Canning & Putting Up

 This summer I have done a lot of canning!  Due to the fact that I put in 11 tomato plants and Frank put in 9 (or close to it) down at the 2 Family, we've had a lot of tomatoes! 
 Above is a pasta sauce that I first made in 2009. 

 Here's some BBQ sauce.  I made 2 batches, one sweeter and one spicier.

I also Hot-Style Chili Sauce.  Frank was eating it by the spoonful
so I doulbed the next batch so there's plenty for him all winter!

 Lia was a big help peeling tomatoes.

 Here's some tomatoes and my first crop of potatoes, fingerling and red from the 2 Family, the potatoes were volunteers for last year!

I also froze a decent amount of green beans. 

I LOVE my fruit and vegetable strainer.   

 I've had this pressure canner since our wedding, but I just used it for water bath canning.  I finally took the plunge and mad a batch of something pressure canned - Bloody Mary Mix.  Frank was the inspiration for this recipe.  He told me that I should make and can a Bloody Mary Mix. So I did! 

 It made 10 pints total.

And got a "2 thumbs up" from my family!  Lia even tasted it and said "it's not too spicy Mommy". 

Lia and I took some of our sunflowers and harvested the seeds for next year's planting. 

And possibly for roasting!  :)

The Fling Barn & Farm

We went camping in Hillsboro!  The weathe was GORGEOUS. The farm we went to, a 200 acre working horse farm was amazing.  We went and camped out to go to the barn and hear The Juice, one of our favorite local bands, play.  They offer free camping.  We couldn't pass it up.

 Frank prepped the fire for when we came back to our camp.  The stars were out and it was a FABULOUS sight to see.  We got the best of both worlds...a great band in a cool barn for a while and then some peace and beauty back at our camp before bed.

 The pond was FULL of frogs.  Of course, Frank tried to catch one to show Lia, but they were not about to be caught, they just jumped further into the water.

Lia's first experience in a tent!  She LOVED it! 

 This is right outside the barn, where the band played.

 

 The owner gave us some treats to feed the horses, and his neice, Lauren, was nice enough to introduce us to all of the horses that were hanging out by the stable.

 There was a herding dog that followed your every dance step, right there in the barn, on the dance floor.

 These are blurry, but precious.  After every song, Lia would go up on stage and hug Lady Joya.

 

 The next morning, what a place to wake up to.  We cooked breakfast over the fire pit with our friends Patrick, Kathy & Nick.

 Nick's wearing the II Juicy shirt, which is what the band was previously called.  Their lead singer passed away and they now have a new one, and a new name - The Juice.

 They often have weddings up here by the pond in the oak grove.

Oktoberfest!

Stricker's Grove!!!

I was soooo excited to get an invite to Stricker's Grove this summer!  I had been thinking about it.  Even researching it.  And then there it was - an invitation in the mail for us to attend.  I thought it would be more fun for Lia to have a friend with her so we invited Emory.  We had such a great time.

 I packed a dinner for us and we ate right away.  These are 2 good eaters!

 And then the kids got cotton candy.  It was Lia's first taste of it, and she didn't much like it, although she talked about it for a week before we got there.

 Emory & Frank on the ferris wheel!

 Altho I like this ride, it makes me nervous when it's not going round and round.

Frank and Lia on the scrambler!  This one made her "nervous" is what she said (no doubt after me telling her that the ferris wheel made me "nervous"). 

 Awww...they look like brother and sister!  Patiently waiting in line for the roller coaster!  Which was really fun.  It was Emory's favorite!

I scream for ice cream! 

 Lia wanted to kiss Emory, who was not that interested.  ;)

 

 See the grumpy face?  This was the end of the night.

Looking forward to going again next year.  It brought back alot of great childhood/family memories for me because we went here every year for our parish picnic when I was growing up.  Alot has changed, so many more rides, but alot has stayed the same.

August Highlighted Foods

 Lia helping me make spinners for my Jamaican Oxtails & Beans.

 A delicious pizza using my kale and local sausage & carmelized onions on home made whole wheat pizza dough....yum!

Brownie Cookies....I think the best cookies I ever ate. 

My friend Tami gave me a squash that she grew "marrow".  I found this recipe for it stuffed with sausage.  It was DELICIOUS.  Thanks Tami!!!

We went to see Lyle Lovett again!

 I took this shot, our seats were 6th row pit on the aisle.  Fabulous seats.  Incredible concert, as always.

 These 2 shots I found that are recent pictures taken of Lyle for some denim commercial or advertisement.  IMHO, looking great!!!!