Apple of My Eye

Jodie LOVES pie.

True. True.

I taught her to make this family favorite in January, 2009. It's a  Dutch Apple Pie baked in a parchment paper envelope.

 
Dutch Apple Pie

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


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Pic from the Past

In scanning through some photos from a trip I took to Connecticut in 2008, I found this gem that I've never published. I don't know the name of this flower. Can anyone help me out?

 
Pop o' Color

I just love the orange and the pink together. If nature can do it, why can't I!

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Boise Isn't All Bad ...

Sunset Over Boise, Idaho

I took this photo in March 2011
I was on a solo trip to Denver, CO to visit my oldest daughter.

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At the Farmer's Market

When Dale and I visited Jodie in Corvallis, OR last May, we went to a Farmer's Market down by the Willamette River. It was a feast for the eyes. I especially loved this display of fresh carrots among the leafys and the greens.

Cascade of Carrots

Just Out of Bud

Again, from a neighbor's yard last Spring.

The magnolia tree was full of buds.

A few just started to open.

 
Steely Magnolia

It's all form and shape and texture and shadow.

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Botanical Walk

My neighbors have the most beautifully kept yards and the greenest thumbs. I captured this photo last month on a stroll through the neighborhood.

Pink Hydrangea

I Love This Man

But don't tell him.

I'd hate for him to get a swelled head.

Dale Davaz
The Best Man I Know

She's Back ...

After having my new DSLR camera for over a year and a half, I finally found the courage to take it out for a spin today. I only used automatic settings, and even then I had trouble figuring out how to take pictures. But I did manage to get a few. Here's my first.

Red Bug

I'm pretty proud of myself.


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Snapshot of My Day

Outside my window...
The soft end of a summer’s day

Bees suspended in the trap’s liquid

I am thankful for...
Black cohosh

Reduced hot flashes!

From the kitchen...

The aroma of meat balls

Simmering in spaghetti sauce

I am wondering...
If the neighbor boys will tire of their pogo stick

Before I go insane this summer with the constant bounce

I am wearing...

My soft fuzzy pink robe

My wedding band

I am creating...
A peaceful home

A pretty yard – weeding done today

 I am reading...
Always Room for One More

 a children’s picture book

The Wisdom ofMenopause

 a great reference guide

A Single Thread

a novel set in a New England quilt shop

   

I am hoping...
My daughters and I get along with each other

When they’re visiting next week

I am hearing...

Pogo stick bouncing, pogo stick bouncing
Pogo stick bouncing, pogo stick bouncing

Around the house...
An air of peace

Dale’s calm mojo permeates

One of my favorite things...
Geocaching! Love the treasure hunt

I can’t seem to get enough of it lately

A few plans for the rest of the week...
Set up the air mattresses for my daughters

Clean out a flower bed and get the soil ready for new plants

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Sunday Secrets: June 24, 2012

This particular secret hits very close to home.

 Sometimes my stitching is

 the only thing that helps me stay centered.

PostSecret is an ongoing community art project where people mail in their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade postcard. I find it to be an insightful sociological experiment.

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At the Farmer's Market

My sweet husband and I took a vacation in Corvallis, Oregon last month where we visited with our college student daughter, Jodie. (Go, Beavers!) On Saturday morning she took us down by the Willamette River to the local Farmer's Market.

Among other delights for the eyes and taste buds, we saw oodles of fresh flowers. I liked these.

 
Bucket o' Buds

I'm not much of a gardener or plant identifier. Are these peonies? I just love the color combination of the clustered buds, ready to burst into bloom.




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Bouquet

Tulips

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Going through some old photos ...

Boardwalk - Lake Coeur d'Alene

This photo, all shades of blues and browns, was taken on an April day in 2009 when Jodie and I decided to take a walk on the boardwalk at the Coeur d'Alene Resort on the shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene.

You can tell it's early spring because the boardwalk hasn't yet been cleaned up to welcome the summer tourists. Winter's murk lingers at the edges. There's still snow in those southern mountains, and the lake has the steely color of the chill melt.

It looks fairly calm here, but by the time Jodie and I rounded that far bend, the boardwalk was riding slow rolling waves as the wind nudged the lake awake.

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Spring Runoff at Post Falls

The Spokane River is running high right now, as the snow melts in the mountains. The floodgates at the dam are open and Post Falls is roaring through the canyon. Julie and I made our annual pilgrimage to feel the roar.

The Mighty Roar

 Post Falls are L-shaped, and dammed by the local electric company for power. It's a bit tricky to get pictures of the entire falls when standing on land.

Top of the Falls

 If you were to go over Post Falls in a barrel, this is the view you'd have right before you fell off the cliff! That barrel idea? Not recommended!

Roiling Water

 As the river tumbles over the cliff and into the rocks, it churns and crashes and growls with incredible force.

Mist Rising

When the Falls meet the bottom of the canyon, the mist rises in the wind, washing the southern wall and watering the trees on the bluff.

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Night at the Needle

 We thoroughly enjoyed our evening at the Space Needle. Here's a photo Dale took of me and the downtown lights of Seattle.

Overlooking the Seattle Skyline

And another of the Space Needle, lit up from below. There's no retouching on this photo ... straight from the camera.

Reaching for the Stars

 

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Seattle Vacation

Last week Dale and I were on a vacation. We spent some time in Seattle, hanging out with Dale's brother and nephew, the Washington state governor, a senator, a congressman, Dave Matthews, and the leader of the free world!

So, OK. We didn't get to rub elbows or shake hands with the political elite. We were in the nosebleed seats. But we still had a great time at the political rally. Dale and his brother hooted until they became hoarse. We're now starting to gear up for the Fall elections.

It was also fun to spend some time playing tourist at Seattle's hot spots. This was the view from our hotel room.

Space Needle

We went up to the observation deck of the Space Needle late in the day. We watched the sun set over Elliot Bay to the west, and Seattle light up in every other direction. The weather was glorious during our stay and the view was spectacular!

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Standing Alone

In a bouquet of a dozen and a half tulips

dressed in yellow and orange

stands one adorned in purple

Lone Beauty

stunning in the evening light.

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Lake Critter

Walking along "The World's Longest Floating Boardwalk" 

on Lake Coeur d'Alene, I spied a ...

Bug on the Boardwalk

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Aging

Now and again I go to the beach

where Lake Coeur d'Alene dumps

into the Spokane River

Knot at the Beach

to sit at a weathered picnic table

and ponder

the big picture and 

small details

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Tender Mushrooms

Sometimes it's good to get down in the grass

on my belly.

Striped Heads, Freckled Bodies

I never know what details I'll find.

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