SOCIAL MEDIA


Oregon Outback Scenic Byway

Thursday, July 29, 2010
Church and Windmill

Outback School


Oregon Outback Scenic Byway

Pinedrops

Old buildings


More old buildings

Big Buck




Big Buck in bed


The last 3 days we took a trip to the Oregon Outback Scenic Byway. I saw new places and enjoyed the drive. We went east from La Pine to Silver Lake, and traveled many roads not usually driven, gravel, and wintertime impassable. We saw the Sand Dunes, Lost Forest, Crack in the Ground, Green Mtn Lookout, several lava beds and stopped in Fort Rock, Oregon to see the museum of old ranch buildings, a church and a school. These structures have been moved to a single site and are being restored. When the work is completed, it will be a great living history museum. They have a festival there later in August....it will be HOT...but fun to visit.

Lovely

Friday, July 23, 2010

Stand up for it.
Give what you have for it.
Believe in it.
Help it along.
Be part of it.
Protect it fiercely.
Love it with your whole soul.
WHATEVER IT IS......

Drying Herbs

Saturday, July 17, 2010
Chocolate Mint in Pot



Cuttings of Mint

Mint Leaves before drying



Mint leaves drying



Dried Mint in Jar
I found a great way to dry herbs. I have used some other methods, in a paper bag inside a very hot car for 2-3 days (it works). I have used a dehydrator ( it works also). This new method is the way I am going to dry herbs from now on. The found this method in The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest by Carol W. Costenbader, published by Storey Books.
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Drying Herbs in the Microwave
Microwave-dried herbs are labor-intensive, but the drying takes less time overall. Make sure you start with clean herbs. If necessary, rinse them until clean and pat them dry with a paper towel. Just use the leaves from the stem. Work in small batches. First, layer several thicknesses of paper towels on the microwave tray. Then spread the leaves in a single layer. Heat on high for 1 to 2 minutes, depending on your oven. Rotate if you do not have a tray that rotates. Repeat microwaving for short times 30 seconds or so, checking the dryness. Ovens vary, be careful and don't over do it. Test by removing leaves and left them cook completely to see whether they are brittle. When they are, cook the entire batch on the wire rack and store them in dark airtight containers. Check the container the next day to make certain they are moisture free. Store your herbs up to one year.
My microwave takes 2 1/2 minutes to dry the mint.
I found that basil is more delicate, and takes less time. Make sure to check every 30 seconds to see how the process is going. It is possible to set them on fire in the microwave.

Sisterhood of Quilters

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

I found this website that I want to share. It is www.sisterhoodofquilters.com I am enjoying the artwork. I am excited about the quilting cruises to Alaska!! This is a great way for me to take a vacation...anyone else interested? Mummmm, yeah, I good have a great time doing two things that I want to do, a quilting camp and a cruise to Alaska. YES, this it for me.

Wow, just got a few things at a Sale!

Saturday, July 10, 2010

I really love this photo, it just makes me exhale and relax. I feel calm and peaceful. When life isn't so nice, it is good to be able to see that I have the ability to put myself in this picture and imagine that I am right there. Ahh...
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I am not a garage sale or yard sale person. Today I made an exception to go to a local sale where the woman is moving in with her daughter, and has to get rid of most of her things. I went 2 hours late....I missed alot of great stuff....however the few things I got were really inexpensive. I don't need to do this at all. I found a few old linens, tablecloths, table napkins, and great set of really old 1930's or 40's wooden skis. The skis will be good in the lodge style living room!! The old torn Christmas tablecloth will be remade in a great apron for resale. Most of the old linens will go in my booth for resale. These things cost a grand total of $7.50. Yeah, that's my kind a junkique.

Baby Red Potatoes in Pots

Wednesday, July 7, 2010




Here are some pics from my garden. Most everyone around here is not doing well with their gardens. I am doing pretty well. I use permanent raised beds for almost everything. The potatoes in pots is a technique from England. This is the second year that I have used pots for my early spuds. The photos are mixed up with the bottom one showing the plants in the pots just before they were dumped into the wheelbarrow. The middle photo shows some spuds after dumping. The top photo is of the red potatoes, snow peas, broccoli, and a background of culinary sage. There are about 15 lbs of potatoes in the purple bucket.
I am eating a few strawberries from the garden too. Mostly I just pick and eat, right there.
The asparagus is about finished, time to let them grow into fronds for next springs harvest.
On the hay front, we hauled the LAST BALE! In a week, we will go to my sister's for a day, and assist the hay hauling there. All I have to say is she better have some other people to help!!!

Busy, Busy, HAYING 2010

Friday, July 2, 2010


It has been so busy the last several days. Cutting, raking, baling, and of course the hauling, and stacking in the barn. I don't have all the photos now, but they will be coming. It has been a good year, 700 bales in the barn...and all of it beautiful, well dried, cured, green grass hay. There were about 250 bales from last year already stacked. Hubby and I hired two teens to work for us, and is has been much better than before. Hubby also does hay for several friends, and there are still two of them to finish. It is a little bit cool and moist, and these two places are especially wet, from the locations in lower laying areas. It will be a few days until every bale is made for the year.