Yesturday the rain stopped at 4PM and I took a short beach walk then searched the woods for chanterrels. A few were pushing through the pine needles. My farewell dinner was steamed potatoes, fresh green Beans and sauteed chanterelles. Yum.
Left Ophir at 8:30 this morning and stopped in Eugene for batteries, Salem for a camera reader for the iPad. Woodenville for a luggage scale and pillow and wilsonville for gas and a juicy Costco polish dog. I needed to find Harry potter #3 for my 7year old granddaughter and there's hardly any bookstores at shopping malls any more. As much as I like powells bookstores I was too tired to deal with it and the gps directed me to broadway books, a friendly neighborhood store with a very helpful attendant who was thrilled to have a customer. She said that some people come in and write down the names of books and go home and order them over the Internet.
I purchased 2 books for the 7 year old and 2 for the 4 year old. They have been in Nice for 4 weeks and because they will be in Europe for four months they couldn't take many books. I'll be meeting up with them on the 1st of october.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Farewell waffles for chickens
Andrew Barron came over to take pictures of chickens eating waffles. We checked on other pets, bees-carrying saddlebags of pollen back to hive; goldfish--growing and eating ravenously. The fish seem to have reproduced; there about ten more small goldfish nibbling in the mossy shallows.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Why Italy?
I could spend the whole month in France. At least I have studied the language and know more than three words.But I've been to France, never Italy.
Throughout my life, I find myself amidst Italians. Its a case of attraction of opposites. When my now-neighbor Terri fished with me, she would breath life into our daily drudgery. When she cooked, she would sing, curse, slam cupboards, and clatter pans. The girls on the boat would try not to wet our pants while Terri entertained us with her quick wit.
Now Terri studies Italian, and with another Italian friend, visits her family in Tuscany.
Summers, we marvel at the abundance of basil an rosemary in our gardens and use fresh tomatoes and garlic for sauces.
Today I immersed myself in Italian gastronomy picking tomatoes, oregano, basil, thyme and parsley, I made sauce and put three containers in the freezer.
I love the exuberance of the Italians. I wonder if I'm too old to learn to talk with my hands.
The three words I know? I guess it is more than three if you include ciao and buon giorno---Grazie mille (a million thanks) and chiacchaierata(a chat). I love the onamonapia of the word. It sounds like gossiping neighbors. I'm going to have to have Terri review my pronunciation before I leave.
Only biked a couple of miles today--down the road to take pictures of naked ladies(the flowers).
Throughout my life, I find myself amidst Italians. Its a case of attraction of opposites. When my now-neighbor Terri fished with me, she would breath life into our daily drudgery. When she cooked, she would sing, curse, slam cupboards, and clatter pans. The girls on the boat would try not to wet our pants while Terri entertained us with her quick wit.
Now Terri studies Italian, and with another Italian friend, visits her family in Tuscany.
Summers, we marvel at the abundance of basil an rosemary in our gardens and use fresh tomatoes and garlic for sauces.
Today I immersed myself in Italian gastronomy picking tomatoes, oregano, basil, thyme and parsley, I made sauce and put three containers in the freezer.
I love the exuberance of the Italians. I wonder if I'm too old to learn to talk with my hands.
The three words I know? I guess it is more than three if you include ciao and buon giorno---Grazie mille (a million thanks) and chiacchaierata(a chat). I love the onamonapia of the word. It sounds like gossiping neighbors. I'm going to have to have Terri review my pronunciation before I leave.
Only biked a couple of miles today--down the road to take pictures of naked ladies(the flowers).
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Coutdown--one week to leaving Ophir Oregon.
I can't imagine that Europe can be as exhilarating as the preparation for it.
The VBT literature says 18-45 miles of bike-riding/ day. I've been doing 15 to 30, discovering back roads, paved, no traffic, hedgerows of blackberries and sweet peas, incense cedar and pine. A stream gurgles in the canyon.
Today was the stamina test. I signed up for a Rotary-sponsered ride. Forty miles--up the south bank of the Rogue River, down the north bank, across to Cedar vally to Ophir Rd then on the old coast highway back to Gold Beach. At eight AM, not knowing a sole, I unloaded my lime-green 7-speed bike with comfort seat and handlebars amongst dozens of racing bikes with pencil thin tires. Was I the only one with fenders and a kickstand? Thank goodness for the friendly and chatty financial adviser on a 35 pound Mongoose who accompanied me all morning. At mile 30, a tall, skinny red-headed woman looked at my bike and said, "You rode all this way on THAT?" That made my day.
Then I was struggling up a hill in 1st gear; I heard somesone say. "Seven gears! You're an animal!"
So, into the fair grounds at 12:30, 40 miles before lunchtime. I'm ready for the Tuscan coast.
A brew in hand, I browsed the art and car show. Loved the classic green 56 Impala. Hey, it would match my bike! But the 58 orange-red corvette with a backdrop of a field of same color dahlias was the best.
The VBT literature says 18-45 miles of bike-riding/ day. I've been doing 15 to 30, discovering back roads, paved, no traffic, hedgerows of blackberries and sweet peas, incense cedar and pine. A stream gurgles in the canyon.
Today was the stamina test. I signed up for a Rotary-sponsered ride. Forty miles--up the south bank of the Rogue River, down the north bank, across to Cedar vally to Ophir Rd then on the old coast highway back to Gold Beach. At eight AM, not knowing a sole, I unloaded my lime-green 7-speed bike with comfort seat and handlebars amongst dozens of racing bikes with pencil thin tires. Was I the only one with fenders and a kickstand? Thank goodness for the friendly and chatty financial adviser on a 35 pound Mongoose who accompanied me all morning. At mile 30, a tall, skinny red-headed woman looked at my bike and said, "You rode all this way on THAT?" That made my day.
Then I was struggling up a hill in 1st gear; I heard somesone say. "Seven gears! You're an animal!"
So, into the fair grounds at 12:30, 40 miles before lunchtime. I'm ready for the Tuscan coast.
A brew in hand, I browsed the art and car show. Loved the classic green 56 Impala. Hey, it would match my bike! But the 58 orange-red corvette with a backdrop of a field of same color dahlias was the best.
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