Well, drat...

We haven't seen the lions since November, but this weekend our neighbor's caught this on their camera at 5:00pm.  Drat. Looks like we are a breeding ground for mountain lions.  We checked our game cameras and looked for tracks. Luckily, we didn't see anything. Hope they stay on the other side of the road. 

It was super warm this weekend and I was lucky enough to enjoy coffee on the porch.  My husband and I also were able to take some nice walks.  Before his hip replacement 17 years ago, walking was out of the question.  I am so thankful that we are able to stroll together. 

I am making pretty good progress on the quilt.  I laid everything out Saturday and started some serious sewing. My goal is to have all the blocks done by next weekend. They aren't a fast sew as I have to add two a red corners to each block.  It isn't a fast sew by any means. I do value the challenge.   

Are you looking forward to Christmas?  Is there something that once you couldn't do that now you can enjoy?  

Moving along...

Had a busy week.  There is quite a bit going on.  Went to Sioux Falls to help my brother move. I am never going to buy him another book. Because I'm pretty sure he will move again and those suckers are heavy. Definitely got my steps in.  He and his girlfriend made me a wonderful meal to show their appreciation.  It was a good day. 

I got a little time to cut pieces for the quilt, so Iam still moving forward slowly. Somehow things aren't adding up so I will make adjustments. 

I really liked this pattern and looked everywhere for it, to no avail. Luckily, my amazing quilting friend managed to track it down for me. She is a great friend. 

When was the last time you moved or you helped someone move? 
 

Just a peek...

I'm finally quilting.  Don't know what took so long to get started this year, but I am way behind.  Luckily, the quilt I'm working on needed 2 1/2-inch strips and I found 2 jelly rolls with the perfect colors.  

I'm going to be dramatic and not show you what it will look like until it is done.  I got all of the strips sewn into rows of 3.  Next weekend I will cut them into blocks.  

The sunrises have been incredible.  Today it rained, snowed, and then the sun came out for an hour, and we got a quick walk in. Then came the clouds and wind.  I guess it is supposed to snow again.   I must say it is a bit dry here. 

Do you have any winter projects you are working on?  Are ahead or behind? 

Lefsa...

 What is the second-best part of Thanksgiving?  Making lefsa afterward.  It has become a tradition at our cabin.  I make a big batch of mashed potatoes and then that weekend use the leftovers for lefsa.  You mix 3 c. mashed potatoes, 1/2 c. cream, 1 t. salt, 2 t. sugar, 1/2 c. butter melted, 2 c. flour.  Mix well, roll into little balls (ping pong ball sized), and refrigerate for 1 hour.  Heat your griddle.  Roll out the balls as thin as you can.  You may want to swish between your hands to get the excess flour off.  Heat on the grill for 3 minutes on each side.  

I try to see how thin I can get them.

Swishing

It starts to bubble use a very thin spatula or lefsa stick to flip it for another 2 1/2 or 3 minutes.

Lay warm lefse on a flour sack towel and cover.  Continue to stack them in this manner.  After they have cooled you can freeze them.

I was able to go snowshoeing this weekend.  My husband laughed because truly he could have walked alongside as the snow was only a couple of inches.  The views from the top of the hill were amazing.

Luckily my nieces were on their way back to college.  I was able to meet them for lunch.  I loaded them up on fresh lefsa, summer sausage, jerky, jelly, and some sweetgrass braids.  It was wonderful to visit with them.  If only for a short time.  I sure don't miss college.

Do you have an after-Thanksgiving tradition?  Have you ever had or made lefse?  

Another one of Aunt Bonnie's 'hikes'...

 I don't have a lot for this weekend.  We went to a small craft fair on Saturday.  We purchased some items from local vendors.  We then decided to go on a 'hike' on the new Deadwood Trail the White Rocks Seth Bullock Grave Loop.  I'm pretty sure my nieces would place it under Aunt Bonnie's Miserable Marches.  Poor flatlanders.

The facts of the trail are 2.4 miles, 774 ft elevation gain, and it should take 1 hour and 40 minutes.  It was a brand-new trail.  The first part is straight up.  It comes out at the Mt. Moriah Cemetery.  Instead of taking the same way back we decided to cut through Deadwood back to where we parked.  It was nice walking through the historic part of town and looking at all the old Victorian homes.  Many of them have been improved greatly since I lived there 33 years ago.  It does the heart good to see them painted and fixed up.

It was refreshing getting out to take a hike somewhere different.  The weather was cooler than we expected, but going straight up a mountain helps keep one warm.  What was the best hike you have done lately?  Are you ready for Thanksgiving?  

November...

Another hunting season is over.  The weather was nice and sitting quietly in the woods just watching the world go by was much needed.  Now the freezer is full.  We have nine lbs. of summer sausage.  I think it was one of our best batches.  I mix everything up and my husband nurses it in the smoker.

I have a good batch of jerky.  I don't think there is anything more flavorful than venison jerky.  I also canned 7 pints of stew meat.  No photos of this as it is still cooling in the pressure cooker.  The freezer if full of roasts and steaks.  Butchering is exhausting, but it is worth it to have fresh meat that isn't dyed, processed, and who knows where it came from.  

I also removed the seeds from our pumpkins and fed the pumpkins to the deer.  I will make pumpkin seeds sometime this week.

Here are a few photos from hunting out on the prairie.  We saw several coyotes and they kept the deer on the run.

Here is a picture from the prairie looking at the Black Hills.

Here is a picture from the Black Hills looking at the prairie. 

This photo is a tad blurry, but it reminds a person just how peaceful life can be.

Then, of course, you have the cattle and the sunrise.

I quietly followed this sharptailed grouse around trying to get a photo.  She stayed right in the shrubbery, but I finally got a running shot.  So much for sitting still.

I needed some peace.  Hunting makes you get up early, sit quietly, and observe the world around you.  When you do that, it is amazing what you can see. 

Where do you find your peace?

I got nothing...

 It has been a pretty stressful week.  I'm afraid I don't have anything to report. 

I hope you have a fabulous week.