Best garden producers this year

Looks like the Chard and bird-house gourds are the winners in this year's garden.  The tomatoes flopped, the rabbits got the peas and the arugula, while awesome has totally gone wild.   The Chard is just delicious this year and I have tons more to harvest.

Pickles make the world go 'round

One jar of sweet pickles is what came from our garden this year.  Alright, I confess, we do have two other jars of dilled pickles, packed by Todd.  

But these babies are mine....

My favorite pickles are the kind you get at multi-generational potluck dinners.  Those butter pickles, sweet and full of warm summer memories.  This is what I've attempted to created.  

Recipe: 10 smallish pickle cucumbers from your garden - sliced, water, sugar, cider vinegar, dill, a little more sugar, pepper corns and a few red pepper flakes to spice 'em up a bit.  I'm sure there's some salt in there as well - a good pinch - and then marinated in the refrigerator for a while.

   They will go quickly at the upcoming Wedekind family reunion. 

Remodeling project updates

 

The granite counters were just installed yesterday for our on-going DIY project downstairs.  We've been slowing building out a second kitchen area to use for parties and summer outings in our backyard and pool.  

We started the project about two years ago, with salvaged cupboards, and a gently-used dishwasher and refridgerator.

Now all we have to do is finish the drywall, hook up the water and heat vent, install the wall tiles, paint the walls and FINALLY we'll be pretty much good to go.

Summer flowers

August and September are proving to be great months for my backyard flowers.  Here's a link to some more photos - if you'd like to see some color!

Seattle was a treat

Spent last weekend in Seattle with our good friends Scott and Terri who live just north of the city.  Our good friends Mary Kay and Paul also came - so we had a full house and a great time!  Just have to say, if I had to live somewhere else, Seattle would be high on the list.  Ocean, mountains and a great temperate growing climate for flowers.

We spent our first day, up at 5am to beat the tides and head out into Puget Sound at 6am.  It was stunningly beautiful that day.  Blue skies and amazing views.

We dropped five crap pots into the Sound while we wandered all around the islands.  The salmon had started running and we were going to fish for Lumpies and Chinooks.  Fishing didn't turn out too well - we only caught two - but the crab pots (loaded with salmon guts and chicken wings) got us 13 crabs for dinner.

I also got to check off "See Orca whales in the Puget Sound" from my bucket list.  The Orcas were stunning and we saw about 15 of them following the salmon.

We played tourists all weekend with our friends and visited Port Townsend, downtown Seattle and a great sunny day at Lake Baker at the foot of Mt. Baker.

We'll definitely be back!  Here's some more photos from our trip -

Great Facebook conversation today...

Doggy sat for Trixie today while my parents went to play in Baraboo at the Steam Engine show. I think it must have been payback for all the times I "dumped" the girls on my parents in the day.....:)

• Laura Tremain-Forbes likes this.
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    Sandy Wedekind Remember what I have always told you - Don't get mad - get even!! (Even if it takes years!!!!)
    

    52 minutes ago ·  ·  1 person
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    Rylee Wedekind Yep! Life Lesson Number 1.....Got it, Mom. What evil punishment you bestowed on me today....:)
    

    50 minutes ago · 
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    Rylee Wedekind Sweet Trixie! What a great dog. Kind of like a grandchild, no?
    

    49 minutes ago · 
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    Sandy Wedekind Nope it is lesson #2 - Have you FORGOTTEN Rule/lesson #1!!!!!
    

    41 minutes ago · 
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    Rylee Wedekind Oh lord..... "It's not you I don't trust, It's everyone else...:
    

    41 minutes ago · 
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    Sandy Wedekind That's my girl!!! Love you!!!!
    

    36 minutes ago · 

Rudbeckias rule!

The dazzling yellows of Rudbeckias are in full bloom!  Gotta love the sunny, happy colors.

Teiko meets some new friends

Teiko has had an exciting and socializing Sunday.  First, we went over to reintroduce him to Trixie, the foster dog, staying with my parents.  After some initial excitement, the pups settled down and we went for a nice long walk together.  Trix likes to walk right next to Teiko - shoulder to shoulder.  When he turns, so does she.  It's kind of neat to watch the Shepherds dance/walk down the sidewalk.

Next, we headed to the Mounds Petfood Warehouse to find Teiko a new bed.  His are pretty beaten up and as Todd said, this boy deserves a new bed because he's such a good dog.  After testing out four different kinds of beds, Teiko had his favorite - not too fluffy and not too hard.

On the way home, we stopped at one of the farms not far from our house to get some sweet corn.  The Farm had goats, sheep and horses.  Teiko decided he had to meet the resident goats.  After an initial "What the heck is that" bark, Teiko sashayed up to the fence to meet a very friendly goat.  A few sniffs and licks and the boy had had his fill of goats for the day.

One key to a great dog is socializing and introducing him to new experiences, places, people and other animals whenever you get an opportunity.  It makes their brains engage and get a work out along with their bodies.

Another training tip - A tired dog is a good dog, especially when he has a new bed to sleep upon.

Beatons August 2011

Agreed.  Not much has happened at Beatons this summer.  Todd and I decided to focus on Madison projects as well as taking a bit of a break from work, family and life.  However, we did head up this weekend for the annual Beatons Lake Riparian Association Meeting.  To make a long story short, we should have set out on Thursday night, but didn't leave Mad-Town until 10am on Friday....

 So,  We packed three people and two dogs in a station wagon with a few inches to spare.  Good sport, Ryann, held the back seat with the pups.

On Saturday, I stained Cedar wood shingles for a little bit, but the bigger part of the day was spent at the annual picnic of lake property owners - known as the Beatons Lake Riparian Association.  The Sheriff of the county failed to show, but the lead U.S. Forester, Melanie, was on hand to tell us her decisions that will affect the Ottawa National Forest (of which Beatons sits in the middle of) for the next 20 years.

WOW...pretty amazing, that with millions of acres of forest, she truly cares about our little area and the beavers wreaking havoc in her jurisdiction.    I loved her comments to the group about "Don't like the federal roads (which are non-existent or in poor shape) in the forest around you?  Well, this is your tax paying dollars...going to work"  Great woman and we love her!

 We managed to finish the back side of the Sauna Haus on Saturday night.  Finally, the back side of the building looks finished!!.  Here's Eric staining some of the shake, but wishing he was in his sailboat...:)  We still have a bit of work inside to finish off the space, but dang, let's take a moment to appreciate what is....

Here's Todd, putting up Cedar Shake on the lake-facing side of the Sauna Haus. 

And here's our friend, Paul, who is always ready to nail a board, lift a beam and otherwise enjoy a great weekend up north.  

Prost!

Beatons is meant to be shared!  Come up with us!  Enjoy the beauty that is the Northwoods!

Lazy river days

Spent Saturday canoeing on the Wisconsin River with a group of friends.  What a great time!  The sun was hot, the water was warm and the sand bars were right where we needed a break to jump in the water.  I recommend that everyone do a river run at least once in her life.