While cleaning the kitchen yesterday, I slipped on my croc's and carried the compost bin out to the garden plot. The compost bin is an old tupperware container from the 70's. It is the largest size of a canister set. I have one in, you guessed it orange and also one in green. Seemed to be the decorating colors for that decade. They make great compost bins, just right to sit on the counter with a lid that easily seals by pushing down on the center of it. The colors work fine with my kitchen, because the wallpaper is decorated with red, orange and green peppers. All of my kitchen scraps, peelings, coffee grounds, veggies past their prime, everything except meat scraps, are added to the bin until it is full. Then either Herb or I take it outside where we return it to the earth.
Other years we have added it to a pile, secured by a wire cage. In the spring we would add it to our large composter. This year we are trying something different and just scattering it on top of the frozen garden spot, where our potatoes patch will go next year. The quail are having a heyday out there scratching and pecking away. I think we have a few garden mice as well. So it will serve a duel purpose, supplement the diets of the local wildlife and add nutrients to our garden soil.
We have a different way of "planting" potatoes. Next spring on this very plot where we are throwing our compost, we will add more layers of clippings, straw, peat moss and Llama manure. Then cover that with a double layer of newspaper. Next we will drop seed potatoes on top of the paper, somewhat in rows and cover them with six to twelve inches of straw. If we don't get a good rain storm in the next two days we will then give it a good soaking, with our irrigation water, that originates from Wallowa Lake. As the straw settles we will add more straw and throw granulated fish fertilizer on top and soak again. Usually we get enough spring rains that irrigating is not necessary. In about a month the potatoes start to poke their first leaves through the straw. We will irrigate and fertilizer during the summer months and in october we will "dig" our potatoes. I love this part. We take ahold of the vine, pulling it slowly out of the straw and uncover a nest of clean, scab free, potatoes. I think the yield is less than if we planted them in dirt but worth it to me to have clean potatoes.
After the potatoes are harvested we rake the straw off into a pile nearby. Underneath the straw we now have a nicely composted layer where will will plant garlic and mulch it with the saved straw. Next spring garlic shoots will appear as soon as the ground has thawed and the last of the snow is melted. We have done all of this without tilling the soil.
We do the same type of preparing a spot for our summer veggies. In late summer as soon as things are harvested we start adding layers to the soil, then let them compost over winter. Of course we rotate crops to a different spot every year.
I got most of these ideas from a book called "Lasagna Gardening". Usually when I say that, someone will ask me, "So you plant basil and garlic together?" Not quite, but maybe that's not a bad idea. OWAV:)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
OWAV:) 01/30/11, 4am, 26° foggy
Promised myself that I would blog, then do scrabble. Okay so I did two scrabble games and was about to start blogging, when my ichat icon started bouncing on the dock. Soon Rusty appears on my screen, asking "What are you doing up at this time of day?" Of course it is 9pm in Shanghai. He was just home from having "hot pots" at a Korean restaurant, he said "One of the better meals for the money." He, Balin and Trevor were BS-ing before retiring for the night. Trevor will leave for the states in two days. Rusty, Ebon, and Balin will go to Vietnam for a couple of weeks, to soak up some sunshine before coming home. They are all very glad to have this China job finished. Another job in China will open up this summer so they might be back there soon, this time working in the heat instead of the cold weather. Will probably go to Brazil before that.
Nothing on the agenda today. After doing the potholders yesterday I think I will cut out several of them while I have everything (rotary cutter, board etc) out on the kitchen table. That way I can sew them at my leisure without the clutter. Also must do some cleaning of the kitchen and bathroom. I have a casserole thawed for dinner today and a stewing hen ready to go into the stew pot for some time next week. Also have a corned beef thawing, so have meals and leftovers planned for the rest of the week.
❝Sylvia and I were settled into our routine and quite comfortable with each other. Job and school took up most of our time so had very little time for social or leisure activities. I remember going to church and mutual (social for teens in Mormon Church) a few times. One Sunday afternoon we packed a lunch, walked quite a distance to the bus stop that would take us to Ann Morrison Park, along the Boise River. It was a nice sunny day, and we had an enjoyable picnic outing. I must have had a Monday off for the 4th of July, because I took the bus on Sunday morning and went to stay overnight at Mona and Jerry's, (sister and brother-in-law). They were living in Middleton, Idaho, only thirty miles away. Jerry was going to college at Boise State. They took me back to Boise on Sunday afternoon.
Some explanation is due: Travel and communication was very different in those days. Where today everyone has their own car or easy access to one, and almost everyone has their own cell phone and a computer. "Back then" telephones were costly to have in your home so they were considered a luxury. Travel was kept to a minimum for school, work and maybe a yearly vacation. One car to a family was the norm. Computers, not even a glimmer.
If we absolutely had to call home, there was a pay phone just a block away from our apartment. I started school in June, saw Mom and Daddy once that summer, when they came to Boise for a Doctor's appointment, again in October when Daddy had surgery. I somehow got home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Got out of school in March.
I wrote letters to Herb, he was working for the summer, in McCall for the Forest Service, then would be back in College at the University of Idaho, at Moscow in the fall. I also wrote to Mom and Daddy every week and at times, I was very homesick, but tried not to let it show. We couldn't afford to have a telephone. In September Herb came to visit before he went back to college. I remember going to the Idaho State Fair.❞
Enough for today, later. OWAV:)
Nothing on the agenda today. After doing the potholders yesterday I think I will cut out several of them while I have everything (rotary cutter, board etc) out on the kitchen table. That way I can sew them at my leisure without the clutter. Also must do some cleaning of the kitchen and bathroom. I have a casserole thawed for dinner today and a stewing hen ready to go into the stew pot for some time next week. Also have a corned beef thawing, so have meals and leftovers planned for the rest of the week.
❝Sylvia and I were settled into our routine and quite comfortable with each other. Job and school took up most of our time so had very little time for social or leisure activities. I remember going to church and mutual (social for teens in Mormon Church) a few times. One Sunday afternoon we packed a lunch, walked quite a distance to the bus stop that would take us to Ann Morrison Park, along the Boise River. It was a nice sunny day, and we had an enjoyable picnic outing. I must have had a Monday off for the 4th of July, because I took the bus on Sunday morning and went to stay overnight at Mona and Jerry's, (sister and brother-in-law). They were living in Middleton, Idaho, only thirty miles away. Jerry was going to college at Boise State. They took me back to Boise on Sunday afternoon.
Some explanation is due: Travel and communication was very different in those days. Where today everyone has their own car or easy access to one, and almost everyone has their own cell phone and a computer. "Back then" telephones were costly to have in your home so they were considered a luxury. Travel was kept to a minimum for school, work and maybe a yearly vacation. One car to a family was the norm. Computers, not even a glimmer.
If we absolutely had to call home, there was a pay phone just a block away from our apartment. I started school in June, saw Mom and Daddy once that summer, when they came to Boise for a Doctor's appointment, again in October when Daddy had surgery. I somehow got home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Got out of school in March.
I wrote letters to Herb, he was working for the summer, in McCall for the Forest Service, then would be back in College at the University of Idaho, at Moscow in the fall. I also wrote to Mom and Daddy every week and at times, I was very homesick, but tried not to let it show. We couldn't afford to have a telephone. In September Herb came to visit before he went back to college. I remember going to the Idaho State Fair.❞
Enough for today, later. OWAV:)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
OWAV:) 01/29/11, 4am, 26°, Maybe snow?
Can you believe that I have frittered away the whole morning playing scrabble. Had seven games waiting for me when I got up at 4am. I can waste more time moving letters around, trying different words until I come up with the most points possible. I guess it's not a total waste as it is good for my brain, right?
I've also answered emails, checked out facebook and finished two cups of coffee.
Yesterday Herb and I were real couch potatoes, he reading, me writing, and playing on the computer. He fixed ham and eggs for our breakfast instead of the usual cereal. The rest of the day we fended for ourselves eating leftover spaghetti and apple pie a la mode.
Looks like the fog is rolling in and I better start moving.
I made two potholders today out of flannel fabric with partially felted wool sweaters for the inside. I do a simple pieced top, so they make nice gifts. I seldom buy anything for a gift, either give canned food, pickles, jam or the potholders.
Friend Margaret called today, we are going to lunch on Tuesday. I'll do a short day for write group. I suppose I can miss one scrabble game.
I'm reading a book called "Good-bye Boise... Hello, Alaska" about a family on a sheep, cattle ranch in Unalaska. Haven't figured out what they mean by Unalaska, guess I will have to google it. They live a hard life but seem to love every minute of it. OWAV:)
I've also answered emails, checked out facebook and finished two cups of coffee.
Yesterday Herb and I were real couch potatoes, he reading, me writing, and playing on the computer. He fixed ham and eggs for our breakfast instead of the usual cereal. The rest of the day we fended for ourselves eating leftover spaghetti and apple pie a la mode.
Looks like the fog is rolling in and I better start moving.
I made two potholders today out of flannel fabric with partially felted wool sweaters for the inside. I do a simple pieced top, so they make nice gifts. I seldom buy anything for a gift, either give canned food, pickles, jam or the potholders.
Friend Margaret called today, we are going to lunch on Tuesday. I'll do a short day for write group. I suppose I can miss one scrabble game.
I'm reading a book called "Good-bye Boise... Hello, Alaska" about a family on a sheep, cattle ranch in Unalaska. Haven't figured out what they mean by Unalaska, guess I will have to google it. They live a hard life but seem to love every minute of it. OWAV:)
Friday, January 28, 2011
OWAV:) 01/28/11 4am 24°
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| Spring Bouquet |
Herb and I are enjoying our tulips in the living room. I planted a big pot of tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and crocus last fall. I've done this before but, they are blooming more than usual this year. It really is the only way we can have tulips, because outside the deer eat them like candy. These are very pretty and fragrant. Nice little touch of spring. Don't know if anything else will bloom or not.
❈Before I went to the luncheon yesterday I mixed up a batch of pie crust using the recipe I got at last Sunday's pie baking class. Mixed together 2 cups sifted flour, 1/2 tsp salt, added 1 cup cold butter (diced) and mixed by hand until it was "just right". Added 1/4 cup ice water and started working it together. It took some "heavy handed" working and mashing and an extra sprinkle of water but it came together. Divided it into two discs, wrapped it in plastic wrap and refrigerated it. Keeping everything cold is key! In summer I would definitely use the cuisinart, but this time I wanted to feel the dough. When I got home with some granny smith apples, I cored and sliced them, mixed in sugar (1/2 cup) and cinnamon and let them sit while I rolled out the pie crust. It was tough rolling but I persevered, light sprinkle of flour, roll twice, 1/4 turn, repeat until size you want. Only add flour for rolling, if it sticks. It was an easy dough to work with, didn't split and break when I put it in the pie plate. (The edges were very uneven, will have to work on that.) Added the apple mixture, sprinkled on some craisins and raisins for a little different taste and into a 450° oven for 20 minutes then down to 350° for another 20 to 30 minutes. Oh, my gosh! With a scoop of ice cream, I think it was one of the best pies I've ever made. Who said you can't teach old dogs new tricks!❈ (As a side note, friend Janie, who is a wonderful cook, was making a pie when we went to write group on Tuesday. She was smearing sour cream on the top crust, so I ask "What are you doing?" She said, "This makes the pie brown nicely while it bakes." You can also use plain cream. I learned something else.)
❝BS Beauty school or Cosmetology in itself was an education for me. Learning to hold scissors, comb and a perm rod, all in your hands at one time, was a real trick. It took many hours of practice to get this all right. The more advanced students also helped us when they were not working the floor. Thankfully we had very patient teachers. We had two instructors, Jenkins, a jovial, round as she was tall lady, who we all loved immediately. The other, Mrs. McClain, more stern, almost cranky, was harder to love. I found though, that if you paid attention and weren't always goofing off, she was very nice and even had a sense of humor. I was probably her pet.
Something I forgot to mention is that, we were all called by our last names. It was another way the school thought they could instill professionalism into us. We were to be Miss Ashton or Miss Shelby, Mrs Jenkins or Mrs McClain. But commonly, we were called by our last names except, Mrs McClain was alway Mrs. McClain! It also helped when there were many of the same first names among the students.❞ OWAV:)
Thursday, January 27, 2011
OWAV:) 01/27/11 5am, 24°, foggy
I Feel very rested this morning, after about nine hours sleep.
My sorority (Phi Master) has a luncheon meeting today. We have lunch meetings in the dead of winter at a local restaurant, because it is easier for our older members (which we are all getting to be) to attend daytime meetings, in winter, rather than evenings. We will be discussing our upcoming Bunco party two weeks from now on a Sunday afternoon. Also this year, our chapter is in charge of the annual "Founders Day" always held the latter part of April. It seems that "Founders Days" are an important part of older organizations. I remember when my daughter was in Girl Scouts, they had a founders days. It is a way to remember how and why the organization was formed. To some people it is a very important day, to me it is a pain, and my least favorite part of sorority.
I missed both "Big Read" events this week. It is really hard to make myself go out to meetings in winter, so I use the excuse too tired, when probably it is more likely that I'm just TOO LAZY to make the effort. I read about half of the book, "Huckleberry Finn" and gave up, as it really didn't hold my interest. Maybe another time? Pam and I have tickets for the grand finale of the Big Read, so will attend that for sure. It is a potluck dinner and speech about Mark Twain. I have been asked to be on the committee to help pick next years book for the Big Read, haven't given them an answer yet. It would mean more meetings.
Seems I have run out of things to say, so that's it for today, OWAV:) PS Maybe I will do a paragraph on BS later today. My write group liked that story, they said it seemed out of character for me. What ever that means.
My sorority (Phi Master) has a luncheon meeting today. We have lunch meetings in the dead of winter at a local restaurant, because it is easier for our older members (which we are all getting to be) to attend daytime meetings, in winter, rather than evenings. We will be discussing our upcoming Bunco party two weeks from now on a Sunday afternoon. Also this year, our chapter is in charge of the annual "Founders Day" always held the latter part of April. It seems that "Founders Days" are an important part of older organizations. I remember when my daughter was in Girl Scouts, they had a founders days. It is a way to remember how and why the organization was formed. To some people it is a very important day, to me it is a pain, and my least favorite part of sorority.
I missed both "Big Read" events this week. It is really hard to make myself go out to meetings in winter, so I use the excuse too tired, when probably it is more likely that I'm just TOO LAZY to make the effort. I read about half of the book, "Huckleberry Finn" and gave up, as it really didn't hold my interest. Maybe another time? Pam and I have tickets for the grand finale of the Big Read, so will attend that for sure. It is a potluck dinner and speech about Mark Twain. I have been asked to be on the committee to help pick next years book for the Big Read, haven't given them an answer yet. It would mean more meetings.
Seems I have run out of things to say, so that's it for today, OWAV:) PS Maybe I will do a paragraph on BS later today. My write group liked that story, they said it seemed out of character for me. What ever that means.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
OWAV:) 01/26/11, 5am, 24° Clear
Had a good day yesterday, visited with Gayle and Carol over breakfast. A belated birthday present for her and a treat for us as we seldom go out to eat, even at Community Connection. They served a huge breakfast of scrambled eggs and ham, hash browns and a huge cinnamon roll on the side. Sure blew my no sugar resolve! Oh well, today is a new day so will keep trying.
Joined "The Write Group" at Janie Tippets, where we again played with the puppies. Fat, funny, roly-poly puppies, how I love their smell as they snuggle into my neck and give puppy kisses, with little pink tongues.
Then we got down to the business of writing and reading, what we had written the past week. One of our members thinks we should start meeting in the Library again, where maybe we can be more focused. We definitely do get off the track, but I don't think our group is just about writing. Wrong attitude? Anyway I took taco soup, made from a jar of chili that hadn't sealed, we had lunch, then on to a game of scrabble.
When I got home, Herb had gone to feed John's horses and Dobby the cat. John is gone for three day to Jim Creek. Gets Herb out of the house, which is good.
Today, and for the next three Wednesdays, I am going to volunteer at the library because Pat and Brian are on vacation in Hawaii. They will be home the week we leave for Arizona.
Arizona is coming up fast, I can feel that warm sunshine already, then it will be time for our girls to come for a week. Something to look forward to.
More later maybe. OWAV:)
Joined "The Write Group" at Janie Tippets, where we again played with the puppies. Fat, funny, roly-poly puppies, how I love their smell as they snuggle into my neck and give puppy kisses, with little pink tongues.
Then we got down to the business of writing and reading, what we had written the past week. One of our members thinks we should start meeting in the Library again, where maybe we can be more focused. We definitely do get off the track, but I don't think our group is just about writing. Wrong attitude? Anyway I took taco soup, made from a jar of chili that hadn't sealed, we had lunch, then on to a game of scrabble.
When I got home, Herb had gone to feed John's horses and Dobby the cat. John is gone for three day to Jim Creek. Gets Herb out of the house, which is good.
Today, and for the next three Wednesdays, I am going to volunteer at the library because Pat and Brian are on vacation in Hawaii. They will be home the week we leave for Arizona.
Arizona is coming up fast, I can feel that warm sunshine already, then it will be time for our girls to come for a week. Something to look forward to.
More later maybe. OWAV:)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
OWAV:) 01/25/11, 5am, 34°, light Rain over Night
Will make this short this morning. I have 58 pints of deer meat on the kitchen table waiting to be wiped off and boxed. Then Herb will haul them downstairs to the cellar. We were able to do all of it in two batches and now have everything put away until the mood strikes to start another canning marathon.
We are meeting friends, Carol and Gayle, this morning for breakfast, then I will go to write group. I have soup ready to simmer on the stove for our dinner.
We are meeting friends, Carol and Gayle, this morning for breakfast, then I will go to write group. I have soup ready to simmer on the stove for our dinner.
Monday, January 24, 2011
OWAV:) 01/24/11 5am 33° F.C. Cloudy/Sunny
Woke up this morning, with a start. I was dreaming that I had just discovered a huge mouse infestation in my pantry. So in my dream I was hauling things out of the pantry and taking everything outside to the garbage. What a relief to wake up and find it not true! We haven't had mice in our house for years. Nuisance (our cat) had brought a dead mouse to the front porch last week, one of her little gifts. So maybe that is the reason for the dream.
I went, I participated, and I enjoyed the pie making class yesterday. I joined 20 other ladies, most of them I knew, some I hadn't seen in many years. It was fun to visit. Many years ago I learned how to make pie crust from a cookbook and lots of practice. Herb loves pies. But lately I've been disappointed with my crust. After watching the demonstration, I think i've been paranoid about working the crust too much, and have added more liquid to bring it together, then, I had to add more flour to keep it from sticking. So back to the practice table, I will try working it more and see what happens. Herb will agree that I need more practice, as he samples another slice of pie.
I must get moving, we have about 40# of deer meat to put in jars and pressure cook starting today. We will work it around our other activities and plan about 2 days, start to finish.
I went, I participated, and I enjoyed the pie making class yesterday. I joined 20 other ladies, most of them I knew, some I hadn't seen in many years. It was fun to visit. Many years ago I learned how to make pie crust from a cookbook and lots of practice. Herb loves pies. But lately I've been disappointed with my crust. After watching the demonstration, I think i've been paranoid about working the crust too much, and have added more liquid to bring it together, then, I had to add more flour to keep it from sticking. So back to the practice table, I will try working it more and see what happens. Herb will agree that I need more practice, as he samples another slice of pie.
I must get moving, we have about 40# of deer meat to put in jars and pressure cook starting today. We will work it around our other activities and plan about 2 days, start to finish.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
OWAV:) 01/23/2011, 4am, 26° moon still up
We have another busy day ahead of us. After many years we have this canning thing down to a fine science, so it isn't so hard for either of us. We have learned to spread it out over several days, doing only 2 canners a day instead of 3 or 4.
Video chatted with both kids yesterday, I still marvel at this modern communication. I love the daily interaction in their lives. I was able to view Cienna's Science Project Poster. She did her experiment on cheese making and will have her display at the Science Fair later this month. She is starting to take her studies more seriously.
Connected with niece Diane on Google chat, we compared notes on our canning marathons as well as everyday life. She is a school teacher in Burns, OR and leads a very busy life. My sister Mona called and we signed her on as a follower for my blog site, also started her on a scrabble game through facebook.
Herb is up now, so soon I will have him help me get the last batch of chili in the oven where it heats up so I can put it in the jars. Herb will have extra things to do this morning as he now does the laundry at our house, and Sunday is the day that he washes the "bed clothes". I think he takes great pride in this chore, and I feel very pampered as I crawl into a bed, made by someone else with clean fresh sheets. (For several months of the year the sheets are dried on our outside clothes lines. Oh, how I savor that smell!)
★One of my most vivid memories as a child is the smell and feel of the line dried sheets that Mom put on our beds. Not every week, but often times our bath night, (once a week) and clean sheets would coincide. We would have a bath in the round, tin tub situated in front of the kitchen range, the warmest place in the house. The most wonderful nights sleep was on a night after my hair was washed and dried, my body freshly scrubbed, and wearing clean jammies, I snuggled into line dried sheets. Add to that, the fact that I was surrounded by the love of my parents, I was truly blessed.★
9:30am and I am again sitting at the kitchen table, writing and watching the gauge on the pressure cooker. Today we will finish the "chili marathon" and have 58 pints and 18 quarts of homemade chili. A great feeling of satisfaction comes when the jars neatly line the cellar shelves.
I have signed up for a cooking class this afternoon, sponsored by "Fishtrap and The Big Read". We will be making pies. I'm not a bad pie maker but not the best either. I always think I can learn something and at this point in my life, I still have so much to learn and so little time to get it all in.
Have a good Sunday, until tomorrow OWAV:)
Video chatted with both kids yesterday, I still marvel at this modern communication. I love the daily interaction in their lives. I was able to view Cienna's Science Project Poster. She did her experiment on cheese making and will have her display at the Science Fair later this month. She is starting to take her studies more seriously.
Connected with niece Diane on Google chat, we compared notes on our canning marathons as well as everyday life. She is a school teacher in Burns, OR and leads a very busy life. My sister Mona called and we signed her on as a follower for my blog site, also started her on a scrabble game through facebook.
Herb is up now, so soon I will have him help me get the last batch of chili in the oven where it heats up so I can put it in the jars. Herb will have extra things to do this morning as he now does the laundry at our house, and Sunday is the day that he washes the "bed clothes". I think he takes great pride in this chore, and I feel very pampered as I crawl into a bed, made by someone else with clean fresh sheets. (For several months of the year the sheets are dried on our outside clothes lines. Oh, how I savor that smell!)
★One of my most vivid memories as a child is the smell and feel of the line dried sheets that Mom put on our beds. Not every week, but often times our bath night, (once a week) and clean sheets would coincide. We would have a bath in the round, tin tub situated in front of the kitchen range, the warmest place in the house. The most wonderful nights sleep was on a night after my hair was washed and dried, my body freshly scrubbed, and wearing clean jammies, I snuggled into line dried sheets. Add to that, the fact that I was surrounded by the love of my parents, I was truly blessed.★
9:30am and I am again sitting at the kitchen table, writing and watching the gauge on the pressure cooker. Today we will finish the "chili marathon" and have 58 pints and 18 quarts of homemade chili. A great feeling of satisfaction comes when the jars neatly line the cellar shelves.
I have signed up for a cooking class this afternoon, sponsored by "Fishtrap and The Big Read". We will be making pies. I'm not a bad pie maker but not the best either. I always think I can learn something and at this point in my life, I still have so much to learn and so little time to get it all in.
Have a good Sunday, until tomorrow OWAV:)
Saturday, January 22, 2011
OWAV:) 01-22-11, 5am, 30°, Dark
I awoke sometime in the night with the waning moon shinning in the bedroom window. Thought for a few minutes that it was time to get up, but realized it was the moonlight, so turned over and went back to sleep.
Just had a surprise chat with Rusty, he usually connects with us on his mornings and our evenings, as China is 13 hours ahead of us. Good to hear that their job is about finished. He will probably be off for at least a month and the next job will be in China, Brazil or New Jersey.
I have my scrabble games caught up so I better get busy on the next batch of chili. Sure is good to have something to do on these long winter days. :)
9:30 and the first canner of chile is processing. I'm watching it as I write. The other one is jarred and waiting in the oven. Sun is shinning, beautiful day.
❈ BS ❝My living arrangement worked, the apartment thought small, was adequate for the two of us. Silvia had Saturdays off so she took on the job of cleaning the living room, I the bedroom and both of us kept our messes cleaned up in the kitchen. I did most of the dishes. We were both novice cooks, but we shopped together for bargains at the nearby store and each did some of the cooking. I remember our standby meals as, meatloaf, burgers, chicken noodle soup, (made from chicken wings, very cheap in those days) and hotdogs. We both packed a lunch everyday, that also came out of our meager food budget. There was a Woolworths store with lunch counter on main street, but we couldn't afford to eat lunch downtown.
The one luxury we had was a subscription to the Sunday newspaper. Since Sunday was my only day off I did sleep in and then read the Sunday paper in bed. Silvia attended church every Sunday and other meetings during the week.
Laundry was done on Sundays. Since I only had two uniforms, I would wash them out once, by hand, during the week and then do both of them again on Sunday.
The dress code for beauty school was very strict. We were required to wear white uniforms, nylons and white shoes. Panty hose hadn't been invented yet so the nylons required a garter belt or girdle with fasteners for nylons. We were expected to act and look professional at all times.❞
Enough for now, chili is done except for cleaning the jars before they go to the cellar.
Looking forward to tomorrow, OWAV:)
Just had a surprise chat with Rusty, he usually connects with us on his mornings and our evenings, as China is 13 hours ahead of us. Good to hear that their job is about finished. He will probably be off for at least a month and the next job will be in China, Brazil or New Jersey.
I have my scrabble games caught up so I better get busy on the next batch of chili. Sure is good to have something to do on these long winter days. :)
9:30 and the first canner of chile is processing. I'm watching it as I write. The other one is jarred and waiting in the oven. Sun is shinning, beautiful day.
❈ BS ❝My living arrangement worked, the apartment thought small, was adequate for the two of us. Silvia had Saturdays off so she took on the job of cleaning the living room, I the bedroom and both of us kept our messes cleaned up in the kitchen. I did most of the dishes. We were both novice cooks, but we shopped together for bargains at the nearby store and each did some of the cooking. I remember our standby meals as, meatloaf, burgers, chicken noodle soup, (made from chicken wings, very cheap in those days) and hotdogs. We both packed a lunch everyday, that also came out of our meager food budget. There was a Woolworths store with lunch counter on main street, but we couldn't afford to eat lunch downtown.
The one luxury we had was a subscription to the Sunday newspaper. Since Sunday was my only day off I did sleep in and then read the Sunday paper in bed. Silvia attended church every Sunday and other meetings during the week.
Laundry was done on Sundays. Since I only had two uniforms, I would wash them out once, by hand, during the week and then do both of them again on Sunday.
The dress code for beauty school was very strict. We were required to wear white uniforms, nylons and white shoes. Panty hose hadn't been invented yet so the nylons required a garter belt or girdle with fasteners for nylons. We were expected to act and look professional at all times.❞
Enough for now, chili is done except for cleaning the jars before they go to the cellar.
Looking forward to tomorrow, OWAV:)
Friday, January 21, 2011
OWAV:) 01-21-11, 5am, 25°, broken clouds
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| Barton Heights home in Winter |
We did 30 jars total yesterday, 20 turkey, 5 beef and 5 elk meat. They are cooled, wiped off and on the cellar shelves.
This morning, 11am, 10 qts of turkey broth are done. While processing the broth I have been making the chili. Started with 12# of ground deer and pork meat, that Herb has been grinding. Added chopped onions, garlic, chili powder, chili con carne mix, cumin, salt, and pepper, then browned all the oven. Divided this meat mixture into 3, 4# batches, then added tomato juice, paste, and diced tomatoes, to the first batch. Now I have added 3 quarts of dried beans that soaked overnight(drained). Have put the entire mixture into the oven to heat, before it goes into pint jars and then into the pressure cooker. Herb and I have the first canner of 19 pints processing as I write. We have 7 quarts that will go in as soon as these are done. Total today looks like 10 quarts broth, 19 pints and 7 quarts of chili. We will be doing chili for the next two days so I will write about my time in beauty school then. I'm sure you have heard enough about canning!
It is gray, overcast with a slight drizzle of rain. Thought about walking but probably not. More Later, OWAV:)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
OWAV:) 01-20-11, 18°, clouds
Last night, after watching a "Big Read" film, Mark Twains America, I drove home from Enterprise surrounded by the panorama of a full moon, illuminating the mountains and valley of Wallowa County. What an incredible sight.
The film was well attended and Nancy Rudger added to the program with stories about WC to compare what the world was like in WC in the same era.
Friends, Pat and Pam joined me for food and drink at TG's. Lively conversation caught us up on events of the past few months. Then Pat and I went to the film and Pam was meeting friends for a moonlight trek, snowshoeing on Alder Slope.
I think I will make this short this morning as yesterday Herb and I started the process of a canning marathon. I boned and "chunked" two turkeys, Herb has deer and elk meat thawing. Jars are now washing in the dishwasher and Herb is setting up the propane stove, where the meat will be processed in the 80 year old pressure canner.
Looking out to the west I see pink on the mountain tops and clouds, my clue to get moving.
The film was well attended and Nancy Rudger added to the program with stories about WC to compare what the world was like in WC in the same era.
Friends, Pat and Pam joined me for food and drink at TG's. Lively conversation caught us up on events of the past few months. Then Pat and I went to the film and Pam was meeting friends for a moonlight trek, snowshoeing on Alder Slope.
I think I will make this short this morning as yesterday Herb and I started the process of a canning marathon. I boned and "chunked" two turkeys, Herb has deer and elk meat thawing. Jars are now washing in the dishwasher and Herb is setting up the propane stove, where the meat will be processed in the 80 year old pressure canner.
Looking out to the west I see pink on the mountain tops and clouds, my clue to get moving.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
OWAV:) 01-18-11, 26°, 2" new snow, +moon
Colder this morning, with new snow covering the ground. Yesterday afternoon before we left Janie's it was snowing huge puffy flakes, that floated to earth like down from a duck.
I finally got to see Hallie's seven, month old, border collie puppies, four girls and three boys. Three of them are sporting naturally "bob tails" and they are all cuddly, fat, and adorable. Hallie is a very proud Mama but is getting a little tired of all the attention they demand, plus they want to eat continually. They have a warm place to sleep and play among the straw bales and will soon go to new homes. I have loved puppies from childhood. The smells, sounds and antics as they play and frolic with each other is a delight to watch.
Write group, as usual, was a great time. We had a new lady, "Leta" join us as a possible member of our group. We all read and discussed something we had written and then wrote again as a group. Then we talked more over lunches that we brought, and later we played scrabble into the late afternoon. It has become a special Tuesday and a way for us to recharge our "creativity" and relax among friends.
Caught up on scrabble games at home, chatted with Bob on ichat, and Herb and I read until bedtime.
❈BS ❝I had only visited Boise a few times and never lived in a city, alway on a farm. I had to get use to all of the different sounds and smells. Living that close to two hospitals, we heard sirens daily, they would interrupt my dreams and bring me out of a dead sleep. I never really got use to them. The Excelsis BS was quite large, main floor and full basement, with forty or more students attending at any one time. It was located just off of Boise's main St., on Front St. where there were several bars, and all the "bums" hung out. Another shock for this country girl. Homeless people were as foreign to me as someone from Russia would have been. Occasionally they would wander into the school, an open bottle of beer in their back pocket, looking for a handout.
I would be going to school six days a week, with only Sundays off. Theory class started at 8am, then practical classes until 5pm with an hour off for lunch. Your schooling was based on hours accumulated toward your state requirement. Idaho's requirement was two thousand hours of instruction. We were separated as: Beginners, intermediate and advanced students.
I started school on June 1,1960, two weeks after H.S. graduation. I started school with another girl, Shari, we became fast friends. We were both serious students. We quickly learned how to cut, perm and style hair, taking classes and practicing in the basement on mannequin heads and each other. By September we were practicing as beginners. This was just in time for the back to school special. It was advertised as two perms for the price of one or two perms for $5.00, bring a friend, or your kids etc. A shampoo-set started at $2.00, haircut $1.00, perms $5.00 and went up from there depending on the students experience. Free manicures on Mon.-Wed. so we beginners could practice on real people.
A class of 20 new students started BS the 1st of September, so Shari and I were very proud of our status as students working on the "Floor". Most of the new class of students were from a different mold, they looked at their new found freedom as a ticket to "party". Coming in late for school (a definite no-no) skipping school altogether, and getting docked double hours (this is now illegal). It was not unusual for them to come to school hung-over, and many of them took up smoking in the break room. Both Shari and I were from Mormon families, she attended church, I did not. But both of us were going to BS with a definite goal in mind. We were both engaged, planned to finish school in ten months so we could get married the following June.❞ TBC
Time to get up and moving, have a "Big Read" movie tonight, Pat and I will go out for food and conversation before hand. Until tomorrow owav:)
I finally got to see Hallie's seven, month old, border collie puppies, four girls and three boys. Three of them are sporting naturally "bob tails" and they are all cuddly, fat, and adorable. Hallie is a very proud Mama but is getting a little tired of all the attention they demand, plus they want to eat continually. They have a warm place to sleep and play among the straw bales and will soon go to new homes. I have loved puppies from childhood. The smells, sounds and antics as they play and frolic with each other is a delight to watch.
Write group, as usual, was a great time. We had a new lady, "Leta" join us as a possible member of our group. We all read and discussed something we had written and then wrote again as a group. Then we talked more over lunches that we brought, and later we played scrabble into the late afternoon. It has become a special Tuesday and a way for us to recharge our "creativity" and relax among friends.
Caught up on scrabble games at home, chatted with Bob on ichat, and Herb and I read until bedtime.
❈BS ❝I had only visited Boise a few times and never lived in a city, alway on a farm. I had to get use to all of the different sounds and smells. Living that close to two hospitals, we heard sirens daily, they would interrupt my dreams and bring me out of a dead sleep. I never really got use to them. The Excelsis BS was quite large, main floor and full basement, with forty or more students attending at any one time. It was located just off of Boise's main St., on Front St. where there were several bars, and all the "bums" hung out. Another shock for this country girl. Homeless people were as foreign to me as someone from Russia would have been. Occasionally they would wander into the school, an open bottle of beer in their back pocket, looking for a handout.
I would be going to school six days a week, with only Sundays off. Theory class started at 8am, then practical classes until 5pm with an hour off for lunch. Your schooling was based on hours accumulated toward your state requirement. Idaho's requirement was two thousand hours of instruction. We were separated as: Beginners, intermediate and advanced students.
I started school on June 1,1960, two weeks after H.S. graduation. I started school with another girl, Shari, we became fast friends. We were both serious students. We quickly learned how to cut, perm and style hair, taking classes and practicing in the basement on mannequin heads and each other. By September we were practicing as beginners. This was just in time for the back to school special. It was advertised as two perms for the price of one or two perms for $5.00, bring a friend, or your kids etc. A shampoo-set started at $2.00, haircut $1.00, perms $5.00 and went up from there depending on the students experience. Free manicures on Mon.-Wed. so we beginners could practice on real people.
A class of 20 new students started BS the 1st of September, so Shari and I were very proud of our status as students working on the "Floor". Most of the new class of students were from a different mold, they looked at their new found freedom as a ticket to "party". Coming in late for school (a definite no-no) skipping school altogether, and getting docked double hours (this is now illegal). It was not unusual for them to come to school hung-over, and many of them took up smoking in the break room. Both Shari and I were from Mormon families, she attended church, I did not. But both of us were going to BS with a definite goal in mind. We were both engaged, planned to finish school in ten months so we could get married the following June.❞ TBC
Time to get up and moving, have a "Big Read" movie tonight, Pat and I will go out for food and conversation before hand. Until tomorrow owav:)
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
OWAV:) 01-18-11, 4am, 30° clear,
Awoke at 2:30am, went to the bathroom and back to bed. Tossed and turned for the next hour and a half but sleep would not come. So I'm up at 4am. "Nuisance," the cat, is also up and on the front porch, looking for her next meal.
Sometimes I refer to Nuisance as the perfect cat. Why I think that, is because she doesn't like to be in the house no matter what the weather. She arrived at our house over ten years ago, as a bedraggled kitten. She wanted to be fed, but not petted. I was determined that she should go back where she came from, she was determined to stay and wouldn't take no for an answer. Finally we resorted to feeding her small amounts and she hunted for the rest of her diet. I named her "Scruffy". As it was now apparent that she was not leaving, and we not wanting a batch of kittens, Herb took her to the vets to be "fixed". Of course they wanted to know her history and her name for the records. Herb said, "I, don't remember what Della named her, but I call her a Damn Nuisance". Thus, her name.
Now after 12 years Nuisance still doesn't like to be in the house, although she does like to be petted. But only on her terms, and she doesn't want anything to do with sitting in your lap. She is a good hunter, but as she gets older she comes to the front porch for more of her meals. Herb has made her a nice warm bed in the lean-to where she spends the cold winter nights. This winter we have started to supplement her diet with fish added to her dry food because of her advancing age. I am again saying that when she is gone, there will be no more cats!
I must catch up on what happened in my life yesterday. My friend Pat picked me up at 9am and we made a quick stop at Soroptomists to look for bargains before attending our monthly book group at Fishtrap House in Enterprise. Twelve members converged upon the meeting room at 10am to discuss the Big Read book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". Elizabeth Oliver, former teacher, led the discussion. She posing questions, with the rest of us giving answers, ideas and thoughts about the book. It was a lively discussion and enjoyed by all. For next month we will stay with the "Big Read" agenda and read anything "Twain" and be prepared to discuss what ever topic comes up. Don't think that will be a problem as we all like to talk.
Pat and I then drove back to Joseph, where we walked and talked, on the track at Joseph schools. It was very windy so we could walk very fast going one way, with the wind behind us, then struggle going against the wind as we turned the corner. Gave up after a mile but will be back another day.
I have "write group" today. I am looking forward to it, first of all, because I love all my friends and miss them when we don't write or I can't attend. The second reason is that I have written everyday for the past two weeks, a first for me.
I must sign off now, and tend to some things around the house before leaving for the day. Until tomorrow, OWAV:)
Sometimes I refer to Nuisance as the perfect cat. Why I think that, is because she doesn't like to be in the house no matter what the weather. She arrived at our house over ten years ago, as a bedraggled kitten. She wanted to be fed, but not petted. I was determined that she should go back where she came from, she was determined to stay and wouldn't take no for an answer. Finally we resorted to feeding her small amounts and she hunted for the rest of her diet. I named her "Scruffy". As it was now apparent that she was not leaving, and we not wanting a batch of kittens, Herb took her to the vets to be "fixed". Of course they wanted to know her history and her name for the records. Herb said, "I, don't remember what Della named her, but I call her a Damn Nuisance". Thus, her name.
Now after 12 years Nuisance still doesn't like to be in the house, although she does like to be petted. But only on her terms, and she doesn't want anything to do with sitting in your lap. She is a good hunter, but as she gets older she comes to the front porch for more of her meals. Herb has made her a nice warm bed in the lean-to where she spends the cold winter nights. This winter we have started to supplement her diet with fish added to her dry food because of her advancing age. I am again saying that when she is gone, there will be no more cats!
I must catch up on what happened in my life yesterday. My friend Pat picked me up at 9am and we made a quick stop at Soroptomists to look for bargains before attending our monthly book group at Fishtrap House in Enterprise. Twelve members converged upon the meeting room at 10am to discuss the Big Read book, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". Elizabeth Oliver, former teacher, led the discussion. She posing questions, with the rest of us giving answers, ideas and thoughts about the book. It was a lively discussion and enjoyed by all. For next month we will stay with the "Big Read" agenda and read anything "Twain" and be prepared to discuss what ever topic comes up. Don't think that will be a problem as we all like to talk.
Pat and I then drove back to Joseph, where we walked and talked, on the track at Joseph schools. It was very windy so we could walk very fast going one way, with the wind behind us, then struggle going against the wind as we turned the corner. Gave up after a mile but will be back another day.
I have "write group" today. I am looking forward to it, first of all, because I love all my friends and miss them when we don't write or I can't attend. The second reason is that I have written everyday for the past two weeks, a first for me.
I must sign off now, and tend to some things around the house before leaving for the day. Until tomorrow, OWAV:)
Monday, January 17, 2011
OWAV:) 01-17-11, 4am, Balmy 44°, Windy
We had one of our wind storms overnight, it started about 7pm and continued off and on all night. At times it sounded like a freight train was coming through the bedroom. The snow and ice is almost gone and the deck is totally dry this morning. The wind continues to blow. We have had many of these windstorms over the years, this one being mild in comparison, or maybe it is just because everything that could blow away has done so. The local rivers are at flood stage and more rain is in the forecast.
I imagine this rain put a damper on Winterfest, although we could hear partying going on late into the night, (Friday and Saturday) through our open bedroom window. Snow is falling at the higher elevations so the snowmobile convention should be okay for next weekend.
We invited John and Pam for dinner yesterday. I fixed turkey and homemade noodles, rolls (from the freezer) and fruit salad, it was pretty well slicked up. They both like to eat and will eat most everything, so I like cooking for them.
I have book group this morning, friend Pat is going to pick me up and we will go to Soroptomists first, hoping to find a bargain and maybe walk the track after book group, before coming home.
❝Beauty School 1960❞ Our apartment was a one (small) bedroom, with a tiny closet. The living room was quite large, with flowered wall paper, dining room table, a murphy bed/sofa and one window looking into the window of another apartment building next door. Never met the people, but could watch their TV, just no sound. We had a walk- through kitchen. Our bathroom was down the hall and we shared it with two other apartments. Laundry facilities were in the basement, a washing machine with clotheslines in the basement for winter drying, and outside lines for hanging clothes in the summer. Sylvia, kind and gracious person, gave me the bedroom and she took the murphy bed. The apartment building was in a nice neighborhood, near both hospitals, and the State Capital building. It was about ten blocks from downtown Boise, where Sylvia worked and I would attend school. Neither of us had a car or even a bicycle, only "shanks mare" as it was called in those days and meant, your own two legs and feet! It was a short walk.
The rent on the apartment was around $38.00, everything included, it would be split two ways. Sylvia acquired two jars and on the first of each month we would put money for rent in one and grocery money in the other. My parents had sent meat, from our freezer and canned goods from the cellar to get us started. Each month they would send me a check for $50.00. Out of this I put $19.00 for rent, and $10.00 for groceries. I paid $10.00 a month tuition. (some of the tuition had been paid upfront and I paid the rest monthly). Leaving me $11.00 dollars, for the month. TBC
On with another day, should be an interesting discussion on "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" this morning at book group.
I imagine this rain put a damper on Winterfest, although we could hear partying going on late into the night, (Friday and Saturday) through our open bedroom window. Snow is falling at the higher elevations so the snowmobile convention should be okay for next weekend.
We invited John and Pam for dinner yesterday. I fixed turkey and homemade noodles, rolls (from the freezer) and fruit salad, it was pretty well slicked up. They both like to eat and will eat most everything, so I like cooking for them.
I have book group this morning, friend Pat is going to pick me up and we will go to Soroptomists first, hoping to find a bargain and maybe walk the track after book group, before coming home.
❝Beauty School 1960❞ Our apartment was a one (small) bedroom, with a tiny closet. The living room was quite large, with flowered wall paper, dining room table, a murphy bed/sofa and one window looking into the window of another apartment building next door. Never met the people, but could watch their TV, just no sound. We had a walk- through kitchen. Our bathroom was down the hall and we shared it with two other apartments. Laundry facilities were in the basement, a washing machine with clotheslines in the basement for winter drying, and outside lines for hanging clothes in the summer. Sylvia, kind and gracious person, gave me the bedroom and she took the murphy bed. The apartment building was in a nice neighborhood, near both hospitals, and the State Capital building. It was about ten blocks from downtown Boise, where Sylvia worked and I would attend school. Neither of us had a car or even a bicycle, only "shanks mare" as it was called in those days and meant, your own two legs and feet! It was a short walk.
The rent on the apartment was around $38.00, everything included, it would be split two ways. Sylvia acquired two jars and on the first of each month we would put money for rent in one and grocery money in the other. My parents had sent meat, from our freezer and canned goods from the cellar to get us started. Each month they would send me a check for $50.00. Out of this I put $19.00 for rent, and $10.00 for groceries. I paid $10.00 a month tuition. (some of the tuition had been paid upfront and I paid the rest monthly). Leaving me $11.00 dollars, for the month. TBC
On with another day, should be an interesting discussion on "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" this morning at book group.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
OWAV:) 01-16-11, 4am, 33°, soft rain☔, breezy
Slept with the window open a crack last night, kept waking up to the mellow sound of wind chimes outside our bedroom window, and the patter of raindrops. I switched on the backyard light when I got up, most of the snow has melted and it is a sheet of ice outside. Oh Joy!!! It makes walking very difficult. We will go to the school track again today, did 3 laps yesterday and will try for 4 laps (one mile) today.
Herb has the turkeys thawing in the cellar, so now I"m committed to canning next week. I called John and he is going to thaw deer meat, from his freezer. By the time we get everything thawed that I've been saving plus chili, we should end up with 75 to 100 jars to go on the cellar shelves. Final tally next week.
Yesterday I spent hours playing with the settings, design etc of this page. (Thanks for your input Bob, since you are my only reader, I will listen.) It is fun, also frustrating.
"☽", This looks like a banana to me but it is really a sliver of the moon. I'm thinking of adding to some of my posts "A sliver from the past". Just writing whatever comes to mind from the past, almost 70 years. Maybe I will just use something like this ❀✱♥,what do you think?
❈ Been thinking lately of when I left home at age 17 to go to "Beauty School". Me a farm girl through and through. What was I thinking? I was wearing a diamond on my left hand, marriage on my mind. It was common to get married at that age and start a family but also often said, "a girl needs something to fall back on, just in case". I was never a star student, average at best, so BS seemed doable and could be finished within a year. I would go to Boise and enroll in Elcelsis school of cosmetology. Living arrangements were made to share an apartment with my brother-in-laws cousin, Sylvia. Sylvia and I had never met but it was only for a year, surely it would work. "To be continued"
Herb is starting laundry, time to wash the sheets. How lucky I am, as every week I have a clean bed to crawl into, and not have to lift a hand. It is also hair-cut day for him so I will cut his hair, then shower and get on with the day. owav:)
Herb has the turkeys thawing in the cellar, so now I"m committed to canning next week. I called John and he is going to thaw deer meat, from his freezer. By the time we get everything thawed that I've been saving plus chili, we should end up with 75 to 100 jars to go on the cellar shelves. Final tally next week.
Yesterday I spent hours playing with the settings, design etc of this page. (Thanks for your input Bob, since you are my only reader, I will listen.) It is fun, also frustrating.
"☽", This looks like a banana to me but it is really a sliver of the moon. I'm thinking of adding to some of my posts "A sliver from the past". Just writing whatever comes to mind from the past, almost 70 years. Maybe I will just use something like this ❀✱♥,what do you think?
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| Idella 1960 |
Herb is starting laundry, time to wash the sheets. How lucky I am, as every week I have a clean bed to crawl into, and not have to lift a hand. It is also hair-cut day for him so I will cut his hair, then shower and get on with the day. owav:)
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Oma With a View 01-15-11 5am 30° Breezy
"It's mornin time, I waked up" A quote from Cienna, as a two year old. I can see her now, sitting on the stairway, peeking at me through the railing, having just woke up and started downstairs. With hair standing on end, a lilt in her voice and a smile on her face she was ready for another day in Joseph, with Oma and Papa. We have been blessed with her visits for almost thirteen years now. Her parents have been very generous, since she was "a wee one", letting her come stay with us. She loved coming here, spending one to three weeks at a time. Never showing any signs of being homesick, but was always ready to go home when the time came. Now as she approaches the teen years, we will probably have less or shorter visits as her schedule changes and her activities increase. We will accept and savor whatever time we get. (Yes, Bob, tears are streaming down my face).
Back to the present..Nothing pressing going on here today...So you will just have to listen to my ramblings...I suppose I may have to resort to doing housework, my least favorite thing. Over the years my "wants" have change dramatically. I remember at one time I thought the ultimate would be the luxury of having my hair "done" every week. Then I guess it was having a week away from kids, worries and stress of everyday life. Now how nice it would be to have someone instead of me, cleaning dust laden corners, mopping floors and scrubbing toilets and showers. I'll start looking for someone as soon as I get the house cleaned so no one will know how bad it really is.
Herb just ask if I wanted bacon and eggs for breakfast, sounds good to me. Think we will have toasted tuna sandwiches for dinner today and turkey and dressing for dinner tomorrow. Which reminds me we have to get turkeys and deer meat out of the freezer to thaw so we can start a canning marathon. I also have to do a canner of chile to go on the cellar shelves. The "things" my mother taught me.
Walked on the Joseph Schools track yesterday, twice around, about 1/2 mile. Have to start moving again so I can keep up with Pat and not be in excruciating pain again.
Looks like it is time for me to start moving, Ruby Peak is tipped with a rosy pink glow. The day is wasting. Until tomorrow owav :)
Back to the present..Nothing pressing going on here today...So you will just have to listen to my ramblings...I suppose I may have to resort to doing housework, my least favorite thing. Over the years my "wants" have change dramatically. I remember at one time I thought the ultimate would be the luxury of having my hair "done" every week. Then I guess it was having a week away from kids, worries and stress of everyday life. Now how nice it would be to have someone instead of me, cleaning dust laden corners, mopping floors and scrubbing toilets and showers. I'll start looking for someone as soon as I get the house cleaned so no one will know how bad it really is.
Herb just ask if I wanted bacon and eggs for breakfast, sounds good to me. Think we will have toasted tuna sandwiches for dinner today and turkey and dressing for dinner tomorrow. Which reminds me we have to get turkeys and deer meat out of the freezer to thaw so we can start a canning marathon. I also have to do a canner of chile to go on the cellar shelves. The "things" my mother taught me.
Walked on the Joseph Schools track yesterday, twice around, about 1/2 mile. Have to start moving again so I can keep up with Pat and not be in excruciating pain again.
Looks like it is time for me to start moving, Ruby Peak is tipped with a rosy pink glow. The day is wasting. Until tomorrow owav :)
Friday, January 14, 2011
Oma With a View 01-14-11 5am 38° Breezy
Had an email yesterday in response to our Christmas letter, from old friends Jerry and LuAnn Gelock. Had lost track of them so it was good to hear and catch up on a snippet of their life for the past forty years. I Intend to keep in touch. We met them in New Meadows, Idaho when Herb got his first permanent job with the Forest Service. We started our families together, went shopping, played cards and got together for meals, especially pizza. The guys watched a lot of football. We reconnected with them at different times in Utah and Wyoming.
Have a new friend that I’ve been walking with, but she has been gone for three weeks, so we had much to catch up on today. I play scrabble on facebook with her, she is coming to book group and we sometimes knit together. Mostly we talk! I enjoy Pats bubbly, fun personality.
I arrived home to the smell of sauerkraut, sausages and mashed potatoes for dinner. the sauerkraut is some I made last fall from our homegrown cabbage. Yummy!!
I video chatted with both Rusty and Bobi today on ichat. Russ is fighting some kind of bug. Tease him that it is the Asian or Swine Flu. Seemed better today and hopes to work tomorrow. Bobi is walking and turning one way as she has a kink in her back. Love being able to talk and see both of them everyday, I guess this computer age isn’t so bad after all.
After taking a short walk yesterday, I returned home with a pull in my "groin". It has been bothering me for awhile, but only if I'm active. I heated, iced and stayed off my feet, took drugs and was in bed by 8pm. I Slept the sleep of the dead, awoke feeling refreshed and ready to go. Know I will have to stretch, exercise and take short walks to get it functioning properly. I hope that works.
After taking a short walk yesterday, I returned home with a pull in my "groin". It has been bothering me for awhile, but only if I'm active. I heated, iced and stayed off my feet, took drugs and was in bed by 8pm. I Slept the sleep of the dead, awoke feeling refreshed and ready to go. Know I will have to stretch, exercise and take short walks to get it functioning properly. I hope that works.
While out and about yesterday, I saw many trailers loaded with snowmobiles. The Oregon state snowmobile convention is being held here in Wallowa County this year. Next week they will be at Salt Creek Summit for many scheduled events, such as tours, races and what ever snowmobilers do. In the city of Joseph, they will have breakfast, steak feeds, and adult games. In conjunction with the convention, the Wallowa County Winterfest is also happening. Chili making and snow sculpturing contests will be held. Sounds like fun for young and old alike.
I continue my journey through "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". I find it difficult to read, with the dialect, slang and style of writing. I will go to bookgroup on Monday, where we will have a discussion about this very book and my friends there will explain and comment on passages that I'm having problems with. Then I will probably come home and reread the book, gaining a better understanding of it all.
Must sign off for now, more tomorrow. OWAV :)
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Oma's View 01-13-11 5am 29° slight breeze
Have I always been an early riser? Most of my life I have been, but not always by choice. As a child I had to get up early as there were cows to milk, chickens to feed, pigs to slop and milk to separate. This must all be done before we had breakfast and caught the bus to school. I dreamed of the time in my life when I could sleep until noon, I thought that would be the ultimate. It did happen for a short time when I first got married. As a new bride I would get up early, fix breakfast and lunch for Herb, then dive back into bed to sleep until noon. Most of the time I tossed and turned or if I did sleep, woke up groggy and feeling unrested. Thankfully this only lasted for that first summer and since then I've had children or a job to get me out of bed early or like now after 50 years it is just when I wake up.
I got one thing marked off my list yesterday, sent my first submission (essay) into "Sasee" magazine, have a snowballs chance in hell of getting published, but I must submit if there is to be any hope at all. Now it is time to start another story.
I have accomplished a few other things (besides scrabble games). I have booked 3 weeks in Arizona, where we have tickets to one baseball game at spring training in Peoria AZ and will purchase tickets for at least one more later. Also we have tickets for the Arizona Broadway Theatre to see "My Fair Lady", my all time favorite musical. This will be our 6th show, with dinner, and we always look forward to a great production. Oh yes, we will be soaking up some much needed sunshine while there.
I think Herb has breakfast started so it is time for me to get moving on another day, first I will check to see if the fox is in the field, finish the FJB applications, start dinner and meet friend Pat for our first walk of 2011. She has been gone for a month so have a lot of catching up to do.
Until tomorrow, owav :)
I got one thing marked off my list yesterday, sent my first submission (essay) into "Sasee" magazine, have a snowballs chance in hell of getting published, but I must submit if there is to be any hope at all. Now it is time to start another story.
I have accomplished a few other things (besides scrabble games). I have booked 3 weeks in Arizona, where we have tickets to one baseball game at spring training in Peoria AZ and will purchase tickets for at least one more later. Also we have tickets for the Arizona Broadway Theatre to see "My Fair Lady", my all time favorite musical. This will be our 6th show, with dinner, and we always look forward to a great production. Oh yes, we will be soaking up some much needed sunshine while there.
I think Herb has breakfast started so it is time for me to get moving on another day, first I will check to see if the fox is in the field, finish the FJB applications, start dinner and meet friend Pat for our first walk of 2011. She has been gone for a month so have a lot of catching up to do.
Until tomorrow, owav :)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Oma with a View 01-12-11 5am 18°
Again the severe weather watch was for not. We had NO wind and only a skiff of snow, I should be relieved, elated, ecstatic?? It makes me think back to the olden days (1950's) when we awoke in the night to the wind howling through the trees, banging the windows and the snow drifted to great heights. Oh, for the winters of my childhood, the winters in Lake Fork Idaho where I grew up. Be careful what you wish for, my mind is saying and I know that is true. Oh, I do love a good blizzard, but only when I'm safe and warm inside and in the innocence of youth.
Okay back to the present, Yesterday, off and on for two hours, Herb and I watched the antics of a fox in the field behind our house. He, evidently making a game out of looking for a meal. He ran, jumped, sniffed and cavorted across the field, with the grace of a ballerina. I could hear the music as he did pirouettes over the snow, jumping, then pouncing, looking right and left, then jumping again, twirling, then starting all over. We have no idea if dinner appeared for him, but we certainly enjoyed the show.
I talked earlier in this blog about the "Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Races". In last nights Observer was a photo of Rusty's friend Bino Fowler & sled dog team, from Bend OR. They are the first place winners in the 100 mile course as well as winning for the 3rd time the Best Kept Team Award. We met and visited with Bino and Mary last year. It didn't take long to see and feel how much they love their dogs and that winning is secondary to the health of their animals. Congratulations again to Bino and team.
I should mention that Rusty is in China on another job for LTW. This job has been a trial. It started in Oct (I think) and should have been finished shortly after Christmas. They have had delays plus extremely cold weather conditions to work in. Russ says they can't put on enough clothes to stay warm, so work, always cold, in a building that acts as a wind tunnel. But the end is in sight. He hopes to be home in Bend by the middle of February, after a vacation to Viet Nam or Thailand, where the weather is warm.
Well I must get on with other things, still on my list from yesterday, and some new ones that have been added. Until tomorrow, owav :)
Okay back to the present, Yesterday, off and on for two hours, Herb and I watched the antics of a fox in the field behind our house. He, evidently making a game out of looking for a meal. He ran, jumped, sniffed and cavorted across the field, with the grace of a ballerina. I could hear the music as he did pirouettes over the snow, jumping, then pouncing, looking right and left, then jumping again, twirling, then starting all over. We have no idea if dinner appeared for him, but we certainly enjoyed the show.
I talked earlier in this blog about the "Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Races". In last nights Observer was a photo of Rusty's friend Bino Fowler & sled dog team, from Bend OR. They are the first place winners in the 100 mile course as well as winning for the 3rd time the Best Kept Team Award. We met and visited with Bino and Mary last year. It didn't take long to see and feel how much they love their dogs and that winning is secondary to the health of their animals. Congratulations again to Bino and team.
I should mention that Rusty is in China on another job for LTW. This job has been a trial. It started in Oct (I think) and should have been finished shortly after Christmas. They have had delays plus extremely cold weather conditions to work in. Russ says they can't put on enough clothes to stay warm, so work, always cold, in a building that acts as a wind tunnel. But the end is in sight. He hopes to be home in Bend by the middle of February, after a vacation to Viet Nam or Thailand, where the weather is warm.
Well I must get on with other things, still on my list from yesterday, and some new ones that have been added. Until tomorrow, owav :)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Oma With a View 6am 2°
Cold this morning, no snow. Last night I braved the cold and went to the film "Mark Twain Live" starring Hal Holbrook. I love learning about the authors of books I read and other books that they have written. I will read "Huckleberry Finn" next.
Today our write group has been canceled so I will spend the day catching up on other things. Notices will be sent out to Sorority members, postponing Sunday afternoons Bunco game. We will try for a Feb 6th date. "Friends of the Joseph Branch" (our local excursion train) applications have to be processed and thank you notes sent to members. Something I have put off for a month now.
Yesterday I submitted some photo's to the local annual amateurs photo contest. I'm definitely an amateur but thought it would be fun. Check them out at wallowacountychieftain.com.
I have a draft to finish and get emailed by the 15th, another one of my amateur projects. Not sure why I'm doing these things, except maybe to keep alzheimer disease at bay. Got an email concerning 50th class reunion, seems they are celebrating a year late. Reason, maybe everyone forgot it was the big year. More likely just didn't want to be reminded.
So much for this rambling, words are not coming easy this morning. Back to my scrabble games.
Today our write group has been canceled so I will spend the day catching up on other things. Notices will be sent out to Sorority members, postponing Sunday afternoons Bunco game. We will try for a Feb 6th date. "Friends of the Joseph Branch" (our local excursion train) applications have to be processed and thank you notes sent to members. Something I have put off for a month now.
Yesterday I submitted some photo's to the local annual amateurs photo contest. I'm definitely an amateur but thought it would be fun. Check them out at wallowacountychieftain.com.
I have a draft to finish and get emailed by the 15th, another one of my amateur projects. Not sure why I'm doing these things, except maybe to keep alzheimer disease at bay. Got an email concerning 50th class reunion, seems they are celebrating a year late. Reason, maybe everyone forgot it was the big year. More likely just didn't want to be reminded.
So much for this rambling, words are not coming easy this morning. Back to my scrabble games.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Oma With a View 01-10-11
6:00am, 19°, 2" new snow
As the title indicates Oma has a view, a good one at that, but her memory is a little skewed. Hence the corrections to yesterday musing.
This is the 6th year of the "Big Read'' in Wallowa County. The first year we read "Farenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury. Then we read, Oregon author, Craig Lesley's "River Song." "Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck was read the third year. "Call of the Wild" by Jack London, the fourth, and last year we read "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee. I said that we read "Kaffir Boy" as a big read choice. We did not. It was on the list of alternate books to read along with "To Kill a Mocking Bird." Whew, I hope that sets everything straight.
Last nights kick off played to a packed house. The Odd Fellows Hall, was literally groaning with delight as everyone gathered for fellowship, food and entertainment. The stage was set with an outdoor theme, a fishing pole, depicting one of Toms favorite pass-times was front and center. The program was delivered by Dr Cindy Lovell. She a self-proclaimed "Twainiac",an educator and Executive Director of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal Missouri. She held us, her audience, enthralled as she gave us a birds eye view of Mark Twain's life. Her passion for everything about Mark Twain is plain to see.
Hope everyone can attend the film, "Mark Twain Tonight." It will be playing throughout Wallowa County.
Enough for today, more tomorrow, something besides the Big Read, I hope.
As the title indicates Oma has a view, a good one at that, but her memory is a little skewed. Hence the corrections to yesterday musing.
This is the 6th year of the "Big Read'' in Wallowa County. The first year we read "Farenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury. Then we read, Oregon author, Craig Lesley's "River Song." "Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck was read the third year. "Call of the Wild" by Jack London, the fourth, and last year we read "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee. I said that we read "Kaffir Boy" as a big read choice. We did not. It was on the list of alternate books to read along with "To Kill a Mocking Bird." Whew, I hope that sets everything straight.
Last nights kick off played to a packed house. The Odd Fellows Hall, was literally groaning with delight as everyone gathered for fellowship, food and entertainment. The stage was set with an outdoor theme, a fishing pole, depicting one of Toms favorite pass-times was front and center. The program was delivered by Dr Cindy Lovell. She a self-proclaimed "Twainiac",an educator and Executive Director of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal Missouri. She held us, her audience, enthralled as she gave us a birds eye view of Mark Twain's life. Her passion for everything about Mark Twain is plain to see.
Hope everyone can attend the film, "Mark Twain Tonight." It will be playing throughout Wallowa County.
Enough for today, more tomorrow, something besides the Big Read, I hope.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Oma With a View 01-09-11 5am
Up early again, have scrabble games all caught up, finished my first cup of coffee. Again we didn't get snow overnight, only another covering of frost. The frost sparkles like millions of diamonds, when I turn on an outside light. It's going to be another beautiful day.
The upcoming "Big Read" has Wallowa County in its grips for the 5th year. The chosen book for this year is "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. One most of us read as children and now will reread as an adult. I'm on chapter 6, enjoyed the first 3 chapters with the famous episode, where Tom tricks all of his friends into whitewashing the fence, while he collects all sorts of treasures from them. He lounging about while they do all the work. I found the next two chapters a little slow, maybe I was just tired. I'll push on.
The "Big Read" started in Wallowa County 4 years ago when the local Fishtrap organization applied for and received a grant to fund it the first year. We read "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury. Followed by "The Grapes of Wrath", by John Steinbeck, "Kaffir Boy" by Mark Mathabane, then "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee. The entire Wallowa County takes part in this event, from school children to our senior citizens. Not only do we read, but we hear guest speakers, watch movies, have book discussion, cooking classes and immerse ourselves into the entire literary event. It certainly makes the months of January and February fly by. See you tonight at 7:00 for the "Kickoff"
The upcoming "Big Read" has Wallowa County in its grips for the 5th year. The chosen book for this year is "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. One most of us read as children and now will reread as an adult. I'm on chapter 6, enjoyed the first 3 chapters with the famous episode, where Tom tricks all of his friends into whitewashing the fence, while he collects all sorts of treasures from them. He lounging about while they do all the work. I found the next two chapters a little slow, maybe I was just tired. I'll push on.
The "Big Read" started in Wallowa County 4 years ago when the local Fishtrap organization applied for and received a grant to fund it the first year. We read "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury. Followed by "The Grapes of Wrath", by John Steinbeck, "Kaffir Boy" by Mark Mathabane, then "To Kill a Mocking Bird" by Harper Lee. The entire Wallowa County takes part in this event, from school children to our senior citizens. Not only do we read, but we hear guest speakers, watch movies, have book discussion, cooking classes and immerse ourselves into the entire literary event. It certainly makes the months of January and February fly by. See you tonight at 7:00 for the "Kickoff"
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Oma with a view.....01-08-11 4am
Up bright and early again, the best time of the day. You could say my view is limited because of the mountains or because it is black outside. But I don't think so because my view is in my head, my imagination. (As if anyone cares) The inch of snow they predicted didn't happen, just a thin lacy covering on the deck. After our cold spell it is a balmy 22° outside with a slight breeze. The Eagle Cap Extreme dog race will finish the 100 mile today and 200 tomorrow. It is an exciting time in the valley with sled dog teams coming from all over the world, as they try to qualify for the Iditarod. Outposts are set up at Salt Creek Summit and Ollokot. Tents and supplies are hauled into these places, much of it on snowmobile, so the sled drivers and crews have a place to check in, rest, and eat. Many of the staff are volunteers. The community center in Joseph is "race central" where the festivities start with the initial check-in and the final dinner is held and rewards are awarded. Main street of Joseph on Thursday morning was the place to meet and greet the dogs and owners. School children come not only from the Wallowa Valley but by bus from Union County for this unique opportunity to touch and pet or just look at real live sled dogs. The "Big Read" is the next happening in Wallowa County, kick off is Sunday 7:00pm at the Odd Fellows Hall in Enterprise, hope to see you there. More Later.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Can you imagine living in a place with a view like this?? I can, I do and I cherish every moment that I am here. It looks much different now, at least 4 inches of snow on the ground, the temp has been hovering between 0 and 18 degrees for about a week. It is warming a little and snow or rain is predicted. We'll see. Eagle Cap Extreme Sled dog races are going on from Fergi to Ollokot, started today, with a 100 & 200 mile race. Paper said tonight that there is 7 feet of snow at Ollokot, should be an incredible race. This race is a qualifier for the Iditarod.
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