August O9 In Review

Hurry Up Tomatoes, Please

This is our first year of growing Kale. So far we ate some, gave it away, and froze some. Planning to can up some greens when we do up some beats.

It seems like everyone else tomatoes are lot more mature then what are in our garden. We picked a few for fresh eating.
I’m hoping to put some up for winter by canning. Also I would like making something like V-8 juice

We have quite a few short rolls of parsnips in the garden. But I’m waiting for a frost to sweeten them up. Last year our first frost came around the 8th of October.

When I started to work for Donna she introduce me to leeks. And Faith the other lady I drive around gave us some leek starts. This is our first year of growing leeks.

At the end of this roll we have some flowers growing.

I didn’t get much results with my glads. Confession time…I believe I didn’t real take care of them right. I usual have some glads in my “royal sunshine flowerbed” but it dry and full of weeds I need more later flowers in it

It same story for my dahlias but the ones in my garden are doing great.
I had a patriot bed a place I planted red, white, and blue flower by the barn/shed. I believe that spot would be better for a compost area. Some place else for a patriot bed

Not As Hot

One thing I do on my job is take Donna dog Rex for a walk. It seems quite a few people take there dogs down to the local ballpark.
But off to the East I notice how unusually the sky looked but I have to say it has it own beauty that I find powerful.

Yesterday it was to get super hot possibly breaking records I was thinking something above 95 (35) it got up to only 90 (32.2) still plenty warm.
So we head up Snow Creek toward Roman Nose lake to get some huckleberries which they where small but very tasty.
One thing also they where sticky and stuck to everything. Opinion time…I believe this batch of huckleberries would make great wine

So the rest of afternoon we went a sat by two creek one was Myrtle and the other Gem Creek. I actual like to watch the spring run off not much water was coming off the mountain and down the creek

Myrtle Creek this is the creek that the people of city of Bonners Ferry get there drinking water.

We spend most of our time around Gem Creek. It seem like the breezes was doing battle with each other one moment there was a warm breeze and then a cool breeze.

I guess one can’t judge a book by the cover. I always thought Devil club would be some deadly plant but it related to the American ginseng
But with the stick’s thorns of devil club I real don’t want to deal with them. Once you get them in your skin. Try digging one out and it just keep breaking off.

But I have to say the devil club is sure a pretty plant with bright red berries. Even they have beautiful flower blooms on them

I always thought these little yellow flower that grows out in wild. I call these little yellow flowers “buttercups”. Does anyone know what these flowers are?

Sitting By Ball Creek

Plain and simple I haven’t had much time to blog. But the strange thing I haven’t accomplished any thing fantastic.
Well over the weekend Murphy and I went up to ball creek in search of huckleberries and struck out.
But we did fine a load of mix firewood with mainly larch in it. Firewood is getting hard to find. Good firewood that is.
Now red fir and larch is selling for $120 or more a cord.

It been a while since Murphy or I posted our picture up. We took a short walk at the end of ball creek
I need haircut but I was hoping our bonus check was bigger then it was. For the end of 08 I got bonus check for $700 but this time it was $60.
But I know they hold something out for operating cash for reminder of the year.
But I’m not here to grip about such a little bonus but I know I’ll get anther one for the second half of the year in February

Can you see the little man in picture

Look at the rock

But on the way down off of ball creek I saw a trail leading down to actual creek of ball.
So we spent the day just relaxing by the creek

The fairy mansion. I wonder who cleans the mansion for the upper crust fairies?

Our County Fair 09

Our local fair will be starting soon and every year it seem to be smaller and smaller. No we don’t have a carnival.
But a lot of neat things enter in it.
Now back to why I was posting about this.
I grip on how fewer and fewer entries are entered in the fair.
So I decided to but in a few things this year
Confession time…I would grip on how no one entry in the fair and I could of very well but something in. It like those people who don’t vote and are eligible to. It seem like there first in line for any hand out.
Then grip the loudest on how the government handles things.
So I was no better then those who don’t vote when it came to our local fair

I have to honestly say I feel it would been better to have a our local fair a little later in the season.
So we took Quenella to the fair on Friday.
It doesn’t take long to go though our fair at all

So this year I put in 5 items in the fair.

I entered our corn and got a white ribbon. The corn we grew looked good as the others that was entered.

As you can see I got a red ribbon for the kohlrabi. Not many entries.

I know I shown this ceramic lid but I did get a blue ribbon on it

Now the next two things I didn’t receive any ribbon for

My huckleberry jam

Rex a photo I took of Donna dog. For some reason I can’t find the picture of Rex I entered in the fair

I real like it when the judges take there time and explain what he or she is looking for.
Once I was showing Taurus in a halter class when he was a yearling and there were fifty horses in the class. I got reserve champion. Because I held the lead to halter to close and he could travel with a good gait.
So after that I made I held the lead right and the horse could have strait gait

I Wish May I Wish Might I Wish On the First Star Tonight

There on old saying be careful what you ask for. Donna who I take care of is one of the biggest hoarder I ever seen. Ok Murphy grandma Charlotte also was one.
It sure inspires me not to keep everything little item that may pass my way.
Nothing was real heavy but it was body bending to do this project of hers. She has a lot of things in her little apartment,
Some how she thinks I’m a miracle worker when it comes to organizing her things.
We got two drawers of her file cabinet done. She toss a lot of item. Opinion time…I believe she ready to say good bye to her body fat. some reason she holds on things. I believe it form of protection for her.
I suggested that next week we could separate the thing in the tote that she used today in three categories, spiritual, heath, and blah blah items.
Then go though the blah blah items and see what can he tossed. I believe 10% would be an ideal toss.
I been trying to get anther shot of Rex but her sure was being a snob.
But in morning we go for our walk down at ball park and I had my camera and the duck pond sure was peaceful looking and little duck was out taking his morning swim

I’m still gardening or I should give Murphy credit. He does quite a bit in the garden.

We sure have a lot of tomatoes. Murphy found one turning red. But it doesn’t seem to be ripping very fast. Anyhow I know I mention a green tomato pie

Now both Murphy and I like to add a little kick to our cooking. I believe this is our jalapeno pepper plant.
There sure a lot of peppers on this plant

I know we planted some cole type of crop here. It either broccoli or cauliflower which didn’t amount to hill of beans

I receive some seed as part of Hollowing hill she puts on a seed swap twice a year

So I receive some orka seed and other seeds. But I never grew okra but I believe Murphy has

I believe the greens are doing the best. The chard been might fine

Both Side of Coin Toss

I had plan to post earlier in my blog but it just didn’t happen. On one hand I could have an excuses, which is true.
I had no internet connection. I quess a tree fell across the fiber optic lines out here. Most people have dial up or unless they get a some type of satellite.
No DSL, cable or wire less net.
So I pay $19.00 a month to have the internet.
But on the other hand I was late getting in my payment and my paycheck was late getting here.
So bill payment was late for few.

It Should Have Some Red

It been a busy week and some what tiring but I been quite bit better. I’m doing a liver cleanse The product I’m using is Herb Cocktail
A little strong but I believe it would be better as a hot tea

I’m trying to have a more of balance life. Not having my entire extra time on the computer mainly the blog.
So I been doing with hubby some canning.
A little later on anther around of green beans
Plus I got chance to work on some ceramic painting and book stuff

The garden is coming along so well. I thought I would show you anther roll. Hopeful I can get a chance to do some boxes for next year.
The 24th we will be getting our bonus. I was planning to buy lumber for gardening boxes. Not going into detail I was only going to buy the lumber for 2 boxes but I’m hoping I will be able to buy extra lumber to make a total of 4 boxes

I knew these people and he was a lineman for the Bonneville Power company. Him and his wife introduce me to Kohlrabi.
Actual this is the second batch we planted. We been eating off the first batch

This strip was where my yellow wax beans was planted but they sure didn’t do well at all.
So my friend/client Faith gave me some bean seeds.
They seem to be coming along nicely.
But I do have anther area of green beans.

One thing we sure aren’t short in the garden is celery. Sitting and type out this post.
I’m not sure if I have two or three area with celery in.
We ate a little bit of celery so far this year,

I believe I bought this pepper plant at the local farmer market in Bonners Ferry. It a hot cherry peppers.
There actual a dark green now. I haven’t notice any red upon the peppers

We been using chard as we do lettuce on different things. I froze about 1 dozen quart of greens, which consist of chard and kale.
Still would like to do anther around of greens

Murphy and I been out picking Lobster Mushroom which isn’t a true mushroom.
We picked a five gallon bucket full plus a little more.
We gave Murphy sister Faith some. She was going to wait until we ate and see if we live to tell about it.
“There great” so we froze I believe 1 dozen of them

I’m reading a book called Living Rich for less by Ellie Kay. Not sure it real what I wanted.
But I just started reading it

I Was Going To

I was planing to do a little bit of blogging about stuff. Mainly about the garden but my work day was little off kilter.

My Letter to Editor on Heath Care

It’s been on the news about some type of public opinion of heath care system bought to the United States.
This isn’t a new concept. As I understand that President Theodore Roosevelt (R) was the first to want a public heath system for all American.
Many industrial countries have one and for many years now.
I went to world heath organization and the three top countries with the best heath care is
France, Italy, and San Marino.
We rank 37th

Lot of them can’t believe a good percentage of American can be wiped out and ruin financial after a major medical mishap even with insurance.
There plenty of horror stories about private insurance companies.
I haven’t yet heard of anyone purchasing a private medical insurance for under $500 per person per month. I’m not talking about supplemental insurance.
As I read “that Medicare uses 7% for over head and private insurance uses 31% for over head”

The United States in 2006 pays the highest per capital for Heath Care at $6,567.
The two countries that follow are Switzerland $4311, and Canada $3005.
We sure don’t have the longest life expectation depending on which poll one reads we rank any where from 30th to 50th.
The top three county who lives the longest is Macua (China), Andorra (France) and Japan.

We already have social programs that help with medical such as Medicaid, Medicare, and Veterans. These programs must work maybe not prefect no one real want to toss them complete away.

Riverside Auto Fire

Last Monday as I got home Murphy told me that Riverside Auto burned down and I would guess it was early afternoon.
I couldn’t hardly believe my ears what he was saying.
Because I left worked that day in the early afternoon. It didn’t seem unusually smoky out side because of the forest fires going on.

So I had to ask Murphy how he found out this news. Well his sister Faith called and told him that Riverside Auto was on fire.
Well her and her husband owns a bed and breakfast across the river and could easily seen the whole thing. There on hill and the town of Bonners Ferry is in good view.
As I understand the building went up quickly It still under investigation.
There was some video someone took and sends to a local new station in Spokane. Our local paper comes out on Wednesday and Thursday.

Plus being an Auto dealership there was an accounted and book keeping serves up stairs

I don’t believe any life or injuries had happen

It the Short Group

Everything in the garden is starting to happen., course in heat of the summer time.
The garden still has it ups and downs. So does life in general.
Last time I showed any picture of the garden. It was the roll next to corn. Which I believe it the one roll seam to be struggling.
So here the next roll over.

The sunflowers to the right of these are much taller.
The sunflowers are starting to form heads,

I believe everyone has picked a zucchini from there garden. “Not we” say “I”.
Haven’t yet told the world I haven’t yet picked because I don’t want a bushel basket left on my porch of zucchini

I real don’t mind green tomatoes. I actual know different ways of using them. One of my favorites one is a green tomatoes pie. I know it may sound corny but you make it the same as an apple pie. It tastes basically the same.
I like fried green tomatoes. And one can pickle them.
But a fresh nice red tomatoes fresh from the vine would be devine.

I call these my Jim peppers I never can remember the name of these. But Murphy real likes them.
Not sure what one can do with them

We planted a few flowers. I guess their benefit for having marigolds in one garden. I can say it brings in color other then green and some bees

I stared to embroidery a dish towel. I had the pattern here sense I inherited the place. So I’ll be adding it my winter box.
I start painting more ceramics. Not sure what color I’ll be doing it in. The wall in Santa in tub is a dark purple the same as the scarecrow hat.

I didn’t do anything for mid summer. I took this picture of on the North side looking across the river to the town of Bonners Ferry