The End of a Very Busy Week . . .

Hello!  I've had such a busy, crazy week!  Lets start with these guys . . .

Right now we have three dogs keeping us entertained and busy!  Indy, our Corgi, has claimed the little kiddie pool as hers, along with any toy that she has. The funny thing is, she doesn't even like getting in the water! She just doesn't want Mac or Maverick to get in the pool. Mac is my oldest daughter's sweet Bassadore. She's out of state right now, waiting for her daughter to welcome her very first grandbaby into the world. Maverick, my second daughter's energetic Goldendoodle, has been staying with us since last Saturday while her family enjoys a well-deserved vacation. The house has been full of wagging tails, flying toys, and lots of barking, and let's just say these three have kept us hopping! It's a lot of work, but we're so thankful we live close enough to help when our family needs us. These dogs are part of the family too, and while we'll probably need a nap when everyone goes home, we wouldn't have it any other way.  Mac does not stay overnight, because he prefers to be home at night.  My daughter only lives 3 miles from our house, so He's not far.  They have cameras in the house, so they can see him at any time.  He has a doggy door and does great overnight.  Mavy will leave on Saturday.  It's been very busy around our house, but in a good way. 😉

Thought you might enjoy this song . . . 

My garden has finally decided to wake up! For a while, I was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to do much of anything. It's wasn't as big or beautiful as last year's garden, but my husband has a perfect homemade fertilizer that works like magic.  Since spraying it on the garden, over the last week or so, everything has started to grow, bloom, and fill in. It's always amazing how quickly a garden can change with a little TLC.

Now I'm feeling hopeful that we'll have plenty of fresh vegetables to enjoy this summer, with enough left over to stock the pantry and freezer with some of our favorite veggies to enjoy this winter. 

Every spring, when we start planting the garden, I find myself asking the same question: Is all the work, time, and money really worth it? Then the first crisp lettuce is ready to pick, the radishes are pulled fresh from the ground, and the peppers begin to ripen in the sunshine. One bite reminds me why we do it every year. Fresh from the garden simply tastes better, and knowing we grew it ourselves makes it even sweeter. That's the moment I realize the answer is always the same—yes, it's absolutely worth it.  It doesn't matter how large or small you make a garden, it's always worth it.

These guys are our constant companions whenever we're out working in the garden. Sometimes they're so determined to be part of whatever I'm doing that I have to watch where I'm stepping—or where they're stepping! The Palomino, especially, gets so excited when she sees us outside. She absolutely loves attention and seems convinced it should all belong to her. If someone else is getting too much attention, she'll happily nudge her way in... and by "nudge," I mean she isn't above trying to crowd everyone else out! Considering how big she is, it can be a little intimidating at times. Even so, we love having these beautiful horses here for a while. They always make a day in the garden a little more fun.

Look how much this baby has grown!  He's very loveable and loves to be scratched in just the right places, especially on his hinny ;0)  He only has one  bad habit... He loves to nip at you, so we have to watch him when he's being scratched and loved on. 

My kitchen hasn't been quite as busy as usual lately; with the summer heat settling in, the last thing I want to do is turn on the oven and warm up the house. However, we still crave fresh, homemade bread, so I’ve been relying on a bread maker I picked up at an auction for just five dollars! It’s been a total lifesaver for these hot days. I’m happy to share the recipe below, so you can enjoy delicious, fresh bread without overheating your kitchen.

Sandwich Bread in the Bread Maker

4 1/2 cups flour (you can use whole wheat)

1 tsp. salt

1 1/2 cups warm water

1/4 cup honey

2 1/4 tsp yeast or 1 packet

2 Tbs. olive oil or oil of  your choice

Put the ingredients into your bread maker, in the order given.  I set my bread maker to make a regular loaf and it turns out perfect.  

I wish I had the perfect photo to accompany this recipe, but I'll make sure to capture one next time! In the meantime, I hope you'll give this a try—it truly is delicious, and I think you’ll love how simple and rewarding it is to make at home.

I'll leave you with this gorgeous photo that my daughter sent this morning.  This is a photo of, Bridal Falls in Wyoming.  They said that the hike into it was a little challenging, but isn't it pretty?!

I hope everyone is staying cool, happy and healthy.  I know that so many people in the US are suffering from heat or too much rain, so be safe.  Check on your neighbors and make sure they are okay as well.  I'm looking forward to sharing news of a new great-grandchild next time I post!!

Just a thought to leave you with . . . 

Until next time . . .

Hugs and Love,

Barb