Summer Garden

The sun is scorching hot with temperatures over 100, and so I am amazed that my garden is still alive. The strawberries are a bit sunburned on the edges but they are still producing about 2 quarts a week.

We have several basil planted intermittently

throughout the garden as well as marigolds

to attract the right kind of bugs and

discourage all others.

It seems to be working well.

Tomato and tomatillo plants.

Our Anaheim chilies are doing great.

After we lost all of our squash to borers I

immediately replanted and now we have

6 thriving zucchini plants.

We have not been able to purchase canned

pumpkin for a year in this area and

so I planted a pumpkin patch.

Looks like I will be canning my own pumpkin.
Of course, I couldn't plant pumpkins

without planting some for carving.

I also planted corn.

In fact one of my gardens

is a fall garden with corn, pumpkins,

and miniature sunflowers.

All I need now is a scarecrow.

Our peaches are starting to ripen so it

is time to bring out the nets.

I noticed a few holes in some of the peaches.

I harvested my first grapes of the season.

They are on the small side....

...but they are sweet and delicious.

There are 16 more bunches

just waiting to be eaten.

A Sister

...is a friend forever.

My youngest sister came to visit me this past week. Together we had the most wonderful time. We spent countless hours just visiting and reminiscing. She has an amazing gift of making life enjoyable when she is around by just being herself. We may have been born sisters, but over the years we have become friends.

She brought her son with her to forge a closer relationship with Kendrick. Together they had so much fun, we hardly saw them all week. Hopefully next time the entire family can come.

Friends may come and go over the years,

but family is always there for you.

They are and should be our closest friends.

We are missing you already.

Thank you for visiting!

There is no better friend than a sister.

The View From the Top of the World

Are We Having Fun Yet?

We took Daddy camping for Father's Day weekend at Rose Canyon Lake. It was beautiful weather and so picturesque. I have to admit though that I DO NOT ENJOY camping. In fact I have spent most of my married life avoiding it. I finally relented after 29 years and have gone camping twice in the last year. Do I love it? Not really. As we camped this weekend I kept asking the children teasingly with a big smile on my face, "Are we having fun yet?"

Will I go camping again? Absolutely! I have come to realize over the years that as long as I am with my family then the activity I am doing is worthwhile. I can surely spend a day or two roughing it out in the wilderness just to see the looks on their faces. My only regret is that I did not do it years ago with my older children.

This is the view we enjoyed from our campsite.

Putting up the tent.

First one in.

Our campfire bug preparing the fire.



Ready for bed.

We left the windows open for awhile

to listen to the wind whistling

through the trees.

The lightening of the fire.

The log ride.

It isn't hard to tell what Kendrick

enjoys about camping.

Smookies!

It was really dark by now,

but I took these with a flash.

The most adorable outhouse I

have ever seen.

Rise and Shine.

Off to Rose Lake.

What a wonderful weekend!

Better Watch Out!

After getting ready to go out this morning

and run some errands, Brigitta came up to me and said;

"Mom, I need to go to Target

and do some shopping.

Can I borrow your Debit Card?"

The funniest part is that she was totally serious.

Spectacular

I am enjoying the end of my sunflowers in bloom.

They have a way of brightening up my whole day.

The are absolutely stunning!

Some are starting to droop from the
weight of the seeds that are forming.
In a very short time they will be ready to harvest.

Sweet Whole Wheat Quick Bread

Things have been so difficult these past few months that I have not had a lot of time to cook, nor have I felt like doing so. But that has all changed and I am anxious to get back to the kitchen. I am excited to share many wonderful recipes with you this summer. Hope you enjoy!

This is a great treat that is quick, easy and delicious. It does not require any yeast and is practically foolproof. According to Kendrick, it makes a great peanut butter sandwich.

It slices beautifully!

I make my own buttermilk.

The recipe is at the end of this post.

For 2 loaves:

• 4 Cups of buttermilk
• 2 Cups brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 2 Teaspoons baking soda
• 6 Cups whole wheat flour

Grease 2 loaf pans thoroughly.

Pour buttermilk into a large mixing bowl.

Add sugar and salt. Mix well

Add flour and baking soda.

Stir just until moistened.

You can see the soda and buttermilk already reacting.

Pour into well-greased loaf pans.

Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees

for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Enjoy with whipped butter or cream cheese

with or without jam. It is very sweet on its own

and the brown sugar gives it a wonderful flavor.

Buttermilk

• 1/2 Cup buttermilk (from the store to be used as a starter)
• 1 Cup powdered milk
• 3 Cups warm water

Put warm water and powdered milk into a glass jar. Stir or shake well until mixed. Add buttermilk and mix well. Cover with a lid and let stand on your kitchen counter until mixture clabbers. It usually takes anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. Refrigerate and use within a week. Be sure to save 1/2 cup to replenish your supply. It is as easy as that and beats adding lemon juice or vinegar to milk.