Saturday.. and a good one at that!

Today was another beautiful day! I had to work at noon and Matt got a lot done around the yard and house. They finished the whole first crop of hay at work today. It was a perfect day for that. After work I made two rhubarb pies and Matt did a LOT of weeding in the flower beds. Grilled for dinner and we're now watching a movie. A good Saturday.... :-)

Another pretty poppy...



There are the boys. This and sleeping are their pass times:-)

I was playing w/ the saturation on the picture of the bleeding hearts...

My Iris' are in full bloom right now too. I only have this color, but they're pretty.

These are my beautiful poppies. I messed w/ some of the pictures for the fun of it.



They unfold so beautifully! God is good cool... only God could pack that much pettle into that little bud.. and then they explode into that awsome flower!

There it is starting to pop out!

Matt's review of "The Painted Veil"

Tessa and I tend to watch lots of movies, well more than some. Ok, so we LOVE Netflix.

Recently we watched The Painted Veil (picture to the left). We both thought it started out slow, but it ended up being really good! The movie as a whole was pretty enjoyable.

The movie would be considered a drama/romantic movie. It isn't your normal type though. There are sex scenes however they don't show it,you just sorta know whats going on,which is rather nice. We don't like it when lots of sex and random swearing are thrown in the movie so that it tries to make it more dramatic. Normally those don't do anything for Tessa and I, besides wanting to either fast forward or turn it off.

It was a good story of love, forgiveness and how silly/bad decisions can, after some work, turn into something good. I would recommend it. on a scale from 1-5, I would give it a 3.8

Our Memorial Day

On Monday morning we got up early and headed to Cashton, WI to go to a green house auction. We are walking up and there are all these horses and buggies - tons of them. I don't know if I've ever been to Cashton really. It's Amish land!!! It was so beautiful, perfect day to be out and about. It's beautiful country there. I just couldn't stop taking pictures. I can't even begin to put them all on here. This is just a small taste. So, back to the beginning... we walked up to this auction and Matt says, "Mary!?!" I'm walking behind Matt and am thinking, "Mary, Mary who? Who do we know here? What Mary do we know here...?" And then I come around Matt to see MARY! Our second mother Mary! Her and her friend, Deb, were just leaving. Mary lives in the cities and us in Dakota...... and we meet in Cashton!!!! Small world. Really small sometimes:-) They said they were going to be going to some smaller Amish green houses. We decided to follow them to those sense this auction was huge, everything being sold in large quanities. Deb grew up in the area and knew where she wanted to do and what they had where. So, we didn't even see the aucton really, we just followed them:-)

These are just a few of the Amish horses that were tethered up by the cars - kind of funny. They were all so pretty, and looked rather board to me.

See, doesn't he look board?

Our first stop was a green house where they had these sweet potatoes in jars. Very neat. Wouldn't have guessed you could do this to a sweet potato.

We hit about three other small green houses. They mostly did annuals. I didn't get too many of those. Deb bought some. Her and Mary do this trip every year around April. This year they were late and there wasn't as much to chose from. This is a perennial garden. This cute little Amish lady, about 65 years old maybe, ran around in her bare feet digging up little bits of whatever kind of plant you wanted. You'd get a box (or have Matt get one:-) and then tell her want you wanted. I could have gone out of control here. I really could have. But... I was good and only spent $30. I got a lot of good stuff for that though! I was thrilled. I could just buy and buy perennials! Ask Matt;-) This year, though, I have gotten EVERYTHING that I've gotten into the ground. I have had years where something will sit in the pot till next year when it comes up in the pot again:-/

Matt, Mary and Deb at the perennial garden. It was fun. I told the little lady that I was jealous and wished my years looked like this.

This is my favorite picture of the whole day (and I took a lot of them!!) This horse was tethered here to graze. There were about five little Amish boys playing in a ditch two hundred yards away and he was watching them. He was so, so pretty!!

They're enjoying the sun too! It was a beyond beautiful day!

And these horses did not get Memorial Day off:-(... maybe next year?

While we were green house hopping, Mary and Deb told us they were going to be going to a church lunch / fund raiser at the church were Den grew up. We went there w/ them too! It was such a wonderful day. And so much fun to run into them. They had a much more fun day planed then we did. We didn't have a plan:-D We also got to see Deb's grandma's house. I don't think it was her real grandma, but that's what they called her. The two houses are now bed and breakfasts. We went in one of them.. it was beautiful.

This is the lovely burn I acquired over the long weekend. This isn't the bad side either. You know how burns get worse after a few hours... The right side of me and the left side of Matt (from being in the car) were pretty burned... but, you know, the sun felt SOOO good that we didn't even care! Now, it's turning into a nice tan:-D

Mmm, Mmm Good:-)

Strawberry Creamcheese Bars With Cookie Crust

Crust
1 pouch Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg

Filling

1 cup white vanilla baking chips (6 oz)
1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

Topping
4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/3 cup water
10 to 12 drops red food color, if desired

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 15x10x1- or 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. Press evenly in bottom of pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

2. In small microwavable bowl, microwave baking chips uncovered on High 45 to 60 seconds or until chips are melted and can be stirred smooth. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Stir in melted chips until blended. Spread mixture over crust. Refrigerate while making topping.

3. In small bowl, crush 1 cup of the strawberries. In 2-quart saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch. Stir in crushed strawberries and 1/3 cup water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils and thickens. Stir in food color. Cool 10 minutes. Gently stir in remaining 3 cups strawberries. Spoon topping over filling. Refrigerate 1 hour or until set; serve within 4 hours. Store covered in refrigerator.

These bars were really, really good. There are a lot of directions, but they really aren't that hard, not as hard as this makes them sound. They really were good!

This post will just get better and better... that's my life!

Here's the squeeeeealing baby bunnie that our cats brought in. He was so cute! He was squealing and squeeling.. Matt finally just pinched his little mouth closed and he was quiet:-)

Matt got the stump out! Our neighbor, Walter (we call him grandpa, and not to his face), came over and helped Matt. It was really nice of him.. he has all the tools you could possibly want or need for the job. It took them about two hours to get it all cut out. Now, we have a HUGE hole in our front yard, waiting for a Magnolia tree:-D

We got so much yard work done this weekend. It was wonderful! I planed so, so many flowers. Gardening is just food to the soul... it's wonderful!

Here's Emma... the cats, or something... didn't like having the cushion on the couch. And then Emma decided to lay on it, lay on it like she owned the thing!

On Saturday... oh, on Saturday Matt planed a surprise hike and picnic!! I am married to the most wonderful man EVER! He made a lunch.. turkey, tomato and basil wraps, chocolate covered strawberries, brownies.. He is amazing! So, it was a beautiful hike up there. I only complained once or twice cause it reminded me of checking fence when I was younger:-p It was wonderful!!! It was so perfect that I just can't even put it into words. This is why and "what for" we don't have kids:-p (I mean no offence to those of you who do have children:-) He even brought some fun pomegranate wine... oh, it was wonderful....

This was the view!!! That's "our" part of the river right down there..

Look at that view. For that view, the hike was nothing!

The orchards on the other side...

That's where we live, right down there and to the left:-) It's so beautiful up there.. looking over the whole river valley. So beautiful.....


I am so very blessed to have married this man! It just fills my heart to almost overflowing....

Will write more later.. have to go to work now:-)

New cookie recipe.. very good!

RICE KRISPIE COOKIES

1 c. butter

1 c. sugar

3/4 tsp. soda

1 tsp. cream of tartar

1 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. Rice Krispies(No eggs)

Mix together. Drop by small teaspoon on cookie sheet. Flatten with fork dipped in flour. Bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Worm Shocker!

Here's the Worm Shocker!!! One of the neighbor boys, his mom and grandpa were all out and about last Saturday when Matt and I were out doing yard work. Daniel, the little boy, wanted to go fishing so grandpa got the worm shocker out to get worms! I have never seen anything like this. We tagged along to watch, then we moved to our yard to try it...

Here come the worms! They thought it wasn't working very well cause the worms weren't coming out as fast as they had remembered... but, some did come out. It was pretty interesting!

Grandpa and grandson. Rich is our next door neighbor and his daughter (Daniel's mom), Michelle live about three houses down from us. They are fun people to have for neighbors. Hey, they put up w/ our messes and are still nice to us when a cat poops in their lawn and we have to go get it:-p Great people!!

Proud worm catcher!! He's such a nice little boy! Later that day he and his mom did go fishing and they did catch quite a few fish:-)

So, that was some of the fine Saturday morning entertainment here in Dakota:-D

My beautiful horse:-)

On Monday I had a hoof rimming appt for my horse, Henry. When we had my other horse, Raja, we were able to trim them. We'd do Raja's first and then Henry knew it was okay and that were, indeed, not trying to kill him. Now, w/ Raja gone he won't let us hold a hoof up for anything. And I don't have time... wait, I don't MAKE time to go and work w/ him on a daily basis. Sooo, the vet comes and gives him a little mellow, happy shot and then it take fifteen mins to trim them! When we first got Henry his hoofs were in pretty bad shape. His previous owners didn't take care of them at all. We had gotten them pretty good again when we got him. Then Raja died and he wouldn't let us keep a leg up long enough to do anything. So, now I just have a guy come and do it for me. $30, you can't go wrong! lol.. So, that is my story and this handsome guy is my horse, Henry:-)

Pretty boy!!!

Here he is, wondering "what is she doing now?!"

He kept giving me this "look" like I was trying to shoot him when I just wanted to take his picture! He's such a pretty boy!





And here's he's real coloring! I love his color. I wish I had hair as pretty and vibrant as that:-)

I love weekends and taking pictures..

Last weekend we were in Cannon Falls for Matt's cousin Andy's conformation. Had a good time w/ family and relaxing. That's what all the cheesecakes were for - the conformation. On Sunday before we left we went w/ Matt's brother, Jeremy and his wife Becca to take pictures at the old farmstead. It's where Matt's grandpa and his dad farmed for years. So many neat old outbuildings. I went picture crazy, taking about 600. I'll slowly put them up here and there for you to see.

This is Matt's grandpa's old tractor. It was Matt's favorite tractor. Matt and his brother said it always looked "mean" to them.. it has a dented in hood, and I guess that made it look mean. I love this picture. He is so handsome!

This is the grain barn... w/ my man sitting in the window. I did take all these in color. These three looked really good in bw

This was the original house. TWO rooms, that's all! Two rooms... it's a pretty neat little house though. Matt looks good sitting in the door, don't you think!?

Cheesecakes, cheesecakes....

I made three cheesecakes for the conformation this last weekend. They were so pretty:-) This was the Lemon one. I was having trouble w/ the big cracks in them this time:-p

This is the Turtle one. Beautiful! I had fun making and trying this one. I used Oreo crust instead of gram cracker.. and I don't know if I'd do that again. It was good. But the Carmel layer that goes right on the crust made it very hard/chewy! I think gram would have been better.

This is kind of an ugly cheesecake and picture:-p But, it was really, really good. Strawberry swirl. Would have made it in a smaller pan next time, it would be taller and thicker then.

Rhubarb Pie

Pie Crust

1 1/2 Cup Flour

1/2 Cup Crisco

3/4 Tsp. Salt

1/4 Cup Boiling Water

Rhubarb Pie

Slightly Beat 3 eggs

Add 3 Tbsp. Milk

Mix:

2 Cup Sugar

1/4 Cup Flour

3/4 Tsp. Nutmeg

Add to eggs and mix with 4 cups rhubarb.

Put in pie shill with 1 Tbsp. butter on top.

Bake at 350 till set

This pie is so, so good. You have the taste of rhubarb but not the very tartness of it. It's kind of custard like. Very good!

Another really good book!

This was another really, really good book! I fell in love w/ the people in the book, you felt like you knew them! I really liked Becky. I loved her because she was so blunt and honest. All these new mothers are brought together by fate and for a reason. It was fun to read, all the different take on having a first baby and in different walks of life. It was a wonderful book!!

What a great book!!!

This was such a good, good book! It made me want to have grown up in the early 40's and have sisters. I haven't wanted that in many years:-) I LOVED the war time love letters that were sent back and forth. In all it's wholesomeness, it still kept you guessing. It make me smile, laugh and want to cry. It was SO, SO good! Read it if you can!!!

just a quick post.... more to come!

He wanted a hair cut and I was baking so he did it himself. He was just going to Bic it anyway:-) He was all hairy:-p and then..........

TaDa! TOTALLY BALD! And.. in a great "I'm a Nelson" pose! I love it.. only Matt can pull this off and not look totally stupid:-) He hasn't Biced is since Co. Jail. He was still pretty good at it:-)