A Day On The Farm Is A Good Day Indeed!

STRAWBERRIES!!!
I LOVE STRAWBERRIES!!!

Since moving back to Oregon I get really excited for June because not only is it the start of our gorgeous summers but it means berry season is arriving and that makes this girl who grew up on a berry farm really happy! I swear I would be in heaven if our bodies could handle a diet of just berries...I could eat them all day every day!
For the past two summers I've had fun little berry picking parties with friends at Krugers Farm on Sauvie Island, about 15 miles from downtown Portland. This year we had our picking party near the end of the season (we had a really short season this year) so the berries were smaller than normal but still packed with amazing taste! Some of the berries went to freezer jam, some into a baked goody with fresh rhubarb, some into the freezer for later, and many eaten fresh at each meal for the last few days! Next up is Raspberries and Blueberries...cannot wait!! Farmer Don, see you soon!
Farmer Don driving the tractor out to the "good" field of berries!
Look at this cute map of my favorite farm on Sauvie Island...it's such a perfect farm!

To Do: Remember My Password!

Just when I thought I was going to be on top of blogging I go and take another month off...so sorry! I'll be a little honest with you and confess that part of the reason was I forgot my password for blogger...oops :) Anyway, the other reason is that life got a little hectic these past few weeks with things like finishing up an academic year, getting ready for an awesome vacation, and buying a home! Yes, in a matter of a 7 day time-frame I decided to see what it would take to stop renting and next thing I know I am submitting an offer on a condo and getting it accepted...crazy! That week of learning the in's-and-out's of being a first time homebuyer was A LOT of extra stress but luckily it was followed by a great week and a half of vacation with my momma to Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina! We had such a great time and now that I am faced with packing up my apartment I can only wish we were still on vacation!

Here are some pictures of the past month :) Updates on One Local Summer and my garden will be coming soon, I promise! I made sure to write down my password :)
My friend Wendy and I spent a lovely Saturday morning taking pictures of wildflowers in the Columbia River Gorge...they were so beautiful!
Here is one of my best friends Emily getting married :) Her wedding was in TN and it was so cool to be able to be there to see her marry the man of her dreams! Emily, you are a BEAUTIFUL bride and I swear I have never seen you smile so much before!
While in TN we stayed with my friend Mandi and as always time with Mandi is time well spent :)
After Emily's wedding my Mom and I drove to Savannah...what an AMAZING CITY!!! The humidity was not so amazing but we still had a great time wandering all around it's gorgeous historic district! Our camera's needed a break at the end of each day with how many pictures we were taking!
Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah is really cool, sooooo much history there and the Spanish Moss is just gorgeous! They say Bonaventure is one of the nation's most haunted places and we could totally picture the spirits partying it up when night falls. Think of the fun they must have frolicking through all the moss!
Spanish Moss and my pretty momma! Avenue of Oaks at Boone Hall Plantation outside of Charleston South Carolina. Cannot help but think "Run Forest Run" when I see this picture :)Charleston was BEAUTIFUL! The houses are to die for and I cannot imagine what it must be like to live in them! This was a little house for the historic neighborhood we were wandering around in but doesn't it have great windows!! Just how I pictured beaches in South Carolina to look like :)
Sunset on the dock...what a perfect way to end vacation! Thanks for taking a look at my month in pictures!

Slacker Lisa Is Back!!!

Hi Emily! I just had to start with that greeting because last week my good friend Emily told me that I must blog more. Sorry to be such a slacker Em :)

Anyway, no excuse but being busy and uninspired. But today is a BEAUTIFUL day here in Portland and I feel that we have stepped out of winter and feel nothing but greatness with the months ahead. Translation: Inspiration!!

Today was my first day working in my community garden plot! I spent a little over three hours hoeing weeds, weeds, and more weeds...it's so much hard work! I think I got most the uninvited garden guests out and if I'm diligent in visiting my plot then today's work should pay off BIG TIME and there will only be small amounts of weeding to do! Now I need to prepare my soil and plant in the next couple of weeks...yahoo!! Any suggestions on what to plant? Also, one of the fellow gardeners gave me a hoe. Not let me borrow, but gave it to me! How cool is that!! I think I am going to meet some nice people through gardening...that and my beloved zucchini make it worth the effort :)

So, since it's been awhile since I've posted (bad Lisa!) I will share some pics of a few things that have been keeping me busy outside of work. After all, these fun times with friends and family are what I live for!!In early March I went to a conference in Boston (brrrrrrr, so cold!) and had a GREAT time hanging out with friends Sarah, Dave, and Rodney! I spent every free moment out and about Beantown and also enjoyed seeing many colleagues I have worked with these past 12 years in Higher Education. So fun!Seeing my vote for our country's next President! I have never been too interested in Politics but I really feel that our country is in desperate need of a change and hearing Obama and his passion for the needs of this country was nothing but uplifting and inspiring! I felt honored to be in the crowd of 12,000 and loved feeling the positive energy that swept over us because of this agent of change!
Pretty in Pink! I just ADORE when all the trees put on their Spring Fashion Show for us, simply lovely!
Spending time with the bestest little boy and girl in the world! Here they are dressed in their adorable Easter duds :)
Seeing some pretty big dinosaurs over spring break!
Playtime at OMSI. Check out Lily's adorable smile...she melts her aunties heart!
Spring Break SNOW?????? Ya, we were quite shocked by it but I think it is safe that snow will not be in our future anytime soon!
Clam Chowder at Mo's...a must do for any trip to the Oregon Coast!
Yurt camping...it's the best way to camp!!
Last weekend was a fun girls trip to Newport where we made sure to visit park with the best view of the bridge!

I promise to update soon...can't have Emily lose faith in one of her favorite bloggers :)

Hello Blog World!

Dear Blogworld,

Long time no see!! Sorry for being absent these past few weeks. It's not you, it's me :) I've had quite the busy month which was started out with a fun trip to Seattle
followed by work, work, work

then trying to find time to enjoy the amazing Spring weather in Oregon
and more work work work

then seeing my favorite bunnies
and yet more work work work, and work work work! Phew, starting a new academic term is absolute craziness!!!

But, after this week of work work work I will be spending 5 days in Boston where I will finally be doing fun work (a conference) but more importantly tearing up Beantown with these two crazy friends!So, after the good times to be had in Boston I should be more of a frequent visitor to you, my lovely Blogworld, and cannot wait to share with you my spring adventure that is ahead, starting my very first garden (I think I am in for a new kind of work load!) at a local community garden...should be fun!See you soon Blogworld!

Your long lost friend, Lisa

*Oh, and thanks to Mr. federal tax return I think these babies will finally be coming home with me!!

Apple Cider Making

Our family has a tradition of making apple cider every fall. All I remember of it from childhood is having to go to my grandpa's really early in the morning, usually in the rain, getting sticky hands from pouring cider into the containers, and having donuts as a morning treat! I can say that I like the tradition a lot more now! And here are some pictures to show you how our Hansen Family Apple Cider is made...

Start with A LOT of apples...a whole bin full straight from the apple orchard!!

Put them in the egg basket and take them to be cut...Eli and Catie like helping with this part!

Now the apples need to be quartered...luckly that water is warm, not ice cold like grandpa used to make it. This is also a great time to catch up on family news from aunts, uncles, and cousins :)Here's the press, already working on some applesPour the apples into the press where it will crush them down...make sure to use that really old stick so your hands don't get cut on the blades at the bottom of the bin!

Take a moment to cuddle with Lily...isn't she a cutie-pie!!!Here is my sister pressing the crushed apples for their sweet sweet ciderKenton pours cider into 1/2 gallon containers making sure to sieve out any apple chunks that got through the press.Ta-Da!!! Here's the final product, 92 1/2 gallons of Hansen Family Apple Cider...the best Apple Cider you will ever taste!!And now that work is over it's time to play on the farm...YAY!!!

Finally Ready For Fall

Oh my gosh, it's hot here! These poor sunflowers just don't know what to do with this late summer heat...poor things!
I'm ready for Fall! I'm ready to put the flip-flops away, pull out my favorite sweaters, enjoy my scarfs, and watch the leaves turn!! I'm ready for some of my favorite fall activities like visiting the local pumpkin farm, making apple cider with family, baking pumpkin muffins, and parking my car a few blocks away from work so I can enjoy a crisp morning walking through the leaf lined streets of NW Portland...hurry up Fall, we are all ready for you!