Temporarily home

G'day my followers!
A few of my pictures I have to share: First  a Koala in the wild.. Isn't he adorable? and yes so were the kangaroos. I learned my way around pretty good with a MyKi pass on the tram.

Finally caught up with jet lag, laundry, Moved my daughter Pj and her two sons Peyton an Mason from Yakima Washington to Home Sweet Home here at Blue Sky Farm. We took the boys to their new school today and registered them for first day tomorrow. It will be a wonderful school for them.. Small and their teachers were very welcoming to them.
Just unpacked  my Australia clothing and nearly time to pack for Kauai . Leaving Portland next Wednesday with my sister in law for 10 days.
Australia was beautiful. Melbourne is the perfect city with a tram system to get around town easily.
I visited the Botanical Gardens and took over 500 pictures as well as a week on Hamilton Island on the Eastern side of the continent, snorkeled in the ocean and enjoyed the time with my daughter Nancy.
 Our ocean view was breathtaking  as was the entire Great Barrier Reef.  Now I as I switch back to holiday mode and prepare for Kauai,  I know I am a lucky gal and extremely grateful to be able to see these beautiful places in the midst of the beginning of winter here in Oregon.
I hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving Holiday and the things you are grateful for.. More when I return  Dec 1st.    Aloha!

Busy Busy Busy

I must apologize to my faithful readers..I have not posted since Sept 15th... I have been so Busy.... The garden is put to rest, now the potaoes are harvested and "the girls " are happy to be back inside the garden gate.
My pantry shelves are full and I just made batch of blackberry Jam.
My sister and her husband came to visit and left yesterday after a week of fun and she helped me make the jam. I had time today to change the guest bed and refresh the room.. Clay's brother and his wife are arriving tomorrow late afternoon.. Monday I have routine labs done at the hostpital and Tuesday is my follow up Dr appointment before leaving for Australia.. October 11th.  (Thats only 11 days from now ).You know how that goes, getting flu shot and rx refills for the time away.. I have a couple things ready to pack but not quie sure what I will need for weather conditions there.. I am thinking  early "Spring" attire: layered shirts and sweaters cropped pants then once there we fly to the Barrier Reef so tropical summer clothes. How am I going to pack all this in one large case? Easy daughter and I wear nearly the same size so I will borrow from her anything I dont need to take..
She has planned a great itenerary for us.. including a couple wine tours, dinners, sightseeing and kick back time and to celebrate My 65th Birthday! I know I will be exhausted after the 15 hour flight say nothing about the four hour drive to catch the first leg of the journey from Reno to Los Angeles.. Lucky my flight leaves at 11:30 PM so I can sleep ( I hope ) on the plane. That is if I am not too excited to get there.. books on my Kindle Fire will be handy and my daughter told me I will have the opportunity to watch 5 movies.. OMG.. Have you ever taken a trip this far? .  I will miss my husband and Buster but this is a trip of a lifetime and "a bucket list"item.... and They will be fine "holding down the fort". My mind is racing and I am trying my best to keep organized..I promise to post  while away... so come back and check in..

No. Not my front porch.. I saw this on FB from a friends site and had to post it here.. Is'nt it inviting?

Enjoy your Fall decorating and I hope you get to make a trip like this sometime too..

I really SCORED

Today I really scored while out with my friend Leslie.  After a nice breakfast we headed on into town to complete some errands. We  stopped to "look" at some new furniture we were both in the market for.  I am looking for a new bedroom set.. and found a perfect one at a great price, but the husband is out of town until Tuesday and we  have an agreement not to make any major purchase without the other being present.. But I got a  deal I couldn't pass up..You know how that works..  Well here is the purchase I scored big time. This recliner rocker chair is a dura -fabric looks like leather  and a floor model has a tiny scratch on the side and a smudge on the back .Retailed at $699.00 My price $50.00  Yes,, 50 and the three drawer chest with a tiny scratch at the bottom... listed at $599..My price $20.  My husband  will be surprised when he gets home Tuesday..I didn't tell him I bought them..
I think I scored well don"t you? It always makes me feel Good to get a bargain and these were brand new off the showroom floor.  

Its feeling and looking like Fall

It is begining to look and feel like  Fall around here.. I started decorating my door and got side tracked ( yes I do that often.)  I noticed that our local "Klamath Falls "midgies or greenie"  Bugs have finally disappeared..Thank Goodness..the swarms were bad this year...

We could actually  walk out to the garden with out face masks.. They do not bite but look like a greenish mosquito and are a real treat for the birds and fish.. so they are of some good I suppose.. The underside of these sunflowers leaves provided shade  during the day.. and were covered...  if disturbed they would swarm.. Yuk!
 I dont know why but  two of the these 5 sunflowers produced multiple  flowers.. pretty huh? ( from the same seed packet... go figure..)

Today we took in the 61st annual Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair..  To me this means Fall...

Loved watching the sheep shearing demo... This sweet animal seemed to like his haircut.. 

And  of course there was  a huge array of Fair food choices.. and being a gorgeous day certainly added to the pouring of fair goers.. old an d young alike.. 

I didn't have my camera with me only the cell phone one so I missed taking shots of the gorgeous handmade quilts and food judged displays.. These  are some of my favorite things to see along with the animals.. So that's what I did today... how about you? Is it feeling like Fall where you live?

Travel,Travel and More Travel..

I suppose, one might say  that I am being spoiled.. I love being retired and travel is one of my favorite things to do.  (and it is true.)   I am getting excited about the upcoming travel opportunities! First to Australia to visit with my daughter Nancy and her husband Simon. They have been working and living  in Melbourne for over a year and have paid for my trip for my 65th birthday.. How sweet is that?

I have never been there and with all the things m daughter has planned I will not forget this adventure. we will be also flying to Hamilton Island for a week while there, just the two of us.. exploring the Barrier Reef..

Back, When I turned 60  my two daughters Nancy, Pj and daughter in law Michelle went to San Francisco and spent three days. I thought that was a fabulous adventure..just the "girls".  Wow!  I am so blessed.

When I return after this adventure the first week of November, I rest up for a couple weeks and  will be back in the air the day before Thanksgiving... This time to Hawaii..with my sister in law Jackie... for 10 lovely warm days in November. Her air miles paid for both our flights..how sweet is that?  I am really going to enjoy the time with her too.. Our husbands are going to remain at home keeping those warm fires burning.. while we are warmed by the sun... Its quite a job I am finding  figuring  out what clothes I will need to pack.. Spring in Australia .. tropical weather in Hawaii...  I am truly a lucky lady to have the time and a husband so supportive of my adventures.. I will  be posting many pictures when I return.. Can you think of a better way to end the year? Just think of all the Christmas shopping I can do..
Have you got travel plans coming up?  Need to get out the packing list...
Good day my mates and Aloha too..

Ocean waves..

Can you hear the waves crashing onto the beach? Smell the salty air? Or feel the warm sunshine? 

After driving north up the Pacific coast a view of the fishing  going on at the mouth of the Rogue River as it pours into the sea... and then on up the coast to another small quaint town of  Bandon   where we purchased two beautiful crab.. (dinner tonight.) ..a cute light house don't you think?
We really enjoyed our mini getaway and will look forward to another this fall.

Rogue River at Gold Beach

 The view from our room..  next the sea port where the Rogue River and Pacific Ocean meet. A great fishing place and soon to be tried by my husband in a few weeks. We took a drive and came across this pretty spot where the road winds  around into a private property. The tug boat ( The Mary Hume) was a tug boat that was in service for 91 years before "docking" on her own power where she sits at the mouth of the Rogue River at Gold Beach  She came ashore in 1978 and although battered, weathered, left abandoned she has a very artful appeal don't you think?

I don't think we could have asked for a better two days than this. Sunny and glad to be here. Headed homeward tomorrow, driving north up the coastline...

Family reunion Campout

 A bit of planning and we put together a great family reunion. A spot was chosen, secured and as we arrived from Klamath Falls, Woodburn, Portland and our surprise appearance from Santa Barbara California. Clay's family gathered, it had been 40 plus years since the four siblings had been together for a camp out.  Oh My ! After 5 days of laughter, sharing of stories, food, and "spirits" were high and the fun camp songs and games will be a memory long not forgotten. Our campsite was huge.. we also had 5 dogs with us , a trailer, camper and two tents... We took a long 2 mile walk through the forest together. We were lucky to be able to have a campfire * with it being so hot and there had been many forest fires around, It was contained nicely in a huge fire pit. 

There was a pretty creek..running close by .... a very cold icy cold creek to cool our feet and take these pictures by... (Clay and I sat here as long as we could with our feet in the water.)   yea, it was truly refreshing on the hot afternoon...

We left to our own homes and will try to get together again at Christmas time.. So as you see this picture of the four siblings was taken at the end... of the time together...

Garden harvest day one

Home after a great time with my sister in Wenatchee and a short visit with my mom and daughter.
I went out to the garden  to peek at what might be growing while I was away... Was I surprised to find my peas and beets ready to taste. Yummy... along with the Walla Walla Sweet onion and a few Yukon gold potatoes and a couple sweet banana peppers.
On my way home I stopped and bought a box of peaches and a box of apricots to prepare for the dehydrator... I love this time of the year... don't you? Nothing nicer than being able to bring in fresh produce and fruit to our table.
We are planning  to take another camping trip next week so I know I am going to be busy in my kitchen this weekend. I have a recipe for a basil margarita I am going to make for sure too...
Summer has finally come and I am really enjoying it. Are you picking fruit and vegetables from your garden?

"preserving " the bounty with my sister

First the "dilly beans". Then pears and cherries in the dehydrater, then a few jars of pickled beets, and finally finish today with 10 half pints of apricot pineapple jam.. Yummy!

It's time to preserve the fruit"

Well again I have neglected posting in a while.. Preparing today to drive to Wenatchee, Washington early tomorrow morning  to my sisters house.  We both love to can and make jam, so what better chance for sister time? Wenatchee is a great agriculture area for fruit trees.  Apples, cherries, peaches apricots, and pears. I have packed my jars, dehydrator, and jam making ingredients and will drive the 10 hour drive. My husband will stay home with Buster and the chickens and ducks.. We have a camping trip planned mid August so he will be preparing the boat and camper for that adventure.
I don't mind driving alone, I know the road and the weather is good. I plan to make a few stops along the way for the stretching of legs and (potty breaks). Stopping for a short coffee break with my daughter Pj and then on to my destination. My sister has dinner plans for us at 5:30 so I wont "dilly daddle.. put some music on and enjoy the scenery. ( hope to capture a picture or two as well.) So  come see the fruits of our labor in a few days as I will post from there too. So its off to slumber land right now cuz the sun will be shining soon.... and off I go.....

Girl time scheduled

Well here it is  mid July 2012. I have been busy, busy,busy. The "family" went home Monday and my house is almost back to normal. I love having company and the house was overflowing with kids, and laughter and meals outside. Its quiet now and as I pulled out my planner today I penciled in some "Me
Time".
Today, I had my hairdresser work some magic on a summer do.  I really like it. I feel recharged and like ,a new woman..
Next week starting with an eye exam Monday, Tuesday shopping and lunch with a friend and Wednesday a trip to Bend with another girl friend. Often people say to me "You are so busy". I sometimes appear more so than other times. Our retired scheduled life " is pretty much impromptu.  If Clay feels like jumping in the car to "Go". I am ready. I love that I can do this. We have had some great adventures in day trips and longer journeys.  Life is good and we must make every day count. My garden is coming along, the chickens are doing well, and the ducks are happy living on the pond.  I think my Sinus /Allergy situation is under control.  Another Camping trip is in the planning stage and a trip to Washington to visit my mom too...I guess I do want to do it all... and why  not?
So, I will be off next week playing, shopping, maybe taking a photo or two.
Do you have a planner to keep your schedules or do you just take what comes?  Sometimes I like to do both... depending on my mood.. Enjoy  these nice summer days whatever you do..and take time to do something special just for you....