On the Road Again...Warm

Clouds moving in, weather in for a change...Pat and I are "off" again this time to Walla Walla, for Pat's dental appointment with a specialist...I'm along for moral support, part time driver and I know my way around Walla Walla, sort of...Will stop at the fruit stand, Andys, BiMart, have lunch with LeaAnn...A full day.

Yesterday Pat and I did a mile and half walk up the lake road to the power house...Sure was glad to start back down the hill...OWAV:)

Canned Pears...38º--70º

http://www.usapears.com/Recipes%20And%20Lifestyle/Now%20Servin...Hadn't planned on canning fruit this year, but when I came home with almost two full boxes of lovely "Red Bartlett" pears from Hood River, I knew that I would have to do more than make pear dessert...Check out the link above and learn about Red Bartletts.

Red Bartletts

We left them in our cellar to ripen and went on about roasting tomatoes, checking the pears periodically...We ate them fresh for breakfast as soon as the first one was slightly soft to the touch...then in salads with walnuts and bleu cheese, Oh My!..I took them to potluck lunches, shared them with friends...Yesterday Herb got out all of the canning equipment, set the camp stove up outside the back door and we peeled and canned 14 quarts of these red beauties...I only wish that their color could show in the jars...Now the jars will be stored on the cellar shelves and eaten on cold winter days, not as good as fresh but delicious in their own right.

Herb and I attended the appreciation dinner for Mule Days last night, enjoyed a dinner of Chicken Fried Steak and visited with our fellow volunteers...~OWAV:)

Pear Bars (Cody Orchards in Hood River)
2 C. flour
2 C.brown sugar
1/2 C. butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. heavy cream
1 egg
2 C. peeled chopped pears

     Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour and sugar, cut in butter, press 2 1/2 C. mixture into bottom of ungreased 9x12 pan. to remaining flour mixture, add spices, cream and egg, stir,  Fold in pears, pour over crust in pan.  Bake for 50 minutes.  Cool and cut into small squares.


Sour Cream Pear Pie (Cody Orchards in Hood River)
1 unbaked 9 inch pie shell
1 cup sour cream
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour
4+ cups peeled, diced ripe pears


Pecan Streusel Topping
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter cut in small pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
    Cut butter into combined flour, sugar and cinnamon. Add pecans.


     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Blend the sour cream, egg, sugar, vanilla, salt and flour until smooth.  Fold in prepared pears.  Pour into the pie shell. Bake for 40 minutes.  Sprinkle with Pecan Streusel Topping and bake another 10 minutes.  Cool slightly and serve.

Pears & Tomatoes...47º--75º

Pears from Hood River have been ripening in the cellar...They are ready for the jars...The last of the tomatoes are ready to roast...Essay must be finished for Katey...Gardens are in need of loving care to prepare them for winter...My list goes on and on...Time at home is limited because I can't miss fun with friends.

Write group was a great time yesterday at Pat's "Cabin"...A lovely home where seven of us gathered to share stories and food...Stories were very entertaining and the food was over the top...Quiche, taco casserole, fresh pears with cheese, sliced chicken, quinoa salad, pickled mushrooms and warm apple/pear pie for dessert...A gourmet delight...Our write group varies every week, but laughter, camaraderie and fun prevail...Our stories can be funny, sad, thought provoking, some even rhyme...It has been mentioned that maybe we should change the name to the "Write Food Group".

Late afternoon I was busy at home getting ready for a potluck Mule Days committee meeting...Herb had vacuumed the house, in between mowing lawns and watering, then I swept, mopped, dusted etc...fixed toppings for a salad...Our committee ate, drank a little wine, "cussed" and discussed Mule Days...Mule Days is a rapidly growing event and staff is finding it hard to keep up...We are trying to come up with ways to organize and structure, by listing all of the jobs that need doing and volunteers to head up each committee, so everything runs more smoothly...Hopefully we will get backing from the board...

Tonight is the volunteer appreciation dinner for Mule Days...Time is flying, I must get moving...~OWAV:)

Glasses...47º---72º

Another trip to LaGrande yesterday...unusual for me to be on the road like I have been the last couple of weeks...I had the trip to Hood River, then to Sue's birthday party and yesterday I had a chance to ride with friends Kathy and Pam to LaGrande to pick up my new glasses, saving me a special trip...It was a fun trip, Pam going to a meeting and Kathy and I shopping up a storm...The afternoon flew by and we were soon sharing chinese food, family style before the return drive to Wallowa County...We caught up on each others news of several months, chatting a mile a minute.

my world with the first pair 

Most of this time I was wearing new glasses and at times things seemed a little distorted even blurry as my eyes adjusted to a new prescription...I had gotten new glasses over a month ago, but they didn't work, when the first time I wore them outside, I thought I was in a magnified fish bowl, swimming upstream...Stomach turning upside down, outside world taking on strange shapes...I took them back, saying sorry I can't wear these.

Enough silliness for one day, I must get busy...I have write group this morning at Pats and a committee meeting for mule days here tonight...Now where did I put that paper bag with all the papers in it, looks like I might need it again!....OWAV:)

Shoes...42º---68º

"Tread Bare"

Have been up since 5:30am, coffee in hand, I've been perusing the online sneakers...(the kind you wear)....About three years ago I found a brand of shoes called Spira, with wave spring technology throughout the sole...I loved and wore out the first pair, found a second pair at a ridiculously low price, snatched them up, wore them almost everyday for three weeks, touring the island of Kauai and returned home to wear them only as my nicer sneakers...They still look good but are loosing their spring...I can understand that!..Pat and I are on a determined course of walking everyday (she more determined than I) and they are my only pair of shoes with good support...Herb has been watching for that occasional bargain during his online shopping but they are available only in a size 5 or 10...Just won't fit my feet...Thus this mornings search...I have found them on Zappos with free shipping both ways,  in case they don't fit...but I have to bite the bullet and pay full price...My feet and legs are worth it...So out comes the credit card and with the speed of light (high speed internet) I will order two pairs and hope that one of them is a good fit...Must go, meeting Pat for our daily walk at 9am....Hugs, OWAV:)

Celebrate...60º--75º

I arrived home 9pm last night from LaGrande...Sue's 60th birthday was celebrated by family and friends...When I arrived about 2pm, Sue (the birthday girl) instead of kicking back with a margarita in hand was, elbow deep, in the kitchen, busily making the taco filings for the traditional Mexican dinner...The usual fare for all of their family parties... Six girls in my brother, Georges, family and their mother, Marlene from Mexican decent...Marlene taught them all early on how to make authentic mexican food...So not only did we have three kinds of tacos, but tamales and chile rellenoes, as well, all homemade...Some of the food was spicy and some mild... chips and three kinds of salsa with 3 layer bean dip, beer and ice tea for drinks was set out for all to munch on until the real food was ready...And what a spread it was, for sure no one went away hungry....Old friends, newer friends, and family filtered in and out all afternoon, bringing birthday wishes and more food...The party spread throughout the house and onto the back deck under the maple tree...Little kids played in the wading pool and on a dirt pile...Laughter and frivolity echoed throughout the neighborhood...At 7pm I called it a night and left the gala, with a 75 mile drive ahead of me.

I have a special bond with the three oldest girls of this family, as I babysat and played with them from the time they were born until I was married and moved on with my own life...We share many memories of family, good and bad...Get together when we can, although that is not often enough...I always look forward to an invitation to their family gatherings.

Now on with my own world, I still have more tomatoes to roast...Herb was right when he said, "Why are you ordering more tomatoes?"  But I will, with his help get them all done and in the freezer and when we are eating wonderful soups, sauces and casseroles this winter we'll be happy that we have lots of tomatoes!...Hugs to all on this beautiful fall day...OWAV:)

Get Moving...52º---85º

Golden Glow or Outhouse Plant

The early pioneers planted this flower (rudbeckia family) near the outhouse not sure why because it doesn't have much of a fragrance, (my first thought)...So maybe because it spreads and grows tall so it camouflaged the toilet.

Scrabble done, chatted briefly with Rusty before we were disconnected...Have tomatoes to roast, then on to LaGrande for the afternoon.

I worked the Fishtrap yard sale yesterday, walked with Pat and was wiped out for the rest of the day...Sat on the deck and enjoyed the sun.

Pat shared her new pork chop dish with us, which was very good and I didn't have to cook...Just heat and eat.

End of the month is quickly approaching and I have an essay due, not sure when that will get done...I guess when push comes to shove, I'll get it done...Have a good weekend....OWAV:)

Yard Sales...low 54º-predicted high 85º

Yard sales are winding down for the year, only a couple are advertised in the local paper this week...As a community member for "Fishtrap" I will go to their sale, early this morning to help finish with the setup, take money etc...Yard sales frustrate me, but I still go, thinking I might get the illusive bargain...Mostly the early birds really irritate me and at one time I quit going to  yard sales just because of them...Over the years I've found my share of bargains, a Bosch mixer, oak coffee table, old ice box, were some of my best finds...I've bought items in LaGrande, Elgin and Walla Walla, Phoenix and Portland... coming home with the car loaded... The only criteria was, are they cheap and will they fit in the back of my car...Did I NEED them, well maybe not, sometimes I have bought something on Saturday and donated it to Soroptomists on Monday...It just goes on and on.

Yesterday I made a double batch of fresh apple cake from a recipe that Joyce Gover gave me many years ago...It is written on a scrap of paper and at the bottom it says, "potato field 1975"...Takes me back many years, another lifetime, more memories...Something else to write about?

It was so warm yesterday, Herb and I abandoned the deck for the cool of our house in the late afternoon...October is just around the corner...OWAV:)

Indian Summer...46º--75º

Herb's Sunflowers

A few days or weeks of Indian summer is common in Wallowa County...Although this year we didn't have the killing frost, that is usual, before the overly warm days arrived... Squash, pole beans and tomatoes still flourish in the vegetable garden...My flowers still in full bloom, wafting in the breeze, as the sweet fragrance of fall phlox fills the air...Larch trees are a shade lighter and will soon have a golden glow, unmatchable by evergreens nearby...Maple trees hint at turning bronze, then gold, even orange...Fall is in the air... Summer was short and cool, now fall is here warm and unseasonably dry...Herb runs sprinklers daily but with no measurable rain for nearly two months our ground has huge cracks, and is hard and unforgiving...We need moisture, but I won't wish for rain because it brings cooler temperatures, so I will bask in the sun as long as possible, keeping winter at bay.

We finished the dill pickles yesterday with a total of 19 pints and 9 quarts, some hot garlic and some just garlic dills...Roasted 3 more pans of tomatoes and still have 50#'s to go...The sweet pickles are in brine and ready to be sliced, sweetened and processed before going on the cellar shelves...Pears and peaches are slowly ripening...Maybe I will have time to do a little yard saling tomorrow and help out for a couple of hours at the "Fishtrap" cleaning out sale...Will walk with Pat again today, have sorority meeting tonight (I'm making dessert), maybe go to LaGrande on Saturday to niece Sue's big "Six OOOhhhhh", birthday celebration...Hugs to all...~OWAV:)

Garden Club...44º

I enjoyed having garden club yesterday, because I love having people look at the garden who have some idea of all the work that goes into it...It wasn't the best time for me since I have tomatoes to roast, pickles to make, peaches and pears are ripening in the cellar and my garden has been neglected for over a month now...Many plants needed deadheading and others just plain needed to be cut down so others could "shine"...But oh well, they are gardeners and my friends, so they understand.

I spent the morning at write group, while Herb vacuumed the house, set up chairs on the deck and a myriad of other things to make it look like someone really cared that company was about to descend on us...I arrived back home about noon, with a piece of Janie's fresh strawberry pie which I shared with Herb, putting us both in a more congenial mood to entertain...I then fixed bruchetta to serve along with iced, cucumber-lemon water, set out paper plates and napkins and my signature "crystal" glasses (jelly jars)...Grabbed a large paper bag and swept all the accumulated papers stacked on the counter, into the bag and now the kitchen was tidy enough for guests...WHEW!

Last years forced tulips

I welcomed the friendly faces of my gardening friends to the deck at 2pm, launched into a demonstration of planting bulbs in a pot, to be forced into bloom, in the dreary days of January...Then on this beautiful fall day, we took a brief tour of the vegetable and flower gardens, then back to the shade of the deck for refreshments and visiting...Soon the whirl wind of activity was over...I cleaned up the kitchen and Herb awoke from his nap and took over the straightening of the deck.

We fixed our dinner of pork chops, corn on the cob, fresh sliced cucumbers and tomatoes...I love September for this very reason, it doesn't take long to put a meal on the table...The end of a hectic day on Barton Heights... ~OWAV:)

Early Riser...41º

For some reason I was up at 4am this morning...much better to relax in my recliner doing scrabble than tossing and turning in bed...Had 3 pans of tomatoes in the oven by 7am... Started getting things ready to make dill pickles...went to book group where we had a good discussion on "Work Song" by Ivan Doig and chose the book "Major Pettigrews Last Stand" for our October read...Back home I did 9 pints and 4 quarts of hot dills...then toasted bagel chips for bruchetta for garden club tomorrow...Packaged the tomatoes for the freezer...Herb cooked bacon for BLT's for our dinner.

I intended to write more about the trip to Hood River?..Lets see what can I say...Pat turned the driving over to me when we got to Enterprise, as she remembered me saying that I prefer to drive the curvy two lane road rather than the freeway...She doesn't mind the freeway since she is accustomed to driving the freeways of Maryland, which she says are a nightmare...I'm sure she is not stretching the truth there.

It seemed like a very short trip to Pendleton, because we have so much to talk about... Have only known each other for a year so are still discussing families, schools, Wallowa County, children, careers and life in general...The beautiful scenery of Tollgate flies by... As we approach Pendleton, lights are flashing and they divert traffic to a side street...Pat says, "Oh no it is Pendleton Roundup"!  I navigate the detour through town, side streets lined with cars, people crossing everywhere headed for the rodeo grounds...No problem getting to safeway and the gas pumps, where we fill up and take a bathroom break...Pat takes the wheel to our next stop at Arlington...A leftover lunch furnished by Pat in the park delights the "yellow jackets" who think she invited them!..Since she is very allergic to stings, we eat quickly and make a mad dash back to the car...Next stop, Fred Meyer's in The Dalles...After that it is a short trip to Hood River, and a new adventure.

Must get moving this morning, cleaning, arranging and planning Garden Club...Think I will demonstrate planting bulbs in a pot for winter bloom in the house...Tour the garden, weeds and all...The rest of the tomatoes and cucumbers will wait until tomorrow..I must go to write group this morning, can't miss that...~OWAV:)

"Get Away"...09/19/11

Maureen and Pat

A fun trip to Hood River...Pat and I left Joseph Friday morning headed for Hood River, to visit Pats sister, Maureen...Pat and Maureen's  parents bought an orchard there in the 1940's and raised their three daughters and one son...We arrived Maureen's around 3pm, and helped her finish putting together a dinner for us and two other couples that would join us for dinner and "The Cemetery Tales"...A production put on by the History Museum, as a fund raiser... "Cemetery Tales" took place in the Idlewilde Cemetery... Starting at dusk, luminaries lighting our way, we, along with a small group of people, walked to chosen grave sites...Seated in folding chairs, we quietly listened to narratives, given by local actors and actresses as they portrayed the people who lay beneath each headstone...Each giving a brief history of their journey to Hood River and their contribution to the community... It was an interesting and entertaining evening as each actor, in period costume, took us back in time and we could each relate to the stories, as all of our ancestors migrated to the West at sometime.

Della and Pat

Saturday, after a lovely breakfast fixed by Maureen we started out to tour Hood River, driving by schools, houses, orchards and sledding hills...Up and down the lush green hills and valley we went...all the while they were telling me stories of their childhood growing up in Hood River and working in the family orchard...we were given pears from their old orchard to bring back to Joseph, stopped at the "White House" where we tasted wine, bought fruit at a local produce stand, had lunch at their favorite Chinese restaurant owned and operated by friends of the family...we visited the Art Museum down town where Maureen is a charter member, walked along the river in a new park, dedicated to local people, browsed a funky book store and later in the evening had a lovely dinner at the "Stonehedge" restaurant... Sunday morning we left Hood River at 9:30am on our way back to Joseph...More tomorrow...~OWAV:)

Road Trip

Busy day yesterday...did my last pan of tomatoes until we get more in Milton-Freewater on our way home from Hood River...Met Pat at the lake to walk, it was raining so we walked to a video she has...Took a 2-mile walk right in her living room...wasn't bad for a video...Should work well on the many winter days that we don't dare try to walk because of icy conditions...

Have a fun trip planned to Hood River, with Pat, to see "Cemetery Tales"...Peoples names are chosen from the cemetery, then research done on their life and it is reenacted in play form at the cemetery..."I Think"... You will hear the whole scoop when I get back home...Pat grew up in Hood River and her sister Maureen still lives there...We will stay with her and see some of the sights around the valley, it is pear season, so things should be happening...I've always thought Hood River a pretty town, except for the wind...Pat lived in Odell which is away from the river and not so windy...Her parents owned a fruit orchard.

I'm packed, ready to go...Stay tuned, ~OWAV:)

Zucchini Lemon Bread...Warm, Cloudy, 3 drops of Rain

Up at 4am yesterday morning, worked on my essay...Cleaned the bathroom... then I scoured the garden for dinner items and came away with new potatoes to cook and mash to go with our pork roast and gravy... Sliced tomatoes and cucumbers on the side...

Zucchini Lemon Bread 

Took time to measure all the ingredients for Janie's Zucchini Lemon Bread...Met Pat at the Joseph parking lot so we could walk up the hill to the Joseph School track, made it around four times and all together should add up to about 1 1/4 miles...Really need her to keep pushing me and hope the weather stays decent so we can continue, we talk nonstop so the time goes fast... Back home I put all the bread ingredients together, dumped it into five small loaf pans and then into the oven...While they baked I fixed dinner and then collapsed for what was left of the afternoon...The bread turned out very good, maybe next time I will add more lemon juice and maybe a little lemon extract and possibly a little cinnamon, maybe poppy seeds...Love to play with recipes.

Neighbor David brought a box of Gala apples that people from Imnaha are selling, so for dessert today we had a slice of Zucchini bread (maybe two) and an apple.~OWAV:) Recipe at  http://bobbi-writingonthewall.blogspot.com/

LaGrande...09/14/11

We were on the road by 6:30am yesterday, always like to get an early start going to LaGrande... I had an eye appointment at 8am...It was a visual field check and also always keeping an eye on what the macular degeneration is doing...Staying the same we hope... Also returned a new pair of glasses that hadn't been ground properly and my vision was distorted, after a month of trying, I couldn't wear them...So they have been sent off to be redone...Decided to have breakfast, then pass on lunch as we had food at home waiting to be eaten...I had an adjustment from Dr Bond, our gentle chiropractor, neck and shoulders were sore from the lifting done at mule days...Made our usual stops at BiMart, Walmart, and Grocery Outlet...Home by 4pm.

White Stargazer Lily

I did some watering...flower gardens and deck barrels...Warmed up the pulled pork and cooked green beans for our dinner...Caught up on scrabble, e-mail etc... Tomorrow I have tomatoes to roast...Will walk with Pat.

I call this the illusive lily...I planted it several years ago, but it only blooms occasionally and never in the same place...Granted I have moved it but sometimes it seems to grow and bloom only where it wants to...This year I found it hidden among much taller plants so I cut it and brought it into the house...Inside it is so fragrant that the smell is sometime overpowering almost offensive...Outside just a whiff is heavenly...~OWAV:)

"We 3"...5am...09/13/11...56°

Busy morning with phone calls, bill paying, watering, catching up!..Met Pat at 11am for a walk, (again we are committed to walking on a regular basis) then joined Amy  for another killer lunch on the deck where we discussed our writing assignments...Beautiful day, good wine and company, hard to beat.

Home to feed Herb roast pork that had been roasting all morning and relax for a few...Had a call from Grammys Gardens that cucumbers were ready in LaGrande...but alas two hours later, the lady called almost in tears...She had left her teenage daughter to tend the garden sales while she ran to the store and when she arrived back home my 20# bag of  "small" cucumbers had been sold...Cross that off my list...Will stop today and get some corn from her and see if we might arrange to get cucumbers, but I'm afraid the season is running out.

Must run we are off to LaGrande, have a good day...OWAV:)

Mule Days Ends...6am...56°...More sun

Weather wise it was the end to a perfect Mule Days...Money wise I'm not sure...Final figures are not in yet...Most of the money goes to scholarships to kids here in Wallowa County, plus it brings money into the county for motels, restaurants and shops...As alway some vendors did great, others not so...At the El Bajio restaurant last night we all agreed it had been a very good weekend, as we moved our tired bodies out of the chairs and headed home to fall into bed...

Herb and I are both up early this morning, he going back to the fairgrounds to clean up the final round of garbage and I have to get my "We 3" writing organized and meet Amy and Pat for lunch so we can have our monthly discussion...Will put a pork roast in the oven before I leave this morning so Herb and I will have food for a few days this week...Tomorrow we go to LaGrande for an eye appointment for me and coming up this weekend is my Hood River Weekend with Pat...Tomatoes are ripening in the utility room and will soon be ready for roasting...will pick up 20# of cukes tomorrow for pickles...Looks like this week is going to be as busy as last week was...Keep this body moving as long as possible...A good day to all~OWAV:)

Saturday at Mule Days...09/10/11...68°..8pm

Black Eyed Susans

I did two cookie sheets of tomatoes this morning, bagged them and they are in the freezer for winter...Then I went to Enterprise to volunteer at Mule Days.

Another full day, bigger crowds, not so warm as we had a breeze most of the day with a little cloud cover...I still didn't get over to the arena to watch the mules...Spent time at the souvenir and ticket booth...split a burger and ice cream for lunch...Helped set up for the BBQ, then had coleslaw, beans and BBQ'd pork for dinner...Home to a glass of wine, catch up on the scrabble games and now it is time for bed...after tomorrow Mule Days will be over for another year...We have the dutch oven cook off to look forward to... An interesting way of cooking, lots of good food comes out of one pan with the cooking done over charcoal.

Then the cleanup starts with everything boxed up to put in storage for another year...We usually go out for mexican food as a last hooray...~OWAV:)

Headed for bed shortly as both Herb and I pulled 10 hour shifts at Mule Days today...Not as bad as it sounds, because we had several opportunities to sit and rest...But much of the day was on our feet, lifting and carrying, and the older we get the more it tells on us...It was a fun day meeting with old friends that we have worked with before...Ernestine and I set up the t-shirt booth, think it was the best that it has ever looked...It was fun talking to all the people that stop at our information, souvenir booth... and maybe tomorrow I'll have time to watch the mules perform...Herb is the chief garbage guy, plus errand runner, bathroom checker and whatever else they think of.

It was a beautiful September day, in fact it got so warm that they stopped the show at about 3pm because of the heat and the concern for the animals and humans out in the ring...That meant that more people were out shopping at the many booths set up just for that purpose... Herb and I split an order of biscuits and gravy for breakfast and each had a hamburger meal for our lunch...later Herb came by with ice cream on a stick, covered with nuts, that he shared with me...yum, good...Herb will go at 7am tomorrow and I about 10am (I have tomatoes to roast)...Driving home tonight at nearly 7pm, it was a balmy 81°, summer has finally arrived...Sweet dreams...~OWAV:)

Bathrooms...09/08/11...10pm...70°...Warm Day

Took a short walk this morning, then watered barrels, finished folding T-Shirts and then met Pat at the fairgrounds, where we spent 2 hours cleaning bathroom...We must have a good time together when we resort to cleaning bathrooms just so we can visit...Back home about 1:30, I found 30# of Imnaha tomatoes on the front porch, more to roast..Herb and I had a quick dinner and he went back to help more at the fairgrounds...

I finished sorority stuff and made many copies, then cut and punched holes so the books are ready for the meeting tonight...Finished at 6:35 and had to be out the door by 6:40...Good thing I'm not particular about what I wear any more as I didn't have much time to cleanup and change clothes....Darlene furnished all the fixings for sundaes or banana splits, at our meeting, Yummy...Interesting program on hankies for both men and women and Annie showed off her collection of old lacy hankies.

Home now trying to unwind so I can sleep, have to be at the fairgrounds by 7am tomorrow...Goodnight to all or I guess good morning as that is when you will read this...~OWAV:)

T-shirts plus...09/08/11...9pm...73°...Cloudy day

Went for a short walk this morning...then weeded in the garden for awhile, picked green beans, swiss chard, patty pat and onion to make stir fry veggies as a side dish for our dinner...added to that was zucchini patties and fresh sliced tomatoes...Herb didn't even ask, "Where's the beef" it was so good.

Spent the rest of the morning in a meeting and on my way home I stopped to pick up about 10 dozen, Mule Days T-Shirts from Moonlight Graphics...So off and on all afternoon i've folded shirts between scrabble games and roasting tomatoes...I did two more cookie sheets full of tomatoes to store away in the freezer for winter...Made phone calls this morning and will pick up 20# of pickling cucumbers on the 13th when I go to LaGrande for an eye appointment and when Pat and I come home from Hood River on the 18th we will swing by Milton Freewater and the Edwards Farm to get the 150# of tomatoes that I ordered.

Below is a recipe that I make quite often in the summer for us and also for potlucks...It is alway slicked up at potlucks, many times by people who say they don't eat zucchini... We also eat just the zucchini and egg "pancakes" for a main dish, fried in a little olive oil and butter they are very good.

Idella's Zucchini Casserole (Mock Eggplant Parmesan) 

Grate one large zucchini (approximately 10 inches long.) I use a very course grater...Mix into grated zucchini with a fork 4 to 6 eggs…place large spoonfuls of the mixture on a hot griddle like you would pancakes, browning on one side and flipping to the other…Barely cover the bottom of a casserole dish with roasted tomatoes (or marinara sauce)  layer zucchini patties on top of the tomatoes, then a layer of mozzarella cheese... keep layering, with tomatoes, zucchini, ending with cheese until casserole dish is full…Bake in a 325° oven for about 30 minutes…Don't overcook…I serve it warm or cold, eat it for dinner or breakfast…Just love it anytime…It works well with the frozen roasted tomatoes…

Must call it a day...~OWAV:)

I'm taking a lesson from Bobi and setting up my blog this afternoon, so I can get an earlier start on my morning...Will see how that works for me.

Today Pat, Janie and I were at write group, had a great discussion, ate really good food then home to sit on the deck and unwind, finish up the tomatoes and now I must go upstairs and finish the sorority stuff for an executive meeting tomorrow morning and regular sorority on Thursday night...Let me know if you try roasting tomatoes and if you like them...Please.

Tomatoes from this morning:

Tomatoes washed, cored, sliced in half, placed close together on cookie sheet...Sprinkle with diced garlic, basil, sea salt and olive oil...Roast in a 200° oven for 3 to 4 hours.

Before Roasting

This is how they look when you take them out of the oven...Most of the juice has cooked and concentrated so they have an incredible sweet tomato taste...Let them cool a little, then slide them onto crusty bread, sprinkle with parmesan cheese for bruschetta... MAYBE, you will have some left to put in the freezer!

After Roasting

Slide into ziplock sandwich bags, seal and freeze for winter sauces, add to soups, casseroles, your imagination is your only limit.

Slide into Baggies

Ready for the Freezer

ROASTED TOMATOES

Roasting tomatoes brings out their flavor, and they can then be used to create tasty pasta sauces, bruschetta, added to soups or casseroles.  Use fresh, ripe, flavorful tomatoes for the best results.  

10 to 15 ripe tomatoes

2-4 cloves garlic, onion, chopped, 

1-2 Tbl. chopped basil

Salt & pepper (Optional, I like course salt)

Olive oil (optional)

           Preheat oven to 250-300 degrees. (I do the first ½ hour at 400 deg.)  Core & halve  the tomatoes, and place skin side down on a large baking sheet.  (If tomatoes are really large I slice them into 3 slices).  Sprinkle the tomatoes with garlic, basil and salt.  Drizzle with a little olive oil and place in the oven.  Bake for 3 hours until they have shriveled yet still remain moist.  Cool and use as desired or package in ziplock bags and freeze for winter sauces...~OWAV:)

More Sunshine...09/06/11...6am...52°

I'll make this short and sweet this morning...Yesterday I Met Pat at "Mad Mary's, for a short shopping spree...Got most of the sorority stuff done and did spend some time on the deck... It was another glorious day, no wind, just warmth...Herb chased water most of the day and we had a cold dinner of sliced chicken, tomatoes, and other garden veggies... Talked to our other families, Rusty still in Jersey, others in Portland, read Bobi's blog at http://bobbi-writingonthewall.blogspot.com...Good luck Cienna on your first day in eighth grade...Remember we love you and think about you everyday.

Must fix something for lunch to take to write group and start the first batch of tomatoes to roast...Hugs to all~OWAV:)

Honey bees a buzzing

Bee Balm

Relax...09/05/11...6am...52°...Dark

Rudbeckia

Up very early yesterday, did scrabble and finished my essay and emailed it to Katey...Gave Herb a haircut, then trimmed my own hair...Wandered around outside, took photos of fall flowers in all their bronze, orange and yellow beauty...Their faces turned to the sun as they open to their fullest and bask in its warmth.

The rest of the day I sat on the deck luxuriating in the warm sunlight (like the flowers), read a book and gazed in awe at our amazing view...I did go inside long enough to prepare oven fried chicken, grated fresh cabbage for coleslaw, sliced tomatoes and steamed new green beans...How lucky we are to have homegrown food.

Chatted with the kids, Rusty is recovering from a sinus infection, Cienna is trying to stretch her last two days before school starts and Bobi has mixed emotions, that school is about to start...Alway a mother's quandary.

Now I've had my day of rest, this month is already starting to overwhelm me..."Mule Days" starts this Friday and Herb and I have committed to being there most of three days...Luckily the weather looks good...I have sorority on Thursday night, have yearbooks to finish for sorority (Damn we are supposed to do cleanup at the fairgrounds Thursday night!)...Another juggling act...The following weekend Pat and I are going to Hood River, stay with her sister Maureen and take in a play...Which brings me to the third week of September and I have third monday book group, third tuesday garden club at my house...In between, tomatoes to roast, pickles to make and another assignment for Katey due September 30th...Plus deadheading, cutting down flowers, dividing and transplanting...Breath deep and take, One--day--at--a--time...~OWAV:)

Crazy Saturday...09/04/11...4am...45°...Dark

Awake early, scrabble done, short blog so I can finish my essay and send it off to Katey...

Pat and I had a busy morning with yard sales and "Mad Mary's" alley sale, 60 to 75% off...I seldom go to "Mad Mary's"...To me it is the store with "everything" that nobody needs...At this stage of my life I try not to buy "trinkets"...I don't give many gifts and if I do people have to be happy with something that I have made...It was fun browsing and I saw some possibilities's for stocking stuffers, so maybe I will find myself there on Monday when whatever is left will be 75% off...Of course like most women, I'm a sucker for a sale, even on trinkets!

Spent my afternoon on the deck writing, had to stay in the sun as the breeze was cool...Also started dinner rolls and zucchini casserole for Becky and John's BBQ...Nice evening at their house, seated around the bonfire eating our dinner of tri-tip, drumsticks, coleslaw, zucchini casserole, rolls and fruit...Becky has started her second year of law school and was home for a little break.

Cheers!

That's it for another day on Barton Heights, hope your "Labor Day" is a good one, Hugs to all~OWAV:)

Picklin' and Jammin'...09/03/11...5am...41°...Sunny

I could love fall, if only winter wasn't on it's heels...Spring was nonexistent, summer maybe two weeks long and now the nights have turned cooler...I keep telling myself, make the best of it, things could be worse...Fall colors are starting, tomato season is here.

Beet Pickles

So I throw myself into preserving food to fill the cellar shelves for winter...Yesterday I harvested beets and did eight jars of beet pickles...I love the smells of fall in my kitchen...Beets and vinegar simmering on the stove, pungent spices added in, cloves, allspice and cinnamon and sugar...A bunch of dill stands alone in the corner...garlic cloves peeled in a dish and basil freshly washed, stuck into a vase to keep it fresh...All ready for another day.

Berry Jam

Later in the day I gathered all the berries into one pot, mashed them, added pectin, brought to a boil, then added sugar, boiled for three minutes and ladled this dark, almost purple, liquid into thirteen half pints, added lids and left them to seal.

Fresh from the garden

Our dinner was a succulent lamb stew made from one potato, one onion and three carrots from the garden added to the leftover lamb and gravy from last week...simmerd until the flavors melded together...Add to our plates, a sliced Imnaha tomato, fresh coleslaw, sliced cucumber and baking powder biscuits, warm from the oven...Heavenly!

Imnaha tomatoes arrived but I was a little disappointed, they look more like culls than canners...Not a good year for tomatoes...I picked out the one most red and grabbed the salt shaker...Oooooohhhh, the flavor is there, and in a few days they will be ready to roast...If we don't eat all of them first.

Daylight is burning, busy day ahead, yard sales, maybe the Juniper Jam (music at the fair grounds), finish my essay, make dinner rolls for Becky and John BBQ tonight...~OWAV:)

Nose to the Grindstone...09/02/11..5am...42°...Sunny

Sauerkraut fermenting

The garden wasn't just calling yesterday, it was screaming...the beets, the green beans, the cabbage and the dill...Harvest time is here...The flower garden is also feeling its pain, it wants to be deadheaded so it can showcase the purples and yellows of fall...Tall golden glow, literally glowing in the morning sunlight, three shades of purple phlox with fragrant white still to bloom..I had choices to make...I wanted to be with the flowers but the pull of the vegetables is stronger...They need attention now and cellar shelves need to be filled!

Dinner was fresh green beans, cole slaw, cucumbers, patty pan squash and a small serving of turkey and noodles from the freezer...All that was missing was a fresh tomato.

I got a call last night that I will have 40 pounds of canning tomatoes delivered this morning, straight from Imnaha...We will feast again today and the tomato roasting will begin...Basil will be harvest, garlic diced, I can smell it all now...aaahhh bruschetta is next---yummy... But first I have beets to pull, beet pickles to make and the rest of the raspberries that Ci and I picked need to be made into jam...Think I will mix them with a few huckleberries, from the freezer.

Blogging must end...The sun is hitting Chief Joseph Mountain and reflecting on the anniversary clock as it rotates...Where is Ginger?..Oh that's right, our girls are back home in Portland, our house is quiet and I have a full day ahead of me...Hugs to all~OWAV:)

Empty House...09/01/11...6am...41 °...Sunny

Headed Home

Our "girls" left about 10am yesterday...as I sat on the sofa after the car rolled out the gravel driveway next to our house, I blinked my eyes and know how Dorothy felt when she awoke in Kansas after the tornado...Two girls, two dogs, a mountain of luggage, cases of food from the cellar, fresh veggies from the garden... everything swirling before my eyes...

Now everything is loaded into the back of the black volvo...They are ready to hit the long road to portland...That is as close to a tornado as I want to get...They are gone...Now the quiet creeps around the room, enveloping me in its arms, I sit staring straight ahead running all events through my mind...berry picking, yard sales, BBQ's, morning walks, markets and music, an afternoon at the lake, ranch rodeo, dinner with friends, writing with friends, (how my heart swells and eyes glisten as I listen to Ci and Bobi read their essays), miniature golf, "Annie Get Your Gun"...Laughter, Tears, Hugs, Memories...I'm so thankful that we have these times together and more to look forward to.

Garlic Dills

The peace and quiet is good and I must work on my essay already due, but first I have cucumbers to pickle, emails to catch up on, phone calls to make...then as my heart and mind slows down I will write.

I wrote until 10pm last night...That's a start.

Today Herb is catching up on the laundry so beds can be remade...we will harvest the heads of cabbage from the garden to make sauerkraut and beets to make pickles to line the cellar shelves...On with the day, Hugs to all...~OWAV:)