Stomping Grapes

I have 2 SD Valient grape vines. I picked 18# of grapes yesterday, Harlan helped me wash and stem them. I cooked them down to a concentrate. 1 quart of concentrate will equal a gallon of sweetened grape juice. I put 7 quarts in the freezer. They are wonderful mixed with Sprite. No purple feet, just purple fingers.

Master Gardener

Mom was a Master Gardener, even if she did not take the course. It is something that she always wanted to accomplish in her life, like her bucket list. Mom just crossed it off your list, I have taken the course, passed and completed the 50 hours of volunteer work. I am now a
MASTER GARDENER WITH SD SDSU

sewing all day

Last night Harlan and I went to Kathy and Seans for supper, nummy chicken and all the trimmings. Even got to help Hunter with homework. I wonder how he did on the spelling test as I quizzed him. It has been many years since I did the homework routine.

My daughter Kathy is in a wedding coming up and needed the bridesmaid dress hemmed. So all day today I reunited with my sewing room and got it hemmed. Now to have her come over and make sure that everything is just right. The dress is really a pretty shade of chocolate brown and ice blue.

So that was my day.

Amazing I can really see

This afternoon I had laser surgery called a YAG procedure on my right eye to remove a secondary cataract that had grown over the lens implant from past cataract surgery. It was for the most part painless and it is amazing how clear my vision is now. Before the only way I could describe it was to put baby oil on your eye and look through it. The sunset sure looked pretty tonight.

Home again

What a fun but quick trip back to MN. Terri Stratton my cousin hosted the annual family picnic at 7 mile creek park. It was so good to see those who I have not seen for a year, give and receive tons of hugs. 2 new diamond rings were being shown, Britney Mott and Chad Strattons new fiance. More to add to the family. The food was really good and I think we made more than a trip or two to refill our plates. Too bad everyone lives so far away, would be fun to have a couple a year. Maybe do something in the winter-anyone interested??? I spent the night at my Aunti Auds place. Just like old times when I would come over for the weekend and just visit. She is really like a mom to me. At 82 she is doing quite well. Then on to Gaylord where I surprised my Moms best friend Shirley Cross. We grew up with Shirleys kids so it was nice to find Lynn home visiting his mom. Keep shirley in prayer as she is battling the big C and is putting up one heck of a good fight. Now I am home, unloaded the car and just sitting. It is nice to go but it is nice to be home. Keep me in your prayes for tomorrow as I have the YAG procedure on my right eye to remove scar tissue that has developed on the lens that was put in when they took the cataract out.

A quick trip

Headed to Minnesota after work for a family picnic. Will be fun to see Auntie Aud, many of my cousins and nieces and nephews. Will spend the night as I got up at 12:30 this morning and it will make for a very long day and will play it safe and find some place to hit the sack. Plan on seeing Karen and Roger on my way over, a great place for a cup of coffee and a break in the drive. If I can figure out how to connect my camera to the computer I will be able to post some pictures. But one step at a time as I am still learning this Blog.

Oh my aching back

My dear friend Ida Slocum gave me 2 huge trays of Sedum to put in my shade garden. I bet I dug 20 or more holes in my garden to water and plant these new plants. They have seemed to take the transplant pretty well, of course water from the rain barrel helps. Next year they should come in an spread to a soft green carpet that will give my garden an entire new look. I can understand fully how Mom would sit back and look at what she had accomplished when she gardened. It does give a bit of pride to see the color and texture being grouped together in what was once a bit of scrappy grass/lawn.

Congratulations to my favorite daughter-in-law

"A Synthesis of Antiquarian Observation and Archaeological Excavation at Dorchester-on-Thames, Oxfordshire"Wow that is a mouthful. This is Wendy's first published book!
Paperback: 71 pages
Publisher: British Archaeological Reports (1 Aug 2009)
ISBN-10: 1407305182
ISBN-13: 978-1407305189

Congratulations Wendy, there has been a lot of long hours and hard work put into getting your book done. Congratulations to John, Gareth, Fiona, Bronwyn and Enya for being such a good support system to Wendy. I am so very proud of each and every one of you.

It is not even 2am yet

Of course I never sleep the night before I have to bake donuts, so am up early, bath is done and now to write something in my blog. Went to McCory Gardens for the garden party, I put in 4.75 hours as a Master Gardener. I had miscalculated my hours last week, counting some continuing education hours towards the volunteer hours. So after re-figuring it out I shall have my 50 hour obligation in as of Tuesday the 25th. This is such a nice feeling. I became a Master Gardener for 2 reasons, the first is because I so enjoy gardening and want to learn more and the second is because of Mom, who always wanted to become one but never was able. So here is to you Mom, we are now Master Gardeners. Today after work and cleaning my 2 contracts, I plan to plant sedum in the shade gardens. It should fill it in so nicely. Thanks Ida for all the sedum. I should have plenty to share next year. So that should be my day in a nutshell.

Too bad the camera would not pick up the total picture, we had a tripple rainbow over the cornfield. Absolutely beautiful. I was out there as it was misting out trying to get pictures. So far 0.23" rain

I do want to wish my Great Niece Allie a very happy second birthday.

another rainy day

The kids all have blogs so decided that I would start one, like the old fashioned journal. Yesterday was a productive day, Harlan and I hauled 4 trailer loads to the burn pile in the pasture. We trimmed the lower branches of the pine trees to the north and started cutting down large buckthorn as their berries are about ready to rippen. It will be an ongoing battle with the buckthorn, but gives me something to tear out and creat new gardens and lawn for Harlan to mow. Right now it is raining, so probbly won't get much done outside, but the rain barrels will be filled