Long Summer Days with Good Fences and Blackberry Crisp

I hope you are enjoying these long summer days, Dear Friends! 

Thank you for stopping by to visit me
in my little corner of the world
here in the foothills of Washington State. 

We are so far apart, yet so close at heart. 

Your sweet visits brighten my days, 

like the summer sun. 

xoxo

The fields are full of golden grass, swaying in the breeze.
I love these long summer days.

This beautiful barn is on my way to the market.
I wish it were mine!
I would fill it with horses, not cows, and maybe a llama or two or three :)
I think I would add a couple of miniature donkeys, too.
Just for fun....

This beautiful entry is also on my way.
An elderly couple live here and the forested grounds are just full of flowers.
 They once operated a small Christmas tree farm.

Most of the trees are gone now...
but the last few look so lovely in the fields of daisies.

On my way home, I stopped for this pretty scene.
A vintage tractor and realistic scarecrow,
seemingly shielding his eyes while gazing at the view.

But I am in a hurry to get home, because....

My sweet Mr. has been hanging around here all week.
He has some precious time off.

We are having a 'Stay-cation'.
Getting some projects done
and enjoying these beautiful summer days.

We even managed to catch the sunrise one morning,
reflecting on Mt. Rainier.

Can you see the large glaciers?
These are thousands of feet high.

Mt. Rainier reminds me of a big ice cream sundae
 this time of year.

These hot summer days bring on rapid glacier melt.
The creek in the valley speaks in many voices
when the sun goes down
  in the silence of twilight.

We have been taking lots of walks together in between chores.
The dogs love to come along.
We like to see what is blooming...

Here we visit Sweet William.
These came from a packet of wildflower seeds.
Nearly 30 years ago!

I was a young Mother desperate for flowers
while we built our home.

I was so surprised to see these bright little pinwheels
in my very first garden.

They have re-seeded ever since
 and every year we look forward
to seeing their bright upturned faces.

The hydrangea are blooming, too!
 These are Nikko Blue and they love this shady, low spot
and have spread by themselves,
forming a hedge on each side of the picket fence.

Our bedroom window lies beyond with the unfinished loft above.
Can you see the saw horses and lumber in the window?

Every morning I take my own little walk with the dogs
 to fill the bird feeders and retrieve the newspaper.

Yesterday I spotted a coyote about 100 yds away,
 as I came around the bend.
We were equally alarmed -  both coyote and I,
and then it slipped silently away.
My dogs were oblivious until
we came upon the scent.

Off they ran, baying into the deep woods, but
they didn't run far, and came back panting,
sniffing the ground where this
beautiful wild cousin stood just moments before.

Miss Maggie has been on edge.
Here she thinks she 'hears something' and is on high alert.
So is Ling Ling.
Both stay close to the house,
 refusing to leave the deck.

The dogs have been on patrol.

The coyote is just doing her thing.

We respect all life. We adapt to them.
We are the interlopers, not they.

The Ocean Spray is blooming along the edge of the forest,
lighting up the recesses as we stroll on a late afternoon walk.

This native shrub has clusters of cascading white flowers,
giving the plant its name.

Here it is blooming with purple Fireweed.

The long, slender branches are extremely strong and were used by
our Native Americans to make spears, bows and arrows.

The birds are done nesting for the season,
except for this little fellow - a Spotted Towhee.
He has been singing in the trees by the deck
with his strange, reedy call.

He raids the porch lights in the morning for buggy treats.

He has found a juicy specimen.
He sat on this dead branch, calling away, bug in beak,
until his mate answered from her nest on the ground in a thicket.

Another late nester, the Western Tanager has chosen his territory.

I heard his chirping high in the tree canopy, defending his nest.
He came into view and I got this lucky shot
 as he scolded me loudly with short, piercing chirps.

These beautiful birds arrive only after their main food source,
 Red Elderberry, ripens in late June.

It is always a thrill when they finally arrive.

 In between walks and gardening,
while The Mr. has been playing Handyman,
 I have been playing house -
whipping up simple home-made meals
to enjoy together.

Broccoli Cheese Soup and Irish Soda Bread
is a favorite and easy to make.

I always make enough for two meals.

Salads are always wonderful with summer fresh fruit-
(this delicious recipe came from Kitty's Kozy Kitchen )
and includes watermelon and feta.

And Blackberry Crisp from our own wild berries,
harvested and frozen last fall.
It was a bountiful harvest.

This is such an easy desert and one that truly says 'Summer' to me!

Blackberry Crisp

Serves 6-8

Bake at 375 degrees - 35 -40 min.
 Buttered 8"x8" glass pan.

Filling:
6 cups fresh or frozen blackberries
(no need to thaw - just cook 5-10 minutes longer)
1/4 cup sugar (or more if berries are tart)
1/4 cup flour
2 tsp vanilla

Topping:
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 stick cold butter (8 tbsp), cut into chunks
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
(or 1//4 tsp cinn., nutmeg, and pinch of allspice)
1/2 cup oatmeal

 To prepare filling: Mix berries with 1/4 cup flour and 1/4 cup sugar until coated.
Spread into buttered 8x8 inch glass baking pan. Sprinkle with vanilla.

To prepare topping: Mix the 3/4 flour, brown sugar, and pumpkin pie spice together.
Cut in the butter, using a pastry blender, fork or fingers, until crumbly. Add the oatmeal and mix together. Spread topping evenly over berries in pan.

Bake uncovered in preheated 375 degree oven for 35-40 minutes
 or until berries are bubbly and topping is browned.

Let cool and serve it plain
or with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
 for true decadence.

Will keep for 2-3 days covered and refrigerated.
Reheat each serving approx. 30 seconds in microwave.

So good!

After a long summer day of projects and chores,
we watch the moon rise
as we enjoy our simple home-made meal.

Watching as the sun once more reflects its rosy rays
on the snows of Mt. Rainier,
listening to the song of the river,
and grateful for this time to spend together.

Wishing you simple summer pleasures,
Dear Friends.

These summer days go quickly past,
we must enjoy them while they last.

xoxo


Today I am linking with The Run*A*Round Ranch Report

Thank you, Theresa for hosting this fun Link Party!