Life Happens: July 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009

The 4 Signs of Aging

I'm here today to give you all some sage advice. (Don't I look scholarly in my librarian glasses?)

What are the 4 signs of aging?

WISDOM

CONFIDENCE

CHARACTER

STRENGTH

Monday, July 20, 2009

It's Hot!!

Temps will be in the 100's this week. Let's cool off with some photos.

Does this help?

Aaaahhhh.....that's more like it!

Hope you are all beating the heat.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Hubby and I went to Leavenworth, Wa. for a Less Stress Getaway. We were surprised that it took only an hour and a half (at most) to get there. This once dying timber and rail town turned itself into an alpine Bavarian village...successfully. It is so charming with its beautiful mountain backdrop, Icicle Creek, and many evergreen trees.

Leavenworth is known for its Bavarian festivals, great shopping, and myriad of outdoor activities. Everything in town has that alpine flair, even the gas station sign.

This was a cute German wagon all decked out in front of the main park.

I don't think there are too many post offices cuter than this one.

We were sitting on a grassy hill in the park that overlooked downtown.

This Oompah band of two guys were entertaining the tourists. Just a drummer and an accordian player, but they were good! When they started playing...of all things..."Viva Espana", my hubby and I had to sing the chorus!

We got our picture taken with a local gent.

Gorgeous flower pots and baskets just like this one were all over town. Notice the colorful painting on the wall behind it. That was everywhere, too.

Just so you know you are still in the U.S.

Could this man's smile be any bigger?!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Happy National Pick a Blueberry Day!

Really...I'm not making this up! Today is National Pick A Blueberry Day, and July is National Blueberry Month. So in honor of the beautiful blueberry I scoped out a local U-Pick Blueberry Farm yesterday and went picking. I got there at 8:30 a.m. and picked until 11:30 a.m.

The people who worked there first asked me what type of blueberry I wanted to pick? Who knew there were more varieties than just "regular" and "wild"! The ones I'm holding in my hand are the type I chose. The variety is called 'Dukes'. They were in between the largest ones and the smallest ones in size, and they tasted good, too! They had free samples there so you could taste the berry and make your selection before you went out to pick. Then you were directed to the rows with the variety you selected.

I picked beneath netting that was above all of the bushes to keep the birds away. The berries were pesticide free and really wonderful. I picked 11 pounds of berries in 3 hours!!

When I got home I put the berries in the fridge for a while to cool before I washed them. (those were the instructions the farm gave me) After the berries cooled I washed them, spread them out on pans and put them in the freezer for about an hour. After that I tucked them into plastic freezer bags and put them back into the freezer. They will stay good for up to a year, and I can have fresh blueberries any time I like! I'm imagining muffins, pies, pancakes, pancake syrup, freezer jams, dessert sauce, etc. But first.....

Some of the berries I set aside and used them to make fresh blueberry custard pie. Hubby and I have nearly eaten the whole thing!

All the time I was picking blueberries I kept thinking of this adorable book I used to read my kiddos when they were little. I have always loved, "Blueberries For Sal", by Robert McClosky. (did you know he also did all of the illustrations?) Do you remember it?

"Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk!" We had a softbound copy and read it so often that we wore it out. I think I will have to get a new copy of it for my grandkids.

Oh, and I plan to go the blueberry farm again next year. Only now that I'm an experienced picker I think I will take my grandboys along with me so that we can all "kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk" away on a lovely morning in July.