Summer

I am sitting here, very HOT!  and I do not care.  Feels so good.  Normally, I like a very climate mild weather, but because the last two springs have been so rainy and cool, our brief summers lately are even more precious. 

This afternoon, I got the chicken coop cleaned out, made stir fry for dinner, and relaxed.  But every one's car seems to not be behaving.  Bailey came home from work with her car over heating.  Rett called and needed to be rescued because he ran out of gas, and while LL was getting a part for Bailey's car, O., Max's staff tried to leave and her car would not start.  (LL thinks her starter went out).  All within an hour.  CRAZY. 

Still I puttered around and took a few pictures in our backyard.  Our ever bearing raspberries are ripening, the bees are working on the flowers, the chickens are lounging in the heat, and all is well at the Miller home:)

Rocketing towards Summer!

It is suppose to be 73 degrees here today, 77 degrees tomorrow.  Oh I hope, I hope.  Every morning, before LL goes to work, he asks me "what's your plan for today?"  I usually answer it vaguely, because frankly, I am always at the mercy of my "digestion". the weather, Max, and right now my cold.  But today I answered, "well don't expect anything done inside today because what ever energy I have, I am using on the yard and garden".  So today I want to get some garden plants in.  I haven't figured out what to do to keep free ranging hens from eating my plants.  I think I need chicken wire and fence the area off.  But I always put salad veggies potted on the balcony, and that I can do today.

My rocket rhodies are in full bloom right now.  A couple more weeks they will be withered and gone.  My lilacs won't be around much longer so I am going to cut lots and lots of bouquets and put them around the house.  It is starting to feel like the entry season for summer.  Bye Bye aching joints, winter depression, and fire place lit.  Hello sunscreen, sundresses and salads for dinner.  I love late spring and summer.  Can you tell:)

It's Still Winter!

The weather men were predicting 4 inches today.  Don't think that is likely to happen, but it is suppose to snow off and on all day so we will see.  LL is home sick today, so I have company. 

Right now the roads are fine so I think Bailey will be driving to Woodburn for work without a problem.

Oh good, the snow is starting up again.  My sister Kris and I are like kids when it comes to snow.  When snow is predicted, neither one of us gets much sleep because we're checking out the window all night long.

It is rare for Silverton to get snow this late in the winter.  It is nice to be home during this time, and I am glad the roads are fine for those who can not stay home.  It is suppose to get colder later today so things might change.

So today I am planning on a bit of cleaning, and eating rice:(  Maybe since LL is home, we will watch a good movie.  Wish I could drink cocoa, but alas, my elimination diet.

Flinging with Spring

The yearning for spring is a yearly ailment of mine.  I have not been quiet on this blog about my winter woes.  I must say, February, although still winter, holds so much hope for what is to come.  I love spring and summer and watch for signs like a mother watches out the window for a long lost child.  I must say the day held much hope for the days to come.

My girls have their new feathers on and Harriet here is already providing her daily egg for me.  She is always so considerate.

My daffodils are pushing up, despite being covered with old dead leaves that we forgot to pick up.

My tulips look to be right on time also.

A couple weeks ago, I scoped out a shot I wanted to capture on the next clear day.  So on my way to mom's house, I pulled the car over, got out and did my best to get Mt. Hood and the farm in one shot. 

I noticed a break in the fence.  Lucky me, so I schlepped through the ditch and mud.

The hill behind the farm is the Abbey hill, the Monastery where I like to go and take pictures.

I did a bit a grocery shopping before going to Mom's.  Kris was there and we had lunch with mom.  That pretty much ended my day.:(  "Issues" you know.  But later I did get my cookies baked.

Bailey wants to help frost them.  Then I hope to wrap them up and give them to neighbors.  That is if we don't eat them first.

Nusom Road

While out taking pictures of the flood waters, LL and I decided to take a look at the road that literally broke up the week before. 

This is Nusom road in North Howell, the farming community I grew up in.  My brother now lives where I grew up. 

This is the road I would normally take to get to his house.

I think it will be awhile before they have this road fixed.

Today, I have my work cut out for me.  Don't know what happened to my home.  It looks like a flood or tornado hit inside my house.

Hazel Green

                                        I went out yesterday afternoon to take a few flood pictures.  The waters in our area had already crest and were receding.  Some areas were not as bad as I had seen it in past years, others were worse.
                                             

A good measure is always Hazelgreen road by Malorie's Dairy. 

There were several roads washed out in our area

Many people were out taking pictures of this area.  This is the road I usually take going to Target in Salem.  Growing up, this area was flooded often, but with tiling in recent years, it is a less often occurrence.

I have a few more pictures to post in a little bit. 

Blue Sky

What a beautiful sky we had yesterday afternoon. 

There is something distinct about a winter blue in the sky.  Especially right before the sun goes down.

Before I went into the house, I needed to find the girls.  Finally I found them underneath the grape arbor.

The ladies stayed out later than usual.

As the sun started to sit, I got this one last picture as I was going in the house.

I did not watch the football game with everyone last night.  "Issues":(  I had problems all evening, most the night and most this morning.  I am doing a bit better now and just got back taking Beau to the park.  I will post those Pix tomorrow.

Toto, We're Not In Kansas

What a weird day yesterday was.  First I want to show you a couple pictures I took a couple days ago.

This house is not the Griswold's house.  It is four doors down, not two.  I love how they decorate during the holidays, and at night, this house is beautiful.  They also do a wonderful job with flowers in the spring and summer.

Here is a day time shot of our town square Christmas tree.  Just down the road from my house.

I started my day yesterday, by gathering my supplies, and going to my Mom's house to make fudge.  I forgot my "baby", but had my point and shoot camera so took a few shots.

We made three batches of fudge.  I took a picture of my mom, but the disgusted look on her face made me think I better not post it.  Gee, she is a beautiful woman who should have lots of pictures taken of her.  But she gets a little mad so no picture of her today. 

I got home around 11:30 and started having "issues".  So while busy with the issues, my home phone rang.  Didn't answer.  My cell phone rang.  Didn't answer.  My home phone rang again.  Again, I was a little busy, but knew something was up.  So as soon as I could, I called my husband who was trying to get hold of me.  He said Aumsville, just south of Silverton had a tornado and he wanted me to go to the basement if the weather started to look strange.  Tornado?  We don't get tornadoes in Oregon.  OK we do, but since the 1800's only 98 recorded tornadoes, and all but three were EF-0 or EF-1 with little damage.  Good news is that the tornado was done before the storm hit Silverton.  Bad new is, my cousin's business was hit the hardest in Aumsville and the building was pretty much destroyed.  No one was seriously hurt.  Thank you God.  Still, the town and farms were hit by a EF-2 tornado, with many businesses and homes damaged.  Here is a sight to check out.  The Nichol Plumbing is my cousin's business. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40664381/ns/weather/

Who Knew?!

Cancel out my last post.  Little except for the laundry will get done.  Why?  Because I am Evelyn's daughter!!  I had no clue that today would be the most beautiful November day I can remember. 

It is warm!!

It is sunny!!!

And things I can do.

And I am not going to waste the day on inside chores. (my mom understands)

I have much I want to do, but first priority is always on live things.  In this case, My Ladies.

So I go looking for the Wheal barrow.  For those that don't know my place, it might sound easy.  But we have 3 lots on our place, and where LL has left it could be any one's guess.

HERE IT IS!!!!  At Max's House. 

Filled it up.  Why?.........Because the chicken coop is muddy and the girls love the bugs in the leaves.

Don't look at the Halloween pumpkin.  Thought the girls would like it.  But they are not impressed

Dumped the leaves and boy are they Happy.  "It's Christmas, It's Christmas"  I imagine them saying.

I know!  But you try living in my mind:)

They are so much better house keepers than I am.  In no time, they had the leaves spread out and went to town on eating the bugs.  So love the little ladies:)

                                      Yesterday, shortly after I published my post, the weather cleared and it was a gorgeous day.  Max stayed in bed most the day, Kane stopped by to pick up our van.  He is performing in the Seattle area over the weekend.
                                       

While taking pictures of the beautiful sky yesterday, I decided to take some of my ladies.  I haven't posted pictures lately of them.

So I go hunting for them.  Yes, they are all three behind this Rhodie somewhere.  Maybe if I get lower, you might be able to see them.

Well you can see a little bit of Henrietta.  I guess I am going to have to force them out in the open.

Hannah and Harriet.  Harriet's feathers always look, well.........ruffled.  Probably because she works twice as hard as the other two, rarely misses giving me an egg.  Well she is slowing down a bit right now.

This is Henrietta, my favorite.  She gets picked on all the time by the other two.  Sometimes they keep her from eating.  They are just jealous.  She's a beauty isn't she.  Still need to get her some self-esteem.

LL did get home safely late afternoon.  We talked about the trip a little.  He mentioned one town he was in, while in restaurants and stores it is common to hear the N. word and other things that would not fly here in the Willamette Valley.  I said, "well, sound like a place I don't want to live."  All he said was "Nope".  I was back to cooking.  We had meatloaf, potatoes, acorn squash and salad.  A good Fall meal.

He brought home a necklace for his Lolly.  That's Bailey to everyone else.  He brought me these beautiful earrings that are titled Oregon Rain.  I love them.

LL was very tired so we went to bed really early.  So early, we probably ran into ourselves yesterday.  ????? OK, that made no sense but it was fun to write all the same:)

The Chill in the Air

                            Our days have been cool, crisp and clear lately.  Although this morning it is rainy and warmer.  We haven't turned on the furnace yet.  Just using our more efficient gas fireplace to take the chill out of the house in the mornings.

                                           

I am usually up way before sun rise.  Dawn is my favorite time of day.  There is always so much promise at the beginning of the day.  Although I have not had him around this week.  This early morning time is also what we call Coffee Time.  When I have had a particularly bad night, LL would let me sleep in.  I have told him to wake me up because my whole day does not feel right unless we have that quiet 1/2 hour together in the mornings.

With the weather changing, my ladies are starting to molt.  Egg production is sketchy.  Some days 1 egg, some days like yesterday, two.  Many days I get no eggs, but a couple days last week I got 4.  Harriet worked overtime for me, bless her itty bitty chicken heart.  I am hoping to get another year of egg production from my three girls.  Or else chicken stew they will become.  Oh right, can you imagine me ringing one of my girls neck, plucking them and putting them in the pot.  Not likely.  I will take them back to my enabler where I am sure they will live a long natural life with their sisters.  That's my story and I am sticking to it!

Yesterday, Mom was getting Internet fast speed.  It didn't happen.  Her computer is too old.  So Aunt Linda, you will be happy to know that this morning Karen and I are taking her to Salem to buy a new lap top.  Well I am not totally sure I will be making it.  Not my "digestion" this time.  Max came home very late from work last night not feeling well.  He slept at my house and I will have to see how he is feeling.  But Mom will get her computer all the same:)

Don't know what the plan is this weekend.  Probably get stuff done around here, because next weekend we will be at the beach in Marlin.  Hip Hip Hurray!!!

Added Later-Mom and Karen will have to pick out the computer without me.  Max really does not feel well and I will probably give his staff the day off.  Karen was disappointed cuz she thinks I know more about laptops.  I don't and she will do fine.  Really Karen, You will:)

There's No Place Like Home

I make no secret about it.  I love my home town.  Silverton is the kind of town where anyone of any faith, political, color, etc. will be accepted and can call it home. 

I also love the fall season.  Last year while going through chemo, I did not feel up to long walks, but I remember one particular Sunday, LL was out of town, and Kane along with Max and Bailey took me for a long car ride in search of fall foliage and barns for me to take pictures of.  I also love old barns.  So yesterday I decided to walk to the library with camera in hand, hoping to find beautiful signs of fall.

Silverton is known for the many beautiful houses.  Victorian, Colonial, Cape Cod, but I think the real gems are the many Craftsman houses that are maintained perfectly.  The air feels crisp.  It "feels like fall, but not seeing a huge change in the trees.

I love this house.  It should have a troll living in it.  Or Snow White.  I think Thomas Kincade should paint it. 

Going through the park, I am sure to see golds, browns and reds in the trees.  Nope.

Silver Creek's green foliage is changing.  But only slightly.

So I cross the bridge and know I am almost to the library.

Here is the path to the back of the library.  Lots of green here too.

I know!  It's early.  In three or four weeks I will see plenty of fall colors.  But I am an impatient girl.

I find a couple good books and a DVD to check out and start back for home.

Nope, no real changes when looking at my own house.  So I climb up the driveway and what do I see right by my own front door?

My hydrangea is changing from blue to the beautiful rose and mauve color it becomes in the fall.

See, there really is "no place like home".