Happy Hour with a Critter . . .

Most days our routine for "happy hour" starts around 4:30 in the afternoon. We stop what we're doing, go up on the deck, and enjoy a glass of wine and chat about our day. We've been reminded by the blue jays that they like being part of our daily celebration too. In order to make them feel welcome we throw out peanuts and enjoy watching them (there are three of them that come on a regular basis).

Today was no different . . . except apparently it wasn't the blue jays' turn for peanuts. As we sat down to enjoy our drink, I noticed something moving out of the corner of my eye. I thought, at first, it was a cat. When I turned my head to get a better look I discovered it was a raccoon! Of course, Ken's first thought was wishing he had his 22 because he's always wanted a "Coon-Skin Hat" . . . was he ever surprised to learn that this raccoon had lost his tail. (He was really just kidding about the 22.)

I know they can be menaces, but they are incredibly cute too! Our neighbor has told us there is a family living in the woods behind us.

We named him Bobby (since he has no tail).
Here is Bobby eyeing a peanut up on the deck . . .
I think he's thinking "Hmmmmm, there's more up there!"

He never did actually get up on the deck, but he was thinkin' about it.

How cute is that?

Life is good . . .
Just enjoying the critters who live in our woods.

In Anticipation . . .

The Thompsons are coming to Camp Cascadia soon. We brought out the fire pit in anticipation of their arrival, because they love campfires . . . especially Cecile. I think I could safely say that she is a master at campfires. When we were in Mendocino visiting them she built a campfire every evening . . . and I mean a big, humongous campfire. However, because Camp Cascadia is basically surrounded by forest, our campfires will be scaled down considerably, but we'll enjoy our evening happy hours around a campfire when the Thompsons are here.

We had a campfire tonight and used the scrap wood from last year's Pegs and Jokers games the four of us made. This year we plan to make five times as many games, so we'll have lots of wood to burn!

Life is good . . .
especially sipping wine with friends around a campfire.

See You Next Summer

It was time to say goodbye to the "CCs" since they are heading home tomorrow morning. We invited KC and the CCs over for a Dutch oven dinner. Their son, Graeme, had shown interest in Dutch oven cooking. He had read about it and actually did bake a cobbler himself last week for his family. He came over early and helped me put the lasagna together for tonight's feast. This time I doubled the lasagna recipe only so it could be four layers rather than just two, and it was a hit. I also made the bread mixing half whole wheat flour to make it a bit healthier, and it was also delicious. And the cobbler, how could I go wrong using three kinds of berries picked last week . . . blueberries, olalaberries, and raspberries . . . plus the CCs brought with them some home-made vanilla ice cream . . . to die for! As you can see we did the same menu as we did with Mary and Elaine last week. And I must say the second time around is far less stressful. I think the next time it'll be a breeze.

We had a great time sharing various stories which created lots of laughter. The boys are growing up so fast and sooner than we know it will be young men. Sometimes it just seems like yesterday that they were born—time flies by way too fast the older we get. We've known this family for nearly 35 years and share lots of memories. We'll miss them and look forward to next summer when, hopefully, they'll be able to spend more time at Camp Cascadia.

With Todd sitting in a lower chair, Meg loved being "taller."

Graeme and "Nana"

It's amazing to think about this one being able to drive next year . . . where does the time go?

Last week I didn't get a picture of the lasagna . . . doesn't it look yummy?

The bread is always a crowd pleaser. I guess it's because traditionally we don't think about bread being cooked outside. Next time I think I'll try making it into rolls.

Life is good!
Especially sharing it with old friends.

CREATE

My mid-western daughter made a Christmas gift for me and I finally get to put it on display. Since we're RVers through and through we haven't much wall space to hang anything. And since my art studio, a.k.a. my "creative studio" since I do more than just paint in it now, is in our pole barn in Oregon, it is appropriate that it is on display here.


Both of our girls are creative, it must be in the genes! I got my creative genes from my Gramma D. Daughter number one has been doodling since she was a little girl, and now enjoys "scrapping" and making hand-made cards. Daughter number two is into crocheting and quilting, and raising chickens and goats (there must be something creative there). And besides having a bit of time for those creative things, they both raise 2-3 kids, and do all the things that go along with being a super mom and loving wife.

Life is good!

For Linette

A blog post isn't the place to really describe this woman . . . it would be way to long to read. But to put it in a nutshell, I can say Linette is a gem, a precious jewel, a strong woman with a generous and soft heart and she has a sweet spirit. She is my daughter's "best friend in the whole wide world" and has been since fifth grade. Here is a short story about her soft heart and sweet spirit.

Nine years ago, when Ken and I were frantically trying to move out of our house (because of a quick 30-day escrow) and ridding ourselves of all our "stuff" since we had chosen to be full-time RVers and had no room for anything frivolous, we held a garage sale. Our daughter and "Netters" as she calls Linette, were in charge of our massive sale. Among my stuff was a half-finished cross-stitched quilt top which I felt I could never finish. (I started it when I was 18 when I was engaged to Ken who was away at school in Chicago.) Nearly forty years later I had been happily married and raised kids, gone back to school, enjoyed a career, etc. etc. and was much too busy for such things as finishing a quilt top. (Little did I know that a couple years down the road I'd be so into quilting.) So I told them to sell it. Precious Linette grabbed it out of my hands and said "No way! I'll take it and some day maybe I'll even finish it for you." Two years later, when the dust had settled, I asked for it back. And to make a long story shorter I got it back from my daughter who had worked on it along with my granddaughter and was going to surprise me with it all finished some day. (I later completed the cross-stitching and had it hand-quilted by a wonderful Amish woman, and now it's on our bed!)

To say "Thank you, Linette" I've been working on this tole-painted box this week. It will soon be ready to send to her with much gratitude and appreciation for saving my quilt from the garage sale.

It needs several more coats of varnish and the inside needs work before I can call it finished, but I think she'll like it.

Side detail . . . I added the "stitching" to the green stripes to remind her of the hand-quilting done on the quilt top she saved from being sold in the garage sale.

Thank you Linette, we love you and are so proud
of the woman you've become!

Life is good!

Berries and Dutch Ovens

Up bright and early Mary and Elaine joined us to go pick more berries. This time we were on the hunt for Raspberries and Marion Berries at another U-Pick farm near Sweet Home, Oregon.

Here's Elaine showing off the fruits of their labor . . . over ten pounds.

They decided to make Cherry Chutney out of the cherries they picked yesterday. When they were finished with the chutney they still had energy to put up jars and jars of Raspberry and Marion Berry Jam.

Isn't this Cherry Chutney pretty. They gave us a jar, and I can't wait to taste it!

This is our pickings for the day . . . Raspberries on the right, and a mix of Olalaberries and Marion Berries on the left. These all went into the freezer for later use except the mixed berries I used for tonight's cobbler.

Speaking of dinner, today was our day to fix dinner. We planned ahead to make dinner using our cast iron Dutch ovens just like we were taught by our friend Lori, a new member at Park Sierra. She taught a class during Stagecoach Days two years ago, and we got "hooked" on the idea of acquiring a couple ovens and trying it ourselves. Last summer we made several berry cobblers which were quite a hit, but never tried doing more than one oven at a time. This year we took the big step— had three ovens going at one time. It took a bit of coordinating preparation and cooking so that everything was done at the same time, give or take a few minutes. But Lori's recipes were a hit, and we had lots of fun pulling it off. Our menu included fresh Sourdough Bread, Lasagna, Salad (the only thing not done in an oven), and Fresh Marion Berry Cobbler.

Here Ken is getting lots of charcoal going, with each oven
needing about 25 briquettes.

Ken was a big help, these ovens are quite heavy. I prepared all the food and loaded up the ovens. He carried them down to the cooking area and arranged all the hot coals.

Baking bread was something I've never done, outside of using a bread machine. It was a real adventure making the starter, which I really blew but in the end had just enough for this one loaf of bread. I'll have to tell you about it sometime, Lori.

We could smell the cobbler baking, and oh my
—it did smell heavenly. I didn't get a good picture of the Lasagna, but it was delicious.

Elaine was practically drooling while slicing the bread.

Mary loved the bread so much she even had a second piece
. . . unlike her, indeed.

Nothing better than warm berry cobbler
with vanilla ice cream for dessert.

Life is Good!

A Day with Mary and Elaine

Our friends from Park Sierra, Mary and Elaine, came for a visit to Camp Cascadia arriving yesterday. Today we were up bright and early to go berry picking. We went to our favorite you-pick place called Ewing's Farm just outside of town. It is located right along side the Santiam River and the weather for picking was perfect. Today was the first day of the season this year . . . nearly two weeks later than normal due to a cold rainy winter. When we got there we were escorted down to the far end of the blueberry fields and we each picked a gallon of blue berries. And then we were fortunate to be able to pick cherries from their two trees, one Bing and the other Queen Anne. Usually when we have come to pick berries, the cherry trees have already been picked. Today they were so loaded that the Ewings gave us the first gallon at no charge and charged only $1 per pound for the others we picked. . . so Ken and I got out of there with 10 pounds of blueberries, and almost 10 pounds of cherries and the total out-of-pocket expenses came to $16 . . . is that amazing or what! We came home after a few more errands and Elaine and I pitted all their Bing cherries while Mary got the blueberries ready to can (she did freeze several quarts first). She made a cherry/blueberry crisp for dessert plus she canned the rest of the pitted cherries!

Mary and Elaine are fun and easy people with whom to spend time . . . we enjoy having them visit Camp Cascadia. Tomorrow we are going to another U-Pick berry farm, which specializes in Olallieberries and Raspberries. Hmmmm . . . perhaps a cobbler is in store for tomorrow night's dinner.

Elaine backed their 34-foot Class A onto our lot with ease.

The blueberries were big and delicious.
—pick one, eat one, pick one, eat one . . .

Ken and Mary each started filling their gallon jug.
A one-gallon jug weighed 5 pounds.
And we paid $1.25 per pound.

Ken showing you the two gallons of berries we picked.

And take a look at the luscious cherries!

These were the ones we got for free.

We ended the day with a delicious dinner prepared by our guests. . . Tuna Nicoise, Sesame Noodles, and a nice green salad . . . topped off with home-made Cherry/Blueberry Crisp made from the fruit we picked today.

Life is Good!
Especially spending it with good friends . . .

Christmas in July 2008

While in Cascadia we attend Cascadia Bible Church, a tiny little church with a big heart. With a congregation of maybe a dozen folks, during the summer time there are probably a bit more than 20 of us. Today six women gathered together to make baskets out of old Christmas cards which will be filled with homemade cookies and candies come Christmas time. We sat around a table cutting and sewing together panels, forming a six-sided "basket" while all the time chatting away, laughing and just having fun.

Then when December rolls around the baskets are filled with yummy morsels and taken to convalescent hospitals, retirement homes, and shut-ins living in the area. Last year we made little houses where the roofs opened up to hold the goodies. This year our project is to produce this basket for 100 folks living in this "little piece of heaven." I wonder what next year has in store for us? We've even been told that the containers are kept year after year as Christmas decorations.

One of the difficult parts is to find cards to fit the pattern
without destroying the design.

The pattern is traced onto the card, and twelve panels need to be cut out for each basket (each of six sides takes two cards back to back—one for the inside
and one for the outside of the basket).

Then the panels are punched and sewn together . . .

The finished basket will be filled with Christmas goodies, and then wrapped in pretty cellophane to bring a smile to the recipient's face.

It's a social time as well as a work party.

It's a time-consuming project. After a couple hours we produced about a dozen baskets. So far we've made 70. Our goal this year is to produce 100.

Life is Good!

Five Hundred Fifteen Pieces

Sew them all together . . . and this is what you get!

I like the bordered corners.

Detail of corners—

There are ten of these little medallions
incorporated in the borders.

I wish there was a way to show you the whole quilt . . .
all 515 pieces.

It measures 75" x 95" . . . the largest quilt I've ever pieced!

Well, maybe I CAN show you my quilt . . .


Scroll down a bit . . .



That's it . . .



TaaaDaaaaaaah!

Life is good!

Quilting Fever

I've got it!

I love coming to Camp Cascadia for the summer because I have SPACE. (In Coarsegold there is a quilting group that meets weekly, and there is a craft room where we can bring our quilts to work on but we have to clean up each time.) In our pole barn there is space to do the things I love doing like tole painting and quilting, and I don't have to clean up until I feel like cleaning up. So this week it's quilting that has captured my time. About four years ago I got the quilting bug, and I've loved making them ever since as gifts as well as for our own use.

This one is made from one of the JoAnn's kits I bought at a day-after-Christmas sale about four years ago. It caught my eye and each of the twelve blocks (it's a block-a-month type of quilt kit) was available at half price . . . half off the already discounted price . . .you gotta love that kinda deal! Plus I really like the colors in this one. And also, what is nice about these kits is, the pieces are all cut out for me. All I had to do was carefully sew them together, and voilah—done!

This one may be a keeper. I think it will go nicely on our bed in the travel trailer! I hope to have the top done tomorrow. Then it'll need to be quilted.

This name JoAnn's gave this quilt is "Mystic Blues"

There must be a thousand different quilt blocks designed through the years, and I get a kick out of the names given them. This one, which I found to be the most difficult to put together, is called "Grandmother's Puzzle."

"Four X"

"Cross and Crown"

"Lucky Clover"

Yesterday I added the four corners to each block, and the inside sashing.

Today I could only work a half-day on it and I finished the sashing. Tomorrow the borders will be added.

Life is Good!
. . . especially when you can snuggle up in a quilt!