Monthly Archives: August 2012

Aug 17 2012

Wild Cats

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Grandma worked last night so we ended up spending the day with grandpa.  Grandpa decided to take us to a place just outside of Cave Junction called Wild Cats.  On the way we stopped at Kerbyville and looked at this shop that sells a bunch of wood carvings and had a lot of tree houses on the lot that the kids explored.  When we got to the cat park we got to see a lot of really cool cats.  The first one we saw was the lion.  It freaked me out a little because I didn’t expect them to be so close.  It’s a little unnerving when they roar.  Most of the pictures that are of the big cats aren’t zoomed that is actually how close they were.  My boys loved it.  Sophia got a little hot and tired and by the end of the day just wanted to go back to grandma’s pool.  It was pretty hot but every so often in the big cat park they had misters to stand in to help us cool off.  When we got home of course we spent an hour or so in the pool.  We had a really great day with grandpa.

The kids climbing up a tree house

Grandpa T. on the lower level and the boys on the middle level

Grandpa T. lower level while Levi is on the very top. So high!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sophia and Levi posing silly.

Cool enclosed tree house with faces on it.

Leopard

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tiger

White Tigers

Baby Leopard that we got to pet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snow Leopard

Very impressive Lion

Aug 16 2012

Over the river and through the woods

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Well we have finally made it to visit grandma and grandpa Tiffany.  After a 14 hour drive (split over two days) we arrived last Sunday to Grants Pass.  We have spent a lot of time in the swimming pool.  It has been in the triple digits while we have been here.  It has been nice to cool off in the pool.  Yesterday we chose to cool off a different way.  We went to the Oregon coast for the day.  What a difference in temperature.  It was only 61 degrees there while in Grants pass it was over 100.  We let the kids play in the water for a little while until Sophia got pummelled by a wave.  We then let them play in the sand but Sophia was shivering and we decided it would be good to head home.  I love this area and I have really missed it.  It’s been 2 years since the last time we were here.  I wish we could come more often. Better yet I wish we could live here.  For now I’ll just enjoy the time I have.

Stretching our legs at the Rouge River Gorge

Rogue River Gorge

It’s really hard to take a picture while you drive.
Notice the trees on both sides of the road. So pretty.
Crater Lake Highway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting ready to swim

Levi Jumping in

Preston Jumping in

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having fun in the pool

Swimming

Staying nice and cool

 

 

 

 

 

Being silly on the beach

Playing in the ocean

Sophia after she took a tumble in the water.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harris beach in Brookings Oregon

Aug 4 2012

Cabbage

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This year Corey and I planted 4 cabbage plants.  That means we now have 4 cabbages.  A few years ago we made sauerkraut.  I was a little nervous about it at the time but it turned out pretty good.  So this year we have decided to do it again.  As part of cleaning out my fridge (see previous post) I had finally decided to get started on the sauerkraut.  The recipe I have calls for 20lbs of cabbage.  That is a crap load of cabbage.  With our 4 heads we only had 12lbs.  I started shredding and after two I decided that was plenty of sauerkraut for us.  We only need a few jars and it last us a long time.  I used my food processor (thanks again Corey’s mom for that) to shred the cabbage.  Then you salt the cabbage and let it wilt for awhile.  After that put it in the brining bucket.  I had to make some extra brine so my cabbage was covered in liquid.  Then cover with cheese cloth and place something heavy on top to keep the cabbage submerged.  Now all you have to do is wait 3 to 6 weeks.  Yes that is weeks.  Now you see why I was so nervous about making this before.  Everyday you have to skim the foam off the top.  So I guess you’ll see the finished product in 3 to 6 weeks.

Shredding the cabbage

Salted and wilting

My brining bucket

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheese cloth on top and ready to sit for 3-6 weeks

Aug 3 2012

The Case of the Missing Containers

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Before

I woke up this morning and started to empty the dishwasher.  As I was doing so I noticed that I was missing a lot of plastic containers.  Where might they have gone?  I opened the fridge to get the milk for my cereal and this is what I saw.  This fridge is so full of who knows what and how long it’s been in there is a mystery.  So now I’m on the hunt for the missing containers my bet is that they are in this fridge somewhere.  So guess what?  Yep, it’s time to clean out the dreaded fridge.

I decided to look at cleaning the fridge in a who new way. I usually take out the rubber gloves, nose plug, and ten foot pole. This time, however, I decided to be grateful. I know, I know “be grateful?” how is that supposed to help??? As I was taking stuff out of the fridge I began to feel blessed. My family and I have been blessed to have an over flowing fridge. We have been blessed to have so much food that we can’t even keep up with it. There are so many people who struggle to make ends meet. They often end up wondering what they are going to feed their children if anything at all. My family may not have fancy things but I’ve never had to worry about what my kids will eat. By changing my attitude I was able to look at cleaning the fridge in a who new light. Of course that doesn’t get rid of the containers growing green fuzzies that make you gag as you open them. It sure does help you appreciate everything. So now I have a clean fridge and a grateful heart. It’s a really nice way to start your day. Oh, and I did eventually find my missing containers.

There they are!

After