Firsts

This n That

Coming along . . .

Red

Moondance

What to Say...What to Say....

It's been really hot these last couple of weeks. Anywhere from 85 and up and it's just yuck. I swear we have the hottest sun in Montana. You'd think coming from Texas I'd know what hot is, but this dry dry heat is just hot.
It's been pretty smoky the last couple of days from fires in MT. We now have three active fires, but none right in our vicinity. I always hate fire season...too scary.

The family is moving up from Texas in about a week. All new adventures for everyone I think. I'll have a houseful for awhile, not sure how I will adjust to that yet, but it will be nice to have humans around again... someone that actually talks back and answers :)

The veggie garden is doing awesome, I'm so excited about that. This is my first really successful garden, and hopefully I'll just get better from here. I have green beans and peas so far coming up. Obviously the berries are all blooming. Tomatoes are coming along and the jalapeno plants look great too. The other veggies are slow growing but coming along. We still have a bit for those to come up.
The raspberries are just out of control.. I think I picked over a thousand yesterday. We made 27 jars of jam last week and I have SO much more coming out of the garden. I might need another freezer :)

I wish I could say the same for the flower gardens. Between the cats and the deer, they're all working against me. If the deer don't eat it, the cats lay on it or dig it up. I've decided that if you want to grow anything that you truly like and want to keep, it's all got to go behind fencing. Maybe next year.

No bear for the last month and probably not for another month. I've been trying to capture ( photography-wise) a group of fox kits, but I just haven't been lucky enough to spot them yet. All the little baby birds have flown away, and the fawns some days are just too quick.

We're adding onto our deck, something we've wanted to do for awhile. Finally the back of the house, which looks onto the creek and the mountains, will have a covered deck for tables and chairs. I'm SO looking forward to it. There are even plugs for the laptop and grill.
Oh annnnd... the covered deck means not much snow shoveling anymore. But, my sister's moving here, so she's the new designated shoveler :)

I think that's it. Did I forget anything? Anything you wanna know?

Active

Happenings

Apparently it's Baby Day

Rainy Days

They grow so Fast

Look Up

This n' That

Lots of babies around lately. First duck family I've seen in the pond and we have several bird house babies. I've seen a few fawn around the area but none have wandered through the yard yet.
The bear have gone up high for berries, I'll probably see them again late August.

The garden is finally coming around despite the temps. It was 43 this morning and now reaching almost 90 degrees. So far this has been the best vegetable and flower gardening season I've had. I have three full beds of green beans, something I've yet to accomplish before. They look great so far :)
I'm growing several things this year that I haven't tried before, so hopefully all will work out. I'm pretty sure it's decided I will have a greenhouse next year.

We recently bought a boat. Haven't taken it out yet, but SO ready. Lake Pend Orielle is gorgeous.. can't wait :)
That sister of mine should be up early August for good. She leaves Texas end of the month and will probably take her at least 4 days to drive up. With Mom, son, and two cats and a dog in tow, I'm thinkin' she'll be ready for some boating too.

Hmm..what else?
~I think we'll hit 90 today. Thank goodness I bought a window unit a long time ago.
~No horse escapes!
~The 4th went well, although very hot and very long day.
~It doesn't get dark until after 10pm, so obviously very late fireworks.
~Luckily no fires were started with the tons of fireworks the boys bought.
~I'd been jonesin' for a kayak, but since we bought a boat I think that's out.
~I think I want a trampoline.

Waning

Kootenai Falls

July Moonrise

And it's not even noon yet . . .

..and then there's Tom

Spring Life

Ooh baby baby, it's wild world.

I've gotten to the point where I can't remember what I've blogged about, or what photo I've posted.

We're still having a cool Spring, which means not so great growth for the garden. It's doing well and I'm actually proud of how well it's doing, considering my past gardens, but some sunshine and heat would help :)

The flower gardens are doing really well too and I'm so ready for all the colors and scents to come through. Yesterday I transplanted a lot of different new/wild flowers from a friend's garden. Hopefully I'll have great photos to share in a month or so. I don't want to jinx myself, but so far there hasn't been many of those bad little plant-eating animals around to affect the gardens.

Bear still around, daily sometimes. I haven't had any problems with them except the occasional smushed plant from being stepped on. Haven't seen any fawns yet.
The big hike hasn't happened yet since it's gotten cooler and there's still snow up high. I'm thinkin' more July-ish for most hikes and maybe even a trip to Glacier National Park.

So.. hmm what else? I had a neighbor call me yesterday to come rescue Jonesie from their tree. It was a tree on a hill that no ladder could really work. I don't know what chased him up there, but he did.not.want.to.come.down.
I don't know how long he was up there, but he came straight home and slept all day and night and still hasn't gone back out.

Well.. that's all the excitement from my side of the world. I'll try to post more pics.