November 8 2010

Just back from a walk around the hood on a sunny Autumn day.......trees are raining leaves and folks are cleaning their gutters while Sanipac's dinosaur looking trucks pick up trash. It is fun to walk on the colorful leaves and hear that crunch sound.....usually only heard when you are raking leaves but thanks to some boy scout friends..........we leave the raking to them as our backyard is full of the offerings from the trees............If one could sell leaves like a crop we would probably have a nice chunk of change.

The squirrels are busy collecting nuts and the little finches have left the feeders for now. The blue jays still lurk up in the trees and are the first to hear a door open and then they come and stare till you throw them a peanut or hazelnut...........

This is the time of year for hearty comfort food........chunky stews, game day chili, soup and salad..........meat loaves......pizzas, calzones............marsala potatoes....We enjoy cooking in the cooler temps as opposed to Summer when all you want is something light and cold........fascinating time of year. The Oregon Ducks are NUMERO UNO this year and the town is duck crazy.......green and gold outfits everywhere..............

We will be going to a Duck basketball game this weekend to see how the new coach is doing and it will be one of the last games at the fabled Mac Court..........Fall forward even tho we did move the clocks back on Sunday.

Kla-Ho'W-Ya

Good Day in Chinook Jargon:)

Yesterday we decided to take advantage of two campus museums as they were free on home game weekends of the Ducks football season.

The Museum of Natural and Cultural History was so fascinating that we ran out of time to go to the Art Museum. Oregon.........where past is present. From the hands -on paleo lab and the Condon Fossil Collection to many different examples of Indian basketry and bead work........as well as evolution of the horse in this part of the country...........all well done and very user friendly. I always wonder why don't we come more often?

Local crops for the Indians consisted mainly of camas, salmon, berries, other roots, deer . On the way home we saw a guy selling fresh chanterelles from his truck......so we bought some for dinner. Maybe the Willamette Valley Kalapuyan Indians also ate these colorful shrooms? but probably not in Olive oil.................

Champoeg Camping

Last week we spent 2 nights and 3 days in Champoeg State Park in a cabin and found several interesting day trips which we greatly enjoyed. Sham-POO-eee is a name given to the area by the Kalapuya Indians.........it was also known as French Prairie and the French fur traders were in the area as well.

We have camped there many times with the grandchildren and the stately oak groves and lovely pink wild roses have left many fond memories.

The park has also added the old Historic Butteville Store which dates back to the 1880's and the only remaining commercial building in Butteville which was an old thriving river town. They have besides a great ambience, root beer floats and great sandwiches. The day we were there I purchased angel honey mustard made by the nuns at Mount Angel. Fresh picked peaches for fifty cents each added a nice find for our picnic we later had in the rose gardens at Heirloom Roses in St. Paul..........another charming town with French trader roots.

We went into Salem and toured the Mission Woolen Mills.....did a power walk with a living history tour guide and really enjoyed hearing all about the importance of wool in the local economy and walking into the buildings was like a trip back into time.........amazing stuff.........

Mike played gourmet chef and even did grilled steak with portobellos on the woodfire grill.........very good. Had my smore's with my new long fork purchased at Honeyman Park......so good to get out and enjoy Summer........nothing quite like that campfire at night.

Walking in the neighborhood

Looking back at a blog about doing a daily walk........didn't always happen. Something about rainy and cold days didn't work out but sun and warm.....that works.

The community garden is really producing....there are sunflowers for the birds and many crops being harvested by the gardeners. The blackberry bushes along the pathway to the park were all mowed down so none to pick and have had to go to our local farm stand to get them but they are so good.

The high school kids are out doing soccer, football and skateboarding.......many dogs are being walked and folks are painting their homes and our yellow cottage just got painted courtesy of Mike.....now it is time to trim the English cottage gardens...lavendar is overgrown but hate to disturb the bees but soon our gardener will spruce everything up in preparation for Autumn and Fall.

Back in the Green and cool Northwest.

Just returned from a 3 week trip to the Midwest. Ordinarily I don't go back there in the Summer as it is too hot and humid but a family wedding and another gala had me booked for the steamy month of July.

It was like walking around in a sauna outdoors..........and when you were able to venture out in the evening there were swarms of insects and noisy cicadas to keep you entertained. It never cooled down at night to be of any significance but aside from the weather I had a great time.

Summer food in the Midwest is different than being in Oregon. I always get catfish whenever I return as it is so delicious. Other offerings are Peaches and cream corn on the cob..........huge tomatoes bursting with flavor and did I mention the giant tenderloins? Favorite restaurant would be Steak and Shake............which I enjoyed when I was in high school...........can't beat the famous steakburger and the fries................My Mother cooked up some old faves for me and my brother and uncle...........it was chaotic but always entertaining.

Folks in the midwest enjoy their homes and planning their day..........they eat at the same time.......three square meals a day. As Thomas Jefferson once said............"We seldom repent of eating too little"

Now, I am back in the cool and green and totally happy to enjoy a Oregon Summer........if you are looking for a supertan or lots of light.............This is not the place to be..........I am grateful for that.

Walk around the Hood April 24th

Just back from two weeks in Southern California and it is blue sky and sun today so went for a walk to the community garden and park. Gardeners were out tending to their plots and I counted at least 6 soccer games going on with audiences for every one of them. Folks were playing tennis, basketball and skateboarding as well.

The blackberry bushes are starting to green up and it will be fun to resume picking and eating them this Summer. Winter seemed to be here forever and time to get out and enjoy the outdoors again. We plan on doing herbs in pots on the patio and having a small lettuce and tomato plot. We may add a blueberry bush as well.

Althought I enjoyed Palm Springs immensely and appreciated the beauty of blue sky, snow capped mountains and tropical flowers.........I don't think I could ever be comfortable too long away from green lushness and all our water........including the mighty Pacific. Some wit said we should bloom where we are planted. I am a long way from my Midwestern roots, but this is home.

View of Eugene on New Year's Day

I took this photo on New Year's Day from the west end of Skinner Butte, looking out over the city toward our house, near the hills in the background.

This was my first "hike" after my knee surgery three months ago.

-- Mike

January 7, 2110

Christmas just keeps coming. Today a package arrived from France...Merci' Cyril!

While putting decorations away in the garage discovered a present for Mike that was too big to wrap so I hid it.....wow, did I ever! Too funny.....It was a U of O green and yellow birdhouse on a stake for the yard so now the birds have something new to look at as it is merely for show and no self respecting bird would use it as a house.

With the last of the decorations put away it is time to look forward to the New Year. We hope to take a small vacation sometime this Winter but not sure just when to go.

Compared to the rest of the country caught up in a snowy deep freeze, we are warm and dry for today.

A few photies from Christmas eve and onward to the New Year.