Rose Bowl win for the Dawgs in the Don James era, and my sister-in-law was totally frustrated with me.

Since I have been a transplanted Oregonian for 40 years now, I do love to watch the Ducks and Beavs, but my heart remains with the Huskies.

This week is a happy one in our household. All the college football bowl games are being won and lost, and seasons are ending. For the Washington Huskies, their season ended in the Alamo Bowl last Friday night. But what a way to go! It was the most entertaining game I have seen in several years. I am not ashamed to admit that I love a good offensive game. (Not so hot on watching long, boring defensive games) And this was the grand-daddy of offensive games....almost more of an exhibition game. Two great quarterbacks, going head to head with superb athletic plays, big passes and smart playing. The end score looked more like a basketball score, but the game was close and so much fun. Though the Huskies did not win, they played much better than I would have expected in a much anticipated and highly touted bowl game. They played Baylor University, and the opposing quarterback was the Heisman Trophy winner for 2011. Both teams need some work on their defenses for sure, but oh what fun for fans of great offense. Can't wait for next season!

GO DAWGS!!

It's raining....it's pouring....

2011-12-29T16:07:00.000-08:00

Today is finally a quiet day, and a good one for just rambling on about the weather and a bit of thinking I have been doing. First, we have had the driest fall/winter season ever recorded. It's been a bit of a drought actually. We have had warmer, dryer weather than I can ever remember. We have our yard sprinkler system blown out each year in mid-October. Since then there has been no measurable precipitation for my poor plants and trees. I actually got out our hoses, and spent two days watering our 3/4 of an acre a few weeks ago. The number one killer of plants/trees in a Central Oregon winter is dehydration, especially with no snow for insulation. So, just when I was beginning to think that I would have to drag out the hoses again....a storm finally came. And it pushed out the ridge of high pressure that has been moving all the moisture down south. For two days now, we have had some good rainy, puddle inducing rain. It's 60 degrees (really weird) but WET!

The plants and trees are so very happy, as well as the birds. They are busy taking baths in every puddle they can find. Everything is dripping, dark, moist and just wonderful.

The second thing I have been thinking about is Christmas. I had so many people tell me this year that Christmas is no longer fun, but disappointing. I think they mean as adults, but they were each in different stages of adult life. I think we have all learned to adjust our expectations as the holidays approach. But somehow people are not finding what they are seeking in Christmas. Is Christmas supposed to be fun? I don't think so. At least not in the cultural way we have of thinking of fun. I don't think Mary was having fun giving birth to Jesus in an animal stall. I don't think Joseph was having fun trying to find an adequate warm, dry space for Mary to give birth, after walking and traveling all day. To say nothing of food, or a way to cook food. How has it all come down to everyone craving fun? (Including me) More and more each year I think., I see people all around me who are hurting, alone and lonely, isolated, sick or discouraged. Christmas is the last thing they want to experience and most want it just to be over with so they won't have to deal with more loneliness and pain. This is a area of our culture that we have fostered with all the talk and songs of : I'll be home for Christmas, there's no place like home for the holidays, Grandma's cooking, keep the lights on for me etc. I suspect most of this is idealistic nonsense today. Families are split, and the vast majority of Americans around here have no families to go home to. Older folks are in assisted living facilities, not in their own homes waiting for all the crowd to come home in the swirling snow, with the scents of a huge home-cooked dinner on the crisp air. I too love the idea, but I don't think it has helped us face realities of the limits of our humanity. This is something from a century ago, not today. And the gift buying, giving, and paying for it. I saw somewhere on an old movie where the people said " You don't have to bring me a gift, just your presence is gift enough for us". What a wonderful sentiment, and how I wish it would be true for us. I think a lot of us as adults look for our fun in whatever gift(s) we hope to find under our tree. But it is always disappointing, because we are not children anymore, and we hang so much expectation on it. We need bigger, more exciting, more expensive things each year and it still does not satisfy. We give lip-service to the real meaning of Christmas, but yet we still want to revel in the cultural nonsense...to the destruction of the message we are wanting to share. In reality there is very little of the original 'Christmas' in the way we celebrate. Don't get me wrong, I do think we should celebrate, feast and make merry. We do have a tree, with presents and lots of good food. But yet, many if not most of the people I know, who call themselves followers of Christ, have been left afterwards with a haunting sense of emptiness and disappointment. Partially this may be caused by tiredness and exhaustion, participating in all the events and paraphernalia. Through the years I have heard many talk about this subject, and various possible remedies. But it just seems to be getting bigger, more wide-spread than ever. If we as believing mothers provide a 'wonderful' American cultural Christmas for our children, are we setting them up for disappointment in their adult years? (Along with shallowness and lack of true understanding.)

I tried an alternative this year. My insurance guy and I decided to spend the holidays in serving others. After all didn't Mary serve all of us by her willingness to become the mother of Jesus? And didn't Joseph serve his family that first Christmas night? And most of all didn't Jesus serve us in His most amazing incarnation? This worked out for us in many forms; some out in the community, some in our home and neighborhood, among strangers, family and friends. I am still digesting this, and will continue to process what went right, and what didn't. It was a beginning however, and the disappointment and emptiness were not a part of it or the after effects. I am not seeking to change things for 'next year', to make me or my family happier, or for us to have more fun. That I think is progress.

Blessings to You and Yours

2011-12-23T11:36:00.000-08:00

I was just talking with my good friend Nancy on the phone, and we enjoyed a much anticipated Christmas chat. We have been friends for many years, and some of that comes from enjoying many of the same things. I found out that we both crave a little romance along with our Christmas, and time alone with our husbands (even after 40 years of marriage!) Lately there has been a literal parade of people through our house. All welcome, and helping to make December a special time. But tonight we were both planning on having a Christmas Eve alone, the Christmas Eve before Christmas Eve, and I had to smile thinking that we both had planned that. I will be making a savory casserole to enjoy before the fire along with some good wheat french bread and a raspberry jello salad. For dessert we will enjoy a few chocolates from a local candy store, the kind gift from a friend. We will then be reading and taking the time to be still and focusing on the ever-true reason we are celebrating. And then tomorrow...let the festivities begin! I am always happy when Christmas falls on a Sunday and we are celebrating with our Church family as well. A very happy week-end to all.

Merry Christmas Nancy, and to everyone else who happens to read this!

The Gift of Music

2011-12-21T11:26:00.000-08:00

On Saturday evening we were privileged to attend a full concert of Handel's Messiah. The insurance man and our daughter JoAnn both sang with the Central Oregon Mastersingers, in presenting this wonderful work.

They performed in our renovated Tower Theatre downtown, with a small orchestra and harpsichord. The backdrop was lovely without being distracting.

Here are my two favorite singers. They sang three performances and a dress rehearsal in four days, quite an accomplishment.

The insurance man was fortunate enough to have his family come over from Burns on Saturday night, along with our friend Doris. It was a wonderful experience, and a true gift to our community. What a statement Handel made of the whole of 'Messiah', His coming, His work, and His redemption. Praise God!

The Path of the Just

2011-12-19T14:44:00.000-08:00

This is not a usual Christmas post. But I wanted to make mention today, that Denise Sproul, wife of RC Sproul Jr, passed into the presence of our Lord yesterday morning. I not only wanted to take the time to mention this here in memoriam to her, and to the lives of women she touched with her life and writing, but because she lived and died well. Julie and I were discussing this morning what a wonderful testimony to our life of faith it is, when as believers we can find the strength and faith to die well. She leaves behind her a family of 8 children, which is testimony of her life well lived. But many have said she died strong in the Lord and looking forward to her 'perfect day'. As a Steve Green song has said: "May all who come behind us find us faithful." May each of us be blessed of God to finish our race well. We do want to remember her husband and children in prayer, as they continue on without her presence.
On one of the blog posts in her memory, this verse was used, and I want to pass it on again...
"The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18

Making Ready for the Christ Child

2011-12-16T07:12:00.000-08:00

A dear missionary friend in Ireland sent a few words this week that helped me rethink a few things, and are worth passing on. He mentioned that it was/still is customary in Ireland to thoroughly clean a cottage inside and out in December. Part of that cleaning can be a new coat of whitewash on both interior and/or exterior walls. The reason for all this work? Not for comfort, not for pride, partly for cultural tradition I suppose, but the main reason is to 'make ready for the Christ Child', that all should be in readiness for His appearing.

That gave me a new perspective as I ready my house, my food, my gifts and my heart...may we all make ready in the week to come for the coming of the Christ child.

A New Home!

2011-12-13T12:09:00.001-08:00

Julie and her family have been gone on a short vacation to Mississippi to visit her in-laws, and I have been gone to Woodland, to help Joy and her family celebrate Kory's 18th birthday (more on that later).

Now we are back, and on the blog once again. However, you will have to put up with just me, as Julie will be very busy over the rest of this month. Shortly, as in the next few days, they will sign papers to purchase a home of their own just outside the city of Morgantown, and then spend the rest of the month moving, fitting in Christmas at their new residence.

The new house is built onto the side of one of West Virginia's famous hills, and has a main floor and also a daylight basement. It is rural, including a total of 7 wooded acres with the house. A very great place to raise 5 boys and 2 girls, wouldn't you agree?

The hillside has two level spots, one for the house and one here that will make a great garden area, firepit, and play place.

Beautiful deciduous trees will make for wonderful tree forts, caves and places to run. It will also help them to heat their house in the winter. At the bottom of the long hill is a creek, and that eventually runs into the Monagehelia River so there should be some good fishing for the older boys.

I will let Julie post photos of the interior as they move in, and she gets time to share. We all rejoice with them as the Lord has provided so bountifully!

Technology...Bane or Blessing?

2011-12-06T10:25:00.001-08:00

I hear so many people of my generation continually complaining about the rise of all the new technology. There are many sides, opinions and discussions of this topic. Most negative opinions have to do with the fact that it is harder for us to learn how to operate all the new systems and programs. Instead of just acknowledging that, we somehow find a way to blame technology for much that is around us in our culture. I have to admit that I too sometimes fall into this category. But as I was thinking this over recently, I did take the time to think about all that is good with our new technology. As with anything, the sinful aspect of technology usually has to do with the character of the 'operator', more than with any one piece of the equipment. A couple of cases in point:

Last week I noticed I had a stye developing in my right eye. I went to the Internet and found several easy, natural home remedies. The one I used (and is pictured above) was to boil 1 teaspoon of coriander seeds in a little water. I then used it as an eye wash several times a day for 2 days, and it was a natural way to fight the bacteria, and cure my symptoms. It worked like a charm, and cost me nothing. Lacking my own Chinese herbalist to consult, the Internet provided me with a great solution.
Facebook has a bad reputation among people my age and older. Just last night I was at a dinner with other believers, and soon the conversation got around to Facebook bashing. Again, I do think it is all in how you use it. Last week I celebrated my 61st birthday. I knew that of the close to 100 'friends' I have on FB, many would write me and congratulate me on my birthday. Sure enough, many did when I went in to check. Some were rather silly (as in my cousin's cousin's cousin, that I don't know) but most were close friends and family and FB provided just the means to reach out and touch me with a sincere and genuine birthday wish, and comment, quickly and easily. These people were from all different time periods of my 61 years, and FB has provided a way that we could find each other, connect and occasionally catch up. In our busy culture, FB is a way to keep in touch. Granted, some use it foolishly, but again it is all in the hands of the operator. I would also add that 'texting' is in this same category, along with smart phones and other devices.
I have an IPOD, and enjoy it with all my heart. It has caused me some hours of frustration at times, but having the music I love at my fingertips and in my ears is a wonderful luxury. I even walked around my grocery store with my earphones in this past week, so that I wouldn't have to endure the silly holiday music they were piping over their system...as in Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer! No, I don't have them in all the time and I do try to be polite and courteous, but I think most would be a little jealous that they didn't have a way to eliminate the 'system music'.

The next time you are in a technology discussion, try and think of the good things it has done for you. No, it isn't the same world. It never will be again. Technology is here to stay, and will keep on changing and evolving. Let's embrace the good, while rejecting the bad, and being cautious about how, when and where it is used in our lives.

Recipe for Cabbage

2011-11-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

Cooked Cabbage

Chop 1 onion and 2 slices of bacon. Put this in a large fry pan with a little olive oil heated in the bottom. Saute until they are started well, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile roughly chop 1 small-medium head cabbage (with stem cut out) then add to the fry pan. Stir together with 2 T sugar and 2 T vinegar, then cover and cook on med/low to low for 40-45 minutes, or until nice and tender. Serves 4-6 people nicely, and oh-so-yummy on a winter's night.

Good-Bye to Fall

2011-11-23T13:25:00.001-08:00

IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR

Wild geese are flying overhead;

The air is crisp and clear,

The last bright leaves are tumbling down,

For it's that time of year.

The pungent smell of woodsmoke drifts

From bonfires everywhere,

And squirrels darting to and fro

Hide nuts in ample share.

Wagons filled with happy children

Are seen on country lanes;

Older folk, in sweet nostalgia,

Live childhood days again.

The flower beds now look forlorn;

Jack Frost has passed our way.

With icy breath he seared the blooms

That once were bright and gay.

A cozy fire is on the hearth;

Dear friends have come to call.

Come let us share a cup of tea

And say good-bye to Fall.

Kay Hoffman

My Thanksgiving Meditations

2011-11-22T09:25:00.001-08:00

THANKSGIVING CAN BE.....

An acknowledgement of something done for you, as in a thank-you note, email or phone call.
An emotional response for something good, a warm fuzzy feeling, as in the 'what are you thankful for?' responses around a Thanksgiving dinner table.
An outlook on life as in finding the good in everything, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Encouraging to those around you, as in the motivational stories and movies and how they touch you as you see of people struggling and yet finding reasons for thanks.
The path to contentment, as in focusing on what you have to give thanks for as opposed to what you don't.
A tangible note or verbal message to someone, which in turn encourages them. As in Jesus healing 10 lepers and only one returning to verbally thank him. The others may have been heart thankful but in the expression of it, thankfulness became stronger and blessed both Jesus and the healed man.
A soul-soaked attitude, as in an 80-something woman I know who worked through ovarian cancer this year with thanksgiving in her heart.
The outpouring of your heart in response to mercy shown you. As in someone who loves you unconditionally, or someone who loved you enough to die for you to redeem you.
Tied with an invisible string to Peace. As in both tied back to contentment.
A choice, as opposed to bitterness, striving and grasping.
The opposite of expectation. Expecting nothing paves the way to be surprised by God, opens our eyes and promotes great thankfulness.
An expression of hope, wrenched from and through pain. A different way of looking through physical or emotional pain to be offered up as our service of worship.
A commandment of God, for our own best interests.
A positive trait, as in a reflection of God and light.

May we all be people with a heart of Thanksgiving, Amen.

The Best For Last

2011-11-15T15:46:00.001-08:00

I've been putting off this blog post long enough...so today is the day. The reason I have put it off consists of trying to choose which photos to include that would show even a little of the beauty that is Bryce. This was the last canyon we visited, and to my way of thinking, the best. I visited all these canyons as a child and Bryce was my favorite then. I was anxious to come back and see if it would still be my favorite, and joyfully it was. However, the depth of my appreciation of the other canyons had greatly increased. They are all marvelous, jaw-dropping and awe-inspiring. But still, Bryce is unique, and mystical and blossoming with the creativity of the Creator. These 56 acres were designated a National Park in 1928.

I am going to include here some description I found on the Internet of these formations that says it so much better than I could.

"Colorful sandstone, limestone and mud stone has been shaped by erosion into a fantastical array of spires, fins and pinnacles known as 'hoodoos'. The canyon is a gorgeous chasm of lace and filigree work in stone, colored with the white of frost and the pinks of glowing embers.To those who have not forgotten the storybooks of childhood, it suggests a playground for fairies. Surrounded by the beauty of Utah and the panoramic views of three states, these hoodoos cast their spell on all who visit."

It certainly has cast a spell on me. I could have spent an entire week in just one spot I think. I have never stood in such a place that touched me as deeply.

Bryce is mainly one large bowl filled with hoodoos, as opposed to a long winding canyon with a river running through it. There are walking/hiking paths all along the rim, and down and through the hoodoos.

The colors are beyond description, and almost beyond imagination.

There were lots of erosion holes to see through, and with each step the light would change and illuminate tips and spires behind. We walked and walked and walked. We studied some of the history of the place, and took pictures, and laughed and pointed and sat and absorbed and in general had the most wonderful time.

There were lots of people, and everyone was helping everyone else take photos of themselves with the canyon. What a view!

A peek-a-boo view that showcases the stunning colors and shapes.

Layers of beauty and fantastical shapes. The day this National Park opened the President came for the ceremonies. As his car drove up to the entrance they found long streamers across the opening held by little girls dressed as fairies, and 'fairies' dancing all around. As the streamers were cut the words were proclaimed "Welcome to Fairy Land!"

As was said in the above description, many of the shapes resemble people, animals, objects and even famous sites. The insurance guy and I had much fun pointing out to each other all the things and shapes we named or recognized. Above is a family shown through a heart.

This one we called the Grammy with her grandchildren.

Some fall color to add to the scene....at evening.

and a mountain bluebird.

The following morning we got there at sunrise and took the Queen's Garden hike down to the bottom. Good thing the path went from side to side!

As the morning sun struck the hoodoos they became such vibrant, shimmering colors.

At the bottom our trail led us through 'Wall Street'.

A sentinel was posted to guard the way...

and there were many arches to pass through. The way down was easier than the way back up, although the

climb wasn't too bad, the heat of the day had come. It was so worth it though, and I think it lived up to the title 'the greatest two mile hike in the world'.

One last view of this magnificent National treasure. I hope you enjoyed your tour. We reluctantly left that day, so very thankful for the opportunity of having seen this.

A bit of Christmas Thinking

2011-11-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

I am actually going to do a post without any photos...very rare. Someone passed along to me a wonderful article that I decided was worth sharing here, and with everyone I know. It speaks for itself and so I am just going to copy it here for you. Please do take the time to read it.

The New American Christmas Tradition

"As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plonking down the Benjamins on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town. Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about your neighbors, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine. This is the new American Christmas tradition."

The author had made it simple for us. No reading of labels, or researching to try and figure out if the product was actually produced in the U.S. This has made me rethink things, and I for one am going to try and do things differently this year. Local, community beauty for the holidays, hooray!

Happy November Birthday, Aunt Joyce!

2011-11-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

Another special birthday needs to be slipped in-between our National Parks visit. Yesterday was my Aunt Joyce's 92nd birthday (Happy Birthday Aunt Joyce). She was born:

Joyce Mabel Erskine

on November 7, 1919

at Sylvan Lake, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

The above photo shows Joyce as she and her mother Mabel were ready for haircuts in 1923. They lived on a farm near Lebanon, Oregon, and I'm not really sure who cut their hair, but they both got it cut short.

She was 4th born in a family of eight children, and she and my mother were the only daughters. She married Roy Lambert on October 19, 1940 at age 20, and they were married for 65 years until he passed away in 2005. The photo above was taken on the porch of her Dad's farm in Waterloo, Oregon with an 'unknown' farm dog, and back of a piggy bank??

Our two families were very close. This photo was taken in Lebanon, and shows Aunt Joyce with her first child, my cousin Bill, and me in the backyard of our house. She had waited several years to have a child, and upon finally finding out she would never be able to, adopted Bill, and then a daughter, Beckie. She loved her children, and she and my Mom had children so close in age, that we were all one big happy family. Although she lived in Oregon all her life, and we moved to Seattle, the families traveled back and forth a lot, and we took vacations together every year.

This fall, Beckie brought Aunt Joyce up for lunch at my daughter's house in Woodland. Aunt Joyce happily lives with her grandson Matt in Vancouver, and so I get to see her regularly. Although she suffers from Alzheimer's, she is one very happy and cheerful lady, that we all adore.

HAPPY 92ND BIRTHDAY!

On to the the next National Park...

2011-10-31T16:26:00.000-07:00

"Our National Parks do not belong to one state or one section....they are national properties, in which every citizen has a vested interest. A visit inspires a love of country, begets contentment, and contains the antidote for national restlessness....He is a better citizen, with a keener appreciation of the privilege of living here who has toured the National Parks." Stephen Mather NPS Director 1917-1929

The next park we visited on our NP loop was Zion canyon.

It is incredibly amazing how much each canyon is completely different from the others. Zion Canyon has the Virgin River running through the bottom, and carving out the massive stones. The colors here are so very strong, vibrant and beautiful.

The entrance into the canyon runs through an amazing mile-long tunnel, that was carved out of this huge mountain of rock. The builders thoughtfully included small openings in the tunnel wall for 'viewpoints' out on the incredible scenery. In the photo above, look above the parked car and you will see one of those openings in the tunnel. Imagine the tunnel at that level running through those rocks, and what a feat that was. The sheer size in overwhelming and awe-inspiring.

This canyon is in Utah, and so the formations have very biblical names, thanks to our Mormon neighbors, including the name of the canyon itself. The above photo shows the '3 Patriarchs', and the one below the 'Great White Throne'. Appropriate, wouldn't you say?

In this canyon we did a lot of walking at the bottom, instead of along the rim like at the Grand Canyon. We took a 2 mile hike along the Virgin River to the spot below. At this point the trail crosses the river and keeps on going. You can see people doing just that, however it was at this point that we stopped for a rest and turned and headed back. Each canyon boasts that it has the most beautiful hike in the world, and while you are on it I think you agree with each one. This was so very beautiful, and I'm so glad I live in an era of cameras, so that we could bring home our photos to remember this place.

This is some of what it looked like on our way back up the trail. It was the perfect time of day, for shadows and light (late afternoon) and for pure enjoyment. (Do click on the bottom photo, for the beauty of what we saw, and you can see the train we were walking on.)

Welcome to the Grand Canyon

2011-10-27T17:38:00.000-07:00

I was more than a little intimidated to post on this most auspicious National Monument. It is so wonderful and magnificent, that no photos of ours could ever, ever communicate it adequately. However, it was the reason for this particular vacation...and we enjoyed our two days there immensely. In the photos below, be sure and click on them to enlarge. They are worth seeing much bigger!

We enjoyed the best weather and therefore light for viewing the Canyon. We drove from Flagstaff, and entered the south rim park from the east on our first day. We managed to get the the center of the south rim by evening. We walked a lot between view points, and enjoyed the relative quiet this provided.

What amazing colors and formations.

Our next visit, we arrived at daybreak and parked in the large parking lot in the center of the south rim, and headed west walking and using the park shuttle. We got the two photos of the canyon in early light with a canyon raven included, surveying the majestic scene. There are two posted scriptures along the south rim, with psalms inscribed. It just added to the wonder. When we got home I looked them up and found that the original brass scripture plaques were removed in 2003, but thankfully two have been posted again in wood.

Here is one of the most famous of spots along the south rim...the Bright Angel Trail. This is where the infamous mule rides go down to the bottom of the canyon. We walked down the trail about 1/4 of a mile until we passed through a stone arch (along with hundreds of other tourists).

We eventually reached the western-most point of the south rim at Hermit's Rest, and did just that...rest. We each got an ice cream bar and sat and drank in the beauty as we ate.

The Colorado River at the bottom of the canyon doesn't look big enough to have have carved out all this, does it? From the bottom though, the river looks a lot bigger.

What a great experience it was, and will long be remembered.

Stuffed Peppers

2011-10-22T07:46:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine shared some of her bumper crop of green peppers with me. It inspired me to make another try at stuffed peppers. I made them a few times when we were first married, but never found a way to make them that we really liked.

This time I tried a Mediterranean-style recipe.

It included a Bechamel sauce and a slice of tomato on top.

All done. They were good. Certainly better than what we have tried in the past. But I'd say the best part was just putting them together. I enjoyed the process a lot. The flavor was interesting due to some unusual spice additions, including cinnamon and allspice. Cooking is such an adventure.

Happy 90th!

2011-10-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

Larry Charles Asmussen

Born October 17, 1921

90 Years Old Today

Larry & Bethel Asmussen

Married 67 Years

We are so privileged to call this man Father. A life well lived and a man who is finishing his race well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

Death Valley National Park

2011-10-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

Actually, Death Valley is a relative newcomer to our National Park System. It has been a National Monument since the 1920's, but was designated a National Park in 1994. I had been there before as my Dad loved it, and would take us on our summer vacations on the way to Los Angeles. But the insurance man had never been, so it was on our list of things to do.

Although this looks like desert terrain, and could be what the valley would look like, there is really very few sand dunes. This was taken on our way down to the valley floor from the west.

This is more like what you typically see for 'landscape'. When we reached the valley, we turned north and drove this road to the infamous 'Scotty's Castle'. It was a beautiful morning, and we enjoyed the strangely beautiful drive.

And this is Scotty's Castle. Not Scotty's at all. Isn't that interesting? He lived in a small house within walking distance of this one, but this belonged to his friends and partners, a couple from Chicago. Such an interesting place to live, and quite a remarkable dream to make this happen in this particular place.

After we drove back the way we had come, we continued south and took a short drive to a scenic vista called the Devil's garden. (Everything is called the Devil's something there...Devil's cornfield etc. Must be because it reminds people of the heat of the place they are sure doesn't exist??)

Isn't that amazing beauty? People with eyes to look can see beauty anywhere.

After we lunched at the only tourist stop...Furnace Creek Inn... we continued south to the salt flat basin. I already posted about that, when it was 112 degrees with a hot wind. Doesn't that remind you of Yellowstone? It did me. Such interesting diversity, even in Death Valley. We did not continue on south from here, but turned back instead to go east and find the main road to Hoover Dam. A very interesting and enjoyable day in this park.

2011-10-11T15:02:00.000-07:00

Today is a good day for remembering some of the beautiful places we have seen in Sept. We are so blessed as a country to have our National Parks, and our natural wonders set aside to enjoy. I am planning to share a few of my favorite photos from each Park we visited, starting with Yosemite. I am amazed that we have never visited this park before. We quickly found out that we could not see everything in one day, not even by driving. It is a big piece of land with really huge rocks! We are already planning to go back, especially as it's only a day's drive from home.

A land of granite slabs, mountains and cliffs with waterfalls.

' El Capitan', one of the most famous pieces of granite (slab, hill, mountain, cliff?) in the park. Later the insurance man said this was his most favorite and awe-inspiring sight of the whole trip. I will show you mine later. This photo (or indeed any other) cannot display the magnitude of this wall of rock. It is truly amazing. We found that the village (or main tourist area) is in the bottom of the canyon, at the base of these walls. We didn't get to go south from there, but instead headed up and then out going east along the rims.

This is looking back over the rim at just a few of the granite cliffs. What magnificent beauty.

The Very Best of Harvests

2011-10-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

This morning our newspaper said the gardening season was over for the winter. But I wondered if

they knew how many flowers were still left? I had enough for these

two wonderful bouquets, made from late dahlias, glads, phlox and butterfly bush blooms,

with a little fall color thrown in.

These are my favorite things to harvest...and it's been a bumper crop.

We are home, we had a WONDERFUL vacation, and I will be posting

a few favorite photos from the 5 National Parks we visited. Summer was extended, and now it's right into autumn. A great way to see summer depart!

Peach Shortcakes

2011-10-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

A treat at the end of the growing season. My husband is strongly fond of strawberry shortcake, and peaches are his favorite fruit. Naturally, it seemed like a worthwhile endeavor to try mixing the two together. :) At least in West Virginia, this was the end of the peaches for the year.

Until next year...

Just In Case

2011-09-23T18:20:00.000-07:00

I realize that most people who read this blog would probably not be about to go get this cookbook. But just in case there's someone out there who's wondering...it's amazing. I had to put a plug for it on here because it's just that good. Every cookie that I've tried (quite a few!) has been a truly excellent and trustworthy recipe. I have come to value a cookbook that is made by people who extensively test their recipes so that I don't have to worry that something won't turn out.

The cookie pictured is a Monster cookie. There are best-of-the-best recipes for all the classic stand-by cookies and an inspiring variety of original things to try. To name a few: Vermont Maple Cookies, Double-Shot Cappuccino Bars, Tea & Spice Squares, Chai Shortbread, Chocolate-Peppermint Snaps. Yes, this book is becoming my new best friend.

Getting Our Kicks

2011-09-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

on Route 66!

Since we needed to go across Northern Arizona, we decided to go a bit out of our way and travel a 155 mile section of historic Route 66. Yeah, for road trips!

We ate in Kingman, AZ then John got his shirt on, and we climbed in for the adventure.

We drove Route 66 from Kingman to Flagstaff. This is what the road looks like today. Just what I thought Route 66 would look like.

Kingman has a lot to celebrate the old route. My Dad was stationed here in WW II, and hitch-hiked home to LA on leave, on Route 66. We had fun exploring Kingman.

A view of the Arizona countryside along the way. There were LOTS of motorcyle riders out here.

Here are a couple of landmarks. Arizona has put Route 66 signs back up on this stretch. And there are just as many old motels along here as I would have imagined. Most however are vacant derelicts. We did see signs of life at a few little roadside stops still celebrating the old days. We even saw Elvis and Marilyn as we went by. When we leave Flagstaff tomorrow, we are going to eat at 'Miz Liz's' for breakfast, known to be the best place for 'Roadies' like us : )

My Thrift Store Find

2011-09-21T18:23:00.000-07:00

Taking a brief intermission from updates from Dad and Mom's trip, here's a piece of joy for Julie.

I love the yellow roses. There were only four bowls and four plates.

But it was an easy decision to buy them since they were .99 cents and were made by Canonsburg Pottery. Actually, I would never have bought them except for that last fact. Since we lived in Canonsburg for 5 years, this is a fun and lovely piece of memorabilia from that much-loved town. The pottery closed in the 70's, but made dinnerware for almost 80 years there. I believe this pattern was an earlier one, maybe made in the 20's or 30's. Not sure. Excited to own my own little piece of that history.

Hoover Dam for the Boys

2011-09-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Here is your travel guide, coming to you today from Boulder City, and Hoover Dam.

Samuel asked me the other day how tall Hoover Dam is. I thought I would post a few photos, and add a few facts for Sam and Will, Ben & Calvin. Maybe it can be your history lesson for the day guys!

This is the actual concrete structure of Hoover Dam. It is 726 feet high, made of concrete. It was started in 1932, in the middle of the Great Depression, and finished two years ahead of schedule in 1935. At that time, it was the largest concrete project in the world. You might want to ask Great Grandma Bethel and Great Grandpa Larry if they remember when it was finished. It was built to contain the mighty Colorado River, (the same river that carved out the Grand Canyon.) The dam produces over 2000 megawatts of power from water. During the years of construction they had a daily crew of about 3500 workers, and 140 men died during the construction.

Hoover Dam also served as the highway connector between Arizona and Nevada, having a two lane highway across the top. Now due to security issues, a new bridge has been constructed across the Colorado. It's a 4-lane highway, 1,900 feet long and 890 feet above the Colorado River. If you would like to see some additional photos and info click here:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/national_world&id=7725765

The insurance man has been eager to try out this new bridge, and it is an amazing feat once again. It is the 2nd highest bridge in the United States and the world's tallest concrete columns.

These photos show the Colorado River as it enters Hoover Dam, and the river as it leaves the Dam as Lake Mead, named after the engineer of Hoover Dam. The nearby town of Boulder City sprung up during the years of construction to house the workers and planners.

Hoover Dam and the new bridge (called the Mike O'Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge) are both wedged between the massive rock cliffs of Black Canyon, in a very barren area of desert. Lake Mead made all the difference in this area. If you want to know more of the difference water made to make 'the desert bloom', just Google it.

As amazing and awe inspiring as Hoover Dam and the new bridge are, I think the mightiest feat was God's in creating this canyon, carved by the Colorado River. Man can and does do some wonderful things, but it will never match the majesty of God's creation.

One Hot Day

2011-09-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

Well, here we are in Death Valley, CA. We are having a great time so far on our road trip. We've driven approx. 1,150 miles, and just had a couple of close calls. I think I felt our guardian angel yesterday while driving the steep, winding, narrow roads of Yosemite. Today, we reached Badwater Basin, the lowest place on the North or South American Continents.

This is the temp registered in our car as we stopped. The insurance man choked when he looked at the dial, and we both laughed. We never really thought we would feel what 112 feels like. It is very dry, so really wasn't as bad as it seems. If it was humid it would be a very different story! It was also very windy, but instead of being cooling, it was one very hot, dry, scorching wind.

The insurance man and I cracked up at all the tourists out in 112 degrees, to walk on the salt flats. We wondered if they were out looking for the 'beach' as the salt looks like water in the distance. Or maybe it was a case of sheep following a leader. In any case, there were a whole lot of them out there, many from all different countries according to the languages we heard. The scenery has been unparalleled in both Yosemite and Death Valley, and we feel so blessed to be visiting these National Parks. Tomorrow we should arrive in Flagstaff, AZ. I'll keep you posted.

Corn, Basil and Tomatoes

2011-09-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

If you have these three ingredients, you have the makings of my favorite side dish this summer.

First you cut the fresh corn off the cob (usually 1 ear per person) You can use yellow or white, or a mix of both like I did in the photo.

Chop one bunch of fresh basil into a 'chiffonade' or long thin strips.

Slice fresh cherry tomatoes in half, enough to add some good color and flavor. Of course, best if they are fresh from your garden!

Saute the fresh corn in butter, and add some salt. After cooking a short while, add the basil and cook until wilted and fragrant. Add the tomatoes and just barely heat. Do not cook them or they will become mushy. One of the things I love about this dish is that it is so fresh tasting, right from the garden.

Serve and enjoy the compliments!

Tomorrow, early in the AM, the insurance man and I are taking off on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, via Yosemite and Death Valley. We will be gone for two weeks, thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Check out Julie's blog while I'm gone, and enjoy my grandchildren for me. When I get back I'm sure to have some great photos to share. Happy Blog viewing!

End of Summer

2011-09-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

End of potted annuals.

End of potted herbs.

Spontaneous pumpkins that came up in the back yard.

Looks like we'll have two pumpkins out of it. :)

Summer

2011-09-12T08:43:00.000-07:00

Photo by John William Godward entitled 'Summer Flowers'

Yesterday, the hottest day of the year for us, God spoke to my heart. I was thinking about all the complaining I heard during June, July and August (including some from my own lips) about the cold, wet season. For me, the most frustrating part was for my garden, that was so far behind usual. But for many, the cool season was not summer-like, and inhibited summer recreation and pleasures. As this continued right through August, culminating in the hardest freeze we had seen in many a year (below 30 degrees) it seemed that summer was not going to show up at all, but we were going right into an early autumn. No tomatoes, no beans, not many wildflowers in the higher elevations, not many picnics, no warm summer evenings....you get the idea.
And then, the weather changed again and we have had two delightful weeks of hot weather. The green beans and cherry tomatoes came on, the dahlias started blooming and all of us cold, wet humans dried out and warmed up in the welcome rays of a warm sunshine. I got to thinking about this, and it seemed so clearly an indication of lack of faith. I couldn't see into the future to know that summer was indeed still coming, so immediately took the path of no faith. Not only was summer still coming, it's been the best of the best. After 45-50 degree nights, it takes all morning to warm up, only getting hot in the afternoon and evenings, then cooling delightfully for sleep, just to start the cycle over again the next day. God was saving the best, only I couldn't see it ahead and so complained. Sounds like the Israelites. It's that way in all of life I think. We can't see ahead, and so start fretting or complaining, or worrying (all sin) and in reality God has saved the best, and His richest blessings for just ahead of us. Oh, for the blessing bestowed of more faith to trust in our gracious Heavenly Father!

Labor Day Meditations

2011-09-06T17:20:00.000-07:00

Well, we celebrated yet another Labor Day week-end, and I hope you had a good one. The weather here was just perfect, and personally we had a good mix of work and pleasure. I did however, contemplate the holiday and its meanings, and decided to look up the history.

Interestingly, Oregon was the first to make Labor Day a holiday, in 1887. It became a Federal holiday in 1894.

"The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday. Towns were to hold a street parade to exhibit to the public 'the strength and esprit de corps (a feeling of pride, fellowship and common loyalty) to the trade and labor organizations', followed by a festival for the workers and their families. Speeches by prominent men and women were also included. Later, in 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday, and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement."

As always, it's so interesting to see the history and then look at the reality today. Very interesting to see that people are celebrating something they really don't know the meaning of. It's just a 3-day (or 4-day) week-end anymore. I don't think I want to celebrate a holiday in honor of the labor unions, do you? I have a sneaking suspicion that Peter & Julie already know this, as they started school yesterday on Monday.

As for us, we elected to work on our kitchen project on Saturday (pictures to come), and attend an outdoor church worship service and potluck on Sunday morning. After a quick nap, we had a long motorcycle ride up to Todd Lake in the Cascade Mountains, Sunday afternoon. We brought a snack, and hiked around the lake on a beautiful, warm early Sept. afternoon. The views of the Cascade mountains were stunning, and as a wonderful surprise we had acres of wildflowers. Our late summer weather has had some benefits, in that the wildflowers are still profusely blooming in the higher elevations. After a ride back, we stopped for a few tacos on the way home (fish for me and beef for the insurance guy).

As the owner of a business, the insurance man is compelled to close down the office and provide the day off for his employees. And so, we got up and headed out into our high desert for a ride on our ATV in the cooler morning. It was wonderful out there, riding through a fragrant, sweet-smelling pine forest with the Cascade mountains off in the distance. So relaxing and fun. After getting home and cleaning up, our daughter JoAnn treated us to 'Cars II' at the theater where she works. Wonderfully fun and entertaining. We had a really good week-end, and yes, did celebrate our life of labor by taking the day off. Interesting isn't it? Celebrating work, by not working? I thought I would make a list of the things I saw people doing in Central Oregon, to celebrate the day off.

Horseback riding

Swimming

Playing outdoor games

Bicycling

Hiking

Fishing (That would be Samuel's first choice!)

Eating (Either at a home barbecue or at a sidewalk restaurant in downtown Bend)

Boating

Birding

Drinking (including just sitting outside a local bar)

Motorcycle riding

Running

Grocery shopping

Golfing

Rafting or floating the river

Walking dogs

You get the idea. That is our (West Coast, resort town of Bend's) idea of Labor Day. What was yours?

Harvest Season

2011-09-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

After such a slow start to summer, I wasn't at all sure it was worth planting a garden, and yet I did in an abbreviated fashion. At the present time the garden is beginning to show signs of autumn much too soon. We always have a very short growing season, but this year was the shortest I can remember. The garden did survive a night below 30 degrees this week, and several at the freezing mark, with help from some row covers. And this in August!

Yesterday I was pleased to find some reward for this work and hope. A few glads and dahlias to grace our table, as well as sweet cherry tomatoes and some fresh peas for our salads. Thank you bountiful Lord for the produce you have provided.

And I was VERY pleased to find the beans were ready for picking! They tasted extra good last night for the work it took to get them. We also have lots of garden lettuce, cilantro, some good Oregon strawberries each week, baby beets and hopefully some full sized (if small) tomatoes soon.
"And for everything there is a season. A time to plant and a time to sow." And a time to enjoy to products of the plantings. Thank you Lord!

Early Sabbath Morning

2011-08-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

"O Lord,

I commune with thee every day,

but week days are worldly days,

and secular concerns reduce heavenly impressions.

I bless thee therefore for the day sacred to my soul

when I can wait upon thee and be refreshed;

I thank thee for the institutions of church

by use of which I draw near to thee and thou to me;
I rejoice in another Lord's Day

when I call off my mind from the cares of the world

and attend upon thee without distraction;

Let my rest be devout,

my conversation edifying,

my reading pious,

my hearing profitable,

that my soul may be quickened and elevated.

I am going to the house of prayer,

pour upon me the spirit of grace and supplication;

I am going to the house of praise,

awaken in my every grateful and cheerful emotion;

I am going to the house of instruction,

give testimony to the Word preached,

and glorify it in the hearts of all who hear;

may it:

enlighten the ignorant,

awaken the careless,

reclaim the wandering,

establish the weak,

comfort the feeble-minded,

make ready a people for their Lord.

Be a sanctuary to all who cannot come,

And do thou bestow upon me:

forgiveness towards my enemies,

peaceableness towards my neighbors,

openness towards my fellow-believers."

From: Book of Puritan Prayers

Waiting For an Updated Kitchen

2011-08-25T13:29:00.000-07:00

It seems that every summer we get the itch to do another 'project'. I am so enjoying last summer's project, which was a new seating area and rock flower beds out in the garden. This year we decided to have a few upgrades done to our 1980 kitchen.

This is how it looked last week-end after I emptied out all of the cupboards. We are having our cabinets refinished. The doors are all in the shop to be sanded. Strange to see it all empty.

What a good opportunity to clean out the kitchen cupboards! We are also getting new counter tops, and this photo shows the tile we have enjoyed for 20 years now, just before it got torn out. The grout was never done right, and would not stay in the cracks, where it belonged. But I did want a 'just for the memory' photo of it.

We decided on moving the refrigerator over to the far left, and are having a new deep cupboard built for the right of the frig, and over the top of it. I am thrilled with the new storage space, and can't wait! This also shows the wallpaper that we are leaving on the walls. We stripped off the top paper and old border, and are painting it a light creamy yellow. It will simplify the look considerably.

Of course, the insides of the cupboards must go somewhere... why not in the living room? The insurance man told me I sure had an awful lot of stuff! and of course I told him that all women do, it's just normally all stuffed and hidden.

We had our old light fixture removed (which took up almost all of that ceiling), the drywall patched and new can lighting installed. The light is SO much better : )

Now the counter top man has arrived, to cut the new stone. We decided on 'Quartz', which is made from the tailing's of granite, with the same qualities, but much cheaper.

Here is one photo of the quartz counter top. No grout to mess with or clean. I'm going to like that.

And this is what it looks like today....a GIANT mess. They are doing the sanding and staining of the cupboards. We are hoping to darken the oak a bit, and remove the yellowing that happens to oak as it ages. I think those dry boards will just soak up the new stain and finish.

I can't wait for the finished product, and for the chance to post some 'post' kitchen work photos. Stay tuned....

Original Tour Photos

2011-08-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Ah....those were the days!

Several have asked me questions about the insurance man's tour with the Choralairs. And since our reunion last week-end, we now have many original photos shared by all the members, so I have some to post. The Choralairs were put together by a man from Yakima, Washington named Tex Yearout. It started around 1960 and lasted until 1967. The insurance man toured and sang with them on their last trip. Tex would find musically talented teens from all over the U.S. and even Canada, and they would travel in the bus in the photo above, all summer around the United States. It involved a small choir of voices, and a live 'band' of instruments, often including such things as a harp and marimba. The teens were all Christians, and sang and shared their faith in many venues, but mostly in churches.
Of course, after seeing that bus, you would know that it broke down OFTEN. Many of the stories shared at the reunion were about the broken down times, out in the heat of the mid west or east coast. In this photo, the insurance man says that the van following the bus had broken down, and they were transferring music equipment that they would need that night for their concert into the bus.

Here is a photo of the choir in their performance clothes, and the insurance man is the guy on the top right, with glasses. Guys had bow ties, and girls gloves! They actually had three different sets of clothes to wear for performing; two formal and one informal.

Here is the other formal set. The guys changed jackets, pants, ties and pocket handkerchiefs, while the girls had shorter dresses, and wore black gloves and shoes this time.
The insurance man is on the end nearest the trombone. In these photos you can't really see the instrumentalists.

The guy in the tan jacket was the 'narrator', who did no singing or playing, but most of the talking. The insurance man is waiting his turn to give his testimony of Jesus in his life.

This is a photo of the insurance man's friend Wayne Field, who sang and played the trumpet. With him is Barb, but the insurance man doesn't remember what they were holding up. (It's only been 44 years!) Barb was at the reunion, but unfortunately Wayne wasn't able to make it due to work commitments.

Of course there was time for fun too, and goofing off. The insurance man is on the bottom right in the print shirt, and Wayne is on the 2nd row left in his 'shades'.

The kids got to see America first hand, and 1967 was a turbulent time. The insurance man was in Detroit during the riots there, and saw many Viet Nam protests at colleges all across our country. I think the tour was instrumental in many of these kids' lives in helping them to grow up and develop character, in learning to accept responsibility, and cement their faith. It has remained a wonderful memory for the insurance man, and now we both have wonderful memories of the reunion, and in seeing first hand what God has done in lives as a result of the Choralairs.

Another Fun Trip

2011-08-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

In 1967, at age 17, the insurance man toured the United States with a singing group called the 'Campus Choralairs'. This past week-end we traveled to Renton (Seattle) Washington, to attend the first-ever reunion of those teenagers,,,,44 years later.

This is not the whole group that toured, but a good amount of them. There were about 80 people in attendance, and it included tours from 1961-1967. We had a wonderful time, singing and sharing on Friday night and Saturday. Then, on Saturday night we enjoyed a very nice salmon/steak dinner on board a ship that left from the Seattle waterfront, and toured Elliott Bay and Vashon Island. The weather was perfect, and as we returned the full moon rose and the lights of the city emerged. A memorable experience.

The boat was very comfortable, and I loved seeing Puget Sound first-hand once again.

John and Jaque Colombe were there from California. John was the Pastor's son in Burns, when the insurance man was just a small boy. In fact, the insurance man informed him that John gave him his first black eye. Not on purpose of course! On Sunday we had a wonderful brunch, and worship service before leaving.

Next, we drove through Seattle to meet friends Martha & Dan Vanderpool in Edmonds for lunch on the water.

We caught the Kingston ferry from Edmonds, so we could visit the insurance man's sister Beth over in Paulsbo. Another beautiful day, and it's always fun to ride a ferry : )

Beth & the insurance man, catching up a bit. We had a great visit with her, and were so glad we stopped by. She wanted us to take this photo of her cat 'Henry', but I didn't know he was licking his chops at the time.

A very nice kitty, is Henry. After leaving Beth, we drove down the Olympic Peninsula, then back to I-5 below Olympia, and on down to Joy's for the night. It was a memorable trip, and we were so glad we went. God's abundant blessings were everywhere!

2011-08-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

This is the way we think of August, isn't it? Ice cream, barbecues and hot weather. But this year August is not usual here in Central Oregon. As I type this, it's going on 10 am in the morning, and it's only 59 degrees outside. I have been cold for days (like putting on socks before bed, closing the windows and piling on extra blankets) but determined not to put on the heat. It's unnatural to turn on the furnace in August! After a very cool and wet July, I just kept hoping that summer was around the corner and would come out in August. Hm....a couple of days ago our paper reported the following temps for the day: 86 high and 39 low. Yikes, that's a swing of 50 degrees! The 86 degree part felt good, but my body and my garden just didn't know what to do with the 36 degree part.

I have these beautiful blooms on my peas right now....along with my fall mums putting on their buds. Nature is very understandably confused.

I have several big flower pots, both hanging and on the ground, looking pretty showy considering, but the problem isn't how to water enough (like a usual summer) but how to dry them out! One big pot just sits there soaking, even though I haven't watered it in weeks. Weird.

Coreopsis and Lamb's ear. The flower garden looks pretty good as it enjoys the cooler weather. But oh my, the veggies! I'm pretty sure there will never be enough sun to ripen my squash, tomatoes and beans. They are just now blooming with the peas. Oh well, another failed gardening attempt in Central Oregon. It won't be the first. But this summer is a first in the 27 years we have lived here.

The hummingbirds have finally showed up, just in time to enjoy the hollyhocks before frost! I am enjoying my garden, but it's not been warm enough to sit out yet at night. I am going to have to soak up what sun I can for winter.

Thank you!!

2011-08-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

I don't even know who took this picture. I was looking through the group of images that I just uploaded and found it. But the fact that it was taken, along with a lot of other evidences, point to one thing: the girls LOVE the new cupcake set that Mom sent them! These wooden cupcakes have plastic "frosting" tops, wooden candles that attach with Velcro, sturdy muffin papers, complete with wooden muffin tin to hold them. But that's not all. The best part, which is a huge hit with the girls, are the special markers included that resemble a tube of icing. The markers are used to decorate the plastic tops, adding sprinkles or other designs. They wipe away with a paper towel to be redesigned again later. Seriously? This has been hours of delighted fun for them. Ingenious toy, made by Melissa and Doug, among their many other ingenious creations. Ingenious Grammy for picking it out. :)

The Road Not Taken...Part III

2011-07-21T14:33:00.000-07:00

OK, so I'm finally going to go back to our story of mining sun stones out in Oregon's southeast desert. I am going to get around to telling you why I named this story the way I did.

First, here is a photo of the sun stones we did get that day, all spread out at home, (and yes we did make it home!) As mentioned before, these are sun stones in their natural state.

And below is how the sun stones looked in the soft lava rock as you picked it away the sides of the mine. The decomposing lava just crumbles away from the sun stones, but you can see how they would have cooled at different temps and how the sun stones then fractured. They also fracture as you pull them away from the lava. Interesting geology. We have sent the stones to our grandsons to polish up, and hopefully one of these days you will see a photo posted of how pretty they look.
To get back to the story....we packed our stuff back into the pick-up about 3 pm that day. The insurance man had found an interesting road home, one never taken before. That always has a certain allure. We were in Lake County, one county south of where we normally go into the desert, and one not so familiar. The road was supposed to take us over and north up to Frenchglen, where we were going to stop for a picnic dinner with our left-overs, before finishing the final lap to Bend. You did note that I said the road was 'supposed to'?

This was how the road looked at the beginning. We headed straight out from the sun stone mine, and did not go back into Plush. We all felt good to be sitting down once again, and the weather and desert were beautiful. We followed the road down a long valley, and it quickly turned to dirt and rocks, something normal in the desert. A rather large rig or two had driven down the dirt road in the spring, and made some large ruts in the soft mud...now our dirt road with deep ruts. That made for some interesting driving and dodging, along with the rocks.

This photo shows the basic landscape we were viewing, and the long valley. There were some rim rocks along the sides, in beautiful shapes,

and also beautiful wildflowers. We saw flowers in almost every hue: blue, purple lupine, yellow, pink, rose and magenta, white, and orange Indian paintbrush. We also saw lots of startled cattle, with the calves running for their mothers. A few large male antelopes tried to out-race our pick-up, and as we were going so slow they had no problem. We also saw a few coyotes, one large male in particular. There were lots of hawks and birds, and we even enjoyed the sighting of several sage hens. In spite of the bumping of the truck we thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

After a long while the road became rougher and narrower. We passed by one house, with no one at home. A little later, another abandoned home, and still later two old abandoned rusting camp trailers, derelict with the windows broken out. The wind made an eerie sound blowing around them, in the complete silence. By now the insurance man and his Dad knew they didn't know where they were exactly, and it didn't look very promising that we were on the right road. The sagebrush got bigger and bigger, until they were taller than the pickup, and had crowded down the dirt road to a dirt track squished between them. We knew we were not headed in the right direction for Frenchglen, but were hoping this road would eventually come out around Wagontire. No such luck, as the the track ended at a washout, with no way across. We were going to have to turn around, and no one was too happy with the idea of traveling that road back again. The insurance man figured we had gone over 50 miles by this point, and had spent a couple of hours. So.... we did turn around very carefully, and headed back up the dirt track. I didn't mention that after our first valley ended, we had traversed several more along the way, each getting a little shorter and narrower, totally devoid of people. After traveling back for a while, the insurance man noticed a 'road' climbing up the valley side to our left. He figured that if we took that and got to the top, maybe we could see the highway and/or Frenchglen from there and see where we needed to go. After consulting with his Dad, they decided to try it. Now the side of any hill is rougher than the bottom, due to rain and water erosion and our dirt track was no different. We very SLOWLY climbed and bumped our way up out of the valley. But at the top, we found it wasn't like we had anticipated. Surprised?? It was flat on top, with no view down to where we needed to go. More cows grazing, LOTS of cows. They acted like they had no idea who or what kind of strange creature we were, and why we were invading their peaceful space. The insurance man decided to keep following this road, to see if it connected somewhere up ahead with a 'known' road. (I think this was a futile hope that he wouldn't have to drive all the way back to the sun stone mines.) We quickly found a new hazard up there, as there were mud holes, small at first but getting bigger. We had to drive into the sagebrush to avoid them, and sometimes would hit hidden rocks in the sagebrush. Finally after about 25 minutes of that, we came to a rather large mud hole. He again asked his Dad's opinion, and thankfully (or we would still be up there) Dad said that he thought we should again turn around as it looked as though the mud was increasing. So, we did and by now things were getting a bit tense in the pickup cab. It was between 7:30-8:00, the shadows were lengthening and we had not had any supper. Not to mention the gas was getting a bit low. While we were still up on top I used the cell phone and miracles of miracles we had service. I phoned the insurance mans' brother Cliff, to state flatly "We're lost!" No hello, or any of that business. Technically of course we were not lost. We knew where to go to get back, we just didn't know if we could get back that night. After talking with Cliff, we found he didn't know where we were either. He flies a small plane, and would have flown over the area looking for our lights, but it would have been many hours before we could be rescued.

When we got to the edge of the canyon, the insurance man asked me if we should stop and get some food. I said that I thought we should make the valley floor before stopping, as it would be some easier in the daylight. That also was a good decision, as it got dark early in the narrow canyon. So, at the bottom we stopped and got some food from the back to eat in the cab. I was carefully looking for rattlesnakes, I can tell you! Mom had bought a roasted chicken earlier in the week, which she had packed for ' just in case'. It tasted really good about then.

The insurance man finally decided to eat crow, admit defeat and drive all the way back to Plush. After the many hours of bumping and jolting, my neck and shoulders were none too pleased. The insurance man was gripping the wheel, while the three of us held on wherever we could. It grew dark quickly, with many miles left to go. To ease things a little, I put on some Christian music that we all loved. I asked if he thought we had enough gas to get back, and he told me yes, he was pretty sure there was enough to get to Plush. That eased my mind quite a bit. It gets cold, and I mean cold out in the desert at night. We weren't prepared, and had no blankets or heavy coats with us. We had food : ) but I was worried about spending the night in the cab with no heat, and as Mom & Dad are both 89, I was worried about them. Just to make things interesting, after dark all the jack rabbits and cottontails came out. They froze in the spotlight of the headlights, or ran about frantically. There must have been thousands of them. The insurance man slowed down even more to dodge them the best he could. Every time I thought he couldn't avoid one, I would cringe and cover my eyes. I know in my head that the world would not be that much worse off with one or two less jack rabbits, but my heart wasn't in it. Where were those coyotes? I wondered. The rabbit population had overrun the desert. We crept along in the dark, singing along to the music, and trying not to worry. Finally, after 5 1/2 hours of driving out there, we got back to where we had started. Only three rabbit casualties, which is a tribute to my wonderful husband's driving. The insurance man pointed out the road we should have taken....the road not taken. He headed back into Plush, hoping that the little bar/store/gas station would still be open until 10:00. Unfortunately, we didn't make it by 10. By the time we rolled in, everything was dark and locked up tight. We knew we would have to try to get to Lakeview. I asked how far that was, and the answer was about 22 miles. Again, a tenseness in the cab, as we drove the 22 miles, although it sure was nice to be on pavement again. At about the 22 mile point, we came to an intersection, with a sign to Lakeview that stated we had another 12 miles to go. With a determined look, the insurance man took the turn and kept going. Bet you can guess what happened at the 12 mile point? Yep, another intersection, with yet another 6 miles to go. I got the cell phone to work again, and phoned Cliff to tell him we were trying for Lakeview. He told me that there was a large crew of men in Lakeview, working on a pipeline project, and that the town was slammed and probably didn't have any empty motel rooms. At that point I prayed earnestly for the few miles, and we reached the outskirts of town, breathing fumes. All of the major motels along the highway were just as he said, no vacancy. But as we came into the small downtown area, I spied a sign that pointed to an older motel a few blocks off the main drag. We found it, and they still had room for all of us. We paid for two rooms, and I was so very, very glad to see clean sheets and a pillow! We decided to leave the gas problem until morning, and just fall into bed. It was between 11:30 and midnight by then, and everything had worked out.

The next morning, a good hot shower felt wonderful. Mom & I had along extra shirts, so we even had something clean to put on. As we all came out of our rooms, Mom said that it felt so weird to have no luggage. She decided that she liked it though, because she didn't have to worry about leaving anything behind.

Here's a picture of the motel that rescued us, taken the next morning. We got gas, and had a good full breakfast before leaving for Burns and home, getting back around noon on Saturday. Cliff and the insurance man got out some BLM maps to find out where we had been. It turns out the area is called 'Dry Valley', aptly named. I had no idea there was such a vast area of our state unpopulated. Large, sky-filled, empty land. Cliff said that the BLM and a few big ranchers use the land for grazing, only using the trail we were on about twice a year to check on their cattle. They must have been on it this spring, leaving the big ruts!

Well, we learned that even 89 year-olds aren't too old for adventures....and neither are we!

A Tale of Two Friends

2011-07-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

In the fall of 1969, two friends left Seattle for college. Jennie chose Judson Baptist College and her friend Martha chose Multnomah Bible School, just a few blocks from each other in Portland, Oregon. In the due course of time both friends met their future husbands, and planned their weddings, Jennie to John and Martha to Dan. The weddings turned out to be just three weeks apart, in the summer of 1971. Martha and Dan traveled to Portland, so Martha could be in Jennie's wedding.

Jennie & John's wedding was in the chapel on the campus of Judson. The colors were lavender and purple, and Martha was a lovely bridesmaid.

Three weeks later, Martha married Dan in Arlington, Washington and her colors were summer colors.

Newlyweds John & Jennie traveled to the wedding so Jennie could be a bridesmaid in lavender.

Now, 40 years later....Jennie is still married happily to John, living in Oregon....and Martha happily to Dan, living in Washington. And of course, still friends.

40 Years Together

2011-07-16T15:14:00.001-07:00

July 17, 2011

July 17, 1971

(This morning my 3 year old granddaughter asked me who I was in that wedding with?)

Just before we got married....

Our happiness: a testimony to God's faithfulness and grace.

The Road Not Taken Part II....The Sunstone Mines

2011-07-11T14:25:00.000-07:00

After we left the town of Plush, we followed the line of vehicles out to the Sunstone Mines, roughly 18 miles on dirt roads. We did have a couple of stops, where the leader pointed out some interesting geologic features of the high desert around us. These features were all volcanic in origin. He also told us that Sunstones are feldspar combined with copper, created during volcanic lava flows. As rocks of a gemstone quality, on a hardness level they are an '8' compared to diamonds at a '10'. They most often are clear to a light yellow or gold, but sometimes can be found with a red, green or blue interior tint. Most common are gems around the size of your small fingernails, but some good finds are larger. The reason that these mines are in western Lake County, is because the lava flows are close to the surface here, and easy to access. This is the only place in the world where Sunstones are mined. Hundreds have staked claims, and we were told that there are claim jumpers and it is all taken very seriously. Sounds like the good 'ol days of the West, doesn't it? Our tour took us to three of the mines that are open to the public. Two of these charge the public to dig there. Our first mine was the Dust Devil Mine.

This is basically where the people live who own this mine. They have been there since the 80's.

And this is a Sunstone mine. Not what you were expecting? They look like large gravel pits. The large mines have invested a lot of money in equipment, such as cranes and conveyor belts. This mine charges you to dig here, or will charge a fee to let you look through their diggings on a conveyor belt. The fee runs about $100 an hour.

This is the owner of the mine, and he was showing our group some of the equipment and some of his better finds.

After a stop at a 2nd mine, we came to the Spectrum Mine, probably the biggest and most well known. The owners here let you dig for free and then pay for anything good you find. They also have conveyor equipment and you can pick through the diggings in more comfort for a fee. However, their equipment wasn't working, and they were feverishly trying to get it going, which didn't happen. This tour week-end, is the biggest money maker for them of the year, and it was a great loss that the conveyor wasn't operating.

This is a photo of some of their equipment. The Spectrum Mine has a tradition of serving a free lunch to all of their visitors, and a free outdoor dinner to any who are still there. The owner's wife had a nice buffet out under a few canopies for shade stretched between a couple of travel trailers. One they use for a 'rock shop' and the other is their living quarters.

We had brought a picnic lunch however, so availed ourselves of the shade and picnic tables and enjoyed a tasty picnic. They also provided a couple of outhouses out back, even a pink one for us ladies. (That sounds a bit better than it actually was however, and I was on the lookout for rattle snakes!) Our guide went ahead of us on the tour, with leg guards on scouting for rattlers, but never had to get any out of the way.

After lunch, we went down into the mine to do some digging. This is what the dirt and rocks looked like that lined the mine. Some of the lava flows are decomposing which makes different levels to work in. We noticed that one level smelled strongly of oil. The Sunstones you find are usually fractured or fracture easily. The guide told us this is because they cool at a different rate from the lava, which fractures them. The jewelry quality gemstones are big, with no fractures, so they can be faceted.

The insurance man and I dug a while on the wall of dirt, and found many little sunstones.

He would dig out an area, fill a bucket and search through it.

When he got out his pickaxe and got serious, I took a rest : )

He would take a bucket full up to Dad, and Dad would sift through it using the screens provided by the mines. Did I mention this was dirty work?? Some of the time Mom helped Dad with the screening, and some she sat down and dug in the wall close by.

Sometimes they would find a large clump of dirt or soft rock with sunstones imbedded all through it. They were easy to break apart.

Finally, we decided that we had had enough, and got our things and headed back to the pick-up. We had a little pile of sunstones, which they did not charge us for, as they were not valuable. They are pretty though. I did ask our guide if any of these mines were making money. He said that these owners had sunk their life savings into the mines, but most were not profitable. Several years ago they had been about to turn the corner when the Chinese found a way to synthesize the feldspar and copper. He told us they made the stones very cheaply and made around $100,000,000 before the deception was uncovered and stopped. Now the owners here are just hanging on. The economy also has played it's part. Recently an internationally known jewelry designer has moved to Central Oregon from Hawaii, to design specifically for sunstones and help get the word out. Her things are very pretty. They would like to promote this jewelry as 'homegrown', so that people who want to buy U.S. have an option here at home. Good goal.
We learned a lot about sunstones, the mining and this almost vacant area of our state. We brought the sunstones home, and are sending them to our grandson Samuel to polish up for us.

We left the Spectrum Mine about 3pm, and the insurance man had a new road all planned out for us to take home.

More adventures next time....

The Road Not Taken Part I

2011-07-08T16:14:00.001-07:00

Summer has finally come to the high desert of Central Oregon. Telltale signs are the monarchs that are chasing themselves around the flowers in my back yard, the thermometer has finally registered a day in the 90's, and there is a haze of smoke in the air from a wildfire burning nearby. I have been gone enjoying a visit with my in-laws, and then catching up at home. But now, it's time to share some of our adventures. This will be a rare 3-part blog post, but that will make it more manageable for me to share.

Two week-ends ago we drove to Burns on a Thursday evening, to be all ready to leave on an adventure the following early Friday morn. The insurance man had made a reservation for a free tour of some Oregon Sun Stone Mines. The mines are located in the southeast part of the state, not too far from the California state line. We had to be there by 9 am, so the four of us packed a lunch Thursday night (and my sweet mother-in-law packed enough for several days) and we all got up early to be on the road by 7 am. It was a beautiful day, bright and sunny, but not too hot which is a rare treat. We first drove west about 20 miles, to the small hamlet of Riley, Oregon where we took the road south from there. As we drove we saw virtually no traffic, but had the wide open spaces and canopy of sky to ourselves. We all commented on how unusually green the desert was, and lovely for this time of year owing to our recent wet and cool spring. (All things DO have a silver lining!) The next 'town' we came to was Wagontire. I don't know if I have ever been there before, but at least don't remember it. So, I was looking forward to looking around.

This sign greeted all visitors who happened along this lonely stretch of highway. As I soon found out, there is no one around and no one running the 'cafe, motel & RV park'. They are all closed up and deserted. Here is the next sign to greet us:

Have you ever been to a town with a population of 3? And on top of that, the 3 were no longer there! I had no sooner stopped laughing at this oddity, when the next sign sent all of us into a gale of laughter....

I seriously don't know if this was someones idea of a joke, but it sits there trying to look perfectly serious as it announces the Wagontire International Airport! Picture miles of sagebrush in every direction, (and that's all), and two dusty, sandy stretches of ruts in between the sagebrush. Yep, that's the 'airport'! This city girl about busted a gut over that one : )

Our final signpost, and there are more signs here than people, telling us to please come again. A vast desert area, vaster than I ever dreamed, awaited us.

The rest of our drive truly was enjoyable and lovely. We went through desert valleys all green with the sagebrush actually lush. The hills tipped the sky and there was green and blue enough to last a lifetime.

We drove to a small town called 'Plush', where our tour was to begin. All of us met up at the store/bar/gas station, for a final pit stop and rambled across the road to where there was a small rock shop showcasing the sun stones. After a few final instructions, we finally loaded up, and followed the lead car out of town.

I think there were five cars in total, or maybe five of us and the leader. Not a huge group, but just right for what we were about to do.

Tomorrow, the mines....

Pictures of Apron, Finally

2011-06-27T20:16:00.000-07:00

My beautiful apron from mom. :)

It's comfortable and covers so well to keep my clothes clean.

Naturally, Elijah sneaks in the photos. He's usually right there on that left hip, apron or no.

Wonderful First Day of Summer

2011-06-22T07:15:00.001-07:00

It finally felt like summer, a delightful 82 degrees, just in time for the summer solstice. We enjoyed the lingering light until 10 pm last night.

Things that are blooming in the garden now, are most notably the iris's, snowball bush, bleeding hearts and spring asters.

This post is for Mom, who will recognize 'Stepping Out'.

A few of these tubers were given to me in Burns, 35-36 years ago by Naomi, a precious lady gardener. We have gone through at least 10 moves since then, and I have schlepped these iris's with me wherever we went. We have stayed put for the last 20 years, and they have greatly multiplied. Isn't 'Stepping Out' a great name for these lovely ladies in all their finery?

Few More Favorite Photos

2011-06-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share some of my favorite photos from last week-end, before time moves on. It was such a fun week-end. Thursday evening was nice but cool, for the crowning ceremony and the start of Planters Day week-end. Kirk was entertaining Macy while we were waiting for things to start.
We all loved taking photos of and with Kory.
Friday was a really nice day, and the insurance man and I spent the day watching and playing and swimming with Macy.
Saturday we woke up to pouring rain, and the big parade down main street. Kory joked that it literally was 'raining on her parade'. The princesses were forced inside one of the cars to stay dry...but it looks like they were having fun anyway!

Princesses Kory and Courtney

Here's what it looked like for the rest of us, along the parade route. Sweatshirts and umbrellas were the order of the day.

This is Kirk, Joy and Macy. LOTS of candy was thrown, as well as packets of flower seeds, small frisbees, and packs of doughnut holes. Macy had fun picking it all up.

After the parade....

Kory, with her boyfriend Sam, trying to stay dry.

In the afternoon there were 'Bed Races'. The beds were on wheels, and four people pushed while one is on the bed in Pj's. At one point in the race Kory changed places with Courtney and put on the Pj's, then changed again on the way back. A little daunting in the rain.

Kory literally ran right out of her shoes, so ran most of the race barefoot : )

Sunday the weather was some better and a lot dryer! Macy can still fit on Papa's shoulders!

We took a few more photos out back of the house before heading down to the classic car show on Sunday.

Kory tried her hand at singing....a solo! We were all surprised how good she was, and how brave she was!

Then she helped Macy sing 'Twinkle, twinkle little star' for the audience. Macy knows no fear!

All in all it was a great time, celebrating with Princess Kory! We are all blessed.

Princess Kory

2011-06-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

We are in Woodland, Washington for Planters Day weekend, and our granddaughter Kory is one of three princesses on the royal court. Here is the family gathered together at Horseshoe Lake, before the crowning ceremony last night.
The princesses arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, and Kory was SO exited!

She had both her Dads walk her to the Gazebo, and they were very proud Dads.

Each princess was introduced to the crowd...and this was Kory's turn.

Kory's friend Jessica, above, was actually crowned the Queen a few minutes later. Jessica sold the most tickets for the raffle (by a lot) which broke the existing record, which is the criteria for being Queen. She is a very sweet Christian girl, and we were exited for her. But Kory was and is an exceptional princess!

Kory, with little sister Macy. Macy wants to grow up to be a princess just like Kory!

A final photo of Princess Kory, with her beautiful dress and I'm glad to say that Kory is as beautiful inside as on the outside. (A proud Grammy talking...)

Glorious Spring

2011-06-08T09:47:00.000-07:00

I know it is June 8th by the calendar, but it is finally Spring, wonderful Spring here in Central Oregon. We are outside every minute possible to enjoy God's bounty.

"Oh, give us pleasures in the flowers today,

and give us not to think so far away
as the uncertain harvest; keep us here

all simply in the springing of the year.

Oh, give us pleasure in the orchard white,

like nothing else by day, like ghosts by night;

And make us happy in the happy bees,

The swarm dilating around the perfect trees.

For this is love, and nothing else is love

To which it is reserved to God above.

To sanctify to what far ends He will,

But which it only needs that we fulfill."

A PRAYER IN SPRING

by Robert Frost

Like the poem states, this tree is like nothing else by day, and like a ghost by night. It actually glows white in the dark...I went out and checked it. Of course it was the moon's beams that were reflecting off of it, but what a sight and what smells. The air is drenched with crab apple sweetness here in our yard. Glorious Spring. God was so good to covenant with us that as long as the earth endures there shall be springtime and harvest.

Memorial Day Snow and Blooms

2011-06-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

I just had to take a photo of the insurance man trimming the grass while the snow fell last Saturday. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you can see the snowflakes against his blue jacket . It snowed off and on Memorial Day week-end, with no build-up on the ground. But brrrrr! Somehow the rhubarb has managed to grow with the cold temps anyway.

Then yesterday, while Julie is reporting 95+ temps and high humidity in Morgantown, we had thunder, rain and hail, and didn't even make 60 degrees.

Enough of this white stuff, I say!

But it's so amazing that even with the cold, my shrubs and trees are finding a way to bloom, albeit a couple of weeks later than usual.

Last month I posted some photos of my crab apple trees in the winter grip of ice, with no leaves or blooms in sight. This is how they look this morning, here at Crab Apple House . So, even though it does not exactly feel like spring, spring indeed has arrived. I think God was very ingenious in his art with these blooms. They come out very dark pink, then turn light pink, and finally the blooms are very white with no pink left. Incredible! Only God could do that...

Memorial Day Heroes

2011-05-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, as I contemplated the day and the memory of those who have served and died, I started thinking of a special blessing God gave me last autumn.

My mother was the youngest of eight in her family, and three of her brothers served during WW II. The oldest was Art, and he served as a Marine for the second time when WW II started. Two brothers Bert and Bud also joined the Marines to go fight in the Pacific, although they were assigned different divisions.

Several years ago, my Uncle Bert was here visiting from Oklahoma for a family reunion. I asked him if he had any stories for the family historian (that's me). He thought about it, and then told me a fun one from when he was growing up. He couldn't think of any more and later returned home. Several days later I got a phone call from him, and he said that he had thought of a story, and would I like to hear about the Marines landing on Iwo Jima. Wow....would I ever! But, he wanted to tell me in person, so he said that we could sit down together when he next came to Oregon. But it was not to be, as he died of cancer about three months after that phone call. I felt so bad that I had never been able to get that story, and hear about what he went through.

That was in 2006.

Last fall, I went to a Memorial Service for my cousin Tom, the son of Uncle Bud. Bud had passed away in 1994. After the service I asked my Aunt Joan if she had any records of Bud's military service. She mentioned that they had a video the kids had made of Bud talking about his military years. I asked about viewing it, and after a brief search they pulled the video out of a pile. Our whole family sat down and watched Bud being interviewed by his three children. Bud was only 17 when he joined the Marines. He had never talked about his military years before (a common story) and he poured out a story of pain, suffering and glory as he revealed his Marine division's landing on Iwo Jima. Bert was landing with his division while Bud was landing with his division, one being further north on the coast. Both were injured, but survived. Bud made it 23 days before being evacuated to a hospital in Hawaii, after being shot in the back right shoulder. It was quite a story. God was so good to me, to give me the story in 2010 I had missed in 2006. Here are my heroes I am remembering today......

Bud (born Woodrow) Erskine

1925-1994

Bert (born Bernell) Erskine
1923-2006

Art (born Archie Robert) Erskine
1910-1980

R and R

2011-05-26T09:52:00.000-07:00

Last week the insurance guy and I took a few days break. Since we have been scurrying around like busy beavers, we needed a little 'hibernation'. We headed over the Ochocco Mountains, through the little towns of Mitchell and Dayville, through John Day and over to Baker City on the eastern edge of Oregon. We found a nice motel, with a great view of the Blue Mountains. The view also included this larger-than-life replica of a gold pan, saluting the area's hey days as a gold mining town.

The reason we chose Baker City was to visit the National Interpretive Center for the Oregon Trail, something we have been wanting to do for several years. It is on a bluff about 5 miles east of Baker City. As you can see, we had wonderful weather that day.

One of the highlights, for most everyone I suspect, were these huge picture windows overlooking the original Oregon Trail. The track was still clearly visible winding around at the base of this bluff, and entering the valley, turning north towards the Columbia river. So many wagons, to create a track to last more than a century.

Outside, they had a circle formed of replica wagons, showing how the pioneers would camp at night. Very interesting to all the kids who loved climbing on the wagons.

A shot of the mountains, and of the valley the emigrants entered. They must have been delighted to find a grassland, after the miles of juniper and sage.

After lunch, we visited the Baker City Museum, at the old 'Natatorium'. They had a wonderful collection of rocks and gems that particularly interested the insurance man.

Baker City also has a grand park, right next to the Powder River. It has a lovely gazebo, and flowering trees. We spent a little time walking there. The city is trying to raise enough money to build a band stand, and if ever there was a park that needed one, it was that park!

A final shot of the sunset behind the Blue Mountains, that ended our nice day.

At Long Last...

2011-05-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

Finally, a breath of spring to make our hearts sing!

2011-05-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

Read the journals...take the time.

You will see who you were and what you were doing today.

Time seems to be a major player.

The world is spinning so much faster now,

The moon moves quickly in the darkening sky.

Permission is rarely granted to drop out of the spin,

For reflection, for calm, for relationship.

Beauty and order is created, but where's the enjoyment?

Where's giving, loving and time in this spin?

Time to create and share,

Time to delve and learn,

Time to deeply rest,

Time to intimately connect with another.

Where's the rocking chair....have you found it?

Tick....tick....tick....

It's over so quick.

Jennie

Seventy years are given to us, some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalm 90

Spring at Our House

2011-05-13T13:30:00.001-07:00

'Our house' refers to me, Jennie, and the insurance man. Summer has sprung at Julie's house, as she reported 80 degrees yesterday, with the humidity having moved in. Here, Spring is just beginning to take hold, and it has been a late, wet time. But the gardens are slowly coming around, and the birds are out. Today I watched the birds having breakfast on the crabapple trees in front, including one glorious goldfinch. The wet weather has made for happy robins, foraging in the grass and damp dirt. It has also been a busy time, with deep cleaning both the house and yard. We did take a little time out to celebrate Mothers Day though. The insurance man and our daughter JoAnn sang in two concerts over the week-end with the Bend Master Singers. My mother and father-in-law came to celebrate Mom's birthday as well as Mothers Day, and our friend Doris was with us. On Saturday evening, after a good meal, we snapped a few photos on our way to the concert. Our two singers....

The insurance man does clean up nicely in his tux! And Mom looks so nice in a corsage for the evening.

We had such a good time with Mom & Dad visiting.

And even Doris got dressed up for the occasion. She is wearing a very special coat from Germany, made of cashmere and wool. The nice pot of violas made a cheery show for Mothers Day, then made a nice dessert for the deer that night. Ah well, nature will have it's way.

Happy Spring to you!

Irises

2011-05-10T04:35:00.000-07:00

These were in full bloom on Mother's Day. It made the day extra lovely.

It made me think of my mom who especially loves a purple iris. :)

Here's a lonely peach one down on the end. They're amazing. I peep out the door to see them often. They don't last long.

Another Family Tradition From the '70's

2011-05-04T06:07:00.000-07:00

One more thing still getting some use from my childhood is a little booklet put out by the makers of Baker's Angelflake Coconut.My mom used this little booklet for ideas for birthday cakes for me and my sisters when we were little. We used to look through it and I think we even got to occasionally pick one ourselves and she would make it. It's been passed on to me, looking a little worse for the wear these days.

Because I have fond memories of these cakes, it's become a really fun thing to do them for my kids as well.

I recently made this bunny cake for Amelia's 4th birthday.

She is an Easter baby after all. :)

I really remember my mom making this elephant. I did it last year for Amelia's 3rd birthday.

I've done some of the cakes from the book for the boys too. I did a sailboat for Sam when he turned 3. But the cut-out, coconut-covered cake seems to be especially appealing to the girls. A fun tradition. And the booklet makes it so easy.

What a wonderful summer...

2011-04-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

The weather is still trying to decide if winter will give way to spring around here. The snow does make me dream of summer, with it's planting and harvesting times. I am remembering a time about 48 summers ago...when my mother, brother and I left the city for the summer, for my Aunt & Uncle's farm, east of Salem. We stayed in our small Shasta camp trailer that my Dad pulled to the farm. That gave us the opportunity to pick strawberries, then raspberries and finally beans with my cousins Bill and Beckie, and my Aunt Joyce.
We would get up oh-so-early, in the dim light of pre-dawn coolness, and do the farm chores first, including milking a couple of cows. Bringing the milk into the kitchen, we would pour fresh cream onto our bowls of cold cereal (usually cheerios). Cream really does make everything wonderful! When that was picked up, we kids would climb into the back of the old blue pick-up and head up the road to pick up a couple of neighbor boys that went with us, just as dawn was breaking into full daylight. Arriving at the designated field for the week, depending on what was ripe, we would get our buckets, baskets or crates and head out to the next row to be picked.

As the sun shot it's first rays over the rich dirt and ripe fruit, we would get busy, visions of money for school clothes and supplies spurring us on. We would have contests with each other, as well as with other kids to see who could pick the most, the fastest. We would usually pick pretty steadily for the first few hours, while it was cooler. But as the sun climbed and we grew hot and sticky, we found ways to entertain ourselves. Of course, my aunt and Mom were there to keep us in line, but as they could pick faster, and were usually out ahead, we were left to 'quietly' have raspberry or bean fights through the rows at each other. The berries ended up on each other, or in the dirt instead of in our buckets. We older ones also had transistor radios, and would listen to music as we worked. I distinctly remember listening to Sonny & Cher's 'I Got You Babe' that summer.

Lunch was always a welcome, but-too-short break. We ate the sandwiches and fruit we had packed the night before and drank fresh milk, while sitting in the shade of big oak trees. My aunt would encourage us to work hard, for the last two hours before quitting time. By this time of day it was HOT! I remember it being so hot on the sunny side of the row, that the soil burned right through the soles of my sneakers, and I would hop as I picked alternating my feet. My aunt made a practice of quiting around 2:00 or so, as it was just too hot to continue, and we would all be miserable. So gathering up our pickings, we would 'weigh' out at the side of the field designated for weighing out the produce, and paying the workers. It was always an exiting time, to see how much money we had made for the day, and who had won the most.

After quiting, we were all sticky, sweaty and filthy, covered with dirt, bean leaves or dried, smashed berries. We climbed into the back of the old pick-up again, heading out for our secret swimming hole over at Thomas 'Crick'. I know now, this was actually a branch of the Santiam River, and the swimming hole was on some friend's property. There were a couple of gates to open along the way, and one of us kids would hop out and open & shut the gates as we drove along. The swimmin' hole was a rock lined pool, shady under big oaks and elms. What fun we had each afternoon, jumping off the rocks and playing games in the water. It felt wonderful after our hot day working. I'm sure my aunt thought it was a great way to clean us all up! There was no one else around, and we could let off some steam hollering and yelling all we wanted.

Around 4:00 we headed on home, so my aunt could fix dinner for my Uncle Roy, who worked for the Linn County Highway Dept., and came home hot and tired. Mom usually cooked our dinner in the camp trailer, and we often got together and made some homemade ice cream after that. Then it was early to bed for all of us. We fell asleep listening to the frogs making music in the creek every night. What sweet sleep we had, after so much work and play. What a wonderful summer it was for us city kids.

The Family Cradle

2011-04-25T17:31:00.000-07:00

I'm about to take this up to the attic once again. Our newest family member didn't end up sleeping in it for as long as some of the other kids have. If this cradle looks a little old-fashioned and dinged up, well...I guess it is. My dad hand-crafted this baby bed out of his imagination back in the early 1970's. My mom says she's particularly fond of the bottom cross-piece because the shape is his design. Since my parents had 3 daughters, it was used by three girls first. When I got married and began having children, they passed it on to me. Since I have 7 children, it's been well used. :)
I think mom said that my aunt did this toll (sp?) painting on it. Certainly takes me back to styles from my childhood. Thanks, Dad, for crafting this for your children and grandchildren. I love being able to use it and feel connected with my family even from this distance.

Spring Weather

2011-04-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we woke again to snow on the ground. I found that these daffies were beat almost to the ground by the cold and snow. I had to go out and 'rescue' them, and what a delightful Easter gift they have made. I found a good poem yesterday, and here it is:

"Rain, rain don't go away,

I love the sky all dark and gray,

It's fun to hear the raindrops play,

Rain, rain don't go away.

Rain, rain stay awhile,

When you pour it makes me smile,

Make my creek the river Nile,

Rain, rain stay awhile.

That says to me, that I need a weather attitude adjustment. So I will enjoy our 'winter' weather a little bit longer, and enjoy the time it's giving me indoors doing my Spring cleaning.

Have a wonderful Easter week-end, meditating and celebrating Jesus!

Getting ready for Easter

2011-04-21T15:30:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time to post on the blog lately, but thought I could squeeze in a couple of cute photos this afternoon. Julie sent me these via email, and I wanted to share them. I made this dress for Amelia for her 4th birthday which was a week or so ago. Then I thought that I would make a matching one for Cecily so they could use them for Easter Sunday. I got some pretty white gloves, and made matching hair clips too, (which reminded all of us of when my girls were growing up and I made them hairclips & dresses). Girls are such fun to dress, and these girls like to be frilly!

They are all ready, and look just like a breath of Spring!

Soup's On!

2011-04-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

Chicken Tortilla Soup

The weather has been so cold and windy lately, that I woke up this morning and decided to make a big pot of soup. I wanted to try a different recipe than my usual, so I googled 'Chicken Tortilla Soup' and came up with this one. It was at a blog for "The Pioneer Woman". If you click on the title 'Soup's On' at the top of this post, it is linked to the site and you will pop over there.

The soup is mostly all by scratch, using fresh ingredients (except for a few cans of things) and turned out really wonderful. One of her secrets is to add 3 T. of cornmeal, mixed with a little warm water to the mostly cooked soup, and let that cook an additional 30 minutes. At the end I added strips of corn tortillas to soften, and they gave it such a good taste! Yummy dinner.

Spring Cleaning

2011-04-12T15:36:00.000-07:00

Can you guess what I've been doing?

I decided to get going and really do some Spring Cleaning this year. During my working years, I discovered that deep cleaning is a luxury, not a gruesome chore. When you never have enough time for it, you come to relish the time when you do get it.

Last week, I had help. My granddaughter Kory came for Spring Break, and helped me out. When people would find out what we were doing for her Spring Break, they would wrinkle their noses, and think what a terrible Grammy to make her clean.

But it wasn't like that at all. We had fun being together, talking and listening to music. And it felt so good when we would finish up a project. Of course, that wasn't all we did all week. We cleaned for part of each day (which was about all this older body could handle) then do some fun things. I took some fun photos of Kory cleaning, cooking and trying out brussels sprouts for the first time. However, I just discovered that I didn't have my camera chip in when I took the photos. They are on the small 'hard drive' of my camera, and I have no idea how to copy them off. Anyone??

Well, my bathroom, closet, bedroom and now the upper hall are finished. Sure wish Kory were still here!!

Used Clothing?

2011-04-09T06:49:00.000-07:00

I know that some people are not comfortable buying used clothing. I don't mind that at all. It means that people like me can clothe my children from the new clothes that they buy and don't end up using, for a ridiculously reduced cost. There is a children's consignment clothing store just down the street. Unlike a lot of these types of shops, the prices at this store are below my expectations. I visited the other day, spent 17$ and got:

Gap denim capris and Old Navy girly overalls for Millie, swim trunks for Ben, white blouse and sandals for Cecily, sandals and pajama shorts for Sam, leggings and slippers for Millie *and* dressy shoes for later (they were .99 cents).

Getting nice quality things for a great price makes me smile. :)

Line Drying

2011-04-04T09:53:00.000-07:00

I'm just starting into my Spring Cleaning, and the weather last week was perfect. Warm, partly sunny and VERY breezy. I started out with washing and drying all my doilies and runners, then hanging them out to dry. I love line drying, and with the stiff breeze it couldn't have been better.

I'm so glad that clothesline time is back!

Beauty is a whole lot of popcorn!

2011-03-25T14:23:00.000-07:00

Ah...the benefits of having a daughter that is the manager of a movie theater. Left-over popcorn! And a big smile from the insurance man.

Birthday Beauty

2011-03-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

A lovely bouquet and a new tablecloth. More about my birthday over at Jones Archive.

1st Day of Spring?

2011-03-21T13:45:00.001-07:00

We woke this morning to a fresh coat of snow over everything, even the tulips.

Is it late winter, or early spring? I choose early spring! Actually, Central Oregon has very little or no spring. It is the season that doesn't much exist here. We somehow slip from cold and frosty to hot and sunny about the middle of June. Fortunately, we can drive a couple of hours to where there is spring, glorious spring.
Our 'spring' consists of looking out the window at 8 am to find snow blowing, 10 am rain, noon might find a good hail storm, 3 pm a strong wind blowing the trees and whistling around the eaves, and some very welcome sunshine about 5 pm. All weather in one day!

So, on our early spring days, it is a good time to get some inside things done. Like sewing for instance.

I have been very busy sewing up two spring/Easter dresses for two little granddaughters. Millie's birthday comes at the beginning of April (she was born on Easter day that year), and it seemed like a good time for something new. Shhh, don't tell though, as it's supposed to be a surprise!

I had a very hard time finding a pattern and fabric though. Little girl dresses are all sleeveless these days. I wanted a long dress, with collar and sleeves, and this was the ONLY pattern I found. JoAnn Fabrics was all out of this pattern (of course, it's the only one with sleeves..) and I went to the only other store in Bend with patterns and they had 1 left. Whew! Fabrics are on the dark side of pastels (think tutti-frutti colors) and nothing much light for spring. I managed though, and now have them almost done and will be shipping them off. Hopefully, Julie will show us the dresses on the models after birthday is over.

Sewing can't be done without ironing, so I have been doing a lot of that. It's nice to have my Mrs. Tiggywinkle ironing cupboard that makes it easy.

Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day

2011-03-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

My new book:I heard this recommended enough times that I finally got it.

I had to take a picture of my first loaf. I need to improve my technique, but the bread was approved by all the family. We're excited to experiment with the many options we can try with the dough, which is stored in the refrigerator and can be pulled out to make fresh bread at any time. Anyone else tried this yet?

2011-03-11T10:41:00.000-08:00

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head in silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullabye. Langston Hughes

I love a rainy day...

A New/Old Apron

2011-03-08T11:13:00.000-08:00

For a very long time now, I have wanted to replicate a favorite apron that was my Mother's. She made it in Home Economics in High School, sometime about 1938-39. I have used it for years now too, and it has held together wonderfully well. I have blogged about it before, in a Thanksgiving post.

I didn't want to tear it apart to make pattern pieces, so my wish remained just that...a wish only. Until a year ago, when a friend of a friend was visiting and noticed the apron on it's hook. She asked about it, and when I expressed my wish for it, she told me she could make me the pattern. So the three of us stayed up to midnight with some tissue and pencils, and lo and behold I had myself a pattern to try. As things go (and with me it's usually the gardening season) I hadn't got around to doing more than purchasing some fabric and rick-rack. So, last month I decided to make up a new apron for Julie's birthday on the 1st of March, using my 'old' pattern.

I had found some vintage looking fabric in small sunflowers on a cream background, and decided to trim it in light blue, Julie's favorite color.

Here it is, all finished and hanging by my ironing board, before being wrapped up and sent off to West Virginia. That back 'strap' across the shoulders is really the secret to the comfort of this apron, as it never wants to slip down or off the shoulders, like so many do.

It has the requisite pockets, that every good apron should have, and miles of rick rack, my mom-in-law says. We found in making the pattern that this little simple looking apron is much more difficult than it looks. It has a princess neckline, where the pretty shape is repeated in the waistline. (None of that really shows in the photos) My original has bust darts, but my pattern maker was able to adjust those out of the pattern. It was one of my first projects with no instructions at all, but that went fine. I did have to interrupt my sewing to go and buy a new sewing machine during this project. I had been fighting with my original 1973 Kenmore for a while now, and it was time. As I shopped, the tweenie salesgirl looked at me with concern when I asked for a machine without a computer. She told me she didn't think one could sew a garment without a computer sewing machine!

Anyway, this was a fun project, and I'm so glad I was able to finish it before getting sick. Julie received it in time for her birthday, along with a new cookbook she had been wanting from King Arthur's. She has promised to model it there, and post a few photos of it being worn. When I feel better, I will be back to making a few more of these aprons.

Sketch of Mom

2011-03-05T18:56:00.000-08:00

Not a perfect likeness, but I'm amazed that my 11 year old son even attempted to draw a realistic sketch of me. I love it that he loves to draw. :)

Winter at Crabapple Home

2011-03-01T06:22:00.000-08:00

Welcome today to Crab Apple Home....come into our cozy nest and rest awhile.

Our Crab Apple home is still in the icy grip of winter, but with some blue sky and sunshine, things are cheerful inside here by the fire. Mr and Mrs Hedgehog are a bit prickly these days, as they wrestle with a cold bug that doesn't want to go away. One of their nestlings also has the bug, and each of us is busy trying to help the other.

Fortunately, we have a good stock of food on hand, made and gathered in the autumn months. And hot cups of tea sipped, while toasting our toes is always helpful.

The view from our windows shows many inches of snow still beautifully covering our roofs and fields. Last years crab apples hang onto the barren branches, stubbornly clinging...adding delightful color to the landscape.

Our four-legged friends come to visit, and forage for a winters' meal.

Winter has so many delights. The barren branch of a crab apple, showing its strength and form as it waits with the promise of spring. A story in the making,
one not seen...yet.

As we are rather still and housebound for yet a while, there is much activity outside to observe. Crab apples provide good food for our feathered friends. Winter storms have been frequent, with the winds howling. But inside it is cozy, with warm quilts on the bed, and phone calls from our grown nestlings. Today, our middle nestling is celebrating a birthday over at Plum Tree Cottage, so there is rejoicing at our Crab Apple Home. Happy Birthday, dear one!

Storms have brought down some juniper branches, and provided fresh green food, and enjoyment for us hedgehogs as we watch.

One day not too far off, these branches will again be green, and swollen with new buds. Just like us. But for today, we will rest in our Creator's wisdom, of a winter's rest.

Two Favorite Christmas Presents

2011-02-26T13:08:00.000-08:00

The insurance man and I have colds. Serious colds. So, it is a good time to rest and read, one of my favorite things to do. For Christmas, my daughter JoAnn picked two books to get me from my wish list. The first was this beautiful book about the children's' book illustrator Tasha Tudor and her gardens at her home in Vermont. I love to read about Tasha, and the photos of her flowers are just gorgeous. Very entertaining.

The second book is a complete history of the Empress Hotel in Victoria, B.C. We stayed at a B & B there in the fall of 2009. The host had this book in our room and I couldn't put it down, although I knew I would barely scratch the surface. I came home hoping to find it again, and JoAnn got me this copy. I have so enjoyed reading it, and looking at all the vintage photos of the hotel and guests at the turn of the 20th century. (I'm only on chapter two!) Architecture, history and vintage photos...right up my alley.

Valentine Dinner

2011-02-19T14:19:00.001-08:00

Before the big snow storm hit, there was a lovely Valentine dinner. We did two things that made it special this year. For the second year in a row, we ordered a special dinner from a caterer, called Tate & Tate Catering, that the insurance man knows. This is such a great alternative to going out. We set up a small table for two in front of our fireplace. Here is the menu we chose:

Moroccan Chicken Skewers, curry noodle and vegetables with a yogurt dipping sauce for the appetizer.
Warm and creamy chicken rice soup
Spring greens salad with green goddess dressing
A large loaf of homemade wheat bread
For me, maple glazed salmon with rice pilaf, and for the insurance man, tri-tip steak with roasted red potatoes, and five! veggies on each plate, including a yellow-orange beet that had me fooled.
Two desserts: Heavenly chocolate cake, and apple cobbler with cinnamon whipped topping
Huge chocolate dipped strawberries, in both white and milk chocolate.

Doesn't that sound delicious? It was! All of that for two, was only $34. There was a choice of 6 different main dishes. We picked it up and heated it, and supplied a bottle of sparkling cider to go with. We took several hours, doing various things in-between courses, which was so much nicer than a restaurant.

The other thing we did which was lots of fun, was to go through all the Valentines we have given each other through the years. This year marks #40 for us, so we each had quite a stack. Instead of buying another one, we had lots of laughs at all the memories they brought back.

At dessert time, we made a pot of tea, and split each dessert into two and shared. Quite a lovely Valentine evening.

Snowstorm

2011-02-16T17:13:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, after we were beginning to think Spring had sprung, we woke to a heavy snowfall. We received snow that we are not accustomed to in our area, heavy and very wet...8-10 inches of it. After my first moments of thinking how beautiful it all was, I began to realize that trees and shrubs were breaking under the weight.
I donned my waterproof duds and boots, and headed outside to 'rescue' the trees and plants. (An area of gardening I had not thought of before!) As I worked to bring up and out the branches buried under the snow, I heard ominous loud cracks all around the neighborhood. I discovered one not-so-great reason to live in a forest.

A large branch from a juniper tree broke off, and blocked our driveway. I heard another break and fall on our neighbor's motor home, and another tall tree across the street lost the top half as it broke.

This is the tree the branch broke away from.

It didn't do much harm, just mashed a shrub it fell on. It could have hit our wooden archway, and I'm so glad it didn't.

The insurance man got out a saw, and went to work. Pretty soon we had a big pile of pieces in our front yard. (still do) We had three other branches come down, one on top of our shed roof. It was smaller and doesn't appear to have done any harm. We drove around later in the neighborhood, and there were trees and branches down everywhere. There were 20,000 or so without power for 24 hours around town, but fortunately we were not one of them. The insurance man had no power at his office, and so it was closed for the day. Since he is sick with a cold, it was just as well. It was quite a storm for us.

Happy Valentines' Day :)

2011-02-14T12:13:00.000-08:00

Elijah wanted to share some of the goodness in his life: a specially-made blanket by his great-grandma Bethel, and the family "going home outfit" (from the hospital) that I almost forgot to put on him because he was born at home! This little outfit has had some mileage, being worn by myself and my two sisters after our births, as well as all 10 of our combined children.

Happy Valentine's Day to you!

More Elijah...From His Mom

2011-02-10T09:39:00.000-08:00

Isn't that a beautiful blanket for a new baby? :)
He knows just where to find his thumb.

Elijah's second mommy.

Since William just had his 10th birthday, he is almost exactly 10 years older than Elijah.

Crowning a Princess

2011-02-09T12:11:00.001-08:00

Every small town in America has it's own special summer festival it seems. In Woodland, Washington it is called 'Planters Days', and happens on the third weekend of June. There is a huge vintage car rally, a parade, various water shows on Horseshoe Lake, a carnival, lots of fast food, vendors and booths with miscellany to sell, and a Planters Day Queen and court to reign over all the mayhem and fun. The three princesses that will vie for the title of Queen were just chosen by a panel of judges. I am proudly posting today, that our granddaughter was chosen as one of these three, and here she is.....Princess Kory (don't most girls want that title once in their life?) To make it all the more special, this is something that Kory has wanted to do, and worked hard for. We couldn't be more proud of her.

Her mom took these photos from the back of the room, so they don't show up as well as they could, but there is definite surprise and pleasure on Kory's face as the tiara was placed on her head.

There will be several more months of hard work before the Queen will be chosen, but either way Kory will have a really fun spring and summer participating in the Planters Days court. We're going to have some fun too, watching it all.

A Few More Photos...

2011-02-03T19:36:00.000-08:00

Julie has been fighting off an infection by resting in bed more, and hasn't felt up to posting photos of Elijah. So now that I am home, and basically caught up with life again, I will take up the blog by posting a few more photos.Babies are precious any way they come, but they always look so snuggly and cute in newborn clothes and blankets. Eli is an all blue boy!
As babies go, Eli was a whopping baby. But, in Papa's hands he still looks tiny. We can't wait to see what he turns out to look like!

Isn't this just the cutest?

Announcing Elijah Franklin Jones!

2011-01-28T22:39:00.000-08:00

He's here...thank you Lord God for your grace and provision. Baby son and mother both doing extremely well. He was born at 12:15 am on Saturday, Jan. 29th, at home.
We got the boys up to come and see their new baby brother.

Here he is just minutes after birth.

He has lots of dark, curly hair as you can see. He was being weighed by the midwife in this photo, and weighed in at 8 lbs, 9 oz. 19 1/2 inches long.

Eli with his very happy Grammy. We are so excited that we got to meet him just hours before flying home. Crazy day went well and was lots of fun, and then the birth. God is good.

A quick update

2011-01-28T11:40:00.000-08:00

Today is 'Crazy Day' and it is progressing along, which is more than I can say for Julie. Things slowed in the night and have not resumed as of now, about 3:30 pm. She is still in light labor, but nothing promising. Rather disappointing for all of us, but babies do come in their own time. We are trusting in God, and having a good time in the meantime. Grammy

Day 8 and Baby Report

2011-01-27T18:27:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning everyone was feeling a bit blue with Julie about not going into labor. So, some white roses appeared. The girls delighted in them, as well as Julie.
Boy, is this a busy household! It's really hard to find time to post on this blog. Between school work, reading stories, cooking, endless dishes and laundry, playing in the snow and extra activities, it's a lot of fun! Yesterday, it was home school day at the ice skating rink, with cheap rates. As it turned out it was in the middle of huge snowstorm, and we were the only family that came. We had the ice rink all to ourselves.

The boys did a little practicing of their balancing and did a great job.

Millie got brave enough to travel around the outside of the rink, and go with Dad for a bit. Of course you realize that Julie didn't skate, but I did have to work to keep her from stepping out on the ice.

Samuel

All the tired but happy skaters.

The two girls helped me wrap up the baby blanket I made for the little one, and give the present to Mommy. We were hoping it might make the baby want to come out to see it!

This morning Julie was in light labor, so we decided to go to the Mall to walk. There was a fun play place for the little ones to play while the older ones watched them, and we walked.

Millie on a plastic heart.

Cecily in a helicopter...

and Calvin helping to entertain little sister.

We walked much of the day. First at the mall, and then at the grocery store. Julie's labor became more pronounced as the day wore on.

William will turn 10 on Feb. 4th. We had previously decided that while we were here we would all go bowling as a family for his birthday. After getting home from the store, Julie didn't want to just wait around, so we put a chicken in the oven to roast and headed to the bowling alley.

The insurance man and I with all our fun grandkids, and the bowling guy in the background....

Granddaughter love....

Of course, Cecily wanted her turn, even though she couldn't lift a ball.

Julie was the designated picture taker, between contractions.

Papa gave Samuel some pointers.

Everyone had a general good time.

After we finished bowling, William opened a present from us.

It was two air pistols, and a real powder horn. Look at that big smile!

He also got a pocket-sized multi-tool, with a real flashlight from Papa.

We had dinner when we got home, and Julie checked in with the mid-wife. Peter and I were a little nervous to hear it would take her 1 1/2 hours to get here, and the roads are very snowy. She thought Julie should go to bed, and would probably wake up in full labor sometime in the night. We are to call her then. Of course, we do have 'Doctor John' here, if we should need him....which is just one of the designations for the insurance man. Hopefully, the midwife will make it. Please pray for us tonight, and for this new little life about to enter the world. We are all exited, and very grateful that God did speed the birth along. Hopefully tomorrow I will be posting photos of the new baby and family. One other prayer request: Normally the insurance man and I have a crazy day with the children after a birth. This entails dinner for breakfast, breakfast for lunch etc. going back to bed after 'dinner', mixing things all up and having a generally fun and crazy day. The point of all this is to celebrate the new baby, and to help the children to remember the day he/she was born. However, there is only one day left. So, we will have to do all of this tomorrow on top of everything. PLEASE PRAY that things will go smoothly, and God would be pleased to grant us the strength and patience to do this. Thanks! More later....

A 2-day Post

2011-01-25T16:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Samuel and I were the designated breakfast team. Samuel made enough oatmeal to feed an army, and I made the topping. We sauteed sliced bosc pears with butter, brown sugar and vanilla. Needless to say it was a big hit!
This group of four children were reciting poems to me, and showing me the birds they had made to go along with it. Definitely some Grammy entertainment.

More poetry and artwork...

After lunch Amelia and I decided to make a Texas sheet cake for dinner.

Amelia is quite a little baker woman. She did very well at pouring out the batter into the cake pan... then putting it into the oven with Grammy. After baking for 20 minutes, we cooked the frosting and added it to the hot cake. Milly spread it around, then sprinkled the cake with chopped walnuts. (She really liked that part.)

Of course being the cook has it's rewards.

The best part of course is always in the eating, and everyone was eagerly waiting to sample Milly's cooking.

*Baby Report

No baby as yet. The midwife came yesterday and said the baby has dropped much lower into position. Julie is healthy and feeling alright. She is anxious though to get this baby introduced to the world and the family.

There are no photos from today. Today was one of several mishaps...from a spilled pail of mop water dripping through the ceiling onto the furnace and hot water heater, to Grammy slipping on a muddy hill and getting covered with a brown sticky mud. It's one of those days that happens to everyone, and we are all glad it's almost over for tonight. I hope to report that things are happening with our newest baby tomorrow.