Hood Canal Butter Clams

While at a friend's house on Hood Canal, I went on my first butter clam dig. We had fun pulling the clams from the sand. We filled a huge 5 gallon bucket in about 20 minutes. We had so many that I brought some home.  Katie tried one and didn't really like it. I ate as many as I could. Really yummy.

Single Serving Cookies!

Thank you, fellow Pinners for fueling our energy in the kitchen.  In our wanderings on Pinterest, Katie and I found this yummy microwave cookie recipe. I normally don't cook in the microwave. I defrost in the microwave. I reheat in the microwave. I don't even cook bacon in the microwave usually. But this recipe...well, it is fun and the microwave makes it quick!

After dinner on a week night, while we watch the newest reality show, we make a cookie and share it.

The most friendly recipe that we found for this was http://lacreativitedelafille.blogspot.com/2012/06/single-serving-deep-dish-chocolate-chip.html.

We found quite a few single serving recipes to try in this blog!

Tech Savvy Breakfast at the Lewises

I have so much new technology to show off, I thought I'd better add to my blog.  I've been thinking about the blog as a virtual scrapbook for the kids.  I've recorded some really fun years here; the years when they were really motivated and energetic, and so were we!  The kids will  remember 2013 as the year Robby graduated from St. Mary's and the year our house was full of iTechnology!

In 2012, both Arnie and I got iPhones. He got his through work and then we bought one for me. We bought a first generation iPad for the family following that.  Both Arnie and I also got iPads through work.  Finally, this year, the kids and Arnie bought me an iPad mini for my birthday.  I love it.

Arnie made this very cool kitchen counter stand for me. My favorite recipe apps are Epicurious and Allrecipes.  This morning, as I do on most Saturday mornings, I made pancakes! Today: Sour cream pancakes-not Mrs. Novak's banana-sour cream pancakes. We love those, too. This morning's version was a bit faster than hers. 

As usual, the kids lined up for pancakes.  Happy Saturday morning!

New Ways for the Lewises to Eat Beets

The beets were plentiful this year.

One day, I made beet chips.  Very fun and tasty.

The beet chips are beautiful, too.

  This is the recipe that I used.  It is for beets and sweet potatoes, but I only made beet chips.  The rosemary salt was really great.  I've been using it on other items, also.  Pork chops, chicken, french fries...

The Bounty of the Summer Brings Comfort

After a long, emotional 2012, the bounty of the summer garden brings a sense of comfort.  In 2011, our beloved Grandpa Bruce began to lose his fight with multiple myeloma.  During the holiday time, Thanksgiving to Christmas, we spent a lot of time at the hospitals and the nursing home, praying for Grandpa, trying to alleviate his pain, and lift his spirits.  We surrounded Grandma Sandy with our love, sending her as much strength as we could.  January 1, 2012, Grandpa went to heaven.  His passing left us sorrowful and vulnerable.  We continued to help Grandma and find solace and comfort in daily life, but the road has been twisty for us.

I definitely felt comfort planting the garden in April and May.  The bounty of the garden has reminded me of the magic of God's earth.  Sometimes when I harvest, I thank God not only for the beautiful vegetables, but for loving Grandpa and holding him close.

Many of the posts from here on will be retro posts - things I wanted to blog about, but couldn't find the motivation to complete!  I dedicate my garden posts to Bruce and Sandy; they often gave me new ideas during our discussions of the many gardens that they grew together during their 51 years together.

Hurray for Snow!

After an usually dry and mild December, the Northwest was ready for some snow.  We've had about 4 inches in the last two days. It is the best kind of snow - packable for snowballs and snow people, and slightly icy for sledding!

We found a small hill to sled down in the woods.

Our great neighbors invited us to sled down the drive way in their backyard. Steep and fun.

If you are afraid you might go over the cliff at the bottom, you can bail into the snow!

A snowy Aloha from Montesano!

Ingredients for Christmas Spirit

Beautiful Table Settings

Tree, Lights, Manger Scene

Boxes that had presents or decorations in them, sitting around for the cat to get in.

Mom is Not Always Strict

Life cereal and Doritos for breakfast.

Remodeling the Tree House

Arnie tore down the tree house this summer and is rebuilding.  Bigger, Better, Faster...no wait. That was the bionic man.  The tree house is definitely bigger and better, though.  It has the coolest ladder/staircase on the back wall that leads to two loft spaces on either side of the eaves.  The deck on the front is gone so that the inside is bigger.  The kids love it.  He's not finished with it yet.  The roof and siding still needs work, but wow is it a popular place around here.  Katie brought her whole soccer team up to see it. The12 girls poked around in it, sticking their heads out the window, climbing the back stairs, and sitting on the lofts.

I like this picture because the zip line is still attached.  The infamous zip line.  The day that Robby and Arnie tested it, Robby ended up in the ER.  He fell from the line about 3 feet from the tree house. I don't think I'll ever measure it to find out exactly how far he fell, but I estimated 12 feet for the ER. He once again escaped his accident with a minor concussion and soreness.  Amazing.  Needless to say, the zip line came off the tree house the next day.

I started this blog last summer, before Weyerhauser started logging the forest behind our house.  Here is the tree house today, in the snow, with no trees behind it!  Arnie now has a roof on it and is putting paper on the walls.  I know, I'm not very technical.  Hopefully he will help me with my vocabulary!

The tree house is cool!  Arnie and the kids tried to sleep in it during the windstorm in December this year.  They made it to midnight before coming inside.  Pretty fun.

New Years Party at the Lewis's

My table decorations.

I love New Years.  It is a new beginning - a new look on life.  The years go by and I try to be a better person every year.  There is something inspiring about celebrating a new year with family.  I was so excited that Cathy and her kids, Erik and Mara, and Mom came down this year to celebrate with us.  The Lewis tradition continued.  Everyone brought an appetizer, we put together a puzzle (this one saved from Grandpa Bruce's garage sale), and watched TV.

Grandma started the appetizers with freshly marinated mozzarella balls and Ritz crackers.  I forgot to pull the camera out before they were all gone!  Katie and I followed Grandma with little smokies.  Katie made Pigs-n-a-blankets and I made smokies in BBQ sauce.  I used my peach preserves from the summer to sweeten the sauce.

Katie's Pigs-in-a-blankets.

She made a special sauce for them.

 Next, Mara made fruit smoothies for us and Cathy put together a tray of veggies and dip.  Yum.

Look, you can see tomorrow's breakfast behind Mara's smoothie!

Queen of the blender.

Erik made his specialty for us.  We ate toasted bagels with peanut butter, cream cheese, or jam.  He even brought my old fashioned strawberry jam to use on the bagels!  I love that they love my jam.

Arnie and Robby prepared chicken for us.  Arnie smoked drumettes with a mixture of wood chips and Robby made hot wings for us.  Robby would like to work in the restaurant business when he grows up.  I think he's got a good chance.  He is quite a chef.

Coating the chicken parts.

Brushing on the delicious sauce.

Arnie's smoked drumsticks.

We had a great time and wish everyone a happy new year.  Hopefully we can make the party a tradition from now on.  Maybe next year the Floyd clan will join us!

After a game of Banana's, Katie and Mara wished everyone a Happy New Year!

Cheers!

Wildlife on Val Vista

Since the trees have come down behind us, we hear fewer birds and animals, but have some very interesting bugs hanging around.  This guy stayed on the screen on the garage window for several hours one night.  I felt badly for him/her...so lost without the forest.  Or, maybe, so happy to have new digs.

This froggy seems like an old friend.  We have lots of these little tree frogs around our house.  They sound like giant bullfrogs - the loudest and deepest croak you can imagine.  How do they do that with this little tiny body?  Here, the frog clings to the siding of the house right outside our living room window.  So sweet and tiny.

Brussel Sprouts Gone Wild!

Yes!  I grew these this year for the first time.  Very easy and fun to watch grow.  So many ways to prepare brussels sprouts - here I seasoned them with salt and pepper then roasted them in balsamic vinegar at 350 for about 20 minutes.  I can't believe that I did not like these little cabbages as a kid.  Now, I love them.  The kids are really great about trying them when I pick them.  Tonight I harvested the last of my trees and made Rachael Ray's Sprout Slaw with them.  Katie liked it a lot - maybe she will be a fan as a kid.

Lemons from a California Garden

A colleague from work brought lemons back from her sister's garden in California.  They were beautiful, plump, firm, aromatic lemons.  Katie and I went through the cooler she offered to us and chose the most lemony ones we could find.  We brought home 20 lemons!  And made lots of lemonade.  Katie became a sugar adding expert.  Not too sweet, but just enough.  She even topped off the lovely juice with a sprig of spearmint from Dad's herb garden.  (He only grows spearmint!)

Garden Grows Greater

My green pepper harvest this year beat last years by 2 peppers.  This year, I grew three peppers that were 4 inches across when I picked them.  Yahoo!

Lake Wynoochee

We have this beautiful lake about 30 miles up the road from us in the national forest.  On this cool summer night, Arnie, the kids and I went up to barbecue a salmon.  We took a salmon that Arnie had caught that morning in the river.  He and the kids fished the lake while I barbecued the salmon, wrapped up with onions and lemon, and the corn.  For serving, I dropped Feta cheese on the fish, although I'm not sure I should print that since I hear that many chefs do not like cheese on fish.  We thought it was great, so who cares what the experts think?  I brought a fresh garden salad and goddess dressing.  The evening was quiet and cool - only a couple other people visited the park.  Too cold to swim, but wonderful for walking around the trails and visiting the dam.

Harley Weekend in Ocean Shores

Last year when we went to Harley Hog Wild Weekend, I forgot my camera.  The bikes are impressive and amazing.  As are the people, whom I try not to photograph.  Arnie says that if you look a biker in the eye, he has to kill you.  I, however, believe that Arnie has watched too many cheesy biker movies.  Arnie misses his motorcycle days.  When we first started dating he owned a Honda and dreamed about Harley Sportsters.  Now, he might be able to afford a Sportster, but dreams about sending his kids to college.

So, we go to Harley-fest instead.  The kids and I like to look at the bikes, but really enjoy the fair booth food.  Today Arnie and I ate "Fat Boy" onion burgers that were not as fat as the tires on the Fat Boy bikes.  Well, maybe.  Arnie added garlic onion rings and Robby ate garlic fries.  Katie had a hot dog and potato chips.  The kids ordered lemon-aide and I, I had to try the deep fried pickles.  Hot, sour pickles dipped in batter.  Hmmm.  I'm glad I tried them, but think I'll pass next time.  If I find them deep fried as chips, I might try them again.

      

The Deep Fried Pickles with Ranch Dressing.

Arnie and Robby admiring another sportster.

A band played old Rock and Roll songs.

I almost forgot.  Ice cream concoctions from Murphy's parlor.

Bikers leaving town.

Katie takes great photographs from the back seat!

Katie took some great pictures of some bikes leaving Grays Harbor later in the day.  Wow.  They sound so powerful on the highway.  Incredible.