"preserving " the bounty with my sister

First the "dilly beans". Then pears and cherries in the dehydrater, then a few jars of pickled beets, and finally finish today with 10 half pints of apricot pineapple jam.. Yummy!

It's time to preserve the fruit"

Well again I have neglected posting in a while.. Preparing today to drive to Wenatchee, Washington early tomorrow morning  to my sisters house.  We both love to can and make jam, so what better chance for sister time? Wenatchee is a great agriculture area for fruit trees.  Apples, cherries, peaches apricots, and pears. I have packed my jars, dehydrator, and jam making ingredients and will drive the 10 hour drive. My husband will stay home with Buster and the chickens and ducks.. We have a camping trip planned mid August so he will be preparing the boat and camper for that adventure.
I don't mind driving alone, I know the road and the weather is good. I plan to make a few stops along the way for the stretching of legs and (potty breaks). Stopping for a short coffee break with my daughter Pj and then on to my destination. My sister has dinner plans for us at 5:30 so I wont "dilly daddle.. put some music on and enjoy the scenery. ( hope to capture a picture or two as well.) So  come see the fruits of our labor in a few days as I will post from there too. So its off to slumber land right now cuz the sun will be shining soon.... and off I go.....

Girl time scheduled

Well here it is  mid July 2012. I have been busy, busy,busy. The "family" went home Monday and my house is almost back to normal. I love having company and the house was overflowing with kids, and laughter and meals outside. Its quiet now and as I pulled out my planner today I penciled in some "Me
Time".
Today, I had my hairdresser work some magic on a summer do.  I really like it. I feel recharged and like ,a new woman..
Next week starting with an eye exam Monday, Tuesday shopping and lunch with a friend and Wednesday a trip to Bend with another girl friend. Often people say to me "You are so busy". I sometimes appear more so than other times. Our retired scheduled life " is pretty much impromptu.  If Clay feels like jumping in the car to "Go". I am ready. I love that I can do this. We have had some great adventures in day trips and longer journeys.  Life is good and we must make every day count. My garden is coming along, the chickens are doing well, and the ducks are happy living on the pond.  I think my Sinus /Allergy situation is under control.  Another Camping trip is in the planning stage and a trip to Washington to visit my mom too...I guess I do want to do it all... and why  not?
So, I will be off next week playing, shopping, maybe taking a photo or two.
Do you have a planner to keep your schedules or do you just take what comes?  Sometimes I like to do both... depending on my mood.. Enjoy  these nice summer days whatever you do..and take time to do something special just for you....

Happy Fourth of July

Chillin at Gramma & Papa's

 We're relaxing today, and gearing up for the Annual Fireworks display at Lake Euwana in Klamath Falls tonight. Mason is ready to test the fireworks that Papa Clay bought for him yesterday.

Today he made chocolate chip cookies and played games. His mom and his two brothers and his future sister in law will be back to get him come the weekend. The house will again be full of laughter and your basic Family noise. We are a noisy family for sure.

Everyone enjoy your  time with your family if you can. Be safe and enjoy the 4th of July activities where you live.

Crescent lake boating

The camping trip to Crescent Lake was fun. The boys Peyton 11 and Mason 9 loved driving the boat and took turns at the helm..* Papa Clay was there  but out of site.  It rained a coupe days  and that was not in our plan but we made it an adventure. They enjoyed the campfire time with s'mores at night and sleeping in the tent.  Mason is staying with us another week and his mom and brother Peyton will come back next week to get him. More fun time with Papa and Gramma planned, will post as they occur.

The Kids are coming

  We are getting ready for tomorrow.  A couple of the grand kids Peyton and Mason are coming to visit. They are 7 hours away and that's a long drive ( ride ) for them in the car.. While they are here We are planning a camping trip, swimming, fishing, boating, shopping, a visit to the museum, painting the picnic table and just playing here on the farm with the ducks, chickens and Buster. They are bringing their new puppy "Killa" so Buster will be entertained as well. We will  have Mason staying here for a week alone ( his first time away here by himself) Peyton already had his turn....That  should be interesting and  I am sure fun. Lots of photos will be shared when I get them downloaded.
We don't get this opportunity often enough.. they are so busy with Youth football and Little League. both of which their mom Pj is involved with them. She also has  been substitute teaching In Yakima and is looking to possible relocate here if she can land a full time teaching job. We would love that.
These kids grow up so fast. Do you get to see your grand kids often? If not I hope you don't miss an opportunity like this one. I have to stop here and make some cupcakes... *they will be expecting something sweet for sure.. * after all they are at Gramma and Pappa's house! We hope to make this a very memorable time for them. I hope they will add this time to their memory books!

Gone Fishin

We took  a break from all our chores this morning  Left the garden, the lawn, the shed, the chickens, and ducks and any thought of caring for them to spend a couple hours on the lake fishing. Buster liked sitting in the sunshine while we fished.  Fish lake was perfect and so was the weather..  (Mt Mclaughlin  here  with very little snow remaining.) There are several cabins or summer homes along the shore and the owners of these chairs have the right idea as far as comfort and front row seat on any summer action. Don't you wish you could be right there sitting watching the action? I do. 

As we left the lake we  stopped  a few miles up the road  on our way home  to make sure the boat contents were riding safely and securely. I took this picture and pondered another days trip to find out where this road leads..

Oh yes,  I didn't give you our fish report.. 3 undersized trout * returned to the water* and one major mess of fish line on my reel...   Thankful my honey man  untangled the mess.. but we still brought home no fish. The  morning was nice however just to get away for a few hours..once back home it was back to the chores.. and I did sneak in a nap.

Gathering items

I have  been gathering  items for decorating the garden shed and flower beds. I  have many ideas and must decide on how to put it all together. Today, I scored with the red bird house and white lined basket and two hand tools.
I get inspired browsing through magazines, websites and thrift stores.  Do you get ideas this way? or Are you a creative person that comes up with ideas in your head and can see the finished project?
I had already found the green bird cage and the white wrought iron pot hanger. I have some plans too for the driveway entry to Blue Sky Farm that I will create and post after its completed, so come visit again and see what's new because the gathering  has just begun....The weather has finally  turned warmer and the garden is in so I will have plenty of time to work on these other projects,
My wheels are turning....

Is it Really Spring?

I was thinking how pretty these iris are. My sister gave me these to plant last year and they are growing so well. Aren't they pretty?  I want more  flowers  around the Blue Sky Farm. Now that the Garden Shed is 99% finished ( trim and decorating to be complete this next week after our frost danger is gone) I am so anxious to get  out there and finish the project.  I want to plant lots of color spots and baskets and pots.

Yes I said frost danger. Last night was cold and I covered the tomato plants  and will do so again tonight. Hoping that they will be okay. We have a very short growing season here in Klamath Falls  and I probably planted them too soon.. but I got the planting bug. Thinking it was  Spring when we had 80 degree weather last week.. once the threat of frost is gone usually  we will be safe until maybe mid September.

Yesterday we had a horrific thunderstorm with  loud thunder, lightening wind rain and even big hail stones. It is possible so the forecast reports for a light snow tonight..So I am hoping these pretty Iris will be as pretty by end of the week when sunshine will warm them again.

I have been busy inside, sorting through magazines for decorating ideas and garden tips for a pretty summer garden.

Thanks for stopping by do come back and see what I decide to do around the garden shed.

I hope its nice and sunny where you live.. I always feel so much better when its a nice sunny warm day, Don't you?

Ducks moving day

What a fiasco.. Moving these two ducks to the big pond today. The saying "you can lead a horse to water."... may work for horses... but  theses two gave us a run for our money. With brooms in hand to herd them ( actually one ) because I caught one and carried her hoping the other  one would follow... NOT.. Finally releasing the one I carried  they both rushed into the bushes and tree. With coaxing they made it to their new playground. A pond full of tadpoles and frogs and bugs.. Buster helped willingly to wade out into the pond and got scolded.. I think the ducks will be much happier here and  it will cut  down on our feed bill too..

Dont you think this is a great place to play, live and eat?

Planting what where?

Potatoes under straw

 Today the temperature hit 70 with no rain...in the forecast  and no frost... Warmer days to continue for at least a week so I decided to plant the potatoes. Our soil is not the best but  potatoes seem to thrive. we have amended it with topsoil, straw, and horse manure and compost.  It still appears to have  lots of clay...so  I am trying something new this year with re: the potatoes.  I have read potatoes can be planted in straw... so after  preparing the ground with two 35ft rows one for of Yukon Gold and one Red Pontiac and placing seed potatoes in the shallow trench I covered them with a bit of soil and  then several inches of straw...As the potatoes grow through the straw I will pile on more until the plants are 2 feet tall.. making sure they are not pushing potatoes to be exposed to the sun, as this causes them to turn green and that is not good..

 Next  the rows have been laid out for my beans, peas, broccoli, beets and peas.. Now I know Carrots love tomatoes and those will be planted as soon as there is no threat of frost..( I have 8 heirloom plants in the garage ready to set out) along with started spicy peppers..for salsa and sunflowers for the birds. Today was day one  and I think its going to be a good year..I know I need to pace myself and do a bit each day.. my allergies are  awful this Spring..so tomorrow morning I'll try to get an early start...

Buster isn't happy

Hi... Buster here... I am not happy about these  new duck things.. They squeak like my toy .. and it confuses me.. I am allowed to play with the toy, but those other two .. well, they are a "Don't touch item".  My mom and dad are driving me nuts moving them from place to place.. Finally  they live under the back porch deck.. I have to sit inside the patio door and  look at them..

They get to swim in a  kiddie pool and  it looks  like they are having such a good  time..Just look at them down there... I can swim....I sure wish I could play with them..Dad calls them  "Running  ducks". I don't think they have real names yet like I do.... I like to run too.... but mom and dad think I might play too rough and (eat  them).. accidentally of course... 

I guess I have to wait until they get bigger.. Moms  says then they can keep me in line...
I do think it will be fun... but right now ..This puppy is taking 2nd place to these newbies.. and I don't think I like it... but Come back in a couple weeks I might have a better story..

The long awaited Garden Shed

We finally got  started on the garden shed. I have been browsing garden magazines and clipping things I like for awhile.  The chicken coop is in the back corner of the yard  and there was just enough room to plot the space. Thanks to the expertise  help from  my brother in law  9 days of labor and decisions, many trips to Home depot  The finished project  come to its view. All we need now is some trim, shutters, and paint to match the  house.  We will extend the chicken yard to the lawn under the window and then I will re-post the truly finished Garden shed.

 

 I wish the weather would snap out of this funky Spring Season and so I can plant the garden. I will  be happy to spend time out here in the sunshine and watch my garden grow.
Come back  when you can and thanks for popping in today.

 The ducklings had their first swim today.. In the bathtub.. They were hesitant at first then decided What fun!.. Will post more as they grow.. They will be moved to the pond after we graduate them to a "kiddie pool"in a couple weeks...

"Let the gardening begin."...

Our neighbor Rick has come for the third year to rototiller our garden space. This year was no exception Thank you Rick! The space is 55x25 and if the weather continues to be warm and no rain he will return in a couple days to till  the space a couple more times. That done I can plant my seeds,sunflowers, onion sets and potatoes. Hopefully next week..

The flower beds also will be planted this weekend with these petunias and I have already planted the back porch planter with strawberries. So I say "Let the gardening begin"...Its nap time now..and  all I did was watch and photo the tilling.. I know I need to rest up...My allergies are bothering me a bit  but, once planting begins it will take a full day...