Interesting Life Forms

Along the trail to Lake Serene, Chereé and I spotted many different fungi and other plant life:

We named these 'Little Boobs'

Cute little shiny 'shrooms

This one looks like a slug carrying a glob

The perfect mushroom from the 1960's

At first we thought this was a slug, but it was another shiny fungi.

Shelf Fungi

Like steps up a tree!

The Clam

My favorite!

So colorful!

Pretty Lichen

Anyone know what these flowers are?

Wild Blueberries were ripe

It always amazes me to keep finding new plants and fungi on each hike I take. What a blast God must have had during the creation process!

BeRinged Again!

For over a year now, I have not been able to slide my wedding rings over my swollen knuckles. They have not adorned my hands, but have been safely stashed away. I finally took them to a jewelers and had them resized last week. It actually was a pretty spendy venture, as they needed to add more gold to get them to stretch 2 sizes up, yet retain the design. However, I can now wear them so I can fend off all those handsome men eying my fingers..... joke.... It is nice to be able to wear them again, though, and when I picked them up today I could hardly believe the sparkling shine to them! I should have them cleaned more frequently :-)

Summer's End Goal - Accomplished!

On our first hike in May of this summer's season, Chereé and I made it our goal to hike to Lake Serene by the end of summer. I will let you double click on this first picture so you can read the description of this "strenuous" hike.

In June we hiked to Bridal Veil Falls, which also goes along this same trail. What we saw on that hike was a middle portion of the multiple falls.


This time, the trail to the lake took us to, and actually across, the lowest portion of the falls.

The cliff drop-offs for the falls are pretty spectacular!

The steep trail is composed of many, many rocks......

....... and steps made from rocks..........

.....and a mixture of rocks and wooden steps....

This is the only break we took on the 3+ hour hike up.

Get the picture of the workout our legs received?!?!

At the top, the view of the valley towards the pass is something else!

Finally, the last turn comes and we see Mt Index, what the locals call "WOW! Corner". Just a 'few' more steps and we will be at the lake!

WE MADE IT!!!!

From the top, looking down where the falls first begin.

Cool tree!

Lake Serene

Mt. Index rises out of the lake

Beautiful glacial water

Lunch Rock

Phenomenal color!

...and to end our time in this Paradise, a lovely orange butterfly alights by us!

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. ~e.e. cummings

Cabbage

"I want death to find me planting my cabbage”

~Michel de Montaigne

By Day and By Night

By day every creature in our yard is busy enjoying summer and preparing for the winter now. We hear the incessant scolding of chipmunks and squirrels as they knock pine cones from trees and shout "DIBS" on them; we run into spiderwebs everywhere we go, and see them scurrying all over the plants; and the yellow jackets (from which I received multiple stings on Friday), wasps and bees are all busy collecting nectar for their long winter naps.

The sunflowers, which have sprouted up all over the yard thanks to the grosbeaks sloppiness at the feeder, are hosts to many insects. Here you can see both a spider and a bee sharing the wealth in one flower.

By night we have witnessed more beautiful sunsets this summer than we have the entire 28+ years we have lived in the state of WA.

What a fantastic summer this has been!

Eggplant Parmesan

This was very simple to cook, and was extremely tasty!

Eggplant Parmesan

Cut an eggplant into 1/2" slices, crosswise. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Bake on a baking sheet at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Spoon a dollop of tomato sauce (homemade is best) in center of each slice. Place grated mozzarella cheese atop the sauce, then top with grated fresh Parmesan cheese. Return to oven until cheeses melt. Walla! It's done!

In the Refrigerator.....

This eggplant is patiently waiting in my refrigerator to be made into Eggplant Parmesean de Arielle. Never made it before. But if she loves it, chances are pretty dang good that I will, too. And Darrell? He loves everything :-) I'll let you know how it turns out!

Blueberry-Peach Pie

This is the best pie I have ever baked...... seriously! If you eat it warm, it melts in your mouth in all of its fruity sweetness. The kids were over painting Tuesday evening, and we devoured it. It has been a family favorite for at least 25 years now! I usually substitute nectarines for the peaches, as they don't need to be peeled, but having used peaches last night, I have to admit that they push the pie over the fence into the supreme realm!

Blueberry-Peach Pie Supreme

1 pint blueberries

4 medium peaches, sliced

2 1/2 Tbsp. tapioca

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. almond extract

cinnamon to taste

1 recipe of your favorite pie crust for a 9" pie

Combine fruits in a bowl. Mix tapioca, sugar and cinnamon together; add to fruit. Add almond extract. Mix well and let stand 15 minutes. Line a 9" pie dish with pastry. Pour fruit mixture into shell and cover with top crust. Sprinkle with additional sugar and cinnamon, Bake in 425 oven for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 375 for 25 minutes longer.

More Good Eatin'!

Sunday evening took us to Scott and Bethany's home where we were treated to a brand new food experience for our gastronomical pleasure!

Bethany's uncle is a master chef of Calzones, and if you are interested in his recipe, click the link to see it, complete with pictorial instructions by Bethany. But I believe Scott and Bethany are true culinarians of the art. Just see for yourself.......

Perfect !

Oh, they were gooooooood!

A hot, but satisfied cook!
Okay, so maybe a bit tipsy, too! ;-)