North to Alaska!!!!...day 1

...so...the van is loaded with people, food and suitcases. Bon voyage...we actually left Texas 15 mins early!!

Bird deterrent?

...put up the pennants to hopefully deter the guineas from flying over into the garden...it seems to have worked for those birds...at least for the moment, but the chickens just fly right through them!! AARGH!!...the best laid plans of mice and men!!....

New potting shed

Extended roof over the potting area allows for a cooler working space...and we can work even in the rain!!....

Rain water

Rain water collection started in the garden area.

Mothers and Fathers

...Happy Birthday MY MOTHER….

Believing My Father--I used to believe my father about everything but then I had children myself and now I see how much stuff you make up just to keep from going crazy.  Happy Father's Day MY DAD!!

Song of the Day….Mine Would Be You

Peanut Blossoms--not vegan--not healthy!!…one of the family's favorites!!

1 ¾ cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ cup vegetable shortening
½ cup smooth peanut butter
1 egg
2 Tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
48 chocolate kisses

Combine all except chocolate.  Mix on low until dough forms.  Shape into balls using rounded teaspoonfuls for each.  Roll balls in granulated sugar and place on ungreased parchment lined cook sheet.  Bake 10 mins at 375 degrees.  Top each cookie immediately with a kiss and press down firmly so cookie cracks around the edges.

Mimo

I used to think you fall in love once, or maybe twice, in your whole life, & then I met you, & now I fall in love all the time, so I'm pretty sure I'm up to five hundred…High Fall

"We will raise our children to tell the truth. We will do this by encouraging them to speak their minds at every moment. For the child, withholding words is the same as lying.
We will be honest with our children even at the expense of their feelings. The only reason people cannot bear honesty now is because they were not raised hearing the truth about themselves, and they can’t stand to. If children are raised to hear both honest praise and honest criticism, they will not be so fragile as to crumble beneath the scrutiny of their peers. A life of truth makes us strong."  Divergent

…goodbye my sweet garden friend Mimo!!  I loved her…and she loved me…. Drink a beer…Luke Bryan

Live and Love

Call the Midwife....you have to be brave to be in love don't you....knowing that your heart may get broken at some point along the way....we have a duty to live every moment the best we can...to really live it, even if means getting hurt...or otherwise, what's the point?  

...."There was a boy with skin as dark as the earth and a girl with eyes as blue as the deep and they loved each other so well that people could not tell them apart, for in their hearts, there was no difference." ... No Difference

All kinds of kinds…Miranda Lampert

Invisible…Hunter Hayes

Ilysse’s Cuban Gazpacho
From: International Vegetarian Union
Serves 8

1/2 cup tomato juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 green pepper, seeded and chopped
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
2 medium cucumbers, peeled/seeded/chopped
5 garlic cloves, chopped
5 large red ripe tomatoes, chopped
1/3 loaf Cuban bread
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 lime, juiced
1 teaspoon cumin (to taste)
2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon pepper (to taste)

Garnishes:
red onion, diced
green pepper, seeded and diced
red pepper, seeded and diced
cilantro, chopped
green olives
black olives
avocado, diced

Process all of the soup vegetables in a blender in small batches with tomato juice and olive oil until you have a thick puree. Add tomato juice and oil with every batch to provide plenty of liquid.

For the last batch, soak bread in warm water, squeeze out excess water, add the bread and blend well.

Pour it all into a bowl and add the vinegar and lime juice.  Season with salt, pepper, and cumin.  Mix well.

Chill in refrigerator until very cold.  Just before serving, garnish with all or any combination of the listed garnishes.