July 2015; Camping, Traveling And More

Whew!! What a busy month we've had. We were traveling half the month. Ten days in Oregon visiting family. I love Oregon and always hate to leave. 

While in Oregon we visited a family member's chicken coop. She had a great set up. I am thinking a post showing their coop is in order.

We also had more rain in July than I ever remember in all my years living in Southern California. It is so dry that we welcomed the inch we received. They are talking of a large El Nino and I sure hope it means above average rain for us.

In between trips we went to a concert with friends. It was hot and humid that evening and we were all a sweaty mess but it was so much fun. I have a bucket list of things I want to do these days and that was one of them. I hope there will be more.

We just returned from a camping trip to our local mountains. We are so lucky to live so close to the beach and mountains and everything in between.

My sister in law and I worked together to make baked smores. She was determined we would have smores despite the fact that for this year, with the drought, no campfires were permitted. 

They were amazing and we all loved it. Recipe to follow this week.

I have not mentioned the garden as this is our winter type rest. In the heat of summer, I suspend planting. I harvest what I can and wait for fall planting time. Our second growing season.

Vacation Ends

Spent some time viewing the Rogue Gorge. It is an amazingly beautiful place. They think it was created by a lava tube that collapsed over time. It is extremely powerful and dangerous. Sadly we saw a sign of a family looking for any signs of a boy that fell in taking a photo. There was a high fence but still folks take chances and I was so saddened to see the reminder.

Nature is my favorite type of vacation destination. I live in a big city urban area so we never choose to visit other large cities for vacation. We always head out for some natural beauty.

I always feel most restored and at peace in settings like this. How is it that I am a city girl?

I kept seeing such lovely places and saying how I could see myself living there. I love the wide open spaces.

After the gorge we went to Eagle Point Mill which was a delight. The owner has extensive collections displayed throughout the mill and I loved this rooster. Someone must have loved this Barred Rock to stuff him.

His collection of red wing pottery was the largest I have ever seen. They went up to 24 gallons and more.

The mill is worked daily and they have every sort of grain and flour you could want.

This is the mill store. More extensive collections I was drooling over. I bought several wonderful finds in his antique shop.Very good buys compared to CA prices.

This is only a part of the stores offering of goods you could buy.

Cutest antique shop I have been to in a long time. Can't wait to share my gorgeous blue ball jars. All of these goods sit on his porch year long. He has never had a theft in seven years. He has had money slid under the door for things folks buy. I was happy to hear of this as it gave me a good feeling that there are still places you can trust folks. I love Oregon. To me it is God's country and I would move there in a heart beat if given the chance. We are however firmly planted here for now so I choose to be happy here too. I had to reconcile these feelings a long time ago when my husband's job kept us here. It is far better to have him employed and doing well than for me to chase a dream. We still have some of the best weather here which allows me to garden year round and our proximity to gorgeous beaches and mountains is such a blessing.  So where is vacation taking you this year? Anywhere I must see?