Summer ~ Fishing ~ Homemade Bread

There is so much pretty-ness this time of year.  Our flowers are all enjoying the bright sun and the cool breeze.  Hollyhocks ~ Clematis ~ Roses and the Sunflowers are growing so fast you can almost stand there and watch them getting taller .... I know why they are called Sunflowers.  The top leaves of the plants face the sun all day long ~ in the morning they are facing East and by evening they are facing West.  Such smart little fellers . . .

Some of the original seeds didn't want to come up so the smaller plants were replanted a few weeks ago.

We are enjoying our grandkiddos for two weeks and as always we went to the lake and the park for some play time.  Papa and Grandson #1 were skipping rocks until this cute little family swam by . . . we watched them for the longest time.  It seems that mama was showing off her brood to all the visitors at the lake.  She made sure to swim right along the shore line ~ the fishermen reeled in their line, the walkers stopped to look ~ everyone was interested in her little family.  So Cute!

Hubby and I had a hankerin' for Sourdough Bread.  So I went shopping online at The King Arthur Flour Company and decided to order the sourdough starter, both kinds ~ the quick easy starter and the slow-feed-me-every-day-make-a-commitment-to-me starter.  A dear friend agreed to make the quick starter and I made the slow starter bread and then we compared loaves.  The flavor and texture of both loaves were wonderful, almost identical!!!   But we both kinda like the slow starter so that we can share starter with friends and family.  It only lasted for two days here at home ~ nothing better than fresh baked bread.

More About Feathered Friends ~

I found this birdhouse at a country gift shop . . . it's a little rough around the edges but fits in quite nicely around home.  I like anything handmade!

Posing for this picture is one of our Acorn Woodpeckers and it's our first year having them.  As their name implies .. they depend on acorns and other nuts for survival.  We have several oak trees in our yard which explains why they like us!  They live in small colonies which consist of up to five males, one or two females and up to a dozen juveniles from previous years with all members helping to raise the new babies.  They are very vocal, giving a loud, nasal "wheka-wheka-wheka" call.  

Granddaughter #2 catching her very first fish . . . all by herself . . . no help from Papa.  She actually caught two on this fishing trip.  Her big brother caught five but even so ~ she was tough to live with after that.  We are so proud of them both!

What good is the warmth of summer,

without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.

                                                                                                ~  John Steinbeck

Bathing Beauty

Our bathing beauty ... granddaughter #2.  When you live where it's hot and I mean today it was around 105 ... you tend to frolic around the swimming pool as much as possible.  Love this picture!!

Her blessed parents!!

There is something about Audrey Hepburn that will live on forever in the hearts and minds of beautiful women ~ When I need inspiration I look to her words of wisdom for that little pick-me-up ... 

 Be Silly ~ Be Kind ~ Be Honest . . .

Family Fun ..

We have been spoiled the last two weekends with visits from Sons #1 and #2 along with our grandkids. It's been fun enjoying the sunshine and the warm temperatures here in God's country ~ we enjoy sitting outside and catching up on life's ups and downs.  We even ventured out to the lake for some fishing.  It's a good thing it's called fishing and not "catching" ~ between the 5 of us we came up with one tiny little fish that our granddaughter reeled in for Papa.  Glad we had other plans for dinner ...

After fishing we cruised on down the road to the park where we found this interesting teeter totter shaped like an airplane.

Siesta Time

Awww ~ such beauty here in God's Country!  Here are pictures of the Little Colorado River as it meanders through northeastern Arizona.  It is a beautiful little babbling brook ~ looks like a perfect picnic place to me.  Don't ya think?

 

Mom spends her summers in this area and this cute little outhouse has it right . . . DANGER BEAR AREA.  She has experienced several bears up close and personal over the years.  The first encounter we all remember well ...  after a trip to the local market she was bringing the groceries into the cabin, one bag in each arm.  She heard a snorting sound by the back door and she turned around to find a bear with it's nose at the screen door.  She slammed the door closed with her foot and Mr. Bear looked up at her casually and then moseyed down the porch steps and off into the forest.  Thank the Good Lord for that.  I guess he wasn't hungry at the time ...

My front porch reminder . . .

It's a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do.

                                                    ~  Walter Winchell

Summer Projects

As promised ... pictures of the sheep shearing day of fun.  It was a little rough this year because our master shearer was not available.  She is from southern Arizona and couldn't make the trip up north.  And with the weather heating up into the 80's the girls were terribly uncomfortable and we didn't feel they could wait even another week.   It all worked out ~ they are cool and cute but it was a long and drawn-out process for them and for us.  Happy it's behind us now.

Peanut

Two of the girls showing off their pretty little figures and looking a bit shy about this  ~  I think they each lost about 5+ pounds of wool.  They are looking at me as if to say "What now Mom, please will you leave us alone"  . . .  poor kids.

Peanut and Dottie

I decided to paint this old wooden bench to match our patio chairs.  It still needs another coat of paint but so far it's looking okay ~ much better than before.  I like the summery colors!!

This is always a fun time of year . . getting the bicycles out, airing up the tires and giving them a good shine!  We have some great bike paths within a few miles of home where we can enjoy a nice ride ... and get a little exercise too.  Here is daughter-in-law #2 on a warm up ride.  She is looking cute & a little sassy ... don't ya think?  There is something about this bicycle that just makes you feel good.

There is much happening here at our house.  We have baby birds everywhere from Mexican Blue Jays to Orioles.  We can always tell when we approach a nest ... the mama birds chase us around letting us know we are in their territory and instructing us to GO AWAY.  I've tried to get pictures of the babies at the feeders or even in the nest ... but no luck so far.

Mexican Blue Jay

Oriole

The sunflowers are beginning to peak through the dirt ~ so excited to watch as they grow up nice and tall toward the sunshine.  We also are seeing the squash, cucumbers and tomatoes coming up.  Nothing better than fresh veges ...

The Art of Being Wise is Knowing What to Overlook.

                                                                                         ~ William James


Happy Rest of the Week!

Happy Birthday!

Tomorrow is a special day .... Granddaughter #1 is celebrating her 5th birthday.  Oh how time flies by.  Here is one of my favorite pictures of the two of us.  Even though she was about 2 years old here ... to me it seems like yesterday.  This quote by Brian Andreas sums it up ....

"Are you a princess? I said ... 

and she said I'm much more than a princess,

but you don't have a name for it yet,

here on Earth."

Happy Birthday My Sweet Girl !!

Here is what I found in the chicken coop a few days ago.  I think one of our wild birds tried out the cushy nesting boxes.  Either that or someone is laying down on the job ....  kind of a cute little egg but not good for eating ~ 

Happy Monday ... be encouraging!

Christmas Table Runner, Sunflowers & Our Marines

I finally finished this project.  So excited!!  If I am completely honest ... this pattern has been waiting for my attention for a long time.  I started working on it last year in hopes of finishing for Christmas 2012.  Well, I just finished it!!!  So hey ~ instead of being late for last year .... it will be early for next.  I think it's a cutie ...

Since the weather has been so pretty ~ sunny and warm ~ we have been doing lots of fun things outside.  Last year I wasn't able to plant our sunflowers and have been so anxious to get them in the ground.  Here is where the seeds are planted, hopefully getting all warm and cozy in the dirt ..... just wait ~ you won't believe how big these beauties get.  The lavender bushes are in the foreground.  They have been through a tough winter with no protection from the snow.  But every year they come back and provide sweet fragrance and pretty flowers for us. 

Prayers Please!!  This is our #3 son on his first tour of Afghanistan.  He will be headed back for his 2nd tour sometime in September.  We couldn't be more proud of him and what his commitment means to our great country and to our family.  But as a concerned Mom and Dad, we are always hopeful that our men and women will all be home safe and sound from that region .... soon.

His twin sister is also proudly serving our country.  Yes, really!!  She is stationed in Okinawa and just returned from an exercise in South Korea.  She is happy to be back in Japan.  

Encourage each other ... every day!

New Puppy!

We recently adopted a new pound puppy .... she came with the name Lacey.  It's amazing to me how lucky we are with adopting pups, they have each been really good girls.  Lacey's big sisters are sweet Molly, 5 years old, a retriever mix and Abby, our matriarch who is 12 years old, a most precious rottweiler.  Molly and Lacey have turned out to be best buddies ... the first couple days were interesting as they were barking out orders to each other.  I would imagine in doggie talk it would be something about who really is the boss and who Mom likes the best and get away this is my bed . . . . I can just imagine how the conversation must have gone.  All this while Abby looked on with confidence ... our proud gal.  She doesn't look too proud in this picture but this is her favorite position ... asking for a tummy scratch!  Sometimes I wonder where we would be without our pups.  They bring us so much joy and happiness  ....  not to mention their unconditional love!

Abby

Molly

Lacey

 Hubby found this sign somewhere .... don't ya love it!  

Hooray!!  This is the 1st year out 7 years that we have big beautiful blossoms on our apple trees.  We are so excited for apples ~ finally ~ and we are praying that the cold weather is over.  Each year the blossoms have come out and within a week or so the weather turns and they freeze and fall off.  We are babying the trees with plenty of water .... and so far they seem to be holding up.

Be like the flower, turn your face to the sun.

                                                                   ~ Kahlil Gibran