Busy times in the Summer!

Man...I have been so busy!  Not just work this time...also fun summertime activities!  But, it has definitely taken a toll on my blogging.  Sorry all my wonderful followers!

So just to prove I have not been completely slacking off...let me share some of the fun with you!

First...I have baking a TON of delicious bread in my new, gorgeous dutch oven!  Best investment ever! 

(You have GOT TO TRY out this recipe.  So easy and really, really good bread!  Find it here at Frugal Living NW!)

Then a couple awesome trips to the coast for fun and work....

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is always a good time!  And these sea lions were cracking us up on the bay!

Our friend's graduation!  Masters degree, schmasters degree.

Lots of times with silly animals!

(What is the cat doing?!)

Delicious food from our little garden...

Dirty Dash Eugene!  I am pretty sure we had THE BEST costumes!  Star Wars, baby!

Whew!  Lot's of exciting events!  

Stay tuned, as I also have to share an awesome table redux.  We took some interesting items to recreate a wonderful and sturdy new outdoor table.

More soon!  

Ash

Back to the Ranch...

As you may remember, in past years we have taken a trip down to central California to check out a wonderful ranch, the Work Ranch.  They offer trail rides, they raise cattle, they have the cutest cat in the world, they raise barley and just so happens that my parents are helping as ranch hands right now, so I get an awesome excuse to go see this wonderful place.

It was soooo wonderful there.  I helped each morning feed the horses, calves, goats and pig.  The weather, while chilly, was sunny and clear.  And having time to sit and look out at the rolling hills and slow down from my crazy life, well, let's just say that it was pretty tough to come back to my daily grind.

The view from our bunk house....

Visiting the calving area....

Look at the calves!

Love the old architecture on the farms...

An old farmstead...

Sweet animals to feed...

An evening by the campfire...

A fallen old farmhouse...

The ranch is very close to the fault...

And, they also have an area where you can dig for fossils...we found this awesome old sand dollar in the middle of California's rolling hills.  Pretty awesome to think about.

They have some of the best pets I have met, too.  This guy is Miles, but their cats and other dogs were pretty darn fun, too.  Including Charlie the cat (no pic...boo...), who likes to ride on the Kubota with us when feeding the animals.

Hope you can take a little time this year to explore (or re-explore) some special places.  Which reminds me, I need to share the 2013 Manifesto with you soon! 

Ash

Oh sun...can you come out and play a little more?

Man...between working like crazy and the cruddy weather...I have not been super motivated.  But today, I had almost all day off of work, and the sun came to visit!

With my new found energy, and in hopes that the sun will stay out with us for more than just one day, (or at least hopeful that we can get done with this crazy hail, snow, rain, wind stuff) I decided to get out and plant some more vegis in the garden.  (The surprise snow we got massacred the yard and killed most all the plants in the garden.)

A while back I made these plant markers for for the garden.  Kinda hard to see, but they are awesome!  

The animals came out to play, too!  My kitty was following me throughout the yard...

And even took a seat to watch some of the chickens....

BW, the chicken, and Lacy, the cat, in a stare down.  The other 2 chickens, Killface and Ji Rou could care less.

(As you can tell...the yard is in quite a disarray....there is much yard work to do after the snow!)

And JB the dog takes in the sun over by Kiltro the chicken.  I love that all my animals get along!

Happy weekend!  Hope you are seeing a little sun, too!

Ash

Sneaky gardening and sunny Sunday....

Yesterday was so sunny out!  It was a great day, filled with all kinds of good (and maybe not as good) activities...do let me tell....

First, my friend and I ran 14 miles!  We are prepping for the Eugene Marathon at the end of April, and boy was that a run!  Next weekend is 16 miles, and I am feeling a little wary of it.

Then, I got home and ate some yummy soup I'd made and showered and then ran out into the yard to hurry and get some sneaky gardening in.  I call it that because I didn't have much time and it was only sunny yesterday...now the cold front has moved back in.

For sneaky gardening, first I let the animals out to enjoy the yard and some of the early blooming flowers....

(I love little check butts!  So fluffy and cute!)

And then I jumped into the garden and turned over my first plot to be sowed...with peas (seen here), as well as kale, lettuce mix, spinach and arugula.  Yummy!  And I am just more and more proud of my overall situation in the garden...see the straw?  It is from the chicken coop, and I put it out in the winter to start breaking down with the fertilizer and now it will act as awesome mulch.  So happy!

But then....I seemed to forget my senses and left the gate open a little while cutting down brambles in the side yard...and the dog ran out!  Silly dog...he had been so good, but he seems to think it is a game when he gets out.

About 45 minutes later, my hubby and I caught up to him playing in a drainage ditch/canal thing in the water...

Look at that wet dog!  

Well, after that it was time to go get a beer and some food.  We met up with a friend at the Ninkasi Brewery (if you have yet to have Ninkasi, you are missing out!) Then we ended the evening watching the new Sherlock Holmes movie at our discount theater.

All in all, a pretty darn good day!

Hope you also had a great weekend!

Ash

Crazy doggy...

I just had to share with you all my crazy dog.  He has some how figured out how to get into the chicken run without letting any chickens out....the only thing we can figure is that he crawled under the fencing.

The thing is that he can't seem to figure out how to get back out, and thus this is where I found a yipping dog Sunday morn...  

(I love how the chickens are just standing in the back and the dog is looking at me wondering why I am laughing!)

Have a good week!

Ash

This week-

Even though I caught a cold, it has been a great week!   Last Saturday we went to visit my parents on the Oregon Coast. It was super windy and rainy, and the power went out for almost all of Sunday!  But we had fin anyway, played Simpsons Uno and talked.  Monday there was enough of a clearing that we could go to the beach for a few....

High tide!  This is my hubby playing on a tree that was swept in.

Then I came home and had to be a couch potato for much of the time I was not at work.  But Thursday eve Ric and i bought our dog a backpack so he can carry stuff when we go out running!  So excited!  Not sure what JB, our dog, thinks yet....

My dog, JB, in his new back pack :)

Friday we went to the local Good Earth home show, and had a blast!  I love seeing businesses working to be more green, and orgs trying to help people become greener.  I bought about $50 worth of seeds for my upcoming garden (www.territorialseed.com), found some adorable plant markers made from old silverware and glass (paneinthegrass.com) and Ric bought me a new metal waterbottle with an adorable owl on it!  And speaking of owls, the Birds of Prey exhibit was there and they had owls....they are sooo cool!  They also had alpacas....

I want one!

Yesterday, I felt so accomplished!  I worked in the yard, did a run to the dump, had coffee with a friend and then went out and canvassed for Measures 66 & 67.  If you live in Oregon and have not voted, I think these are VERY important and they need to pass.  We are looking at about $800 million in budget cuts if they do not pass.

But another thing that I realized yesterday that I love about canvassing, other than the obvious fact that I am helping a cause I care for, is that I love snooping...lol. It is a great way to see how other people have done their houses, their animals, their yards...etc.  I love it!

And finally, today I worked a little, then bought potting soil for the seeds I need to start.  Ric and I are going to go buy the new Wii Fit Plus :) and then out for bowling with friends....overall I would say it has been a pretty great week and a half!