Oh My!!

Well we have been busy and just forgot about updating you on the project. It is finished and delightful. Part of the delay is we were busy with the project. Then it was suddenly summer and the vegetable starts had to go into the ground. So, Memorial Day weekend we worked on the garden. Don dug nine beds for me and I planted and planted and planted some more. Then Don set up the soaker hoses and my watering system for the squash. Everyday since at least two hours have been spent on those beds. But I think the experiment with vegetables gardening is working.

Don has been to Michigan for the RCA's chaplain's conference. After that it was back here to finish landscaping around the backyard project. All is all things are looking good.

We were cold until a week ago. Route 242 is STILL closed due to snow, but all of the falls are spectacular due to the amount of water rushing over them. If you have not been to A Way Back in awhile, you should schedule a trip. It is definitely looking different from your last visit, and we still promise you a relaxing time in the middle of the woods, next to the creek, near the river. And if it you want a little more action, you can always hop on the ATV, or go for a hike, or work on some tractor work or even pull weeds in gardens. Hope you are having a good summer.

Project Moves Forward and Flourishes.

The project continues. Yesterday Don, Craig, (the carpenter from Maine) David, ( a day helper who knows plants) and Bill (the neighbor) were all busy working back there. Don and Craig worked on the deck and Bill and David worked on the future rock garden. The deck is amazing-what a difference it makes. I bet we will be outdoors now more than indoors. Bill leveled a portion of the yard so that we can see the creek from the deck and we will be able to continue to see the creek even when the rock garden is in place. It really is starting to look very nice.

I worked in the front garden weeding and barely made a dent after hours of weed removal. The bulbs are up and glorious, producing beautiful and fragrant bouquets. It was a great day.

The shed has flats of starts. Smells yummy. Don is going to hang some netting from the roof to discourage birds from breaking their necks trying to fly through the shed on sunny days. We have had more than one die on sunny days. So, hopefully that will work. Speaking of birds the hummingbirds are back, as are the chickadees and ducks to name a few.

The elk have still been on the property as has one very big doe. The elk are skittish, but the doe is not afraid of me. I keep warning her that if she eats from my garden she will be in deep trouble. The albino deer is a yearling and still roams with a sibling and its mother. It is still a celebrity around here. I think if a coyote or cougar tried to make dinner of it that the locals would form a lynch mob.

All in all, there is quite a bit to see up here in the wilderness.

Pictures of project

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.