tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67940809010944819332024-03-13T17:39:30.970-05:00My Food and GardensFrom family gardening to cookingErin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-8972119555975263942013-09-17T12:49:00.003-05:002013-09-17T12:50:26.562-05:00Crepe Myrtes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is my grandmother's very pretty bright pink Crepe Myrtle. She has three of them around her house. This one was the brightest in color and also attracted the most bees. It stayed in bloom a lot longer than the others. I think it is due to the partial afternoon shade it has. With summer almost at an end the little monster and I agreed to help her trim up the spent blooms this fall. Hopefully next year they will be just as pretty for her to enjoy.<br />
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-82404313871148878362013-09-09T11:43:00.000-05:002013-09-09T11:43:03.202-05:00Late Summer BloomsSchool has started and the weather is still steaming! I am very excited about our Calla Lilies that are still in bloom. They never reached the deep purple we wanted, but they are still very pretty. It has not rained in weeks and the temps are still staying right at 100. The high temps are making the little monster cranky and tired after school and homework. The flowers are hating the dry, hot air. I am tired of the heat and can not wait for a nice two day long cool, steady rain. I have reading to catch up on and a rack of ribs waiting for a long cook in the oven. For now, it is too hot to bake or turn the oven on for more than a few minutes. The dry air is full of dust bringing on allergies with massive sneezing even in the dog. All of the potted plants have been moved into mostly shade and need massive water daily. The only two left blooming are the Lilies and my new rusty colored mums. The mums are a little early, but I noticed the local stores are stocking up on fall colored mums. If mine stop blooming before Halloween I can always get more. They have always been one of my favorites. I would love a porch full of dark red and orange mums to great guest and little kids on Halloween. <br />
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Nothing to worry about now since no one is out moving around in the heat. It is nice to see a little green and flashes of color in the yard that is surrounded by very dry grass and trees already loosing their leaves from lack of water. (we have way too much land and too many trees to water everything) Hope you enjoy the last of our summer blooms while we wait for rain and ripe pumpkins!<br />
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-10616074034201912242013-09-05T11:54:00.001-05:002013-09-05T11:54:56.445-05:00Game Camera: Natural TrophyAfter a long wait for the little monster, we finally saw a few pictures of our raccoon we released to a safer place. He seems to have found a new family as there were many different pictures. We also caught a few rabbits, hogs, coyotes and of course deer of all sizes on the camera. The little monster was happy to see his relocated friend happy and still a little cranky. <br />
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After finding a few pictures here, my husband relocated the camera to a new area. He sat if up for a few weeks before checking the pictures. He came home with over 900 photos from that time. All were of deer. Most were does with their little ones running around. One strange picture was of a doe on her back feet standing up to fight off a younger doe. The strangest pictures are the ones I am about to post. I have never seen anything like this except for on tv and is usually retained within the fences of a hunting ranch where daily feeding to maximize growth is used. This picture however, is 100% natural, "free range" deer from the middle of nowhere. There are a few dirt roads in the area, but no houses for miles. The land is owned and used for the harvest of timber to make paper products. I know this is not the largest deer on record, but it is a lot larger than we usually see in this area. <br />
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If you zoom this last picture up, you can see another deer at the tip of his horns. This is average size of a good mature buck for the area the pictures were taken in. He is also in the first picture, but harder to see. Here he looks tiny!Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-79723871241445193132013-08-23T08:35:00.002-05:002013-08-23T08:36:48.045-05:00Game CamSo far this week we have not captured any of the relocated racoons. We did find a tiny and thin little doe that decided to lick the camera. We do not know why she looks so thin. There are plenty of food options in the area. She looks really young and she was alone so this could be the problem. Or she could be the momma that lost her baby to a coyote this summer. <br />
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She just looks so sad. We are taking her a little corn down today. Hopefully she will find it soon and so will the coons. On the other hand, the little monster is eating more than ever during his first week of school. It usually takes his a good two weeks to get back in the swing of things during the first of the school year as well as after Christmas break. Today was the day that the excitement left the house and the complaining returned. His favorite is "You are the worst Mommy ever. I do not want to go to school." Some how it is my fault that he has to get and education. <br />
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He likes school, his teacher (finally) and all of his friends. His problem is being told to wake up. He is a cranky little monster in the mornings that will have a few toys taken away if he does not correct his attitude. <br />
<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-25862533266788373812013-08-20T17:06:00.001-05:002013-08-20T17:06:13.585-05:00Trapping Garden CreaturesAfter a long break during the heat of the summer to have a some fun with the little monster, we are back with tons of new stories and pictures. First and foremost, he would like everyone to know that one of his dreams came true. He went for another horse ride. He is still talking about it and all he would talk about at school when it was his turn to share what happened over summer break. <br />
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The first thing he would like for me to write about is his little adventure with a few creatures that stalked the large trash can that holds the fish food. Every night they would break in and eat the food, make a mess then leave without a trace. The poor garden was tortured all summer a pack of these hungry things. On top of that, you would think we had a bunny farm out back. (Which was what the trap was intended to catch as well.)<br />
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The little guy found a trap, set it up with a little peanut butter one night. It worked. He caught a shy little guy. He was relocated miles away to a very secluded wooded area where we have pictures of them thriving and growing to massive sizes.<br />
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Next, he caught "scrappy". This feisty little guy wanted to eat the dog and break free from the cage as soon as he could. He barked and growled more than the dog, which is very unusual since my dog tries to kill everything moving. We left the dog at home for this relocation too. <br />
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My son thinks he will see them again and is very hopeful. He probably will this fall, but I am happy they are gone. They can eat up a lot of food in one night. Our game camera is set up close to the release site. Maybe we will have a few pictures next week. For now we are in full back to school mode. Things are a lot smoother this year so far and he actually having fun! <br />
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Here is a video of one of the released and angry animals.<br />
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-7511057534597797062013-07-15T11:11:00.003-05:002013-07-15T11:12:49.931-05:00First WatermelonThis weekend we found our first two watermelons on the vine. They were both hiding under a few weeds we cleared out. Both are around five inches in length, so we have a little while before harvest. It felt amazing to find our first tasty little treats hiding. Hopefully we will have a few more producing this week. We finally got a couple of little rain showers so maybe that will help with growth. We have rain all around us and the little melons would love another drink.<br />
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We have newspaper ready to place underneath them to soak up extra moisture and prevent rotting. As of now, it does not look like we will have enough moisture to need them in the near future. The tiny little showers are soaked up in the dry ground very fast and a little movement is all they need so far. Every few days we will turn them a little to prevent on side from flattening. I like nicely rounded melons. How is your garden after the weekend?<br /><br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-6686646667076985362013-07-12T05:00:00.000-05:002013-07-12T05:00:09.288-05:00FireworksHere are a few fireworks we set off for the fourth. The little monster loved them. We threw in a few sparklers at the end. He had so much fun he talked his uncle into doing it again a few nights later. This did not require much talking since my brother had already planned on the activity on a night he was off. <br />
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My first time shooting fireworks. The little guy loves the pictures so I have to share them. I need a little more practice, a few pieces of new equipment and more colorful fireworks.<br />
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-28028077974689967212013-07-11T11:41:00.000-05:002013-07-11T11:42:31.342-05:00Dahlia - Garden WonderMy first Dahlia, Garden Wonder, is finally blooming. This is the bright red one the little monster picked out back in the spring. Even with the lack of rain and temps souring to over 100 on most days, this little bloom looks amazing. We also have three more set to bloom in the coming week. <br />
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The little one is amazed at the deep reds and the size of the blooms. I will just let the pictures speak for the flower. They are not the best at capturing the color since the sun has been relentless this week. Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-10160672461861651062013-07-09T14:18:00.001-05:002013-07-09T14:19:21.352-05:00Canvas Art and Custom WreathIt is almost time for fall so I am taking orders for custom tulle wreathes. Any colors, designs or themes. We are making items for fall, a few for first birthdays, and few for a special little girls bedroom door. Let me know if you would like one. They range in price from $25.00 to $100.00 depending on size and items wanted for use.<br />
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We also have canvas art for sell on Etsy <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BradysGardenCanvas?ref=si_shop">here</a>. If you do not like canvas then let me know and we will do a high quality print for you of the size you choose and a lot cheaper than the canvas. The little monster hand picked each canvas print and will get all of the money to go towards his dino dig vacation next year! If you have any questions feel free to ask!<br />
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-22323382139042000392013-07-09T13:14:00.000-05:002013-07-09T13:15:08.338-05:00Serrano Pepper Recipes: Tamale/Taco Soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our peppers are growing non-stop! They are almost ready for harvest and put into a nice fresh batch of dinner rolls with cheese. We do a few different things with our peppers. These are 3 to 4 times stronger than jalapenos. We let a few peppers turn red before picking. When they are ready we set them out to sun dry similar to sun dried tomatoes. Once they are dry, I grab a chefs knife and start chopping. This is a good way to test their dryness. If they are not completely dry, then let them set a few more days. Once they are dry you can chop them a little more for pepper flakes or crush them into a powder for chilli, tamale or taco soup, and to add a kick to BBQ meats. My favorite is to add some in the water that boil corn in. Boil you water, add a little butter and your ground up peppers for a great side dish.<br />
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These peppers can be frozen or canned. I use green peppers for both of these. They will become the peppers I dice up for breads and add to peas for a little heat. The juice from the canning jar can also be used to season other veggies. My favorite by far is a bowl of tamale soup. So here is the recipe in case you want to try it out. This makes a huge pot of soup.<br />
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4 tamales sliced to make a half in thick rounds with the meat still in the middle.<br />
2 lbs of cooked beef or turkey meat<br />
1 cup or 1 can of cream style corn<br />
1 cup or 1 can of cooked black beans<br />
1 cup or 1 can of cooked pinto beans<br />
1/4 cup of floor for thickening the juice<br />
1-2 cups of tomato sauce (if you really like tomatoes than use 2 cups)<br />
2 cans of chicken broth<br />
2 cans of beef broth<br />
2 packages of taco seasoning<br />
1-2 teaspoon f ground Serrano peppers <br />
1/2 diced onion or add onion powder to taste<br />
salt to taste<br />
a dash or black pepper<br />
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Brown your meat while you get your broth boiling with the corn, beans and seasonings. When the meat is brown add it to the boiling soup mix. Cover and let simmer on low heat for one hour. Stirring occasionally to make sure it does not burn on the bottom. The last ten minutes is when you need to add the tamales other wise they will fall apart from over cooking. Fill a bowl with a few fritos, add your soup and top off with a cheddar and jack mix of cheese.<br />
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If you just want a taco soup, then leave out the tamales.<br />
Enjoy!!<br />
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-22884626831480368112013-07-02T12:13:00.002-05:002013-07-02T12:23:43.370-05:00Mammoth Sunflower PlantingThe little monster had a nice surprise for me yesterday. I was ready to water our little garden right before dark and he made me close my eyes as soon as I came close. Our first Mammoth Sunflower had opened it's bloom to show a bright yellow face. A few more are getting ready to do the same during this week.<br />
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We planted our seeds one inch deep once the night temps started to stay around 50. (winter sowed seeds did not grow as tall and are no where near producing a flower) We spaced our seeds one foot apart. They started to sprout within 3 days of the first planting and watering. Once they grew a good six inches, we packed a little more soil and fertilizer around the base of the plants. We did this again at two foot tall to help prevent to sturdy flowers from falling over. They were also watered daily during times of no rain.<br />
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Our first bloomer is around six feet tall with a flower that is eight inches in diameter. The yellow is very bright on the petals and even with the weight of the bloom the plant is not sagging or bending over at all. These heavy feeders are doing great with a little bit of lime, magnesium, calcium and fish waste to make sure the soil keeps providing nutrients for the plants. We used this mixture every third week since the soil was very rich to begin with.<br />
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First day open</div>
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Third day open.</div>
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Sunflowers after a few weeks of growing.</div>
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-91597979452471205832013-06-27T09:32:00.004-05:002013-06-27T09:33:58.146-05:00New Sunflower, Pumpkin and Watermelon GrowthThe temperatures are going to be well over 100 today. Yesterday afternoon we took the time to give everything a good watering with the heat on it's way. We have not had a nice rain in weeks and with the heat I knew our garden would need the extra moisture. The little monster helped as we drenched everything. Despite the lack of rain, everything is getting huge. Our sunflowers are close to blooming, watermelons are make vines and blooms, and the pumpkins are just plain massive. We had one lone zinnia bloom despite the heat. <br />
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This little one had just unfolded. Of course the little guy loved it since it is red. Behind this little zinnia are most of our sunflowers. The shorter ones in the picture were winter sowed and the larger were directly sowed into the spot they are now in. There is a huge difference. The direct sowed flowers were placed in the ground well over a month after the shorter ones. We had a little a couple of winter sowed sunflowers that were cut down by cutworms and then a few others that were over taken by ants. The ants love our sunflowers. We are still fighting them off from making huge mounds around the roots system of each flower. Anyone else have this ant problem? The flowers are well over five foot tall now and are holding their own pretty well now. As smaller plants the ants made the ground too soft for the flowers to stand. Since we lost a few of our winter sowed flowers we added the direct sowed ones thinking they would be a little behind. They were at first, but then made a huge comeback.<br />
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A few or our Mammoths. The ones in the back are half the size as the front direct sowed flowers.</div>
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I can not complain about our pumpkins and watermelons. They have taken off with long runners growing inches each day and new blooms popping up to match the new growth. We have not had any problems at all. They have been very easy, except for the massive weeding that we need to catch up on again. They are in full sun, watered lightly every day and weeded when needed. (These are photos from yesterday clearly in need of weeding.) </div>
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Crimson watermelon leaves</div>
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A couple of the many Jack-O-Lantern blooms. Sorry about the weeds. They will have to wait until temps get below 100 again.</div>
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Ten foot of pumpkin vines and still growing.</div>
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A huge mound of pumpkin leaves! Most of them are around eight inches long.</div>
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A cute little weed (or I am guessing it is a weed) growing near the massive pumpkins. The tiny little flowers are too cute and only the size of an eraser at the end of a pencil.</div>
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Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-89226388605399177882013-06-24T13:00:00.000-05:002013-06-24T13:00:41.447-05:00Lake GreesonWe are back to the land of WiFi after a nice little break from communication. The little monster loved all of the fishing. He hated to sleep at night because he might miss a catch. Other than him and my brother complaining about food and fishing, it was a nice, remote little trip. Slightly hot, but not near as bad as last year. We may have not had internet access, but we did have air conditioning. The greatest invention ever made.<br />
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There were a few more campers than last year. Including a very large family with a naked little boy running around every morning. Even with the large family next to us, it was very quiet. There were loads of birds around the water. We found a couple of huge raccoons along with a cute little deer running up a hill on a small island. The little guy found a few tiny little turtles and a little water snake of some kind. <br />
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The last night there we had a marathon of Ice Age movies. Other than that, we stayed on the water from six in the morning to right after dark. We came off of the water to eat and nap during the hottest part of the day. My poor brother ended up with a nice sun burn on his back. A back that sees sunlight maybe every three years or so. It was bad, but that is what happens when you do not listen to your older sister. Maybe one day he will figure out that I am actually on his side and want to prevent things like this from occurring to him. I doubt he will ever figure that out. He has been ignoring me for 27 years. I do not think that will change any time soon.<br />
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The little monster is rested up after a few days at home with rest. I still need more rest. Maybe tonight I can catch up. The yard is mowed, clothes are unpacked, washed and put away with everything else we loaded up for our trip. Lake Greeson is amazing if you are looking for great fishing, a little down time, or to play in clear water. Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-47656164956467107112013-06-17T13:04:00.000-05:002013-06-17T13:34:53.000-05:00Dragonflies IIHere are a few more dragonflies before I head off to the land of no wifi. I love the green head on the blue body. It was hard to get a few good pictures since they were very active at the time. Hopefully I will come back from our trip with a few new pictures to share. Hope everyone has a great week!<br />
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-63170199601189528912013-06-13T12:04:00.001-05:002013-06-13T12:05:50.997-05:00A Short WalkYesterday afternoon we went on a short walk around the pond with our Bloodhound Lucy. She went for a little swim while we watered our pumpkins, watermelons and sunflowers. She has been an amazing dog. She loves kids and has only ever been mad one time. She grew tired of our yorkie trying to eat her food so she snapped at him. Other than that one time, she does not bark or growl. She howls and moans. Her favorite activity is hide and seek with any kid. She is a big 100 pound kid and is even afraid of our little pumpkin patch. <br />
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The heat has increased all of the growing with the pumpkins leading the pack. They are huge, developing runners with flowers. Soon little pumpkins will begin to form and grow. We pulled a few weeds to make a better path for them to spread. Their curly, fuzzy vines are becoming stronger and stronger to support the growth of tiny little pumpkins. We placed a few rocks painted with glow-in-the dark paint next to the center of each plant where the main root system is. This will provide a deep root watering spot as the plants becomes larger and harder to tell where the original root system is. <br />
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We ended the walk right before sunset with lots of high clouds in the sky. All of the plants seemed happy with their garden over looking the water. Everything is growing so fast. Soon we will have our first tomato and pepper. The wait is almost over for fresh veggies. We walked home to settle in for family movie night. Soon the weather will be extremely hot and will test the strength of our little plants.<br />
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-44021650503841785222013-06-12T10:43:00.000-05:002013-06-12T10:44:39.399-05:00Wildflowers A walk through the woods gave me a few surprise wildflowers. The summer heat has produced blooms everywhere as well as an little rabbits running around. All of the colors were so bright. I am not sure what most of these are, but they are everywhere. I ended the walk with a little bit of a shock. I found something in the bird house that was a little odd. The birdhouse is on a pole around 15 feet tall. It was full of babies last month. Now it is full of something a little different. A snake had climbed all the way up, made a little home and waited a few days until it was time to shed his skin. We never saw the snake. He has been hiding around in the same area for weeks only leaving a little evidence of his presence. <br />
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The hot weather is making all of the plants happy. My little monster is not in the best of moods. He has been fighting an earache for the past few days. To top it off the Dr. said said not swimming for seven days. So I reluctantly put up the sprinkler for use later on in the summer. We loaded up on movies and things to bake for the next week. early in the mornings or late in the afternoon we will go out to water our plants and watch the birds. So far, he has been as happy as a little guy with an earache can be. It is slowly getting better for him. Hopefully it will be gone n time for our trip next week. Of course it is to a lake. Not just any lake. A lake without cell receptions or wifi for miles. Completely off. My little monster will not care as long as their is water and okra he will be happy.Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-26459575386359887152013-06-11T10:56:00.002-05:002013-06-11T10:57:17.270-05:00Sunset and Calla Lilies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had an amazing sunset over the pond this weekend. I captured a few photos while we were waiting for our ducks to come down from the trees to feed. After watering all of the veggies down there, we came home to the first purple calla lilies opening their blooms. They are doing very well in their container. <br />
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I placed three bulbs in the container earlier this springs along with a few day lilies. The day lilies usually will not bloom the year you plant them, but they are doing their best to grow with the calla lilies. I am super excited since this is the first calla lily I have had in years. I can not wait for them to open up and show all of their color. I think they need a few other friends, so I am searching for a few to plant this fall. Then, store them in the garage so they will bloom sooner next year. Seeing them opening up was the perfect way to follow a nice sunset.<br /><br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-30190918622110002902013-06-07T10:30:00.002-05:002013-06-07T10:31:15.449-05:00Sugar Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is our basic sugar cookie recipe. We have added M&Ms, cinnamon, peppermint and all sorts of things to change it up a little. Do not add all at the same time. Pick one add-on and stick with it. Just mix it into the batter or drop a few pieces of candy on top of your cookies before popping them into the oven. Come up with you own add-in and let us know how it went! Have fun with it and enjoy!<br />
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2 3/4 cup of all-purpose flour<br />
1 teaspoon of baking soda<br />
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder<br />
2 sticks (1 cup) of melted butter<br />
1 1/2cup of sugar<br />
1 egg<br />
a drop or two of vanilla<br />
around 4 tablespoons of whole milk (enough to make a nice cookie dough)<br />
To add a little color, mix in a few drops of your choice of food coloring with the milk before adding. <br />
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Mix everything up well. I start with all of the dry ingredients, mixing them well before adding egg, milk, butter and vanilla extract. You can roll out and cut into cute little shapes or just spoon drops onto a cookie sheet. Add a few sprinkles, colored sugar crystals, plain sugar or nothing at all. Bake at 325 until done. Every oven is different, but usually no more than ten minutes. After they have cooled, add a little cake icing if that is more to your taste.Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-53571884649318493232013-06-05T09:40:00.000-05:002013-06-05T09:41:30.857-05:00DragonfliesThe dragonflies were out if full force after a weekend full of rain. I picked up the camera and tried to get a few shots. It took a lot of waiting. These little guys did not want to stay still for very long. Some shots turned out pretty good and others, not so much. <br />
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<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-70284325556903583782013-06-04T12:11:00.002-05:002013-06-04T12:12:31.515-05:00Black-Bellied Whistling DucksWe have been very busy the past few days and had a couple of unexpected visitors! Nothing real specific, just a few small things here and there. Cleaning a few things, wrapping up baseball season, ridding the dog of nasty little fleas and loads of garden care. We were in the path of a massive rainy day, which I loved. Rainy days are amazing and give the the perfect excuse for a great scary movie or novel. Well, that did not happen this time, but I did bake some amazing sugar cookies. It is kind of depressing I missed out on my favorite activity since it was not just a tiny little rain, it was massive rain all day. The kind you can hear from inside and just want to lay in bed and listen.<br />
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The sunflowers loved the rain as well. They needed a little care afterward to get them back to standing up straight. The ground was so soft a few fell over like little trees. All of the tomato plants savored the rain and have the first tomatoes hiding under leaves.<br />
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The tiny little fish are loving the new places to hide under the grass on the edges of the pond. <br />
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We also had a few new visitors. Finally a mated pair of ducks chose the area to raise their little ones. They are Black-bellied Whistling Ducks which are not very common this far north. They usually stay farther south from what I have learned. They seem happy so far, so maybe they will have a lot of little ducklings chasing them around soon.<br />
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We have a few duck nesting boxes around the pond, but these two chose to build a nest in a tree above the sunflower garden. They get very vocal when we water the sunflowers or pull weeds. They are not too active during the day. We see them most right before dark looking for food or coming down for a swim. They are pretty tame. They will come closer to us than the white ducks we have raised. We give them space to do their own thing since it would be nice to see little ducks swimming.Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-12744843689166253802013-05-31T12:06:00.002-05:002013-05-31T12:07:09.350-05:00Things to do with your son during summer IIThis is the second part of things we do during the summer since all of the lists I found were of no help at all. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place. Maybe they are all the same. Maybe mine is the same as all of the others, but my child has never said he was bored. He is an only child and still I have never listened to that word come out of his mouth in the past seven years. Maybe I am just lucky with a great kid that is happy to play with Legos alone or happy to have a friend join him. He is not picky. He likes many things. The only activities he will dismiss readily are the ones strictly targeted towards girls like dolls or almost anything pink. He is a happy little monster.<br />
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Disclaimer: This post does not have pictures to give you an example since I was too busy having fun with my son to grab a camera.<br />
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Alright, back to the list. We will continue with something I thought of one rainy summer night after ants infiltrated our home and tried to take over.<br />
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5. Camp out. You do not have to leave the home for this. You can and make it a big adventure. It is a lot of fun that kids will usually love, but our favorite is camping out at home. It is not exactly what you may be thinking. We have stayed in a tent in the back yard. It was fun. More fun was staying in the bed of our truck on an inflatable air mattress or a blowup swimming pool in the yard. (do not add water) No tent means plenty of star gazing and airplane watching. Grab a few blankets and pillows and you are all set for a night under the stars. Our rainy day/ant invasion fix is something that any household can do. I simply grabbed a full size mattress from a bedroom and put it in the floor of the living room. Sheets and blankets already on it set up for our use. We grabbed our favorite pillows, threw some spare sheets and blankets over the top for an inside tent and added a window for movie watching. Best to secure this tent between the couch and a coffee table or chairs. You can get a little fancy and use fishing line to hang sheets from the ceiling. To tired after a week of working for a tent? Then do not make one. Just grab the mattress. Anything out of the norm is fun for kids<br />
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Tip: Eat ice cream here too.<br />
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6. Have a car wash, bike wash, ATV wash or dog wash. Yep it is summer. Use water. Every thing gets dirty. Do I need to add more details on this? Here is a little help when using a water hose: water parks have spraying water features for a reason. It is fun. So are water soaked sponges full of foamy soap.<br />
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7. After the wash down while the water hose is out, throw down a tarp or big piece of plastic like new furniture comes wrapped in. You can also buy these fun little slippery slides. Drive a few large tent stakes or nails in the corners to keep it in place. Add water a little soap or some slippery oils then get on it. It is amusing. Even more so if you place on a non-level area in the yard.<br />
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Tip: Place over soft grass or sand. Rocks hurt. One use will not ruin your perfectly manicured lawn. <br />
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8. Let the kid pick out a movie. Rent one, buy one or go see one somewhere. Make sure to provide snacks and drinks. You child has to suffer through boring adult outings like buying groceries or going to the post office, so you should be able to make it through a movie or two of your child's choice.<br />
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9. The zoo. It is there for a reason. Go see animals. As are museums directed towards children. Books stores are also a great outing and who does not want their child to learn to read? They are a lot cheaper than amusement parks. Not as much fun, but still entertaining for kids.<br />
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10. If all else fails and you are completely hopeless on how to keep boredom away (or just too lazy to try). Invest in a DS. Any kind will do and they will travel well to all of those boring adult outings kids find themselves stuck in. This will only work if you let the kid pick out the games. <br />
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Tip: A video game or movie day is the best for when moms and dads are sick.<br />
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It is summer. As stated before, anything out of the kids normal routine will be amusing. Try something new. If it does not work out for your kids, then learn from it to see what will work better next time. Go back to your childhood. Think of the things that you loved to do and chances are your child will also like them. Put your own twist on old activities and personalize things for your family. If you guys really love star gazing then add a camera or research constellations in your area before the sun sets. Your child will remember the little things you do and love them the most. <br />
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Disclaimer: I am not responsible for accidents that happen while you are attempting any of the items on this list. Some parents or children are not very logical and could be hurt by pillows or blankets during use. There are also wild animals at the zoo. Some of which like to throw their own fecal matter at visitors. This is not my fault. Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-91808701810338371592013-05-30T11:06:00.000-05:002013-05-30T11:06:53.469-05:00Things to do with your son during summerI am slightly is awe of all of the pages I have been reading. I mean seriously, the ideas and list I have read of things to do with your kids during the summer are just plain stupid. Well, not stupid but things anyone should know how to do or could do if they would just shut off the tv and step outside. Do we really need someone to tell us how to use sidewalk chalk? All of the list are plain activities that any kid should be able...hmmmm allowed to do. What is wrong with the world when someone has to tell you that it is OK for your child to go play in the dirt with cars? Why are so many parents afraid to let their child play outside in the dirt or mud? We have showers or baths that are usually given daily anyway.<br />
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The activities on most of the list I have read, my son and I do on a daily basis. I was searching in hopes of getting a few new ideas to change things up. No such luck. So here is our list. The list in the order that he tells me to type them, starting with his favorite.<br />
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1. The sandbox. This was also my favorite as a child. There is so much to do. Add water or don't. Use one car or twenty. Grab a tree branch to landscape your creation. Dig tunnels or just let it sift through your fingers. The sandbox is better than any video game, but oh my gosh what about the tiny grains of sand or the bugs? Get over it. Your child's sandbox is cleaner than any toilet or sink they will touch at school and probably better than their pencil too. Yes a cat could use it as a litter box and then fleas could over take it. (You could also fall while walking today, but I bet you will at least get up for the bathroom or to get a snack.) No problem, cover it after use. You should be watching your child anyway and not on the other side of the planet texting. You can even cover and text at the same time. Once a month add a little cinnamon and tea tree oil to "season" your sand and prevent tiny bugs including fleas. Yes, it is that easy. Don't have a sand box? No problem. Play on the ground. That bald spot on your lawn is there for a reason.....your child to play in. So you live in an apartment, yeah, it's called a park. Some look like the structures outside of your local school with the slide things. The bright colors usually give them away. (There are also small inside sandboxes or email me if you need help building one. They are really not as messy as you are thinking.)<br />
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2. Swim and then swim again. This could happen anywhere from extra tub time to a local pool to the beach. We cheat. We had a large pool, now a large pond plus we live within a few minutes of a lake and a couple of rivers. There is also a natural spring on our property so we have this one easy. There are many stores that sell water toys. Get some. Most are cheap and easy or spend as much as you want. Don't want to spend money? Screw a two litter soda bottle onto a water hose an stab a few holes in it for a sprinkler. Give them a bowl, cup or strainer from the kitchen while in the tub. Play in the rain. As long as it is not lightning, it is safe and the most fun your child will have. Ever. This is also your last chance at being a kid again so go for it. As they grow older so do you. Use sunblock (helps with the aging) and let the kids play long enough that you have to re-apply it. <br />
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3. Plant something in the ground or in a container. We play in the garden every day. I do mean play. We take care of our plants first by watering, harvesting and looking for bugs or weeds. Here is the shocker. While doing this we actually touch the soil. We might use our hands to dig weeds out or we might actually sit on the ground be it dirt or grass. We may even find a bug or two to examine. It is a great learning experience for him. Kids will see how things grow and how animals or bugs are useful and harmful. Don't know what you are doing? Then learn together as you go. You found this blog, surely you can research a little plant or bug. Most plants even come with a little piece of cardboard with directions on how to care for it. Don't forget number 2..... while watering have a water fight.<br />
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4. Eat ice cream and make ice cream. Do it often and at unexpected times. I have even surprised him with an ice cream bar during bath time. Sit on you front door steps talking and eating. Eat by your sand box, during a movie, (there is usually a pause button at home) after watering your garden, before watering, while watering. Take a cue from Dr. Suess. Eat it anywhere. Well almost. My son has been caught on the toilet with a bag of chips he squeezed by me. I do not recommend that for the record. Make simple frozen treats by freezing their favorite drink. The dollar store has little brightly colored trays you can use to make this easier and cheaper. They look similar to ice cube trays. The secret to popsicle trays is that there is a stick for holding the frozen goodies while eating them. Want a frozen fudge bar? Mix up some milk with chocolate syrup or a little chocolatey hazelnut for the ones not allergic to nuts. Fill your little trays with the sticks and of course pop in the freezer.<br />
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New water toy.</div>
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Using the toy as a reason to get deeper into the water the next day.</div>
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All his idea from pot to flowers and all growing with his care.</div>
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My flowers. He planted and helped hang. We have watched it go from tiny little flowers to an overflowing basket.</div>
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Yes, he is swimming in the rain and no it was not a thunderstorm with lightning.</div>
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My pretty purple toes playing in the sand.</div>
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Well, those are our top four and since it took up quiet a bit of space, I will post more later. It is not a list of 101 things to do during summer, but it is things we do daily. Maybe I am too easy going or too much of a child myself. I do love my tv, but I also love being outside with my child. It keeps us both active and happy. Now I am off to play in the rain with my little monster since a little shower has just popped up.Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-77971928182582856772013-05-27T11:02:00.001-05:002013-05-27T11:03:41.399-05:00The LakeA weekend of fun at a nearby lake had the little monster completely happy and tired. He enjoyed all of the traditional camping stuff like fishing, tubing and campfires with s'mores. He took a few toys like his toy truck with boat, trailer and play fishing gear complete with little plastic fish. Now we are at home taking meds for a cough and stuffy nose. <br />
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One afternoon riding around on the water.</div>
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Waiting very impatiently for his Uncle to cook lunch (I have an amazing hush puppy recipe I need to post soon) so he could eat then get back to what he loves.</div>
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His surprise tubing. He loved, but was ready to catch a few fish.</div>
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Finally, caught his own and stopped his complaining. Well at least for a little while. Then he was just too tired for anything but enjoyed it too much to quit.</div>
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So we bribed him with more chocolate, fish and ice cream. He did not make the ice cream he was out until just a few hours ago.</div>
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Hopefully, we gave him a few more fun memories. I will check on the garden today since he is so snotty. He will fight me over it, but I think he needs a little more rest so he can get over this junk sooner and back out there with me in the garden. This is nothing new. Every year he will get sick at Christmas or during the first week of summer break from school. At least relaxing is one of my favorite things to do and he loves to snuggle when he does not feel well. Bonus!!</div>
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This will give us time to plan out next water adventure. We are thinking of a float trip in North Arkansas. I think he would love the mountains and riding in a canoe would make him super happy. What are your plans for the summer? Any ideas for me and the little monster?</div>
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Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-50418243287267880402013-05-24T09:04:00.001-05:002013-05-24T11:06:14.011-05:00New Growth for the Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the container the little monster has planted and nourished this spring. It has grown a lot for him. He is super excited about the growth of the Dahlia in the center. I am excited as well. I can not wait to see the huge nine inch red flowers. I am also excited for him. He will also be amazed at the size of them. <br />
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He loves his soft little "trees". They produce new little "trees" every few days for him to find. <br />
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Our hanging baskets are full and overflowing with blooms despite the fact that a few birds have tried to take them over. This morning is a little too windy for good pictures, but they still make me happy every time I look out the window.<br />
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I had to re-pot my Marble Ball Dahlia since I have never had tubers preform so well. They now have a new and bigger home as of last night beside my spring mums I have rooted.<br />
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My deep purple calla lilies are finally getting taller and unfolding their leaves. I can not wait to see their first flowers. They are gorgeous. I always have a soft spot for dark blooms.<br />
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Our pumpkins are doing well! They need a little weeding this weekend, but they are thriving and will soon begin forming runners.<br />
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Our Serrano Peppers after being transferred from their little sprout homes.<br />
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How could I forget the full moon that is rising this weekend?<br />
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No I do not promote violence I promote healthy living. This is part of our new fun fitness routine.<br />
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Finally, our new pet. This little guy looked lost when he roamed into our garage. We lured him into a jar a few weeks ago, fed him and he seems to be eating very well. The wait is on to see what he will turn into. I did a little research, but all I found is that he may be poisonous. I can not find pictures of what he might look like as an adult.<br />
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So that is what is going on in our yard this weekend. How about yours? Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend with family, friends, fresh food and beautiful flowers!<br />
<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6794080901094481933.post-21747590987728104042013-05-23T08:42:00.001-05:002013-05-23T08:42:21.211-05:00Begonia for KidsThe little monster found a Begonia he really wanted so we got started this week. We tried waited for a sunny day, but that did not work. One rainy afternoon we went out into the carport and got start on his little project. Of course he would choose a red waxy begonia with red flowers and leaves. The pot was a bonus. He took it from me. It was a gift for Mother's Day from church. Our church was amazing this year giving all mothers these cute little red pots, a candle, fingernail file and a packet of seeds. Since I would not be able to celebrate Mother's Day without the little monster, I was more than happy to let him do what he wanted with it.<br />
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So we found a way to beat the rain and stormy weather. Now it is sunny just in time for fun day at school. Thankfully there are only two days left of first grade. I am very proud to say my little monster had all A's this year and we are both ready for the week to end so we can start summer break full of writing, reading, fishing, summer trips and of course taking care of our plants! What are your plans for the summer? Any ideas on fun summer trips for seven year olds? We have plenty of ideas but are always open for new or better ones. <br />
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Check back later today to see how out pumpkins are looking they are showing off in our garden already as are the sunflowers. Everything is loving the recent rain.<br />
<br />Erin Kainehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16016569732263654970noreply@blogger.com8