This week was perfection. Leah and the 3 grandsons were here and we went exploring. One of our stops was here at Palouse Falls, an incredible geographic wonder.
Palouse Falls is located about 40 minutes from my town of Dayton, WA. It is one of the remnants of the Great Missoula Floods of prehistoric time. The Palouse River cascades off a 198 foot cliff into a catch basin below before continuing its journey to meet the Snake River. The water is muddy brown right now from recent heavy rain storms and it rumbles over the basalt cliffs in a continuous thundering boom. Mist rises from the pool below and when the sun peeks through the clouds a rainbow arches from one side of the pool to the other.
Basalt cliffs surround this water fall and scurrying among the rocks and crevices are families of groundhogs. They pop up and down the rock faces and have no fear of people. Most likely they are fed too often from picnic baskets and have become accustomed to hikers and sightseers. Their fur is ragged this time of year as the days are getting warmer and they shed their heavy coats for something more in the spring fashion line. They make a high pitched chirp and I wasn’t sure if it was a warning or a demand for food but I wasn’t scared of their rebel yells and I had no food to share. I was a huge disappointment I am sure.
After leaving Palouse Falls we headed to the Little Goose Dam on the Snake River. This is just up river from Lion’s Ferry and the insanely narrow bridge that crosses the river, but I am saving that for another day. We arrived at the dam just in time to see one of the Tidewater Tugs pull into the locks that are located at Little Goose.
The locks carry boat traffic up and down the levels of the river where once mighty rapids roared through. It’s an incredible work of man, mind, and machines.
Back home at the Blue Cape Cod it’s all about what to eat and drink. This week we made pots of homemade vegetable soup and beans, opened old bottles of red wine, and enjoyed breakfasts of warm, toasty pop-overs and waffles. If you have never had a pop-over you really need to try one!! They are the ‘last meal’ I would request if I were on death row. And I would die happily licking the butter from my lips as they pulled the switch.
Jerry is the pop-over king and when we have visitors it is the one request that is always made by our guests and family members. You need a good cast iron muffin pan to create the crunchy brown edges and the pan has to be preheated so that the batter begins to cook the moment it is poured into each cup. I love them hot from the oven with butter and real Maple syrup but honey is good too or even just on their own they are an eggie, yummy delight. Of course waffles are pretty heavenly too . . . butter and syrup, how can that be bad??
The kids left this morning. I spent this day putting away toys and bedding and missing them like crazy. I love the peacefulness of my home but they can come shatter that peacefulness any time they want. They are part of the yummy things in this life. I can’t wait until they come back again.
A Blue Cape Cod 