It's been another busy week at casa Hess. I've barely any time to go for walks these days and it has actually been way too warm to do much walking to begin with (103-105F!!), but I managed to pay the cemetery down the road another visit.
It's just such a pretty, and very peaceful (ha), place to be and nice and shady as well. Just look at that gorgeous and enormous tree up above.
That's Oregon for you, trees, trees and more trees!

                                                                                  

                                                                                                                                                     
I spotted this (male) quail in one of them, this is most likely the look-out scout, but I couldn't find the rest of them ...

Like I said, we've been very busy this week. Still getting ready for 'the move' ..
James has been working on getting the electric ready:

                                                 

Since the  initial work has been inspected and approved, the trenches could, partially, be filled in again:

           

Pipes have also been laid for electric, water, internet, cable and sewer ..

  

A utility station has been set up and anchored in concrete:

             


                                         

                    

A separate meter has been installed in the barn:

           

We're now ready for the final inspection, after which we can connect everything and cover all trenches. After that ... we can finally move!
We're hoping for an inspection on Monday and if everything goes well, we'll probably move that afternoon. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Dan, our landlord, keeps us flush with all kinds of produce, especially zucchini, tomatoes  and cucumbers.

             

Perfect for some Gazpacho, especially with this hot weather we're having!!

                                   

It's so scorching hot at the moment that the blackberries are starting to burn.
They're shriveling up before they get a chance to ripen so we're picking any that look even remotely ready ..

Together with some of the fallen apples (Gravensteins) in the orchard which I'm free to pick up and use as I please, I made this delicious apple-blackberry pie:

                                                            

I pre-baked the crust this time, which made for a better bottom-crust, not as soggy as it often comes out when you use soft/wet fruit. Success!

So, hopefully next blog will come to you from our 'new' location. After a 3 month wait I'd say it's about time!