The Alvord Desert & The Steens Mountains

When you are out in the middle of no where, you should always read the signs:)

This was so deep and the color was incrediable, I could feel the heat rising onto my face when I was taking this photo.

Peeking in at Glenn while he was enjoying the Alvord Hot Springs, it was to hot outside for me, but this rustic structure and the bathing is all the make up for a good time.

If your not careful someone might just take your hat and sunglasses, something you definitely need in this area on a hot summer day.

The Steens Mountain Range, need I say more, WOW!

Here we are heading to the top summit of the Steens gets a little warm at 9000 ft. That is for sure but I see snow in the distance.

Oh, this is funny to get to the alvord desert you take a gravel road for approx. 45 miles at the end of the gravel rode is Fields Oregon where the cafe there is known for their famous milk shakes. Yes we both had one:) If you look closely you can see an air plane taking off to the right. Yes out in the back country the county roads are also the run way and if you didn't know it Air Planes have the right-a-way. Good Times!

scary big, for no water except hot springs about every 20 miles.

This photo is fun to me because I use to work with a Guy who would say, "why do you choose to follow Glenn to those far reach places"?  This photo shows I am doing just that follow Glenn to the edge of the earth (it felt like).

Glenn taking the Jeep out on the desert floor, not sand but alkali, dusty that is for sure.

Hot feet!

You do what you can to stay cool.

I don't like it when Glenn lays over the edge of  glacier cliffs  just to get a good photo, doesn't it look like he is going to roll off the side.

Cold feet! Finally some relief from the heat.

Just can't get enough of the wild flowers.

Alkali  dust storm off in the distance, incredible.

Crystal Crane Hot springs, there is nothing better then jumping into the pond 1st thing in the morning when you wake up.  The pond is a cool 103 degrees on an average this is utopia.

Hope you enjoyed this trip via my blog as much as we did in real life.
 Until next time, Betty  

Summer Camping trip

We look so forward to our week long summer camping trip in the wilderness. What a stress free vacation, really the only problem if you want to call it that is making sure you can get to the shade in time, before the afternoon sun does you in. Now that is what I call good stress!

 It's always important to have the "luxuries" close by. Glenn was the best ever and put a nice bathroom together for us, the bathroom was tucked away down a hill  into the wilderness I have to say it's one "room" we really appreciated. Thanks Glenn ! Yes if you look closely that is the current copy of Mary Jane Farms:)

Having proper food available is good here is a good example cold beer in a glass and red vines! Then there is the camping bed room. Somebody slept all night long each night we were there do you blame her?

Juniper Berry was always standing guard she is one faith full camping dog. Except when she wants to be tucked in at night then you are on your own.

PS. I made her dog bed out of Glenn's old work shirts I used the panels with the front pocket on them so she can have treats waiting for her. She is always surprised to find a bone or a cookie in one of the pockets.

Camping isn't all roughing it, people pay good money to have their bare feet warmed on a hot bed of rocks in the cool night. Here we had it every night free of charge.

Wild flowers are one of my favorites, we had the opportunity to watch wild garlic in bud form when we 1st arrive to blooming after a short summer rain storm. WOW! Take a look for yourself:)

Another great past time is traveling around mountain roads to see what you can find. Like pretty things (see photos above) or a structure left from a sheep herder or maybe elk camp. Fun stuff to do that's for sure.

Sometimes we have accidents but they are taken care of quickly, I broke my finger. But I have to admit I actually did this before we left packing my camping pack.

Laying out and watching the starry nights is amazing another Wow that for sure!

The sunsets!

Thanks to my Husband I still can be fashionable, I just love this coat even though it's not snowing. I am sure some of you can understand:)

And then there is the "Best Friend Times" I am so glad we could be caught in a rain storm together. Great shot with the rainbow, Glenn. Thanks!

This bouquet of wild flowers and grass were with us all week. I miss this week allot and can't wait till our next trip. That's right we have a back packing trip soon, I can't wait:)

Have a wonderful day and I hope you enjoyed the camping photos as much as we enjoyed the camping trip!

Sincerely, Betty Jo and of course Juniper Berry

Monica's Graduation Bar-B-Que

Monica graduated from High School, 1 year early that calls for a family celebration:) So with the weather not really wanting to cooperate and the growing season getting off to a slow start, this made for quite a challenge to get the backyard in order.

But all worked out and Monica was able to even enjoy her Grandpa coming for the day from Salem, Oregon.

You couldn't ask for a better day, the weather was perfect. The lemon/mint ice water was a hit that is for sure.

Grand Daughter Lucy enjoyed playing with all her older relatives, she loved the attention the family gave her.

Some were not on the guest list and showed up anyways, but that's OK until this visitor ate this beautiful flower I have been protecting from all the deer the last week. That night after the event I didn't take the time to cover most of the flowers from the deer, so it took advantage of situation and enjoyed this beautiful flower for it's nights feast, why can't they go to someone elses house that is all I ask!

Pretty while it lasted!

Monica's Uncles and Father made it a point to coach and guide her into her next phase of life this day. But I am very proud to say she held her own that is for sure and this is one touch crowd, good job Monica!

The food was wonderful didn't get many photos though but I can always seem to enjoy snapping a shot of the sushi plate.

So here I am with my dear friend who always seems to fly into Redmond no matter where she is at in the United States to help me out at the last minute. The celebration is over and we took just a short time to sit in the sun and enjoy the moment!

Again Congratulations to Monica for a job well done all through High School.

Summer Time at the Ashfords 2010/ book review

Summer time blogging is going to be short and sweet, it seems like I am busier then ever just like everyone else this time of year.

Back from vacation and I was pleasantly surprise to be welcomed back with produce from my  garden :)

While I was on vacation I had the wonderful opportunity to read. The book I finished was 'Loving Frank' by Nancy Horan. This book was the story of Mamah Brothwick Cheney who was the "lover" of Frank Lloyd Wright. I always knew that this very talented and way before his time Man was eccentric but oh my gosh he was one different fellow. Mamah was one driven Lady, she knows what she wants and most the time had to take the high road to get there. This story was one of the best love stories, I would suggest this book to anyone and everyone. The Seattle Post summed up this book the best by saying "A beautifully orchestrated rendering of the affair and inner lives of its two love-torn principals.  Understated yet dramatic, painstaking and convincing, this is fiction with the heft of truth".

Sunny Days/ Freezing Nights!

Come on sun you can do it, keep the ground warm so the garden will grow. To garden in Central Oregon you have to be a little crazy, stubborn, and have a drive that just won't quit. Time is not on your side when you are trying to get your plants to produce vegetables before the 1st freeze of the fall season which is usually around September 15th. Most Central Oregon Gardeners don't even think about putting in a garden before July 1st but every year I get this "itch" to start in June. If you start your garden early you have to provide any kind of warmth you have available. Last night the temp. dropped to 31 degrees this is enough to wipe out your garden and not even think twice about it. All that hard work gone in a matter of minutes, so I actually with help from my Husband, I put the garden to bed. Yes I covered the whole garden in bed sheets, I bet the houses across the canal are having a fit because of the view they have out their back windows into my garden:) But I am going to do what I have to do, with what I have to work with and that would be 15 bed sheets all colors and varied in size! I also have to remember the view of my sunflowers are breath taking from their homes. As for me I have to walk across  the canal path to their yards to admire my sunflowers since my house blocks them from following the sun every night in July and August.

I forgot to cover the carrots but they did OK next to the house. I don't have very good luck with carrots so this year I am trying this little "round" type we will see what happens. Now the peas should be OK they like a little cold weather but these are still pretty small the raised bed should help and the morning sun.The flowers are surviving, I am pretty selective on what gets planted in the yard as far as flowers are concerned. They have to be deer proof! I do use a spray that works pretty well but you never really know for sure. Sun come on do your fine work and keep the frost away until the fall that is all I ask of you!

For The Love of WILDFLOWERS!

A wildflower (or wild flower) is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or 

planted.

 Bitter Root

Red Clover

???

Harebell

???

???

 WOW! these wildflower photos were taken Saturday 6/12/10 in the Ochoco Mountain range where we will be camping in about a month. I am so excited to see what else we will find since we will have a week to explore this beautiful area.  I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I do.
So I got out my Wild Flowers spotters guide and still can't identify all of them. I bet my husband can tell us what some of these flowers are:) If you can identify any of these please leave me a comment.

Have a beautiful day, Betty