A little Rain...45º

Enough rain to settle the dust and dampen the new straw, covering the garlic bed...Herb and I started early, harvesting our potato crop, yesterday morning...So much fun, as we gently pulled the vines, unearthing a nest of scab free potatoes, then felt around in the loamy soil for more...We filled two large boxes, to store away in the cellar, food for winter.

Yukon Golds

Taking a short break we sat on the deck and broke heads of garlic apart, separating the largest cloves for planting and the smaller ones to slice, dry and pulverize into dried garlic...Then it was time to plant the garlic in the garden spot just vacated by the potatoes...Herb made rows in the loamy 6 inch deep soil and I buried the cloves in 10 rows (180 plants)...Then I tamped down the soil, smoothed it with a rake and mulched it with straw...Just in time for the rain.

Garlic Ready for Planting

Pam was finishing up her last day of work and joined us for dinner...Grilled tuna/cheese sandwiches, coleslaw and watermelon, washed down with a glass of wine...It was a very good
day...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Mulched Garlic.

Carrots Waiting to be Dug.

Lamb in the freezer...45º

The past week was perfect weather for hanging and cooling lambs...The rain had ceased and the temps dropped down to freezing at night and stayed cool during the day...It is important to cool the carcass and keep it cool...We let them hang for 5 days in our small garage and cut one up on Monday, the second on Tuesday...It went well, Herb and I agreeing on where the cuts needed to be made for the best roasts and chops...He did all the cutting and sawing, while I helped by holding everything still...Then I did the trimming and he packaged it for the freezer...Wonderful pasture raised meat for this winter...Thanks Debbie/Tim for raising these animals.

More garden clean up this morning as the remaining zucchini vines, patty pans, cukes and tomatoes  will be pulled out and the potatoes harvested and the garlic will be planted, in the next few days...Cooler weather and possible rain is in the forecast for next week...I love these fall days and in one way I look forward to winter because I like the changing seasons...What I don't like is the added darkness of winter, the short daylight hours...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Fall Crocus

Autumn Joy

Black Eyed Susans

Multi-Tasking Gone Bad...45º

As you probably remember, in late July Pam and I picked huckleberries and were joined by campground host Richard...We were surprised by all the hidden away patches that he (a seasoned HB picker) introduced us to...The end result was several gallons of the illusive huckleberry...We have enjoyed many huckleberry delicacies over the summer and I promised Richard a dinner as a thank you.

Yesterday was the big day...We invited Richard, John and Becky (darn, B was in San Diego on business) and Pam to join us...Herb took over BBQing the ribs and I in my mind was thinking "huckleberry" margaritas, bbq sauce, dressing, jam and pie...I finally got realistic and concentrated on the pie...All was going well, cole slaw made, veggies ready for roasting, appetizer tray ready, rolls raising and pie, with timer set, was in the oven.

I sat down to take a break and decided to book reservations for a cabin in McCall for our upcoming 2nd annual "Girls Hot Springs Trip." It soon became much more complicated than I anticipated...First I had to become a member of Airbnb, but they wanted a photo copy of my drivers license, and a photo of myself, upload them and make sure the new photo was a good enough likeness to match the ID photo and on and ON...About that time I detected the smell coming from the kitchen of the pie bubbling over in the oven, didn't give it much thought until I realized that I was looking through a smoky haze at the computer screen...I abandoned the computer, opened doors and windows, turned off the oven and peeked in...Half of the pie was merrily cooking away on the bottom of the oven and the top of the pie was quite brown...Evidently in my concentration mode to book the trip, I didn't hear the timer go off.

Luckily I had time enough to cool down the oven, cover it with wet towels before using a putty knife to scrape the "pie filling" into the garbage...It had to be somewhat clean because I still had to roast veggies and bake the rolls...OH MY!

All turned out well, the guests arrived, I had a couple glasses of wine, everything got sort of surreal, the ribs were delicious, I enjoyed the evening and think everyone else did as well... Miracle of all miracles, the huckleberry pie smothered with ice cream, didn't taste burned...Hugs To All...OWAV:) PS...The trip is booked!

Breakfast?

Clearing skies...40º

 The clouds are moving out, more sun brightens our valley as we welcome Indian Summer...Never sure how long it will last but however long it will be enjoyed...Most of our garden has either frozen or just plain quit producing because of the colder temperatures...I'm gleaning the last of the zucchini, patty pans, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes...We harvested a few gravenstein apples this year and have galas still on the tree, hoping they sweeten up just a bit more...Herb is working on the fall cleanup, cutting down the perennials, draining the irrigation pumps and rolling hoses, to put away for the winter.

Also in the storage shed we have 2 lamb carcasses hanging, waiting to be cut and wrapped for the freezer, adding to our winters meat...Herb and I will start the "cutting up" part next week, always a challenge, wish Rusty was home to help...Our house will take on the fragrance of garlic next week as that drying process starts in the basement...So many things to do before winter arrives.

Pam and I did an impromptu trip to LaGrande on Thursday, like old times for us...We shopped, ate, laughed a lot, talked until our jaws were sore...It was a very good day!...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

The latest sunflower bouquet.

Late Bloomers...38º

I awoke to the sounds of a steady rain this morning...The sound that makes you want to snuggle deeper into the covers and spend the day...Sadly now that I could actually do that, I have no desire to sleep all day, early mornings are the best time of the day for me...Today will be a good time to roast the last of the tomatoes as it helps to warm the house...A pot of chili simmering on the stove, accompanied by warm cornbread for our dinner sounds good...It will welcome me home from the Museum, where I have my last volunteer day, as the summer season draws to a close.

Yesterday morning was cool, threatening rain, perfect weather to transplant peonies and dig more grape hyacinths...I spent a couple of hours digging, planting, imagining how they will look in a couple of years...This is the time of year when we try to save the last of the garden (cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and squash), by protecting them from the frost...It seldom works and they end up on the compost pile and we clean up the vegetable garden for another year...The potatoes will be harvested soon and the garlic planted, so it will sprout next spring, after the snow melts.

A few flowers are still blooming, black eyed susan's, autumn joy, joe pye weed, purple cone flowers and golden glow...Old fashion hollyhocks are blooming in the pasture, with a back drop of wooden pallets that Herb has stacked, making a cover for the many quail that frequent our small acreage...While it rains here, snow covers the mountain tops behind our house...Indian Summer is just around the corner...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Bloom where planted?

Quail Haven

Summers disappointment,

aphids took over.

Insomnia...56º

Garden Club was on my calendar yesterday...Nine people toured a lovely garden and pond belonging to Ron and Trudy Jet on the outskirts of Joseph, before coming to our home on Barton Heights for a brief garden tour and dessert...The afternoon was perfect with a few clouds and a clear view of the mountains from our deck...We were small in numbers yesterday but enthusiasm was high as we talked about the end of summer, sad that it is drawing to a close but happy to put our gardens to bed.

Herb, as always, helped me with the cleanup, before we both took time to relax...Late evening I realized that neither of us had eaten since breakfast, (other than dessert) so I warmed the leftover pizza and ham and beans...Pam stopped by after work, for "wine 30" and we visited on the deck until after dark.

I was in bed by 9pm, ready for a good nights sleep...Woke up at 1:30 am and finally got up at 2:30 to read my book and wait for the automatic coffee pot to start at 4am...Now it is 7am, still in my jammies but feel rested so better get moving, maybe I will take a nap today...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Lovely Sunflowers.

  

Changing Weather...47º

Our parting shot on Wednesday morning.

Our Wallowa Valley has gone from high temperatures, smoke filled, mountains verily visible, to mostly clear blue skies, sunny and much cooler.

Morning Sunrise, blue sky above the clouds.

Early yesterday morning I chopped "bacon ends and pieces" added them to mixed dried beans, added, onions, garlic and celery, put them all in the dutch oven, covered with water and put in the oven to cook all day on low heat...The house needed to be warmed up, instead of cooled down, for the first time in at least a month...Cooler temps also put me in the baking mood...I chopped apples, grated zucchini and pulled out a couple of new recipes...Fresh apple cake and ginger bread sounded good to me...Of course I added the apples to the Apple Cake and made up my own recipe by adding zucchini to the Ginger Bread...They both turned out moist and rich...Herb enjoyed the crusty edges and the rest went into the freezer, saved for the Garden Club tomorrow...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

A Hot Time...58º

It is quiet once again on Barton Heights...Rusty left on Wednesday and the Girls left on Thursday for their respective homes in Bend and Portland...The forecast was spot on last week and that made for a hot time in the hometown...Hot, smoky, and tinder dry.

We started it off last Saturday night with BBQ'd ribs on the deck...A surprise gift of 3 quarts of huckleberries set the tone...Huckleberry Margaritas, pancakes, sundaes, chocolates (good idea but not so tasty) huckleberries, popped fresh into our mouths to the delight of our taste buds...These with all the other yummy food, drink, conversation and card games made the heat more bearable and we were thankful to have only smoke to deal with and not flames as in many other parts of the west.

Herb and I are back in our comfortable rut, with lots of leftovers to eat, the weather has cooled and a small amount of rain fell last night accompanied by thunder and lightening...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Just arrived

No Oma not another photo

Orange drinks

Ginger

Hurry up and play

I like these cards

Deal the cards.

Cooling off

Checking the grill

Family Time...50º

Just got a text from Portland, "On our way."..The "Girls" are getting an early start, haven't heard from Rusty yet...Our last times together was in April, before that December and one year ago this week we were at the Oregon Coast, where we spent a week doing our family stuff...Eating, playing games, walking the beach, enjoying the sunshine...This week is going to be "Hot."...Temps in the 90's, thankfully the nights cool off...Nothing big is planned for the week, probably the usual stuff and trying to stay "Cool."...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

September at the Oregon Coast 2016

December in Joseph 2016

April in Joseph 2017