On the Road Again...Warm

Clouds moving in, weather in for a change...Pat and I are "off" again this time to Walla Walla, for Pat's dental appointment with a specialist...I'm along for moral support, part time driver and I know my way around Walla Walla, sort of...Will stop at the fruit stand, Andys, BiMart, have lunch with LeaAnn...A full day.

Yesterday Pat and I did a mile and half walk up the lake road to the power house...Sure was glad to start back down the hill...OWAV:)

Canned Pears...38º--70º

http://www.usapears.com/Recipes%20And%20Lifestyle/Now%20Servin...Hadn't planned on canning fruit this year, but when I came home with almost two full boxes of lovely "Red Bartlett" pears from Hood River, I knew that I would have to do more than make pear dessert...Check out the link above and learn about Red Bartletts.

Red Bartletts

We left them in our cellar to ripen and went on about roasting tomatoes, checking the pears periodically...We ate them fresh for breakfast as soon as the first one was slightly soft to the touch...then in salads with walnuts and bleu cheese, Oh My!..I took them to potluck lunches, shared them with friends...Yesterday Herb got out all of the canning equipment, set the camp stove up outside the back door and we peeled and canned 14 quarts of these red beauties...I only wish that their color could show in the jars...Now the jars will be stored on the cellar shelves and eaten on cold winter days, not as good as fresh but delicious in their own right.

Herb and I attended the appreciation dinner for Mule Days last night, enjoyed a dinner of Chicken Fried Steak and visited with our fellow volunteers...~OWAV:)

Pear Bars (Cody Orchards in Hood River)
2 C. flour
2 C.brown sugar
1/2 C. butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. heavy cream
1 egg
2 C. peeled chopped pears

     Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine flour and sugar, cut in butter, press 2 1/2 C. mixture into bottom of ungreased 9x12 pan. to remaining flour mixture, add spices, cream and egg, stir,  Fold in pears, pour over crust in pan.  Bake for 50 minutes.  Cool and cut into small squares.


Sour Cream Pear Pie (Cody Orchards in Hood River)
1 unbaked 9 inch pie shell
1 cup sour cream
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons flour
4+ cups peeled, diced ripe pears


Pecan Streusel Topping
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter cut in small pieces
1/4 cup finely chopped pecans
    Cut butter into combined flour, sugar and cinnamon. Add pecans.


     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Blend the sour cream, egg, sugar, vanilla, salt and flour until smooth.  Fold in prepared pears.  Pour into the pie shell. Bake for 40 minutes.  Sprinkle with Pecan Streusel Topping and bake another 10 minutes.  Cool slightly and serve.

Pears & Tomatoes...47º--75º

Pears from Hood River have been ripening in the cellar...They are ready for the jars...The last of the tomatoes are ready to roast...Essay must be finished for Katey...Gardens are in need of loving care to prepare them for winter...My list goes on and on...Time at home is limited because I can't miss fun with friends.

Write group was a great time yesterday at Pat's "Cabin"...A lovely home where seven of us gathered to share stories and food...Stories were very entertaining and the food was over the top...Quiche, taco casserole, fresh pears with cheese, sliced chicken, quinoa salad, pickled mushrooms and warm apple/pear pie for dessert...A gourmet delight...Our write group varies every week, but laughter, camaraderie and fun prevail...Our stories can be funny, sad, thought provoking, some even rhyme...It has been mentioned that maybe we should change the name to the "Write Food Group".

Late afternoon I was busy at home getting ready for a potluck Mule Days committee meeting...Herb had vacuumed the house, in between mowing lawns and watering, then I swept, mopped, dusted etc...fixed toppings for a salad...Our committee ate, drank a little wine, "cussed" and discussed Mule Days...Mule Days is a rapidly growing event and staff is finding it hard to keep up...We are trying to come up with ways to organize and structure, by listing all of the jobs that need doing and volunteers to head up each committee, so everything runs more smoothly...Hopefully we will get backing from the board...

Tonight is the volunteer appreciation dinner for Mule Days...Time is flying, I must get moving...~OWAV:)

Glasses...47º---72º

Another trip to LaGrande yesterday...unusual for me to be on the road like I have been the last couple of weeks...I had the trip to Hood River, then to Sue's birthday party and yesterday I had a chance to ride with friends Kathy and Pam to LaGrande to pick up my new glasses, saving me a special trip...It was a fun trip, Pam going to a meeting and Kathy and I shopping up a storm...The afternoon flew by and we were soon sharing chinese food, family style before the return drive to Wallowa County...We caught up on each others news of several months, chatting a mile a minute.

my world with the first pair 

Most of this time I was wearing new glasses and at times things seemed a little distorted even blurry as my eyes adjusted to a new prescription...I had gotten new glasses over a month ago, but they didn't work, when the first time I wore them outside, I thought I was in a magnified fish bowl, swimming upstream...Stomach turning upside down, outside world taking on strange shapes...I took them back, saying sorry I can't wear these.

Enough silliness for one day, I must get busy...I have write group this morning at Pats and a committee meeting for mule days here tonight...Now where did I put that paper bag with all the papers in it, looks like I might need it again!....OWAV:)

Shoes...42º---68º

"Tread Bare"

Have been up since 5:30am, coffee in hand, I've been perusing the online sneakers...(the kind you wear)....About three years ago I found a brand of shoes called Spira, with wave spring technology throughout the sole...I loved and wore out the first pair, found a second pair at a ridiculously low price, snatched them up, wore them almost everyday for three weeks, touring the island of Kauai and returned home to wear them only as my nicer sneakers...They still look good but are loosing their spring...I can understand that!..Pat and I are on a determined course of walking everyday (she more determined than I) and they are my only pair of shoes with good support...Herb has been watching for that occasional bargain during his online shopping but they are available only in a size 5 or 10...Just won't fit my feet...Thus this mornings search...I have found them on Zappos with free shipping both ways,  in case they don't fit...but I have to bite the bullet and pay full price...My feet and legs are worth it...So out comes the credit card and with the speed of light (high speed internet) I will order two pairs and hope that one of them is a good fit...Must go, meeting Pat for our daily walk at 9am....Hugs, OWAV:)

Celebrate...60º--75º

I arrived home 9pm last night from LaGrande...Sue's 60th birthday was celebrated by family and friends...When I arrived about 2pm, Sue (the birthday girl) instead of kicking back with a margarita in hand was, elbow deep, in the kitchen, busily making the taco filings for the traditional Mexican dinner...The usual fare for all of their family parties... Six girls in my brother, Georges, family and their mother, Marlene from Mexican decent...Marlene taught them all early on how to make authentic mexican food...So not only did we have three kinds of tacos, but tamales and chile rellenoes, as well, all homemade...Some of the food was spicy and some mild... chips and three kinds of salsa with 3 layer bean dip, beer and ice tea for drinks was set out for all to munch on until the real food was ready...And what a spread it was, for sure no one went away hungry....Old friends, newer friends, and family filtered in and out all afternoon, bringing birthday wishes and more food...The party spread throughout the house and onto the back deck under the maple tree...Little kids played in the wading pool and on a dirt pile...Laughter and frivolity echoed throughout the neighborhood...At 7pm I called it a night and left the gala, with a 75 mile drive ahead of me.

I have a special bond with the three oldest girls of this family, as I babysat and played with them from the time they were born until I was married and moved on with my own life...We share many memories of family, good and bad...Get together when we can, although that is not often enough...I always look forward to an invitation to their family gatherings.

Now on with my own world, I still have more tomatoes to roast...Herb was right when he said, "Why are you ordering more tomatoes?"  But I will, with his help get them all done and in the freezer and when we are eating wonderful soups, sauces and casseroles this winter we'll be happy that we have lots of tomatoes!...Hugs to all on this beautiful fall day...OWAV:)

Get Moving...52º---85º

Golden Glow or Outhouse Plant

The early pioneers planted this flower (rudbeckia family) near the outhouse not sure why because it doesn't have much of a fragrance, (my first thought)...So maybe because it spreads and grows tall so it camouflaged the toilet.

Scrabble done, chatted briefly with Rusty before we were disconnected...Have tomatoes to roast, then on to LaGrande for the afternoon.

I worked the Fishtrap yard sale yesterday, walked with Pat and was wiped out for the rest of the day...Sat on the deck and enjoyed the sun.

Pat shared her new pork chop dish with us, which was very good and I didn't have to cook...Just heat and eat.

End of the month is quickly approaching and I have an essay due, not sure when that will get done...I guess when push comes to shove, I'll get it done...Have a good weekend....OWAV:)