Master Gardener Photo Contest

Two years of long committee meetings, phone calls, more committee meetings the 2012 South Dakota Master Gardener Convention (Update) arrived.  The Brookings Area Master Gardeners hosted the event at the new McCrory Gardens Welcome Center.  WOW we had 130 attend.  Last night they held their photo contest, there were alot of great entries.  The theme was The Four Seasons of Gardening.  This is one of my entries under the Summer catagory my neighborhood frog that lives in my 100 gallon pond by the windmill.  There was also the Peoples Choice Award, which was voted on by those that attended.  I was thrilled (and shocked) to receive the Peoples Choice Award with this little guy, he is really cute and it was a once in a lifetime shot as as soon as I took his picture he hid again.  First time a photo of mine has won a contest.  I received a crock with Photo Contest Peoples Choice.  Something I will treasure.

I'm back

I stopped blogging due to my blog being hacked and it was recommended that I shut it down or wait and see what happens.  Well you know what it is like when you put something off you forget about it.  Blow the dust off this blog and see if I can start again.  It has been a busy 2 years but fun regardless.  My gardens have grown, enlarged and changed styles.  My shade garden in the back has gone from shade to sun due to the tops of trees being blown over and allowing more of the sun rays in.  The windmill has taken on a completely new look with gardens and a pond.  I created a woodland garden off the knoll garden thanks to my grandson Hunter who took the 4 wheeler and pulled out all the wire and old machinery that was left to rust.  New hostas and total shade plants and a small 13 gallon pond in there for the deer and wild turkeys to get a drink from, not to mention the farm cats and Rosey.  The pasture is no longer housing horses, and is now being mowed.  The plan is to put in a small orchard and maple trees, will see what next year brings.  Will have to take a look at the new blog settings and start back.  See you later...

The kitchen is painted-before and after

I got tired of the off white color in the kitchen, so matched the green in the wallpaper and went from there. I really like it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUE

Today 40 years ago my daughter Susan made me a mom for the first time. She is as beautiful today as she was the day she was born. One of my vivid memories of that day was my Dad coming to the hospital to see his first grandaughter, but did not even come in and see his own daughter, he was just proud to be able to meet Sue. I hope your next 40+ years are just as good as the last 40 have been. Happy Birthday Sue. I love ya

the roof is on

Been a busy week, but which week in summer is not busy. This weekend my son-in-law Sean along with Logan and Hunter came to put a tin roof on our hog barn. NOW it will not leak and Harlan will have to keep his promises of making homes for the birds and cats along with other projects. I am amazed that they got it done so quickly and it looks great. Both the boys worked hard and deserved that extra scoop or two of ice cream.

Where has the summer gone

Sunflowers in the Badlands

Yellow Mounds-Badlands

Harlan and I at the Badlands

Buffalo ready for the roundup in Custer State Park

Young White Tail Deer in Custer State Park

Charlie (with the beard) Shaughn and Owen De Leeuw-kids are Thomas and Tessy's boys

Debbie De Leeuw my sister in law

Tessy and Thomas De Leeuw

Heather De Leeuw my niece

Thomas De Leeuw my nephew

The hills are full of the fall colors with the Aspen turning yellow against the green pine trees

Roughlock falls in SD

Harlan at Roughlock Falls

Monarchs getting ready for migration

Early foggy morning at the farm

Spooky

Patchy my kitten

I know I should have posted weeks ago, but summer has become a busy time with gardening, Master Gardeners and keeping up with all the weeds. No excuses-so will get a post out along with a few pictures. The gardens are coming to a close for this season, they were beautiful and so refreshing to work in. I have enlarged them to some degree and next year will really be dong a major overhaul on one garden turning it into a green texture garden with only shades of green and textures of all design. Should prove to be interesting. The vegetable garden was a challenge as we had so much rain that it just did not want to grow and produce as it should of. Right now it is raining again. Something this area does not need as part of Brookings and surrounding areas including my daughter Kathy and her family is under water or being close to being under water. Check her blog at Life with the Lesnars to see the continuing water battles. Harlan and I went to the Black Hills to see my brother Charlie and had alot of fun in such a short few days.

Again sorry for being so tarty in posting and will keep you more updated in the future.

Summer storm

Just had a summer storm pass through, winds/hail/sun/ rain and just plain weird weather.