After we canoed the Black River on Saturday we stopped at a U-Pick farm and picked blueberries. I sliced them thinly and added them to some waffle batter for a sugar shot on Sunday. So good! 
Daniel is headed to Montana for a few days, to visit his extended family. Rue and Annie are taking Ruhiyyih, too. I have a feeling that this little guy is going to miss out on some incredible scenery.
Rocky has a circuit of friendships that he tends every Sunday afternoon. He drives over from Gig Harbor in his big silver truck.
Rocky was a preacher and a merchant marine. Now he is a Baha'i and retired, spending all of his time tending relationships and building community.
George got out his iPod and played music from the Dawnbreaker Collective Album.
My garden has turned out beautifully again this year, due to double-digging, raised berms, and plenty of composted straw and manure. By this time, most of my garden paths are barely visable, with all the plants bursting in every direction. My corn is taller than me ~ that's over 5'4"!
The plants flanking my corn are borage, which I use in salads. I also stir-fry the leaves. Today it was overcast and cool, so there was no need to water the garden. I spent the afternoon making cheese and yogurt.
Imagine: 48 degrees at dawn, warming sun, bird calls...and fresh coffee enjoyed in bed. Ruhiyyih made that possible ~ serving us just as we were waking up.
The family spent six days camping on the northern loop at Clear Lake Campground. This is the outflow from the lake, a fantastic fishing and canoeing location.
There were seven of us - Rue and Annie, Daisy and Daniel, Ruhiyyih, (Matt for an overnight and early morning) and George and I.
Little Daniel came with his new cap.
Shortly after George and I arrived we put up a large screened canopy to be used as a cooking tent. This was necessary as the mosquitoes were more active as the day warmed up. We set up a few chairs inside and I set up my kitchen. Rue brought food too, so we organized all of our stuff in a manner that allowed easy food preparation and clean-up.
The northern loops of the Clear Lake Campground had very few people after the 4th of July. So, we were quite surprised when a fisherman walked through our camp asking if he could clean his fish at the shoreline. Well, he did, and about 20 minutes later he presented us with fish for all seven of us - huge lake trout! He and his son dropped off a plate of sliced sweet onions and some lemons! We discussed how he caught the fish: Use a spinner and a #5 weight, cast upstream and allow the lure to float downstream.
We cooked the trout for breakfast the next morning. I decided to use a skillet rather than risk any mistakes grilling them over the fire. 
I set out two large skillets, two propane burners, and got organized. Those fish were so big that I had to cut them in half just to fit them into my skillets! Once they were fried (video), I drizzled lemon juice over them, added salt, coarse pepper, and then placed onions and zesty bread crumbs on top. The family watched (video) the whole process. That trout was the best eatin' on the entire trip, and maybe in my whole life! I figure that fisherman was selling his craft, saying "Now, go fish.
Everyone took turns holding Daniel.
Annie is recovering from childbirth, so avoided rigorous climbing. Ruhiyyih stayed behind to keep her company. George planned a hiking excursion every day, with some of them light enough for Annie. She carried little Daniel (only 3 weeks old) in a sling. At night she slept in their van, with Daniel in a small Rubbermaid basket beside her.
Matt drove over from the tri-cities area. 
He and Ruhiyyih enjoyed an evening canoe paddle through the willow thickets across the river, enjoyed dinner and samores in front of the fire, and then he returned to work early the next morning. This was our first camping trip with Matt along, and his enthusiasm and humor were a delight. Here, he is showing one of several tatoos, this one he designed himself, "Created for Purpose". I can relate to that.
I did so poorly at scrabble that I configured all the letters into my own words when the game was over, making a design the central theme rather than the words.
There was elk scat on the hill overlooking our camp. I collected it, nested it in lichen, and made incense. Once lighted, it makes a nice woodsy aroma.
Someone had strung an orange on a fishing line and suspended it from a pine tree. Hummingbirds came and couldn't get any more juice, so I rigged up another orange nearby using some of our canoe twine and an orange I found floating along the shoreline. I hoped they'd find my fresh orange hanging in the tree. Birds found it, but I was too busy to watch. When we broke camp, the feeder was the last thing to take down. As much as I liked it, I didn't want a single scrap of anything remaining on our campsite. It was clean when we found it and I wanted to leave it that way too.
Our drive home was only three and a half hours on Friday afternoon. That was the only true 'sit-down-time' I had the entire trip. Once home, we spent five hours cleaning the camping gear, reorganizing it for our next trip, and covering all of it with a tarp in the garage. George is home for six weeks, on sabbatical, and we are already planning our next trip!
Sarah and her husband Dave came over to visit Taraz (he's known her since they were five years old).
They've got a 7 month old son, Ty.
Our daughter-in-law, Annie, hikes with new baby Daniel. (photo: Kathy Hall)
Our family is planning a camping trip through north-eastern Washington the day after the 4th of July. Rue and Annie and their two children will join us, and Ruhiyyih too. We are planning to camp for six-days.
It is some of the most beautiful work he has ever crafted.
Angels, fairies and enchantment.
We kept saying how fantastic the canoeing was while gliding along upstream. I even used the word 'tranquil'...until two huge dogs bounded into the water. They growled and barked, causing us to intensify our strokes. I was sure glad the water was deep. Had that riverbed been shallow we'd be forced to use our paddles on those dogs... or at least I would have! 
After we canoed the Black River on Saturday we stopped at a U-Pick farm and picked blueberries. I sliced them thinly and added them to some waffle batter for a sugar shot on Sunday. So good! 
Daniel is headed to Montana for a few days, to visit his extended family. Rue and Annie are taking Ruhiyyih, too. I have a feeling that this little guy is going to miss out on some incredible scenery.
My garden has turned out beautifully again this year, due to double-digging, raised berms, and plenty of composted straw and manure. By this time, most of my garden paths are barely visable, with all the plants bursting in every direction. My corn is taller than me ~ that's over 5'4"!
Imagine: 48 degrees at dawn, warming sun, bird calls...and fresh coffee enjoyed in bed. Ruhiyyih made that possible ~ serving us just as we were waking up. 
The family spent six days camping on the northern loop at Clear Lake Campground. This is the outflow from the lake, a fantastic fishing and canoeing location.
There were seven of us - Rue and Annie, Daisy and Daniel, Ruhiyyih, (Matt for an overnight and early morning) and George and I. 
Little Daniel came with his new cap.
Shortly after George and I arrived we put up a large screened canopy to be used as a cooking tent. This was necessary as the mosquitoes were more active as the day warmed up. We set up a few chairs inside and I set up my kitchen. Rue brought food too, so we organized all of our stuff in a manner that allowed easy food preparation and clean-up. 
I set out two large skillets, two propane burners, and got organized. Those fish were so big that I had to cut them in half just to fit them into my skillets! Once they were fried (video), I drizzled lemon juice over them, added salt, coarse pepper, and then placed onions and zesty bread crumbs on top. The family watched (video) the whole process. That trout was the best eatin' on the entire trip, and maybe in my whole life! I figure that fisherman was selling his craft, saying "Now, go fish.
Everyone took turns holding Daniel.
Annie is recovering from childbirth, so avoided rigorous climbing. Ruhiyyih stayed behind to keep her company. George planned a hiking excursion every day, with some of them light enough for Annie. She carried little Daniel (only 3 weeks old) in a sling. At night she slept in their van, with Daniel in a small Rubbermaid basket beside her.
Matt drove over from the tri-cities area. 
He and Ruhiyyih enjoyed an evening canoe paddle through the willow thickets across the river, enjoyed dinner and samores in front of the fire, and then he returned to work early the next morning. This was our first camping trip with Matt along, and his enthusiasm and humor were a delight. Here, he is showing one of several tatoos, this one he designed himself, "Created for Purpose". I can relate to that. 
I did so poorly at scrabble that I configured all the letters into my own words when the game was over, making a design the central theme rather than the words. 
There was elk scat on the hill overlooking our camp. I collected it, nested it in lichen, and made incense. Once lighted, it makes a nice woodsy aroma. 
Someone had strung an orange on a fishing line and suspended it from a pine tree. Hummingbirds came and couldn't get any more juice, so I rigged up another orange nearby using some of our canoe twine and an orange I found floating along the shoreline. I hoped they'd find my fresh orange hanging in the tree. Birds found it, but I was too busy to watch. When we broke camp, the feeder was the last thing to take down. As much as I liked it, I didn't want a single scrap of anything remaining on our campsite. It was clean when we found it and I wanted to leave it that way too.
Sarah and her husband Dave came over to visit Taraz (he's known her since they were five years old).
They've got a 7 month old son, Ty. 
Ruhiyyih cannot get her fill of little babies.
Taraz: "Uh, I'm more comfortable if you hold him!"
I made some barbecue chicken, and the 'kids' ate out on the patio. While they were visiting, I made dinner - broad bean soup and cornbread. 
I boxed up several servings for Sarah and Dave to take home. Now, Sarah doesn't have to cook for her family when she gets home. I told Sarah to come again, so I can see how Ty has grown. He is such a big boy compared to our little Daniel ~ 25 lbs. Just after Ruhiyyih took this photo, I realized I was still wearing my apron.
George and I joined our sons Rue, Taraz, and Rahmat for an afternoon hike up to Green Lake on Mt Rainier. 
The road up to the trailhead was washed out, so we had a 3-mile hike in, then the climb. 
The Park maintenance crew had to clear the trail. Some of the Douglas Firs in this forest are over 800 years old. 
We had a picnic at a stunning waterfall. Little water crystals floated in the air. 
Taraz, resting after lunch. 
We hiked up to Green Lake. Rue and Rahmat had a brief swim...the water was very cold. 
I sat on a log, content to watch the guys enjoy their swim. In all, we hiked almost 10 miles that day, then I went over to water my garden.
