Our summer garden (or Pumpkin Jungle as I like to call it) is really loving the hot weather, and I'm pretty sure the pumpkins are trying to take over the world. The pumpkin vines ran out of room so they just decided to go up and over the back fence. I am sure we'll have some adventures this fall looking for pumpkins down the hill behind the garden. Dude the Scarecrow is being ...
Hiking Canyon Creek Meadows
For those of you who have older editions of William Sullivan's Book, 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades, you are probably familiar with the very beautiful scene on the cover, promising all kinds of amazing nature experiences if you get out on the hikes in the guide. As it turns out, this completely real place is called Canyon Creek Meadows, and it is every bit as cool as it seems. We've ...
Riverside Camp
At the end of a hot August day, camped out by the river is the best place to be. My newest needle felted wall hanging is a McKenzie River camping scene, with a crackling campfire at sunset and the Three Sisters watching over. With the recent heatwave, we've been exploring good riverside campsites and have found some gems. Last weekend, we traveled over the mountains to the Metolius River and ...
Blue Moon
Blue Moon: A second full moon that appears during a calendar month. We decided to take a little excursion Friday night and drove up to a viewpoint to observe July's blue moon over the Cascades. There had been quite a bit of discussion amongst friends as to what a blue moon means. As it turns out, blue moons are not actually blue, and it is suggested that the word "blue" was substituted for an ...
Pines
"Strange that so few ever come to the woods to see how the pine lives and grows and spires, lifting its evergreen arms to the light, -- to see its perfect success; but most are content to behold it in the shape of many broad boards brought to market, and deem that its true success." ~Henry David Thoreau, Chesuncook 1858 ...
Dilly Beans
Farmhouse Dilly Beans 2 lbs. green beans 1/4 cup canning salt 2 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar 2 1/2 cups water 1/2 tsp hot pepper flakes per pint jar 4-8 cloves peeled garlic per pint jar one head dill per pint jar Trim ends off of green beans. Combine salt, vinegar and water in a sauce pot and boil. Pack beans lengthwise into hot jars. Put 1/2 tsp pepper ...
Hiking Iron Mountain
In search of a good Sunday hike with our friends, we decided to explore the Iron Mountain Trail in the Willamette National Forest. We haven't been getting out hiking quite as often over the past year, with plenty to keep us busy around the homestead on the weekends, but I am making a concerted effort to remind myself that homestead projects will always be there, and time needs to be made for ...
Golden Sunflowers
"We're all golden sunflowers inside." ~Allen Ginsberg ...
Making a Splash at the Swimming Hole
When you've got a house full of teenagers on a hot summer day, down at the swimming hole is the place to be. The kids invited friends from out of town to stay for the week, and lucky for us, the McKenzie River has many tributaries with fantastic swimming holes. Some of my favorite memories of being a teen revolve around summer swimming excursions, so I was happy to pile everyone in the car and ...
The Benefits of Backyard Chickens
My article on the benefits of keeping backyard chickens is published in Organic Lifestyle Magazine! Check it out here: The Benefits of Backyard Chickens And if you want more good chicken info, here are a few of my favorite places: Fresh Eggs Daily Backyard Chickens My Pet Chicken ...