Rhubarb bounty and Dean's woodworking

 A lot of rhubarb left, so wanted to put up what I could - before it goes tough later in the season.  We have 4 plants that we got from Redmond Greenhouse several years ago.  They always produce well, thanks to Doug's recommendations.  2 different varieties - red and green.  And no, not like the TV show!  LOL



When all finished slicing and dicing, this was the bounty.  10 cups for the freezer, about 6 to make sauce, and 4 more that I used to make 2 loaves of bread.  Yum!!  Frozen things can get over the border - I've heard.
I hope!





With 3 people now living in the house, we sometimes wash clean dishes again.  So, frugal me, I made a sign hoping the guys would pay attention.







BUT - Deans didn't think it was fancy enough, so he took some scroll saw therapy yesterday and made a 'C' and a 'D' with magnets on the back.  Problem solved?  Hopefully!

Kayaking in the rain!!

But first, a bit of gardening.............

 The cactus is beginning to bloom. 

 The birds seem to think my Swiss Chard is their dinner.  Now that I've controlled the earwigs, the birds are the ones doing damage.  I don't care so much about the beet greens, though they would be yummy, the chard is one of my favorites!!  Boo birds!

 We were planning a nice weekend of camping with Jason and Mindy to introduce them to kayaking and Hosmer Lake, but the weather didn't appear to be cooperating, so we decided to stay here and do some day trips.  Friday, we went out to Lake Billy Chinook and put in at the Upper Deschutes boat ramp.  It was sprinkling a little, but  relatively warm, so it really wasn't that bothersome.  Until it started pouring, and pouring.  By then, we were maybe a mile upstream.  And soaked to the bone!  I must say, though, that it was one of those "if you don't try, you won't know if you can do it" moments.  I did it.  And had fun!
You can't tell in the photo, but I was wet!  But smiling.  We let the kids use the hard shells and Dean and I used the inflatables.  All of the boats were full of water.





  Jason and Mindy coming in

 Wet, but happy kids!!!

Yes, the sun did come out - the next day.  When we got home, we left everything in - and on - the car.  Good thing our car is an Element - with seats that won't be ruined by wet clothes because it took until today for the inside of the car to finally dry out.  We put the inflatables on the back deck to dry - had to take them apart, which is a real pain to put back together, but they need to be dry to put away.

All in all, it's been a great weekend.  It's always a joy to have them visit.  We laugh a lot.

I'm Baaack!

The garden is happy that, hopefully, the weather has stabilized.  

And I am happy, too.  I'm going to TRY to update this blog more often - which could be anything since it hasn't been done for 'a while'.........

I'll post mainly about my gardening and cooking activities, but you never know what might end up here.  We'll be taking a road trip to Alaska next month and I will try to post from that if I get this new blogger system figured out.  Meanwhile, bear with me, please.

There is cilantro where none was planted.  

 

Lots and lots of potatoes beginning to bloom.

Peas are fattening.

Strawberries are looking good.

Now for the mystery plants.  I planted this one, but sure can't remember what it is.  It dies back in the fall, but comes back with a beautiful vengeance. 












This, I believe, is a volunteer - is it a weed?  Anyone? 

 Also this one.  I have 2 of them - one is on the North side of the house, gets little sun and only water when it rains.  The one pictured here is on the East side - gets some sun and some water.  The leaves are sticky. 

From the Garden

If you know me at all, you know that I love to cook. And using things from the garden is just an extra special treat. The first thing ready from the garden this season is the swiss chard and last year I tried this recipe which was a hit.

Baked Pork Chops with Swiss Chard
1 lb Swiss chard, cut crosswise in 1” pcs 3 T olive oil
1/2 t salt pepper
4 pork chops, ~ 1” thick 1 1/2 T grtd Parmesan
2 oz grated fontina or mozzarella, about 1/2 c
Heat 450°. Oil 8-by-12 dish. In bowl, toss chard w 1 T oil, 1/4 t salt, 1/4 t pepper. Arrange in dish. Rub chops w 1 T oil, 1/4 t salt, 1/8 t pepper. Put on top of chard. Drizzle 1 T oil over chard, around chops. Sprinkle cheeses over chard, around chops. Bake til chops just done, ~ 18 min. Let stand 5 min before serving. Serves 4

It was wonderful again, so I thought I would share. Use as much of the chard as you want to - it cooks up a lot. I turned my chops about three quarters of the way through the cooking because my chops - from Costco - were really thick. They were moist and tasty and the chard was delicious.

The zucchini is coming on, the strawberries, too, but hope I can get to them before the mysterious "critter". The corn is about waist high, the bush beans and tomatoes are flowering. Let the bounty begin!

The exciting happening of the week occurred on Friday when former blogger friend Lori and her partner Shari dropped by.

I say "former blogger friend" because now that we've actually met - face to face - I feel I can call her "friend" now. What a joy it was to chat with them for a while. They are on a road trip through Oregon - came from Sacramento to Bend the first day, then up to Bonneville Hot Springs to spend Friday night in luxury! Wow - am I jealous! Then, they're heading over to Astoria and down the coast. I sure hope that they are able to spend a night at my favorite beach spot - the Sylvia Beach Hotel in Newport.


I just had to put this photo in

We've been plagued with flies this year in the garage and some of them make it into the house when a door is left open :>) Dean's solution was to suck them up in the vacuum. Pretty funny to see - use your imagination!

Shannon and Dean have been working on the "guest house" formerly known as a shed. I think that Shannon will be able to move into it tomorrow!

Veggies, Flowers, and Soap(box)

Gardening
It's what I do this time of the year.
Things are doing better this year - because we hauled in 3 yards of compost - 1 from the landfill in Bend, and 2 of the expensive ones from Redmond Greenhouse. AND, I've been using some of the nice red worm compost that our little pets produce. Our season is shorter over here than when we lived in the valley, so some adjusting to do. Of course, we returned from our trip south too late to get much started in the new greenhouse, so a lot of the seeds were planted in the ground a little late :)
This is the huge culinary sage bush that has been going for a couple of years. It seems happy.
You really can't tell from this photo, but the corn is knee high!!! And it's not even the 4th yet, so we should have some yummy corn this year. I learned the secret to prevent the corn worms - we'll see if it works. Last year, we had to salvage partial ears.The first zucchinis are forming - much to Dean's chagrin! The only way he like them is in bread!
And the tomatoes are looking good - these are the 2 that were in the water walls when the critter ate the other 2. Still don't know what got them. Haven't had problems since, but most of the raised beds are fenced with chicken wire now.
On to the flowers. I have some really beautiful lilies.


This huge moth came visiting last night. He/she was on the screen door when I was going out to the deck. A rather patient thing, it allowed me several photos. This one shows Dean's have for size - he (Dean, not the moth) was inside and I was outside.
Don't know how well you can tell from this photo, but the clouds the other night were really strange. Looked like the ocean. The more distinct ones are at the top, but there are also some faint ones toward the bottom. It was a typical (sorry......) beautiful sunset. Mt Jefferson on the horizon.
With all the "news" taken up with Michael Jackson's passing, you would think that there wasn't a war going on, a health care and housing crisis, people going hungry, global climate change, etc., etc., etc. And, with the closing of Pride Month, Lt Choi goes on trail for "telling" What a shame. Let's evolve, folks. Let's turn into the people that Jesus wanted us to be - loving our neighbors and taking care of them!
End of soapbox.

2 Days in a Row!!

Dean got most of the green house finished before the big storm hit. Here are some photos that I took so you know what's been happening there:
Frank (left) and Bill (right) help Dean install the big window - I helped with the little one...Looking over the "almost" finished product. The door isn't in yet, the Hardi siding, and the shelves in the inside, but we'll get there.

Santa in his workshop...............
This had to have been one of the most spectacular sunsets we've seen yet - and we've seen some pretty good ones. Obviously, my little point and shoot doesn't do it justice, but you can imagine!

So, it has been snowing - and snowing! ALL day today! Unfortunately, where the new greenhouse is sited, just below the kitchen window, the snow blew off the roof - gently, of course - and onto the lexan roof! So, even though the snow is the light, fluffy stuff, we decided to get it off the roof before it got heavier. In comes the valuable garden tool - the leaf blower - doubling as a snow blower today.
Rather difficult to see, but there was probably a foot of snow on the roof when we started. Now, it can build up again because we know how to get it off!!

If you been a missin' me........

Yes, I know - I am waaayyy behind on posting. I have had a lot of "stuff" on my plate lately - good "stuff" but "stuff" none the less.
Been watching the debates - I find them quite interesting. I am lucky that we have a DVR and I can fast forward through all the political commercials, but when I do see them I am reminded of how much I HATE political campaigns. No matter how much they say they are going to run a clean campaign, it always ends up this way. I, for one, am more likely to vote for "the other guy" because of a mailing or ad than I am to vote for the person who sent it when it contains all the finger pointing stuff. In other words, the ads have a negative impact on me rather than convince me to vote a certain way. If they all could just point out what THEY are going to do instead of bringing up all the negative things about the other person. OK - enough about that!
I don't know if I have any readers in California (except you, Lori) but if you're out there, be SURE to vote NO on Prop 8. VERY IMPORTANT!!!!! Those who know me well know that I could really get on the soapbox on this one, but I will spare you the rants for now.
The weather here has been very fall-ish. We had a low of 22º the other night, so the garden is officially gone for the season. The neighbors put in new, more energy efficient windows in the past few days, so we are taking some of the old ones and building a small green house so we can get a good start on the garden next year. We have been on a healthy eating kick lately and purchasing veggies gets expensive. Next year, though, we WILL have enough to put up and carry us through!! Really, we will!

As soon as I get all my "stuff" taken care of, I will be back to irregular posting.

Don't forget to vote! Vote early and vote for OBAMA!!! Or, the candidate of your choice - who I really hope is OBAMA because we really need improved school funding and standards, energy independence, ethics reforms, fiscal responsibility, we need to fight poverty, bring the soldiers home, maintain a woman's right to choose while reducing the necessity for abortions through improved social programs, we could use the tax break, helping us retired folks, and, and, and......

Schizo Garden

Well, the herbs are doing pretty well. I wish I had thought to take a photo of one the piles of Basil that I have put up. Twice already! I have been known to give it for Christmas gifts, so if you're wanting some, you might want to get your name on the list........ The way I process it, it tastes just like fresh from the garden. Great in soups or............ In the photo below is the Basil after it's last cutting, so I should get one or two more this season. Difficult to see, but also in the photo are Cuban Oregano, Thyme, and Italian Parsley at the bottom. The huge plant on the right is culinary Sage - with regular water. I also have two more plants of the same that have received absolutely NO water (except for the rain, but not much of that since it is planted next to the house) that aren't as large, but are doing quite well. There is also Chives and Cilantro.This is a bumper year for Zucchini. There are about six or seven plants in this bed and it's strange, but the ones on the right aren't producing much, but the others are going crazy. All were planted from the same package of seeds, and at the same time. I can spot one and the next day it's a foot long. So, I froze 5 packages of 4 cups each from the last harvest. And I made some delicious Zucchini Patties last night for dinner - and enough for leftovers tonight. The whole zucs in the photo are in addition to what I froze. And more today!
The remainder of the garden........well, that's another story. On the upper left is the Corn - we might get some - maybe. Lower left are/were the Beets. The cottontail has destroyed it. We have "rabbit" fence, but this must be a little guy - well, maybe no longer, though. That stuff on the upper right is Butternut Squash - but not some that I planted. It is where the compost bin used to be and must be volunteers from the seeds. When they came up, I decided to see what they were and now there are quite a few squash growing, so I'll take them anyway! Lower right are some stunted Peppers that have produced a few.And these are the poor Tomatoes. Our neighbor down the street, Kevin, runs the garden dept at Lowes and said that a lot of people are having problems with tomatoes this year, so I don't feel so bad. Kevin is actually the one who inadvertently got me into blogging, but he has too busy lately - his last blog is from April, I think. We'll see if he reads this :) And here is the bounty from the rest of the garden. WOW! Looks good enough to eat!

Lots of stuff - WARNING - photo heavy post ahead!

Blog friend Kelly shot this photo for Pride Month and I am posting it in honor of him and all my other GLBTQ friends. I truly believe it is no longer a big uphill battle like it has been in the past and that we as a people are on the verge of a fair and "all are created equal" society. I have hope (confidence?) that the young people of today are much more understanding of our differences through the efforts of groups like Gay Students Alliance. Even a small, "red" community like mine has a GSA in the high schools. (Although the school where I used to work in a much larger and "blue" area still refuse to call it GSA in public......) I realize that many may not admit it, but we are more closely following the teachings of Jesus - treating all fairly and justly.
Micah 6:8 -
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Pretty simple, huh! Why can't we all just get along? I think it is coming, folks. Just a few more months and it begins.
OK - off the soapbox and on to the garden. I have been pulling the cheatgrass out of the cactus - now that is a job! My big heavy leather work gloves aren't even up to the task.
I did get it out of the Mules Ears, though! I decided to take photos of the plants which we have been gifted from others. The Mules Ears came from friend Linda who got them from friend Sharon in Selah, Wa. when she (Linda) was here summer before last.
Sharon is an herbalist who grows comfrey as one of the ingredients in her healing salves. I can vouch for them as I used her Epi-Soothe when I was undergoing radiation treatments and did not get ANY burn! It was wonderful! Below is some of the comfrey which came from Sharon's garden. I'm sure that it has special healing properties. We have divided it several times since we got it 2 summers ago and hope to have it eventually cover this hillside. The hummingbirds were tasting the nectar this morning. In the photo below, Dean is planting our new weeping willow tree. Below is some ribbon grass which has a pretty long history. 4 - 5- -6 - - well, some years ago, friend Linda was moving from her place in Selah to the midwest and we got some of this grass and put it in a pile in our garden in Vancouver. The next year, Dean divided it up and planted it in a neglected area in our front yard. That summer, it spread out and made the area look pretty good. When we moved, we brought a shovelful and put it in some dirt on our place.
Then it was transplanted to this spot on the hillside in the back. Dean spent a few hours this week dividing it again and planting it in the area where the soaker hose is in the photo below. I will post photos later of the new planting. The idea is for it to stabilize this hillside and I'm sure that it will in the not too distant future!
The irises came from various places - some from neighbor, Joyce, some from the garden club here on the ranch. Also in this photo is one of the bird nesting boxes that I built. Someone moved into this one but has since abandoned it. Dean took his new weed eater (the mower type) and cut all the cheatgrass and other weeds from the area around the septic drainfield, which is in the middleground of the photo. This day, the mountains weren't visible - rare day!
Some of the broccoli - doing well, I would say.......One of the cabbage plants has a varmint, I think, though. Something is feasting on it. I haven't found the thing yet, but there was a garter snake in there yesterday and a lizard today, so I hope one of them had a feast on the troublesome thing!
The peas are doing okOn to the front yard. The plant in the foreground - that I can't remember the name of but I call it Achilles heel - sounds kinda like that - it's going bananas this year. The deer munched on it in years past, so it didn't get very large - but this year..........
Frank (aka St Francis...) is guarding over the area and the birds get to eat out of his hand when I remember to put seed out there......) The iris in this area all came from neighbor Joyce's cullings.
The curly willow is from cuttings from the cuttings that we planted in Vancouver. So, they are at least 3rd generation and we have 4th generation branches in water taking root for later plantings.
These various kinds of cactus are from someplace in Nevada from our trip winter before last. The rocks, also.
This (Snow on the Mountain? Snow in the Summer? I always get it mixed up...) is from Janet's garden in Battle Ground before they moved. They came from her mother's garden in Deadwood, South Dakota many years ago. Isn't it wonderful how plants just adapt to whatever condition they are in? Wouldn't it be nice if humans could do the same? Oh, there I go - onto the soapbox again!!!
Many blessings on your days, my friends!