feeling lazy ~

There's not much of interest going on around here.  I'm just feeling the lazy hazy muggy days of summer ... and I'm ready for the fall and winter seasons to be upon us again.  I'm really not a fan of hot summer heat.

My flower beds are coming to their end for the season.  I have just a few lilies still in bloom and some purple phlox  ~ and a little tree frog.

The apple tree is loaded; but has a while yet before harvest time ... hopefully another month.  I just hope the deer and bear don't get to them before me.

I hung up some hames from a horse harness and made a trellis out of binder twine for the Morning Glory's ... just a little decoration for the wood shed.

Still no mushrooms on the logs; but I'm checking them daily.

The bear was up on the deck again. (sorry no pic this time) I didn't see which one it was; but it did eat the bottom whirly gig of the beaded sun catcher I made.  It also tipped over my tomato plant that was four feet tall and on a stand.  I put it back in the pot and hopefully it'll still keep producing.  It also carried one of my patio chair cushions off to the other side of the deck.  Thankfully it didn't tear it up or worse yet ... take off with it.  The little bugger.   Ahhh... the fun of living in the woods in the critters territory.

All five of my fish are still thriving in the Black Lagoon.  No raccoon's have turned them into sushi yet.  The bear too has left the waterfall alone this year and hasn't turned over the rocks on me.  I probably shouldn't have said that - because every time I mention something about the bear and the coon it seems something happens.

Until next time ...

So it goes in my neck of the woods.

~mel

the empty pickle jar ~

... every day is a gift :)



Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

update ~

 Every little available space in the work shop ...

... seems to be occupied ...

 ... with a bird house!

That's where I've been.  Out in the work shop creating my magic :) ... filling orders.

While my magic is going on inside ... remember the mushroom project going on outside that we started this spring?

We inoculated seven totem poles of oyster mushrooms.   Well.... it's time to remove the plastic and start watching for the harvest.

Look at all that beautiful mycelium on those logs! That white, fuzzy growth is the beginning of the mushrooms.  Soon they will begin pinning ... making the little mushrooms.

The 3 on the left ... the PoHu Oyster mushrooms will be the first to fruit.  The Blue Dolphin Oysters on the right should set fruit when the temps drop to just above freezing.  (In my neck of the woods... that won't be long)  They should get a lot more white mycelium showing up on them as the weeks go by.  So far ... so good :)

Although this is our first year growing them ... I'm thinking our mushroom project is right on schedule.  I just pray the bear doesn't take a liking to them and cause us trouble ... so far ... knock on wood ... we've been spared having to find out.

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

days like this ~

Off to the Polish Kingdom...

The Polish Kingdom is a little peninsula of land on the Turtle Flambeau Flowage that Dear Hubby's Aunt Jen and Uncle Tony own.  Every year they let Dear Hubby's family of the four brothers and their families gather for a family picnic there.

 ~ grilled turkey ... yum!

 ~ Iris and Wolf ... they were so tuckered out from swimming and from so much attention from the kids.

It was a wonderful day ... and I hope that we have many more like it.  I love days like this when the family gets together.

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

been awhile ~

Wow - It's been awhile since my last post!

We have been so busy around here I hardly get any time for blogging ... but that has to change.  I'm getting pooped out!

Last Tuesday was our 37th wedding anniversary.  We went to The Plantation Supper Club with friends and had a wonderful meal of prime rib.

~image from the internet~

Then Wednesday, Dear Hubby and I took two of the Grandloves with us to the Mercer Loon Days.  It's always held on the first Wednesday in August... one day only.  It's a craft show of over 250 exhibitors.  

There was lots to see ... and lots of things put on my wish list.

 Paula - I thought of you when I saw these rusty turtles  :)

... and if I would have had the extra funds that moose would be in my yard right now :) It's on my wish list.

We also stopped in at one of our favorite places, The Pines and checked out the new beer garden and ordered a pizza to eat outside under the trees, topped off with huge homemade ice cream sandwiches.  

What a wonderful job Margie and Erv did on it.  It used to be a miniature golf course; but they ripped that out and put in this lovely garden.  I didn't get a pic of it; but in the corner outside is a huge pine log stage where they host live bands, and in the other corner is a huge outdoor bar.  It's really peaceful sitting out there under the pine trees listening to the music.  Love it!  I just wish this place wasn't so far from home for us to visit more often.  We love it there.

Then ... to top things off ~ it's been busy in our work shop.

~ cutting out and assembling bird houses ... only 30 more to go on this order.

It was my intention to sell at the Mercer Loon Days this year but I sold out before the show.  So... as soon as I catch up with things I think I better get started for next years show!

AND ... through all that going on this week we (Dear Hub's and I) also cut up and delivered two pick up loads of fire wood, canned 7 pints and 7 quarts of beans, along with 8 quarts of dill pickles.  The garden is finally catching up and putting out produce.  

Last night this hectic week caught up with me.  I had such a horrible kink in my neck and a catch in my lower back.  Dear Hubby had to rub me down with some Icy Hot.  Have you ever used that stuff?  Goes on cold but heats up fast.  I did sleep good; but Slim said this morning,"I hope you feel better, because that smell from you last night kept me up all night!"  Awwww... shucks honey ... I slept like a baby:)

There is plenty to do around here if you're bored.  Come visit!

Well... I gotta go ... there's a family picnic this afternoon on Dear Hubby's side of the family.  I have a blueberry/peach cobbler and a raspberry doughen in the oven and the timer is telling me it's time to quit this post and tend to things once again.  

Until next time ...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel

love ~

Our Grandlove Bailey (age 7)  spent the day with us.  Here's a jest of the conversation:

"Grandma, I'm bored."

"Well, what would you like to do?"

"I don't know, I brought my colored pencils with me.  Maybe I should draw a picture."

"That sounds like a good idea."

" I don't know what to draw?"

"How about drawing something you love?"

"I love you.  I'll draw you.  I love Grandpa too.  I need two pieces of paper because both of you won't fit on one."

"We won't fit on one?"

"Nope.  Face it Grandma, you and Grandpa are not small people."

Off she goes into the other room with her paper and her colored pencils.  I'm not allowed to look ... but she keeps coming back  to LOOK me over.

"Grandma, what color do you call that?"

"What are you looking at?"

"Your eyes.  What color is that?"

"Hazel."

Off she goes, back to her drawing.

"Grandma!  I don't have a hazel in my colors!  Will blue green work?  I'll draw blue then green."

"Sounds good to me."

"Is your face round or oval?  Never mind.  I know it's round.  Real round."

"Wouldn't Grandpa look cool with yellow teeth?"

"Yellow teeth?  Why would you give Grandpa yellow teeth?  He just had them cleaned at the dentist office.  I don't think he would like yellow teeth."

"Not dirty yellow.  I mean like gold ones that are shiney.  I think he would like having those kind of teeth."

"Bailey, it's your drawing.  You can make us however you want."


Here she comes with the pictures.

"Where's the tape?  Because these are going on the refrigerator!"
~~~
 So now I have two masterpieces hanging on the frig :)

Until next time ...

So it goes in my neck of the woods.

~mel