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.

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.

Here are a few pictures of our Danielle, the cat and OZZY the pup. This was something Jared caught a glimps of while we were getting kids off to school this morning.

They were so cute. It looked like Danielle was giving Ozzy a massage as she was gently clawing at his back. He laid there like there was not a care in the world. They have a strange relationship. We have seen Ozzy carry Danielle in his mouth like she had hunted her down, carrying her off like a won prize. Isn't farm life exciting.

Today the older chickens go the boot from the chicken coop. they have stopped laying eggs so the got replaced by the cute little babies.

Growing flowers in the house

I have been feeling like getting my fingers in the dirt for a while and these are some of the pretties that I planted about a month ago. YES! They are in my living room waiting to be moved outside when the weather is a little less out of control.

Desperate Measures

I know it sounds like a broken record but I am sick of the snow. Jared is going to build me a green house but the snow is not leaving, especially in the spot where the green house is supposed to go. So when it warms up this morning I am taking matters in my own hands. I am going to get the back hoe out and push the snow out of MY way. I am pretty sure Jared regrets ever teaching me how to run any of the equipment because I am pretty strong willed and when I set my mind on something I cannot stay focused on anything else.
I have been working on some craft revamps this last week also so I will post some of those soon. I have to keep busy.
I am amazed how clean my house can stay with only one little one at home. It isn't perfect but we are happy and comfortable. Besides I get cranky when it gets even close to dirty so I like it tidy. We have fun in the day but she is a lot easier to clean up after than all 6 of them. (7 if you count Jared)

16 Years!!!

Had a great day with Jared yesterday. It was our 16 Year anniversary. We had to finish up a few things on the water trailer so it can head to the oil fields on Monday but the rest of the day we were able to spend together. We both were fitted for running shoes and then we picked out a tred mill that will be here in about a week. It will be great to be able to run anytime.

I am very lucky to have a great man who still adores me and treats me like his girlfriend, most of the time. I have not held a full time job for over 14 years. He is a amazing provider and a hard worker. I know he would do anything to take care of his family. I love him more now than I did 16 years ago.

Our New Adventure

Last winter we were given the opportunity to sell our investment property. We had dreams of building a house there but knew we should probably take the offer, even knowing we would be losing a huge chunk of money. Our reasoning was that we would get ourselves completely out of debt. With the economy down and building was close to non-existant we decided to cut our losses and sell.

The building business has picked up quite a bit but nothing like we were used to so we decided to take our extra money and invest in a semi and water trailer and put it to work in the oil fields.

Today I am headed to Idaho Falls to pay the final bill on the trailer. Everything has been gone through and all of the parts that could be possible headaches are replaced. We want our drivers to be in a reliable work truck, not one that is breaking down all the time. That is the least we can do for them. They will be working 10-12 hours from home, two weeks on, two weeks off, in the Dakota's or in Wyoming. The money is good so it is worth the inconvienience but still not the ideal situation.

Hopefully the money spent will pay off quickly. Jared and I have been so blessed. Hopefully this will bless the lives of others who have been struggling also. I feel blessings are given to those who give and Jared has a huge heart when it comes to giving. He is a good man and I am grateful he is always giving.

Favorite Homemade Bread

So I have been making homemeade bread for about 2 years now.  I bake 5 loaves once a week and more if I give any away. I am sure I have saved thousands of dollars with the amount of bread our family of 8 goes through.

Here is the recipe:
6 cups warm water
3 T yeast
3 T salt
2 eggs
2 T dough enhancer
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup powdered milk
12-14 cups flour
3/4 c vegetable oil

Mix all ingredients except flour and vegetable oil in mixer ( mine is a bosch) adding 8 cups of flour till sticky then add vegetable oil. Add remaining dough till the dough no longer sticks to sides of the bowl. Mix for 6 minutes on med speed. Let raise for 1 hour. Punch down and divide into 5 loaves. place in greased pans and let raise another 30 minutes or until doubled. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until tops are golden brown. Remove from oven and butter tops.

It doesn't last long around here but I know what is in it and that my kids aren't going to go hungry any time soon. Too bad I am on no sugar still and bread is off my menu.

Girls camp fundraiser

Hailey had a great time at the girls camp fundraiser.  Her dessert made the most money $75.  She was so happy.  Hailey had to be there early and set up.  I helped in the kitchen and watched to serving food to make sure nothing ran out.  I know that she will love girls camp this year.  She has great leaders with strong testimonies.  What an exciting way to build the testimonies of the girls.  I think every girls should get to go to girls camp.  Some of my most spiritual moments while I was young were at girls camp.

Heaven is freezing over! St George is calling my name.

I want to jump back in the car and head South.  It snowed again last night. 

I was hoping that Jared would be able to start on my green house

this weekend but it will be put on the back burner.

I am back on the no sugar diet to see if I can get my sinuses in check.  I am feeling great

and I am down 8 pounds since starting at the beginning of the month.  I am getting a double

bonus out of this one.

We had an awesome time in St. George and learned a lot about some of the

church history. Went camping and caught lizards.  We hiked and biked a ton

while we were down there.  Kody had a spill and the bike got

the best of him.  We all got a little too much sun

but I can honestly say that I loved the feel of a 

slight sun burn.  I was sweet bliss to feel the heat of the sun beating

down on my pastey white skin.  I feel that I can see myself

moving to warmer weather

in the future.

 My Great,(who knows how many times) Grandfather was

Anson Call, (a very close friend to Joseph Smith) and our family has a lot of connections

in the St. George area.  I really love hearing about how strong

our ancestors were.  I love them for their unwavering spirits.

I hope they have passed a little of that down to me.

I am very blessed to have prayers answered.  Tyler has been

 going out with the missionaries a couple of times in the last few weeks.

He is feeling the spirit and I have heard him mention going on a mission

more lately than we have heard in a long time.  He also likes a sweet, fun girl

who would like him to go on a mission.  I can only pray that he will make that decision and

serve.  I know he would love it and grow so much.

Counting Down the Days

So sick of the snow. 

I am counting down the days till'

we head to St George.

Sunshine, 70 degree weather,

riding bikes and

not havning to wear a coat

outside.

Yippeeeeee!!!

I have finally finished Hailey

room makeover. 

It is so her!

Very cheery and bright.

(I may add a cute chandelier

 if I can find one)

Now I am working on the

office/exercise room/craft area.

Pictures to come.

Already repainting when we have only

been in this house 2 1/2 years.

I need more to do.

(more things I like to do I should say)

Shantell and Christian

We were so blessed to watch Shantell and Christian

be baptized yesterday. 

 I love to see people progress

in their testimonies.

  Including my brother

  Had a good day visiting with family.

  I am very blessed to have been given great parents

 who loved me and taught me

that I was loved by my Heavenly Father

and by them. 

 I am grateful.

Wrestling Districts

Our boys had their wrestling

districts this week.  Tyler

and Kody did awesome.  Both will

be going to state this next week.

Tyler took 3rd @ 135

and Kody took 2nd @ 119.

Off to Boise we go to watch the boys.

I am not sure how my life is going to go without

wrestling taking 3/4 of our time.

Hopefully we can enjoy the rest of this

 crazy winter.  Got 32 new inches at Targhee in

the last 24 hours.

Valentines Dance

Tonight Tyler and Kody are going

 to the last home bb game and then

 to the Valentines Dance.  It feels wierd to have two

 boys in high school.  I know the

wrinkles are starting to show but I want

 to be young forever.

Maybe tomorrow I will be able to post pics

of some things I have

been working on.

(Halloween Decor)

(I know it is sooo far away)

Senoir Night

Tomorrow night will be senoir night for the wrestlers.  I can't

belive that this is it for Tyler.  It is hard to believe that he has wrestled

for 14 years and that this is the last year.(unless he is like Jared)  I have

enjoyed watching him grow and learn.  You cannot build character better

than on a wrestling mat.

We have districts next week and State after that.

I think both boys should place at districts and

I think they both could place at state. 

I know that the biggest part is mental

and if they can get through that then

they will do well.

Jared left this morning for work in California.

I don't like thinking that he will be gone for

a while.  He will be home for districts

 and state and then off again.

I still am not able to log into my blogger

account on my laptop but I will have to

get some photos on this computer so

 I can show what I have been up

to lately.