Black Butte Ranch

I love this place. 

After a whirlwind week cleaning up from MFC and working a full week of early mornings, I was READY for a full week off. We both had been so busy we were looking forward to leaving reality behind and relaxing. We still packed in tons of family fun though and it was great to go back to a place that holds SO many childhood memories and enjoying it again with our larger and different family unit. (We've added two extras, as Grammy Faye would say, speaking of Michael and Steve. And there's the two littles too...

Brayden

 

Grandpa sharing a bowl of cereal. 

Hannah

 

Grandpa teaching Hannah to blow bubbles. 

I don't have pictures of Steve or Michael eating cereal or blowing bubbles, so you'll just have to look for their faces later in the post.

 THE MEADOW

 

We took a family walk (almost 3 miles in the end) across the meadow and to the area of the ranch where we stayed when Lisa and I were little. Things look so much smaller now than they did 20 years ago. 

Wow. 

How am I old enough for something to have happened 20 years ago?

 As we crossed the meadow, Bailey saw the cows and did her best to act just like one. Our little pup has a somewhat confused identity here as she munches the grass. 

Moooooo, Bailey.

 

Most of the group hanging by Paulina creek where all the cousins used to spend HOURS playing. 

 

All that excitement wore our little sweetheart out. 

Side note: Since we returned home 5 hours ago, the pup has lifted her head a couple times to acknowledge Steve or I leaving or entering a room. Otherwise, it's been the longest nap of her life. I guess she had fun on her first trip to BBR.

HAPPY HOUR

 

A very pretty margarita at a cute little Mexican restaurant in Sisters. Los Agaves was THE BEST Mexican food I've had since Ponco's burned down. I highly recommend a visit if you find yourself driving through. 

 This is a pretty beverage my mom introduced to me. Huckleberry vodka, Sprite and ice. 

Sooooo refreshing. 

And blueberries are good for you too. 

So it's a healthy happy hour!

SHOOTING

 The teacher

 

 The student

.22LR

I don't know what that means. 

But it was a cute little rifle to start my first shooting lesson with. 

Yes, I just called a rifle cute. 

And yes, again, this is the first time my dad and Steve probably had to endure a photo shoot out at the range. 

That is what you get taking a city girl to shoot. 

I thought they meant "shoot" photos with my camera! ;)

 

I didn't do half bad! 

Although I think I cheated using the lead sled, I am still proud of myself. 

 The Big Al

Don't know what he's shooting here. 

 

BEAUTIFUL view from the cinder pit. 

 See one...

I'm told this is a Kimber. 45 ACP

 

...Shoot one

 Move on to another one.

 .308 

I'm fairly confident I'm glad I had the sled shooting that one. I should have tried it without, but I think I might have ended up on the ground. 

Next time.

BIKE RIDES

Riding around the ranch with Papa.

 Another action shot.

BABYSITTING

 

Here is auntie holding down the fort. Got Hannah in my lap so Mama Lisa can get ready for the day and Bailey is standing by assuring Hannah will not be disturbed. 

This is hard work people. 

I guarantee I am watching the Today show catching all the Olympic highlights of the morning.

THE POOL

 

After all that hard work babysitting, I needed some relaxing time at the pool. 

Here are Dad and I cooling off in between catching some rays. 

 

Mom and I catching some rays.

Dad and Hannah sitting in the shade watching the rest of the family frolic at the pool. A happy pair they are. 

THE OBLIGATORY COUPLE SHOTS

 

Before date night in sisters. 

Antique stores, pizza and Bi-Mart. 

 lol

Great date night. 

After breakfast at the lodge.

 

Family shot right before we had to end vacation to come home.  

 RELAXATION

Bare feet with my nose in a book. It's how I spent a great deal of vacation.

It was fabulous. 

I'm ready to go back. 

Thanks Black Butte for so many wonderful new memories. 

If Bailey could rouse herself from her nap she'd say the same.

But we'll just let her keep sleeping.

Signing off, dreaming of the next fun vacation getaway. 

Anyone have any ideas?

I'm open to suggestions.

Meliza Family Camp

July was a VERY full month! We kind of crammed all our fun activities for the summer unintentionally into one month. It has been so much fun having something to look forward to each weekend and especially fun having time to unplug and be with family.

July started with celebrating the 4th at Grandma Faye's (no pictures) and then soon after that celebrating my cousin Spencer and his new wife Ahnalise at their GORGEOUS wedding.

Amidst all this fun and Strawberry picking and whatnot... we were planning and preparing for my first ever MFC (Meliza Family Camp)! It was a very fun weekend, despite the rain on the first day. I do have a knack for finding the rain on my camping trips, so though a little damp to start, we still had a great time catching up and getting to read by the camp fire. It was Bailey's first camping trip too and she loved romping around in nature.

 

Are we there yet? My little navigator started to wimp out on me nearing Seattle. 

 

Steve loves pictures. Here we are enjoying (can't you tell?) our first morning around the camp fire. 

 

Bailey and Steve exploring Gold Basin Campground. 

 

Splashin' around having some fun. 

 

My artsy photo for the trip. I just thought her little paw print was so cute. 

I think I sound too obsessed with our pup. 

I can hear you agreeing with me, I know. 

But we love her. 

So please forgive me as you endure more :)

 

I LOVE this photo of these two. Don't know what it is but I love it. 

A doggy and her human. 

 

Family photo. 

 

Base camp. Where we all gathered 'round the camp fire.

 

Our separate little site. It was very private and cozy. 

Though the Meliza's are sure they might have scared me off, I'm sure I'll be back for another MFC next year!

Up next: The VERY next weekend, we took off for Black Butte with the Duncan side of the family. 

Summer Days

None of this is exciting, I don't think. Just thought I'd share a couple summertime happenings as of late. Below are some munchies I whipped up for a little get together.
I love munchies. They are my favorite meal.

 

 This is my new addiction. Raw tomatoes have never made me drool. Sure I enjoy them on a sandwich or burger, but never alone. 

This Bruschetta... I have no words. I could eat it every day for the rest of the summer and be 100% satisfied. Fresh. Refreshing. Flavorful. 

I'll stop to spare you boredom. I altered this recipe 

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2012/01/bruschetta/

from The Pioneer Woman (another new blog I ADORE). I couldn't find yellow tomatoes so I used about a 1/2 yellow pepper instead and used slightly less balsamic and cut the tomatoes smaller. Make this. You will like it. 

It's pretty, too.

And healthy. 

And yummy. 

Oh, right, I said earlier I would stop to spare you from boredom. Are you really bored now? sorry. 

Just go make some already.

 I also made this fun Peanut Butter ball. ( http://bunsinmyoven.com/2012/01/26/peanut-butter-cheese-ball/)  It was cute, I thought, and a different dessert than usual. I found it on Pinterest and it was tasty, but I cannot gush about it like I can the Bruschetta.

The dog days of summer. 

 Sorry about the garbage shot, kind of gross. No, really gross. But she is always underfoot in the kitchen.

 See? Maybe it's because the floor is cool.

 

Or she just likes to be close. 

 Which she does. She makes an excellent foot rest on a lazy Saturday.

 Mama, will you please pet me and give me some lovin'?

 Puh-leeeeeeease Mama!!!!! I just can't say no to that face. I love her.

Fresh summer food.

 My herbs, are excellent this year. My dill didn't die off which makes me SO happy. I love dill and when it died last year, it was just a terrible day. This year my basil is the one dying off and it angers me. I love the basil and nurture it, I have 3 plants I love it so much, and all 3 are just not growing, small shriveled things no matter what I do. The basil and I have been fighting all summer. I still have hope, but I expected more from my basil.

 Still, my other herbs are glorious. For instance this warm potato salad with fresh parsley, dill and chives is one of my favorites. Just throw in a a little EVOO, butter and garlic salt and done. I even microwave the potatoes to make it that much easier.

 Easy peezy dinner. Breaded cod from Costco is marvelous.

 More strawberries...

 ...in milkshakes this time. Yum.

 Little ones.

 They make me happy.

 And make me laugh with their silly faces at Auntie.

Oh there's that smile. 

Happy summer. 

I should really post garden pictures as that is growing nicely too. Next time.

Strawberry Sweetness

This post dedicated to the Strawberry.

Steve and I have been waiting and waiting for the Strawberries to become sweet, red, and juicy. Well we almost waited ourselves out of any strawberries at all!  Once we were finally ready to invest at our local stand, EVERY local stand was no longer selling the precious little things. Who knew June was their month and July meant they were movin' out!? Well apparently everyone knew in fact. Everyone, but us.

So we set out on a quest to find the last berries in the universe. We landed at Hoffman Farms who were allowing U Pick if you had the time and patience to peruse the fields. Yay!

 We found them :)
 We were SO pleased.

 Steve-o hard at work.

It may not look like I'm busy, but in reality, I filled my bucket MUCH faster than Steve. We were hoping to be able to find a 1/2 flat for jam. Instead we were able to fill 2 buckets for a full flat and have berries to freeze.

View from the picking position. BeAuTiFuL weather. Gorgeous. Sunny. FINALLY. Warm. Scrumptious Sunny Sunshine. 

Perfect morning.

Found a cute stand in the field for my berries to sit upon for their photo op.

 Fruits of our labor. 

 Fast forward 8 hours from the last photo to this of our flats at home. After leaving the fields, I got paged into work (missing out on the sunshine), I wasn't pleased. Steve mowed the lawn, fixed some pipes, worked in the garden... We were tired! But there was jam to be made. 

 Beautiful berries. Oh how we heart you. Thank you for finding your way to our home. We are happy to have you. 

 Bailey overseeing the work. Getting underfoot of two tired worker-bees. The sweet pea just likes to be close. She looks so innocent.

 Ready for the freezer. 

 Add, mix, add, stir... Saturday night date, Strawberry jam we shall make. 

And the final product. Steve is relieved to not have to face a year without Strawberry jam. 

This post makes Strawberry jam seem to be the center of our universe around here. And it was today. And it's the center of this blog post, so I hope you like Strawberry jam too. 

Haven't posted in a while. Here's a glimpse of what has kept us busy. 

 Painting bedroom, which was always a little too green for me, to a fabulous grey. As well as a bathroom too.

 Celebrating Mom's birthday on May 29th...

 ... and Steve's on May 30th. By the way, this was THE most delicious pecan pie ever. 

 Cuddling with puppy dogs. 

 Spending the day at the zoo with my mom, sister and Brayden and Hannah. 

Jumping around having fun.


Getting ready to install hardwood floors.

Wow, long post. Had lots to catch up on! Are you still awake?

Congrats, you made it to the end.