Finally flowers...

 Yesterday the sun was out and it was wonderful.  Today it was rainy, foggy, and cold.  It was a great day for coffee and Maple & Brown Sugar Malto Meal.  

I looked out the windows at the cold rainy day.  It is hard to believe that yesterday I was picking dandelions in a tank top.  Today was warm clothes and a coat weather.

 

I also watched the birds at the feeders.  I've seen quite a few unusual birds this year.  A quail, an American Dipper, and today I saw a female yellow rumped warbler. 

Yesterday while I was working in the sun, Dollor spent his time accumulating a pile of sticks in the shade.  If you want to see something funny, watch a dog carry a four-foot stick at high speeds through the woods.  It gave his teeth a workout.  

My daffodil bed is looking great.  The red primroses and blue grape hyacinths really set them off.

All of those primroses come from an after Easter sale at the grocery store 30 years ago.  One leaf sticking out in the sale bin.  Needless to say they are very happy here in the hills. 

I planted my garden pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and herbs last Sunday.  They are doing pretty good.  Of course it is supposed to snow tomorrow.  Everything is covered with buckets and pots.  Hopefully, that will help them through the next few days.

I've started protecting my seedlings from voles by using plastic collars.  Not only do they keep animals from munching them but also seem to help retain heat.  

I did see a few butterflies while I was out and about.  Of course, that was yesterday.  Everything, including me, was snug in it's bed today trying to stay warm.

Have you planted your gardens yet?  Do you have primroses?  They are one of my favorite flowers.  

Family, food, and fun...

 What a fabulous weekend.  Family, food, and fun.  Kelly's family from Minnesota came out to turkey hunt.  We had a great time. While the guys hunted, Tricia, Mya, and I found all sorts of things to do.  Baking, shopping, hiking, and of course sitting and visiting over coffee and watching the turkeys in the yard while the men are out in the woods hunting. 

My GREAT niece, Mya, enjoys baking as much as I do and has always wanted to try making a French Chocolate Silk Pie.  I found a recipe at  The Best French Silk Pie: Copycat Perkins at Home - Wholesome Farmhouse Recipes

For the chocolate silk filling

• 4 Ounces Unsweetened Chocolate melted and cooled
• 1 Cup Unsalted Butter softened, 2 sticks
• 1 ½ Cups Granulated Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 4 large eggs or pasteurized eggs if preferred

For the whipped topping

• 1 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
• 2 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• Chocolate curls or shavings for garnish

Instructions

• Prepare the pie crust. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface and transfer it to a 9-inch pie pan. Trim and crimp the edges. Prick the bottom with a fork, line with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dry beans. Note. A purchased unbaked crust will work just fine for this recipe. But you can make your own. We have a flaky pie crust recipe.
• • -Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 15 minutes. Remove weights and bake another 10–12 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely.
  • -Prepare the filling. Melt the unsweetened chocolate in a double boiler or microwave-safe bowl. Let it cool slightly.
    -In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and sugar for 5–7 minutes, until light and fluffy.
  • -Add melted chocolate and vanilla. Beat to combine.
  • -Add eggs one at a time, beating on medium-high speed for 3–4 minutes after each addition. This gives the filling its silky texture. ⚠️ Note: This recipe uses raw eggs. Use pasteurized eggs if concerned about food safety.
  • Assemble the pie. Spoon the chocolate filling into the cooled pie shell. Smooth the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  • -Make the whipped topping. In a cold mixing bowl using a hand mixer, beat the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Spread or pipe the whipped cream over the chilled pie.
    -Top with chocolate shavings, curls, or chocolate chips to garnish.
  • Chocolate curls or shavings

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It was fun trying something new and it was delicious.  We are putting that recipe in the cookbook for sure.  I also made a S'mores, strawberry, and banana cream pie.  It seems like a lot of pie, but with 7 people made short work of them.  My husband did the cooking, and I was in charge of baking.  We had to rely on the smoker, as we still don't have an oven.  I was pretty apprehensive how pie crusts would work on the smoker, but everything turned out grand. He found a new recipe cheeseburger tater tot hot dish.  You top it with pickles, mustard, and ketchup.  Yum.  Then Kyle brought monster steaks and shrimp.  As I said it was family and food.  During one of the meals we were all sitting around the table eating and laughing.  I was filled with an overwhelming sense of contentment.  

Fun is also in the works whenever they come out. We didn't just eat.  Tricia, Mya, and I explored a new antique store in Deadwood.  I was able to show them around my school.  We always go to Hill City and wander through the plethora of shops.  After the guys filled their turkey tags, we also went for a hike up to Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon.  

It was a beautiful day to hike and luckily there weren't a lot of people on the trail.  The water was cold and clear.  The stream was filled with trout, and we were lucky enough to see the American dipper.  It is a rare bird here in the hills.  I wasn't able to get a good picture of it.  They are pretty cool little birds as we watched it swim under water looking for food. 

Traditions are important and I can't think of a better tradition than the Fuller Turkey Hunt.  Kyle and Tricia have raised some amazing kids and it has been a joy to watch them grow.  Whenever we are together there is laughter, stories, and adventures. 

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day and was able to spend time with their family. 

April snow showers bring May flowers...

 April showers did bring May flowers.  My tulips and daffodils are looking good.  I never have much luck with tulips as they rarely come back after about 2 years.  These yellow ones have held on for a long time.  

I am super happy to see the bees made it through the spring.  Usually, they make it through the winter and then I lose them in April because it warms up and then freezes again.  They don't like those big temperature swings. 

As always, I can't help but do close ups of my flowers.  The intricacies enamor me.   

I should have been more patient and waited to catch a bumble bee, but I was busy.

We have turkey hunters coming on Wednesday, so I had to finish up my spring cleaning.  Mainly washing windows and mopping the basement.  My husband got all of the bedding washed.  Dollor was tired just watching me.  

Hope your weekend was productive.  Do you see any bees out around your home?