Camp Hygge...

 I constantly say how thankful I am for the life I have.  These last two weeks have been a prime example of why life is good.  My friend, Christina, came with her niece to visit.  They are from Denmark, and it was her niece's first visit to the United States.  

We showed her niece everything the area has to offer: Spearfish Canyon, a buffalo at Custer state park, the Needles, Mt. Rushmore, the badlands, my parent's ranch, the little Harrold School, a rodeo, a major thunderstorm, Deadwood, an escape room, tubing down a creek, and Devil's Tower.  Whew.  It was exhausting, but fun.  

Poor Lilly had never been in a real crash bang thunderstorm.  It caught us while we were driving across the state.  We also experienced the Badlands in 103-degree weather with no air conditioning.  I fell in the creek inner tubing but survived and the rest of the ride was relaxing.  We got to see my nieces and nephew at the State 4-H Rodeo Finals.  Christina's niece does dressage and show jumping.  It was a bit different, to say the least. 

I wish I had kept track of our miles.  We drove a lot.  Especially when they are from a country that takes 2 hours to cross.  We drove 5 hours and were still in the same state.  I showed her mountains, valleys, badlands, little creeks, the mighty Missouri, cattle pastures, fields of corn and sunflowers.  We saw antelope, mule deer, white tailed deer, big horn sheep, buffalo, and fed my chipmunks out of their hands. In the evenings we taught Lilly how to play poker, played pool, giant Jenga, bean bag toss, and roasted marshmallows.  I don't think things could have been more perfect. 

We got lost, we got found, we hiked, went to an escape room, drove the jeep with the top and doors off, and inner tubed for several miles.  We had Dairy Queen Ice Cream, smoked venison, picnics, and my mom's home cooking.  Life couldn't have been better, except for the thunderstorm.  Poor girl.  

After dropping Christina and Lilly off at the airport, we went back across the state to pick up our new addition.  Meet Dollar.  He is a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and my new gardening partner.  

As you can see above, he enjoyed romping through my beans and nibbling on my tomatoes.  

He seems to be getting along fine with the chipmunks and encouraging the deer to stay out of my flower gardens.  He has also put the run on our more than bold turkeys. Hopefully, he will keep us young.  

We have sure taken quite a few walks trying to keep him busy.  The fawn in the picture above doesn't know what to think of him. 

That is the extent of our adventures.  I call it camp Hygge (the Danish word for cozy).  I think we achieved our goals.  If you had someone from another country come visit, where would you take them?

Veggies

 My vegetables are doing pretty good.  I got tired or fighting my way through the hail netting, so with my husband's help I made a door.  

My beans and broccoli are doing great. I'm afraid the chipmunks and mice ate the corn and peas.  Drat.

Here is my husband's giant pumpkin.  He has a good chance of going over 50lbs this year.  It is certainly off to a good start.

I, on the other hand, am going for the smallest melon prize.  Here is my Minnesota Midget.  I have two and they look great1

I have 3 eggplants.  That really makes me happy.  I decided to close up the greenhouse as it really hasn't been overly warm here.  Since I have done that, they are making good gains. 

The chipmunks planted some sunflowers for me in exchange for eating my corn and peas.  They really do look pretty and the bees like them. 

The bees must be doing pretty good, as the keeper has added several boxes.  There is nothing better than honey from your flowers.

The motorcycle rally is finally over.  Just a few leftover bikes.  I have no flower photos.  What the hail didn't nail the deer and chipmunks ate.  So frustrating.  I have some pretty special company coming this week and I'm pretty excited.

How are your vegetables doing?  How are your flowers?  Any part of the summer you are glad is over?

You can't go back again...

 I made raspberry jam tonight.   It is the first time in several years that I had enough berries.   Long ago my neighbor had an amazing raspberry patch.  He moved and the people that bought the property didn't give the patch any love.  My husband and I were really desperate for some jam so we asked the neighbor if we could pick his berries.   He only visits the cabin twice a year.  He said yes.

Well, it is true.  You can't go home (or in this case, to the neighbor's) again.   The patch was decimated.   Nothing left.  I am heartbroken.   I have some raspberries,  but that patch was legendary.  I bought some raspberries at the store to pair with my sad harvest.  At least  we have jam again. 

We had another hail storm.   It nailed us pretty good.  Luckily I had just harvested the raspberries and cherries.   The veggies were under wraps, so I just lost my flowers. 

We've had lots of fawns to entertain us. We have also had a yearling mountain lion keeping us honest. 

My cherry trees rocked it this year.  Jam and wine is in my future.   

That is it for me.  We've hunckered down as it is Sturgis Rally time.  Life flight we over our cabin 5 times today.  I will never understand.   Do you make jams or jellies?  What is your favorite?