Snow...17º

It finally did as promised...Rain turned to snow, wind blowing, it was a whiteout...Snowed all of 2 inches...Late evening I bundled up, grabbed a broom and swept the front sidewalk, then shoveled the back steps and some of the deck...Gave me a little workout and I enjoyed getting out in the fresh cold air...Looking up the moon was making its way around and through the clouds, stars peeked out, twinkling their little song...Hum along---

Yesterday I sorted...Found a box from our trip in 1995...We had both retired within the past year...We drove across the US...Destination New York and Herbs class reunion, only one he attended...A larger part of the trip was spent visiting his cousins near Poughkeepsie New York and touring the countryside...Giving me a glimpse of the incredible fall colors, Adirondack Mountains, Lake Placid and many other sites he had visited as a child...We spend a month on the road, going and coming...Stopped at the Black Hill's in South Dakota, Hershey Pennsylvania, Amish Country, New Jersey's Atlantic shore...Visited with my sister and husband in Oklahoma, toured the Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico, drove to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and through the Canyon Lands of Utah...Part of the trip we camped at state and national campgrounds and occasionally stayed in motels...In the box of memorabilia, I had saved all the credit card receipts...Motels cost about $40.00 a night, $25.00 filled the gas tank...It was fun reliving the trip and I know that I have a daily log of this trip stashed somewhere...One question, any ideas on what to do with the approximately 50 postcards that I purchased and never sent?

Take care, have a safe New Years Eve..... Hugs to all... OWAV:)

Sorting....39º--Fog and Rain

Slept later than usual this morning, listening to the rain fall outside our open bedroom window...Snuggled deeper into the covers, breathing the fresh cold air filling the room...Have scrabble games done, read email and blogs I enjoy...Also about improving daily living (use to call them "New Years Resolutions").

I'm trying to de-clutter our house, at least a little...Yesterday I started sorting the file cabinet...HOW long do we keep some of that stuff...Bank and tax records, I've been told 7 years...What about monthly bills, insurance stuff?..Then I get into the "stuff" I've saved on trips we have taken...No I don't have to save that, but it was fun looking back through it remembering, reliving the trip...Papers our kids might need when we check out, but IRA records clear back to 1973??..Which starts me thinking, I need to organize better, have a written record...Do we have funeral plans???? NOOOO...Actually we don't have much but just thinking about all the different places I have "Stuff" stashed could be a nightmare for our kids...Some of it makes sense to me, some doesn't...Then my stomach starts to hurt and my head aches and I want to crawl back under the covers, listen to the rain and breath deep...Okay, Idella, one step at a time....OWAV:)

Windy...34º

Gusty wind off and on all night and more forecast for the next few days...Wind storms in this valley are common, some years causing thousands of dollars worth of damage as trees are blown over power lines, barns collapsed and house roofs detached ending up maybe in the neighbors yard.

Our first experience with the wind after moving here in 1973 was in the fall of '74...We had purchased a newer boat and also a much used dock on Wallowa Lake...The dock had to be towed out of the lake in the fall and parked on dry ground for the winter...But before that was accomplished a storm blew in and the dock after its anchor broke ended up almost to the head of the lake instead of the foot where it belonged...We received a letter from the "County Court" stating that said dock (now in pieces) must be removed from the lake!..Too make a long story short, this was accomplished, the dock was rebuilt and we, along with friends, spent summer weekends for the next ten year, boating, fishing, sunbathing, swimming and waterskiing, from the dock...Great family fun.

Other wind storms shook and rattled our old house, especially the upstairs where Bobi and Rusty slept...Herb and I would wake up to find them sleeping on the living room floor or sofa when the winds were especially strong...During the past 40 years we have  replaced the roof, twice, added insulation and new windows making the house snug and secure.

Storms have reduced metal buildings and lean-to's to a heap of rubble...The neighbors carport roof landed in our pasture twice, tree tops slammed into the house and landed on the deck...Just last February an eight foot section of roofing blew off of our house.

Last nights wind gusts were mild and we always think that everything that can blow away or off or over has done so...I'll keep you posted....  OWAV:)

Below are photo's from the 2007 Veterans Day Storm.

Neighboring Carport Roof

Lean-to and contents in a heap

Warming Trend....37º--possible rain

Temperature is warming a bit, which will probably mean less sunshine, possible rain in the forecast...I'm sure we need moisture but I prefer the dry cold, with sunny days.

Yesterday our regular Write Group met at Cloud 9 bakery, where we gather in their large back room at the round corner table...Usually we are the only people there so are able to read and discuss our stories without interruptions...We also catch up on each others news, such as "How was your Christmas?"...Anywhere from 3 to 7 of us depending on the weather and the season...Only Jennifer comes in occasionally to bring hot water for tea or refill a coffee cup...Then at 11:30 she arrives with lunch menu's so we can order, eat our lunch and be on our way...

Hadn't met Jennifer before we started meeting at Cloud 9...She is probably late 20's, and very pregnant, baby girl due in about 3 weeks...She is the only waitress and does her job with efficiency and speed...She's not much for small talk even when she has time but becomes more friendly each week as we are regular customers...She will be taking off 3 months after the baby arrives and we wonder who her replacement will be?

Pat and I had a lot of catching up to do, so before I dropped her off at her car we decided to have a mocha at the "Chocolate Shop", didn't get to properly celebrate her Birthday before she left for Timberline...So we spent an hour chatting, drinking and people watching, and wondering if the shop is going to expand, as it seems small for the amount of people who love chocolate.

Home for the afternoon, then to Becky and Johns for pizza and beer...Rusty will leave for Bend today...Maybe I can get back to some sorting and cleaning as the new year arrives...   OWAV:)

Somewhat Normal...29º

Our little Christmas tree has been placed back in its bag, carried upstairs and stowed away in the closet for another year...Never thought I would be happy with anything but a real tree, but as the years move on anything that is simple is okay with me...I miss the fragrant smell of a fresh tree when it first comes into the house but I don't miss cleaning up pine needles for several months after it is gone...

Christmas trees bring back memories of Lake Fork...Mom was always very particular about our yearly tree...She seldom went with us to pick it out so as trees were plentiful Daddy would bring back at least three trees for her to pick from...Mona and I got an outing on the bob sleigh as we dressed in warm winter clothing, helped hitch the horses and with a flick of the reins away we went...Bert and Dick (our team of work horses) seemed to know the way as Daddy skillfully guided them along a snow covered road into the forest...Arriving back home, Mom would choose the best tree and Daddy would nail 2X4's on it for a base and haul it into the house...The tree skirt was a white sheet draped around the bottom, lights were strung and she alone decorated it with ornaments collected over the years, a special angel perched on top...Icicles were placed on last, one by one and we could help with that carefully placing them on the lower branches...I always loved the tree at night, lit up, with all other lights turned off....Oh the magic of Christmas....OWAV:)

Ponderosa Pine

Christmas Day--19º, skiff of snow

Fun little bag

Christmas Day dawned with bare ground all around, no white Christmas this year...I spent the morning making lemon meringue pie, Rusty watched as I rolled out the pie crust them he grated lemon peel and juiced the lemons, while I started on the filling and meringue...Chatted with Bobi to wish them all a merry Christmas and since we had our Christmas at Thanksgiving it was pretty much just a normal day in Joseph...I did get back to my bag project and finished it.

Pam arrived about 4pm, visited as we had a glass of wine, then we sat down to a simple dinner of steak, salad, baked potatoes and of course Lemon Pie for dessert...

The steak was melt in your mouth wonderful...It came from the beef that all of our family shared in the cost, as a Christmas gift for one another...A practical gift that will keep giving throughout the year...Hugs to all,.....OWAV:)

Lemons

Crust not pretty but flaky

 Picture perfect and yummy

Christmas 2011...16º

Yesterday I asked the "Guys" if they wanted oyster stew or clam chowder for Christmas Eve dinner...Oyster stew without a doubt...Second question, do you want lemon pie tonight or tomorrow...Tomorrow...Okay, so it quickly turned into a "Rusty" day when next I said, "We" can make pie crust today and maybe another batch of bread so we can stock the freezer and also I'm thinking about making another bag.

Bag for Yen (Ing)

Russ was on these ideas like a dog on a bone...(he was tired of playing Angry Birds)...I measured the flour, he diced up the butter and soon with the help of the cuisinart we had pie crust ready to chill...With me giving directions he started the bread...Bread flour in the bowl, made a well, add stone ground wheat (Herb did the grinding), then add about one quart hot water...Cool the water, a bit, by adding cubed butter, stir...Now sprinkle yeast over this mixture and a little sugar over that...Let the yeast work...Start working on a bag.

Nice Loaves

Rusty has a new friend in Viet Nam and wants to take her a bag when he visits the end of January...Yen (Ing) carries a bag on her scooter everywhere she goes...We look through my fabric stash and settle on a piece Bobi got at Ikea...Out comes the fabric cutter and directions...For the next few hours we alternate between adding more ingredients to the bread, kneading the bread and cutting and sewing on the bag...REMEMBER to wash hands between projects...It was hard for me but I kept my hands out of the bread dough, so Rusty could get the feel of nice elastic dough as it went, over several hours,  from a heavy 8# lump to 5 loaves of light fragrant, bread...By now his bag was also finished (only having to unpick two seams) and the oyster stew simmered on the stove...I also started a bag but made a major goof so ripped out lots of stitches and will work on it this morning.... Merry Christmas to All..... OWAV:)

Holiday Fun...17º

We delivered Holiday greetings on Thursday, visiting with friends...Our list dwindles each year as I make less sweets and this year resorted back to a loaf of bread with a jar of jam tucked inside a festive Christmas bag.

Periodically through the day we hear "Elves" on our front porch...The boxes are filling up as the neighbors bring donations, usually with a quick wave and "Merry Christmas" as they hurry on their way.


I spent several hours designing calendars for Rusty and Bobi's family...Looking through photo's from last year and filling in all the months so they have a year of memories to greet them each day...All done through cyberspace as I added info and hit the send button.

Yesterday the kitchen cupboard project resumed...Herb removed the rest of the cupboard doors, Rusty cleaned each one then Herb added new hinges and they will be rehung today...Of course they had to tease me about how much they liked the open look and maybe it would be a good idea to leave the doors off---knowing that, that wasn't an option.

After our dinner of ham and bean soup with quesadillas and a brief chat with Bobi we played cards until bedtime, Rusty ending up the big winner!

What to have for Christmas Eve dinner?..Oyster stew or clam chowder?..Do we want lemon meringue pie today or tomorrow?..Aren't we lucky to have such simple decisions... Merry Christmas to ALL.....OWAV:-)

CHEERS

FROM THE THREE

OF US!!

Cold...9º--

Up before 4am, millions of stars in the western sky on the first day of the winter solstice, it's a cold clear 9º...One of my favorite days of the year as now each day lengthens and the sun shines a few minutes longer before it disappears behind Chief Joseph Mountain shortly after 2pm.

I accomplished several things yesterday but seems it is never quite enough...Was up early, formed fondant and dipped the rest of the mint cremes and used the extra melted chocolate to make peanut clusters...Mixed the sponge for a batch of bread, using potato water and adding eight grain cereal and oatmeal for extra fiber, left it to work...Had time to make a trip to visit with Pat and bring home all kinds of good things from her fridge as they are leaving for a few days...Delivered their Christmas goodies and a birthday surprise for Pat as she reaches another milestone in her life's journey.

Back home I finished mixing the bread, then did some banking, addressed a couple more Christmas letters to post and sent an email to the people on Barton Heights starting the chain of events for our neighborhood food drive...Herb started the sauerkraut and sausages to heat for our dinner, bringing that "off" odor permeating the house...Sure glad it tastes better than it smells...By this time my energy has started to wane, so good thing all I really had to do was watch the bread rise, get it baked and packaged before bedtime...Another day and soon another year gone by...  OWAV:)

Ham & Beans...25º--skiff of snow, windy

Simple fare, ham and beans served with corn bread, fresh from the oven, slathered with honey butter...Simple food, inexpensive, filling and nutritious, but not the kind of dinner one usually fixes for friends...Unless those friends are John and Becky, who both love ham and beans.

This dish was a staple at the home I grew up in...Usually Mom made it on washday...The night before she sorted the beans (back then beans often came in 25 or 50# gunny sacks and were known to have small dirt clods and rocks masquerading as beans) They had to be sorted otherwise the dirt gave the soup an off taste and the rocks could break a tooth...After sorting she rinsed the beans, covered them with clean, cold water and left them to soak over night...Early next morning, she drained then, covered them with water, added a ham bone for flavor and set them on the back of the wood cook stove to simmer until dinner time...She usually served them over slabs of homemade bread, covered in homemade butter.

Beans are easier now, the small 1 or 2# bags sold in the grocery store have been cleaned and sorted, a quick rinse is all they need before soaking or cooking...I learned within the last year that I could start early in the morning, first giving beans a quick rinse, cover them with water almost to the top of the pan, add a ham bone, diced celery and onions combine all in my dutch oven...Place this mixture in a 200º over and cook it all day...By late afternoon or evening it is cooked to perfection, maybe stir it once or twice and add more ham, celery and onions toward the end...No reason why it can't be served to royalty!..OWAV:)

Sunny days with snow possible...23º

Rusty arrived back to our house last evening after four days at Jim Creek...They spent the time there worming horses and mules, taking salt to various places via 4-wheelers... Splitting fire wood and other maintenance jobs...He always works hard but has fun getting out in the fresh air, wide open spaces of Oregon.. Especially enjoyable after spending August thru November in New Jersey on a construction job.

I have write group today, will fix soup and sandwiches for our potluck lunch...Put ham and beans in the oven for tonight...Maybe start a batch of bread before I leave this morning...Hugs to all OWAV:)

P.S. Interesting Christmas stories at book group yesterday...Gift of the Magi, "O'Henry" one of my favorites and others new to me.... A yummy brunch..

Pat's Tuscan Lemon Muffins

Della's salmon snacks

Book Group today...28º...35º

Have lost track of the years that I've belonged to book group...A loosely organized group that is open to all people...We attract many newcomers as it is a good way for people to get aquainted in the county...You can come, book in hand for a lively discussion...We are free to give our opinions, no one gets angry or hurt by the comments...It is always interesting to hear the comments, when some people "Loved" the book and the next person didn't like anything about it, didn't even finish it!..We read a broad range of books, fiction, non fiction and depending on the time of year, winter is usually for more serious or deeper books and summers we enjoy lighter fare, easy to pick up and put down...Today is more social than literary as we share a short Christmas story or poem, if we wish, and a potluck dish for our annual brunch...It used to be a cookie exchange but was decided we didn't need more sweets at this time of year...We will share breakfast casseroles, breads and fruit, along with memories and laughter with friends, old and new...Two of the favorite Christmas stories we have read in the past are "A Christmas Memory" by Truman Capote and "Stubby Pringles Christmas" by Jack Schaefer.

January brings the reading of Amy Tan's "Joy Luck Club" our Big Read book of the year...January and February in Wallowa County will be filled with events surrounding this book...From the kick off to the grand finale, guest speakers will arrive, movies are shown, books written by Amy Tan and other books about Chinese culture will be read...Cooking classes (dumplings) and game nights (chess and mahjong) will be offered...All three county schools will take part...I think this is the seventh year our county has participated in the big read, an excellent way to pass the winter months...  OWAV:)))

Duchesne...18º--38º

More about Beverly and Brenda...They were the youngest in the Bailey family of seven, five boys proceeded them: Blaine, Brent, Billy, Bobby and Blake...Parents: Troy worked for the Uintah Power Co. and Doris was a stay at home mom...They were hunting and sports enthusiasts...The boys excelled in high school sports and were avid hunters and trappers...They were an outgoing friendly family, took us under their wing, introducing us to other people and life in Duchesne County...They all loved children and our two were just the right age to dote on and play with...Of course Brenda, Bev and Blake being just the right age for babysitters spent the most time at our house but the older boys and Troy didn't have a problem showing affection for little kids...Both Bobbi Jo and Rusty have fond memories of riding in the power company bucket truck with Troy, as he delighted in giving them rides high in the air for a view of the surrounding valley...We eventually bought a small camp trailer and spent time hunting, fishing and camping while living there...Blake, Brenda and Beverly spent time at our house, more like family...They were always present for family celebrations, birthday parties etc...They played with the kids, taught Rusty how to walk and talk and played endless games with Bobbi Jo and her Barbie dolls...Another favorite form of entertainment was dressing up in long dresses, wigs and high heels...Blake and other neighbors introduced them to the wilds of the vacant back lot where they played for hours building forts and playing in the dirt...Also the D-Hill, where the water tower stood was a huge attraction...Packing a lunch and disappearing up the path for hours (always with Bev, Brenda, Blake or the Lisonbee kids) was a common occurrence...Both our kids started school in Duchesne, attended primary (Mormon Church) and Bobbi Jo joined Girl Scouts...Herb enjoyed his job there more than any other time in his career...I mostly a stay at home mom honed my cooking, canning and sewing skills, making clothing for all of us, including Bev and Brenda in trade for their baby sitting...I primed everyone for our eventual move from the day we arrived until the day Herb was transferred and the moving van arrived to move us to another town, preferably one with mountains and trees...Of course the joy of moving included tears streaming down my cheeks as we said our goodbyes to the Bailey family.

23º--40º

Looks like a foggy day in Joseph, at least for the morning...Not much snow in the forecast so a "White Christmas" is looking a little iffy.

Yesterday I walked to the postoffice with manilla envelopes, containing Christmas letter and photos for my sisters Loraine and Barbara...Also one for neighbors in Utah where we lived nearly forty years ago...Which brings to mind---

In 1966 Herb was transferred by the Forest Service to Duchesne, (Du sha.ne) Utah...We had been married for five years, he was thirty, I twenty four..."Bobbi Jo" was four and "Rusty" was one year old...We hired a Uhaul van and with the help of friends and family loaded it and our Volkswagon bus for the move of 500+ miles...We had communicated via snail mail (only available back then) with the FS Ranger that he would work for, when we arrived there...Forest Service housing was available and we had a pencil drawing of the house plan...It was very similar to the basic three-bedroom home that we were moving out of...Major drawback it was on the main highway forty headed to Denver, Colorado...Not the best when you have two toddlers...We would manage...Bobbi Jo and Dog, Pooh perched in the Van with her Dad and I had Rusty and Blanchie, my niece in the VW Bus... Blanchie had been visiting with Gramma and needed a ride back to Utah...She was a blessing in disguise and helped me with Rusty...Car seats for children had not been invented, seat belts just coming on the scene, so a bed had been made in the back of the van for sleeping on the trip...To be honest I don't remember much about this trip except stopping for the night in Ogden, Utah and Loraine meeting us there to get Blanchie...The next morning we proceeded on our way another one hundred fifty miles to Duchesne.

I was born and lived in Utah until I was eight years old but had never been to Duchesne... Sixty miles to the west of Duchesne we had lunch in scenic Heber City and pushed on the last sixty miles...The scenery changed as the land became more barren, with only cedars and junipers lining the road, as we dropped into the Duchesne valley... It was not a pretty sight...Almost treeless with barren flat topped hills on either side of the valley...I wondered, where is the forest?..Our new home was easy to find and the FS office only one block away...A small crew of men arrived almost immediately to help with the unloading and two girls Brenda, ten and Beverly eight (from next door) arrived on our doorstep that evening...They were an almost constant presence in our household for the seven years we lived there...Check back for photos...More blogging material...Hugs...  OWAV:)

"Focus"...23º--35º

Have had trouble maintaining focus the last two days...Rusty arrived on Wednesday, returning Herb's truck and ready to spend a couple of weeks in Wallowa County...He will split his time with us in the house he grew up in and some days with John and Becky at Jim Creek as a Forest Service volunteer...On these trips they do maintenance on buildings,   as well as salting the horses, that range there in the winter months...A working trip but also a mini vacation.

Arriving also on Wednesday, coming via a circuitous route from China, was an ipad 2... The latest and greatest innovation by Apple...I didn't need this (does anyone?) but just thought I had to have it...Good thing I have built-in tech support (Bobi) because the ipad is like learning a foreign language...Bob's instructions:  "Mom download and read the manual".  "Okay Dear"...Eyes glazed over after the first page, so I print the first three pages so I have a hard copy to refer to...Only problem there are 140 pages in the online manual...I was lucky when the package arrived, I was ichatting with Bob and she guided me through finding the on button and setting up the basics...She repeated, "Read the manual"...So last night with ipad in one hand, laptop turned on with the downloaded manual in full view I prepared to read the manual, and follow the instructions...I managed to get through a few more pages and placed an icon for both facebook (me) and weather (Herb) on the ipad...At this rate it will take me well over a month to peruse the manual, maybe some of it will sink into my thick head...Good thing--it keeps my brain active!

Mini bouquet 

Yesterday I tweaked our Christmas letter, Herb had a crown prep at the dentist and Rusty repacked stuff to go to Jim Creek...Last night, for dinner, we had fresh oysters...I breaded and Rusty fried, OH what a feast...The three of us polished off four jars of oysters, along with salad, and warm bread.

Winter bloom in the house, Angel Wing Begonia is in full bloom to add a little cheer to our house on foggy winter days.. Hugs....  OWAV:)

Confusion...21º--37º`

Yesterday Herb and I entered the world of confusion..."Hearing Devises".  Of course the confusion started sometime ago when our hearing started to diminish from aging, too many days spent with the chainsaw getting winters wood, target practice, lawn mowers, etc... Earplugs were not used in the early days of our lives and we like all young people thought we and our hearing was invincible...The hearing problem started to rear its ugly head when Herb or I accused each other of ignoring a question..."Selective Hearing", maybe... But more likely, it was diminished hearing...So we started getting the other persons attention by saying their name instead of just beginning a sentence...We learned to converse mostly face to face or at least while in the same room...Then it became more difficult to hear in a social setting especially for Herb...Soooooooo for several months now we have tossed around the idea of hearing aids...Now from my limited knowledge of hearing aids, it seems that most of them take up residence on the top of the dresser, then in the dresser drawer and then shoved way back in the drawer and forgotten...ALL for good reason...They whistle at most inopportune moments, they don't fit properly, wearer is still unable to hear, they definitely take some getting use too...Also the stigma of loosing your hearing...We wear glasses without a second thought, like we were born with them but "HEARING AIDES?" No, they are for old people.

The appointment was at 1pm yesterday at the "Senior Center"...The hearing specialist has just taken over a practice in LaGrande and will be setting up a satellite office in Enterprise, coming here at least once a month...That is good because hearing aids need fine tuning on a regular basis...We talked to our friend Sharon (food supervisor for the senior center) while waiting for our appointment...She is a veteran wearer of hearing aids...First thing she said was "Buy the European brands, they have been making them much longer than the US, make sure they fit properly, don't settle for an okay fit, wear them, starting with a few hours a day and working up, don't save them for special occasions."

Now the hearing aid specialist was a little exuberant (Herb's words, "full of BS") Sort of "Car Salesman" material...He's been in the business for 15 years, but is new to Eastern Oregon...He proceeded with the testing...explained about hearing aids in general... showed us on a graph what Herb can hear and what he can't...Definitely can benefit from hearing aids...This guy sells only European aids...This is good, we think... YES, he would have sold us a hearing aid yesterday, but he didn't get all pushy or have a buy it now deal, only good for today, cost you twice as much if you go home and think it over...THAT was very good...He gave us names of local people who are using his products and at our next appointment he will let Herb actually wear a hearing aid onsite to see how it works, feels and fits...In the meantime I will be doing some research, talking to more people with hearing aids, before we make a decision...So everybody, stay tuned, turn up your hearing aids and I will get back to you...OWAV:)

P.S. Any advice, we will be listening, just make sure you enunciate, speak to our face in a clear, loud voice or better yet...Send us an email...Our eyeglasses are the first thing we put on every morning!

List Continued...18º--36º

Sometimes the hardest part of my "Blog" is coming up with a daily title...When I first started blogging, I titled every post OWAV, then added labels...I soon figured out that it was difficult to go back to a certain post for information... So I changed my titles to the topic of the day...Only problem is days like, "Today" I don't have a clue what I'm writing about, hence the title ????? or I could title it "Blathering"...."Stream of Conscious"...."No Thoughts Today"..."More of the Same"...You get the idea.

Maybe I will title it "More about my List" and get on with it!

Yesterday I did work on my list, I dipped the mints, and packaged them along with fudge,  and peanut clusters (all in separate plastic boxes)...Placed these boxes in a shoe box, taped it shut, added an address label and Herb took them to the postoffice to send them off to Portland...My imagination runs wild as I see them being tossed into the mail bag, then heaved onto the truck, buried under a mountain of other bags... Speeding along the freeway, are they snug in a little nest, staying cool OR did they get smashed by a much larger, heavier package?...Are they turning to liquid, will the package be dripping, like icicles in a January thaw, when it arrives at Garden Home Road?...Oh I forgot, I also added a small plastic bag of dried garlic at Bobi's request...I wonder how "squished garlic flavored mints, with peanuts, will taste?...Will they have to eat it with a spoon?.."  Enough foolishness for today I must get on with my list...The Christmas Letter for 2011 awaits.

list, Day 2...23º--30º

I made some progress on my list yesterday...Cooked the second batches of fondant and fudge...Today I will form and dip the fondant, fix a box to send to Portland, so our family there can think of us as they savor each bite...My chocolate making has scaled down to two or three batches a year...Some years ago I made "many" batches, (lemon, orange, butter rum, berry flavored, and turtles) and generously gave them away and ate way more than my share...Several years I gave classes, first in the home-ec room at school, then at "Antons Home and Hearth" in Joseph...It was fun showing other people how much I enjoyed the miracle of cooking sugar, cream and butter to a certain point, pouring the hot, thin liquid onto a marble slab and a couple of hours later, after much stirring, it turned into a creamy, soft and delicious confection...After forty years of practicing this art, I am still amazed when it happens!

Spent some time on the computer and telephone with Pat trying to start a video chat with her...She has a portable camera and I could call her but she couldn't connect...After several tries and no success, we gave up, but we laughed a lot as is usual when we are together whether it be in person or long distance.

John and Tate joined us for dinner last night...I must say that Tate has grown up...No longer the cute little puppy that launched himself into my lap at every opportunity...He has filled out in the last few months to become a well muscled working dog...He is still lovable and sweet and it takes all of the control both of us can muster to keep him from again jumping into my lap.

Must get on with my day, Herb has an appointment this morning for his annual blood work at the clinic in Enterprise...So he has suffered with-drawls as I drink and savor my coffee, while he has none....Enjoy your day, hugs to all...  OWAV:)

Making a List...18º---40º

After a week of cold days with bright sun, it looks like our weather is about to change... Forecast is cloudy, possible snow showers...December weather.

Yesterday Herb helped me gather the donation of books, food, sundries etc that were collected at our sorority Christmas party...We delivered them to a program called "The Elks Christmas Basket" ...They will sort out what they can use and give the rest to the Wallowa County food bank...The baskets, filled with foods that make a traditional Christmas dinner, are delivered to Wallowa County families in need, a week before Christmas...These families are also recipients of gifts from the tree of giving...The program is run by volunteers and has been in place for many years.

I'm making a list, but not a Christmas list...Just an endless list of things I need to do, to keep me on track.

Mint Cremes

1. Dip the fondant I have made and get it in the mail to Portland.
2. Make another batch of fondant and fudge for home and friends.
3. Think about the neighborhood "food" drive, compose the email.

     a. For many years our Barton Heights Neighborhood exchanged Christmas goodies    among all of the neighbors...About 3 years ago, I took it in a new direction and ask people to maybe donate to the county food bank, instead of goodies for the neighbors (their choice)... Gaily decorated boxes were placed on our front porch, neighbors stopped by with donations, some had time to visit, others came, donated and left, like ghosts in the night...The response has been overwhelming, the boxes overflowed, cash donations came in...Our neighborhood is very generous.


4. Start composing our Christmas letter...Sometimes it is a New Years letter.

End of list for today, now I must get busy...Hugs to all...  OWAV:)

Lunar Eclipse...

Have been watching the lunar eclipse since 4:45 am...My very amateur photos from a small point and shoot camera are below...Normally I would have spent the entire time in my recliner doing scrabble games, oblivious to what was happening in our western sky...Thanks Pat for alerting us to this event.

Watched for two hours both live in the sky and live on "Slooh" http://events.slooh.com/  ...SLOOH is a robotic observatory on the Canary Islands that lets anyone view the cosmos without buying, assembling, and learning to use telescopes...Plan to watch a solar eclipse on November 13 2012 only visible in northern Australia and the south Pacific...But now we know we can watch it live on SLOOH...OWAV:)

4:45am 12/10/11

Second photo

Third Photo

Just Briefly...19º

Promise to write when we get home from LaGrande this afternoon...have eye appointments and long shopping list...:)

Home from LaGrande about 3:30, good day, our eye's are staying stable for both of us...That is good...Shopped, browsed the book store, had lunch...It was a cold day with lots of frost in the canyon and cold wind in LaGrande.

Our Sorority Christmas party was fun last night...Maybe it was the spiked punch that did it...:-) Darlene's home as usual was decorated inside and out for the Christmas Season...She loves to entertain and welcomes us every year to share in the lights and glitter... Everyone contributed food to our Chef Salad Buffet, then each filled a plate and soon voices faded away as eating became more important than visiting...It was topped off with a special cake depicting the winter solstice...Then we moved to the living room and retold Christmas stories of days past, oh so long ago...Each member also brought items for the Wallowa County Christmas baskets and books for children.

Winter Solstice Cake

Phi Master Sorority

Booked...17º--40º

Norwegian Pearl

Come July 2012 Herb and I will be cruising the inland passage to Alaska...One week of a dream that we've had for some time, but it takes a shove to get me going...Mona and Jerry gave me that about a month ago when I got a call from Mona..."We want to go on a cruise, it's more fun with other people, do you want to go?"...I sent the week that would work for us and Jerry did the rest...Another call yesterday and now we've made the down payment and all I have to do is fill in the online pre-registration paperwork...Full names, passport numbers etc...Book a flight to Seattle, pack a carry-on and zip we are on our way...Sounds easy?

Busy day yesterday, yoga in the am, where I bid Amy, "safe travels" as she is off to a month-long yoga retreat in Colorado.

Lunch with Pat, errands to run and then a glass of wine with Pat as we recapped some of our "travels" and her upcoming surgery...It is to be arthroscopic knee surgery as soon as it can be scheduled...Pat says she is going to write "The Gimps Guide to Wallowa County", after only 2 weeks of navigating with either a wheelchair or walker and finding handicapped accessibility limited...One of those things we never think about unless we are wearing those "shoes".

Later in the evening I dipped the first batch of mint fondant in dark chocolate for tonights party...Looks like another sunny December day is on the horizon...   OWAV:)

Revision...18º--40º

Revising "Dumpster Diver" again, time flew by now I must get busy with todays chores...Final things for Sorority party such as dipping chocolates, printing copies...Yoga at 10am...More revision, dinner etc. etc...Looks like sunshine, must get a walk in today...  Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Friendships...19º--40º

Yesterday morning early, Herb and I were in Enterprise...He to run errands and I to have my teeth cleaned...For over twenty years now Kathy has made this her job...I arrived with a jar of pickles and a copy of "My Story" for Kathy...Every summer, for several years now, we get a call from Kathy, "I have extra cucumbers this morning?  Do you want them?"  "Of course, I say, Herb will pick them up."  So goes our friendship, we know about each others families, talk about the recent trips that either family has taken, what we are doing for the holiday's and more...We have never been in each others homes, eaten a meal together or even met for a casual lunch...Three times a year our friendship grows, me in the chair, Kathy with her dental tools, peering into my mouth, she can talk anytime, I have to nod or wait for the opportune moment to join the conversation...She is excited about my "Published Story", will read it later at her leisure...The hour passes quickly, I exit the chair,  get my next appointment card, exchange Christmas wishes and outside I climb into our waiting car and Herb whisks me home.

Later in the day I leave the house again, this time to meet Pat at the hospital as she finishes her physical therapy session...We are meeting Amy at the Chinese restaurant for dinner and a discussion of our continuing stories...Now this friendship has been in progress for less than two years..First Pat and I met at Mule days, started walking, talking, laughing, exploring our love of chocolate and wine...then she joined me at write group...That led to a memoir class and Amy entered our circle, soon she joined us at write group...With Pat instigating a longer more intense writing experience we became "We Three"...We see each other twice a week for writing and yoga (Amy teaches) and once a month at "We Three"...We have shared our life stories, been in each other homes, eaten many meals together, drank copious amounts of fine wine and found that Amy also likes chocolate...We have laughed, cried and learned more about each others lives than many people do in a lifetime.

Where am I going with all of this?..I'm not sure...This is just one day in my life with two different kinds of friendships and shows how important all friends are to me...Friends compare to flowers as they brighten my days, make me smile and give me joy...Hugs to all... OWAV:)

Christmas Spirit...14º--low 30ºs

Fondant

Is the Christmas Spirit going to hit this year?....Remember the Christmas eves' of childhood when you were eager to climb in bed and the night sped by as you dreamed of reindeer, Ho Ho Ho's, Presents under the tree and the Jolly Fat Man...Or when you had children of your own with eye's wide on Christmas morning when they tiptoed from bedroom to living room whispering, peeking, then to your bedroom as you groggily opened one eye, looked at the clock and thought, I just got to bed!..

Fudge

What are these kids doing awake already!!! Then the "Spirit" took over, out of bed to watch as toys were admired, presents unwrapped and another Christmas Day unfolded, maybe with new sleds, when after breakfast a snowy trip to find an appropriate hill, grandparents included we all took turns until fingers and toes begged to go home...Food, Laughter, Games, Family and Love all rolled into one...That is the Spirit...AND I've already had that this year...Soooooo yesterday I whipped up a batch of fondant to make mints for Christmas and then before I washed the pan I started a batch of fudge...The fondant is light and fluffy like new fallen snow and the fudge as creamy as a babys complection...
Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Sunday Morning Routine...29º--40º

Looking back at my blog yesterday, it said I was going to get moving...I lied...Did clean the bathroom, started spaghetti sauce to simmer but pretty much wasted the day...Maybe my "batteries" needed recharging...Actually I did talk to my sister Barbara in Oklahoma, cold and wet there but they are doing okay for a couple of 80+ year olds...Then talked to my niece Lynelle to catch up a bit on sister Loraine and her extended family...Loraine still lives at home but it is a difficult situation for all...I try to keep up with them on facebook, but postings are sporadic...emails don't always work...I guess i'll just pick up the phone more often.

Will give Herb a haircut today and plan my week...See if I can restructure my essay...Hope we get a little sunshine and maybe I will be inspired to go for a walk...Maybe start on my Christmas letter...  Hugs to all...   OWAV:)

Procrastination...16º--40º

Did my scrabble games then went to "Angry Birds" putting off writing my blog...Either don't have anything to write or don't want to write what I'm thinking.

Yesterday was a full day, finished up the sorority invitations...Met Pat at the hospital after her MRI, did a couple of errands, then home to her cozy cabin at Wallowa Lake...Side trip to the track for a walk...gave it up after two laps as the cold wind dropped the temperature below the comfort level...Herb and I had homemade sauerkraut with brots and Bobi's special "artichoke, sausage dressing" for dinner...and I was off again...Helped set up books for today's fishtrap book sale, something I've done for several years...Another way in which I can repay the good fishtrap does for our community.

Got my critique and letter back from Katey, she always gives me encouraging comments but I still can't seem to get my "Dumpster Diving Mama" in the right order where it flows easily and is understandable!...DAMN!!!  I know it has come a long way but I want it to happen now!!!...Telling myself, let it rest and then come back to it, it will happen...On that note, I better get moving...hugs to all....  OWAV:)

List...32º--40º

The list for this week is getting shorter...this months essay is on its way to Katey and another not due until January 31st...Sorority invitations are printed, so I will get them ready to mail this morning...Will give Pat a ride home from her MRI and physical therapy, this morning (a good chance to visit and see how her knee is doing), then home for lunch, take a walk?...and then to Fishtrap to help set up for tomorrows book sale.

Next week?.. I'll worry about that mañana....OWAV:)

Normal...21º--40º

Life returns to normal today after the hustle and bustle of getting ready for a holiday... Zipping through those days of kids coming and going, making everything work...Bobi, Stan, and Cienna have been home for a few days and Rusty was scheduled to fly home yesterday but cloud cover prevailed and the plane returned to Bend without him...Now at 6am this morning he just left for the 7 hour drive home and will return in about 3 weeks to spend time at the river with John.

I have an essay to finish, sorority Christmas party invitations to finish and deliver...Herb is still working on kitchen cupboard doors...Our life returns to the everyday tasks...Sun is supposed to shine for the next few days so that will be a great start to December as I anxiously await the winter equinox and the gradual lengthening of the days...I think of all of you in the frenzy of the next three weeks as you make final preparations for the Christmas season...  Hugs to all....  OWAV:)