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All of the banner background photos on this site were taken by Whitey.
Above is a close-up of the bark of incense-cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) in winter.
The view out my east window on a summer morning. The flowers in the hanging baskets are Bolivian begonias (Begonia boliviensis 'Santa Cruz') which I overwinter as dry tubers and then plant again the next spring. Some of the tubers are more than six inches across!
Still no rain to speak of. So . . . I’m busy watering the Food Garden, as needed, since I’m not a fan of automatic irrigation. But we’re already halfway through our usual dry spell which is mid-May through mid-September, and I’m definitely looking forward to fall.
In the meantime, there is no shortage of tomatoes, zukes, beans, peppers, and more to enjoy fresh. I share the over-supply with friends and neighbors, and of course I freeze quite a bit, too.
Birthday Boy headed for The Woods earlier this month for three days and two nights. I’m embarrassed almost beyond words to admit that it’s the first time I have been camping since September 2024. I can’t explain the long hiatus, but I’m glad to know it’s over and I hope the next trip is soon. I’m always a little apprehensive before leaving—I don’t know why—but as soon as I set up camp in a relatively remote location, I feel fine and invariably have a good time.
This time, I took advantage of an unseasonably cool spell with temperatures in the West Cascades in the upper 60s and low 70s the whole time I was there. Very, very nice. I didn’t even sweat. What a treat!
Now, back to all the “town things”--from household chores to my Nordic Film Series to my monthly TreeWalks) which keep me busy and out of trouble, for the most part.
And Life goes on!
This year's "birthday cake": a blueberry tart--just cooked blueberries, sugar, and cornstarch put into my famous butter-based pie crust, and baked! With Breyer's vanilla ice cream, of course.
Day Two during my early-July trip to the West Cascades. These are 350-year-old (or so) Douglas-firs. And of course my beloved mochila roja for scale.
And lunch on Day Two: a plain bagel (cut into three slices), butter, cheddar cheese, Lebanon bologna, and mustard. With one-quarter of that apple in the upper right for dessert, along with a home-made chocolate-chip cookie. Drink? Water fresh from the spring at the top of what I call Bull Elk Creek. Perfect. Anyone else carry a cheese plane when they're camping? It's one of my "ten essentials." As is my Dukes of Hazzard lunchbox (birthday gift from my parents in 1980) which keeps delicate food items from being squished in my backpack.
(This page updated 23 July 2026.)
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