Sometimes the tastebuds just want a good hit of SWEET! These yummy little balls are not only raw, made with nuts and dried fruits, they rank about a 12 on the 10 scale of satisfying that clamoring tastebud. Easy to make, the ingredients are all things that reside in my raw pantry.

In a food processor, pulverize:

1/2 c. organic raisins

3/4 c. walnuts

1/2 c. dried pitted dates (Medjool are perfect for this recipe)

1/2 c. dried apricots, unsulphered (OR, use dried FIGS - my preference!)

2 T. fresh squeezed orange juice

zest from one orange (microplane is the tool to reach for...)

Process a few minutes,until the mixture clumps together. If your fruits are especially dry, you may start the processing, let it set for 30 minutes to soak, then continue to process until it gobs up.

Place about 2/3 c. dry unsweetened shredded coconut on a saucer. Roll the fruit/nut mixure into small balls (about a tsp.), roll in the coconut,

Store the balls in one layer in a sealable container.

Just one of these little sweeties is so very satisfying. Chewy, lovely flavor with a zing from the orange zest.

It's not hard to pass up the chocolate bars with this in hand...honest!

She just clammed up...

We never turn down a freshly-dug clam. Chris stopped by after a clamming venture at Gearhart, and shared some of his bounty of Razor clams. They had been out of their sandy holes less than two hours - still squirting.

I think I've mentioned - NOTHING gets done around here without feline supervision.
We cut her some slack - she's never dealt with a clam before. Besides, she's pretty funny.

Chris would only part with 5 of his clams. We were grateful. VERY grateful that Birdie decided they were more fun to poke than to eat. She was fascinated with the wiggly necks - just avoiding getting squirted.

We do NOT share clams once they've reached the golden, crispy, pan fried stage.

Chocolate Eggs??

Friend Linda Jennings just introduced me to the most amazing eggs I've ever seen.

You could be tempted to lick them, they are so chocolatey! These are the eggs from FRENCH BLACK COPPER MARAN chickens. Prized and demanded by famous French chefs. Linda hatched some eggs she purchased from Louisiana, and has started her own flock of these beautiful birds.

Here's a guy-Maran....

and a gal-Maran...

and of course then you get BABY Marans!

Linda's hens have just started laying, so the eggs are really varied in size and color. The eggs on the Left are from her girls. The ones on the Right, for contrast, are from another friends' flock of Black Australorps, plus one white "store-bought" egg for fun.

No matter what kind of eggs you get, make sure they are from range chickens. You won't believe the flavor, and the knock-out yolk color! Worth the extra dollars, for quality eggs from healthy birds!

I sure miss our farm flock - Collin's Cluckers are still putting out the eggs, but they just wouldn't be as fresh by the time they could get here from Wisconsin. Sorry, girls, I've found a new supply of hen fruit.

The Library Fish Caper

One of the great loves of my sister-in-law Diane during her 35-year teaching career was raising fish in her classroom. The Fish and Game department collaborated with her for 12 years, supplying the fertilized fall Chinook eggs that were part of the classroom, in their special tank with the cold water circulating system. The 4th grade students became monitering scientists, testing water, keeping records, and ultimately releasing the little fry into Patterson Creek in Bay City.

Diane loved that project. So after a couple years of retirement, she petitioned the Tillamook library board to let her do the fish project in our little Bay City Library. The F and G guys were delighted to supply the eggs again, and so a much smaller tank system was installed right in the midst of our books and computers, and the adventure began.

The librarian rounded up books and videos, ranging from the life cycle to history of the salmon fisheries here, Diane supplied games and coloring pages and other handouts for parents to help teach the children, and the local Girl Scout troop made the fish tank one of their learning projects.

The library fish were the talk of the town. The pub across the street reported that patrons were always comparing notes on the growth of the babies, and the librarian reported that there were noticably more folks coming by the library. No one left without checking on the fish eggs. Such excitement when the first hatchlings appeared! With colorful charts and lots of educational materials posted around the tank area, everyone got to know just what was happening at each stage.

Finally the babies were big enough to be placed in the creek. The date was announced, and the crowd gathered at the library.

Terry began dipping out the 250 little guys and gals into the transport buckets.

The release site was up the creek a ways, involving a 10 minute walk through forest and along wet soggy trails. This youngin' was prepared!

Patterson Creek is most visible as it runs through the city park, just by Mom's house. The upper creek is on private property, and rarely enjoyed by visitors. It's a beautiful creek, the epitome of Oregon coast streams.

Mom has been a part of every release, and she was on hand to help with this one. Terry packed in the table, and got things set up before the crowd arrived. Everyone was to have the opportunity to release a fish; the little cups are just right for small hands.

Terry and librarian Debby start transferring lively little fish into the cups. They seemed to know where they were, some tried to jump out of the cups a little too soon!

At last - the first release!

Instead of 4th graders, the group consisted of families with children young and old. It was a perfect day, the clouds parted for the hour of activity and the sun made the woodland and creek magical. The parents and other adults were just as excited as the kids! Lots of cameras!

Mom and our beloved recently retired head librarian, Rita, supervised the transfers and enjoyed the sweet spirit of the adventure. The families, children and friends were quietly exhuberant, very respectful of the seriousness of the release, yet enjoying the woods and feeling of being totally away from town - only a few hundred feet away.

Most of the adults took a turn releasing some of the fish, with as much excitement as the children!

Diane released the last baby - you can tell by her expression how much she loves this project.

As everyone began the walk back to civilization, Terry lingered to watch the little fish as they darted about their new home. They will stay in the quiet water a day or two, then begin the journey toward the sea.

There was such a feeling of joy and satisfaction as the group chattered and walked back to their parking area. Diane says they are already planning for next year. The tank is cleaned and packed safely away until next spring.

We hope some of the babies survive to return to Patterson Creek when it's their time to spawn and continue the fascinating life cycle of the salmon.

Works for me!

Eagle oops

Each of my grandsons has a "favorite" animal. Lee loves bats. Collin seems drawn to cats. Jayden is a horse boy. Max likes to rescue animals, be they ugly little starling babies or bats who fell from the barn roof, or stray kittens. Than is our Eagle man.

When mom and I "inherited" a huge stash of fabric last year, I found this panel of eagle print, and right away knew it was destined for Than. It took awhile to get around to actually making the quilt. When I decided it would be a great Christmas gift, mom and I got busy, and it turned out pretty nice.

I suctioned the poofy finished quilt into one of those plastic storage bags that goes totally flat, squished it into a box, and off it went to Wisconsin, just in time.

I did some outline quilting, and mom tied the rest of it.

Of course it had to be inspected by a fellow critter..the King approved.

You don't do ANYTHING in this house without feline supervision! She may LOOK like she's sleeping on the job, but just head for the kitchen and see how fast her feet hit the floor.

The oops is my fault. It didn't occur to me until my last phone conversation with Than, that I COULD have waited to give him the eagle quilt.

Because he is working on his Eagle Scout award. Wouldn't that have made a terrific "congratulations" gift?!

Winter Textures

They're calling it the "February Storm". Having lived in Wisconsin through several winters, on Lake Michigan, it makes me shake my head and smile a bit.


But snow is beautiful, even if the natives don't know how to drive it. This morning the cats and I enjoyed just sitting and looking out the windows. A cup of mint tea, sitting by the wood stove, kitty on my lap. A nice way to start a winter day.