Posts by Liz

The best thing about Summer

The best thing about Summer is that when it’s over, it is Fall! By the calendar, Summer is just a bit past half over. But here in Northwest Montana, it feels like we’ve turned the corner and are blasting towards Fall. Although the days have been getting shorter for almost 2 months, it seems suddenly noticeable. The angle of the sun is getting a bit lower and the “good” light for photography is coming back. The latest heat wave broke before the weekend. The forecast is for upper 70-low 80 temperatures and very cool nights. We will probably have some hot days in August and even September but it is different in August and September. The days are short enough that it takes all day to heat up and immediately starts cooling off.

I love this time! Fall and early Winter…my favorite time of year and we are getting close. Half the fun, as with so many things, is the anticipation. I can enjoy every day of Summer now as we’ve turned the corner to Fall.

Photo taken 8/9/2009, Somers, MT from the east. Somers from other directions in the links below:

Somers in Bright Light

Somers from a different direction

Will talk for cherries

Like the old Burma shave signs, the signs for the cherry stands line the road into Bigfork. But this sign that advertises not only cherries, but “Tiny the talking bird”, wins the prize for most unique.

And the stand is unique as well. Most of the cherry stands, whether in town or in front of the orchards are kiosk size, like the smaller stand at the far end. But the Bush Jubilee Orchards stand is indeed special.

Clarice Bush of Bush’s Jubilee Orchards (since 1960!) was working Thursday afternoon when I stopped. As I mulled over my purchase and asked if I could take photos she told me that next year is a big year for Bush’s Jubilee Orchards – it will be a celebration of their 50 years growing cherries along Flathead Lake.

Black sweet cherries and Rainier sweet cherries were available today. Organic, and washed if you’d like. Samples are available in case you are undecided. I tried 2 or 3 of both before buying a pound of each as well as a jar of jam.

Then I got to meet Tiny, a salmon-crested cockatoo. Tiny talks, but has figured out that if he waits to talk until given a cherry, he gets more cherries!

He seems to be saying “So why do you think that’s funny?” He actually said “Hello”, very loud and clear, several times. Then he commenced to digging into his cherry!

First step is stem removal.

Tiny took his time. The stem came off quickly and then the cherry was positioned so that he could “open” it to remove the pit.

Tiny, the talking bird…will talk for cherries.

***”Household” Note added 8/9/2009: The air conditioner was put away on Saturday, 8/8/2009 with the knowledge that it may need to be retrieved, but GREAT hope that it can stay stowed!!

Teaser

Can’t you just taste it??? Homemade cherry jam*, butter (real, I use no other!) on a toasted muffin…

This is sweet cherry season, specifically Flathead Lake Cherry season. Cherries have been or are being picked on the orchards around the lake. (May – Cherry blossoms around the Lake ) There are cherry stands in front of each orchard as well as on the highway passing Bigfork.

More on cherries this weekend, but I will say that my story involves a famous talking bird named Tiny…

*Jam homemade by the cherry grower with the stand.

Changes are brewing…

Coffee brewing has become slightly less automatic here at From the front porch.

Above, ye olde coffee maker. A bit hard to tell from the photo, but it was LARGE. It is a Capresso Grind and Brew and unlike other Grind and Brew machines, the grinder (a burr grinder) was to the side. The filter basket swings over under the grinder and when the grinding is finished it swings back and brewing commences. I had 2 of these – one in the house and one in the motorhome. I’ve had one for nearly 10 years and the other for 6 or 7 so despite the fact that they are expensive compared to the regular coffee maker, their life span has been excellent. Both, however, decided to kick the bucket nearly in tandem this summer.

I had already regressed from using the grinder much so started looking for something simpler and smaller. I love my coffee and I love it hot, strong and black. I will spare you all the dithering and almost ordering I did before I bought the Chemex.

No parts to break or clog and cleaning is a breeze!

The brewing process is a bit more involved than pushing a button, but the up-up-upside is that there is no plastic and no plastic taste coming through and the resulting cup of coffee is wonderful! I’ve been moving from plastic use – using mason jars or pyrex instead of tupperware type containers – and I like it. I can’t and won’t debate the health benefits but things taste better and glass is easier to clean.

From the pot, the coffee goes into the airpot thermos where it stays hot all day long and I can sip away at what tastes like a fresh cup each time. It is early days and the brewing shenanigans are fun at the moment. We’ll see how it goes long term. But for now, I’m happy with the brewing change!

Karl is looking a bit down as changes have been brewing with the weather. He wasn’t all that happy with the heat of the last several days, but last night we had thunder – loud, right overhead kind of thunder. This morning it is overcast. He doesn’t trust overcast after a night of thunder.

It is supposed to get very cool (60’s F) and rainy and then stay at “seasonal norms” (mid to upper 70’s). Changes are brewing…