Squeezing the Last Out of...

...Well, you know what. *Summer.*

Putting away the harvest,

Making arrangements,

Retiring the classics,

Savoring the Last,

But getting ever more inspired.

--Zucchini Tortellini Simple Salad--  
By Nicole Woodhouse
1 small/half pound package of cheese tortellini, boiled in salted water until al dente, drained and drizzled with olive oil
1 small yellow summer squash, diced (seed if needed)
1 small zucchini squash, diced (seed if needed)
additional shreds of preferred cheeses (optional)
Mix the following dressing and adjust to taste:
Juice from one half fresh lemon, about 3 Tb.
2 Tb. Extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. Fresh parsley, thyme, lemon balm, or similar herbs, trimmed and finely chopped
2 tsp. Fresh basil
Toss and coat well to combine, refrigerate to meld flavors, salt and pepper right before serving to prevent water extraction from the squash.

County Fair

 Clallam County: Population 70,000; 2,600 sq miles. But a Third is water and another large portion is wilderness and national park.

Just one of the cleanest, temperate, cutest little fairs I'm sure!

 Have I ever told you that if I were ever to be reincarnated I'd want to come back as a horse that get's to live around here? There's little farms up the road, so quaint, quiet, and they get some lovely saltwater views... The foliage is abundant. ...At any rate, I might have a couple of future 4-H girls on my hands, we'll shall see.

I'll spare you the pictures of the produce that was exhibited. But it was interesting to us. {Dang, next year, Jake. We could take it by storm.} And Jake grew a HUGE beet, too. Couldn't have been a tastier entry with a purple ribbon on it.

It was so much fun. The pigs were squealing, the roosters crowing, a bull doing what he does best, goats trying to climb, fuzzy bunnies, and curious equines. And then we got a snack.

Real Cherry Vanilla.

from This thing.

We also sat in the grandstand for some of the woodcutting relays.

That's the Rygaard guy from Ax Men getting the Logger of the Year Award (a silver hardhat). You may expect to see a casual Woodhouse cameo appearance in an upcoming episode on the Discovery Channel...

Maybe....

What's the matter with you??! Don't you want to be on TV!!

And lest I forget:

Happy harvest time to all my Idahoans. (And don't gripe I've got a picture of a Ford on here, either.)

And HAPPY FAIR SEASON TO ALL! A blessing and tradition of normalcy in the home of the brave.

{Not done yet; you didn't think I could do a post like this without one pic... like this, did you?}

*TRADITION*

Couldn't Help It

We are out in this REAL summer as much as possible, even if we get a little burned, a little dehydrated, a little sweaty because honestly, we must. Because honestly, if we short-change a sticky summer or the season short-changes us, the rest of the year especially dark and chill. Damp. Perish the thought. Baked seat belts and roasted park slides here we come.

 They've been in complete wordrobe, eating their picnic pulls from the garden... in the Castle Tower.

They've cultured themselves in Plein Air Studies.

They come in only to watch musicals-- when it is time to take a break from each other's *possibly* Royal Attitudes. (Although I get the brunt when they perfectly quote, "We love you, Miss Hannigan!"...humfp.)

...They've reached that point-- very much time to go camping with Dad!  Sleeping pads, slippers, prep via bubble bath, gourmet popcorn and a giant extension cord running from the house so they could hang out on the computer before bed. I hear it also doubled as a night light...

Couldn't Help It. (But good for them, they stayed out ALL NIGHT!)

Good Girls. What's next, ladies?

***Thanks for voting, Lucy looks like a strong choice, we both like it!***

Kalaloch in Kind

We decided to go to the ocean. On a lovely, sunny Thursday. It coincided with a bit of personal business for Jake in Forks and that translated into an opportunity for us all.

Actually, we almost couldn't decide between the Ocean and a beachy invitation we received to Crescent Lake. Though fantastic, too...

But I say to Jake hours before we leave to either somewhere, "Jake, we only go to the ocean in the middle of winter, in the middle of the night, to dig clams (whaa, whaa, I know). So let's show the girls it is nice in the summer. And the daytime. And when it isn't stormy. And when we don't have to lug a lantern and wear scarves."

Off we went.

Kalaloch was named by the Quinault tribe: "Land of Plenty."
We arrived at lowest tide and the girls were watchful of the one inch waves. (It isn't good for digging clams, they know.)

...Then we ventured a few jumps in the puddles between foamy licks of water. That was fun.

And then we enjoyed the sunshine, sand warmed splashes, and nakedness from the knees down.

And then the rest of the story goes as follows: it was like we reacquainted the young locals-that-live-with-us with their territory. And they were free.

It got a little majestic. Spiritual. Enlivening.

And I felt it. Plenty.

The girls marched in with an Anchoring Escort.

And then thirsted for more (helps if you're three). Deeper, foamier, more enveloping. True summer moments of its kind.

School? For the first time, starts in about three weeks. And the arrival of a new woman to love in six.
This is Us.

Time to Vote, People: