The Birthday Boy

Tomorrow is Jack's birthday. He will be 9!  Unbelievable.  Sometimes I look at him with his stretched out limbs and muscular little body and just marvel at how he's grown so fast, and wonder, where did all the time go?  He still indulges me (at home, not to be attempted in public) and lets me smooch all over his sweet face, will still cuddle up in my lap, and loves to have his back rubbed and his hair ruffled.  These things haven't changed, but I know they won't last forever, so I cherish them bigtime.

Jack is becoming his own man.  He is quite independent, setting his alarm for 6:10 every morning and getting up at at 'em.  What does he do at that ungodly hour (especially in summer! )?  Well, I'm not up to witness it, but he says that he plays Legos, draws, writes and reads.  He's pretty honest, and I'm pretty sure he hasn't been taking out the car to go wildin', so I believe this to be the truth.  He's real, real quiet--considerate.  He can play with those Legos for hours, building complex towns and vehicles and little Lego guys.  There's always a running dialogue of what's going on, who's doing what, that sort of thing.  His imagination is next level, and I hope it lasts and lasts.  To be able to just play like that, fully entertained for hours, what a gift!

And he's a gift to me.  Such an easy kid to be around.  He's thoughtful, fun, adventuresome, pleasant, introspective and deep.  He's a  stubborn creature of habit, starting in utero where he settled himself into a frank breech position and stayed put, regardless of what I did (breech version procedure, acupuncture, home acrobatics, etc.) Today, I'll make the usual cupcakes for his party; the same party 5 years runnin' now ("Mom, you know how I am!" --Jack's most oft-quoted words to me): yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting and a Rolo on top.  The party is at a beach park and goes like this:  I bring beach towels for tablecloths, his dad brings the hotdogs, watermelon and chips, I bring the Rolo cupcakes, kids show up and play in the water or on the playground or both, we eat lunch, we sing HB, we eat cupcakes, Jack opens presents, more playing and then go on home.  Easiest. Party. Ever.  And a kid who never expects you to change it up from year to year--and in fact, just wants the status quo.  That party is good enough (that's m'boy!).  Here's a pic from last year's fete--check the Rolo, yo:

Tonight is birthday eve dinner.  I told Jack I would cook anything or take him out anywhere he wanted to go.  He asked if I'd make chicken noodle soup.  Awwww...yes I will, little man.  So, tonight it's chicken noodle soup and cream biscuits, with strawberry shortcake for dessert.  Raised waffles, bacon and the ubiquitous strawberries for birthday breakfast tomorrow and then onward to the party for some good old-fashioned birthday fun.

Happy 9th Birthday, Dear Jackie Bug.  I'm a proud mama.

Strawberries, Shortcake and Jam, Oh My!

It hasn't been all that sunny, but guess what, the strawberries are GOOD this year!  Yesterday, we headed down to Harvold's in Carnation to pick our annual cache of lil red gems.  The weather was cool and a little misty, but we had sweatshirts and it was actually quite pleasant.  I've picked on sunny hot days before and yesterday's weather was much, much better.  Strawberry picking is sort of hard work; I mean, relative to berry picking.  You have to squat.  It is sort of slow-going, as you have to be choosy.  Cool mist beats trickles of sweat running down the backs of your legs any day.  There were a handful of people picking at Harvold's; we were the youngest.  And I don't mean by a little--everyone else there was a certifiable senior citizen; why is this?  I mean, good for them, they've got it right, but where are ya youngsters?  We picked 9 pounds at $1/pound.  Cain't beat that!  It's fun to pick your own berries; I've done it every year for years, and I will eventually be one of those oldsters out there for sure.  People are so busy nowadays that they often miss out on simple, satisfying experiences like strawberry picking.  OM and I talk about this stuff all the time.  The oldsters remember, and they show up.  I hope my kids will remember times like this and build them into their adult lives.  It's simple, but it's RICH.  

And, helloooo!  The spoils that come from picking 9 pounds of strawberries are heavenly.  We came home and started in on spoil #1:  freezer jam.  I washed and hulled berries and  Caroline squished them with a potato masher:

Add a LOT of sugar, a little pectin and ladle it into jars; how easy is that?  

We now have 22 jars of strawberry freezer jam setting up (for 24 hours) on the counter. I'm hoping to put up that much in raspberry freezer jam this year, too.  Last year, we missed raspberry picking because the patch was open at times that didn't work for us, but this year, we will be there, you mark my words!  


And of course strawberry spoil #2 is:  SHORTCAKE!  Again, Caroline donned an apron (and high heels) to help out:

"Lordy!  What a Summer-time fer to sing!"  --James Whitcomb Riley

In A Beautiful Meadow

In a beautiful meadow
You come to a swing.
We call it Nature Playground--
It has grass higher than our heads!
If you come here you will see
A beautiful meadow
With a swing.
  --by Caroline

We love this spot.  We brought a picnic.  Caroline said we should have brought some paper so we could write a poem about it.  Ah, but I always have paper for poems, so she dictated her poem to me.  I asked Jack if he wanted to write a poem, too and he said yes.  When I told him I was ready to take down his poem, he just said, "What nature says, that is what I say."  I laughed.  He said that he knew I would think that was funny.  How pleased am I that Caroline wants to write poems and Jack can change up a Stafford line to make me laugh?  As Todd might say, I'm veeeery pleased!

It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the spot; the path meanders across the valley and it's like being in another world.  All you hear are bird songs and the rustle of the tall grasses.  Oh, and the sound of my sneezing.  Aaaaaahchooo!  


When we reached the swing, we spread out the blanket, ate lunch and then we all enjoyed flying over the beautiful meadow!  

In Wild Meanderings O'er Pasture Wealth

Yesterday was  a sleepy day at home for us.  The kids went camping with their dad over the weekend and he delivered them in the morning, tired and dirty, but happy.  Jack crawled into bed here at 8:30 and didn't get out until 1:30!  He said that he didn't mean to fall asleep, but couldn't help it.  Caroline embraced an angle of repose for most of the day, content to just sit next to me and suck her thumb and twirl my hair.  After Jack woke up, I let them watch a movie while I went out and busied myself in the garden.  I finally got most everything in the ground, save a flat of hollyhocks that need about one more week:

But I got the basil, cukes, blue morning glories, and calendula planted.  Then I fertilized everything with fish fertilizer, which is nizzasty-smelling, but I need to use it up.

You're welcome, plants!

As you can see above, the snap peas are coming on.  I picked a mess of them for our appetizer, gathered lettuce for the salad, and made a frittata for the main course, using 8 of the girls' eggs, some of our chives,  plus store bought onion, potato, milk, sharp cheddar and Parmesan.  By the end of summer, we'll have our own potatoes and onions and this dinner can be whipped up with almost exclusively on-farm (on- cul de sac) ingredients--yay!  Here's what it looked like all plated up:

And onward!  Today it is a little cloudy but quite warm, and perfect picnic weather.  The kids and I are going to the trail and then down a country pathway for some 'wild meanderings o'er pasture wealth.'

"...So--on, with quickened breaths, I follow still--
      My avant-courier must be obeyed!
    Thus am I led, and thus the path, at will,
      Invites me to invade"
         --James Whitcomb Riley

Knee-Deep in June

"Tell you what I like the best--
      'Long about knee-deep in June,
    'Bout the time strawberries melts
   On the vine,--some afternoon
Like to jes' git out and rest,
        And not work at nothin' else!"
  --James Whitcomb Riley


Amen,  JWR!  I just got 2 new books of his poems and this snippet of poem came from Riley-Farm Rhymes, which may be my mos' fayveritist book of his (how'd I do?).  If you haven't given him a real read, I recommend it. Not all of his poems are in this old timey Indiana dialect, but I must admit that I love the ones that are.  He also writes poems that are much more formal in structure, but just as rich in sentiment; I am a fan.  And the Farm Rhyme book also has fabulous drawings, some complex and some simple line drawings.  I might jus' copy the line drawings for embroidermary.


I felt knee deep in June this weekend.  I think I'm easing into Summer rather well, if I do say so myself.  My nice neighbor brought over his pressure washer and I did the deck on Friday. Check out what my legs looked like afterward--the filthy business!  But the deck was clean...

...until the chickens came up to investigate.

Merci, Ruby.


Saturday was spent with CC, driving around to country garage sales, visiting my great-uncle's and his wife's lovely nursery with their big garden art show going full tilt, and eating delicious sushi for lunch.  At one of the garage sales, I saw a great looking vintage bike, which got me to thinking about Caroline's upcoming birthday.  Perhaps instead of looking at new bikes, I should be thinking vintage?  I didn't see any kids vintage bikes, but they must exist, right?  Boy, I sure wish I still had my old yellow Schwinn with the white banana seat covered with pink flowers.  <insert wistful sigh> Enter Craigslist. And can you just imagine my surprise to see MY OLD BIKE for sale?  In Seattle.  For a decent price.  Soooo, I emailed and held my breath.  Yesterday morning I had a reply and the bike was still there, but they were having a garage sale. I left my number.  He called.  He trusted me when I said I'm a SURE THING and that I'd pick it up by 3.  <insert hollerin' and a little happy dance here>  L and I were going to the city anyway to hang out with D, so we swung by the nice, trusting people's house and got the bike!  That's right!!! I GOT THE BIKE. 
See:

You want more, yes?

I KNOW!!!!


But what do the chickens think??

They're impressed!  And so am I, with June, as a whole, and with all of the sweet things that have come with her this year.


"...Whoop out loud!  and th'ow my hat!--
June wants me, and I'm to spare!
Spread them shadders anywhere,
I'll git down and waller there,
    And obleeged to you at that!"  (JWR)

Full Spectrum

Here's a little poem I wrote while sitting next to the Umatilla River a few days ago:

Red. One red rock for a hundred gray ones.
Orange. Underbelly of a dead crawdad.
Yellow.  Sedums blooming on rocks at river's edge.
Green.  Glass beer bottle, sweating silver.
Blue.  Summer sky, sky, sky.
Indigo.  Electric bachelor buttons at trail's top.
Violet.  Waterskipper's shadow.

What a fantastic trip we had.  Not long, but rich in relaxation and fun and the deep sense I feel of being home.  Mark my words, I will retire in Cayuse.  So, plan on visiting, ok, and we'll hang out by the river and drink cold beers and listen to the birds.

The birds.  My god.  It's next level!  My dad and Tina have about 3 or 4 hummingbird feeders on or near their back porch and 2 bird feeders nearby, too.  When we came back from the river for lunch, before going back to the river, the kids and I sat on the back porch and just watched and listened.  They currently have mostly black chinned and a few tiny calliopes.  I was very happy to see a calliope, as I'd never seen one before outside of a picture in a bird book.  I have the flashy rufous hummingbirds at my house, so it was neat to something different.  The Cayuse hummingbirds are quite assertive and bold.  My dad said the calliopes are especially cheeky.  I like any creature with a little cheek!  Anyhow, Dad and Tina have to refill those feeders several times a day.  It's nuts!  Actually, it's sugar water!  Crizzazy. My dad drilled 3 swallow-sized holes into the lintel above the slider and the kids and I enjoyed watching the swallows swoop in and out all day. At the conventional bird feeder, I saw goldfinches, redwing blackbirds, magpies, mourning doves, cowbirds, house finches, and grosbeaks.  The best part for me is listening to the cowbirds sing.  Their song is a watery trill and just beautiful.  After we ate, Caroline sat on my lap and we just watched and listened, both of us completely entertained.  I think I said to her at one point, 'Now do you see why Papa and Tina don't have a TV?'  She did indeed.  After a bit, she skittered off, I slunk lower into my chair and nodded off for a short while.  I woke up energized and ready for River, Round 2.

So we walked back down the long driveway, crossed the road and slipped and skidded down the rocky path to the river.  I got wise and brought a cold Heineken and boy, did I ever enjoy it!  The kids played, I skipped rocks (of course thinking of Amelie and also that the  Umatilla is no less than the Seine in my book!), and we soaked up the day.

Hot Fudge Sundaes and Taco Pizza

We are on our first official road trip of Summer and it's shaping up to be a good one!  I am blogging from Big John's Pizza in Pendleton, while we wait for our taco pizza to-go.  Now, if you haven't had taco pizza, you are missing out.  So come on down to Big John's in Pendleton and get some for yourself (they MADE me say that in order to use their network...just joshin').  Taco pizza is so delicious although I've never seen it outside of Pendleton.  Now that the kids have had it, we have to come here every time we're here visiting...ahhhh, the sacrifices a mother makes.

We had a great drive. It was HOT, 85ish once we got on the east side of the mountains.  The Freedom Wagon, she's a free spirit; sometimes her AC works, and sometimes it don't.  When will it work?  Who knows, but ya gotta have faith, you gotta have a little faith, yeah ya gotta have faith-a-faith-a-faith-a!  We sort of hit a boiling point around Prosser, so we stopped at Mickey D's for treats.  This is when I realized that the kids had never had hot fudge sundaes!  Problem remedied!  They loved them and I looooved my soft serve nilla cone.  Nothing like a treat on the road.

Pizza's ready now and we're off to Cayuse.  My dad and Tina have been on the river for the last few days, so the pizza will be easy to come home to.  I'm sure the Prosecco is chilling, too, as that's tradition for Tina and me.  The kids want to go to the river when we get there and why not?!  It's hot, it's summer, and we're on vacation!

"What the river says, that it what I say."  --Wm. Stafford