Archive for ‘June, 2013’

Sunday, day of rest

I didn’t plan on a busy Sunday, but one thing led to another…

Saturday evening I filled the motorhome fresh water tank with water and a chlorine mix. The mix sits overnight and then a rinse tank…

I also assembled a meat-herb mix for a kind of pseudo American style gyros meat recipe.

Bright and early on Sunday after bringing the meat to room temp, I fired up the grill and roasted the meat.

Bear was extremely interested…

This worked out very well and although it is not like spit-roasted gyros, it is flavorful and tender and I am extremely pleased with the result!

Back to the motorhome.

Killing two birds with one stone…I hope!

As I got ready to drain the chlorinated water, I got to wondering how the weeds would like a bit of chlorine in their water…

I’ve been procrastinating with the vinegar attack. (see Thistle Saga 2012)

I moved the motorhome over a nice patch of weeds and let ‘er drain.

We’ll see.

Meanwhile between the draining and rinsing and 2nd draining, I quit my procrastinating and wheeled my vinegar cart here and there until I was out of vinegar.

And I mowed the grass.

I trimmed.

I cleaned up with the blower.

I went inside, cooled off and took a shower.

1:20 p.m.

Time to take it easy.

And have a blackberry-goat cheese-lemon thyme tart.

Sunday, day of rest.

Snippets from Saturday

Just cut rosemary…for crackers.

Croutons for salad or soup.

Ripening avocados.

An heirloom tomato and sweet grape tomatoes…and lemons…and sunhine in the yard.

Afternoon nap.

Afternoon nap outside.

The rosemary gets ready to jump in the crackers.

Sunroom light.

A bit of work.

Rosemary garlic crackers.

Snippets from Saturday.

**latest news from my folks: the fire has calmed a bit as it moved out of the beetle destroyed trees into healthy aspen and ponderosa. The wind shifted. At the moment, things look better for South Fork. My folks and their pets are comfortable.

Longest Day

This first full day of summer, the longest day – it has been a long day for me but even longer for my folks. My folks live in South Fork, CO. The entire town was evacuated this morning in front of the West Fork Complex fire.

It was a scary day yesterday (Thursday) as the smoke from the fire was thick, sometimes red and full of ash and burnt pine needles. My folks started organizing to leave late afternoon and kept at it through the night so when the order was given they were ready to go with their three dogs and cat. They were able to load some keepsakes, various supplies, a good amount of food, clothes and medications. After checking into a motel, a good friend that lives on a ranch called and offered accomodation so they are in a good and safe spot that is comfortable for all. I am relieved and grateful that they are where they are. The fire conditions in Colorado are fearsome – deadly dry, hot and windy and this fire blew up and appears to be making its own weather so is burning hotter, moving faster and not “sleeping at night” like a “normal” fire**.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of the firefighters and responders that put themselves in harm’s way to protect what they can.

On the good news front, Bob, Bear and I are all well and I had a good work week – YEA!

Bob has finished a round of the latest medication and although the photo below might look funny, it is an incredibly good sign – this is the first he’s been able to groom normally. He’s been doing some – the easy stuff, but this was a full out, full body bath – HOO-RAH!!! He is only slightly wobbly, a little bit of head shaking but no “sloshing” that I can hear and he is now hearing me. We are switching to a different med combo next week just to be on the safe side as the particular bugs he had have a reputation for developing resistance and we do NOT want any back sliding.

From all of us to all of you, a happy Friday and Summer Solstice and thank you to all who sent emails of concern for my folks.

**Wildfires typically drop down as temperatures fall and relative humidities rise overnight, i.e. they “sleep”/smolder.

Mariposa Lily

I photograph these every year.

I love their pretty shape and delicate color.

They bloom 1 to a stem but the woods is full of them now.

Mariposa Lily.

Those boys

Sunshine, on my face!

Shade, blue sky and cool, green grass.

I am feelin’ better!

Srsly, Dude…you need to keep the ears clean. You won’t believe what happens when ears go south!!

We’ve gotta stick together bro’.

Beans on toast

Beans on toast…from my British cozy mysteries, “Beans on toast” is comfort food from a “tin” (can in American-speak): brown bread toasted and buttered with canned baked beans…not a thing wrong with that!

I think I might be the only one of my family that LOVES beans. My Papa might have, but I think they didn’t love him!

Beans and me – we do fine!

My beans on toast.

My own ciabatta.

My own baked beans.

My own cilantro-jalapeno-spring onion vinaigrette.

A dollop of sour cream and a leaf of cilanto: beans on toast!

The bean mix is Rancho Gordo’s: Brown Tepary, White Cassoulet and Christmas Lima beans.

The sauce is a very slight modification to Homesick Texan’s Barbequed Black eyed peas recipe: White Balsamic in place of the Worcestershire, the addition of smoked paprika.

The cilantro-jalapeno-spring onion vinaigrette that I am currently drizzling on almost everything!

May I have an AMEN?!!!

Simple fare. Elevated a bit. Good stuff.

Other news.

Mr. Bob.

We had a Friday ear check and are trying an injectable drug over the weekend with some research/consult, etc. to happen on Monday and then a decision on the next step.

The very good news is that Bob continues to eat and drink VERY well – with normal output from the intake! He is wanting to be with Bear and I normally. Both ear drums are intact. BUT…left ear continues to be the nemesis. RATS.

We’ll see what Monday conversations turn up.

Meanwhile, we enjoy life…

Mr. Bear…mouse and vole hunting – under gray and cool skies.

Happy hunting Bear!