Stephanie says

Northern Flicker (Red Shafted) Common to western north america, woodlands and meadows, this woodpecker is one of the few often seen on the ground, where it dines on its favorite food, ants. Flickers also use ants to preen, squishing them and smearing the remains on their feathers.  Ants contain formic acid, which kills small parasites on the skin and feathers. Photo and above caption by US Forest Service. Geese are feeding in the fields adjacent to the millpond. There is such abundant goose crap I watch where I step. Rosie races around the perimeter, a streak of glistening black, flushing them out; the quiet broken by the sound of flapping wings and honking as they flee to safety in the pond.   Different varieties of birds are darting around my yard.   Regretfully, I can identify only the most common birds so I refer to my 1941 edition of “A Field Guide to Western Birds” to identify one I suspect is a male Red-Shafted Flicker Woodpe...

This is a holiday classic but somehow I've never taken photos.  I meant to take some this year since my onion were meticulously sliced with my beloved mandolin!  This is absolutely delicious and any leftovers can be used to augment a killer sandwich. Prep and Cook time:   About 45 minutes Notes: If making up to 3 days ahead, cover airtight and chill.   Reheat in a microwave safe dish in a microwave oven at full power for about 4 minutes, stirring halfway through. Makes:   About 4-1/2 cups, 10 – 12 servings 6 Tablespoons butter 3 Tablespoons olive oil 3 lbs red onions, peeled and thinly sliced About 2 cups Merlot or other dry red wine 6 Tablespoons sugar ¼ cup balsamic vinegar Salt In a 5 – 6 quart pan over medium-high heat, melt butter with olive oil.   Add onions and stir often until they’re limp and liquid has evaporated, 8 – 10 minutes. Add 2 cups wine and the sugar, stir occasionally until liquid ha...

Or how to not leave the house when it's raining buckets.  It is the Oregon coast range in February. With some variety of soup in mind, I made stock from a rotisserie chicken earlier in the day.  (My dogs are always in close attendance when I'm pickin chicken...  Their eyes are glued to my every move in hopes I'll drop a scrap; floor cleanup patrol at the ready.) The rain began in earnest about the time I'd finished, and not wanting to get drenched I took a look in the pantry and freezer. And came up with: Shallots, crimini mushrooms, chanterelle mushrooms, barley, fresh spinach, and white wine.  I walked in from outside (covered porch!) to a mouth-watering aroma of simmering soup.   Ingredients: 3 Shallots, 150 gram, diced Crimini mushrooms, 225 grams, sliced Chanterelle mushrooms, 185 grams  7 cups chicken broth 1 cup dried barley 1 cups diced chicken 1 cup white wine Fresh spinach Bring 6 cups of salted broth to boil, then a...

Plenty of waterfowl at the pond this morning.  I never remember the binoculars...  Scouring rush is greening up and minute water lily leaves float just beneath the water's surface.  This is how it looked.  Note the geese nicely camouflaged in center of photo. I changed the original photo to black & white below.  Not a whole lot of difference.

I had lunch with Velma in celebration of her 93 rd birthday.   I dated her son in high school which is when we met.   I ditched the boy and kept the mom. It’s interesting how long- term relationships change: this one has gone from adult role model to a teenager; long married wife to a newlywed; widow to a divorcee; finally to adult contemporaries.   It’s nice to have someone say, “Oh, you’re young yet.   You can _______ what ever we’re talking about,” because to her I am actually still young!   She quit driving when she turned 90 but up until then, she’d hop into the car and take off to go visit her friend in California, her sister in Redmond, etc. The Central Oregon run   included me in Powell Butte.   Velma’s family had a ranch just a couple miles from my place when her kids were in elementary school; they actually attended the little brick Powell School which is still in operation. That school is where I cast my votes in the da...