Bees, Birds, Berries, and Blooms!
Sunday, December 8, 2024
Just a peek...
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?
Sunday, December 1, 2024
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.
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?
Sunday, November 24, 2024
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?
Sunday, November 17, 2024
November...
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.
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.
Sunday, November 10, 2024
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.Sunday, November 3, 2024
Timing is everything....
It was an amazing week. My husband and I celebrated 30 fabulous years of marriage. I also had a birthday. We celebrated our anniversary by going for a walk on the Michelson Trail in Deadwood. Absolutely beautiful. Then we went out to eat. We were in a bit of a hurry because...
We also got 10 inches of snow that afternoon. We weren't the only ones not exactly happy. These two little guys took out their frustrations on each other.
On the positive side, my husband gave me these handmade snowshoes from the Northern Toboggan Company for my birthday. His timing was great, and I was ecstatic that I got to use them. They were perfect. The pointed fronts cut right through the snow. I felt like I was gliding.
With the snow came a very creative buck. He has been using his antlers to knock the crabapples and apples off of the trees. As you can see the lower branches are stripped clean. He keeps rearing up higher and higher.I guess that is all I really have. It was a great week. As always, I do all of my doctor, dentist, and eye appointments the week of my birthday. Thankfully, I have a clean bill of health, and all of my appointments made for next year. One less thing to fret over.
What winter sports do you enjoy? Yes, Christmas shopping counts. I have to say snowshoeing is my favorite activity and sledding a close second.
Sunday, October 27, 2024
The Diamond J Bar...
That sounds like a simple project until you see how steep the hill the brand is on. Also, the cattle had kicked a few rocks down the hill, so we needed to add replacements. We took them to the top on ATV's and walked them down the hill. Much easier than trying to find the old rocks and drag them up. Then the painting began. It was super windy, yet we did not let that deter us from our goal.
Here are the painted rocks up close. I was pretty excited to do this project, as it was a project that I did a couple of times growing up.
Here is the finished project and it looks great. Wish I had done a before picture. The brand is the Diamond J Bar. My parents get quite a few comments from people who see it from the river or from planes flying over. My Dad said it has been on that hillside since the late 1940's. It makes me wonder how many people have painted it over the years.