While working with Russell in burning all the huge piles
of cleared Manzanita.....I periodically see a photo op...
This one amused me.
Work gloves having a conversation
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Trionimoes....a very fun game!
Warning: This game can be addicting!
And can lead to fun evenings of snacks and beer.....
with some pouting and some gloating....
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Zippity Do Dah!
My Favorite Sweatshirt!
I can wear it again as Russell fixed the zipper!
Zippity Do Dah!
Monday, January 28, 2013
ERic Alder's Monday Photo Prompt 1-28-2013
Photo by Eric Alder
I know this is a machine
But for what I don't know
It's not to keep the house clean
Or a remover of snow
Could it possibly be a fan?
I haven't the foggiest idea
So I tried to think like a man
Ouch my brain..oh mama mia
The brain figured that it looks really neat
And will be needed soon enough
It will look totally sweet
Next to all his other really cool stuff
Apologies to all my men friends-
I just could not resist ....
for other's geared up takes on Eric's fine image go here:
Our First Burn Pile
Now that we live in the mountains it isn't as easy
to recycle what we used to do at the curbside.
We have a weekly garbage pickup, but anything else
you either take to the dump, haul it to a recycler or burn it.
I have found where I can recycle cardboard, newspaper, tins cans
other metals, glass and get my deposit back
on all those bottles and pop cans.
But when it comes to all the fire hazard Manzanita bushes
we have removed and all the trimmed tree branches there is
only one solution: the burn pile. We have about 15 burn piles.
Yesterday we fired up one. It took from 10am til 5pm.
One down 14 to go!
These piles have been sitting here since last June.
We didn't dare burn until there was snow on the ground.
It took awhile to get it really burning....
Russell and I felt like two kids playing with fire.
This morning it is just barely smoldering...
Some of the Manzanita had huge root balls.
The next burn pile is in the background awaiting it's fate.
Once we are all done burning we can spread all the ashes
to help enrich the soil. That's a plus!!
Once we are all done burning we can spread all the ashes
to help enrich the soil. That's a plus!!
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Magpie #153.......
Charlotte Gainsbourg, AnOther
Unlike Charlotte
My voice has no power
I can only sing while in the shower
This image was a challenge for me
To see how others met this challenge go here:
Saturday, January 26, 2013
My Shadowy Six Words For This Week
I prefer sunny days to snow!
We had a lot of snow over the holidays. (about 2 feet!)
It didn't start to melt and go away until just this past week.
We are enjoying the warmth of clear sunny skies.
What has your weather been like?
~~~~~~~~
For more Six Word Saturdays go here:
and for other Shadow Shot Sunday images go here:
Friday, January 25, 2013
Last Sunday we took a drive.....
Sunday was a beautiful sunny day so we drove about an hour
from home to this lovely California State Park.
It was really icy on the path down to the falls so we
only went so far as we didn't have YakTrax on our boots.
Definitely need to get some!
Looking down at the falls through the mist...
Looking down the river past the falls...
It was so cold the mist was freezing on the trees....
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Through a glass lightly....
We had good friends over for dinner last night and
I noticed our dining room light reflected in my red wine....
so of course I had to take this photo.
Good thing as I like this a lot.
What interesting photos have you discovered
while sitting around the table?
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
When I open my eyes.....
My early morning view as I wake up...
yep that's snow...it can leave now....
We are finally moved into our new bedroom-only details left are
getting doors for the closet plus setting up shelves etc in the closet.
We started this building project in May and I am pleased we are done.
So is Russell as he has done most of the work on adding 600 sq feet to the house.
I just stayed out of his way and made lots of cookies!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Recipe for this week: A Big Dutch Baby....yummy!
Some mornings call for a Dutch Baby
One of our family favorite breakfast treats is a puffy Dutch Baby.
Easy to do and quite tasty:
Dutch Baby
1/3 cup butter (80ml)
5 large or extra large eggs
1 cup milk (240ml)
1 cup flour (240ml)
Powdered sugar
lemon wedges
maple syrup
jam
Pre-heat oven to 425F or 220C
Put butter in a 9x13 inch baking dish or 9 inch cast iron skillet
and set in 425F oven to melt. While butter is melting put the eggs
in a blender and blend on high for 1 minute. Gradually add milk
while blending.Then slowly add flour and continue to blend for 30 sec.
Remove baking dish/skillet from oven once butter is melted and
pour the batter into the buttery hot skillet.
Bake in oven for appx 20-25 min.
Bake in oven for appx 20-25 min.
Or until puffy and nicely browned.
( this is quite similar to a Yorkshire Pudding)
( this is quite similar to a Yorkshire Pudding)
Remove, cut into wedges and serve
with powdered sugar and lemon wedges.
with powdered sugar and lemon wedges.
Or offer maple syrup and jam as alternative toppings.
Enjoy!
This yummy recipe is thanks to the Junior League of Eugene Oregon
who produced the cookbook "A Taste of Oregon"
published originally in 1980.
published originally in 1980.
Monday, January 21, 2013
Eric Alder's Monday Photo Prompt 1-21-2013
Photo by Eric Alder of Bifocalunivision
Progress
Rebuilding
Out of the
Great
Recession
Evidenced by
Small
Successes
Hopefully our country will realize more prosperity
and creation of jobs in the private sector.
Our country needs more entrepreneurs with
energenic creativity and vision.
~~~~~~~~~
For more takes on Eric's photo go here:
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Trust........... Magpie #152
Childhood trust
Holding hands on life's walk
Forever more
The Walk to Paradise Garden W. Eugene Smith
To see other's takes on this weeks Magpie Tales go here:
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Freezing and Thawing Snow Creates Crystals
Freezing and thawing snow creates crystals.
Our snow is melting sooo slowly that when it freezes every
night the snow forms crystals. Our night temperatures hover at 30F
and during the day it's up to 50F. Hence these lovely crystals.
Here's another photo:
for more Six Word Saturdays go here:
and for other Shadow Sot Sunday images sashay over here:
Friday, January 18, 2013
US Highway 97 begins in our little town of Weed California
Yesterday we had a late breakfast at the local favorite restaurant
the Hi-Lo Cafe. Our breakfast was delicious and quite substantial.
We hardly needed dinner later that day.
US Highway 97 originates in Weed and heads north and connects
to the Al-Can Highway. We could drive all the way up and get
to Alaska if we thought we needed to see more snow.....hah!
Some history on Highway 97:
U.S. 97 is a major north-south U.S. highway in the Pacific Northwest, but it only has a short section in northern California. The federal route begins at Interstate 5 (Old U.S. 99) in Weed, then continuing northeasterly into Oregon near Dorris, passing through several small towns along the way. The route becomes more important as it continues north, serving the cities of Klamath Falls, Bend, Madras, and Biggs in Oregon and Yakima and Wenatchee in Washington. In the 1950s, plans called for U.S. 97 to be commissioned in Alaska at the northern end of the Alaska Highway if the Canadian territory of Yukon decided to renumber its section of Alaska Highway as Yukon 97. The territory refused to do this, so U.S. 97 was never extended into Alaska. Nevertheless, in California, U.S. 97 remains a relatively minor route even though it is one of the survivors of the 1964 California U.S. Highway Purge. U.S. 97 did not have its routing altered in that tumultuous year (another similarly unaltered route is U.S. 95, while U.S. 199 was removed from Crescent City and its overlap with U.S. 101 eliminated). U.S. 6, 50, 101, and 395 were each curtailed to some degree as a result of the 1964 legislation, but they retained at some (or most) of their mileage in the Golden State.Thursday, January 17, 2013
Melting Snow Reveals
Years ago Russell and I took a metal workshop.
I wanted to learn how to weld etc and be able to make
art out of scrap metal. I didn't really grasp how to weld,
but had a heck of a lot of fun rummaging in the scrap piles
and making stuff out of other's discards.
Using a metal torch I made this wacko face.
It's been outside since we moved and has been buried
in the snow which is now finally melting.
My plan once we're all done working on the house is to
take some more classes and really learn how to weld
so I can go to junkyards and make some fun stuff for outside.
What sort of art do you create or would like to create????
~~~~~~~~~~
this post was inspired by Cee's blog:
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Brooklyn New York Naval Yard Hospital
During WWII my dad was stationed at the Brooklyn Naval Yard.
This is a photo that I found while noodling around the internet.
I had always been curious as to what it looked like
as I had been born there. After the war we moved to California
and I was told that all the buildings had been torn down. Not true.
Here's the link where I found this photo plus a lot more photos and information.
It's nice to know that there are plans to restore some of these old buildings.
Next time we go back east we'll have to go see for ourselves!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Recipe for this week: Mango Slaw
Nothing better than trying out a new recipe
that everyone likes!
Mango Slaw
Prep time 15 minutes
Chilling time 30 minutes
1 large ripe mango peeled and chopped
1 small head cabbage thinly sliced
1 large carrot grated
2 green onions thinly sliced
1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons Canola oil
1 teaspoon salt
dash cayenne pepper
1. Place mango,lime juice,oil,salt and pepper
in a blender/food processor. Process
until smooth and set aside.
2. Stir together cabbage,carrot,onion and cilantro
in a large bowl- add mango mixture and toss to coat.
Chill for 30 minutes.
Serve with fish, chicken or pork.
Serves 6
~~~~~~~
I spooned a nice portion of this salad on top
of halved avocados. Served with warm bread
this would make a nice vegetarian meal.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Eric Alders Monday Photo Prompt 1-14-2013
Photograph by Eric Alder
I'm just waiting for the bus
So what's all the fuss
How would I see that sign
When in a long line?
A sign should be up on a wall
Not at the height of a baby's crawl
~~~~~~
Being a sorta literal kinda gal- I took this
photograph at it's literal self.
Haven't we all seen signs posted in silly places??
For other's takes on this photo or to just
see more of Eric Alder's fine photography go here:
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Perplexing Problem Magpie 151
Body Sock For the Reclusive
This isolation suit is just the right size
The lavender wool keeps me warm
And also quite safe from prying eyes
But it does occur to me as I sip my tea
It ain't going to be easy when I have to pee
~~~~~~~~~
Tess Kincaid of Magpie Tales has once again
challenged all of us with this quite strange photo.
Go here to read what other folks saw:
Saturday, January 12, 2013
The Basics....
Wine,soup,bread with you=perfection!
for more Six Word Saturdays go here:
and for other Shadow Shot Sundays go here:
Friday, January 11, 2013
Creme Brulee Oatmeal!
We've been up in Portland visiting for a few days...
catching up with friends, seeing the dentist etc and it's
been a whirlwind trip = lots of errands to run
and all the time we're eating- so many fun restaurants
here that don't exist in the small mountain towns of
Northern California. This is a typical example of the
over the top restaurant fare- Creme Brulee Oatmeal!
Underneath the crunchy topping is delicious Irish oats with raisins.
Today we are going home and
will most likely be dieting for a few days!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Eric Alders Monday Photo Prompt 1-7-2013
Tires hum
Whoosh whoosh whoosh
Gears spin
Clickity click click
Enjoy your ride
and grin grin grin
~~~~~~~~~~~~
for more takes on Eric Alders image go here:
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Tuesday, January 08, 2013
Shhhh....we're busy!
This photo was taken by Max
She's a clever smart teenager
and quick to click!
I love this image.
Sunday, January 06, 2013
Magpietales #150
Slip silently
Escape into the darkest night
Freedom awaits
Closing in
Heavy footsteps are chasing
Hold your breath
Branches tear
Unsteady legs keep running
Not far now
Dawn arises
Crossing safely to the border
You are free
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wrote this for all of the women in this world who do not have personal freedoms-
or fear for their personal safety such as that poor woman in India.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Every week Tess Kincaid of Magpie Tales posts a new image
to inspire us . This weeks image is by Daniel Murtagh.
To see how other writers have viewed this image go here:
Saturday, January 05, 2013
Friday, January 04, 2013
Einstein warned us !
Do you observe this behavior every day? I do....
Are we there yet?????????
What do you think?
Once a year ....or so....
I get a dreaded cold...achoo!
To add insult to injury I came down with it
the very first day of the new year....
Four days later I am back in the land of the living...
Here's what helped me recover:
Do you have a special remedy when you get a cold?
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
Eric Alders Monday Photo Prompt 12-31-12
Icy fingers
Clinging on roof edges
Eavesdropping
~~~~~~~
photo by Eric Alder
for others takes on this image go here:
Tuesday, January 01, 2013
Ancestors.....
One of my many brother-in-laws has been researching
the family genealogy online. One of their ancestors was
a Viking by the name of Skullsplitter. No joke!
Today an ale by the same name is made up in the Orkneys.
It's quite tasty....
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