Sunday, November 28, 2021

Now I watch and wait...

 My red yellow flower bed was abysmal this year.  It used to be one of my more exciting beds.  Then slugs ate my lupins.  My black eyed Susans didn't reseed.  Grass and moss choked out my painted daisies.  It's only the daffodils that gave a show.



That was it for the whole year.  Pretty, but a one shot wonder.  Drastic measures had to be taken.  First, I pulled everything up.  I got rid of the grass, moss, and creeping Charlie.  I added compost and soil.


Step two, I ordered some more Lupins, bleeding hearts, and seeded it with red hollyhocks and black eyed Susans.

Finally, my tulips arrived.    They sure made a trip.  They went from Pennsylvania to Minnesota to Rapid City (an hour from here).  Then they went to Ohio, Kansas, Colorado, Ohio, and Kansas.  I figured they were lost for ever.  When lo and behold...


My husband sent me a text at work.  They finally came.  So you know what I did this weekend.


Now is watch and wait...




Sunday, November 21, 2021

Projects...

 I don't have a lot to post.  I've been busy hunting and doing projects.


My log cabin quilt blocks are slowly adding up.  I need 67 and am up to 30.  Almost halfway.  I really enjoy quilting during the cold months.  


I am enamored with nature.  To me natural elements are the most amazing form of artwork.  To celebrate this I've been dabbling in creating jewelry from nature.  We have plenty of antler sheds around to utilize.  My dad is keeping me supplied in porcupine quills and preditor claws.

I don't know if I will try to sell anything yet, but maybe.  Do you have a hobby that you sell occasionally?  Any business plan ideas?  

Sunday, November 14, 2021

Bird is the word...

 I finally got a photo of a brown creeper.  They are one of my favorite birds.  I love watching them spiral up and down pine trees.  They don't come around the cabin often and usually by the time I have grabbed my camera they are gone.  Not today.  




I also had a few other bird photos from October that haven't been shared.  Here is a white-crowned sparrow.

This one was a little more difficult to identify.  I call them my little brown hoppy birds.  I think it is an American Tree Sparrow, but if I am wrong let me know.

I finally updated my Bonnie's Bounty list from 2020 to 2021.  November seems a little late, but I guess better late than never.  I don't use my computer much to blog as it is extremely slow.  That is why it has taken so long to update the Bounty and the header.  I made a fabulous quick bread today 30 Minute Cranberry Wild Rice Rolls.  I found the recipe in ihearteathing.com.

1/3 c. butter melted
1 c. milk 
2 T. instant yeast
2 T. honey
1/2 t. salt
1 egg
1/2 c. cooked wild rice
4 c. flour
1/2 c. dried cranberries.

Melt butter and add milk until 110 degrees.  Mix instant yeast with honey.  Add warm milk mixture.  Add salt and egg.  Slowly add 2 c. flour and mix.  Add last 2 cups of flour and knead in cranberries.  Dough will be sticky.  Let rise 10 minutes.  Bake for 10-12 minutes at 400 degrees until lightly golden brown.  Yumm.  Perfect with elk and wild rice stew.  


I did some deer hunting this weekend.  I wasn't really intent on shooting anything as our freezer is full.  I just enjoy watching the world wake up.  It was very refreshing to hear the turkeys coming off the roost, the lone pheasant cackle, the grouse grousing, the ducks quacking, and the geese honking.  The flickers, chickadees, and blue jays hopped from tree to tree.  Occasionally perching above me and peering down with a questioning look.  There was an owl and some coyotes in the background.  A hawk slowly circled over.  I had deer all around me.  A beautiful 5x5 buck was chasing does oblivious to me only 10 yards away.  I also watched a bright white cat stalk across the prairie looking like a shining beacon glowing against the brown background.  A coyote trotted across the pasture on the other side of the river.  My job is very high stress, so those few hours just sitting quietly and watching the world go bye brings me great peace. 
Do you keep track of your yearly harvests?  Have you tried any new recipes lately?  What environment brings you peace?  

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Sunrise to Sunset.,.

 

I saw this beautiful sunrise on the way to work a few days ago.  All week I kept hearing how we were supposed to see the Northern lights.  I made it a point to drink lots of water before bed, so I would have to get up and go to the bathroom.  Then I would look outside for the show.  My plan worked, except one night I slept like a log  Guess what night was crystal clear and people saw the lights?  Drat.  I missed them again.


I haven't been up to a whole lot.  I did save the seeds from my pumpkins then fed the shells to the deer.  It is crazy how the love pumpkins.  In town people don't worry about people ruining their pumpkins, it's the deer.  

We have one little spike that is addicted to apples.  Every morning he is under our apple tree looking for fresh drops.  Saturday morning Ella was relaxing on the lawn and I threw her an apple.  She munched it down just in time.  That little buck must have smelled it and came on the run.  He sat there and sniffed where she had been eating it.  Then he came up to us on the porch hoping she had left a piece for him.  My apple tree may be in trouble when he gets bigger.


I got some of the plants I ordered and was able to get them in the ground.  I'm still waiting for the tulip bulbs.  Tracking once said I would get them Oct. 8.  After the 8th came and went it said pending delivery.  Then tracking said it would show up on Nov. 3rd.  Nope and now it has gone back to pending delivery.  It took a month for Fed Ex to get it from Kansas to Colorado.  


That's all from my corner of the world.  When was the last time you saw the Northern lights?  Do the deer eat apples from your apple trees?