Scavenger Hunt - August 2018

This month I participated in a swap on Swap-Bot called "Scavenger Hunt" in which participants were challenged to find five and photograph five items. Below are the items and my photographs:

Something cluttered

This is the top of a bookshelf that I am working on right now. There is a system of organization, though not apparent by this photo.

Under the weights and foam rectangle are ideas for service projects for a teen club I'm co-leading.

Next to that is a pile of paperwork that I need to go through and do. My goal is to finish this by the end of August.

The next pile are two English books for the girls and then magazines and other periodicals I want to read and recycle.

The last pile is a stack of vendor registration forms for an upcoming event I'm organizing; and the top sheet is a map of the layout of where the vendors will be located. This pile will be gone after September 8th.

On the shelf below this are homeschooling resources that I need to go through during the upcoming week as I finish laying out the upcoming school year.

Something that is heart-shaped or has a heart on it

Aspen, our Siberian Husky/American Staffordshire Terrier mix wears a heart-shaped identification tag on her collar.

We adopted Aspen from a local humane society who worked with a rescue agency in Texas to get her out of a high-kill shelter when she was only six weeks old. She was part of a 11-puppy litter that was going to be euthanized. Thankfully, they were able to get her out in time.

She had to overcome a lot of fears - especially of men. She is a very protective dog of all of us; and a great watchdog. We are so happy to have her as part of our family.

Something you're proud of

I learned to do Saori weaving last year and enjoyed it. During May of this year, I took another Saori weaving session and make another table runner. Below is the one I made this year.

There are a variety of different types of yarn as well as colorful pieces of roving. The result is a very tactile piece that has a variety of textures.

Something older than you

This is a set that was in the bathroom that my sister, brother, and I used when we were growing up. It was from my step-grandmother on my dad's side. My grandpa's first wife, Olivia, passed away six weeks after I was born. His second wife, Esther, was the grandmother I knew when I was growing up. She passed away when I was about eight years old.

This set was something our family inherited, and ultimately - somehow - it was something that became mine when I was a young girl. I don't know if Esther intended it to be for me, or if my parents decided it was for me. What I did notice is that the angel has "June" on her dress - my birth month.

The perfume bottle broke when I was growing up and we glued it back together. So, there's a visible crack where the two pieces meet. There's also a little piece missing from the powder container. Regardless of these imperfections, this set is very meaningful to me and brings back memories of my grandparents and visiting them in Illinois many times as a child.

A beautiful or intriguing cloud/sunset/sunrise picture

I had trouble choosing only photo for this one. On the 21st, I took Olivia to her rifle practice. Sophia joined us too; and on our way back home we noticed unusual clouds. To the west of us, there were clouds that were flat on the bottom. The best view of the clouds we had was at our home looking to the west over the pasture.

To our east on the drive home, we spotted a partial rainbow about 15 minutes from home. By the time we came home, we could see a full rainbow. This is the view of the rainbow as I looked to the east. Unfortunately, there are electric lines in the photo...however that's the best view of the rainbow.

On the same night, there were beautifully-colored clouds to the west. It's amazing how facing one direction the clouds are pinks and purples; and the other side they are more blues and oranges.

Perhaps the sun setting (also on the same night at about the same time) had something to do with the rainbow and dramatic clouds. This is the road in front of our home looking to the west as the sun is setting by the cornfield.

It was fun doing this challenge, and I enjoyed spending time over the past couple of weeks looking for things that fit each category.

Classic Gingerbread Cake

The local county fair was held earlier this month and I thought I'd try a couple of new recipes and enter them in the Open Class Baking Division.

One of the recipes I made was gingerbread cake. It was from a pin on Pinterest that linked to Dinner Then Dessert. I added the applesauce (an optional ingredient) as well as crystallized ginger. The judge commented that she liked the crystallized ginger. I won first prize for this cake.

It's a very moist and flavorful cake. I made it again today and used fresh ginger instead of crystallized ginger. Both add an extra kick to the cake. Perhaps next time I will do a triple-ginger version (dry, crystallized, and fresh).

Here's the recipe that serves 12:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 egg
• 1 cup unsulphured molasses
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup applesauce (optional, but will add to moistness of cake)
• 1 cup hot water
• Crystallized ginger (optional and an amount that you prefer)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use baking spray with a 9 inch square pan (I used a round pan because I didn't have a square pan).

In a stand mixer, cream together the sugar and butter until lightened in color and fluffy. Beat in the egg, and mix in the molasses until fully combined.

Add the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until just combined. With a whisk, add in the hot water and applesauce (using the stand mixer would make a mess with the water and pouring in the water slowly would cause the flour to over-mix).

Bake for 40-45 minutes in the preheated oven until the cake springs back up when touched or a knife comes out clean.

Enjoy!

My Favorite Photos of the Month - July 2018

The photos that I've included as my favorite ones aren't ones that are artistically beautiful or show advanced photography skills. Rather, they represent memories that are special or significant to me which makes them my favorite ones.

On July 1st, the month began with a lot of rain and significant thunderstorms. The excavated area that leads to the basement (for the new walls and steps due to flooding and a mud slide), flooded with water and had to be pumped out. Olivia went into the excavated area to rescue a frog that had fallen into the hole and was struggling to get out.

She managed to get the frog and out of the clay (which held tight to her boot), and release the frog on drier land.

On July 2nd, Sophia headed to Arizona to participate in a leadership camp. Forty teens from all over the United States and Canada attended the camp. Below, she is saying "goodbye" to Danny and Olivia. 

On July 3rd, the tigerlilies were in full bloom along the ditches in front of the house as well as in the backyard (pictured below).

We had a quiet 4th of July with Sophia gone to Take Action Camp in Arizona and it raining off and on throughout the day. I made barbecued ribs on the pellet grill - smoking them for two hours followed by one hour of baking. They tasted great. In the evening, we went to Dairy Queen.

On Monday, July 9th, the girls - along with a friend Sophia attended camp with for two years - went to the Science Museum of Minnesota after a stop at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center to drop off four baby squirrels that fell out of their nest in our backyard. (They were there for quite a while and the mother was not getting them and bringing them back to the nest, so we brought them in.)

There was a special exhibit at the Science Museum about engineering and tall structures throughout the world. The models of the buildings were constructed from thousands of LEGO bricks.

After going through the exhibit, we watched a movie in the Omni Theater. Again, the theme was engineering. There was one section that we all felt was quite moving about the impact that engineering and bridges can have on people and a community. 

There was a woman who helped impoverished communities build bridges. In one place, a mother had drown trying to cross a river. Her children had to cross at that same dangerous spot each day to go to school. 

After the team of engineers from the U.S. and local construction workers created the bridge, the children no longer had to walk through the river where their mother died to get to school....they could now safely cross the river on the bridge.

The girls had fun on the musical steps at the Science Museum.

There was a little play area at the Science Museum. The girls and I remember it being there when they were young. They were good sports and had a lot of fun encouraging Emily to pick up one of the stuffed animals for a picture. 

I love this photo because it captures pure joy...complete happiness. Olivia laughing and not being able to stop...and Sophia with her head back laughing hysterically. I hope when they get older they look back upon memories like these and smile yet again.

On July 10th, we headed to the Mall of America for some shopping. The girls also went on a couple of rides - including the log ride which is their favorite one.

They also went on a roller coaster and clearly had a fun time!

On Wednesday, July 11th, we had a play system delivered and installed. The fire back in May burned down the playhouse and our swings no longer were functional. So, we invested in a play system with two swings, a little rock wall, ladder, playhouse/fort, and slide. 

Although the girls are teens, they still like to swing - especially Olivia. The slide is a fast-moving, bumpy one. Olivia took Scooby (who is about 11 years old) on his first ride down the slide; and Sophia took Danny (who is about 6 years old) on his first ride. 

 

That afternoon, we hosted a blood drive and mini-One Stop Donation Drop at the local community center and farmers market.

The girls made no-sew, fleece tied hats for children who have cancer and are undergoing chemotherapy. 

Sophia donated blood again. She's been donating blood and platelets since she turned 16 years old (the youngest you can donate blood).

She is happy knowing that for each unit of blood she donates, she is saving up to three lives!

While there was a short lull in blood donors, I decided to see if I could donate blood. With rolling and small veins, it always has been a challenge to get blood or do IVs when I've needed them for surgeries. 

After passing the screening test, I went over to one of the beds. The phlebotomist did a fantastic job and I was able to donate my first unit of blood!!

On July 12th, we went back to the airport to send Emily back to her parents out East, and to pick up Paige who was out of town on business. We were able to see another therapy dog at the airport. This one was all decked out in with a tie.

On Saturday, July 14th, my sister and I went on a farm tour sponsored by the local co-op. We visited several organic farms; and enjoyed eating at a new restaurant that focuses on using only locally-raised and made organic food. It was delicious!

On July 15th, more work was being done on the excavated area in our backyard. Rocks were brought in and the drain tiling was completed in the entry way to the basement (there is no access to the basement through the interior of the home).

On July 17th, we celebrated Olivia's half birthday a day early by going to the Chinese buffet. We all like this restaurant, and it is the place Olivia always requests to go on special days.

Wednesday, July 18th was a busy day for us. First, the girls were doing judging with their 4-H projects at the county fair. Olivia entered four photographs and received a reserve champion on one of them. She will be taking that one to the Minnesota State Fair in late-August.

Sophia won a grand champion award for her beaded necklace. She will be taking that one to the State Fair also in late-August.

To celebrate how well the girls did on their 20+ projects, we went to dinner at Dairy Queen (Olivia's request since it was her 15 1/2 year old birthday). Normally, we don't get out of judging so early, but with not having to show club projects this year, we were happy to be done around dinner time.

On our way home, we saw two spotted fawns by the side of the road.

We came home to a newly-graded backyard and one that didn't have the high ragweed and itch weed growing in the firepit.

The doors for the barn were completed and installed.

We celebrated Olivia's half birthday that evening by opening some presents. She had a great day.

On Thursday, July 19th, we enjoyed having our friend, Ed, visit us from California. Ed and Paige are business partners; and Ed is the son-in-law of Don Rickles (who passed away last year). We went to Don's funeral last year, so it was nice to see Ed under happier circumstances. 

We had bratwurst, fresh vegetables from the CSA, potato salad, tossed salad, berry/rhubarb pie, and homemade ice cream. 

On Sunday, July 29th, we went to the Polk County Fair. We enjoyed seeing the huge rabbits, projects, and entries from youth and adults.

Sophia was a good sport and had her photo taken by one of the cut-out-face displays. She was wearing a hat and didn't want to take it off, so that's why her face isn't closer to the hole.

On the final day of July, the 31st, the concrete guys came to put in the floor of the garage. It's been a long month trying to get a variance with the permit (due to the garage being 61' instead of 75' feet from the wetland...even though it is the same distance as the shed was that burned down) and then doing all the prep work for the garage.

There were 14 loads of fill that were brought in just to support where the garage will be placed; another 3 loads of fill that were used to grade the backyard, and cement trucks for the excavation project and garage. So, lots of construction vehicles during July.

With the 15 trees that were burned in the fire now taken down and chipped, the view to the west is quite open. Of course, this will blocked by the garage once it goes up, but - for the time being - we can enjoy this open and beautiful view.

One of the construction guys did recommend planting some trees along the fence line so that the garage wouldn't be so hot - that there would be shade during the summer. 

We do want to plant trees at some point...though a wider variety than the boxelders that had taken over that area. It would be nice to invest in all at least a half dozen different trees to benefit the wildlife; and to have different leaf colors and shapes. Something to think about during the summer and hopefully plant in the Fall or next Spring.

Outdoor Mom's Journal - July

During our outdoor time this week we went....around our backyard. We watched a grove of trees - along with others in the pasture - that were damaged by the May 5th fire be taken down on July 11th.

The backyard was graded so there's better water flow from the house. The firepit also was leveled - along with all the weeds that were growing in it. 

Although I asked for the firepit to be leveled, I didn't anticipate that such a huge part of our backyard would be re-graded. It was quite the shock when I came home from doing errands. 

On July 14th, my sister and I went on a farm tour sponsored by the local co-op. We went to several farms in Wisconsin. It was interesting to see some of the farms, though it wouldn't be an event we would do again.

We were expecting more activities and information at each farm than there was; and, although there were food samples at some, they were either sitting out in the heat and not properly chilled or had flies on them. No thank you...I don't want to get sick.

The farm pictured below had an impressive garden.

By the third week of July, the concrete pad for the garage had been built. We were enjoying the open views to the west now that the trees had come down a week before.

The loss of habitat for birds and wildlife, though, was tough to see. However, we know that our land has plenty of trees and natural areas for wildlife to enjoy still. 

The most inspiring thing we experienced was...seeing two little fawns eating grass by the side of the road. They were a little too close to the highway, so we stopped and gradually moved the car forward so that they would run into the forest.

Sure enough, that's what they did.

It was such a treat seeing these little ones on Olivia's 15 1/2 year old birthday!

Our outdoor time made us ask (or wonder about)...what trees would be ones that would appropriate for us to plant to replace the ones that were removed because of the fire?

We would like to have more diversity of trees at the farm. Although we have lots of pines, oaks, and fruit trees, there are a lot of boxelder trees. These type of trees are considered "junk" trees - they grow prolifically and quickly. We have little groves of boxelder trees in some of our pastures that never used to be there when we moved here in 1995. These mini-forests provide cover and shelter for birds and animals. However, I'd like to see more diversity in trees.

The question is: which ones would do well in our climate and be most beneficial to birds, wildlife, and the environment?

In the garden, we are planning/planting/harvesting....flowers mostly. We're enjoying the tiger lilies in full bloom on July 4th.

I started working on the butterfly garden in the backyard - weeding and adding a lot of new perennials. There are even two blueberry plants in there!

Around the 11th of July, the lilies that my Dad gave me in the late 1990s or early 2000s were in full bloom. It's nice seeing that these flowers have done so well for over a decade.

I added nature journal pages about...nothing yet this month. I need to sit down and create some pages that look back on the highlights from July.

I am reading...nothing that is nature related.

I am dreaming about…days without mosquitoes and horseflies. Both of these have gotten in the way of taking the dogs on walks this summer. Combined with high humidity and hot temperatures (and consequently hot asphalt), it's not enjoyable for the dogs or I to go on walks in the middle of the summer.

A photo I would like to share...is of a new swing set, fort house, slide, and climbing wall that we got to replace the playhouse that was destroyed by the fire in May. Our swing set was on its last leg and not functional anymore, so we got a new - much sturdier - set that can handle teens and adults.

Olivia loves to swing each day (I think it helps here a lot with her sensory processing disorder), so this is good for her. Both the girls are enjoying the fort and have been reading in it on cooler days.


Thank you to Barb the Outdoor Hour Challenge for the idea of doing an Outdoor Mom's Journal.

Kind Words for Youth

As I'm going through my teaching files, I came across a "Dear Abby" column that I clipped. I had intended to use it during one of the Create & Cultivate Art Camps that I offered here at the farm in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

I would still like to see this idea done...though I'm not sure where or how now that I'm no longer doing the camps or leading a 4-H club. Regardless, it is worth keeping in mind for some opportunity that may present itself in the future.

This is the column:

Dear Abby: I have been retired from teaching for many years, and would like to share a lesson I learned that stands out in my memory like no other:

I was young and teaching math at the junior high school level. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and the students were very stressed. They were frowning, frustrated and carping at each other and me. Wanting to stop the crankiness before it got out of hand, I asked the students to take out two sheets of paper, and list the names of the other students in the room, leaving a space between each name.

Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates, and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish the assignment. When the students handed me the papers and left, they seemed more relaxed.

Source

That weekend, I wrote the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper and listed what the students had said about that individual. On Monday, I gave each student his or her list. Before long, everyone was smiling. "Really?" I heard one whisper. "I never knew that meant anything to anyone." "I didn't know anyone liked me that much!"

The assignment was never mentioned again, but it didn't matter, because the exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students felt better about themselves and each other.

Years later, I was asked to attend the funeral of one of those students, a promising young man even when I taught him in junior high school. I was deeply saddened by his untimely death in Vietnam.

The church was packed with "Mark's" friends, many of whom had been his classmates and students of mine. After the funeral, I and many of Mark's former classmates were invited to his parents' house. They approached me and said, "We want to show you something. Mark was carrying this when he was killed."

His father pulled something from a wallet. It was the list of all the good things Mark's classmates had said about him. "Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

A group of Mark's classmates overheard the exchange. One smiled sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in my top desk drawer at home." Another said, "I have mine, too. It's in my diary." "I put mine in our wedding album," said a third. "I bet we all saved them," said a fourth. "I carry mine with me at all times. I think we all saved our lists!"

That's when I finally sat down and cried. The lesson my former students taught me that day became a standard in every class I taught for the rest of my teaching career.

-- Sister H.P.M., St. Paul, Minnesota

Dear Sister H.P.M..: Your students were fortunate, indeed. They learned at an early age that "Good words are worth much, and cost little." (George Herbert, 1593-1633)