Spring was beautiful again this year!

I was so glad to see signs of spring showing itself this year! I was ready for some color to be added, and it came out with a vengeance...green grass, the trees starting to come alive, and flowers bursting out all over!

Such a beautiful time of year!!


I was out walking in one of our pastures, admiring the beautiful redbud trees and even saw a few of these pretty little violets. One of my favorite flowers of early spring...least on the ground...I always love the redbud trees which we have a ton of here on our little farm!


Then there were my iris. They sure seemed to be early this year...may not have been, cause I know they are an earlier variety...just seemed really early. But they were sure pretty, and I thought of our Sister-in-law who died a year ago now, as she loved them so. It's hard to believe it's been over a year since she died. Course, it's hard to believe it's been 4 months since Clara died...time does fly.

Spring is always my favorite time of year...it's the time the frogs come out to sing, and life seems to be reborn here on the farm. This year was no exception. There have been a few hard times the last few months...but with spring back, it helps renew my hope that things will be better eventually. It doesn't always happen, true...but least it helps to be able to put one foot in front of another, with all that beauty springing forth around you. :-))

 Praise God for his fantastic paintbrush, and the beauty he LOVES to give us!  Now spring is almost over...but that brings it's own beauty with different wild flowers and the sweet smell of fresh cut hay!  ;-))

Sad Times

Years ago, when I married my hubby, I had high hopes that I was gaining another large family with his many siblings, nieces, nephews and all the cousins in the extended family. DH was the baby of 5...and his Dad had a BUNCH of brothers and Sisters who had a bunch of kids...so the family is really quite large, even larger than my own which I thought was pretty good sized if you count all the extended family.

Being the shy type (I know, you wouldn't know it from my blog...but really I am! LOL) I'm not good with talking to people, but a few of DH's family were pretty good at talking to me so it didn't matter to much.  Course there were also some who weren't real good at that, and there were even some who decided they didn't like me to well because I wouldn't come up and start talking...or even say Hi to them, unless THEY started talking first.  *sigh*  I've never had a problem saying Hi, to anyone who said it to me...but don't always think about saying it first, which may be a little rude...but seriously, why is it such a big deal for ME to say it FIRST?  *roll eyes*

Anyway, I quickly figured out that I didn't marry into a "hallmark" family...you know one of those cool ones that were close, and while they may not always agree, would always be there for each other no mater what, and circle the wagon's should the need arise.

For the longest time I held on to the idea that we could still be family....even if not real close, but that finally pretty much got blown out of the water a few years ago when DH's diabetes got out of control, because of to much stress caused by family, and the Dr told us we had to get rid of the stress if we wanted to get his numbers back to doing better.

However, through all the trial's and tribulations....first with me joining the family and trying to get used to new people as a VERY shy young woman, through the final blow up with DH's sister (that also encompassed one or two of his brothers in the end), there was one Sister-in-law (Kathie...married to the one brother who still talks to us from time to time) who stuck with us...and welcomed me into the family not minding that I didn't talk much because she was really good at talking herself and could do it enough for both of us.

I may not have always agreed with her and what kind of wife and mother she was, or even fully trusted her in some respects...but she was always nice to me and didn't make me feel bad if I didn't talk all that much.  In fact, she made me feel comfortable enough, that I COULD talk to her lots better than with most of the rest of DH's family.  We had times we didn't talk much...especially the past few years (because of a few things that happened) but I've still always considered her one of my favorite sister-in-laws...cause at least SHE would talk to me, when we were together.

She was the only one who would let her kids come visit us for a week or two at a time in the summer when they were teens...there was at least one summer, that we had a couple of them several weeks.   It was wonderful to have the kids visit, since we weren't blessed with any of our own and I was so thankful she was willing to share them with us.

She enjoyed some of the same things I did, including flowers (especially Iris) and I'd spend some time at their house while DH was working out of town, when we first moved to Nebraska...because I couldn't go with him then.  She helped us out when we moved to our first farm...and again in the move here to Missouri...although I think she was a bit off at that time, I just didn't realize why.

I didn't realize it, but one thing she  had in common with me was her aversion to going to the doc.  LOL I don't go as far as some people I know...I do realize that doctor's have a place...but I'm not one to go for every little thing, I just didn't know she was that way too.

I hadn't seen her for some time...she lived in Nebraska, and since we moved we didn't go back to visit...we have to much to do here for that, not to mention not much extra money. I talked to her Daughter Abbie some...and Abbie would visit, cause she lives in Kansas City...just a couple hours away.  Abbie told me she thought her Mom had had a stroke last fall, because she was having trouble talking...but couldn't get her to go to a doctor because her Mom wouldn't admit there was anything wrong.

To make a LONG story a little shorter, Kathie moved in with her daughter a couple weeks ago, and her daughter finally insisted she go to the doctor...actually the emergency room, because she was getting weaker and weaker.  Since she was now living with her, she could more easily see the rapid decline.

After many many tests, and a stroke and cancer being ruled out, the doctor finally decided she has ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).  And...she is pretty far advanced in it I would say...not just getting started with it.  She has lost something close to 80 lbs in the last 6-8 months and isn't able to walk much now, without some sort of help.  She is having breathing difficulties, and chokes so it's hard to eat a lot.  Needless to say, she isn't doing to well...and we aren't sure how much longer she will be able to fight the disease, although at this point she is still in denial that she even HAS it, which knowing her she may never get out of the denial stage.  LOL

My heart goes out to her daughter...I know at MY age, I'm not ready to lose MY Mom, and Abbie is so much younger than I am (still in her 20's) so it has to be hard for her.  While I haven't been as close to Kathie in the past few years, (we had our issue's...even though we got along for the most part) but it's so sad she has to go through this...and sad to think that the one sister-in-law who would talk to me on DH's side will no longer be there at family functions (if we EVER get invited to any again LOL) to hang out with.

I will remember the good times...the laughs we had and fun conversations we enjoyed together.  The help she gave us, and comfort she offered in the troubled times.  I will remember it ALL...but will try to concentrate on the fun times, because there were plenty of them and even with some of the issue's we've had...I still am more comfortable being with her than most of my other sister-in-laws.  (I'm fine with my brothers wife...but that's a totally different situation, cause it's MY family dynamics...not DH's.)

I have been blessed by many things in my life, and will continue to count knowing her as one of my blessings, for the memories she gave us with her kids, not to mention the fun times her and I had.  Thank you Kathie, for your love and support over the years, and letting me be a hands on Auntie to your kids.


P.S.  In better news... I will share photos of Shasta's baby calf that was finally born this morning when I can get them off my camera!  May be a few days...depending on if I'm home tomorrow...or gone like may be the case.

It's been a BERRY good year!

ROFL I couldn't resist that title to the post, because of all the wonderful berries we found to buy from the Amish around us this last spring. It really WAS a BERRY good year for berries! LOL

Wasn't to shabby for us in other ways too. Yes, there were trials...gotta have them, and tribulations....gotta have them too, but there were also good times and while our large family doesn't seem so large anymore, with so many holding grudges, that's ok too. God has his reasons for things happening, and I don't have the energy any more to worry about it so much. What will be will be.  I enjoy seeing family when they come around and thank God for those we have who are still a blessing in our lives.


Our animals are some of our best blessings and they have blessed us with good times again this year! Yes, we lost a few...sadly it was Autumn's year to go...but we gained some too.

While Belle, our newest doxie fur baby,  has been a little more of a challenge to train cause she likes to do her OWN thing, she has been a blessing too in her own way. It's been so good to see her and Peaches play together, since Peaches never was able to really play to much with Autumn...they tear around the house after each other having a ball at times, which in turn makes me laugh!

The cows have really been enjoyed, both for the milk, their meat, and their babies! Loving having a couple calves around to see them romping around the pasture again! Course Pearl (our horse) is always a pleasure to look at, she's so pretty and adds some interest to our menagerie.


There are so many things we enjoyed this year! The beauty around us being one of them of course, both in the colorful sunrises and sunsets...


...the beautiful fall color we get here in Missouri...


...and the oh so pretty wild flowers along the road sides here.


The time we spent with family, (Having my Aunt and Uncle stop in one afternoon when they were back in the states was wonderful! We haven't seen them all that much in the last few years, but sure enjoy them when we do, and it was so good to laugh with them and make more memories.)...


...and friends, were of course the high light of our year. Having Galen's best friend spend a couple weeks with us...and not just cause one of those weeks he spent building Galen's shop...was great! We had some good times, laughing, playing games and just hanging out when they weren't off doing something on their own. The new friends we've made here have also added to our blessings for the year.


As much as I loved all of the above mentioned things, the BEST part of my year was spending it with that wonderful hubby of mine!  He lights up my life and is so understanding, I've never know anyone who understands me as well and is as accepting of my limitations.  That's not to say he ALWAYS understands why I do something...LOL...but he understands more than anyone else ever has.  I love being with him, and watching him with our animals, because he is so gentle and kind to them...kinda like how he is to me.  I am SOOOO BLESSED!!!! :-))


All in all it really was a BERRY good year! Good friends, family, furry friends not to mention all the good eats we've been blessed with this year has really helped us settle in for our first full year back in Missouri.

 Here's hoping that 2014 is at LEAST as good! I'm sure looking forward to berry season again...between the berries and the peaches I'm longing for warm weather and fresh fruit! LOL

Hope everyone had a wonderful year...and will have an even better 2014!!

 Happy New Year!

STILL keeping busy!

Wow, what a week! Just wanted to check in and say YES, we are still alive and kicking, since I only managed one post this week...and it was Monday. LOL I actually had things I wanted to post about this week, but...alas...time got away from me, so I couldn't get photo's off my camera, or find time to blog. Hopefully I can share a few next week...if I find time to blog, but for now I'll just share this photo of some flowers my darling hubby brought me.

These cute little flowers are growing along the roadsides here now...I liked them as we passed, but didn't realize just HOW cute they really are till DH brought some to me. How sweet he is, to take time to stop and pick me some wild flowers. :-))

Among other things this week...including some special visitor's, one of our Amish neighbor's had a baby! We carted them an hour and a half away to their midwife, and then went back and got them once she was recovered enough to come home. What a HOT week, to be having a baby too...cause it got up to 100 this week, or least almost if it didn't make it over 100. So thankful for our air this week...and the promise of a cool down next week! Looking forward to that, that's for sure!

Gotta run now though, it's late, I'm REALLY tired, and got plans for tomorrow so can't sleep in!!! Hopefully I can find time to share more about this week...next week sometime! LOL We will see how things go. Have a great weekend! :-))

An Unexpected Gift

The other day, I took my Mom shopping to one of the bigger towns around us, and had to pick up my SIL there too, as she was returning the rental car she got for a few days after her accident. I drove them home, and dropped my SIL off at her house, before going on up to my Moms.   Mom pointed out the Moss Roses my SIL had planted in a window planter and I said "Oh I LOVE moss roses!" and admired them, before moving on.

I haven't bought flowers for planters for a few years now, cause of several reasons...money being probably the biggest reason...although knowing how hard it is for me to remember to water plants will slow down buying some too. LOL I really thought about getting some this spring, but ended up not doing so...I figure I could put a few hanging pots out on my front porch...but would I remember to water them?!!

Yesterday DH had to run over to my parents place, and when he came back, he brought this pot with him, that had Moss Roses in it. My SIL sent it with him, cause she remembered I said I liked them and she said she was having trouble keeping this one watered, so thought I might enjoy it.

How Sweet! Yes, I do love my flowers...and I will do my best to keep it alive and watered! Thanks!! It was totally unexpected, but a nice little surprise in my day. :-))

It also made me remember a funny from years ago. Hubby and I were in the garden center in walmart one spring day, trying to decide what to get. His sister was also there, and she went off looking for some moss roses, cause she loved them also. I was looking around, and hubby was a ways away, when he saw his sister wasn't around, so asked where she was.

I said, rather loudly...since he was across the way..."She's looking for Ross Moses!...Hmmm, Ummm I mean Moss Roses!" *snicker* Everyone around me chuckled (including myself of course) and hubby got a kick out of me making a fool of myself once again, in front of everyone.

It's just a little funny that I remember, when I think of Moss Roses, but it makes me smile at the memory and even at times laugh.  Just another reason to love my Moss Roses...the laugh that I get to have at the memory.  :-))

See how an unexpected gift can give a person even more joy than expected?!!  Thanks for the pretty gift of flowers, and the gift of another chuckle at the memory Clara!  :-))

Summer Color

With all the rain we've had so far this spring and summer, (although it does seem to have slowed WAY down the last week or two) there sure seems to be more flowers blooming in the fields here than there were last year. Right now, I'm loving traveling down the back roads, and seeing the lilies blooming along the roadsides. One of these days I'm hoping to have some transplanted to our driveway...so we have that beautiful splash of color at our place too!


These lilies are on the bank in front of an old house over by my parents farm. I had to stop and grab a few photos on my way home last weekend. The beautiful pop of color doesn't seem to be as noticeable in the photos as it is in person, but it's still pretty.


Hopefully one of these days we can find time to drive around the countryside more...I keep hoping to, but just keep running out of time or not thinking about it when there is time. I'd really love to go butterfly hunting one of these days too...been awhile since I've done that with my camera...and I really would LOVE to get some nice colorful closeups of those beautiful insects. *sigh* Time just keeps flying by, I haven't been able to enjoy the summer color as much as I'd like.

I am loving the glimpses I manage to get of that summer color though...it's so beautiful here this time of year, if you can stand the humidity!  :-))

Lilacs and Mothers Day

Our lilacs are blooming...just in time for Mothers day! Happy Mothers day to my wonderful mother!!

Lilacs have always been a favorite of the spring flowers for me, so I'm thrilled we have some here on this farm already...although we will hopefully be planting more eventually!  LOL

I'm still laughing about the fact that we didn't know we had them till this spring...AND the fact that we had decided those two little bushes were expendable last year, and even drove over them a few times when we were moving.  I don't think these are the old fashioned lilacs, but hey...least we HAVE lilacs of some kind, till we can get the REALLY good ones!

Hope you have a WONDERFUL mothers day MOM!!  I LOVE you!!!  Oh and thanks for bringing me some of your lilac flowers last night, they sure made the house smell good!  YOU have the good kind!  :-))

Still enjoying my Daffodils!

I can't believe it, but I'm STILL enjoying my daffodils here!

The ones we planted away from the house took longer to start blooming, so they are looking better than the ones by the house...but even they are still blooming, even if they do have brown spots on them now. I'm so glad I thought to put some daffodils by this old rail fence, between the mum's we planted there last fall, because I love looking out the window when I'm at my computer and seeing them bloom! never see the ones by the house, unless I'm in the back yard...but I still like having them there.


The tulips we planted, in front of the daffodils by the house are blooming now too!  I'm sure loving having some flowers here this year, since there wasn't anything planted (besides trees) here when we moved!

DH said he thinks the daffodils like it here better than they did in Nebraska...cause they are doing better the first year we planted them, than they EVER did out there.  Guess that's yet another blessing we got when we moved...land that would give me my beloved daffies!  (Course...a lot of the problem was probably just ME, as I don't have a green thumb...but still, if they grow better here, without any more lovin' than they got out there, I'm happy!)  :-))

Needless to say, I'm sure enjoying our long daffodil season!  Love having flowers blooming, and do love daffies especially, as they are usually our first flower of the season...since I don't have anything that comes up sooner.

Ohhh....and I may have figured out what kind a bush we have, that we kept running over last year when we were moving, cause they was out in the way...I don't know why I didn't figure it out sooner, but.....I may have a couple little lilac bushes after all!  Not sure if they are the nice old fashioned lilacs, but they will work in a pinch...till I can get the good ones!  Yippee!!!  I do LOVE lilacs!  

I'm enjoying my flowers, and the break we had in the rain...not to mention the warmer temps!  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Flowers and the City

There I was...driving my Dad to his surgery appointment yesterday morning, through early rush hour traffic in the big bad city (Ok, the traffic wasn't to bad yet, compared to what it can be later in the rush hour on the freeways of Kansas City...but it wasn't good, compared to the country traffic I prefer! LOL) when my phone tells me I have a new text message. No way can I check a text while I'm driving, especially in the traffic, so I ignore it, then forget about it completely. LOL

Once I get settled in the waiting room, I remembered I got a text, so pull my phone out and look at the screen...First I see there is a photo with a message under it that said "Good Morning Dear!" from my sweet hubby (Mom, Dad & I had spent the night in a hotel so we didn't have to get up quite as early to head to the city the morning of his surgery)...then I scroll up a little to see the complete photo and gasp...he sent me a photo of my daffodils blooming! He planted them for me last fall, and I hadn't realized they were so close to blooming, last I looked, the green leaves were still short!

Mom asked "what?" so I show her, and said "I'm missing my Daffys!"  LOL  Dad assured me they would still be blooming when I got home.  He was right, I grabbed a photo of them between rain showers this morning.  Kinda lonely looking, cause they aren't in clumps yet, but still nice to see!  We have flowers here on our Hillbilly farm now!!

Between when we left, Monday morning and when we got back last night, it sure greened up around here!  It's hard to believe how much it can change just overnight!  It's so pretty out there now...once the trees green up it will be downright beautiful!

My Dad's surgery went just fine, and they let him out the same day!  I was praying hard that they would, cause I sure didn't want to spend ANOTHER night in the big city if at all possible, not to mention that meant things went well and there didn't seem to be any complications, which is good!  He is home resting now...and starting the process of recovering.  He's not one to go to doctors, so it's been a different, not to pleasant, experience for him, but sometimes ya just gotta.

DH is doing Dad's farm chores now, even if Dad felt like being up and around, he won't be able to do much lifting for a little while, so it's nice we are close enough to help him out for a change!  It's really shaping up to be a busy spring/summer!  :-))

Now we wait to see what other flowers manage to bloom that we planted last fall.  DH planted a few roses this spring already, hopefully they take off...but I'm totally bummed that the old fashioned roses we brought with us don't look like they made it.  I've moved them with us everywhere since the first REAL home we had after we got married.  Guess the drought last year didn't let them make this move...even though they were watered from time to time.  I called those roses my "Kansas rose" cause they were moved from that farm we rented in Kansas after we got married...and were the ONE thing I wanted to survive the most, plant wise anyway, that we moved.  *sigh*

Makes me wonder if the parent rose bush is still there beside the garage in Kansas...to bad it's to far away to go see!  It breaks my heart to think that I'll never see the wonderful pink blooms it would be covered with in the spring, as well as the fabulous sweet scent they gave off.  It was "my" first rose bush...and made me fall completely in love with roses.  There are worse things that could have happened though, so I'm grateful for what did survive, and grateful for being here now so we can hopefully be of more help to my parents.

After a trip to the city, and especially after having to spend the night there, I am always so grateful I don't live there any longer!  Praise God I'm a country girl!!  The further I got from the city on our drive back home, the more relaxed and soothed I felt.   Life is good...when you are blessed enough to live in the country!  :-))

Spring Blooms

This year, with our early spring a lot of things seemed to bloom early. However most of the time I couldn't tell for sure if they did, cause I didn't commit to memory, just WHEN everything usually bloomed.

However, when it comes to our peonies, I KNOW they are really early, cause usually we have them blooming around memorial day weekend...and sometimes they have even been later than that!



So the fact that they are already blooming now, is just so strange, it's a good 2-3 weeks early!

We have a lot of other blooms outside now too!



We have roses blooming...




As well as the larger iris by our front porch. In fact, the iris have more blooms on them than I've ever seen!



Our Clematis Vine is also blooming.

God's putting on quite a show for our last spring on Hillbilly Hill Farm in Nebraska! :-))

Thankfully my SIL said she is willing to help spread out the iris before we move (even if it is usually a fall thing...we've done it other times of the year), so they aren't so thick (It's needed done for some time now), and that way we can each have some of them to take with us. I'd miss my flowers, if we didn't take some with us...even if I do neglect them.  The new farm didn't look like it had much in the way of flowers...the last owner was more into planting trees, which is good...cause they cost way more to get and plant than flowers do.  I'll just move some of what I have, and maybe...over the  next few years, add more.   :-))

Praise God for his beautiful flowers, and the helpers he is sending our way!

Not the same...but still Beautiful

Years ago, I was told by someone that wisteria (which I had never seen before) was a lot like lilacs...and even smelled like them. Naturally since I loved lilacs, I put it on my list of plants that I wanted to try.

We found a wisteria "tree" a few years ago, which we thought might be kinda neat, cause it wouldn't need anything to climb on so we bought it. Turns out, we probably needed to do something to it, to keep it in a good neat tree form...but since we aren't the best "gardeners" we didn't know this, and it's kinda more of a bush now. LOL

However, in all these years we've had it, I've never seen it bloom! I always complained to DH that it was a waste of money and we should cut it out of where we put it, cause it never bloomed...least not that I saw. He told me he's seen it bloom...so I told him he is suppose to tell me when that happens, so I can see it too. (duh!)

Finally this year, he remembered to tell me, so I had to go out with my camera and see what they looked like. It's no wonder I always missed the blooms, cause there weren't very many...and most of them were on the back side of the bush, where I can't see it from the house. LOL

I have to say, I was disappointed. Expecting to find something like a lilac, I found the blooms in the above photo instead...which to my way of thinking doesn't look anything like a lilac. The smell wasn't even close either, it was in fact almost stinky to my way of thinking. *giggle*

Don't get me wrong, it is actually really pretty...but when expecting another "lilac" looking plant, it's going to be a disappointment at first.

But...least I finally KNOW what wisteria looks like, and won't expect to much of it next time, so will be able to enjoy it's own beauty better. It would be really cool looking if it had more blooms on it. I do think next time we get one, we will do the climbing one, cause that would probably look nicer.




I walked over to see my little iris too, they are still blooming...although do need thined out, so they will bloom more next year. Will have to see if I can get to that this fall, if we are still here, I seem to always be busy in the fall with canning and getting ready for winter.

I do love my spring flowers...even if they do tend to get neglected. :)

I'm so lucky!

I count my blessings a lot around here, yes we have tough times from time to time, who doesn't...but I really am blessed through it all with a wonderful Man who loves me.




He came walking in the other day with a fresh picked bouquet of flowers. I so LOVE this time of year, when we have flowers blooming from time to time and my wonderful Man thinks to bring some of them inside where I'm working so I can enjoy them too. I thought this bouquet was especially pretty with the purple and deep pink together. :-))

He is just SO SWEET!!!...

...but SHHHHH don't say it TO loud, we may ruin his reputation!!! *giggle*

Butterfly season is back!

Our apple tree is covered with blooms now, so I had to go see what I could get in the way of photos. There weren't as many bees as usual around it, but I managed to get a few with my camera...along with a butterfly! Love butterfly season!!

Hopefully this year I managed to find time to go butterfly hunting, cause I didn't last year. Least I managed one photo of one, before it flew off.


Maybe in the next few days I can get some more photos...we will see if the bees and blooms stick around long enough for me to find a good time to go visit with my camera again...that is IF a bunch show up...cause it's way easier to get some neat photos if there are a LOT of them buzzing around.

More Blooms

Our two baby peach trees are blooming...they are to young to let the blooms go and see if they actually produce fruit, but I had to get some photos of them today anyway. I'll have to pull them off, if I get around to it cause the trees need to put their energy into growing roots, not growing fruit (from what I've heard).

Just had to share a photo of them though. The pear trees that were growing wild on the farm when we got it are blooming also. And I noticed the lilacs have little bud clusters on them.

The grass is really growing...hubby said he would probably have to cut it in the next week or so...that's a lot earlier than usual if I'm remembering right. Loving the green though! :-))

Ok, I'll shut up about spring now...least for today LOL Hope you are enjoying spring in your neck of the woods, although I know some of you have still been having some winter weather...gotta say...I'm glad we aren't! :-))

Changing Seasons

It's cooled off a lot here this week, I had to close the windows last night, so we didn't freeze...and turned the heat on this morning cause I was cold. It's suppose to warm back up, but that just goes to show you that the seasons are changing once again...Autumn is coming, with it's cool crisp air and the beautiful fall colors.

Our garden is winding down now, we are still getting things, but it's slower and some aren't getting as big. The Okra is still producing, enough that we are still passing it on to a friend or two who wants it, since we have plenty in our freezer.

I finally managed to get a photo of the Okra blooms yesterday, I'd been wanting to for the last month or two, but never managed to do it till now. I thought they were the prettiest things, with their creamy petals and beautiful maroon center. They are even prettier in the sunshine. :)

I can't believe how TALL the Okra has gotten! I had no idea what Okra actually looked like, as I've never seen the plants before. DH talked to a friend in town, who has grown some in the past, and he said he's seen it 6 feet before, but not usually...and this is over 6 feet, because it's over both mine and DH's head, and we are both over 6 feet ourselves. (I'm 6'2" and DH is 6'6".) Course not ALL of it is the same height, some of it got set back cause the cows got out and had to tromp through the garden last spring, but it's still produced quite well and is several feet tall even so. I was wanting a photo of DH standing beside it...but haven't managed to get one of those yet.

I brought in a bunch of cantaloupe last night, but they are mostly smaller now, not near as nice sized, but still yummy! We have had a really nice big bunch of them, I'm so thrilled with how they did.

I've even been still getting some zucchini and cucumbers, although not near as many, but least we are still getting enough to eat, and sometimes to pass on to friends.

DH said he counted 25 pumpkins in our pumpkin patch (don't think that included the two I've already brought in)...who knows if there are some he missed *giggle* Yes I planted way to many of them, but we wanted some for the animals and I didn't know what I was doing (or how many they would give us) so I planted a bunch.

Now hopefully the cows will like them, because if they don't, we will have them coming out our ears and then some! LOL Course even so we may, just because we don't have a root cellar to store them in, or to many other places we can store them, that doesn't freeze, but we will see how it goes. I know we will be giving my parents a few, cause Mom wanted some for pies and I'll can two or three of them, but it sounds like there will be a bunch left for the animals too. LOL

All in all I'd say this has been a successful gardening year, even if weeding didn't happen for the past couple months with canning and DH's surgery and everything else going on. Praise God for helping my black thumb not kill everything off...maybe it's not quite as black as it was. LOL

Between our garden and a friends garden, we've had a good year for stocking up on food this year! Praise God for his bounty! :-))

A Little Break

This week hasn't been quite as busy around here, I did get a little canning done so far, but only a little bit of spaghetti sauce. I've been able to relax a little bit today, and so took my camera outside to look for some butterflies. Unfortunately the only one's I found were flying, and didn't land where I could find them with my camera. Bummer! So far this year has been a bust when it comes to getting photos of butterflies, which is something I love to do for some reason. Since the butterflies weren't cooperating, I decided to take a photo of some wild sunflowers instead.

Course there were things I could have been doing, instead of playing with my camera...but what fun is that! LOL I kinda felt like I needed a little down time this week, so I'm thankful there wasn't to many things I couldn't put off till a later time.

The temperature has really dropped, and there have been a few mornings this week that were almost nippy! I actually had to wear a jacket to milk. We've been able to have the windows open all week too, which I love. I'm loving the cool nights, and how it's not getting out of the 70's during the day. Perfect temps for me!! :-))

Course that means Fall is coming, and the garden is slowing down on how much it gives us. I've enjoyed actually being able to eat a few things that we grew, but guess it's to be expected that it will stop producing one of these days. LOL


I've actually brought in a couple pumpkins that ripened lots earlier than I thought they would. There are several more turning orange out in the garden, I noticed today. I need to get the two I brought in already, canned up but so far haven't managed that, thought about doing that tomorrow...but don't know if I will or not.


I've discovered something I want to try to grow next year...Patty-pan squash. Our friend who gave us the tomato's also gave us some of these things, and told us he loves to fry it for breakfast. I didn't figure I'd like it, as I'm not a big fan of squash, but DH fried some up one morning (no breading), and I tried it and LOVED it!! Gotta go looking to see if I can find where to buy seeds, cause they are wonderful and really make a great addition to eggs in the morning. I'd never heard of them till this year. :)

Anyway, nothing major going on here this week, still keeping busy, just not AS busy. Gotta LOVE that! I'm hoping to can some green tomato salsa next week though, so between that and the pumpkins and whatever else I come up with, I'm not done with the canning yet! LOL

Hope everyone is having a good week. :)

More summer flowers & other rambles

Our Clematis is blooming now too, it's not climbing as high this year, as it did last...least not yet, but that's probably cause I forgot to check on it, and make sure it was climbing up, instead of spreading out across the flower bed. Hopefully I'll catch it better next year. It's still pretty! :)


We also have a few of these little yellow day lilies blooming. DH's favorite teacher gave them to us last year, and so they haven't taken over yet, but hopefully they will eventually. LOL DH planted them on the bank to the east of the house, since we can't really mow it to well, so maybe one of these years, they will help keep the grass down and look a little better. If not...guess that's ok too, it's not like we live in town. :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We had a friend drop by with some parts for DH, and so invited him to stay for supper on Sunday evening. I didn't have any homemade bread, I've been neglecting getting more made, so I decided to whip up some biscuits since I know this friend loves bread at the meals we've shared in the past. I was hoping they would turn out, cause I used my ghee in them for the first time, and my oven has a problem...even though it's new...the replacement I'm getting isn't here yet.

As it turned out, they were probably some of the best biscuits I've made in a long time, not that my other ones have been bad. LOL I think the ghee really makes them extra yummy. We don't eat bread with our supper to often, (or biscuits) but will have to find a good time to try them out again soon, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke! LOL

I'm loving this ghee! Going to have to make more soon. :)

I always have preferred baking to cooking meals...unfortunately I don't do as much baking, since that kinda thing isn't something we really need to eat a LOT of. LOL It's going to be interesting to see if ALL my baked goods taste better with ghee, than the olive oil I've been using.

If it drys out enough this week, I've got to get back into the garden...much as I hate the idea, I don't want the weeds and grass taking over again. I also need to make some more soap...and get to some sewing I've been putting off. We will see how much I actually get done though. LOL I'm sure I'll try to put the sewing off again...but I really do need a few more skirts sewn up. LOL

Oh and I need to get a few extra things done in the next couple weeks, cause a young friend (actually a friends daughter) is planning on coming to stay for a couple months or so, to help out around here. She is better with cows than I am, so will be a help to me AND DH! :) Not sure if I will know what to do with help around the house. DH does sometimes, if I really need it, but having someone who can help more...and with canning if I'm lucky enough to do a bunch of that, will be strange to me...although wonderful I'm sure! :)

Anyway, have a great week, I better get off here and get back to work! :-))

Orange Day Lilies

The above photo was one my Dad put on his flicker photo stream a couple days ago. I remember loving it when the lilies bloomed, that grew in the ditch along the road that ran by our house growing up. It was a dead end road, so was kinda like our driveway. There were always a lot of them, but not near THIS many...this is just beautiful!!

I do seem to remember getting mad a few times, when the neighbors came by (they were just being neighborly...but it still made me mad LOL) and mowed the roadside, before the lilies had a chance to bloom. I always looked forward to seeing that summertime flower that made the roadside look beautiful. I don't remember them being on both sides of the road, but they do seem to have spread over the years I've been gone.

*sigh* I do wish I could see them in bloom now, they look like they would be a gorgeous sight.


Because I enjoyed these flowers so much when I was growing up, when we had the chance to dig some up from a patch by our house in Polk, and plant some down here on our farm, I took it. We planted them around the transformer in our front yard so in the summer it wouldn't stand out so much. They have been getting thicker each year but still didn't really cover it like I wanted them to...till this year. Now it's finally starting to look like a nice bunch of flowers, even if they don't totally "hide" the transformer. :)

Maybe someday we will get enough to move some out along our driveway. I'd love to have it lined (at least part way) with a bunch of these...like the photo my Dad took. It won't be the same, as the roadside goes down, not up, along our drive...but it would still be pretty! :)

Flowers from my Hubby...

I love it when my DH walks in and surprises me with flowers!! I don't care if they are weeds, I'm happy to have them! :) I always put them in a vase and set them in the kitchen, since I seem to spend a lot of time there these days.

I do think I need to learn how to arrange flowers better....but don't guess it matters to much, I still walk into the kitchen and see them and they bring a smile to my heart (if not my face) and they make me think of the wonderful Man I married.

That man of mine is a sweetie...and knows me well! He knows I love flowers and how to bring a smile to my face. :)

Oh and...I don't want to say this to loud...in case it's listening....but I think the air might be fixed!!!!! The repair man was out here for several hours today, and at the end had me turn it on. We didn't leave it on since it's not hot enough for it, but it had made the temp go down in the house a degree or two, so I think, just maybe, it might be fixed. Shhh, don't let it hear me, I want it to STAY fixed! When it warms up we will turn it on and see for sure. :)


To top it off, tonight's sunset was prettier than last nights...cause there were more clouds. Least in my opinion. :)

Ok, gotta run, it's bedtime. Hope every one's having a wonderful week so far.

A cool breeze.

Today has brought much cooler temps to us here in south east Nebraska. We are so Thankful for the break from the hot & humid days we've been having. I actually have a cool breeze coming in my office window this evening, and just came in from a short trip outside with the dogs to see the garden. It was almost cold outside, but I sure enjoyed it after being hot way to often this last week or two.

I couldn't actually walk in the garden, since it's muddy from the rain we have been getting, but I was able to see what was growing and what wasn't. For some reason the onions don't appear like they will do anything, it's the 2nd batch we planted (the first was eaten by the goats who got out) so I guess we will just be buying onions all summer, instead of enjoying some of our own. I'd hoped to have some of them for salsa if we have tomatoes, but...oh well.

The Peas are blooming!! I'd noticed them the other day, but didn't have my camera with me, so couldn't get a photo of them. This evening however I took my camera out to see if I could get one to show off that they are actually blooming for us...not that that means anything, but maybe, just maybe we will end up with some peas! :)

The Broccoli and Okra are growing well still too, and I think I may have seen some beets up...and possibly some peppers, but not sure about them yet. The Cantaloupe, Zucchini, Cucumbers & pumpkins were up though, and looked to be doing well so far, although it's early days yet. LOL The radishes were up...and they need thinned...but will have to wait till it drys out some, and I saw at least one tomato on the vines!! :)

I'm just so thrilled that so far things still look good in the garden, for the most part. I realize that means nothing at this stage of the game...but I still have hope we will end up with several things from the garden this year. Can't really say I'm surprised the onions didn't grow...after all they were starts...and I planted them myself. My black thumb REALLY hates plants, seeds are bad enough, but they have a chance...where as plants don't seem to have much of one if I try to plant them myself. LOL

Praise God for the break in the heat & humidity...and for letting me still have hope we will manage a garden for a change, along with all the other blessings in our lives. :)