In search of heat

Our search for a weekend warm up lead us to the Yakima Valley in search of the perfect peppers. Yes, I know, last week we were escaping the heat at the Oregon Coast, but this weekend we were escaping the grey drizzle here at home. In 2008, we took a very warm respite across the mountains with our friend Lisa. Then, the temp was 109 degrees and I was melting! This time, a nice comfortable 77-84 greeted us on the Eastern side.
Here's the proof of the peppers. The new string of peppers (2010) on top of the old (2008). The Yakima Sunday Market is famous for its wide array of peppers. I purchased 12 different kinds to spice up our dishes. We also found wonderful heirloom tomatoes, squash, spice mixes, jellies, honey, apples, peaches, and purselaine. What's that last one you might ask? A shrubby succulent herby edible that delicious for both humans and chickens alike. Feeding it to the cluckers increases the omega-3 in their eggs by ten times.

Grapes at the Bonair Winery. This is always our first vineyard destination.

These are Chardonnay grapes. We bought a bottle of their reserve Chardonnay after tasting, delish with buttery overtones.

One more of the grapes. We also liked the Bonair Riesling and took home a bottle of the reserve Merlot for David.

A lovely lily on the pond at Bonair.

The wine from Bonair.

We first met this turkey on the lane to the Bonair Winery. It was hanging out with two dogs and a few chickens in the front yard of a home. On the way out of the winery, we encountered him again, this time on guard patrol. He didn't let us by for awhile. When we did nudge forward, he gobbled loudly and attacked the front of Lisa's Mazda. Eventually, he let us by. The poor soul in the vehicle behind us decided to stop, get out of his car, and attempt to take pictures, up close and personal. We didn't stay to see the result, but were laughing all the way out of there.

Alex and Ari at the Silver Lakes Winery in the Rattle Snake Hills. We didn't see any rattlers, but did see lots of magpies around the wineries and osprey in the Yakima Valley.

Lisa taking a picture of us on the Silver Lake Lawn. Bar-be-que was cooking, wine was being poured, awesome live music was playing, and the sun was shining.

Alex and Ari sitting on the winery's wall.

A view down the hills. I sampled the Pinot Gris in the new line for wine loving chicks called Girly Girl wine (honest to goodness!). It was good!

Finally, a flower photo (I just couldn't resist).

Oregon Coast Vacation

When the temps hit the 90's in the Puget Sound, we head to the coast to cool off. Last weekend, we went to the central Oregon coast for a few days. We stayed in Lincoln City.
Lincoln City: rocks in the slough.

Lava rocks in the bay on the way to Depot Bay. On Saturday, we visited the Central Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport.

Anni and Alex hide in the mangrove roots at the Newport Aquarium.

Seahorse hanging around.

Japanese spider crabs grappling for territory.

Jellyfish.

Flying saucers? No, more jellies.

Huffy puffins.

Entering the reef tunnel.

Eaten by yet another shark. (Every time we go to the beach!)

After seeing all those fish, we needed Seafood. Lunch was at Mo's, an Oregon icon for clam chowder - yum! The Historic Anchor Inn in Lincoln City.

Hanging out with Maritime Mary.

Anyone got a nickle for the pop machine?

Seriously mom, we only need 1 life preserver!

Fountain posing.

Getting ready to head up the coast line.

Waving bye to our favorite ceiling artifact.

So long, Anchor Inn.

Anni beckoning her pirate.

Alex and Ari on shore leave. On Sunday, we spent the morning exploring Lincoln City, visiting taffy shops, book stores, souvenir stands, and a kite emporium. Then we fueled up on gas and caffeine and headed up the coast.

We took the 101 up the coast on the way home, stopping at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. It was very crowded with dairy loving folks.

Water rocks near Cannon Beach. We stopped here for a seafood lunch before driving through Seaside and on to Astoria.

The bridge back to Washington and the long drive up I-5. We had a great respite from the 90 degree weather at home! The future farmers were great travelers!

Crazy Busy Week

Asiatic lilies continue to bloom. Beside them is our old mailbox, repurposed to hold the small garden tools.

The roof rafters are up on the green house - wahoo! While this plant home is coming along in great shape, our 40 year old house is beginning to show its age. Our upstairs bathroom plumbing sprung a leak, luckily over the downstairs tub! David took a look and decided it was time to bring in the pros.

Rainbow Swiss chard bundles, stuffed with feta cheese, wheat berries, veggies, herbs, and a single chicken sausage (for the carnivore males in the family). They were delish!

Anni is in her third and final week of cooking camp for the summer. Today she made a fruity chicken salad and then, salmon with a balsamic reduction sauce. Both were awesomely good! She had a special visitor in camp today, her school OT, Jeannie. Anni picked up her goodies after camp; a big bag of cooking utensils to use over the next year for cooking projects at home. She can't wait to get started with the pasta maker!

In other news, Alex is busy researching the Oregon Coast for our upcoming trip, and Ari is preparing for her Math final tomorrow. Many thanks to our friend, Lisa, for the review session with Ari last night! Good luck Ari!!!

Humongous Farm Box

Our CSA farm box arrived yesterday. It was actually not 1 but 2 boxes of goodness. Here are the veggies: ginormous romaine lettuce, mixed fancy lettuce greens, baby turnips, celery, rainbow chard, ginger root, broccolini, potatoes, tomatoes, green onions, avocados, and mushrooms.

And the fruit: mango, huge kiwis, oranges, plums, donut peaches, and apricots.

Wednesday's fast dinner was a market/farm box/garden collaboration. The main dish came from a local vendor at the Kirkland's farmer's market, chicken tikka masala, cardamon rice, and naan. The side veggie was the broccolini from the farm box, and the salad came from our garden. Fast food that was delicious and healthy!

Our veggie Thursday dinner: pesto penne (Ari made the pasta) with a Caesar salad, complete with homemade croutons (courtesy of Alex), heirloom tomatoes with crumbled goat cheese (mom), and for dessert; plum tart (Anni and mom, not pictured, warming in toaster oven).

I couldn't resist a close up of the beautiful tomato dish!

Making like the mustard and ketching up.

Okay, okay, it's been a few days since our last post. Here's the ketchup:

Anni continues cooking. Here she is measuring out the cream cheese for a pastry crust.
Anni graduates from Pasta and Pastry camp.

Anni continues to COOK, along with the rest of the family. Here's this week's cooperative farm dinner. Anni and mom made the desert - rustic plum and cherry tart with a hazelnut butter crust. Ari made the garlic tossed greens. Alex made the pesto sauce for the pesto chicken with tomato, and David made the roasted baby potatoes with rosemary.

Today's mini haul from the garden. Lettuce, tomatoes (both ended up in my lunch), sugar peas, green beans, chives, and a chard leaf (all ended up in Alex and Anni's lunch), and a handful of berries (which we ate for our morning snack). Hmmm.

Big green tomatoes on the vine. I did tons of garden work this weekend: trimming tomatoes, weeding, transplanting lettuces, weeding, deadheading the daisies, weeding, redirecting squash vines, weeding, and harvesting herbs. Did I mention weeding?

Our bed full of pollinator attracting flowers.

The Asiatic lily blooms!

Hens gone wild on their morning bug hunt.

A flicker visits the back yard.

Another view of this fine fellow. He was joined by two more flickers, right after I pocketed the camera.

The guys in action constructing the green house.

And engaging in a little construction ballet.

Dude duets even!

The green house is coming together (and hasn't fallen apart yet!)

You go construction crew!