Just look how happy I am. I knew my Grandma loved me at an early age it seems. And she did she adored me but also expected a lot from me.
My grandmother always looked old even when she was young. However my father was thirty-eight when I was born, he was his mothers first child. So she was probably close to sixty when this photo was taken. She passed away when I was twenty-three. Oh how I mourned her. She had loved me and had been an important part of my life. It was the first time I experienced a death in the family so it was very emotional for me.
When I scan these old photos my memories come to life. I do not mind them they are part of who I have become, some are happy some sad. But I still get a hitch in my heart when I remember my grandmother.
So today is a "ME" day. I have been busy all week and have nothing heavy duty today. My office is clean and squared away, the house tidy, the laundry is done. So today I will take a long walk before the heat comes one, I will read, I will scan some photo's and then this afternoon sit on the deck with my toes dancing in the little pool to keep me cool.
I am making pizza for dinner tonight so I will make my dough early afternoon. I like it to sit in the fridge for a few hours before rolling it out and flipping it around. It does raise in the fridge sometimes bursting out of its plastic wrap. Our mouth is watering for pizza. Tomorrow night I want to grill something so I will see what I can scarf up out of the freezer.
My husband has a bid this morning and then off to the mall to buy himself some athletic shoes at Sports Authority. Then on to look at screen doors. We had to remove our front screen door as it finally bit the dust when the handle broke off. It has needed replaced for a while as well as the back screen door. But one at a time as they are not easy to install. It has been hard without the front one as it is my habit to open both doors in the morning to the screen doors so the breeze wafts through.
My son called yesterday he finally signed on his home and property. He said he when he got home he just looked at every tree on his property and thought, this is mine. He is a first time home owner so all is new to him and very important. He is just so happy which in turns makes his Momma(as he calls me) happy.
I now will start my 'me' day. A long shower, do my toes, into my clothes and walking shoes and off I go on my walk, no hurry I want to enjoy it. There is not a cloud in the sky today, all is quiet like normal for our area here on a weekend morning.
Hope you all have a great weekend.
These are not our birds but we have the same thing going on in the tree overhanging our deck. At this point they have already had a batch of babies early spring now they have eggs again. This morning all hell broke lose. We had the back door open when the squawking started with abundance. There were several crows perched in a nearby tree all eyeing the tree with the blue jay eggs. So the jays started flying around crazily and then perched on our fence rail and starting squawking as loud as they could. The crows did not move just continued to watch. Finally after about ten minutes of this racket one jay flew into the depths of the tree where the nest is. The other jay continued to squawk trying to distract the crows. Finally one by one the crows circled and left. Then the other jay flew into the tree to the nest. Then after almost a half hour of this madness it turned quiet. It must be very difficult to actually keep the eggs safe until they hatch and then keep the babies from harm. What a job! So that was our excitement first thing this morning. Sometimes I wonder are we really living in the city? We have coons at night, squirrels everywhere doing their funny bushiness, birds of many varieties, cows mooing and sheep bleating and roasters crowing across the road. I guess we have a little bit of country in the city limits. I do love that!
Today hubby will be home early as it is only a coat day, which is the last coat on the floor he is working on. Then he will get the work vans oil changed and run a few errands before heading home. The day for me holds some office duties and some laundry otherwise there is nothing pressing to do.
It is cloudy here this morning but we are to have sun breaks this afternoon, we had a soft rain this morning while the jays were doing their thing. The rest of the week after today looks wonderful, lots of sun and blue skies. I am thinking that our wading pool may come out this weekend. Ah it is so nice to put your feet in on a hot day.
I now must get out of my morning attire, get dressed for the day and start my office chores.
It will be a nice weekend for us as my husband is not working. So we may go for lunch or grill here. We wanted to have hubbies sis and husband for pizza but she is working this weekend. So I am going to make pizza for us tomorrow night. Tonight who knows? Last night our dinner was nice and light. A gorgeous salad made from the farm produce with honey mustard dressing and lightly coated fried chicken fingers dunked in extra honey mustard. I have two chicken fingers and some salad left so that will go into my tummy for lunch. Yum! Hubby told me this morning when he left he is stopping for a Jumbo Jack. He always knows that makes me jealous as I love Jumbo Jack's. They are about the only fast food item I like. Second choice is a Burger King jr. whopper. So now you know my junk food secrets.
Later, have a lovely weekend.
This is a cute little picture of me with my hair in disarray as it always seemed to be except when Mother first did it up for me. I think I was a bit of a tomboy when I was young. I know it is hard to imagine now, but I seemed to enjoy a lot of adventurous things such as climbing trees, looking for bugs, riding bikes that were way to large for me thus continually falling, playing softball with all my boy cousins and swinging high from an old tire tied to a large tree limb. I do recall though being afraid of snakes, the dark, the barn, the cows in the field and many other things that were part of our farm life.
Today I am finally off to run errands. It is an amazing day here. The sky is filled full with sun and not a breeze is stirring. That could mean a hot afternoon. That is ok by me our tomatoes could use a little heat now as we have had some cool days.
I had to replant some flowers as a squirrel managed to dig in one pot it was hiding it's peanuts and it destroyed a couple of plants. I really wish that our neighbor Dee would not put out so many peanuts. They are everywhere, in my herb barrel, flower pots and the garden. Flowers are expensive and it is a shame some of them get ruined.
Our meal was so very delish last night. The shrimp brushed with the Soyaki and then grilled in the grill basket on hot heat was so tasty. The smokey flavor mingled with the Soyaki was just perfect. We managed to devour the entire basket of shrimp. Granted they are small white shrimp but still...we were piglets as I my hubby would say. Strawberry shortcake once again last night. Now we have one shortcake biscuit to share this evening and then no more shortcakes. I still need to make a rhubarb pie before the rhubarb is gone from the farm. So that will be our next dessert.
I sometimes wonder how can I keep coming up with idea after idea for dinner. It does get tiresome sometimes. So what to have tonight? Well as I bought veggies yesterday I can make a lovely salad. But what to go with? I guess I am leaning towards making chicken fingers. That would be all we would need. No need for a starch tonight.
Saturday night I am making pizza it has been a few weeks and we are craving it. Also I need to make it frequently so I do not forget how to make the dough perfect. There is a trick in making it just the right consistency nothing you can write down it is just the needed amount of water, flour and oil to make it bind just right. It is a thing you have to feel.
I am going to start carrying pepper spray with me when I walk. My son got me a canister of it sometime back and I have not been taking it. So this morning my hubby forced the issue. He showed again how to use it and to take it in my pocket when I walk. So between the nagging from both son and husband I will comply. So today the little can of pepper spray will be part of my walk. I hope I never have to use it.
Well it appears I will be going north to Portland and Washington state in July sometime after we return from central Oregon and seeing my son. It is well over a year since I have seen my brother. He does not want to come here as he is 84 now and the drive is hard on him. Well it is not that easy for me either but one of us has to make the effort so it will be me as I am younger. That I-5 drive gets harder and harder as the traffic increases every year. From the time you hit the freeway it is constant driving every minute with all your concentration. Not enjoyable in the least. But I am looking forward to spending time with my daughter and my brother. I hope to see my little great granddaughter Olivia and Tyson my grandson and Lindsey also. I will see my two grandchildren that live in Portland when I am at my daughters. It is a lot to try and see everyone and I come home tired. When my mother was still living I of course I would see her also on these trips as well as son who was living in the Portland area. So many to spend time with and share love I am so blessed.
Well I must now get my walk out of the way while it is still cool, then home to shower and out the door to finally take care of those errands.
Enjoy this grand day.
I decided to post a photo of my bounty I purchased at the farm today. These are absolutely perfect vegetables and fruit. Every item at the farm is pristine. I do not know how they do it and many items are organic. You never see blemishes or bugs not even bruises. This is eighteen dollars well spent. I was amazed at the number of cars at the farm. Thankfully the folks were not all inside the building. I noticed there was a sign saying their u-pick strawberry patch was open also they have goats and other farm animals so there were families there as school is out. The kids love to wander around and watch the animals and pet the goats and lambs. They even have a ramp that runs up the gable ends of the goat barn with a fenced walkway across the length of the top of the barn. The goats love this and strut their stuff going across. The kids love it. There are many wooden picnic tables with benches in a covered eating area. The area probably holds a hundred folks. This is a huge farm with large rooms filled with not only their own produce but from other areas in the valley. The smaller farm nearby has greenhouses loaded with many varieties of flowers, trees and herbs. There is only one large room for produce and a smaller room for items that need to be kept cold. They also carry wine from several vineyards the prices are comparable to store prices. This smaller farm is where I get my strawberries each year they are lower priced than the larger farm and tend to be bigger, better berries. Both farms have spray free berries. The smaller one does not stock anything that is not grown on their own farm so early in the year like it is now there is not a lot of choices. So each farm has it's merits.
Well as I posted once today this is the end here. I just wanted to show this bounty from the farm down the road. Have a wonderful day, it is so lovely here today makes my heart very happy.
Though the clarity of this photo is not particularly good it a scene of the Deschutes river in Bend OR. This shot of our once home is taken from a street across the river. Our house is third from right, fourth from left. There is a trail that leads to the river from the house that connects with the river trail that takes you the mile or so to town. My husband and I walked this trail many times to town to have lunch and drinks or go to the park with a picnic. Now this all seems very idyllic but there are times when the wind along this trail freezes your wits as well as your body parts. And that can happen in summer as well as the other seasons. Usually there is a west wind sailing off the snow capped mountains straight to town.
Farther south in the Sunriver and La Pine areas the wind is no more. I am hoping that it will be pleasant when we are visiting my son in July. However where Mike lives is on the edge of the high desert so it is colder than other areas in the vicinity. No doubt about one thing the nights will be chilly, no air conditioning needed. You have to remember I lived in the La Pine area for seventeen years and in Bend for fifteen years for a total of thirty-two years. Central Oregon is beautiful and I always enjoy going back for visits.
So today I have been waylaid by phone calls. My daughter called and we were on the phone for an hour or more. Then I was talking with Comcast regarding our new box for the TV for another half hour. So now some of the daily chores are completed but not all.
I am going to run to the farm today for our weekly supply fresh veggies and fruit. I am going to get more strawberries as there are two shortcakes left. That has been such a luscious treat every evening. There is nothing better than juicy ripe Oregon strawberries. California berries in the grocery do not even compare. So I must have more of these addictive sumptuous little darlings before they are gone for the season.
Last night we played dinner by ear and wound up having patty melts with two kinds of cheese. We actually like a patty melt better than a grilled burger. They are juicer and greasier and just more tasty in our opinion. The grease may not be a desired effect for most folks but that is the way a good patty melt is, that good buttered sourdough bread becomes all crispy when fried and when you pick it up you have grease on your fingers. No matter it is finger licking good!
Tonight we will have healthier fare. I am preparing grilled shrimp in the grill basket. I will marinate them quickly(as not to get them too salty)in the Soyaki marinade then spray the grill pan and toss them in with some lemon chunks. Shake them around until pink and off they go to be tossed upon sticky rice and then scattered with scallions. To the side I will serve steamed asparagus with lemon butter. All the flavors just meld beautifully in our mouths. More strawberry shortcake for dessert :)
Well I am off to finish my daily chores and put my face on.....laugh and off to the farm. I always enjoy driving there as I have mentioned before a country road is right at the end of our street. I take that country road to River road about a half mile then turn right and in another few minutes I am to the first farm. That's it! So close and convenient and so pretty in farm country with the big sky and billowy clouds, no developments just a farm house and barn here and there and field after field of produce for our eating pleasure. Wonderful!
Tyson, Lindsey and baby Olivia at the Washington Zoo in Portland. I love this little family.
I spent time yesterday scanning more old photo's. I love seeing the old snapshots come up on the computer screen and then cleaning and cropping them adding more contrast in color where needed. It is becoming quite a hobby for me. So you will be seeing from time to time some oldies.
I was going to run some errands this morning but have rethought that as it is gloomy out and quite chilly. When I finished yesterday's post I commented that it has started to rain. Well let me tell you it continued to patter softly for a short while then as quickly as the snap of the fingers the sky turned threateningly dark then the the heavens broke loose. Thunder boomed, lighting lit the dark skies and the hail pounded. Oh no I thought, our poor tomatoes. I went to the dining room window where I can view them and there they were standing proud their yellow blossoms hanging tight. They were warriors holding off the enemy. Not a one succumbed to the pelting hail. Bravo tomatoes!
Now the question, what to have for dinner tonight? I loved the comfort food last night it was a perfect choice for a rain soaked evening.
I made panko crusted baked pork chops, mashed potatoes with chopped parsley and grated cheddar and I creamed some corn. I find I am using my italian parsley from the herb barrel frequently. It is so good chopped and added to a variety of dishes. It adds vibrant color and so much freshness.
I am thinking along the lines of soup for dinner as my husband may be quite late this evening and soup is easy to hold. I just need to scout out the pantry and fridge and see what I can conjure up.
Right now I am needing a little something to eat. I think another cup of tea and piece of cinnamon toast sound about right. So I will say good-bye for today.
Top photo hubby's plate after making up his carne asada taco's. Now remember he is a condiment man first and foremost. So my dish did not look nearly as festive. I bought a new kind of taco shells and they were fluffy and soft and a little larger in size than a regular corn tortilla. They are LaTortilla Factory brand and these were a combo of yellow corn and wheat hand made style. They are of course more expensive than other brands, we enjoyed them. The next photo is my biscuits but made more luscious by increasing their size to accommodate a large serving of strawberries and whipped topping. Now I did take a photo of the finished product a perfect strawberry shortcake with a big dollop of Cool Whip on top. Well the when I imported this picture this morning it was blurred. I was in a hurry and ruined the photo. But we are repeating that dessert this evening so I will take another photo.
It was so gray here this morning I had to put on my big kitchen lights. I do not like to use those can lights loaded in my ceiling as they are just too bright but this morning called for drastic measures. It was depressing in there and five-thirty came early. I am up when hubby gets out of the shower to make his lunch and fix him breakfast. I did not always do this when I worked it was a joint effort then. But as I am home now and retired except for my office duties so I try to take care of his needs. The days he is not working he caters to me or we cook together or whatever. He is a good helper when I need him to be and usually I never need ask.
My how I get sidetracked. I was talking about the weather. This afternoon now it is decent, some sun breaks and less gray. Each day will get better now the forecast reports.
Well most of my days laundry list of things to do are done including the laundry, no pun intended.
So now I have about two hours before hubby walks in the door to kick off my shoes, settle in my chair have a snack a glass of wine and read. Oh I am afraid I have chosen another boring as dirt book. I have no more on hand or I would ditch it quick. It may improve I am only into the third chapter but something had better happen soon. This is a national best seller, really?
I will leave this computer now as I have spent quite a while doing computer things today. I wrote another post for our hardwood blog on our business website. This time it was in regards to how hardwood floors add to the design or decor or your home and a few idea's on what woods to choose depending on what furnishings etc you have in your home. There is a world of product out there so if you go into a store without an idea it can be overwhelming.
Hope your'e all having a nice Monday.
Well now guess what? It is raining just that quick and it is coming down good and hard. Must get cozy now.
