An incredibly fulfilling end to the week! On Thursday we took hub's friend (who is going with hub on a 90 mile hike here soon....) on a reverse route of our Multnomah Falls hike and we added another incline---ended up doing 9 miles of a 2100 ft elevation gain in about 4 hours. We've actually had about a week of sunshine (gasp!) and Thursday was a 70 degree day!
Friday was another gorgeous one and I was able to get a four mile run in again finally. Then we got to work outside---
Hub had purchased lumber and coated them with linseed oil, as his research had found that linseed oil is a great protectant and would keep the lumber for 5-6 years. On Friday he was able to put together the first of the beds. I was pleasantly surprised to find he'd widened them and intends to build another.
Anna is going to be disappointed to have her dirt pile disappear back into the re-done raised beds. Although...I found her laying IN the finished raised bed this morning, so we're going to have to work on some training obviously! :)
Friday was also spent at a great sale at REI to get hub stocked up for the week long hike him and a buddy will be headed on down part of the coast. After we finished our one raised bed, we headed over to my aunt & uncle's a few streets away and hub helped till up their large garden. He also got to have a tour of their awesome property and learn his way around their tools in case we want to borrow something. We then spent the rest of the evening sharing stories with both of them--it was great!
Saturday---we headed out for the BIG farmer's market! It was absolutely incredible: all sorts of people, beautiful hanging baskets, delicious food, and wonderful goods. We walked away with a handful of pears, free dog treats, the most amazingly delicious caramel apple bread (for great french toast tomorrow!), and full bellies! We played with the adoptable puppies, people watched, and listened to great music. It was SUCH a good time!
My corn masa quesadilla stuffed with veggies and a bit of cheese and topped with salsa and sour cream---DELISH!
AWESOME live band!
After the farmer's market we went to cash in on our plant coupons! We headed to The Garden Center---it was A-MA-ZING! Decent prices, fabulous lay-out, and we got to use our coupon for a free one-gallon blueberry and reduced prices on any other. We picked up a few other starts: zucchini, acorn squash, and pumpkins.
We enjoyed watching the chickens run around the place!
And we picked up some great freebie literature: native plant suggestions and natural repellents.
Why I love my state.....on the drive over to the other nursery!
Larsen Farms: we had a groupon---hub paid $25 to receive a $50 coupon to use at the nursery. We'd made one trip before during our cleanse that ended in a squabble and no purchases, so today we headed back with a "no squabble" mandate and picked up an Asian pear and lettuce and another tomato start.
The fruit tree rows!
Hub wheeling out our asian pear.
Neat herb displays.
Dropped off our goods. Met my brother at our house and went with him to return the other family tiller to the aunt & uncle's. Offered our truck to a & u while hub's gone if they want to get mulch and then my awesome aunt had transplanted some of the seeded parsnips into pots for me to put in our boxes.
So now we've got quite the selection:
Might not look like much but I think we've got: 3 tomatoes, 3 strawberries, bush beans, yellow squash, 6 parsnips, zucchini, pumpkins, acorn squash, 2 bell peppers, various lettuce, cucumber, and an artichoke. We also have seed packets: corn, snap peas, carrots, and others. With the blueberries we got today, we're up to 6 smallish bushes and the new asian pear. Plus the rhubarb, leeks, mint, raspberries, rosemary, kiwi, cherry, and asparagus that were already here, planted, and many are producing. There is an old apple that didn't even blossom so it will come down for firewood and the asian pear will be planted in its place. (Dad's letting us borrow the chain saw for that and we've got an itty bitty tiller on loan to soften up the dirt in our raised beds a bit....thankful for all these goodies and loaners!!)
My brother's wife couldn't accompany him tonight to use their season Timbers (MLS soccer) tickets so hub is joining him at the evening game. I got to indulge in a great dinner and watch my Netflix DVD Dharma & Greg reruns---yippee! ;)
Local cheese & bread for open face cheese sandwiches. Amy's organic lentil soup and amazing California wine that it took me 3 years to find another of this particular bottle!
One more shot of the beautiful Oregon countryside!
2 comments:
very cool! what beautiful scenery and farmer's market pictures! reminds me a bit of Vernon's farmer's market (only MUCH bigger).
Also- wow on your garden!! i can't wait to hear about the progress.
AND- love your new banner :)
What a lovely busy weekend, your garden is coming along well. I love going to garden centres but my garden is so full, how nice to have lots of space to fill!
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