The Fun Parts of Summer

What a nice few days we have had weatherwise. 70's for highs (hallelujah!). This kind of weather gets me in gear to do some things outdoors.

I could actually put out the sun tea jar without worry of the plastic melting clean off of it - THAT was a treat.

Not sure what made this track but I suspect wolf. This was on the way to the mailbox. I like to see critter tracks.

And looky here what came in the mailbox today! A care package of handmade soap and handmade card - what a day brightener!

Over the weekend we got an invite to some friends place at the lake. We had taken in their Mother's dog when she passed away. That dog was a challenge. He's a corgi and was quite the biter. Hubby worked with him until one of the kids was ready to take him in after his little boot camp to be a nicer boy. We get to see him occasionally and he ALWAYS remembers. This time was bittersweet. He is 14 now and having major issues with his back legs. He can't see or hear very well but nonetheless he was happy as a clam to see us. Apparently the back leg thing is something that happens in that breed.

P.S. And last but NOT least - we won!! Again!!

Sunshine isn't always your friend

So, I was all happy with the fact that I got the windows washed and put on some screens all in anticipation of summer. That was until...

Seriously???

I guess I know what I'll be doing again this coming weekend, along with this....

yup, you guessed it, mowing. Just a few short weeks ago this was covered in snow!

Today it was over 85 degrees and everything around here started popping out at once. There are flower buds even on the crab tree, overnight.

After work we finished installing the cellphone repeater. Frank had all the inside equipment rigged up so we put up the tower outside. There are 3 bars inside now instead of 1 - huzzah! I really need to be able to receive/make work calls from home sometimes so this was more of a necessity than a perk. Afterwards we decided ice cream was in order so that was dinner. It was too hot to cook in my opinion. See above.


I probably shouldn't complain about the heat - at least not yet.

Summer is in full swing

Town is crazy there are tourists everywhere. I never understood why they come "up north" but all congregate at Walmart and the grocery stores. If I didn't live here I would be at a lake, enjoying myself but that's just me.

It's been hot as a pistol the past week or so. And humid. You can almost hear the corn growing but we have been taking it slow. This type of weather is so hard on Frank.

The flowering shrubs seem to like it though. We spend a lot of time indoors but make sure to get out morning and evening. I'm gone at work during the day anyway so it doesn't much matter if it's hot outside.

The farm shares are getting better all along. This week we got Eggplant, Fennel, peppers, cukes, zucchini, carrots, radishes, and of course lettuce. I'll be honest, the bunnies get to share because we just don't eat THAT much lettuce. I have been busy drying the fresh herbs and freezing what we can't eat in a week. The CSA guy says the tomatoes are starting to turn so maybe they'll be ready next week.

P.S. They won last week but we did this week :)

Suddenly Summer

2 days ago I was wearing a winter coat and the furnace was running. Yesterday summer made an appearance. 88 degrees, welcome to Minnesota.

Took the car in to the shop because it sounded like the muffler fell off. Luckily it was just a gasket and now it purrs like a kitten again. I was thankful that's all it was and that I no longer get "the look" when I leave the parking lot :D

Still waiting on the peony's to bloom, I hope the wind doesn't blow the buds clean off. The wind never seems to stop. Last night it rained, and it rained hard, but it was brief. We need more moisture with all the wind.

Picked up our share at the Farmer's Market. Pretty much same fare as last week with the addition of radishes. Those will be good in a salad. We get rhubarb but don't need it so we share with others. I made a rhubarb cake yesterday for Card night. It was really good. Actually, if you don't like rhubarb it would be perfect because it's not overwhelming in this recipe. I will definitely make it again. The only change I made was butter in place of shortening.

That's it for now....

P.S. They won (We were actually skunked)