Reminiscing...17º

Thinking about the years gone by and our Christmas celebrations...Many have been here in Joseph, with Grandparents joining us...Then Bobi started college and Rusty went to work at Mt Bachelor and Christmas could be anywhere and any day depending on schedules...One year found Herb and I at a movie in LaGrande, another year at a ski resort in Northern Idaho...There were Celebrations at Bobi's and Stan's in Portland or in Bend at Rusty's..We celebrated with margaritas and wine, prime rib and cheese cakes, stockings stuffed with crazy gifts...One year we all met at Coos Bay for a coastal Christmas, in a house with an ocean view from every room...We walked the beach under the rays of the winter sun.

When Cienna arrived on the scene we went back to Christmases of old, Santa and Reindeer were back on the scene, cookies and candy, snowmen and sleds reappeared...Again it didn't matter the day, only that we made it possible to be together...The last few years we have combined holidays and celebrated "Thanksmas," lessening the winter travel, and this year we canceled "Thanksmas" altogether...Well almost that is.

This year Cienna is revisiting Thailand, the country of her Rotary exchange when she was 16, spending a 3 week adventure, visiting friends, touring new places, experiencing time in a country she called home for 11 months...Click on Cienna's adventure to see her daily blog.

On last Friday and Saturday when our "Kids" would have been traveling to Joseph the weather and roads were particularly nasty...We counted our blessings and look forward to having Christmas in July? Somewhere, anywhere?..All of us together to celebrate another year.

Pam joined Herb and I for a quiet dinner yesterday, a simple dinner of tri tip, baked potatoes, green salad, cherry pie
 and glasses of wine to celebrate the many years we have celebrated together...Another year draws to a close...Hugs to our family and friends...Merry Christmas One and All...Oma with a view.

Busy Week on Barton Heights...22º

My mothers pressure cooker, that we use.

It was purchased in the early 1930's...

With Rusty's arrival, a whirlwind of activity started...He brought frozen turkey to can, lard to render, oysters to make into stew and panfry...When we weren't eating, rendering or canning he was working on the brakes and tires on Herbs truck...He had a deer tag to fill, but didn't get very serious about hunting, as a better offer came up to spend 4 days at Jim Creek, much more enticing...Also the honey-do list waited on the counter...One cold foggy day was spent helping Bob G. install a hand railing to our sliding doors on the deck, that would have been much easier if the sun had come out!..Now we old folks can get from house to car a bit safer.

Rusty left for Jim Creek on Tuesday, so H and I started the canning process, 6 cases of jars, pressure canner, stock pots and lids were all assembled...In four days we canned over 50 pints of turkey and 16 quarts of broth, the cellar shelves are groaning and Herb made countless trips up and down the cellar stairs...I think I heard him groaning as well. 😀

Turkey

Turkey Broth

I managed to keep up my social commitments as four of us ladies (Becky as the chauffeur), braved the cold, snowy weather Friday night, and made the trip to the Elgin Opera House for the musical "A Little Princess." Arrived home before midnight, tired but glad we made the trip, because it was another outstanding performance...On Saturday I enjoyed a lunch date with old friends, from my days working at school.

Rusty is back home in Bend, ready to report for jury duty on Monday, he is not sure what to expect, as it will be a first for him...Herb is hoping he gets to rest this week and I might make a batch of jam...Should be a slow week...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Frosty Morning...15º

Snow Bank

Frosty days, as the fog has rolled into our valley, blocking the sun and keeping the temperatures low...A cold winter wonderland...Our house is warm and snug, we will out wait the fog...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Another Snow Bank

Green Grass and Snow

Long Winter Days...12º

Nut Clusters

When posting my blog over a week ago either Facebook or Blogger decided not to include a photo in my post...So I will experiment today with a photo at the start and see what happens. 

Every batch of fondant that I made this year turned out velvety smooth, creamy and delicious...It has all been dipped, sampled and one package sent to our Portland family so they can enjoy it before Cienna leaves on her adventure (trip) to Thailand, where she will visit friends and host families from her Rotary exchange 3 years ago.

Huckleberry fondant

Huckleberry dipped in chocolate

Yesterday I started another winter project...Packages of fruit have been frozen, plums, apricots and strawberries, with the intent to make jam to share with friends, family and neighbors...Mixed berries, cherries and plums were defrosted yesterday...Juice, fruit, sugar and pectin added to a pot and soon the crimson colored liquid was boiling away on the stove...The first batch is in the jars and ready for the cellar shelves, just in time for Christmas giving...Actually Christmas has been canceled at our house this year, and will be held next spring or summer at an unknown location where all of our family can be together...But we will still be sharing the Christmas season with friends, sharing chocolates and jam with much loved friends...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

3 of the dozen jars of jam.