Panther Creek Cottage

Rock, Wood, Chain

2012-02-23T06:53:00.016-08:00

On our frugal homestead, when we need things done, reaching for the best tool is most times not an option. Because A.) The best means expensive and B.) We ain't got the money honey!

Take this spot for instance, it would have been nice to have fired up the tractor in moving a huge concrete cornerstone into it. Not an option. What's a hillbilly to do?

Observe! Rock, chain, wood, and the hillbillies who could!

We hooked the chain to the poor man's tractor, the Honda Foreman. And I gave er' the gas!

HH placed one wood fence post in front of the other as the cornerstone slowly inched it's way to the spot, resetting the rear post to the front and readjusting the chain at each step.

Seven or eight incremental moves later an we were spot on our target.

Almost there.

Woodoggie!

A little hillbilly know how and some doing what you can, where you are, with what you have attitude!

We began this home outdoor project last spring. A revamp of our crude fire pit area. I'm excited to show you our progress as we re-use items from around the homestead.

In the meantime you might dig this humdinger of a recycle project we did earlier.

The outdoor washing station.

~warm winter wishes~

Tea? Please. Cream? Please. Sugar? Please!

2012-02-17T17:54:00.002-08:00

Lots of tea have I been consuming lately. The dismal dreariness of constant cloudy and damp weather find me craving the energy boosting caffeine of black tea laced with cream. Oh, and lets not forget sugar, yes, an adequate balance of uber sweetness with the warming flavor of spices. I'm good at telling myself I need it, I really neeeeeed it! Otherwise I'd burrow down under the quilts and not come out til' Spring.

I've found my balm in this sweet and spicy, heart warming com mixture in a jar recipe via a fun and lovely slip of a girl known as The Garden Betty. I'm going to take a chance here in telling you it's Chai. I know I know, been there done that, but hold up a minute. This creamy little wonder in a jar has been my saving grace, my muse, my sustenance and I heartily invite you to give it a try. And then tell me if your ears don't feel a little warmer, your toes cozier and your heart singing ~

"The sun will come out tomorrow". "Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow",

There. will. be. sun.

Warm and glowing thoughts from yours truly.

Wine & Chocolate= LOVE

2012-02-10T10:27:00.000-08:00

Lest it be wine & cheese, then I'm truly smitten! It's not a difficult task for the Head Hillbilly these days to woo his lover, now that our little town of Carlton has become a wine country destination not but a few short miles from our cottage. Valentines BE BIG here folks!

So many choices, what is a cottage woman to do? I'm reminded to pick just one or two wineries to sample. Not sticking to this rule inevitably robs one's recollection of why one purchased that phenomenal wine to begin with. I like knowing when I see that bottle in the pantry that I remember why it made my heart go pitter pat in the first place. Go figure ;)

Savoring the memory of a particular wine and imagining it paired with a lovely complimentary meal is part of the joy of the whole wine tasting experience. Even if the meal be merely a few simple ingredients I adore like bread, cheese or choc-o-late.

Zenas is a regular stopping place for me. Could be that special half off tasting invite I get via email for their special events like this one. So frugal, So me!

Lots of love to you, be it a little weird and a tad bit hillbilly, but always genuine and lots of it!

Frugal Getaway {part deux}

2012-02-06T19:13:00.000-08:00

I find it amazing that despite the winter doldrums, skimpy pocketbook, and general recession fed malaise that seemingly strikes at will, one can still find a little respite, a frugal getaway of sorts.

We enjoyed just such a getaway and found ourselves swooshing down the side of a mountain, wind in our hair and bright snow reflected sun in our eyes. Okay, no actual downhill swooshing took place. We cross country skied. More like panted and sweated with bright snow reflected sun in our eyes, but it was glorious!

You may remember how we scored a weekend on the Oregon coast, our first frugal getaway. A little work around the place and our stay was free. Likewise, the gear for our mountain getaway to Bend Oregon was wrangled via a homemade pumpkin pie. And you know very well you can't make only one pumpkin pie, making it a sweet deal all the way around. Our one night stay at the Shilo Inn was discounted because HH is a veteran, and a generous breakfast buffet was included. Hello, frugal happy happy dance!

I don't think an expensive crowded snow resort or any amount of downhill hill swooshing would have been as peaceful and beautiful as the few hours we spent on this snowy trail.

If you're lamenting leaner days too, think about putting the word out to your network of friends and family and see what you come up with for your own frugal getaway. I'm sure it'll be fabulous.

wooooooodoggie!

Summoned

2012-01-29T15:57:00.001-08:00

If any of you happen to have siblings,older sisters in particular, you'll totally get what I am about to say. I get this call from my older sister about a month ago, asking, er, more like demanding that I come visit her in Cali. But in reverence for her Highness, I'll say summoned.

She gave me and hour (that's right,1. single. hour.) to make up my mind. Because, as she firmly stated, she is at her computer, with the Southwest Airlines schedule before her very eyes, ready to press "book". No pressure there right? Well, for 55minutes I blustered and bristled at her Majesty's request. And then 5 minutes later, I answered her summons with this:

You may think me a wiener buckling under such dubious pressure, but if you do indeed have an older sister, I know I have your complete and utter sympathy. And lest anyone think that the actual years of separation in age make a difference. I reply with not one whit! In fact, when I arrived at her majesty's door we were the same age. And remained so for 4 days. Believe me, I tried my fools best to dethrone her highness, she would have none of it. But spending our birthdays together, clinking our bottles of Coke in honor of our Mother's fortitude and sense of humor, was worth every moment. And did I mention Lady Laughs-a-lot bought my airline ticket, so there, check-mate.

Her majesty loves purple. I'm thinking a subliminal message alluding to her royalty, or so I like to imagine. But her husband, being a mere peasant as I, seeing all things equal bought me a purple bouquet too. Checkmate;) In case you're wondering, Her majesty would be the 361 days older woman in this picture, but I'm not telling. Checkmate :0

For four lovely days we walked, danced, sang, cooked, ate, drank and maybe just a teensy bit fought, but that much is to be expected from sisters. Most of all we encouraged each other's creativity, shared our newest projects and plans. I love that the most about our visits.

I love the way my sister gets her creative daily fix by playing around in this ginormous brandy snifter. Her little china man with no hands exists in a tranquil garden of sand, moving about only at his mistress' will. I feel your pain little china guy (just saying).

I think these pods are very cool, from a Magnolia I'm guessing. We picked a passel of them on one of our walks. A few trips to Lowe's for paint chips and new pendant lighting for her highness's boudoir rounded out my trip.

Remember the Narcissus I have been dousing liberally with Gin.

I came home to find that she can't hold her liquor.

~cheers~

Bread: Tis the season to bake some.

2012-01-19T09:16:00.000-08:00

Levain, sponge, or starter are the humble beginnings of a superb loaf. Chewy baguette, crusty rounds or tangy sourdough. So many methods to choose from it's hard to know where to start, I know! But if you are feeling a need to slow down a little, as I am, to fire up the stove, to immerse yourself in domestic tranquility, then bake a loaf of bread. And if at first you don't succeed you'll still be rewarded with a heavenly scent to savor over a cup of tea.

The net is full of recipes you might try, but a nice book, one you can leisurely browse while your lovely bread dough is rising, is Amy's Bread.

Our brief snow has turned back to the standard rain today. And it's a genuine gully washer with rising streams and flooding. A perfect day for home baked bread don't you think?

Dough rising in a warm place.

Carrot ginger loaf at the ready.

I'll be donning rain gear for an adventure in the woods this afternoon. Then sharing a bit of this with a friend over a warm cup of Earl Grey tea.

But before I slip on my boots I want to share with you this short video for a glimpse into the calm and patient process of baking bread.

Bread love to you & warm winter greetings.

the art of making bread from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.

This just in....SNOW!

2012-01-16T16:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday morning we awoke to this!

Everything in black and white! What I love about the new fallen snow is the way it reflects daylight brilliantly through our cottage windows, shining a glorious light on these dim and gray winter days. It's a short lived experience here in Oregon's Pacific Northwest, so it's cherished all the more for as long as it lasts.

I'm excited to share my results from the natural dyeing I did recently.

I experimented with Black Walnut, Rose hips & Hawthorn berries and dyed a wool skein, muslin, vintage lace and hankies. Also some cotton and linen thread. What to make with it I do not know. But I feel inspired just looking at the complimentary pieces.

Anyone out there ever force bulbs? This was my first time and I totally get why folks do this. With snow on the ground it feels so Springy and hopeful to see bulging bulbs throwing out spikes of green.

Narcissus I have learned can become quite tall and gangly. I've also learned that if you water your bulbs with 1part Gin (or your favorite) with 8 parts water you can stunt their growth habit by half and avoid the tipsy. No fun for you Narcissus!

This is where I've been.

And where have you been lately?

Meanwhile in the garden....

2012-01-13T21:23:00.000-08:00

I planted a fall crop of lettuce and it's still thriving all cozy under a hoop house. I'm thankful to have some fresh winter greens in January.

And a nice pile of leaf mulch, the stuff I yearn for, is decomposing nicely under a canopy of fir trees. When ever I poke at the pile, the wonderful earthy aroma delights my senses. It will make a nice spring mulch in my perennial beds. Did I tell you I found the mother load?

Every fall, when I'm in town on errands, I keep my eye open for a nice stash of leaves. Sure enough I found my booty, one city block long of rich mulchy goodness. And just in time as the city was scheduled for collecting leaves to take to their composting facility. The finished compost is then sold back to consumers at a premium.

An hour later, I got it all in the bag!

A stop at Dutch bros, then heading west of town, I traveled and sipped a long and leisurely country road home.

Meanwhile, back home.....

Pomegranates line the mantle. Tell me this isn't peculiar to you cause it makes perfect sense to me.

~Winter greetings from the cottage~

Stirred NOT Shakened

2012-01-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

*Stirred, a sequel to my last post, Simmer, Stew & Soak. It's what I've been up to these past few weeks, at the stove in my warm cozy kitchen, brewing up concoctions from the things I've been gathering around our place. I'll be digging up other fabrics and things to dye besides wool. I have a goodly stash, doesn't everyone?

*NOT Shakened, a season of stressing family issues has come our way recently. Nevertheless, God has been good and faithful in working it all out for good and here we stand, maybe just a bit shakened. My spell checker is having a heyday with that word, shakened. But I'm ignoring spell checker for the love of a word. Plus it would totally ruin my stirred, not shakened attitude I got goin' on.

Hawthorn berries have grown especially large this year. The result of plentiful spring rains I imagine. They're harder than rose hips though, so I gave them a good chop before putting them on the stove.

Inside the thin hard husk suprisingly, were a lot of hard yellow beige seeds. And the resulting dye was the color I can only describe as soft and mellow.

I also harvested a small batch of rose hips from rosa rugosa that grows abundantly in hedgerows along Panther Creek Road for a dye color scheme that falls center of my black walnut and hawthorn creations.

Hawthorn berry, rose hips, and black walnut. I love that the colors from nature are always compatible. They just go together naturally!

And for other brews to warm the cockles of my heart; I discovered a spectacular cocktail recipe at my new found and soon to be favorite food blog Sassy Radish. The appeal was in using some Rosemary freshly harvested from the garden to infuse a simple syrup. This rosemary infused Gin Fizz turned out to be the perfect New Year's Day libation. One I'm sure I'll use often, well, at least as is required.

This sassy cocktail, try it and remember:

Stirred, definitely NOT Shakened.

Simmer, Stew & Soak

2011-12-25T15:10:00.001-08:00

Simmering kettles of soup, stewing dye pots and hot soaks. Just a few simple things that make me go mmmmm..... Perhaps it's the slow contemplative process I'm drawn too. I just don't know, but I love it.

The dregs of my dye pot contain the lovely peeling bark of Madrone (Arbutus), a Northwest native tree. Bits of Douglas Fir needles are in there too. No need to mordant my soft merino handspun as the bark and needles are high in tannic acid.

A trio of natural organically dyed hand-spun wool waiting for inspiration. I created the carmel colored skein at the bottom from a dye pot of Black Walnuts. And the one on the upper left from the partially exhausted dye bath.

The trio was destined for a break up shortly after this photo was taken. Meilleuere Amie snatched the soft colored Madrone dyed skein and deftly knitted up these fingerless gloves.

I've indulged in not just a few long hot soaks in my hillbilly hot tub these last few days of the year. And reading Sara Dane by lamplight. Of her travail in the dank and dreary bulkhead of a sailing vessel en route to the Botany Bay penal colony. Soaking in the dark and watery surroundings of my green house getaway enlivens my imagination. A perfect hour of escape!

~Peace and God's richest blessings be yours in the New Year~

Hallelujah Chorus

2011-12-06T14:09:00.000-08:00

Christmas Blessings from Panther Creek Cottage

And best wishes for the New Year.

Eskimo Hugs and Kisses,

Cottage Woman

No Hustle, No Bustle

2011-11-18T10:45:00.000-08:00

By now you've probably received emails or read blogs on helping our country and economy by spending your Christmas dollars locally. I know I've read a few. And haven't we all had this passing fancy to do just that only to find we've been blindsided by how quickly the we find our selves in the thick of the Holiday race. Succumbing, we just try to get it ALL done, vowing never again to fall victim to the hype and costly hysteria of shopping madness. I've personally had this track record for sometime. But last year I think I made inroads to a more gentler, slower Christmas.

It began with thoughts on the meaning and spirit of Christmas. The birth of Jesus, love, charity, and family. And then formulating a plan that would help keep me focused and on the narrow path. T'weren't easy letting go of the yearly grind of "living up to others expectations"! Then I made a life decision, a bold step I took for the first time last year.

Read about it here.

I'm actually looking forward to not participating again this year! Enjoy my latte, watching peeps do the hustle and bustle, and hopefully have some like minded companions to join me as we toss around gift ideas that would promote the mojo of a slower more real kinda Christmas. You with me?

Fall Festive Fun at Panther Creek Cottage yielded a nest of sweet smelling beeswax candles. At half the retail cost! You can order wicking and beeswax (I used unfiltered cosmetic grade) from Glory Bee, a Northwest Oregon supplier and as local of a company as I could find. A little web research revealed this project to be a simple and fun activity for all ages. A great Christmas gift idea that evokes warmth, hearth and family. I hope you'll try it!

It feels marvelous really, a little different in a good sense, with maybe just a tad bit of anxiousness in not knowing exactly what my Christmas giving will look like this year. But I'm confident it will all work out, it always does, even without a toe entered into the hype of the race.

"Woodoggie"!

Peace and Joy come to you.

And may the blessings of Thanksgiving be yours.

Festive Fall Fun

2011-11-10T08:34:00.001-08:00

On a recent chilly fall day, the whole family came on out to Panther Creek Cottage for some festive fall fun. After a hearty meal of seasoned sausages from Carlton Farms, grilled onions and tangy sauerkraut, baked beans, and whipped cream topped Pumpkin Custard Crumble, with very full tummies, we made our way up to my little workshop in the woods.

Where young and old clamored around the wax pot making hand dipped beeswax candles. Oh how I loved the delicious scent of the warm beeswax wafting all about.

Next we stepped inside to warm ourselves with hot cider and cocoa and gathered around to make orange pomanders. With yet more delicious and Christmas-y scents of citrus, cinnamon, ginger and clove.

The head hillbilly stoked the fires and regaled us with legends and lore. He gets a kick outa makin' the youngun's smile as he spins his stories and made them roar when he juggled oranges and sang at the same time. I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's a keeper!

We wrapped up our beautiful day around the fire pit where more reminiscing, laughter and a healthy dose of love was shared. And always remembered. And did I mention marshmallows? Flaming, blackened, gooey in the middle marshmallows?

Oh yeah, there were those.

Mish-Mash & Moosh

2011-11-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

My thoughts on the happenings around Panther Creek Cottage these days are a bit of a mish-mash of home, garden and life. Be warned, moosh happens!

My first handspun

My lovely daughter and grand- daughter, the dual team of Meilleuereamie have mentored me in my pursuit of spinning and knitting. I am a blessed woman! Peruse their shop and see all the lovelies these two create.

The beginnings of my first ever knitting project. A hat, just in time!

I have no specific purpose right off hand for these dried hops I've harvested other than they are a sensory delight to me. I'm loving their soft green hue, all delicate and light. Taking in their green-y pungent aroma will help lift my spirits when the winter doldrums kick in.

HH rigged up this filter for the spring water that fills the hillbilly hot tub.

It does the job!

Go here to see where our spring water originates.

Hot soaks in my hillbilly hot tub are becoming a bit of routine for me. I crank up the burners and round the time I've finished working in the cool fall air, the greenhouse is all steamy. I grab some tea (or pinot), a book and rejuvenate.

We've eaten the last edible cucumber from the garden making me wince when I think of the ones that got away. But I'm reminded that what doesn't make it to our mouths or to the insides of farm critters, when consumed by the earth, feeds the hidden and miraculous world that resides under it's surface. Feeding and "uppen-ing" the very source that will provide next year's bounty.

Moosh is good!

Hearts of Stihl

2011-10-28T10:25:00.000-07:00

The past few weekends, the Stihl chainsaw totin' head hillbilly has been up in the woods cutting firewood with his best friend. Their team work has formed a large pile of wood to warm each of our abodes sufficiently, and then some. They've been intense and focused in their endeavors, even if slowed just a tad when they got the bright idea to bring along their wives on a foray into the woods.

The connection to Jules cell phone was shaky as they traveled deeper into the Trask Mountain Range. But I managed to find out that she was bringing the red therefore I brought the white.

Part way however of loading firewood, backing up the truck, and dragging chain through the rain soaked and muddy ground we cracked open the bottle of Coelho Pinot Gris and I proceeded to slake my thirsty throat with it's crispy tart coolness.

Well, never mind the wood, we ladies became photographers and played propped and fiddle faddled with our bottles of wine as we traipsed among the forest flora of ferns, vine maple, and fir stumps.

This tasty bottle of Pinot Gris comes from the vintners of Coelho of Amity Oregon.

This bottle of Pinot Noir, from Laurel Ridge of Carlton Oregon was so delicious and made me glad we packed along meat and cheese to go with it.

A bit of a tipsy angle. It was the angle, I'm sure it was the angle.

Dusk came too soon! But the day in the woods, the fresh moist air and pitchy scented firewood, good friends and fine Oregon wine?

"woodoggie"

Kansha

2011-10-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

source

"Kan" means feel and "Sha" means thanks. "Arigato" is another Japanese word that shares the same meaning as Kansha. And the word Kansha is often an informal word the Japanese use to say "thank you".

To feel thanks as relating to cooking is a concept exemplified through some of the exerpts in Elizabeth Andoh's book. And though it is geared to vegan or vegetarians, it graciously accommodates the carnivore as well. Kansha is the ethos of taking our perceptions of meal preparations (not just focusing on the ingredients) from being a hurried burdensome task and transforming it into a deliberate, enjoyable, thankful and much slower experience.

This is what's rollin' around in my noggin since gleaning the last bit of ripening fruit of our summer garden. I have my trusty enamel cast iron kettle at the ready for a warm and inviting meal of fazool or creamy cauliflower soup, two of our family all-time favorites.

Ah, but then I happily stumbled upon this recipe by Ashley Rodriguez in her blog Not Without Salt, and it looks terrific too in it's simplicity, and it compliments Kansha's esteemed viewpoint of no waste. A no left-over left behind sentiment I routinely practice. Don't we all these days? Maybe it's a good thing and the manifest destiny of those two must use carrots in my vegetable bin.

source

Summer's End

2011-10-13T14:01:00.000-07:00

The Autumn rains have begun in earnest and the home fires are duly started, and we've put up in our memories a humdinger of a Summer.

May your Fall season be showered with blessings as abundant as the falling leaves.

Warm thoughts and well wishes from Panther Creek Cottage.

Autumn At My Door

2011-10-04T09:12:00.000-07:00

Autumn is tap tap tapping at my door. Tomatillos, cukes and tomatoes fill every available kitchen surface. And HH doesn't have to wonder whats for dinner most nights because more often than not what ever surplus of what I'm currently "putting up" for winter is on the menu. Lately, that has been plenty of salsa, picco de gallo and home made corn chips. Pesto is up next on my to "put up" list. Basil, parsley and garlic beg to be utilized and thoughts of mid-winter deep green goodness on my plate constrain me.

Roasted potatoes have been dished up too. A nice firm crisp as an apple potato, there's nothing like it. My roasted potato recipe is a cinch to do. A one dish wonder that needs no accompaniment, unless it be a nice glass of Pinot Noir!

~ Cut into 1" pieces enough fresh Yukon Gold, New Red or your favorite spuds to fill a large baking sheet in a single layer. Add some fresh carrots cut to desired size and one roughly chopped large onion. Season with Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper and a couple of tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary. Toss the whole shebang with a generous amount of EEOO and bake at 400 to 425 degrees (depending on your oven) for approximately 30 to 40 minutes until golden. ~

After roasting there must be boasting. Just a tad. I have so loved my outdoor sink all summer long. No more bending over to wash my freshly harvested vegetables with the garden hose. And I hope more gardeners will consider installing one of their own for next year's bounty, cause baby it's been one humdinger of an idea this cottage woman has come up with in a long time. Click Here for the whole project from start to finish. Mine is a bit rustic, the way I like it, made from recycled building goods. But I would love to see another's rendition of an outdoor sink or washing station. I'll be waiting! In the meantime I will continue to extol the virtues of the Outdoor Sink.

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one reluctant (or maybe indignant?) to answer Autumn tapping at the door.

My sentiments exactly!

Sun keeps on slippin'

2011-09-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

Lately, with the sun slipping ever lower into the horizon these late summer days, I've been pondering it's awesome power to grow, heal, generate heat and provide light. I've been busily preparing for fall and have begun to move plants into the greenhouse in an effort to capture a few more of the waning sun's precious rays. The sun, I'm missing it already.

I hope you'll be amazed by this short clip about "Solar Demi". His mission with the help of our sun is to bring light into the lives of hundreds ( and counting!) and his project is the embodiment of "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have." It gave me goosebumps!

Enterprising Women

2011-09-21T07:46:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I, my daughter and granddaughter will have a girls day outing. Our destination, The Flock and Fiber Festival in Canby, Oregon. A perfect late summer event that coincides with the onset of chilly weather and thoughts of warm sweaters and other hand spun woollies.

The mother daughter team of Meillleure Amie Handmades have been wisely using the last sunny days of the year sorting, washing, dyeing, carding and spinning some one of a kind yarn and hand knits. And I want it all! So hard to resist their creations but I manage some how.

You may remember my story about Mads and her bunny Daffodil. Mads with the help of Daffodil has expanded her source of luxurious Angora fiber and is now mistress to a whole passel of cuteness.

I think what I love so much about my daughter and granddaughter is their passion for creating beautiful hand spun that evokes love and warmth for the family. And with these two it is and always will be about family.

Meilleure Amie and the lovelies I'm resisting.

Unless there's socks. I must have socks!

Greenhouse Roundup

2011-09-15T07:58:00.000-07:00

I've come to the realization that there are a few drawbacks to a slow home lifestyle. And that is for all the beauty of living a sustainable simpler existence, everything (emphasis on everything) happens at a much slower pace. Like our greenhouse, the one I've written about for two long years, is finally becoming a reality. We still have some finishing touches mind you to do (on slow time), like seating and an entryway via a garden path, but she's pretty much there.

Ready to Round up?

This floor of re-claimed vintage brick turned out exactly as I had dreamed of in my noggin. It will soak up the sun by day and radiate it back into the greenhouse by night. Enough I hope to prevent freezing of tender plants.

We installed solar vents that open when things get a little too warm. The entrance is a re-claimed vintage door I painted Mark Twain Grey Brick, a historical landmark color matching the trim work.

The back door is a re-claimed gem as well. The glass insert brings in additional light to the spot where my hillbilly hot tub goes. Speaking of the hillbilly hot tub......

The burners are lit....

The clawfoot tub is in. I spray painted it with an engine paint that will withstand high temperatures. I'm thinkin' I might just have the world's largest enameled cast iron cook pot going.

Ahhh... a fine kettle of soup.

Maturity (in the garden, not me)

2011-09-06T17:50:00.000-07:00

My garden is yielding to maturity. But not me, no sir-ree. Okay, well, maybe a little. Seed heads are drying on their stems. Flower blossoms too. And it's time to start gathering them for an abundance of free spring sowing next year.

Dill is one of my favorites to gather. I love to plant a large grouping each Spring. I touch, sniff and fondle them regularly. Remember, I lack maturity.

Cosmos seeds are a must. Their blooms help bring pollinators to the garden and their dill like appearance so wispy and light is hard to resist.

And marigolds, are good bullies in the garden. Undesirable pests avoid their natural repelling nature. I collect the whole dry heads easily for next years bumper crop of sunny blooms.

Finding ways to bring a little garden to the table? Me too. I try to find ways to bring some to the table by searching out some mini varieties of my favorite herbs and veggies. I planted miniature romaine lettuce among some of my potted plants on our patio to nibble at will. And I'm completely smitten with tiny Basil Pistou. Their lovely herbal fragrance would charm the socks (or pantyhose, maybe girdles. Wait, folks don't wear those anymore do they?) off wedding guests attending summer nuptials! Maturity forth coming, I promise.

I treasure my wire gate. It's a fine sturdy trellis in our garden. It's flanked on one side with light and fruity lemon cucumbers and zinnias on the other. It's rarely in the same place each year but that's what I love about my found wire gate, it's versatility and constant up-cycle-ability.

Whoa, I can't turn my back for one minute!

Way too much maturity happenin' around here!

Hypertufa Cast Leaves

2011-08-27T15:25:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again. NASTURTIUMS!

I so love them. They are prolific, sunny, edible, a living mulch. And I couldn't live one summer without them!

So I immortalized my love for them by casting a few of their lovely leaves in hypertufa. Scroll through my step by step photos below for a jump on the how to.

Gather your leaves and cover your work area with plastic. I would avoid working in direct sunlight so your cast leaves don't cure too quickly and possibly crack. mound damp sand in to the general size of your leaves and placed a leaf on each mound, bottom side up.

With a brush paint your leaves with oil. I used recycled machine oil but vegetable oil or even spray cooking oil works fine. The oil behaves like a resist so your casting medium releases.

Mix up equal amounts of fine milled peat moss, perlite, and Portland cement. I used a plastic 2lb. coffee container for measuring. You know, I completely forgot the perlite in my recipe but was satisfied how they turned out anyway. Love it when that happens!

I added enough water to make it the consistency of thick oatmeal. I added a little more to the batch as I was molding the leaves as the mixture tended to dry out a little as I worked on the leaves.

If you want to hang your finished creations you'll need to insert a sturdy wire into the mixture while soft placing it near the stem. Small paper cups will keep them upright while curing.

2 to 3 days later un-mold your leaf and etch the imprinted veins a little more for definition if you feel it needs it. The edge of a putty knife works but I had a small pointed scribe handy and thought it worked great.

You can leave them natural or paint them like I did for weather durability. I chose a teal colored semi gloss exterior latex for the bottom coat. I thinned the paint with water so it wouldn't hide the details. It dried fairly quickly and sealed the leaf.

Next I added touches of gold. I used an acrylic craft paint.

To give my leaves a weathered look I finished with a top coat of black semi gloss exterior latex thinned with water. I brushed it on and then came back with a wet soft cloth and wiped them until I revealed enough of the teal and gold to my liking.

There you have it! Love immortalized.

Leaving Me Lonely

2011-08-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

I remember all to well when we were in the thick of two consecutive remodels the twinge of jealousy and frustration at seeing the lush and bountiful gardens on my favorite blogs. Seriously, the busier I stayed sanding priming and painting woodwork, the little time it left me for perusing all the virtual gardens that left me feeling lonely for one small red tomato to call my own.

As I have been enjoying a beautiful vegetable garden this summer those thoughts are long behind me now. It occurred to me though that there just might be folks out there experiencing my circumstance of being temporarily gardenless. But looky here, I've got a plan for you. A few things to do while your expecting. Next years garden that is!

In anticipation of a fruitful and healthy garden for next year, build or manage your compost system. I hope the following posts will energize you. Composting. Composting Revisited.

Bare ground is a no-no. Don't abandon your garden completely but try this composting in place method to keep weeds and unwanted vegetation at bay. Layer with newspaper (carbon) and top with grass clippings (nitrogen).

Gather all the leaves you can and stockpile them. Spread them on your garden in fall for a lovely earth enriching mulch. I toss on a few limbs too so my precious leaf mulch (it's what I yearn fer) doesn't up and blow away in windy weather.

Plant garlic for next years harvest and opt for growing a green manure crop as a living mulch to draw nutrients deep into the soil.

Get a jump start on next years plant selection. Seeds are usually discounted for clearance in the fall. Pick up a bunch of packets and check out my post on Wintersowing.

I hope your to do list keeps you busy and full of hope for a stunning garden in 2012!

The Open Road

2011-08-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Home and garden are my constant muse. But every now and again.....

I yearn for the open road.

The sun gleaming on the hood of my truck. Wind in my hair......

You know what I mean.

Tiny Timber

2011-08-18T12:06:00.000-07:00

I'm not talking about sticks. But I could. Sticks are interesting. But thats a story for another day. After our ramble through the town of Vernonia, the place I wanted to live forever and ever, I found a speck on the map not far off that I just had to see. A speck called Timber. And we would have missed Timber entirely when after climbing a few switchbacks we breezed past the towns only business, the U.S. Post office.

We turned around and soon found ourselves peering through the windows at probably not more than 50 or so brass boxes that represented the little over 100 inhabitants of the town of Timber. I admired the utility of the hand picked narrow tree that was the flag pole, painted white, the worn red benches and blue trim of the solid wood framed building.

And that was ALL of Timber that we could see, except for this humble abode in the woods.

There's a myriad of paint colors one can choose from, but none can compare with the variegated shades of natural weathered shingles.

And one chilly autumn morning coming soon, the view from the narrow window of this humble home will be spectacular.

But now we're home and I'm ruminating on happenings in my own neck of the woods. And hopefully I'll share about things a little more interesting than sticks. Maybe.

Just Suck It Up!

2011-08-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Vernonia!

Home of loggers, mountaineers, and young rugged visionaries with enough gumption to revitalize and polish this historical gem of a town along the Nehalem River. A town that's alive and kickin' despite a devastating flood in 2006. A tragic event that tested the durability of a little over 2000 individuals and was the catalyst in reinvigorating it's founding pioneer spirit. The community pride and friendliness of this old logging town is palpable. I fell in love.

I think I want to live here forever and ever.

When we rolled into Vernonia last Sunday, folks were hustling about the tiny town and not a soul we knew. So I ventured into a little shop called Black Bear Coffee Company to grab some joe and inquire on the happenings going on when I noticed under their name the slogan, Just Suck It Up! I no longer felt like a stranger but family. With an understandable and wearied expression my server informed me that Vernonia's 55th Friendship Jamboree and Logging Show was just ending. She more happier than I. Dadgum it, we missed it!

We wandered around some than sat a while alone on the bleachers imagining hard hat clad competitors working saws, choker setting, throwing axes and pole walking.

Just a few axe handles away smack dab in the middle of town, a public swimming hole.

I want to live here forever and ever!

So we browsed up and down the tiny main street of Vernonia determined not to miss next years Jamboree. Then I took this photo of a charming little cafe begging for a new lease in life. I even imagined myself perched in the upper floor window of my make believe living quarters, sipping a hot 16oz. cup of Black Bear Coffee watching Vernonia's Jamboree Parade. Or maybe their 4th of July parade, cheering and waving my flag.

I want to live here forever and ever!!

Native Habitat Nursery

2011-08-01T17:12:00.001-07:00

Recently the head hillbilly and I took advantage of an open garden tour in our area. We freshened up after an afternoon of working around the place, grabbed our favorite coffee on the way and prepared to be inspired.

I have to face it. The fact that I have happy danced over the proverbial hill and find myself a bit more fatigued after a day in the garden has made me realize that those exuberant blossomed filled gardens, the staple of my younger years desire, have become a bit much. And I hate to admit it dadgum it!

At Native Habitat Nursery located in the rural outskirts of Dayton, Oregon, we meandered among hardy Northwest native specimens. Those wonderful shrubs, trees and ground covers that flourish in our rainy Pacific Northwest and are changing the way I see my garden in the coming years. A prelude to our tour was passing through this delightful entry. A garden gate made of a hodge podge of recycled garden tools and farm cast offs. Even the latch. Sweet.

We strolled, coffees and camera in hand, along pebbled pathways that wandered around the nursery through groupings of plants, and past some of my favorites like paper birch and mock orange.

Here and there interesting features abounded like this vintage grinding stone, and arched welded arbor of old iron fencing with free flowing bends and rusty chain.

The proprietors specialize not only in Northwest natives but also Bonsai, Niwaki, and original water features.

This fellow brought his own colorful contribution to the garden. His intermittent proud calls permeated the softer sounds of life in the garden.

I loved the wooden light fixtures that fit so naturally in the landscape.

The profuse and defining line of purple creeping thyme adds a bit of color to the gray stones, pavers and wood accents of a terrace. Love it.

~ Summer Blessings ~

Outdoor Sink

2011-07-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

Let me say how ecstatic I am about my washing station. Some may remember when I got the grand scheme to build myself an outdoor sink. Well here it is in full service. I found a little drain rack that is oh so handy for my freshly washed veggies. No more bending over the water spigot for me. No siree ma'am! Can't recommend enough that you build one for yourself.

And don't you find it true enough too that even the smallest garden yields a bounty sufficient for a family, or two?

I've made one humdinger of a salad today. And I've packed up a few salads to go. I think I'll go up the road a piece to Ruby and Gib's place and then I'll mosey on over to Vern and Mary's too. They'll be having salad tonight.

A view from the window above my indoor sink.

~Summer Blessings~

Summer Blessings

2011-07-25T09:31:00.000-07:00

If I could be like those brilliant swallowtail butterflies that embrace the blooms of our scarlet runner beans then I would drift upon the breeze to your neck of the woods, to your lovely garden, and drink it in.

~ summer blessings friend~

Community Garden

2011-07-21T07:42:00.000-07:00

We have a son! Yippee! Bear with me please as I say stuff like that. When ever I see my boy, I am instantly transported back to the day he was born. I won't go into it but just know that 31 years later I still feel a need to announce his arrival. Sheesh, doesn't everybody do that?

Now that boy of ours manages an apartment building in a town not too far from ours. The small complex isn't located in the most desirable area I might add, and lacks the amenities of the higher end units on the other side of the tracks if you know what I mean. But ever on the beat to improve the environment of Ford Street Court Apartments and bring a little sun and life into the lives of it's residents, the guy comes up with projects, some of which the head hillbilly and I have helped on. The latest, A Community Garden.

I'll give you a run down of the process from start to finish in pictures, and thereby reducing the chit chat to the bare minimum. I'm talking like thats possible for me when I know dadgum well your not fooled. But lets go ahead shall we?

Ford Street Court Apartments and a little nondescript patch of green.

Hard and weedy but too weak to withstand our assault.

Our potential new occupants are waiting!

I weeded out the big stuff and HH hit it hard with the tiller.

Our grandson quickly seized the new territory for his monster truck.

Next our boy unloaded a yard of compost.

And the whole gang jumped in to spread and mix the compost into the old dirt.

We added two large stepping stones in the center.

And then before you knew it, more folks joined in on the fun.

Everyone who wanted to help was invited to participate and it was fun to chat with the tenants and others who enjoyed observing the process.

Gardens just tend to bring folks together don't they?

We created paths with grass clippings

And then a tenant from the neighboring apartment complex donated some broccoli and got into the planting too.

As we finished up and packed up our tools, I glanced over at my boy and instantly recognized the familiar look of contemplation that comes over him. Moms just know this kinda stuff, am I right? Sure enough he was planning his next project. He somehow felt the garden wouldn't be complete without a fence and that a nice enclosure of some sort would offer the garden some protection and respectability.

And so it goes.

Welcome to Ford Street Court Apartments

Community Garden.

P.S. Hey other side of the tracks, check it out!

Work Ethic

2011-07-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

Child labor. Conjures up creepy thoughts of foreign sweatshops and factories huh? Of child slave laborers working perilously while breathing toxic chemicals as they deftly unmold rubber for tennis shoes or something right?

Or doe eyed tots hauling brick with their two little hands, lugging buckets bigger than they of sand with sweat on their tiny brow asking,

"Is it lunch time yet, Grandma?"

"Not yet sweetie, keep tamping."

"Great Job!" says Grandpa.

I must admit the exploitation of children around the globe has baffled me at times. News and images have influenced and confused me about what is appropriate work for children. Yes, I said work. Work seems to be a four letter word in our culture to be avoided in the context of childhood experience. Do you gently suggest the kiddos do some? Bribe them? Or strongly encourage them with the understanding that the alternative won't be worth it. Work ethic doesn't come naturally for most of us humans. It's taught and learned through experience. By doing, and doing just a bit beyond suffice and capability so as to stretch our meddle and give us confidence in our abilities.

At Grandma and Grandpa's there is always a work in progress and we'd feel neglectful if we didn't press our visiting grandchildren into appropriate labor. To take the opportunity to impart to each of them a little work ethic.

And the satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

Then we all have some ice cream. And get yet another lesson from Grandpa.

"Keep cranking! No one eats for free."

Summer Obsession

2011-07-08T14:20:00.000-07:00

I am unabashedly unapologetic for my blogging lapse. It's cotton pickin' SUMMER at long last! I have my daily dose of sun block applied. Denim overalls for the chill of early morning, raggedy old swim suit to feel every ray of glorious sunshine in the afternoon. I'm cavorting with the flora and fauna, dirty kneed and happy as a bumblebee in a Borage patch. Woodoggie! Even two nasty blistered bouts with poison oak have failed to dampen the pure joy of a late and long awaited Pacific Northwest summer. So without further self indulgent blather just a few thoughts and doings at Panther Creek Cottage.

Nasturtiums

The best dadgum ground cover ever! A prolific little border of blooms that can liven a simple salad of early summer greens. Or add a lovely touch to a summery glass of refreshment. Oh, not to mention all the nitrogen rich green to boost the compost at summers end.

( okay, I've said summer 6 times already, but whose counting?)

Next, get a load of these dark and sensuous Nasturtiums!

(I've used the word sensuous once to be exact, but whose counting!)

Garlic curing in the garden shed.

Copious amounts of sun tea consumed regularly.

With a tad bit of this to end a long and beautiful summer day.

* ~Summer Greetings ~ *

P.S. Make that 8 summers ( I counted).

God Bless America

2011-07-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

google images

There is an honor felt deep within the American heart.

We are heirs of those who brought us freedom.

Let every heart be true.

God bless the Red White and Blue.

God Bless you richly and,

God bless America

Poop Is the word.

2011-06-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

That's right, poop. I've logged quite a few posts covering topics on composting, gardening and a few hillbilly tale while deftly skirting the usage of the word poop. And I have successfully avoided the word in my post on Ordinary Soil by using the more palatable word, manure.

Perhaps I have been avoiding using the word poop for fear it is offensive or is base conversation to folks and for the life of me I don't know why. But that was then, before I read a response to my Ordinary Soil post from a blogger, farmer friend up Canada way. Her conversation with her 5 year old daughter makes the whole subject of poop worthy of thought and conversation. And I've also come to the realization that discussing poop with children has a laxative affect. It softens the stool thus making the whole mess a smooth, relaxing and often enjoyable experience.

So in order to understand the multitude of goodness in a good poop and it's miracle working powers on the farm, in the garden and in life, read the following conversation between mother and daughter. It's simple, straight forward and non-constipating.

Trust me, it'll take a load off!

Feminist Farmer's Wife said...

5 year old daughter: Mommy why does this poop not stink? (as she shovels it into pots for the greenhouse)
Me: Because over time the poop breaks down and then becomes vitamins for the baby plants
5 year old: Are the pigs eating that soil because its full of vitamins?

Your priorities are just perfect in my books. I love your appreciate of a good pile of poop!

June 22, 2011 2:15 PM

My Life as a Brick Picker

2011-06-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I was a young girl full of energy and confidence with bright ideas and a bit of grit to boot. Then I became a brick picker. Okay okay, I FELT like a young girl until I began to loathe body and soul my bright idea of HH and me digging and rooting around a brick heap for three days. Or more precisely several mountains of weed and brier covered bricks that were once the Log Cabin Tavern.

The Log Cabin Tavern used to be a three story brick and mortar structure built at the turn of the century in our "Great Little Town". Conveniently located across the street from the Carlton Depot, an early train station (presently owned and carefully preserved by Tyrus Evan Wine), along the old railroad grade next to a granary. It later became a popular destination spot for western music and dancing before burning down in the Eighties. And before the owners dumped the whole ruin and it's contents in their pasture for the brave (or crazy middle aged) souls wanting to test their mettle salvaging vintage brick.

Each day we woke up sore and whining as we drug ourselves out of bed to head back to the brick heap. No sooner was I relieved from stooping and digging for near perfect brick to start tossing the brick then I was happy to be back stooping and picking again. I'd toss the goodins' to HH, he sat them down, I'd move to his pile, he'd move closer towards the pick up, and we'd do the same grueling process again. Then we picked them up out of the pasture, IE; the ones that didn't break, and stacked them in the truck. We picked and handled in this way over 700 bricks! And God willing, I vowed never again to fancy such youthful hubris, EVER.

HH, bless him, wore small holes in the fingertips of his leather gloves from catching and stacking all that brick but bless my brick pickin' heart, in all that tossing I never beaned him once!

He also bruised his forearms from toting his self imposed limit of 5 bricks at a time and not one less. Training he acquired as young man working in a brick yard in Utah. Of which stories I heard repeatedly for three days on the brick heap. Of course he was young and buff back then and of course, hot and sweaty, and of course, tanned from working without a shirt and of course so was his wife, young and buff that is, back then, and of course with a shirt, back then.

We have several piles of beautiful vintage brick. Some red, some pinkish and mottled with old mortar, and the black and burnt survivors, the twice fired ones. Even some flawed ones that we discarded at the beginning because they were too chipped or warped, after three days of grunt, we saw in a new light. Those would now be our prized premium bricks with character and each one will have it's special place in the greenhouse.

P.S. You'll be the first ones to see. I promise.

Ordinary Soil

2011-06-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

Ordinary is good. I'm an ordinary person. I live an ordinary life. Good. But ordinary soil? Not so good. In long ago times home gardens received the best of the family's manure. Typically, every family owned a cow that grazed in abundance verdant pastures giving back to the family, milk, meat, and organic fertilizer. The family garden was robust because the soil was nutrient packed rich media. And it was everywhere. Not so today. The soils that coddled our vegetables a millennia ago are deplete of the rich natural resources of the humble bovine and are lackluster in providing for the high demands of the home vegetable garden.

Over the years my composting system has helped to build a rich organic matter filled garden teaming with the microbes of a healthy soil food web. But I also want to ensure that my garden will give back dividends for all my hard work. So I have gotten together my supplies and today I'm going to mix up this recipe for a complete organic fertilizer created by Steve Solomon founder of Territorial Seed Co. Steve encourages incorporating his recipe into the soil at planting time but I will fertilize the recommended amounts as a side dressing to my already established garden. Time to get crackin'!

Beach Cottages

2011-06-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

I've been reminiscing on the frugal getaway we had recently and all the quaint and colorful cottages of Neskowin. Just thought I'd take you along for a lookyloo. You're not busy are you?

Cedar would be the perfect natural choice of siding for most dwellings in Oregon, especially for those that endure the salt tinged misty ocean air of the Oregon coast. I truly love the wavy cedar board siding of this cottage and the way it has softened to a lovely gray brown color. Oh, the bright pink trim? Totally dig it!

There are plenty of homes to see that incorporate the charm of driftwood, buoy, seagulls and other found objects but then a little pop of art like this statue and the upturned glass bottle pathway are a nice departure. A little sweep of the loose beach sand occasionally maintains the reveal of colored glass, I like that.

Classic and calm is inviting too.

This cottage was reserved in neutral colors but the owners saved the chutzpah for the fence.

You could have this hot pink cutie for a mere $200,000 plus. I settled for a small sit on it's little front porch bench.

Frugal Getaway

2011-06-09T20:52:00.000-07:00

It wasn't like we were planning a vacation. Like most folks we're sniveling about the dismal economy. And like so many we have been cinching up our latigos with plans of staying home this summer, maybe catch up on some much needed repairs around the old place. But we hadn't taken in to account that the company HH works for would also be tightening their belts. It looks as though they feel we need a vacation anyway. They insist. Thanks guys. I know I know with so many unemployed I need to appreciate that HH does and is still working regularly and I truly am grateful.

But back to the unplanned mandatory days off of work, er, I mean vacation. We pulled off a little frugal getaway to the lovely seaside town of Rockaway Oregon about an hour or so drive from home. Rockaway, the very name bids me come. I say frugal because with a little exchange for labor we procured 2 days lodging at a cottage for free (imagine twinkling lights all around that word) and just a mere 2 blocks to the beach. Heaven (more twinkling lights.... just seems apropos).

And so on our tiny budget we had a tiny stay at the coast, complete with a tiny bottle of wine I just had to have for a tiny but lovely meal in with my beloved.

A to Z Pinot Gris, an Oregon wine on whose label are words to bolster the spirit in lean times. "Aristocratic wines at democratic prices".

And it was.

Twin Rocks at Rockaway.

Clara

2011-06-02T08:47:00.000-07:00

I got a jingle the other day from my dear friend Clara who lives one holler over and a piece further up in the woods. She was wondering if I might like to come on over for some tea and spinning. Woodoggie, you bet! So it was a date and one day last week I fired up the truck, loaded up my spinning wheel and in two shakes, I was at Clara's slow home nestled among Douglas Fir, fruit trees and lilacs on their 120 acre spread.

She greeted me tenderly at the door in simple house dress and apron with a smile that shines a little brighter each day that she draws closer to the Lord. It was a rainy day and I noticed the drops falling from the mossy roof of her old place with it's worn siding and felt the comfort of her loving embrace on a familiar and aging wooden porch reminiscent of the many that seem to grace the old places up here in the woods. She paused a moment to point a bony hard worked finger towards a roof peaking through a cluster of trees and superfluous greenery in the distance, mentioning that a daughter and family live there. And then she pointed to yet another, in which I commented, "How blessed you are indeed Miss Clara."

Clara and I enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of tea, spinning and sensible conversation. I learned a thing or two about wool, knitting, husbands and children. Abut the resiliency of hand spun and a good marriage and......

Linoleum!

The darkened pathway on this once all white diamond patterned linoleum floor boasts of the years of child rearing and family gatherings. The carefully tended lives of children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren make their mark, revealing depth and polish with every pass. Clara and her beloved shuffle through each day going about their daily tasks on this smooth as silk floor that speaks softly of their remarkable lives. Lives that are as resilient and pure as true linoleum.

The Ultimate Recycle

2011-05-26T08:51:00.001-07:00

See this 14ft. piece of timber? It's just one of four pieces of a huge shipping crate. It's lying here ready to be used in our garden bottom side up and those pieces secured to the bottom are actually the feet of the crate and took some head hillbilly muscle to pry off. But this is just the end of the ultimate recycle, let me take you back to the beginning.

HH calls me one day from work and says "Hon?". And that's all it takes to get me excited. He tells me that his work brought in a new piece of equipment and that it came in this huge wooden shipping crate. HH gets excited over large dimensional lumber like I do and he asked me if I thought he should disassemble the crate and bring it home. I said "woodoggie!", that means YES.

That chore took a considerable amount of time, but eventually he slowly pulled up the drive with the over sized, red flagged behemoth and we dragged it out of the back of our pick-up one heavy piece after another and laid them in our pasture. We admired those manly hunks of wood awhile before we wondered just what in the heck we were gonna do with em'. That was 4 years ago! We had no foreseeable idea what we would do with all this beautiful lumber. And as time would have it, a year had passed and our precious crate wood lay unused and partially overgrown with grass.

But then destiny took over and we endeavored on the ultimate recycle of this precious wood.

In a what! are you flipping crazy? period of life , we embarked on a complete remodel from foundation to roof of a shack (literally, it was virtually uninhabitable, except for the cats and mice in the neighborhood) in the little town of Carlton, Oregon. But we envisioned the lovely cottage it could be, rolled up our sleeves and got started, never knowing that our recycled crate would save the day.

You see when we solicited bids for the foundation part of the remodel. We never anticipated the cost of that project to be as high as it was and well, being part frugal, part DIY'er, part crazy, we did it ourselves. Deciding not to get all worked up over a little mortar, brick and brawn. (Shout out here to our guru of DIY and best bud, Glen for his invaluable assistance and know how). But back to the crate!

We needed to jack the house up to put in the new foundation and lo and behold those crate beams were just the ticket to support the house while we worked on it. HH fastened two of them end to end with some old scrap iron, then placed multiple jacks under them and up the house went. When we finished that project, we loaded them back up and took em' home and laid them back to rest in the pasture.

Carlton Cottage

Little by little we have recycled wood from the crate back into projects around the farm. And just recently we placed what was left into our vegetable garden and we marveled as we reflected on how far this wooden crate had come and the many uses it had served before ending up here in our garden.

Our newly planted hillside vegetable garden is now home to the remainder of our shipping crate. We created raised beds and borders using the recycled wood with nary a piece left over, just an empty spot in our pasture now that needs filling. ;)

P.S. And then there was Carlton Cottage II (our second remodel) and the how to of selling in a slow housing market.

Anything nice? Not Ever.

2011-05-20T08:28:00.000-07:00

Like any normal woman I like nice things. Delicate porcelain, rosebud patterned china, the ping of crystal. But over the years of unfortunte incidents I have come to accept that this cottage woman is the proverbial bull in the china shop. Consequently, there are no matching tea cups, plates, glassware, nik naks or paddy wacs in my cupboards or decorating our home.

When I hear the familiar and all too frequent shattering of another casualty, I've given up completely stomping my foot with hands on hips screeching, " Why can't I ever have anything nice!" Nope, doesn't happen because I've learned, and when I learn something by golly I've learned it.

Unless were talking about *sigh* the one teensy weensy exception in the case of one darlin' cowboy. He was just too hard to resist at the estate sale. ( Side note: I usually refuse to stop at these sales unless persuaded by the head hillbilly, because as I have told him over and over, as I do, that I will have to purge said purchase later. I stop translates I buy.)

But back to the cowboy. Obviously a day I thought I could take just an itty bitty look and not buy, yeah right. Gasping I found and fell in love with my darlin' cowboy and lovingly and delicately cradled him between my two dangerous and infamous hands and toted him home. Only to meet his demise in short order. I think if my handsome little cowboy could speak, in a wee little voice, "Please please lady don't take me there", I'd say, shut up, you're too cute.

Please, somebody, put my picture in the cowboy hall of shame.

Can you blame me? Just take a look at this little guy with hat in hand and kerchief around his neck and little blue vest and spiffy little shirt all tucked in. Even with his little head lopped off he is as adorable as ever!

And this folks, is why I can never have anything nice.

Slow Home

2011-05-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

I read this article in the newspaper recently with the phrase, "The Slow Home movement advocates designing for an easier life". It was stated that the average home built before 1950 was slow by design. That these homes are often simple, but they work.

We live in such a home. And it overly qualifies in simplicity because it was built here in the Pacific Northwest foothills of the coast range called the Trask Mountains 100 years ago. And it stretches the term "slow" to a "crawl".

I think a home built in the 1950's may have had more amenities than our place. If I could describe our abode "Little House on the Prairie" would be my first choice but then maybe "Little Box in the Woods" as our children refer to their childhood home might be a more accurate picture, but I like the image the first connotes better, and I'm writin' the story okay?

Our 2 level cottage is just a tad over 1000sq. ft. The living area (and man has it seen a lot of livin") would be half that and is the footprint our lovingly referred to "box" in the woods. With a small but welcoming rustic wood covered porch out front. It is a solid little "box" at that and was constructed from rough sawed full dimension lumber milled close to site for there were many sawmills in the area tucked into hill and holler as was the livelihood of folks living in the woods.

Within is a kitchen, living and only bathroom with small laundry room on the main level and three tiny rooms tucked up under the roof eaves for a Mom & Dad, 2 daughters and 1 son. We have a year round spring that serves our homestead but logging over the years has made it slightly too murky for us and we have a well for home use now, and we use the Spring for outside purposes. Wood continues to be our sole source of heating. Over the years when we could afford it we made improvements, but have never enlarged the size of our home. Our kids lament that we finally got a shower after they grew up and moved out, but hey, we could finally afford one. But now grown they have also said they feel that they are more appreciative of what they have in life and don't require a lot of material wealth to be happy and that makes us feel less remiss about their frugal upbringing. What they did receive in abundance was warm fires and home cooking, love and stories, furry kittens, faithful dogs, plucky chickens and a mean rooster, long pony rides in the woods and knowledge of a Savior who loves them. And a place to bring their own chillin's home to now and again.

I would surely be remiss if I didn't mention that a small "slow home" won't allow for frivolity of collections of miscellaneous items that don't serve a purpose or create too much clutter. Such things cry "too much" and are dealt with in short order. This could be shoes, clothes, toys, toiletries and even *grimace* books. And clutter happens, I know! A "slow home" can by experience find itself in an constant and undesirable state of flux. A continual gather and purge dilemma can ensue if your not careful. If your like me and are decidedly undecided about a purchase, it's a good thing. We get to avoid de-cluttering said purchase later.

So all this "slow" forward momentum takes practice (a lot of practice) developing skills to sustain it. It's a lot of work to live simply. But it's a good kinda work. And the sleep you earn will be a peaceful one.

Welcome friends

Slow Home

P.S. This reminds me of another story, the one about why I can never have anything nice. It's true. Later.

Hillbilly Basket

2011-05-14T11:34:00.000-07:00

Suddenly my world is perfect. Yesterday was the first truly dry day here at the cottage and I have been lovin' every minute puttering around the garden. I'ts got my juices goin' deciding what seeds or starts to plant where in the garden and even poured over into other creative projects. I pulled together some items around the farm, chicken wire, twigs and even some rusty metal and a big old rusty nail.

I present to you my whacky Hillbilly basket!

I'm thinking a trio of plantings for this darlin'. Shiso, basil and peppermint.

Oh, and I also gathered more sticks and twigs to make a trellis for my Scarlet Runner beans. Woodoggie! I'm on a roll.

God bless you & your garden, friend!

Quickie in the Kitchen

2011-05-10T11:21:00.000-07:00

Garlic, can you ever have enough?

I came across this recipe in the Oregonian's Food Day section a few summers ago. The Oregonian is my favorite source for some amazing reader submissions. This one in particular I make frequently this time of year. It's my go to quickie in the kitchen for those days I am tired and dirty from making hay while the sun shines. I'm always feeling a bit starved too when the sun begins to set and the last thing I want to do is spend the rest of a glorious Spring evening slaving over a hot stove. You know what I'm talking about right? Even optimizing the lovely weather with grilling feels like too much effort on those days.

Are you with me? Great, grab your cans and make it quick.

No Name Recipe

:: You'll need to pop open a few cans for this no-name recipe and cook up, el dente, your favorite spaghetti or Linguine pasta. ::

*Saute' a couple ( or more, yes more) cloves of garlic in extra-virgin olive oil.

*Add a 14oz can of tomatoes with their juice. Glenn Muir brand fire roasted tomatoes are wonderful but your favorite brand will work. Simmer for 10 minutes.

*Add 1 can of tuna. Ortiz, a Spanish premium white tuna is perfect but any good quality tuna will do.

*Finish by adding copious amounts of capers, and black and green olives. Season with S&P.

*Serve over pasta, and enjoy immediately with a nice glass of your favorite Red.

* Relax, you earned it!

Permaculture

2011-05-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

After attending this (free, free, free) workshop presented by Mike Fahy and Cameron Smith of Slow Food Yamhill County I realized that for years our life here in our little cottage in the woods is a fair albeit not perfect model of a permaculture. And I say fair because there is always room for improvement and the day to day workings of a permaculture are represented in " small and slow" solutions that occur over time. The word Permaculture is a combination of the words permanent and culture and is really a new fangled term for farming that has it's origins in Asia where it has been practiced for over 40 centuries. Or as Jude Hobbs puts it " A new buzz-word for an old way of living". How it all works together involves the complexity of thoughtful application of energy towards slower sustainable practices that over time produce healthy food and healthier lives. I heard the catch phrase "complex but not complicated". Now that's a motto I can dig.

David Holmgren, is the co-originator of the permaculture concept presented at this informative workshop. He has authored several books that were recommended reading, but the one outlined at the workshop and which I have linked for you is Permaculture Principles and practices beyond sustainability .

But what about the wine tasting? Saving the best for last folks!

There was so much to see and learn at the La Casa Verde Event that at the end of my day, I called in few fellow oenophiles for a little tasting and relaxation. Dominio IV is a certified Biodynamic Organic winery also located in the Granary District, in close proximity to the Saturday Market. I just sauntered, no sashayed, I mean mosyed (?) on over to their Historic digs that are part of an old grain silo for some of their lovely Pinot Noir, Syrah and Viognier.

Ahhhh..... so fitting an end to beautiful day in the slow lane.

A Day of shopping at Saturday Market and of course a picture to document the moment.

Okay, bear with me for a few more comments on this photo. I mentioned that Dominio IV is part of grain silo right? So I looked upward and took this shot of just a portion of the excruciatingly tall walls that loomed above us and went beyond what I could capture in the photo. But check it out, these walls were 2x6's stacked one on top of the other. I liked the texture and feel it gave the room. How's that for insulation value ?, and probably the best rodent protection if ever there was for an old granary.

Energy Efficient Homes

2011-05-02T20:22:00.000-07:00

Here's another installment from my day at the La Casa Verde green home expo I attended a few weeks back. There was so much jam packed into that day really. Even a lovely little wine tasting I will mention later after I (hopefully) complete the last little tidbit of that fun and informative day.

The event sponsored two short seminars. One of them was on permaculture (more about that later) and also a seminar by a neat couple of guys, John Mead and Carson Benner who own a local construction company called Cellar Ridge Custom Homes. It was free! (that oh so lovely word) and so what I learned I will freely pass on to you dear reader.

Cellar Ridge is a forward green minded custom home building company. Their concept is too build homes that are 50% more energy efficient for only 10% more added cost than the traditional to code building. They dismiss the idea for expensive solar panels as the first choice in making a home more energy efficient. In fact they explained to us that simply adding more insulation, caulking at the point of framing, southern orientation and energy efficient windows with pergola or overhang for summer cooling as a more common sense approach, as well as reducing the numbers of windows on the northern side of the house. Doesn't it just seem like a no brainer?

The new twist to me on some of these old time energy conservation methods was the preference of Cellar Ridge to build garages that are separate from the main dwelling with a breeze way connection, and usually situated behind or near the back of the house. They suggest that the common method of placing the garage at the front of the house is visually unappealing (dubbed, snout houses) and that these ugly snouts (garages) frequently share a common wall with the home and subsequently siphon energy from it. So true!

Their home designs had an old era appeal to them and their contemporary designs weren't over the top contemporary but seemed very warm and inviting.

The Saturday Market is housed in this old farm building in the Granary District and shares a common outdoor area shared with other converted farm buildings. Cellar Ridge implemented much of their design and energy efficiency options to the old place. I particularly like how they kept the barn theme intact and the color choice is very pleasing don't you think?

Up next? Permaculture. Can you dig it?

Garden Art and more....

2011-04-28T07:27:00.000-07:00

I've still got gads to yikyak about at my outing at La Casa Verde. No surprise I know, but I am with the utmost resolve going to do it in portions more easily to digest.(not a promise though) I am what I am.

So just a couple sights to share, the first this whimsical pair of birds from recycled garden implements that I am sure any self respecting farm has laying around in rusty piles. I was really inspired to find myself a welder and get to it.

Hmmm.. I have all these elements on hand, but I wonder how much work goes into removing layers and layers of rust, or would I just forgo the paint and leave the years old rusty patina intact? Oh whirly whirly!

I visited this cottage three times. I was just magically drawn to it. You think because I live in a cottage just slightly bigger and it made me feel at home maybe? Maybe. First visit I browsed at the eclectic collection of vintage finds. The second, I munched on an apple and browsed some more. Third visit I bought a new but old potato masher. The heavy gauge wire masher part was wider and appeared more durable then my plastic handled one at home. And the worn red paint on the wood handle? What's not to love about that.

I love this! This old truck represents all those faithful and rusty farm relics you are likely to find on most farms. A vision of days gone by. This one was faithful to it's calling and now stands sentinel here. It's pastel and rusty colors are beautiful to me. And of course the little signage on the door. ooohh....

do I like a little signage?

Let's just say me, a piece of chalk and a rusty old Chevy. Simpatico!

P.S. Gads more to come ;)

Our Easter

2011-04-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

A good time was had by all as the head hillbilly would say. Our gathering at our youngest daughter's home was filled with savory scents, laughter and music. Scattered showers gave way to some lovely afternoon weather so the lovely little ladies and lads were able to keep their Easter frippery from too much dampness and the egg hunt when off with out a hitch.

Post Script: This cottage woman was blessed. I don't know what it is but when I can get all my little chicks (and their chicks) together for such a glorious occasion as Easter, well, *sniff*, there are no words, but maybe just one picture.

A boy and his egg.

The End.

Earth Day

2011-04-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

La Casa Verde

2011-04-19T11:24:00.000-07:00

So the wet chilly weather has finally given way to some drier lovelier weather. And what do you think I did the minute the showers stopped? I beat it outa town! Acute complaining about the weather for a few days followed by instant procrastination the minute the rain subsided. Why?, I don't know. But it felt good, I so enjoyed my Saturday afternoon attending La Casa Verde, a green home and garden expo in McMinnville, Oregon.

The event was held in conjunction with the Saturday Market, so lots to see, lots of delightful aromas and flavors to partake, and fun activities. In the center of it all was a group of folks building a cob oven. The building actually commenced the previous day with setting a stone foundation. Then the cob, a mixture of clay subsoil, sand and straw prepared by any pair of willing hands was applied. The upper cob portion of the oven got a layer of burlap coated in plaster. When dried, more cob to finish.

By the end of the day the cob oven was completed by a tired and cobby crew, and it will operate every Saturday hereafter faithfully, by the famous Red Fox Bakery, a delightful local independent artisan bakery, I dearly love, well at least those ginormous macaroons. I really should try the bread huh?

Here are a few photos of the cob oven building for now, with a few more thoughts and photos soon about my day at La Casa Verde.

For the curious, "Build your own Earth Oven" and "Kiko's Page".

A Still Small Voice

2011-04-14T09:22:00.000-07:00

I'ts been chilly and wet these past mornings making it unappealing to muck around in the gardens in such sop. But I have taken these importune moments afforded me and yielded myself to quiet contemplative moments before the fire.

My dark and swarthy cat stretched out next to my rocking chair in deep repose. Lucky cat.

I am grateful for these special moments. Time to quiet my mind while I treadle the spinning wheel, gently drawing the wool and watching it slip through my fingers and onto the spindle. With only the sounds of the flickering fire and the gentle whirring of the flywheel, and a heart open to the still small voice.

¹¹ Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
¹² and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
(1 Kings 19:11-12, New King James Version)

Grilled Cheese Sandwich

2011-04-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah, Grilled Cheese. I thought a Grilled Cheese Sandwich segued naturally from the topic of my last sermon, er I mean post 8). C'mon, Abe and Grilled Cheese just go together. No? Well then School Cafeterias and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, now there you go :).

It is the official putting away of the big cast iron soup pot season. And I was thinking that the official bringing out of the big cast iron soup pot is just as satisfying as the putting away. With a lot more outdoor chores springing up like new spring weeds I find very little motivation to spending time in the kitchen. I know that stirring a kettle of simmering jam, minding a whistling canner of green beans and such will begin soon enough so I find myself leaning to quicker, lighter meals that don't make me want to curl up sloth like on the sofa afterward. A Grilled Cheese sandwich is perfect for those evenings.

I made quite a few of these last year as the head hillbilly can attest. With some slivers of green bell pepper, sweet red pepper and fresh picked basil melted into sharp cheddar cheese, Woodoggie!

Oops, that was sharp cheddar right? Not Processed American Singles? I fear my Citizenship may be at stake, my loyalty questioned. I did fancy a certain Sir too. If you don't hear from me, I went underground.

Thought Merge

2011-04-09T06:04:00.001-07:00

Okay my funky brain says don't do it. Don't do what you did last time. Freaky. But I'm not up to the battle of figuring out how to separate my duds and humdingers (I leave that to you 8) and because this is my "From the Trail" posting, I'm going to throw caution to the wind, let the thoughts collide and then go breathe in the fresh Spring air, find me a piece of moss, cause you know, "I like it mmmmossy", and hit the trail. You can click out now, I wouldn't blame you 'atall.

I watched this talk by Sir Ken Robinson on TED titled "Bring on the learning Revolution". I love his endearing British accent and wit, but most importantly, his poignant message. That our fast food approach model of education is impoverishing our spirits much like the way fast food is depleting our bodies.

It was inspiring and made my brain go whirly whirly, but in a good way. For some time now, I have pontificated, as I am prone to do, on the broken educational system in our country. I have suggested on a number of occasions that we dismantle and build anew. Want to make someone go all googly eyed? Just say that. Works every time. The thought gives folks a brain freeze. That's crazy, how dare I even suggest we try to change our most precious and fiercely protected American educational system. Because it's broke folks. If we could but dare to disenthrall ourselves with what is, we just might save ourselves. But, I fear if we don't dare to disenthrall ourselves we risk going down with a sinking ship.

It was inspiring to hear what I've been thinking for years now. Sir Ken Robinson suggests that the present industrial model of education of our children has squelched their potential, where as a more organic agricultural approach provides a healthier foundation rich in resources to nurture are young seeds, our children, to their fullest potential. Perhaps it's my own observations from "agrowin' things" but I can't help but dream of the wondrous benefits that are possible for our children and our future.

I gleaned words from Abraham Lincolns speech quoted by Sir Robinson to share with you here because I was struck by how fitting and motivating it was then and can be now in our present distress.

********

The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty and we must rise with the occasion.

As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves and then we shall save our country.

Abraham Lincoln's Address

Second Annual Assembly of Congress

December 1862

Trail Log 4.9.11

"Everyday, everywhere, our children spread their dreams beneath our feet,

And we should tread softly." Sir Ken Robinson, PhD.

The Horta, alive and well

2011-04-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

For those of you not familiar with the "Horta". I give you a short clip for history's sake. You might just remember that you actually are familiar with the Horta or at least a close relative. They are prolific I hear. Maybe you've been wondering what has become him. Time to find out.

Psst... He's a She.

Then in her youth as a film star as now the Horta is not very pretty. And okay it's kinda true people are a little skittish about her reputation as a simmering hot blob of matter reputedly devouring anything that crosses her path. But it's her job okay. Things get a little warm when consuming all the garbage folks throw at her. Sheesh, give the gal a break.

Really, her benefits far out weigh her deficiencies in the looks department. Trust me. So I hope you'll encourage her and her offspring to hang around your spread. And if you throw brambly debris, weeds, dirt, manure or even rotten tomatoes and banana peels at her and call her "compost", she won't mind atall'.

NO KILL

Wool Art And Dorothee's Hands

2011-04-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

I wish I could tell you that these lovely hued skeins of handspun were mine. That I spun and dyed them myself. But that would be a falsehood. No these skeins of handspun were dyed using natural plant matter like Indigo, Coreopsis, and Cochineal from the Sheperdess of the flock, Spinner and Weaver, Dorothee Kim.

I was so blessed to attend a small gathering of folks who came to hear Dorothee speak about her art. She lives in my neck of the woods and I am truly inspired by her work and I enjoyed her soft spoken native Swiss as she shared her history as a textile artist. Her vest in this photo is just a small sampling of her natural hand dyed pieces.

Dorothee employs various methods and styles of weaving she has learned over the years.

She also produces hand loomed objects like this wall hanging using only the natural colors found in her flock.

The beautiful and natural hands of Spinner and Weaver Dorothee Kim.

After a little web searching I found Ecologicalartist's Weblog and learned that many of the plants we have growing in our woods are great natural dye sources, like the peeling bark of the Madrone, and Oak Galls. I have some nice white wool rovings and lately have been spending some time spinning on the wheel the head hillbilly gifted me. I spin and as I listen to the gentle whir of the wheel and as I watch my hands I think of Dorothee's, and dream.

Trillium

2011-04-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

As promised from "Desperately Seeking" the first lovely Trillum of the season. Delicate and bright among the dark earthy browns of the forest floor. It's leaves enlarging with maturity and it's once brilliant white petals casting a mottled purple hue as it fades with Spring;

The delicate and unassuming Trillium holds fondness for me with it's legend of the three distinct petals representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity. It's whiteness the representation of Divine Purity and Holiness. A celebration of that first Easter, Christ's sacrifice, our redemption. Beautiful.

Oh, and I was baptized in the light, finally yesterday, a patch of blue. So may I hear a collective ahhhh from all you Pac Northwesterners. There will be sun!

Trail Log 4.1.11

(no foolin')

The Washing Station

2011-03-28T17:00:00.000-07:00

Why the feet you ask? I didn't want to horrify you with what the rest of me looked like after rooting around in the mud all day. Okay maybe not literally rooting, but at times i was on all fours digging like no body's business. Trust me the foot shot is the least offensive and if you just take a looksy at what humdinger (at least to me, but I'll consider your vote) these two little cottage woman hands made you'll understand.

An outdoor sink! Of course you say, everyone knows that you must have an outdoor sink right? I see you shaking your head with the "total dud" bubble floating above. Don't be hasty let me explain.

You know when you spend a long time in the garden carefully harvesting your bounty and realize that you need to wash your fresh tasty vegetables and you really don't like traipsing through the house to your kitchen sink with dirty vegetables and shoes and then clogging your kitchen sink with the dirt. So you kneel on the ground rinsing and sorting with the hose until your kneeling in a pool of muddy water and you can't get up from all that stooping and picking and rinsing? Let's pretend that you do okay? The answer of course the outdoor sink or more eloquently the washing station.

The original idea came from an old issue of Mother Earth News and when I laid eyes on it I knew at once this was at last my ticket to evolving into an upright Homosapien. I gleaned most of my supplies for the project from surplus items left over after the two remodels we did. Here's the low down.

****

~ First let me divulge that the idea was hatched in my noggin last fall. I knew that the sink needed to be not to far from the garden and situated as near as possible to the compost so I could toss refuse into the pile as I cleaned. The area where I wanted to place the sink had a lot crab grass and I could have waited to start the project this Spring and just dug the stuff out, but with a little forethought I saved myself a bushel of tedious work by laying a bunch of cardboard (an awesome mulch and weed suppressing source) on top of the grass in Fall and let it Winter over. Now I had a completely flat and weed free area to start right in on the project.

Next I dug 2 shallow footings and put in a couple inches of gravel heeled in to form a heave free base for the recycled cinder block columns. I turned the center blocks around and found I liked the little architectural flair it gave the columns. Then I topped each column with recycled stepping stones to cover the large holes in the cinder blocks. I positioned the recycled enameled steel dual sink in the center and laid the found rack loosely on top for draining the veggies on. I laid more gravel to cover the entire soggy cardboard and topped that with an inch or so of fresh compost and seeded it. But I couldn't leave it alone because we also have a nice pile of homemade stepping stones we made from extra concrete from a pour a few years earlier. Ta Da, two nice stones to stand on when working at the station. That's it.

You like? I hope so.

Preparedness and Soup

2011-03-24T08:20:00.000-07:00

Just saying the word preparedness makes me feel unprepared. Gets me a little anxious. And maybe that's why I have a sort of haphazard albeit organic approach to preparedness. We began thinking and implementing a storage system of sorts about ten years ago. And guess what? I still feel woefully unprepared in the event of a catastrophic event, even more so after seeing Japan's unfortunate tragedy. Where does one start to being prepared?

We ebb and flow in our planning for the event of an emergency reserving thoughts that no one can ever be completely prepared for an unseen event, believing that God is our ultimate provider. That's how we roll. Yet doing what we can, where we are, with what we have is my motto and guide in our planning.

The purpose to some sort of preparedness recommended by local and federal agencies is for families to be able to provide for at least 72hrs.(I'd double that for good measure)resources such as food, water, etc. to sustain yourselves in an emergency. You may have heard this repeatedly over the years in the media. I agree that the best way to help each other is to do what we possibly can with what resources we can reasonably acquire in order to sustain our families in the event of an emergency thereby giving our local and federal agencies the ability to effectively deliver aid as quickly and efficiently as possible to those more greatly impacted. Good common sense I know, but makes my brain go whirly whirly.

So where to begin? I would begin by researching on line Family Preparedness Guides put out by most state and federal agencies. Then figure out what would be the best in home location for storage. In our case we had virtually zilch storage space. However this prompted us to build a nice sized pantry in our barn. It's insulated and spacious enough for home canning supplies, dehydrator, and storage for winter vegetables in addition to store bought goods. But let me mention we seriously considered using the crawl space under our house as an alternative for the financial savings, and would have done it in a pinch if needed.

The unpleasant aspect of all this storage is the rotation of your supplies. I have made a point over the years of shopping to pick up maybe 2 extra items of canned goods for storage. I'll even use a sharpy to date them before putting them away. But, I am terrible about the rotation of these store bought canned goods into our diets. Because I prefer to cook using fresh ingredients or home preserved bypassing those cans of store bought.

Consequently, I have goods at least 12 years old. Yikes! Oh but I don't like to waste as you might have guessed from my Jiff peanut butter story. Well we have finally polished off the Jiff and because I like you enough to be a guinea pig for your experimental pleasure, I present you with our new trial with this 12year old dehydrated soup. Notice the slightly rusted exterior. Daring souls aren't we?

Guess what? We survived.

The contents were vacuum sealed under the foil lid liner. After giving the can a little (I mean vigorous) shake to loosen it up, I measured out a couple of cups, added water and within minutes dinner was on.

Now it wasn't the fresh cheddar broccoli soup we would have preferred to have but it was tasty enough. The dry milk taste evident but palatable. Overall it was good to taste the food we could possibly have to use if we needed to and so the experiment was worth it. And I like knowing that if our living situation was compromised this soup could be made within minutes. I like that it is available in family size too. And it stored really well for 12 years in the pantry. Way cool.

Jiff peanut butter and Bear Creek soup are keepers. Very long keepers. But don't do like me, rotate your storage. Start a storage. Think about storage.

Are you thinking?

The Greenhouse, It's still happening.

2011-03-21T16:50:00.000-07:00

If you've read our story about our creative upcycled Greenhouse, then you might have been wondering on how that project is going. Well, you know, life happens and our project was derailed when we began a remodel rehab project in our home town. It was good, exhausting but a lot of fun.

Unfortunately my dream of soaking in a tub of lovely herb infused spring water while relaxing in a hideaway of greenery was temporarily postponed for the time being. But good news! Keep your fingers crossed, we are slowly revisiting that long lost project.

To recap, we began building our greenhouse/bath house the summer before last by recycling old barn boards from an old barn here on our property. I can't tell you how many smaller projects we have made using these terrific rough sawed beauties.

We saved old double hung windows from our 100yr old cottage and recycled them too, scrubbing, priming and painting them "Mark Twain Grey Brick".

I also painted two old but distinctly different old doors for the greenhouse and painted them the same grey, but alas they never made it up last summer and for now we have old tarps covering the entrances for the sake of protecting the plants overwintering in there.

We lined the interior with cedar and boy do I love the smell when the warm winter sun happens to visit. It is so pleasant and I'm glad we decided to put aside our frugal sensibilities this once and invested in that wonderful amenity.

Let me tell you my frugal heart excitedly skipped a beat when we tore down an old ugly shed at the remodel house and came across these heavy duty old brackets. Yep, up they went in the greenhouse. Score!

We topped them with some cedar boards and ta-da, more shelving for plants. Frugal gal boogie goin' on here folks. I love a good savings don't you?

I hope you're enjoying the first true moments of Spring. I hope the soil is crumbly within your hands, that blooms abound for you to drink in, and your package of seeds are on their way.

And I want to leave you with another frugal gardening tip, a sister to the perfect paper pots.

While the weather is still a bit cool I'll stoke up a nice fire in my workshop. It's the perfect time to enjoy it's warmth while settling down to make my plant tags. I simply buy a large box of 500 wooden craft sticks (super cheap) and with some nippers I nip one rounded end to a point. Couldn't be easier and a savings to boot. I'm frugal like that you know. Oh, you know. Of course you know.

Another tip: a freshly sharpened crayola makes for a perfect water resistant marker.

P.S. Are your fingers crossed? Thanks, we really need to finish the Greenhouse.

T'is gowd to be Irish

2011-03-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

~T'is gowd to be Irish and dine on Bangers and Mash at Kells Irish Pub. Ah, tis good I tell ye.~

~Shure it's the head hillbilly D'ye see who's Irish but Oi don't let that stop me from talkin' the blarney D'ye see and imbibing a wee bit of Guinness D'ye see now.~

The traditional corned beef and cabbage was delicious too but oh my the shepherds pie I ordered was simply out of this world, so bear with me because I am compelled to pontificate on it's delightful attributes and that ain't no blarney.

Ground beef simmered in a savory sauce of Guinness with bits of carrots onion and peas. Topped with cheddar mashed potatoes then broiled until nicely browned and drizzled with demi -glace'. And perfect because it was just how I prefer it, piping hot. Not hot a little hot but PIPING hot! I needed to deliciously draw a bit of air over my tongue to cool it and sipped Kells Smithwicks Irish Ale between bites. Sooo delicious. A real lovely time was had by all.

Including this smart looking chap.

~Yes sur, t'anks be to heaven for a wee bit of Guinness an gowd friends.~

P.S. Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub in Portland Oregon celebrates St. Paddy's day with a week long festival of activities, plenty of Irish music, pipers, dancers and Guiness.

Check it out here.

Book Making

2011-03-15T16:00:00.000-07:00

With these supplies and one lovely assistant, my daughter and I put together a few small books.

If you remember how jubilant I was about the free class I attended courtesy of the Friends the Library about wine and terroir (read it here) then you must know how ecstatic I was to score again with the Friends by attending another completely free class on bookmaking. Give me a sec. I'm doin' the free boogie. Alrighty then.

I expected to hear a lecture from our featured artist and speaker Marilyn Worrix director and founder of McMinnville Oregon's Book Arts Center about her art of bookmaking and was elated that it was an actual hands on bookmaking class complete with free materials.

Score and boogie!!

There are many different kinds of books and many ways to bind them. Marilyn taught us how to make a simple single signature hard cover journal using a pamphlet stitch for binding. The supplies consisted of :

~signature paper (for inserts)

~decorative paper (for cover and endpapers)

~book cloth (for binding)

~davy board (heavy duty cardboard like material)

~linen thread (for binding)

~a bookmakers awl (for punching holes)

~PVA (Poly Vinyl Acetate, a special thin consistency bookmakers glue)

~paperclips (for holding and keeping pages aligned)

~exacto knife (for cutting davy board)

~bone folder (for sharply creasing decorative and signature papers)

~large sewing or darning needle

I know a supply list isn't as helpful by itself without instructions on how to make the actual book. But there are some terrific books on the subject for the determined through Amazon as well as how to websites you might try. I can say that researching bookmaking terms beforehand and collecting my supplies to use at home helped me in learning the techniques more readily in class, helping me breeze through the process. Not required of course but sooo helpful. So I hope this list will give you a head start in your pursuit of bookmaking.

My daughter gluing decorative end papers using PVA and a brush. The PVA is very thin and it is wise to use scrap paper under your project to keep your work and work area clean. Regular glue stick works fine for projects not requiring a long life or when working with children.

My granddaughter applying the bone folder to smooth surfaces and make nice sharp creases where needed.

You can't underestimate the value of a young assistant and future author bookmaker.

Bookmakers tip~

Place wax paper between covers and inside contents. (I went a head and secured each with a large rubber band). Then I placed them in a pile under weight for 24hrs or so using a heavy volume of books as a weight.

These are our journals fresh and new and ready for thoughts.

~ I share therefore I am~

Scourge

2011-03-12T08:02:00.000-08:00

I asked the question "Can there be too much green?" in this blog entry last summer. And I also answered it with a resounding "Yes there can!" I creatively try to compensate our fir needle shaded situation with gardens surrounding our little cottage in the woods thereby satisfying my longing for color in a sea of green.

Don't get me wrong. I deeply love the woods we call home and appreciate every green needle, shoot, bud and spore but without a bit of color it does get a bit overwhelming.

And it can make one susceptible to the wiles of the devil. Like in the case of Scot's broom commonly called Scotch broom or bloom, the scourge of the Pacific Northwest.

Here's an example: There's ol' beady eyed Jack if you can notice him on the trail on a winters jaunt surrounded by stiff pointy Scotch Broom. In summer this will be a swath of brilliant yellow. A burst of color in an otherwise sea of green. It would be a delight for my soul if not for the fact that I force myself not to enjoy it. Not to be fooled, whittled or bushwacked, because it's evil I tell you.

On hot summer afternoons you can hear the ripe and blackened pods of Scotch Broom pop like popcorn. Shooting it's minions far and wide in claiming more territory for it's Empire. It's a Goliath whose arsenal of seeds can live up to eighty years in the soil displacing native species at will.

This scourge of the countryside is a pioneer plant brought here by settlers long ago as an ornamental. It's an extremely hardy and invasive non-native species that has adapted well. It gains dominance by using it's attractive sunny blooms in seducing those of us living in the greenest of green environments to letting it hang out awhile. And before you know it, it's advanced because you're smitten by it's devilish charm. Evil scourge!

Okay that sounds harsh, but I've been told by aged homesteaders in these parts that this invader is pert near 100% creosote, and if ever sparked would burn hotter than Hades. It gives me the creeps seeing it snuggled up all cozy to the tree line so innocent and purty like. I see it's horns!

It's been 25 years since we first began our battle to eradicate Scotch broom from our property. Just yesterday I plucked new shoots growing along our drive. It's clear this mighty Philistine will continue to wage war long after were gone. I just hope some young ruddy Davids will come up the ranks by then.

Trail log 3.12.11

Hearth and Home

2011-03-09T08:40:00.000-08:00

I don't know what it is about the hearth of the home. Even in homes where a fireplace or wood burning stove is absent, we are mysteriously drawn to creating a facsimile of sorts that represent the hearth or heart of our dwellings. And any ledge will do. Someplace central to the home to create a little vignette or make do collection of our treasures that say this is home. Do you know what I mean?

Even when the ledge is in close proximity to the real or imagined hearth of the home there will be some trinket, found object or cherished family heirloom found there.

Like the cherished family momentos I saw at Big Table Farm on my visit to their home on my Wine Country Tour.

The farmers wife had decorated the family mantle, in an unusual place, overhead on the ledge of molding of an entryway, near the wood burning stove. I loved it!

I stood warmly by the stove gazing upward admiring her vignette of simply crafted whimsical pigs, metal signage and original art as I relished my lovely glass of farm crafted Pinot Noir. I lingered in the moment as I pondered the cherished family objects and the message it spoke about the folks who call this wonderful old farmhouse home.

It confirmed to me the significance of the hearth, the central sacred place of the home that draws every member or visitor to it intuitively. And how it is uniquely interpreted in myriad ways in our individual homes.

Here at Panther Creek Cottage our humble reclaimed brick mantle vignette changes from time to time. We have spent the waning winter's evenings enjoying the warming glow of a single beeswax candle in a simple vintage brass holder, found horse shoe from my ramblings, an iron star and small piece of petrified wood.

It would make no sense a'tall to a stranger but means everything to me.

It says home, our home sweet home.

Frog love

2011-03-07T11:56:00.000-08:00

Last week there were snow plows clearing our roads. One could easily be fooled, maybe even think that we were still in the clutches of Winters icy grip. But no. No no. I'm saying No!

Yesterday we had a passel of children gallivanting and cavorting among nature. Climbing trees, following mossy pathways, froliking in the sunshine and swinging in the big tire swing of our cherished grand old black walnut tree. Rosy cheeked and booted they played the afternoon away.

Winter played her cards last week. But this week Spring threw in the ace, evidenced by my granddaughter when she caught a little frog for all to admire. You see frog love is going on around these parts. The loving embrace between boy and girl frogs called amplexus happens the first week of March and delivers a whoopin' on Winter.

So I will lovingly embrace Spring revealing itself everyday. If frogs aren't hopping in your neck of the woods they soon will be. If you haven't ordered this years seeds, get hoppin'.

And check out my frugal gal's recipe for dirt cheap for starting your newly purchased seeds.

Alrighty then, I'm off to dance amongst the daffodils. Oh happy day!

Tracking Joe

2011-03-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

Come with me on the trail. It's Friday, and I got notions swimming around in my noggin I just gotta share.

When I ramble my wooded hills sometimes there is snow. And I am amazed by the evidence snow reveals about the other creatures who share the trail. Deer and rabbits, coyotes and possum, bobcat and porcupine. And those that make me glad I carry a pistol, black bear and cougar.

They'll appear and I can track them awhile and wonder what they were up to before I lose their sign and their tracks disappear completely back into the wooded darkness.

On this day when I started out I knew that Joe and his pony had passed through. There was no mistaking the hoof prints. Intuitively like an ol' hound dog after raccoon my tracking instincts ramped into high gear as I followed the same path. Except my nose wasn't on the ground so you can scratch that image. But my beady eye dingo Jack's was. And I watched him closely for more hints in tracking horse and rider.

I concluded that this pony was shod like Joe's pony usually is. There were dog tracks too running alongside weaving in and out of the pony tracks. Just one set, one dog, probably Joe's pup Mike.

Are we having fun yet? Oh c'mon, we're almost there.

I knew I wouldn't see Joe that day you know why? Because Jack revels in sniffing fresh hoof tracks taking in the delicious scents of a neighboring barn and pasture. And he wasn't doing that this time. These tracks were probably yesterday's with their fresh smells hidden in the frozen earth.

Every few steps I found frozen hoof popcicles. The snow freezes instantly to the cold steel horse shoes and then packs until it either pops out on it's own or causes discomfort and interferes with the pony's gait forcing cowboy Joe to dismount frequently to assist in popping the hunk of ice out of the hoof.

Enough of that behavior as my booty reveals would pert near make a sweet little ride turn sour.

I know that Joe's pony is a bay colored quarterhorse with fine agile legs and hooves. I didn't know until then that one of his hooves fits nicely into my cottage woman sized hand.

I think it's a rear hoof too. I made that conclusion after playing around with my collection of frozen hoof popcicles.

And then that's where I bid the mob g'day.

Their tracks diverted up this little trail to the left into the woods instead of forward down a very snowy decline. I can only guess that Joe and pony had their fill of icy hooves and called it a day. And so must I.

G'day.

Home Again

2011-03-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

I felt like George Bailey in the classic movie It's A Wonderful Life but in reverse as we journeyed to the airport the morning of my flight to California.

Because of the new fallen snow and icy road conditions we crept slowly up hill and dale leaving home, sweet warm home with it's curling stream of woodsmoke rising from the chimney. Everything moving by in slow motion.

"Goodbye little cottage in the woods."

"Goodbye little town just waking up."

"Goodbye you ol' snowplow, thank you."

In little over an hour flying time I was transported one season forward. And then I was saying.....

Hello sunny California suburbs!

Hello shiny white mercury. You make the sun reflect right into my cornea's. It hurts so good!

Hello delicate pink peach blossom, you make me hopeful.

I'm home now feeling refreshed having soaked up a little sunshine and blossoms in my soul and knowing that surely Spring is just around the corner.

If your dreamin' of being transported too with out booking a flight. Let Chris at

Red Gate Farm dazzle you with the bright colors of summer in flowers and veggies. I think I really really want to try some of her green "Envy" zinnias for Spring. I'm dreamin', I hope you are too.

California Dreamin'

2011-02-18T11:48:00.000-08:00

All the leaves are brown, and the skies are grey.......
California dreamin' on such a winters day.
Mama's and the Papas

1965-1968

My dreamin' will be reality when my plane lands in Sacramento next Thursday at noon. I was thinking of this on the trail today humming this tune as the rain dripped from my raingear. There will be lots to do before I leave for a short respite. If I had a hired hand, I could blog all the way up until I lock the door. But no, It's up to me to get my you know what together, and take care of business around the place before leaving. So I won't be blathering into the blogoshpere for one whole week! Egads! Oh my virtual world feels like it's crashing.

So In case of a crash let me send out one last thought of non epic proportions.

A little something from a great little blog The Feminist Farmers Wife:

"There's nothing the years and gravity will have taken from me
that I need to have back again."

Ponderings from the trail.

Desperately Seeking

2011-02-17T17:31:00.000-08:00

Trillium Ovatum
A Northwest Native Bloom

When I spot my first Trillium around our wooded home I am elated because it is a sign that Spring has firmly taken hold and the bonds of Winter have been broken. But it is still to soon for it's arrival and in the meanwhile I have been busily planting up this years order of Northwest Natives. This Pre-Spring weather is the perfect time for planting the Natives and when I get my hands in the dirt, it gets me desperate for Spring.

We have had such compliant weather lately, and it was a gift when I went to planting. No sooner did I pat the soil around my new purchases and in rolled dark clouds showering my newly planted selection of goodies. I beat the odds and it felt glorious.

This year I planted one Western Hemlock for an evergreen distinction amongst the plentiful Douglas Fir. 4 Pacific Rhododendron at the entry of our drive with a few stems of Rosa Rugosa near our mailbox. Further up our drive in some humusy forest soil I planted 2 Pacific Dogwood, 2 low growing shrubby Kinnickkinnick higher up in the rock garden and 4 Twin Flower, another short but trailing ground cover by my little woodland greenhouse. Lastly, I planted in our small lower pasture in it's boot sucking marshy area, 4 Native Willow. It should quickly provide for me plenty of material to practice what I learned from the basketry class I took two Springs ago.

I'll be keeping an eye out for the Trillium on my ramblings and when I find it you will be the first to know.

Ladders: what you should know

2011-02-16T11:02:00.000-08:00

For starters, they are the handiest most innocuous looking tools around the farm and require no manuals or electricity to operate. Cool right? But as I painfully learned, they must be used appropriately for safe results. Who da thought?

Obviously I didn't last year, when I climbed up one quicksilverlike without a second thought, only to find myself teetering like a character in some freakish cartoon, swaying and then thud, as I landed in the back of the bed of our pick up. Please don't make me answer, or explain, or anything else. Suffice it to say that if the dadgum ladder ain't long enough, find a longer one. The end.

P.S. What you should know about ladders, extension ladders in this case:

Extension ladders like most step ladders are made of either aluminum or fiberglass. Our preference is the less expensive aluminum as it meets our frugal pre reqs, but that alone does not equate a purchase.

Aluminum is also lighter than fiberglass and I can manage a 24 ft. extension ladder by myself if I have to. It is also weather resistant, if we need to store it outdoors. I'm not sure if a fiberglass composition ladder can hold up to the elements as well.

These three extension ladders are Aluminum and are rated for weight load.

Type lll/200lbs
Type ll/225lbs.
Type l/ 250lbs.

From there it goes lA, lAA, for higher weight loads. If you consider the work load which might include more than the worker but say a worker routinely climbing with a bundle of roof shingles helps in determining ladder choice.

The ease in extending the ladder is facilitated by the cord and pulley. Oh how I love this feature because with our old ladder, I would lay it on the ground, adjust the length and then prop it back into position, often multiple times to get the right height I was needing. It was time consuming. The rope and pulley allows you to adjust the ladder from an upright position much more easily.

So the winner is ladder number two, the one in the middle with the blue cord. A Werner brand, 24ft., Type l Aluminum ladder. And an additional purchase of a stabilizer. A fantastic ladder attachment I will never go without again. If only for the safety one feels when the ladder is pert near fully extended. It's an aluminum arm like feature that snaps into place and spans out from the place where the ladder meets surface area for an oh so comforting sense of safety that can not be over emphasized. (ie, ladder and pick up fiasco), and my personal recommendation.

P P S S. A useful trick when shopping at your favorite building supply store:

There are just certain measurements not provided by the manufacturer on a lot of items in the store. And having a "measure stick" as HH would call it is a handy thing to bring a long on your shopping trip. But alas, if you are like us and forget to bring the stick. You can find one handily right there and it can be operated, with out opening the package (who would do that?!:)