Another Bump in the road...26º

 Feeling good about having all the fall work done, coasting into winter, where hopefully, I will have time to work on downsizing the collection of treasures from the past 50 years and some time to relax, read, knit, and reconnect with friends.

Two things that still needed attention, 1st, I needed to deal with Herbs IRA...Actually I thought changing, rolling over, or whatever else has to be done with Herbs' IRA would be a simple stop at the local bank...Wrong again...Some how last fall when we checked accounts at the bank, making sure everything had beneficiaries or the equivalent, Herbs IRA slipped through the cracks...It is not a simple process to get this in my name...After two trips to circuit court, (I have to file a small claims affidavit) where I brought home a small stack of papers to be filled out...I stopped at the bank and got help to fill out the papers but not thoroughly satisfied with that, I called my neighbor for help...She happens to be a retired lawyer, and a very good friend...She looked over the paper work, as I complained about how I hated filling out papers and how awful my handwriting is etc, she took pity on me and said, "Do you want me to fill this out?" I accepted!..

This morning, document filled out, she accompanied me to the court house, making sure we had everything including a death certificate and the original copy of Herbs will and were told that the person who does the affidavits is out of the office all week...to be continued Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Full Moon...20º Sun breaks.

A full moon lights up out valley and Halloween is just around the corner...The trees have shed their leaves and the colors are fading, snow covers the ground...With winter approaching we must change our clocks, i'm hoping that someday this nonsense with stop...In November of 2011, I wrote this silly little poem, and sadly it is still the norm!..Wishing all a happy Sunday...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

CHANGING TIMES

Sunlight

Moonlight

Daylight

Who was so bright?

Lose an hour here

Gain an hour there

Change clocks everywhere

Is it more than I can bear?

Spring them forward

Fall them back

Oh no I’m all out of whack

Is someone keeping track?

One clock 

Two clocks

Forty-seven clocks

Is there no more tick tock?

There was a time when

We had Grandfather clocks

Cuckoo clocks

Mantle clocks

Sundials, are they long gone?

Now we have blinking lights

Saying change me, no me

Like spoiled children

Are they begging for attention?

We have Clocks on the microwave & range

Clocks on the coffee pot & computer

Clocks on the TV and telephone,

Should I keep going on and on?

Our life is ruled, lest we forget

Not by the sunrise or sunset

The simple time of daylight to dark

As nature intended

Is it now but a lark?

More time squandered

Less time saved

As twice a year

Our clocks are changed

Do we all believe our daylight is more

As we bank it in the spring 

Then come fall it’s out the door

Please, please let us stop this foolishness

For now and evermore.

BRRR 15º overnight, high today of 32º

Rusty and I played our first game of "5 Crowns" after dinner, a sign of long winter nights...We only played 1 game, with a win for me...He grumbled a bit, stoked the fire and said, "Sleep well, see you in the morning." We trade of winning or losing, give each other a bad time and both come back for more the next night...Might have to resort to "Canasta" this winter to break the monotony.

Looking through photos this morning to find one to post, I came up with these.,,Rusty carving a pumpkin squash that Pat brought from her garden in Bend and our dinner the day after we cut and packaged the lamb..."Lamb Shanks" simmered in a dutch oven, for hours at 200º,  smothered in garlic, onion, and roasted tomatoes...What a feast, as we dipped crusty bread in the sauce, and savored the lamb, accompanied by roasted squash...Cold winter days/night are better with comfort food...Hugs To All...OWAV)

Wintery Day...29º

 I think winter has put an end to yard/garden work for this year, that is kind of a relief...I don't think I would like to live where the seasons don't change, although, winter cold is hard on old people...I've mentioned before that I grew up in McCall, Idaho, where the winters were long, snow was usually above the fences, temperatures were in the minus, many, many nights/days...We had a few milk cows, a small flock of sheep, horses to ride and a team of work horses and chickens to take care for...Later we added Hereford cattle to the mix...Our house was heated only with wood, which we had plenty of, but it was in the form of trees, that had to be cut down, sawed into lengths and stored in the wood shed...We moved there in December 1950...I had an incredible childhood.

Back to the subject of winter, I don't mind winter and am trying to embrace the colder weather and the fact that the yard and gardens have been put to rest...Now I can do more inside sorting, cleaning and maybe knitting and sewing for relaxation...Two months from now the daylight inches upward...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Rusty carrying the 

Joe Pye Weed

out of the yard.

NOT MY USUAL POST...

I don't usually put much stock in preachers, but after a few days of reminiscing, looking through photo albums, trying to decide what to keep, what to donate, what to throw away, this hit home...Of course I've gone over this with Bobi and Rusty and they sympathize with me and understand my dilemma, but say, "Mom, throw it away, donate, get rid of it." Especially the things i've saved that have no meaning for them...Photos of people who are now, maybe 200 years old, the photos are cool, but "I" don't even know their names.

Rusty took umpteen boxes to Soroptimist last week, more will go this week, I will work on more, but it is still hard!..I will try to keep just the memories of our immediate family and live for today and tomorrow, because I am very blessed with the family and friends that I have right now!

I'm not sure Sorop, will appreciate the old photos, but I can't throw them in the dumpster, maybe they can...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Tim Allen (Southern preacher)

 Have you ever thought about this?

In 100 years like in 2123 we will all be buried with our relatives and friends.

Strangers will live in our homes we fought so hard to build, and they will own everything we have today. All our possessions will be unknown and unborn, including the car we spent a fortune on, and will probably be scrap, preferably in the hands of an unknown collector.

Our descendants will hardly or hardly know who we were, nor will they remember us. How many of us know our grandfather's father?

After we die, we will be remembered for a few more years, then we are just a portrait on someone's bookshelf, and a few years later our history, photos and deeds disappear in history's oblivion. We won't even be memories.

If we paused one day to analyse these questions, perhaps we would understand how ignorant and weak the dream to achieve it all was.

If we could only think about this, surely our approaches, our thoughts would change, we would be different people.

Always having more, no time for what's really valuable in this life. I'd change all this to live and enjoy the walks I've never taken, these hugs I didn't give, these kisses for our children and our loved ones, these jokes we didn't have time for. Those would certainly be the most beautiful moments to remember, after all they would fill our lives with joy.

And some of us waste it day after day with greed, selfishness and intolerance.

Every minute of life is priceless and will never be repeated, so take time to enjoy, be grateful for, and celebrate your existence.

The Best Kind of Tired...Skiff of snow overnight

 Diane and Pat arrived on Thursday afternoon, Reba an older female Golden Retriever and Wren the 2 year old German Shepard, rescue dog in training.  The dogs were well trained to greet people, then go to their beds, until released.

Hugs all around and we were soon visiting away...Dinner was eaten outside around our fire pit, Pat and dogs retired early because of their upcoming training...The next three days were filled with conversation, laughter, love, tears, food and drink, while Diane and I sorted through family antiques and memorabilia, cooked together, worked in the garden and sat on the deck, soaking up the last rays of the autumn sun...Rusty piled leaves and chopped them to save for next spring, he cooked us steaks for Friday nights dinner and joined in the story telling and recalling memories of past years...Reba stayed home with us while Pat and Wren did training for 3 long days...Pat said, they learned so much, a very worthwhile trip.

Monday was a sad/happy day as they repacked for the 6 hour trip home and soon our house was quiet and empty...Rusty and I fell back into our usual routine, laundry, meals, appointments, wood stove blazing, (fall/winter is here) and more projects before the snow flys...I am tired but happy, working on being rejuvenated and convincing myself that winter is the time set aside for just that!..Hugs To All...OWAV:

Reba

Rusty and Pat, giving 

each other a bad time.

Fire pit

When Push come to Shove...52º, sunny and warm fall day.

 Almost two months ago, I received a text, asking about a possible visit in October...That seemed like such a long time away and of course I said sure, you are welcome to stay, sounds like a fun time...I made the mistake of blinking twice and today is the day!

This morning i'm excited that company is coming, Rusty will help me to make sure bedrooms are ready,  house is relatively clean and of course, you all know that the cellar and pantry is stocked...No one will care that the windows haven't been washed yet this fall, and the carpets need cleaning...Minor details, we will spend 4 days, visiting, reminiscing, laughing, cooking and enjoying each others company and I will blink again and they will be gone, and winter is just around the corner, then we can rest and get rejuvenated for next summer...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

This is my latest

jigsaw puzzle.

PS...I was doing this, when I should have been washing window...LOL

Another road trip...46º Warm/sunny

 A beautiful trip from Joseph to La Grande yesterday, thinking positive this morning about the laser treatment on my left eye...I woke up in the night and was able to tell the time on the digital clock, when before it was blurry...Any improvement is greatly appreciated.

Busy day today, getting ready for company on Thursday...2 ladies and 2 dogs...One of the dogs is a canine rescue dog and he is coming here for a training session, (I think) with our Wallowa County and others in the state...Looking forward to a fun and very different few days...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Up the hill

To Barton Heights.

More About Carrots...43º Cool/some sun

Rusty and I are still working on garden prep for next year...He blew maple leaves into piles, then chopped them up with a new "toy" blower/chopper...I spread them on garden beds, along with the chopped straw, and he topped them with well aged manure, then we placed plastic fencing over them to keep the quail out...All four beds are now done...We will finish up by placing more straw, on the raspberries and asparagus to keep the weeds at bay.

I washed the rest of the carrots, about 20# total, and bagged them in gallon ziplock...They will be stored in the refrigerator crisper for use this winter...Some will be gifted to friends...We are feeling spoiled by these warm fall days...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

After washing, they are

on racks to dry.

Bagged, ready for storing.

Rain in the forecast...47º cloudy, possible rain.

 Rusty worked outside most of the day, so many small projects, cleaning out, making space for winter...I was busy in the kitchen, prepping for a lasagna dish to eat later this week...Early morning he took a load of "stuff" to Soroptomists, then back here to gather leaves to chop for garden mulch...Scattering the mulch is my job, that and spreading manure...In the afternoon, he pulled our the carrots, and I rubbed off excess dirt and broke off the leafy tops...A full 5 gallon bucket of beautiful carrots is this years crop...I will clean them some more this morning before placing them in gallon ziplocks, nestled in a paper towel and stored in the crispers of the basement fridge, for winter eating...They are so sweet and crisp!

Now layer after layer of chopped straw, leaves, manure and sometimes alfalfa pellets, and peat moss are also added to each bed...After the final layer of straw, each bed is covered with fencing panels or mesh fencing to keep the quail from scattering it everywhere.

Since we had both been outside most of the day, dinner was whatever happened to be "leftover" in the fridge...Rusty did eat the extra Chinese food, (doggy bag) while I opted for the potato/corn chowder...It had been a very good day...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Such lovely carrots.

If all in one bucket

a full 5 gallons.

2 beds done, 2 to finish.

LaGrande Eye Appointment...43º Cloudy/sun breaks

 It was kind of a mixed up day yesterday...My appointment at the eye doctor, turned out to be an unnecessary appointment but when the office staff figured that out, they "squoose" me in for a visual field exam that was scheduled to happen Nov. 9th...That is good because it could be snowing on Nov. 9th, plus I didn't have to be dilated!..

Moving on to lunch, I ordered Chinese instead of Thai food at "Asian Fusion," for a change...When my plate arrived it didn't look quite right, but I put my fork in, what could have been pork, but instead it was fish...UHhhh, I would never order anything with just plain fish...Seafood yes, fish no!...I motioned to the waitress, long story short, she had given me someone else's order...She suggested we take it home as she would just have to throw it out, Rusty said he would eat it, so it came home in a "doggy bag."..I'm betting he doesn't eat it either.

Back home we put things away and discussed our day, and realized it was Friday the 13th!...Guess we were lucky to have had a safe trip!..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

PS...Thinking of October 13th, that was my Sister in Law's birthday, when I was a very young girl, some years we celebrated our October Birthdays together...Happy Birthday Marleen, RIP.

Photos on the way to LaGrande.

Fall Photos 2010...39º Sunny/cloudy

I keep referring to a year when the colors/leaves were spectacular, saying, "It was just a few years ago." Yesterday I searched my photos for that year and finally found it in 2010, how the years fly by.

The leaves are beautiful this year and slowly covering the yard and flower gardens...Rusty did the first mowing of the leaves yesterday so we have them for mulch and hope to get many more.

Rusty and I will go to LG today for my first appt. in the laser process, then again on Tuesday for the actual laser treatment, then more appts. in Nov. for follow ups and visual field, photos, etc.

We are enjoying these last few nice days of fall...Rusty finished the cellar yesterday and I have to  get back in the garden tomorrow...I've been busy with PT, and balance class this week and also acupuncture...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Photos are from 2010...

 A quick blog this morning...Rusty is back from his trip to Bend, with a load of 2nd hand insulation (more on that later)...He also brought fresh frozen crab from B and Brian's trip to the coast, so he and I feasted on crab, steak, green salad, garlic bread for dinner last night, way too much to eat, but it was so delicious!

I have an early morning acupuncture today, and it is a bit wet outside, so not sure what the afternoon will bring...I did more rearranging in the cellar yesterday so Rusty can finish putting up one more wall panel in there, to be totally ready for winter...It is very nice.

Cienna posted a blog, lots of photos and info on life in Prague, so proud of this girl!...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Food we have canned.

Staples from the store.

Cloudy Days for most of the week...44º

Usual fall weather, sunny and warm, turning cool with possible rain... It looks like the leaves will turn and fall this year and then the race is on to pick them up with the riding mower, that chop them up to use for mulch, before the wind comes and blows them all away!..Some will be used now and others stored until spring...They are a good amendment to the soil.

Another amendment arrived yesterday when a load of manure was delivered to our back pasture and dumped in its' usual spot...I call it "black gold," my grandmother called it "chewed hay," (she was very proper and probably never used bad words) and some times it is called a big pile of "s--t." and it does wonders for a garden...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Maple tree in front of

our house.

Pile of Manure.

It was a good day...54º

Outside early yesterday, cleaning up everything I cut down the day before, then hauled the last of the aged manure to the garden and top dressed the asparagus and raspberries...Pulled up the non ripe tomatoes, (too late for this fall), maybe next year and spread straw on other beds...Cleaned in the small garage, where I store gardening stuff, so we can hang a lamb in there that Rusty will butcher this week.

I have a PT appointment this morning and Connie will be here cleaning when I get home...Then we might do some finishing up outside in the flower beds before the leaves fall and cover everything.

FT with Bobi this morning, we are waiting for Ci to chime in with her news, since finishing school and moving to a new apartment...It's hard when she is     so far away...Rusty is on his way home from Bend, I must get moving...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Supper last night, no I didn't eat 

all the butter.

Me in the garden

yesterday.

Time Well Spent...52º...Going to reach 71º

 Several hours spent in the garden yesterday... Asparagus cut down to ground level, aged manure now covers this bed, and today I will cover that with straw for the winter...The last of the manure, I shoveled around the raspberry canes, and will also add straw to that bed...The fall rains will add moisture to soak and feed the plants, for next years bounty.

I remember a day last summer when I was spending a lot of time in the garden and Herb said, "Why are you going out there again?"...I replied, without thinking, "It is my happy place."...The hurt in his eyes was apparent, as I stumbled for words, "I like the sun, digging in the dirt, and watching the seeds grow into food for our dinner, I won't be long, just going to get greens for dinner." I think we both knew that that wasn't really the truth...Due to no fault of his, it was my "happy place," away from the person, who was changing into someone "we" both no longer knew...The insidious disease was taking its toll, on both of us.

In reality, the garden is still my happy place, and Herb no longer lives with the mental confusion, that had become his world...I try to keep our happy memories at the forefront but sometimes these others creep in...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

The season is changing,

leaves on the maple

trees that we 

planted, are turning

to gold.

A Day out of Town...47º Sunny.

 I always look forward to a La Grande trip this time of year, sunny, clear roads and the colors of autumn  at every turn...I drove out, Pam drove us home, we had lunch at Asian Fusion and did some shopping. 

Eye appointment, for me, was first on the list and my eyes had to be dilated...I dislike this process and had a feeling that my eyes have been getting worse...The Dr. says my eyes seem to be pretty stable, but with macular, they can also change abruptly...So I will just keep positive thoughts and move on, one day at a time!..And I will go ahead with a laser treatment that we had scheduled for last fall and canceled because of COVID, Herbs emergency hernia surgery, and his downward spiral with dementia...Now for the next month, trips to LG will be made on a regular basis.

We have a sunny weekend before temps lower, clouds move in with possible rain, typical fall weather...I hope to work on putting the garden to bed and soaking up the last of the really warm sunshine...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Coming home wasn't the best light for photos, but the Minam Canyon is always beautiful.

Early morning visitor...45º, Sunny

A beautiful fall day and the 4point buck in my yard, eating the fallen leaves, he has been a regular visitor the past two months.

Rusty is off with John for the day, hauling horses into Jim Creek to their winter pasture...Looks like a perfect day weather wise...So many things that I could be doing outside or another day of laziness...I haven't decided yet, still drinking my morning coffee.

I had a massage yesterday, oh so nice, and will go to balance class today and a brief stop at the grocery store...So I better get moving...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

The meaning of expired...39º

 While gathering ingredients for cookies in the cellar last Sunday, I moved a box of Chex breakfast cereal out of my way, trying to find chocolate chips...A light went off in my brain, getting my attention and I think "Wow, it is almost time to make Chex Mix for Christmas gifts." A closer look at the box and in plain sight, (not hidden on the bottom of the box in miniscule print) it said, "Best used by July 23, 2023." OMG now I have to throw this box of cereal away and wait for it to go on sale again...Christmas wouldn't be the same without Chex Mix." Then, I look again and another box is hiding behind the one i'm looking at, and I will have to throw away two boxes and the $$ signs come into my brain and my Mothers' voice says "Della, you can't be wasteful!"

What a dilemma?..My common sense brain kicks in,  it says "best used by, not totally expired."..So I just happen to have other ingredients that are not going to expire anytime soon, such as mixed nuts and  pretzels and all of the seasonings for Chex Mix...If I mix all of this together, it should renew the almost expired Chex cereal and make an entirely new product and I'll bet it won't expire until after Christmas and by that time all of my unsuspecting friends/family that have been gifted this "newest product" will have scarfed it all down!..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Rusty and I have been

sampling and so far

don't show any 

signs of

 expiring. 

Baking Cookies on a perfect day....45º

Sunday, rainy, foggy, cold, was the perfect day for baking cookies...The first batch was the all time favorite of the Allens'...Molasses cookies...Herb's Mom made molasses crinkles, a cookie made for dunking and a favorite of the Allen family...New to me, but were soon to become a favorite in our family as well...Now I make a super molasses cookie, almost doubling the molasses, it is soft and rich.

I started early, measuring, mixing, testing the batter, and trying to keep Rusty out of the batter, so I would have something to cook...While the batter chilled, I mixed chocolate chip cookie dough, (still my favorite)...and while that chilled, I Face timed with friend Pat, in Maryland.

An hour later I scooped cookie dough onto sheet pans, baked almost 4 dozen, then started the chocolate chips, by this time i'm tired and resorted to making logs of dough and cutting into pieces with the bench knife...About 5 dozen chocolate chip cookies, that were too rich, spread out in the pans and are definitely dunkers...All cookies are now in the freezer, some to share and others to enjoy later, but mostly out of sight, out of mind, too much of a sugar fix...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Making fast work of chocolate chip

cookie dough.

Baked and ready to package

for the freezer.