Lazy Hazy Days of Summer

This has been a true "lazy hazy days of summer" around Cook'n by the Creek this year.  No matter the season we are in it is a guessing game on what the next season will bring.  Already I am skipping fall and thinking of winter.  It hopefully will have lots of snow to fill the swamps, springs, wells, cricks and creeks along with moisture deep into the ground.  We have been digging between 2' to 5' around the cabin site.  Even at 5' deep the dirt is like dry powder.  No wonder the leaves are falling from trees,  the tree is trying to save itself by not sharing water with leaves.  It sure doesn't feel like fall with temps in the high 80s and low 90s but setting on the back deck watching yellow leaves flutter to the ground looks like a fall happening.  So, what will winter bring...........snow would be great since last winter we saw little to none.  The rain did come today for about an hour which is better than nothing but probably did not do anything for vegetation.  The hot bright sun has been out for about an hour which dried up everything and it now looks as dry as it did before the rain.  Funny, no matter the weather it seems we are always wishing for different.  Which convinces me, we are not happy no matter what the weather is. 

A perfect day for me is warm sun, cool temperatures, slight breeze and wearing a sweatshirt.  If the temps get above 75 that is too warm for this ol'gal.  The first 30 years of my life I was a "sun lover", the hotter the better.  Give me a beach, Salem Light 100s (yes I smoked until I was 29) and a diet Dr. Pepper.  There I would be from 10-2 the hottest part of the day that they warn you to stay out of the sun.  Now I stay inside those 4 hours unless the sun is not shining.  Times change the older I get.  Heck I use to be very picky eater that didn't eat much at all.  Times have changed...........not a picky eater and eat often!  Onions are still on my "yuck list". 

The garden is dead or should be.  This weekend we are headed to the Finger Lakes Region and the famous Wind Mill to see what I can buy by the bushel.  Our garden beans were doing great and this would have been the week to start picking and canning.  Somehow they didn't mind the dry hot days.  Unfortunately this is the first year we had deer come in one night and ate the tops off 2 full rows.  Gone!  In a blink!  Life can be harsh in the Wilds of Pennsylvania but wouldn't trade it for any other place.  If a bad garden year is my only complaint, I'll take it.

If you live around the area and have never been to the Wind Mill it is well worth a 2 hour ride from our house.  Google that and get the directions if interested.  They have just about anything you would want or need.  Indoor buildings and open area markets from fresh garden foods, specialty meats, cheeses,wines, baked goods, clothing, furniture, knick knack patty whacks....you name it they got it.  Vendors offer great foods to snack on such as the huge plate of curly, crisp potato chips covered in your choice of many toppings, fresh roasted peanuts, ice cream, pretzels, Finger Lakes Coffee (yes, Jamaican Me Crazy),  the choices of food are endless.  Not to mention the beautiful ride along Keuka Lake. 

No matter how hot the day when the air conditioner is cranking it can be a hot roast beef sandwich supper.  That is my husbands.  I don't like how the bread gets soggy.  Just beef and gravy for me with a slice of buttered bread on the side.  Our favorite bread to use is Salt Rising, more texture, taste and a little firmer with no preservatives.  When I do a roast for sandwiches I use the pressure cooker.  First I rub the roast with salt, pepper, flour and brown it on all sides until golden brown.  Next I put about 4 cups of water, bay leaf, carrot, onion and garlic in the cooker.  Put the lid on and cook it for 30 minutes.  Perfectly tender and wonderful rich gravy/sauce every time.  The veggies are so soft and tender I put them in the blender with the sauce to make the gravy even tastier!  Take the bay leaf out though.  It looks like a lot of fuss but absolutely is not.  I can not tell you enough about the convenience of a pressure cooker.  Every once in a while I blog about it just hopping more will try the easy way to prepare a meal no matter what kind of a day it is.  Try it, you'll love it!

With the hens laying good I am privileged to have eggs a plenty.  For dessert I used 14 egg whites to make a homemade Angel Food Cake.  Nothing like the taste of homemade with vanilla and almond flavoring in it.  Sliced and layered with strawberries, blueberries and whip cream......what a way to beat the heat! 

I have no idea how old the baking pan is, it belonged to my mom.  One thing for sure
it is well seasoned and has been used for more that 67 years.  Maybe that is why
the Angel Food Cake tastes so good.

Just me and the Critters

The husband took off for a two day adventure with guys he grew up with in our little town.  They went to Lock Haven for a car show.  For the love of seeing all the old cars that remind them of who owned what when they were young and what they had.  I'm sure if ya could see their memories there would be some pretty shocking moment......not these three......way to innocent?  NO

I enjoy my time alone with the dog, chickens, horses and doing what ever I want at anytime of the day.  Silence can be golden when I am along.  Yes, I do talk to myself, have many thoughts along with memories floating through the brain waves.  Even the animals get to hear what I am thinking.  Today I discussed the rain with the horses while wetting the ground around their drinking tub.  The farrier came the other day to make their hooves look beautiful.  They were in bad shape with chips out of them.  We know it is because of the lack of rain for so many months that cause hooves to dry and chip.  By wetting the ground down at the watering tub twice a day it at least gets their hooves moist.  Better than nothing.  How dry has it been and is it?  The garden is in sad form.  Morning and night I walk around the garden with the same disgust on how it is growing. Like the pea vines that stayed short but did produce a couple quarts (usually we get 8 -10 qts) the beans, cucumbers, and squash are also half the normal height.  I was very surprised to see blossoms on all three.  The cucumber vines have a total of 5 leaves but still blossomed.  Apparently nature takes over so the plant will produce.  It will be interesting to see what the cukes are like.  I predict, short and skinny with a tough skin. 

By the end of the month we should get plenty of rain, after all the Millport Fair will be in full swing and it always storms that week.  I have a feeling many will not mind the rain this year.  Heck, I was coming out of Walmart last week when one of those 3 minute downpours started.  People were coming and going and not hurrying to get to the cars or store.  Almost looked like a bunch of ducks enjoying getting wet.  Yes, that is how bad we need rain.

Wild raspberries, what  delicacies.

One thing, the wild raspberries are beautiful.  We drove on a back road Thursday night and picked 2 quarts.  Unfortunately it is highly inhabited with BEAR too!  I told my grandson where we went and his first comment..........it is loaded with bear up there.  We had the pistol and I made sure to stay close to the guy carrying it.  I have never seen a bear picking wild berries and I don't want to.  We will be going back Sunday night to pick a couple more quarts.  That should do it for a couple batches of raspberry jelly and Dick's delicious Raspberry Brandy next winter.  Yes, just like the squirrels and chipmunks we gather for the winter months.  Just puts a smile on our face during those cold, snowy winter days for something to do which usually brings on a conversation of remember the day we picked these.  The seasons come and go so quickly at this time of my life.

Whoa Mr. 38 on your hip.............you are too far away, come a little closer to me!



 

A New Love

For some reason I can't quit talking about the weather!  It is such a beautiful summer around Cook'n by the Creek.  Today was blue sky, fluffy white clouds and a cool breeze strong enough to part my hair.  I love it.  It was days like this on the farm more than 50 years ago that would find me  on the ground watching the clouds roll by.  Now that my friends is cheap entertainment.  To take me back a few that is exactly what I did today for about an hour.  Drifting along with the clouds and thinking of so long ago.  It is a need we all should do now and again.  Go back to when there were little to no worries, just drift away.  If your my age you probably are thinking of the song that had that line in it...................drift away.   Yes, for an hour there was peace, quiet and memories drifting by on those big old white clouds.  Try it, I dare ya!

I mentioned the wild animals on the move this time of year.  Unfortunately they are moving around the farm.  This morning Dick saw a pile of black feathers near the barn which means one of my favorite chickens became a meal for either a fox, coyote or even bear last night.  I sooner say one of the smaller predators since it would be easier for them to get into the barn.  Tonight the trail camera will be set up, turned on and hopefully see what is hanging around waiting for an easy meal.  Then the traps will be set and then.......................gone.   My girls deserve all the protection we can give.

Quite by luck we stopped at a barn sale near Belmont, NY a few weeks ago.  Across from it was a small lawn sale so we went to take a look....ya never know what ya might find.  What I found was Pottery Heaven.  The gal, Kay Brooks, has a studio filled with beautiful pottery ware made on site by her.  Call it accident or meant to be that I happened to find my favorite pottery.  It is my style, rustic but beautiful.  If I was a rich person a twelve piece setting with all the extras would be in my cabinet.  Since I'm not I will be content to buy a piece every few months.  It all started with one beautiful bowl.  Looking at it daily makes for a mission to own more, even if I have to settle for a four place setting I will be one happy gal.  Kay Brooks is a sweetheart and easy to talk to and very informative on her history and techniques.  Time flew talking to her.  I called her last week to see if she would be open one day.  She was and off I headed to buy a birthday gift.  It was funny when I walked in she smiled and said I know that face and gave me a hug apologizing for not remembering my name but saying she never forgets a face.  We got the grand tour of the building that houses her kiln.  She told us she fired it up the day before and was waiting for it to cool down to check out the end results.  I'm sure they were all beautiful.  Dick told her he fired up our oven and she had a look of.....pottery?  We laughed and told her it is our pizza oven Dick built.  Of course like a proud mommy I had pictures to show her of our oven.  As we left I told her, we will be back and in my mind said, that's a promise.  The end of the month back over I go to pick up 3 plates she set aside for me............and so it begins, my quest for the best dishes I can buy.  

My favorite, gotta have pottery from the Kay Brooks studio in Belmont, NY.
Check out Kay's face book page to view more of her beautiful pottery.

We bought big round hay bales from my nephew as we always do and also some square bales from a farmer over the hill in Canada Hollow.  Some of you might know Dan Austin, he just turned 79 and does more physical work than many 60 years younger.  What a guy, still looks like a hard working, muscle toned young man.  He even amazes my 20 year old grandson on his strength and stamina for all the work he does.  Dan always has a friendly smile on his face when we see him.  Well, we stopped up to pay him for the hay a couple weeks ago.  Dick of course had to stand around and talk for a while, I sat in the car which normally makes me very impatient knowing he is having a nice conversation and there I set waiting!  The time went by quickly because of my view.  It was Dan's field behind his house.  There that wind was twirling the branches and leaves on the trees and the tall hay in the upper field blowing in the breeze like waves on the water.  It just mesmerized me into a peaceful but wow sorta time.  There the Austin farm is with splendid views no matter what way I looked.  I'm sure they enjoy their little piece of heaven on earth just as we do in Clara.  Ah, the country life if that is what you love can't get any better. 

View from the Austin farm on Canada Hollow.

It happened!

 

3 for him

2 for her

 

 

A light breakfast for a hot summer morning.  By 8 am we had moved to the front porch for coffee and breakfast. That sun felt like an iron running across skin.  Give me my cool mornings.   Crepes are easy to make and one of our favorites.  Today they were filled with peaches that had been canned from last August.  Time to get the jars emptied and ready for canning season.  I put the jar in the refrigerator last night so they would be nice and cold for morning.  While I was making crepes I drained the juice off and simmered it with a couple tablespoons of raspberry jelly reducing it to about half and making a light syrup to pour over the peach filled crepes.  A little whipped cream on top and there you have it.  Warm crepes, hot peach/raspberry syrup, cold peaches and whip cream, what a combination. 

Crepe recipe-in a bowl put 1 cup sifted flour, 1/4 tsp salt, beat in 2 large eggs, 1/2 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of water until smooth.  Heat a greased skillet and add 1/4 cup of batter turning the skillet to spread batter out thin.  Cook about 2 minutes and turn leaving for about a minute.  Stack the crepes as you make them and cover with towel to keep warm.  Fill with desire fruit, you can put a syrup over them or just whip cream.

I am now up to 3 bear sightings in the past week.  We were just discussing over coffee this morning that we haven't seen or heard of a bear around Cook'n by the Creek.  Off Dick went to "town" which is Shinglehouse.  As usual when he can he takes Quincy with him.  My job for the morning was to call PA 811 which is the place that sends the gas and electric companies out to mark their lines when someone is going to be digging for construction, etc.  It is a little time consuming with all the questions they ask.  About half way through the "interrogation" I said, just a minute there is a bear in my lawn.  Well that little city girl was yelling so loud.....don't go outside!   I'm sure Mr. Bear thought he was getting double teamed by two screaming women.  I was yelling "get out of here bear".  He was right by our front porch headed to the back lawn.  I stepped out on the back deck to stop him from going through the property to my..........chickens and horses.   He was not the least bit concerned and it took about 4 bursts of yelling and clapping my hands for him to turn around and lumber back to the hill and woods in front of our house.  By the time I got back to the gal on the phone she could not complete and sentence without saying, "my God, I can't believe this" .  She wanted to know if  I am scared to live around wild animals.  No, but I don't like bears or coyotes that close to our house.  We continued the reason I called and then she said, "I am going to highlight...............Beware of bears on the property.............  I can't wait to hear what the guys think of that warning considering they are local fellas.  So, there is the morning excitement for me. 

Our niece likes to walk the back road with her dog after work.  Last week she came upon a nice sized bear standing in the middle of the road.  She stopped, kept her dog close and then the bear made a funny grunt.  Out from the bushes came two little cubs.  That is not good.  The mama stood up on her hind legs and my niece turned around with her dog and ran never stopping until the got near home.  That mama bear could have done some something serious thinking her cubs were in danger.  A few years ago I read of a women and her dog being attacked on a walk path near Williamsport, PA. 

One thing to remember, they are wild animals, no matter how cute or fascinating we think they are they can be dangerous.  I am amazed at the number of people being injured or killed in Yellowstone National Park this year.  When we were there 6 years ago driving through we saw several cars pulled along the roadway.  There was a grizzly bear within easy viewing distance and a woman with a kid walking through the field to get a better picture!  Stupid and dumb is how we labeled her!  Thankfully Park Ranges came by and got on a loud speaker telling her to back away slowly immediately.  It took her what seemed like a long time to obey but obey she did.  I would loved to have listened to what the Ranges told her!  She deserved to be fined.  There are signs all over warning to stay away from all wildlife. 

About the rain, it didn't come on Wednesday  at 4 am like predicted.  Dick heard on the "Pig" (it's a radio station) that chances of rain Thursday and Friday are slim and probably not going to be.  As I type Dick is watering the blueberries, young maple tree, grape vines, tomato plants and flowers.  Corn leaves are curled, garden dirt is like brown powder and nothing seems to be growing like it should.  I picked a few more peas this morning along with butter crunch lettuce and some spring onions.  The farmers had a bumper crop of hay this year which will help immensely considering without rain the second cutting will be iffy.   Have you noticed what is always on my mind?  Rain

If the lack of ticks and fleas is a result of no rain, that is a huge plus and welcome.  Since the end of May not a tick or flea has been found.  I keep waiting thinking one of these days the hatch will happen and we will be on tick alert.

And then it happened.

Storm across the valley....reminds me of John Denver.



Then the wind started, the tree branches were bending with
their leaves fluttering in circles.  It happened.....rain!

If the Rains Come

Here we go again.  Wishing for rain, thinking it will rain, the wind starts to blow, the breeze blows in a comfortable coolness, a few drops fall and then................nothing.   We have turned into sky watchers at Cook'n by the Creek.  Here in Northwestern Pa, the valleys are narrow and the hills close so when a cloud comes along it is pretty much directly above us.  Through the years  we have learned signs that rain is coming.  For example, the grass is dry in the morning,  wind begins to blow,  leaves on the trees turn their underside up,  black clouds roll in and there is just that feel of rain in the air.  We will say, it feels like rain.  That is the way it has felt for the last few weeks and again.....nothing.  Our ground is so dry and has huge cracks in it.  If a heavy rain happens it will be useless for the good of plants because it will run off before soaking in.  What we need is about 24 hours of a soft, gentle rain that will slowly soak the ground deep down.  For the last month I have checked the 10 day weather forecast,  there is suppose to be rain, .............nothing the predictions change.  It looks like South of Interstate 80 has been getting rain and also in the southern states.  That is nature, no promises, just  happens.  So, again we will be looking toward the sky wondering if rain will come.  Robins will sing their beautiful song for rain and we can only hope.

Wild life is on the move.  Dick saw two baby bobcats playing on the edge of the road.  He stopped, yelled and tooted the horn to scare them away.  Why they felt like playing by the road, mama better get her kids under control!  We have heard several reports of bear around Clara.  Last week we saw one up close.  Driving up Eleven Mile there was a nice sized bear standing on its hind legs trying to knock down Amy Bickle's bird feeder. We stopped rolled down the window and yelled at it.  No way was it leaving free food!  Finally it lumbered slowly across the road in front of us and sat down just looking.  All the hollering and tooting the horn was not moving it.  Amy's son was watching from inside  and came out on the porch wanting to take the bird feeder down.  With the us between him and the bear he ran out, grabbed the feeder and back in the house he went.  We told him he should stay inside for the day.  Amy let me know the bear did come back that day but has not been seen after because the have not put the feeder back up.  He knew his "gravy train ride" of easy food had come to an end.  I'm not crazy about having bears around but this one was blue/black with beautiful full fur.  Last night around 8:30 we saw another bear running across Rt 44 between Millport and Clara Rd.  It wasn't very big and it had mange!  No fur on the back hind quarter and the rest of the hair looked dull and scraggly.  It will eventually die as the mange spreads and all of the fur falls off.  If it is around other bears the mange will spread to them.  Now is the time to take some country rides and see the wild animals on the move. 

With our travels we have seen many little fawns out learning the ropes of survival from their moms.  Going into Hornell the other day a doe crossed in front of us, stopped and was looking back.  That means more deer are with her.  It was a tiny little fawn with lots of energy.  It came charging across the road, bucking, kicking and running circles.  It ran a couple circles around its mom and back it went across the road.  We have watched fawns do the same thing in our back fields.  It is natures way of getting them strong for when they are on their own and need to run from bear, coyotes and even the mighty hunters of fall. 

The Baltimore Orioles that frequent the grape jelly and oranges daily have just brought the little ones out.  It is funny to watch them show their young how to gather food.  They are also not so good at coming in for a landing!  Poor Quincy got a scare when one landed next to him.  Of course he had to learn real quick......leave the birds alone. 

Writing this I realize everything is about summer ending and preparing for the cold winter months.  If you are from the Oswayo Valley you will  understand this comment, "Fair weather".  Which means it feels like fall.  Once the Potter County Fair (I call it Millport Fair) is over we all have that fall feeling.  Gardens and canning will come to an end.  Apple season will begin and out will come the cider press for the family cider pressing day.  Apples have not been plentiful the last few years.  We are expecting a better season if the rains come.  Our apple trees are dropping little apples quickly which means, they need water.  It is the trees way of protecting itself, get rid of the apples which will take water from the tree.  Come on rain!

We have picked peas this weekend and very happy for the type we bought this year.  The bushes should have been about 5 feet tall and are only 2 feet.  That's ok because they are beautiful little pods.  Every pod is full of peas, just the way they should be.  So far we have 3 quarts in the freezer.    Picking has been every 3 days so tomorrow back to being "pea pickers'.

I would like to thank all of you that take the time from your busy life to read Cook'n by the Creek.  I find it amazing and love seeing the countries from around the world stopping by.  I read blogs from other countries and the USA, it is a great way to learn, "we are all different but very much the same".  As you can see the last few days have been very busy reading for Sweden.  Welcome to all.

United States	324
Sweden	10
Germany	6
France	5
United Kingdom	4
South Korea	1
Malaysia	1
Romania	1
Taiwan	1

 

 

 

 

 

 

What is it?

As I sat on the back deck enjoying fresh brewed Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee (maybe that is what is wrong with this crazy being) watching the chickens peck around in the back field and one lone Red Tail Hawk hawking them I knew today was a day for me.  It was just too darn relaxing at that moment to even think of working in the garden or on the cabin site.  Time to stop, relax and enjoy the day.  The days have been warm with a steady breeze here in the valley.  I must say the evenings and nights are just as enjoyable with the temperatures dipping down in the mid 40s to 50s.  My kind of weather, great for getting work done during the day and a good nights sleep with a cool breeze coming in the window.  All is quiet not a coyote of fox calling at night....but they will be back.  Our meals are always outside this time of year.  The front door and French door is always open for the breeze to enter giving my living room and kitchen an open outdoor feeling.  Even the dog loves summers, he gets to go in and out whenever he has a mind too. 

Breakfast of buttermilk biscuits, sausage, potato cakes, sausage gravy, raspberry jelly and juice. 
Summer means 2 meals a day, breakfast and supper.  Anything else, your on your own!

Back to another reason today was the day for me........I am getting ready for the first firing of the pizza oven and our next door neighbors are coming to help decide the proper technique.  The dough was started early this morning to let it proof and rest until 6 pm.  The longer the dough sets the better the elasticity for stretching it for the pizzas.  My grandson is pretty darn good at it and even spins it in the air.  Kent has been designated the "pizza king", at least by gram.  The times he is not here....well it is a struggle but the end result still tastes great.  Anytime I have company coming for a meal my day is full of planning and preps.  I love company and conversation.  Keep it simple is my main motto.  So pizza, pickled eggs (thanks hens) and key lime cake for dessert.  A little wine, beer and maybe another pot of JMC to top off the evening.

 The key lime cake is my own creation.  I had quite a few fresh limes and a box of instant white chocolate pudding, a poke hole cake!  The topping was half of the pudding whipped into a small container of cool whip.  No slaving in the kitchen,  not from scratch allows me to enjoy the day too.  Plus my favorite saying, ya don't like what we are having.....go to the neighbors!

So light and refreshing!

While juicing the limes my mind gave thought to where I got the antique juicer.  Not far from here, the estate sale of Helen Goodspeed that lived on Eleven Mile.  The juicer is glass and without a chip which amazed me since it was tossed in a small box with other glass items and bought for $1.00.  I had no idea what was in the box but being curious (or a "nib shit"), how's that for an old time saying?) was well worth the buck.  There were a few little things that I kept.  A letter opener, the juicer and a ?????????  which means I have no idea what it is.  Maybe one of you will be able to answer the question, what is it?  It is glass and looks like it was hand blown or crafted.  Not a clue, so please feel free to help end the mystery.  Well, as I was juicing the limes I thought of Helen, she was a cashier for years at the Shinglehouse Bank, located on the corner of  Oswayo St and Honeoye St.  Helen was tall and thin, very stately but plain looking.  She could have been a teacher with that stern look.  Remember what our teachers looked and acted like in the 1950s? I think I was so afraid because it seemed they never smiled.   Micky and Lisa Howard have a furniture store and sell a few hunting supplies along with fishing and hunting licenses where the old hardware store was.  They have made living quarters on  the bank side of the building.  I liked going in that bank, it felt special.  The bank business was moved to a new building on Academy St,  it is nice but no character, quite generic like all new bank buildings.  Makes me wonder why give up beautiful architecture, woodwork and stone just to say something is new.  The older I get, the better old is looking and sounding!

There is the mystery item.

I always wonder how many citrus fruits were juiced on this.  It has 4 slits around the bottom
for the juice to run into a bowl...also the catch any seeds from the fruit. 

Today was peaceful, quiet and filled with thanks for living in our great country with opportunities that many can only dream of.  It was/is the men and women that put their lives on the line to insure our freedom will ring and the flag will always be there.  God Bless them and the USA.

How It Came To Be

The slab built by Abe Bryant and Glenn Drake in 2004.

It was late spring in 2004.  We were in our 5th year of living in Clara and ready to run cement on the patio under the back porch.  As usual our family and friend were here when the cement was delivered.  Abe, Jim, Kirk, and Glenn.  Since we had cement left over the truck driver asked if we wanted to build a form somewhere for the extra.  Glenn and Abe got right on that!  They had a form built in a matter of minutes, the cement was poured and I had a huge cement slab just off the patio.  I kept looking at it and thinking....what the hell will it ever be useful for?  Every summer I would put our picnic table on it, much easier than having it in the grass and moving the 10-ton table when I wanted to mow.  Still I wasn't crazy about that slab until the summer of 2014.  If you have ever been on Pinterest you will understand what I am about to say.  I spend most of my free time in the winter on Pinterest getting ideas for summer projects, paint colors, knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc.  It was winter 2014 and there it was..............an outdoor pizza oven and I knew just the spot for it!

When I have an idea or plan it must be presented to the husband just right.  Otherwise all is lost in presentation.  I would slide little hints in like, hey have you heard of outdoor ovens?  He also likes Pinterest only for gardening and yes recipes for me to try.  Well, a few days later he said, maybe we should build a pizza oven...............on the cement slab!  Thank you Glenn and Abe, you made it all possible back in 2004.

When Dick started the plans they were a combination of many put into one.  Just like the final finished oven itself.  It is a combination of many people, family and friends. Our son in law provided the fire brick and cement mixer.  Our grandson Kirk, the high heat insulation, our grandson Kent for some of the field stones and Diane Surra for the elastomeric tip, it is a special paint that dries like rubber and takes heat and cold with a high expansion without cracking. It was used over the stucco on the dome.  Again our friend Glenn Drake for supplying more fieldstone.  Then there is Bob Pratt, he gave Dick some beautiful hand hewn beams from his parents original farm house in 2006.  The beams trim the opening that stores the wood under the dome and the doors were also made from  farm house planks. Our nephew, Chris Amidon gave us the red brick that is the framework for the dome door and chimney.

 Dick and I picked up driftwood on our tent camping trip to the Oregon Pacific Northwest in 2010.  We were fascinated by the wood and picked up a plastic bag full of our favorite pieces.  Finishing the doors yesterday I had mentioned buying a latch.  Lucky for me Dick already had a "latch plan" that put the finishing touches over the top for our Pizza Oven made from the love of friends and family.  I have walked by it in amazement as to what it means to me.  Is it perfect?   No but it is made with love and dedication by many.  Dick has worked for two years this month and just keeps saying.....I can't believe it is finished.  It makes me a little sad,  lots of praise and yes, fights (or maybe I should say, getting owly) went into this project.  All in all it couldn't be more perfect. 

Every piece of wood is the driftwood we picked up, even the little curly piece
that holds the latch.

Soon we will have family here for brick oven pizza and the dedication of the oven.....yes, to Dick's brother Abe.  I plan to make a handmade plaque and have a special spot waiting for it.  Abe as many have been curious and faithful followers on the quest of our Pizza Oven.  Thank you all for encouragement, support and patiently waiting for pizza "Clara Style".  We will "pass it on" for all, fresh pizza!

Tonight we sat out by our little bonfire watching the clouds, they were beautiful and so different than what we usually see.  Two little birds were fluttering and flying around.  I was amazed to see they flew side by side and landed on the same branch like they were dancing and it was all planned.  Did they tell each other, let's stop at this branch?   Seemed quite systematical to me.  The sunset was also breath taking tonight.  I'm hoping to check out face book to see if there are some good pictures of the sunset posted.  I just enjoyed looking at it and never thought to take a picture or maybe I am just to lazy and ready to relax.  After all the next Cook'n by the Creek project will begin tomorrow getting the lot cleaned up and ready to set foundation for the cabin to be built.  I don't like to put a time frame on any project we do but..............I would like the cabin up and ready by June of 2017.  If it is, it is.  If not that's ok too.