The Birds and Cherries War

Do you remember the story about the Birds eating all my cherries? I did receive some calls and emails with suggestions. Some suggested pie tins others suggested the CD disks hung with string. I decided to call Anonymus Cowboy, Inc. They sent out a Cowboy with a big white hat and a sharp shooter on his hip. He was one of those tall broad in the shoulder and narrow in the hip Cowboys. Doesn't speak much. Just "Yes Miss, where's the tree?" And yup he came with his dog to round up all those bad birdies. That doggy circled and circled and got all the birdies up into the tree. As I watched Cowboy Jim, he circled that tree and circled that tree. He squinted his left eye and then he squinted his right eye. He curled up his left top lip, kinda looked like the Elvis curl. He pulled his hat low to shade his eyes. He pulled up his britches, actually man boxer shorts. He got his six shooter settled just right on his hips. He took the wide cowboy stance. And then he drew his six shooter faster than lightening. Immediately scaring all the birds who flew away. He nary got a shot fired. But the happy ending to the story is that we did get twenty gallons of cherries picked and canned. And there was more than enough left for Mr. Robin to eat. And they all lived happily Ever After. ps. There were no animals killed in this War

Our Cowboy Up Vacation

Our Cowboy Up vacation was a long 2200 miles of rough and interesting cowboy trails. Our first stop was in Salt Lake to see my niece Bobbi Jo and her family (Mother- Renee with the puppies, Husband - James and the Princess is Jameson; who is adorable just like her Mommy). They have become vegetarians and shared some yummy new recipes with us. We then hit the trail again and spent the night just inside the Wyoming border. The next day we made it thru Wyoming and did see a lot of open country with lots of antelope. We stopped in Casper to see family, but they were gone (must have heard we were coming) and went on over into Hot Springs, SD. I had no idea SD was such a beautiful State. High altitude with lots of red mountains and timber. The next day we moseyed up into Crazy Horse and saw that incrediable project. 50 years and his face is finally done. I enjoyed seeing all the American Indian artifacts and museum. Then up to Mount Rushmore, small compared to Crazy Horse. I did notice that if the Indians won a battle it was called a massacre. If the white man won - it was called a Battle. Hmmmm..... And we wondered up into Deadwood. It was a pretty valley in a tight canyon. Made famous by Bill Coty and Calamedy Jane, and Gold. We came back down to the southern end of the state for the Murray Cowboy Up Reunion. See these two purty gals, yup, they are my cousins, I have loads of them. Cousin Tom with lots of help built the out door privy, with a his and a her side. He also built an outdoor kitchen out of a garage type structure where all the cooking was done. It was awsome! Everything was done outside. Cooken, eaten, playen and even poopen. And did you see that tall good looken Singing Cowboy? Yup, that's my guy. There were flocks of chickens to herd around. After two great days of reunion we hit the trail again and headed up to Yellowstone. Couldn't go anywhere without running into the buffalo and bear. We headed out at west gate and headed home via Idaho and American Falls. We finally made it home, bottom sore but happy to be back home on our little spread. No place like home. Happy trails to you until we meet again :)

Garden Update with a Lavender Recipe

It is a beautiful 87 degrees here today. The garden is working hard and giving us lots of produce. Every day I have to shell a basket of peas, they are over 4 feet tall. Today I picked a bucket of beets and have pickled them, plus we were able to share a bowl of beets with cottage cheese. So sweet and full of iron. Yesterday lunch I made us a beet soup with the greens and the root with a brown rice. Earlier this week I made us a pea, carrot, onion, potato, brocolli, kale creamy bean soup. The house garden is giving us loads of produce. The squash garden in finally starting to kick in with this warmer weather. In another week we should have zuccinni. The lavender above is blooming. I like to take two stocks of the flower and steep it in one cup of boiling water, just like making tea. After that has cooled I add that to either my sun tea or you can add it to your lemonade. Adds a wonderful lavender flavor. My iris are done blooming, they were glorious this year. The peonies also had their show this year and were not disappointing. My roses are starting to bloom and the daisies are getting ready for their show.

It's War - Our Cherries vs. The Birds

We have two cherry trees that are loaded with cherries this year. Last year the Bing Cherry tree was loaded and ready to pick. Jim said that we should wait until the weekend and go get Kelsea, a granddaughter. Then we would pick and make a cherry pie. Great idea! On that Saturday we went and picked up Kelsea, got our buckets and Jim went to get the ladder. Kelsea and I went out to the Cherry tree and I looked and I looked. There was not one cherry to be found. Just stems with the cherry pits hanging on the tree! The birds ate every last cherry.

So here we are 2011 and I am watching our cherry trees like a hawk. The cherries are turning color, but not quite ready to pick. Two days ago I saw the birds starting to go in. Small black birds, like the starlings. Big fat robin birds who like to eat a lot. They peck at the cherries, just checking to see if they are ripe and ready to eat yet. No, not yet, but they keep checking. Jim covers tiny bathroom paper cups with alluminum foil and then strings them on a string and puts them into the trees. They are shiny and move a little with the wind. The birds could care less, they are still coming into the trees and checking out the ripeness of the cherries. Ahhhhh! So new plan. Jim puts the scare crows on long pieces of rebar, as you can see one in the picture. It moves and it has fluttering legs and arms. Success, no more starlings, they are scared of the evil scare crows with fluttering legs and arms. But not Mr. Robin, he's such a pig. So we go and buy the twirling pinwheels on a stick which are shiny and move with a bit of wind. Yes, I have not seen Mr. Robin in a day. Perhaps three more days and the Cherries will be ready for harvest! Until then it is war with the birds.