Amsterdam, a fun city...33º snowing..

An early morning "Bolt/taxi" took us to the airport for a short flight to Amsterdam...The city of canals (below sea level) unfolded before us!..We Bolted to our hotel where we dropped luggage, before we boarded a bus (right outside our door) to explore the city...Amsterdam is also the city of bicycles, the main mode of transportation,) they have the right of way, so pedestrians beware. 

In comparison to Prague, the city was very quiet and today it was cooler, which was nice after the heat we had endured for a week...Only bad thing was Cienna made sure that our hotel had a pool and it was too cold to use it...Bobi and Ci tried it, but came out like popsicles, not fun.

We found a nice seafood restaurant that day, ordered family style, and dined on clams, oysters, salmon and "bottom fish," along with crusty bread dipped in the sauces...(My mouth is watering.) The highlight of the trip was a boating tour, on one of the many canals...We got a view of how this city was built alongside all of the water ways that drain water away from the city...(I think, I don't understand how this is possible).

All of the buildings are tall, mostly narrow and share a wall with the next building...There is no room to park cars, so they ride bicycles and walk and use the waterways...We kind of ate and drank our way through 3 days before returning to Prague...It was a lovely interlude...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

3 on a bike

most of the boat trip

was sunny and then

light rain.

It is hard to see the 

buildings.

Our tour guide with

buildings in the

background

Fun photo, with buildings.

More art deco.

Another World...17º our last sunny day for awhile.

I'm changing the story line today, since not much to talk about, here on Barton Heights, except the weather and other mundane topics, like taxes, making bread, jam, doing laundry, all the usual stuff.

Instead I will reminisce a bit about our trip to Prague, last summer...The trip was precipitated by my only grandchild, Cienna, flying off to Europe to teach English in foreign lands...She took a month long course that would give her more clout to get a job out of the US...She had already taught  for two years in Oregon...Knowing that if we wanted to see her in the near future, we would have to go to Prague, where she teaches English in a preschool.

After what "seemed" like 24 hours on a plane we soon made ourselves at home in a 2nd floor, two bedroom, kitchen, bathroom "flat" in Prague, our headquarters for the next 3 weeks...It was in the middle of the noisy city and August was unusually hot...But as usual the "Allen's" made lemonade out of lemons...We tried out many new drinks. 😅

We navigated the cobblestone streets and sidewalks (I used trekking poles) with Cienna as our guide, we rode subways, buses, trams and bolt/taxi...We were soon regulars at the small grocery store and deli stores, where we purchased Prague style, cheeses, deli meats, fruit, veggies and breads to make our own breakfasts and lunches...On any given day we might ride a bus, then a tram and the subway to get to another destination to see all of the sights: Castles, churches, bridges, cemeteries, parks, rivers and to shop in malls or vintage stores...Another plane ride took us to Amsterdam for 3 days...to be continued... Hugs To All...OWAV:)

No I didn't buy that hat, 

but I should have.

stairs are treacherous 

there.

We didn't miss a meal.

Deco art in Amsterdam

Mid Week, already...18º Mostly sunny

 How the days, weeks and month has flown by, already the end of January...I had an early tax appointment yesterday...My taxes are fairly simple, so we can go over the basics, then finish them when additional 1099's arrive, in a few days...I was pleasantly surprised to be getting a refund from the feds, and have to pay a small amount to the state!

Pam joined me for the ride to Lostine, (for the tax appointment), and since we were in the vicinity we went for pizza at "Crows Store"...It was delicious and a nice way to finish the day...I got home before dark, fed the "cats," cleaned up the kitchen table of papers, that were leftover from my mad scramble to get tax papers ready, then relaxed before loading the wood stove, worked on my jigsaw puzzle and called it a night.

Today I have walking, acupuncture and of course feeding the cats and loading the stove...My days are pretty routine and I'm still pondering my plan to make jam...Maybe tomorrow...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

More snow in the forecast.

Busy Day...17º

 Looking forward to a FaceTime chat with my friend Pat, who lives in Maryland...Our chat usually turns into an hour long visit, as we catch up on news of families and Wallowa County...Mostly it is just to laugh and reminisce about the good times we've had together and see each other's faces and talk like we are sitting across the table from one another.

After our chat, I have to put food and water out for "Allie," short for alleycat and "Socks," the two feral cats that now live outback...And, Rusty caught another cat, on camera, who has discovered the food...This cat looks old and like he has been through many "cat fights." We don't begrudge him food on these cold winter days. 

Then I will finish putting a packet together for my tax appointment this afternoon...Oh joy!

Doesn't sound like much on paper, but a busy day for me, as Rusty is spending a few days at his volunteer job, so I have to keep the home fires burning...Yes I get to stoke the fire and load the stove, from the stack of wood, that he chopped...I'm hoping their are leftovers in the fridge for easy meals...Hugs To All...OWAV:)

My latest Amaryllis

Cats on Barton Heights...17º 6AM, very dark.

 My posts are kind of random, as I try to catch up on the happenings of the last few months...Yesterdays' post was mostly about making bread and cold weather...Today a new subject--"Cats."

In November when Bobi was here for "Thanksmas," she made her usual dressing/stuffing, a delicious concoction of artisan bread, artichokes, onions, celery, parmesan cheese, sage, turkey and broth. Two large pans of it, were covered and put outside on a high shelf (my winter fridge) for the night...During the night something helped themselves to a good portion of one pan...Rusty determined from tracks in the snow that it was a cat...That made sense because just a few days before, I had seen two strange cats/kittens in our backyard...Since our backyard is bordered by farmland, we have always had feral cats, that keep the rodent population under control...These cats were new and young!

We assume that the young cats had been abandoned, (dumped) somewhere near our place on Barton Heights...They took shelter in a neighboring barn and were surviving...Something had to be done or in a short time we would probably have a couple of batches of kittens in our neighborhood...I sent out emails to neighbors on the chance that they belonged to someone, before contacting the humane society, about their "spay and neuter" program...We got vouchers from them to pay for part of the cost of having the cats "fixed."

Our plan was put into action...We continued feeding the cats, each night, the rest of the one pan of dressing and then, tasty concoctions of dry cat food and leftovers from our fridge, for about two months...We occasionally saw them in our backyard, during the day, but they were very wild...How do you catch two wild/feral cats to get them to the vets office?..I made an appointment with the vet, Rusty set out two live traps, baited with tuna fish and the next morning he transported two very frightened cats to the vets office...And yes they are both females.

Two neutered cats spent the next week in my living room, in a large wire cage (thanks to Debbie), where Rusty and I fed them, talked to them, until the wild look, finally left their eyes and Rusty could actually, very carefully touch, pet and scratch them, just a little bit...

I had no intention of having house cats, so at the appropriate time they were put back outside, where they have a bed and are fed daily, still sleeping part time in the neighboring barn, but as the weather improves, they will learn to fend for themselves, with occasional food from us, we hope!...Hugs to All...OWAV:)

Cowering in the corner

                   

                                                            Not so scared.

Sunny Sunday, very cold...12º

 I love the sunny cold days of winter, but I don't like them lasting so long and especially when there is a little breeze along with the cold...

I don't like to go outside!!.Looking at a little warmer temps this week and maybe snow by the weekend, after all it is winter!

So much for the weather report, not much happening on Barton Heights, just trying to keep warm...I stoke the wood fire, first thing in the morning, when I get up and Rusty keeps it going the rest of the day and fills it full, when he leaves in the evening...Also the oil furnace kicks on when needed.

I'm trying to get myself in the mood to make jam/jelly...I have all the ingredients, just have to get everything up from the basement to start the process...Frozen fruit, jars, new lids, big cooking pot...But first I have to clear off the utility room counters, making a place to assemble everything...I don't think Sunday is a good day to start and tomorrow Connie will be here to clean and and???Maybe Tuesday will be the day!

Over a year ago, I lost my sourdough start, left it in the fridge too long and now i'm wanting to make bread, using the sourdough instead of yeast...So I kept potato water last week, added a few grains of yeast, then a small amount of flour and it is now bubbled up and running all over the kitchen counter...UHH that's an exaggeration...It is bubbling nicely and I will test it today on a batch of buns for our Ruben sandwiches for dinner...Wish me luck!...Hugs To All....OWAV:)

Food from last week!..

Chicken Thai Soup

Taco Salad

January Road Trip...14º Sunny/cold

Our aim was to leave Enterprise by 7:30...That way we arrived in LaGrande in time to shop at Grocery Outlet for an hour before Pams appointment...We have done this for many years and it works well, the store isn't crowded with people and we take out time shopping...The store has had a major "renovation" and Pam kept prodding me along, so she wouldn't be late...It was mind boggling, trying to take in all the new stuff...We love that store.

Lunch for us was again at Asian Fusion, where we ask for extra veggies in our usual Thai dishes and bring half of it home for another meal. 

Next stop is BiMart, then we brave the crowd at Walmart for a few items...A quick stop at Coffman's for bulk pectin (I must get started on making jam from my frozen fruit) and frozen pie cherries, that make delicious pies!..Also on their shelves was blackstrap molasses, priced much lower than "Gramma's." I use it in my bread instead of sugar, so I snagged a couple of jars!..Last item, was thin sliced pastrami for Ruben Sandwiches...I would usually buy this for Herb, as he loved pastrami and cheese for a snack...We vow to make a trip each month, especially in winter, if the roads are good!

It was a good day, scenic trip and wonderful coming home...The first sight of the mountains always takes my breath away!..Hugs To All...OWAV:)

Driving home.