Visit to Crater Lake

We had not been up to Crater Lake in many years so it was a treat to go up and see it again. The Rim Village gift shop was not as large as it use to be and they have moved the parking areas to the backside of the building, but the lake itself is always a spectacular view.
One can take a boat ride out to the island you see on the left, where you will be dropped off for three hours to explore it. It was not going this day due to the weather. This is something I would like to do but even the hike down the hill to the boat is suppose to be pretty strenous and you have to be in good shape to do it.

We walked through the gift shop and then onto the Lodge for lunch. We had a great luncheon while outside the thunder storm hit. We tried to wait it out but were anxious to see more of the lake so up the path to the lookout tower was our first stop. It has a room that tells the story of how Crater Lake got started and has pictures of how things have changed over the centuries. The views from here were awesome as you can see.

This is leaning over the wall and looking straight down from the tower. The blue is so pretty and this did'nt do it justice with the cloud cover above us at times.

You just cannot capture the whole lake at one time it is so large. I read there is actually an area where you could hike down to the lake and swim in it. I did'nt even know that existed the first time I came here.

As we left the lookout tower we came upon this Clark's nutcracker (bird). He was quite a little show off and posed for everyone to take pics of him. He kept calling out for someone to feed him but the peanuts were left in the car. There were not any of our regular chipmunks out and about to be fed due to the rain. They would usually climb right up on your leg for a handout.

We left the Rim Village to take a chance on going around the east rim and we made it as far as the Vidae Falls when it started lightning and pouring down so hard we called it a day. I was able to get one shot of the falls before the car was totally soaked inside. They are pretty aren't they? We took our dogs with us the first time we came here and they would climb up the waterfall enjoying getting wet. No one was getting out of their cars today. It was just too risky to keep going up this narrow winding road with this downpour.

As we left the park and were headed home my husband spotted an Eagles nest so we turned the car around so I could capture the birds up in it. I was only able to get three of them but there were four birds in all.

Our next stop was to pick up a pizza and then home. We have had our share of thunderstorms lately but it was still nice to get out and see what we could.

I think next time I go up to the lake I will pack a picnic lunch, bring an umbrella, lots of mosquito wipes and a good book and just sit and take it all in. It is definetly one place that is hard to leave.

Picnic at Heart Lake

We have family visiting from California for the a few days and we all decided to take a picnic lunch and spend a day out at Heart Lake. After enjoying a nice barbeque of sausages, snacking on chips and homemade salsa, we watched the dogs run around and swim in the lake. They even wondered into the tall grass to hunt lizards and hiked around with the men.

My daughter-in-law and I watched butterflies flying about and saw a bunch of dragonflies over the water. We also spotted a water snake which I'm thankful kept on going about its business. It was'nt long before we were blessed with a thunder, lightning shower and a real hard down pour of rain. 

Even with the rain soaking everything pretty fast, it was enjoyable to be out at the lake. Everything there was green and there were wildflowers all about.

Just the calm on the lake was very relaxing to just sit by and veg and take in all the smells of the nearby pines and sagebrush.

You can see the clouds came right over us with quite a loud thunder. The lightning put on a good show for a bit also. I don't know if staying under the trees was a brilliant idea or not, but we did.

We cut up our watermelon, stood under a tree and waited out the storm. It would soon stop long enough for us to pack up our gear and head back home.

I think the dogs were pretty wore down by then. They slept all the way home without a peep. The rain was coming down so hard on the drive home you could not see the road ahead of us even with the wipers going at fast speed. It was a bit icky for a stretch. We watched all the action staying behind us.
 
 
Once we got home the boys went out to shoot their guns and Wendi and I watched a chick flick. All was good for a while until the thunder, wind and rain decided to come and visit over the house. Glad we were tucked away for the night. It is always pleasant to watch from the living room window.

Vintage Cookbooks, Bargain Prices

What a bargain I got when I purchased these vintage cookbooks at a yard sale for fifty cents each. There are many hand written recipes throughout the books. Some recipes were written on whatever piece of paper or envelope they had to use at the time. I can only imagine the women who used these books and what they meant to them at the time.

The 'Loyalty Cook Book.....Native Daughters of the Golden West' (left) was printed in 1948 by Willow Borba. It is inscribed : "To our Daughter Jackie when I'm through with it."

The 'Institue Cook Book" by Helen Cramp (right), was copyright in 1913, and has many handwritten recipes on all the blank pages of the book along with many on papers. It also includes a certificate from the International Institute Department of Domestic Science. Must have been pretty special to the owner of this book at the time. There are pressed flowers and leaves between some of the pages. The one thing about the two oldest books is that you can tell these were used on a daily basis. There is not many pages without food spills or grime on them.

'The Melting Pot Cookbook'  by the  Soroptimist International of Pittsburg (far left pic), is not as old dating to 2004 but also has many handwritten recipes inside and an inscription: "Jen & Meri  With all my Love, Grandma Jackie".

These are generations of women who have used these cookbooks and had many a memory when each time they were opened.

I found this pyrex paper in the Institute Cookbook. Don't you just love the old vintage look of it? It is in remarkable shape. Now what could I do with this? Any ideas are certainly welcome.

I hope to read through the pages of each book and maybe try a recipe or two.  They don't appear to be too complicated.

My daughter would love to have these books and would be saying "mom you don't even like to cook", but I love the history behind each and it just brings this feeling of 'home sweet home' when my mom always used her cookbooks. Besides like the one mother said, "Daughter, you'll just have to wait until I'm done with them."

Lake views of Crescent

My husband and I decided to go for a drive and went up to a lake we had not been to before which was about  85 miles north from our home to Crescent Lake. This has to be the prettiest lake for boating on so far that I have visited since living here in Oregon. We plan to go back and do some camping when we can. It is quite large and up to 200 ft deep, a clear green you can see at least 30 ft down. It has sandy beaches in spots around the lake and the views around are quite spectacular.

There were quite a few people sitting on the beach areas with kids playing in the water or sand.Some braved the water by water skiing or I think they call it boogie boarding. At least it wasn't filled with algae but it was still a bit cool when you got out of it from the bit of wind there was.

We pulled into an alcove for the dogs to take a potty and play in the water. Pearl was a bit skittish of it and it was her first boat ride so she like the inside on the seat where her sister, Onyx liked being up front, when we were going slow so she could look all around.

I, of course did not catch any fish but by the time we had arrived on the lake it was pretty much past their feeding times. We went all the way around the lake and everywhere it was really pretty. A lot of cabins tucked back into the trees for rentals and areas for tent and rv camping as well.

You can see there is still snow on one of the mountains nearby. I don't know the name of this one but it was still beautiful to look at.

The Fourth was a really nice time with a gathering of friends, BBQ and plenty of drink. Now it was time to gather the laundry and hang it out to dry. This is one freedom I hope I never lose as I really enjoy how my clothes smell from being out in the warm breezes that we get around her.

I went fishing on Fish Lake with my friend, Monica and her Mother in Law on Saturday and let me tell you, we froze our butts off out there. It was only 63 outside but with the wind and cloud cover I swear it was only 43. Never the less we enjoyed ourselves while wrapped up in my beach towels that I keep on the boat, we ate chicken salad sandwiches, drank a little wine, and had plenty of fish biting and steeling our bait, but no catches. I only hope the next time I go out the weather remembers it's suppose to be Summer.

My daughter helped me paint the tabletop of a little vintage table I will be using for my vintage trailer for outside dining. The chairs are red with chrome so we thought rather than a red checkered top why not go for what I like and that is, flowers and herbs.I think it turned out rather cute with a ladybug or two and a bumblebee and butterfly to boot. Who says we can't have fun and something pretty to eat off of?

Found a recipe I would like to give a try from the Companion Herb site for Dandelion Wine. Now you would'nt think that something we call a weed could be made into a drink, but hey, I'm willing to try it. It goes as follows:

Dandelion Wine

1 quart dandelion blossoms

1 gallon hot water

3 1/2 pounds sugar

2 lemons, cut up

2 oranges, cut up

Pour hot water over the dandelion blossoms and let stand 24 hours. Strain in a jelly bag then heat the juice again and add the sugar, lemons, and oranges. Reheat, then put into a stone jar. Let ferment. Skim every day for 6 to 7 weeks, then bottle.

You know I had to go around the yard looking for those darn blossoms and did you know I could not find a one! Don't worry, they'll be back and when they do I am going to collect each and every one of them and try and make some good old fashioned wine.

For now, I have another load to hang out and then it's time to dig into the enchilada's I made for dinner last night, and have a bite to eat.