Blue Moon...47º

A rare blue moon happens tonight as it is the second full moon in August...Hope our skies are clear of smoke so we have a good view...The Cache Creek Fire is still burning, over 70,000 acres now but coming closer to being contained...Probably won't be totally out until the fall rains come.

Yesterday morning Pat arrived with a morning treat (Iced Mocha's from Arrowhead Chocolates) before we started on the sauerkraut...We sat on the deck sipping mocha's and visited...Pat wanted to hear about some of Herbs experiences when he was an active fire fighter with the forest service.

Now it was time to get started....Herb had already cut and trimmed the three largest cabbages from the garden, brought up the canning jars and lids, while I was assembling pans, bowls and ingredients...Pat and I grated the cabbage, sprinkled it with salt and put it aside to make its own juice...Meanwhile we sat on the deck cleaning garlic heads so I can made garlic braids, to share with friends, and the rest can be saved for winter and used either fresh or dried...Back to the cabbage that was now ready to tamp into the jars, I filled, she tamped and soon we had 16 jars filled and now the fermentation process can work over the next week or so and then they will have sauerkraut for winter dinners.

More cukes arrived so I made another gallon of sweets, iced my knee, fixed dinner of zucchini patties, corn on the cob and of course sliced tomatoes.

Also delivered from Imnaha this morning was 50# of Roma tomatoes for roasting and making salsa...Oh yes, and the sourdough start says it must be used today or it is going to overflow its container and since it is the last big weekend of the summer there are many yard sales listed in the newspaper...Looks like another busy weekend on Barton Heights...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

More Cukes...42º

Yesterday I started out to make sourdough bread, then decided to start a batch of pita bread (I need more practice on this), then since the cuisinart was all doughy I pulled up Bobi's new recipe for hamburger buns and made a batch of buns...Both of these recipes with only 3 1/2 cups of flour in each, are a snap to make in the cuisinart...I made 6 large pitas, Herb and I ate one, warm from the oven slathered with butter...They still are not totally hollow but better than the first batch...Instead of making a dozen HB buns I made seven large ones...They were perfect for our dinner of BLT's and sliced cucumbers...Decided I had made enough bread for the day and will do sourdough another time.

Hamburger buns

Pita bread

Robin called and said she had more cucumbers if I could use slicers...She brought 6 pounds of cukes and it was the right amount to fill a gallon jar for sweet pickles...These are larger than pickling cukes but should work good for my sweet pickle recipe.

Now it was time for my PT appointment and then a brief rest on the deck before the cool breeze chased me into the house.

There are still 6 cabbages in the garden getting larger each day....Pat and Brian like sauerkraut, so this morning Pat will come here and we will grate 3 heads, salt, fill pint jars and Pat can take them home to ferment before storing in their basement for the winter...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Orthopedic exam....48º

My appointment with the young, good looking orthopedic surgeon went okay...His piercing blue eyes never left my face as he poked, prodded, bent and twisted my knee, after he had looked at my MRI...Yes it was a torn and damaged meniscus...His trained fingers felt a foot long and knew right where to put pressure and get the most reaction from me...He explained that if he had seen me 2 months ago when the injury happened he would have prescribed the exact treatment of PT, ice, brace, watch and see how it healed, as has been done...He thought that in that length of time I should be farther along than I am and his thoughts were:  If I wanted to return to my active life. then cleaning the knee up with orthoscopic surgery would give me a better chance...Otherwise I would just continue to reinjure it until I would have to have surgery...He did caution me that with my "age" there was arthritis at work in the knee and surgery would not make that better but the cushion in my knee is still good so that is in my favor...Okay long story over, I am scheduled for surgery Tuesday Sept 25 in Enterprise...That gives me time to take care of any commitments (Mule Days) and finish up the fall canning.

Robin from the "Magic Garden" called and said she had extra pickling cukes, so I picked our patch added them to hers and Herb and I got 2 quarts and 3 pints done last night...He finished them up while I iced my knee.

I have bread to make this morning, get treasurers stuff ready to go to the bank and get those books turned over to the new Treasurer of Sorority...I'm taking a years leave from Sorority and maybe a total leave, will see how this year goes.

Talked to our girls yesterday, they had been to a movie, Ci is at practice every morning at 5:30 and is getting her stuff together to start school after Labor Day...Rusty is home in Bend, finishing up his building, maybe a camping trip over the weekend...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Orthopedic Appointment...48º

The sun is a red ball this morning as it shines through the smoky haze...Winds on Sunday caused problems for the fire fighters and the fire increased in size jumping fire lines...This mornings news is more encouraging as some demobilizing is scheduled for today.

Yesterday morning after Rusty headed for his home in Bend, I did some paperwork, phone calls and wandered the gardens...I fixed giant tuna and fresh tomato sandwiches for our dinner, then got busy washing, coring and halving tomatoes to roast...I generously sprinkled the tomatoes with fresh garlic, basil and sea salt, put them in a 400º oven for 1/2 hour then turned it down to 200º, told Herb they were roasting and headed for my dental appointment.

I arrived back home, the tomatoes were roasted and soon cooling on the counter...At 4pm Belinda (fellow mule days volunteer) arrived for our meeting to refine the list and order supplies for the "Mule Days BBQ"...We are both retired school cooks, she has prepared the dinner for several years now and this year I will help in the preparation.

Now it is Tuesday morning and I have an orthopedic appointment scheduled for 10am this morning for the specialist to check out my knee...The knee is much better but a long way from being healed...I'm hoping he can tell me that it will heal (given more time) without surgery...On the other hand maybe it needs some repair work done to it, before it can heal properly...However I just want it to hurry up and get better!!!!

On Sunday afternoon while strolling through the flower garden checking for dry spots I spotted a different colored butterfly resting on the leaves of the globe thistle plants...After getting the photo I googled butterflies and narrowed it down to a"Lorquin Admiral Brush-footed butterfly"...He patiently waited while I took his picture, then in a moment launched off the leaf and disappeared.

Lorquin Admiral

Globe Thistle

Warm Days...53º

Looks like temperatures in the 70's and 80's all this week, a few clouds but no moisture...It is unusual for Wallowa County to go this long without a soaking rainstorm...The Cache Creek Fire is now 40% contained.

Rusty fixed a special breakfast on Sunday, "Rusty sausage, cheese and egg McMuffins"...He used the pita breads that I made a few days ago because they didn't have hollow centers and resembled English Muffins and we added fresh slices of tomatoes...He could teach McDonalds a thing or two!...A McMuffin made with ham, bacon, sausage or spam add some cheese and an egg has become a staple for breakfast when Rusty and John are on the trail...Quick to cook easy to eat with no dishes or silverware to wash.

Rusty McMuffin

Yesterday morning Herb and I picked cucumbers, found two giant ones that had been overlooked...They are very good at hiding until suddenly they appear...They are still crisp and firm and big enough that one cucumber was enough for all of us to go with our BLT's for dinner and we added 3 pints and 1 quart of dills to the cellar shelves...After dinner Rusty and I dove right in to making Dolmas...Grape leaves picked, rice cooked, onions, green olives and garlic chopped and sautéed with the meat, grated cheese added...Now Russ and I worked side by side as we molded the filling and rolled it into 50 individual grape leaves...Simmered for an hour in broth, olive oil and lemon juice...Now chilled and ready to eat...MMMmmm, tasty and tender appetizers.

Dolmas

Late evening Cienna chatted in, her face radiant, smile ear to ear and the words "Oma, it was awesome"!!! Her first away trip with the Beaverton Girls, Water Polo Team...She had a great time, got better acquainted with her new teammates and is quickly learning the in's and out's of water polo...We chatted for awhile then she said, "I better get ready for bed because I have to be at practice at 5:30am." Go GIRL Go... Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Yard Sales...50º

We awoke to warmer temperatures this morning and our valley filled with smoke...The Cache Creek Fire is now at 40+ thousand acres and only 10% contained...Rusty reads from Inciweb, the latest news we can get..."A fire line, using caterpillars is being built out Cemetery Ridge east of Buckhorn Lookout"...All of this country is familiar to me as we have gone there each fall for several years now getting our winters firewood...On our way to get wood we always stop at Buckhorn Lookout and take in the breath taking view of the Imnaha River Canyon...John lamented last night that the winter horse pastures in Jim Creek have already been burned over...As with every "natural disasters" there are pluses and minus', having a fire here in the county with an incident base and heli base brings dollars into the community...Many people scramble to get a piece of the action and a share of the dollars being spent...Burnt over forest or range is not a pretty sight but fire can also brings a plus side to the land as it clears and eventually renews this land with new growth.

Buckhorn View

Yesterday Pat and I took in most of the yard sales featured in the local paper, first in Joseph then Alder Slope, back to Joseph and out to upper Prairie Creek...She and I both found a few treasures, but mostly it was time to reconnect and visit as she has been busy with company and I with pickling...I always try to take new and different roads as Pat is still getting acquainted with our County.

Back home around noon I caught up on email and games thinking I had lots of time before Rusty and John get back from their 3 day trip into the wilderness where they have worked on trails and packed out a Sierra Club work party after a volunteer stint...The phone call comes about 2pm, then I shift into high gear, enlist Herb to help and we slice and dice our way to stir fry for dinner...Also I've been looking at recipes for "Dolmas", (stuffed grape leaves) and have all the ingredients on hand...I didn't use the traditional lamb filling but came up with a combination of recipes and what I had on hand... Cooked rice, canned beef, onion, garlic, grated green olives and blue cheese...I blanched the grape leaves, simmered the rice, beef, onion, garlic, olives and added the blue cheese at the last minute before I took a small portion in my hand and shaped it like a short cigar...Placed this on the grape leaf and rolled and tucked it together...Stacked each of these into a frying pan, added beef broth, olive oil and lemon juice, covered the pan and left them to simmer for nearly an hour...Rusty, John and Herb devoured them and wanted more, sorry guys there was only a dozen...Rusty decided to stay in Joseph one more day so "WE" can make another batch.

This morning is flying by, Herb is doing laundry and waiting for me to finish because he needs a haircut...Breakfast has to be fixed, think of something for dinner, cucumbers need to be picked and made into pickles...OH MY...Hugs to All....OWAV:)

PS....Chatted with Bob while she was talking to Ci on the cell...Cienna is having a great time at her first water polo tourney  in Redmond Oregon...Gone from home for 3 days with fellow team members and coaches, with moms and dads driving cars...Our little girl is sprouting wings or do I mean fins?

Reddish Sunrise....40º

Smoke off to the east gives our sunrise a reddish glow, both east and west...The Cache Creek fire continues to grow...Helicopters are coming into the Joseph airport on a regular basis to refuel, then return to the steep canyons where they drop water and other retardant onto the fire...The fire is now over 10,000 acres.

I could write many paragraphs about forest fires and how they affected our life over the past 50 years or at least the 34 years that Herb worked for the Forest Service...He anxiously awaited fire season every year, it got his adrenaline pumping and added money to our meager budget...Sometimes he fought fires close to home, other times he boarded a plane and flew to Montana and California, these are two places that come to mind...Sometimes he was gone for several weeks...I got so I didn't worry about him (it was just part of his job) and the kids and I quickly fell into a different routine, kept the home fires burning so to speak but also had a less structured schedule that didn't revolve around his work hours and I took a vacation from cooking...While in Utah, we treated ourselves to fast food at the local "Arctic Circle" burgers, fries and milkshakes was our favorite there...After we moved to Joseph we often could be found at the "Gold Room" having a giant baked potato and their delicious homemade soups for our dinner...Then a phone call or  postcard would jolt us back into the real world, "Dad" was coming home...He arrived home smelling of smoke, exhausted but "pumped" and already talking about the next possible fire...We would readjust to our normal way of life, our mini vacation over.

Enough reminiscing, on with todays world...Yesterday I made the pita bread from Bobi's blog, some puffed up, some didn't but they tasted very good...I bought a box of Imnaha canning tomatoes, mostly to eat fresh as slicers but if they ripen too fast I will roast and freeze them...I met Pat and Amy at Embers, where "we 3" met to discuss writing and life in general, over wine and food...Now I must shower and get ready for the day, think Pat and I are going to a few yard sales...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Very Chilly....38º

Fall in Wallowa County appears early and with a vengeance...We are lucky here on Barton Heights, up away from the river our temps stay a bit higher than places lower and nearer to water...Enterprise probably had freezing temperatures...Our cucumbers will slow down but still produce a few.

Yesterday morning was spent folding t-shirts for Mule Days...Herb picked them up in Enterprise, unloaded the boxes onto our deck where Pat, Brian and I folded and visited enjoying a sun filled morning...About 250 shirts in all were folded.

I had a PT appointment at 2pm with Aaron...He wants me to continue weaning myself off of the cane and brace and gave me different exercises to do at home...I have an appt next Tues with the orthopedic surgeon...My knee seems to be improving finally.

I arrived back home to fix a dinner of finger steaks, salad, sliced cucumbers and corn on the cob...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Chilly Morn...49º

Looks like our warm nights are over, lows in the 40 are predicted for this week...Nice for the Cash Creek forest fire raging off to the East but not good for my cucumber patch!

I try growing cukes every year...Never much luck because they like hot days and warm nights, a rarity in Wallowa County...We not only love the fresh crunchy little morsel's from the garden (wipe the dirt off on my pant leg, sprinkle liberally with salt and munch away) but also from the jars that reside in the cellar where they have been labeled "Hot Garlic Dills".

I have to confess I love making these jars full of pickles as much as we love eating them...As my Mother taught me, jars are scrubbed clean and scalded...Scrub the freshest cukes you can get, gather fresh dill, grape leaves, a few cloves of garlic and hot red peppers...Make a salt, cider vinegar and water brine...The head of dill goes in the bottom of the jar, next whole cukes line the jar, garlic cloves and red peppers are pushed down along side cukes into empty spaces, add a grape leaf to the top and fill with brine...Now stand back and admire your artwork...I've been getting enough cucumbers to made a few jars and Herb labels them "Our Garden".

Hot Garlic Dills

Early morning yesterday we started with the sliced beets...Jars, lids, vinegar, sugar, heating, jarring, sealing, stand back and admire...Then we went to the garden, picked the cucumbers and whoa the cabbages...Rusty selected the 3 largest and that's how our day went...24 jars of pickled beets, 4 jars hot garlic dills and 13 jars of sauerkraut...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Pee-yew...50º

4am a cool breeze slipped through the bedroom window, wafted over my head and the odor of skunk permeated my sense of smell...What a way to greet the morning!

Yesterday was busy, starting with PT at 8am...Aaron now has me working with more strengthening exercises and weaning me off of the brace and the cane...I leave PT and meet Mandy to order the shower door, should arrive in one to two weeks...I then stop at the weekly produce stand, buy blackberries and cantaloupe as my contribution to our Write People potluck lunch...We met at Maxine's and took a quick tour of the home that she and Ron have purchased and are remodeling...Maxine's touches of Mexico are everywhere in the artwork as well as the newly painted rooms...We read our stories and feast on pizza, salads, fresh fruit, dolmas and brownies...You would think that meeting every week we would run out of things to talk about but it seems that the conversations just go on and on until finally someone says "I really have to go home".

I spent the afternoon at home with Herb and Rusty where they had cleaned the chimney and kept the sprinklers going...Late afternoon we had slow roasted pork with veggies, corn on the cob and melon for dessert.

Now I must get moving, finish the pickled beets and figure out what we are having for dinner today...Our valley is hazy and smoky this morning as we have a fire to the east and more warm weather predicted...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Busy Day...60º

Our read for this month at book group was "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet"...I had read this book maybe two years ago and enjoyed it but like so many books didn't really remember the details...So I listened while others did the telling, enjoyed hearing about the book from other perspective and when it was my turn, I admitted that Janie's strawberry shortcake was my real reason for being at this gathering...I wasn't disappointed as the shortcake was extraordinarily delicious and the company was first rate.

Back on Barton Heights, Herb and Rusty had been busy with the hedge trimmers again doing the deadheading and clearing away the detritus...Herb had the sprinklers going, giving the parched earth a much needed drink...Rusty had the old light fixture out of the bathroom and was ready to touch up the ceiling paint...A quick trip to Joseph Electric for a new fixture and now the bathroom is lighter and brighter...Still not sure if I need a new light over the sink.

Herb set up my Ice Man and I relaxed in the chair thinking I might just spend the afternoon right there, where it was cool, we had enough leftovers in the fridge for dinner and my tummy was still full of strawberry shortcake...Not to be...Our neighbor Dave arrived with a 5 gallon bucket full of beets from his garden, he grows things in huge quantities...My first thought was, the beets will hold, I'll deal with them tomorrow...My conscience kicked in as I realized tomorrow would be busier than today...Rusty set up the gas stove outside and I sat on the deck and scrubbed the beets and got them ready to cook...It was a pretty slick operation and by 5pm we had them cooked, slipped the skins and sliced...They are now in the fridge waiting to be made into pickled beets either today or tomorrow....Those cellar shelves are filling up!

Now I must get moving, I have a PT appointment this morning followed by Write Group and pot luck lunch...Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Yard Sales...57º

Early Saturday I pulled the sweet roll dough from the fridge to warm up before rolling it out, spreading it with butter, brown sugar and lots of cinnamon...Over the years that I worked in the school lunch program I made hundreds of cinnamon rolls, so it doesn't take much thought to complete this process and soon the rolls are raised, cooked and slathered with frosting...I deliver them downtown to our sorority booth where they will be sold to bikers and all the people who come to see the bikes... I meet Pat and Robin and we scour yard sales for the rest of the morning looking for that rare bargain...Had a great time, didn't buy much and I'm back home by noon and ready to ice my knee and stay inside where it is cool.

Later in the day Rusty and John arrived home hungry and tired after packing Sierra Clubers into the Minam, where they will work on trails for the next week...I have simmered a pint of elk meat with chili seasoning, garlic, onions then added leftover rice to fill corn tortilla's and make enchiladas...Also I have been simmering a jar of homemade chili and cumin, now I ladle this overtop the enchilada, sprinkle it liberally with grated cheese and zap it for 1 minute to melt the cheese...The "boys" devour the first one in the time it takes me to make each of them another...Full now they sit back and relate stories of the recent trip...Funny story is only 3 Sierra Clubers out of a possible 5 show up and they have brought ice water to pack in which of course is warm water by the time they arrive at the camping spot...The mules were a little leery of the sloshing water and ice in their packs.

Sunday we gathered garden produce, Maxine came for grape leaves (she is making Dolmas and will share her best recipes with Rusty and I as we have always wanted to try making these)...Afternoon was spent inside again and then we heated up the kitchen to oven fry chicken and roast all the fresh veggies from the garden...Potatoes, onions and zucchini and beets...Pam and John joined us for dinner and visiting on the deck.

Heard from our Portland "Girls" who are very excited because Bobi has a new computer and Ci gets the old one to start this first year of High School...AND the latest news is that Cienna made the varsity squad for water polo because she showed up for the opening picnic along with 7 other girls and they need 7 to make a team...Only time will tell what adventures this year will bring...Hugs to All....OWAV:)

I had a dream...58º

Literally, I had a dream this morning from about 5am to 6am...I made a bathroom call about 3am and then sleep eluded me until Herb got up about 5am and I stretched out across the bed and finally went back to sleep...I woke up at 6am calling Cienna's name and heard her answer "Oma I'm right here".

The dream started with my friend Debbie G. bringing a group of preschool children to "tour" our house for whatever reason, evidently she had ask my permission to do this but hadn't gotten back to me with a date...Bobi, Cienna, Rusty, Herb and I were still in our "jammies" enjoying our morning drinks when we heard voices at the front door...I opened the door to a swarm of ankle biters and watched in amazement as they seemed to be everywhere all at once, climbing over the sofa, up the stairs, through the kitchen and into the bathroom...I was herding them out the back door when I looked up and saw a van parked at the basement door and people unloading boxes into our basement...Our basement is sort of finished (it has a floor but is very rustic and small)...The basement suddenly took on a new life as it grew into a huge open space...Tables were set up, covered with linen tablecloths, china, crystal and sterling silverware and a band was set up in one corner...Then the food arrived: fresh pineapple, watermelon, crab, shrimp, prime rib, salads and breads of all kind...People arrived out of nowhere, men in suits and ties, women in party dresses and high heels and the "children" had not left and seemed to know them, they joined right in....The five of us still in our "jammies", mouths agape watched as everyone filled their plates and sat down to eat, oblivious to the five of us...Debbie was nowhere to be found!..Not to be left out we walked up to the buffet and reached for a plate, which was quickly snatched out of our hands as someone said "There is not enough food, you had to put in a request if you wanted to eat"...Then a river appeared and all the leftover food was dumped into the river and washed away and in a flurry everything was packed up and all the people disappeared...Dumb-founded we went up the basement stairs and into our living room ( it also was much bigger) and it was full of people...Our friends the Botts family, had arrived, all in their wedding finery as one of the grandchildren was getting married...So here again the five of us still in our "jammies" them dressed to the nines as only wedding parties can be...Bridesmaids all dressed in shiny satin, hair piled high with ringlets dangling, pedicures and manicures with the latest color of polish...AND my friend Margaret, the grandmother of this clan lay prone on the sofa suffering from a bad back!..The scene shifted again as I gracefully eased these people out the front door saying, "Give us time to dress and we will come to the reception...You are serving food I hope." Amid all this confusion Cienna had disappeared and as the dream ended,  I was calling her name and she answered "I'm right here, Oma".

Now the shower is calling my name, our new shower which has a heated bench and floor...Should be toasty...Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Crazy Day...56º

Shower first thing in the morning got me moving to the out of doors...Herb and I picked the cucumbers and moved water around...It has been several years since we've had this many hot, dry days in a row and the ground is dry and cracked...We water continuously and are thankful that we have ditch water and two pumps to keep everything from totally drying up.

Rusty fired up the hedge trimmer and with help from H & I he started on the flowerbeds, cutting down all the plants that have finished blooming...Leaving only the tall, late bloomers waving in the breeze...Herb and I raked and hauled debris across the road to be used for mulch...By then my leg needed a rest, so I iced and got ready to make a trip to the bank when the phone rang.

My friend and sorority sister Marian died this morning after a week in the hospital... Marion was 89 years "young" the oldest member of our group and had been a member for about 10 years..She was an amazing lady and an inspiration to all and we were very privileged to have her in our midst and to share in her friendship...She was the youngest old person I've ever known!

My thoughts went immediately to Jane, my friend and neighbor of 40 years and I left the house to tell her of Marion's death...To make a long story short, Jane's morning hadn't had a good start and she was not dressed for the day...I suggested she get dressed and we would go for a ride...Soooo we did...We drove to Wallowa Lake ordered "Utterlly Chocolate" single scoop, waffle cone, and while we licked as fast as possible, chocolate ice cream dripped down our chins, we reminisced about Marion and out years of friendship...Marion would have loved our little celebration in her memory!

Back home my gardens had received a crewcut and are now waiting for a good soaking of water all around...Pat, Brian and friend Robin stopped by for a short visit to see the gardens and the new bathroom...Dusty stopped by for his final payment and Joe arrived to take measurements for the shower door...Bedlam reigned...Brian suggested we see how many people this new shower would hold and there was much laughter and  bantering all around...I just wanted to sit down on the deck and visit with everyone...But everyone had things to do so visiting will have to wait.

Last projects of the day, R and H remodeled a shelving unit that fits inside the bathroom vanity so all the "stuff" can be moved from the living room back into the bathroom and some day our house will be straightened up and back to some semblance of order...We had short ribs for dinner and I mixed a batch of sweet roll dough, to rest in the fridge overnight and it is now waiting for me to make cinnamon rolls to sell as a money making project for sorority downtown at the bike rally being held in Joseph this weekend...Deep breath, get dressed and get moving...Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Time Wasted...54º

To bed at 9pm awake at 4am...I like these hours, gives me time in the morning for coffee drinking, lexulous and yes, wasting time...I love being up when the sun first comes through our east window and lights the Wallowa Mountains to the west...My coffee has been added to and rewarmed for the second time and I need to get moving while it is still cool...But this morning I know that I don't really have to, get moving that is...For the past three weeks, it has been imperative that I get dressed, finish in the bathroom and have my blog done by 7am, because Dusty will rap lightly on the back door, then poke his head in with a "Good Morning".

Dusty finished with the bathroom yesterday and it is fully usable and very nice...Herb resolved the plumbing problem (bathroom sink wouldn't drain) after getting advice from a plumber that it might be a blocked drain after sitting for over three weeks with no water running through it...Sure enough, the accumulation of soap scum, dirt and hair after 30 years of use had hardened into a "rock" because we were not regularly running water through it...With the help of a plumbers snake Herb ground his way through this blockage and our sink drain is now free and clear and I can use the bathroom any time I want to!

Yesterday was an early appt at PT, Rusty was out the door early with John and after PT, while Herb worked on the drain I simmered the zucchini relish, ladled it into 14 jars to go on the cellar shelves...Dusty finished up before noon and I'm not sure what we did all afternoon but Bobi and Ci chatted in about the time Rusty called and said he was back in Enterprise and it was time to fix dinner...Deer steak and potato salad along with a huge cucumber sweet and fresh from the garden sated our appetites.

I just looked at the time it is 6:45am, Herb has laundry going and I'm ahead of schedule and our new shower is just waiting for me, if I hurry I can be done by 7am...Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Almost...55º

Wednesday started early, Dusty tried to get the shower finished, but it is going to take another day with so many loose ends to finish and some plumbing problems...Deep breath.

Herb made a trip to Enterprise, grocery store and the dump...Rusty and I picked the cucumbers, dill and grape leaves...I fixed a taco/egg scramble for our breakfast and with renewed energy we spent our time making jam/jelly (2 double batches) and dill pickles from our very own cucumbers...These things kept the 3 of us busy, gathering all the jars, lids etc, measuring sugar, cooking berries and or juice then ladling it into the scalding jars...I managed to ice my knee off and on during the day...4 large zucchini's were found lurking in the garden so Herb and Rusty ground onion, peppers and zucchini to get the relish salted and set overnight to be cooked and jarred this morning.

Dusty called it a day at 4pm, not wanting to "screw" something up as he was frustrated and tired...Herb got beers for everyone and we all headed to the deck for some much needed refreshment...Pat joined us and admired the new shower.

The new shower got a good workout last night and we all had a good nights sleep...Now I must get moving...Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Full Schedule...58º

Yesterday should have started with a blog but as you know it didn't happen...8am PT Appointment, Write Group with a potluck lunch to follow and Garden Club at 2pm...Dusty arrived at 7am, Joseph Electric coming at 7:30am and I had to make a small casserole before leaving for PT...Herb was chasing water etc, Rusty was browning lamb shanks and fixing a beef tongue to simmer along side the shanks (in its own pan) in a 300º degree oven for about 5 hours...H & R were both staying home to help Dusty and JE get the electrical stuff in the bathroom including a new exhaust fan, which we have never had before.

Aaron was ready for me at PT and had me out the door at 9:02...A quick trip back to Joseph, checked on the BR progress, then Herb helped me get stuff into the car for write group...I met fellow writers at the parking lot and car pooled to Pat's cabin where we read, laughed, critiqued and then came the best part as we dined on grommet potluck and celebrated birthdays with Janie's special zucchini chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. 

Done just in time to speed back to Joseph, check BR progress, change my shirt and spend two hours in a park like setting of Ponderosa Pines with amazing gardens in progress. I visited with and exchanged ideas with fellow gardeners as we sipped a wonderful fruit punch and ate sugar cookies.

Arrived back home to the smell of dinner cooking, a glass of wine, the ice man filled with ice and water...My knee is forever thankful as it was saying maybe you should sit down and let the ice water flow...I did...Herb and Rusty ate without me (I had a big lunch) and I relaxed on the front porch and reviewed the days events with Pat via FaceTime...Thanks "Guys" for taking such good care of me!

Dusty is almost done with the bathroom!..Should finish up today after 3 1/2 weeks...The shower door is on order as the measurements have to be exact to the size of the opening so couldn't be done until the glass block was up...I'm sure there will be a fight for the first shower tonight with a makeshift shower curtain...OWAV:)

Starting the glass block wall

Oh what a mess!

Ta Dah!

Ceiling Fan

Sunday...58º

On Saturday we got continual updates on Cienna's final swim meet of the summer...It didn't go quite as she had planned, first with a false start then she lost her goggles in the butterfly...But she being the determined girl she is, still came in second place overall and helped her team to win both of the relays...We are sure that this girl was a fish in a former life and still keep watching to see if she is growing fins and scales...So far though she has morphed into a beautiful, charming "Teen" ready to start high school in just a few weeks...Go Cienna Go!!! Following ages are approximate!

6 years old in Hawaii

8 years old

13 years old

Another morning of making jam....Now we have 14 1/2 pints and 1 pint of rhubarb-cherry for the cellar shelves...But Rusty didn't want to stop there, after finding a 5# zucchini that I had missed, he had been eyeing the cabbage plants in the garden and insisted they were big enough to make some sauerkraut...He selected the 3 largest ones and with the garden knife he quickly had them cut and in the house...Herb brought up more jars and I watched closely as Russ trimmed and grated the cabbage, salted it and let it stand to start making its own juice...I have a recipe for sauerkraut that is made in the pint jars, no starting it in a crock, skimming it each day and waiting for it to ferment...So Rusty packed it into the jars, added lids and in the back room it will sit and bubble away...It also will smell really bad as only fermenting cabbage can...After a week or so it will stop working and bubbling over, then I will wash the outside of the jars, tighten the lids and Herb will put it on the cellar shelves where it will eventually be joined by more sauerkraut as we have 9 cabbage plants left in the garden...About the zucchini...Yes I can make it into relish but that requires more ingredients, and much more work...Anybody have a recipe for zucchini kraut?...-:)

Ready to ferment

Last night we went to B & J"S for a BBQ, celebrating Becky's departure for her last year of law school...This time next year she will be a full fledged lawyer, working somewhere yet to be determined..Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Jammin'..55º

Yesterday morning Rusty left early for a "shooting match" with John...They competed with other guys and John brought home another BLUE Ribbon...Sounded like they had a good time with friendly competition, a covered shelter and solid rests to shoot from...Herb changed and set water while I went to Adelhardts for a much needed shower...Dusty took Saturday off but plans to be here today?

Back home Herb had jelly jars in the dishwasher, and rhubarb ready to go through the cusinart...I grated orange peel, juiced two oranges, got out the BIG kettle, put jars and lids in the oven to heat and started cooking rhubarb...After the rhubarb softened I added pectin and sugar, boiled it for 3 minutes and filled 2 pints and 12 1/2 pints of yummy jam(recipe from friend Marsha)...Today we will do this process all over again only instead of using orange I will chop up maraschino cherries, along with their juice and  add it to the rhubarb...This an old recipe from my Aunt Carrie that I loved as a teenager and now it is a favorite in our family, even for people who don't like rhubarb...Ci really likes it.

Now it was time to get off my feet (knee)...Herb had ice in the "Ice Man" a wonderful contraption that when in place supplies a continual stream of icy water (50º) flowing over an injury...I got situated in the lounge chair on the front porch, an ace bandage holding everything in place, surrounded by blooming geraniums, laptop on my lap and then I relax as the icy water does its magic and alleviates the pain and swelling.

A dinner of leftovers, then Rusty leaves for B & J's and Herb and I spend the afternoon either on the deck or front porch, a captive audience as the "Bronze, Blues and Brews" wails away below our house in the City Park...I enjoyed the 2nd band but the rest of it is reminiscent of when my high school band did their warmup each day as we gathered for band class, with no one playing the same song just blowing horns and beating on drums until our instructor stepped onto the podium and we immediately came to attention for the days class...Now people throng to the "B, B & B", shell out over $20.00 a ticket to get in the gate and listen to the deafening, cacophony of so called music, while drinking and dancing...I go to bed at 9pm and the noise ends at 10pm, whew it's over for another year!..Hugs to All...OWAV:)

 My PT appointment lasted over an hour yesterday as Aaron explained the MRI to me then puts me through the warmup and strengthening exercises...He is concerned about the swelling (bursitis) above  and behind my kneecap...He moves me to a treatment room, brings in the e-stim machine, gently attaches the pads to my knee, starts the pulsing, adds moist heat and lets me "simmer"...After 15 minutes he unhooks everything then massages the knee and surrounding tissue with "Sombra Jell" to finish the session..."Keep icing, exercising but not too much walking or standing on that leg and lets keep the brace on until next week and then we will start weaning you from that." He says all this with a smile...That smile and his sense of humor grabbed me in on the first day of PT...To my 69 year old eyes he looks about 10 years old, but after a month now I know he is a full fledged physical therapist (just finished his boards)...He grew up in a small town in Idaho, has a wife and 4 small children, furthered his education in Boise and moved to Enterprise just a couple of months ago when he was accepted for a position in the PT department...I think he has a great future ahead of him.

After PT I made a couple of quick stops at garage sales, then on home to my guys...Herb set the ice machine up for my knee, out on the front porch where I can be outside and in the shade ...Neighbor Marsha arrives using a cane because at the same time I injured my knee, she had a bicycle wreck and really messed up her ankle, which required surgery...So we commiserate while Herb and Rusty gather rhubarb for her to make into rhubarb/orange jam...Which is also on my agenda this morning!..I will stand for short periods of time, then elevate and ice the knee.

The three of us jumped in to help Dusty yesterday with tile in the bathroom...A pattern of small tiles is being used on the shower floor, bench and trim...The relatively easy but time consuming cutting up of small tiles of yellow and blue added to salt and pepper tiles making up the random pattern was delegated to us, so Dusty could get on with the more technical job of laying the tile.

Shower with trim

We had a quiet dinner of fresh grilled veggies and HB patties on the deck...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

OOPS....58º

I was up early yesterday but wanted to get an early start making a batch of sourdough bread, fixing a zucchini casserole and oven fried chicken for our dinner...Since I must be dressed before Dusty gets here at 7am, I dug right in!..Later as I shut blinds, windows and doors against the morning sun, Herb said, "Closing up early this morning?" "No, it is going to be hot and we always closeup by 10." But it is only 9:00," He said...It was then I realized I hadn't written my blog, oh well another day.

I found out on Wednesday (from the MRI) that I have a torn meniscus, which is what Dr Grandi had diagnosed on that first office visit of 5 weeks ago!..It is a small tear and maybe will, with more time heal on its own with PT and exercises...I know that my knee has improved, being able to put weight on it now and walking more without the cane...Of course it is not healing fast enough for me and I've heard of tooooooo many people that this injury becomes chronic and surgery is still needed...It has already messed up the best part of summer and the walking program Pat and I had embarked on!#$%*@$%#&*

The bathroom is still in a state of ????? The electrician came yesterday to look at the possibility of installing an exhaust fan...Dusty should finish up the tile today but that leaves the glass block to be installed on Monday and then drying time so realistically shower time is midweek or later...Enough WOE IS ME...I must get dressed because Dusty will be here, I have a PT appt. at 8am, what will I fix for dinner...Herb has started laundry and the endless watering...The sun is shinning on another beautiful day here in Wallowa County...Hugs to All....OWAV:)

Smoky Valley.....60º

Not sure where the smoke is coming from that hangs on our mountains this morning...It is a warm 60º at 5am and predicted to be another 90+ degrees today, with a few clouds tossed in...It was a balmy evening last night when we met at the Enterprise city park for a mule days meeting, coming up just one month from now.

Herb and I worked outside yesterday morning, again we pulled more of the self seeding annuals that make up a large part of the gardens...I pulled the rest of our onion crop, cut lettuce and cleaned up that spot so Herb could give it a good soaking...Pat stopped by before 10am and we joined fellow writers in the Enterprise city park for our weekly meeting, then we lunched at "Happy Gardens" cafe.

I have a PT appointment this morning and hope that my MRI can be read so we know what is going on with my knee...It is getting stronger but still feels like something is out of place or moving around inside there...From PT I will drive to Alder Slope and pick up more raspberries that Pat and I have ordered...She is taking some to her sister in Hood River this week and I will freeze mine to make jam later...Dusty is progressing on the bathroom and it won't be totally finished by this weekend but just maybe the shower will be done so we can use it and the rest will be finished up next week...Hugs...OWAV:)

Saturday morning July 28, 2012….Must start the paper work and packing to prepare for the end of our cruise...Saturday we watched as the ship routinely closed down within, so all charges can be made and accounted for before we received our final billing in the wee hours of Sunday morning...By 3pm on Saturday the Casino, Duty free shops, Art Gallery etc have all closed their doors...We watched one last afternoon show in the Stardust Theater...Our ship cruised all day so we could reach Victoria BC by 6pm and people on board could go on shore excursions if they wished...We viewed Victoria from the ship, watched the "Star Princess" dock along side of us and stood in awe as we again realized just how HUGH these floating cities are...We played one last game of cards and ate our last ice cream sundae...We went to bed knowing that by 8am Sunday morning we would dock in Seattle...The Pearl is a "well run ship" and disembarking was made easy for us as everything is spelled out and regular announcement made over the ships PA system to guide us off of the ship...A taxi ride to Seatac, then a long wait but it was worth it as we dined in the airport on Iver's fish and chips and clam chowder, a place where Mona and Jerry had eaten years ago when they lived in the Seattle area...We parted ways in the airport they waited for a flight to Salt Lake City and we to Lewiston...We arrived in Joseph at 6pm and they in SLC at 7pm. 

All in all it was a good trip, seeing new sights, the workings of a large ship and most of all the people who made up the crew...All crew members are from foreign countries and on the ship they are assured of a better life than in their home country...They were all gracious, kind and dedicated to serving us, the people on board.

A pilot arrives to dock our ship

View of Victoria BC

One last view

The Star Princess

Temperatures soar....61º

Another morning of working outside before the heat forced us inside to the cool of the house...Dusty put in a full day in the bathroom as he started to tile the new shower stall...Seems like he has been prepping forever and finally now we are seeing some results...He called it a day at 4pm when Herb asked, "Is it time for a beer?" and Dusty said "If your having one." So under the shade of the aspens on our deck we drank beer and shared stories.

Herb and I had a late dinner because of the heat...Fresh zucchini from our garden, grated and mixed with farm fresh eggs, then fried in patties in a little olive oil and butter, served along with bread and fruit...Later a dish of ice cream as the temperature started to drop and soon it was bedtime...Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Day 7...July 28, 2012...The Pearl docks in Ketchican early Friday morning where many people leave the ship for shore excursions…It is foggy, cold and bleak outside…We have breakfast at The Summer Palace, Then H, M and J take this opportunity to leave the ship for a short walk in the rain and check out some of the local shops. I take an ice pack for my knee and my computer to the library where I write and watch fishing boats coming and going…This is the quietest spot on the ship, has a nice view and comfortable chairs…After doing my blog I do a book exchange, M and J arrive with cards in hand so we go next door to the card room and play cards until lunch time…I have checked out the lunch menu and find that we are having fresh caught salmon (YUMMY)BBQ for lunch…Not a very big crowd today as many people are off the ship and don't have to be on board until 1pm…Luckily we are almost finished eating before it starts to rain and the BBQ has to be moved inside…We pack up and H & I go to our favorite spot in the lounge area of the Champange and Wine Bar, M and J go to their cabin for the afternoon rest.

We never saw this huge shower head in action but it looked like a fun place for a photo opportunity!

Mona and Jerry 

Herb and Della

At about 2pm I suddenly realize that a program was starting at the Stardust Theater…I called M & J to meet us…Members of the crew shared their other talents with us…We listened to singing, comedy and enjoy a group as they present a skit entitled "The Fountains"…M and J went back to their cabin to replenish their pepsi cups, then joined us at the lounge. H & I splurged on a bottle of wine, half for today and the other half saved for tomorrow our last day before we disembark on Sunday Morning…We were entertained with piano music in the lounge and outside by a school of dolphins as they leap and fly through the air then disappear back into the water…People watching is also on the agenda as an almost continual stream of our fellow passengers are going by.

We chose the Indigo for dinner and were not disappointed as we dined on steak and shrimp and pork chops, salads and dessert…Time to sit by the window again, watch the open sea and the people before bedtime.

Weekend....58º

Over the weekend we (Herb, Rusty, me) worked in the cool of the morning pulling the endless poppies from the garden and flowerbeds...I love them but their rampant volunteer seeding has to be slowed down or next year we will have nothing but poppies!

I also put Rusty to work digging volunteer garlic that has made its way into the flower beds...The little seed pods wave merrily in the breeze calling out for attention...By 10am we were having brunch and looking for a cool spot to sit...Herb was tending to the endless watering that needs to be done as the temperatures continues to rise.

Late afternoon, Rusty and I made dinner rolls and we had a pot luck dinner with Becky and John...Rusty will join them this morning for a trip into the Minam, returning on Thursday.

July 27 2012…Day 6...5:30am we were up and ready for the day and another new dining experience…We had to walk the full length of the ship and finally found the "Summer Palace" tucked between Decks 6 & 7…We ordered breakfast off of the menu of juices, omelets, eggs benedict, pancakes and assorted breakfast meats…Plates of sweet rolls are offered to us by a waitress and our drinks are refilled on a regular basis.

This morning was spent in Glacier Bay where we viewed many glaciers. The largest were, Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers. I Saw one calving…We spent most of the morning, our ship barely moving as we viewed this awesome sight and listened to commentary by National Park Rangers as they explained how this bay has changed from when it was first explored in the 1700's… Then it was totally filled with ice and today the glaciers have receded to the point that cruise ships are able to enter the bay, turn around and give passengers the thrill of seeing this sight up close…The small Ice floes floating all around our ship look like swans, iguanas or whatever your imagination will allow…After exiting the bay, whales are spotted and can be seen with the naked eye but much better if you have binoculars…M & J spent the morning outside on deck 12 taking photos and viewing the sights…Herb and I in the lounge next to a window, me with ice on my knee inside out of the wind.

Glacier from afar

Glacier up close

The jagged top of the glacier

We decided to try the Blue Lagoon for lunch but all the tables were full with a wait of 20 minutes…So away we went to the Summer Palace for lunch only to find it closed…The last option was back to the deck 12 and the buffet…As we leave the food area and onto the main deck and swimming pools, the sound of a helicopter greets us…Looking up we see a Coast Guard Rescue helicopter hovering over the very top deck lowering a medic out the side door followed by a gurney…Then the helicopter circles the ship for about 10 minutes before returning to hover and slowly lift the gurney & patient up and into the helicopter, with the medic to follow...Not everyone gets to see an emergency evacuation off of a ship.

1pm finds us in the Stardust Theater to watch a program presented by the National Park Service with more info about Glacier Bay and what it has to offer…Afternoon is nap time for M & J while Herb and I seek out the lounge and comfortable chairs to while away the afternoon.

Dinner time again, the Summer Palace is our choice but ooops Herb has on shorts…Okay for breakfast but not allowed for dinner…This gives us a chance to try the Blue Lagoon again…We are all in agreement that our chicken wings and fish and chips has to be one of the worst meals we have ever tried to eat!

J, M and I decide to play cards and Herb opts to read his book…Card rooms are quite popular and noisy…Finally after moving once and playing two games we can't stand the noise and confusion any longer and decide to call it a night.

LaGrande Appointments...50º

6:30AM, Herb and I were in the car headed for LaGrande...We both had eye appts, shopping to do and an MRI scheduled on my knee at Grande Ronde Hospital...Everything done we were back home by 3:30PM...Dusty was finishing his day working on our bathroom, Herb unloaded our car and Pat arrived with just picked raspberries...A quick visit with Pat, then Herb set me up on the deck to sort apricots, ripe from unripe...I sat on the deck, ice pack on knee and finished reading a book...Seemed good just to look at the mountains.

That saying, "be careful what you wish for" came to my mind...Early this year I remember saying, "This summer I am going to spend more time on the deck looking at the mountains"...Well I certainly am but it is "imposed sitting" while Herb does his chores as well as mine...Now I want to be pulling weeds, dead heading or just slowly meandering around looking at what might bloom next or checking for zucchini, cucumbers or our own raspberries...Deep breath, sit back and be thankful for what I can do!..This morning will be spent putting apricots and raspberries in the freezer until later when I can make jam for the cellar shelves.

Rusty will be here today, maybe he can do some of my "honey do's" and Herb can look at the mountains!...OWAV:)

July 26--Day 5…Awake early this morning so I will finish up with the adventure of yesterday…After breakfast we explored the ship some more…Herb and I checked out the other restaurants that they have well hidden in the very middle of the ship, decks 6 & 7…Two more actual sit-down restaurants instead of the huge buffet on deck 12…The menu for the "Indigo" sounds good as well as the "Summer Palace" which also serves breakfast…The meals at these two restaurants are included in the price of our cruise but unless someone tells you about them or you really go looking for them you continue eating at the not so good buffets…Maybe the food will be hotter and the seating not so crowded.

We catch up with M & J before noon as they return from a walk into Skaguay where they checked out the shops (just touristy stuff)…They did buy some bottled water and Pepsi since it is so expensive on the ship…I called guest services and ask for a wheel chair to take me to the boarding place for our train ride…About 1pm we are seated in the train and on our way for a round trip of 40 miles in 3½ hours…The White Pass Railroad was built during the gold rush in 1898 so supplies could be moved easier into the gold fields…Before the train everything was first carried on the backs of the miners and then by mule train…The train zig zags up the steep mountain over hand build tressle's and through 2 tunnels…For the scenic trip 3 trains traverse the mountain side then swap engines from front to back on sidings at the half way point of our trip…The train track continues on for 100 miles into Canada.

We dined at the Indigo cafe, arriving about 5pm and ready to try something besides buffet fare…We all ordered rib steak with baked potatoes, roasted tomatoes, spinach came with the steak and we all ordered a salad…Dessert is included but most drinks are extra…It was a much nicer dining experience as we were treated like special guests and had servers at our beck and call…The food was served hot and we didn't have to walk half of the ship to find a table…Both girls that served us were very nice but one especially so as she really enjoyed serving people.

M J & I went to the evenings entertainment, a comedy and improv act…It was loud but enjoyable and funny…Herb headed for our cabin to stretch his hips and back, stiff from the train ride.

Aboard the train

The train ahead of us

Mountains up close

One of the old train trestles

   

Remodel...52º

Had a surprise yesterday when returning from taking a shower...Herb was on his hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor and all because I had posted in my blog that it was on my list of things to do...Bless his heart, he also had watered all the flower barrels and had water going on the flower beds...Now all I had to do was rest, elevate and ice...I thank you very much, My Dear Husband!

Bobi has been after me to post something about the bathroom remodel...So here it is in pictures...Stay tuned for more posts on the cruise....Hugs to All....OWAV:)

Side and front where the shower head goes

Side and bench and new toilet

New Throne

Frustration...57º

Physical therapy yesterday on my knee, still need to stay off of it, ice and elevate, do exercises...I have an MRI scheduled in LaGrande Friday and am now trying to get an appt with the orthopedic surgeon to read the MRI (easier said than done) so we know if it means surgery or is just a long healing process.

Made 5 loaves of sour dough bread yesterday, fixed chicken for dinner...Dusty is here this morning working on the bathroom...My goal for today is to water flower barrels and sweep and mop the kitchen floor.

Day 4 of our cruise, here are a couple of photos and tomorrow I will write about the train ride...OWAV:)

July 25…Coffee arrived at 6:30am, Herb is in the shower and I'm writing away…Today we will leave the ship and go on the "White Pass Scenic Railway"…From the photos we've seen it looks like we will be in for some spectacular scenery today…That's all for now aboard The Norwegian Pearl…OWAV:)…

Herb and Della

Mona and Jerry