Tuesday, September 27, 2011
September Morning
How amazing is that. This is the view I get to wake up to every morning. Beautiful fields and majestic mountains.
Not surprising that our kids love this place too. We have been planning a trip over fall break to go to Glacier Park. When our kids have the choice to go to Glacier or to stay around here and camp and ride horses, they choose to stay and enjoy our own back yard view. It is truly a magical place to live.
Monday, September 26, 2011
More canning
One of my memories of canning with my Mom is making cinnamon pickles, 
never knowing how much hard work really went into them. They are about a 5 day process and take up a lot of room in the kitchen for that amount of time too.
They are well worth the effort and the much needed space in the kitchen.
I have also finished another batch of bread and butter pickles and a few more jars of dill pickles.
I sometimes think that time is just flying by. Kody is getting his drivers license and will now be able to do some of the running. It will be very nice to have a little more time to get things done. If I make a trip to town it seems like the day is half over and I don't feel like starting projects half way through the day. It will be stressfull but convienient at the same time.
The new business is doing well and Jared has a few chinking jobs that should keep him busy for a while. I know we are extrememly blessed to have work and be financially free. Makes the stress level somewhat bearable. I am very gratefull for a husband who gets his hands dirty and provides for his family.
never knowing how much hard work really went into them. They are about a 5 day process and take up a lot of room in the kitchen for that amount of time too.
They are well worth the effort and the much needed space in the kitchen.
I have also finished another batch of bread and butter pickles and a few more jars of dill pickles.
I sometimes think that time is just flying by. Kody is getting his drivers license and will now be able to do some of the running. It will be very nice to have a little more time to get things done. If I make a trip to town it seems like the day is half over and I don't feel like starting projects half way through the day. It will be stressfull but convienient at the same time.
The new business is doing well and Jared has a few chinking jobs that should keep him busy for a while. I know we are extrememly blessed to have work and be financially free. Makes the stress level somewhat bearable. I am very gratefull for a husband who gets his hands dirty and provides for his family.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
More Summer pics
We have spent a lot of time with Hailey at Volleyball. The season only lasted about 5 weeks but it was a lot of fun watching these girls.
The first day of school pic, of course.
This year the flowers have been beautiful. I still have some bed that are in need of some plants but I will seed them this fall and see what I come up with for next year.
I know this will not last long the leaves on the squash plants all got frosted last night.
This weeks project is cinnamon pickles and the craft room/exercise room/office. Sound like a big project. Believe me....it is HUGE!
The first day of school pic, of course.
This year the flowers have been beautiful. I still have some bed that are in need of some plants but I will seed them this fall and see what I come up with for next year.
I know this will not last long the leaves on the squash plants all got frosted last night.
This weeks project is cinnamon pickles and the craft room/exercise room/office. Sound like a big project. Believe me....it is HUGE!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Summer gardening
I am loving the great experience I have had gardening this year. I have canned beets and pickled, stewed and italian stewed tomatoes, hot and mild salsa, bread and butter, dill pickles, raspberry jam, pepper jelly, and relish. Still need to do green beans, cinnamon pickles and dill pickles but I am enjoying seeing all the pretty bottles of food going into the storage room.
Here is what the green house is looking like these days. I still have tomatoes that are rippening and the pickles are growing huge, for cinnamon pickles, and then some for dill pickles. The basil is ready to pick again to make pesto. The okra I am not sure what to do with but the flowers are pretty amazing. I am hoping to get enough peppers still to can some jalepenos and some chilis and possible make another couple of batches of salsa. The celery is turning out better than I expected. I asked around on the technique on how to grow celery and from what I understand people just don't grow it. I will be storing it in the dark storage room over the winter and hoping it will continue to grow next year.
The lady bugs have been a huge help this year. I had a pretty obnoxious aphid problem and brought in 5000 lady bugs. Problem solved! They have migrated outside and around the neighborhood but with so many of them around, when I see aphids on anything I pick up a handful of my little helpers and the problem is taken care of. The pepper plants and the brussel sprouts were the worst. I have learned a lot but feel like this years harvest is quite successful.
All in all I have no doubt in my mind everyone around this area needs a green house. Mine has made a huge difference. Never have I canned this much in one year. Hopefully more canning to come still. There are also a few things I won't be planting in the green house next year. #1 no zucchinni, melons or squash. they take over and have to be trimmed every couple of days just so they don't smother out other plants #2 I will start my corn in the green house but then I will transplant it outside. It is too hard for a shorty like me to polinate the plants so often and the corn dust was very harsh on the alergies.
Here is what the green house is looking like these days. I still have tomatoes that are rippening and the pickles are growing huge, for cinnamon pickles, and then some for dill pickles. The basil is ready to pick again to make pesto. The okra I am not sure what to do with but the flowers are pretty amazing. I am hoping to get enough peppers still to can some jalepenos and some chilis and possible make another couple of batches of salsa. The celery is turning out better than I expected. I asked around on the technique on how to grow celery and from what I understand people just don't grow it. I will be storing it in the dark storage room over the winter and hoping it will continue to grow next year.
The lady bugs have been a huge help this year. I had a pretty obnoxious aphid problem and brought in 5000 lady bugs. Problem solved! They have migrated outside and around the neighborhood but with so many of them around, when I see aphids on anything I pick up a handful of my little helpers and the problem is taken care of. The pepper plants and the brussel sprouts were the worst. I have learned a lot but feel like this years harvest is quite successful.
All in all I have no doubt in my mind everyone around this area needs a green house. Mine has made a huge difference. Never have I canned this much in one year. Hopefully more canning to come still. There are also a few things I won't be planting in the green house next year. #1 no zucchinni, melons or squash. they take over and have to be trimmed every couple of days just so they don't smother out other plants #2 I will start my corn in the green house but then I will transplant it outside. It is too hard for a shorty like me to polinate the plants so often and the corn dust was very harsh on the alergies.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Woops!
I sure have been a slacker at posting. I have loved all the warm weather we have enjoyed this summer. The green house has made a huge difference in the amount of food I have been able to can, compared to years in the past. We have played and worked hard. Here are a few pics to tell a little about what we have been up to.
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