Work, Holidays Then Vacation

I am on the verge of being quite busy for the next couple of months. Starting with teaching another 80 hour BNA class Monday through Thursday for 6 weeks beginning November 3rd through December 10th. Then we have Thanksgiving and Christmas thrown into the mix. All the while I continue to help take on RN call at a facility that our business contracts with.  But best of all is the yearly trek to Hawaii to visit my sister. I will be flying on February 3rd and staying through February 26th. It will be a time to decompress and fill a long winter month. This year's side trip will be to Molokai the 5th largest Hawaiian Island (260 sq. mi) with a population of 7,404.  I have never been to this more remote island and I am anxious to see it.

This past week I had a great time watching Zeyda and Breqkon while Mommy and Daddy went to Denver for the Pearl Jam concert. We had a great time hanging and going to the park.

Still putting up tomatoes. This is the last of them and I will be making sauce for lasagna and future meals. Still have more jerky, cinnamon rolls, and cookie bars to make too.

Slacking

I guess I have been slacking on the blogging. It seems that time has slipped away from me once again. Maybe its because I am so wrapped up with this fall's harvest fest. Putting the finishing touches on the tomatoes that continue to ripen in my garage. Dehydrating  jerky for the winter, similar to what the indians did years ago. Trying out new recipes with all the forms of winter squash I grew.  The carrots even got dug.

Carrot harvest

An empty garden except for the giant sunflowers that provide winter bird feed, raspberry bushes, strawberries and herb beds.

 Did make a quick trip to Rapid City this week to return an expensive wireless fence to PetSmart. It was fitting that Baboo should ride shotgun and keep me company since he is the reason for all the trouble. I have been trying to figure a way to keep him in the backyard. Baboo should try out for the doggy poll vault Olympics. He can spring himself over the back fence with the greatest  of ease. I decided on a less glamorous fencing fix. I patched the area hillbilly style. If it works, it works right? I can live with the humiliation since I barely could get the extra T-post driven in the ground myself. 

Had a little pit stop at Angostura Reservoir on the way to Rapid. The view was truly amazing with the shimmering light reflecting off the water! 

Yesterday I went to Rushville to watch Jarret play his last 8th grade football game. The Mustangs played Chadron and it was another blowout win, 48-14. His team has been undefeated both their 7 and 8th grade years and only have been score on twice in those years! They are good bunch of football players. Jarret loves the game and is an impressive running or tail back. Imagine the high school coach will be glad to have them next year.

This is the epitome of how my day goes ...

Its a Wrap!

It's a wrap! The garden is officially done producing for the year 2014. There is definitely relief and maybe some sadness for the end. However there are still tomatoes, winter squash and peppers to process into an assortment of delectable sauces, condiments and relishes. So even when the growing part is finished there is still much left to do.

The bounty is good!

Tomatoes

More tomatoes!

Wheelbarrow full of pumpkins winter squash.

Only watermelon in the garden,  yummy!

Got back to Alliance after a week of helping out at the Voss household and there was four and a quarter inches of rain in the gauge and tree branches all around the yard again. Benches were blown over and deck ornaments bit the dust. Most rain I have seen in a gauge around here ever! 

 Jessamyn's tubal reversal surgery went well and I thank God for that! Her doctor said everything looked excellent. Now it is very promising for Jessamyn and Jay to have a baby. That means it is highly likely that I will be a Granny again!!!

Being at the Voss's entitled me be in on all the Gordon-Rushiville Mustang homecoming festivities. All the activities sure brought back those high school memories of years past...

Jarret at the homecoming parade and pep rally, goofying around!

 

Carlee and Taylen leading their sophmore class cheer.

Taylen and Carlee all dressed up for the dance.