Can you say tomato...

how about forty three pounds of tomatoes... small tomatoes at that. Wonderfully sweet, organically grown by one of the only organic growers on Greenbluff. But with that being said they were small, and that means lots of peeling... what did I get myself in to?

Eleven quarts of canned... because I fizzled out on the canning process too early on in the project, but... fifteen bags of chopped frozen maters, five quarts of spaghetti sauce which is fabulously tasty, and a couple pounds of dried cherry tomatoes which will soon be popped into a jar of olive oil and herbs for home made pizzas later on, or to eat with a favorite chunk of cheese from Saunder's cheese market.

In an effort to become more self sustaining, and to support my local farmers and economy, I have also gained a genuine appreciation for the women and men of yesterday who worked solely to provide their own means of sustenance. What a full days work... rewarding but hard. It feels good to see my shelves full of wonderfully nutritious food that contains nothing but the food.

 I have come to understand the phrase, "Eat as close to the earth as possible."  We have lost that I think, out of ignorance and the desire for a life of convenience. I'm not sure I want convenience over nutritional value, respectful farming and raising of my meats any more. I've been turned and there's no turning back now. 

"Ignorance is bliss,"  they say, and now I understand this too. And to be a queen of quotes in this entry, "With knowledge comes great responsibility," of which I now too fully understand. It is responsibility that cannot be denied once you have found out a truth about the workings of our world. This year I have been bombarded with eye openers almost too much to absorb, but at the same time grateful to have seen and been made aware. So as much as I complained about preparing these tomatoes, I am thankful to have had tomatoes to can and dry and freeze. And I will continue peeling more tomatoes, and apples, and pears, and other staples because now... I understand. 

Thank you Farmer Cole for respectfully growing our food... I'll see you soon for apples and pears.

Aren't these toms just beautiful!

Peep Update

Flying lessons today. The peeps are up and out of the nest trying out their wings. Mama is busy trying to keep track of them all, and I'm trying to make sure nobody ends up an appetizer in Bella's belly. Seems like feathers sprouted overnight while we were gone to Seattle to a Steely Dan concert... no more little bald heads... lots of puff and fluff happening. I finally identified these as Hammond Flycatchers, pretty common, though I've never noticed them before in the yard. Well they'll be off and away to college soon. Thanks Flycatchers for a fun summer of watching. Come again next year!

Four Babies!

Wow Mom that's a full house! Lots of little squeeky peeps today coming from the nest, and I finally got to see the babies stretching those wide open mouths up waiting for Mom to bring dinner. Soooo sweet!

OUCH!!

A boy and his bike meet the dirt. He was a tough patient sitting through the scrubbing and peroxiding of his newest future conversation scar. We decided that in order to pick up chicks with this new wound he needed to have a more exciting story than, " I wiped out on my bike", so we thought up rock climbing, sky diving, being in a fight... and settled on the rock climbing version of, "Well I was climbing to the top of El Capitan when I lost my foot hold and slid down the face 10 feet before catching myself." That should pull em in we agreed... and we were all done cleaning and bandaging. I'm sure fellow bikers out there in the world display some similar scar versions on your legs...  they are nasty scrapes.

Does anybody know...

what kind of bird this little guy is? It is the one in the nest on the patio, but I can't identify it. There are two of them and they have been flitting around, back and forth to the nest... we think feeding babies, and being very watchful of the nest, not straying too far from it. 

They are so cute and tiny... I'd really like to know what they are. 

Mike is closing in the patio soon to make a wood shop which will cut off part of the access for these two little parents. I'm hoping it will all be okay and not too disruptive. I know it's just a little bird, but I feel very protective of them... they've worked so hard it seems to make this nest and have these little babies, I just want them to be successful. They didn't choose the best of places to nest, but if we can just get them grown and out of home with no damage I will be happy. Good luck little mama.

Our summer yard...

is so beautiful and green right now with flowers and veggie's growing. I've been playing with veggies more this year and having so much fun learning... and eating. Last night we had a whole dinner from the garden... minus the chicken, but it was seasoned with fresh cilantro and walla walla sweet onions grown from our dirt. What a great feeling to eat your own home grown food. I'm addicted... it feels like magic really. I've been reading and planning for next years space already, and have added more garden space with a late start on more potatoes and carrots. I think they will still have time to grow before the cold... everything is already up so fast. The empowered feeling of being self reliant is kind of addicting too... hmmm seems a lot of people have lost that feeling or maybe never even felt it... I think it is greatly on the rise however from what I've been reading... and I think I've been slow to get on the wagon, but wow it's great! 

Putting away my tools lately I glanced up and saw this mess of debris piled on top of  the old alarm system sensor on our back patio. I couldn't imagine how it got there it was such a mess, stringing all down the front of the sensor like someone had just thrown a wad of gunk up there. Upon closer inspection I realized it was a bird nest though it seemed empty, or so I thought. Climbing up on a ladder to see better confirmed that it was in fact not empty as this little beige head with black shiny eyes peered out at me... holding perfectly still as if trying not to be noticed. Oh a little mom on my back patio and I didn't even notice. She is so sweet sitting there. She sneaks away and sneaks back so carefully  watching before she flies back to the nest keeping it safe from predators. I'm a little concerned when the juniors try out there wings for the first time... between dogs and hard concrete below.... hmmm...well I might have to try and remedy that somehow. 

Simple joys.  

Aaahhhh Summer Vacations...

another week here and gone... so fast, in a blink we were there and gone it seems. But it finally felt like summer... hot days and cool drinks... strolling in the water feeling the waves come in and wash the sand out from under your toes. Heaven. Priest Lake is a most beautiful place and has an old charm about it... an air of family traditions. People are friendly and happy and not in a hurry... content.

Everyone had fun this year, with friends to play and be silly with, and compete with... and dunk, how could you not have fun. Lots of time to read and bask in the sun... taking afternoon naps on the beach and relishing the lack of needing to get something done. No deadlines or phone calls... well maybe a few... but in general a much needed reprieve of responsibility for the bill payer of this vacation.

It was a beautiful week with one wind storm in the middle of it that blew in big clouds and blew down a smattering of trees. It's kind of nice to have a small break in perfect weather, it makes all the other days feel so welcomed... though I heard of the awful fire in Spokane due to the winds, I felt bad for those families affected and wished for them to find there way through such devastation with peace and strength.

Until next year thanks Priest Lake for another year of vacation memories.

We celebrated our 7th anniversary while there with a wonderful savory dinner at Hills Restaurant. Praise worthy. Our taste buds were in heaven. For the supposed seven year itch we still seem to be pretty happy. Love continues to grow in new and different ways all the time... changing and morphing us into something far different than those first few months of intoxicating romance. So much deeper the acceptance and respect for one another... the allowing of the other person to be who they need to be and supporting that growth with attempted understanding... not always found or expressed but certainly sought after in our hearts. It is a continual weave that we dance and separate, dance and separate with each re-acquaintance a new stitch in the design. I hope for a beautiful blanket when we are all done, one of many colors and textures of years of joy and trial... of respect and appreciation... with the hope that a little glint in each others eye of  that first love that brought us together will still sparkle somewhere... and that we will never grow too old or too grouchy to hold hands. I love you sweet man, Happy Anniversary.
This was one of the first cabins ever built in Priest Lake, though you cannot see it well it is a log structure. While out shooting I saw this on the main road and spoke with a couple that was working to take it apart, lovingly piece by piece. The front porch and windows had already been taken out, and the tongue and groove old floor was being worked on next... piece by piece disassembling the whole cabin. What a labor of love. They purchased this cabin and the structure next to it (no photo of it) which was an old gas station, and are moving them both to Ione by the end of the month... good luck to you!
The Golden Poet- my favorite shot from this trip. A little artistic freedom used here ... just a little though... but I love it so much I think I'm going to print it for above our fireplace. It held such magic... and peace... and beauty... I'd like to revisit it often.

Playing in photoshop...

I'm trying to find my way creatively again. So I've been playing in photoshop with photographs I've taken, and photos of parts of my paintings turning them into new images. It's a good way to teach myself  a new skill... I'm not sure I have found quite what I'm looking for yet, but I hope it will come if I just keep playing.

 I find myself being a bit bored and wanting to be productive in some form again, through self  means, not through employment mind you. So come on Universe come play with me... 

Camping in the rain...

blustery, soggy, and cold we still managed to have some fun. Just outside the little community of Coolin at Priest Lake we had a fantastic camp site with a cabin that sleeps twelve,  a small kitchen, and two bathrooms with showers. Yes warm showers!... our saving grace in the cold. It was the perfect combination for camping with a few comforts of home. We had lots of space for the tents, and of course the traditional blue tarp village.

The kids found plenty to do, keeping all the Mom's on their toe's for kids exploring the lake in their rain boots. Feeding salted peanuts to the bluejays who squawked,  "More, more..." was an ongoing entertainment. Those poor birds probably woke up with huge puffy eyes... and high blood pressure by the time we left.

We huddled by the fire day and night, never letting the flames rest. Lots of good food, and snacks galore, some critters, some birds... and a moose strolling by, no sunshine peeked through till we packed up for home... but good memories were made, and some good shots too.

Spring Spiral

I love this shot. Of all the wonderfully creative people I know, and I know some great one's, none of them can design quite like good'ol Mother Nature.  So I challenge any one else out there to find an amazing  spring image that displays your favorite design and color. I am always partial to the sacred spiral... you can find it everywhere... and green, well what more is there to say?

Purrrrrfect

After the Parade

It was roasty and crowded... the first hot night in a long time for the Lilac Parade. Alix looked great in the night light... making High School memories. I ran through the park following another mom hot on the trail of her kid just to get this shot. The lighting was hard to get anything too great plus following a moving target... this was the only one not too blurry, but it caught the perfect feeling. I like knowing that she will get to see this years later and remember that night.

It's fun capturing moments for your kids.

The rest of the evening walking back to the car, a small adventure in itself, was absolutely beautiful and balmy. The moon was circled by a rainbow ring, and the water was a torrent down the river making crashing waves of white frothy water spraying everywhere. Awesome, and kind of scary the feeling... it's power so fierce it commanded an instantaneous respect.

A fun night with my camera, and a semi-patient husband indulging me in my frequent halts to snap one off. I think I might roam more often at night, it's a whole different world of light that intrigued me and my camera. 

A Trip To The Nursery

BJ the bird greeted us at the door  and offered to pose for a picture quite graciously, then did a little clowning.

Shocking reds... the perfect lipstick color, were glowing they were so vibrant, and the smell of the  moist intoxicating air was like a mini vacation. I could have laid on a lounge all day right in the middle of it all... "A Margarita Please?"

Note the lovely model in the latest of floral hair accessories. Isn't she splendid in pink!

We found ourselves in a mini version of Arlington Cemetery. 
Thanks Upriver Nursery, I had a lovely visit!

Morning light ...

is my favorite light. Everything starts over with a fresh view, a glow of magic to erase the worries of yesterday. 

The buds are just peeping out on our Japanese Maple tree... it is my favorite color combination, spring green and red,,, perfect decorator colors, shoe colors, purse colors and soft raggy t's.

I am happy to see spring and finally feeling like it is really here, with the promise of consistent yard work soon, my saving grace this time of year, I've been planning, and dreaming up and trying to justify some new plants that I love the look of... but where to put them, and perusing garden magazines at length in the isles of Home Depot. By July I will fizzle out and be tired of the daily weeding and fussing. But for now I will dive in with all my heart and watch things grow, and plant my veggies and love that I can do this, and that I had loving demonstrative women in my life who instilled this in me, and taught me the importance of working the soil and touching nature and nurturing the things that will sustain me, and give me life and fulfillment. Mmmm the wonderful feeling of dirt... soon my friend ... soon.

Mmmmm... spring bugs!

Silly girl Bella. One of the first nice days to hang out in the sun and she eat bugs. What better way to spend the day.

It's here...

sunshine and spring finally feel like they've arrived. Walking down by the river I was gifted by many little treasures... these were a few of them, they brought life back to my soul... a gleeful rebound from the perpetual snow this year.

I love spring and the "Ahhhh' feeling it brings. Where have you walked lately?