Fetching The Mail

Before Joyce had her strokes in 2009, one of our favorite things to do on The Orchard Compound was walk out to get the mail. Today we made the quarter mile trek for the first time since before The Dark Times.

She doesn't move very fast and needs me to help keep her on her feet, but she did great. We stopped along the way to examine some pussy willow and alder that are starting to bud out. Picked up a few fallen limbs that have been littering the road since the first storm of the season. Watched some deer wandering by the vacant lot next door.

She's sleeping now. That's a pretty good workout. For both of us. I sit on my butt all day hacking away at this little machine and can certainly use some exercise. So we'll try to make the little trek a regular part of our day.

It's not a long walk, but along with the occasional wildlife, many memories lurk on that little road.

Woodshed Skull

Every time I trundle down to the woodshed to freshen our supply on the porch, I always say hi to my little friend. That's all that remains of him or her. There were a few other bone fragments and some fur, but nothing else. The varmints had cleaned up.

So what was it? A small dog is my best guess. Seems too big for a cat. Could have been a young coyote. Most likely coyotes got it, whatever it was. They're thick around our place.

Whatever it was, it greets me every day on my firewood journey. Never says much. Just seems to smile a little. A silent little friend watching over our supply of wood.

I try to imagine what it sees out there when I'm not around.

Happy Baby

Our youngest grandchild, Kali has to be one of the happiest people we know. She always seems to be smiling, never cries, never fusses at all.

Perfect child?

Maybe.

OK. Maybe she cries just a little.

Her gorgeous smile more than makes up for it.

Cedar River Raging

Joyce and I stopped by Landsburg Park near our home to check the Cedar River. It's WAY high.

We're at the upper end of the river, at least up as far as the public can get. It's running six to eight feet higher than normal. That's a guess.

It certainly is wider which makes me wonder what it's doing down at the mouth of the river in Renton.

iPad: Ultimate Cookbook

So, the Seahawks looked incredibly sloppy today as they lost to the Bears in the playoffs. How sloppy? So sloppy they inspired me to cook Sloppy Joes for dinner.

The first thing I did was grab my favorite cookbook: my wife's iPad! I got her this magical little device for our 35th anniversary last September and she uses it pretty much all the time. About the only time I get to use it these days is in the kitchen. It's awesome! THE best cookbook ever.

You can see it in the upper left. I slip it inside a ziplock bag and place it on this cast iron stand our kids gave us for Christmas. It holds a regular cookbook just fine, but it seems made for the iPad. Fits perfectly. I just zero in on the page in question, tap the video link and watch the video as I read the ingredients and instructions.

My favorite food blog these days is http://FoodWishes.com with Chef John. He's fun to watch and his recipes are easy and tasty. Highly recommended.

So is the iPad in the kitchen.