In February we travelled to Europe for a ski trip, taking our friends Maureen and Dennis. We visited some of our favorite cross-country skiing venues - Dobiacco, Italy, and Ramsau and Seeefeld, Austria.
We got lots of skiing as it was a big snow year; a little too big. One day in Ramsau was so stormy the trail groomers didn't get out, and we were stuck in town until we could get tire chains to safely get off the mountain. Italy was as charming as ever, and we got a chance to visit the resort center of Cortina d'Ampezzo as well. Plenty of great food along the way, and we finished with several days in Munich.
Springtime found us busy back at the garden of the Oregon Food Bank. A three acre garden is used for produce to add to food boxes. Spring is all about planting, starting transplants, and soil prep for summer crops. Also, Ellen continued with her knitting group for girls and the 10,000 books project, The books project, begun by a school librarian at a local school, aims to give 10 free books to every child in the school. At the end of the school year, a book fair is held and the kids pick out books to take home.
In June we joined a river cruise trip in Ukraine. Viking River Cruises led a trip from Kiev, down the Dnieper river and into the Black Sea to the Russian resorts of Odessa and Yalta. Along the way we learned about Cossacks, the spread of Russian culture, the Criamean War, the extent of WWII and the effect on the Ukrainians as they fought the Nazis on home soil. We also visited the Russian naval port of Sevastopal, still home of the Russian fleet (in sovereign Ukraine). The Black Sea ports were beautiful and it's easy to see why it's been the favorite of Russian royalty, oligarchs, and health practitioners alike.
A long warm summer made gardens at both home and the food bank very productive. One of the driest summers on record, we had great quantities of beans, peas, corn and squash. At home, the tomatoes were better than ever and the patio took on jungle proportions.
In August we struck out the the wilds of Montana, visiting friends Les and Janet in Red Lodge, on the edge of Yellowstone Park. We had a fabulous time hiking the high passes, visiting local gardens, eating and drinking local, and sharing stories.
Fall brought us back into the gardens, and Ellen's glass kiln was getting a workout. She's been making more garden art, including bird feeder covers and birdbaths, and she donated some pieces to the fundraising auction for the Food Bank. Out at the garden, we raised a record 10,000 pounds of produce for the season. A great result for the great season.
As the year winds down, we're preparing for a trip to Vietnam, travelling the length of the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment