Another beautiful day in the Gorge

The Columbia Gorge never ceases to amaze!

Me and my pal JZ hiked up Dog Mountain yesterday and the views were as stunning as last year.

 (there's Mt.Hood over there on the right in the back of the photo)

 (me n JZ...she's a little firecracker. Even with that healing broken wrist she could have easily made it to the top a half hour before me. Good workout today!:)

Gallimaufry

I haven't added a music selection in awhile. 

I've tried, but lots of times I couldn't embed the html code and I am utterly geek-less 

so, no songs for you.

But wait, before you play the sweet little tune by Little Willie John, watch this video first. You need to hear the music (and make sure you have a few minutes to weep [it's a doozer]):

Ugh...maybe I'm just feeling mushy today but that video did me in.

(Owen did tell me this morning that he only has 9 more days of 1st grade. Wait. Didn't I just drop him off on the first day?)

*********************

It's a long story of how I found this lovely site but I'd really love the Orla Kiely number (3rd row, 1st on the left).

OK fine, I'll tell you. 

I am embarrassed to admit it, but I watch America's Next Top Model.

It's an awful show. It could be a great show if it didn't stoop to such lame levels to make itself "interesting" but I guess that is how reality shows work these days.

Anyway, I tape it and then fast forward to the modeling part (usually about 30 minutes in). I love to see the transformations and the back drops and locations are interesting. 

So, the recent winner (yay, glad she won!) is friends with Emma Watson and she is a part of the People Tree place. 

And I just loved Emma Watson in the Harry Potter films.

I also love the name Hermione (note to self: convince family to name next pet her-my-nee).

(This could be sooner than later, as we cared for Maya's preschool guinea pig Peaches this past weekend and an official request has been made for her very own.)

*************************

I saw this Where Children Sleep post and thought it was fascinating.

***************************

Owen and I were playing Hangman and he schooled me with this one:

Maya left this note in the bathroom for me one day recently. She also leaves little notes in my purse. Her signature style are the rainbows she always adds (even all black ones).               She LOVES when we write her notes for her lunch...so sweet.

Speaking of love, I recently checked out Love Soup. 

It went back to the library covered in soup splatterings (sorry about that future borrowers) and I now have a freezer filled with tasty stock and warm memories of tasty soup.

This is Smitten Kitchen's strawberry rhubarb crumble (I made mine gluten free and added a bit of oats to the crumb topping). 

Make it. 

Today. 

Rhubarb will be gone before you know it.

I have some rhubarb sitting on the counter that is going to be turned into this this weekend.

From the garden:

Have a good one!

unofficial start to summer

(Owen @ 10 months...almost exactly 6 years ago today)

reading list

The problem with borrowing books from the library is that you don't get to keep them indefinitely (I'm a slow reader).
Another problem I've considered and need to look into is how my not buying books affects the author. Do they get paid just the once when the copy is purchased for the library?
 I wonder if it is tied into circulation in any way. 

Hopefully.

Anyway, my book queue overfloweth:

1. The Gastronomical Me by MFK Fisher

2. Taste What You're Missing by Barb Stuckey

3. The Food Revolution by John Robbins

4. The China Study by T. Colin Campbell

5. Culinary Intelligence by Peter Kaminsky

6. The Table Comes First by Adam Gopnik

7. How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman

I also can't get enough of Stella books. Luckily, neither can Maya.

 Stella Fairy of the Forest by Marie-Louise Gay

 And we stumbled upon these books @ the library: math via a story. 

Brilliant.

The Sundae Scoop by Stuart Murphy

And, not to leave Atwood out.

He's enjoying Mink River by Brian Doyle.

What are you, dear ones, reading these days?

I'm all set on nonfiction but I'd love some fiction suggestions.

And of course anything you think OM might enjoy.