Catching up with old friends & coyote trip to San Juan Island

Took off on a Thursday, Saw OFrey and Reener on San Juan Island. Came back on a Friday... saw orcas on the way home! Had lunch with Tom and Marianne on the mainland.

More homesteading behaviors

I'm not sure of the order of the following pictures but in essence, Michelle and I recently processed 40 pounds of peaches ad another 20 pounds of tomatoes... we now have more salsa! From cutting to boiling, and from canning to jamming, we have some stocked shelves and holiday gifts perhaps taken care of!

 Two boxes of peaches, one of tomatoes.

 Before they started to get moldy!

 Cut 'em

 Bag 'em

 Salsa from last month

 Freeze 'em... in there is some corn from last month and 15 pounds of blueberries!

 Pesto and frozen figs too. More corn

Peach jam

 Getting out the last bit

 Wow, so pretty.

 Decorative pumpkins.... Michelle thought we'd get some sugar pumpkins but the starts were mis-labeled!

 Squashes from the garden

 Finished batch of salsa (round #2)

 Like a Red Army

Now we just need tortillas and taco fixings

 Dinner at Barbara and Jyoti's last night (quesadillas)

And peach crisp for dessert!

We have eaten a lot of greens this summer... gardening is incredible. And Michelle has poured a ton of time into the land... as such we have benefited greatly. Thank you, my love!

Agrarian connections too

Not just high-mountain adventures for this nature addict. I also appreciate our ability to connect with the land and our art of ethical harvesting. Taking steps during the abundant summer to prepare for the dire winter. Looking ahead, not greedily, but in responsible awareness of seasons.

 Forty pounds of tomatoes turned into a lot of salsa and marinara sauce

 So many basil plants... some for the marinara and some for the pesto we froze!

Marinara boiled down with lots if ingredients: carrots, celery, garlic, onions, etc.)
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THEN.... we went to Port Townsend for an overnight visit with Cousin Aaron.

 These are his two male sheep. I think he has three or five other females in a different pen

 One of many ducks.

 A "litter" of 18-20 ducklings that had hatched overnight! We helped corral mom and the ducks into a safe place. Aaron sent us home with two duck breasts actually. Yum!

The three of us in Port Townsend... he also sent us home with two packages of bacon from his pigs, three eggplant, some onions, beets, and other goodness. Great to see you Aaron... keep up the good work. We appreciate it! EAT LOCAL, ORGANIC, FRESH, REAL FOOD!

Grand Tetons with Michelle and Alan: August 16~23

Here are some pictures from a recent trip to the Grand Tetons National Park, in Wyoming. Michelle and I drove out to Montana and picked up Alan in Bozeman.

We hiked 29 miles in the first three days -- through Death Canyon, up along the Death Canyon Shelf, into the Alaska Basin, and then out over the Static Peak divide all the way down to Phelps Lake. Day four was a only a 2-mile jaunt from Phelps Lake to the car.

We went as high up as 11,300 feet at Static Peak and as low as 6800 at Phelps Lake (same day!) Lots of elevation, dry heat, and sunshine. It was a taxing excursion at times but we had a great time and will enjoy the Tetons again!

 The Tetons

 Gros Ventre River, a tributary of the Snake River

Clear skies!

 Heavy packs but big smiles

Let's begin

 Phelps Lake overlook

 Tired already?!

Day 1: In Death Canyon
Alan with his knife

 Michelle with her smile

Dave with his shaded-head.

From our campsite on the morning of day two, we heard a moose stumble through our campsite... that was cool! Alan woke up and actually and saw it.

 the Shelf... tomorrow's mission

 Atop the shelf (Day 2)

 Looking back down Death Canyon

Along the popular trail

 Los Tetons

 Day 3-- Heading over the basin and along Static Peak Divide toward the entrance of Death Canyon

 Looking west over Alaska Basin (where we slept on Day/Night 2)

 At (Buck Mountain?) the Pass

This place was like Geology heaven--- so many gorgeous minerals! Alan was our guide having recently graduated with a degree in Geology. He rocks! :)

 Timberline Lake, still with ice, even in August

Looking east over Jackson (airport)

 Atop Static Peak (11,300 feet)

We got out in good time... before any crazy weather!