Good times and good food...

Time flies and before you know it is time to spend a week at Aunt Bonnie's.  We always manage to keep quite busy.  There is always giant jenga, bean bag toss, football, and the girls love to dance.  We went on lots of hikes around the cabin, in Spearfish Canyon, Mount Roosevelt, and Devil's tower.  We fed the fish at the Spearfish fish hatchery.  There is always a craft and baking day.  This year we made dream catchers and as always pies.  The oldest two proved to be hard to catch with all of their summer activities, so my sister brought out the youngest three.  This was my nephew's first time at Aunt Bonnie Camp.  I would say he enjoyed the week.

One of highlights of the trip was when I took the middle niece for a ride in our little jeep, because she didn't get one earlier in the week.  We went to get the mail.  Lo and Behold, my brother knew she would be at our cabin this week and sent her a painting.  The look on her face when she realized she had a letter was worth a million dollars.  It couldn't have worked out better if we had planned it.  Which we hadn't.  

We tried the Devil's Tower hike again, despite warning texts from the older nieces.  I told the kids we were going to climb the tower.  The younger two were all over it and the middle one just sat quietly.  She knew their excitement would fade. The closer we got to to the tower the less adamant they were about climbing to the top.  When they saw two mountain climbers halfway up the mountain, they wanted nothing to do with seeing the top.  In fact, the youngest proclaimed he was going to buy the mountain and make a rule that nobody could climb it because it was too dangerous.  This time, instead of taking the long route with no trees in 100 degree temps, we chose the shorter more shady trail.  You could say we took the road more traveled and the trip was much more enjoyable.

 We did a little mid-baking stretching.  My nephew made a phenomenal smoked apple pie under the careful tutelage of his uncle.  He was on a cooking roll and even helped make a macaroni salad.  The middle niece made a delicious rhubarb crumble pie. The youngest niece followed her Aunt's love of S'mores and made a S'mores pie.  My husband smoked some venison and we had a fabulous Sunday dinner, on Wednesday.  As you can see below, it was hard to say patient with so much good food around.

 Pie smoking lessons.

 Water was the theme on Monday, as we went to the fish hatchery for fish feeding.  Then we had a picnic by Spearfish Creek.  We drove up Spearfish Canyon and took two hiking trails to various waterfalls.

 After four days packed with picnics, hiking, baking, and crafting, they headed home.  The cabin is suddenly very quiet.  I think poor Ella slept for two days.  I admit we also took a couple of naps.  It sure was a nice time.  It has been forever since my sister stayed and she has never stayed during Aunt Bonnie Camp.  It was wonderful having her here.  

Do you have memories of a week with family during the summer?  What was the most fun?  It is a tradition that I look forward to every year.

Thankful...

Thankful.   That is my word for 2020.  Last Friday I held a retirement party for a very good friend.  The picture above is the group of people that were at Boxelder Job Corps when I started.   I have learned something from every single person in this picture.  They are all friends, mentors, and a wealth of knowledge.  We have been through a lot together.  Some have long since retired.  Some were here this year when the government fired us in May and it was my job to look all of our staff in the eye and tell them it was over.  Then the government decided to keep us at the end of June.   Still, we move forward.   We had several breaks in our water pipes before Thanksgiving and again we were on the brink of closure.  Still, we move forward.  This year we lost five former students to various tragedies.  Yet still, we move forward.  We got together that Friday.  We laughed and at the end we cried. I don't talk a lot about my job.  It is stressful.  We deal with youth from poverty.  Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.  The wins are worth it, but the losses are heartbreaking.  I couldn't have a better job and I have been lucky enough to work with some incredible people.  The gentleman third from the end, in the cap, once told me, "learn something from every person you meet, no matter if they are your best friend or your greatest enemy."  I have always remembered and try to apply that advice.  A huge thank you to these people and the impact they have made on my life.  I'm blessed.

On the home front, I've been keeping busy.  I bottled 10 bottles of plum wine.  It turned out pretty good.  I have been finishing a feather a week on my quilt.  I've been coyote/lion hunting every weekend.  I haven't seen anything, but it is great sitting outside.  Finally, I've been trying my hand at making porcipine quill earrings.  It is harder than it looks.  I now wish I had more quills.  I'm getting better with each attempt.  It is fun sitting on the couch beading.  Funny how those little beads escape.

Ella and I are still going for our weekly jaunts.  Today was absolutely beautiful.  What projects have you finished so far this year?  Are you getting outside and enjoying the winter?  I hope so.  It is beautiful out there.

Traditions...

The weather cooperated and I was able to go home for Christmas.  Our Christmas is filled with traditions.  One is getting outside and seeing the wildlife.  I miss the sound of the geese.  Their honks filled the air.

Christmas presents are just a small part of the fun.  Cooking Christmas dinner is a family affair.  Everyone chips in and does their part.  Mom's kitchen is a carefully coordinated dance.  As you can see below, pies are the dessert of choice.  

 I'm making a family cookbook, so we really worked to get photos of everyone in the kitchen.  My dad never cooks, except oyster stew.  Funny thing is none of us kids know how to make oyster stew.  We still needed an action shot of him in the kitchen and a plan was hatched.  When he came upstairs, I asked him to stir the gravy and my niece, Sierra, took an action shot.  It was a well coordinated event.   We were successful.    We were so impressed with our little plan that we even got the hired man, Jr, stirring the pot.

 My niece and nephew got radios for Christmas.  They used them to guide the little guy to the trash barrels.  You can see him carrying all the bags, talking on the radio, and being followed by the always in the background farm cat.

For the first time since we were kids, my sister and I did not have to do Christmas dishes.  Instead the two older girls washed and dried.  The whole time pretending they were doing a podcast.  We were able to pursue other interests, like putting together puzzles with the little ones.

 There is only one way to end Christmas day.  We go sledding.  It is probably our biggest Christmas tradition.  Nothing says the holidays like shoving your sister's kids down a precarious hill.  

 Yucca plants, rocks, cactus, trees, and fences aren't going to stop the fun.  Of course, you have to see how many people fit on the sled and inevitably the spills are the best part.  We did break from tradition this year and stopped sledding, before somebody got hurt.  Usually, someone gets injured and heads to the house crying or limping.  I'd like to think we got smarter, but the truth is we just got cold.

It was a great Christmas.  It is good that some things never change.  On the trip home I was able to stop and see my 96 year old grandmother.  Since many of the recipes in the family cookbook will be hers, I asked if she would grant me an action shot in the kitchen.  She was more than happy to oblige.  

That is a run-down of our Christmas traditions.  It made for a great trip.  What are your Christmas traditions?  Do you go sledding?  Does everyone help with the cooking?  Who does the dishes?  What desserts do you have?  Whatever you do I hope you had a very Merry Christmas.

Camp Hygge...

Usually I get a week with my nieces, but they have so many things going on we only had 3 days.  You can pack a lot into three days.  I picked them up at the rodeo.  A wet rodeo it was.  It was pretty cool to go back to a place where I had raced many a barrel.  I saw a lot of people I knew.  

 I love the photo above, because Taylor's mom, her sisters, and brother are in he background.  Below is Sierra's pole run.  

 It is tradition to stop somewhere and take photos on the way home.  This year I knew the theme had to be sweet clover, as it was everywhere.

 There is something very peaceful about driving across the South Dakota prairie.

 This year's project was horseshoe art.  The girls did a great job, but I forgot to take a photo of them with the finished product.  This year's big adventure was tubing.  We didn't have an air compressor, so we fit five filled tubes and four excited girls in the Jeep.  It was a challenge to say the least.  I'm not going to lie, it was quiet scary.  There were waterfalls and poison ivy.  Somehow we lived and had fun.  It will definitely be on the list for next year.  I do think I will have a life jacket for the smaller ones.

 Baking is always a part of our time together.  One night we had a cookie backing competition.  Uncle Kelly was the judge.  We had several categories.  It was a lot of fun and the cookies turned out grand.  On the last day we made jam, gummies, salted banana pie, and sour cream peach pie.  The oldest loves my lasagna recipe and always helps when I make a batch.  Of course, we went hiking.  We drove up a 4-Wheeling Jeep trail.  I am happy to say the girls never questioned my choice of roads or driving.  When we got to the top we hiked to a fire look-out.  I really wish I had taken a photo of the lookout. 

 The fishing was hilarious.  That is the biggest fish we caught.  Funny thing is the girls made such a ruckus whenever they caught one of the little sunnies that pretty soon every fisherman on the lake was edging towards us.  One finally had to come see our haul.  I doubt he was impressed with our 7 sunnies.  We sure had fun.  We also played a lot of giant Jenga, bean bag toss, and even a board game.  We were pretty wore out after three days.  I always look forward to time with the nieces.  I worry the older ones won't have fun, but they still seem to enjoy our forays.  Next year the littlest boy gets to come.  I still haven't figured out where I'm going to put him in the Jeep.  

Do you have a summer family tradition?  Did you spend a week with somebody?  What is your favorite summer family memory?

Rodeo

I got to watch my nieces rodeo this weekend.  It brought back a lot of memories. Only there were a few major differences.  One it was cold.  I don't ever remember a cold rodeo.  100 degrees, I remember that and lots of dust.  Second, there were actually bathrooms with running water.  I remember outhoses without toilet paper.  Anyway, seeing the girls made for a fun day.

 Note to self, next time take the group photo at the beginning of the day when we are fresh as daisies.  Not at the end when we are sunburnt and grimy.

 Taylor running the barrels above and Sierra below.

 Haley running the junior junior barrels.  It was a wild ride.

 Cowgirls

 Haley in the goat un-tying.  She needs to take the ribbon off of the goat's tail and the goat is ready.

 Sierra is roping above and Taylor is below.

Dad giving some last minute advice.  The girls did good for their first rodeo of the year.  It was great watching them.  

 Finally, I am close to finishing one of my projects.  Someone in town had two big wheels for sale at a reasonable price.  I snatched them up immediately.  My garden fence is close to being finished.  These are preliminary ideas.  I'm very excited about putting this project to bed. Ha:)

It was a super busy weekend.  I don't think I was still for more than a few minutes.  Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised when my husband started up the fire pit and we relaxed for a bit Saturday night.  Nothing say summer like roasted marshmallows.

Have you ever rodeoed or been to one?  Have a great week.