An Adventure and Back-Alley Fish!

Hullo! Today we are doing a little hike to check out another potential swimming hole on Haslam Creek. If you'll recall from a few weeks ago, the one spot we have been to on the creek was a definite "NO" from Rose... but this spot looks like it has more "civilized" access...

First... we hike this stretch of logging road behind a locked gate.

There are lots of pretty flowers out.. These are pearly everlasting and we picked some.

This is tansy... don't let your cows eat this...

And some pretty bracken fern!

The Scotch Broom is in full seed pod mode. One plant makes soooooo many seeds!

There's some fireweed... so pretty and if you have a fireweed meadow... you would get amazing fireweed honey from bees!

Finally (well, 15 minutes later)... we reached a locked gate across a bridge. We are going to deke to the left here...

Although we had a peek over the bridge... hmmm... the water is beary low...

On both sides... there might not be much swimming options here at this time of year.

But let's check it out. Rose and I had seen folks with coolers coming from this area soooo... where there are coolers... there must be water! Or so the logic goes.

Scramble over this berm...

Follow the trail through the woods...

Almost there!!!

And here we are!! There's the bridge... the water is nice and cool... but it's certainly not super deep.

But it's a pretty spot.

Maybe it would be better earlier in the year when the water is higher... we'd have to check.

And then... back home... we are cooking up some dinner that we got in a back-alley... well... back-RV deal! Friends of ours were driving across Canada and unloaded some frozen fish onto us... but not just any fish!

Frozen halibut!!! Mmmm.....

It's not salmon but this little bear isn't choosy...

And some potato wedgies...

And cucumber salad with fresh dill from the garden...

While the fish cooked we hung up our pearly everlasting to dry...

They make beary nice dried flowers...

mmmm... it's ready!!!!

Can you smell it???

Dinner's served!!!

And no, there weren't any leftovers... although... other friends of ours brought over some more frozen halibut... it's good to have people with fishy connections, you know!

A Flying Visit...

Hullo!! We are going on a trip!!! I know.... so exciting... not sure where we're going yet, but we are going. 

"And look, Sandy, there's even a salmon sandwich in here!" Really?? Well... it must be true cause mice have excellent noses! Yum... I'm sure Mama won't mind if I eat her sandwich...

Alright folks... see you in a bit!

***burp*** Oops... sorry, didn't realize we were live again! That sandwich was super yummy! Now we're just waiting for our flight... Mama looks a bit peeved but... hey... you don't keep us stuffies happy and you have noooooo idea of what could happen. Although Cocoa is looking slightly peeved too that there was no cheese in... hang on...

"I smells something.... in this little suitcase... something..."

"Yes... something cheesy... in here!!"

The nose always knows you know!

And we're here!! The flights were packed and there was no way we were coming out to have a look around..

And we're visiting Gramma!!!!

Whew... we're both exhaustipated (as Beanie would say)... time for a nap maybe?

"Nope... time to track down the cheese!!"

And here it is!! A huge (ginormous) block of Jarlsberg cheese... oh yummmmmm!!!!!

Mama brought two blocks up... one for Gramma and one for meeeee!!!!

Oh... and look what's hanging around in the fridge!

"oooohhhhh Saaannnndddyyyy!! Come check this out! There's something special in the fridge...."

Oooh... could it be??

It is!!! It's salmon... oh yum!!!!

Who has the best Gramma ever??? We do!

And she's patching up a pair of mitts for Mama...

And making some pot holders...

And this mystery project is apparently stuffie related!

Maybe mitts for stuffies??? We'll have to wait and see.

Anyhow... time to cook the salmon... yum!!

First... cut it in half and ditch the tail bit (that goes into soup)...

And then one side gets mayo and mustard and the other side is just seasoned.

"Yes but... where does the cheese go??? We can't have salmon without cheese!?"

Er... well... honestly... fish and cheese really don't go well together - fish is a delicate flavour and cheese can be a bit too strong...

"That's an old stuffie's tale!!! Cheese and fish have a long and happy relationship! Look at this link! If the Smithsonian says cheese and fish go together... then they go together! Hmph... What do you think readers???"