From Buster's viewpoint

My dad hooked up the boat and told me to get in the car, I never miss this opportunity.. when he says "Go I GO... but

Of course we had to take Auggie too.. Let me tell you about our ride.
"So we got this boat to go boating in.. I am not afraid cuz I have been in a boat before with my dad... Here I am sitting down up in the bow area..* thats the front " of the boat and my spot.

The water in Lake Klamath looks deep but it isn't...this time of the year it is really green from yukky algie my mom says. and nobody swims in it.. we didn't go really fast but of course Auggie is a fraid, my mom picked him up and put him in the back. (that's where he sits) Then our mom took this picture of the boat moving. Auggie did eventually move to the front by her and went to sleep.

He missed out on this pretty view and the birds that we saw on the lake. Next time maybe he will like it better. It sure was a pretty day to take our first ride. My dad said we are going to bring along a bed for Auggie next time, to sleep on..and He said we would be going fishing... (I wonder if Auggie will like that?) What is fishing any way?

Created A special quiet place..ahhhhhhhhhhh!

The perfect Spot for sitting on a hot summer day... My own "girlie retreat" for sipping afternoon tea or early evening wine...I do not know why I never thought of this spot before, It is perfect for a quiet place to read, thumb through magazines, outside with the birds, flowers. The edge of the pond is right there, Singing Red winged black birds, meadow larks, pretty butterflies & dragon flies flutter and cat tails & juniper shade me . I want to build a small bridge walk way down the 4 feet to the edge of the pond, and plant some flowers in pots. The begining of my own space to reflect, read and relax with nature. I have been thinking of where I can sit and enjoy the pond.. it was right in front of my nose... and only steps from my front foor. The dogs love retreiving sticks thrown in pond and playing in the water to cool off. And there are many other plans for this space.....Don't you think?

It our new toy for the lake.

Finally made the purchase.


We now will have water travel. Since we live here so close to being on the Klamath Lake and other nearby lakes we can camp & take the boat out for better fishing,...It is a 15 ft aluminum boat, with a 25 horse Johnson power motor, and another for trolling on chosen lakes. The previous " captain " kept it in great working order. I really think we will enjoy the benefits of having the boat. So when do we go fishing? I am ready! the weather is great and there are fish in those lakes... Buster will love to ride in it too... not sure if Auggie will like it though... he's kinda afraid of loud noises... we shall see....

Road trip

I have been busy this past month, I wanted to share with you a few pictures I took on the recent trip Gail & I took. My youngest daughter graduated from Central Washington University on June 13th. I invited Gail along for company on the 7 hour road trip. We truly felt like Thelma & Louise on the road in my Chrysler convertible and had a great time. Pj graduated with honors and her family proudly posed with her. She could not have completed her BA without her son Alex who fed, bathed, & cared for Peyton & Mason while Mark worked at his job and Pj worked and went to classes during the day & some evenings. She created a real prize in that one..

On our way home we stopped when & where we wanted and often to capture some great photos. This one of the homestead was taken in Kent Oregon, we pulled off the road and took this great shot, We couldn't help wondering what stories these old walls hold. The old gas station I am sure must have also been a store.

We continued along to the town of Saniko, a small quaint western town trying to stay alive. Fortunately for us, it was a nice day and a few shops were open. We actually crossed paths with another couple of gals from Klamath Falls, they had been antiquing in BC. After talking to them about Mary Jane they have emailed me that they are interested in joining the Klamath falls Charming chicks..* Small world out there*

There were some old buildings with wooden wagons, a jail, and this old truck was parked off off the main street.in front of an old Blacksmith shop of earlier years.

We met a sweet gal minding her shop called the "Ranch Woman.."She painted on barnwood , and a few quaint items for sale. We enjoyed our visit with her.

It was one of many to come days that Gail & I can enjoy as we travel the back roads of Oregon on our way to the Mary Jane Farm Fair July 3rd- 5th. I promise to post lots of pictures.

Gone fishing!

I told you we were going fishing with Gail, And we did! We had a great day outting. Clay caught this fish the first one of the day to make it to the inside of the boat. I had a nice on on but it jumped off the hook as I got it to the boat.. Fishing was good. I caught all the ones total of 3 that were just under the keepable size....Gail continued to catch 4 & and actually the biggest one of the day. They were gorgeous trout. This one was about 16 inches long. No picture taken for some reason but Gail's was much heavier. It started to cloud up & rain but we did have a great day out onthe lake. Thank you Again Gail for spending the day with us and the use of your boat. We definately want to go again. We cooked our trout for dinner last night and it was delicious !

A great anti-pasta platter

I have been thumbing through recipe books for cocktail party canapes. I prepared this one saturday night when I entertained Saturday night.. Not only does it look great, it was delicious.

A pretty platter of Artichoke with Aioli , Sweet roasted red peppers, salomi and olives.

I Paired it with a nicely chilled 2007 Oregon King Estates Pino Gris. No fuss and easy to make.

Easy Lemony Aioli Recipe:

2 cloves minced garlic

1/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup Light mayonaise or salad dressing

1 T lemon fresh lemon juice

dash of chili powder.

Prepare artichokes & steam in water, with whole or sliced lemon wedges, two garlic whole garlic cloves. * Drain and allow to cool . Peel outer leaves and set aside while you chop the heart of the artichoke and fold into the mayonaise mixture. Spoon a dollop of the aioli onto edge of each artichoke leaf, or serve in individual dipping bowls. Enjoy

Many family Celebrations in June

My sister Judy & her husband Al and Clay & I at dinner in Klamath Falls Friday Night. They were here visiting us for the weekend from Arizona. We were celebrating our 3rd Wedding Anniversary.

The month is full of celebrations as our families prepare for their futures. My oldest daughter, Nancy graduates from University of Washington with an MBA, her husband Simon also graduates with his MBA from Oregon Technical Institute along with her son Jacob graduating from Highschool. My youngest daughter PJ graduates with her BA from Central Washington University. My dear friend Gail and I will drive to Washington to see her accept her diploma . I was unable to attend the ceremony for Nancy, Simon or Jacob, but We plan to get together in July to celebrate their accomplishments.

Next week I will quickly repack and on Tuesday June 16th, We will Drive to Las Vegas where on the 20th Clay's daughter Stephanie will be married at the Excaliber Hotel & Casino. The Severeide clan will join us for the event. A very busy month for sure. We look forward to this family reunion, and I will post those pictures when I return.

and Here's Charlie

So I must brag a bit. This is one of the latest pictures of my youngest grandson Charles. He is now pushing towards his 8th month birthday. His parents are so good about keeping me up to date with the latest photos. This was taken last weekend at the other grandparents cabin. Charlie is wearing daddy's fishing hat. No just tell me is he cute or what? More photos are posted on Charlies blogsite. you can click onthe site from my lsit of blogs. Please feel free to check out the photos..& I know they will make your day.. ( they sure do mine)

ahhhh! Home Sweet Home

A picture perfect evening tonight,
With my camera close I jumped at the opportunity to record again, why we love living here on Blue Sky Farm. (#1) is of our pond where two Mallards have returned making it a sure sign of Spring. I looked from my Kitchen window I was able to capture the stillness just after a short rain shower.(#2) Look at that Rainbow, and you can see the pot of gold is right at the pond. These two shots are out the front of the house. On my way back to the house from the pond shots above the back yard fence is a (#3)view of the sky over Klamath Lake lastly (#4) a metal basket of spring greets us with Home Sweet Home at the front entry.

Our Mary Jane Farmgirls Garden

Gail & I have been busy working on our MJF "Charming Chicks Chapter Garden" You may have to enlarge the picture to see the palnts growing.

We go there every Wednesday to plant & weed & eventually Harvest. We will share the labors with our chapter members who participate in the maintenance and the land owner who generously has allowed us to use his garden space , He will water it and also share his harvest of strawberries. So far this is what we have done in two weeks time. What fabulous soil & these plants love it. We have planted all organic & heirloon seeds & plants of Corn ,Green beans, Squash, Carrots, Beets, two different lettuce varieties, Chard, Pumpkins, Tomatoes, Green Peppers, Jalapino Peppers, Hungarian Wax peppers and Brocolli.

It have avereraged one and 1/2 hours of our time and about $50 in cash. We think this is a great project to be involved in. The excess harvest will be donated to a local food bank after we share among our families. We plan to make salsa as a group project and I will teach a canning & jelly class.

Life goes on....It is spring

See the flowers, Finally Spring is here in Southern Oregon. Life is renewed and as I walked deep in thought through this open land tucked in amongst the yellow carpet of wildflowers was this lone blue flower. (I love wildflowers.) I couldn't help but to think how it had struggled through the long cold winter, drinking what it needed to thrive and then popped through when the sun warmed the soil so it could unfold and show its face and take a strong hold in the dirt, living life to its fullest, bracing against any harsh wind blowing through the juniper trees growing strong around it. Too soon it will fade and drop its seed to start the process all over again. I feel a bit at odds this week as I learned of my ex husband's sudden death. Every living thing in life has its own journey and as we grow and develop the best we can by the blueprints laid out before us, we do not not know when the life as we know it will end. Like that flower, I lift my face to the sunshine and feel life warmth around me and brace for the future whatever that should bring. Happy to be here, where I am surrounded by the things & people that mean so much to me, and the earthly elements that nurture me I am aware of breathing and being alive. Lucky to have brought my camera along on this special day to capture this living growing beauty.

Front patio Inspiration

I bought this fabric a few months ago, I painted one chair and then other projects took priority. So today I decided I do not want to sit on those nasty old cushions any longer. ( plus we have company coming) So I painted the second chair this morning and just whipped up the covers. I now need a new table covering, an umbrella for the table a few colorful plants and we will be set to entertain, as well as enjoy our morning & evening meals here. What a difference a bit of fabric & paint can make, and dont ya think it looks nice?

Daytrip fun & we went swimming

This was a fun day, My mom & dad took me and Auggie for a daytrip to look for really nice camping areas for the summer. This is Cottonwood Meadow. We also went to Cottonwood Lake where there is a dock for us to run on. Mom took this picture of the creek that we were able to play in. Here Auggie and I are waiting for a stick to be thrown in the water for us to fetch.

Ready! Set! Go!
He is bigger than me but I am better.
See, I got it first cuz I am faster than he is. He tried to take it away from me too. I swam back and my mom & she & dad took turns tossing it back in the water for us to fetch again. Auggie and I had fun.

The water was nice and cool, we played hard and Auggie didn't want to share the stick very much when he got it. He took it away from me many times.

Here we are waiting on the dock for mom to take our pictures while we dried off on the dock. Auggie doesn't always pay attention, see here he is looking away when Mom said for us to "say Cheese" for this picture.

When we got home, I was really tired from running and playing.

But, We will be ready if they decide to take us again tomorrow or whenever the next time we go cuz then we will go camping overnight. We really were good in the car my mom said and I got to sit in front on mom's lap so I could see where we were going and Auggie had to stay in the back and watch out the window. I think I am still special.

Home Garden Planted

Today Clay & I finished planting our home garden.

It is going to really be nice when everything blooms & produces vegetables for fall harvest.

Now planted corn, yellow wax beans, green peppers, aneheim peppers, jalapino peppers, tomatoes, beets, peas, potatoes, artichokes, asparagus, and rhubarb.

The two trees in front of the garden on the lawn are a cherry with 4 varieties and a golden delicious apple. We also have a MacKintosh apple tree, blueberries, blackberries, marion berries, strawberries, raspberries and watermelon and sunflowers. It was a perfect day to finish planting but just as we completed the temporary fence to keep our chickens out the wind came up and it has turned a bit chilly. Temperatures are to remain inthe low 70's for the remainder of the week with lows inthe 40's. Tomorrow I will join my friend Gail at the Charming Chicks Co-op garden for our routine check of plants and any weeding needed. I sure hope the wind doesn't blow out there. All in all a very productive day for the Severeides'at Blue Sky Farm.

Meeting of the Farm Chicks!

Mary, Tina, Joann ,myself, Faith & Gail

The Klamath Falls Charming Chicks drove to Grants Pass Sunday morning to meet the Rogue River Chicks for Lunch and a wander around an Antique Street Fair. What a delightful group of gals they are. We then stopped at the city park where we were able to sit & Chat under these gorgeous trees, a welcome break out of the 98 degree sunshine. We will be joining them June 26 to build a float to ride on in the Rooster Crow Parade June 27th. Then we will have the pleasure of sharing time with them at the Mary Jane Farm Fair 2009 Buggy Barter Boogy July 3 4 5. We are going to really have fun with them and hope too host them ion our fair city in the future.

Oh, I am in trouble.....again

Gail & I were finally able to go plant some vegetable seed & onions at the Charming Chicks Co-op Garden patch yesterday for a few hours. It was a gorgeous day & will be just as nice & nicer the rest of the week & next...Then we drove out to her house so I could see her new "trailer " she is going to "Glamper" It really is cute and she has adorable girly girl plans for it. I can't wait to go Glamping with her. Well the trouble I got into was on the way to her place, I was following her in my car when she quickly made a u-turn to stop at a new AntiqueCollectable Shop. Well of course I followed her and My Oh My! What a darling shop it is.. and the prices are unbelieveable.. I saw this window shelf and pictured it immediately on my diningroom wall with my other Chicken stuff... as you can see it fit in nicely! What a bargain for only $15.00.

Tomorrow I could be in more trouble we are going to Grants Pass to meet up with the Rougue River Chapter for lunch & a street fair... I better go count my pennies...& blessings

The Sign says it all "Welcome"

Finally the freshly painted posts were set in concrete and after many, many coats of sealer on the blue sign after my dear son Dennis & daughter in law Michelle sent this to me for Christmas after they had already spent hours creating it. I will add our House numbers soon and it will be nicely seen from the driveway entry to our home. I will plant some pretty bright colored flowers too when the weather warms a tiny bit more, to accompany the white tea rose, grasses & lavendar plants. We might offer fresh eggs, wildflower honey & fresh produce this fall but the U-Pick blackberries are going to take a couple years. The sign has a few other offers that will probably never be put to use like Sleigh rides, where they came up with that one is beyond me.. However Clay has requested one more and ( if they do make it) it will go right up there under Fresh Eggs " "We Don't Rent Pigs!"quoted right from one of his favorite books"Lonesome Dove". Yes, he has quite a sense of humor matching that of the sign creators.

Checking in on the Bees

Do you see those happy bees? How many do you suppose are on that frame? I have no idea but they sure looks good, and they are buzzing and doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing.. The frames are filling with eggs, larvae, pollen and nectar . We noticed several frames that have cells that are being capped off where brood & honey are sealed off with a thin waxy substance.
There is so much more to raising bees than one can imagine. Clay seen here, is checking this frame for the queen, and making sure that the cooler weather has not hampered the growth of the hive. The warmer weather & sunny days has made the pollen source here made us believe it truely is spring. He will periodically must check the frames making sure there is no contamination of any disease in the hive and so far all is well. The first year goal is to maintain a healthy hive and not so much to harvest honey, but you can bet that we will get a sampling by the beginning of Fall.

Home again..and ..Back on the farm

Home a few minutes checked out my baby chicks that are now big baby chicks.. I decided to put them in the coop with the Dottie, Queenie, & Miss Goldie of course Big Al . The 7 new chicks * unnamed at the moment* were

not bothered by sharing their quarters. I put up three new nesting boxes and two perches in the "Studio" to accommodate the flock.

I planted 7 strawberry plants outside my kitchen window all within the first 3 hours home. I had a fabulous time with my sisters.. and SanDiego is still in there. We didn't do any damage. We went to a local presentation of an Agatha Christie play "The Spider web" and it was good. We shopped and walked everywhere so I got plenty of exercise before we ate and enjoyed the local wines. You know...It is always good to be home. There is just nothing like sleeping in your own bed but We are planning another Sister Weekend next year. But now its back to work & play here at Blue Sky Farm..... and the weather looks great for gardening this week! Horray! It is going to warm finally....and now I have laundry to do & bags to unpack...

Packed just in case....

I am sure you know that some airlines don't offer meals or snacks when flying coach.. * the only way I can afford to travel by air. I always hope for an upgrade.. doesnt happen ever.*...so I am carrying my own treat. I am going to meet up with two of my younger sisters and enjoy 4 days in San Diego , where the sun is hining and warmer than here in the PNW . No husbands, no pets, no kids... Fun Fun Fun. I have had such a craving for these bars for weeks.. I bought 4 last trip to the store. My friend Rene' from Mary Jane Farmgirls is cheering me on while another friend Carol...and also MaryJane farmgirl is telling me to "just say no!" I am sure she would understand now that she knows why I packed them.. You all know (just in case) they do not offer snacks....

These are my favorite treat .. they melt in my mouth and leave no chocolate mess. I do love chocolate of course but it can get messy... I seem to always end up wearing a tiny bit that dropped on my shirt or worse on my pants while seated & when it melts , oh Boy.... well You know what that looks like.. So I will be safe.... I am excited to travel with my sisters .. we have not had a "Sisters weekend in 15 years" I do see them both probably 4-5 times a year but not nearly enough sister bonding time.. and we really do appreciate these times together, when we can be silly, drink wine , play cards, & sit our on our Candy Butts around the pool, eating dinner

out and splurging on thsoe gotta haves while shopping... I'll be posting when I return next Monday.. and I hope all of you Moms have a super Happy Mothers Day !

Off to the Beauty shop

I have so much fun running and playing outside and once again I got really dirty chasing bunnnies and Auggie around the pond again .

My dad said my coat was too long again, and then he said I was going to see "Ronna,"I like her she is my hair dresser/groomer.

I was so happy I danced with joy. I love to go to town to HotsPaw. Auggie cannot do this trick.. but he can sit and watch me and doesn't get dirty playing in the mud like me because he doesn't have naturally curly hair. His is straight & Mud & water falls right off him.
So here I am now all shampoo'd and wearing my summer cut.. even though its raining outside still and I can't wait to go back to the pond to watch the ducks.



Don't you think I look handsome now?

Bees in their New Home

This will be their permanent location. Straw bales were placed to provide protection against any northern wind. Each frame has busy bees working to provide food for the "Queen " so she can lay eggs for future worker bees.. Only One queen reign in a hive.

The completed hive holds the frames securely and the bees will start gathering pollen from wildflowers to produce honey.

Our Bees are here!

They arrived in a 10"x 21" box buzzing. Each "Nuc" contains about 10,000 bees including the "Queen".

They were transported in the back seat of my car for the 5 hour drive from Portland.

The box of bees was quiet and only a few managed to escape in the car when they were initially placed for travel. Yes there was an open screen area on the end so they could be comfortable. Bees produce a lot of heat inside the hive when it is cold outside. Fortunately because it will be only in the 50 degree range for the next couple days and and rain is forcasted most of the week. Clay is preparing to put them in the hive, *their new home*. Since it is raining and no flowers are blooming today he will supliment their supply of nectar with sugar water and a pollen patty. I am sure I will become more knowledgeable about Beekeeping as we begin this adventure. Clay has read many articles and we took a class back in March to begin this project.

I will post more pictures tomorrow of their permanent home location. BeeKeeper Clay will handle the bees and I will be the beekeepers helper from a distance

for now. I only hope that they are happy and remain outside and not at my front doorstep at the "Welcome mat."