Berry Robbing Robin!

I found this image in a local newspaper this morning and just had to add it to my blog. I think it is stunning and only wish I had the equipment and talent to take such a photo.

Weekend at La Push

Bob and I spent a long weekend at the town of La Push a few weeks ago. I spent several summers at La Push when I was a child and wanted/needed to go back again. Despite the fact that it rained most of the weekend, we managed to get out and do some sight seeing. We went to Forks to see what kind of impact the "Twilight" series was having on this normally depressed area. There wasn't much to see in that regard, but we did pass Billy Black's cabin several times. I had forgotten how starkly beautiful it is at La Push. I really hope we can go back again soon, but I would hope the weather is a bit less wet. The sculpture of the boat at left is a bronze in front of the new Coast Guard station at La Push and it is quite good. (click to zoom)

 

It has been absolutely ages since I blogged, so I knew it was time when I downloaded the picture above. We went to Westport Washington to visit our good friend Lani and also to do a bit of clam digging in March. Thanks to my Grandmother, I have been digging Razor clams since I was a little girl. She dug Razor clams during the depression to make ends meet, and there is actually a post card at the coast with her picture on it that is still available for purchase. I love the taste of Razor clams and I love the digging environment. Bob hadn't seen Lani's new home, and both of these things created the perfect excuse to visit Westport.

We went out and participate in the dig both of the days we were there and came away with our limits each time.

The official recipe for preparing Razor clams is this:

Crushed saltine crackers
Razor clams
A couple of beaten eggs
Hot oil

Clean the clams. Heat oil in skillet. Dip clams in egg wash, then in crushed crackers. Fry approx 4 minutes on each side and eat.

Simple!

And thank you again Lani. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us. We had a wonderful time.

;)

The Large Billed Reed Warbler

Afghanistan protects newly rediscovered rare bird

By KAY JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer Kay Johnson, Associated Press Writer Sun Feb 28, 5:55 am ET

KABUL – Afghanistan's fledging conservation agency moved Sunday to protect one of the world's rarest birds after the species was rediscovered in the war-ravaged country's northeast.

The remote Pamir Mountains are the only known breeding area of the large-billed reed warbler, a species so elusive that it had been documented only twice before in more than a century.

A researcher with the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society stumbled upon the tiny, olive-brown bird during a wildlife survey in 2008 and taped its distinctive song. Later, a research team caught and released 20 of the birds — the largest number ever recorded.

On Sunday, Afghanistan's National Environment Protection Agency added the large-billed reed warbler to its list of protected species, which was established only last year.

Mustafa Zahir, the agency's director-general, acknowledged the difficulties of trying to protect wildlife in a country preoccupied with the Taliban insurgency. On Friday, suicide attackers killed 16 people in Kabul, the capital, and thousands of Afghan and NATO forces are fighting to root out the hard-line Islamists from their southern stronghold.

But Zahir, who is the grandson of Afghanistan's former king, said the discovery of the large-billed reed warbler provided some welcome positive news.

"It is not true that our country is full of only bad stories," Zahir said. "This bird, after so many years, has been discovered here. Everyone thought it was extinct."

The bird's discovery in Afghanistan kicked off a small flurry in conservation circles.

The large-billed reed warbler was first documented in India in 1867 but wasn't found again until 2006 — with a single bird in Thailand. The Pamir Mountains, in the sparsely populated Badakhshan province near China, is now home to the world's only known large population of the bird.

The Afghan environmental agency also added 14 other species to the protected list on Sunday. It now includes 48 species including the rare snow leopard, the Asiatic cheetah and the markhor, a type of wild goat with large spiral horns.

While conservation efforts are in their infancy in Afghanistan, there have been some recent successes. Authorities in Badakhshan last week seized a snow leopard from villagers who had trapped it and planned to sell it. The snow leopard — one of an estimated 150 left in the wild — will be freed once its injuries from the trap are healed, Zahir said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_afghanistan_rare_bird

Cheese Grater Supreme

We bought this cheese grater at a junk shop out of the Olympic Peninsula about 10 years ago and I wanted to post a picture because it deserves recognion. It has been a faithful cheese grater and has never let us down. It grates the hardest of cheeses with ease and without complaint. If I were the prior owner of this cheese grater I'd be very sorry I gave up this wonderful kitchen tool.

 

Early Lessons

We bought skis, boots and google for our grandson for Christmas. His Grandfather and I took him up for his first lesson, which was intended to familiarize him with the gear. After arriving at Stevens Pass Ski Area we let him walk around in the boots for awhile, then we got him into the skis and we pulled him around a bit. He was pretty tentative, and didn't want to spend much time on them. That was OK........he is only three and just beginning. His Father took him up the next weekend, and he reported Austin did very well and had fun........even going down a small slope several times. We decided to get him back up the next weekend, so his Father, his Grandfather and I got him into the car and headed up. It was pretty much a disaster. We spent more time in the lodge looking out the window than skiing, and when Austin was on the skis he did a lot of complaining, so we got the hint and quit. We decided we wouldn't push it and told Austin that all he has to do is tell us when HE is ready to go up to the mountains and learn how to ski. I suspect he'll be more inclined to go up in a year or two when he's older, but for now we're not going to drive that far just for a hamburger.

 

 

The Engagement

Our oldest son and his girlfriend surprised us all on Christmas Day by announcing their engagement. We were all so very happy to hear of this as he and Nicole (Nico) have been dating for over two years, and it was quite obvious that they make each other very happy. They surprised us even more when they requested that the Wedding Ceremony take place outdoors at our property in Index and could the reception follow at our home in Woodinville? "Would that be OK with us?" Of course it is, and we can't explain how excited and happy we are to be able to do this for them. The date has been chosen.........September 18, 2010........now the work begins. In the months ahead, I'm sure I'll be adding more details and posting more pictures, but for now suffice it to say that we are delighted and happy to welcome Nico into our family and look forward to many years of enjoying the togetherness and love they share.