A thick layer of grey rainy clouds have covered the Portland Metro area for days. This morning, the clouds disappeared and it was like a wholenuther world out there. People were outside riding bikes, walking, running and gardening!
As I am getting ready to flip this blog over to July (!), it is a good time to take a day-off and just share photos of pretty things from my walk today (between futbolmatches).



but the flower grows on a thin bare stem up to a foot tall.

the Oregon Grape. Lewis & Clark gathered this species on their trip through the Pacific Northwest.


We just love the fuzzy leaves.
With the warm weather, I was happy to use the crockpot today instead of the stove or oven. I put soaked cannellini beans, celery, onion and Italian-style chicken sausage in the slow cooker this morning and covered it with a quart of home-made chicken stock.

Until my next update, I remain, your full-of-beans correspondent.