Addy and Denver

Last week I went to Denver for a few days to offer some help to old friends who are more like family. Their 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, which is a deformity in the base of the skull. It was diagnosed on her 5 year old well child visit + MRI. Needless to say, they were frightened and anxious about the surgery.
I made it to the hospital while they were in pre-op and found Addy with all her "stuff" she brought to the hospital for the surgery. The fav. was a GIANT rubber snake which made it's way around to everyone including the staff of The Denver Children's Hospital. It was great to go back and visit with old co-workers and friends from Denver. I spent most of my time hanging out with Lida (8 and Carson's BFF) and Gertrude (Gma). \
Addy must have read the guide to Chiari Surgery because she ended up going home in 4 days! She is home and back to her normal routine and her parents can breath a sigh of relief now.

Some of my co-workers

are awesome. SOME are not so awesome. HMMMMM?

The pie. The best one yet. Fresh Ranier Cherry and Blueberry. Yum.

Each pie is getting better and better. I may get the hang of it yet!

Horseshoe Lake and Cherry Pies

Sheesh, we asked for sun, but this is crazy! The last two days have been around 100 degrees so we had to find someplace to cool off. We headed off to Lewis River for a lazy day but got sidetracked to a "warmer more welcoming" waters. Horseshoe Lake in Woodland, Washington. Worked out great for all! Carson made a new friend and Sam found lots of floaties to kick around on. I baked in the sun and ended up with bright red shoulders. Carson borrowed sam's goggles and it made me remember going to Rock Lake when I was little. I went with Ann Ann and had a Wonderwoman bathing suit. Wish I had one like it now.

Viva Frida

My tribute to the most beautiful, tragic, and talented woman, Frida.

Side Trippy Trip

Peterson's Rock Garden. This was a bizarre side trip about 3 miles off the main road. When we drove onto the property I immediately knew we had found a hidden treasure. There were roaming peacocks and a horse and the place was unkempt.


The Petersen Rock Gardens were started in 1935 by Rasmus Petersen. Mr. Petersen was born in Denmark July 21, 1883, and came to Central Oregon in 1906.

Here he built his home and began farming, gradually buying land until he had nearly 300 acres under cultivation. By 1935, he had time to devote to his own back yard, and began by building a small rockery a few feet west of his house.

As his friends came and admired his handiwork- and brought their friends- he continued to build. He learned where to find the various kinds of rocks that he eventually came to use as he covered four acres with castles, ponds and bridges.

Almost all the rocks he used came from within a n 85 mile radius of the Gardens. Included are petrified wood, agate, jasper, thundereggs, malachite, lava and obsidian.

The Oregon Lake tour

A little teaser for you re: our trip. We have been to Trillium Lake, Crater Lake, Diamond Lake, Lake of the Woods, Fish Lake and now we are finally back to WIFI civility. I was without computer and cell phones for 4 days. HEAVEN!

new girls in town

I promise to write about something more than chickens soon.
We are leaving for Crater Lake, Or in two days and I am sure we will have something great to tell.

New Hens

With the Rooster (SWVCPP) gone now it is time to add to the flock. Can you call two hens a flock? So we went hen shopping. We had to find an old enough hen since the big ones would really pick on a younger one. All the advice says to add two or more hens at a time to keep from causing a ruckus. Sam and I went out last week to 4 different places that had pullets, but none of them were right. He wanted a Welsummer or a Rhode Island Red and would settle for nothing less. He wanted a girl that lays "dark dark brown eggs". Well, he knows what he wants. I finally told him that a lady was bringing her hens to the nursery on Thursday and he had to choose one of them. Turns out she had one Welsummer mix and we snagged it up. It is beautiful brown with weird bluish legs. He named her Blue Leg. Clever. I also picked out a beautiful Jersey Giant for Sharon. Seems these are the biggest chickens out there and she won't start laying until she is about 9 months old. She should get to a hefty 10 pounds. I think she looks like a big raven right now. Sharon hasn't named her yet, but we are all weighing in on what we think she should name her hen. I can't really see Sharon naming her hen Shimmer, but that is what Carson is going for.

2nd trap added yesterday. We got us a RAT!

My family.

Hard to believe Jess the Nurse/photographer took more than 200 photos. I love the 10 I have seen. Can't wait to get the rest.

End of Year Party

Carson's class had their end of year party yesterday. They are now third graders! I can barely believe that. My baby is going to Kindergarten? How can it be so?
We made bags with shrinky dink tags for the teachers. It is amazing how grown up she has become in just the last few months. She is so much fun now. I am counting on her to help me with a stubborn 5 year old this summer.

small rooster crow.

Spidey Worm Von Chicken Pot Pie was hiding behind the bike crowing.......

Critter Control Diagnosis = RATS!

Trap set!   CREEPSTER!  I will be taking pictures of everything that gets caught in trap.

Cockadoodledoo

SpideyWorm Von Chicken Pot Pie is a rooster.   I am trying to get a hilarious video of him practicing his crowing.   Many hours of entertainment.  He is going back to the farm on Sunday.  Sorry for the next 5 days of wake up calls to my neighbors.  Next up......Critter control is coming on Wednesday to help get rid of whatever is living in the Dody sidewalk holes.  Another fresh hole has been dug.  The Critter Control people say RATS!!!!!

The tale of three SAMS.

Actually, there is one Sam with three birthday parties.   Sam  first celebrated early with Maggie and Rowan who share a birthday with him.  We partied with old friends who feel more like family while in Colorado.   Then on the actual birthday we had a dinner and cake celebration with Gma and Gpa Dody.    He still kept asking when his "real" party was going to be so we threw together a partay at Mt. Tabor Park on the only dry day of the week.   Obviously his mommy couldn't pull together a real birthday cake and threw some old plastic sad toys on a chocolate cake for his birthday.  Luckily Mama Share made some delish cupcakes for the kid party.  His friends Manu and Aiden came to Mt. Tabor and then three stranger (gasp) boys joined in for cupcakes and stomp rockets.   The third party was over when Sam and Manu told another boy on the playground that they were going to give him THREE wedgies if he didn't shut up.   Here is a pic from each party...................

pathetic cake by Mommy Kim                                                   Sam at Mt. Tabor with Manu.

Mile High Love

So the Dodys just got back from the Mile High City.   We had a wonderful trip visiting old friends and catching up on each others lives.  All the kids have grown up in the last three years and played together like they had never been apart.   The weather was beautiful and the altitude kicked our butts.  We slept about 4 to 6 hours per night so we could hang with our friends as long as possible.  Who needs sleep when you have friends, beer, and 3 years of pure adulterated gossip.

Ok, so that last one was just for fun.   Seems like when we get with our friends we just act like we have no sense.  That is what friends are for, right?

Sam's last day of preschool

Today is a big day for Sam.  It is his last official day as a preschooler.  He is now able to tell people he is in Kindergarten!   He has been with the same preschool since we moved to Portland.  I think it is important for kids to be the youngest in the group and then progress to the oldest.  Although he is ready to move on from Apple Blossoms, I am glad we chose a Waldorf preschool.  They didn't teach him any academics (his sister is all over that).  They let him explore nature and be a child.  No desks, no worksheets, no alphabet.  Just play, singing, and fairies.  The teachers at AB always wear aprons, so I made Miss Carrie and apron to say thank you.  I had Sam write his name and then I embroidered his "signature" on the pocket.  So cute.
Here is Sam's first day of school at the "baby" school.  He has since moved on to the "preschool" school.

Here is the apron..

Good bye Apple Blossom Nursery School........Hello Summer Break!

FRIED Chicken Samwiches....EGADS!

As soon as we got the chickens, Grampa started talking about how we could eat them as fried chicken.  Sick, I tell you!  How could one eat that sweet little cooing bird?   We decided it would be alright to eat A chicken, but not OUR chicken.  So, while Carson and Gramma were at a play today, Sharon, Sam, and I took Grampa to Miss Delta's for some good ole comfort food.  We ate jalapeno hush puppies, sweet potato fries,  sweet tea, and yes, a fried chicken sandwich.  Sharon and I opted for the BBQ Tofu Po Boy, and it may have been the best tofu I have ever had.  Probably because it was deep fat fried.   Everyone was stuffed and took half home for later.   I wonder if Gramma will sneak the other half of the sandwich for a midnight snack?

Carson and Gabby watching Indiana Jones

Gabby is not really a "lovable" cat.   Maybe Carson smelled like chicken.  Thanks Aunt Steph.

Pie #2. Chocolate pudding pie.

Not my thing, but everyone seemed to like it.  I have never had an inkling for chocolate pie.  Made with homemade crust, homemade bittersweet chocolate pudding, and homemade whipped cream on top.  Success.  It is the fruit pies I am worried about. 

Also, I need to figure out how to make the crust pretty.

Around our yard.

We had a family of garden spiders move into our roses.  When you move the flower they scatter.  Yuck.  The chickens are growing REALLY big.  I didn't realize how big they would get and how much they eat.  Yesterday they ate a whole watermelon down to the rind.   The kids are still enjoying them and we are all excited everyday to check for the egg(s).  Still only one layer. 
Maggie and Melissa are coming for dinner tonight.  They are doing the dinner cooking and I am attempting another pie.  This time I am trying a chocolate pudding pie with whipped topping.  Not my kind of pie, but Maggie is a chocoholic and Sam asked for it.  

The summer of the PiE

 Pie 1- Lemon Meringue

This is the summer I will learn how to make pie.  Today I got Norma's "easy" pie crust recipe.   It didn't go very well the first try..........

I thought I did everything right, but the dough literally crumbled.  Hmmmm?   I figured it had to be the shortening since it had been in our cabinet for quite some time.  I can't really remember the last time I made something with Shortening.  So, I walked up to the Whole Foods and replaced it with brand new shortening.   The next go round was perfect and I made a double batch and froze half for later.   The lemon curd was easy and super tart.   It was the meringue I was terrified of.
 I don't have a hand mixer, so I whipped it by hand.  Oh My God.  I whipped it for about 20 minutes and now have cramps up my right arm and into my shoulder.  It turned out perfect.  I have to admit for my first real pie from scratch, it was delish.  We ate half of it after dinner and gave some to our neighbors and there is still at least three pieces left.  Yum.
Next on the list has to be a strawberry rhubarb concoction since the strawberries will be here.

Putting on the meringue is fun.

Finished product.

Just look at those meringue peaks!

I tried to make the caramel icing that was gramma shaffer's specialty, but it just wasn't happening.  So I will let Steve take that on.  I will try to do a little tribute to the greatest pie maker ever.    Eloise.