Jack's Turn!

Tonight he doesn't have to sit and watch the girls play because he has a game of his own.  "Finally!".  Sometimes that once a week doesn't come around fast enough.  Especially when it is something you enjoy.

 Good luck big guy!

First Round of Beets

This year we had a different sort of organic beet seed.  Instead of growing round they grew like carrots???  Never saw that before.  Yesterday, when I was working in the garden, I saw that a couple of beets were starting to seed out--obviously ready for harvest.

Today I went through and started thinning the rows out.  I picked an armful and pickled them.

 

Batch #1 (of about 5 or 6 more this size) complete.

Another Year For The Pool

It has been warm for the past few days.  I guess you could even say it is starting to feel a little more like summer.  Then again.....it is July......it should!

The ol' pool that sits in the back of the garage until the weather warms up was brought out yet again for another summer of abuse. Seems to get smaller and smaller every year.  The kids however still have fun with it.  I can't believe it has lasted as long as it has.

Happy 4th of July!

We already began celebrating this very exciting holiday yesterday.  

We made yummy parfaits of strawberries (red), yogurt (white), and blueberries (blue), sprinkled with granola to be festive, deliver, and enjoy. 

In the later evening we packed up the kids and headed to Mayville to hang out with some friends and enjoy the firework show.  Of course we have to get there early to get a "good" seat on the hill.  It was a beautiful night.  The kids got a long well and entertained themselves great while the adults enjoyed some conversation of their own.

 

Today we dress in our red, white, and blues as we venture out to watch Hartford's annual 4th of July parade.

And tonight.....more fireworks!

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.  ~Erma Bombeck

To all of you, a Happy and Safe 4th of July!!!

Baby Chicks Hatch From Walnuts?

So we have this poor confused hen that found a crate of walnuts we had sitting by the side door of our house.  One day in May she decided she was going to sit on those walnuts and try to hatch them.  That poor chicken sat and sat and sat.  I started feeling really sorry for that poor hen.  Finally, I had the idea of putting a few eggs under her to actually make her efforts worth her while.  Today Cheyenne came in screaming all excited to tell us there was one little baby chick peeping in the walnut basket.  A little while later....there were two little baby chicks peeping in the walnut basket.  We are still waiting on the third.  So our poor confused hen became a mama chicken today.  Very exciting!

 

 Baby chicks one day old.  Video of mama trying to teach her babies how to eat/peck at a tomato.

A Countryside Stroll

A perfect ending to an absolutely beautiful day.

I couldn't resist taking (and sharing) the pictures of what I got to see on my walk around our country block (3.2 miles) tonight.  It was a gorgeous day and the evening just the same.  I don't think it can get much better than this!

 

Family Adventure 2011

Our family adventure began on Saturday morning when we packed up the car and headed north to Kennan Wisconsin for a Krell family reunion.

 Jack was happy to see his family.  His parents recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.  Here is Jack with his parents, his brother Bill, his sister Ronda, his brother Rick, and his other brother John.  His sister Lauri didn't make it to the reunion.

 

Sunday morning we made our way to Bayfield Wisconsin where we boarded the ferry that took us to Madeline Island.  We spent two nights on Madeline Island experiencing the "island way of life".  Definitely different.  Definitely a lot of fun!

The weather was very cold for the days spent on Madeline Island.  The high was about 50 degrees.  

Monday we spent our day at Big Bay State Park.  The views and atmosphere of Lake Superior were spectacular!

Tuesday morning we headed to the mainland early.  Storms were in the forecast for the area and it was posted that the ferries would not run on their usual schedule if weather doesn't allow.  It was cold and wet when we boarded.

On our way home we took our time and made stops along the way.  The rain was off and on, but timing seemed to work in our favor.  We decided to stop and hike the trails and check out some waterfalls at Copper Falls State Park.  I was totally impressed!

Another stop along the way was a covered bridge.

 

And some lunch.

 

Tonight we are all snuggled in our own beds.  Our adventure and time together was great.  Many memories were made.  I am already working our next adventure!