Snow Creates A Change In Plans

Our spring break plans changed this morning when we awoke to find five inches of snow.

Not only did we have the snow, but the area along the border of Oregon and Washington also had bad weather alerts. We stayed home.
Once again it looks like all these items around the yard are wearing little snowy hats.
For once I was already to go. The truck and tent trailer were organized and ready to depart this morning. BOOOOOO HOOOOOO!
Now tomorrow we are heading to Lake Chelan which is closer and more in the central part of the state. JEJ lived in this area years ago and hasn't been back for awhile so now I have a whole new plan and look forward to spending time on the Columbia River closer to home.

We will be camping on the left side of this lake tomorrow night..... I hope!!!

The Friday Five Meme

Five things on my to-do list:
1. Go through check list before our departure to the Columbia Gorge tomorrow.
2. Back up all my pictures on my computer.
3. Plan spring cleaning.
4. Propagate cuttings for summer planting.
5. Secure the house.

Five Snacks I enjoy:
1. banana at morning break
2. roasted almonds
3. cheese
4. dark chocolate
5. popcorn

Five Things I Would Do If I Became a Billionaire:
1. Pay off my house.
2. Build a bigger library in Kettle Falls.
3. Help with the college educations of my nieces and nephew.
4. Hire a person to clean my house.
5. Put in a sprinkler system on my property and landscape more areas.

Five Blogs I like to visit:
1. Twaddle Everyday Rubbish for laughs and tears.
2. Carver's Site for beautiful photos.
3. Colors of the Garden to get a glimpse of country life in upstate New York
4. My Knitting and Other Stuff to continue to see how alike we are!
5. Loose Leaf Notes to read incredible writing.

Five of my bad habits:
1. I don't drink enough water.
2. Sometimes I drink too much caffeine.
3. I get obsessed with stuff and can't move on.
4. Forgetting to take vitamins and supplements.
5. Procratinating stuff I don't want to do.

Feel free to do this Meme any day of the week. TGIF!

Travel Plans for Spring Break

A picture of the Columbia Gorge between Washington and Idaho.

Tomorrow I only attend school until lunchtime and then it will be spring break. We have been planning a trip for weeks. We are taking a driving/camping trip south through Washington state to the Columbia River and then spend time on the Columbia Gorge. For me the planning is as enjoyable as the actual trip. I love reading up about places to tour, restaurants to try, and campgrounds to explore. There is still much to be done, but the time is getting closer.

Since we had snow again yesterday I am hoping to see anything green! I also look forward to experimenting with my digital camera, resting and relaxing, catching up on some reading, and meeting up with my brother RP for a visit. The dogs know the time is drawing near for a trip and of course they will be going. Shelby is resting up for the big car trip.

Annie is keeping an eye on the tent trailer so it doesn't take off without her.

I am off to check more to-do lists before bed.

Homemade With Love and a Keeper from the Recipe Box

My mom sent me this cookbook for Easter. I love community cookbooks that include recipes I love from people I know. The Kellogg Ladies of Elks put this collection together. As I thumbed through I found the following recipes:

Super Potatoes from my Bluebird and Camp Fire leader Beth Williams

Huckleberry Crumb Cake from Mary Lennon

Chicken Breasts Eden Isle from my former English teacher and drama coach M. R. Faraca

Thousand Island Dressing from Charlotte DeAndre and Inez Muir

Russian Dressing from Jeanie Brennan

Zucchini Casserole from another checker at IGA Bernice Zittel

and Ham-Mandarin Salad from my mother's childhood friend (that ended up in Kellogg also) Jody Robinson

I decided to share Marjean Jarvey's Pretzel Salad. This is a favorite recipe around my area for wedding receptions, church functions, and school potlucks. It must be popular in Kellogg also.



Pretzel Salad

1 1/2 cup crushed pretzels
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine or butter
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 med. size Cool Whip
1 large pkg. strawberry jello
2 pkg. frozen strawberries


Cream butter and sugar. Add crushed pretzels. Press into a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 for 6 minutes. Cool. Mix together cream cheese, sugar, and Cool Whip; spread on top of cooled pretzel crust. Dissolve jello in 2 cups of boiling water, add partially thawed berries and refrigerate until jello is thickened, but not solid. Pour over cream cheese mixture and refrigerate.



As I move through the cookbook I will post other keepers from the recipe box.

Let Evening Come

Let Evening Come

by Jane Kenyon
Let the light of late afternoon
shine through chinks in the barn, moving
up the bales as the sun moves down.
Let the cricket take up chafing
as a woman takes up her needles
and her yarn. Let evening come.
Let dew collect on the hoe abandoned
in long grass. Let the stars appear
and the moon disclose her silver horn.
Let the fox go back to its sandy den.
Let the wind die down. Let the shed
go black inside. Let evening come.
To the bottle in the ditch, to the scoop
in the oats, to air in the lung
let evening come.
Let it come, as it will, and don't
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.

Spring Project #1: Extreme Deck Makeover

When the previous owners of our house did an addition on the deck the wood wasn't treated and the boards were put close together. After twelve years of hot sun, rain, snow, and cold that part of the deck was a wreck. We knew we had to do something and after much debate decided to just take that part of the deck off. That meant moving the railing and relocating a few plants, but it was a good decision.
Taking that part off left room for me to create a new garden that will get lots of sunshine.
JEJ moved the railing then hauled off the posts to use for another project. Here is the extreme deck makeover. I appreciate all the hard work JEJ put into this project.It is smaller, the rotten steps and boards have been removed, and the railings are readjusted. Some of the wood that was still good was recycled into raised beds and a border. I have already planned the new cut flower garden to be seeded into the beds in front of the two railings.
Kit was a bit concerned when his favorite sitting spot was down, but now that the railing is back up and attached he is one happy cat!