Preserving food and memories...one can at a time

So this event took place quite sometime ago, but other silly things in life have kept me from sharing it until now. MoutnainMan and I decided that we really wanted to can so we gave it a shot. Thankfully we already had most of what we needed to get started so it was just a matter of pick what we wanted to preserve. We stopped at a local fruit stand in Fruitland, Idaho. (No really, that's its name.) We got tons of peaches and ingredients to make salsa. We also picked up some apples from the grocery store to can our homemade applesauce recipe that we love. Ok, ok. Its Pioneer Woman's recipe. But now its MY favorite. Anyway, here are some pictures of the fun we had. The peaches are absolutely delicious! We also got to can a couple weeks later with MoutnainMan's sister who is a far more accomplished canner. Mostly she canned and we pretended to help, and the crew came up with mincemeat pie (an Orthel family favorite) and baked beans. Our pantry is fully stalked and we are itching to do it again.

S'more fun camping!

Finally! Finally we got to go camping this summer. I don't like that it took all summer before we had time to go, but the good news is...we made it happen. Our friends Jared and Dani met us half way and we had a great time talking, laughing, and putting up with our lovely, ornery Jackson. Can't wait for our elk huntin' trip in a few weeks! We really love hanging out with these great friends of ours. 

The Carpenter

THE CARPENTER

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. 

It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." 

What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well. So it is with us. We build out lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently. 

Think of yourself as the carpenter. Thank about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. 

It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one more day, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. 

The plaque on the wall says, "life is a do-it-yourself project." Who could say it more clearly? Your life today is the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today. 

Author Unknown

My favorite line in this story is "build wisely." It is short and simple, and full of life. At least that is how I see it. I found this story encouraging when someone older and wiser shared it with me, and although I may not be older or wiser, I hope it finds you well. 

Its a sign!

I finally put those pallets that were laying around to use. I asked MountainMan to get me a pallet from work and it took him somewhere around two months later to finally get one. And then, I think to make up for lost time, he brought FIVE instead of just one. I'm not complaining...I just have lots of project possibilities now. Inspired by the inspiration of this blog I decided to make the sign "It moose be love" for our house. I moose be crazy. But it moose certainly was fun!! :) 

Before....

Almost there....

Home sweet Home. 

Home Improvements

Its not our dream house but we are making it a home. Our yard may be small but its the best looking one on the block. [It helps to be married to the fertilizer slash weed-killer-man.] Per my request we went yard selling and found an old rusty wheel barrel that I just could not resist....and only for $10! Of course, MountainMan tried to haggle with the poor old man and get it for $8 but the nice old man knew he already had it sold to me. We planed flowers, tomatoes and strawberries and added a Pinterest inspired project. I'm slowing working on getting a green thumb.

Spring has sprung!

We just had the most wonderful time with the most adorable, lovable nephews on the planet for Easter weekend. I am so biased, and so ok with that. Flying kites + making pies + dying eggs + trying to wear out a two-year-old= lots and lots of fun. We were even offered to take the kids home with us! For FREE!!! Nice try guys. ;) I am sure we will be back soon to cause more trouble like a good Aunt and Uncle should. 

Friends. Puppy. Adventure

Our dear friends Nick and Sarah came to spend the weekend with us in the exciting, thriving metropolis of Mountain Home, Idaho. (Cough, cough...not). Mountain Home is a little bit less than exciting but I like to think that its who you are with that makes it great. And we sure did have a great time! We took little Jackson (who is really not little at all) on an adventure. 

And of course, there were guns involved. Who goes on an adventure in Idaho without shooting something? 

See the clay pigeon....

See it in pieces. Nice shot, babe! ;) 

We had a great time making food, being outside, and playing games. It was all my favorite things all in one weekend! Ok, may not all my favorite things but some of them. Lots of them. The top of the list. Ok, you get the point. 

Happy Wednesday from MountainMan and his woman! 

"You and me go finshin' in the dark..."

A few nights ago MountainMan and I took Jackson fishing. Well...we fished and Jackson tried to learn how to swim. Since we are on the topic of fish, I guess you could say he was a "fish out of water"... (wink, wink). Get it? He wasn't scared of the water but lets just say he may need a few more swim lessons. But isn't he just adorable... ?!?!

We had a wonderful time slowly getting the furry one ready fun hunting season. That's his lot in life. Kill ducks. I mean fetch the dead ducks. Its basically the same thing, right?

This is what we like to call FunFamilyFishin'. :)