Wordless Wednesday – Mini-veggies

As I’ve mentioned in the past, I’ve been working hard on getting our garden to make it through the year. You see, it’s not just because I like vegetables, or I think we’re the only ones who can grow a tomato right, or I don’t like getting vegetables from my store or anything like that.

It’s much more simple…I want to provide for my son.

George’s condition? George’s diagnosis? George’s illness? Hmmm…what do I call it…let’s just go with OTC. George’s OTC will not allow us to provide him with the wonderfully delicious beef that the rest of our family gets from the farm. And he never will be able to enjoy it…at least not much. George is limited to 10-12 grams of protein per DAY…and well, that just isn’t much in the scheme of things. And meat is basically out of his realm of menu options. Completely.

George loves his fruit! It's a good thing, since that's about the only thing he can eat a lot of!

 

 

So we go with fruits and vegetables. And since North Dakota isn’t real high on the fruit scale of production, we’re going to do our best on the veggie side. Like these:

These sugar snap peas are just about ready!

 

 

The cucumbers are showing up! Yahoo!!!

 

 

These peppers aren't much yet...but they're getting there!

 

 

Tomato...tomahto...can you say salsa???

Mary, Mary…

Well, after wondering if my garden would pull through the flooding, it’s obvious that it handled it rather well! Yay!

In fact, I spotted my first pea pod already filling…can’t wait for more!

I thought I would take a few pics of my favorite blooms to share with you…enjoy!

The hard, fast rain has compacted the ground a bit, but nothing a little hard work won't help out!

 

 

These spaghetti squash will serve as George's noodles in the upcoming months. Can't wait!!!

 

 

We have a pea pod! Yay!!! Can't wait for the others to set on!

 

 

Cukes, cukes and more cukes. Hubby loves them, and so do the kids!

 

 

The peppers have been the hardest hit, but they're coming around.

 

 

Some of my tomatoes look great, and some look pretty sparse, but this little guy is trying to blossom...giving me hope! My salsa is demanded around this house!

 

 

Hopefully in the next few weeks this patch will be pumping out the produce and my boys will be enjoying my hard work. I won’t lie to you, it’s been a really tough year to do this. But in the end, it’ll all be worth it…

Right?

Bucket list…

Not so long ago, I received a bucket in the mail from Red Hill General Store – in collaboration with the Real Farmwives of America and Friends. Let me say that securing the bucket for MY use, and not the uses of little hands, was my most difficult task!

But, I found it extremely helpful for various projects that I had going on around the farm…including:

A bucket-ful of healthiness!

1) Picking asparagus – This was the PERFECT sized container for picking a supper-sized bunch of asparagus! Add a little water to the bottom, throw in the asparagus, and toss it in the fridge until ready to cook! EJ decided that eating the asparagus raw was way better than waiting for it to cook, but who can blame him?

Pickin' some strawberries!

2) Picking strawberries – Once the rain stopped around here, the strawberries have come on hot and heavy. We’re in charge of the overrun when Grandma and Grandpa are busy, so the bucket has come in handy on those days!

3) Future use – Picking peas, peppers, etc. This will definitely be my go-to tool for picking fresh produce out of my garden…as long as the weather doesn’t get to it first!

4) Watering can – I don’t have a watering can for my flowers around my house. Mostly because I’ve never planted flowers before, so this is my first year. But I’m addicted! So be on the watch, I’m looking for tips, ideas, etc. to get my flowers off on a better foot next year. Not dealing with a new puppy will help out a lot!

5) Rock collector – EJ and Big Bro decided that this bucket was the perfect size for collecting rocks. And although they are right, it definitely is perfect for that, I had to dump their rocks back on the road so I could continue to use my bucket. I have a feeling that I know who will end up with it in the long run!

Sit, Maggie...sit!

6) Treat dish – Big Bro decided to teach Maggie how to sit (and he did a pretty good job!), and he used the bucket to hold her treats while teaching her! The handle was PERFECT! And I do believe we have a little gal who now knows how to sit on command. (Don’t tell Big Bro, but he learned a little about animal care and patience along the way…let’s keep that between you and me, though, OK? In fact, it’s a 4-H project for him!)

7) To be continued…you see, on the farm, everything has many, many uses. A Halloween bucket may become a flower-pot (you’ll see that one in the future), a tire rim may become a ring dike, tin cans become tomato protectors, five gallon buckets become step stools, etc., etc. The possibilities are endless.

I’m sure in the future this bucket will become a valuable tool in many projects. But while I’m using mine, why don’t you head on over to the Red Hill General Store and pick out your own? Or better yet, head over to the Real Housewives of America and Friends page and sign up to win your very own galvanized and embossed bucket!

I’ve shared my ideas…now what will you do with your bucket?

While Red Hill General Store did provide me with a bucket to blog about for this post the pictures, ideas and opinions shared here are my own.

Wordless Wednesday – Parade paradise!

As I mentioned yesterday, Monango celebrated 125 years this weekend. And what better way to celebrate than with a parade! Check out my parade pictures for Wordless Wednesday:

Grandpa drove one of his tractors in the parade.

Auntie B and cutie Cousin N drove another tractor. Showing vet-school pride!

Uncle J also drove a tractor...this time with the NDSU flag!

Uncle B and Aunt L (along with Cousin H and Cousin G) drove Grandpa's Toronado. Hmmmm...we may have too many letter abreviations going on here!

One of our neighbors had a family float, congratulating Monango on 125 years!

Area businesses also came out to support our town. Including cool throw-backs to the old days, like this truck!

Big Bro was in the pageant, which gave a very quick synopsis of the history of Monango...from the beginning of time to present day. Very cute and funny! And Big Bro's acting debut!

I could post a bunch more pics, but I think you get the point. It was a great afternoon and lots of fun for the kids…but the best part was seeing the community coming together. It’s funny how we’re separated by mere miles, but it takes a celebration to bring us together. Here’s to hoping that it doesn’t take another 25 years to see each other again!

We may be rural…but we are not alone.

Celebrating 125 years

Congratulations to our hometown…Monango! We celebrated 125 years this weekend, the good old fashioned way…with a great big party!

Here are some parade photos and more…enjoy!

Boss Man cleaned up one of his pickups for the "Class of 1989" float in the parade. Not a bad turn out of classmates...since there were only 13 in his class!

 

In his first parade as "royalty," Scooter and Miss Lydia and Little Miss and Mr. Ellendale!

 

Big Bro and EJ rode in the parade as part of the area children's train!

 

Their bucket of candy to throw to parade-watchers didn't last until they got to where we were...wonder how much was consumed instead of thrown???

 
Well, instead of putting all of the other great pictures of the celebration into today’s post, I’ll save some for tomorrow! Stay tuned for another installment of “Monango – 125 years and still going strong!”

North Dakota nice…even when flooding

Have you heard the term “North Dakota nice” used before? Around here, it means that no matter what, you’re polite and kind, even to total strangers. And it happens…a lot.

And now we use it for our road signs…as I saw yesterday on the way to baseball/tee-ball:

Please...and thank you.

 
We’re flooding around here. And although it’s nothing like what’s going on north of us, it’s pretty significant for our area. Now our roads are flooding in places that have never flooded before…but we’re being nice about it. We’re remembering our manners and asking nicely for everyone to “take turns.”
 

The highway now has water over the road. It's one vehicle only crossing, so please, take turns!

 

My Mom tried to take a picture of the water we were driving through, but it's basically just a picture of her taking a picture. LOL! 🙂

 

If you're traveling Highway 11 east of Ellendale, please be careful!

 
 
But, it’s not just that way here. If you check out the Minot News Facebook page, you’ll see hundreds, if not thousands of instances of “North Dakota nice,” where people ask for help and receive it. Or people offere assistance without even being asked.
 
People have offered truck driving assistance, storage spaces, places to sleep, walking pets, watching children, packing items, you name it, it’s been offered. (Even licensed massage therapists have offered their assistance!)
 
A lady posted on Facebook that an elderly woman needed assistance evacuating. Within seconds, the call for help was answered and more than 30 people showed up to pack what they could and help her out.
 
I guess you could say that’s just how we operate. You take care of what you can…and when you can’t, someone will usually be there to help you out. Most of the time, you don’t even have to ask for the help, it’s just there.
 
But, back to the ball game…and a very important announcement! The boys love their summer ballgames, even when they don’t have many opportunities to play, thanks to the rainy summer we’ve had!

It's a big swing for this little batter!

 

Happy Birthday Big Bro!!! Where did the last 9 years go???

 
Today is a very special birthday for a very special boy…HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG BRO! Nine years ago we were blessed with you…and every day I thank God for having you in our family! I am one lucky Mama indeed!!!

Wordless Wednesday – Rain

Rain. That’s the story around here. And quickly behind that is flooding.

My husband always says that we’re only one rain away from a drought…I guess the same is true for flooding. And unfortunately, that story is the same in many areas of the country.

But here’s some pics that I took anyway:

When it's muddy and you're bored and your wagon needs a side, make do with the materials you have on hand...right?

 

 

Clearly, it's raining. Picture taken through the shop window.

 

 

Little wet tractors - picture taken with shop door part-way down.

 

 

Another shot off the bottom of the shop door.

 

 

Trees appreciate the rain. Although this storm in the background produced a tornado shortly after this shot was taken. Thankfully it was already north of us. And no one was injured.

 

 

Loved the slow drip of the rain off the fence...even if we didn't need the moisture.

 

 

My poor little begonia - I didn't realize this pot didn't have a drain hole. Poor thing was drowning!

 

For those in dry areas, I will pray that our extra moisture heads your way. And for those that are flooding and losing your homes, your farms, your land and your livelihood, I will also pray for you! May the weather straighten out soon!

Simple Rhubarb Cake Recipe

Alrighty, folks…here it is, my first actual recipe post! (I did these flowers for Mother’s Day, but it was more of a craft than a recipe.)

Since I’ll be teaming up with Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks and The Real Farmwives of America and Friends, I better get my apron on and get to practicing my skills, so that some poor soul doesn’t end up following me into kitchen chaos!

My first recipe will be a super simple rhubarb cake. Here are the ingredients:

3 cups rhubarb, cut into 1/4 inch pieces

1 cup sugar

1 yellow box cake mix

1 pt. whipping cream (heavy cream)

9 X 13 pan

Yeah, simple, right??? Thought I should start out easy.

Here’s my rhubarb –

I picked 10 stalks, but only used 5 to get 3 cups of rhubarb.

 

 

My ingredients...all lined up! Super simple!

 

 

After you wash and cut up the rhubarb, pour the cup of sugar over the rhubarb and set it aside. (It will help draw the juices out of the rhubarb and make it sweeter!)

3 cups of rhubarb, 1 cup of sugar = yummy!!!

 

 

Then, make your cake mix according to the instructions on the box.

Yellow cake...all mixed up!

 

 

Then, simply sprinkle your rhubarb mixture over the top of the cake. Pour the cream over the top of that. And bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes.

Top off the cake mix with the rhubarb mix.

 

 

Next, pour the whipping cream over the top of it all.

 

 

Bake at 375 for 45-50 minutes...and voila!

 

 

Must have been good, 'cuz my taste tester had to have a whole row!

 

I will warn you, the bottom does end up pudding-like. To serve it all pretty and nice, you would have to serve it upside down somehow. But for now, I’m not at all concerned about presentation, just that it comes out of the oven actually looking like it’s supposed to! Big score for me!

Next I may try something that requires more scratch than box…we’ll see how adventurous I get.

Any suggestions???

Super summer Saturday

Well, we finally did it. We managed to have a real family day. Spent doing nothing but family stuff. Well, except that morning. Mark had to rotate the tires on the suburban, but that was it. We hit the road.

We spent a wonderful day at our niece and nephew’s birthday party. And we had a blast!

There was a pinata…

George decided he wanted a turn!

 

 

And then there was an attempt at getting a family picture…

Scooter, 7; EJ, 4; George, 2; and Big Bro, soon-to-be 9!

 

 

And then there was playing…lots and lots of playing!

The water table was a big, big hit!

 

 

EJ had to concentrate hard on his plans.

 

 

Little hands at work.

 

 

Some rare Daddy play time!

 

And then, as we were getting ready to leave, the idea came up that we take a drive to see the historic Garrison Dam (it’s releasing water for the first time since it was built!). It was a little bit of a jaunt, but it added to our special day…and we had special guests with us too! (Uncle Bryan and his little angel joined us for the drive…although mostly just napping for the little ones!)

It was an amazing sight to see!

Garrison Dam - releasing water

 

 

And then, when we hit Bismarck on our way home, this lovely little storm added some excitement to our journey…

I kept having flashbacks from the movie, "Independence Day."

 

 

Yeah, it was definitely kinda creepy!

 

On our way home, we stopped and visited a college-friend of Mark’s and had a great visit…plus I was able to pick up some 4-H pointers! Score for me!!! The kids played well, even with it being on the late side. Although I had to make sure that EJ didn’t take home any extra tractors! It was great to spend a normal day, much like many other families.

On the farm, that doesn’t happen nearly often enough!

Family Drive

On Friday night, after a few rain showers, we decided to take the family for our version of a “family drive.” Actually, we were checking the cows in the pasture, but the boys loved the adventure!

We brought with our trusty sidekicks:

Our new puppy, Maggie, and our old foster-dog, Junior.

 

 

The scenery was beautiful.

 

And the cows LOVED getting their mineral and lick tubs!

Yummy!

 

 

Mmmmm...a treat, just for us!

 

And when we went to check on the heifer pasture, they were all hams for the camera! Apparently even our young cows like their 15 minutes of fame!

Ooh, does someone have a camera?

 

 

On a count of three...CHEESE!

 

 

And we saw some wildlife, too! Although, they’re more of nuisance than anything.

Gophers...destructive little buggers.

 

It was a great trip. And we ended with supper and ice cream at the local drive-in. Who could ask for a better Friday?