The Forks

We don't have too much time to take a lot of holiday's in the summer. So we take any opportunity to make special days for our family.
After a very long week for us all, we decided to take a day to relax at the Forks. What a great day it was. I haven't spent a day like that at the Forks since I was 16. It's been too long...
We enjoyed the walk through the market, all the neat shops and an excellent meal at the Spaghetti Factory. The weather was perfect for a great meal outside so we took advantage of it and enjoyed our meal on the patio.
After supper, we took a stroll along the Red river. The river was lined with many ducks and ducklings. "Don't you think it's a little late to have ducklings around?" I thought they would be much bigger by now.
Even though there were tons of people there, it seemed very quiet and relaxing.

It seems like when you take the extra effort to get away, your conversations and attitudes become renewed. (My attitude was a little sour at time's seeing I have PMS and I'm exhausted from the previous week. lol) Sheldon and I told Jadden about all our memories of being here when we were younger, and Jadden was on his best behavior.
I just don't think I could be any happier with the family I have. Jadden has become such a big kid and I can see that the older he gets the more we want to get out of the house and go off on an adventure. It's so easy and so much fun. I'm not just getting away with my family, but I'm getting away with my best friends.

Oh ya... I can't wait to show you..... On our way to the forks, we stopped by the mall to buy new glasses for me. I bought two pairs Woohoo... I have to wait till next week to show you!

HI

I really don't know why I'm starting this. I'm so tired and I need to get into the shower and to bed. I haven't planned anything big to share, but I really miss you guy's.
I've been stuck and a very hot grain truck since Tuesday and I've felt like I've missed out on everything for the past couple of day's. "I hope you haven't been partying with out me. "
I still have another couple of day's to go. I think next Wednesday we'll be calling it quits. And then I have month at home until we start all over. Harvesting is long.......
Some of you might be thinking that I'm talking gibberish seeing I quit my job on the farm almost a year ago. I know...I know, They wrangled me into hauling on the fields with a grain truck just for the summer. Can't really complain, the pay is awesome and I still have a lot of time with my family.
Haha... I just read through this and it sounds so depressing. Really I'm not! I have been able to spend a lot of time with God and I just finished an evening with a close friend of my riding along with me. I had a blast!
but I am Praying for a little cooler weather.
woooh, it was sweltering out there today.

Morris Stampede

Once a year we spend a day at the Morris Stampede. We had a great day filled with rides, games, FOOD, and of course the rodeo and chuck wagon races. Unfortunately we witnessed a horrible accident during the chuck wagon races (1st race). The announcer said that the horses and drivers are alright, but the drivers cell phone has made it's last call. They always have to find humor in everything. The clown is hilarious!
It was a blast, and expensive...
My ultimate favorite would have to be the mini-donuts and fresh lemonade. MMmmmmm...
We spoiled Jadden rotten with almost anything he wanted and so we'll have to shorten his leash a little that he doesn't expect it from now on. LOL...
We all had such a great time and the weather was amazing.

I was asked what I do with all my strawberries, so I thought it was a great excuse to continue with a strawberry theme.
I just made a bunch of freezer jam. So easy and tastes great. I figured I leave the recipe:

Strawberry Freezer Jam
2 quarts (8cups) Strawberries
5 cups sugar
1 lemon, juiced
Directions: Stir ingredients together in a large pot and bring to a rolling boil. Let cool and pour into pint jars or plastic containers. Store in freezer.

And then low and behold. Our family favorite...
Strawberry milkshakes.
I combine fresh strawberries, mango-pineapple juice, ice cream and whipping cream together in a blender and serve. I have found that the whipping cream makes a very creamy drink. We love it.

The rest of my strawberries get washed and put into the freezer for future milkshakes and it's great with ice cream. I might make a few dessert's before I put them all into the freezer. Any one have any ideas for a great strawberry dessert?

It's that time again...

It's that time again...
Jadden and I had to prepare ourselves for this one. We have tried many times to work in the garden before and we just can't get along. I know it's not his thing, but I can't stand him sitting in front of the TV all the time. So this was our expedition this morning. We both decided that we could make a good choice about having a good attitude through out the whole picking event. And it worked, we felt so blessed by the outcome. We picked four pales of strawberries and didn't complain one bit. LOl.... I know it sounds horrible. But thats what we had to do. I know that it's not only today that we will be excited about us waking up at six to conquer the morning. But we have made great memories. I'm so proud of Jadden and how much he has grown in the past three months. He has shown me so many times that he is trying as hard as he can to be his best and I can't be happier.

What's In My Tree?

I woke up extra early today (5:00). Yes I know that sounds ridicules, but I wanted to make Sheldon coffee before he went to work. So after he left, I thought I would take this opportunity to sit out on my patio and find God before I started my day. But before I went out I grabbed my camera thinking I just might get that picture of one of my humming birds that come to visit through out the day. I have wanted a picture of one of these bird for years and I just haven't had my camera handy when they would show up. "I actually work and I don't just sit around waiting for a bird to show up" lol...
So today I sat and admired all the work I did the day before and started moving plants around "in my mind" and out of nowhere this loud racket comes from the tops of one of my trees. I had this bad feeling that it was a bear, seeing people have seen bears in the area but I had never seen a bear and wasn't planning to see one today at my home. Then this sound started like one from the jungle and branches came falling down to the ground. I grabbed my camera and searched for this THING and behold.... I saw this woodpecker. It wasn't the usual small woodpecker that finds bugs in my trees. It was at least a foot tall if not larger and was boring holes into the top of my tree.
Once the bird flew away I came inside to see what this thing was. To my surprise, it's called a Pileated Woodpecker. This was the model bird for Woody Woodpecker. "So cool" And the only North American birds of similar plumage and size are the Ivory-billed Woodpecker of Southeastern US and !!CUBA !!, and the imperial Woodpecker of Mexico. Both are extremely rare, if not extinct.
So now I get to relish in my sanctuary again. According to my Father-in-law, I have the beauty of South America on my yard. For myself, I have my beautiful gardens I can work in and my "humming birds" flying around my head, and now I have this Woodpecker that laughs out these amazing calls and gives me a taste of Cuba.
Talk about getting close to God. He has made that most beautiful creatures with amazing song and colors only for our enjoyment. I feel so blessed to be able to take the time to sit in this beauty.
Now I want to get out there and find these nests. I read that they bore these huge rectangular holes into dead tree's. I know there have to be some in the bush surrounding our yard, because I can still hear that woodpecker laughing. I can't wipe the smile off my face, it's such a neat sound.