Happy Day to All!!

This pumpkin took some planning...it grew with LilliAnne's name on it and just in time for Halloween!!

Tea Time

One of my good friends gave me this cup. It is a cup that feels good to hold and drink from. The message on the cup helps to remind me to "Stop Volunteering for stuff!" Got it!! :)

Now, time to share something new (to me)! Hot Chai tea, hot hazelnut milk, a little sugar and MMMMM it's good!! If you don't like Chai try a cup of Chocolate tea instead.

Delicious!

Chai Tea and Chocolate tea are from Tea Time Garden and available to order on-line at http://www.teatimegarden.com/

Have another good weekend and add a little comfort!

You are my sunshine!

Sometimes a photo catches the rays of the day and this one does that for me!!

LilliAnne, You Are My Sunshine!!

(sent to me via the cell phone)I don't think she could smile any bigger!!

Meet Blue!

Our dear black lab of fifteen years, Nicky, passed away over a year ago. We had not talked seriously about getting another dog..that is, until last week. We began to look for a dog by visiting the county dog pound and that's where we found our new dog!

Meet Blue!

The blue sheen on his coat was providential to his name!! This picture was taken after we named him! He is about one year old, very smart and looks like a purebred lab. He is absolutely beautiful and we already love him very much. It has taken two days for him to get settled in to our home and get to know his new friends, the goats, chickens and kittys. Bart and Simon are not too sure about this arrival! Bart was terrified, promptly climbed the nearest tree and Jim had to retrieve him using a tall ladder. (See Bart way up in the tree)! I use any excuse to take a picture....Ha!! Ladder up the tree!
Blue has been kenneled and is quite well adjusted to it. We decided to put one on the front porch..to use when we are gone, and keep him safe as he becomes comfortable with his new home! While we are home he is a free dog and already we can see he is so happy to have come to live with us! We don't think it will take long for Blue to know he is home!!
Did I say he was very smart? He is!!
Labradors love to play fetch and Blue is no exception!! He also loves the water...evidence being, we found him in our water fountain slapping the water and making a huge mess!!
The first of many to come!!

Jim and I are so happy to share our lives with Blue! We have plans to take him to the Oregon Coast next weekend and give him the experience of running on the beach!! His ears will be flying, there will be a huge smile on his face, and on ours!!

In and around the Portland, Oregon area are some gardens that are beautiful, secluded, not well known and open to the public. Bishops Close is just that sort of place. Years ago a friend took me to these gardens, on a Spring afternoon, to view the many varieties of Magnolia trees that grow here. To my surprise I was introduced to a garden of such beauty that I could hardly believe it! It is a place of worship and was built to be just that. Here you can walk the many well tended paths that cover the estate and enjoy breathtaking views around every corner. I especially appreciate that I can come here, free of charge, and know it is well cared for any day of the year! Bishops Close is always ready for visitors! As you will read below this garden was planned by none other than the best!! Have you ever visited Central Park in New York City?

"The Elk Rock Gardens of the Bishop's Close is the name that was given to the Peter Kerr estate when it was given to the Diocese of Oregon in 1959. Located in the Dunthorpe area about two miles north of Lake Oswego, the estate consists of thirteen acres on a high bluff on the western bank of the Willamette River. The property includes approximately six acres of cultivated English-style gardens that were designed by the New York firm of Olmstead and Son who also designed Central Park in New York City and Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon. They are widely known for their many varieties of magnolias as well as for outstanding examples of many other native and exotic plants."

View of the Kerr Mansion roof top from the parking lot.

Front door to Bishops Close and the Kerr MansionEntrance to the gardens with the sun streaming down. Turning a corner the lawn opens up to see the side yard of Bishop's Close.

Bridge over the creek. View from the cliff overlooking the Willamette River.

Another view of the river.

Back lawn of the mansion

Another angle to the back lawn.

Magnolia tree growing up the one side of the mansion. This is one of the best gardens Portland has to offer. I have never been here when it was crowded and have found it to be a place that is highly respected!
Have a wonderful weekend and do get out to see the many colors of Autumn!!

Bishops Close is located at:
11800 S.W. Military Lane

Portland, Oregon

Off Hwy 43 and two miles north of Lake Oswego

In My Sky At Twilight

One sentence of the poem interpreted by Pablo Neruda from the writing of Rabindranath Takhur

"In my sky at twilight you are like a cloud and your form and colour are the way I love them".

Twilight is the time before sunrise, called dawn and the time after sunset, called dusk. Sunlight is scattered in the upper atmosphere illuminates the lower atmosphere, and the surface of the Earth is not completely lit or completely dark. The sun itself is not actually visible because it has not yet come over the horizon or it has passed below the horizon. Wikipedia

Out and about.....this week and today!

Early last week, while driving through Oregon City, I saw this maple tree. The tree sits in front of an older home that is being remodeled, and whoever lives in the house has the prettiest tree in town!! It is the only tree of it's kind that can be seen along the hillside. It doesn't look as if it has been trimmed for years and the trunk has many fingers coming from it's base. The colors are bright and unusual! It's not really orange but more of a coral pink! The picture does not capture its grandeur or color perfectly, but at least you get the idea.
Many of the newer developments in Clackamas County have done a great job at planting trees that display color as each season unfolds! These trees are near the mall and I was able to snap a shot on the drive-by today!! Coming home always settles our senses as we see the trees that grow naturally on our farm. We didn't even have to plant them. These trees are less showy but still remain stunning to us! Below is a vine maple which grow in and through our woods everywhere. They are just now starting to turn gold and red. Two years ago we planted these perennial anemones. They bloom in fall and early winter.
Just a few steps away from the flowers we found this little strawberry and ate it in two small bites! At the laundry door entrance a vinyette sits as another welcoming site. And finally a glimpse out at the barn where the sun is setting today, and we are reminded of why we are blessed!

A gift arrived......

This beautiful hand knit blue scarf (made from Bamboo) arrived in the mail yesterday! It is a gift for "my day" from Willow!! She is amazing with two needles and it is a gift made with love! What more can I say about such a pretty thing? I would share it but it's here with me!! :) I love, love, love it!!! Thank you!!!

Concorde Grape Pie!!

First of all...I did not make this pie...but I have been eating it for the past two days! My walking buddy made it. She has given us a grape pie every year, during this week of October, for the past three years! It has become something we talk about as the grapes ripen, and a gift that makes my mouth water just in mentioning it. If you have any inclination toward the flavor of Concorde Grape you would enjoy this amazing pie for it's deep grape flavor and it's purely sensational texture. I've included the recipe below but you will see that it's not a quick recipe to throw together. It takes time and effort! I like that I don't have to make it!

CONCORD GRAPE PIE
3 1/2 c. Concord grapes1 c. granulated sugar4 tbsp. flour1 1/2 tbsp. butter1 tbsp. lemon juice9 inch pie shell, (recipe follows)Streusel topping (recipe follows)
Wash, drain and stem grapes. Remove skins and simmer pump for 5 minutes. DO NOT add any water to pulp. While hot, press pump through a sieve (or food mill) to remove seeds. Combine strained pulp with skins. Combine sugar and flour; add to grapes. Blend in lemon juice and melted butter. Pour into pie shell and cover with streusel topping. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
PIE SHELL:
2 c. flour1 tsp. salt3/4 c. shortening5 tbsp. cold water
Mix flour and salt in bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until pea - sized chunks form. Sprinkle in water and mix until it will form a ball, DO NOT OVER MIX. Divide dough into 2 parts. Roll out thin onto floured surface or between wax paper. Press into pie plate.
Makes 2 crusts.
STREUSEL TOPPING:
3/4 c. flour1/2 c. granulate sugar1/3 c. melted butter

Part two: A coyote was spotted carrying off one of our chickens yesterday. I saw him again this morning circling around the hen house. Any tiny hole there was has been fixed and reinforced. My biggest concern right now are our two cats, Bart and Simon. I have prayed for their protection and kept them in the garage as much as they will allow me. Many times today I have gone outside, to do my own circling, and have once again set out the radio with the loudest man on radio, blaring his opinions towards the woods!! Yikes...what is happening....I can come up with the most obnoxious solutions!! This solution has worked so far! :)

Bart has just one small gesture for the coyote!

Simon is our passive boy!

That's all!! Have a good week!

Monday's discoveries!

We decided to take a walk in the woods today right after nap time. My daughter, granddaughter and myself were off to discover some gifts from the farm and woodland. It was warm enough to not wear a coat. We appreciate any day that is this warm and dry during the Fall season.

LilliAnne found a mushroom and presented it to her mommy. A spider web brushed across LilliAnne's face, and she needed reassurance that the spider had not landed on her.
Most everything we saw needed to be patted whether it be moss, mushroom, dirt or an apple.


The walk ended with a plop right down in the dry dirt and stick in hand!! Some good playing was about to begin!!
I am so thankful for these times and for being apart of an unfolding lifetime of discovery!