Thursday, June 30, 2011

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Ice Tea 'Fresh' from the Garden!


I have this huge peppermint plant in my garden that I hardly use and it tends to want to take over my garden, hmmmm...
So I picked some leaves and gave them a good wash...
I put approximately 1 cup of loose leaves in my tea pot and filled it with almost boiling water.

(now maybe you should dry the leaves before you make tea?? 
Maybe this fall I'll do that...but it seemed to work with fresh leaves.)
While the tea was seeping I filled my French Press a generous 1/3 full of frozen raspberries that were fresh from my garden last year.

(At this time of the year I am at a loss at what to do with them...as the new ones will be coming in about a month!)
I added about 1 1/2 tbsp of liquid honey (I don't like it real sweet so if you try this you may have to adjust sweetness) to the raspberries, then once the tea had seeped I added it to the frozen raspberries. Wait about 5 minutes and press...
Add ice cubes to tall glasses...
Garnish with mint leaves and there you go!! 
Delicious and a great way to use that mint in the garden and last year's frozen raspberries... 

When this year's raspberries come we'll try it with fresh ones... and fresh strawberries..

If you try this...let me know how you like it!



Sunday, June 26, 2011

Families

Puddle Jumping!

I've had enough play time...amuse yourselves!

Teenagers...they'll soon be on there own...
thank goodness this partying is getting to me!

Follow me children..

Friday, June 24, 2011

Windows


"If a window of opportunity appears, 
don't pull down the shade." 
Tom Peters


Thursday, June 23, 2011

Happy Birthday & Traditions

Today Number 4 grandchild is 12 years old! 
We have made it a tradition...that when our grandkids have their birthday, we spend time just with them. As they have grown we change things from year to year...this year we took our two 'June' birthday boys camping for a night. It is such fun to have them alone and see their individual characteristics!
One always wore his coat...the other was plenty warm without!

One preferred Geo caching...

One preferred fishing...

We were laying in the ditch and threw it like this ....
They both LOVE their pops and his stories... 
(Hmmm....I think maybe some of the stories about his young year shenanigans should of been kept to himself??)

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

First Day of Summer

Lazy Days of Summer
Snow in Summer
Creeping out of the cracks
Honeysuckle Bush 
Shasta Daisy
Flax
Overall...flower beds are coming along fine! 

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Pileated Woodpecker

We were visiting a Nature Centre and this huge bird flew past us...when I found where he went....
I was amazed as I had never seen a woodpecker this big...just the little guys around our home.
My grandson who was with me, informed me it was a Pileated Woodpecker...
Hmmph.... what kids don't teach you...



Monday, June 20, 2011

Weekend Woes

The men were all away for their annual camping trip...
guess what the girls got at home?
Rain Rain Rain
The flowers didn't even like it...
they all got water logged....
We now have a moat around the house....
The streets are overflowing...
its was hard to go for a walk
Well it was a good weekend for the birds... 
the worms were easy to get!!
And the guys....well.....
They had 'some' rain...but then they are prepared...
 they know that the weekend they go it rains...
Their spirits weren't dampened....they had a great time!!
hmmm it can't of been all good could of it? 
What is on those mountains?!

Happy Monday! 

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Dad

He didn't tell me how to live; 
he lived and let me watch him do it.
Clarence Budington Kelland


Father's Day... Even thought he's be gone for 15 years... I still miss him.  I was the 'baby of the family'...I am sure my parents hoped for a boy...after 3 girls...but NOPE...another girl. I remember Christmas... I got my big doll...and a train set... . I remember cord pants with plaid shirts, bought by my dad. (Do you remember the pants that had the matching plaid lining in the pants that matched the shirt...well I had two sets of them)..... I had guns... In his own way maybe I was a little bit of his 'boy'. I loved to sit on his knee and rub his head... I remember saying, when I get married I want my husband to have a head just like yours!! He taught me to drive, change a tire, check my oil. He took care of my mom, when she could know longer care for herself, giving up his dreams for her. He was a wonderful man!
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." 
 Exodus 20:12 
God does have a sense of humour... 
hubby didn't have a chance with his hair! 
Happy Father's Day!!

Friday, June 17, 2011

Misty Morning Musings


Life at its essence boils down to one day at a time.
Today is the day!  - Jim Stovall

"The happiness of your life depends 
upon the quality of your thoughts."   
 -Marcus Aurelius

"It's not where you are in life, 
it's who you have by your side that matters."   -Unknown




Thursday, June 16, 2011

Blooming Flowers

My Flower Beds are starting to bloom... 
Tulips
Catnip & Yellow Globe Flowers

Forget me nots
 Bleeding Heart
 Lily of the Valley
 Fern
 Hosta
Iris's
Lilac Bushes
My only wish...is that my garden could have flowers like this...longer than 3 months a year!

National Puppy Day

Miss Pepper…..she changed our life… But life wouldn’t be as full without her! She is a kind sweet puppy that always ‘try’s😳’ to please.