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.

I love the summer months when I can work outside in my gardens and reflect on the beauty that God has created.
I not only get to see the flowers that are blooming through out the year, but I can see the birds that are taking advantage of my garden. My favorite bird has to be the humming bird. There's no better name for this bird either. I can hear that hum coming from a far off distance. I can't help but pause when it enters my garden either. I love to see it's shimmery green feathers and buzzing wings.
Talking about buzzing... I have enough of thoughs around too. Me bee's have become a soul owner of my garden. Which I don't mind anymore. I never knew why God created such annoying creatures, but sting doesn't hurt near as bad once you see how much work a bee does in your garden. I'm so amazed at their pollinating. They bring so much beauty to my gardens.
But I have to get back to my watering, I just transplanted a bunch of plants and they need some tender loving care. I don't want them to die.

Summer is well on it's way.
Jadden and I planted our first veggie garden. It was a lot of work but both of us agreed that it was worth it. We have been able to watch our plants grow and mature. We can see our strawberries ripen and our corn grow by leaps and bounds every day.
We had our anual July long camp out this past weekend with Sheldon's family. There were so many new highlights. I would say that one of the biggest was the outdoor theater we created,"So Cool" and my father-in-law brought out his tractor and hayrack and took us for rides all over the country side. We ended off our family weekend with a great display of fire works on the 1st of July.
It's starting out to be a great summer.
"I would just like it if the rain would stop that I could enjoy the outdoor's instead of sitting inside."

What a great excuse to celebrate my husband. He's always thinking about other people before himself, especially Jadden. He has taken out many hours of his life couching Jadden in Hockey and Soccer. He takes Jadden out for man on man golfing time. He has been able to bring out many characteristics in my son that I would have only imagined only a few short years ago.
Bringing out his passion in life has given Jadden the drive to live his best life. Jadden's dreams have become endless and his confidence has sored.
I can go on and on about all the sacrifices Sheldon has made for our little boy. Starting right at the beginning, when Jadden was still in my whom. But I don't have 12 hours to write it all out. lol...
The awesome thing is that God knows what he has all done and he is building Sheldon mansion in Heaven as I write.
I'm so proud of you Sheldon on the man you've become and the man you are raising. You are so Blessed to have the relationship that you have with Jadden. I love you dearly.
Happy Fathers Day!