Project 9-12: Principles and Values.... Moms (and all women!) get involved...

"As A Mom"......
is an interesting and empowering forum that I've joined. Stop by and take a look.

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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS!
This is the 2nd year we've been invited to our neighbors for their anniversary dinner and it was as spectacular this year as last. The couple's children fly in from Minnesota to prepare a special treat for them and 4 other guests. While we sit on the patio having our choice of beverages Brian and Vickie prepare a gourmet meal that would top the finest of restaurants.

Spinach salad with cranberries, feta cheese and almonds with a light vinaigrette dressing.

Flaky pastry with tomatoes topped with Salmon, almonds, and Rosemary,
with fingerling potatoes and asparagus. (Hot, crusty bread not shown but eaten!).


Ahhhhhhh.........not much talking will be going on except for compliments.

AND NOW FOR THE GRAND FINALE


A variety of dark chocolate concoctions, white chocolate and white chocolate sauce with fresh raspberries. Notice the white chocolate letter "C" for my name!

The Gourmet Chefs!

And once the meal is ready we are treated to a service to rival a 5 star restaurant. This has been a tradition with the family for years....and what a wonderful tradition this is...especially for us!

And I did not forget to take home my leftovers!


SEE HOW MY GARDEN HAS GROWN
I just couldn't help but add more herbs since that garden bug has been bugging me again!

Now I have 4 kinds of basil, onion chives, garlic chives, flat leaf parsley, parsley and thyme. Still need cilantro (which I thought I was buying instead of Italian parsley.......). Notice the Rosemary bush on the right and left. We have many that we use as part of our landscape and they have become rampant! Am looking forward to trimming some and using it in my bathwater!

MEET MY NEW FRIEND!

My first visitor in my herb garden and I was excited! I guess it's a grasshopper. Not like our Washington grasshoppers! It's over 2 inches long and a very pretty yellowish-green color. He, or she, was very tame and let me pet it for quite some time.



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This was the last picture taken in Washington of the maple tree before the camera was packed.

WHAT A SURPRISE!

This is what I found on my counter (as well as a bottle of wine!) when I walked into the house! In the fridge was a cheese and fruit basket as well as snacks and a loaf of pumpkin bread......
Does this give you an idea about my friend and neighbor that takes care of our home while we're in Washington?
Thank You, Happy! (her nickname)

GETTING SETTLED
Spent the first couple of days moving in and stocking up on groceries...especially fresh fruits and vegetables! The hardest to buy were the eggs! How do they get so white? Haven't seen a "bleached-looking" egg in the past 6 months! LOL


Today I planted some herbs...just can't do without some edible greens! 3 basils, thyme, and parsley...still need chives and cilantro.

BACK WITH FRIENDS
It was fun seeing my neighbors and friends in the neighborhood after all these months. I'm also looking forward to visiting with my friend, Stephanie whom I worked with at the Women's Shelter where I had previously volunteered as well as with Monica whom I got to know through Mary Jane's Farmgirls Forum. I'm eager to see her new spinning wheel and the lovely yarns that she crafts.

ARIZONA GARDENING









This is our Arizona yard. Hey, where's the grass? Can you imagine the lawnmower here...we could probably break a few windows with flying rocks! Oooohhhh, not good neighbor relations!






The lemon and lime trees are loaded (the lemons are still green, though) but the orange and grapefruit are still not producing although it's been 3 years since they were planted.


The bougainvillea are blooming everywhere...just have to watch for the thorns!


The wind has been whipping the mesquite's branches all day. It's been in the 60's....so it isn't very warm....... but the sun still shines!

GOOD NIGHT
Will have a cup of hot ginger tea and cozy up with my new recipe books!

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Who might be behind the ones we elect and trust to carry out what's in "the people's" wishes and best interest?

We're just about ready, packed, and loaded up for our drive to Arizona. I've taken some goodbye pictures that I'll put up on my office bulletin board once I get there to keep me from getting too homesick until I adjust. In April I'll switch the pictures to some of the pretty summer shots and then I'll be anxious to get back here again!



This is what my garden will look like (well, actually a lot worse LOL) during the winter.

Everyone that has visited my blog throughout the spring and summer will understand how much I enjoy and LOVE working in, and being a part of, my garden so being gone during the "sleeping stage" of gardening isn't so bad.



JOKER WILL HAVE A NEW HOME
Joker could care less about the rain and almost never goes into his shelter!

I've found another home for him just a few houses down from ours. The couple's daughter will be working with him and riding him. He's gotten pretty lazy since I haven't had much time to ride him this year. It will be nice to have him so close.....I lucked out!




GOOD BYE WASHINGTON,
HELLO ARIZONA!
It's going to be a long drive since I'll be doing all the driving. It will take about 3 days.

My next post will be November 16th.

Hope you'll visit me in Arizona!

STORMY WEATHER AHEAD

BLUE CHEESE


I think it's one of those things like Sauerkraut or Kimchee...you either like Blue Cheese or you don't, nothing in between. This is one is very delicious!

PERSIMMONS


OK...so I'm almost 60 years old and I have NEVER had a persimmon! So, off course I had to try it. I was told to let these ripen until they are very orange in color...hmmmmmm, this may take a few weeks!

STORM BLOWING IN

The cloud formations were incredible. The power blinked abut 3 times but it never shut down completely. The storm shook many still clinging leaves off the deciduous trees and shrubs and now they look pretty much winter bare!

I'm already missing the clouds, the rain and the typical Washington State weather but my husband is ready to spend the winter in Arizona. I'll be fine once I acclimate, as usual!
I still have another couple of weeks.............

I applaud Sandra from Thistle Cove Farm for her terrific letter that she has sent to her State's senator. She has graciously given me permission to use her letter with my signature (since it is totally to the point and to which I wholeheartedly agree) to send to my senator and representatives. Please read her letter Time is Running Out posted on 10-20-09. You may decide to send this also.
Thank you, Sandra!

Find your Senator: http://www.senate.gov/
Find your Congressman: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

BELOW, BACK AT THE RANCH..........A FAMILIAR SIGHT?

TIME FOR SOME GREEN TOMATO PIE

We had our first hard frost so many of the plants have now decided to go to sleep for the winter! Some, like the vegetable plants, have been uprooted and are peacefully resting in the compost pile! I had a good tomato crop this year and only have a few green ones left. I'll make a GREEN TOMATO PIE which I like just as much, if not more, than apple pie. (The secret is the apple cider vinegar in the recipe.)




FAST CHANGES


The kiwi and grapes vines last week.


This week.


Gunera in the spring.


Summer.


And yesterday. I cut off the frost damaged stalks and leaves then used the huge leaves to winter protect the base of the plant. It will die down completely and pop back up in the spring, reaching to about 6 feet within a couple of months.


The Joe Pye Weed is spreading it's seed. However it doesn't seem to reseed itself easily. It usually dies to the ground and is another fast grower once the weather warms.


The seeds look much like those of a dandelion.


THE BIG BAD BULLY

Tootsie is standing and nickering at the gate waiting patiently for her daily cookies.


Summer laying her ears back warning Tootsie to get out of the way.


Tootsie leaving after checking out Summers body language. (I was able to give her the treat before the Bully chased her away. I usually have to go into the pasture or else Summer won't even let Tootsie near the gate.)


Summer saunders over to get her fair share. If it were up to her ALL the cookies would be hers.........none for Tootsie. Selfish old girl!



CONGRESSMAN THOMAS ROONEY ON CZARS
(Florida's 16th district)
"I am a cosponsor of a bill, H.R. 3226, which would withhold funding to any czar not confirmed by the Senate. The President claimed he would run the most transparent administration in recent history, if this is true he needs to have these czars appear before the Senate and go through the proper vetting of a Senate confirmation.

Past administrations have had czars but the Obama administration has taken it to a whole new level. Reagan and George H.W. Bush each had one czar, Clinton had three, and George W. Bush had four. In less than a year this new administration already has 32..........."
Read more...................

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No Nativity in Nations Capitol

There will be no Nativity Scene in Washington this year! The Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in the United States ' Capital this Christmas season. This isn't for any religious reason. They simply have not been able to find Three Wise Men in the Nation's Capital. HOWEVER, there will be no problem, finding enough asses to fill the stable. LOL