"We got a hundred gallons of sweet red wine
Made from the biggest watermelons on the vine.
Help yourself to some, but obey the law-
If you drink, don't drive, do the watermelon crawl..."
-Tracy Byrd
I took Dustin to Susan's house in Echo last weekend so he can (hopefully) help her with some chores for awhile. He has been wanting to go and both KP and Jordan are working all the time. Susan has had pneumonia this summer and has had a hard time recovering, so she needed someone to help out with things. Sounds like he's having a ball and working hard so far.
I brought a Hermiston Watermelon back with me, so last night we had some friends over for Watermelon Margarita's. Yummy!!! I actually found a watermelon margarita mix at Harry & David's when I went in for their pineapple salsa. Pretty good stuff.
James and Derith, of course, brought six-month old baby Grace with them. Riff carried her all over the place an introduced her to all of the animals. Boots, the cat, was curious about her until she reached out and grabbed a handful of his whiskers. He kept a wide berth after that. Grace took a nap on our bed. When she woke up, I think it scared her to not recognize the room. She cried quite loudly and was not easily calmed. Hannah, one of our dogs, was very concerned about this. I think she wanted to comfort that poor, crying baby.
This weekend we plan to work on the house some more. Hopefully get the kitchen cabinets finished and the guest room upstairs painted. We have a hot tub coming in a couple of weeks (I'm SO excited!) and need to get the deck power washed and sealed before it arrives, also. We had better get busy!! Maybe I'll just have a margarita instead...
"If you're ever in Georgia (or Oregon) round 'bout July
If you ain't in a hurry
Then you oughta stop by
I can guarantee that you're gonna have a ball
Learning how to do the watermelon crawl..."
Friday, July 28, 2006
Monday, July 17, 2006
A Night on the Town...
Riff and I met Ron and Carol at the airport on Friday. They were on their way to Alaska and had a layover in Portland for a couple of hours. We grabbed a table, drank some smoothies and got caught up. Was good to see them and we wish them a wonderful vacation. Kevin had come over from school, so we dropped him back off and wandered around downtown Portland for awhile. We had made reservations for dinner at a place called Harrison. We haven't spent much time in Portland, so weren't sure if we should just play it by ear or if we needed reservations. The place we chose was pricey and didn't have much for atmosphere. Walking around after dinner, we spotted several places that we would much rather have eaten at. Ah, well, next time...
I had also made reservations at a motel that I had been told was right downtown. It was not. Not far, but not exactly where we wanted to be. Saturday morning we walked down the street to a neighborhood coffee shop. It was a cute little place, so we had coffee and a bagel and read the paper for a bit. From there we went to a shop called "Rejuvination". Go to http://www.rejuvination.com/ to check them out. They specialize in rejuvenated antiques, clawfoot tubs, etc... They also salvage old buildings and homes so have almost anything you are looking for when re-doing an old house. We found a new/old door for our back deck/kitchen door. It is a wooden muli-paned french door. It is going to look so nice and really open our kitchen up. I am so excited to get it refinished and up!
From there we drove to Kevin's apartment, parked in his lot and walked down to catch MAX, the city transport train. We rode out to the Burnside Bridge where they have the Saturday Market. It is incredible and huge! I was a little surprised (and disappointed) that it is all "crafty" type items and no produce or locally grown stuff. Don't get me wrong, the handmade items are beautiful. They have two large food courts and live bands playing on both ends. Very impressive.
When we left there, we decided to walk up to the campus where the actual Farmers Market is held. Ah, that's more like it! I bought baby potatoes, swiss chard and cucumbers. I didn't go crazy because we weren't headed straight home. You could buy all of your produce for the entire week there, plus bread, cheese, chocolate and sausages. YUM!
We made a few other stops on our meandering way back home, the best of which was for dinner. We had read about a place in Forest Grove that is owned by the McMenamis (sp?) brothers and is known as the Grande Lodge. Riff knew right where it was, so we decided to stop for a snack. We wandered from the parking lot onto the grounds. It is a beautiful park like setting with a pub sitting in the middle. Picnic tables were scattered around and a band was playing some fun old rock and roll. We both had burgers and fries that really hit the spot. We decided to check out the lodge and found that it is absolutely amazing! Right inside the side door, stairs lead down to the bottom floor that holds lodging rooms, a spa, a soaking pool, a billards bar and a wine bar. Both bars have separate menu's for your snacking pleasure. Back on the main floor is more lodging rooms, a gift shop and another(!) restaraunt. Upstairs is a movie theatre that plays recent releases and serves pizza and beer.
The place is incredible. It used to be a Masonic retirement home and orphanage. The orphans "cottage" can be rented out for weddings and such. I have decided that we need to stay there sometime. What a neat place with a lot of history in it!
We really had an enjoyable weekend. Back home to work on the house on Sunday. Stripping 9 layers of paint off the kitchen cabinets. I need to work fast and get that done so that I can get my new door put up!!
Shilo has had a rough week. Her and her boyfriend have broken up and she is taking it pretty hard. I try to give advice, but only time will help in matters of the heart. I feel bad for her.
Dustin earned his keep yesterday by primering his bedroom walls and ceiling for us. By afternoon, he had decided that painting really isn't alot of fun, but he finished and did a good job.
May you be blessed with good burgers and unbroken hearts....
I had also made reservations at a motel that I had been told was right downtown. It was not. Not far, but not exactly where we wanted to be. Saturday morning we walked down the street to a neighborhood coffee shop. It was a cute little place, so we had coffee and a bagel and read the paper for a bit. From there we went to a shop called "Rejuvination". Go to http://www.rejuvination.com/ to check them out. They specialize in rejuvenated antiques, clawfoot tubs, etc... They also salvage old buildings and homes so have almost anything you are looking for when re-doing an old house. We found a new/old door for our back deck/kitchen door. It is a wooden muli-paned french door. It is going to look so nice and really open our kitchen up. I am so excited to get it refinished and up!
From there we drove to Kevin's apartment, parked in his lot and walked down to catch MAX, the city transport train. We rode out to the Burnside Bridge where they have the Saturday Market. It is incredible and huge! I was a little surprised (and disappointed) that it is all "crafty" type items and no produce or locally grown stuff. Don't get me wrong, the handmade items are beautiful. They have two large food courts and live bands playing on both ends. Very impressive.
When we left there, we decided to walk up to the campus where the actual Farmers Market is held. Ah, that's more like it! I bought baby potatoes, swiss chard and cucumbers. I didn't go crazy because we weren't headed straight home. You could buy all of your produce for the entire week there, plus bread, cheese, chocolate and sausages. YUM!
We made a few other stops on our meandering way back home, the best of which was for dinner. We had read about a place in Forest Grove that is owned by the McMenamis (sp?) brothers and is known as the Grande Lodge. Riff knew right where it was, so we decided to stop for a snack. We wandered from the parking lot onto the grounds. It is a beautiful park like setting with a pub sitting in the middle. Picnic tables were scattered around and a band was playing some fun old rock and roll. We both had burgers and fries that really hit the spot. We decided to check out the lodge and found that it is absolutely amazing! Right inside the side door, stairs lead down to the bottom floor that holds lodging rooms, a spa, a soaking pool, a billards bar and a wine bar. Both bars have separate menu's for your snacking pleasure. Back on the main floor is more lodging rooms, a gift shop and another(!) restaraunt. Upstairs is a movie theatre that plays recent releases and serves pizza and beer.
The place is incredible. It used to be a Masonic retirement home and orphanage. The orphans "cottage" can be rented out for weddings and such. I have decided that we need to stay there sometime. What a neat place with a lot of history in it!
We really had an enjoyable weekend. Back home to work on the house on Sunday. Stripping 9 layers of paint off the kitchen cabinets. I need to work fast and get that done so that I can get my new door put up!!
Shilo has had a rough week. Her and her boyfriend have broken up and she is taking it pretty hard. I try to give advice, but only time will help in matters of the heart. I feel bad for her.
Dustin earned his keep yesterday by primering his bedroom walls and ceiling for us. By afternoon, he had decided that painting really isn't alot of fun, but he finished and did a good job.
May you be blessed with good burgers and unbroken hearts....
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Chevy vs. Ford
My Dad has informed me that the blue and white "Ford" in my July 5th post was actually a "Chevy". Oops, my bad! After he jolted my memory, I honestly can't believe that I made that mistake.
The mist of time takes me back 30 (ohmygosh!) years. I'm once again standing on a concrete patio at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Pendleton, Oregon. The July sun is beating down and the smell of summer permeates the air. My Uncle Dale flips the burgers and hot dogs on the grill. My Dad stands by, heckling the chef. Each has a red and white Rainer beer can in hand. The seven of us kids are running wild - rolling down the green grass in the hillside yard, running into the playhouse to tell some secrets, up and down the dirt road on our bikes, back to the patio to see Mike and Kerry's latest skateboard tricks. All the while, we keep our ears open to the grown-ups conversations, not wanting to miss anything. It isn't long until the talk turns to trucks, as it always seems to do. Dale drives a Ford, Dad drives a Chevy. The verbal jousting match begins. Chevy...Ford...Chevy...Ford. Us kids take our cue from the parents. We Chevy riders taunt "Ford stands for 'Found On Road Dead' and 'Fix Or Repair Daily'!" The Ford passengers come back with something just as scathing, though the exact words escape me. The sparing continues until something equally as exciting turns our attention elsewhere.
The mist lifts. I'm surprised to find my older self sitting at my desk. Is that a Ford that I see in the driveway? And a Chrysler? What's with that.....?
Does anybody recall the "Chevy taunts"? Please, leave them in my comment box.
The mist of time takes me back 30 (ohmygosh!) years. I'm once again standing on a concrete patio at my Aunt and Uncle's house in Pendleton, Oregon. The July sun is beating down and the smell of summer permeates the air. My Uncle Dale flips the burgers and hot dogs on the grill. My Dad stands by, heckling the chef. Each has a red and white Rainer beer can in hand. The seven of us kids are running wild - rolling down the green grass in the hillside yard, running into the playhouse to tell some secrets, up and down the dirt road on our bikes, back to the patio to see Mike and Kerry's latest skateboard tricks. All the while, we keep our ears open to the grown-ups conversations, not wanting to miss anything. It isn't long until the talk turns to trucks, as it always seems to do. Dale drives a Ford, Dad drives a Chevy. The verbal jousting match begins. Chevy...Ford...Chevy...Ford. Us kids take our cue from the parents. We Chevy riders taunt "Ford stands for 'Found On Road Dead' and 'Fix Or Repair Daily'!" The Ford passengers come back with something just as scathing, though the exact words escape me. The sparing continues until something equally as exciting turns our attention elsewhere.
The mist lifts. I'm surprised to find my older self sitting at my desk. Is that a Ford that I see in the driveway? And a Chrysler? What's with that.....?
Does anybody recall the "Chevy taunts"? Please, leave them in my comment box.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Are you a good cook?
| You Are an Excellent Cook |
 |
Are You A Good Cook?
Hmm...I seem to have had problems getting the link in here correctly. Well, click here and it should take you were you need to be.
http://www.blogthings.com/areyouagoodcookquiz/
Okay,that doesn't work either, I'm just awfully sorry....
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Seasons in the Sun...
We had joy,
We had fun,
We had seasons in the sun,
but the stars that we reached
were just starfish on the beach....
by Terry Jacks
*July 5th, 1965-LaGrande, Oregon- A sweet, pink, wiggly baby girl is born. Her parents look at her with love and name her Stacey Dawn. Her big sister thinks she is beautiful.
*July 5th, 1975-Elgin, Oregon- That baby has grown into a girl of 10. She sits in the back of a blue and white ford, (in the days when that was legal), with her two sisters, singing at the top of their voices. The birthday girls long blonde hair is whipping in the wind. A black scottisch collie named "Lady" sits at their feet. In the cab, a small tow-headed boy sits between the Mom and Dad, a homemade birthday cake resting on the mom's lap. They are headed to Minam Park where Grandma and Grandpa wait with twinkles in their eyes, ready to sing happy birthday.
*July 5th, 1985-Thermpolis, Wyoming- The girl has grown into a young woman. She has married her sweetheart and they have struck out on their own. This year her older sister and husband join them to celebrate the day with birthday cake and a wild ride in an old pick-up truck through the sagebrush of Wyoming, kicking up rabbits and deer as they go, whooping and hollering all the way.
*July 5th, 1995- Powell, Wyoming. The young woman has once again changed. She is now a mother, celebrating her birthday with her little one by her side. She is seeing things now through a mothers eyes. This year there is more family around. Her older and younger sisters have come, their children in tow. She listens to the laughter of cousins playing together, as she once played with her own.
*July 5th, 2006-Powell, Wyoming. Another decade (and a year) have passed. The birthday girl now has a pre-teen on her hands. They spend the day laughing together as only mothers and daughters can. The birthdays have changed her appearance, but she is still the same girl with the long blonde hair singing "Seasons in the Sun", her sisters by her side.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DARLING SISTER!!
We had fun,
We had seasons in the sun,
but the stars that we reached
were just starfish on the beach....
by Terry Jacks
*July 5th, 1965-LaGrande, Oregon- A sweet, pink, wiggly baby girl is born. Her parents look at her with love and name her Stacey Dawn. Her big sister thinks she is beautiful.
*July 5th, 1975-Elgin, Oregon- That baby has grown into a girl of 10. She sits in the back of a blue and white ford, (in the days when that was legal), with her two sisters, singing at the top of their voices. The birthday girls long blonde hair is whipping in the wind. A black scottisch collie named "Lady" sits at their feet. In the cab, a small tow-headed boy sits between the Mom and Dad, a homemade birthday cake resting on the mom's lap. They are headed to Minam Park where Grandma and Grandpa wait with twinkles in their eyes, ready to sing happy birthday.
*July 5th, 1985-Thermpolis, Wyoming- The girl has grown into a young woman. She has married her sweetheart and they have struck out on their own. This year her older sister and husband join them to celebrate the day with birthday cake and a wild ride in an old pick-up truck through the sagebrush of Wyoming, kicking up rabbits and deer as they go, whooping and hollering all the way.
*July 5th, 1995- Powell, Wyoming. The young woman has once again changed. She is now a mother, celebrating her birthday with her little one by her side. She is seeing things now through a mothers eyes. This year there is more family around. Her older and younger sisters have come, their children in tow. She listens to the laughter of cousins playing together, as she once played with her own.
*July 5th, 2006-Powell, Wyoming. Another decade (and a year) have passed. The birthday girl now has a pre-teen on her hands. They spend the day laughing together as only mothers and daughters can. The birthdays have changed her appearance, but she is still the same girl with the long blonde hair singing "Seasons in the Sun", her sisters by her side.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DARLING SISTER!!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Lavender Chicken
I planted 3 lavender plants last year that have turned into beautiful "drifts" this year. I have been experementing with sun tea to try to duplicate a Lavender Mint Julep Sun Tea that is sold at our local Sunday market. It's too die for and hard to wait all winter to get my fix. As I was blog surfing the other day, I ran across Gabriella's sight at www.mylifeasareluctanthousewife.blogspot.com . She has a great sight and wonderful recipes. I tried out her Lavender Lemon Chicken last night and it was delicious!! I substituted fresh lavender for the dried and used thyme out of my garden also. Head over to her sight, grab the recipe and try it. The smell while it is cooking is heavenly. I saved all the dripping to use as stock in something else later on. Can't wait to try her lavender garlic bread!!
Monday, June 26, 2006
Sun and Sand
"On the beach you'll find them there, in the sun and salty air..."
-Beach Boys
Record breaking temperatures this past weekend. I am not complaining, mind you, after our incredibly long, rainy winter. Shilo and I went to Portland on a girls shopping trip on Saturday. After five hours in the cool, air-conditioned mall we almost melted as we got back into the car. I would like to have had the sunroof open for the ride home, but Shilo was feeling a bit tired and whiny..."My legs are sore(soccer practice), my tooth hurts(new filing), I'm hot(wearing jeans), my stomach hurts(cheese on her sandwich), I don't know any of the songs on your cd's(not my problem!), I'm gonna have a sunburn on my forehead(which gets us to the sunroof!) All in all, we had a pleasant day.
Riff and Dustin got home on Sunday with Derek in tow. They are tired, sunburnt, beat-up, bruised and happy to be home. Riff confessed that they (him, Britt and Jared-not the others), floated a stretch of river know as "Staircase" at much to high of a level. (Class 4+ to 5) The guides had pulled off of it a week earlier because the levels had risen to much and they had actually lost a couple of people. They had a great week and everyone came home intact. Of course, they are already planning next years trip. Grande Ronde sound good?
Another exceptionally warm day for the Oregon Coast. After unpacking the suburban and starting the mountains of "camping" laundry, we loaded up and headed to the beach. It was Dereks first time, so he was very excited about the whole thing and entranced by the sand shrimp. 85 degrees at the house when we left, but only about 65 on the beach with a chilly breeze blowing. Seems to happen that way if we wait until the afternoon to go. We decided not to fight the wind, so went to Coffinbury Lake for our barbeque. I had made "Firecracker Burgers" to grill. Salsa mixed in with the burger, then wrapped around a cheese-filled jalapeno popper. After grilling you top the toasted bun with guacamole, lettuce, tomato and onion. Very good!! The dogs had a good swim in the lake, then a mighty shake standing right next to me. Why do they do that? I think they find it funny. Hannah always seems to be grinning after she drenches someone.
May you be blessed with warm days and grilled burgers....
-Beach Boys
Record breaking temperatures this past weekend. I am not complaining, mind you, after our incredibly long, rainy winter. Shilo and I went to Portland on a girls shopping trip on Saturday. After five hours in the cool, air-conditioned mall we almost melted as we got back into the car. I would like to have had the sunroof open for the ride home, but Shilo was feeling a bit tired and whiny..."My legs are sore(soccer practice), my tooth hurts(new filing), I'm hot(wearing jeans), my stomach hurts(cheese on her sandwich), I don't know any of the songs on your cd's(not my problem!), I'm gonna have a sunburn on my forehead(which gets us to the sunroof!) All in all, we had a pleasant day.
Riff and Dustin got home on Sunday with Derek in tow. They are tired, sunburnt, beat-up, bruised and happy to be home. Riff confessed that they (him, Britt and Jared-not the others), floated a stretch of river know as "Staircase" at much to high of a level. (Class 4+ to 5) The guides had pulled off of it a week earlier because the levels had risen to much and they had actually lost a couple of people. They had a great week and everyone came home intact. Of course, they are already planning next years trip. Grande Ronde sound good?
Another exceptionally warm day for the Oregon Coast. After unpacking the suburban and starting the mountains of "camping" laundry, we loaded up and headed to the beach. It was Dereks first time, so he was very excited about the whole thing and entranced by the sand shrimp. 85 degrees at the house when we left, but only about 65 on the beach with a chilly breeze blowing. Seems to happen that way if we wait until the afternoon to go. We decided not to fight the wind, so went to Coffinbury Lake for our barbeque. I had made "Firecracker Burgers" to grill. Salsa mixed in with the burger, then wrapped around a cheese-filled jalapeno popper. After grilling you top the toasted bun with guacamole, lettuce, tomato and onion. Very good!! The dogs had a good swim in the lake, then a mighty shake standing right next to me. Why do they do that? I think they find it funny. Hannah always seems to be grinning after she drenches someone.
May you be blessed with warm days and grilled burgers....
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
My friend, the deer....
The beautiful, golden time of twilight has descended. My peaceful evening yard is full of fluttering white moths bouncing from leaf to leaf like so many tiny specks of light. From across the street, a white-tail doe smells my roses. She carefully makes her way across the slick pavement, unaware that Boots, our black kitten, has fancied himself a lion and is stalking her every move. He crouches, his long tail twitching, every muscle ready for the big spring that will bring this great creature down and end her delicate life. She notices him at last, turns to look, and the mighty lion is once again a silly black kitten. I watch, unseen, from behind the curtain.
The doe continues into the yard, glides slowly up the hill by the cherry tree, and lowers her soft nose into the bright pink wild roses that grace the hillside. I step out onto the front porch and speak softly to her. "Hello", I say, "Could you please leave the roses? I'm sure that we could find you something else just as delightful to eat." She regards me with those big brown eyes, her soul reflected in them. I can see that she is not hungry. She is wanting a little something sweet with the same conviction that a small girl of three wants a strawberry ice cream cone. We stand quietly, looking into each others eyes. Who will win this battle of the wills? She is not comfortable enough to nibble her dessert with me standing so close, yet neither is she willing to back away and leave those delicious treats sitting upon their prickly stems. I take a few steps closer and she bounds away, into the neighbors yard, her white tail up, surrendering to my stronger will.
Back on the porch, I watch for some time, standing gaurd over my roses. The doe is sniffing around, looking for something, anything, to eat. Ah, a yellow birdfeeder, swinging gently in the evening breeze. She tentatively reaches out her long pink tongue. A taste of seed later and you can see a look of pure pleasure in her eyes as she chews. I feel somewhat sure that my roses are safe, at least for now, so I tuck myself into my little blue cottage for the night.
Morning has come. I stretch and pad softly to the window, on the look out for the birds that partake of their breakfast feast at my front yard bird cafe'. As I pull back the curtains, I notice that my little feathered friends are not around this morning. A closer look reveals that, alas, not only is my neighbors feeder empty, but mine is empty as well. There appear to be large teeth marks on the roof of my little cedar-sided feeder. Seems my beautiful visitor had quite the little feast.
I will sit this evening, waiting quietly in the gloaming. Should my friend reappear, we shall have another chat...
The doe continues into the yard, glides slowly up the hill by the cherry tree, and lowers her soft nose into the bright pink wild roses that grace the hillside. I step out onto the front porch and speak softly to her. "Hello", I say, "Could you please leave the roses? I'm sure that we could find you something else just as delightful to eat." She regards me with those big brown eyes, her soul reflected in them. I can see that she is not hungry. She is wanting a little something sweet with the same conviction that a small girl of three wants a strawberry ice cream cone. We stand quietly, looking into each others eyes. Who will win this battle of the wills? She is not comfortable enough to nibble her dessert with me standing so close, yet neither is she willing to back away and leave those delicious treats sitting upon their prickly stems. I take a few steps closer and she bounds away, into the neighbors yard, her white tail up, surrendering to my stronger will.
Back on the porch, I watch for some time, standing gaurd over my roses. The doe is sniffing around, looking for something, anything, to eat. Ah, a yellow birdfeeder, swinging gently in the evening breeze. She tentatively reaches out her long pink tongue. A taste of seed later and you can see a look of pure pleasure in her eyes as she chews. I feel somewhat sure that my roses are safe, at least for now, so I tuck myself into my little blue cottage for the night.
Morning has come. I stretch and pad softly to the window, on the look out for the birds that partake of their breakfast feast at my front yard bird cafe'. As I pull back the curtains, I notice that my little feathered friends are not around this morning. A closer look reveals that, alas, not only is my neighbors feeder empty, but mine is empty as well. There appear to be large teeth marks on the roof of my little cedar-sided feeder. Seems my beautiful visitor had quite the little feast.
I will sit this evening, waiting quietly in the gloaming. Should my friend reappear, we shall have another chat...
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