Oh, No!

 Last week, Marv asked me if I had visited the garden plot way over at the far end of the field. I had not, so he told us to be sure to go visit it before we left for the day.

To our surprise the plot is full of BIG ORANGE pumpkins. I did not have my camera or phone with me, so I had to wait to take photos.

We have received rain, rain and more rain this week.

The first opportunity I had to get out to the gardens was on Wednesday. I hurried over to the pumpkin plot to take photos. At first I did not notice anything was wrong.

Look close at this photo, you will see something is not right.

Big, beautiful, orange pumpkins.

Take a peek at the one far out, it is lighter orange.

 

 Oh, No!

 Something got hungry and ate this big, beautiful orange pumpkin.

 Tracks left behind...we are on the case...case solved, deer!

If you missed my post about the Deer Spray check out the following post

Deer In the Garden 

Remember to continue to spray your squash, pumpkins and any other produce that needs time to harvest, the deer will continue to visit your garden all year long.

My heart ached for this gardener. I sure do hope they are able to save this big pumpkin.

I will be taking next week off from blogging.

I am wishing you all a wonderful week.

Thank you for all the kind comments and support.

Carla

 

Book Review ~ The Kite Fighters

 The Kite Fighters

Author ~Linda Sue Park

The boys and I enjoyed this book for many reasons. Atticus enjoyed the humor with the boys. Sam enjoyed learning about another culture and I enjoyed the friendship between the boys.

It took place in Seoul, Korea, 1473.

A special story about brothers.

"The author has drawn her characters with a sure touch, creating two very different boys struggling to figure out who they are. With ease and grace, Park brings these long-ago children to life." - School Library Journal

 

A Story To Tell

  

What would this homestead tell us if it could talk?

On our trip West we saw several old homesteads, or ghost towns?

Oh, I wish these walls could speak to me.

 Wind, rain, snow and these buildings still stand.

 Who lived here? Why did they move on?

 Do you ever wonder what happened to the families of abandoned homesteads?

Have you ever been brave and peeked into the windows of an abandoned building?

 If only these walls could talk.

 

And tell us the story.

 

On the Road Friday ~ Biking Around Great Falls, Montana

  

Hello

On Friday, we usually take a trip. Today, this trip will be on our bikes.

Great Falls, Montana has 35 miles of  tails along the shores of the Missouri River. The construction of the trails began in 1989 and continues today. You can hike, bike, Rollerblade, run, anything you like on the trail. We have hiked along the trails during our past visits to Great Falls. We wanted to take in more of the trails, so we decided to take our bikes along this time.

 

 Looking across the Missouri River at one of my favorite buildings.

  

We biked way up to the overview...I had to walk a stretch of the hill. 

It was well worth it, the view was amazing. 

 My favorite building again, from up on top the overview.

 The communities in Montana have the initials of the name of the city in white rock on a hillside. Here is a photo of G.F. for Great Falls.

 We biked all around Great Falls. 

I loved the tunnels.

 Black Eagle Memorial Island

 I will do a special post about the Great Falls of Montana.

Here is a photo of one.

A real treat...a Bald Eagle spotted on Black Eagle Island.

We do not have Pelicans in the area of Wisconsin that we live. Pelican watching was fun for me.

I just love how they catch fish and eat.

Thank you for biking along today in Great Falls, Montana.

Wishing you a great weekend.

Our winner in our Studio206 card giveaway is Kris of Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Thank you to all who entered.

 

Refrigerator Dilly Beans

Refrigerator Dilly Beans

Country Living

 This is my first year making Dilly Beans. Yummy! I used a recipe I found in Country Living Magazine, but I did not add dill seeds, cayenne pepper or mustard seeds. We tried our Dilly Beans for lunch Tuesday and everyone loves them. Here is my easy recipe for Dilly Beans.

Refrigerator Dilly Beans

Makes 2 pint size canning jars

1 bunch of fresh dill

2 garlic cloves ~ or bit more if you like garlic like I do

1 pound of beans, ends trimmed

1 1/3 cups cider vinegar

1 1/3 cups water

2 tablespoons kosher salt

1 tablespoon sugar

Divide fresh dill, garlic and beans in jars, packing the beans in lengthwise.

In a small sauce pan, combine vinegar, water, salt and sugar and bring to a boil. Stirring until the salt and sugar dissolve.

Pour boiling liquid over the green beans and seal. Cool on a wire rack and refrigerate.

Wait 2 days or more before serving.

Enjoy!

 

 

Fresh off the Press and a Surprise

Fun new cards in our Brick Collection ~ 

How Does Your Garden Grow?

 
Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.

 Captain America

This card will make a great Happy Birthday card for the Captain America fan in your life.

It also will work well for an invitation for a Captain America birthday party.

Take me out to the Ball game!!

Take me out to the ball game,
Take me out with the crowd;
Just buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack,
I don't care if I never get back.
Let me root, root, root for the home team,
If they don't win, it's a shame.
For it's one, two, three strikes, you're out,
At the old ball game.

A great card for all Baseball fans!

You can find all our new cards at our Etsy Shop!

And now for the surprise, a giveaway!

 Perfect for Autumn, our Harvest card will work well for Autumn greetings. 
Our LEGO HERO Card works wonderful for the loved one in the Military, this card is a great way to say "Thank You". It will work well for Veterans Day greetings too.
 Our Pacific Ocean works well for a "Get Well Card" or a card to send some inspiration to a loved one.

You have an opportunity to win this 3 pack of Studio206 cards. All you have to do is leave a comment, and I have to be able to reach you if you win.
Friday, we will use the old fashion way and pick a name out of a hat.
This fella will pick the winner. 
I will announce the winner on Friday.
 

 

Happy Summer!

All Things

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

And all things wise and wonderful;

The Lord God made them all.

Each little flower that opens up.

Each little bird that sings, 

He made their glowing colors and He made their tiny wings.

Happy Sunday

Montana Coffee Traders

 Montana Coffee Traders

Huckleberry Fresh from the Mountains

Huckleberry Coffee, yummy...this was one of our treats that we brought back home with us to Wisconsin from hour trip to Montana.

Not only do people like Huckleberries, bears do too. I love the art work on the bag of coffee just as much as I love the coffee.

Montana Coffee Traders 

What treats do you like to bring back from your trips?

Did you ever get a T-Shirt that said, "My grandma and grandpa went to Hawaii and they brought me back this T-Shirt." ? 

I did. 


♥

Montana

 Big Sky Country

Central Montana

This land of sunny wheat fields, rolling mountains and big sky.

On our drive to one of our hikes a storm was rolling in. We stopped and captured the ever changing sky. Even photos can not capture the true beauty of the sky and land. I feel so small when I am out in this open country. I feel like I can truly touch the sky.

Montana

Have a great Monday!

 

Fresh Cut Flowers and Produce

Hello Friends,

I have been busy with my new endeavor. Did you guess what it is?

 As many of you know, I took on a new adventure of having three gardens! I have enjoyed it so much. My plants have done well and it has been great fun gardening with my friend Marv.

 Sweet Meat ~ a big squash, that keeps growing and growing.

 Lettuce...yummy summer garden salads.

  

Purple Beans

 Flowers

 And more flowers!

  

And now for my new endeavor. Sam and Atticus are helping me set up a Fresh Cut Flower and Produce stand in our front yard. We have fresh cut flowers, yellow beans, purple beans, snow peas, and cucumbers.

 Fresh Cut Flowers and Produce...stop on in!

"Just living is not enough." said the butterfly.

"One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."

Hans Christian Anderson 

 Setting up the shop.

 Atticus likes to arrange everything, including the rocks.

 If you are in Cameron, Wisconsin this next week. Stop on over and say Hi!

How about you? Do you stop at Farmers Markets? What do you like to buy?

We like to stop and see what yummy stuff is for sale. Last year we purchased ground cherries for the first time, yummy. I also look for vegetables that I do not grow, like cabbage, sweet corn, yellow and red peppers.

 

Have a great weekend!