Between Summer and Fall

Agricultural burning, a common fall sight                              © Diane B. Reed

The beauty of dried grasses                           © Diane B. Reed

It's that time of year again, summer has faded, but even though we've passed the autumnal equinox, it's not quite fall yet. A few migratory geese have arrived on our pond and the leaves seem on the verge of turning, but right now it just seems like an awkward time. It's also the time of the year when some farmers burn their fields. On some days the smoke hangs heavy in the air and the Blue Mountains are lost in the haze. There's a real difference of opinion about tilling vs burning harvested fields, seems like there are pros and cons for each. But in Oregon's Willamette Valley the smoke from burning fields got so bad that it affected the air quality and caused a 21-car pileup on I-5 with 7 fatalities, prompting the legislature to severely curtail burning.
                                                                   

A few wildflowers linger as cold weather approaches © Diane B. Reed

There's still a few flowers around, wild sunflowers and rabbitbrush. The grasses have turned golden. In many ways I think they're at their most beautiful. Our garden is still blooming, but in a few short weeks the cold weather will settle in, the fall colors will explode, and bird migrations will be in full swing.

It's a Cat's Life!

Luna Negra                                                                         © Diane B. Reed

Our cat, Luna Negra, leads an idyllic life. Her day begins with snuggling in bed with her humans. As soon as one of us stirs she's ready for treats and her daily bird and squirrel watching. Don't worry, she's an indoor cat, so they have nothing to fear from her. She splits her time between the upstairs window, right at birdfeeder level and the downstairs window where the birds and squirrels scratch around on the ground below.

Naptime                                                     © Diane B. Reed

     Pretty soon it's time for the first of many serious naps. Sometimes it's back on the bed, other times it's on the sofa. She's really good at napping, something I often envy.
      She keeps busy all day with napping, check- ing the birdfeeders and checking out what's happening at the pond. Then it's time for dinner and socializing before she settles in on our bed to claim her spot.

Cuteness goes a long way                            © Diane B. Reed

      In case you haven't noticed, Luna is a beautiful cat. We don't know much about her ancestry because she came from a Humane Society. She was found wandering the streets and waited a long time to find her new family. She was skinny but beautiful, a calm but alert cat. The folks at the Humane Society said she had been passed over a number of times because she was a stray. She's turned out to be the best cat we've ever had--smart, loving, beautiful and funny. My advice is to judge cats by spending some time with them and don't rule out a stray. We've had a number of wonderful cats, all of whom were strays. There are lots of cats and dogs who need homes, so if you're looking for a pet, go to your local shelter, ours is the Blue Mountain Humane Society)

You'll be glad you did!

Walla Walla Valley Gardens

The rolling hills in the background are a perfect backdrop for this natural garden  © Diane B. Reed

The fall is a great time to take a good look at our gardens and begin planning for next year. It's also a perfect time to look for inspiration, and I found just that on last weekend's Walla Walla Community Hospice Pond and Garden Tour. My friend Patti (also an avid gardener) and I visited all ten of the ponds and gardens.

Morning glory                                         © Diane B. Reed

In these unique gardens, we found all kinds of beautiful and unusual plants, from the commonplace to the exotic. The variety of grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees provided a wide range of ideas for my next year's garden.

Edible nasturtiums among the flowers          © Diane B. Reed

One trend that we noticed at many of the gardens was the intermingling of edible plants and vegetables in the gardens. I'm just beginning to do that in my own garden with herbs, but I'm convinced that I need to add vegetables to my beds next year. Since my sunniest gardens are in the front of my house, I plan on taking advantage of their location. Look for hidden tomatoes, eggplant and squash among the blanket flowers and black-eyed Susans!

A bench in a College Place garden beckons © Diane B. Reed

Another inspirational event coming up this fall is the AAUW kitchen tour on Sunday October 2 from Noon to 5 pm. The tour features 8 unique kitchens, and benefits AAUW scholarships and local educational projects. So now that I've made plans for next year's garden I'm going to start gathering kitchen ideas!

Tickets are available from AAUW members, or can be purchased at Earthlight Books, Bright's Candies and Curves in Walla Walla. You can also visit the Walla Walla Kitchen Tour 2011 on Facebook for details.

Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days

The midway beckons                                                               © Diane B. Reed

The pond’s been quiet this week. The ducks seem a bit lonely without regular visitors. I’m guessing the siren song of the Midway at the WallaWalla County Fair and Frontier Days may have something to do with it, so I decided to spend a few hours at the fair.

The midway is bright and garish as is befitting a good county fair.  Knife hawkers, political hopefuls, and sellers of salvation look for any indication of interest as I wander by. But I’m not buying today, I’m on my way to enjoy the fair entries. The artwork, quilts, whimsical flower arrangements, and antique farm equipment draw me in for a closer look. But my true love beckons me like a siren song and I quicken my step as I make my way to . . .  the chickens. 

Now I didn’t grow up on a farm, I’m a child of the suburbs.  But for some inexplicable reason, every time I go to a fair I always find myself spending quality time with the chickens. I mean, really! Have you ever taken the time to look at them?  I’ve never seen such an assortment of crazy-looking birds of every conceivable color and markings—feathers sticking out every which way.  Clucking, crowing, and generally strutting their stuff.  They’re birds with attitude!  

 Food temptations abound at the Fair  © Diane B. Reed

And then there’s the food!  After I browse the food purveyors I can see why they have ambulances standing by. There is every possible artery-clogging food choice in the world—elephant ears, funnel cakes, breaded French fries, and deep fried just about anything. I decide to start with the elephant ear, my all time favorite. My picnic table companion Betty says she hasn’t eaten all day so she’ll be able to sample all the forbidden foods that the fair offers. I’m so full I decide to wait to buy anything else until I’ve walked around some more.

Cowboys and cowgirls wait for their event © Diane B. Reed

 I venture further into the fairgrounds, visiting the horse barns with their beautifully-groomed horses and the earnest displays of the 4-Hers. Then I watch the kids as they wait in line with their polished cowboy boots, crisp shirts, and cowboy hats waiting for their interviews with the judges. They seem incredibly poised for their ages.  Their parents hover nearby, and you can see their pride. These young people represent the very essence of the fair—the next generation—some destined to be farmers and ranchers, others perhaps winemakers or merchants. There might even be a rodeo cowboy or cowgirl in their midst.  Whatever they become, we can only hope that they will continue the traditions of Walla County and its environs. They make me proud to call this area home.

There's still a few days left of the fair, plenty of time to catch the rodeo and all the other attractions. So put on your cowboy boots and get on over!