Happy New Year!

Goodbye and good riddance to 2009. May the new year and the new decade bring better days for us all. Omens bode auspicious with the pleasant holiday season distraction of cat sitting for friends while they vacation in Europe. The outdoor kitty is Nancy, sister to our late Tuck, and very much like him. They had the same white markings but she is calico where he was black. She is sweet as can be.


The indoor kitty is an orphan we are calling Lola. She is just the most affectionate girl, and very talkative. Beautiful smoky gray coat with flashing green eyes, shes very roly-poly too. I am totally in love with her.


While I am sorry to see my caretaking coming to an end this weekend I'll be happy to have have my friends back safe and sound from their journey.

Toast the new decade with Cheers!

Bah Humbug!

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Xmas is here!

Happy Xmas everyone!

Daniel brought home an excellent tree this year. We alternate each year between a live tree and our vintage 60's silver aluminum tree (and yes, we have the revolving color wheel too). This year as we are Poor (yes, poor dahlinks!) so we went the free route and took advantage of the natural bounty of the PNW. I don't know enough about camera settings to know how to time the photo for best results so here's shots with the flash and without.




Isn't is fabulous? It looks so much better in real life. More xmas pics to come...

(Hi Joey and Wes!)

Rainy November

We've nothing but rain for two weeks. It's getting old, but that's the PNW for ya. Beats snow. Here's a shot of that bed I've been working on in the back yard. Both side beds are now complete and planted (mostly). Still need to dig the center circle bed and get it ready to plant. We'll get an apple tree in spring to be the centerpiece. I wanted something we could prune to fill the space we wanted and that gives us the bonus of fruit and multi-season interest.


Speaking of apples, here's a crisp I made last weekend. Granny smiths and no sweetening but the topping. Delish!

Happy Halloween!

Huzzah! Another Halloween has come and gone without a spook to be seen. We had a great night of food, friends and fire. Spent the afternoon gathering wood for a bonfire and Joey & Wes, Terry, Julie and Jonathan joined us just around dark and we got it blazing away. A delicious feast of roasted sausages, baked beans, and various snackages followed, all washed down with wine or whiskey. Merriment ensued. And I made pie!




Had not done small hand pies before and learned a few things (like don't forget the steam vents). But they were delicious!

I caught Peter creeping along the tightrope that is the window edge of the car.


Chewie, of course, is her same silly self.


Hope your All Hallow's Eve was just as fun as ours.

Trip to Ill.

Daniel and I went to Illinois for a long weekend to attend my grandmother's 90th birthday celebration. We had a good time, but are so glad to be back. Here's the view across the fields at my sister's house. This is what I think of when I picture Illinois.


Speaking of Beth and Rae's place, here's a shot of it. It was built in 1905 and has all the original woodwork intact, 12 foot ceilings, and is just a fantastic place. I always enjoy being there.


Here's two of their four pets, Hank (a giant schnauzer) and Chloe, who was very sweet.




The house used to have several beautiful old barns, built int he early part of the century and painted that classic red, but they were all in bad repair and the main barn had been damaged in a tornado so was removed. A shame, as they had so much character. The foundation stones from the main barn remain and would be an excellent backbone for a flower garden if arranged properly. Wish I had them here!


A rose and iris garden behind the sumemr kittchen perhaps? Yes, there really is an old summer kitchen! I think it would make a great winery for the grapes that should be arbored along the south side of the property. (Isn't imagineering fun?)


While there we visited a winery in Grafton along the Mississippi river. Got to spend the day with so many family and friends that I rarely see. It was one of the highlights of the trip. here's the sun going down over the mighty river.


The fall foliage was just spectacular everywhere we went. An exceptional show this year. Unfortunately I did not get an pics when we visited Washington Park in Spfringfield. Check Daniel's blog for more of all these places.
http://skookum-ouzel.blogspot.com/




It was really great to see the extended family. I don't get back often and when I do it is rarely with so many others there. We're a pretty widespread group. Especially good to see Grandma and my niece and nephew (Hi Emily! Be sure and write me!). A fun trip al around, but so glad to be home.

Autumnal rainbow

Color in the garden today...