Warming Temps...44º

A promise of sunny days ahead makes next week perfect for deadheading daffodils, weeding, transplanting new starts and planting onions...I remembered to buy seed potatoes at Grain Growers on Thursday, but will wait a few weeks before planting them.

I spent hours in the kitchen yesterday, made a batch of humus and toasted white corn tortillas in the oven to use for dipping...Cooked a batch of lentils with onions, peppers and celery to use as added protein in my veggie dishes or to serve over a whole grain, such as bulgar, quinoa, brown rice...Dinner yesterday, was asparagus from our garden (really early this year,) salad greens, and sautéed mushrooms...Herb had a pork chop and I had crusty, browned tofu.

I find it difficult to keep enough fresh fruits and veggies in the fridge and to make sure I don't loose something in the back and find it when it is too late!..Bobi gave me a hint many months ago to keep cut peppers by wrapping them in a small paper towel, then into a ziplock bag before placing them back in the fridge...Keeps them for going slimy, also works for onions and cilantro...Must get moving, time for my walk...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Tofu Testing...45º

Made a run to the grocery store after water therapy yesterday...Bought fruit, mushrooms, veggies and tofu...I was starving when I got home, so I sautéed mushrooms, rinsed, drained, sliced the tofu and put it along side the mushrooms, drizzled with soy sauce and a bit of avacodo oil and let it get crusty and brown...Herb was cooking his hamburger patty, so I shared my mushrooms with him...He heated mashed potatoes and added salad to his plate...I warmed 2 small corn tortilla shells and made tofu tacos for my dinner...Like I said, I was starving, it tasted good!..Watch out kids, Tofurkey might be on the Thanksgiving menu...Thanks Bob for the suggestion...LOL

Thanksgiving might be lonesome at out house this coming November...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Cloudy/Rainy,occasional sun...34º

Looks like a perfect day for indoor projects and maybe a walk when it warms up a little...Tried a curry/lentil recipe yesterday, served it over mashed potatoes, but just so so...See what I can come up with today!...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Visitors...39º/Cloudy

Had a delightful day yesterday, visiting with Sue, Cindy and Troy who came up from LaGrande to see the sights in Wallowa County...The clouds finally moved high enough to get a view of the mountains, before they had to leave...I had mostly vegan soup in the crockpot and cornbread for our lunch...We toured our lower property where Dan has his Hobbit Abode, in a misty rain...Herb and I enjoyed their company, lots of stories and laughter.

Shortly after they left, Bobi started sharing photos of Cienna and Austin leaving for the Prom...So nice for us to be included in these memories through photos...Also good to connect with Bobi on her Birthday...Our family is dear to us!..Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Windy Day...42º Rain

Nice steady rain overnight, now the grass will really jump...With the cool breeze yesterday it was a perfect day to work on the irrigation ditch...We had lined the ditch about 20 years ago with railroad ties, to make it easier to mow and 4x4's to keep the gravel in place...Yesterday the rotted 4x4's were replaced, Herb doing the heavy work, me looking on, helping with the lifting and handing him tools so he didn't have to climb in and out of the ditch...One of our neighbors stopped by, offering help, but we said, "No thanks, we can do it."..And we did, one more time.

I fixed pizza for dinner, mine was vegan, his regular style...Spent the afternoon reading and waiting for the rain...Think I will do a pot of soup for this rainy day, not sure it will be totally vegan, I have some leftovers that need to be used...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Changing Weather...45º/breezy

Woke early to the wind chimes on our front porch, waited for the sound of rain, but so far that isn't happening...I scattered poppy, cosmos and marigold seeds yesterday, anticipating that the rain will tamp them into the soil, so they can take root...I am also in the process of removing all the soil from the half barrels, that for 20 years have held bedding plants on our deck...Time to downsize and have a new look.

We are winding down another month at water therapy, one month left before our summer break...It is Pams last month, as she starts her summer job with the Forest Service...Pat will be back from her winter in Maryland and take Pams place for the remaining month.

CHIP went well last night with Vegan Nachos for our dinner/supper...They were very good and I give them a 5 on my rating scale of 1-5...Our lesson last night was on carbs/sugars/simple sugars...I feel like I'm getting some of the education that I went searching for when I started my job as cafateria supervisor and came up empty handed...Better late than never?..I only wish my brain still worked as well as it did almost 30 years ago...I even forgot my phone last night, so no photo of the ice water...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Quick Note...45º

Last nice day before the rain comes, so this will be short...I didn't accomplish much yesterday morning as the day warmed up quickly and still not much shade to work in, although the trees are leafing out.

Chip continues to be educational and informative...We learned a lot about tofu last night and ways to cook it, which of course is the key to eating it...Also they are introducing more spices that will help...Without them the food is very bland...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

The grape hyacinths are blooming.

More strawberry/mint water

Redundant...44º

It is another beautiful, sunny, warm, April day, Amazing...We will welcome the rain showers come this weekend...Heading outside again this morning for a walk and gardening...Chip went well last night, meal was actually a breakfast with fresh fruit, scrambled eggs (tofu), quite tasty...I'll give it a 3...Got our labs back, so discussed them and the possibility of improving the scores with Chip...Will see if that works in two/three weeks when we have blood drawn again...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Ice water with mint, lemon and cucumber.

Incredible Spring...43º

Herb and I worked outside all morning yesterday...The irrigation ditch has all the debris (leaves, twigs, etc) removed and ready for water...While he was working on the ditch, I planted lettuce, spinach and sweet pea seeds on the north end of the garden...Covered them with mini greenhouses (milk jugs,) will see how long they take to sprout.

Write group was canceled for this morning, so that leaves me free to go outside, take a walk and ooh and aaw over the spring flowers blooming at our house this year...Such beautiful days.

Water therapy at noon then back to Chip class tonight...Today is the last day of Jumpstart...The most difficult thing about this program is that I am having to learn how to cook all over again and I don't like spending hours figuring out new recipes and making them palatable...One day at a time!..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Grecian Wind Flowers

Apricot Blossoms and Blue Sky

Daffodils (multiply by 100)

Jump Start...32º

 Jump start for 2 days was fruit and grains, grains and fruit...I found it difficult to disguise or make palatable this combination, for more than two meals...I sympathized with "Oliver Twist" and his steady diet of Gruel...At least mine had fruit!..Oatmeal/banana and an oat/berry smoothie meals, I would rate a 3, the rest 0...I even added cinnamon for flavor and good frozen berries..I improvised  for our dinner yesterday, made a spaghetti sauce out of my frozen, roasted tomatoes...For the last half hour I put the sauce into two pots and added cooked ground beef to one and served them over whole wheat pasta...It was actually very good even mine, without the beef...Last night while Herb ate rhubarb crisp that I made just for him, I had a sliced apple and toast and cheated a bit by adding peanut butter to my toast.

I'm certainly looking forward to the next 3 days and the addition of veggies and legumes...I think that whoever invented this eating program did the "gruel" on purpose so everyone would then appreciate "beans."..I will persevere!

Moving along, it was a beautiful day yesterday and another today...I enjoy puttering in the yard and never cease to be amazed when I see new shoots poking their little heads out of the ground...Peonies, poppies, day lilies to name a few..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Rated a 5...32º/snow

Mostly a nice spring day yesterday...Shower, haircut, morning walk, then off to water therapy...Back home, heated up some dinner, unwound for awhile...I didn't have time for grocery shopping in the morning so wandered the aisles of safeway, before my meeting...Stocking up on grains and fruit.

I arrived at the hospital cafeteria (meeting place,) the smell of food cooking met me at the door...Last nights meal consisted of a potato bar...Pipping hot baked potatoes (no worry about carbs on this food plan,) black bean chili, broccoli and onions for toppings...It was hot, tasty and filling...I gave it a 5!

Margaret, the hospital chef, makes all of our meals and last night she also gave a demo on important kitchen tools and gadgets to made meal prep easier...Most important are sharp knives and she gave us a brief lesson on knife sharpening, then slicing and dicing...It was interesting and informative...Dr Rose talked about oxidative stress and free radicals...Much of which went right over my head!

Our delightful ice water last night had slices of orange and strawberries floating...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Spring Rains...36º

So far the rain hasn't turned to snow but the possibility is on for tonight...Maybe the forecast will be wrong, it would be fun to have apricots on our tree again!..Everything is jumping out of the ground and every bush and tree show signs of buds and new leaves...I love spring.

Yesterday went by in kind of a blur as I rearranged the fridge, making room for fresh veggies, so glad the asparagus is on as it made for a yummy lunch...Trying to arrange my meals so that i'm ready for a light meal at Chips but not starving...Herb has been warming up his own dinner from leftovers in the fridge and really supporting me in this new adventure...I showed him a photo of the salad included in our meal last night and he said, "That looks good enough to eat!"

Our meetings last about 2 hours including dinner and the time flies by...So much info to absorb and remember...The main point they are trying to get across is that chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, etc. can be controlled or helped, at any age, by a change in lifestyle and diet rather than popping a pill...Our next step in the program we are looking forward to "Jumpstart."..This means quite a restricted diet for 5 days starting Friday...It is our choice to do the jumpstart or take a more gradual path for the next week...I will be going to the store this morning before water therapy and stocking up on WHOLE Grains and enough fruits and veggies to keep me alive for five days.

I make light of some of this because that is the way I am, but seriously I haven't been hungry...I still have occasional cravings, but "they" claim I will get over that in the next week.

Last nights meal was carrot soup and a spinach/strawberry salad, sprinkled with sliced almonds and lightly dressed with a vinaigrette, whole grain garlic bread completed the meal...On my scale this rated a 2 as the soup was very bland (pepper would have helped,) the salad was excellent, as well as the garlic bread...Over all it was not a very filling meal...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Ice water with raspberries & mint

Carrot soup with spinach/strawberry salad.

CHIPS...37º/Cloudy

Yesterday was busy from the get-go...Up early, finally decided to blog about the Chip program, ( I had reservations,) but finally decided that I would need family and friends for support in this endeavor...It is a monumental change in eating habits for me, to improve my health..."But" I'm a trooper and figure I can do anything for 2 months, especially since they feed me about 18 meals, monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, weight etc and our insurance should pay for the class.

My day started off at Write Group, then on to Enterprise where Pam and I joined 10 other ladies for Water Therapy...After WT we had lunch at subway (veggie sandwich (no cheese) for me and a chicken salad for her...She navigated as I drove to Alder Slope and the Garden Clubs first meeting of the year...Good thing she knows that area as I would probably still be looking for the house!..GC was very interesting with info on straw bale gardening and starting seeds in mini green houses made out of gallon milk jugs...We skipped the lovely desserts and arrived back at Pam's in time for me to make it to CHIPS.

My mind was in a "muddle."...Too many things in one day, too many people, too many ideas running through my head, too much visual and mental stimulation...I had to remind myself to "Breath."

Included in the Chips program, a meal is served at each meeting...A good way to sample Vegan (there I said it) cooking...The meeting started at 5:30, tables set and filled plates ready...A veggie wrap with grapes and strawberries on the side...Pitchers of ice water with slices of lemon, lime and mint leaves floating...I was hungry and looking at the plate in front of me, I wondered what dessert might be?

My honest take on the meal, the veggie wrap in a whole wheat tortilla was okay, not very flavorful but filling, the green grapes were almost sweet and the strawberries, hard with little flavor...On my scale of 1-5, I gave it a 2...I ate all that was on my plate and of course there was no dessert...Dr. Rose, a very personable man is the main speaker...Easy to listen to, a sense of humor and quick to smile, he is easy to like...We also watched videos of people with health issues and saw how the program has helped them..Heart attacks and strokes are most prevalent...We ease into the program, return tonight for our second session and another meal...I have homework to do...I will eat oatmeal and a banana for breakfast, maybe chili for lunch...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

My muddled mind forgot to take a photo of the food...Tonight I will remember.

Ice water

Lifes Struggle...41º

There are many struggles/battles in life that define ones character or "shape" ones life or maybe we just learn to deal with them and move on...Different for each individual and coped with in different ways...What I'm alluding to here is the ever expanding waist line or in my case the "hip line."...I come from a family of women who are well endowed in that area...Each family referred  to it as the "Parkin or Ashton Butt."..I think I got both!

It became apparent as I grew into a teenager and had to wear "aline skirts" instead of "pencil skirts." It wasn't a "big" problem then, but over the years with junk food added to my diet, child bearing added inches, a more sedentary lifestyle made its contribution, the problem got "bigger."

Organizations to help, began popping up in every community...First it was TOPS (take off pounds sensibly,) then Weight Watchers...In between those was the "grapefruit diet, the "fasting/liquid diet, the Atkins/low carb diet, the no fat/heart diet and a myriad of other special diets with exercise thrown in...TOPS didn't do much for me but Weight Watchers did, at least "3" times!..Some years I just counted calories and added exercise...They all worked for awhile, but in the "end," "it" always got bigger...If only I had been taller the problem wouldn't have been so BIG.

So for the past few years I said, "To Hell" with all of the eating programs and ate what I wanted, gave away the smaller size clothes and determined to live with my size...BUTT it has become more of a problem, yes I can still find clothes to fit, but my stamina is nil, my lung power is short, my heart seems to have more blips and I can't work in my gardens, as much as I want to.

For about 3 years now, people in the county have been taking a program called CHIPS (Complete Health Improvement Program.) I have jokingly called it the "Beaner Class" because in just listening to their commentary, I deduced that this program focused on BEANS...Hmmm, I just made all that chili!

To get to the point, one week ago today I went to the "startup meeting" and yes paid my money (reimbursable from insurance)  and got the "kit"...3 books, a pedometer, a water bottle and a bunch of papers to fill out...The diet/new way to eat is PLANT BASED...Think about what this means...To be continued...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Life is Good.

Unusual Warm Spell...42º

April in Joseph is usually cold/rainy/snowy/windy but this spring (I can say we really have spring) so far, it has been warm/sunny/gorgeous...Daffodills burst into bloom overnight, along with windflowers and "starry twinkles."...Our two apricot trees are in full bloom with apple trees in bud and lilacs leafing out...Days so warm, that I have been sitting on the deck (shade from the tree trunks, no leaves yet,) taking in our amazing view and soaking up some vitamin D.

Yesterday Herb reduced the size of our rhubarb plants, digging out gigantic roots that started growing some 25 years ago...I trimmed and separated them to share with anyone who would like their own start...They are prolific and are the source of many rhubarb pies and other desserts...From there I moved on to the black currant bush, thinnning it out as it has become impossible to pick these yummy berries for jelly...I suppose the robins will have a heyday as they sneak in for their share...Then I spent about an hour trimming dead stems off of the lavendar plants and anything else with stems leftover from winter.

Right now 6am we have another incredible sunrise out our East window...Life is good, feeling blessed...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Chili Grows...30º

My chili recipe is not very exact...Ground meat, Beans, onions, garlic, peppers and spices...I love having chili on the cellar shelf...It is quick and easy on a rainy day, just a bowl full, topped with onions, sour cream, cheese, corn bread and honey butter completes the meal...We use it as a topping on a baked potato bar, or heat and mash into a bean dip, again topped with onions sour cream and cheese, served with tortilla chips...Some days I use it as a soup base, with chopped cabbage added and fry bread on the side.

After opening our last jar of chili, the pressure cooker was still set up, turkey meat jarred and in the cellar, too early to do much in the garden, it sounded like a good idea to make chili...Herb ground deer meat while I chopped onions, garlic and peppers, measured out spices...More jars were hauled upstairs, dishwasher loaded...Ground meat, onion, garlic and spices browning in the oven...We started with two large stainless steel dish pans, then added another smaller one and yes another smaller, oblong one!..Four number 10 cans of tomatoes, whole and sauce were opened...Beans sorted and rinsed, then I made a trip to the store for more beans (twice)...We have 18 pints and 20 quarts done...We had chili for dinner yesterday, a new recipe from the newspaper...Our chili simmering in a skillet, added 3 eggs, cover, cook until whites on done, serve sunny side with warm tortillas...NOT RECOMMENDED.

This morning we will finish up with 18 pints, then all the paraphernalia will be put away for another year...Both of us saying "Why do we do this?"...But by next year with our failing memories, I suppose we will have forgotten all about the work, frustration, aching backs and do it again, just one more time, then we will quit!..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Still need to add the beans.

Canning 101...30º

Had to take time out from the blog to "jar" turkey meat and broth...On Friday I boned 4 partially thawed turkeys, bought on sale last November, and Herb hauled all the jars and canning equipment to the kitchen...The kitchen was soon filled with delicious smells of simmering turkey bones and the hissing sound of the pressure cooker..Monday night we finished with 40 pints of turkey and 7 pints of pork and 10 quarts of lovely turkey broth...Today the pressure cooker is taking a rest while we prep dried beans and burger before we mix it all together and start processing chili...I come from a long line of "jarring" fanatics.

My Mother learned the art of jarring from her mother and continued this practice after marriage when my Dad presented her with her very own pressure cooker...This couple with 4 young children and another one on the way, lived in a two room "house" and Daddy worked for a cattle/sheep ranch in Wyoming...In those years Mom jarred everything possible to fill the cellar for winter...This was the start of a lifelong skill that she passed on to her children and kept up until she died at age 96.

In the fall of 1990 she moved from Utah to Elgin, Oregon, only 50 miles from Joseph...Her move to Elgin and canning (jarring as it is now called) go hand in hand...She settled into a tiny house with a large garden spot, including three apple trees...Her life revolved around gardening and canning.

I also learned to can at a young age, but only fruit, relishes, jams and tried my hand at pickles but never with much luck...Over the next 15 years I would learn how to make pickles of all kinds and also learn the art of pressure cooking meats and chili.

Our kids had only spent short visits with this gramma but grew to love and cherish the time spent with her in Elgin and always after a visit, she sent them home with a jar or two of her "Hot Garlic Dill Pickles."Bobi got the jarring bug and continues the art at her home in Portland...Rusty joins us in our tuna jarring extravaganza in Joseph and sometimes lends a hand at boning turkeys.

During the 15 years that Mom lived in Elgin, we celebrated some Christmas's together, spent a week on the Oregon Coast at a beach house and went fishing for salmon...Birthdays were celebrated and the time flew by, most of it centered around canning (Mom never could call it jarring!)..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Lovely Week on Barton Heights...37º

I think I've hit the high lights of our life in Joseph, delved into some parts, maybe more than was necessary and left out some parts all together...Today I will try to fill in some of the gaps.

The first ten years while we still had "kids" at home were hectic and fun...Herb's Dad played a big part in those years and loved having Bobbi Jo and Rusty visit him on his 10 acres in Council, Idaho...They still treasure memories of "porcupine races," Grange potlucks, Sunday church services and the endless irrigating of the pasture where a series of steers named "Steak" could be seen grazing...Also endless games of canasta, with Grampa teaching them skills and finesse in playing cards...Many weekends we met on the Snake River for a weekend of camping, boating and fishing...Holidays were usually spent in Joseph where we celebrated as a family...Our last family gathering was in April of 1979...After celebrating Bobbi Jo's 17th birthday, Dad arrived back in Council on a sunny afternoon, time enough left to plant onion starts he had purchased along the way...He passed away that afternoon, 72 years old, planting in his garden and looking forward to another summer, and visits from his beloved grandchildren...A time of sadness, but we could be thankful for the years we spent together and cherish the memories made.

Over the next few years, Bobbi Jo was in College and with Rusty's encouragement, Herb and I took up downhill skiing...What a challenge, we were both in our 40's, but oh what fun...I have never enjoyed any sport in life as I did this one, once I mastered the art of stopping without falling down!..The dreaded "bunny hill," soon became easy, night skiing at Spout Springs taught me to ride a chair lift (a most scary experience.) Now I was ready for the bigger hills at Anthony Lakes and Mt. Bachelor in Bend...Herb took all the training and volunteered as a ski patrol member  at "Fergie" our new family ski hill, just ten miles from home and we settled into a winter routine of weekend skiing...Ten years, then Herb hung up his ski's and I came down with the "dizzies," ending another of life's adventures...Hugs To All...OWAV:)...Continued tomorrow.