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We went to Steens Mountain for a few days of hiking and camping. We stayed on the Blitzen River.

We only saw one really large snake on this hike.

I like hiking this year:

The second day, we went for a hike on the Mud Creek Trail:

There was a stream crossing, so I hitched a ride:

I spent most of the hike looking for ‘chocolate’ and putting my footprints in it:

It was hot. Really, really hot:

Roasting marshmallows back at the campsite:

Frenchglen, Oregon. Social distancing since 1872:

On day three, we hiked the Pike Creek Trail. I navigated:

The last night, we camped on the Alvord Playa:

No rules there, so I got to drive:

I think I’ll be a better driver once I can see over the dashboard.

Farmer’s tan or dirt? Maybe a bit of both:

Amazing sunset/lightning storm:

In the morning, I went for a bike ride in the desert:

Dad was running, but he could not keep up. I’m the little speck in the distance:

Finally, heading back to camp:

And, this is what I looked like on the drive home:

I’m working on learning to jump rope.

Strawberries were waiting for us when we got home:

Sweet broccolini with tofu, sesame, and cilantro:

The Bigs went paddle boarding without me on Friday. Not cool.

Maybe it is because I eat all the strawberries from our berry patch before they get any:

Father’s Day breakfast on the porch:

I made Dad a concrete cup and a pine tree coaster:

Mountain biking at Phil’s:

Cleaning my bike:

We tried out some new recipes this weekend. Some were good and some were not so good.

Wheat berries with swiss chard and pomegranate molasses – I took two thank you bites to be polite:

Father’s Day dinner: mushroom risotto. The Bigs say this was good. I don’t do mushrooms.

I did LOVE the cantaloupe, arugula, and pistachio salad though:

Mom and I made oatmeal chocolate chip cookie gelato sandwiches for dessert:

They were delicious.

First strawberries of the year:

I am getting pretty good at this catching business:

Wednesday night is picnic night:

Making guacamole to top our burgers:

Making crumpets. Yes, crumpets:

Look closely. I’m actually in this photo. See if you can find me:

You probably cannot see them, but even my sunglasses are camo:

It was Pop’s birthday, so I made him a cake:

We won’t say how old he is, but happy birthday, Pop:

Sunday at the bike park:

Latest addition to the garage, a rack for my ride:

Han Solo, frozen in carbonite:

Wednesday night picnic and soccer at the river:

Making a citrus battery to power an alarm clock:

And, a potato battery to light an LED:

Measuring the battery voltage with a multi-meter (it was 2.5 V):

Mountain biking at Phil’s:

First watermelon of the year:

Hiking along the river:

Our destination, Dillon Falls:

After our hike, Meera AND Hadley came over! We made princess crowns:

and danced:

Hyderabadi mixed vegetables and lemon rice with peanuts:

Whipped coffees:

Grating some rutabaga for dinner:

which was sweet and sour celery root and rutabaga salad with capers and dried sour cherries:

and ciabatta:

More shelves for the garage:

I ride to the Flaming Chicken all by myself this year – no towing.

Getting suited up for my trip to the ISS:

On board the Dragon crew capsule:

Watching the real thing with Dad. Liftoff!

Backyard science! The volcano is about to erupt:

A new shelf/shovel rack to organize the garage:

Pumpkin cashew cheesecake. I did NOT like it. This made the Bigs very happy. More for them:

Ridiculously spicy red kidney bean curry:

Charred corn and avocado quinoa salad:

Shrimp and apple salad (sounds weird, but oh so good):

Mushrooms and corn in a spicy (again, Mom? Don’t you learn?) curry:

Yaya sent me The Big Book of Experiments. Here I am making dancing raisins (currants, actually). I love science. I demand to do a new experiment every night.

Next experiment: secret messages.

Third experiment: rainbow bubble snake.

The Bigs are determined not to let me be one of these kids who can’t tell time on an analog clock. Up next: cursive writing.

We did our annual bike ride to the Castle of Dragons this weekend. I hitched a ride up, along with my bike:

but I rode down. Dad cannot keep up:

Every week you see all of these yummy food pics. Here is a look at who is actually making that food:

Shaved Brussel sprout salad with apples, cranberries, and pecans, along with a loaf of wheat sourdough bread:

Here I am preparing sesame soba noodles with snow peas, radishes, and cilantro:

Shiitake ramen:

I sense trouble with The Force:

Don’t worry, Mom. I have it handled.

One thing I love almost as much as lightsabers…powertools

Weaving a pot holder. Thank you, Nana!

Making an origami dog:

Hadley came over to play. We did what any pair of four-year-olds would do: played engineer teachers:

Followed by a bit of light gardening (mud play):

Scones and smoothies for breakfast:

This is how I feel about scones:

Pesto pizza with fennel and cauliflower:

Stir-Fried tofu shiitakes and green beans:

Ciabatta:

Pomegranate and mint potato salad:

Coconut black rice bowls with tofu and asparagus:

You think you know how to eat a pear? You do not know how to eat a pear.

This is how you eat a pear:

It has been very nice here lately. We spend lots of time in the backyard. Cornhole champion:

Choke cherry in full bloom (smells so good):

Dinner on the deck. Pesto pasta with roasted cherry tomatoes:

The Bigs have been doing a bit of planting. Eighty-two plants and three trees, to be exact. For once, they did some work and I got to take pictures.

Gives me plenty of pots to use for castle construction:

I have been doing some work too. Mulching:

It was over 80 on Saturday. Hadley has a slip and slide and a fun big brother. I am in love.

Today was, of course, the Day of the Mother:

Day of the Mutter feast (as demanded by the mutter):

Wheat sourdough:

Baba Ganoush:

and hummus, with a spicy walnut topping:

I hear diversification is important. I am working on expanding my skill set. This week I took up sewing

and watercolor painting.

Mom had another one of her ‘great’ ideas. Make Mother’s Day cards with celery. I played along.

Dad went wild and crazy this week and made waffles, whipped cream, and strawberries for dessert.

Getting dressed to deal with COVID 19:

The Bigs bought rocks. 1700 pounds of rocks…

and told me to go do some landscaping.

Not too shabby.

Another thing I have been working on. Taking pictures. I took some of my landscaping job. Phlox:

Amazon mist grass:

Creeping phlox:

Autumn joy sedum:

Ice plant:

Moon glow juniper (and a soon-to-be-planted Colorado weeping blue spruce):

I got the hops strung this weekend too.

And I planted eight tomato plants (sun gold cherry tomatoes). Pop tells me if these plants survive, I will have enough tomatoes for a small army. Pop has not seen what I eat on a daily basis lately.

Plant tomatoes? But it’s too soon, you say? Not when you have walls o’ water.

I’m not sure the whole urban farmer thing is going to work out, so I maybe I should continue to add to my skill set. Some chalk art:

We had a yummy new dinner this week. Indian vermicelli with peas and cilantro.

We made an Earth Day dessert. Worms (gummy variety) in mud (chocolate pudding) and dirt (crushed chocolate cookies).

Earth Day is serious business, but sometimes you have to have a little fun.

Yum!

You must read The Lorax on Earth Day.

“Only if someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss

I had a sick patient to take care of this week.

I gave her a very thorough exam.

And decided a shot to the neck was needed. What is elder abuse?

I am working very hard at learning how to tie these boots.

I really get things done. Just a few of the things I did this week.

I emptied the truck of berm builder:

Helped Dad move an irrigation line that was right where we want to put a new tree

Unloaded the tree

And made chocolate chip, cinnamon beer bread.

Some other food we had:

Senegalese mango and coconut rice pudding

Roasted brussels with black garlic sauce