Weekend Treat

This is Ruth. She is the mother of a dear friend, Denise, who I have know since the age of 6! We went to Tom and Ruth's home for Sunday Brunch since Denise and her husband Randy were in town for a visit. Tom hunts every fall for deer and elk. On the menu Sunday morning was deer steak, biscuits and gravy, zucchini muffins, fresh fruit, coffee and juice. There was even a beautiful platter of homegrown tomatoes.

After brunch we went on the river for a float trip with Denise and Randy. When Denise and I were teens, we guided together for my family's business on the river. It was fun to see her back on the water again.

Here is Denise remembering how it is to row again and Randy was definitely cheering her on. They live near a lake and may need to invest in a row boat for the Southern California sunshine.

There was plenty of Oregon sunshine of Sunday as the temperatures warmed into the 90's and River Man Tim decided to swim along for awhile. The last days of summer seem to be the sweetest as we try to fit every bit of sunshine, warmth, family, and friendship into the free time.

Happy Birthday, Pops!

Happy Birthday, Pops. You make 71 look terrific! Wish you were here. We love you! ~~

Wild Friends

While working at the 'office' these past weeks, there have been many wild friends along the way. This is who I have been hanging out with lately!

Drifting through Hellgate Canyon is just the beginning to a day full of wildlife!

There is also some wild times in the whitewater rapids!

Here is a great blue heron and he is very well camouflaged. Can you see this beauty?

The river turtles climb out onto rocks and limbs to sun themselves. Ultraviolet rays kill the bacteria that grow in the shell and make it soft.

An osprey is carrying extra branches and sticks to make the nest a little bigger. They are fish diving hawks and they have to watch out for bald eagles who might take their lunch.

Three gorgeous buck are bashfully running up the hillside! They all have the velvety softness still on their antlers.

A black bear is eating lunch with us, but decided to keep the river between us! Everyone digested their food peacefully!

Another young deer has discovered the joy of wading into the cool water to enjoy eating the super sweet blackberries.

The swallowtail butterflies flutter along and over our heads as we drift downstream.

Here is a bald eagle calmly watching over the river canyons. These magnificent birds will dive for fish or try to take a fish from a smaller bird.

The Canada Geese turn the adult color very quickly. Soon they will be flying south for some warm wintering weather.

The playful river otter have a hidden home in the rocks along the riverbank. They love to slip and slide into the river.

I think everyone needs some friends that hang out on the wild side!

Sweet Smell of August

More golden goodness in the peaches! They smell even better than they look and we can't wait for them to be ripen enough to pick. Sadly, there aren't very many golden nuggets on the tree so they will be savored one at a time!

Golden Yellow

All of the golds and yellows of August...ginger, turmeric, and mustard seeds for bread and butter pickles, slicing tomatoes and golden popper cherry tomatoes, and happy sunflowers full of sunshine and radiating all the goodness of gold in August! Happy summer days.

Blackberry Shortcake

Besides blackberry smoothies and pies and cobblers and jams and jelly and muffins and ice cream, there is always time for some blackberry shortcake!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Here are four generations of Irish girls celebrating together just a few years ago. "May you always walk in sunshine. May you never want for more. May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door." Wishing you a happy, happy birthday, a 'Happy Days' toast, and a harmonica serenade!
~ I love you xo

Eating Out

We were invited out to eat at Wayne and Sandra's home. It was a treat to remember! We arrived to appetizers and cold drinks as Wayne was putting the finishing touches on dessert: Dutch Oven Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Sandra started to BBQ the salmon and halibut cheeks she and Wayne had caught in Alaska. There was also patty pan squash grilled to perfection, garden fresh cole slaw with fresh tomatoes and basil, quinoa, fresh strawberries and blueberries, and a relish tray. It was so nice to be so well taken care of by dear, sweet friends and for an evening out(side) town! Cheers ~

Surprise in the Boysenberries

All of the berries are ripening one right after the other. First the raspberries, then the boysenberries and now the wild blackberries are ready. While I was picking the end of the boysenberries there was a sudden burst of activity and it was from the wasps that we also call yellow jackets! There were two very plump and juicy berries waiting for the picking. I reached again past this buzzing business and more wasps were everywhere. Once I was able to see right into the patch of briars, there was a beautifully sculpted, half dome shaped, and every bit as big as my palm, wasp nest. I must have disturbed these mighty pollinators reaching for the yummy berries.

Once I realized what I was up against, I stepped back to watch. The wasps calmed down, but one wasp remained in a vibrational dance alert on top of the nest as if to signal the worker wasps to get back to business. Well, the encounter with the wasp family ended happily as we parted ways. They kept the berries and I left without a bite or a sting. So I am now off to pick the wild berries and leave the rest of the boysenberries to our yellow jacket friends.

Vegie Delight!

The garden is producing a hefty bundle of good and tasty vegetables, so we are using them for the base of any dinner! Here is a mix of garlic, onion, summer squash, zucchini, carrots, peppers, and Swiss Chard.

Once everything was chopped and sauteed, it went on top of rice. It has also gone inside an omelety and if has been the base of a burrito. It can be used on anything and at anytime.

Ada Came to Visit

Ada and her Mama came to the farm for a three week working visit. They flew down from Alaska. Karyn works as a river guide for our rafting company and Ada hung out with Nana, Papa Auntie Tautie, Cousins Ryan, Tyler, Anna, and Aiden, and the doggies, chickens, and sheep on the farm! Here is Ada 'gardening'. I think the strawberries have passed inspection!

Next, Ada worked at dancing and playing with the stuffed bunny in the evening. Here she is making a spin.

Then she moved onto a bigger dance floor, aka, the deck! Ada is wearing a little dress that her Mama wore and that I wore. My Nana and Grandad brought the dress back from Hawaii.

After so many days of 'working', Ada went out on the river for a raft ride and dinner on the bank. The only visitors were the deer.

Finally, Ada got to visit Galice! After all that work, it was time for a burger. Thanks for coming to the farm and the river, Ada Belle, we miss you! Come back soon. Love, Nana and Papa ~