Counting Blessings...32º

As we bid goodbye to 2018 and welcome 2019, we are again counting our blessings and celebrating the coming of a new year...We have had our ups and downs, "health wise" as every family does, but take each day, one at a time and are thankful, when we are able to get out of bed under our own power.

Herb continues to improve daily, had a good follow up appointment and is scheduled for an MRI on Monday...Keeping our fingers crossed that we get good reports from it as well.

Since our "Fun and Food" with the Frolander Clan was a hit last year we are celebrating with them again to usher in the new year...The festivities will happen this afternoon, since New Years day/eve is a work day this year."...It looks like a blustery, snowy day today, perfect to stay inside and play games and eat...I have buffalo wings, sweet and sour wings and Italian meatballs and hard rolls, on the menu, wonder what other yummy food we will have?

Thanks to all our friends and relatives, who have sent love, hugs and good thoughts, helping us to keep a positive attitude, knowing we are well loved!..Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Christmas Peanut Brittle.

(this might be

today's dessert)

Last Nights Sunset

Another Slippery Slope...11º

We celebrated a quiet Christmas Day, Pam joined us for a simple dinner of prime rib, baked potatoes and brussel sprouts, followed by chocolate mints for dessert... (Our family was in Joseph 2 weeks ago and we had our Family Christmas then.) Earlier in the afternoon Pam and I played cards, sipped a new bottle of wine (Pinot noir, gifted to me by a friend, it was very good) and snacked on a new treat of "baked brie with huckleberries and pecans."...A peaceful day to reflect on the past year and count ones blessings.

The four days preceding Christmas had been anything but peaceful...I caution you again, I write because it is therapeutic for me and not because I look for sympathy...Thursday night was a sleepless night for Herb, he was up and down all night, heartburn, bad stomach pain, nauseous...I slept through it all!...Friday morning, he felt good enough to sweep snow from the sidewalks and steps, we had breakfast and he took a nap in his recliner.

By noon he still wasn't feeling very good, but said no to trying to see a doctor...Things kind of happened fast after that, he was nauseous, cold, then hot, then shivering uncontrollably...I put heat packs on him and said, "Lets go to the ER." I got his shoes on him and then tried to get a coat on him, but he didn't seem to have any strength...I figured out pretty fast that I wasn't going to be able to get him out of the house and into the car...I dialed 911 and said I think my husband might be having a heart attack...A sheriff's deputy was here in a matter of minutes and the ambulance soon to follow...While they got Herb loaded into the ambulance, I packed a suitcase of sorts, I knew if it was a heart attack, we would be headed out of the county in a few hours.

Fast forward, 3 hours in the ER, ex rays, cat scan, EKG, the whole nine yards...Results...No, it was not a heart attack, maybe a gall bladder attack and possible passage of a gall stone, hence the severe stomach pain...A second cat scan was ordered because of a small "brain bleed" seen on the first one...This was a surprise to the doctor and they questioned us extensively about a possible fall or even sever vomiting, that could have caused it...A third scan was scheduled for Saturday, which meant a night in the hospital for observation...Herb left the hospital late Saturday afternoon, the 3rd scan showed no change...He will go for a follow up exam and probably an MRI in the near future...Maybe we will find answers, maybe not.

Meanwhile he is home, each day shows improvement in his balance and thought process and we are weathering this slippery slope, mistakenly called the "Golden Years."..Actually we have enjoyed many good years and look forward to the new year, with a hopeful outlook...One never knows, what tomorrow will bring, no matter what age you are!..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Slip, Sliding Away...30º

Sunday night it rained, Monday brought more rain, but it stayed cold enough to keep the layer of ice in all places that are shaded...Tuesday morning brought more rain but the road in front of our house on Barton Heights was mostly bare pavement...I left the house before 10am to stop at the hospital lab and deposit a urine sample (trying to clear up a recurring bladder infection), before water therapy...My mind was anywhere but on the road conditions, as I have driven this stretch for over 45 years...We alway have good tires and I wasn't in a hurry, thank goodness.

The only thing I remember is seeing our neighbor Rodd, standing at the edge of the road, looking down the hill...Then it hit me, The Hill is ICE!..In the next split second, I touched the brake, I slid sidways, so I thought, I'll just turn into Svendsen driveway and not go down the hill, but no the car had other ideas, actually the icy road was in control...I turned the wheel, the car slid sideways again and now Theil's mailbox loomed before me!..Miracle of all miracles, the car turned just enough to slide past the mailbox and my front left wheel hit soft snow, next to the bank...Still holding my breath, heart pounding, I slipped the gearshift into 1st gear...Now both left wheels were in snow and I crept down the hill, (on the wrong side of the road, but I wasn't going to correct that, because a steep bank is on the right side), I watched the car in front of me go around the corner and looked in the rearview mirror hoping another car wasn't sliding down behind me.

I drove to bare pavement, pulled to the side of the road, took some deep breaths, checked the seat, yes, I would still stop at the hospital lab...I called Herb and said, "Do not try to drive down the hill, yes, I'm okay, just wanted to let you know the hill is very slick!"

Four hours later, I returned home, the hill was slush with icy spots...Again I hugged the bank going uphill this time...I had bought a fresh pizza from Safeways deli and Herb and I shared a beer, counted our blessings, it had stopped raining and the sun was about to go behind Mt Joseph...All Is Well...OWAV:)

I didn't have time to take a photo. LOL

Friends brighten up the day...38º

What could have been just a bleak, foggy, dreary day, on Barton Heights turned into the perfect day...All it took was a pot of homemade noodle soup and card games with friends...Sue and Jan arrived, with a plate of Snicker doodles, just as the cornbread came out of the oven and we were soon, eating and chattering away about Christmas, family, friends and how life has changed over the years...We all prefer less travel, happy to snuggle in for the winter months and look forward to longer days and spring weather.

Noodle Soup

Yummy Snicker Doodles.

The hours zipped by, clouds covered the mountains as a storm threatened, but never materialized and darkness would soon follow, it was time to call it a day...The game of cards and food brought us together, but the main thing is the company we share as friends...We all look forward to next month, another game, more food, laughter and friendship.

After days of talking about pulling our little Christmas tree out of its storage bag, I finally did it!...The tree was up in a matter of minutes, brightening our living room...It is nothing like the trees/Christmas's of old, but we are content to have those memories and count our blessings as we simplify our life...Do I dare mention, I would still like to have a white Christmas...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

No fuss, no mess (if it only had that fragrance). 😊

Celebrated!...22º

Like "They" say, it is all over but the shouting...We didn't need decorations, just family...It was four days of crazy, while we cooked, ate, drank, played cards and reminisced...Memories of past celebrations with grandparents and friends, sledding parties, presents piled high, the perfect tree or Charlie Brown tree, Christmas on the coast, a margarita Christmas, to name only a few.

For other people it is 12 more days of shopping, wrapping presents, cooking and traveling before Christmas...Herb and I give a big sigh of relief, as the "kids" are all safely back to their own homes and we settle back into our routine...It is quiet and familiar...I'm thinking I might set up the little fake tree today and make another batch of mints, to give as gifts, maybe turn on some Christmas music and take a nap...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

 Photos were the last thing on my mind.

First batch of fondant, creamy melt in your mouth.

Mint fondant dipped in chocolate.

Breakfast frittata, oranges and "Pig Newtons."

Pig Newtons are precooked link sausages

rolled in biscuit dough and baked, 

a new taste treat for all.

Our Parting Shot, left to right

Rusty, Bobi, Cienna, Herb and Idella

Celebration...20º

We are celebrating the double digit temperature this morning and by evening we will be having a family celebration...Rusty arrived Thursday to fill his deer tag and the "Girls," surprised us with a text last night and said they will be headed to Joseph, at about 9am today!

Cienna finished up her fall classes at OSU on Thursday, moved out of her dorm yesterday, has about 3 weeks off before she leaves for Chile...Another travel adventure for her in conjunction with her winter term at OSU...A ten week stay in Chile, going to school and living with a local family, she is super excited and we are excited for her!

We will have a short, crazy, fun, exhausting visit and by Tues or Wed, they will all go home and Herb and I will recoup/collapse...A list is running through my head, make beds, cook food, clean/dust, put our some Christmas decorations, make candy...Hmmmm, guess I better get dressed...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Photos from 2010.

Buck Horn Lookout  2010

Our Parting Shot

Eye Care...7º

About every 4 months, Herb and I make the 150 mile round trip to the ophthalmologist in La Grande...Our hope is that with regular check ups we can keep our eyes as healthy as possible!..Next trip will be mid March, and we avoid the worst of the winter roads...I took photos as we left town yesterday of our snow covered mountains and frosty trees.

One of the views from our house.

A closer look at Ruby Peak

Hurricane Creek road, tree heavy with frost.

Sunrise behind us 7:30am

We had an uneventful trip, did a little shopping and had "pattie melts" for our dinner...Arrived back home about 3pm, just as the sun was going behind Chief Joseph Mountain...Our eyes checked out  okay, but some tests that are done we don't get the results for many days...Keep our fingers crossed.

I thought about getting on my soap box about the unexpected "Holiday" yesterday but will keep it short...A National Day of Mourning was declared for former president George Bush...Why, I asked, should we close down every government office, many state offices, disrupt the postal service to mourn a former president...If people care so much, they can take a day off work to "mourn."...I have to wonder how much it cost to give all of the government employees a day off,?..But then maybe I really don't want to know...OUR tax money at work, Grrrr

On a brighter note, it is above 0º and the sun is shining...Hugs To All OWAV:)

Cold Winter Week...10º

Our first winter storm is over, leaving a good 6 inches of snow on the ground and now cold temperatures until Sunday, when more snow is forecast...Herb spent the morning plowing with the 4-wheeler and I cleared the deck again...The snow is light and fluffy and the sun helped to warm the day up a bit.

I made a pot of soup, using Italian sausage, fresh veggies, roasted tomatoes, and canned beans from the cellar, with slices of homemade bread to round out the meal, perfect for a winter day...I think it will make a very good breakfast as well...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

PS...The photos depict the storm and showcase the Mountain Ash Berries, that are now bright red and frozen, waiting for the birds to come for a feast...Sometimes if they eat too many, they get a bit loopy (drunk) and have a hard time flying...They provide us with entertainment.

Our view to the Northwest.

Closeup of the berries

The tree is loaded.

Our deck, waiting for the next storm.

Wintery World...22º

Be careful what you wish for. 

More snow fell yesterday afternoon and overnight, maybe we have 5 inches total...It is a wintery world out there this morning and we have more snow to clear away...A good way to wake up and get moving on this Monday morning...A week ago I changed my window decorations from butterflies to a snowman, snowflakes and words that say, "Let it snow."...It worked and for the next few months we will shovel and pile, then it will probably melt, then snow again, that is just how winter is...The snowstorms of my childhood were always measured in feet rather than inches and they started in November and continued through March/April...And most years they didn't melt in between storms...I remember loving it, not thinking of the work my parents faced on a daily basis, trying to keep us warm and fed, along with all the animals to take care of...Must get dressed and brave the cold...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

PS...Looks like a good day to make soup.

7am starting to lighten up.

Toward the East.

Enlarge this photo to see the moon sliver.

Wintery Day...22º

December 2nd, 2-3 inches of snow overnight, still snowing but it is very fine and light, so will not amount to much...

This date brings a memory to mind...In 1950, I was 8 years old and my family moved from Porterville, Utah to Lake Fork, Idaho, on Dec 1st/2nd...We left late in the day after loading household furniture, farm equipment, and horses...No moving vans for us, just two big trucks, one pickup and a touring car, (that was what they called 4 door sedans, back then)...Rain fell as we left Porterville but soon turned to snow before we reached "Snowville," Utah...A snowy pass was almost our undoing...The big trucks finally chained up and with the help of roadside "sanding barrels" we were able to inch our way to the top in the car and pickup...Going down the other side was scarier than coming up...At midnight, after traveling about 200 miles, we stopped in Burley, Idaho, where we spent the rest of the night in a motel...The next day, we covered 300 miles, with more snow and bad roads and flat tires, we arrived at our new home after dark...The last 3 miles was on an unplowed, narrow dirt road in a blizzard.

My sister Mona and me, Lake Fork, Idaho

The winter of 1950/51

Looking outside this morning, winter has arrived, but we are cozy and warm in our house, no plans to go anywhere...After breakfast we will sweep/shovel walks and deck, getting much needed exercise on this snowy day...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Hand Rail

Snow covered bench.

Progress...28º

Yesterday was productive...Early morning I prepped everything for the lasagna and browned the ground bison and Italian sausage in the oven..While it cooked, I mixed a batch of chex mix so it could go in the oven as soon at the ground meat came out...With the oven turned down to 200º, the chex mix roasted itself and I turned my attention to the lasagna...My recipe calls for a 9x12 pan but I can never get enough layers in, or if I do it bubbles over and makes a mess in the oven...So I made two small lasagnas using my largest loaf pans, and set them on a cookie sheet in the oven to bake...It worked well, except my marinara sauce (made from roasted and frozen tomatoes) needed to be a bit thicker, as it was a little soupy...Of course I never let it stand for the required time because by the time it comes out of the oven, the smell is awesome and we are ready to eat...Herb said it was good, as he cleaned up the juice with a spoon...Most people would sop it up with garlic bread but we try to eat only "1 carb" per meal.

Herb had acupuncture in the morning, he really looks forward to that and the sun shone most of the day, a real a mood lifter, I took a short walk before dinner...Late afternoon the fog rolled in and spent the night, Oma's view is very limited this morning...Hugs To All...OWAV:

Lasagna before it went in the oven,

the little marshmallows looking things

are pieces of cheese sticks.

Roasted Chex Mix.

Dark Nights..33º

"Dark Nights," sounds like the name of a gothic novel, but in reality it is life for the next month...I usually don't do doom and gloom but late afternoons are so dark, that 4pm feels like 8pm and bedtime...I'm wondering if it will help if I put up Christmas decorations, lots of lights, then maybe the evenings won't seem so long....I'm looking for a good book to read but haven't come acrossed anything that is a mood lifter.

In LaGrande last Friday, we had Thai food, Panang Beef Curry, was my choice and it tasted very good...Yesterday I made my version and it was somewhat similar, but definitely needs more practice...I was hungry, it tasted okay...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Looks more like "Chop Suey," or worse.

Soups On...32º

I had simmered the chicken carcass overnight in the crock pot, and put the broth in the fridge for another day...Finally, yesterday, I would make chicken soup.

Early yesterday morning, I helped Herb install screening over the rain gutter on the south side of our house...Now we hope that, that will keep the leaves out and the gutter won't have to be cleaned every fall, enough climbing on ladders!

After that I was ready to start on other projects on my list...I opened the boxes of Chex cereal and packages of nuts, ready to do the annual Chex Mix, but as I looked down the list of ingredients, pretzels jumped out at me...Darn, I had forgotten the pretzels, so I shelved that for another day.

Nothing to do now but chopped celery, onions and carrots and make noodles for the chicken soup...I love making noodles and soon had two eggs mixed into flour, making the dough, that needed to rest...Perfect timing for me to go to the food alliance, I left the broth simmering to cook the veggies before adding noodles...I joined the end of the line, looking ahead to see what the day had to offer...Lucky for me, most people don't want chicken wings, so with a choice of "4 meats" I put two packages of wings in my bag, then added a pkg of wieners and a pkg of ground bison...I will use the wings on New Years Eve, wieners in wraps, later this week, when I make bread, and I think the bison will go into a company sized lasagna.

Back home I rolled out the noodle dough and used a pizza cutter to make bite sized noodles...Soon Herb and I enjoyed our "creamy chicken noodle soup."...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Noodle Soup

Between Seasons...22º

I've really come to depend on photos to add variety to my blogs...But for some reason I forget to take photos...It was a perfect "photo op," when my plate of curry appeared on our table for lunch in LaGrande, but I had it half eaten before I remembered...It was a fun trip to LG, after haircut and lunch we browsed downtown shops, then on to BiMart where it is less crowded than other stores, opted out of Grocery outlet because of that reason...Got Pam home in time for her evening at the Brady Goss concert and me home to bed at a decent time.

Looking outside today, I think this time of year is my least favorite, in between fall colors and snow...All I see is drab and dreary and cold...Guess I better get headed to the shower, have breakfast and change my mood...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Road Trip...33º

About 2 months ago, Pam said, "Sure I can schedule a haircut for November 23rd."...Neither of us thinking about "Black Friday!"...Actually we have never shopped Black Friday...Our shopping day, if we did it at all, was the day after Christmas...We were younger then, didn't think about road or weather reports, just got in my little Honda Accord and headed for Lewiston, where we braved the crowds looking for the 50% to 75% off signs.

Who knows what today will bring, bargains, crowds, food?...It will be a good day...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Photos from previous road trips ...

Thanksgiving Turkey...22º

Our family has never been really fond of turkey...Even when I was a child my Mom quite often roasted a chicken or two depending on the size of the crowd...Along side that was her dressing/stuffing (cooked in its' own pan, never stuffed), covered with gravy, along with mashed potatoes, green beans, and her special dinner rolls, we didn't need huge servings of meat...The meal always ended with pumpkin pie, made with extra cream & eggs, (we lived on a farm).

I broke from these traditions when I got married...My new cookbook gave all the directions to prep and stuff a turkey, I thought that was the way a real Thanksgiving Dinner should be...I made two kinds of pie, green bean casserole and struggled to make dinner rolls...The turkey was dry, the dressing soggy...Now 57 years later, I resort to the roasted chicken, sausage dressing made with rustic bread, and a green salad...Pumpkin pie is still a staple.

One of our best turkeys, when we celebrated "Thanksmas" with our kids was this chocolate turkey, he was the centerpiece for our dinner...As the sun set that afternoon, we noticed that the turkey had softened in the sunshine, so we dipped fruit, marshmallows, pretzels, cookies in the melted chocolate and had turkey dessert!..Traditional Thanksgiving dinners are a thing of the past...Our kids are celebrating Thanksgiving at their respective homes, making memories of their own, as we send Holiday greetings from afar...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Thanksgiving Turkey, pure Chocolate, from a few years ago.

Sunday Games...22º

Last year we started a Sunday game day to ward off the "Winter Blahs."...Nothing fancy; simple snacks, soup, bread, quiche, chocolate, cookies, cards, games, libations, friends...All of these things bring out laughter, camaraderie, conversation and craziness...Once a month finds us looking forward to that next Sunday, when we gather around a table, just being ourselves, we rejuvenate our spirits, minds and bodies...Doesn't take much to entertain us, but it is so worthwhile.

Yesterday was one of those days, after a fun afternoon, bedtime came early and this morning I feel rested and "maybe" ready to tackle some canning jobs I've been putting off, such as making applesauce, or huckleberry jam...But first I have to work at cleaning off counters as clutter seems to be my middle name and I can never find enough space to keep everything behind doors or in drawers...Enough of my blathering, first thing on my list is to change from jammies to clothes!...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Chocolate

Bread

Soup

Autumn Days...16º

Cold nights, sunny days, have been the norm for the last week...We even took a short walk yesterday afternoon, before the sun disappeared behind the mountains...The trees have shed most of their leaves, awaiting the first big snowfall...Rumor has it, that we are in for a mild winter...Time will tell.

When we have weather like this, I seem to always be waiting for the other shoe to drop...Wallowa County is known for its crazy wind storms...I can remember a Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas time, and a February storm, that raised havoc in the County.

The following photos were taken in November 2007, it was a rainy night, with wind gusts, that ripped a shed apart in our back yard and also tore the roof off of the neighbors carport and sailed it into our pasture...For some reason it is the only one that I took photos of...I'm not usually into doom and gloom but these sunny days make me wonder what Mother Nature has in store for us this winter...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

November 11 years ago:

Looks like a bomb went off.

Another view

Neighbors roof.

Yesterday's Sunshine...33º

Cloudy with a chance of rain today, so says the weather forecast...Yesterday was a stellar fall day, sunshine, blue skies, shirt sleeve weather...I felt a little guilty enjoying our balmy day, when I got a text from our friends, Pat and Brian, who now live in Maryland...They were in the middle of a winter blizzard, schools and roads closed, freeways clogged with traffic, snow turning to freezing rain...It looks like much of the east coast was paralyzed with the storm and it is more that a month away from winter!

Now, that here on Barton Heights, we have prepared for winter as best we can, I'm having trouble doing the mundane things inside our house, that were neglected all summer...Yesterday I sorted papers, payed bills and made phone calls before water therapy...I came home to the smell of beef brisket, smothered with onions and mushrooms, simmering away in the crock pot...Pam joined us for dinner and cards, after her hike at Iwetemlaykin...We watched the sun drop behind the mountains, signaling the end of a lovely fall day...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

The view from our kitchen window, it was all over in about 3 minutes.

A Day Away...22º

Following the weather forecast last week, sunshine was predicted for Monday...It looked like a perfect day for our last Costco run before the snow flies...We left about daybreak, followed the winding road down Buford and up Rattlesnake grades, met lots of empty log trucks coming into Wallowa County...We arrived at Winco, stocked up on produce, filled many bags from the bulk foods section and by 9:45 we pulled into a parking spot, close to the door, at Costco.

We opted to stay in the car and let the hoard of people scatter throughout the store, before we, each with a cart, list in hand, joined them to do our shopping...Herb always has a list with the basics, coffee, butter etc. and I stocked up on chex cereal and nuts to make our Christmas snack that we share with several families...We left Costco before noon and were soon on the road, headed home.

We usually have lunch/dinner in Lewiston but yesterday opted for lunch at the new/old Boggan's Cafe on the Grande Ronde River...A favorite place for fishermen and river rafters and Wallowa County people going to and from Idaho...It burned to the ground last year but was rebuilt on the same footprint as before...They made it more roomy in the dining area, with many windows, it is bright, cheery and clean...They are known for their milkshakes and basic menu, no frills, just good food...We both ordered the halibut fish and chips, passed on the milkshake, shared a beer instead...It was a good day...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Boggan's Oasis, open and ready for business.

Della plays/Herb works...27º

After playing for four days, on a girls getaway, I came home to our house permeated/reeking with the smell of drying garlic...That is a good thing in this household...If you follow OWAV:), you will know that garlic is already planted, in our garden, to be harvested July 2019...For about 20 years, we have never been disappointed, as every spring, as soon as the snow melts, little green shoots push through the straw mulch...I think it is one of the easiest crops to grow, has many health benefits, and we still have a few friends, only because we gift them with garlic, and they reek as bad as we do.

While I was away playing, Herb took care of peeling, slicing, drying and powdering over 100 heads of garlic...Now it is stored in the pantry, waiting to go to new homes with family and friends...We have given some away, still in the heads, but most people really like the ease and keeping quality of dried...None goes to waste.

It is a beautiful, sunny fall morning...The frost finally zapped the front porch geraniums, I think all of the fall chores are done and Herb and I are being totally lazy, until I come up with another project, such as washing windows and cleaning corners (deep cleaning) or maybe a Costco run!...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Garlic, 3 feet tall in May

Just out of the ground in July

Ready to dry and powder in November

left to right,

quart+, chunky (Bobi likes to grind her own), quart

 front,

what we had left from last year,

 a cup+