What is happening at A Way Back?

Projects, projects and more projects. Rain, rain and more rain. But both will make for a great spring and summer!

Don just returned from a 12 day trip to various posts east of Oregon. He had a whirlwind trip, but was very happy to visit the chaplains. He came back just in time to get good and muddy as we work on the deconstruction of the back yard. We will then reconstruct the back to be a little easier to maintain. Right now it is just a big puddle of mud, but it has potential. I will add pictures of the deconstruction and then the reconstruction.

Don took some fabulous photos of his trip east. I will put those on after we return from Coronado's Salute to the Military. It will be mid April.

We hope and pray that your Lenten season has been blessed. We look forward to seeing you soon at A Way Back.

Spring is in the air

Yikes, How did it possibly get to be Fat Tuesday? Yes, we’ve been busy with winter and snow and projects, but I think this goes down as oops, just forgot to get back to the blog.

We had a great time this winter (between storms) visiting friends in Hawaii. Just loving sitting on Lee and Richard’s boat soaking up the island breezes. Then off to MA for a beautiful winter wedding, over to MD and to VA where Don attended a conference and I read books and played tourist. It has been a good winter.

It is not officially spring, but there are some signs that it is knocking on the door despite today’s snow. The mallards are back, the crocus are poking up through the snow, and the frogs are singing away. They are my least favorite of the signs. I never knew frogs could be so noisy. You think they would get tired and need to rest their throats, but know they are just singing away. All signs of spring.

Don has to repair the barrage. A tree branch made a significant hole in the roof, but other than that we sustained very little damage due to storms.

The potting shed will be in full operation starting next week. Winter operations are about to come to a halt. It was fun having herbs and flowers to tend to during the winter, but now it is time for heat mats to hold seed flats. Such fun. So, I need to finish my last knitting project this week, finish my book on George Washington. And start getting the spring wardrobe ready. (that just means, umbrellas, raincoats, and wellies and rubber boots rather than woolens.)

I think May will be a beautiful bulb month, but that is just a guess.

I will add pictures of the shed and barrage during the operation phase, for now you have seen enough of my snow pictures. So, we will go pictureless on this LONG OVERDUE entry.

Let it snow, let it snow, let......

We hoped for Indian Summer only to have an early blizzard drop in all over us. Ski resorts are happy and opening early. We just worked on snow removal and finishing last summer projects. Winter is establishing residence, like it or not. And, for the most part, we like it. The dogs LOVE it!
Stove is in place for the ba-rage and Kathlyn's potting shed is providing shelter to stubborn begonias that just keep on blooming! She calls it the GRAND experiment and is determined to keep those begonias alive. The albino deer loves the color protecting snow and is growing by "leaps and bounds!" It was last spotted yesterday minus its twin, so we guess they separated.

Most projects will be indoors for the next few months, and then spring arrives, bringing multi-colored splendor. Kathlyn and the gardner have put in an additional 1,100 bulbs!!! We look forward to your knock on the door!!! In 22 days, the days start to get longer!!!! Yipeee! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Don and Kathlyn

No doubt! Summer is over

Today is Election Day and complete painting on BARAGE day! We already had 1 inch of snow so now we are taking advantage of this Indian Summer day. Kathlyn was hoping for a long Indian Summer but Mother Nature nixed that notion. We've had cool and rainy days but, hey, that is what makes it green and lush in Oregon. We were able to finish the male and female winter play houses. The Barage (neither a barn or garage) was painted all but for the door trim and she moved into her potting shed, pots, plants, seeds and all. The albino deer (picture taken by our neighbor, Charles Wical) is probably quizzical why classical music emerges from out of this shed into the forest. The shed is a real hidey hole unlike the Barage which glows like a gem in the sun. (Guess who is writing this entry!) We are most satisfied and pleased with both projects, just waiting for you to view and enjoy.

Additional Pictures From Summer Projects

Work is fun, just ask Lauren, Dave, Nathan, D3, Chloe,Kate, or Ryan.

It Is Autumn!

The summer projects are almost complete and it is a good thing because it is definitely autumn at A Way Back. The leaves are turning and the mums, asters and Japanese lanterns are all blooming-that says it is fall. Autumn is a spectacular time of the year in Oregon.

And the best news is the ba-rage mahal(not a barn nor a garage) past its final electrical inspection. Now, it just needs a hoist and two big garage doors. I am quite sure that by winter it will be a haven for the man of the house, a sight to behold.

Cleaning of the woods is almost complete. Don has worked very hard at creating a managed forest. Besides being beautiful, this arduous job has resulted in new paths covered in cedar chips, and trees which have been felled, milled and are waiting to be planed. The dogs love the big piles of shavings from the milled trees as they burrow and wrestle in them. Skeeter comes out, shakes and no more chips on his coat. Buddy, on the other hand, leaves the pile covered from head to toe. He truly is a wood-land creature. And, speaking of woodland creatures, there is an albino fawn in the woods. It is a true albino-with pink eyes and ears. The little creature has a twin which is tawny and still spotted. They are still with the doe. An albino is pretty rare as both parents have to carry the recessive gene, but it is amazing to see. Hopefully, I will be able to get a picture.

Don is working on his winter schedule, so, let him know when you would like to have your retreat to the house in the middle of the woods, next to the creek and near the river. We look forward to your visit to A Way Back. There certainly are plenty of new projects for you to inspect.

Grandma's 100th Birthday