Showing posts with label summer fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer fun. Show all posts

July 30, 2013

In the Good Old Summertime


Fireweed.



Brush burning stinging nettles.  And before one of you amazingly knowledgeable peeps say it, yes - you can actually eat the tops of nettles when you prepare them properly.  But I don't want to.  I have no quarrel with nettles, until they start taking over a corner of my sheep pen.  Then, they must be eliminated.  Knocked off.  Incinerated.  Whatever it takes.  They must die.



Adorable Mitts.  He's such a cuddly kitty.  And you gotta love his seven-toed paws...



Reading To Kill a Mockingbird while hanging out at my dad's hanger at the CDA airport.



I had no idea how much I loved to dance until we started attending the Sandpoint Contra Dances.  So much fun!



Despite a few twinges of doubt, my Katahdin lambs are growing well and getting bigger each day.  I had to separate the rams from the ewes, though.  These little guys labor under the delusion that they're all lady killers.  If there's one thing I don't want, it's surprise lambs at Christmas time.  No, thank you!


The twins, Rory and Amy, with their mama Emma.




Our cherry crop was amazing this year.  Way more than I can possibly pick and process by myself, even with friends taking bagfuls home with them.  I did have one friend suggest that if I pick all day, pit all night, and sleep for only 15 minutes, I could probably do it - I don't want to be lazy, right?  To that I say, you don't want me to be grouchy, do you?  *grin*



There's always shade in the orchard.  I have many favorite spots on our property, but the orchard is special.



Ingrid, Sweet Pea, and Katniss.  My beautiful girls.  Katniss as developed a very sweet and docile personality, just like her mother.  She also has a tendency to nibble, like her sister Maggie.  Never a dull moment with those two around!



Cedar trees.


The Muffin kitty got in my lap, so the jealous Bonnie dog had to sit there, too.  And all I was trying to do was thin my lettuce.  Love my sweet kitty and doggy so much.


Service berries.


You see?  I'm not completely immune to the beauty of a daisy in the afternoon light!


My awesome friends helped us put 3 1/2 tons of hay up in our loft.
It's so much easier with 8 people helping rather than just 3. *grin*


Hay photos courtesy of Kellie.  Thank you, dear!



Clara and Michelle


Michelle, looking just lovely. :)



A daisy crown on my head.  Someone made it for me.  I screamed, but decided to wear it proudly. ;)


Music videos in the orchard, complete with fireworks.  We are epic.




Brett and Alex watching The Muppets on YouTube.  I already love the Muppets, but watching these two laughing makes it even funnier.


My faithful farm doggy on the loft stairs in the early morning light.
Mornings smell so good.


Sheepies (and Primrose) enjoying shade in the horse pasture.  The ewes are vastly improved after being wormed and spending time in the horse pasture.  Thanking the Lord for healthy sheep!


My mom and I gardening.  I'm so happy that she's able to enjoy being outside and gardening again!  There was a time when I didn't think we'd ever get to do this together again.


Finally getting to meet Winnie!  I had way too much fun introducing her to my animals.


Ice cream, fluffy skirts...better than this, it does not get.  I've been told that my ice cream eating face is epic.
And I think the folks at Little Town Market in Athol are getting used to a large crowd of us showing up at random times wearing random things like tulle skirts or glow stick necklaces or chalk shirts.  We're awesome like that.

Happy Trails, y'all!

September 5, 2012

Summer's End

As you may have guessed, these last few weeks of summer have been more than usually busy around here.  Pleasantly busy, full of fun and memories.

My friend Lauren was married on the 25th of August.
You can see Kellie's wonderful post here.

We went to the county fair the same day with some of our friends.  We wore sunglasses and pretended to be the Impossible Missions team while looking at everything there, including a zebu.

"Oh look!  A zebu!!"

Sorry, I was having too much fun to take pictures, so here's a song instead...
And someone please tell me I'm not the only adult who still loves Veggie Tales. ;)

We had fun watching the Mutton Bustin' after that.  Kids ages 3-6 (I think) and under 60 lbs. (I think) compete to see who can stay on the sheep the longest.  It's loads of fun to watch!


Unfortunately, they were sold out of tickets for the rodeo so we had to skip that.  I was a bit disappointed, but there's always next year. :)

I think my favorite memories of this summer are the evenings spent with friends at Farragut State Park playing badminton and hiking.  Last Friday we met for a game of badminton and homemade peach pie (courtesy of Kellie) and then walked down to the lake in the cool evening air by the light of the blue moon.  The moon path on the water was magical.


It's been such a wonderful summer, I'm sad to see it go...

What are your favorite memories from this summer?

August 9, 2012

my huckleberry friend



Huckleberries
The state fruit of Idaho.


My bro and I went huckleberry picking with our friends Mrs. G and Alyssa last week.


It was an absolutely perfect day.
What could be better than roaming the shaded forest trails picking berries while chatting with good friends?


Thankfully we're all capable of picking and talking at the same time, or we wouldn't have had hardly any berries!  Our topic of conversation ranged from food, to unity within the church, to family, and then back to food.  Actually, we spent an amazing amount of time talking about food.  Everything from sushi to baklava.
It was awesome:)


Me...and my alarmingly brightly colored water bottle.  Whoa - someone pass out the sunglasses!


Huckleberries range in color from red to deep purple to blue.  They're absolutely lovely...


...and boy, are they delicious!


Tired feet...


After 4 1/2 hours of picking, my finger tips were stained a lovely purple-y red...with quite a bit of dirt mixed in, actually.  *shrugs*


But my aching back, stained fingers, and tired feet were well worth these...


Together, my bro and I brought home 1 and 3/4 gallons of berries, which are now safely stashed away in the freezer waiting to be turned into delicious jams, cobblers, syrups, pies, and whatever else we can think of!

I just wish I could share some with y'all.  Then again...alright! everyone stay back!!  These are MY huckleberries!  Don't even look at them!   Welll, you can look at them, but stay at least 3 feet away at all times.  I've got a frying pan, and I know how to use it.  That's better...

Happy Trails, everyone;)