Friday morning

I am passing this along from a good friend's blog--"Take a scripture and make it your own. Personalize it." Thanks Carolyn! I commented to her that I used to do that,but had let it fall by the wayside. Need to restart that. Such a simple thing. We need to hold on to those "simple" things that He provides for us. Sometimes we have a tendency to let the stresses of everyday life overpower our spiritual lives. He is always there for us. Are we always there for Him?
Had a small shower of rain last night. Larger totals in the area. Some flash flood warnings last nite over on the Colorado/Kansas border.
Picture of granddaughter and her and grandma's project this week. Laura has just moved to different house and different town. This is going to be put on her porch. They had fun doing it. Also picture of floor in cabin.
Keep up the faith and "keep on keepin'n on!---johnnyb

Just can't think of a good title today

Tomatoes finally started ripening. Had some for lunch yesterday. They tasted wonderful. I am surprised that they have lived through what mother nature has put them through since they were planted. Had a light frost after they were planted. Three bad storms of winds in excess of 80 MPH, and small hail and grasshoppers. Cucumbers have produced fairly well. And of course there is the squash. We have a friend that makes zucchini bread quite often, so we keep him supplied. I think next year we will only plant patty pan squash. Can't beat the taste. First year that we have planted any. Enjoying it a lot. Cut the top off, scrape a little out, put butter and brown sugar in the hole. Put lid back on, wrap in aluminum foil and on the grill. Very good.
My prayers go out to those in the very bad drought areas that cannot get a good garden going. I would share if I were closer.
Finished most of the floor in our sleeping cabin yesterday. Got one board left to put in that I have make some different cuts. The floor is just pieces of 2 x 4's, but will look neat when finished. We are going for the rustic look, so perfection is not a thing.Most of the boards were just salvage material. Used a couple of new boards. I lacked a few from the porch I tore down to finish yesterday when a neighbor brought over a stack of 2 x 4's from shelves he had torn down. couldn't have come at a better time.
Granddaughter here for another day. We have really enjoyed her. Will miss her when she leaves. Took her for pizza at nearby bar and grill last night. Pizzas are large so will have leftover for lunch today also. She and Grandma have been doing various project. Maybe pics next time.
Quote of the day from somebody whose name I can't remember--"Nothing isn't all bad once you get used to it!"
If things don't change that may become a way of life. I pray daily for the way thing are being run in this country. God must just shake his head in amazement. I will say it again, and will probably say it again and again, how can adults that we have elected to run this country, that we trust our future in, and that are supposedly well educated act so childish and self centered. All they care about is themselves and the fact as long as they spend one term in office, they are pretty well set for the rest of their lives. I think it is time that there are some more changes made. Thought maybe after the 2010 elections it would, but I guess not. I think a kindergarten class could do a better job of running things. At least they would have some common sense.
Later. God Bless all and this great Country.---johnnyb

Another week

Another week started. Another month about over. Friend on Facebook informs all that Christmas is 5 months from today. Yippee!!!! Makes my day. Nothing new with weather. Heat and humidity. Not used to high humidity. Usually just hot. Dogs don't even like to go outside for a very long length of time. Oh well. It's summer. It is supposed to be hot. I chose to live here, so it does no good to complain. Things could always be worse. At least we have had some rain during the month, which is unusual.
Granddaughter is here for a few days. Really enjoy having her here. I always tell her she is my favorite granddaughter. Her reply "but Grandpa I am your only granddaughter"! She is a neat girl. Be in the eighth grade this year. She has just moved to a different town this summer, so will be starting a different school. She will do fine. Kids adapt so much better than adults sometime. She helped me in tearing down part of an old house today. This afternoon she helped Grandma with some projects. Grandma also teaching her to crochet.
Will use some of the lumber to finish off the floor in our sleeping cabin. The old wood is so much better quality than what can be bought. The person who bought the property will eventually burn it.. Told me to get what I wanted. No sense letting it go to the burn-pile. Never know what I will be building. A chicken coop is in the plans by next spring. Some of the original part of the building was built with square nails. Will save those that I pull. Some of the door hardware in the house was kind of neat. Salvaging all that I can. Was somebody's dream at one time. A lot of those in the country. Kind of sad. Signs of the times. Are we headed there again? After watching what has been going on in Disneyland North the past few weeks I have to wonder.
Keep up our faith in the Lord. Pray for those that are supposed to be leading this country, and may God bless all.---johhnyb

Ramblings again

Looks like it may be another scorcher today. Hasn't been as bad here as in other places. We have been eating from the garden lately. Potatoes, cucumbers, squash, beets and beans have made it to the table. Tomatoes have not ripened yet. Muskmelons and watermelons have set on. Can't wait for that. We have frozen some squash and beans. Hasn't been enough beans at one time to fire up the canner. Rabbits munched on the plants earlier, so they are in varying stages of ripening. Grasshoppers are also helping themselves to meal also. Guess I shouldn't have kept the weeds pulled from around the perimeter of the garden. Carol helped a friend can meat yesterday. She had never canned meat so Carol helped her. Good addition to the pantry.
Quail are doing well. Growing real good. Will introduce them to the wild soon. Be nice to get quail going again around here. We see a few ,but not many.
Been able to catch some good shots of clouds lately. Will include a couple. Also a couple of the house when we bought it almost two years ago, and today.

Till later---johnnyb

Update

Today, on the 13th day of July in the year of our Lord, 2011, in the community of Traer, in the county of Decatur, in the State of Kansas, in the great country of the United States of America, absolutely nothing earth-shattering has yet to happen. But there is still 2 hours and 31 minutes to go.--johnnyb

Saturday Morning

Sitting here with my morning coffee and mulling over the day to come. Had a little more rain last night. Brings us to around 5 inches of the wet stuff since last Saturday. Has kind of curtailed the wheat harvest for a while, but the corn is really soaking it up. Good for the garden also. Squash is really doing well. Some beans are ready. Not enough to can, but good eating.
We expanded the quail run yesterday. Got them out in more grass and stuff for them to forage around in. They seem to enjoy it. Dogs are still going bonkers with the little creatures running around.
Blessings to all. Keep on keepin' on.----johnnyb

Just ramblings again

We have had some storms the past few days. The rain is welcome, but Saturday evening we had high winds and torrential rain. Sustaining winds in excess of 70mph lasted about 30 minutes. Lot of damage in the area. Lost a few shingles and some tree limbs. Blew the garden around quite a bit, but is recovering. Some areas had it a lot worse. We've had over 4 inches of rain since Saturday and more on the way.
Quail are doing ok. We built an outdoor pen for them today. they seem to like it ok. Just driving the dogs crazy. They are all Lab mixes, so they going waacko.
Don't know if they will get used to them or not. Be a couple of months before we release them into the wild.
Hope everyone had a good 4th. Good time to remember this great country and what it stands for. Seems too many are forgetting.
I won't even go into the Casey Anthony trial!! I could, but I won't.
Quote for the day--"Deliberate often--Decide once" (Latin Proverb)
God Bless all---johnnyb

Fourth

Once again it is time to celebrate the birth of the greatest nation on this earth. I pray that it can continue to be just that. I ask God to guide those that are have been put in the position to make the right decisions, though I am beginning to think that right decisions are not of the greatest concern to those in leadership positions. But anyway have a good and safe 4th, and may God bless all.

We started canning yesterday. Making jam from last years fruit. Need to get the freezer cleaned out for this years stuff. We set up a woodburner as kind of a summer kitchen. Keeps from heating up the house. I was going to get a fire going this morning, but it is raining. Who would of thought....rain in NW Kansas in July! Oh well. Should blow through in a bit and I can get it going. I need to make an enclosure of some kind.

Quail chicks are doing well. They are getting more and more airborne every day. Landings are a little out of control sometimes, but they are learning. Need to get an outdoor pen for them built. They will be ready soon.

Garden doing ok. Will pick some squash this weekend. Muskmelons and watermelons are in bloom. Beans have set on. So nice to have fresh veggies.

Thought for the day on a sign in the widow of local seed store, and I don' know who to give credit to---" The smell of a crowded elevator is different to a midget"--johnnyb