the kids

the kids for their holiday visit....big fun


and this was precious...Archer making a picture for Mon...

the kids

catching up....had this wonderful evening with the kids.....each tenth shot or so i get Archer's face under hair....big fun!

65th anniversary !!!

Mom can't believe she's 63 and I'm 42. I say "OK Mom, let's go with that....what a wondraful celebration. We sooooo pulled off the surprise in spite of me and my big mouth. The visiting with everyone was extra special and the great grands to some and grands to others were so much fun.

And this scene almost seemed like it may have been after a turkey dinner.

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the marianberries are looking great

lots of photos.....

65th anniversary !!!

Pasta Salad

I like to make this over the course of 2 or 3 days, especially to take to potluck and such, cuz the flavor really gets good. And you can always add more vegies if they come along. And I like that it's done ahead and all you have to do is stir it and taste it every so often. And then you're out the door.


Dressing
1/3 c. (dressing and marinade) rice vinegar
2/3 c. olive oil
2 tsp. dry mustard
2 heaping tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
minced garlic (I like several cloves)

pour dressing over

1 lb (160z) ROTINI PRIMAVERA al dente, drained and cool.

1 15.5oz can black beans
1 15.5oz can kidney beans (all beans rinsed)
1 15.5oz can garbanzo beans

as many capers, sunflower seeds (I like unsalted) (I use at least a half cups of each), or other nuts and such as you like.

I like carrots (shredded) brocoli cabbage lettuce and almost any vegie you can chop up. I like them raw but some like to steam and soften some of them up.

This has been popular where ever I've taken it and it really lends itself to changing it with the seasons and the different vegies.

to Leavenworth for Chooch's birthday

Cherry pie making with Chooch.....

Papa Teen in the garage with "the sound of a Model T running"...

Deception Falls

and here is a short video of the kayakers (i missed the best shot...Sue got it!)......and a funny moment at the closed trail....good thing there is a wide shoulder!

an afternoon in the garden with Mia

we started on the roof garden where she delivered ripe tomatos to me in my chair(sipping coffee) we read a couple of books and planned the compost toilet room in sunnywood school....she has some ideas and i think there may be a nautical theme involved. then we were on the front for a picnic (she requested photos of the rabbits she provided with carrots) on to some fun with snakes and finally artwork while grandma watched the mariners take the series from the yankees....

and who can forget the walkoff (Ichiro !!)in the 9th against Mariano Rivera in the first game.?!! only once ever before (since he joined the yankees in 1990) in 1997. wow...

so we had a great time....Mia picked her door (across from Claudias) where we will put her drawings and photos....

cherries and raspberries

i'm eating the glacier cherries now...a pretty good young tree crop and very tasty. the vans will not be far behing and the montmorencys are coming fast too. the raspberries are full speed ahead and i better get those grandkids over for a foragefest. they love the "jungle food" as they call it.



and more from the jungle...the native wild blackberries are coming on...one of these years i will get a pie!!!!!

Sista retreat 2009

we had another great year...what a treat to enjoy time with Lucy....she is amazing and so good natured ...she charmed everyone she met. they loved her at Bud's in St Marys

i spent a good deal of time opening up the old orchard trail again....(3rd year)...and have made a new path in on the driveway side each year and then improved existing trails with in the old orchard and up to yurt site #1... oh and site of new orchard and vegie garden......not to mention view extraordinaire....the interior decorators, sistas b (Linda) and d (Kathy), and Te worked their magic. Kathy will be composting food waste.....yah!!!!!!!! i almost read a book, WORLD MADE BY HAND and listened to the first few chapters of THE OMNIVORE’S DILEMMA i will be asking my friend Bill, the farmer, if his ruminants are grass feed. i may, at least for the short term, consider a new energy star freezer and the eating of some beef. Chad has shown interest in producing some beef jerky. oh and sista d, here is the dehydrator operation i spoke of.......

back to books.....i'm old enough to draw social security and still working on following thru...we'll see......oh and had the pleasure of some awesome baseball by my Mariners

what a great week. thanks Mary and Steve (great guitar and songs) and i look forward to seeing your new house next year and can't wait to see the gardens.....the neighborhood was so great and the trees!!!!!

and what a great couple of days with Mom and Dad in Leavenworth, Cashmere (dinner) Wenatchee for Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs great big fun!!!! thanks sista c



i also had the pleasure of a cougar hunt on the golf course with Chooch and another chat with Papa Teen and his now, 2 years later, not so new best friend... (2yrsago) .....checked in with Chooch on this one again too.





Te's Photos.....she got some great ones! thanks Te