Snapping Photos...48º

Another flush of bloom on Barton Heights as the poppies, peonies, columbines and many others show their colors...I work daily pulling the spent forget me nots, digging the seeded grape hyacinths, deadheading irises and cutting down the dying daffodills, trying to clean things up so the new blooms are clearer and more visible.

We have had a few warm, sunny days in a row and todays temp could be 90º, so I will post the loveliest of the blooms, before going out in the cool of the moring to continue the cleanup...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Poppies

Peonies

 

Iris

Columbine

Chives

Seed pods on Pasque

Warming Up...58º-85º

Seemed like a scorcher yesterday, garden veggies all drooping from the unaccustomed heat...I picked the spinach, pulled onions and radishes, and gave everything a good drink...Herb has water going on the potatoes this morning and it looks like tomorrow, the temps will go back into the 70's for the rest of the week.

So Good

I had a lovely lunch with friend Kathy yesterday at the Red Horse Cafe in Joseph...We both had the "small" Quinoa Bowl...A very good and satisfying lunch, as we caught up on grandkids, gardens and life in general.

Humus, shredded beets and carrots, spinach

salsa, onions, black beans, quinoa...Very good.

 The new oriental poppies that I purchased last year have started to bloom, but instead of the unusual colors, (purple, white and orange, vibrant red) that I ordered, so far 3 out of 5 are just plain orange...Must write them an email and voice my disappointment!..Now it is time to get dressed and outside before it gets too hot...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Pretty but not what I ordered!

Rain Showers...50º

I keep thinking that the "rain word" will stop appearing so often on this page but "they" are saying two more days and then on to a nice weekend...Temperatures are up so maybe it will be a warm gentle rain, not a downpour...Also if not two wet it could be a good day for transplanting and weeding.

Tuesday was our Garden Club meeting...I joined 20 other women for a 4 garden tour, including 2 tiny houses...Luckily the sun came out and the wind died down as we scattered like quail, at each new garden, chattering, oohing and aahing over the amazing blooms and landscaped grounds done, in each persons unique way...Two gardens included the tiny houses, another garden, growing vegetables that he gives away to friends and neighbors, very adament that he doesn't sell his produce...The last garden, newly fenced and in its' beginning stages, will be growing a wide assortment of cut flowers, that will be for purchase in local retail shops...A lovely day came to an end as we relaxed in this garden/tiny house, with refreshing drinks and assorted cookies...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Cienna's Journey...43º

                 

             

Quiet Rainy Days...44º

Thursday nights for the past 7 years Herb and I have taken in live music at the Gazebo on the Court House Lawn in Enterprise...Weather is always iffy and last Thursday was no exception as thunder showers were predicted...The "Kupenga Marimba Band," from Cove Oregon played to a small audience on the backup stage at the OK Theater...Their music is lively and entertaining, we enjoyed watching and listening to them for the third year, although it is more fun on a warm evening on the Court House lawn, we were happy to be dry and warm at the OK Theater.

Yesterday we celebrated Herbs 80th birthday with a quiet rainy day at home...I made clam chowder and his favorite rhubarb custard pie...Pam stopped by with birthday wishes and joined us for dinner...We could have gone out for dinner or driven somewhere for an overnight stay to celebrate, but we love where we live and the view from our deck is awesome and traveling wears us out.

Rain showers will continue into next week with cooler temperatures...The veggie garden will be at a standstill and we hope the temp doesn't drop to freezing before it warms up again...We covered tomatoes, beans, cucumbers and marigolds last night, anticipating a possible freeze.

Today we have another celebration, 56 years ago today Herb and I were married in McCall, Idaho...We had a brief overnight stay in Boise for our honeymoon, so Herb could be at work on Monday morning, the job he went to for the next 34 years...We have lived in Joseph, same house with a view for 44 years and count ourselves blessed with our two children and one granddaughter, which brings up another celebration!

Our granddaughter, Cienna Ashton Wall will graduate from Beaverton High School tonight, June 10th and on June 22, will graduate with an associates degree from Portland Community College...Two years ago, after a years exchange in Thailand, she enrolled in "Early College" and now after two years of hard work, is eligible for both degrees ...We will watch her graduate tonight, via the Internet...Congratulations Cienna...Hugs To All...OWAV:) Photos of Cienna, tomorrow.

Dating

Kupenga Marimba

Rhubarb custard pie

Out North...58º

Tuesday was a special day for our writers group as we celebrated our second annual "Birthday Party."..We started the drive North after meeting and carpooling from Enterprise, arriving at the Rim Rock Restaurant 30 miles away, our choice for lunch...The Rim Rock, aptly named with its view of the rim rocks that make up and surround the Joseph Canyon, a lovely view from all directions, has been a gathering place for "Wallowa Countians" and a special place to go for lunch or dinner...It is now owned by a young couple who moved back to the county...They also have overnight accommodations in the form of Teepees and Retro Camping Trailers...It was sunny and warm as we sat on the deck visiting and sharing stories before going inside for lunch...Outside again we enjoyed delicious cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday accompanied by Katherine on her flute...It was a delightful day in the company of friends...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Camping

Joseph Canyon Overlook

Katherine and her flute

New Blooms...46º

Watering and weeding kept us busy over the weekend as three hot days brought the lilacs to bloom and the weeds lived up to their name and grew like weeds...The irises are just starting to bloom, along with columbine and allium...Following a rain storm on Sunday evening, beans, peas and radishes flourish in the vegetable garden...Each day I pick a handful of fresh asparagus, bok choi and scallions to add to our dinner plate...The bounty of early summer...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Iris

Iris

Iris

Dinner

Bright New World...47º

Looking through clean windows this morning makes our world seem brighter than usual...With Herb's help yesterday morning, we washed and squeegeed windows inside and out and couldn't believe how much more light we have coming in!..Don't look too closely as it is not a professional job but certainly better after getting rid of the winter grime.

I took a few snapshots, as I left on my walk yesterday, then my camera/iphone decided to take a vacation/rest as the screen went blank and it refused to turn on...After we finished washing the windows and iphone was still "dead," even after I tried charging it again and a few other tricks, nothing happened...In desperation I finally called apple and of course when I plugged it in AGAIN for the nice lady and did a restart, of course it lit up with a very low battery and started charging...She ran a diagnostics on it, could find nothing wrong and said, "Must have been a glitch."

Another lovely day today, time for a walk and a few more photos, below are the ones from yesterday...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Very last tulips for this year.

First Irises of the season.

Stately Alliums

Oriental Poppies soon to bloom.

Japanese Maple tree that everyone told

me wouldn't grow here!

Baking Bread...40º

Yesterday was a cooler day with a promise of rain...Early morning I added working sour dough to bread flour, oatmeal, cornmeal and flax along with butter, salt, molasses and a small amount of yeast (just to make sure the loaves would raise)...By noon I was taking them out of the oven to cool, ah that heavenly smell...Three loaves went to the freezer for Herb and I delivered a loaf each to our two friends, Willa and Margaret, both in their ninties, as well as loaves to Bill and Joel, the guys on Barton Heights who work hard to keep our ditch running all summer...I love giving gifts like this.

While I was out delivering, Herb stayed home to cook our dinner of chicken thighs, baked potato and squash...I arrived home as it came out of the oven, we added leftover cole slaw for a delicious meal.

Temperatures the first of the week were in the high 70's and 80's drying everything out and bringing the lilacs to full bloom, a relaxing evening was spent on our deck, surrounded by the scent of lilacs...Rain overnight makes today the perfect day to slow cook a chuck roast for our dinner...Hugs To All...OWAV:)