"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." A.Holmes

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Spot on Harvest Fest

~~~I am just now getting around to writing about our local Harvest fest. This is the first time I participated in this local event , not for lack of interest, but for lack of energy. It usually occurs very shortly after my 5 day stint at the Puyallup Fair. A time when I am out of energy and needing to get a lot done at home. This year I was determined to be there no matter what...and I was. ~~~The Harvest Fest at Lacamas, here in Roy, Washington , is a low key event with many local residents bringing their farm products to sell and exhibit for a whole day of farm tours , to farms all around this area. Lacamas is also a great stop on the farm tours to get a good breakfast or lunch . We set up our exhibits and wares in the Lacamas Valley Community Center. I was particularly interested in creations or products made by people who actually grew or raised their own product, or craftsmen who created things from the bounty nature offered them. I am spotlighting 2 people who I felt fit the bill......no pun intended ! ~~~Here is a carved walking stick( below). A duck with an impressive bill. This walking stick was carved and painted by Chuck Farmer. Chuck had quite a few walking sticks.~~~Here is Chuck with his wife Karen.(below) Chuck said he thinks about just what illustration is best for each walking stick. He burns his designs or illustrations in and crafts the walking stick according to what the shape suggests to him. Chuck had a few Bighorn Sheep sticks, and we have commissioned a Jacob Ram Walking stick for my Hubby. Can't wait! ~~~This is Barbara Hulscher. She and her husband Jerry are new to the area. ( their residence is ) I would note the progress of their home as I would drive into town a few years ago.One day a pasture, the next a home. Seemed like the new home was up and producing beautiful and fragrant rows of lavender in no time. I have purchased lavender from them, and to step into her shed of hanging bouquets of lavender is heavenly. I was able to find the varieties of white lavender I had been seeking...right there, close to home. Amazing here in Roy. You should check out Mountain Meadow Lavender. barbara@mountainmeadowlavender.com
~~~Some products from her lavender.~~~
~~~More lavender bounty.~~~
~~~"Although used primarily for scent in potpourris, wreaths, and lotions, lavender can also flavor the desserts and vinegars of adventurous cooks." HERBS by Emilie Tolley and Chris Mead
~~~I have made lavender shortbread. I will make it again and cut the amount of lavender by at least half. I like the taste of lavender to be subtle, otherwise it is like eating perfume. And shortbread is meant to be sealed up a day or two before eating. The lavender shortbread I made was lovely to look at, tasted good the first bite, then the overpowering taste of lavender dominated my mouth. I like lavender a lot, but not that much. ~~~All in all, the Harvest Fest was a time to get to know some of the people in my community. To see what my neighbors create, how they display their wares and visit with them. I am glad I went, I'll be back next year. ~~~One sweet lady was selling a table of jams and jellies she makes from all sorts of woodland and native plants and berries and fruit. She had Indian Plum Jam, Oregon Grape Jam, Huckleberry Jam, Queen Annes' Lace Jelly...and so on. I was impressed by her clear and colorful jams and jellies. I took pictures of her and her jars of nectar. Then I asked for her name and permission to post it on my blog. " What's a blog ?" she asked. Mind you, she was not an old lady....I told her about my blog. She was horrified. "Oh NO ! My husband would not like that, he does not want us on the computer, we're not sure about that." So, I deleted her pictures from my digital camera and alas, she is not posted. You would have been interested ( or not ) in what she has made. I was. Maybe next year...

10 comments:

Connie said...

What a fun event! It must have been nice to see all that everyone had created and brought. I love the personalized walking sticks--such a neat idea. It is always interesting to me to see what people can make from what they have available around them in nature.

Paula said...

Oh WOW... I love going to things like that!!! You never know what you'll see... and you always meet really nice people.
Wish I could have went with you to that one, Kathy- looks like they had some wonderful stuff!!

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to see the Jacob sheep walking stick!! That sounds neat and Dad could use it! Although he might become a Cedarpond mascott if he's caught walking around the fairs etc... with his Jacob sheep cane. Like the old guy and his spider watch ... we all came to know him by his watch.
Oh ~ did they have the fire going in the fireplace at Lacamas for the harvest fest? If not, they should.
~ Autumn

Pamela said...

Oh what fun! Any chance on sharing the lavendar shortbreads? They sound so fantastic.

Sandy said...

Thank you for stopping by. I love community gatherings such as yours. Ours used to be small and quaint but it has grown into a huge event that people travel far and wide to attend. It is so crowded that we have skipped it the past few years. I love the locally made products you featured. My husband has a collection of unique walking sticks and I am a huge lavender fan. I will check out her web site. Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

What a great event. I love lavendar too but you have to be very careful with the amount used.

Flower said...

Hearing about your festival is great!! There are so many talented people out there who do make things from what they grow and find. It is inspiring!! Love the walking sticks and lavender!!
The jam and jelly lady is missing something...but she may never know or understand what it is. Queen Ann's Lace jelly would have been fun to see!! Did you buy anything from her to attest to it's flavor? I've heard that Oregon Grape can be made into Jelly...Hmmm..shall we try?

LindaSue said...

what a wonderful day through your eyes! well your eyes and nose - love the lavendar lady- about cooking with it - a restaurant here makes the most incredible creme brulee - steeps a little dried lavendar in the cream before mixing it all in to make the creme brulee - yummy! So funny about the lady who doesn't want to be on the computer - I had a visual of her trying to perch on top of a Dell minitower with her husband saying "get down from ther e- you know we don't get on computers". enough - off to bed - glad you visited me recently (blogwise) your comments touch my heartstrings about many things

KathyB. said...

Daisy, Autumn, and Miss Sandy, when we get our walking stick I will post photographs. The gentleman who creates the walking sticks seeks what he considers the right illustration or carving for the piece of wood he chooses.

farm chick Paula ,you're right, I do meet really nice people. Often they become friends, friends I visit with at other community events.

Pamela , I will share the shortbread recipe this week, and

Noble Pig, Boy oh boy, yes ! I love shortbread. But I added the amount of lavender the recipe called for and my shortbread tasted like perfume. Such a waste of shortbread.....I am going to make some this week and cut the amount seriously . I hope this will meet my taste expectations.

Flower, I was very interested in her jellies made from woodland flowers and berries. She said she makes a tea from the Queen Anne's Lace and then makes the jelly from that...no, I didn't buy any but wish I had.It was pretty jelly. I also would like to make jam from Oregon Grape, I have an abundance of Oregon Grape and have thought about it for years...maybe next year.

Linda Sue, you make me laugh ! I have other pictures running through my mind when I think about her phrase, but I did understand what she meant and am sorry to say I too have on occasion been a little 'scairt' of the computer.I was surprised by the look on her face when I explained why I was taking the pictures and about blogs.

Anonymous,yes, I can see my Hubby, Jacob Sheep shirt, Jacob sheep walking stick...I think he needs a Jacob Sheep on a leash ! Your poor Dad, he puts up with so much because he loves me !

KathyB. said...

Daisy, Autumn, and Miss Sandy, when we get our walking stick I will post photographs. The gentleman who creates the walking sticks seeks what he considers the right illustration or carving for the piece of wood he chooses.

farm chick Paula ,you're right, I do meet really nice people. Often they become friends, friends I visit with at other community events.

Pamela , I will share the shortbread recipe this week, and

Noble Pig, Boy oh boy, yes ! I love shortbread. But I added the amount of lavender the recipe called for and my shortbread tasted like perfume. Such a waste of shortbread.....I am going to make some this week and cut the amount seriously . I hope this will meet my taste expectations.

Flower, I was very interested in her jellies made from woodland flowers and berries. She said she makes a tea from the Queen Anne's Lace and then makes the jelly from that...no, I didn't buy any but wish I had.It was pretty jelly. I also would like to make jam from Oregon Grape, I have an abundance of Oregon Grape and have thought about it for years...maybe next year.

Linda Sue, you make me laugh ! I have other pictures running through my mind when I think about her phrase, but I did understand what she meant and am sorry to say I too have on occasion been a little 'scairt' of the computer.I was surprised by the look on her face when I explained why I was taking the pictures and about blogs.

Anonymous,yes, I can see my Hubby, Jacob Sheep shirt, Jacob sheep walking stick...I think he needs a Jacob Sheep on a leash ! Your poor Dad, he puts up with so much because he loves me !