Looking Back...37º

It is fun to look back at my blog one year ago and compare June 2011 and 2012...June of last year we (Herb, Rusty and I) made two trips into the forest with Becky and John to get wood for the winter...This spring, since wood is more difficult to come by and we are getting older, Herb called a number in the local paper and ordered 4 cords of wood to be delivered to our house...We may still help get more wood, because we enjoy the outings and yes the hard work is good for us, but we aren't totally dependent on trips into the forest for our winters wood...June of last year we hunted for mushrooms and Herb has already been out one time this year...Pat and I made a trip to Walla Walla last June and go again tomorrow for her Dr. appt...John and Becky's mule Clyde was born June 2011 and just a few days ago a new baby mule (another boy) arrived to make them a pair...Llama poop is stacked in our back pasture as it was last year and we have animals grazing the abundant grass in our field...Garden is planted, flowers blooming, weeds growing...Rusty has been here to spend time with us.

We talk to Bobi and Cienna regularly on ichat as we did in 2011 but this year, Cienna finishes 8th grade, then instead of coming to Joseph for a visit she will venture out, taking the "Tri Met" bus to Forest Grove and attend a Science and Math technology day camp for the next three weeks, and also stay in training for her summer swimming activities...A trip to Joseph is planned for July this year....Hugs to All... OWAV:)

New Baby

Bare Calendar...35º

By bare calendar I mean; "Nothing" that says I have to leave the house...Of course a walk is always needed, Herb's hair needs cutting, our stash of bread in the freezer is getting low, dinner has to be fixed, I can make a trip to the bank or not, housework is always waiting to be done and weeds love the rain so are growing like weeds!..All this means that I could spend the day on the computer, reading a book, wandering the gardens or flitting from one thing to another without accomplishing anything and the world wouldn't come to an end.

Enough drivel for today....Below are a couple of nostalgia photo's... Taken at the ranch in Lake Fork, Idaho in 1952 or 53...Bears had been killing sheep in our small herd so this one was trapped and killed in the spring...Not a good time for bear meat because they were just coming out of hibernation but it made a good photo op...  Hugs to All... OWAV:)

Daddy and Idella

Mom and Idella

Animals...44º

A sunny morning yesterday was enjoyed as all of us spent time outside...More honey do's were finished, garden planted and a trip to Enterprise to look at more tile for the bathroom project...Rusty made chicken and noodles for dinner...Afternoon brought a cold wind and late evening turned to thunder storms and a torrential rainfall...We have more to come today with rain and possible snow showers.

Today I have the usual Tuesday Write People, Rusty will leave for Boise and be home in Bend by Thursday...We played cards last night and he wasn't satisfied until he really tromped me 2 out of 3 games.

Included in the lot our house sits on we have a small pasture out back...Over the years we have had sheep (Rusty's 4-H flock), steers we raised for beef and now for several years the grass is eaten off by sheep, llama and/or goats owned by friend Debbie...She arrives in early spring towing a horse trailer and we wait with anticipation to see what will  entertain us for the next couple of months.

This year we have 2 young "Billies", 2 lambs and 1 llama, included to protect the herd...The goats and lambs are especially fun to watch as they chase and butt each other, cavorting from one end of the field to the other...The llama stands regally watching all of the action and occasionally joins in the fun...The two goats are super friendly and they took turns nibbling on my shirt tail yesterday as I was getting photos....  Hugs to All...  OWAV:)

Sam I Am, eating a dandelion. Don't you just love these ears?

Filbert is King of the brush pile

Ms. V keeps her distance.

Sunshine...50º

Sunny morning, slight breeze, the first Monday in June. I've been up since before 5am, did a scrabble game and new games of Lexulous instead of the new glitzy scrabble. Also have been "playing" with photos taken last week in Flora.

Nothing real big on the agenda for today, maybe finish planting the garden, always weeding and deadheading to do...I think we will have chicken and noodles for dinner.

It's Rusty's last day here before he drives to Boise for a couple of days, then home to Bend...I think he and Herb are going to work on the back fence as the goats and sheep keep getting their heads stuck and have to be rescued...Wonder what other project I have for him to do?

Yesterday Herb and I made a brief appearance at the 65th anniversary party for Mike and Willa Mae O'Rourke. I worked with Willy for over 10 years in the lunchroom at Joseph schools and have wonderful memories of that time. The Catholic Parish Hall was over-flowing with their family and friends....On with my day...  Hugs to All...  OWAV:)

Another Job Done...49º

Rusty and I did go yard saling yesterday...Started in Joseph at 8am and finished up in Wallowa, took a side road home for the scenic view...I made the big purchase of two books, although there was quality stuff at most places in Joseph, we resisted...We gazed at piles of junk filling a field in Wallowa, much of it covered with tarps but some of it water soaked from the torrential downpour overnight...Rusty mused as we drove away, "Wonder if the stuff under cover is any better than what we can see." "Doubtful," said I.

Back home, I puttered in the kitchen making chili and cornbread for dinner...The sun chased away the clouds, so Herb and I rearranged the barrels on the deck, then Rusty helped me with the planting...Now all we need is lots of sunny days to make them grow and bloom for the summer...Looks like we have freezing temperature forecast for Tuesday night, hope they are tough enough to stand it...Finished our day playing "Five Crowns" with Rusty coming out the champion...  Hugs to All...  OWAV:)

"The Deck"...55º

Yesterday started with Herb doing laundry, washing the dirt encrusted clothes he and Rusty had worn in Jim Creek...I was planting geraniums and Rusty started hosing down and cleaning the deck (one of the honey do's on my list)...A few hours later found the 3 of us taking a break on the deck, now almost dry because the sun was hot and shinning full overhead...Herb glanced around and said, "You know, if someone would go to the store and buy the stain maybe someone could get it applied in time to dry before the forecasted rain starts." Rusty picked right up on that and said, "Okay Dad, Mom and I will go get the stain and you can put it on." Herb knowing he had stumbled head-long into that one didn't put up much of an argument...He began to assemble paint trays and pads, Rusty and I headed for the store to buy stain...I knowing that all this work was making everyone hungry, busied myself in the kitchen fixing enchiladas for our dinner.

Herb and Rusty worked steadily on the deck, we took a break for dinner and they finished up while I planted tomato and cabbage plants in the garden...Later as we rested, drinking a beer we watched the clouds gather on the mountains to the west and knew that the forecasted rain storm was eminent...It was an early bedtime for all of us and when in the middle of the night we awoke to the steady rain outside the bedroom windows we knew it was an afternoon well spent.

Still cloudy this morning, I'm looking at the "list" checking out possible jobs for today...Russ just informed me he is going back to bed (just kidding) and Herb is busy on the iPad...AAAAhhhh, Maybe we will check out the yard sales... Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Planting Annuals...49º

Made a trip to Alder Slope Nursery yesterday, late afternoon...Picked up the bright red geraniums that I ordered early this spring. Then I wandered the green house, added more annuals, paid for my purchases and headed home to plant...I worked on the geraniums until Herb and Rusty pulled in the drive, hungry from their overnight trip as FS volunteers to Jim Creek...The rest of the planting would wait until morning.

While they showered, I sliced roast pork, made gravy, toasted homemade bread and steamed a bunch of asparagus...We were soon devouring our dinner and I was listening to stories of the elk and deer they had seen...Also while using the weed eater, knocking down the already long grass around the house, two rattlesnakes were killed...Then they helped John load horses and mules in trailers and bumped their way home over rough dirt roads...Both my guys were ready for an early bedtime last night and I soon followed.

A couple of photo's to share from our "Write People" outing, in Flora at Cathy's home on Courtney Butte..  Hugs to All...  OWAV:)

Cathy giving a tour of the tree farm

Another potluck lunch