Adventures

Great start to the day! Hearty, farm-fresh breakfast
and English Breakfast tea with honey from Wyoming!

So, last week, I ordered kitten food from Walmart because it was a really good price.  I decided to try the ship to store for FREE option for the first time.  Wellllll, I'm about to admit something to you.  We were getting pretty close to running out and the shipment wasn't to be in until tomorrow.  So, I prayed.  And I kid you not, a few minutes later as I was working in my home office, I heard a strange noise that came from the kitchen.  I stopped what I was doing to go check it out.   The dogs were still napping and weren't bothered by it at all.  I just couldn't figure out what it was until I decided to go  check outside.  And there was my evidence.  Yep, a bird ran smack dab into our window and the poor soul didn't make it.  It was then that I could see where he had hit the window.  That really has only happened a few other times here.  Since, he didn't make it and I was going to have to remove him from the area, I decided I would feed the cats.  I told Heath when he got home that God sure does have a sense of humor.  Pray for cat food --> receive a bird (food for cats) hitting the window.

A short while later, Kristin came to the house to go for a walk.  The dogs get so excited when they see her truck they were just going crazy.  She needed to come in for a moment before we left and they were barking and jumping around in circles!  They just love to G-O and anymore their bodies aren't letting them go as far or as fast as they used to.  Now, we walk 1-2 miles and sometimes throw in a jog.  They have recently put me between a rock and a hard place as if I don't take them, they get upset and if I do take them, they get sore and stiff.  So....our compromise....a 1-2 mile walk/jog on the ditch bank.  If I want to go further, I take them home before I finish and they feel better about the whole situation at that point having already been out.  The time we have is lovely, surrounded by nature and wildlife!

Bike ride to Bridgeport!

I have been wanting to take my tri bike to Bridgeport for the longest time!  Today, was finally that day that I made time to do it.  Heath is in pea harvest.  They take in dry edible peas -- like for split pea soup.  The ones the farmers grow out here are yellow.  They are a great dryland crop that doesn't need much water which is good out here!  Anyway, I suited up and headed out.  It's been a while since I have done a bike ride like this.  It was a gorgeous day.  I figured that 25 miles wasn't far (that is about the distance of the bike portion of an Olympic tri), so I didn't bring any snacks.  BOY, was that a bad idea.  I was famished...lol and for those of you who know this area, there is nothing between here and there but w-i-d-e open spaces.

You know that time from when you get done with work until time to eat at supper?  Well, this was that time.  Usually that's a great time for a snack, but I was so excited to just GO, I didn't prepare properly.  Luckily, Heath finished working before I got totally into town and he rescued me with a snack and we got to ride home together!  My plan is to do this a ton more this fall during bean harvest.  Since, he will be working late, it will be something fun for him to break up the day a bit and fun for me to get exercise!

Peace

This day was amazing as it started out with a hike with friends and family!

"You will go out in joy

    and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

    will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

    will clap their hands."

~Isaiah 55:12~

Awesome temperature! Beautiful morning!
Inspiring!

We have been wanting to do a hike for quite some time and today was the day!  WOW, oh WOW, am I sure glad we did!  Laura and Mayda met me at what is called "Bead Mountain."  It's right here in our neck of the woods.  We met there and began our hike at a wonderful 56*!!

Oh, the views!

God!

Can't you just imagine the ole' wagon trail passing through on the Oregon Trail?

Friends!  We made it to the top!

After our hike, it was off to work!  So grateful that we made time for these moments.  Such great memories shared with friends.  Nothing can replace the time spent in God's country with people that you love.  Part of my job today was to recycle our broken refrigerator.  I knew exactly where I would go when Heath mentioned it.  Langer Industrial, my client.  It is so fun in my job because I get to know people and their services right here in our own town!  This gentleman is from Kansas and you can tell that he is passionate about what he does.  If you ever need recycling here in the Scottsbluff area, I would highly recommend Langer Industrial on the corner of the Beltline and 5th Avenue.

That big HUGE claw is squishing our fridge at the moment!

Lunch and then packed a picnic for tonight!

Nothing like fresh corn on the cob!

Garry and Me

My father-in-law loves tractor pulls, so I invited him as soon as I found out about the county fair pull!  We met at the park in Mitchell and had our picnic, complete with a piece of chokecherry pie.  He is very fond of this particular dessert, especially when the berries are in season!  We had an absolutely lovely evening with the best seats in the house.  We sat at the '50 yard line' of a tractor pull at the very top, middle.  Great breeze from the back and awesome views.  Thankful for this bonding time with Garry!

If you have never been to a pull, I would highly recommend it.  Take ear plugs and plan on having a really fun evening!

A Day's Work

Sarah Young's Jesus Calling Devotional
I am clinging to this message!

The cutest little individual sized cantaloupe, creamed peas
and potatoes, and mixed green salad.

Kendra's celebration birthday party at work!  It was really nice!  We work with such an awesome team!

Have you ever made macaroni salad!?  It's kind of a new awesome thing in my life!
Fresh watermelon, tomatoes, and beet tops!  Oh, and of course, BACON!!

Today's Harvest!  *Bountiful Blessings*

After a long day's work at work and on the farm, we retired to the amazing
hot tub under the stars!

~ Stop and Smell the Flowers ~

Happy lunchtime out on the ole' school desk with
fresh garden produce!

Honeysuckle in bloom around gazebo!

"Weeds" around the gazebo that I LOVE!

Taking a moment to pause and enjoy this beautiful day!  Our hammock is a great place to do that!

My man working hard to maintenance our mowin' machine!  This eXmark is awesome!  It makes our mowing our yard go really fast!

Sunday

Sunday mornings Heath makes me breakfast in bed.  It is amazing and I do not take it for granted!  How special I feel!  :)

Today, steel cut oats, farm fresh eggs, and hot tea in bed!

I went out for eggs today and this is all I found!
BUT, on the bright side, this probably means one
of the young girls is starting to lay!

!HOT! Peppers and Cucumbers

Cucumber, basil, lime infused water!

We had pork chops tonight for supper!  Something we don't often have.  What a treat!
I also made creamed peas and potatoes from our garden!

Quick Side Note:  Have you heard of something called Marco Polo, an app on your phone?!  It's crazy awesome!  Whitney had asked me to download it quite a while ago.  Not knowing what it was or making the time to download it, I didn't do it until she asked me again recently.  Wow, am I glad that she pursued me to get this app!  I would say it is some sort of a combination between FaceTime and texting.  You get the flexibility similar to texting so your recipient can check it at their convenience, but it is a video so you can actually see them!  It is great!  This has brought all five of us girls from high school back together.  I have been able to meet their kids and see parts of their homes.  You get to enter into their lives.  We all know how hard it is to connect these days even with all this technology.  With this, you don't have to find a time for both parties to meet (and make a phone/FaceTime call), but you can send a video message when you have a free moment and the recipient can then do the same.  It is really neat and makes you feel very connected.  I have also been able to connect with a friend who moved away and we have so much fun!  Great accountability and helps you feel like you live closer together!

This app is an awesome way to
connect when you have time!

*Farm Life*

Farm Fresh Sleepover Breakfast  :)  Truett got to go swimming while I made breakfast!

Yummy omelets with leftovers from last night's fajitas.

Truett is a true cowboy and today he also got to be a farmer!  It was his goal to catch a chicken...and so he did!

Look at that boy!  ADORABLE!  Big 'ole smile!

What a great sleepover with so much catching up!  I am always so grateful for times like these because they are always so needed.  If I don't make the time to make stuff like this happen, then life continues to fly by.  I feel like times by....some days I look down and it's like 'how did so much time just pass without me knowing it!?'  I get so wrapped up in my daily life and doing what needs to be done within my family, my home, my church, and even in my workplace.  If something or someone is important to you, make a commitment today - pencil it in on the calendar even if it's not until winter!  You will be amazed that by just getting it on the calendar you will prioritize that time differently!  You will be rewarded with a great, much-needed connection and fellowship with that special friend.  Or even pets if you want to spend more time walking them or taking them to the lake.  It will be mutually beneficial and you will feel happy about your choice to prioritize your oh so valuable time to connect!

My new favorite squash:  White Ace.  The use of the InstaPot was amazing and allowed me to process very efficiently!

Chokecherry pie for Pa! 

Cucumber chips with a variety of different seasonings.

SLEEPOVER!

Yummy breakfast!  Yellow and red beet slices and an egg omelet with sour cream and fresh herbs!

BOUNTIFUL Basket of Bright Lights Swiss Chard

As it started out, I was planning to head to Torrington for a sleepover however, throughout the day our plans changed a bit.  It's God's Plan, not ours!  Mo and Truett ended up coming over to our house since they were going to be in town anyway!  It was really awesome because Heath then got see them too!  (Also, Truett had really been wanting to have a sleep over "upstairs" and then go swimming in the hot tub.  So.....we did!)

Individual ~ size cantaloupe!

Buddies!

~ Sharing a Lovely Family Meal ~

THEN...enjoying the ice cream from Daddy!  It's his favorite from Schwann's!
Black cherry yogurt!

What a great way to fellowship with great friends.  There is something about gathering around a kitchen table with wholesome, fresh, homegrown food that is so nourishing to the soul both physically and emotionally.  It fills a very big need to nourish our physical body to be strong and be able to work while at the same time it is fulfilling to the soul to know all of the hard work, time, and dedication it took to raise up that food from the farm to our forks!  Blessed!  Thank you Lord for constantly reminding me how blessed we really are.  I love being able to recognize these blessings and it is through my time in the Word that these blessings become more visible.

Delightful! Savor the Moments!

Sarah Young's Jesus Calling Devotion

Grilled zucchini, green chili egg casserole (thanks to it freezing well), English Breakfast tea.
A delightful breakfast and morning!

Bountiful, Bountiful, Bountiful!

Yellow Beets in the amazing InstaPot

African Basket with Swiss Chard

Left to Right:  acorn squash, white ace, lemon cucumbers (front and center),
yellow zucchini in back right corner!