Freezing Rain...27º

Freezing rain has invaded our valley...Looks like a good time to stay inside, snuggle up to the fire and bide our time...Nice to know that we have no appointments or meetings today, so will just wait for the temperatures to warm...In the meantime another cleaning project will pass the time until we ring in the new year along with a new moon!..Hugs To All and a Safe New Years Eve...OWAV:)

Overcast...22º

Trying to decide what to do today...Clean more cupboards, counters or drawers...I could take down the Christmas tree, an easy job as it resides in a large plastic bag until next year...No needles to vacuum or water spill to cleanup or ornaments to pack away...There is something good about a fake tree!..I have more editing to do on my essay, keep checking on airline tickets...A pork roast is in the oven for dinner...The hardest thing is getting me to move out of this chair!!!...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Searching...18º

5am and it seems that the entire house jiggles as the washing machine moves into the spin cycle...It is the Sunday ritual when Herb washes the sheets and makes our bed up fresh for another week.

Up for an hour, scrabble done, I search the internet one more time to see what the airline fares are doing this morning...It is a mind boggling world to me, so many choices...Do we try something new and fly at night, can we save a few dollars by changing planes 3 times instead of two?..Do they allow enough time for occasional travelers to make a connecting flight, as they decipher the signs, amid hoards of people?..We could fly out of Portland, Boise, Lewiston, Tri Cities---OH MY!..We could change planes in Seattle, San Francisco, Denver, St Paul, New Jersey, DC, or Houston (to name a few)...Is it cheaper to fly on Monday,Wednesday or Sunday?.. Should we land in Miami or Fort Lauderdale and hope Pat and Brian can find us?...If it were possible for me to go back to sleep I would crawl back into bed, pull the covers over my head---Ooops guess not the sheets are still in the washer!

Enough of my blathering, not as bad as I make it sound, just trying to entertain my audience for one more day...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

New Recipe...27º

Yesterday morning while trying to plan meals, I waited for Rusty to call saying he was on the road and would be in Joseph ???, so I would know what time to plan dinner...In the meantime Herb and I decided we would have breakfast for dinner...The call came from Rusty that he was having problems with his truck and headed back to Bend, definitely would not make it to Joseph for a few days.

Soooo, we stuck with the breakfast for dinner idea...Herb said he would cook bacon and I volunteered to do pancakes...As I reached for the milk, a carton of eggnog caught my eye...Darn I bought that to add to my coffee over a week ago and "forgot" it was there!..I said, "How about eggnog pancakes?"...He said, "Go for it."...Hmmm...Using my standby recipe, I started with flour, added some whole wheat flour, made a well, added soda, baking powder, sour cream, salt, sugar, one egg and with trepidation poured in the eggnog and stirred adding more eggnog as needed...Now for the test...The pancakes, light as air, puffed up and nearly floated off the griddle...They were so rich that turning them was difficult...I hadn't thought about the eggnog being much richer than plain milk, when I was mixing...Good thing I didn't add any oil to them...Herb ate his with lots of butter and applesauce, I had mine with butter and plum jam...He declared the recipe a keeper, I agreed!...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

They are about to float.

Bacon cooked to perfection.

A short stack.

Yummy.

Foggy...17º

Looks like the fog has moved from Wallowa to our end of the valley...Trees are frosted and pretty but I much prefer the sun...Looks like a good day to cozy up to the fire and read, maybe make some more soup...It would also be a good day to make bread but I just did that, so I will share the photo and send Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Lovely batch of bread!

Energy, Comedy, Oh My...18º

A beautiful sunlit winter day in Wallowa County, we (Herb, Della, Pam and Mel) took the hours drive to Elgin and the Opera House for the Christmas Matinee "Guys and Dolls."..Two hours of high energy acting, singing and dancing left all of us exhausted and we were in the audience...Three performance are still scheduled for Friday and Saturday evenings plus a Saturday matinee...Phone numbers on the playbill below--Don't miss it, call for your tickets now!

Back in Joseph we renewed our energy with food :)...Visited until 8pm before Herb and I said goodnight its time for lights out...It was a very enjoyable day...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

l

Merry Christmas...12º

The following is a Christmas ecard if you wish to open it...Have a Happy Day and Good Health in the new year...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

 Christmas Card

Snow/Rain...22º

Snow to rain to ice...Haven't been on the main roads but Barton Heights is pretty icy although we have seen it much worse...For now the snow/rain seems to be over and sunshine will prevail for a few days...Enough snow on the ground for a "White Christmas."

No visitors at the JC yesterday as Cheryl and I finished cleanup from the Christmas Concert...She with the vacuum and me with cleaner to scrub down counters, sinks and tables and empty garbage...Much of it had been done the night before, so we finished up early and left for the day.

A quick trip to Safeway this morning and then home to slice and dice for tomorrow's "Christmas Supper." Soup and pie is on the menu, after we attend the musical "Guys and Dolls" at the Elgin Opera House...This also looks like a good day to make a batch of bread, sourdough starter is bubbling away in the kitchen...Merry Christmas To All...Safe travels, Fill your life with Love and Laughter and remember to enjoy!

Musical Night...32º

The scene was set yesterday as crowds of people arrived at the Josephy Center for the final Christmas Concert of the year...A table laden with platters of cookies, hot spiced cider, coffee, juice and water awaited...We were entertained with horns, piano, fiddles, ukes, dulcimers, guitars, flutes, oboes and voices, young and old...The place was packed and crowded...During intermission, people jostled their way through the crowd to the refreshment table with smiles and thank you's and Christmas greetings on their lips...The performers were thanked with thunderous applause, whistles and more as the two hours of music flew by...The JC bursting at the seams, a grand finale.

This morning I have small packages to fix for neighbors and friends, then afternoon I'm back at the JC as todays docent...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Memory Lane...31º

Bobi's Blog yesterday took me back many years when I clicked on Wichita Lineman and then watched Glen Campbell saying farewell...Herb must have collected all of his "8-tracks" and we took many trips to the strains of Wichita Lineman and Rhinestone Cowboy...Then as "Glen" called them he went into his crazy years became addicted to heroin and alcohol, married 3 times and had 5 children...With the help of his last wife Tina, he finally turned his life around before being diagnosed with Alzheimer's...Watch this Glen Campbell farewell for the complete story.

I promised photo's of the oatmeal cookies so here they are along with buns I made yesterday for our dinner of Ruben Sandwiches...Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day so I enjoyed clearing snow off the deck and sidewalks while Herb plowed with the four-wheeler...Gave both of us some much needed time in the sun and fresh air...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

PS...If you are still dipping cookies one at a time you must try shaping the dough into logs and "chunking" them off in pieces...They don't bake in perfect circles but still taste the same and soooo much easier. :)

"Chunks" ready to go on the cookie sheet

Baked Cookies

Buns ready to slice

More Cookies...27º

Maybe an inch of snow, so far no wind...Reports from La Grande were winds, snow yesterday afternoon/evening...Ladd Canyon was closed...Looks like maybe that was the brunt of the storm and we were again spared here in Wallowa County...I imagine the kids of Wallowa County are disappointed as they were hoping Fergie (local ski area) would open for Christmas vacation..:(

Shortbread cookies caught my eye on FaceBook, so yesterday morning I mixed up a batch, chilled and then sliced them in thin slices to bake...They remind me of the butter cookies I made when our kids were little...A soft butter laden dough, that was put through a cookie press making different shapes such as Stars, Santas and Stockings...The recipe came from Herb's Aunt Gladys and I first tasted them in 1966 when we spent the Christmas Holidays in New York State with our Allen/Cane relatives...Still have the cookie press but haven't made them in years.

Since I had dirtied the bowl/mixer for two dozen shortbread cookies, nothing to do but dump in more butter, sugar, flour and mix up a batch of raisin/craisin/nut oatmeal cookies for Herb...They have chilled overnight and will be chunked and baked this morning...Photos to follow.

Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year has arrived, all downhill now :)... Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Snow Forecasted...15º

We traveled to La Grande yesterday on bare, mostly dry roads...The storm they had predicted for Thursday is now supposed to come in today after 10am with possible 3 to 7 inches of snow...I say let it snow as long as it clears off for Christmas day and our trip to the Elgin Opera House and a matinee of "Guys and Dolls."

We left Joseph at 6:30am yesterday allowing extra time in case we did have bad roads...In La Grande by 8am worked just right as we were able to do our Walmart shopping before the crowds arrived and easily make our 9am appointments.

After the eye appointments we did the bulk of our shopping at BiMart (much prefer it to WM) then on to grocery outlet before lunch at Bear Mountain Pizza...Herb wanted to browse at D & B before we started home and I a brief stop at the "Amish store" for dried beans...It was a good trip but it wears both of us out...Early to bed for a good nights sleep...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Cookie Wednesday...25º

Twelve dozen Snickerdoodles mixed, baked and now in the freezer...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Snow Forecast...26º

Sauerkraut and sausages on simmer for dinner yesterday...The gift of banana squash that I brought home on Monday was upside down in huge chunks on a cookie sheet and placed in the oven to bake...It's fragrance filled the house and at noon Herb and I sat down to "just squash"...He put butter/sugar/cinnamon on his and I butter/salt/pepper on mine...Normally we don't eat at this time but just couldn't resist this treat...The rest of the squash I let cool and packaged it in baggies to freeze for dinners later this winter...Sauerkraut and sausages over mashed potatoes was kind of anti-climatic when we ate dinner after my acupuncture appointment.

After several sunny days and moonlit nights we are cloudy this morning, looking for snow-fall today...Supposed to go to La Grande tomorrow but will keep a close eye on the weather as it is not a must do trip.

Our tickets are purchased for the musical "Guys and Dolls" playing on Christmas afternoon in Elgin...A soup and pie supper will follow, bringing the Christmas Holiday to a close for another year...Hugs To All...OWAV::

Pooped...19º

Busy day yesterday as I joined book group for our Christmas brunch...We discussed "Meadowlark" (nothing like the title might indicate) before sampling a variety of bread, sweet rolls, ham/pineapple, celery bites and little smokies...Kathy sent us all home with banana squash from her cellar for all to  cook, freeze and enjoy this winter.

Noon I arrived at the Josephy Center as the afternoon docent...Time fled by as I cleaned kitchen counters, sinks and ran the dishwasher...Took down paintings from the kids art class exhibit, helped pack up books from the book sale and vacuumed...I arrived home weary but felt good to have accomplished so much...Herb and I heated soup for our dinner and spent the evening reading...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

This mornings setting moon.

A Christmas Carol...19º

Mid afternoon found Pam and I on our way to Lostine...A sunny, fairly warm, winter day in Wallowa County...However we wore winter coats and carried our blankets...Plays are held in the gymnasium of the Old Lostine School...The heating system is antiquated and loud...So the building with the heat turned on is toasty when we arrive, as soon as the play starts the heat is turned off so that "we" the audience can hear the play...As the play progresses the blankets are put to good use...This performance is the last one for the season and plays to a standing room only crowd...We sit enthralled as we are entertained by all local talent in "A Christmas Carol"...Scrooge is at his "scroogiest" and Tiny Tim once again steals our hearts...We leave with spirits lifted and arrive home, where Herb has wine poured and dinner almost ready.

Today is a full schedule for me with a book group brunch this morning, then back home to appear at the Josephy Center as the afternoon docent...I finished writing our Christmas letter yesterday, maybe tomorrow I can get them printed to mail or sent via internet...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Late Morning...27º

I've spent the past 30 minutes looking back at last years blogs for December 2012 (mine and Bobi's)...I tried off and on for years to do a diary or journal but never kept them up until I started almost 3 years ago with this blog...Much easier for me to "write" on the computer than with pen and paper...Spell check has been a Godsend for me and also the ease to delete (erase) and start over or change a sentence or just a word...Now if only it (the computer) could put my comma's and quotes in the proper places.

I spent most of yesterday making the corrections on my December essays that Katey critiqued...So many rules that it is all very confusing to me...Maybe as I read and make the corrections some of it will sink in!

I have one weekend event, "A Christmas Carol" performed in Lostine by the local Wallowa Valley Players, a docent stint on Monday and Herb has an eye appointment on Thursday in LaGrande (depending on the weather.)Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Early...10º

Up early this morning and must make a to-do list or else I will just fritter the time away and accomplish nothing until all at once a have a bajillion things that must be done now...I need to make another batch of TV mix, make more fondant to dip, work on some sewing projects and write our Christmas letter.

Herb and I got our new glasses yesterday so are both seeing more clearly this morning, my prescription changed a little, his did not...So with shiny new lenses we should have a clearer, brighter view of the world...So far we are pleased with the customer service of the local opticians and the convenience of them being close by...Sun is just peeking out and Herb has the oatmeal nearly ready, so I must get moving...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Write People...9º

I braved the 9º temperature for this photo.

I was so busy getting ready for our Write People Christmas luncheon yesterday that I totally forgot to write my blog...I started in the bathroom with cleaning tools in hand, our new bathroom easy to clean, I soon moved to the kitchen sweeping and mopping floors, then to the living room where Herb helped me move our funky little Christmas tree to the front window and on and on...You all know the routine...About 3 hours later as I opened home canned veggies, broth, turkey and beans, then sliced and diced fresh celery, carrots, onions, parsley and cilantro dumped it all into a pot for turkey/vegetable soup so it could simmer for two hours while we visited and read...While I was in the kitchen Herb vacuumed through the house and voilà at 10am sharp the Write People arrived.

Our nearly 100 year old house has its own charm, built in the craftsman style, two-story with a front porch and a view of the Mountain...We have remodeled over the years, keeping the basic structure but adding our own touches to make it warm, comfortable and inviting...Our home for over 40 years... We raised our children here and nurtured our granddaughter on her yearly visits...Oh the memories this house holds.

My fellow writers were soon helping themselves to herbal tea, laced with real cream and honey, then we visited, laughed and read until the soup could wait no longer...The soup along with Janie's sourdough bread and Pam's fruit salad, filled our tummies and rejuvenated us for the afternoon, as my friends scattered with shouts of "Merry Christmas, see you next year."

Herb and I had errands to run and groceries to buy, arriving back home after the sun had set to our Barton Heights abode, inviting, toasty, comfortable, the place we call home...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

The Old Grind...7º

Or maybe I should say the new grinder...Over the years we have tried many pepper grinders from the very simple to battery operated...None of them worked very well or lasted very long...A few years ago we bought grinders at Ikea and have several that we use not only for pepper but salt and also assorted dried spices...They have worked well...This year in my Christmas stocking I found a new, larger, brightly colored  grinder and decided to try pepper in it to keep near the stove to season meat, soups etc while cooking...Always looking for a way to spice up our life, this just might do it!..Maybe I should add some hot red peppers to the mix...Thanks Bob

We spent a very quiet Sunday at home, mostly reading and the usual laundry...We were content with leftovers for dinner leaving meatloaf for today...Temperatures are climbing just a bit but still not getting out of the teens...Pat reported in this morning, from Maryland, they are in the middle of an ice storm, schools closed, freeways a skating rink...Makes our cold temperatures look like a minor blip overall...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Christmas Musical...1º

Wallowa County native, musician, music teacher and lady extraordinaire, preformed at the Wallowa Lake Lodge for the first night of two annual "Christmas with Gail Swart Concerts"...We Pam, Nancy (also had a ticket) and I braved the near 0º cold with about 80 other people to attend this event...Already people were gathered in groups, songbooks and wine in hand...Singing of carols alternated with the bell choir as everyone was soon tapping toes, greeting friends and neighbors, Christmas spirit filled the room...I love this part of the program as people relax and sing with abandon, maybe on key or maybe not, it doesn't matter.

The caroling comes to a close as everyone moves into the dining room to find their designated seats for a dinner of chicken/ham, rice, broccoli, rolls and for dessert, platers of cookies made by Gail...After dinner, Gail and Leslie start the program with a piano duet, followed by Randy and his french horn, songs by Carolyn and Janice, Rodd and Mary, Liz on the violin, Roger on native flute, Pat on flute, Heidi and Bob on assorted instruments, wrapping up with the Brann Family and last Duff and Gail with more singing and piano...The musical talent in this isolated valley is truly amazing!..Thanks to Gail for continuing the tradition and thanks Pat and Brian for the gift of this special night.

Now on to my everyday things to accomplish...Sent my essays to Katey last night, have an ebook to finish listening to, calendars to make for our family, read a book for Book Group, Write People at my house for lunch on Tuesday and keep writing and editing for January...Oh yes and look forward to a Christmas play in Lostine, another musical at the Josephy Center, book tickets for the musical "Guys and Dolls" at the Elgin Opera House on Christmas day as we celebrate another year!...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Book Sale...7º--Dusting of snow.

Slight warming trend with snow in the forecast...I worked for a couple of hours at the JC helping to set up for todays book sale...When I arrived tables were all set up in a big u-shape and boxes of books already emptied waiting to be arranged...Eight or more people there to help...I remember years ago three of us setting up at FT house, much smaller space, lots of books...We spent most of the day, then back at 8am the next morning to man the cash box...Other people will be on hand this morning for that job...So much easier when lots of hands are helping.

Later back home the smell of pork roast was in the air...Herb was almost ready to mash the potatoes, I made a salad and we sat down for a yummy dinner.

Bobi reported in yesterday as snow was falling in the Portland area, making for nasty driving conditions...Cienna made it to her 5am swim practice and her school opened for the day unlike others throughout the city...That's it on Barton Heights this morning...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Still Cold...-1º

Uneventful day yesterday as I worked on my essay, kept the scrabble games caught up, exchanged emails, chatted with Bobi and Rusty, listened to the ebook while I did a jigsaw puzzle and did my daily "Angry Birds"...AB has their newest game locked so only one game can be played daily through Christmas...Titled "Arctic Eggspedition" it takes place in the frozen north, making the landscape outside our windows look "balmy."...Launching birds over the frozen landscape or down deep into the frigid waters--makes me shiver!..Time wasting to the extreme!

We did enjoy our hot and yummy chowder along with a slice of leftover pizza for dinner...The sun hitting our south windows helped to warm the house before dipping behind Chief Joseph Mountain around 2:30...Only 15 more days until the Winter Solstice and our days start to lengthen and winter officially begins...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Take a peek at my essay...

Those years Mom and Aunt Jessie lived near each other in Bountiful, both in their late seventies, they shopped for groceries together each week. Mom drove a 57 Chevy, Aunt Jessie a 62 Cadillac.  One morning, Mom answered the phone on the second ring, as Aunt Jessie said, “Are you ready to go shopping?” 

“Of course,” answered Mom, “I’ve been ready for a half hour, where are you?”

  “I’m leaving the house right now,” said Aunt Jessie, “You better be ready.”

On that sunny April morning, Aunt Jessie wheeled into the driveway and Mom hurried into the car.  “Shall we go to Smith’s Foods or Reams first?” asked Aunt Jessie.

“Let’s go to Smith’s,” Mom said. “They have turkey hinds on sale and we want to get there while the selection is still good.”  

The year was 1985; interest rates were at an all time high, and a recession just around the corner.  Both ladies had gardens, berry bushes and fruit trees.  They canned and stored everything they could for winter, but they were always looking for a bargain. The pastel polyester pantsuits they wore were sewn in the latest style and fashioned by their own hands. Their striking gray, almost white hair teased and smoothed into a bouffant. Dressier shoes relegated to the closet, they now wore tennis shoes, finding comfort more important than looks.

 Aunt Jessie slowed down as she pulled into Reams parking lot, looking for an empty space. Every spot close to the front door was filled.  “Great, said Aunt Jessie, I knew we should have come here first, now we will have to park in the back by the dumpsters.”  

“It won’t hurt us to walk.” Said my Mom. “The boys will carry our groceries to the car.” 

“Okay we’ll walk, but remember our knees aren’t what they use to be.”

Inside the store, each with a cart, they carefully compared prices, filling their carts only with sale items. Back in the parking lot, groceries loaded, Aunt Jessie was ready to start the car when Mom said, “Jessie look, isn’t that a watermelon in that box next to the dumpster?” 

“It looks like a watermelon to me and a perfectly good watermelon at that.”

 It didn’t take long for both ladies, bad knees and all to get out of the car, scoop up the watermelon with only one little rotten spot on the end, load it into the trunk before leaving the parking lot.  Back home the watermelon was divided in half and I’m sure, to them, it tasted better than the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. Mom told me about this little escaped over the phone, announcing they planned to go back in a few days to see what else they could find.

That was the beginning of Mom and Aunt Jessie’s dumpster diving. Now instead of polyester pantsuits, they wore blue jeans. They went in the cool of the evening on the days the dumpster was quite full.  This made it easier for them to reach things, but soon they were scaling the side of the dumpster because the good stuff was always just out of reach.

COLD...-3º

Our view from the kitchen window...I know you have seen it before but enjoy because I never tire of it and will continue to post it in all seasons...Most beautiful now with the snow, sun just coming up illuminates it for a short time every morning...Later in the day the sun sinks behind it shortly after 2pm bringing a sudden chill to our valley...We watched the temps drop steadily yesterday from 12º until it reached -5º...Our old house creaks and groans complaining about the cold...Herb and I added another layer of clothing, he stoked the fire and turned on our electric blanket about 6pm, so our bed would be toasty warm when we snuggled in for the night...I awoke at 4am to the sound of the backup furnace turning on to warm the house before we get up...We are so lucky to be warm and snug with our modern conveniences and are thankful everyday for what we enjoy.

A different way of life growing up where our wood stove didn't hold through the night, we had no backup heat, our house was not insulated and the temperatures could be in the -40ºs...Daddy was up early, coaxing the kindling with a few pieces of pitch wood until it flamed and crackled to life...We heard him but snuggled deeper into our covers knowing that in a short time we must dress in front of the stove, putting on our many layers of "barn clothes" because our animals depended on us for food and water.

Another view of the mountain range...Yesterday as Herb and I sat eating breakfast we had a fleeting view of a fox running in the field behind our house...We watched but didn't see him again as he stayed hidden in the wheat stubble, making his way back to his den, after a morning of hunting...Today we will spend at home, no meetings or appointments to keep...Thinking about a hot fragrant bowl of clam chowder for our dinner...So where ever you are as you read this, stay warm and safe, until tomorrow, Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Snowy and Cold...Burrrrrrr 4º

For the past two days it has snowed 3 to 4 inches and the temperature has plummeted...Supposed to be sunny today and drop below 0º tonight...Winter is moving in...Yesterdays report from LaGrande had the freeway closed early to the east and later closed both east and west for several hours...Sure glad it waited until our "kids" and other holiday travelers arrived home.

I ventured out yesterday first to write people where we had a quiet gathering of four, reading, discussing and catching up on Holiday news...Then home for lunch and a phone visit with Pat, catching up on their news at "Applewood Farm"...An afternoon acupuncture appointment with Amy, short stop at Soroptomists and back to Barton Heights and our warm, cozy house to read and "compute" until bedtime...I slept nine hours last night!..Amy must have gotten all those needles in the right spots.

Herb has been busy with laundry and vacuuming, putting our house back in order...The rest of the week I have to concentrate on my essay for Katey, taking a break today to stuff envelopes at FishTrap House and on Friday I help set up for the "Good Book" sale at the Josephy Center...Oh yes, and maybe listen to a couple of chapters of that book hiding in my iPhone...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Burrrrr...47º to 22º

What started out balmy quickly disintegrated to cold, windy and snowy...The perfect day to delve deeper into the world of technology...As the storm raged outside, inside we were cozy and snug, that is me and my iPhone...Every time the "kids" come home, little seeds of technology float around our living room...Cienna texting on iPhone/iPod, Stan with his stylus clicking away on the iPod, Rusty on the iMac checking out the latest deals on Craig's list and Bobi on the iPad reading directions for her latest knitting or cooking project.

I have occasionally snagged onto one of these seeds such as ordering real books from the big library in the sky, then asking Herb to pick them up at the local library...I've actually gone as far as downloading a book to read through a kindle program on my iMac...But downloading a book to the iPhone and listening to it through earphones?..."You mean to tell me an entire book will fit inside that 4" iPhone and it won't explode?"

Yesterday I spent about 4 hours working my way through the process of signing into "library 2Go", finding a book that I might enjoy listening to, then finally clicking on the download button and waiting for my iPhone to expand as the data moved in...It didn't swell up or explode and finally the screen showed the title "A Death in the Family"...I carefully plugged in the earphones, put the "buds" in my ears, made sure the volume was on low and clicked on the arrow...Magically a strange voice started reading Chapter One...It seemed very odd, sitting in the living room listening to the strange voice in my head...I tried to concentrate but I wanted my hands to be busy, so I tried doing scrabble while listening and soon clicked the wrong button on scrabble that entered a score of 2 (Damn) as I wondered what that voice in my head was talking about...I closed the scrabble games and finished listening to Chapter One...Maybe today I will try cleaning out a cupboard or a drawer while listening to Chapter One again...I only have 7 days to finish this book, wonder if I can push those buttons and listen to the end or will I be left wondering about what happens?...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Balmy...47º

Awake at 4am this morning...Our bedroom felt warm even with the window cracked open...Coffee was perking as I checked the outside thermometer to find a balmy 47º a light rain, breezy...Todays high is supposed to be 37º...Looks like we better enjoy, because the forecast is calling for snow and below 0 temperatures by Tuesday night...Our kids arrived home safe and sound and we are snug and warm here on Barton Heights...So much to be thankful for.

From log deck to stacked in the backyard

Back to our routine, I have an essay to complete for Katey, menus to plan for the week and possibly some sorting of drawers and cupboards to rid our house of the clutter that I am so good at accumulating...My usual Tuesday "Write People" is on the calendar and an envelope stuffing on Wednesday for "FishTrap"...Then on Saturday night Pam and I will attend the annual Christmas Concert and Dinner, by Gail Swart, at the Wallowa Lake Lodge...This night out is a gift from Pat and Brian, who by the way are in full swing, clear across the country, with the Christmas Season at "Applewood Farm" in Maryland...Brian chatted in yesterday and gave us a full tour, via iPad of the Farm as they opened the Christmas Season with blue skies and Santa and Mrs. Claus making their annual appearance...He promised to give us a nighttime tour of the light displays at a later date...Something to look forward to...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

PS...Below is a photo of one of the puzzles completed during our Thanksmas celebration.

Days flew by...37º--Raining

December 1st...Bedtime for me last night was 7:30, slept until 6:30 this morning...It is quiet now, with only the sound of rain outside and occasional rumblings from the washing machine as Herb gets back into his routine...Our house for the last few days resembled an ''ant hill'', everyone scurrying around with a job to finish.

As you read before, we opened gifts on Wed night...Thursday was devoted to cooking and eating...Breakfast had Ci and I making biscuits, Rusty and Herb had ground deer meat and pork, added seasoning for a special sausage, which was browned and added to mushroom gravy for our morning meal of biscuits and gravy...A ham went into the oven to slow roast before we added cloves and pineapple to the top...Bobi made her special sausage-artichoke dressing, piled it high in a glass pan, it cooked along side the pumpkin pie...It was a simple but delicious meal...In the meantime Bobi and Ci had a jigsaw puzzle started on the coffee table, enticing people to find a piece or spend an hour, as it took shape...That evening we played the real version of 5-crowns with my new deck of cards, just for that purpose...A fast paced rummy that anywhere from 2 to 8 people can play at one time...Some of our family calls this "Gramma's Game" as she loved playing it.

Friday morning breakfast was a "Bobi" frittata and fruit...Then we assembled the fondant (made earlier in the week by Rusty) into various shapes, melted the dipping chocolate and soon Bobi and I had creams of all flavors spread out on the kitchen table...In the meantime Ci and Stan took advantage of our new Hurricane Creek Road to work on her driving skills, stopping at the local chocolate shop for latte's and mochas...Always in the background Herb is at work emptying garbage, loading and emptying the dishwasher so we can start on another cooking frenzy.

late Friday afternoon we made up platters of cold meats, cheeses, fruit and crackers to snack on before we got out the game of "Apples to Apples" and played a few hilarious rounds before reverting back to more games of "5 Crowns"...I must not forget the dogs, as they had their own games to play whether it was chasing the ball or guarding their new toys from each other with an occasional warning growl...We all spent time on computers, iPads, iPods, etc...Bobi managed to get Herb a Facebook account and Stan & Bobi helped me download a new operating system for my iMac...It is a good thing they are up to the challenge of helping us "Old Fogies" in this tech world...:) :)...We also spent time with preliminary planning for a March trip to Washington DC for the entire family.

The Wall Family left before noon yesterday, Rusty was out the door at 6:30 this morning and all is quiet on the "home front" here on Barton Heights...It was a grand time, we had beautiful days, lots of laughter, food and love shared by all...Our blessings abound....Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Family

Stan and Cienna

Cienna and Bobi

Rusty and Biscuit

Craziness on Barton Hgts...25º

Late afternoon the rest of our family arrived from Portland and the craziness began...The car was quickly unloaded and now there were six humans and three dogs, suitcases, computers and gifts all wrapped for Christmas...We managed to contain ourselves long enough to eat dinner before Cienna assumed the role of Santa and passed out the gifts...(The Allen/Wall family Thanksmas.)

Many years ago before Cienna was born and Gramma Blanche lived in Elgin we were all at Barton Hgts for a Christmas celebration...Bobi and Stan put "noses" in our stockings that year for Christmas...Laughter filled the house as everyone tried on their new nose that we were to wear while opening gifts...Gramma Blanche found this especially entertaining and her laughter caused everyone else to laugh just because she was so tickled...(you all know how that happens)...Anyway it was a Christmas not soon forgotten and other years we have worn wigs, masks and santa hats, but nothing quite as funny as the noses...This year Bobi and Ci shopped, hoping to ramp up the entertainment...Our first gifts to open saw us trying on "tattoo sleeves" and "teeth"...I'm not sure who laughed the most this year but we are sure that Gramma Blanche joined us in this latest escapade, as we laughed until we cried...It is going to be hard to top this one...Hugs To All...and Happy Thanksgiving...OWAV:)

Scary

Tough Girl

"Thanksmas Eve"...26º

The day before Thanksmas and all through the house, a creature is stirring, with one little louse...She patiently waits for playmates to join her...Chaos will reign as they run and jump, establish a pecking order among the disorder...The clicking of toenails as Ginger, Biscuit and Tate dance all around...Soon they will be banned to the great outdoors with room to race, until with tongues lolling they sneak back inside looking for rawhides to chew and toys to steal as their masters are busy in their own chaos...Suitcases, presents, food, love and laughter...The next few days filled with cooking, eating, games, and joyful banter...In a wink its all over and quiet will reign, another celebration comes to an end...Hugs to All and Have a Wonderful Holiday!...OWAV:)

Biscuit patiently waiting for the fun to begin.

Groceries...27º

I'm planning an early morning trip to Safeway this morning, where hopefully I will have the store mostly to myself...I think we are having ham for TG dinner...Bobi is doing her dressing, which could be a meal in itself but we probably should have a couple of choices...I'm thinking main dish and pies.

Yesterday Herb did the final cleanup at the no-longer log deck so we can put that behind us with several cords of wood stacked in our backyard....Whew.

Fondant and fudge were made yesterday, with another batch to do today...Bread will be rising while I'm grocery shopping this morning...Should be ready to go with our dinner of oven fried chicken this afternoon...Me and the handy cuisinart will mix pie crust this morning so it can be chilling in the fridge.

The list in my head is getting longer so I better put the computer away and get moving before I hyperventilate...Sun is just inching its way up off in the distance...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

November sunrise

Another view

Pickling lesson....31º

Herb and Rusty were out early, unloading the juniper wood while I made pancakes for breakfast before we started on the pickled garlic.

Rusty had requested pickled garlic this year and I had resisted making it, although I held back some fresh garlic from the dryer, either for gifts or "pickling"...It gave him the chance to do the process start to finish, which is good...He enlisted Herb to help him peel, I got him started with a basic recipe for the brine...Jars, lids and dried dill, brought up from the basement and we were in business...Now the hard part is waiting for them to cure.

Ready for the Brine

Finished Product

Fondant to make this morning, dinner to prep before my stint at the Josephy Center as a docent today, and adding more things to my list to do before Wednesday night...Must get moving because I run out of steam by noon...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Last of the Log deck...22º

It was cold, brisk and frosty yesterday morning when we arrived at the log deck, but the end was in sight...The sun shining brightly we were bundled against the cold...I quickly marked the logs into stove lengths and Herb started sawing...As long as we kept moving the cold didn't bother us and the higher the sun rose in the sky the warmer it got...By noon we were back home and by 2pm Herb had the last load unloaded and stacked...I had dinner ready and we were able to call it a day...He will go back this morning for some cleanup of small or long thin chunks that can either go on our burn pile or be used for kindling.

At 3pm the phone rang and it was Rusty saying, "I'm headed your way, just leaving Nampa, ID...Will see you in a few hours and I have a load of juniper wood for you."...He and Biscuit arrived at 6pm our time...The load of juniper stayed on the truck while he had a "soup supper", Biscuit a bowl of dog food and a rawhide...We talked and yawned until 8am before giving up and calling it a day...Wood to be unloaded this morning.

I have a list: chores to do, groceries to buy, as the other half of our family will arrive late Wednesday night for our annual "Thanksmas Celebration"...There is chowder to make, pies to bake, candy to cook and gifts to wrap...Our little tree must be set up to give the house a festive air...Gifts this year are mostly things to eat or everyday necessities as our wants and needs are few...Plus we are saving up for a spring trip to tour the Nations Capital...I guess that Motels and airline tickets are on our Christmas list...The next week will soon be a blur as we cook, visit, play cards and games, put puzzles together, laughter and love abounds at the start of this Holiday Season!..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Count-Down...14º

The calendar is moving right along, Thanksgiving a week away...Also in only a month my favorite day of the year arrives and the days start getting longer, meaning a little more sunlight in our everyday world...Temperatures are dropping and the cold crisp days, with a brilliant blue sky of winter are here.

Herb and I ventured out yesterday with our eyeglass prescriptions to the local shop in Enterprise...Usually we buy our glasses in laGrande but have decided to try the local shop as we have heard good things about them...They actually still had us in there system from many years ago...Herb had no problem choosing his frames as I tried on, discarded and the helpful girls kept bringing more choices for me...If only I could see what I look like in the glasses it would help but since the frames for sale just have plain glass in them, a blurry vision is what I see...Herb is no help, so he went to do some grocery shopping and the girls kept saying no- those aren't for you until finally we narrowed it down to two pairs, but one had black frames and I needed a lighter color, which could be ordered...So I don't have to make a decision for another week...Gives me time to think! :)

Holiday time for me means making "TV Mix"...I think this recipe came out in the 70's (just googled it and they say the 50's) Whatever...As with all recipes to my way of thinking they have to be tweaked to our likes and I have to make a huge batch.

Original recipe
1/2 cup butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce (way too much)
1-1/4 teaspoons seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
3 cups Wheat Chex square cereal
2 cups Rice Chex square cereal
1-1/2 cups peanuts
1-1/2 cups small pretzel rods

My Recipe (All measurement approximately)
1 1/2 cups butter
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1Tablespoon lawrys season salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 pound Rice Chex (yes a full box)

1 pound Corn Chex

1/2 pound Wheat Chex

1 pound mixed nuts

1/2 to 1 pound peanuts

1 pound small pretzels

Either of these recipes are then roasted in the oven at about 300º for one hour...I bag them in quart or gallon zip locks  depending on the recipient and store them in the cellar until  Christmas...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Supplements...Yes or No?...10º

I really don't want to get on a rant today but confusion reigns when talking to any doctor...I have age related macular degeneration...Many people do...We get old, body parts wear out...Fact of life when living past 50...(That's when everything started to go to Hell pieces for me.) The conversation starts, "Are you taking your eye vitamins?" as he reads my chart..."Oh no, I see they hurt your stomach." I nod yes and say, "I take lutein." "The latest studies show that you can take lower doses of zinc and still do the same thing, zinc is what causes your stomach to hurt." We have been down this road before and I bite my tongue to keep from saying, "Yes and I could eat a tablespoonful of dirt every day and I might live for 25 more years like my mother did or I might die tomorrow."

I think they mean well, but sometimes I think they have stock in the drug/supplements companies and I dare say that in 5/10 years from now tests will be done and zinc will be causing something besides just  making my stomach hurt...I do know that they do miraculous eye surgeries now, keeping people from loosing their sight as we live longer and somebody had to be a human guinea pig for this to happen...If only we knew what or who to believe...Sorry for the rant...Hugs to all...OWAV:)

Missed Post...33º

Regular meeting of the Write People was yesterday, so instead of writing a blog I was busy browning ground beef, grating cheese and chopping veggies for taco salad...Pat was cleaning more stuff from her fridge as they prepare to leave for the winter...She filled in with salad condiments, chips, and ice cream for dessert...Seven of us shared in the lunch and after group "banter", catching up on Leita's (joined us from Richland) life as well as the past week for the rest of us...We are a noisy, rambunctious group, everyone talking and laughing.

Back home Herb was just finishing his dinner and I had few leftovers to put away (which is good) then we spent the afternoon reading and computing.

This morning we are up early, showers taken as we will leave before 7am for eye appointments in LaGrande...Leita is catching a ride with us to LaGrande where she will meet her Mom, then on to her new place in Richland...Should be an interesting trip to LaGrande as Leita always has stories to share about her life and family...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Book Group...27º

After a 6 month hiatus our book group is starting back up today...The third monday of every month for the past 10 or 12 years I've committed to this group, reading what ever book was chosen for a particular month...My reading habits have changed some but I still don't care for espionage, gory stuff, edge of the seat thrillers, science fiction or totally dysfunctional family memoirs...Our house is littered with books that I have picked up at yard sales and soroptomists...Some are in sacks to be given away, some set aside to read eventually and some are actually on book cases, already read but I can't bear to part with them...I also have a collection of cookbooks and gardening books (recently thinned out)...Now I get books from the "Sage System"...A lending library where I can order the book online and it is delivered to our local Joseph Library for me/Herb to pick up...The selection is incredible and I can get new books almost as soon as they come out in Costco, at no cost to me...Only problem is no matter how good the reviews are I find very few books that grab me or hold my attention from beginning to end...Most likely I read the first few pages, then the end to see if the book is worth spending my time reading it. :)

I spent most of yesterday writing (editing my essay) and reading..."Mrs. Kennedy and Me" by Clint Hill, kept my attention and yes I read the ending first, but then we all know that it ended with the assassination of President Kennedy 50 years ago this month...Clint Hill was Mrs. Kennedy's personal body guard, assigned to her by the Secret Service...He was not happy about that as previously he had been a body guard for President Eisenhower and felt this as somewhat of a demotion...Although not particularly well written, he tells a heartwarming story of getting to know Mrs. Kennedy and the trust that developed between them...Plus the difficult, demanding job of making the world safe for any president and his family...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

PS...I must share this photo of the Barton Heights Sunrise on November 12, 2013...Other photos from around Wallowa County are beginning to show up as other people post what they saw on that day.

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