Ghosts of Paris

I just came across the most interesting website called How to be a Retronaut.
Here is just one example of some of the kinds of things you can find here:

The Ghosts of Paris

Wildfire

There is a huge fire in the Mt. Hood area east of Portland. We began to notice the smoke in the air this morning. As the East wind became stronger as the day went on, we noticed ash falling and the strong smell of smoke. This afternoon, it has become really strong.  I have shut all the windows, but it is still strong. It is going to be really hot (up to 95℉) for the rest of the week. We have had such a lovely cool Summer, but I'm thinking the weather gods are getting their revenge. We won't get any relief until the ocean breezes come back. With most people in Portland without AC, we're in for a bit of suffering.
We've had an unusually dry summer. Not a drop last month and well below average all summer.

Mt Hood through the smoke

Mt. Hood through the smoke of the Dollar Lake fire

September

Break out the Champagne and Caviar - It's September!

(Sorry I've lost the source of this picture, but it's too beautiful not to post)

Only a few more weeks and it will be, officially, Autumn. I've never liked summer or heat. I always look forward to Autumn every year. It is so beautiful here in the Northwest. The trees wear their most lush colors and the amazing varieties of fruit are ripe. The air is crisp, but with warm sun still shinning. As the season rolls on, the rains begin to replenish the many rivers and lakes. Snow on the mountains begins so that the skiers from all parts of the world congregate for some of the best skiing anywhere. It is the best time of the year.

Birthday Party

Sunday, my daughter and I were invited to a birthday party for our friend, Rachel. The party was at their farm in Aurora, Oregon. There was lovely food - grown locally and on their farm. Each guest was given a lovely bouquet of garden flowers and a basket of their produce.
Lovely afternoon.

Hard to beat Northwest cherries

Late Apricots

Early Apples

Sweet Peaches

Cukes

My favorite plums - Italian Prune Plums  (pared with the Rosemary, sautéed in butter)

Rosemary and wine (thinking I need to pick up some lamb)

How to receive more comments

One of my favorite bloggers, Marty at A Stroll Thru Life, posted this, and I wanted to pass along to all who might not have read it.

You may be missing out on receiving comments and don't even know it.  There are a lot of blogs that are self hosted and if you don't have the right comment form for your blog, then they can't leave a comment.

I received an email from a blogger - My 1929 Charmer - telling me she had linked to my party and wanted to leave a comment, but couldn't.  It seems that if you don't have the form that allows someone to click "name/url" that several different kinds of hosted blogs are unable to comment on your posts.

This is the form you need for everyone to be able to leave a comment.

It's really easy to change your setting so this is the form that comes up.

1. click on Settings

2. click on comments

3. scroll down and click on Full Page

That's all there is to it.  Also if you still have word verification, please turn it off.  It isn't necessary since blogger has installed up to date spam detection and you are loosing tons of comments because people won't take the extra time it takes to go through this step.  Also, some boxes pop up so slow after you leave a comment that you don't even know you are suppossed to do a work verification.

Two really simple fixes so you can receive all of the comments that fellow bloggers wish to leave you.

Thanks Marty, you're a STAR!