Good Afternoon
12/9/25 1:30 48f (8.8C) Steady rain, no wind. ...
Christmas Firetruck Parade 2025
https://youtu.be/tQEbCDfb41s A small town tradition, the annual Christmas Firetruck Parade rolled through our neighborhood this evening. In years past the neighbors have gotten together around a bonfire out by the street to watch them go by, but that...
Good Evening
11/18/25 6:00 42F Just got back from a mushroom foray with Walter and Mike. We went out around 1:00. It was an overcast day with enough breaks to provide adequate sun to navigate through the trees. Immediately we spotted Amanita, Lepiota, Russula and Stropharia. Our...
Good Afternoon
11/9/25 Clear, sunny, and warm. We decided to forage for cranberries and mushrooms instead of doing yard work, so Amy, Walter, and I piled into the car and headed north. We picked up Mike on the way and by noon, we were on the road to Trout Lake....
Halloween on the Big Lava Bed
It was a beautiful, crisp autumn day when Kent and I drove north into the Big Lava Bed. The road was rugged, just ruts worn into jagged rock, winding between collapsed lava tubes and stunted trees finally arriving at a flat...
Good Morning
2/8/26 7:45 40F (4.4C) Overcast and wet. No wind. Mist drifts down the ridge through the the dark silhouettes of tall conifers. The sky is sodden gray and leaking. It rained all day yesterday. Apparently, it rained all last night. It is raining now....
Good Morning
2/7/26 7:00 41F (5.0C) Calm, overcast , dry. It continues to be unseasonably warm. Last night Jody, Dave, Amy and I went to Portland where we met Andrea and Josh and enjoyed the Winter Festival of Lights. It was beautiful and surreal. An all ages rave in...
Good Morning
2/6/26 6:45 40F (4.4C) Still air, cloudy skies, dry, with no wind. It is quiet so far this morning. A few birds are chattering. Occasionally one will flit by. A pair of ducks flew up the canyon, chuckling as they passed. Walter Dawg has made his rounds...
Good Morning
2/5//26 6:15 40F (4.4C) Calm, overcast with a light mist. Another tranquil morning . The moon, waning gibbous behind the clouds, lends the sky a dull gray glow. The cat is eating breakfast on the front porch. The dog is in watchful repose on the...
Good Morning
2/4/26 6:00 40F (4.4C) No wind, no rain. Somewhere behind the clouds the moon is smiling. Owls call back and forth. A dog barks up the canyon and Walter answers. A car hurries by, headlights flashing through the oaks. Overhead, the distant rumble of a...
Dutch Oven Trailer Trash Casserole
Trailer Trash Casserole: Tater Tots, diced onion, ground beef, Cream of Mushroom Soup, cooked in a Dutch Oven, finished with grated cheese melted on top. Ketchup added to taste. Ingredients 1/2 bag of Tater Tots 1 diced onion 1/4# ground beef per person 1 can...
Irish Toddy
My new favorite is an Irish Toddy. Place a slice of lemon and a squeeze of lemon juice in a mug. Cover with scalding water, leaving room for one ounce of Shanky's Whip and one ounce of Irish Whiskey. Give it a stir and enjoy. Repeat as necessary....
Nettle Soup
Stinging Nettles are a nutritious early season foraged food which can be found throughout the United States. Gloves and garden nippers and a little care make it possible to harvest them without getting stung. Drying or boiling the plant neutralizes the stingers,...
Foggy Meadow
Foggy Meadow This layered drink reminds me of dense fog blanketing the field behind our house. The club soda calms the anise flavored Pastis, allowing it to play nicely with the rich caramel and vanilla of the Shanky's Whip. I think you will enjoy this. Ingredients ...
Mushroom Stuffed Burger
I had some fresh chanterelles, a half a pound of ground beef and some grated cheese left over from last night's dinner. It was lunch time, I was hungry. A stuffed burger seemed like the obvious solution. Ingredients ½# ground beef 1-2 medium...
