Little Britches...Father and I Were Ranchers by Ralph Moody

"Son, there is no question but what the thing you have done today deserves severe punishment. You might have killed yourself on the horse, but much worse that that, you have injured your own character. A man's character is like his house. If he tears boards off his house and burns them to keep himself warm and comfortable, his house soon becomes a ruin. If he tells lies to be able to do the things he should not do but wants to, his character will soon become a ruin. A man with a ruined character is a shame on the face of the earth."

The boys and I are reading Little Britches. 

Ralph Moody was eight years old in 1906 when his family moved from New Hampshire to a Colorado ranch. Through his eyes we experience the pleasure and perils of ranching there early in the twentieth century. Auctions, and roundups, family picnics, irrigation wars, tornadoes, and a wind storms give authentic color to Little Britches. 

And this morning, the boys dressed up like cowboys and went out to play Little Britches.

 

Watermelon

Yummy! We tried dehydrating watermelon a couple years ago. We were heading to Montana and wanted some healthy snacks for the road trip. YUM! It did not last long. My boys asked if we would make it again this summer.

Slice melon 1/2 inch thick...place on your drying racks. Set your temperature at 130 degrees to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It will take 8 to 20 hours to dry. I sample a few as the drying time goes on. If the texture is good and the crunch is right...I call it good. I store my dehydrated melon in a air tight zip lock bag. It does not last long....I have two hungry boys!

Dehydrated melon makes a perfect snack for road trips, camping and for any ol' time.

 

Funny on Sunday

The boys...trying to teach little B American History.

My $0.02 Worth

As you all know, I am a baseball fan. I love listening to the Milwaukee Brewers on the radio. Many of you may of heard the news about  Milwaukee Brewers player Ryan Braun.

 My two cents worth today is about, Ryan Braun.

I am disappointed in the fact he lied for so long about the situation he was in. 

He has a 100 MILLION $ contract with the Brewers. 

He has fans of all ages. The ones that really get hurt are the young fans who look up to his talent

. 

"Mom, he was a good player, why did he have to use drugs?"

Our daily devotion helped us talk about all that happened and I would like to share it with you.

Yes, we know we are not perfect people. We will be praying for Ryan Braun. I am not sure he even believes in our Lord, but we are praying he will find Jesus through this.

 What is Your Name Worth?

Companies do everything possible to build a good name for themselves so people will buy their products. The best way to build their brand name is to make good products. The surest way to get a bad name is to produce junk. The same is true for us. A good name is more desirable than riches, because a good name is the key to riches-and all kinds of success. If you have a reputation for being honest, respectful and hard working, people will come to you when they have a job that needs to be done.

But the quickest way to ruin your name is to be sassy, or to lie, cheat or steal to get ahead. Wreck your name with that sort of behavior and it is hard to repair the damage. So protect your name with your life. Work at building up a good name and success will surely come.

On the Road Friday...The Grain Bin Market and Bakery

 The Grain Bin Market and Bakery is located on our way to Menomonie off of HWY 25 turn right on County Road FF. The Grain Bin is a truly unique shopping experience.

If you are on your way to Wisconsin...try to make The Grain Bin a place to stop.

The store is full of bulk foods, organic, natural and gluten free food items, specialty coffee and tea. 

And if you are a quilter...it also has fabric and quilting books.

 Some of the goodies we brought home. YUMMY!

Thank you for coming a long with me today. And click here for more information regarding The Grain Bin Market and Bakery.

Have a fun weekend.

The Wright Brothers Pioneers of American Aviation

We just finished reading, The Wright Brothers. I highly recommend reading this amazing story. I had no idea about the relationship the brothers had with their mother. Get comfortable and enjoy one of the most amazing and life changing inventions in American history!

LOVE

Happy Wedding Day!

Happy Wedding Day!

 Happy Wedding Day

Our Youth Pastor shared such a sweet story with me this week while working VBS.

His older brother will be getting married this week. And he shared with me, his brother's girl just about got away.

He is a hunter, trapper, outdoors kind of guy. He kinda thought he would be happy with just that. Well, he had his eyes on a girl, she was fun and he liked her. But he thought hunting, trapping and the outdoors would keep him happy.

Another fella caught how pretty and fun this young lady was. He came calling. 

Needless to say, hunting, trapping and the outdoors are all great fun...but a lot more fun shared with someone you love.

His brother quickly "trapped" his girl.

Our Youth Pastor was so full of love for his brother sharing this story with me. I just loved every moment of it!

Unique cards available at Studio 206!

Have a great week!

Team Kitchen...VBS 2013 Athens...exploring some of the adventures the Apostle Paul faced.

 Last week Atticus and I worked in the kitchen for our VBS. We had a great time. I wanted to share the snacks we served. VBS 2013 Athens...so we had a few fun Greek foods. Sam helped tell the story... exploring some of  the adventures the Apostle Paul faced.  The name of the above snack is Abundance and Share, it was the favorite of the week.

 

Greek Salad .... Black olive:sin  Tomato: Jesus blood  Feta cheese: white as snow Cucumber: new life

Scroll Snack

Paul's Pretzel Prison Snacks

Greek Yogurt Cucumber with Goldfish

 

 

On the Road Friday....Dog Days of Summer

I think we are all  on this trip together! We had a HOT week in Northwest Wisconsin this week. How about you?

 Ever wonder, what are the dog days of summer?

That is my dog, Molly...she is enjoying Wisconsin Point, Lake Superior.

Back to the dog days. According to "The Curious Team" at Cornell University's astronomy department, ancient Egyptians called Sirius - the brightest star in the sky - the dog star after their god Osirus.

The dog star rises and sets with the sun during certain times of the year(called conjunction) because this bright star was in the sky at the same time as the sun, ancient people argued it was responsible for the summer heat by adding its heat to the sun's heat.

They called the time frame from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of the sun and dog star the "dog days of summer" because it coincidentally fell during the hottest time of the year.

Of course we know better! Right?!

Enjoying the dog days of summer with you.

Stay Cool my friends.

 

July Garden Tips

July Garden Tips

 The Old Farmer's Almanac website lists more than 50 tips for tending gardens and plants in July. I will share a few:

Do not fertilize trees and shrubs after mid-July because the new growth will not harden off in time to avoid any winter damage.

Be sure to keep weeding, and replenish mulch if necessary; weeds will compete with your plants to use up nutrients and water.

July is a good time to add compost or cow manure to rhubarb and asparagus beds. Water deeply.

Feed roses in mid-July to encourage more flowering.

Lightly fertilize long-season plants such as onions, tomatoes and peppers to encourage growth.

Pinch back mint, oregano and savory to promote bushier growth.

Do not water melons at the base of stems, which can cause rot.

Build up some soil around the stems to keep water away.

Harvest summer squash when it is young and tender, about 8 inches.

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to a special couple...my parents.

This weekend we helped them celebrate 40 years of marriage.

 

Last week I was sent this sweet video, it is only 3 minutes. I hope you can take a moment to watch it. It is so sweet and full of love. And made me think of my own marriage. What a special gift it is, to married to my best friend.

 

 

The first time you kissed me...time stopped!

 

 

 

Happily ever after was just the beginning.

 

 We also celebrated two fun birthdays, my aunt Sally who turned 60 and my uncle Paul who turned 70.

We enjoyed one big party and celebrated so many good things.

Yay!

I hope you all had great weekends.

Man's Best Friend

 One of our Best Selling cards.

This sweetheart is Zeus, he is my sisters dog.

 

Rooster...he has a face that is for sure to make someone smile and feel loved.

Check out all our cards at our Shop, just click here 

 

 

A Faithful Dog

A Faithful Dog will play with you and laugh with you - or cry.

He will gladly starve to stay with you and never reason why.

When you are feeling out of sorts somehow he will understand.

He will watch you with his shinning eyes and try to lick your hand. 

His blind, implicit faith in you is matched by his great love.

The kind that all of us should have in the Master up above.

When everything is said and done I guess this isn't odd for when you spell DOG backwards you get the name of GOD. 

 

Atticus and a strawberry picking story

Yesterday I asked if any of you would like to share a strawberry picking story. My son Atticus has one. Sit back and enjoy a good laugh.

Atticus was in 2nd grade when this strawberry picking story happened. We live close to a Somalian community. Most of the women wear headscarves.

We also live in a County with many Amish farmers.

We arrive at the strawberry patch and load the bus to take us out to the patch. Several young Somalian women also join us.

Once out in the patch we get busy picking. Atticus is busy picking and eating berries. He does not take notice that the Somalian women fill their buckets and leave.

In the mean time, some Amish women get off the bus and start to pick berries.

Atticus pokes his head up and looks around. He says to me,"Mom, when did the pilgrims get here?"

Happy Strawberry Days

Strawberries

 This summer in Wisconsin has made a record...it is the latest strawberry season ever!

The boys and I went to our local patch on Monday to pick. We usually are all done with strawberries by this time in July.

I am not complaining, I am just happy Wisconsin has strawberry farmers that do not give up, no matter what the weather gives them!

The berries are so sweet this year and BIG!

 Gooey Butter Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease 13x9x2 inch pan

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup butter softened

1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

1/4 cup light corn syrup

1 egg

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1 cup all purpose flour

2/3 cup half and half

For crust

In a medium bowl combine the 1 1/2 cups flour and 1/4 cup sugar. Using a pastry blender, cut in the 1/2 cup butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Pat into prepared pan and set aside.

In a large bowl beat softened butter with and electric mixer on medium high speed for 30 seconds. Gradually beat in the 1 1/4 cup sugar. Beat in corn syrup, egg and almond extract just until combined. Add flour and half and half.

Gently spread into crust lined baking pan.

Bake about 30 minutes or until just set.

Cool in pan.

Toss some strawberries on and ENJOY!

Yum! I found this recipe in Better Homes and Gardens.

After eating Gooey Butter Bars with Strawberries...I got busy making jam.

Do you like to pick strawberries? 

Do you have a strawberry picking story to share?

Old Fashioned Weather Forcasting

 When clouds appear like towers, the Earth is refreshed by frequent showers.

Large, white clouds that look like cauliflower or castles in the sky indicate a lot of changing weather going on inside. Harmless clouds look like billowy cotton, not towers. If the clouds start to swell and turn gray, they'll probably turn into thunderstorms.

 Rainbow in the morning gives you fair warning.

A rainbow in the morning indicates a shower is to the west and you will most likely get rain.

 Ring around the moon? Rain real soon.

A ring around the moon usually signals an advancing warm front, which means precipitation. Under those conditions, high, thin clouds get lower and thicker as they pass over the moon. Ice crystals are reflected by the moon's light, causing a halo to appear.

Clear moon, frost soon.

When the night sky is clear, Earth's surface cools rapidly and there is no cloud cover to keep the heat in.  If the night is clear enough to see the moon and the temperature drops enough, frost will form.

 

July 8th is Ice Cream Sundae Day

I just received breaking news from my cousin Kris. Guess what? July 8th we celebrate the first ice cream sundae served in 1881 in Two Rivers, Wisconsin!

Another July Fun Fact!

And thank you to those folks back in 1881. What would summer be with out ice cream?

Happy Ice Cream Sundae Day

Sale! $2.00 off on Studio 206 Posters!

Sale! Sale! Sale!

 Handsome Rooster

This poster would be beautiful framed in barn board.

Great for a country kitchen.

Regular price $12.00 Sale $10.00

 A great poster for the kayaker in your family.

Regular price $12.00 Sale $10.00

 Speeding in the City

A great poster to decorate your boys bedroom.

Regular price $12.00 Sale $10.00

Spy Cat

A fun poster to put up in your entry...to keep an eye on things!

Regular price $12.00 Sale $10.00

Storm Clouds

We had some amazing clouds pass over a few weeks ago. I was able to capture a few photos. I was in such awe, it was hard to take photos. I was just amazed with the clouds, moving one way and rolling the other. Building up higher and higher. Absolute beauty!

Unbroken

Our family is listening to this amazing story during our road trips this summer. I recommend all of America to read or listen to this story. Louis Zamperini, an Olympic runner and World War II veteran...this is his amazing story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.

Happy 4th of July

Happy Birthday America

We wish all of you a wonderful Fourth of July. Enjoy the freedom we share together today. 

God Bless America 

 

July Fun Facts

July Fun Facts

July is Wisconsin's hottest month

July 7th Goldfinch, the last bird to nest, gather thistle down

July 16th Steelhead trout move into Lake Michigan tributaries

July 31st Deer antlers nearing peak size

Explore July!!