Rest and relax...

 I tried very hard to just rest and relax this weekend since all of my obligations were done.

I did pick some more dandelions for wine.  This has been a banner year and I think I will have the most dandelion wine I've ever made.

We had a terrible hailstorm at work.  Luckily, it didn't hit home.  I found it funny as I drove home in the hail all of the tourist were pulled off under trees and South Dakota vehicles were driving along.  I guess we are used to it.  It was only marble sized.

Ella is having a difficult time understanding that the asparagus is finished.  She sits longingly by the patch hoping for a spear.

My sister gave me a gift certificate for irises.  This is the first year they have bloomed.  Cute little buggers.

I love our cabin in the woods.  The porch is the most relaxing place on earth.

Here are a few more of the miniature iris.  I got them from Sutton Iris and highly recommend the company as they are great stock.

I picked exactly 15 pounds of rhubarb for a big batch of wine.  How I managed to pick exactly what I needed was interesting.

We have had a regular turkey parade around here.  This morning 7 hens and three toms went running by.  I thought it was a turkey race.  This evening the same group is strolling by at a more leisurely pace.  There is nothing more ridiculous than a turkey on the run.

Of course for me baking is relaxing, so I made a batch of Toll House chocolate chip cookies.  Yummy.

In case you weren't aware, I am notoriously cheap.  I like to take yogurt, berries, and granola for my lunch at work.  The price of granola is ridiculous.  I decided to make my own.  Then I substituted maple syrup with my peach syrup.  Can you say awesome?

In case you are interested here is the site with the recipe:  https://biancazapatka.com/en/chocolate-granola/

The bumblebees sure love the allium.  I'm a little bummed as I planted about 10 allium bulbs and only 3 have bloomed.  Do you have any advice?

That is it.  A nice quiet relaxing weekend.  How has your summer been?

Done...

 The second graduation quilt is done.  Luckily we had quite a bit of rain this weekend, which made it easier to stay inside and complete.  Don't get me wrong, I have no problem quilting outside.

It was quite relaxing quilting on the deck last weekend. 

I am very happy with the finished product.  This is the second feather quilt I have made and I enjoy creating them immensely.  It is a challenge.

I really struggled with binding it.  Then I saw this idea on Pinterest and knew it was exactly what this quilt needed.

The gardens are looking fabulous.  My daffodils just finished blooming and the primroses are at their peak.

The black currents are blooming and smell devine.

The red currants don't have quite the same pizzazz.

The apples, cherries, and crabapples are also in full swing. 

I have a fabulous crop of dandelions.  Where others see weeds I see wine.  Normally I get barely 7 cups of petals.  This time I had close to 18. Sorry I forgot to take a picture.

I finally found my husband's pumpkin seeds.  He was ready to plant them last weekend and I couldn't remember where I put them.  Of course he thinks I am sabotaging the great pumpkin competition.

The bears are fishing this summer.  It has been awhile since I have been able to set them anywhere.  We are loving the deck.  We eat alfresco whenever we can.

I hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.  

Wow...

I am blessed to have such an amazing family.  These last two weeks were all about spending time together and making memories.  

My niece had a dance with a live band to celebrate her graduation and birthday.  It was the first time all of us kids were together since my brother came home.  

We all love to dance and my brother got to play with the band.  We had so much fun.  I want to thank my sister and her family for putting together such a great celebration. It is pretty crazy that my side of family has 3 cousins graduating and a graduate on my husband's side.  That is a lot to celebrate.

The next weekend was turkey hunting with my husband's nephew and his family.  It has been awhile since they all have been out.  Everyone got a turkey.  It was the youngest one's first turkey at our place.

While the guys were out in the woods us ladies had a grand time.  We watched a turkey peck Kyle's pickup.  It saw it's reflection in the chrome or maybe it was getting revenge.  We did some shopping, wine tasting, and baking.  The beekeeper came to work with the hives and gave an interesting lesson on bees.

 Everyone was able to try their hands at making something throughout the week.  I pride myself in having several recipes that require the use of a hammer.  Boys find the kitchen more intreging when a recipe calls for the hammer.

We found this wonderful recipe for 1 hour cinnamon rolls.  It was delicious and perfect for a crowd.

One Hour Cinnamon Rolls 

by Camille Paskett and Shanna Roberts

Mix and let sit for 15 minutes:

3 1/2 c. warm water

3/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. oil

6 T. yeast (4 1/2 instant yeast)

Then add:

1 T. salt

3 eggs

10 1/2 c. flour

Mix together for 10 minutes, then sit for 10 minutes. Oil the baking pans, dump out dough. Divide in half. Press one half out into rectangle. Spread with ¼ c. melted butter and then with cinnamon-sugar mixture. Roll up tight, but not too tight. Divide into 12 rolls and place in pans. Repeat with other half of dough. Let rise. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 400.  Makes about 24 rolls.

Cinnamon-Sugar

1c. sugar

1 T. cinnamon

 Frosting

1 cube butter

2 dashes salt

2 t. vanilla

6 c. powdered sugar

milk

Orange Rolls: Add orange juice concentrate to regular frosting

Chocolate Rolls: Add baking cocoa and a few drops of water to regular frosting

Cream cheese Rolls: Add cream cheese to regular frosting

I sent some honey home with the crew.  As I was getting it ready we noticed one jar was way darker than the other one.  Of course, we had to have a taste test.  The lighter honey was much sweeter and the dark honey had a richer flavor. 

The daffodils and guineas are blooming.  They look so happy to see the sun.

My bird feeding station took a dive this spring.  The bottom had rotted out.  I took it apart, cut off the rotten wood, made new feet, and stained everything.

Good as new.  I couldn't find a board for our numbers, so I added a wheel to the top.  

I still have one quilt left to finish.  Time is ticking.  I tried spray basting this time and I think I like it.  The test will be how it holds while I am quilting.

My husband has been anxious to start doing some farming.  Once it was nice he was out with his tractor.

 The guinea hen flowers are one of my favorite spring blooms.  If you are interested in learning more about them see the site below. https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/guinea-hen-flower-fritillaria-meleagris/

Well it has been a fun and family filled May. All I can say is WOW I am one lucky person. Life is good.  I hope you are enjoying your family.  Do you have any graduations, reunions, or weddings coming up?  Is there a turkey hunting tradition in your family?

Milestones...

Yes, there were Northern lights and they were amazing.  I am so thankful I got to see them and my husband's phone was able to capture them.  This year has been a real milestone as it has been a dream to observe the lights from our cabin.

They pulsated and striated like crazy.  

My next milestone was finishing my niece's graduation quilt.  I'm happy with how it turned out.  Hope she likes it, as she is getting it next weekend.

I finished the quilt on Saturday, which left Sunday for gardening and that I did.  I can hardly move.

Things are starting to come alive.  My rhubarb and the crocuses. 

My daffodils are giving it their best shot.

My seedlings are doing great.  I even transplanted my tomatoes into the greenhouse.  I did a second round of starts.  These were flowers and squash, melons, and pumpkins. 

My house plants know it is getting closer to life on the porch.

I was able to overwinter my basil, parsley, and oregano.  Next weekend they will go to the greenhouse.

The greenhouse is planted with lettuce, spinach, carrots, tomatoes, peas, and gherkin cucumbers.

It was a long winter and I am a little leery about it actually being spring.  I'm sure we have one more snowstorm in our future.

Did you see the Northern Lights?  Have you ever seen them?  Are you in the garden?