Big Visitors

These are major big guys that ambled past our windows yesterday.  Seven big bull elk came towards the house from the grove of walnut trees. They circled around through the lower field and came out on the other side of us.  From here they headed up towards Muffin Mountain.

They know that we watch them, but for the most part just ignore us. The flash of the camera set them off.

In another month or 6 weeks they will lose their antlers. A few months after that we will begin to see the cows with their calves.  What a treat!

Presbyterian Rummage Sale

Okay, here is where I admit to total disfunction, or a life truly lacking in substance.  Have your pick.
But tomorrow is one of my favorite days of the year.   

Tomorrow is the Presbyterian Church of McMinnville's Annual Rummage Sale.  It is so much fun, and so sweet.  The ladies of the church make pies and the men of the church serve coffee.  It is obvious that they all look forward to their rummage sale as much as I do.

Last year's bounty included an old, in perfect condition 1950's Kitchen Aid mixer and bowl for Megan's kitchen.  Some beautiful and never-been-used cloth napkins and table cloths from Paris.  Canning jars with new lids and rings.  Some wine racks that look like they were made out of kids building blocks.  Luscious Pendleton wool fabric. A sweet old wooden card table. 

Even Mr. Shoulder-to-the-Grindstone has me keep an eye out for farm stuff.  "We could use some staplers/staples  for putting the tree protectors together, and we still need some half-inch fencing for the blueberry corral." 

As for me, I am open to whatever serendipitous stuff should come my way.  I have no idea what prizes await this year, but I will be there early tomorrow morning to find out.

Bread!

 

Just like the Little Red Hen, I really like to make bread.  In the summer it's easy because I put it on the old red truck to rise.  A little more difficult in the winter time.  I don't have some yummy warm place to put it for rising.  However, yesterday's bread turned out beautifully.  It made me laugh because it kept growing and growing.  Ended up being about 15-16 inches in diameter.  This recipe uses semolina flour.  Semolina makes a pretty yellow bread.  The flour has to set in liquid for 10-15 minutes to soften it up.

Toasted for breakfast.  Yummy. 

A Family of Otter

From Public Domain Clip Art

We have spent the morning watching a family of river otter frisk around in the small pond. We have never seen them before on the farm.


Would have loved to get some pictures, but too far away.  They were eating something from the pond....crawdads?  small trout?   

Watching the four of them for an extended length of time has been a real treat. 

Cheeseheads Unite!

Pictures taken at the Oregon State Capitol on Saturday say it all!

Over 1200 People Showed Up in Salem to Support Wisconsin Workers!

Libby, the Snowplow

Here's Libby, wheaten snowplow terrier, loving the snow. 

I'm not sure that she can see.

It's snowing!

Snow on Muffin Mountain

Yesterday, a female Northern Flicker banged into the kitchen window, left quite a few feathers on the pane.  We found her lying below the kitchen window with blood flowing from her beak.  Poor birdie.  Sid picked her up and held her.  Now, I know it sounds stupid, but she seemed like that helped her....maybe the warmth of his hands holding her.  Anyway, we thought she was a goner, but didn't want the dogs or something else to get her, so we sat out on the front porch and held her.  Pretty soon, she started looking around.  Then suddenly, without warning, she pooped all over me and flew off. 

Look at the size of her beak!!