tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36612699351431715392024-03-13T01:04:23.245-05:00Country Life TalesLiving the country life season by seasonDeloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-27133629518709679362015-06-28T18:21:00.000-05:002015-06-28T18:21:28.082-05:00I'm BaaackHi Friends,<br />
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Made it through spring and nicely settled into summer now. We had lots of rain this spring so everything is green and lush. The garden is in and I have harvested swiss chard so far but I got the garden in late due to the cool rains. Everything looks great so there is promise.<br />
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Lots of baby colts this spring. That is always one of the highlights of April and May.<br />
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The roses are amazing this year. I grow very fragrant roses so when brought inside, the house smells so lovely. I tucked some spirea into the bouquet.<br />
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Although the temps have risen considerably, the pansies are still flourishing at the front door. I smile whenever I see them.<br />
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Those of you readers who have been with me from the beginning know that I have done many different things to protect my flower beds. First it was the free range chickens, the Dots, who made a mess of them. Then we got Buddy, our wonderful English Shepherd, and he dug many holes in the flower beds. I tried chicken wire (too hard on the hands of the gardener when weeding!), then large pine cones (thank you John and Cheryl for making a significant contribution) and then small rebar sticks around valuable plants. NONE worked. This spring, Mark put an electric fence around the flower beds. Buddy doesn't go near them so our flowers are coming back. I'm so happy that I don't mind that wire and yellow hooks that hold the wire. Often it is not on but Buddy doesn't know so he stays away. Sigh (of relief).<br />
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One of the 5 rose bushes with a heavenly scent.<br />
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And then there were 12. We lost one Dot recently, cause unknown. But the remaining are thriving and producing eggs so I'm happy. They are so fun to have around and they love their new location with lots of cover from hawks, cool trees to roost on or to take a dust bath beneath.<br />
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I hope you each have a fun summer. We have some fun planned so I can't wait. I'll be telling you about it as it happens.</div>
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Love, DeloresDeloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-37944916921239318832015-03-01T14:21:00.000-06:002015-03-01T14:21:11.450-06:00PART 2: The Big Reveal<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK, are you ready for Part 2? We'll explore the laundry/mud room and powder room AKA Bear room (you'll see) upstairs first.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We've just entered the laundry/mud room. The door you see at the back leads to the garage. To the right of the door and behind the mirror wall is the Bear room. The laundry/mud room is pale yellow with a red accent wall. The octagon window on the red wall looks onto the porch.The ceiling is also beadboard. I raised the washer and dryer a foot so Dick would have less bending when doing laundry. There is a collapsible clothes hanger to the right of the deer mount. The sink is industrial in depth with a tall faucet so Dick can work on his hunting trophies here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This view is looking back toward the hallway. The sliding doors you see on the right of the entry door are for the pantry and broom closet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mud room is tucked next to the garage door. There is room for the coats, shoes and a bench for convenience. The black container is a trash can. The bench is a split log with branch legs I found in Virginia on our way to N.C. at Christmas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can easily see the raised washer/dryer. The cabinets above have pullout shelves to make reaching easier. You have a better view of the beadboard ceiling here. The floor is ceramic tile that I had laid on the diagonal to visually expand the room. There is a pocket door that can be closed to keep the noise contained.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">OK, are you ready for the Bear room? Here it is, just off the garage, very practical and totally manly!!</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We decided to include a urinal, why not? The light in this room is a red industrial pendant which unfortunately doesn't show. Dick had requested wallpaper border and since it isn't so 'in' today, I wanted to honor his request but struggled as to where it should go. I think I found a perfect solution, don't you? Easily viewed here and with a theme that fits the owner and the bathroom woodsy look. Wolves in a birch forest! I used beadboard wainscotting on the powder room walls to tie it into the laundry/mud room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Above is a closeup of the wolves border.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Follow me out of the laundry room and down to the finished basement. You can see the polar bear art here in the hallway outside the laundry/mud room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We designed two guest rooms downstairs. One with two full size beds and one with a queen bed. Dick wanted plenty of room for family and friends to visit. We decided to go with full sized beds because although his grandkids are still small, when friends visit, especially hunting friends, they need to be in a comfortable sized bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The yellow room has grey quilts and grey/white ticking bed skirts. This bedroom has an egress window which we will add a 'scene' to this spring. One can purchase an outdoor scene to place on the tin sides of the wall to dress it up and not look so dreary. I'll send pictures once that is installed. The blinds here are partially open. They are Allure blinds, the newest in fabric blinds, which we've used throughout the house. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The large white shelf to the right is to set luggage on. The bottom two shelves can be used as a dresser. We thought of the convenience of guests.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidouf4ZAKRMSeWbAhePGXM42gspQbRUIfHnco2OUDT4iELSIrqraFwpHhGaVPu2QndOPNaic5_wySOghJyo1sHf70InV5IjIlUTA9DjkK7S5_g3Hdm5ilSFF22j8eDXCPnwoywWfOV7wI/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidouf4ZAKRMSeWbAhePGXM42gspQbRUIfHnco2OUDT4iELSIrqraFwpHhGaVPu2QndOPNaic5_wySOghJyo1sHf70InV5IjIlUTA9DjkK7S5_g3Hdm5ilSFF22j8eDXCPnwoywWfOV7wI/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+048.JPG" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I added fun pictures that I purchased online to each of the guest rooms. Most of the furnishings were ordered online including the headboards, kitchen table and all the light fixtures and cabinet knobs and pulls.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A night shot of the cozy yellow bedroom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Standing at the bottom of the stairs, you can see into the two guest rooms. The bathroom is just to the left at the bottom of the stairs. The closed door on the left is a storage closet - a huge storage closet. The basement is totally carpeted for a cozier feel. You can see into the red bedroom that has a full garden window so therefore the brighter light. The family room also has a 6' garden window. It certainly doesn't feel like a basement at all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The red bedroom is ready for guests.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you can partially see, the red bedroom has a large garden level picture window so the view and light is marvelous. It also holds a chair and the suitcase shelving. Also both bedrooms have large closets.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The guest bath is fun. The round mirror is leather, the pictures over the toilet are watercolors of a bear, fawn and fox. The shower curtain is a huge butterfly. The bath is roomy and convenient.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I added hooks instead of towel racks along with a couple stools for little ones to reach the sink or moms to sit on while bathing the little ones.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHycZG2qPiZrcPZs1Fbn8mPkkdgsoIM6wIZUvvYv0CQGvnsjkB4tGw8CDC-ZVHOFAPDZQuYCpBhppAzNZ8WJpT_KtdRXwbZjenlvvsYaOjLIQ0lcIcRlkJtJFMBAJSKd5d5kFTAdqp1BY/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHycZG2qPiZrcPZs1Fbn8mPkkdgsoIM6wIZUvvYv0CQGvnsjkB4tGw8CDC-ZVHOFAPDZQuYCpBhppAzNZ8WJpT_KtdRXwbZjenlvvsYaOjLIQ0lcIcRlkJtJFMBAJSKd5d5kFTAdqp1BY/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+062.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Behind the door is an open linen closet. It holds towels and bedding but also contains empty shelves for the guests to place their cosmetics case, shaving kit, toothbrushes etc. I always notice the lack of open space in guest rooms and especially baths; so we wanted to ensure that those spaces were available for his guests, large and small.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A fun space is Dick's hunting room. I found this mural and placed it on the wall like wallpaper. He mounted a fish and also a deer in this space. It includes tons of storage and workspace. There is a door inside this room that leads to the mechanical room. The house has geothermal heat, instant hot water, great insulation and other energy saving ideas throughout.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've left out the family room and game table area because it's not quite finished so I'll send that another day along with outside view shots. This last shot is looking up the stairs to the front entry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of view shots, I found this one looking from the kitchen window that gives you a glimpse of what Dick sees out the east windows of his new home. Double-click on the picture to see it larger.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGd0k7FU298uU_WesjMpCoXRzG94lO2R3mJY6US3GeYrQDebv4ALt2P85RIWoY-nTNrdI0fJ67KlqWcPiKMaOa_na18d1JsDf3nkFErl5g5uG4gQh70vNl-o7S4GOYU4_NhDfAF6wtl-g/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGd0k7FU298uU_WesjMpCoXRzG94lO2R3mJY6US3GeYrQDebv4ALt2P85RIWoY-nTNrdI0fJ67KlqWcPiKMaOa_na18d1JsDf3nkFErl5g5uG4gQh70vNl-o7S4GOYU4_NhDfAF6wtl-g/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+044.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you've enjoyed Part 2. Part 3 will be the finished family room and some outside view shots. We'll begin working on the landscaping and finishing out the front porch as soon as it begins to warm here. Part 4 will be the landscape and outside house views.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Delores</span></div>
Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-44178020026551051862015-02-28T22:50:00.000-06:002015-02-28T22:59:28.901-06:00Here It Is, The Big Reveal...Ta Daaaa (PART 1)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I went on the wonderful fifteen month creative journey with our dear friend and neighbor, Dick P. He originally asked me to help him design his kitchen, and after many meetings over our dining table, he decided to be his own general contractor and the original house plans morphed into a different form from the original and I became his creative partner on this exciting journey of</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> building a house and making it a home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Above is one of my first drawings of the layout after we omitted the dining room and moved the guest rooms and bath to the basement. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am very proud of the results and I hope you find it as beautiful as we do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The process was exciting and revealing and sometimes stressful but always fun. I had to find ways to discover Dick's taste, his color choices, how he wanted to live in this house etc. Since he is a hunter, I gave him several pictures of colorful birds, ducks and such. From that he selected the colors that resonated with him. He was very definite about a green that he saw and it took me quite a while to find it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the meantime, I would get samples and paint them on boards for him to live with for awhile to see if he liked them. It took seven different greens before I found the exact one. He told me he wanted to live with lots of color so we worked on finding the other two colors, red-orange and yellow, that would make the scheme sing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I drew each room, all four walls, to show him what it could look like. For each room, I did multiple variations so he could 'see' what I meant when I discussed design. He could then make changes and as a result, we didn't have change orders during the actual building process. It worked for us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whenever we had to make a decision about design and style I would show him multiple pictures and ask me to tell me the one(s) he liked. From this we found his "style" and from there making the decisions about cabinets, lighting, fixtures, flooring, tile, etc. were much easier. I would then find the products I thought would work for his home and would give him a selection of three to five and from that he selected his favorite. Therefore this house represents his likes and style, not mine. I'll show you how I included things from his past, his loves and interests, his pictures and some furniture, etc. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ready for the tour? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(NOTE: If you click on the picture, a slide show will appear and you will see them more closely in larger format.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here we go....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is what you see when you enter the house. It is an open concept with no dining room but rather the table is in the center of the kitchen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On the east side of the living room facing the front entry. His style is transitional, a modern twist on traditional with modern and rustic touches. Isn't his rug wonderful? It is called a tribal design and it brought all his colors together - green, red, yellow and black.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dick P. is an archery hunter so I worked at placing his mounts in a way that would show them off best. These three mounts reminded me of a Georgia O'Keeffe painting so I knew they had to be on this wall above the stairs that you see from all over the main floor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking past the TV and fireplace toward the entry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the entry looking to the east where there are 4 large windows and a glass door to the patio. The small swivel chair is yellow and sits out of the way of the view to the TV. The giraffe was brought back from Africa and the marvelous 'grandfather' clock is so modern yet so traditional and lovely in the space both is appearance and in sound.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The TV is on an old ammunition cart and the fireplace is totally modern in looks but still has a hearth so one can sit on it and really soak up the warmth. The TV and fireplace are on the south wall. The blinds are closed because it was so bright when pictures were taken.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This octagon ceiling inset contains the ceiling fan. It sits in the center of the living room area. There is green paint on the inside of the octagon which picks up the green in the kitchen and the green in the tile on the fireplace. The stained wood is also seen on the porch ceiling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next, meet me in the kitchen...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it's just this way, past the bear around the living room...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...on to the room that started it all! I LOVE this room. White shaker cabinets with glass insets, quartz counters, stainless appliances and the beautiful green walls. The farm sink is lovely and all this is countered by the recycled wood dining table, modern wishbone chairs and a padded bench. The bead board ceiling gives a country or cottage feel and the lighting is totally modern. And the view, oh my. A perfect kitchen. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The west side of the kitchen holds the desk, the oven and the refrigerator. There are lots of cabinets for storage and plenty of space to move around efficiently</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. You can see the green paint here too above the desk. The </span>backsplash<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> tile has green in it and it is the same as on the fireplace. The tiles are large rectangles on the fireplace which we had cut down for the kitchen. You can see the doorway to the laundry room/mud room.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And I found this tin letter for Dick's last name. But my all time favorite is this mount of a crow!! Who mounts a crow? I guess if you are an archer, you do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Standing guard to the laundry room and hall to the master suite, is Mercedes, the parakeet that was in Dick's family when his kids were young. I found it on an artist's site and Dick said it looked exactly like Mercedes, so we brought her home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the vestibule into the master suite. Dick uses a replica of Sadie, the old family dog, as his door stop. Come on in...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dick wanted a camouflage comforter so we found one and carried out the green through the grasscloth wallpaper and the green silk carpet. The red-orange accents come into the bedroom to carry out his colors.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">His huge walk-in closet is just to the left when you walk into the master suite. It has hangers, shelves for shoes and some clothes and dresser in the rear to the left of the bench. This is a complete dressing room. So large and nice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You can see into the master bath which seems to be located in the woods! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Q9qvwNWMpBzPY3lkOIwj3Q2awVu2NNMPyl7DMdz3DNKOPatrxEstpr4QXGokNAK8zNw2wHSNo9VzYXHS3ykkvncs3ydS0iEa_sDDJLu_xc9kAjcn4B6H5j8ZOsK3UU-JhEz5FuYHBOY/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Q9qvwNWMpBzPY3lkOIwj3Q2awVu2NNMPyl7DMdz3DNKOPatrxEstpr4QXGokNAK8zNw2wHSNo9VzYXHS3ykkvncs3ydS0iEa_sDDJLu_xc9kAjcn4B6H5j8ZOsK3UU-JhEz5FuYHBOY/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+037.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In person, the birch woods wallpaper has a three dimension effect. Very cool. The floor tile is placed on the diagonal</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and has a wood look in person.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This window is one of only two that faces north which saves energy. Every window has fabulous views including this one.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz_ABjGz1DzJnqKB7Lh1N7n1YM2mvWuQfIeu7fhepok8ISuN6AKcRVpGemaGJRXLXr6dJQO9cQoMmHkl4wXDS1POO5nJ791jeEagA3tMJGW3pTuPnToa36re7Ud4Xz03Cbs-qYyQqImU/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz_ABjGz1DzJnqKB7Lh1N7n1YM2mvWuQfIeu7fhepok8ISuN6AKcRVpGemaGJRXLXr6dJQO9cQoMmHkl4wXDS1POO5nJ791jeEagA3tMJGW3pTuPnToa36re7Ud4Xz03Cbs-qYyQqImU/s1600/Final+Dicks+home+2015+039.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Onyx vanity and shower add a practical yet beautiful touch to the room. The shelf on the right is a tambour to hold his daily grooming items. It is topped with another bear sculpture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This picture shows the onyx shower and the linen closet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Proud homeowner, Dick P., enjoying his new home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you enjoyed the tour. Delores</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">PART 2 will come soon. It will show the laundry/mud room and powder room on the first floor along with the finished basement.</span><br />
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Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-43768755159428235422015-02-24T14:09:00.000-06:002015-02-24T14:26:22.610-06:00Welcome Back!I've been away from the blog but I've been busy. I've helped complete my neighbor/friend's house, we travelled to North Carolina for Christmas with my three sisters, and I had total knee replacement. All is well.<br />
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Several of you have inquired as to the status of Dick's new house. Now it is a lovely home. Here are a few of the last pictures of getting the house assembled.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The drywallers in action. They created a beautiful smooth</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">ceiling in the open area of kitchen and living room. The</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">kitchen will be getting a beadboard ceiling and the rest of </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">the house very light texture.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQp8Pl96aVM8tBiHLWt8BivME2Dxf1TiyDaqMhnHLq6g13cdB6ibJCL_4WhxgiqC6s8MdCTDYQxnlC-5-yS9Lcx_47KCrD5MGt7p3lEMxksaxx0If6m56f6sDzhRc6XQOioG_ScLsgxmA/s1600/late+fall+2014+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQp8Pl96aVM8tBiHLWt8BivME2Dxf1TiyDaqMhnHLq6g13cdB6ibJCL_4WhxgiqC6s8MdCTDYQxnlC-5-yS9Lcx_47KCrD5MGt7p3lEMxksaxx0If6m56f6sDzhRc6XQOioG_ScLsgxmA/s1600/late+fall+2014+013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These guys are craftsmen; it's a dirty job though</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2aSh5E4vTpfubi1c41k_qplD7VGOTtojB8vLZ2_jtildx3FdJ75PFpi0sqHYnrODvqjsd2A5DRrLNtZVspuu4GL4sZ6kcG0lK2GqEPnXrM6j801Rb1m1w1bPuFyIF1htQRpygZCqbtw/s1600/dicks+house+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2aSh5E4vTpfubi1c41k_qplD7VGOTtojB8vLZ2_jtildx3FdJ75PFpi0sqHYnrODvqjsd2A5DRrLNtZVspuu4GL4sZ6kcG0lK2GqEPnXrM6j801Rb1m1w1bPuFyIF1htQRpygZCqbtw/s1600/dicks+house+002.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Drywall is done, painting has started. The beautiful green</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">kitchen and all the sunlight are stars</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCT9814gHCv-478rqSGSaeqmIGB5MU2cbRQeB8W720qm49sjnnZ_hm3krV6c_oOgEhL3fA6Qqkp2xmuzNWdFfa2m_GeEiD5EPVF614hqfFu_KEf9kxztUYu0efSX5RwpFToG28jK5pQE/s1600/dicks+house+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCT9814gHCv-478rqSGSaeqmIGB5MU2cbRQeB8W720qm49sjnnZ_hm3krV6c_oOgEhL3fA6Qqkp2xmuzNWdFfa2m_GeEiD5EPVF614hqfFu_KEf9kxztUYu0efSX5RwpFToG28jK5pQE/s1600/dicks+house+003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The red wall on the left is the stairway wall at the front of</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">the house. The door is into the laundry/mud room and the</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">hall leads to the master suite. On the right you see the green</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">of the kitchen.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJfrWWmx-j6HFrkLwPFoahAmN0iFi-hjse09JhT-spurATaaUXHhl9bMLDcf4PlFaRXd8qkkZNxfNnc1aU_ERp3egQ23yUSvsHB4AZ_ErgxfKQr59X2eyshiBA5UhcpwL8_hLFooKFkg/s1600/dicks+house+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJfrWWmx-j6HFrkLwPFoahAmN0iFi-hjse09JhT-spurATaaUXHhl9bMLDcf4PlFaRXd8qkkZNxfNnc1aU_ERp3egQ23yUSvsHB4AZ_ErgxfKQr59X2eyshiBA5UhcpwL8_hLFooKFkg/s1600/dicks+house+011.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen cabinets are delivered along with vanities etc. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwE_i-L04keo3sh4w-UUmKr0JvhrlPw-KJ5093Qr2pbZTMNxHymXV8yrNAv2_xIjjjiGbwvoWYXNe2p-ySaveVK1LFspGDaxiuLAAuOBzavcJ-XrY9rm6lRE8dQxPu43IKZ0xeC1l2No/s1600/dicks+house+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwE_i-L04keo3sh4w-UUmKr0JvhrlPw-KJ5093Qr2pbZTMNxHymXV8yrNAv2_xIjjjiGbwvoWYXNe2p-ySaveVK1LFspGDaxiuLAAuOBzavcJ-XrY9rm6lRE8dQxPu43IKZ0xeC1l2No/s1600/dicks+house+021.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabinets under installation; house is coming together</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsvZ4m3s3Joj_WxbzdaIBHbji0V_M2o8lLZrKHGDir8DSwy6bIbK-a6dfN-nxOyaP_NMFJxbihLxknGc4nOcYi6Kcus19rJro4OwpMdqlG6GVBoOVpsujJgwRD68VivxNwAifRiQN1ak/s1600/dicks+house+040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsvZ4m3s3Joj_WxbzdaIBHbji0V_M2o8lLZrKHGDir8DSwy6bIbK-a6dfN-nxOyaP_NMFJxbihLxknGc4nOcYi6Kcus19rJro4OwpMdqlG6GVBoOVpsujJgwRD68VivxNwAifRiQN1ak/s1600/dicks+house+040.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grass cloth just installed to the walls in the master bedroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPELgkk_eA8dN-qlntVAG6jdkO1xxu63fnHCavCE7SNIrV5g7r0iFSl7S8XHGXTQuegvvd60TrdGWZN-MCwWlW8X-eZb2OIUX8gpfH7cyzeyxyLL8hpLmOxZfgXqJTDAk22J1bKqvWUNw/s1600/dicks+house+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPELgkk_eA8dN-qlntVAG6jdkO1xxu63fnHCavCE7SNIrV5g7r0iFSl7S8XHGXTQuegvvd60TrdGWZN-MCwWlW8X-eZb2OIUX8gpfH7cyzeyxyLL8hpLmOxZfgXqJTDAk22J1bKqvWUNw/s1600/dicks+house+041.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Birch forest wallpaper in master bath along with tile floor;</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">vanity sink and shower are onyx.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcKq6POaC8aUY0A6bXTuc1Oq6jLiQdC5EuRDNXDC8YPh2Tw40t9_txBnNBw4E4CA09jfIOAms8z6_PTtf_lEUPfQj10EU2Guqzs00iLUCdBYDGz4GeiU6Bg27cSd_jubZkm3TucRNeo8/s1600/dicks+house+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjcKq6POaC8aUY0A6bXTuc1Oq6jLiQdC5EuRDNXDC8YPh2Tw40t9_txBnNBw4E4CA09jfIOAms8z6_PTtf_lEUPfQj10EU2Guqzs00iLUCdBYDGz4GeiU6Bg27cSd_jubZkm3TucRNeo8/s1600/dicks+house+028.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Fireplace tiles are installed. They are the large versions of the</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">kitchen backsplash tiles. We had them cut down so they would</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">work together. Where you see the octagon in the ceiling, it will </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">hold a fan and not a light. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingObLsaIKmwCoi-eCCNTnmxSxHd4O516CWOWim0LKpH84AW1gdfXAuBGRxyaPLe2u69OCX_lVdetAD7qpAsH9bjFHpZ7aDC2XRtP0aF7DGyVCBHdTNEPNenAWOi8TqWSBvSGa3tNpZiY/s1600/dicks+house+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingObLsaIKmwCoi-eCCNTnmxSxHd4O516CWOWim0LKpH84AW1gdfXAuBGRxyaPLe2u69OCX_lVdetAD7qpAsH9bjFHpZ7aDC2XRtP0aF7DGyVCBHdTNEPNenAWOi8TqWSBvSGa3tNpZiY/s1600/dicks+house+029.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Plumber is working on the sink etc. As you can see the </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">gorgeous beadboard ceiling is in along with the quartz</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">counters and beautiful backsplash tile. It's coming together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Window in the laundry room. This is a great functional room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">It holds the pantry, broom closet, washer, dryer and large </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">utility sink along with a bench and hangers for the mudroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">His home includes a finished basement. This view is from</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">the family room looking into the two guest rooms, one </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">yellow and one red. The pendant light will hang over the</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">game table. The natural light is wonderful down here.</span></div>
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The next blog will show the finished product. I hope you like it. I am so proud of this home and so grateful that my dear friend, Dick, asked me to work with him on it. It was a blast.</div>
Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-71537057747052723972014-10-25T14:04:00.002-05:002014-10-25T14:04:25.286-05:00The Sweetest AutumnWe've been enjoying a magnificent autumn. The trees and grasses are spectacularly colored this year with less wind to swipe the leaves from the trees. The wild grass is the same fall colors as the trees which paints a lovely palate that is a feast for the eyes. We've also been enjoying coolish weather in the 60s and 70s with cool evenings.<br />
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There are a lot of woolly bear caterpillars around this fall. It used to be thought that they could predict the weather of the forthcoming winter by their coloring; however, most scientists discount the folklore of woolly bear predictions as just that, folklore! I've noticed more than ever this year and I think it's because we've had such a long mild autumn.<br />
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The easy fall weather has encouraged the flowers to continue blooming and I've noticed several Monarch Butterflies on the flowers in the front birdhouse bed. I'm so grateful.<br />
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A closer look below of three Monarchs...you have to look closely to see the orange and black butterflies...<br />
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<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, 'Liberation Sans', FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17.3999996185303px;">The flowers have been so plentiful and beautiful this fall that I've been able to have regular bouquets in the house, one of the things that brings delight to me.</span><br />
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Our evenings have been blessed with gorgeous sunsets.<br />
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I hope your fall is mild and lovely. What will winter bring?Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-28546257315556758022014-09-15T14:33:00.001-05:002014-09-15T14:33:29.485-05:00Update on New HouseWe've made great progress on the house. The roof is shingled, the well is dug, the plumbing and electrical are almost finished; still need the septic system installed, the HVAC is almost done, just need to complete the geothermal heat/air system and siding is going up. <br />
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Here are the roofers almost finished.</div>
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This is the back side of the house.</div>
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New garage doors are installed but the windows on the doors need to be moved to next lower level(now done). House is now enclosed.<br />
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Here we are laying out the kitchen table. The four windows are the sink area. The next room is the master bedroom.<br />
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Windows and outside doors are installed. This is the front door and it will be red. The fireplace is installed as well and you can see the wires the electrician is pulling throughout the house.<br />
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View from the kitchen to the living room. You can see the fireplace better and all the wonderful windows. Wires are being pulled all through the house. Plumbing is almost finished, only outside trenches etc. need to be completed.<br />
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Digging the well, found water at 320 feet, clear, good water.<br />
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Here's the drill with all that pipe. It was a fascinating process.<br />
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Here is the owner, Dick P., holding one of the water pipes. Happy the well is in with good water. We are having the best time building this house together. Mark and I are so happy that Dick will be our neighbor<br />
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You can see the garage windows have been moved and the siding is going up.<br />
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View of the edge of garage and front porch. The porch will have a different siding which you'll see when it's finished early next week.<br />
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Another view of the porch and south side of house. The insulation is scheduled soon and then the drywall. We're moving along, finally. Being so far from the city makes us vulnerable to the subcontractors' schedules. We're hoping he gets in before the snow flies!<br />
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This has been the most fun project I have ever worked on. What will I do next?Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-59987631197774302882014-08-10T11:23:00.000-05:002014-08-10T11:23:16.089-05:00Our Newest BabyOur best mare, Boone, had a late baby this year and he is adorable! Usually baby horses are born in the spring but we have the thrill of an August baby. His daddy is Cats a Kwackin, a son of High Brow Cat, a money earner performance horse. This is a special little guy!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG90MUkKZ8zWz5SlEXiRJTAHHNzkpPhlnxn5VfzEgvv0A_p0U1GBqirNbfrmGudvy_53CNSh4Rcmk53ILhBf9FGxSwtBFwr29VNtzIJl1hhaKxkilWiWyOSHeg3XP-tQtN9JvxgZ0-5w8/s1600/August+Blog+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG90MUkKZ8zWz5SlEXiRJTAHHNzkpPhlnxn5VfzEgvv0A_p0U1GBqirNbfrmGudvy_53CNSh4Rcmk53ILhBf9FGxSwtBFwr29VNtzIJl1hhaKxkilWiWyOSHeg3XP-tQtN9JvxgZ0-5w8/s1600/August+Blog+014.JPG" height="320" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just two days old, still a little wobbly,<br />
but starting to buck and play</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7_bSE33m0TF2wD7eDgiIsLtKo0y7Qi9a_O185UOIVrH44YZpYLy5v-nx4w9OLYkApiKSn7a2YgM69TEQTkHAtrsMcYvTXjIuTsvG-GOyrIkWJ-l5xu_fmeUSz0TevuMAN3gzyYXGxN8/s1600/August+Blog+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7_bSE33m0TF2wD7eDgiIsLtKo0y7Qi9a_O185UOIVrH44YZpYLy5v-nx4w9OLYkApiKSn7a2YgM69TEQTkHAtrsMcYvTXjIuTsvG-GOyrIkWJ-l5xu_fmeUSz0TevuMAN3gzyYXGxN8/s1600/August+Blog+016.JPG" height="320" width="235" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The newborn baby horse tail is<br />
so cute and fuzzy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's never far from Mom</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2pT32YQkjt2apgh54JrqphM6jWL7_-1MF0jnCNaPOjrwPvDymcQ-eBaqJZ4xv8tlL8lsu7fjcAFz168TJF5uTbYeb1_hY_-rmLWtuepwHyujkpdl4uqWCinq27XLyKIJ_3CSfRFMkv0/s1600/August+Blog+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2pT32YQkjt2apgh54JrqphM6jWL7_-1MF0jnCNaPOjrwPvDymcQ-eBaqJZ4xv8tlL8lsu7fjcAFz168TJF5uTbYeb1_hY_-rmLWtuepwHyujkpdl4uqWCinq27XLyKIJ_3CSfRFMkv0/s1600/August+Blog+006.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see how tiny he is next to the mares<br />
and the feeder</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxxkAEHwasYk8Bs1I8K8Pa0GF8Y6-OHdSAPvf_yfru_qdYGdjdcYUzE4NOMAXYjvNFHxgszUZtHjdPSYl0f6Kc0SeAD9Pt8p4QRHcdtAEiDy8lMbpjBp7rSfU_vRq_fgqoLsntroBHGM/s1600/August+Blog+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxxkAEHwasYk8Bs1I8K8Pa0GF8Y6-OHdSAPvf_yfru_qdYGdjdcYUzE4NOMAXYjvNFHxgszUZtHjdPSYl0f6Kc0SeAD9Pt8p4QRHcdtAEiDy8lMbpjBp7rSfU_vRq_fgqoLsntroBHGM/s1600/August+Blog+015.JPG" height="159" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He is friendly and curious. He'll walk to<br />
you in the pasture.</td></tr>
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Since Buddy joined the family three years ago, we haven't had many wild turkeys come into our yard. We used to have many that would walk across our lawn and would visit the chickens in the Dot House. Some would seek the shade of the lawn under our trees during the hot days of summer. Buddy is such a good watchdog that no wild creature has much chance here so they stay away. When considering most wild life around here, I'm happy for his protection. But I do miss the wild turkeys. Much to my dismay last week, I was in the kitchen and looked out the window to see a hen turkey and her two babies cross the back lawn. Then all the guineas arrived on their round about the house. Where was Buddy? Well, he missed this one, thank heavens!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXT1olh-cmKIF0SgFicNZKgyusMzzYZclErk5CJU5JPX8NzPnRJbfu0EWqQu1WAY2uBauEHqt_H_JxR8XT0DD4tTvrxFKgyOoA-Z9PriEwYoiUAlvUiNdP1UgS5AoLo9eEDPqVRmXegA/s1600/turkeys+guineas+&+dicks+house+grading+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXT1olh-cmKIF0SgFicNZKgyusMzzYZclErk5CJU5JPX8NzPnRJbfu0EWqQu1WAY2uBauEHqt_H_JxR8XT0DD4tTvrxFKgyOoA-Z9PriEwYoiUAlvUiNdP1UgS5AoLo9eEDPqVRmXegA/s1600/turkeys+guineas+&+dicks+house+grading+011.JPG" height="320" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hen and chicks crossing the back yard</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the turkeys are almost to the safety of the<br />
brush; the guineas showed up too</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view of garden, Dot House and cottage from<br />
the horse pasture</td></tr>
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This year I planted four o'clocks. It is an old fashioned flower that Mother always planted in her flower garden. I loved them as a child because the flowers opened late in the day hence the name, four o'clocks. The blossoms are in vivid hues that are particularly lovely on cloudy or foggy days. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">four o'clocks just beginning to open late in<br />
the day</td></tr>
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I hope you are enjoying your summer. Fresh peaches are in, time for jam and pies for the freezer! Tomatoes are just beginning to ripen here. I'm sure I'll be slammed with ripe tomatoes soon but now I am longing for them as they seem to be taking their time changing to red.Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-87164076033022108142014-07-22T11:48:00.000-05:002014-07-22T11:48:16.129-05:00Friendship GardensI have many beautiful plants around my yard that are meaningful to me because each time I look at them I think of my friend who shared them with me. There are so many things to love about gardening and sharing plants is one of the best because they help build Friendship Gardens.<br />
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My lovely friend, Connie, who generously welcomed and introduced me to the local community gave me Autumn Joy sedums and iris the first year we were on our little ranch. The sedums have matured and add so much softness and interest around our little cottage. They really shine in the fall and their reddish dry flower heads are spectacular in the winter snow. The iris were magnificent this year and we were delighted that the yellow ones have multiplied.<br />
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Iris blooms are short lived but are velvety and feminine and a delight to<br />
the eye in the spring.<br />
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The sedums have a soft rose<br />
flower head. The birds feed off<br />
them in the fall and winter.<br />
Below are the sedum in summer<br />
forming the beautiful flower <br />
heads.<br />
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JoAnn, a Master Gardener friend, gave me the hosta plants that she was thinning out of her garden. They took well and are blooming now with lovely lavender flowers. They reside in the deep shade at the front of the house and seem to get stronger every year. (See below)<br />
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JoAnn also gave me Aptenia Confifolia or Baby Sun Rose Red which is an easy growing succulent plant that spills over outdoor pots so beautifully. I take cuttings and keep it going inside during the winter where I will occasionally get some tiny red flowers to cheer the room. I've shared it with my sister, Sandi and several friends in the area. {<em>Aptenia cordifolia</em>, commonly called heartleaf ice plant or baby sun rose, is a succulent, creeping, short-lived, mat-forming perennial that is native to the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. It is invasive in California}<br />
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I was looking at bulbs at Home Depot one year when another customer approached me and told me that if I'd like lilies-of-the-valley, she had many that she dug out of her garden and would be happy to give them to me. That started my bed of lilies-of-the-valley. I adore them for their heartiness and sweet scent and because Mother planted them on the north side of our farm house. There they proliferated into a large bed between the house and the sidewalk and it was a favorite place to play. With an open window in the spring, the sweet scent wafted into the kitchen. Then this spring while visiting friends Pat and Chuck in Lincoln, they offered me lilies-of-the-valley they dug out of a bed they were renewing. Now I have Pat and Chuck in my garden too.<br />
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A special friend, Sue Tuttle, from high school who has become a part of my life again, recently shared a cedar and a holly tree from her garden in Kansas for the windbreak in our yard. I will always think of her when I tend them. Below is the picture of the holly and cedar before planting in the yard where they are now living happily.<br />
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And my sister, Bonnie,of North Carolina shared several plants with me but the Pasque Flower is the only one that has thrived here. The others tried but couldn't survive the dry bitter winter. The Pasque flower flourished on my kitchen counter all winter but is now blooming in the flower bed at the front of our cottage. It is South Dakota's state flower so it can handle the harsh prairie weather.<br />
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My sister-in-law, Carolyn, gifted me with a beautiful plant during our last visit. She said it was indestructible but more importantly, it is beautiful. She wasn't sure its name - do you know? It is also a succulent of some sort.<br />
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I hope you share from your garden with friends and family and accept their offerings. It is a wonderful gardening tradition, one that should be tended.<br />
<br />Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-16971978749378705062014-07-20T12:17:00.000-05:002014-07-24T13:06:43.591-05:00Building the Not So Big HouseSome of you have mentioned that you've missed my regular posting. Point taken. I've been remiss because of a special project I have been working on and I will share a little about it today.<br />
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I have had the opportunity of a lifetime knock on my door. Our friend and neighbor, Dick P, decided to build his new home on his beautiful land near us. We were delighted that he would be a close neighbor and I couldn't wait to watch the house being built.<br />
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This is one view of our neighbors land overlooking</div>
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oak and cedar forests sheltering local wildlife, <br />
such as deer, turkeys, quail, coyotes, bobcats, <br />
raccoons, ducks, and an occasional elk.</div>
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Much to my surprise, he asked me to help him design his kitchen. That led to the laundry room, then the whole house. Together we created a design that fit his lifestyle and interests at only 1460 sf on the first floor and a finished basement of 1,000 sf. It is the perfect <strong><u>The Not So Big House</u>. </strong><br />
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If you are interested in architecture, building, or design, check out my favorite architect, Sarah Suzanka and her book series, The Not So Big House. <a href="http://www.notsobighouse.com/">http://www.notsobighouse.com/</a><br />
<img alt="" border="0" src="http://www.notsobighouse.com/global/images/nsbh_cover10yellow.jpg" /><br />
We broke ground in late May after the ground thawed. It was an exciting day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginnings of the new house in late May<br />
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We spent the winter months finalizing the layout design and once that was done we began picking out the flooring, colors, fixtures, windows, doors etc. So as it turned out, we were way ahead of the game. It has been amazing to be involved in the process from the idea phase to the actual building.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Within days the forms were set for the foundation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pouring the cement</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With forms removed, it begins to look like a house</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing the garage floor</td></tr>
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After the foundation was finished and set, we had several days of rain so everything on construction stalled until things dried. In June the framing begins...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house is taking shape</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right, electrician Gene is installing the temporary<br />
power for building. On the left is Dick the owner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxO-Bv8fVSlgJamNUEKgB4sqKPh-d1NDo14gv6qKMG8G2aH8U2CNh_AHhxEyw1HhLxqTCCS4TgBZ_hDJgwZ4hJZ8TfGV1x02xzAhNY_1LvQDkDwpKyDBUt6npEAdQZOJbHNasQKliniQ/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxO-Bv8fVSlgJamNUEKgB4sqKPh-d1NDo14gv6qKMG8G2aH8U2CNh_AHhxEyw1HhLxqTCCS4TgBZ_hDJgwZ4hJZ8TfGV1x02xzAhNY_1LvQDkDwpKyDBUt6npEAdQZOJbHNasQKliniQ/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+118.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
View from kitchen window. Did I mention</div>
<div align="left">
how beautiful his land is?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7RoqP4_03IJYsEiz1s8T0jxBnklJl1l1UgWot4rPVpIEmV6TBfxp8saUlgsI3kyOtX1U1zotxm4gtXedUqPNBeEPrJUHFUlUxDFnypNtYrMD0qBHKotOa20LnOgJz7vjHZ67XIPfXmI/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7RoqP4_03IJYsEiz1s8T0jxBnklJl1l1UgWot4rPVpIEmV6TBfxp8saUlgsI3kyOtX1U1zotxm4gtXedUqPNBeEPrJUHFUlUxDFnypNtYrMD0qBHKotOa20LnOgJz7vjHZ67XIPfXmI/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+145.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rafters and joists going on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagFfcPtVLVUOG-5VzKoH0fwsprtQopbPEt3-cYEx5odDXu_2a9KcjQs8qxaSOzOV1Be83tW13oFYYpeGSTHTHZnDbgFjoyImXOn1N7AcRaHPxV6-9jCrsGQgaH0DkyT28Pk2Is0uJoWI/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagFfcPtVLVUOG-5VzKoH0fwsprtQopbPEt3-cYEx5odDXu_2a9KcjQs8qxaSOzOV1Be83tW13oFYYpeGSTHTHZnDbgFjoyImXOn1N7AcRaHPxV6-9jCrsGQgaH0DkyT28Pk2Is0uJoWI/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+137.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
View from back; right bottom window is bedroom &</div>
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left bottom window is family room; right top window</div>
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is master suite, middle is kitchen and 4 windows on</div>
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left are in living room</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4r_yi4P6hzAF-PWAtnZhCyFfFs8N_-GT_TnmsHNiF2JFeiF5QLgyanDcFeCSUR1zt321X2CCwisu-3u0PT7EKsR2xm7B0IGKmzDgjym6xtLFYytgNuRDq12Hi7Odt3syEDgeAFP0cup8/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4r_yi4P6hzAF-PWAtnZhCyFfFs8N_-GT_TnmsHNiF2JFeiF5QLgyanDcFeCSUR1zt321X2CCwisu-3u0PT7EKsR2xm7B0IGKmzDgjym6xtLFYytgNuRDq12Hi7Odt3syEDgeAFP0cup8/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+150.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close to being enclosed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDw40gVlhpQFLEqeKCnNHFoinbhi8gbBrAqsQCvKwZ9OXuFK15XbjTrT8vA9CKWSW2RWXTJ_mrTL_XVUHZnEg27GnvYO8Ta4EHKxDvNKFD4we985HWOWP5FDsxg0-P6Wz6EBXgixDg6U/s1600/dicks+house+framed+ready+for+shingles+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDw40gVlhpQFLEqeKCnNHFoinbhi8gbBrAqsQCvKwZ9OXuFK15XbjTrT8vA9CKWSW2RWXTJ_mrTL_XVUHZnEg27GnvYO8Ta4EHKxDvNKFD4we985HWOWP5FDsxg0-P6Wz6EBXgixDg6U/s1600/dicks+house+framed+ready+for+shingles+001.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enclosed and ready for shingles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ykGRTJNvqsLhFFD3xxyJ9gAHL2F_ctSa1GAjl1nq_8oksHnPmwJp6BHIMJQYJ58ifhuqANyjC-NRLMjYCFr8GcYUEmO1-wPnz5HzyAYQa4LKppFnLV2YeBWK97-DztrVty8hWh-RgEY/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ykGRTJNvqsLhFFD3xxyJ9gAHL2F_ctSa1GAjl1nq_8oksHnPmwJp6BHIMJQYJ58ifhuqANyjC-NRLMjYCFr8GcYUEmO1-wPnz5HzyAYQa4LKppFnLV2YeBWK97-DztrVty8hWh-RgEY/s1600/002.JPG" height="194" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In one day the shingles are on</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzvrgvxDITr4a1oFN6kwMZK8oNUREKBMbxuHDQ3ezFbDqUPsT-oDj8VdfuqdV-pKvcKAlHPTWxvNLlaSo6nR2Vbx0ebNCNaYGOjStcV9xLg1aUXppfLZYWcyRNg17s2dUAzBnl1ra3ag/s1600/Fair+and+dicks+house+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnzvrgvxDITr4a1oFN6kwMZK8oNUREKBMbxuHDQ3ezFbDqUPsT-oDj8VdfuqdV-pKvcKAlHPTWxvNLlaSo6nR2Vbx0ebNCNaYGOjStcV9xLg1aUXppfLZYWcyRNg17s2dUAzBnl1ra3ag/s1600/Fair+and+dicks+house+026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
This is the view from his living room - it's </div>
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a WOW!</div>
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The schedule is full for the coming weeks with lots to do. It seems to be moving fast now that the house is enclosed and we don't have to be concerned with rain setbacks anymore. So, as you can see, I've been busy with a very special project. I'll post again when we get more done.<br />
Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-79213195201195958562014-07-16T10:18:00.002-05:002014-07-16T10:18:32.112-05:00Remembrance, Reflection and Reunion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FKWAhlz3pHvKGaY7I_MO5vNNsbFatdOC96D1ZBjngFvnCcalkd8lbFf5AdUJ9XAhpzxqTZ60c1fq62aBp4V4GODSb6-UTV7lBpNFTO7GnEFFJsX0wvgz1Tj7IMbV69bpL7LuhbIzC-8/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FKWAhlz3pHvKGaY7I_MO5vNNsbFatdOC96D1ZBjngFvnCcalkd8lbFf5AdUJ9XAhpzxqTZ60c1fq62aBp4V4GODSb6-UTV7lBpNFTO7GnEFFJsX0wvgz1Tj7IMbV69bpL7LuhbIzC-8/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+057.JPG" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
On June 28th, Mark and I participated in the Memorial Celebration of Life of our dear friend, Gary Schroeder. He was Mark's childhood friend and we double dated with Gary and Judy in high school. We lost track of each other for several years and then one day while we lived in Burbank, CA. I got an amazing phone call and it was Judy! They too lived in California and luckily we renewed our friendship and enjoyed many fun times together before we retired to Nebraska. <br />
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It was a shock when Gary was diagnosed with lung cancer and a deep loss when he died on December 31, 2013. Gary was a lovely man, one of the 'good guys', a great friend, husband and father. At the Memorial, friends and family told wonderful stories that exemplified his character and personality.<br />
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He didn't know before he died that he would have been a grandfather, but a grand baby is on its way to the delight of Judy and his family and friends. <br />
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We had an emotional day remembering Gary as the person we knew, and the life he lived and the profound realization that we had him no more. We also thought of Judy and the new life she would need to create for herself; and their grandchild who would never know him personally, and his children who would miss his wit, wisdom and love. <br />
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All of us face this but it doesn't seem real until it happens to us or people we love. These occasions are significant in that they remind us of our own mortality and how precious our lives are so we get a chance to reassess and reboot, if necessary.<br />
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The Memorial was held in our home town in South Dakota so many old friends and classmates were there which provided the joy of the day. I was reacquainted with friends from high school that were 18 or 19 the last time we saw each other- that is 45+ years! Boy, is that a reality check. I don't know about you, but I feel like 'myself' inside and if asked an age, it would be 20 something. So when meeting with high school friends after that time apart, the reality of 'real age' hits hard! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJi-tXUJ-_kE54w24sX1Bdl_i0ipF1oTyla5whKDMDCqCdZqMqjsyF22Gf-l4c5ORSWXvd6hyK7mwCIWRTOhA7_oISqgA_8LA6ZqLTXwgyVKtYfdat_E-eMQZfNY1IzeXLOXRkbaRmVg/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhJi-tXUJ-_kE54w24sX1Bdl_i0ipF1oTyla5whKDMDCqCdZqMqjsyF22Gf-l4c5ORSWXvd6hyK7mwCIWRTOhA7_oISqgA_8LA6ZqLTXwgyVKtYfdat_E-eMQZfNY1IzeXLOXRkbaRmVg/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+063.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
(L to R)Judy McKay Schroeder, me, Linda McFarland Engel, Quindrid Albert Godden, Sue Miller Tuttle</div>
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The delight for me was that the faces were still the same but just a little more lived in. The twinkle of the eye, the wit,humor and laugh, the voice, the mannerisms and expressions were still distinctly there. It was great fun to catch up on each others lives and the people we've all become. I had such warm wonderful feelings as we left town and I thought about reconnecting with these lovely women and hoping there would be more visits in the future.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXWJN1wsIptQrGdAUs16hpLDFS4viI8wYUKz7eg8UVFss_YRSNuRsnw29gTRnshEdBJXLfezY9N5NrWwCqs7H1I4PYvJFXFXZDKwTswGeY673edGCS7vByjwvti976-1lHpRHMU9UydQ/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXWJN1wsIptQrGdAUs16hpLDFS4viI8wYUKz7eg8UVFss_YRSNuRsnw29gTRnshEdBJXLfezY9N5NrWwCqs7H1I4PYvJFXFXZDKwTswGeY673edGCS7vByjwvti976-1lHpRHMU9UydQ/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+100.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old college friends; Me, Judy and Carol in front of the Campanile<br />
on campus of SDSU</td></tr>
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From our hometown, Mark and I travelled to Brookings, SD where we reunited with two of my dear college friends, Carol Nielsen Lovegren and Judy Schladweiler Rearick. Mark and I had visited Judy about 16 years ago but I hadn't seen Carol for 44 or 45 years!! We toured the campus of South Dakota State University and reminisced about what we could still remember. There were major memory gaps for all of us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_Aoo4GLLA6n9hyphenhyphenpqiV6U1wQ7bBkgDS91ByrONQzCW0hgva45oQnFxpYvJCTgAIxFCRt5GvOCJkjTHi8Y08COpVN-CH2cmofw9I1rt1ttfA7eupT-81NGKpMggCGY3dCqgvJfsT8N5Ss/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_Aoo4GLLA6n9hyphenhyphenpqiV6U1wQ7bBkgDS91ByrONQzCW0hgva45oQnFxpYvJCTgAIxFCRt5GvOCJkjTHi8Y08COpVN-CH2cmofw9I1rt1ttfA7eupT-81NGKpMggCGY3dCqgvJfsT8N5Ss/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+106.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Front) Craig & Judy Rearick (Back) Russ & Carol<br />
Lovegren, Mark and me</td></tr>
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We get so busy when we are young and building our lives and distance makes reunions more difficult. When that happens, getting together at this time of life means alot.<br />
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And finally a special shout out to my sister-in-law, Marilyn, who is recovering from triple bypass heart surgery. We love you and are so happy you are on the road to recovery.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNXn8H6JJSOl-GTk2Pg3g94sxJK4owbsz03mTzGQmu0ELxiPlE0pLuEVkgzKQ-O-h6PIJrx5-OnEsQwoGeXrt5jjK0UNZWfces5nwKeyEZeKVncZ24DWjdzN2aZyC1u6l1Kolf5rCIh8/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNXn8H6JJSOl-GTk2Pg3g94sxJK4owbsz03mTzGQmu0ELxiPlE0pLuEVkgzKQ-O-h6PIJrx5-OnEsQwoGeXrt5jjK0UNZWfces5nwKeyEZeKVncZ24DWjdzN2aZyC1u6l1Kolf5rCIh8/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+075.JPG" height="227" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Marilyn a couple days before surgery</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKsDnWSo_4qUKbCaV2XawI3-3GZYNNRCZ5G7zFr5ahJTTTG468CFgGbUqM5RGp52r2NRiOviGWp5qUvMmw6gZ83Bdb6T8gEc894gjo154I7jMdWs7Vweq1bSQY7OYkvT-0UoJy0W-fek/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKsDnWSo_4qUKbCaV2XawI3-3GZYNNRCZ5G7zFr5ahJTTTG468CFgGbUqM5RGp52r2NRiOviGWp5qUvMmw6gZ83Bdb6T8gEc894gjo154I7jMdWs7Vweq1bSQY7OYkvT-0UoJy0W-fek/s1600/dicks+house+and+south+dakota+096.JPG" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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Grandma Carolyn making granddaughter, Ava,</div>
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smile while great aunt, Marilyn, and great uncle,</div>
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Mark, look on</div>
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It has been a great summer so far. I hope you are enjoying yours.<br />
Delores<br />
Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-22454561429733071372014-05-18T19:10:00.000-05:002014-05-18T19:10:00.615-05:00Hodgepodge of Spring 2014We've had a very cool spring. We didn't have much snow this winter but our last snow storm blanketed us with wet snow which was very welcome.<br />
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The birds came in to eat since everything else was covered in snow.<br />
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Then we were teased with some fresh warm spring days followed by lots of cool days. It was still the right conditions to awaken the plants in the earth so they pushed through...<br />
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Daffodils nodding in the wind were gorgeous both outside and in!<br />
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This spicebush puts out a wonderful scent so I planted it near our bedroom window. The berries will taste like Allspice. I know the fragrance was heavenly and comforting. I planted these bushes last spring and I'm delighted they took hold and flowered this year.<br />
<a href="http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Spicebush.html">http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Spicebush.html</a> This link explains how one can use the berries, bark and leaves for all sorts of bodily remedies. It was called fever bush by the Native Americans and they used it for breaking fevers and removing toxins from the body. Fascinating. I think I'll try making a tea from it when it matures.<br />
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This little bush is also very fragrant.It is a Crandall Clove Currant (Ribes Odoratum Crandall) which is an old American variety. It too fruits which are similar to black currants but larger and with a more mild flavor. It too is outside our bedroom window so we'll have sweet smells to lull us to sleep for years to come.<br />
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A single snowdrop bloomed this spring. There were many plants that came up but only one blossomed. I will investigate why.<br />
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My absolute favorite flower, the garden floozies, peonies! They have grown significantly since this picture and I'll be sending one soon of them in full bloom. Eight of them survived and are strong. Can't wait.<br />
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We inherited two very old, very large standard lilacs in the yard which are sublime. This little bush is a French lilac given to me by a wonderful fellow Master Gardener. It's fragrance is sweeter and different somehow - just lovely. It was loaded with blossoms this year. <br />
As you can see in the right corner, Buddy has been following me around the yard with his newest tug-of-war rope. His other two have disappeared and I've searched the yard. I'm not sure if he took them to his friends house (our nearest neighbor with two dogs that he visits every morning) or he lost them somewhere. Anyway, he isn't subtle, he just plain wants to play 'rope'!<br />
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This rope is more difficult to find in the grass but he's happy to be able to play 'rope' again. He drags it all over the ranch.<br />
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Apple blossoms on a cool cloudy day. The promise spring holds in such visions.<br />
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Delectable asparagus. Can't get enough of it. I've been making lunch sandwiches with fresh bread, sliced turkey with a fresh-out-of-the-ground asparagus tucked into the folded over turkey, along with a little mayo and fresh lettuce. OMG! It is simple but fabulous. Who would have thought raw asparagus could be delicious. Oh yes. and mixed into Orzo with a little lemon and Parmesan and salt/pepper... heaven on earth.<br />
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They turn green when cooked and taste the same as green asparagus.<br />
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And of course my bed (tank!) of garlic so I don't have to buy it from China. I LOVE garlic so this is looking mighty fine around now. I dry some and freeze alot to take us through the winter.<br />
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The plum thicket in full bloom and survived the snow. Since the blossoms didn't freeze this year, I'm hoping to get a great crop of plums for jam this year. Wild plum jam is my very favorite flavor so this is looking good for me. The thicket is also home to cardinals and wild turkeys.<br />
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And then there are the spring babies...here they are...for now...some still coming...<br />
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This year the Orioles are in our yard in force. I have been trying for five years to draw them in. Last year we had some with the jam and 1/2 oranges but this year along with the jam, I put out orange suet block and peanut butter in a pb holder. Wow, we have so many that it is mesmerizing to watch them. They are so beautiful and to mix them with the red cardinals, black and red woodpeckers, yellow finches, pink house finches and bluebirds - OMG - it is amazing. Nature in all its glory.<br />
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You can see the peanut butter feeder here. Several birds use it but the Orioles are the champions of hooking onto the feeder and indulging.<br />
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And lastly, I just have to share this video. Our friends have a wood duck house in their backyard which is on a lake. Mike has rigged up a camera in the house to watch as the eggs are laid and the ducklings emerge. After a short time they climb the 'ladder' inside the house to the opening and then they fledged...what a sight. Audrey took the video of them jumping like little kamikaze. I saw them in the house Friday but missed the big event when they left the nest yesterday. Mike sent a video and I just have to share it. Enjoy! It's not something you would see everyday...unless you have a wood duck house and live on a lake.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyxu-kxJhkA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vyxu-kxJhkA</a><br />
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Make the most of your spring wherever you are. Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-42437872786157215932014-04-07T12:03:00.000-05:002014-04-14T10:48:42.271-05:00Spring 2014 Catching UpI've had technical problems with my blog but I am back! Here are some pictures that I have been taking to share with you...<br />
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Sandhills Canes flying over the ranch in March. They are everywhere in the fields around here. After seeing the roosting on the river last year, the enormity of the migration is very real and exciting.<br />
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We haven't had much snow this winter only bitter cold; and one day after a heavy fog, all our trees and bushes looked magical with frost like this burning bush.<br />
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Tulips are poking through the mulch...<br />
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along with alliums... it's getting exciting to see what is happening in the yard every day. I noticed that the lilacs buds are plump and my garlic tips are showing through the mulch.<br />
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Our dear friend, Dick, brought a surprise party to our ranch to celebrate my 66th birthday on March 31st. It was sweet and fabulous to have fun again like kids with ice cream cake and party hats.<br />
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<span id="goog_956449168"></span><span id="goog_956449169">Dick and Mark with party hats (Mark with stacked hats!)enjoying the ice cream cake. I had on a party hat too and blew out alot of candles!</span><br />
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One lovely warm-ish day while walking to the mailbox, I noticed that the guineas had flown into the large swing tree in the front yard. Look closely in the picture and you'll see them sitting on the branches. They flew quit far up the tree.<br />
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Here is a closeup of one of the guineas. Seven made it through the winter just fine.<br />
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One of the guineas on the ground never could get into the tree. He tried three times and failed each time. Not sure what his problem was but he didn't have the hang of it at all. He may not be a survivor in the long run if he can't fly away to escape.<br />
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Pretty cool, huh? They are wild creatures yet they stay around our place since this is home. Well they do have a warm, safe, Guinea Shack, after all!<br />
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Mark and I went to an exotic animal sale yesterday to see what might be there. This little boy was saying goodbye to the baby 'Baby Doll' miniature goat. His family raised the goats...Both were adorable. The little 'Baby Doll' goats are so little and cute. Here the red baby jumped on it's Mama's back, and stayed there for quite a while...<br />
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They were selling peacocks by the dozens, all in these temporary cages to keep them settled and their tails undamaged...<br />
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We've thought seriously about getting peacocks but we can't let them free range due to the wild life in our area so we decided against it. They wouldn't be as spectacular (or happy) in a fenced cage.<br />
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This little guy totally captivated me. He was so young and fuzzy!<br />
They didn't really have any animals there we considered exotic but there were lots of interesting, cute and sweet animals. Just a fun Sunday outing.<br />
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I hope your Spring is going well and you are thinking about your garden.<br />
Happy Spring,<br />
DeloresDeloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-26780133169485496452013-12-23T22:37:00.000-06:002013-12-23T22:37:00.102-06:00Christmas Simplified<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This year I decided to simplify my holiday decorating. So I put out some special decorations and didn't put up a big tree. Cowboy Santa on his horse greets everyone on the cabinet by the front door.<br />
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Instead of the snowman village, I just put out the lighted house along with the snowmen family reunion which I adore. That and the three small trees definitely create the Christmas spirit.<br />
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Two sweet angels sit on an end table in the living room...<br />
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The packages are placed around the round table with the snowman scene, there will be more by Christmas...<br />
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A favorite snowman sledding ornament in front of the winter arrangement and candle is beautiful on the buffet...<br />
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And the ornament of the kitchen is all the great baked goods coming out of the oven.<br />
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It is simpler but beautiful. Just the right tone for this Christmas season.<br />
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I wish each of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-79189935869955628592013-12-22T14:54:00.002-06:002013-12-22T14:54:57.415-06:00Family Visit in North Carolina<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sisters, Bonnie and Marcine, and me</td></tr>
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This past November I went to North Carolina to visit my family there including my two sisters. We had a lovely time together. <br />
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Cocktail hour included some serious competition</div>
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with Mexican Train; above(L-R) Bonnie, </div>
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brother-in-law Lee, and Marcine</div>
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North Carolina is such a gorgeous State as you can see here during Bonnie and my walks in the Sandhills Horticultural Gardens in Pinehurst, North Carolina. The sculpture at the entry to the Gardens is whimsical and draws you in, as you can see... </div>
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Bonnie at the bridge entrance to the thirty-two</div>
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acre natural gardens. This place evokes a spiritual</div>
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feeling; it is so peaceful and natural.</div>
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The gardens include sculptures throughout...<br />
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The garden is made up of fourteen different specialty gardens with streams and bridges, ponds, memorials, children's gardens etc. Most mornings it was just Bonnie and me and the birds. Lovely...<br />
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They had a recycle garden...<br />
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And they were growing poinsettias...<br />
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But mostly it was the trees and bushes in their full fall glory that caught our attention.<br />
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Bonnie and I surprised Marcine with a room makeover while I was there. Her room had few personal items in it and was very plain so we selected things from her home and brought them to her room to make it more homey along with new drapes etc. We included the exquisite framed counted cross-stitch that she created for years. Her room turned out charming...<br />
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It was a wonderful family visit that I treasure. I regret the distance that separates me from my sisters but we manage to visit, call and email to stay close. Sandi wasn't with us but she will be with Mark and me at the ranch for Christmas.<br />
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Below is a beautiful sunset at home. We've had many lately. I hope you are enjoying the season and the holidays.</div>
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Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-39369266890003828032013-12-14T14:33:00.000-06:002013-12-14T14:33:39.981-06:00Identity Crisis<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you look closely you'll see five adult guineas and five little keets. The keets have been growing like crazy with remarkable size and feather differences week to week. I love these noisy creatures as they free range around the ranch. When there are fewer food choices during the winter, we supplement their feed.<br />
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You may recall my recent post when I described the guinea that hatched under a chicken and was raised with the baby chicks born at the same time. We noticed that she was getting aggressive with the hens so just before we moved the Dot House, we took the guinea and moved her to the guinea shack to be with the other guineas. For a few days she roamed with them but then we discovered her outside the Dots enclosure trying to get in. She found her old home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac9UiI0HQJr-VVM9WNJsznvvWhEhWQhUW40FYreVHA07DuYGThlK8LEjd_0kdbfZ0roBCfqaIzqU-0BPxQKwDrFS8mqnbXt1riSoDqhDZtd2v5HHA0v-9x2NZ7LkrvEO3JkblR9dCZyM/s1600/guinea+chicken+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiac9UiI0HQJr-VVM9WNJsznvvWhEhWQhUW40FYreVHA07DuYGThlK8LEjd_0kdbfZ0roBCfqaIzqU-0BPxQKwDrFS8mqnbXt1riSoDqhDZtd2v5HHA0v-9x2NZ7LkrvEO3JkblR9dCZyM/s320/guinea+chicken+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's walking along the fence, looking for<br />
a way in, back and forth, back and forth.</td></tr>
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From the time she could fly, she would fly outside the Dots enclosure but never could figure out how to fly back in. I think it has something to do with the size of her brain! Anyway, when shutting up the Dots for the night, Buddy and I would frequently have to work together to get the guinea back into the pen.<br />
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We caught the guinea in the Dot house and removed her. Today she is back inside the enclosure. This time she flew into the enclosure and we will leave her with the chickens. The chickens have a very large enclosure now so they have room to get away when she gets into the guinea mode of chasing incessantly. It is evident to me that this guinea definitely has an identity crisis. So unless she harms the Dots in some way, she stays with them. We'll let her live as a chicken.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcTcltifBz2cxjNf0qdySjfcbfwcqEQopVMVoavBl6wWJ0Kk3lVWzUrkTEwm5kXdnylG_yO3QQBc7LCYh9hBClR3irKIJ5s3UHNtbOnF7kjvV_ulNFgGr2XAh6uJ9iiyGgTwrf7a0YFk/s1600/guinea+chicken+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPcTcltifBz2cxjNf0qdySjfcbfwcqEQopVMVoavBl6wWJ0Kk3lVWzUrkTEwm5kXdnylG_yO3QQBc7LCYh9hBClR3irKIJ5s3UHNtbOnF7kjvV_ulNFgGr2XAh6uJ9iiyGgTwrf7a0YFk/s320/guinea+chicken+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"These are my peeps" - she happily flew<br />
back into the Dots enclosure</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0nMSxjJS588nXfOggCUhDUgOdNlcWbeZzbTO6VDPIdS4S-kPVPSS2Q3AzpavrtrhWGDCxXONG93CKz4coNGq8mmtULYk4TlyUY-KG2XfvhmmVfi9BQnqJfF79KxgxhYldKteVN1Q530/s1600/guinea+chicken+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0nMSxjJS588nXfOggCUhDUgOdNlcWbeZzbTO6VDPIdS4S-kPVPSS2Q3AzpavrtrhWGDCxXONG93CKz4coNGq8mmtULYk4TlyUY-KG2XfvhmmVfi9BQnqJfF79KxgxhYldKteVN1Q530/s320/guinea+chicken+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Ahh, home at last with my sista's. And<br />
the food is better here too!"</td></tr>
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No nightclubs for me friends, I get my entertainment pretty simply right in my backyard!<br />
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<br />Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-49260231879636692962013-12-05T15:15:00.000-06:002013-12-05T15:29:17.169-06:00The Dots Have MovedI'm not sure how the idea started but Mark and I discussed moving The Dot House from the center of the yard near the barn to the other side of the house near the garden. It just made sense for a number of reasons such as, I could see and enjoy them from the house and they would be protected from the bitter north winds. It made perfect sense to have the chickens closer for their care and closer to the garden so I could more easily give them garden clippings, overripe veggies etc. So the decision was made and the last beautiful day before this bitter cold spell, we moved the Dots (aka chickens - my favorite breeds almost always have dots all over the feathers.<br />
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When we had the Dot House built, we asked that it be put on skids. We had tin put on the bottom of the floor to ensure it would be pest proof. Skids would allow us to move the small building when we wanted so that proved to be a good decision. <br />
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The first step was attaching the log chain to the anchor bolts on the skids.<br />
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Once that was done, we moved the chickens into the Dot House for the ride to the new location.<br />
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Slow and easy the house began to move and away we went through the yard down the driveway onto the road...<br />
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Mark turns into our garden/orchard area where The Dot House will now reside.<br />
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It arrived in great shape, no problems with the building and the chickens were fine. <br />
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We chose a spot protected by a stand of cedars. The cedars block the north wind and gives the chickens a large area to roam and feed. We enclosed the entire stand of cedars with fencing so they will be safe and secure. The new location is so protected that even today in the single digits with high winds, the Dots are outside digging and taking dirt baths.<br />
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Putting up the fence was a big chore and for me, hard physical work. It was fun too helping it all come together.<br />
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The Dot House looks good in its new location just west of the cottage at the edge of the garden.<br />
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Their new habitat is lush and the hens took to it right away. I'm sure the pen is full of bugs and seeds and other delicacies.<br />
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Another view of the Dot House from the south showing the tree cover. The garden is directly to the left(W) of the Dot House.<br />
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The Dot House was next to this tree in the main yard which now looks bare without it but the yard will function better when moving horses and horse trailers around. <br />
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View from the west deck shows how close it is now to do the chicken chores. The feed is stored in a container by the deck and the water hydrant is at the edge of the garden. <br />
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My contented Dots enjoying a grain snack to help them stay warm!<br />
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We have thirteen Dots and we are getting between 10 - 12 eggs daily! I'd say they are happy in their new home!!Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-32070735535486195542013-10-25T13:46:00.000-05:002013-10-25T13:46:03.949-05:00End of Season Delights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Toad Lily is blooming up a storm on the north side of the house (front) in deep shade! I will be planting many more of these delicate but hearty delights. The arrangement is on my kitchen windowsill above to show it off but it prefers shade, not direct sun.<br />
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A closer view of the blooms with the arrangement on my counter. The blossoms are just slightly larger than a thumbnail and bloom along the entire stem which in the garden setting is 10-12". I hope you give the Toad Lily a try.<br />
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The last blooms before frost. Can you believe how beautiful the roses are still? I wish you could smell them. David Austin roses have the most lovely fragrance and these are my favorites. They were just tight buds when the frost was predicted and this picture is two days later.<br />
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Everything has been harvested from the garden and preserved. I still have to put compost and mulch on the vegetable beds and I have to wrap and mulch the saplings and young trees. Maybe water trees if we don't get more moisture regularly during this Autumn.<br />
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And finally, the biggest delight of all, our female guinea had keets, six total, five survived.<br />
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She laid her eggs in the pasture among tall weeds. While Mark was mowing, he noticed her nest so gave her wide berth. Buddy however found the nest and would occasionally bring an egg to the front lawn. As you may recall, we retrieved one egg before he ate it and the keet is now in the Dot House with the chickens thinking she is a chicken! <br />
But six managed to hatch and they were discovered by Mark the other day as the guinea momma was bringing them to the Guinea Shack. She stepped right in and Mark had to help the baby keets over the threshold since they were so tiny. The five survivors are growing like crazy and seem sturdy. As I've said before, female guineas are not known to be the most diligent mothers so we are delighted with five additions to our guinea population.<br />
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The pictures above show that several adults stay on to watch over the keets and as I was trying to take pictures, they continuously moved to keep the keets hidden. I took alot of pictures to get these few. <br />
We now have five adults and five keets. The guineas are wild in that they find their own food which is primarily the seeds, grasses, bugs, frogs and snakes around the house in the non-winter seasons. They have reduced our bug count drastically! We feed them grain during the winter. They come into their Guinea Shack each night to roost which is safer and warmer than in trees where they can freeze to death. However, since they roam free, every once in awhile during the winter we will lose a guinea to the wild hungry critters that risk coming closer to the ranch and find the guineas have strayed away from the buildings making it easier to hunt them.<br />
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One of the best food delights of autumn is Kolaches, the sweetbread fruit pastry that we of Czech heritage adored as children and still do today. I always think of my Mom and Grandma Hattie when I bake Kolaches because I am using their recipe. Sorry to do this but here is a picture of the treats with homemade 'traditional' poppy seed and prune fillings with my modern twist---addictive. I also use apricot, cherry, blueberry fillings at times. I'm not so crazy for the cream cheese or farmers cheese fillings which are also traditional.<br />
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I hope you are enjoying your Autumn with whatever delights it brings for you,Delores<br />
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Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-5626126650985782212013-10-08T21:02:00.000-05:002013-10-09T09:59:24.104-05:00Learning as a Master Gardener<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you love to garden, on any scale, you might consider the Master Gardener program in your state. This has been a wonderful experience for me including meeting new people with the same interests and learning more about sustainable horticulture practices.<br />
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When I first moved to Nebraska, I found it somewhat difficult to merge into the community. After taking time to settle our home I began looking for opportunities within the community where I could devote time. A friend from Indiana had just completed the Master Gardener program and shared her experience with me. It was intriguing especially since I was just learning how to garden in zone 5 after moving here from southern California and wanted to have sizable vegetable and flower gardens. I researched the Nebraska Master Gardener program and found a training session near my home. That was three years ago.<br />
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Initially I was overwhelmed with all the information during the 40 hour spring training and it felt like I knew nothing about gardening. Soon everything settled and I realized I had alot yet to learn but also resources to which I could draw from <strong>UNL</strong> and their <strong>NebGuides</strong> as well as my own gardening experience. <br />
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Our program is headed by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic young woman, Elizabeth Killinger, MS Extension Educator. She made the classes fun and brought in excellent speakers on each topic from UNL or other Extension Educators. I made great friends each year and we often find ourselves volunteering for the same projects which is another motivation to be involved.<br />
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The planters as they are planted for the State fair. </div>
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A nice rainy day, perfect for planting.</div>
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The State Fair planters that Master Gardeners</div>
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plant, deadhead and weed until the SF opens.</div>
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These planters are moved all around the fair</div>
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grounds.</div>
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The MG program certification requires 40 hours of initial training and 40 hours of volunteer work the first year. That volunteer time can include such activities as planting and maintaining demonstration gardens, collecting data on research projects, helping with county and state fair activities (my fave), speaking to community groups, leading garden tours, collecting plant samples, answering phone questions (scary, but I've done it), and teaching youth programs. There is something for everyone. After the first year, in order to maintain certification, 10 hours of training and 20 hours of volunteer work are required each year. It's not a huge commitment but a satisfactory one for a gardener who wants to continue learning and to make new friends.<br />
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I love to help at the county fairs</div>
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in the 4-H horticulture division where</div>
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kids bring in the produce and flowers</div>
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they have planted and raised.</div>
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Each year I volunteer at two to three county fairs and when I don't have visitors during that time, the State Fair in Grand Island, NE. I've helped plant the flower beds at the fairgrounds, deadhead and water the planters at the fairgrounds and weed the beds and lawns just before the fair starts. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping plant the 'American flag' flower bed</td></tr>
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I've also volunteered to answer the helpline at the Extension office while the Educator was on maternity leave. That was the most scary but I did it to push myself to learn more and get comfortable answering peoples gardening questions. I don't know it all but I know where to go to get the answers and that is helpful and gave me more confidence as a volunteer educator. All this has helped me with my own garden too. In fact, I use my garden as my laboratory to try out things I've learned.<br />
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The Master Gardeners worked in this area</div>
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near the gazebo and 4-H building to pull</div>
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weeds and spiff it up before the fair started.</div>
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When you see a public garden or planters you may not think about who tends them but oftentimes it is a Master Gardener or several.<br />
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This time of year the gardener is still busy. <br />
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<strong>Fall Gardening</strong><br />
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<strong>Produce preservation</strong>: It is lovely to eat the fresh fruit and vegetables directly from the garden but the abundance is there for preserving for the winter. I find great satisfaction in using my home grown products through the winter. They bring that fresh garden flavor to those dishes. I can and freeze the produce from my garden.<br />
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<strong>Cleanup</strong>: Although our gardens may still be producing, many plants have expired. The cleanup of flower and garden beds is critical for a healthier growing environment. Many pests hide and survive in the debris left in the garden after a growing season especially where you had trouble like powdery mildew on impatiens or wilt on tomatoes. <br />
An addition of compost to the beds before winter can be a helpful step in increased production next spring. This is where the black-gold comes from that makes our soil so richly productive. It can be do-it-yourself or you can purchase it complete at your local trash company who may compost.It's worth calling to check out. That is where we get most of ours and it only costs $25 per pickup load so it is economical.<br />
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This is what many tools look like after</div>
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a busy summer</div>
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<strong>Fall is also a good time to clean the garden tools and put them away</strong>. It is recommended to clean them in a mixture of 3 parts water to 2 parts bleach. This mixture will help with any bacteria or residue from disease from plants. Dry well and if the handle is showing signs of drying out, then rub in linseed oil. For loppers etc. you can use WD40 and then wipe clean. Place them in their storage place where <br />
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<strong>Free Mulch</strong>: If you rake the leaves in your yard, consider using them as mulch on your garden and flower beds. Leaves are one of natures greatest mulches and it provides nutrients as it breaks down.<br />
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<strong>Prepare Plants for overwintering</strong>: Some plants don't need much help to survive the winter although mulch is always a good practice. In the coldest climates, roses may need additional protection. <br />
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If you have delicate plants, tropical plants or houseplants that spent the summer outdoors, it's time to look at them carefully and determine whether they need to be repotted, look for bugs and pests and treat before bringing them indoors and select an ideal spot for them in your home or garage to spend the winter. If you are unclear whether a plant can stay in the ground during the winter or is more tender, call your local Extension Office.<br />
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<strong>Time to plant garlic:</strong> You can either save the best and biggest<br />
garlic heads and divide into individual cloves which you will plant now, or order garlic from a reputable nursery asap because they go fast.<br />
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In a prepared sunny spot in your garden, plant each individual clove two or so inches deep about six inches apart in the row, with about twelve inches between rows.<br />
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The first year I planted garlic, I panicked when I saw the green tips come up in late fall but the plants are hardy so they will survive just fine with beautiful garlic next year.<br />
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<strong>Remember your trees:</strong> Be sure to check on all your trees. The smaller and younger among them should have bark protection on them to ensure that hungry critters don't feed on the bark during the winter and to protect from wind and/or sun burn. Also make sure they have enough water before they go into dormancy this winter so they have enough moisture to pull through. It's always good practice to mulch your trees to the drip line with three to four inches of mulch but be sure to keep it away from the trunk. Mulch piled next to the bark can create deterioration and make the tree susceptible to insects and disease.<br />
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Enjoy the fall and the garden chores of putting your garden to bed for the winter. Remember once that is done, you can relax and enjoy the winter including dreaming about next years garden!<br />
DeloresDeloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-53391494245612188442013-09-23T17:47:00.000-05:002013-09-24T10:08:31.452-05:00Fall FunThe pantry is filling with the produce of summer. The plants produced lots of tomatoes after all and they are still ripening. I love being in the kitchen putting up the produce knowing that we will appreciate it this winter.<br />
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This includes marinara sauce, spicy ketchup, apple rosemary syrup, strawberry peach jam,peach jam and blushing plum pear jam.<br />
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The basket on the left holds black cherry tomatoes which have a rich and complex flavor and as you can see they are black! You must try them, they are sweet and delicious. I grew all heirlooms again this year and there is no better taste anywhere.<br />
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The pullets are laying and every day we get more. I now have 15 hens and I'm getting between three and five a day. The basket above is two days worth. Soon they will all be laying. They are such a nice bunch of hens, calm and friendly.<br />
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When Mark was selling off our hens we got last year to cull our flock, even the babies that Mark raised from eggs were sold except for one that the buyer thought might be a rooster. One day Buddy brought an egg and laid it at my feet in the lawn. It was a guinea egg so he obviously found their nest. Mark placed the egg under the setting hen with the black copper Marans eggs and a guinea was hatched too. After everything was sold, we ended up with the one I mentioned above and the guinea and now they are best friends. They have since been integrated into The Dot House and they are getting along with the other 15 pullets there. I love the amount of chickens I have now - just enough to get to know them and the work is manageable.<br />
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The sedums are so lovely in the fall with their deepening pink color. One of my fall treasures that were a gift a few years ago from my friend, Connie B. I love them and so do the bumblebees!<br />
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Happy Fall,<br />
DeloresDeloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-13817146118784866282013-09-17T11:57:00.001-05:002013-09-17T11:57:33.341-05:00Night MovesOur friend and neighbor, Dick, has shared more pictures from his land where he has cameras throughout his property. I love seeing these wild creatures...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">magnificent</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up </td></tr>
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So much happens in the wild when we aren't around. It is awesome.</div>
Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-33806785477598093412013-09-07T21:39:00.000-05:002013-09-07T21:43:50.739-05:00Summers Bounty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The tomatoes have finally ripened and I'm bringing in two huge baskets nearly every day. This first bounty brought six quarts of marinara sauce and four pints of ketchup. We are enjoying the fresh tomatoes and I've frozen many whole. This winter will be more delicious because of this bounty.<br />
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The peaches and pear are from our fruit trees. This year we got eight delicious juicy peaches and so far one pear - the other two aren't ripe enough yet to pick! Not a big crop but our first, so exciting.<br />
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Another beautiful basket of ripe tomatoes.<br />
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My beautiful granddaughter, Kelsey, giving some love before she leaves for Chicago and her new job. We wish her a wonderful life. Mark and I had two precious days with Kelsey and her Mom, Sandra, on their way to move Kelsey to her new home. We so enjoy their company.</div>
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My special "girls", Kelsey and Sandra. Visits from family and friends are part of the summers bounty.</div>
Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-63887267729747584742013-09-02T13:14:00.001-05:002013-09-02T16:37:53.435-05:00Fourth Summer Visit with Sasha, Nina and JakeOur young California friends were back for their fourth summer visit and we had a wonderful time. Before getting to Nebraska, the kids had an amazing summer visiting relatives in the Czech Republic plus visiting Austria with friends, then Indiana with Grandma Ann and Grandpa Jim and finally to Nebraska with us. They were ready for some country time and slow play.<br />
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The first day after arriving, I brought out my high school junior and senior prom dresses that I designed and made. The girls had fun trying them on and modelling. I also gave them my wedding dress and lace shoes. Sasha is 13 so she fit in the prom dresses quite well. Both girls had such a fun time with the dresses and as you can see twirled and whirled.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha in my junior prom dress (vintage 1965)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nina in my senior prom dress (vintage 1966)</td></tr>
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Sasha twirling in my wedding dress while</div>
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Jake is spinning lettuce dry for supper's salad</div>
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As is our tradition, we spent alot of time in the kitchen baking and making meals. Sasha and Nina baked a raspberry and strawberry pie from scratch by themselves. I am so proud of those girls. Their baking skills are exceptional for their age and all three love to make things in the kitchen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYehGTYrbquQZy43ZQFln3K7myXooTnN6RggWfJKKUzWmAWnzzaosx42UDAe-hVDVOMjOJloI14ZHFL4j4N2ELfEPfC57o93R8ae9uqGil6NQSvOTPqgONopytHdXfR7Cru_E462uWWW8/s1600/tomatoes+and+Ridenour's+first+night+032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYehGTYrbquQZy43ZQFln3K7myXooTnN6RggWfJKKUzWmAWnzzaosx42UDAe-hVDVOMjOJloI14ZHFL4j4N2ELfEPfC57o93R8ae9uqGil6NQSvOTPqgONopytHdXfR7Cru_E462uWWW8/s320/tomatoes+and+Ridenour's+first+night+032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
The first evening's supper was Blueberry</div>
<div align="left">
Steak Salad. Here is Jake cooking the steak</div>
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on the salt block. He had fun and did a great</div>
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job. The salad is delicious.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteSPEtQicn_tL9XgEilFZTq9kxwmsoGPbU4PNPVg2Ns-5L87bdO2CgHTZrwKOBBnwjn9_9p1o7BZjkKX6rTatIccujJcND4i1prLbWeHZmYnYRTadPdBMVgnQ2gE76p_IxvvnuBC4FI0/s1600/Ridenour+3+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhteSPEtQicn_tL9XgEilFZTq9kxwmsoGPbU4PNPVg2Ns-5L87bdO2CgHTZrwKOBBnwjn9_9p1o7BZjkKX6rTatIccujJcND4i1prLbWeHZmYnYRTadPdBMVgnQ2gE76p_IxvvnuBC4FI0/s320/Ridenour+3+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
The girls putting the finishing touches on their</div>
<div align="left">
berry pie. I am so proud of them that now they</div>
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can make their own flaky crust (frankly better</div>
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than mine!). They have as much fun doing it as</div>
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I do.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Kxk-OeE963chJiMhD9ASkqeQ1BGluVC1qsUV9veBS04XfGFYjimi9buVroySC_NnkrYudLXqEIIhruEoKlzwI9QFi53k7H8e_zzZXvVOogi9Q5vfiT7Q12wYdZGp3KlJjx8ri67SovU/s1600/Ridenour+3+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Kxk-OeE963chJiMhD9ASkqeQ1BGluVC1qsUV9veBS04XfGFYjimi9buVroySC_NnkrYudLXqEIIhruEoKlzwI9QFi53k7H8e_zzZXvVOogi9Q5vfiT7Q12wYdZGp3KlJjx8ri67SovU/s320/Ridenour+3+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful finished product - Wow!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiPxyfyzCu5DSCL-Od15SrELAN6z8aOpfJ2NeJqhZK07ookW8bMu3JQSqS-ActVWA3a9o71WPgKTaQ0IyW-3DUpmkucRecdR82i93_0bJ5nls9-zNfHM9LDF5E3Nvj4o0Yj3FIBRn1DM/s1600/Ridenour+3+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiPxyfyzCu5DSCL-Od15SrELAN6z8aOpfJ2NeJqhZK07ookW8bMu3JQSqS-ActVWA3a9o71WPgKTaQ0IyW-3DUpmkucRecdR82i93_0bJ5nls9-zNfHM9LDF5E3Nvj4o0Yj3FIBRn1DM/s320/Ridenour+3+008.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
Jake and Sasha making 'dirty feet'</div>
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from the leftover pie dough. I have</div>
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a footprint cookie cutter that we </div>
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use and finish them with cinnamon</div>
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sugar to make them "dirty".</div>
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I started making 'dirty feet' for the kids when they were very small and they loved the idea of it and of course the taste. It is now a pie making tradition in our family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hd3GcigGIS-ZuisQhozeotSjwKCP2J6KC_VRpyHj7cXhhGstywxmEgauLSGE2dN6IOMhmSiVAcvZw2t4pW51ApQ4EtBh9tgEsyOLrd1jW8i3d8nOeFLqA8WLpd72ux9LzuQUMdR8-jY/s1600/Ridenours+and+Denver+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1hd3GcigGIS-ZuisQhozeotSjwKCP2J6KC_VRpyHj7cXhhGstywxmEgauLSGE2dN6IOMhmSiVAcvZw2t4pW51ApQ4EtBh9tgEsyOLrd1jW8i3d8nOeFLqA8WLpd72ux9LzuQUMdR8-jY/s320/Ridenours+and+Denver+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jake making scrambled eggs</td></tr>
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This year Jake spent the most time with me in the kitchen making meals. He's turning into a good cook and gaining confidence in the kitchen. He also made salmon pockets where we cooked the salmon with some veggies in foil that he'll be able to replicate for his family.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbqjv-KP8NGBx0_wLjhEJvBWmZ4lTJs5mmeFM9JacGX9h1vbcxRzgT0MLm6f5AWdBHR1m8fP3axdWkMT5QV6zQ0AVU_HZZT6U3i3hyphenhyphenJM6yNA1Rfd7qCDICArvGciDij1CVBy0ZCG_ois/s1600/Ridenours+and+Denver+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbqjv-KP8NGBx0_wLjhEJvBWmZ4lTJs5mmeFM9JacGX9h1vbcxRzgT0MLm6f5AWdBHR1m8fP3axdWkMT5QV6zQ0AVU_HZZT6U3i3hyphenhyphenJM6yNA1Rfd7qCDICArvGciDij1CVBy0ZCG_ois/s320/Ridenours+and+Denver+039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nina made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUHZ3mXRpIWAs3ZGY955HuKIESKKlkGP_ao4JQ-P3kM51AZ3BBEMt6BOSs-Rbhmhxc4AQoo8qv5XhJQb0mkDGngvDWAsEYXnwLfa7EjiKWhuYDwZHP-ltsSBkVBrUAmXag2JMWmVaQbw/s1600/Ridenours+day+2+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUHZ3mXRpIWAs3ZGY955HuKIESKKlkGP_ao4JQ-P3kM51AZ3BBEMt6BOSs-Rbhmhxc4AQoo8qv5XhJQb0mkDGngvDWAsEYXnwLfa7EjiKWhuYDwZHP-ltsSBkVBrUAmXag2JMWmVaQbw/s320/Ridenours+day+2+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
Payback time! Years past, Mark would always chase the</div>
<div align="left">
kids with shaving cream, this year they got him back</div>
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with toothpaste - OMG!</div>
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We made a return visit to their favorite place in Grand Island, The Stuhr Pioneer Museum. They love the 'log cabin' set up for play with costumes and everything. Their play was like watching a movie.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSx9Y_LnxMvmMStWPsxkEYo3diRdahWyNZ7-xJSL-trr0hobBx2okfqtTxKybfYpSmZLZFOdhpYMuiR6_pDp2UK2Ho-HYFk7mm5toKi-jfiiN-gnge7VKfWXnpn2nst-8557eA_Jndi8/s1600/Ridenours+day+2+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsSx9Y_LnxMvmMStWPsxkEYo3diRdahWyNZ7-xJSL-trr0hobBx2okfqtTxKybfYpSmZLZFOdhpYMuiR6_pDp2UK2Ho-HYFk7mm5toKi-jfiiN-gnge7VKfWXnpn2nst-8557eA_Jndi8/s320/Ridenours+day+2+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
Nina tending the babydoll and Jake getting</div>
<div align="left">
into Pioneer costume.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4x0ZHxtnjVjyirfdYsFatIcHV9T5YqKhIHqK11awdgD7THRFXi4-duZomLB_dH0QYJZTXNwp-TnSkcKgl0OElfYPOx8WTTT8RPz09MCU9HFCsHc8ejGSvQO1Im0OElsHEogcADUiug_s/s1600/Ridenours+day+2+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4x0ZHxtnjVjyirfdYsFatIcHV9T5YqKhIHqK11awdgD7THRFXi4-duZomLB_dH0QYJZTXNwp-TnSkcKgl0OElfYPOx8WTTT8RPz09MCU9HFCsHc8ejGSvQO1Im0OElsHEogcADUiug_s/s320/Ridenours+day+2+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha watering the windowbox of flowers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVyhZdJ9WRrBdt2A4xwRC2YFq5SykrcOW-cPrNMWhQT4PMVqARymNc3VfeuZiMrgip6_ukgeo6dfFDC56PrfXyvofTwe5mwvK8M9Iz8S8mKy8dP80plFbTdz3Ntud7RgZzS1rdNQdcWk/s1600/Ridenours+day+2+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVyhZdJ9WRrBdt2A4xwRC2YFq5SykrcOW-cPrNMWhQT4PMVqARymNc3VfeuZiMrgip6_ukgeo6dfFDC56PrfXyvofTwe5mwvK8M9Iz8S8mKy8dP80plFbTdz3Ntud7RgZzS1rdNQdcWk/s320/Ridenours+day+2+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nina in full costume - love the boots!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlCfig8DguMDvvtP3xpSOm3e8kXTewCCzD-ZKwi5uF4ajULKXi-wBEGLtr902ElhrAykJdjvjOFy_lmQ13NleMPR0-eR2mE7tCYaY7VaDTTek1PWzfQYTX-5ZlooEvDqthCAsbbJsyg0/s1600/Ridenours+day+2+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvlCfig8DguMDvvtP3xpSOm3e8kXTewCCzD-ZKwi5uF4ajULKXi-wBEGLtr902ElhrAykJdjvjOFy_lmQ13NleMPR0-eR2mE7tCYaY7VaDTTek1PWzfQYTX-5ZlooEvDqthCAsbbJsyg0/s320/Ridenours+day+2+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even a buckboard wagon...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPm-7_QMFXrM6FDAoQlET4EhWwgWrq-Ne-8OoU2TuXsvwKJt39YJ7XpiXwELTb18ceQgHuc3eBexPUp0tCStvyZe97nfJ2mHC_Yb09IHWKj3MpAvgEhyphenhyphenhaCbkyB3o1fnVULkGYdOeHkU0/s1600/Ridenours+day+2+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPm-7_QMFXrM6FDAoQlET4EhWwgWrq-Ne-8OoU2TuXsvwKJt39YJ7XpiXwELTb18ceQgHuc3eBexPUp0tCStvyZe97nfJ2mHC_Yb09IHWKj3MpAvgEhyphenhyphenhaCbkyB3o1fnVULkGYdOeHkU0/s320/Ridenours+day+2+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
Nina scrubs the clothes while Sasha rocks</div>
<div align="left">
the baby</div>
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The NE kids are back in school so our kids had the entire place to themselves for two hours. It was great fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SuQ2Fx57mlTckz4Y5Cp0WKOeenWZx9-adzvbTdIccMBcPAR4OBzH3J1LGFL5EIJsfpFjWGv0QnokJ8MgSJEMo76RQRzsUH2E1hkEdxtL0ng96b-JQE5ol7APXVw2sta6XZ25OMbm8ck/s1600/Ridenours+and+Denver+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SuQ2Fx57mlTckz4Y5Cp0WKOeenWZx9-adzvbTdIccMBcPAR4OBzH3J1LGFL5EIJsfpFjWGv0QnokJ8MgSJEMo76RQRzsUH2E1hkEdxtL0ng96b-JQE5ol7APXVw2sta6XZ25OMbm8ck/s320/Ridenours+and+Denver+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
Cold Stone Creamery, what's not to love?</div>
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Nina's face says it all.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb3xNLxsA2IToX9FKOEFceS03eB6XAb8WSXgbYFXlwncSJY5bTLWI_2CxReAAlMSOgtnwv5QjjtHa5OaWEOPgP8FkVG5ak6dTqMx3pLtL5Eet0zM-myCjSfnjIxVbgXvbtkqPIFX-r00/s1600/Ridenours+and+Denver+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAb3xNLxsA2IToX9FKOEFceS03eB6XAb8WSXgbYFXlwncSJY5bTLWI_2CxReAAlMSOgtnwv5QjjtHa5OaWEOPgP8FkVG5ak6dTqMx3pLtL5Eet0zM-myCjSfnjIxVbgXvbtkqPIFX-r00/s320/Ridenours+and+Denver+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buddy, Jake and Nina playing in the sprinkler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp-5oK9vcc3Gys3Ukr2SeH7iMfmg9uJwKvOKvdD578f7qa1Om5KKpOMzT1Z4VP0zD8Gdw9Dj_pjE4uFZeTLBn0l0SYO3j-Qnm2gtD9rIAOYMx4LhvUwb2svB3wMkYm7j0neLU8H-mOTY/s1600/Ridenours+and+Denver+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFp-5oK9vcc3Gys3Ukr2SeH7iMfmg9uJwKvOKvdD578f7qa1Om5KKpOMzT1Z4VP0zD8Gdw9Dj_pjE4uFZeTLBn0l0SYO3j-Qnm2gtD9rIAOYMx4LhvUwb2svB3wMkYm7j0neLU8H-mOTY/s320/Ridenours+and+Denver+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="left">
Buddy loves to drink from the sprinkler,</div>
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Jake thought it was hilarious</div>
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It was so hot when the kids were here that the sprinkler was a fun way to be outside and still comfortable. Buddy loves to play in the sprinkler when there is someone to play with, so this was a big day for him.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbNtzgxmZfWZw6cypyxqx6SbLpLxE8y6JsNhpQp45l8xXRiHNdqqjf8Otwqzc3EMsOJbahO0o4uE_LO0heQvhw9dhGu_kOVDZlLwRbAYI1NluFznFmW4g9x5SSLfpRj-1HWW5ikOOW30/s1600/Ridenours+and+Denver+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbNtzgxmZfWZw6cypyxqx6SbLpLxE8y6JsNhpQp45l8xXRiHNdqqjf8Otwqzc3EMsOJbahO0o4uE_LO0heQvhw9dhGu_kOVDZlLwRbAYI1NluFznFmW4g9x5SSLfpRj-1HWW5ikOOW30/s320/Ridenours+and+Denver+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
When you are eight, mowing is fun. Well, actually, it's fun at 65 too for some of us! I'm not sure why, but I love to mow. Jake did a great job.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sasha deadheaded all six rose bushes. </td></tr>
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Our friend and neighbor, Dick, took</div>
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Jake for a ride on his ATV. It looks</div>
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like Jake was doing the driving!</div>
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The kids are experienced riders with horses of their own at home. They live in the country in the hills north of Los Angeles. They were needing to do some riding so they asked Mark if they could go on a trail ride. They had fun with Mark and Buddy.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Saddled up for the trail ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go (Sasha 13, Jake 8, Nina 10)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leaving the ranch for the trail ride</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Downtime</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Important quiet time after all the travel</td></tr>
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Every evening we played a couple games of Oh Hell and it was a blast. These kids are good card players and have the banter to go along with it which makes it so fun. Mark and Nina were the winners. Jake was usually in second and Sasha and I were vying for last place.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serious concentration while bidding</td></tr>
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We're always sad to see the kids go and the time goes so quickly. Off to Denver to stay with Aunt Sandi for the night and then to the airport for the trip home - at last! Summer 2013 was memorable.<br />
P.S.<br />
For a look at my 1965 prom dress on me in 1966, check this out. I was chosen as South Dakota's state representative in the DECA Sweetheart competition. DECA stood for Distributive Education Clubs of America. It was a high school work study program. The competition included multiple interviews but also the formal dressup portion for poise etc. I got to go to Chicago for the Nationals and it was my very first plane ride as a senior in HS! Times have changed!<br />
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Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-7459154867946984222013-08-15T20:44:00.000-05:002013-08-15T20:44:43.594-05:00SummertimeIf you remember my posts last summer, I was struggling with keeping my garden and yard plants alive in the severe drought we were experiencing. This year we've had rain and just this week we've had several inches of rain. It is glorious to have the plants performing at their best, the saplings putting on some height and the grass greening up and making up for the patches that were lost last year.<br />
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The roses have been beautiful this year. In early June, the bushes were covered solid with blossoms. It was amazing. Now we are getting another bloom and I'm so happy because I bring in these fragrant<br />
blossoms to add a light scent to my home.<br />
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Now this is amazing! We picked up this kohlrabi at the local produce stand today. It is a hybrid kohlrabi that gets this large and is not woody! I grew kohlrabi this year but mine did get woody so I must have had the original cultivar. Next to this monster is a bottle of wine and a peach to give you perspective! It fills one side of my double sink. Aren't plants interesting?<br />
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To our delight, family from South Dakota came down for a quick weekend, niece Mindee and her son, grand-nephew Dausyn. What great guests! Dausyn volunteered to mow the lawn. With all the rain, the lawn requires mowing more often than I can get to it some weeks so this was a great help! Look how green it is this year. Thanks, Dausyn! Our yard is so large that I mow in sections four days per week. It's a good thing that I love to mow. <br />
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Pure joy swinging on the double swings --- an activity experienced by most guests. Buddy is always in the middle of this. Mark, Mindee, Dausyn, and Buddy went on a major trail ride on Saturday. They all had a great time.<br />
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I've been doing small batch preserving this summer. The cucumbers are from my garden and I made them into dill pickles using my Mother's recipe. The beets are from the county fair and my first batch of pickled beets. I've planted beets for a fall crop and hopefully I will be pickling more beets this fall. Love putting up the harvest.<br />
The tomato plants are huge and full of green tomatoes. We are now waiting for warm weather to ripen those fruit red. Tomatoes are our favorite so we are anxious to begin eating our own tomatoes.<br />
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The pullets are growing and have just begun to lay eggs. We've reduced our flock to just 12 and have sold all the rest. It was getting to be too much work and expense so we're back to what I originally wanted for a hobby. I'm so happy. The downside is that I won't have many to share with friends. I love my current breeds, 7 Americana (green & blue eggs), 1 cuckoo Marans (dark chocolate brown eggs), 2 Black Copper Marans (dark chocolate brown eggs), 2 Golden Wyandottes (standard brown eggs) - gorgeous feathers and colorful eggs.<br />
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I gathered three pullet eggs today. See the tiny eggs on the left of the carton? They are tiny to begin with but will get larger as the laying hens become older and more proficient.<br />
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Hope you are thoroughly enjoying your summer,<br />
DeloresDeloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-25249599378001534482013-07-08T09:55:00.002-05:002013-07-08T10:08:47.925-05:00Black GoldIf you are a gardener, you know what Black Gold is and it is a treasure. Black Gold is compost. Since mine wasn't quite ready to use this spring, we found finished compost at the trash disposal company. Farmers, gardeners and homeowners bring garden waste, grass clippings, etc. to the trash disposal company and they compost on a huge scale. They only charged $20 for a pickup bed full!! What a great value. <br />
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Half of the compost has been unloaded onto the flower beds surrounding the house and the newly refurbished asparagus bed.<br />
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It smells as good as it looks. It is rich and will enrich the plants in each of these beds. See the new asparagus bed, almost finished.<br />
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Love the physical part of gardening.<br />
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Done. Beautiful asparagus bed in early spring. The bed now is full of asparagus fern fronds setting seed and building up energy for next year.<br />
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My tomatoes thriving in the black gold bed. My sister Sandi was here over the 4th and she graciously offered to help so we put mulch on all the beds - a job that got delayed this spring when I was under the weather. It was a dirty job but so necessary and Sandi was my hero in doing this with me. Hope to see those red treasures setting on these tomato plants soon.<br />
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The pansy's are still thriving among the lily-of-the-valley in spite of the hot muggy weather.<br />
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And, the columbines are blooming again.<br />
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Sandi picked cherries from the old cherry tree which had a rough spring. The big winds took out half the cherry tree and Sandi got enough cherries for only about two pints of jam. Luckily we planted another cherry tree about three years ago and it is doing well so hopefully this little piece of earth will have another cherry tree to carry on the tradition.<br />
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Of course, Buddy is in the middle of cherry picking with Sandi.</div>
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As you can see, I still haven't painted the barn but I intend to get it done this year. The hollyhocks are beginning to bloom.<br />
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The driveway into our ranch shows the old barn. Can you see it in geranium red? I can't wait to freshen it up.<br />
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Love alfalfa bales which are a symbol of summer in the country.<br />
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Gorgeous iris, yellow and purple, were beautiful this year.<br />
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My view from the kitchen window for a few weeks.<br />
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The sun is going down, the cicadas are singing, the firefly's will soon be out...sweet summer times.Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3661269935143171539.post-40388913979768687502013-05-27T22:25:00.001-05:002013-06-01T16:14:32.352-05:00Salt Block CookingI never knew there was such a thing until one recent Saturday while listening to The Splendid Table on NRP radio. Lynne Rossetto Kasper is the host and has the most interesting people on her show. They aren't always chefs but people involved with food and for instance, may be experts in spices or as in this show, salt. Mark Bitterman, who has a store in Oregon and New York City called The Meadow which features salt - chocolate - wine & bitters - flowers -, was a guest who first introduced me to Salt Block Cooking. It was the most intriguing interview and I had to learn more so I checked the store out online and decided to buy some exotic salt and a salt block for cooking. Why not?<br />
check out the store here: <a href="http://www.atthemeadow.com/shop/">http://www.atthemeadow.com/shop/</a><br />
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Mark Bitterman's newest book is Salt Block Cooking...<br />
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So, I received my block of salt and followed the directions to make steak. It worked and was delicious...<br />
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It is important to cut the steak into thin strips for more even cooking. The salt block provides a light salt seasoning which is delicious. It takes about 45 minutes to heat up the Himalayan salt block starting at low and every 10 to 15 minutes increasing the heat.</div>
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As you can see the salt block is set directly on the gas burner. Here it is on low for 15 minutes.<br />
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Then it is on medium for 10 minutes. The Himalayan salt block eventually is on high heat and heats all the way through which allows it to act as a cooking utensil. There is no oil or preparation put onto the block before adding the protein which could also be seafood, eggs, etc. or even vegetables or fruit.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSBhwvIOE9SBdow8AnES78LBj60dVChD0udnDzZhJ1QnT53Z-7mCJw57vgYJI3YIoruQrV_EpQgmuLQ3QVOkzWenOBA1xC_h_FVVTytKvptLA0mk-96P-xXtG9n2QSVjMoM7EAViIox8/s1600/salt+cooking+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSBhwvIOE9SBdow8AnES78LBj60dVChD0udnDzZhJ1QnT53Z-7mCJw57vgYJI3YIoruQrV_EpQgmuLQ3QVOkzWenOBA1xC_h_FVVTytKvptLA0mk-96P-xXtG9n2QSVjMoM7EAViIox8/s320/salt+cooking+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
You can see the steak that has already cooked and also the final pieces cooking. It takes only a few minutes to cook these slim slices. <br />
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To clean the Himalyan salt block, you allow the salt block to cool completely and then just scrub the top with water, no soap; a light layer of salt will be removed and it will be ready for next time.<br />
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This is not something you would do regularly or especially if you are in a hurry, but it is a fun alternative. These are the types of experiments that make cooking so much fun for me. I like to be adventurous with cooking methods as well as food and spices.<br />
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Mark Bitterman's first book was <u>Salted</u>. "Mark Bitterman captures the nuance and beauty of salt in this stunning field guide featuring hundreds of artisan varieties with photos. From the elegant fleur de sel and flake salts to 500 million year old Himalayan salt slabs that resemble pink quartz, Bitterman explains the history and science of salt production. The book profiles over 150 salts, and includes 50 recipes that showcase this versatile and marvelous ingredient. Whether he’s detailing the glistening staccato crunch of fleur de sel harvested from millennia-old Celtic salt making settlements in France or the brooding sizzle of forgotten rock salts transported by the Tauregs across the Sahara, Bitterman’s mission in SALTED is to encourage us to explore the dazzling world of salt beyond the iodized curtain. <br />
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<tr><td style="width: 83%;">James Beard Award Winner! 2-times finalist for the IACP Cookbook Awards, including the IACP Julia Child Award for best first cookbook!" <br />
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I learned from his interview on NPR that even though people oftentimes need to reduce salt from their diet for various reasons, some salt as we all know, is critical to the human body's functioning. He suggests that a small amount of really excellent salt with its natural minerals rather than processed salt like Kosher or iodized table salt, totally satisfies the human palate. I ordered two trial size jars of the exotic salts and he is absolutely correct. I LOVED them. I will continue to explore through his store.<br />
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This weekends show on The Splendid Table included a fascinating interview of <a href="https://twitter.com/laboiteny">Lior Lev Sercarz</a> who knows the power of a good spice blend: It can tell the story of a different culture. Plus, it makes cooking fun. The author of <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Blending-Lior-Sercarz/dp/0615680933/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369362556&sr=8-1&keywords=The+Art+of+Blending/?tag=tsplent-20">The Art of Blending</a></em> creates custom spice blends, which he sells from his store, <a href="http://laboiteny.com/spices.html">La Boîte á Epice</a>. I'm on the spice journey too!<br />
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This kind of open mind for adventure in the kitchen is what makes cooking fun.Have you tried something fun in your kitchen recently?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IIN9NMtTcFCLydTO58LbdG5Kt38t2Yv_FZzyvV0pG6jT1j7XYkkBtXgBmcSnDrJNbOpR7tP_EjrSGezsXJxoyXAppsrNK7v0qjcuQB-xxQqqwppBbcxq2FgSy7NJkkwyzD4LF76nCPc/s1600/41qu1ouopYL._SX300_%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IIN9NMtTcFCLydTO58LbdG5Kt38t2Yv_FZzyvV0pG6jT1j7XYkkBtXgBmcSnDrJNbOpR7tP_EjrSGezsXJxoyXAppsrNK7v0qjcuQB-xxQqqwppBbcxq2FgSy7NJkkwyzD4LF76nCPc/s1600/41qu1ouopYL._SX300_%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div>
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Deloreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06591094346348189598noreply@blogger.com1