The darkness came to us on a rainy night in November 2021 and it was cute. Demonetta was a foundling kitten that someone picked up behind the local Grocery Outlet. They couldn’t keep her, and we had been thinking about adding a third cat to the mix. She was a little older than we normally
Our Journal

Cottage Garden – A Beginning
February 1, 2023
By Marcus
We had a space on the west side of the house that, when we moved in was a large blueberry garden. Neither of us like blueberries, even though it’s a staple in this part of Oregon. It remained relatively untended for the first few years we lived here. The beautiful wisteria just to the north

Where have we been?
January 29, 2023
By Marcus
Where did we go? Well…. Nowhere – but of course, time gets in the way. Our last post was in June 2021, a lot has happened. Some good and some bad depending on how you look at it. Today is just a catch-up from the 18 months! We left off with the High Tunnel post.

High Tunnel
June 24, 2021
By Marcus
Youtube is a wonderful thing. It helps with ideas and if you find someone reliable and who knows their subject matter – a great way to learn and troubleshoot problems. Last summer we had watched a few videos with high tunnel gardens. The principal advantage is you can extend your growing season beyond the last-first

Barn Quilt
June 3, 2021
By Marcus
Several years ago we noticed while traveling along the northern Oregon coast quite a few barn quilts. These were most prevalent near Tillamook and there is a formal organization there that represents the resurgence of barn quilts – Tillamook County Quilt Trail. Quilt trails are found in many eastern states but are starting to move

Garlic Scape Pesto
May 30, 2021
By Marcus
We discovered garlic scapes last year after coming across them at the farmer’s market in Corvallis. A scape is the top of a hardneck variety garlic blub. This variety of garlic is grown in colder climates and differs from the usual softneck varieties you get from the supermarket. hardneck garlic is characterized by bulb cloves

Stanley & Bridgett – Working Equitation
May 3, 2021
By Marcus
I have to brag on Bridgett and Stanley a bit. Recently Bridgett moved up a class in Working Equitation. She and Stanley have steadily been improving in the Introductory class for the last couple of years, but she and Stan have gotten a bit bored. Her good friend and boarding facility manager felt it was

Spring Trail Rides
April 29, 2021
I had the fun opportunity to take a horseback ride on Stanley after work on a Friday with my friends Julie Alonzo and her sister Karin Hansen to Mount Pisgah. I’ve been to the Arboretum before and was introduced to one of the hiking trails soon after we moved here; no way could I make it half up