Life is just Peachy

Good Morning Friends.  I began the morning early by trying to catch up on what you have been doing all week. I didn't quite get through the list, but I'll get back to reading soon. It's been a busy morning already, after a whirlwind of a weekend. When the weekend ended, I told the family that we must not try to squeeze the entire summer into one day: two class reunions, a parade, pony rides, and birthday party.

So far this morning I have processed the peaches. The Head Gardener picked them right after they were hailed on. They had some damage and most were still a bit green. I ripened them on cookie sheets that I placed on the dryer in the laundry room. A couple had spoiled so I knew that I had to do something with them this morning. They are small, about the size of apricots, but tasty. I thought I would just cook them down for jelly, but couldn't bear to let them go to waste, so I skinned and pitted them--very easy since they were cooked. I will freeze them for peach pie. later I did save the liquid so that I can make peach jelly later in the week. I had hoped to do the same with the apricots, but the birds got to them before I could pick them. I was wanting to let them ripen on the tree, but I am thinking that these fruits need to picked while they are slightly green just before they are bird food. What was so maddening the birds only took a few bites out of each apricot, ruining all of them. But I guess birds have to eat, too. But we feed them--good stuff, too.

While I was processing peaches, the HG was supervising the tree service that cut down two of the many dead trees on the property. This one was a cherry tree, the tree guy said. It bloomed every year, but never fruited. It was not a particularly pretty tree either. We will replace it with a hawthorn or mountain ash, an nice ornamental and shady tree. The other tree was out the pasture that had died. No need to keep it either. The tree cutters didn't take long to take out the two trees. I wanted to see how they actually cut them down, but the cherry tree was halfway shredded by the time I got outside to take pictures.

A few whacks with the chain saw--I assume-- then the chopper/shredder and the tree is gone. The really big logs were hauled off. Good-bye loyal tree. So sad to see you go.

Looking back, despite the busy weekend, the family did get to spend some time together. It was the annual Highland Fall Festival, our small town celebration complete with a parade, old car show, bouncy houses, the opening of a redesigned playground in the park, and other festivities.

Jennifer attended her 20th class reunion dinner Friday night. She had such a good time connecting with the old gang. As well, the HG attended the 10 year reunion for the old folks, years 1964-1974. Had I gone I would have connected with former students; instead, I was much happier staying home with the granddaughters.

You either love small-town parades or you don't. Ault has a population in town of under 2,000 and then there are the residents who live on farms and acreages outside of town, so the crowd can be substantial. The parade represents the current trends of the community: The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) always lead the parade with the Color Guide and a gun salute; Stan Cass, retired military pulls the Honor Fight veterans. Honor Flight raises funds to send the aging vets back to Washington DC to visit the war memorials. Smokey Bear reminds the crowd about fire safety and prevention, and the vintage GTO reminds everyone that Alcohol and Kids Don't Mix

He says he has waited a life-time to drive his tractor in the parade, so here smiles the Head Gardener on his 1965 Case Tractor. I have to say that I was not very pleased when he spent money on a second tractor last winter. Then when he said that this was the tractor that he had wanted since he was kid, my cold heart melted. In 1965, he was the farm kid and this was biggest row crop tractor Case made, but his dad never owned one.

He is pulling the Ault Area Historical Museum float. We are on the committee that is working on the project. Right now the building is undergoing restoration work, but we need to let the community know that we want its support and help. You will see Nathan, Ellie sitting right behind, Heather with Lily on her lap, and Lucy behind the flag. 

And what memories this float brings back. The kids that grew up at our house and Jen at their houses from pre school to graduation. Jason lived next door to us for years until we moved. But I am still his "Other Mother." Kelly in the dark glasses runs a meat processing plant, Jen raises her girls, and Michele works in Denver. I ran into the moms at the park later. We laughed because we all had grand kids that we were herding around. Twenty odd years ago we were in that same park selling burritos to raise money so that these kids could to Washington DC for 10 days to the 4-H convention. I think it was called Washington Focus. Our group raised money for years so that the kids could spend 10 days to tour the the area.  Now look at them. Grown up. Parents. Professionals. Whew. Getting emotional here. 

 
The parade always ends with local Fire and Rescue squads. Sunday morning they host a free pancake breakfast, where we always leave a good donation because we have used their services more than once: a fire in the basement in the middle of night, my fall that broke my ankle, and just the other night when the HG called the paramedics because I had a stomach ache. A really bad one. I am fine. Better safe than sorry and the whole crew including two ambulance crews were in town for their monthly meeting, so they needed a training exercise. None-the-less it is an all volunteer department and we appreciate and value their service to community.

We really cannot believe that it is August already. Here at the Garden Spot I have waited all summer for the Star Gazer lily to bloom. I planted three bulbs, but only one bloomed, but she gave me double blooms. The glads have recovered from the hail. I love them; I want to plant dozens next year. I think I'll buy more expensive bulbs. Some did not grow. I planted 22 and got just over half. 

The weeds are getting away from me--AGAIN. Still. This week: weed patrol. I have been spending a lot of time trying to get this dollhouse done. I need to update that blog so that you see the finished project. It's looking pretty good. Here is a sneak preview while I work on that blog: 

I have been calling it the Blue Farmhouse, but that no longer applies.

I wanted a taupe shade, but had a very hard time getting the color I wanted. I like this color, though, a pink sort of shade. Check out Ann's Dollhouse Dreams in a day or so to see my progress.

I hope you have a wonderful week. Thanks so much for stopping by. I am going to try to do another post this week about our trip to the prairie. I think you'll enjoy those photos. In the meantime stop by Maggie's for Mosaic Monday because I'll be there, too.