Pillow Basalt. Oh, my!

The Oregon coast never ceases to amaze me in it's ancient volcanic wonder.  

The outcroppings here at Oceanside Oregon are ancient pillow basalts, lava that bubbled up under the ocean thru the crust.

On the beach itself the basalts have become home to rich and diverse tide pools.  And has rich gravels full of agates.

I was hijacked by avid beach explorers, mischief makers, snackers and daydreamers this last weekend, taken to this beach and held hostage for several days.  Forced to sleep outside, nap, giggle and eat lovely food all day.  

Look out for them this summer!  They'll be traveling via a dodge sprinter van, and are up to Kentucky inspired shenanigans!

One of my captors, overlooking the beach we stayed at from the top of Cape Meares.   Her identity has been hidden for my safety. 

                                                                           

                    The Octopus Tree

This tree is a massive Sitka spruce, with branches growing like giant tentacles from it's 50-foot base.  It's located in Cape Meares and is estimated to be 250 years old.  The tree's odd shape, according to historians and descendants of the Tillamook tribe, comes not from the ravages of wind and storms, but from it's function as a ceremonial site, shaped by shamans when the tree's boughs were still limber, to be able to hold cedar canoes and other ritual objects.  

The magical Octopus Tree - 

                          (read more at www.capemeareslighthouse.org/html/octopus_tree.html)

Sunshine and Cobbler!

The solstice is close at hand, with it the notion of cloudless days.  Sunshine in Oregon is enchanting, bewitching even.  

Energized by the sun I rode my bike through the streets of Corvallis, and delighted in the task of whipping together a cobbler for my good friend's fourth birthday.   

I'm new to cobbling, but I've seemed to find a good approach to this desert.  When cobbling is best to harvest the berries yourself, either in wild patches or in giggling friend's yards. Skimp on the sugar, not the butter.  Baking when it's sunny outside helps infuse the cobble with love.  A cast iron skillet adds to the charm of any cobbler.  Here is the recipe I've adapted. 

Berry Cobbler

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 cups white sugar, divided

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon salt

• 3/4 cup cold butter

• 1/2 cup boiling water

• 1/4 cup cornstarch

• 1/2 cup cold water

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

• 8 cups fresh blackberries (or berry of your choice) rinsed and drained

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/4 cup boiling water just until mixture is evenly moist.

1. In a separate bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in cold water. Mix in remaining 1 cup sugar, lemon juice, and blackberries. Transfer to a cast iron skillet, and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Drop dough into the skillet by spoonfuls. Place skillet on the foil lined baking sheet.

1. Bake 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until dough is golden brown.

blogging with agates and abandon

Port Orford, OR

Oregon lays claim to having some of the most diverse geology here on mothership earth.  I have discovered a child like joy in finding agates on the beach, in river beds or in gravels on the side of the road.  A few years ago it became clear to me I had all these light catching gems with no way to really display them.  I became tickled by the notion of creating a mosaic of agates, after stumbling upon an old window pane my mosaic has slowly been coming to life.

the mosaic two years in process! 

lil' Luna, supporter of Agate hunts and romps in the sand!

Crafting Gone Wild.

Wild Rose Infused Honey 

A wild woman recently passed on an article to me about infusing honey with wild herbs and flowers.  Our property has both old overgrown rose beds and wild roses growing in the timothy grass.  Today Luna and I went gathering rose petals. 

Then I packed clean jars with the petals.

I slowly add the honey, stirring a little and adding more petals.

Then I sealed the jars.  Now I just have to wait four to six weeks, strain the honey and voila!  

You can do this with other flowers of course, or spices.  I'm anxious to try ginger infused honey next. 

Here's Susan Weed making Violet Flower Honey, she reminds me a bit of Julia Child gone wild.

first blog of the Spring . . .

Spring has arrived here in the Willamette valley and with it I have deep gratitude for faring yet another wet winter.  Spring brings joyful anticipation of sunshine, waves of blooms, smells, and sounds of awakening creatures.     

wild poppies

apple blossoms

the rare and ellusive:  StellaFireflyFlower

peonie

baby pinecones! 

native lupin

luminous Rufous hummingbird