Food

Lately I've been doing some jam making. Let's see... Strawberry freezer jam, Strawberry cooked jam, Raspberry f.j. & cooked. Today I will make Blackberry/Raspberry cooked. Though I love freezer jam's freshness, I like the jelledupness of the cooked jam. I was also given the secret recipe of my girlfriend's spiced peach jam. All this I am making in low sugar and really like it. The sad part of this story is that no matter how many jars I can of infinitesimal combination of luscious fruits (locally grown or not) my dear husband's heart belongs to Welch's. Yes, it is Grape Jelly he loves.

Angie made up some wonderful Mango salsa last night and we had it over top a filet of Talapia. It was soooo goood. I forgot to take a picture! I snarfed it down so quickly.

She also made some fresh hummus with garlic olives and it was manifique!

So this food journey ends with breakfast. I am back to my Fiber One, and loving it. Who'd have thought some psuedo chinese noodles could steal my affection??? (At least until there's a sale on Wheaties!)

PICTORAMA

The following pictures have been taken by my sister Bunny. She has a much better camera than mine, a great zoom feature which brings things to life. I am not totally jealous, but only slightly. On a serious note: I'd like you to enjoy these pictures but please do not "steal" any. Bunny is a graphic artist and has plans for her photos. So enjoy the ride and keep it clean.
There are two orcas spyhopping here.
This guy/gal is doing the backstroke and sunning their belly!
Knitting class is FUN
I cannot spell their name...
Granny slappin the water to corral the fishes otherwise known as LUNCH
Breaching in the fog...
Oh my, this one is shameless.

Male and female Oystercatchers
Angie's felted bag after Aunt Bunny tried her hand at needle felting. Angie created the flowers, and Aunt Bunny punched away. It transformed the bag... handle to come.
The oystercatcher had us on a goose chase... luring us away from the nest which we never found.
The catch: Rick and the boys. See Rick's foot for scale?
A parked seal pup off North Beach. Hopefully mom came back for him.
Baby orca frolicking with mom and brother.
A little mist just makes things more interesting.
SPOOOKY
What's down there? Aunt Bunny working for her catch.
Whoah!

Sunstar. This one is smaller than the one Stu had in his crab trap.
This is still the tip of the iceberg but it is an attempt to represent a little bit of the past 2 weeks with Buns and Joe.

Bunny and Joe were Here!

The Ugly Truth behind this picture is that Bunny and Joe Mainly Came for the CRABS. Here is proof. The crabbing season was severely shortened by a week and a half. That left us 3 short days to crab. We wasted no time getting out there and getting our quotas. The first pot we pulled had 20 Crabs in it. We are not talking dinky blue crabs. We are talking Mouth Watering, hand biting, Dungeoness Crabs!! Oh, the Hand biting Joe can attest to. He got clamped but good and it drew blood!

There is one satisfied customer.
This is the absolute beginning of the feast. Everything looks way tooooo neat!
Oh my, I can almost smell the Old Bay now. We have taken to stunning the crabs at the dock and ripping their appendages down the middle. It cleans them out lickety split and makes for cleaner cleaning if you get my drift. The meat is slightly drier, but not bad.
This was taken by Buns on the whale watch tour. I was buttoned up tight and hat pulled low, eating a pretzel. Since I got this short haircut I have been mistaken for a man. I am getting tired of this. Honestly, do you really have to have longer hair or lipstick on to distinguish? Don't answer that. I am wearing Joe's coat cuz' he doesn't and I like it. It was perfect with all it's pockets and it's my favorite Green!

A Whale of a Tale

This is a gorgeous shot of Anacortes and Mt Baker yesterday while we were out watching for whales. The fog was thick and it was cold... but oh sooo worth it.
This is one of the shots that I thought I did not get. Breaching for Joy.
This one is like a picture postcard.... Mts. , Ferry Boat, whale... who could ask for more.
Spy hopping in the sun. Just having some fun.
I wish I could remember what this lighthouse is called, but I know it is looking for a sponsor!
Baby chicks at Barb's house. New freezer chickens!
The Queen of Pies arrived just in time to bless and cut them.
This puzzle was terrible. No border and 5 extra pieces!
The nest I made for Buns
And two movies, one a little lengthy, but worth it. Turn your volume down or the wind will drive you crazy! Oh the sites we saw and didn't catch on the camera!!

Orcas on the 4th!

The Orcas Island Community Band has been a part of our family for so many years... Joe had to work today but will be playing in the band at the waterfront tonight.
Michael Rivkin and Bob Blanc were in this British number which I don't know the name of... only that it was pretty.
Daria was lead horse in the 4-H horse parade.
Aunt Bunny ready to paint the town red. We had breakfast at the firehall this morning, lunch at La Tacaria, MMMMmmm Fajitas!The movies show the random foolishness that is prevalent on Orcas on the 4th. I haven't even previewed these so they are probably rough. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Ferry Blues

These are some of the sights people waiting in Anacortes had the fun of seeing!
The long lanes on the right are for guess where???
Bunny and Joe are somewhere in this shot getting ready for a good/lousy night's sleep!
Ah, vacations are so relaxing!

Having Technical Difficulties

Can you see the quilting pattern? It is sooooo coool, musically speaking.
So cool that Midnight adopted it.
Truly a jazzy quilt by Frieda Nichols for Joe's Graduation. It is really special and one that lit Joe's face up pretty quickly.
These are my planter boxes on the steps before the deer decided to eat the pink blooms.

Nuf said.
Our days have been so busy that if we sit down, we automatically nap!
Bunny and Joe arrived early this morning in time for breakfast.
Buns needed some medical attention which took all of yesterday. It was not a good way to start your vacation ( a cat scan and spinal tap) but she seems to be ok and I will make sure she rests. The rest of the story will come later. They missed the late ferry due to the holiday traffic and got to sleep in the ferry line! Oh, this is one vacation they will not soon forget.
Happy 4TH to everyone.