Fall Haze

At the last full moon, at the end of September, I took Dale up to the top of a hill where he'd never been before. On a clear day, there is a great view of Post Falls, the surrounding farm land, and the Spokane River rimmed by mountains.

Smokey Evening, Full Moon

 But that week, the entire valley had been very smokey from the fires burning in central Washington. The view from the top was not so far-reaching ... but beautiful in its own way.


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Recipe

One plant

Window

Open blinds

Add light

 
Autumn Morning

Changing Light

I looked out the window to the back yard. 

The sun, setting in the west, 

 was reflecting on the leaves of Ashley the ash tree. 

 
The Sun Sets on Ashley

Jeanne, my 27 year old daughter, planted this tree
when she was in elementary school.

Ashley struggles to get enough sunlight 

amid the tall pines and the maple that surround her.

But this evening, she is the star.

Her changing colors caught the sunlight

and her beauty shone.

Jeannie, this one's for you!

Bread Experiment

Know what this is? 

An experiment in "baking" bread.

Or, in this case, rolls made from frozen dough.

I learned from the LifeHacker website

that it's possible to cook bread dough in a crock pot.

So I tried.

I had some rather old dinner roll dough in my freezer. 

So old that I wasn't sure it would rise.

[It barely did]

But it was enough to try in our small crock pot.

I had it in the crock pot on the high setting for a bit over an hour. Too long ... but I got distracted and forgot about it until I could smell it.

Yum.

I wanted the top browner, so instead of putting it under the broiler as suggested, I just flipped the rolls over and let them brown in the crock pot.

They tasted pretty good! Fun little experiment.

I'll probably try a full loaf in my big crock pot later.

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Anomaly

Can you see this?

I have a single very odd

wonky long eyelash.

Weird, huh?

( And no shame about pointing it out. :: giggle :: )

 

 

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Lingering Blooms

The geranium on our front porch is in bloom.

Vivid Geranium

We won't see many more of these flowers this season.

The nights are fairly crispy cold now.

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Approaching Storm

September 10, 8am

Flat pearl sky hovers over the deck
Low breezes rustle ivy, rattle mini blinds
High winds sway pine tips above East Hill
The pitch of a passing street sweeper & heavy gusts conjoin,
          a muted rumble chasing through woods
Chin raised, I detect the aroma of tomatoes
          ripening in their pots
While thick air swirls, raising goose bumps
I don my fleece sweater
          and taste the approaching storm

Garden, Fall

Changing Seasons

Fall is in the morning air.

Harvest is near in north Idaho.

 
Granny Smith Time of Year

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!

[click image for larger view]

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.

[click for larger image]

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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.

[click to view larger image]

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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

[click photo for larger image]

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