This morning I made a batch of Italian plum jam, did 2 loads of laundry, cleaned the kitchen. This afternoon my daughter's family and I helped a friend by turning her compost pile, it took two of us to move that pile over from 2 smaller piles (for 1 1/2 hours). Layering and watering, that was hard work.
When I arrived home, the rest of the bowl of plums were calling to me. So another batch of jam was made! I like to use my meat grinder on my mixer to keep the prep time down. Plums are my second favorite fruit for jam. If sour cherries were available I would be in heaven because they make the best jam! After folding the laundry all I could think about is sitting down.
My husband asks "could you make a blackberry pie if I pick them (7 pm). Really! My son pipes up "I will", he is a good son. Especially after he spent the afternoon chopping wood.
Monday, September 17, 2012
Monday, August 27, 2012
Seven Days at . . . . .
. . . . . . the Evergreen State Fair in a row. I work at the Speedway which is in the middle of the fairgrounds. So I worked 2 days pre-fair and the first 4 days of fair with racing events, then today my husband and I went to enjoy some of the fair together.
We took the grandgirls on some rides, had cotton candy, visited in the pygmy goat barn (J is 7yrs and showing for the 1st time). She was absolutely clueless but watched the other kids and copied them very well. V is having a great time attaching herself to the kids in the club, "teaching" the public how to pet a goat or loving up all goats including her own.
It's been 10+ years since our 4H fair experiences in the horse program. It left us with some of the greatest memories, on looking back my husband and I both agree it was worth it. We care leased most of the time. and took care of a barn full of about 5-7 horses to keep our leased horse in exchange. Western riding clothes were easy to put toghether if kept simple. Then our daughter wanted to ride Saddleseat. Riding english in 4H is about 90% Huntseat and a few Saddleseat and being the good individual she is, following the crowd was never her option! The only used suit at the time that I could find was $600 and sky blue (all wrong). SoI put together $175 and bought some hunter green wool blend for a coat and black material for the lining, vest, and 2 pairs of pants. It took me a month to complete and some learning about tailoring, it was beautiful. I still have it!
In those years, we also tried out open class entries. My daughter made peanut butter cookies and entered a wood project made in school. My son put in a K'nex structure 6' tall that had motors, biscuits, and angel food cake. I put in jams and a blackberry pie. Everybody received blue ribbons and a few extras as well.
My favorite exhibits to visit is the sewing, quilting, canning and baking, art, goats and horses. If I see these then it's been a good day at fair!
We took the grandgirls on some rides, had cotton candy, visited in the pygmy goat barn (J is 7yrs and showing for the 1st time). She was absolutely clueless but watched the other kids and copied them very well. V is having a great time attaching herself to the kids in the club, "teaching" the public how to pet a goat or loving up all goats including her own.
It's been 10+ years since our 4H fair experiences in the horse program. It left us with some of the greatest memories, on looking back my husband and I both agree it was worth it. We care leased most of the time. and took care of a barn full of about 5-7 horses to keep our leased horse in exchange. Western riding clothes were easy to put toghether if kept simple. Then our daughter wanted to ride Saddleseat. Riding english in 4H is about 90% Huntseat and a few Saddleseat and being the good individual she is, following the crowd was never her option! The only used suit at the time that I could find was $600 and sky blue (all wrong). SoI put together $175 and bought some hunter green wool blend for a coat and black material for the lining, vest, and 2 pairs of pants. It took me a month to complete and some learning about tailoring, it was beautiful. I still have it!
In those years, we also tried out open class entries. My daughter made peanut butter cookies and entered a wood project made in school. My son put in a K'nex structure 6' tall that had motors, biscuits, and angel food cake. I put in jams and a blackberry pie. Everybody received blue ribbons and a few extras as well.
My favorite exhibits to visit is the sewing, quilting, canning and baking, art, goats and horses. If I see these then it's been a good day at fair!
Friday, August 10, 2012
Kelcema Lake, WA
We took a day hike today with our daugher's family, this hike is described as kid friendly and the 3 1/2 yr old did very well. I think the trail becomes a winter/spring run off even though there is a permanent creek that is the lakes outlet. The lake is in a bowl that looks exactly like a volcano (probably ancient, when the range was created). The lake is at an elevation of 3,500 ft (we live at sea level).
The bowl on three sides is steep and almost straight up, the road up to the trail (4.2 miles UP) is probably the outlet. From the trailhead up to the lake (300 ft elevation hike) we walked on HUGE boulders and the land was strewn with boulders that were probably flung out or carried down with a volcanic flow. The lake was pristine and clear (you could see the bottom).
Old trees, even though it's a logging area, were everwhere (if logeed, maybe 100 yrs ago). Gorgeous natural plant life. Tiny, delicate trillium in flower. What looked like a tiny hosta blanketing some areas and many that is don't recognize. Two grandaughter running around barefoot, fishing, exploring and having the best time. An amazing day to share!
The bowl on three sides is steep and almost straight up, the road up to the trail (4.2 miles UP) is probably the outlet. From the trailhead up to the lake (300 ft elevation hike) we walked on HUGE boulders and the land was strewn with boulders that were probably flung out or carried down with a volcanic flow. The lake was pristine and clear (you could see the bottom).
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| We climbed the rock on the right side |
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| The rock we climbed from the lake edge. |
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
It's Quiet . . .
. . . around here. My son is gone for 8 days of hiking and climbing in the wilderness! For two weeks we dried food and he pre-packaged all his dinners. A list of food dried:
I took a 5 gallon bucket of finished compost (2 yr old, worm ridden, YES!) over to my daughters garden for the tomatoes. They are looking so beautiful and a ample harvest is looking good with lot's of canned tomatoes! The rest of the garden is amazing too. I have about 2 more bucketsof compost left to keep feeding the garden.
- canned beans
- hamburger
- tomate sauce and spaghetti sauce
- sweet onions
- green, yellow and red peppers
- canned pineapple for granola
- lot's of yogurt drops
I took a 5 gallon bucket of finished compost (2 yr old, worm ridden, YES!) over to my daughters garden for the tomatoes. They are looking so beautiful and a ample harvest is looking good with lot's of canned tomatoes! The rest of the garden is amazing too. I have about 2 more bucketsof compost left to keep feeding the garden.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Family time
Island life is heavenly. We had family time at my parents with both my kids and the grandkids camping out in their front yard. Of course the promised sun did not make an appearance until today when my daughter and family left. Life cannot stop because of the weather! We had campfires and some-mores. Set up tents and still had the benefits of showers and a kitchen. It's a fun way to spend time with my parents.
Today, we went fishing at a private pond. The owner dug it out himself and allows a club to host a kids fishing derby which gets stocked by the state. My parents are alway welcome so we took the girls on their first fishing trip. They had so much fun. J (7yrs) caught and released 5 fish, V (3 1/2 yrs) caught 3. My dad patiently helped J and helped her learn to cast, also. This is the best place, I listened to the trees rustling and the muted shouts of little girls,watched a bald eagle and turtles jumping of rocks into the water. Heaven!!
Also did the sneak on a mama deer and her single baby (her twins are still around from last year) with my daughter and 2 granddaughters. They were amazing! quiet and not fidgety. We stood a good 15 minutes when a noise from some else had them walking away. Such beautiful creatures and amazing that the girls love to quietly watch them.
Today, we went fishing at a private pond. The owner dug it out himself and allows a club to host a kids fishing derby which gets stocked by the state. My parents are alway welcome so we took the girls on their first fishing trip. They had so much fun. J (7yrs) caught and released 5 fish, V (3 1/2 yrs) caught 3. My dad patiently helped J and helped her learn to cast, also. This is the best place, I listened to the trees rustling and the muted shouts of little girls,watched a bald eagle and turtles jumping of rocks into the water. Heaven!!
Also did the sneak on a mama deer and her single baby (her twins are still around from last year) with my daughter and 2 granddaughters. They were amazing! quiet and not fidgety. We stood a good 15 minutes when a noise from some else had them walking away. Such beautiful creatures and amazing that the girls love to quietly watch them.
Friday, July 27, 2012
To the dump . . . . .
As a final part of my 100 things to get rid of project comes to a close for the items waiting for a dump load, I went TODAY! I love going to the dump, a weight gets lifted (in my mind anyway). After loading first my project stuff and some from a sorting months ago, I added my regular garbage (plastics). Our city only has pick up for plastic recycling and that is the bulk of my garbage since everthing else can go to the recyling center.
The kitchen table is bad again, it's me every time who gets to clean off everybody elses junk!
The kitchen table is bad again, it's me every time who gets to clean off everybody elses junk!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Childhood memories . . . . .
JP Patches, the name makes me smile. Getting ready for school was quick and efficient if you wanted to watch the JP Patches show before walking to school. He portrayed a clown who was the mayor of the city dump and lived in a shack. The show was "live, unrehearsed improv (for children)" and well loved in my generation. Lived 1928 - 2012, his showed aired 1958 - 1981. Thank you for the memories JP.
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