Sunday Ramblings

I am afraid that I did not pay as much attention to Father Brian's homily as I should have today. It was so hot in the church that Harvey's Aunt ended up being wheeled out of Mass mid way into the homily and my mind was elsewhere.

I do remember him asking us at the end "Where does the word of God fall in our lives, good soil or poor?" I sometimes wonder if the soil of my faith is rich enough for the word to take root. Guess that is something I will have to work on, making sure my faith is rich and pure. Able to take in God's word and follow His teachings.

Thought I would also share some more pictures from the threshing bee.

We got to see an old fashioned lumber mill at work.

We watched them cut planks and beams. What a lot of work and as Harvey said dangerous as well!!! Look at the size of the saw.

Then it was off to see the threshing.

I can only imagine how hot, sticky and itchy this work was. It would also be back breaking as the "threshing crew" would travel from farm to farm doing this every day for weeks until the harvest was done. Kudos to our pioneer forefathers for working so hard to make a life on the prairies and mothers who would cook for these hungry men everyday.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

An Old Fashioned Threshing Bee and More

Today Harvey and I made a trip to Crosby, North Dakota. In all the years we have lived here we have never made the trip to see the annual threshing bee and this year we decided it was an adventure we needed to take in. So today, we jumped in the car and spent 5 hours immersed in the past.

After eating dinner we lined up to watch the parade. But first we gazed at a few old cars.

A friend of ours drove this beauty in the parade.

Aren't these beautifully restored. There were many more, some from as far away as California and Texas!!

The parade started at 1 pm. We could have taken many more pictures than we did, but I will share a few with you.

There were a few horse drawn carriages and buggies to start things off. I fell in love with the matched pairs. They were so gorgeous.

Next came some old tractors, many from Canada and a few were the only surviving ones. Two of the only known survivors came from Canada, nice to be well represented.

Now this next one is a bit newer, (not really new though) but Harvey can remember having one of these John Deere D's on the farm.

He says that his sister's drove this one more than he ever did.

I will share more pictures of this day next week. We took a great many of them.

Harvey enjoyed his day away from yard work, and anything that makes him happy makes me happy as well (at least he can't complain that I keep him chained to work this way). We have actually decided that more of these one day trips away will be of great benefit to both of us.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

A Walk Around My Garden

Today after watering my many pots and baskets, I decided to take a short walk around the garden.

We are now harvesting veggies other than lettuce!!!! How wonderful is that.

First, what I like to call sputniks, but they're really something else.

Three kohlrabi, mixed with some sliced carrots and cooked in a lovely thickened chicken broth will more than happily feed us as a side for dinner one night (probably Sunday).

A rather large zucchini, it kind of got away from me, but it is the perfect size to shred and perhaps make a chocolate zucchini cake or some loaves. A smallish cucumber, to large to pickle, but large enough to slice into a salad.

Then I meandered over to my lilies. Two new ones are blooming and my day lilies should be starting soon as well.

This lovely goldish coloured one with orange tips. It is a bit smaller than the other lilies, but just perfect the way it is.

Also these lovely yellow, splotched with burgundy. How wonderful to see the garden slowly coming back to life after the horrendous winter and cool spring we had in the past.

I am hoping to get some other lily varieties to add to these very soon. I have my eye on a deep purple and a coral coloured one. Just have to find a place to place them, maybe getting rid of a few day lilies will improve my chances.

Hmmm, this started me wondering what beyond the peas, beans, cucumbers and zucchini were blossoming?????

I went back to the vegetable garden and found this......

My eggplants are finally blossoming!! So looking forward to lots of glossy purple eggplant this summer.

Nothing makes me feel at peace like enjoying my gardens. Well getting projects finished does give me a sense of peace as well.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Quiet Once Again

Today Kris headed back to his apartment in Regina. Things will slowly get back to normal now that he is gone. Yet both Harvey and I hope he comes back the long weekend next month. Perhaps Kris will be able to help with a couple more big projects before the summer ends. Like helping Harvey fix up the side of the house we have sealed off. That big pile of gravel (crushed rock actually) needs to be moved and spread.

Here is a picture of Harvey and Kris fixing the driveway.

After a day and a half of work it was finally completed!!! Now to just get the big pile of gravel out of the middle of the driveway. I did tell Harvey that I could help with that, but for some strange reason I don't think he believed me. Hmmm, not sure if I like him thinking I am that weak.

Thought I would share a picture of Kris and Ray (the almost 30 lb cat). Kris had to wrangle him out of a corner today when he left.

Ray was a bit peeved off and would not look at me to get a good picture of him. Still you get an idea of his size.

Kris usually brings him in this medium sized dog carrier.

As you can see Ray is still a bit peeved. I could hear him crying as Kris walked down the driveway. Hope he didn't cry for the entire 2 hour trip home. When Kris called to say he had made it I asked if Ray was happy to be home and in familiar surroundings. Kris said the first thing he did was run to his favorite seating place in the front window.

I tried to get a good picture of the Supermoon a few days ago. I just couldn't get a picture that did it justice. The night sky was unbelievably beautiful and the moon was so big and bright orange.

This is someone's picture from just north of here. I really do wish I had a camera that was just a touch better than the one I have, or perhaps that I knew how to use my own camera effectively.

Well that is all my news from around here. Tomorrow I should have some new lilies blooming and I will share them with you all. Plus a few thoughts on frugality.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Menu Monday

Monday already????? Wow the weeks are passing like crazy. Summer will be gone in no time if this keeps up.

Monday

Pork chops (hopefully grilled), rice, salad, and beets.

Tuesday

Spaghetti and meat sauce, salad, and garlic bread.

Wednesday

Supposed to be leftover beef roast but really there wasn't much left after supper on Sunday so I am going to make the Hotdogs we did not eat last week. Pork and beans as well as salad will be served along side.

Thursday

Baked spaghetti, the remaining salad and garlic bread.

Friday

Fish Fillets, mashed potatoes, and green beans.

Saturday

Chicken Burgers and all the trimmings. I think I might make a potato salad as a side.

Sunday

Pork roast, potatoes (probably mashed), beets and a salad (if I don't want to waste romaine from the garden we will be eating lots of salads over the next while).

I was right in thinking that having Kurt and Kris home was going to make a difference on leftovers. We really do not have much left when they are home. A bit here and a bit there. Makes keeping the fridge cleaned out a bit easier.

Everybody have a wonderful day.

God bless.

WooHoo For Saturday

Ahh, the first day of the weekend (which of course goes by way too quickly during the summer) and the first full day of Kris's week off of work.

Here he is goofing around on his laptop. Harvey and he went fishing for most of the day and once they got home Kris started washing. Between loads he enjoyed himself on the laptop. I think he plays an RPG, but I am not really sure. Tomorrow after Mass I am sure Harvey and he will be busy getting some more of the summer yard jobs completed.

Thought I would show a picture of the finished side gate.

I have a feeling that when Harvey rebuilds the fence on the other side a new gate will finish it off as well. Ahh, then things will look complete. Next year there is room on the sides to place my hooks and hang some more flowers. They will even have a backdrop, just have to do some research on what will look the best.

I have some special stepping stones that will be laid from the front of this gate to the brick patio at the front of the house. I might have to find a few more in order to have the walk look just right.

Before I wax poetic about this my third harvest from the garden let me state something in my defense. It has been a very long time since I have been lucky enough to get a zucchini!! For some odd and unknown reason lately the fruit just seems to rot once the plant starts producing. I am hoping for a few more of these luscious things this summer. This one was sliced and added to a tinfoil packet along with carrots and onions. Cooked on the BBQ for a delicious side at supper tonight.

I started one of the Christmas gifts about a week and a half ago.

I started Kris's rug. I am hoping to finish this multicoloured ball of yarn and get a good start on the lighter colour this month. After all, along with all the other gifts that need to be made I could be strapped for time.

Tonight Saskatchewan is supposed to have what is known as a "Supermoon". I hope to get some pictures of it to share with all of you tomorrow.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.

Thursday Tid Bits

Just a few more pictures of the garden.

My Asiatic Lilies are starting to bloom in front of the house. I love the colours.

The Mandavilla vine is blooming nicely on the deck. I have already told Harvey I am going to try and overwinter this plant in the house with my Bougainvillea.

Then on to the veggie garden.

Pea pods are forming..... Something ate many of the seeds we planted so there probably will not be enough to freeze this year.

Romaine lettuce is nice and green. We have already harvested two heads. The heads are larger than they look so we are set for salads for awhile.

Then I decided that my parsley and basil needed to be trimmed and so I spent some time drying them.

This is the second set of four trays of parsley I dried.

I did not get a picture of the basil, but the way it has been growing it won't be long before I have more to dry.

I usually get enough herbs to last me an entire year, which is wonderful considering how much a small jar costs in the grocery store.

Everybody have a wonderful evening.

God bless.