In Memory of...

On this Memorial Day...I want to first express my thoughts of all the people who fought in the past and the brave souls who continue to fight so we as Americans can be free. To think free and act free on those thoughts. I sit here and remember my grandfather Julius always talking about the war and how he described his willingness to help with the cause. Keith's grandfather Joe who so courageously flew a P38 and helped successfully win WWII. I will always give my gratitude to those who volunteered and those who will continue to volunteer their lives for our freedom.

Today, I didn't go to a BBQ or do anything traditional that I've done in the past. I took this day to soak in the very forest I work in. This may sound dorky but in the last 5 years I've never gone out and enjoyed the Elliott State Forest like others do who don't work there. I'm usually on my way to a harvest unit thinking of my strategy to do the best job I can that day. Don't get me wrong I do stop to smell the roses when I'm at work but today was different. Normally, I look out my window in the work truck and gaze at the beauty as I pass by but I haven't stopped to really enjoy this place on my own time. So this is what I set out today to do. The most beautiful place in this vast forest (to me) is along the West Fork Millicoma River in the heart of the Elliott. So this was my plan; take the dogs, the camera and stop to enjoy the forest on my own time. We stopped along the river a few times, took a hike on an elk trail and the dogs went swimming. In a sense I wanted a memory of my own, in this forest. I may not work here forever so I wanted to take this day to remember the best part of this forest, the river.....

Happy Memorial Day!

At the Beach with the Dogs

Yes I admit......I'm a coasty! There's something about living next to the ocean. You can feel the presence of this vast ocean even miles inland from the beach. The temperature doesn't change much throughout the year.

I've been going out to the beach a lot lately and it's been beautiful out there this spring! The dogs (Dozer, Lacey and my friend's dog Holly) are enjoying themselves especially. Running a muck like a bunch of hounds in and out of the water. This past Saturday I went out with a few friends and enjoyed all the positive ions from the ocean mist.

Life is Good!

Getting ready for the ball toss.

In the water.

The ball getter.

Alicia finding a spot to leave a message

Holly and Dozer

Bouy at the entrance of the jetties.

South Jetty of Coos Bay

Dozer's sandy face in the end.

Christmas on the East Coast

Even though I live in Oregon, my mother's side of the family all live on the east coast. I haven't been back there since my sister Jessy graduated from high school in June 2005.
I'm way over due! So this holiday season I wanted to head back east to Maryland, Virgina and Delaware. Here's a few Christmas photos from my trip:)

Getting ready to leave on a jet plane from San Francisco after sunrise.

Flying over the California Bay Area.

Christmas day in Delaware at Aunt Kathy and Uncle Travis's house.

My mother Roni, Uncle Travis, Aunt Kathy and I.

My sister Jessy and I. Unfortunately she's taller than me.

My beautiful sister Jessy.

In Virgina at my aunt Julie's place. We went for a small hike in acres and acres of hardwood forest. I'm not used to not seeing many evergreen trees. Julie and her dog Bobo.

We decided to go and check out Great Falls National Park in Virgina (Potomac River Gorge).



Trying to model somewhat...just being goofy:)

I'm not the only photographer in the family!

Kayaking the Potomac River

Great Falls of Maryland and Virginia

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season for 2008!

Apple Pie in a Jar

Fall harvest always brings out the best in cooking and baking. I try to use everything we grow in the garden and if I don't I give it away to people at work. I try not to waste anything.

Last year I canned apples we harvested from our fruit trees. We enjoyed this recipe so much I decided to make it again this year. Apple Pie in Jar is from the cooking website Allrecipes. This recipe makes a completed apple pie mixture ready to be baked in a pie crust. From what I understand it is a gluten-free recipe as well. The recipe quotes for 7 quart size jars but I can only get 5 jars total. I must not be packing the jars enough with apples:)

Enjoy! As with all canned goods it is recommended to use within a year.

Here's a few pictures through out the process.

Freshly picked apples from the garden.

The quart size Kerr jars before sterilization.

Leftover apple peelings are great to compost. I used an apple corer, peeler and slicer all in one. A very handy tool for preparing apples.

Packing jars with apple slices before the cinnamon sugar mixture.

After pressure cooking the jars, now they sit and cool. We always keep our ears open to listen for the popping of lids. These jars make great Christmas gifts. About two jars will make an apple pie or just open one heat up on the stove top to put over vanilla ice cream.

Happy holidays!

Gloria

Wandering in the Redwoods

On our way back from California, we detoured our trip down the "Avenue of the Giants"!!!!
We stopped to stretch our legs (dogs too:) ) There was plenty of smoke lingering from all the fires reshaping Mendocino and Humboldt counties forest.

I do truly miss the redwoods, this is where I went to Humboldt State University to learn forestry. This majestic environment has so much appeal. Walking among giants that have been there centuries before I was born. It gave me a feeling of how little I really am in in this world. Mother nature really out did herself when she created this species of tree. Banana slugs making a home for themselves in the red fissured bark.

Here a few shots as I wander through this old forest in Northern California.

"In the Redwood Forest"

"Coastline"



"Bark of the Redwoods"

"Afternoon Redwood"

Fourth of July in California

Keith and I go to California every Fourth of July to soak up the hot sun we miss so dearly and visit friends and family.

Not to our surprise we started smelling smoke from the wild land fires in California. I got a smoky shot of a smoky orange sunset in Southern Oregon in Ophir on our trip down. We pulled a red eye drive down. We didn't get to Gram's house until 4:30 in the morning. I was tired.

My good friend Colleen and I have a tradition of going on a canoe trip every year. We both get to take the day off and slowly stroll down the Russian River just NW of Santa Rosa. We rent a canoe and enjoy the scenery and warm water. We used to go all the time when I lived on the river in Forestville 8 years ago. We've known each other since high school.

Unfortunatly, We weren't able to make to the river this year. Colleen's husband hurt himself skate boarding and We couldn't leave him at home watching all three children by himself with a broken knee. Poor guy he was pain. Watching children is a lot of work even with a healthy knee. So instead we had lunch at the Russian River Brewery for a few hours. If we can't go to the river itself, we might as well go the the brewery:)

I had a few pictures from our canoe trip from last year I wanted to share. I recommend taking time out of your life for a day canoe trip. Very relaxing and invigorating. Here's some pictures.

My sister Jessy joined us for a drift down river from Washington DC. She found this dog that was randomly strolling the beach. She was a sweet puppy.

My sister paddling in the front.

Colleen paddling in the back. So guess who has the middle, basking in the sun?

At the end of our trip, there were some kayaks left from previous day renters. I took one out for a spin while we were waiting for the bus to pick us up in Guernville.

This trip is also in celebration of our nations independence. We were invited over to Colleen and Christian's house for a BBQ and fireworks at the fair grounds, this year the City of Santa Rosa had their fireworks on July 3rd. It was hard not to say "Happy 4th of July"! during the gathering. I had to keep correcting myself, dooooh! Colleen's eldest daughter Adria has her birthday party(her actual birthday is on July 5th) on our nations independent holiday. I brought my camera and snapped a few shots this year with the new camera.

Adria opening her birthday gifts.

One of Colleen's twins, I believe this is Sophia or is it Anna? Isn't she cute!

Here's a shot of my first attempt with fireworks. I hope you had a

Happy Fourth of July Everyone!!