Local Flavors

On Saturday, a trip to our local farmers market inspired me to work on my list of 37 before 37 ~ try five new vegetarian (vegetarian meaning eggs and dairy products are okay but no meat) recipes this year. Two down, three to go!

First up,

Dill Pickles

At the farmers market, one grower had small pickling cucumbers that looked crispy and delicious. Rob mentioned that his grandma used to make pickles and they were a favorite.

In a saucepan, combine:

• 3 cups water
• 3 cups white vinegar
• 1/4 cup of pickling salt
• 1/2 cup sugar

Bring it to a boil. Wash and place 36 cucumbers in a container. Add 5-6 sprigs of fresh dill. Add 5-8 cloves of garlic. Pour boiling mixture (above) over the cucumbers. Put in the refrigerator. 

EASY! These pickles are yummy - so crunchy. And of course, have a different texture than pickles you buy at the store. 

It's only been two days but already they are pickled. I'm guessing these won't last another week before they're gobbled up. Even the kids loved them. You should have seen the surprise to learn that pickles start out as cucumbers. 

Next, 

Before baking

Farmers Market Veggie Tart

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix together:

• 1/2 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp thyme
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/3 cup ice water

Mix until a soft dough forms. Roll out on work surfact to fit pan. I cooked mine in a 9-inch springform pan. Trim the edges. Spread 2 tbsp dijon mustard on the crust. 

After baking

• Next saute one sweet onion (sliced thin) in a bit of olive oil for about 20 minutes until golden and soft. Add 1 tsp of balsamic vinegar, cook 5 minutes and set aside. 
• Saute one medium zucchini until golden (about 5-7 minutes). Set aside.
• Slice two large tomatoes. 
• Layer the veggies (above) starting with the tomatoes. Keep layering, overlapping the veggies until all are used. 
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil over the top of the tart. Sprinkle 1/4 cup parmesean cheese over top (I also added three tbsp of feta cheese). 

Place in oven and cook for 20 minutes. Slice into 8 slices and serve.

Both of these recipes were divine and Rob and I agreed we'd try them again. Next time, I'll try marinara sauce instead of dijon mustard on the crust and I'll add some artichoke hearts. 

Back to my weekend, after walking around the Farmers Market, Rob and I decided to visit our local museum. Rob's never been and it's been a while since I was there. Our local museum is housed in a former national guard armory built in 1935.  First a few interesting facts on our town:

• Klamath Falls (and Klamath County) is named after the Klamath Indians that lived here for thousands of years. 
• Klamath Falls was founded in 1867 by George Nurse and but was then called Linkville, after the Link River that runs right through town. The name was changed in 1892.
• The Klamath Basin didn't start to really grow until 1909 when the railroad came in. Even though Oregon became a state in 1859. 
• Our county is home to Crater Lake National Park. It was the nation's fifth national park, established in 1902. 

Back to the museum, it was a wonderful mix of history. It had quite a bit of information on the Klamath Indians as well as one of the most known conflict - the Modoc Indian War. It had information on the military presence here that includes Kingsley Air Base. During WWII, Klamath welcome soldiers at a newly constructed Marine barracks. The museum was full of interesting facts, trivia, and exhibits. The staff and volunteers were nice and ready to share their knowledge. 

The museum has a new exhibit about our area's forests. Klamath County is 6,000 square miles, 75% of which are national forests. The forests provided jobs for many years in the form of logging. The forests have long been a source of recreation for hikers, bikers, campers, hunters, and more. The exhibit is the newest (I believe) at the museum and it was put together very well. I even learned a couple of things I didn't know. Here are a few photos:

The exhibit showed the various ways our forests are used.

The exhibit did a nice job showing all the uses of the forests - jobs, economy, recreation, etc.

It also featured examples of the wildlife that inhabits the forests like this elk.

And of course, our state animal - the beaver. This fun exhibit allowed kids like me to stick our heads through and see what the inside of a beaver den looks like. 

 Rob and I left wondering how many in our own community don't know about the wonderful museum. Looking at the visitor log, I didn't see any on the page that had signed in from Klamath Falls but it was exciting to see visitors from nearby like Washington and California but as far away as Germany and India. 

I'm often telling friends and family that we take home for granted. The museum reminded me to appreciate our area and its rich heritage. 

Have Tent, Will Camp

Camping is one of my favorite childhood memories. Heading out to a remote location, setting up camp alongside a creek, river, or lake. Building a campfire, roasting marshmallows, watching the stars at night...it doesn't get much better than that.

Suprisingly, it's something I haven't done a lot with my own kids. This year, I set out to get at least one camping trip in. We live in an area made up of 75% national forests and miles upon miles of water. With 300 days of sunshine per year and little precipitation, Klamath is perfect for camping types.

I'll start by saying things have changed since I was a kid. Growing up, Mom and Dad selected a remote spot (usually one my dad found while working) and we set up camp there. No neighbors, no predetermined firepits, and no store to rescue you if you forgot something important. As an adult just getting started camping "on my own," I decided an established campground would be a good place to start. A tip for the beginner like me - start early. Reservations fill up fast!

I finally settled on Howards Prairie. According to many "experts" the fishing is good, the campground is fantastic, and it's close yet far enough. My review in a few minutes. . .

We headed out Friday afternoon. In my typical fashion, our camping party grew. My cousin Heather, her boyfriend Neil, daughter Jaelie, and Neil's nephew joined us. And if that wasn't enough extra people, I decided to take along my niece and nephew plus Rob and I's kids. Yikes!

The lake was absolutely breathtaking and I am pleased to report - not a single mosquito bite amongst all of us.

Now for my review of Howard's Prairie.

Pro's:

• easy to make reservations online
• clean and well-taken care of
• nice bathroom facilities and showers available
• beautiful lake
• marina for fishing supplies and boat rentals
• store with soft serve ice cream

Con's:

• Too many people!! With 300 or so campsites, it felt like I was in a small town.
• Campsites packed together.  I could hear our neighbor snoring. We were too close
• Campsites along the water made it hard to the lakeshore without feeling as though you disrupted someone
• Lots of traffic (again probably due to all the people)

In an attempt to find some seclusion, we drove about 2 miles down the road to the Grizzly campground and were pleased to find...no one. There wasn't a single soul except us on the lakeshore. (Until the overweight, middle aged guy showed up in the speedo. Seriously. But don't worry - I spared you the picture!)

I forgot how much work camping is (but totally worth it). After setting up the tents, setting out the chairs, making dinner - it was finally time for the very best part of camping - the campfire!

Our camping trip was fast and furious and 100% fun. The kids swam, played in the water, fished, ate, ate, and ate some more. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the weekend.

Marcus getting ready to go fishing

The girls soaked up some sun. The big girls were kind enough to let the little girls hang out with them.

Marc and Zach got some quality canoe time in.

We treated all the kids to ice cream at the little store.

Aw, love this kid.

I'm really not sure what they are doing but it makes me laugh.

Nate enjoyed playing with cousin Paige.

I'm so glad we went. It was a great time building some memories. It also gave me a long, long list of things to get for next time. And things to leave at home. And ideas for making our next camping adventure even better!

I'd love to hear tips for making camping a great time. Recipes, shortcuts, tips I may not have thought of. Spill the beans - give up your camping secrets.

Lavendar Dreams



"I consider the evening twilight on Mt. Shasta
one of the grandest sights I have ever witnessed"
Teddy Roosevelt
Mt. Shasta in the background at the farm

Visiting the Mt. Shasta Lavendar Farms was on my list to do this year. On Saturday, full of energy from kayaking, Rob and I decided to take a trip and make it happen. After calling the farm, I learned that the lavendar was in "splendid bloom" and that they were only open to the public until August 4th so Rob and I headed out.

The Mt. Shasta Lavendar Farm is 72 miles south of Klamath Falls in California. It is not well marked from Hwy 97 (the main highway) and after travelling through lots of sagebrush, juniper, and desert, I began to wonder if the farm even existed.

The farm is a working farm. They had begun harvesting already. It's also a destination with thousands visiting through their season. They grow two types of lavendar - English and French; it's used for decorative, culinary, and aromatherapy purposes.

The lavendar grows well in volcanic soil so Mt. Shasta is perfect. Mt. Shasta is the second highest peak in the Cascades and is part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc. This area is home to the Klamath Tribes who held that Mount Shasta is inhabited by the Spirit of the Above-World, Skell, who descended from heaven to the mountain's summit at the request of a Klamath chief. Skell fought with Spirit of the Below-World, Llao, who resided Mt. Mazama by throwing hot rocks and lava, representing the volcanic eruptions at both mountains. Mt. Mazama is home to Crater Lake National Park.

The first thing I noticed as I pulled up to the farm was the gorgeous blooms.

The purple nestled in this desert, surrounded by some farm land with Mt. Shasta in the background was splendid and amazing.

The second thing I noticed was the beautiful building. When you pull up, you notice a darling little "store" with patio tables and umbrellas. When you walk in, you are greeted with the smell of lavendar and a friendly greeter offering an ice cold glass of lavendar lemonade. The store offers postcards, watercolor paintings, lotions, soaps and more. You can purchase fresh cut lavendar or they provide baskets to cut your own. Taking your glass of lemonade, you can sit out at one of the tables and enjoy the view.

The farm also features a 90' labyrinth that you can walk around. After enjoying the lavendar farms, we decided to call and make reservations at the Hospitality Dinner House in Dorris, California. This little restaurant was on our way home, just 17 miles south of Klamath Falls. The family just joined the Chamber and I was anxious to see what they had to offer.

When I made our reservations, the owner suggested we make time to visit the Living Memorial Sculpture Garden on the way back. Before opening the restaurant, he worked for the Forest Service and helped work with the founders to get this memorial going.

The Why Group

We weren't sure what to expect but we watched for signs to point the direction. Located right on Hwy 97, this memorial also was not too well marked but we found it anyway. This memorial was founded in 1988 by a group of veterans. Marine Corps Veteran and artist Dennis Smith created each larger than life sculpture. The Garden honors honorably dishcarged veterans of all conflicts and peace time. Pulling in, we didn't really "see" anything until we located the markers pointing directions to the sculpture. Following the markers, we came to the most amazing memorial I've ever seen.

The first sculpture is titled The Why Group (at right) and shows one comrade rushing to save another as he falls, at the top a comrade has his arms up to the sky pleading, asking why. These sculptures are huge and moving in a way I've rarely seen.

There are ten or 11 sculptures all together. Below is the Korean War Veterans Monument. A broken sword lies at his feet, his head in his hands.

There was no one else at the memorial. Between the larger than life sculptures, the incredibly emotional artistry, and the desolate location, the place felt sacred somehow. Rob and I spoke in whispers, remaining quiet for a while after we left.

The memorial includes a Wall - called the Hot LZ - and features names that loved ones have asked to be honored. Names from the Korean War, both World Wars, and Vietnam are featured.

There were a few markers on the ground like this one that featured the names Elmer Milton Rue and Michael Raymond Rue. We can only assume this was grandfather and grandson.

I came back and was curious so I googled their names. Search results included an online obituary for Michael Rue with the same dates. It says he graduated high school in Yreka and joined the Marines. He had three daughters and a son. Sadly, Rue passed at age 32 of brain cancer. 

Google searches for Elmer Rue largely came back unsuccessful. I did come across a record indicating he was buried in the Henley Hornbrook Cemetery in Yreka. It said he was a Sgt in the US Army during World War II. He passed just shy of one month after Michael. 

After spending some time reflecting after we left the Memorial, Rob and I discussed how "neglected" the memorial felt. It should be better marked and I think more people should know about it. Here at work, I helped a group of veterans plan a reunion here in September and after sharing this with them on Monday, they've chartered a bus to go see it. 

After all the adventure, it was time for dinner. The Hospitality Dinner House is located in the tiny town of Dorris, California. Dorris is probably not on many people's list of destinations but I can say it is definitely worth the stop to eat here. The restaurant is decorated cute, very Irish. It's run by a family who seem to truly enjoy what they do. We were greeted warmly, seated promptly, and impressed from the moment we walked through the door. 

I ordered the Potato Crusted Salmon and Rob ordered the Prime Rib. We were delighted when our salads came and they had some nice "extras" like artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, and a great mix of greens. The salad was chilled perfectly and the dressings tasted homemade. Our glasses were kept full.

Our entrees were hot and plentiful. Neither of us went hungry (in fact took some home to share with the kids). The salmon was WONDERFUL and the prime rib was the best I've had in at least 15 years. The owner (and chef) walked out to our table to make sure it was to our liking. He was friendly and welcoming.

We left room to share a slice of coconut cream pie that was heavenly. It was a rough ride home with our bellies full, thinking on all the things we'd seen and done in just a few hours. Definitely worth the trip!

Conquering Fear via Kayak

Kayaking had officially become a symbol of my fear and my self-consciousness. It was one of the things I *want* to do but would never do because a) I'm not athletic, b) I'm fat, and c) I might look like a dork.

I've been making my annual bucket list for three years now and there's one item that is on my list every single year - trying kayaking. Truth be told, it ended up on the list by default. The first year, as I tried to come up with 35 things to do - kayaking popped in my brain as the number 35 thing and I never gave it any more thought.  Then last year, I made my list of 36 things and it remained. As last year came to a close, I hadn't even attempted to make it happen. It loomed over the list like a big minus sign.

This year, it became the one item I'd accomplish even if I didn't accomplish any others. Officially, I only had to *try* it. I never said I'd master it. I made a date with my friend Mike to give it a try. Mike is one heck of an outdoorsy guy. He rock climbs. He camps. He backpacks. He fishes. He kayaks, canoes, trail runs, blah blah blah. Guys (and girls) like him are the reason I usually forego these activities. They make it look easy. And they look good doing it.

When I woke up Saturday morning, I had knots in my stomach. I was excited and nervous, a ball of shaky energy threatened to make me "call in sick." Fortunately, my friend Stacy had agreed to meet me and take photos to document my adventure. Subconsciously, I think this was a way for me to not let myself back out.

My adventure started at The Ledge, Mike's store, where we loaded up the kayaks. Mike's store is a wonderful place and includes a gigantic rock climbing gym where my kids love to play.

I arrived at Lake Euwana and the water was like glass. Pelicans, ducks, and all sorts of birds were on the water.

It was a beautiful day and I was fully anticipating I'd be taking a dip in this water (not by choice of course). We unloaded the kayaks and prepared for our adventure.



Pelicans love Klamath Falls. Here one sits on Lake Euwana -
awaiting my kayak adventure.

 Mike started by showing me the "old man way" to get into the canoe. He promised this would be the "least likely" way I'd fall in. I was happy to see that it basically meant I'd sit down and scoot into the kayak. Still nervous, my arms were shaking, my heart was racing but I had brought extra clothes for the swim.



Notice my hands in little fists. I really was about to freak out.



Remarkably, I scooted in like a pro (at least in my mind). At that point I realized that I might tip over. I think my exact thought was "My butt is bigger than this kayak, what the heck was I thinking??"

Then Mike handled me my paddle and hopped in his kayak. He showed me how to paddle and included very helpful instructions for what not to do.

Mike provides a paddling lesson

I pushed away from the dock and was on my way. Slowly and surely, my kayak began to go in the direction I wanted and I had lasted at least five minutes without falling in.

And I'm off!

It only took minutes for me to forget I might fall in. Paddling took some coordination and I had to remember to relax a few times but the scenery was so amazing from out here. We saw wild iris, ferns, ducks, pelicans, and who knows what else. Before long, I was focused on the beauty around me. It was amazing to see Veteran's Memorial Park from this angle.

Look, I'm a pro! ha

I was thankful Scott and Stacy were there to record this but I was sorry I hadn't brought my camera. I was too afraid I'd be swimming!

I was amazed more people weren't out enjoying this lake that is right in the middle of our town. At one point this rower came out to enjoy the lake.

It was amazing to learn some things about our lake. For example, this lake has thousands of board feet of timber submerged. There was a mill here that used to float the logs here. Thousands of those logs are now submerged, waiting for someone to do something. From the lakeside, you could see where they put the logs in:

The tracks where the logs used to be put in the water

In a kayak, you get very close to the wildlife.

I'm not sure who scared who - me or the pelican

Some of the logs have become part of the landscape and now have all sorts of ferns and stuff growing from them.

I discovered bridges I didn't know existed.

It was an amazing experience and I highly recommend it. It was relaxing and exhilerating at the same time. It was beautiful and eye-opening. I got off the water wondering how much a kayak costs and excited to do it again.

And I did all of it without falling in. No swimming on this day!

4th of July Well Done!

I really love my job. Oh sure, it comes with frustrations but I really truly enjoy what I do.

If you ask my friends what I do, they might tell you I hang out on golf courses enjoying the sunshine and an ice cold drink. They might tell you I spend the day in the park listening to live music enjoying the view of the nearby lake. They might tell you I go to the parades and get paid for it.

And that's all true. But as the event planner for golf tournaments, seminars, community celebrations, parades, etc, I can tell you there's a heck of a lot more to it.

Take this year's 4th of July for example. For weeks leading up to the event, I worked 10 hour days mapping out the park, lining up 60 parade entries, and confirming things like the fireworks. I coordinated with the police department, the sheriff's department, the parks department, the street department.....I coordinated volunteers for everything from parking to barricade support to cleanup.

When the 4th finally arrived, I was up at 6 a.m. My committee agreed to flag duty which means at 6:30 a.m. we were tasked with putting over 100 flags down Main Street and in our town's Veteran's Memorial Park. It's not exactly easy but it is rewarding. The flags are posted high. My son (who's pretty tall) had to stand on a ladder in the back of a pick up truck to place them properly. I'm proud of my kids for wanting to help with this part of the event:

Then it was time to mark off the streets, warning folks that parking would not be allowed here during the parade.

After that, we moved into Veteran's Memorial Park. This park is beautifully located in downtown Klamath Falls and has wonderful lakefront views. It's the perfect place for our Jamboree celebrating America the Beautiful.

The event is free to the public and boasts games, activities, food, and live music. It's exciting to watch months of planning come to successful fruition. All of this is accomplished by only 7 people on my committee.  The local news station caught some of the action live on the 6 p.m. news, click here to watch.

The throngs of people start pouring in to the park after the parade at 5:30.
Estimates put attendance between 3 and 4,000 people.

Many businesses provide a free activity for kids.
Here Dollar Dog from Pacific Crest Federal Credit Union does a "ring the duck" contest.

The event is colorful and families really enjoy it.

Local rock band FatSexy played a mix of music. So talented!

Our local semi-pro baseball team, The Klamath Falls Gems, hosted a pie eating contest.
They even convinced my youngest to play along.

The event actually starts with a parade down Main Street.
This was our largest 4th of July parade in 5 years. Nearly 60 floats!

Food vendors (like this hot dog vendor) serve yummy food. Look at the lake in the background!

As event planner, I hardly have time to partake in the festivities. And I'm exhausted at the end. We literally worked from 6:30 a.m. to after midnight, organizing, cleaning, directing, and whatever else needed to happen.

Then the next morning we were up at 7 a.m. to cleanup the park and leave it as we found it. The local news station so very nicely showed up to record our cleanup efforts. If you want to watch the clip, click here.

All in all, I think it was a beautiful 4th of July! If you attended a celebration in your area, I encourage you to call the organizer and tell them thank you for all they do.

Remembering 18

It was a bright and sunny day - June 3, 1994. I was eighteen and ready to take on the world.

On this day, I would receive my diploma - a symbol of accomplishment, completion, and freedom. I was proud of having completed all twelve years from kindegarten to my Senior year without any (major) hiccups.

I was looking forward to my newfound freedom. Freedom from teachers. Freedom from homework. Freedom from parents. I would be free to do what I want, when I wanted, and with who I wanted. No parents telling me it was past my curfew. No teachers marking my tardies or absences. The world was mine!

Recieving my diploma

As I walked up to get my diploma, the only worry on my mind was trying not to trip as I crossed the stage and which party to go to after graduation. Just look at the smile on my young face.

 Years of math (which I failed), English and History (the only classes I excelled), and drama were over. We were finally adults.

After the ceremony, all of us proud graduates walked out - feeling changed. Older somehow. Certainly wiser. Hopeful definitely. And I can't speak for everyone but I was ready to kiss my parents a respectful goodbye and get on with the rest of my life.

I posed for photos afterward, making sure to glance around for my friends occassionally (I didn't want them to leave for the party without me). A few "old" people tried to give me some advice that sounded like "blah blah blah, I'm old....blah blah blah." What did they know? I was about to make my own way in this world.

Me on the right with my sister and dad after the ceremony

Hmmm, if I'd only known then what I know now. The things I would have told my 18 year old self.

Like freedom from parents maybe but now you answer to a boss...who can fire you...who can make your life miserable.

Like how easy high school was compared to college.

Like how much different it is to be an adult and responsible for the choices you make.

Anyway, fast forward to 2012. A couple of Sunday's ago, Rob's oldest son Alex graduated from high school. I giggled as I listened to EVERY valedictorian talk about their newfound freedom. Freedom from parents, freedom from teachers...yeah, you get the picture. I loved the innocence. I loved their hopeful speeches about changing the world and making money and "becoming someone." I watched them and hoped they all would accomplish their dreams. And if they didn't, I hoped they'd discover new dreams.

At right (and above a little) is a shot from graduation. A sea of red and white. You could feel the energy from these young men and women as they waited for this ceremony to be over. I imagine some were thinking of that night's parties. Some were thinking of taking off for college, curing diseases, etc. I imagine some of them were wondering what the hell they were going to do now.

And here's Alex with Rob afterwards. For nearly 30 minutes, this young man stood smiling for photos. He was gracious and respectful but you could feel the "get me outta here" vibes pouring off him.

Proud dad stood by his son, grinning ear to ear at the accomplishment. Also feeling a little sad that his "little" boy had grown up. I think a little worried about the future too.

Just the week before, Alex had informed us he had enlisted in the Army. In troubled times, I think that's a hard thing for parents NOT to worry about. What if he goes to war? What if what if what if.....But as a parent, you step up and support. I have only known Alex a year but I'm really proud of him. When he explained why he made the decision, I wanted to applaud. He put a lot of very grown up thought into his choice. In the year I've known Alex, he's had many dreams. A guide in Alaska, the Coast Guard, a civil engineer....and a few others I can't remember. He wants to see the world. He knows the Army will help pay for his education...freeing him from substantial student loan debt.

As someone who loves him, I'll worry. I can't even imagine how much Rob and his mom worry. But I support him, applaud him, and without a doubt will count him in my prayers. He leaves for boot camp in January. It'll be interesting to see the man he is when he gets done. Congratulations to all the 2012 graduates! The world is yours!