2002 was......

the last time we got snow this late in the year.... suprise wake up... well i wasn't too surprised since it's been snowing on and off for days.... but at least nothing 'stuck' ..... 7:30 a.m.
brrrrrrr and more brrrrrrrr.... gotta go feed the critters and put out some grain for the wee birds... made up some hummingbird food as well.... they don't do well in the snow... poor babies....

2 hrs later.... mmm more snow.. :(

9:30 a.m.

What do you think?......

of this article... from the Seattle Times Newspaper .... just a little bit scary to think of how much we really are being watched.... i'd rant and rave but i'm sure you already know how i feel about it all....

sooooo on a more positive note.... a new car is sitting in my driveway... not for me, but daughter.... an Aveo 5 ... pretty darn cute i say... not of the upper league but certainly of the cheap on gas league... a very pretty girly perwinkle blue... on a grey day is actually brighter more purplish tone... and it won't eat $400.00 worth of gas each month... pretty good trade off i'd say.....
was dreaming of another truck... but then the gas reality sets in... sighhh ... to bad i'm a realist!!

Concrete canvas....

seems an interesting concept for emergency shelters... dykes etc., saw a short news clip of it... but found this link online....

farming....... is more than meets the eye... read this....

Grumble grumble.....

it's cold and snowy... brrrrrr is all i gotta say... and according to the weather guy... more to come.... much like March of 2002 i think.... it snowed on the 31st. in 2002.... so much for gardening weather!!!
i got a put together, kinda, greenhouse..... tomatoes are the focus this year... and i will try, once again, eggplant and peppers.... last year was a fallout in the heat lover plants... and not just in my garden, was a typical complaint amongst us not so green thumbers ;) hard to keep a green thumb when ya got dirt under yer fingernails :D

HOP HOP down the lane........

here comes the Easter Bunny.... well... kinda....

sian and erika looked for eggs and candies....



and i managed to get a pic of 'mommy' in the window... she's camera shy.... even more than dora....




mmm easter cake....

after the 'hunt' everyone went inside, except dora... she found her own egg... not a chocolate one tho :D

Pics.......

of erika and levi ... we moved the tent and with my help... we made it just like home... :D

complete with solar lights to guide them in the dark....







i tried to get Sian over, but she was busy with Auntie.... they were gathering things for the fire.... then she came and got marshmallows for roasting... wasn't a hit... she'd rather eat them 'raw' just like her food...




Spring equinox today.... it was filled with lots of blooms... at least on the island... back east.. nada... brrrrrrrrrrrr for them... for awhile longer...

my new furnace is almost installed... yay... it works, tomorrow or tuesday will be finished... as per usual there is Murphy's Law....

Levi offered to do the dishes tonight...

Prize winning cheeses......

mmmmm yummy i'll bet... unfortunately i can only dream of them... saw this news article this morning... when i read it, i thought of Rob and Xep making cheeses on their farm... perhaps Yachatian Cheese could be world renown :D.....

the 'campers' are getting wet and cold.... they'll have to do some cleaning and drying out today... then back to camping... not so bad i guess... but another frosty morning... better them than me i say!!! 10 yrs ago i did a lot of camping... loved it...

last night we had a weinie roast.. mmm it's amazing how something burnt and tastless can suddenly taste yummy in the glow of an open fire... Greg had to do the fire honours, the kids just couldn't quite get it going... finally after some expert help and some dry wood/kindling we had a roaring fire going... felt good to stand near it and watch Chewy chase the tiny floating embers....

Spagetti sauce....

was made with my canned tomatoes... reminded me of gardening for this year...more tomatoes needed!! and hopefully it'll be a better year than last year... warm would be nice....
bought new dishes today... corelle... boring but functional and not easily chipped or broken.... and best of all.. light to lift.... rearranged some cooking stuff too... and did i mention.. cleaned behind the fridge.... been awhile.... the dust bunnies were thick and fuzzy....
i seem to have some unwanted visitors.. of the many legged variety... ants...... ack... did the teatree oil trick and they've slowed down... tomorrow out will come borax... hopefully they'll get the message.... they are amazing critters... but not in my house....
got my furniture put together... grumble grumble rant rant... the air was blue for awhile ..... why give directions if they are missing things... like labelling the parts on the page, but not the actual part... thats my rant for the day.... one piece is in the bathroom, the other in 'dining'/puter room...
am wishing it would warm up, can't wait for a warm sunny day, out in the garden....

my new furnace is coming..... on thursday.... mmm can hardly wait... i can wait for the 3,000$ it's gonna cost me... but i'll feel better about having a new one.... really wish i could afford alternative heating...

Camping......

again tonight... i can hear squeals of 'delight', who knows... since Levi is home and the girls are spending another night in the tent... the adventures have been quite fun to watch... i 'wasn't allowed to show their faces... no makeup ya know!! but nobody said anything about legs, backs etc., :D

camping without some sort of padding.. isn't quite what they had in mind.... so an air mattress from auntie...
sian, erika and crystal ... and of course the foremen (dora and sampson)...

i got some of my raised bed organized today... still too cold to plant yet... but i dug up my parsnips from last year... and made a stew for dinner.. yum yum.... yesterday my friend dug up her carrots from last year... and we had fresh brussel sprouts and carrots...

Flickr....

is a great site... for those who are honest... not so great if your one of the photographers who's works are being stolen and used for someone else's profits.... here's a link to a forum in Flickr... if you know someone who posts their pics on Flickr you might want to pass this on to them....

Pics i've promised.....

are here... its the remainder of my trip north.... just a few pics of the ferry trip over to the island....

the ferry terminal... to nanaimo

the ice cream stand... wierd lids i think!!

it takes awhile to upload the pics.... so i'll add some more later... today is a decent day, gotta go prepare the pea, spinach and swiss chard beds.... they are a disaster.... the snow played havoc with them....

Sunday morning.......

i made an omelet for the girls.... erika and her friend crystal slept overnight... in a tent... BRRRRR!!!! better them than me!!



it probably wasjust above freezing last night.... should have sent a dog or two in with them....
mmm i was nice and toasty warm in the house :D

Safari.......

just incase you happen to be going on a Sub-Saharan African Bush safari in Africa... i found this interesting and humorous article....

Yappy dogs....

sometimes make my ears hurt.... like this morning... dora wants to play, sampson doesn't... yap yap yap... with plugged ears, everything is echoing... the rain is coming down in buckets....welcome to friday morning....
am waiting for the HVAC dude to show up, fix my furnace... yes... again!! and order me a new one.. OUCH there goes a couple of grand...
things have quieted down to a dull roar..err yap that is... i've organized a few things, so there is a bit more room for us all....
i finally uploaded some pics... unfortunately i don't have them all... we took some good pics on peg's camera and she's off in colorado atm... sooooo i think they'll be a bit delayed....
a funky rock, which i'd have taken home, except i couldn't lift it... it was round like you can see and was hollow in the centre, not sure where it was from, but would have been a very cool piece in my garden... hopefully someone will grab it because it soon will be buried under the new road (by Eddyville)



my trip north was pretty uneventful except for the few jerks on the road... going through portland and seattle was literally a breeze .... remind me to go on saturday or sunday next time too..... must have been a sale at Freddies or something cause there sure wasn't a whole lot of traffic on the I 5 YAYYY is all i gotta say about that!!!
a cute church near Nooksack Washington...
we arrived at Maple Falls Washington without too much getting lost... had a great map and directions... took a couple of pics along the way... a few doggy stops... and arrived there before dark... there i was greeted by my very dear friends Rob and Peggy .... sampson and dora immediately checked out their house and yard and approved of the new digs....


the girls :D


tina, me and chuck


the infamous 'RED DRESS' .......



the next day we took the dogs to see.... SNOW!!!! i know that dora had never seen it, and doubt that sampson had either.... we had to drive up the mountain to Mt. Baker, to find some... but found a fun patch for them.... i have no idea what was in that hole... but must have been interesting....

got more pics.. but gotta go feed the peacocks and pheasants... stay tuned!

Arrival.........

this afternoon... an update later... just letting everyone know we're at the farm.... some stories to tell laters....

Red in the morning....

sailor's warning, red at night, sailor's delight......

the sky is giving warning of a storm on it's way... but it's supposed to be just passing through and not much trouble... at least for driving....
my last day here... just a bit left to pack and then the mass clean... well maybe a minor clean?

another early morning for me... i'm a bird i swear!! don't think i know what it's like to sleep in... perhaps an afternoon nap will be in order....

been watching some old t.v. shows... and loving it...
Hawaii 5 - 0 mmm book em Dano, and McGiver, an all time favorite... both with CBS...

found a new fun news site... Buzzle.com .... want to know of Moth man and Ufos or perhaps some history or science... nothing too in depth, but pretty fun .....

My time in Oregon...

has almost come to an end... for this winter.... so i've gotten most of my stuff packed... the dogs are getting worried and keep watching the packing.... and not leaving my side for long....

soon they'll be back on the farm, and loving it i'm sure... a bit of freedom, not always on a leash when they go outside... there are perks for both places... it's been good tho, they've learned to walk together, know that when i say 'wrong side' that they have to untangle themselves from me, or a post or tree... they sit well, and get along great... sampson is learning to ignore the seagulls, and i'm hoping that he'll get that birds are NOT for chasing....

i got a couple of pics today....

one is Bonnie Jean's friend... Thomas...

he's a pretty cute fellow.... a mr. fuzzbucket

and Pat's lovely Daffodils....

Pat was making Rice Pudding and Custard... mmmm what timing!!!
and mmmmmmmmmmmm it was delicious!!!

Another Rainbow Bridge....

for Molly the cat... I'd never met Molly, but Molly was another friend's cat... she passed yesterday too... Max's mommy and Molly's dad both work together... sometimes a strange world isn't it....

The Purry Gates

It seems that I've reached Heaven,

or it's doorstep at any rate,

and been winding round St. Peter's ankles

by the Pearly Gates,

I've plucked the angels' harp strings

and made a merry sound,

But it's plucking at my heartstrings

that you are not around.
So I think I'll sit and wait here,

just outside the door,

And as the souls come floating in,

I'll tap them with my paw,

And when you seek admittance,

they'll rename this place -

It will become Purradise,

and these the Purry Gates!

Author Unknown

Rainbow Bridge....

for Max the dog.. who was Diane's trusty sidekick for years... safe journey my friend...

DON'T CRY FOR ME WHEN I'M GONE

Three score and ten are given to man,

But ours is a much briefer span.

So, though I give you all my heart,

The time will come when we must part.

But all around you, you will see,

Creatures that speak to you of me;

A tired horse, a hunted thing,

A sparrow with a broken wing ...

Pity - and help (I know you will)

And somehow, I will be with you still;

And I shall know, although I'm gone,

The love I gave you lingers on.

--- (Author unknown) ---

The list....

is short... for packing... arrange the car so all bought goodies and a value list are out and open, everything else tidy.. muzzles (in case we get searched) and leashes for impromptu stops.... dog biscuits just because... and dates for me... and WATER... a pillow and blanket ready for resting... and we're good to go... now i just have to make my mind want to go... the time is nearing... spring is here, gardens are waiting... i'm getting the car ready today because our beautiful weather is slated to end soon... rain is coming once again.... so figured a nice sunny day is a good day.... will get almost everything organized and ready to pop in the car...... sigh... it always makes me sad to leave.. i love my friends here, they are like family.. thats the beauty of a small community...
i'll be heading north to visit my 'family' who live at the base of Mt. Baker... they live in a cottage, at the end of a lane... its secluded and beautiful too... a good transition for dogs and me...

Tree tuesday....

well not quite 'tree' but plant .... bamboo... i guess it's a kinda tree... the big ones anyways!!

found a link thats interesting... how they make bamboo for flooring .... Part 1 and Part 2 which may make you think twice about using it... there are pros and cons to everything aren't there ....

i was looking around at other blogs ( you know how it goes.... find one site and wander down the internet byways) and found a few Green blogs that are interesting... Fake Plastic Fish is a great site.. lots of info on plastic and how not to have so much... ReadyMade which is a McGiver kinda mag/blog... they have contests and all sorts of things... basically it's using up and recycling 'whathaveyous' that are lurking in the corners of every household :D ... well maybe not everyones... but definately mine!! i'm a product of parents of the depression era... everything counted and almost everything was reused until it couldn't be used anymore....

am getting ready... (as i sit here on my puter :D ) to migrate back north... i heard more canada geese this morning... spring must be coming north too.... garden time... i'm hoping that i can get my grandson to participate in some building projects... i saw a project in Mother Earth, for solar heating, using soda cans.... and i think that it could well be a great way to heat my garden... normally i use Remay or garden cloth to cover my rows... and yes i'd still use it.. but sometimes its not enough to keep it warm at night.... they claim that it's only good for 2 seasons, but i've been using the same pieces for 5 yrs...

It's grey.......

wet and dreary this morning.. managed to get my early morning walk in before it really started to rain.... the puppies were so good this morning.. i'm seeing some maturity in both of them... YAY ... i love puppies but then again what dog lover doesn't.. but i don't like the chew, pee and poo part... and did i mention... 'huh?, you want me to do WHAT!!!!' part... yesterday i had a great day... my morning was typical sunny day things.. like woohoo it's sunny, lets go somewhere.. went down to the river, walked along a weird path, but hey, the puppies loved it... just got home and my friend Deb from Eugene phoned... YAY... we agreed to make a meet in Florence... so an hr later... woohoo.... hugs for us humans and pats and treats for the puppies and off we went...
we went down to the Old Town... i'd never wandered around there, so it was all new except for Rare Earth Gallery... we bought some moldavite incense and a few other things... and down the road we walked.. checked out some of the kitchen shops... but alas, none compare to Judith's Kitchen Tools, in Yachats... it might be small, but it's packed with goodies!!! a bit like the owner, who's tiny and full of energy and life....

my favorite kind of tourists!

part of Old Town Florence

under the bridge... LOL OF COURSE!!!! i do so love bridges... something about the mathematics i guess...

Chicken Diapers.......

really exist... according to My Pet Chicken ... but who knew!!! i think i have entirely too much time on my hands, when i'm reading about chicken diapers....
came across this on MEEVEE .... its Jamie Oliver ( the chef from England) and his bit about the mass 'farming' of chickens... Go Jamie Go!!!! these practices are in England, but i know its not much different here in north america... UGH... no wonder i love free range 'real' chickens... and when i return i hope to have more chicks coming.... speaking of which... i saw pics of my lovely poomba the pig... and the 'girls' in their new home... they look very happy and contented!!!

another 'happy' note.... guess what i got!!! a 'new to me' sewing machine... for a whole $15.00 everything included... sighhhh except for the bobbin!! so i've not yet tried it out... but i did plug it in... runs like a dream!!! i got to meet the lady who owned it, and it had just been to the 'machine doctor' before she put it in the garage sale...

Frozen Fritz.....

wears the oldest 'found' tattoos.... he's other wise known as Otzi the Iceman, a man from about 3300 BC, found in 1991 in a glacier of the Otztal Alps near the border between Austria and Italy.... i wish i could find out what they looked like... 57 of them, most on various acupuncture points....

Prince Charles ...........

did an interview... on the returning of Prince Harry.... how sad that one's life is so arranged by everyone else that you can't do the very things that you love..... the interview is more Prince Charles being a dad, and not a Prince.......

more in the news...

here's a video on a gene that may block HIV

Raining germs?.... in the Caribbean there is an old wives tale... "don't go out in the rain, you'll get sick" .... perhaps they weren't too far wrong.....

Polyester shortage?.... who knew!!!

The sky..........

is a beautiful shade of PINK...... it's the sunset... but not looking out to sea, just looking up the mountain... the almost end to a perfect day.... my friend came over for early morning coffee and we wandered over to the landmark for breakfast... sometimes the food isn't the greatest, but the view always is.... during our breakfast a short squall moved in... wind and rain beating against the windows... coffee in hand.. mmmmm
got home and another friend phoned... she's homesick.. i'm homesick for her... perhaps one day they shall move back, i hope so... i miss them dearly
took the dogs for the daily spin... we went to the north side of the Waldport bridge... this time i took my camera..... some signs of spring.....pussywillows are just peeking out of their coats... i love to see them just before they pop off their wee jackets and expose their furryness to the world


saw a boat come down river.. so did the seagulls... flying beside them... perhaps hoping for a fishy snack....



watched some guy pulling his boat onto the sand bar, which was in the middle of the river... not sure what he was looking for... but i must admit, i did feel a pang of jealousy.. my love for the water is deep... but i also would rather be on land, looking out....