June, July, August...
A trip to D.C. ... Duane, Necey, Cait, Kim, Doug, Jackie, & Hunter
Doug caught fish and he and his mom and dad fixed them for our supper! Delicious!!! So fresh!
Kaylee and Laura at the George Strait concert... Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas.
A.J. & Laura at the Ballpark in Dallas... and the Rangers WON!
And we bought a car! A Ford Fusion... no suv for me, anymore!
The thing that consumed most of our summer was peas.
We had the friends and family pea patch as usual, and then the 'master farmer' decided to make an old hay meadow into Prince's U-Pick Peas to sell. We had a great crop and many customers, but could have supplied more. The peas got rain at just the right time, and willingly responded by producing more peas than we could sell. One customer came with 3 pickers who picked 28 bushels in just a few hours. He was going home to shell and package them to sell in his fruit and vegetable roadside stand. We did enjoy having friends and family come to pick and shell in the shade of the trees beside the pond while we visited with them. Some of the customers also stayed to shell the peas they picked. The 'master farmer' is also a 'master talker' and he was in his element with folks to visit with in the shade. Another plus to all of the peas we harvested was the delicious meals prepared using them. Fresh from the garden corn on the cob, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, green beans, and new potatoes to name a few were regulars on our menu all summer, and we have an ample supply frozen for winter meals, too.
Concentrate, Cait! Nice pitch!!!
We tried to catch a little Bandera softball/baseball at the first of summer, and did see both Cait and Hunt pitch early in the season. We had planned to see them again, but that didn't happen. We saw the softball game, but the baseball game ... just enough lightning to require the game to be called. Later, Hunter broke a bone in his foot; the rest of the summer was spent on crutches. It was a wasted summer in his estimation.
Hunter winds up to pitch another strike!!
The next big event was Necey's class reunion, marking their 20th year out of school. The Class of 1989 met at our house on the afternoon of July 25th, 2009. About half of the class were in attendance, with spouses and children. They were happy to see each other, and to catch up on the news. It's been 20 years since they were together as students at GHS. It was hot, but they had a good time... children and all! We counted 60 who came, not counting our family members who came and helped with getting ready for the festivities.
Doug came and brought his wii for the kids to play... Necey brought a projector and it was shown on the wall... BIG! I think everyone had fun. They looked at the annuals & scrapbooks & reminisced. FUN!
Kaylee made signs for the driveway several days before the party.
(she'll hate me when she sees this picture)
The 'master farmer' gathering corn and Nita in the cornfield.
The pea patch before it started producing. It's hot work chopping weeds to keep this field clean!
Pea pickers, picking peas for supper and for Jackie to put in her freezer. Yumm now and then.
The morning glories have made me smile all summer.
Hunter missed picking, but got to shell peas that we ate for supper and that they took home.
It's been a hot, busy, productive summer! Saydee doesn't seem to mind a bit!
The canna lily offered a nectar stop and a photo opt for this female Ruby Throat.
Both female (above) and male (below) perch in our crape myrtle where the feeders are located.
Honey bees are annoying to the hummers while they feed, so after researching methods for deterring bees, Pappy discovered a method that does no harm to the bees, and is acceptable to the birds. Swabbing the yellow portion of the feeder with an olive oil saturated cotton swab is the solution to our bee problem. It has to be repeated after rain or every couple of days. The coating should be done lightly so that the birds do not get it on their feathers while feeding.
Hummingbird activity at our feeders has been terrific this season. They are really busy now with the rain and cooler days, and migration approaching. We have had a multitude of Ruby Throats at the feeders vieing for the best perch and the most nectar. Watching their antics is entertaining and amusing. How many can you count in this photograph?
