Backwoods Babble

Isn’t that fabulous?? Blessing of the animals on a Sunday.  My sister and I ran into this cool lady on the sidewalk across from the Outlook Inn on Orcas Island our last full day there.  She had a couple of dogs and told us she had just been at the Blessing of the Animals service.  She said it was yearly and that no one had come with a horse this time, but that it had happened in the past.  Her dogs were dressed up in their Sunday best --- doggy jackets and all.  How I wish I had paid more attention the day before when we walked by this sign.  That would have an event to see.  All the critters in their Sunday suits.  Some people might think this a tad on the blasphemous side—I think it’s fabulous and not something you could see everyday.  Of course, I didn’t, but maybe if I am really lucky, I won’t miss it the next time. My apologies for not getting any photos of the dogs, I was a little overwhelmed by just the idea that they had gone to church and didn’t think of it until later.

First I want to thank all of my readers that have been with me along this wacky journey called having a blog.  You guys rock! And for all of my new readers – you guys rock too, because you’re here too. I love that when we blog and when we read blogs we are participating in a conversation, even if we just lurk in the anonymity of it all.  We get to follow people whose words we like, whose journeys we enjoy, empathize with and maybe who just say it the way that we want to and can’t sometimes. I was going to be all poetic and whatever, but that’s not me.  I just babble.  I don’t have  focus—why should I—it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want to.  And so will you all, I hope – just blog because you can; because we are (most of us I think) still living in a world where it’s okay to just say stuff just because we can. And I guess that’s another good reason to blog because you can; because there are people who are not blessed enough (still) to live places where it’s not dangerous to speak the

I just realized as I was digging through my photos for this year, that I haven't really taken all that many. Why is this? I love to take photos, bad ones, silly ones, all kinds of photos. I wonder what it is about this year that has made me hit a slump. Could it be all the uneasiness about where I was going to end up this fall?? Or the fact that I am making a huge move soon with more uncertainty about how it is all going to work out?? I really don't know, but now that I'm on to you -- you stifling ogre of my creative expression -- I'll be taking some more photos. In fact, lots more -- take that! **I have also noticed that my battery is dead on my camera, so there will a short delay in the take thatness until it is charged again--oops.** For now, you'll have to be content with the one I wrangled from my cousin's wedding below: And a couple from my walk along the beach near an oyster bed at low tide, on Orcas Island. I had a lot of fun exploring how the macro

If you are entering the world of gluten free eating, like I am considering, you will realize quickly that there are alot of bad recipes out there. I have heard this over and over from friends who are gluten free and that it is really difficult to discover the good from the bad and that most of them rely on recommendations from other people. Well, we have to start somewhere. I received a recommendation to read this fabulous blog -- Simply Gluten Free and I have to say - yummy! So many amazing recipes. Really yummy looking stuff. I have been craving pancakes, which I don't normally eat often, this whole week so far. Amazing what your brain gets stuck on when you are avoiding something. Here's the recipe I settled on for my first foray out into the world of gluten-free cooking: All the little **notes are what I did, when I had to substitute... Gluten Free Almond Pear Cardamom Pancakes Ingredients 2 large eggs **I used fresh from the farm ones, that I think perhaps were a li

I am pretty sure I left mine somewhere on Saturday, or maybe Sunday, that was a good day also. I just feel weird and scattery. It's just one of THOSE kind of weeks I guess. It's a little bit of the holy hell I am moving whens??? Just a little. I panic easily, but calm down just as easily and get to the list-making and the practical side of things, I like to think that anyway. The panic can be pretty consuming at times, as my brain continues to make, re-shape and re-work the lists of things to do before I move while I am trying to fall asleep. And, of course, I am still waiting to hear from the school I am in hopes of transferring to. My hope is that my pretty awesome grades and the fact that I already have my Associate's of Arts degree will help. And, that I rocked out my tests. Well, rocked em pretty well anyway. And, I'm rambling, I know. It's one of those days, in one of those weeks. I just have to keep telling myself, that soon, I'm going to be somew

I have made a decision... I need to make some changes and I am starting with my diet. I have done alot of research and it appears that I could possibly relate alot of some issues back to potential gluten intolerance. So, for the next 30 days, I am going gluten-free to see if I feel better. Here's to a new adventure. Here's another teaser photo from my trip. On the plane ride to Washington I had a really nice conversation with the man sitting next to me. I told him how excited I was to be going to Orcas Island and he recommended this restaurant, Doe Bay, to me. It was the first place my sister and I ate when we arrived on the island. I would have been happy to have every meal there - the food was fabulous! I think the next time I hit Orcas Island, I will even see about staying there. The photo below is a view from near the restaurant. Hope you all have a fabulous and creative weekend!

I had an amazing trip recently to the San Juan Islands in Washington! For those of you who know me well, you know I'm a little obsessed with going there and this was my first trip! I spent a couple of lovely days on Orcas Island for my cousin's weeding which was stunning! Here's a little teaser pic. This weekend I will be editing and sorting and drooling over all the fun stuff I shot! Of course, I'll share some with you all! I said it was a teaser... LOL Okay one more.. Also, I can't believe that I'm almost at 30 followers -- woot! Thank you to all my readers and followers. I am working on a schedule to make my posting a little more consistent. If you have anything you want to know more about that you have seen here, drop me a line. As you may have noticed, this is mostly what it says babble. I like taking photos and found that a blog is a good way to share them since the stories of where they are and how I found them are fun (at least I think so). Welcome