back in business

we are home. i am back to work. the girls are at camp.

and the new hens are laying up a storm.

happy monday.

{day 25}

yes... a day over or so over our 24 days of summer. but worth it. nocal coast is spectacular. and there were elk.

tomorrow we will follow the 101 S home.

{day 24}

down the OR coast...









to bandon.











tomorrow. CA.

we

{day 23} seaside, or

on our way home.

{day 20}

best recycling center. ever. girr

we couldn't miss their 20th birthday party.









i've talked before about how there is no landfill on galiano. you must take any trash you create with you when you leave. making the recycling center a vital resource. after coming now for 10 years, we have it down. between recycling and composting we leave with with very little.

{day 19}

{day 18}

sunshine & a picnic on sticks

52 cookies :: week 28 :: oatmeal macaroons

well, the potato chip cookies actually improved with age. the chips regained some crisp after being stored in an airtight container for a couple days. they were actually quite tasty.



we’ve had a lot of fun with our new cookbook. the girls have each baked a cake (E: One Bowl Chocolate Cake and K: Marble Cake) and I have returned to it for this week’s cookie. these really aren’t like any macaroon I’ve ever had – I am guessing the simple addition of coconut is what gave them the name. the banana is a nice touch too, creating a very moist, yet chewy, cookie. the girls talked me into adding the chocolate chips – and banana, coconut, oatmeal, chocolate sounded good to me!



Oatmeal Macaroons
via British Columbia Women’s Institute Centennial Cook Book

½ c sugar
½ c brown sugar
½ c melted shortening (I used canola oil on hand)
1 egg
½ tsp salt
½ c coconut
1 tsp vanilla
1 banana, mashed
½ tsp baking soda
1 c sifted flour
2 c rolled oats
½ c chocolate chips (our addition)

Combine ingredients in order given. Drop from teaspoon on greased baking sheet. Press down with fork. Bake in a moderate oven 350 F for 12 to 15 minutes.

K: Milk and cookie, Yum! The chocolate and coconut and banana make a good flavor combination. Another cookie please!

E: Mom, I decided to write a poem:

cookie
yum, delicious
banana, moist, chocolate-y
mouth-watering
treat

Gram (filling in for D who has returned home): Nice. A tasty butterscotch blend that melts in my mouth and compliment my cup of tea.

we will be back on the road next week. E has convinced me to bake another cookie before our departure to keep on track. it has been a marvelous month – and as always it will be hard to say goodbye.

{day 17} what we are reading

the girls committed to reading 20 books while we are up here. they are one track to meet their goal...



K: Mr. and Mrs. Bunny – Detectives Extrordinaire!
by Mrs. Bunny
translated from the Rabbit by Polly Horvath
illustrated by Sophie Blackall

K is a huge Ivy and Bean fan and so it was the illustrations by Blackall that first caught our eye. The book tells the story of 10 year old Madeline, living on a Northern Gulf Island (connection!) and her search for her kidnapped hippy islander parents by evil foxes. I don’t want to tell too much. I highly recommend this one! I read this one aloud to K. It was so good that we had trouble putting it down. Everyone in the cottage wanted to hear what would happen next.



E: The Whole Truth
by Kit Pearston

The story of two sisters who journey from Manitoba to a small island between Vancouver and Victoria to live with their grandmother. (How could we resist?) There is a mysterious secret as well. E really enjoyed this book. It is next on my “to read” list.



Me: The Age of Miracles
by Karen Thompson Walker

I’ve been wanted to pick this up ever since I heard an interview with – on NPR. I’ve just began, and am enjoying it so far.



I’ve also had my head in Pure Green magazine, which I picked up at Munro’s in Victoria (possibly my favourtie bookshop of all time?) It is lovely.



Free-Range Chicken Gardens
by Jessi Bloom
photos by Kate Baldwin

I found this there as well. We will come home to two newly rescued hens (you are a good man D) and with the final touched on our garden looming this looked like perfect inspiration. (The girls are intrigued by the section on training your chickens. Ours all come when summoned, but no tricks. Yet.)

{day 16}

more wildflowers...

foxglove






indian pipe

{day 15}