Time to Retreat

Last Christmas I received an amazing gift from my brother. It was a certificate that awarded me a night and two meals to a place of my choice for a retreat. I am going to use it the next three days. 

I found a vacation rental off the beaten path in Montana close to Alberton. My co-pilot Riley and I are packing good food, beverages, a journal, books, art supplies, our favorite blankets, and dog treats.

"Retreat is the act of giving up and withdrawing or a time away in a quiet and secluded place where you can relax.

A place affording peace, quiet, privacy, or security."

Good-Bye Summer

Today is the last day of summer. It was a summer of hot temperatures, wild fires, and weird weather for gardening. It was my first summer without Everett, but creating his memory garden provided me comfort. It was a season of supportive friends, difficult times for some family members and friends, lots of quality time with Riley and the cats, and lots of fun Family Dinners. I created bouquets, filled the backyard with lights,and spent quality time with my siblings, Now,on to autumn. Here are some of my favorite images of the summer of 2021. Good-bye summer.

Sunflowers were late at blooming, but it was worth it.

I moved most of my containers to the deck during the heat wave.

summer bouquet

sibling outing

The lilies thrived in the heat.

outdoor lights

Everett's memory garden at the beginning.

Road Trip to Independent Bookstores

 I love rainy days. Today was a day to reorganize bookshelves, decide if I need to part with any titles ( so hard for me to do), and reminisce about visiting an actual brick and mortar independent bookstore. I love bookstores and during the pandemic I just haven't visited independent bookstores in the Pacific Northwesr. My favorite bookstores are ones that offer both new and used books, or a bookstore that is just used books. My dream road trip would be to visit bookstores and plant nurseries all over the northwest. Today I am going to focus on favorite bookstores:

Powell's City of Books , Portland, Oregon. This is the best of the best. New books, used books, coffee shop, genres organized by color rooms, and a million books. I could spend three days there without seeing all the books. I have missed traveling there.

Aunties Bookstore, Spokane, Washington. I first loved this bookstore when it was called The Book and Game Company at the Flour Mill. Just when I relocated to northeastern Washington a bigger store opened in downtown Spokane. I love it for the mix of new and used, the staff picks display, the helpful staff, the authors that visit, the book clubs they promote, and the environment of the store.

Elliot Bay Bookstore, Seattle, Washington I haven't been here in years, but when I was there I loved it. I am pleased to see it is still open and I better add it to my list for the tour.

BookPeople, Moscow Idaho. This bookstore opened the year I was a freshman in college at University of Idaho and it is a place I visit most times when I return to Moscow. Excellent selection of books, knowledgeable staff, and great events.

Brused Books, Pullman, Washington I could spend a whole day here. 90,000 used books and they still use a card file for patron requests. I remember once spending two hours just in the cookbook section. I am always surprised at books I find here.

2nd Look Books, Spokane, Washington This bookstore has been located on the South Hill for thirty-five years. You can get great coffee at Forza Coffee next store and browse two levels, enjoy the reading room in the lower level and find great selections of books.

Well-Read Moose, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho  This is a close bookstore for me. I love it because it has a great selection of books, fun gifts, coffee, and goodies. What more do you need?

This is just a sampling of bookstores I love. Thrift stores are also an excellent place to find used books. What is your favorite independent bookstore?

Autumn Playlist, Part 1

I had so much fun sharing the quintessential songs of summer on two blog posts in July. It was a blast to get other songs titles from all of you, my readers. Today I was listening to a playlist entitled Best Songs for Fall.  This inspired me to create my own  Autumn Playlist, Part 1. 

1. "Harvest Moon"  Neil Young

2. "Autumn Leaves" performed on piano by Roger Williams, but tonight I discovered a lovely performance of the song by Eric Clapton

3." October Road" James Taylor

4. " Moondance" Van Morrison

5. "September Morn" Neil Diamond

6."Maggie May" Rod Stewart

7. "Shine on Harvest Moon" Remember the cartoons that had the lyrics on the screen and you sang with the bouncing ball? This is one I remember. Mom used to love to sing it to us. 

8. "Forever Autumn", Moody Blues

9. Sentimental Lady" Bob Welch. This song is not about autumn, but I remember when it came out the fall of 1977. I was back in my hometown starting my first teaching job and it was always playing on the radio. I still love the memories this song holds.

10. "September ", Earth, Wind, and Fire  In November of 1978 this song was released and we sang it in the car with the radio or with the jukebox in the bars. It still remains my favorite feel good song for September and any other month of  the year.  Enjoy!

What would be on your Autumn Playlist?

What Will I Miss About Summer?

 Those of you that know me well know I love autumn, but I am also sad to see summer slipping away.  This is what I will miss about summer:

I will miss the early morning light. There is nothing like grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting outside when the morning light is coming over the hill.

I will miss tending to my flowers, deadheading them, taking pictures of them, and making bouquets.

You can get fruit all year, but I will miss the fresh, ripe fruits of summer.

,,

The gloaming

I will miss the smell and taste of grilled food. I know some people grill all year round, but to me it tastes best in summer.

Everyone will miss the taste of tomatoes off the vine and just picked cucumbers.

Another thing I will miss about summer is sitting on the deck with iced coffee reading a new book for hours on end.

I will miss all the birds at the feeders.

I will miss the long, long days that end with everyone gathering in the backyard.

What will you miss about summer?

Summer In A Jar: A Post from the Archives

I posted this the first time 9/17/2011. Everett and I loved to preserve our food when we lived at Martin Creek. We didn't do as much canning once we moved to Kellogg.  Like my grandmothers, my aunts, my mother and my sister canning was and is a way of life. I always feel such a sense of accomplishment when I have a counter covered with canned food. Here is my post from 2011:

Summer In a Jar

I remember glass Mason jars, a canner, and the smell of dill at Grandma Woolum's house. Jars full of pickles, relish, and green beans were wrapped carefully in old newspapers and packed in boxes for us to take home. Our family got to enjoy  those canned goods on special occasions. I don't remember learning to can. In my first house I had lots of grapes and bought a book and figured it out. I love to fill shelves with glass jars full of the summer's harvest. I enjoy giving jars of jam or pickles as gifts. On a cold, snowy day in January I love biting into a dill pickle preserved in September.

Today I made my Summer's End Pickle Mix. I just take whatever is ripe and mix it together. This mix today was zucchini, crookneck, green beans, cucumbers, and dill. I bought the peppers, garlic, and onion.

Embracing Autumn

I don't have bucket lists, but this year I decided to slow down and embrace my favorite season of the year. Some years December hits and realize I didn't even make a pumpkin pie! Here are the ways I am going to embrace autumn this year:

Drive to the cemetery, drive up the river, and walk the bike trail to take autumn leaf pictures.

Bake a pumpkin pie and serve it for Family Dinner.

Capture photos of autumn sunsets.

Eat a caramel apple.

Snuggle in a warm sweater while reading a book and sipping strong coffee in front of the fireplace.

Light my Sweater Weather candle. (my favorite fall scent from Bath and Body Works)

Build a fire in the fire pit, sit and warm up while drinking hot apple cider.

Mix up a pitcher of autumn sangria to share with friends.

Pick apples, then make autumn apple bread and cake.

Make chili in the slow cooker.

Put mums on the porch and the window box.

Feed the mourning doves.

Count my blessings.

This list is a start. What do you love to do in autumn?

Another Obsession: Autumn Leaves

 I don't know why, but ever since I was a little girl I have loved autumn leaves. I love watching them change on the tree, I also love walking on them and listening to them crunch. Most of all, I love photographing them. Here are a few photo captures from the last few years. I think I need to get a few of these printed and framed.  Enjoy!

“There is something incredibly nostalgic and significant about the annual cascade of Autumn leaves.”

— Joe. L. Wheeler

"That Girl" Obsession

 I follow Marlo Thomas on Instagram. She shared on a TBT post that Wednesday marked fifty five years since "That Girl"  premiered. I was obsessed with Marlo Thomas and "That Girl". I loved the theme song, her character's personality and all the supporting cast. I always looked forward to what mishaps would happen as she tried once again to get a part in a commercial or on stage.

I didn't realize when I was watching the show that she broke barriers having a sitcom with a single woman as the star. She wanted to be a role model to women. She felt women could have a career and be independent. I was inspired by her because she was determined and she took risks. Plus she was funny. Oh.... and I loved her hair. I liked all her clothes too. See? Obsessed. 

.Later in the 80s I discovered "That Girl" again on reruns. I remember one summer binge watching the whole series before we knew what binge watching really was. I have a feeling I am going to be doing some searching for "That Girl " soon and planning another binge watch.

So after all this time I am still obsessed with Marlo Thomas. As I mentioned I follow her on Instagram and Facebook and I am enjoying every minute of it. I just learned she has a podcast. Hummmm.... I may have to take a  listen. 

This video will take you back to all the versions of that perfect theme song. There is a repeat, so just fast forward or listen to it again. I loved it for the last season when they added lyrics to the song.

Riley and His Safe Place

 

Thank you to all of you that responded to my recent blog post about Riley's behavior when he got scared by something. Through discussions I learned that there have been cougars and mountain lions in that area before.

Today we went to a safe place for Riley. Riley loved it. He ran on the dirty bike trail, explored the trees, and got worn out. It was a beautiful day for a run and Riley wasn't spooked by anything.