DH Goes Fishing

Some days our dreams come true, and other days, they don't.

It is especially true when DH goes fishing.

Some days he just dreams, and other days, he catches fish.

Some days he has hat hair.

Recently he took his pontoon boat and floated down the Teton River with his pals.
They had to put in at the top of the River and float for 8 to 9 hours to the place where they could get out.

They dawdled in some places when they found a good hole and there were fish hiding in the hole.
They dropped the worms on the hooks and teased those poor fish, without a thought of the result.
I am sure they didn't mean to catch them with those sharp poky hooks.
It was just an accident.

But, I am certainly glad it happened that way.

Boy have we had good eating!

Zoey wanted in on the action, as well, but we weren't about to share.

Zoey thought if she called in reinforcements it would be better chances for them to get some fish for dinner, too.

Wrong!
Thanks DH. 
When are you going again?

Love, Me

Prolific Garden

My garden has brought me so much joy and work this year.

The banana squash has pushed through the fence and now rests in our yard.

And then there are the tomatoes.

They just keep coming and coming and getting ripe.
So I have bottled pizza sauce, salsa, stewed tomatoes and chili sauce.

I am not complaining.  In fact, it couldn't be more the opposite.
My dreams have been coming true every day for weeks and weeks.

I have pulled onions, radishes, beets and carrots.
I have pulled a few weeds, as well.  I don't care.  It gives my joy.

I have cut chard, spinach, and beet greens.

I am telling you, I am so happy.
This kind of work is pure fun!

 We have enjoyed fresh dill, basil, thyme, oregano and rosemary.

We have put the fresh dill in some of the fish we have grilled.
And we have used lots of it in the pickles we made from the cucumbers.

I love fresh herbs!!!

I am going to let you in on a big secret.  It is just between us though, okay?

Plant Marigolds!

Marigolds keep the bugs away.

I have not had a single worm in my tomatoes or a bite in a single leaf in my whole garden.  It is because the marigolds do the organic thing and keep all the bugs away.

For the first time in my life I am growing strawberries.  It is fun to see the blossom turn into a tiny little green hard berry, and watch it grow into a big bright red berry.

Then the berries find themselves on my cereal, in a smoothie, in jam, on ice cream, or, just picked and chewed up and swallowed!

Yep, I am in love with my garden.

Don't tell DH.

ps.  Again, I have no time to edit phots.  You get SOOC (straight out of camera shots).  Hope you don't mind, and can feel the love anyway!

Heavy Fall Leaves

I love crafting most anything.
I love learning new crafts to craft.
And recently I learned a new one.

I learned how to make really heavy leaves.

Mother nature just blows me away with the leisurely way she creates leaves, colors leaves, shapes leaves, and places leaves.

Have you ever tried to make a leaf?

Well, I am going to tell you that it can be done.

You just need to have a friend named JoyLynn.
Your friend named JoyLynn needs to have a sister Diane.
Your friend JoyLynn with the sister Diane needs to have Diane come to your town.

It is that easy.

Then you get JoyLynn, Diane, Connie and yourself and you go shopping. 
You shop in The Home Depot, just like the man in your life does.
You get a big cart, the big flat cart, and you take turns maneuvering it through the store.
Try to pick up the displays you knock over with the big flat cart.

Then you buy stuff.



You buy some concrete, sand, a wheel barrow, shovel, water, rubber gloves, face mask, spatula, some talent, a big table, a room where it can be left for days and days, plastic, circulation, and some patience.  Then you need some paint, like acrylic paint, and some sealant.  And, I probably forgot something to tell you, but that will get you started.

When you get home, you find the closest testosterone filled male species to help you unload the car.
You tell said male species to quit asking so many questions.

Oh, I forgot to tell you to get some real leaves. The kind with different shapes and sizes and texture.

You pick leaves you like from your yard, your neighbors yard, and a yard that you like but don't know the people who live there, so you don't ask them.
I happen to love a rhubarb leaf.  I happen to think the bigger the better.  But that is just me.

Disclaimer:  The previous photos are not edited.  They are straight out of the camera, on a cloudy day.

Yes, the leaves are heavy.  They are made out of CONCRETE.
And they are gorgeous in real life, and in the sunshine, and in person, and fresh.

Crazy Canning

I am out of control.  Someone get me some help. Call the Canning Control Hot line for me, okay.

It is this garden of ours, and the harvest, and autumn, and free corn from my niece, Ashley, and her cute baby Tenley (who I tended on Saturday for 6 hours and I fell completely in love with!) and having empty canning jars in the basement that need to be filled, and Anaheim peppers, and ............

You see, I am out of control.

I can't help myself.

It must be in my genes..... let's blame my Great Grandma Johnson, and her daughter, my Grandma Walters.  And then there is my mom, and now me....  Yep, it is in our genes and then it is in my jeans.

I know I am rambling.  It is a disease of canning that makes me do this.

*Deep breathe*  let it out slowly * repeat* as many times as necessary.

Saturday DH and I went and picked corn with my niece, Ashley.

It is a huge field, and we had about 4 clothes baskets filled with corn on the cob in about 16 minutes.'

Then we hugged our Ashley and thanked her for sharing the corn.

We hurried home, and realized we were out of control.  We had way too much corn.

But we have wonderful neighbors, who are willing to pitch in and help.  And we are wonderful neighbors to live by, because we say things like, "If you help us husk the corn and cut the kernels off the cobs.....then the corn becomes your problem.  You have to can it.  Thanks for hanging out with us while we husk our corn and cut the kernels off the cobs".

Our neighbors were thrilled!  They didn't have to go and get the corn, and the mess was at our place, so they knew they made out like bandits!

Now, I was busy working that day, and the camera didn't want to get slimmed by corn juice, so just imagine me, DH, Connie and Norman working so hard and cutting the corn off the cobs.  While you are imagining this, imagine Norman sharpening his knives on DH's knife sharpener.  Then you can imagine what Norman did to his finger when he was cutting the corn kernels off the cob. He left the party to play doctor to his finger.  But it didn't take us long to have all the kernels cut off the cobs.

With 4 of us working it went very quickly.

I was in the kitchen preparing before I knew it.

I was chopping onions and stuff.

My life won't be complete unless I share the recipe with you.

So, here goes.

Corn Relish

 16 to 20 fresh ears corn (8 cups)
2 cups water

1 1/2 cups dice celery (6 stalks)

1 1/2 cups dice red bell peppers (2 medium)

1 1/2 cups dice greed bell peppers (2 medium)

1 cup dice onion (1 large)

3 cups white vinegar
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 t. dry mustard
2 t. kosher salt
2 t. celery seed
1 t. ground turmeric

You will want to "dice" the veggies to be about the size of a large kernel of corn so that each bit will have all of the ingredients.

Measure 8 cups. In the 8-10 quart stainless steel pot combine corn, celery, sweet peppers, and onion. Stir in vinegar, sugar, mustard, kosher salt, celery seed, and turmeric. Bring to boiling, stirring until sugar dissolves, reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.


Note: The original recipe calls for cornstarch and water (3 Tablespoons each) to add as a thickener.

Remove from heat. Ladle hot relish into hot, sterilized pint canning jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Wipe jar rims; adjust lids. Process for 15 minutes in the water bath, starting timing once the water has come to a rolling boil. Makes 5 pints.

So, I cut up all the onions, celery, peppers and put them in a bowl.

I added all the spices to the bowl.

In a sauce pan I measured out the corn, and added the veggies and seasonings.

I the corner of my kitchen I was sterilizing the bottles.  I do this in an electric fry pan.  It makes my life easier.  It frees up all the burners on the stove top.  I place a dish cloth in the bottom of the fry pan to help protect the tops of the bottles so they won't get chipped.  I add the flat lids in there, too, so they are sterile and ready when I need them.  Did I ever tell you I add a little bit of vinegar to this as well.  It keeps the jars and lids clean and sparkling.

The big pot on the left is the "water bath", only it is a steam bath.  That is processing the bottled corn.  I have one batch going and I am filling bottles for another batch.

The steam coming out of the little hole on the front lets you know it is working.  It is faster and not as messy as the water bath method where all the bottles are submerged in boiling water.

The bottles need to be sterilized about 5 minutes.

Then I put them on a small cookie sheet next to the cooked corn mixture and fill the bottles, leaving 1/2 inch head space.

Wipe off the rim of the bottles before you add the flat lid.  If food or something is on the rim, it may interfere with the sealing of the jar.

When all the jars are filled, then put them in a water bath for the amount of time needed for your altitude.

I set the hot jars on a folded dish towel on my counter.  Then I wait.  Before long I hear the popping of the lids as the jars seal.  That is my favorite sound when I am canning.

I always write what is in the jars on a label or on the lid.
I always date the jars or the lid.
Corn Relish  9/11
It makes my life much easier than trying to remember.

I hope you will try to make some Corn Relish.  It is easy and tastes so good.
We eat it on fried eggs, tortilla chips, hot dogs, and pork roasts.
It works just like a salsa for a dip.

Mix it  with cream cheese and serve with crackers and you will eat the whole thing.

I hope you get to do some Corn Relish soon.

At the end of the day I had filled 41 bottles of Corn Relish.  So, we are set for the winter.

Love,
Me

Recent ATV Mishap

A group of us went on an ATV trip a few days ago.
We have formed a gang.
No, we don't wear gang related clothing or flash the signs.
What we do is "gang" up on unsuspecting mountain terrain.

And to try out our new Polaris ATVs.
Yep, we all got new ones.
We have to keep up with someone, just who, I am not sure.

Really, we needed ATVs that were softer on our mature frames.
Bigger for our added weight.
More powerful to pull us up steep hills.

Kenny and JoyLynn, and Connie are living proof.

We went to a place called Eight Mile.

Only it wasn't Eight Miles.  It was 35 miles!
Some was easy, and some was sheer terror!

Sharma, Bob's wife can attest to the terror.
She thought Kenny was going to drive off a cliff.

We all look out for each other.
We have too.
Between the 4 couples we have 2 complete brains.
(Don't tell them I said that)
We cover each others backs.

Yep, Bob and Sharma are covering each others backs.
It isn't a Mexican Standoff, I promise.

We have to cover each others backs, in case something drastic should happen to one of us.

Like this.

The last thing in the world you want to happen to one of us, when you are 35 miles from someplace that is civilized.  And very far from your vehicles!

This flat tire belongs to Kenny and JoyLynn.
They had taken a joy ride earlier in the day.

I think this is payback for making that little jaunt without the rest of us!

However, Kenny came prepared.
He had a can of  "Flat Fixit".

Yeah, somebody actually makes this stuff, and all of us bought it!

He shook up the can..... shook it up hard..... just to show off his forearms for us girls.
Bob think he is just showing off!

Then, Kenny actually put that stuff in the tire.

All of us could write the company with our testimonies of this product.
It actually works.
It really does!

He wondered where our Faith was ......  didn't we believe everything he says?

Well....

I am not going to answer that.... I have to live by this guy.

But Connie had an answer....

Sometimes she really surprises me.
She just says it like it is.
I love that gal!!

When the tire was repaired we crossed our fingers, bowed to the East, said a prayer and gave up our doughnuts for the tire gods, and hoped it was fixed enough to get us off this mountain.

With this bunch of testosterone leading us women off this mountain I am sure we are in good hands.
Why would I be worried?
I think guys like this would be trust worthy.

Why are you laughing?

They are grown up, mature, strong, capable men.
And I love each one of them!
In a different way..........
Like a neighborly way............

You know what I mean.

I better quit while I am ahead.

Thanks for the help Bob....

THE END!

Love, Me

I Love Some Bugs and DH

We went on a 35 mile 4 wheel trip last weekend.  Yes, it was long, and I loved it.
I am working on a blog about it, and the people we were with.

In the meantime, I must share a few photos with you.

The photos were taken when I stopped to "smell the roses".

I wish I had see through wings, don't you?
I could be an angel with those wings.

Busy little bees aren't they?

Maybe I would rather be a ladybug.  They seem to be more likable than a bee.

Can you find the ladybug?

It is like "Where is Waldo?"

I think I would rather be "The apple of his eye."

I love my Darling Husband!

Happy Birthday, yesterday my love.

Hugs and kisses,
Me

My Baby Had A Birthday

We celebrated another birthday in our family last month.  It was the 31st birthday we have celebrated for this baby child of ours.  We love her enough to celebrate once a year with her.  It is on our calendars.  We don't forget.  She won't let us.

Her father and I decided we would take her for a ride. 
We went North East of our home, about 40 minutes.
To Palisades Reservoir.
To go 4 wheeling.

She was thrilled.
She got to drive, by herself, like a big girl.

She was very cautious. She is always a good driver, and cautious.

As I watched from behind I was filled with memories.  My mind was whirling with memories.

1.  The day she got her drivers license.  It seems like yesterday.  I have a photo (someplace) of her standing by the car, holding her license, and she is grinning ear to ear.

2.  I remembered when she skipped on the side walk, with her best friend Cheryl, as they chatted all the way home from school.  Her long braids were flowing around her shoulders and her grin was from one ear to the other ear.  She loved Cheryl.  She loved school.

3.  When I picked her up after pre-school she wanted to eat at Carlos Juneion  (Carl's Junior).  We would get a burger and go to a park.  We had a picnic.  She would investigate all the little bugs in the grass, the rocks on the play ground, and dream.  She is still a dreamer.  She still investigates all the things in nature.  She loves the outdoors and nature.

4.  I remember the day she was born.  The day my world was shattered, because she was supposed to be a boy.  The Dr. said she was a boy.  I had planned on a boy.  Her brother wanted her to be a boy.  She was a girl.  She has always been a girl.  Her sisters are so glad she was a girl.  I am, too.

5.  If I closed my eyes I could see her in a pink and white frilly, ruffly, lacy dress.  It is the one really girly dress she loved.  We got her that special dress when she was baptised.  She would twirl around and the skirt of the dress would flair out.  She was a princess in that special dress.

6.  I remembered her when she was 9 months old, and she flew on an airplane with her dad and me.  We flew to  Arizona to find a place to live.  Her dad had just accepted a new job.  She slept all the way on the airplane.  She was so fun to hold and and cuddle with.  She was such a lovable baby.

7.  I can imagine her squeals and giggles as she ran around our backyard with our little Lacey dog chasing her.   They were best friends.  We had Lacey for 14 years.  This child was away at college when Lacey left our family.  We couldn't tell her about it.  She had to come home to find out.  We were sitting around the table eating dinner when she said, "Where is Lacey?"  Her dad and I couldn't look at her, or answer her.  Then we all started to cry.

8.  This child gives the best gifts.  Truly, she puts the most thought into her gifts.  It is never about the money, it is about the thought.  She puts lots of thoughts into the gifts she gives to others.  She will spend hours crocheting a hat, or hours making a perfect meal (or apple pie), or she will find a box of Cascade Bubble Bath and she will attach a note and bring tears to the receivers eyes.

9.  My baby loves nature.  I know, I already told you that.  I might tell you that again.  She loves nature.  She loves clouds, birds, sunsets, rain, thunder, mountains, steams, bugs, butterflies, BIRDS, caterpillars, rainbows, wild flowers, moss, leaves, birds, whales, and Alaska.  She also loves period movies by Jane Eyre, her Alaska friends, b i r d s, sea shells, fishing, 4 wheeling, trips, jewelry, home made food, baked bread, and cheesecake.  She doesn't like nuts in her food.

10.  She loves her family.  Her sisters are her best friends.  Her dad is her idol.  Her brother is a mystery to her.  She loves a good mystery.  She loves to read. She loves movies.  She can watch the same movie over and over, if it is a good one. 

11.  My baby is not afraid to be alone.  She loves her "own" time, her "quiet" time.  She is refreshed when she has been alone.  She needs it.

12.  Her dream is to be a wife and mother.  She wants to be adored.  She wants to be needed.  She wants to love deeply.  She wants a man like her father is.  She wants her husband to love her, like her dad loves her mom.

13.  She loves nature.  She really loves birds.  And wild flowers.  And birds.

14.  She loves birds and nature.  She doesn't care whether the bird is big or little.  If the bird is on the ground or in the sky.  She loves their feathers, and their eyes, and their feet.  She used to have a cockatiel.  Her name was Didgey.  They loved each other.  Didgey would sit on her shoulder and nibble in her hair and on her neck.  Didgey would softly grind her beak into my babies ear.  The grinding is a sign of contentment.  She would let Didgey sit on her shoulder and poop on her.  She loved that little bird with all of her heart.

15.  She enjoys John Wayne movies.  She collects them.  She loves cowboys.  She could be a cowgirl. She loves Idaho and Alaska, and birds, and nature.

As her mother, I love everything about her.  I love the same things she loves.  We are so alike.

I wonder what her future holds.

What trail she will follow.
What trials she has ahead of her.
What joys she will experience.

But, one thing I do know, is how much I love her.
I love sharing my life with her.
I love going to garage sales with her.
I love combing through Thrift Stores with her.
I love gardening and canning with her.
I love being in the kitchen with her.

Except when she forgets to close the cupboard doors....

She is the apple of my eye nearly everyday.

She is my buddy, my pal, my friend.

She brings me joy and happiness.

Her many talents amaze me.

I think I am starting to ramble.
I was going to tell you about the ride we took on her birthday.
I was going to tell you about the scenery, the flowers, and the rain, and the sheep.

Yes, the rain.  It rained on us all the way down the mountain.  It poured.  It stung our skin.  It was very wet.  We got wet in the rain.  And we all loved it.

Yes, the sheep.  When we finished our ride, and returned to our truck, it was surrounded by sheep.

It made us very happy to see the sheep.  There were hundreds of them.  Even black ones.  They talked to us.  They said "Happy Birthday, Fru."  And they sang to her.  They did.  Just ask her.  She loved it.  She laughed at all those sheep, and she told them thank you for singing to her, and for leaving her gifts on the gravel road.  There were lots of gifts on the gravel road, and she noticed most of them.

And then we loaded the 4 wheelers into the trailer and we headed for home.

So, happy birthday to my favorite 31 year old baby.

I love you with all my heart.

Love, forever,
Me