New Cabinets

 Finally, at long last, the kitchen is beginning to shape up. Here are pictures of the first set of cabinets, the ones across from the sink/counter. The first picture shows the little range/stove  top and the microwave, and formica counter top for baking. The second picture shows the extra storage in the under-counter cabinets from the living room side. When you live in a 625 sq ft place, "small spaces" takes on a new meaning. The cabinets are lovely!

A Rainy June

We've been gone most of June . . . traveling in the very warm Midwest and Texas. I knew the rain was pouring on the coast (i.e. Seattle), but apparently our usually dry, north-central WA homestead saw its share of rain.

This is a mushroom . . . one of the biggest and most beautiful mushrooms I've ever seen. Nestled next to an old log and some lupine, this little fellow is sure proof that we've had more than our fair share of rain this month. After driving through the smoke in Montana and up I-25 through fire-scorched Colorado, I will never complain about the rain again!

We're Off the Mountain for a While

It's a far cry from a mountain in the middle of nowhere of Washington State to Chicago. We are going around the Midwest, visiting homeschool conventions and selling my books to eager homeschooling families.

Question about toll roads: what do they do with the money? I'm convinced they do not use it to improve the toll road for which they're collecting it. There was no improvement in the quality, and in some cases the roads were worse.

Missing the homestead right about now . . .

Hungry Little Orphan Bear Cub

We had to go over to the coast (Enumclaw) this week, as Roger's father passed away and there are many arrangements that need to be made. While we're there, I've been spending my time between Chad's house and Kristel's house, a few blocks away. While walking "home" (Kristel's family rents our old place) from town today, I stopped by the game warden's house. For years, he was always bringing home "strays" from the woods; our kids went down to see fawns and . . . most often  . . . bears.

Today Bruce stopped me and asked if I wanted to see the bear cub he had collected. I rushed down to collect the grandkids and Kristel, and we gathered around to see the little guy and hear his story. Sadly, the warden had collected the cub from someone's porch (not in our area). Apparently, his mother died before hibernation and the cub had been wandering around ever since--cold and hungry (and sleepy, I imagine). Our kids, so Bruce claims, will be the last humans to ever see the orphan. He is headed to a bear haven for the winter, then he will be released into the wilderness next spring. We wish him all a happy, healthy new life!

Baking Bread on a Snowy Day

Now that we've moved over here, the wood stove is the BEST bread-raising spot . . . as long as I set the bread up high enough. Instead of four loaves at a time, our smaller oven really can only hold two, but that's plenty. The snow around here is awesome! Light and fluffy and lots of it! It's hit a couple of degrees below zero at night, and single digits during the day. I still go walking. Sort of takes your breath away! But one thing is certain: Snow and cold is better by far than RAIN, RAIN, RAIN!