Spectacular Escape

I couldn't pass up these opportunities to capture  Beauty at its best. The first two photos  are the skyline Sunday evening  from our back patio porch.

Tuesday,  we decided to go to Crescent Lake to camp for a few days. The weather was really nice and warm and after we set up our camp in this prestine setting I took these shots.

 As we were breaking camp yesterday morning I spotted these "Common Meganzers" swimming past our campsite...

Truely a great three days, We spent a lot of time on the lake fishing  and cruising (although we didn't catch even one fish). Enjoyed the time in the sun and fresh air, leaving at home  our stressors. Truely a great escape don't you agree....? This coming weekend we head to Washington State for a week. I will post more pictures when I return of that trip.

Wildlife at Blue Sky

As long as we have lived here at BlueSkyFarm, (this is our third summer.) I still feel amazed when I see the wildlife that resides here and the many migrating birds that stop to drink from our small pond. The deer are my favorite I think.

This morning as I sat on  the front patio I was greeted with a pair of does and their fawns grazing just to the side of the pond.  By the time I got my camera, One mama & her baby wandered into the near by juniper trees, but I did get this photo of the other pair.

Yesterday, we spotted this Egret perched absove the pond where it ate small fish that swim in the water. It is a great place here, just to sit quietly and enjoy our small piece of Heaven dont you think?

A calm morning to fish

But nobody told the fish to come nibble on our bait.. No fish for dinner tonight.. But Look how nice the water was.


This was Busters spot to be on the boat.... He had to keep an eye out on any possible sighting

... Later  after lunch at the lodge, we took him to another close lake ( after the wind blew us again off the Odell Lake.) He loved chasing sticks at Crescent Lake. It is only about 3 miles from Odell.. We are so lucky to live near so many great lakes.  We will head home  after another attempt at fishing in the morning.. Folks here say that the wind will kick up again around noon and the whitecaps will reappear.. A good time for us to say goodbye for this trip...... But a tent- camping adventure awaits us at Crescent in afew weeks....

Odell Lake Lodge

Clay & I decided to take a couple days & go fishing at Odell lake. We have passed this Lake many times on our way to Portland, never stayed here. We booked a couple nights in a cabin here overlooking the lake on the east side. This is the view from our rustic cabin at 1Pm right after we returned from our first attempt to catch that BIG fish. We Didn't catch anything but decided to have lunch and return. To our surprise the wind came up and spoiled our plans. Those are whitecaps on this beautiful lake.

We will give it another go tomorrow. In the mean time we will sit back & relax, read a book and enjoy the quiet of the evening.

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My veggie garden

The two variety Beets and 2 variety Potatoes are growing well..  a few   sunflowers and 3 varieties of pepper plants. 6 tomato plants with nice size tomatos on them.. Lettuce and peas. This is all I planted and with our beautiful watm weather they are looking very good don't ya think? I have a few herbs planted as well Basil & rosemary, parsley and thyme. I am happy this year with just this amount. Leaves me free to have fun this summer with little garden maintence.

Entertaining the grandkids

How much more fun could they have? I do hope these past few days have imprinted good deposits in the boys "fun at grandpa & grandpa's memory bank"They have returned to their own home today and although a long hot drive they will be glad to be home to their own summer routine of play and preparation for the upcoming football season. Their Mom is so dedicated to keeping them involved in sports programs. I do not know where she gets the energy...

Buster and I are exhausted.

Keeping a 9 year old grandson

After seven days this becomes a challenge to keep Peyton entertained. He Brought along his scooter and since our weather changed to Summer he enjoyed playing in the sprinkler to cool off.  We went out to the lake yesterday and he fished, and drove the boat. We filled the refrigerator with food he likes. Fish Sticks, Brocolli, cheese sticks, apples, kiwi. Mac & Cheese. ( any form of  salad? No way). Every trip to the grocery store we manage to pass ( directly) the bakery for him to get a "free cookie" and I managed to steer him away from the candy aisle. (Ok I did give in to some gummy bears and red vines.) Some cheese & cracker snacks and a box of animal crackers. A box of frozen fudgebars and a small container of ice cream. He has been a real delight. Of course we have to keep the wii game available and plenty of unsugared drinks. His bedtime routine was altered since he is here, bedtime is 10 pm and he reads for about 10 minutes and falls a sleep until 9am. I find it amazing how he is able to play his brothers PSP ( btw thats short for "play station portable " and he also brought along a DSI but I have no idea what that stands for).

He earned some money helping grandpa & me so he was able to add a few dollars to his own cash and he spent $39.99 on a Pokeman game that he had to have.. Surprised that Gramma let him use his own money..Well he would have liked me to pay for it but I held my purse strings tightly. What happened to the simple games we used to play, Yatzee, Monopoly, Uno, or even Dominoes?  He brought along a camera ( took 3 pix) a circle a word book and 2 reading books..
He has begged me to play "Clue" tonight because he found it  among a few "old games" in the cupboard. So I guess thats what I will be doing later....He has been a joy to have visit but thank goodness his mom and little brother will be here by the weekend.. I will be ready for a rest come Monday morning.  Of course the house will be quiet again & we will definately notice.

A great time then & Now

Well I made it home at last... it was a great trip... Charles Nash VanderHouwen was so cute. He is 20 months and growing so fast and learning so much. I sure wish he didn't live so far away.  Dennis & Michelle have moved into a perfect home for them.  I will post pictures later with our Fourth Of July weekend with Peyton 9 year old grandson who came home with me for a visit. Company coming for the next few days so we will be busy.

Oh! We have babies!!!

They are here! I was fixing dinner when Clay came to tell me tonight that "We are proud parents of 5 babies." I grabbed the camera and hurried out to the pond.. But mama had already gathered the babes together and was in the cattails hiding. I was disappointed but determined to snap a picture. Came inside  ate my dinner quickly and returned to where he said he saw her.

I parked myself in a chair and waited quietly. All of a sudden the  daddy duck made a circular pass of the pond and flew in.. Landed, swam around in a circle, bathed and quacked..and  

    Here they came out of the rushes..
     1, 2, 3, 4, 5 .........

but wait look closely not 5 but  6  Babies

Before mama introduced the babies to daddy, I observed an  amazing behavior.  As I sat there Daddy duck swam over to another part of the pond and started quacking Very angrily and loudly. Then I saw  another hen was swimming there and he actually chased her out of the pond and around the side of the pond before she flew away...I don't know if he was threatened by her or was protecting his new babies..

Watching these babies grow is going to be a favorite pastime now for sure.... I don't even want to think about the day they fly on.

Can you come along?

It was so pretty today, A fabulous  Blue sky & sunshine day.  After our hard work yesterday we decided to take a break & head out for the forest. I snapped a few shots  to share. So pick up a walking stick , there are lots laying on the ground  and follow me for a while. The scenery is beautiful.  I am  sure it's finally Spring.

Here's a path to follow..The trees are so sure getting tall.  I love the smells of the forest, clean fresh, definately a woodsy scent.

We are almost at the bridge crossing the creek.. The water is rushing quickly from the melting snow.

Keep coming there is an Awesome view of Mt McLaughlin just around the bend.

Now wasn't that a great way to get some exercise? I hope you will come along with me on another day.  

Found it, Hauled it, Painted it...

Well it took some muscle and a lot of persuading but Here it is.. My vision of a great entry to Blue sky Farm from the road.
I found it in the field next door covered with wire, weeds & a ton of dirt. I begged yeah , begged my fabulous husband to just "Please come take a look~see  and to visualize it at the entrance to the property with the flowers tumbling out of the old bathtub ( we already had placed there.) He finally gave in and we drug the monster out of the field, up our road . Man it was H e a v y....It was really ugly & a  rusty red but with a couple cans of Flat black spray paint It looks  just as I pictured..It is 10 feet long with plenty more room to hang more baskets, old tins,  flowers, and more.. I can picture it with Lights  strung at Christmas and a Scarecrow for the fall can you? It made my day....

Who's minding the nest?

It appears Mr. Mallard swimming, eating &  taking it easy, while Mrs. Mallard sits on the eggs doing the mom bit right?

... But wait.. here's the nest with nobody home sitting for these "egg- lets"... seems mama decided to take a bath, eat and exercise a bit too... I had to go take aother peek..I wondered  how the eggs would stay warm & safe, and found  

The nest was totally covered with feathers.. Mama did a great  job of conceiling these eggs,.,. I carefully removed the top layer of feathers and there they were.. I counted 7 maybe 8 covered the nest after taking the photo and returned to the pond where I found both ducks happy taking a break.. I think this is going to be a nice family.... soon..and Daddy is hanging around waiting for the big day..... He's got babysitting to do when they hatch....or does she not get a break then too?

Rainy day surprises

Okay.. Its either sit home & watch the rain fall or get in the car and take a day trip to the mountains  in the rain..  You can guess what I did.. We packed our lunch stuff and off we drove. Headed south towards Medicine Lake in Calif. We  almost made it in to the lake but that white cold stuff stopped us frrom getting through  about 5 miles from the Lake entrance.

Taking another road we came to this clearing.. well sort of a clearing.. clouds & mountains in the background and the rain started pouring. Still a pretty drive.  I snapped that  photo and happened to look down and saw this beautiful Morrell Mushroom peeking through the fauna. I picked a few for breakfast.

We will return in a month to enjoy the fishing on the lake but that will be another day.  Once we got home  Another surprise waited me. 

You see a few days ago I was walking in the field and up on grassy hill where Buster had come upon the nest of the female  mallard that has been swimming in the pond. I was sure he had scared her off. I saw her nest was there hidden with at a dozen eggs left unattended. Fearful  and fretting  now for two days that he had scared her away for good. I slowly walked back up there (with my camera  just in case) to check when I saw the Drake fly to the pond...I was delighted  to see right back there doing her mom  to be thing..sitting quietly. Now I can't wait to see how many babies hatch.. Oh yes.. Many surprises today... Plus the deer had not touched the flowers inthe tub....

Rub a Dub Dub...

Yes, those are Petunias planted in the old bath tub. . See their pretty red, purple, yellow & white faces. When they get settled into their new home some with grow tall and reach for the sun while the rest will grow to overflowing and  cascade down over the sides.. Well, that is what I hope they do... They will look pretty no matter where they decide to flow from the bathtub at the top of our property driveway..don't ya think? The rain was starting to sprink just as I finished planting.. so they will get an extra drink of water today & possible tonight to help make them happy  there..Now lets hope the deer will continue to ignore them.. so far so good, as some of the lower plants have been there all week....just waiting for these beauties to show up. I really do love Petunias! Now I need some marigolds to plant in the back garden. I bought tomato plants today  too & will set them out  maybe Sunday..as the weather is to warm up and dry out a bit next week... we shall see....

Taking it off slowly

Two week weigh in today and I must toot my own horn. I have lost 7 pounds and  2 inches off my waist..
The cleansing diet  has been worth it! Now, I get to add a few carbs back  into my menu.. I never thought a small potato  could taste so good. It is said that a goal written down is more achieveable and shared with others is very beneficial..So I have laid it out my friends.. I am Ready, willing and doing it!
I have more to lose and I am aware it will take perserverance  and determination, but with the recipes I have at my fingertips now and added fruits & vegetables my goal will be within reach. Anyone trying to lose a few pounds can relate.
Now with more fruits & nuts I will be in heaven.. cherries, melons, berries, apricots, plums apples, pears, peaches .. Yum, and  all the vegetables I want..cooked, steamed, roasted.. no peas, carrots or corn .. yet however...but  These fruits  and vegetables will be fresh in season  soon in my garden and at the  Saturday Market place. I will be posting a few new recipes for dressings, crock pot meals & more over in the kitchen where "this hens a cookin". Drop by,  Pull up a chair and celebrate with me as I continue drinking those 8 glasses of water.. Gee, It feels  Good to get into those "too tight jeans.."

The Project begins at last!

The day has come.... with a tiny bit of rain... The project is underway.

We have worked with a local landscape & Nursery to beautify our homesite. 25 trees, bark &  evergreen shrubs going in.. a drip water system and some flowering shrubs and I probably won't remember the names of everything ..some will not bloom until next spring but the folage will be green for summer & turn fall colors in the Autum. I will post more as they continue....

Potatoes, Peas & Beets

 Well the day has ended and this farmgirl is "pooped".  Clay & I went ahead and planted the potatoes, peas & beets just before dinner... Will  get tomato and Pepper plant starts next week... It sure feels good but I am exhausted.. Soaked in the tub  while dinner was cooking . Thanks to my wonderful husband for  grilling the meat & veggies tonihgt...now Dishes done and a movie awaits... Sure wish I could have some popcorn... Nah.. I feel fine with fruit...Baked  Apple anyone?
Then nightie night for me.....Until tomorrow...

Gated garden ~ Finally ready to plant

The girls were unhappy I had chased them out of the garden area today. We finished fencing  & put a gate at the entrance by my potting  bench and thats the end where their studio also is, and easy access to give them garden clippings as the vegetables begin to grow. We  have to keep them out now that we are ready to plant potatoes, beets, peppers, peas.  They will get plenty of the garden goodies as I weed and

they have plenty of area to roam & snatch up those yummy bugs & grubs chickens love. The earthworms in the garden are mine for now. As you can see 3 left and headed out to the field next door and these three hung around just incase mama left the gate open.. Sorry chickies "It's just Not  happening".