Gardening = Food!

This is just the tip of the ice burg when it comes to the things we've harvested and made from our garden and I am loving it!  

I used the recipe for Raspberry syrup from here plus a little extra water since mine were fresh, not frozen. 

It turned out amazing! Raspberry syrup + raspberry pancakes = LOVE

I whipped up a batch of Utah Scones (aka Indian Fry Bread) to top with butter and syrup and the girls loved it too! 

The same day I made the same Royal Rhubarb Coffee Cake that I make every year. It's in my Taste of Home Cookbook and it never fails me.

I also made a Rhubarb syrup based on the directions for the raspberry syrup above but added a little of the juices from some maraschino cherries I had in the fridge. It turned out to be pretty scrumptious too. 

I love recipes that call for things I have in my garden and regular, normal things that I have in my pantry all the time. Delicious food without an extra trip to the grocery store? I'm all over that!

Puppy Love

I swear I am actually doing crafty things but life is getting in the way of getting it all up here on the blog. Recently I've decided that there will be plenty of time to craft and edit photos of stuff that happens inside but right now, outside, LIFE is happening! Life like this: 

Lazing around with my best canine buddy. 

Watching Anberlynn chase Indi for the rope. 

And watching Indi try to talk her into trying again :) 

And don't forget about tug-o-war! 

Some things can wait until the snow flies and it's too cold to stay outside, and moments like these are not some of them. 

Summer in Abundance

We are ENJOYING the last few days we have of sun and summer before it becomes dark and snowy. 

One thing on our list is to enlarge the strawberry garden. The fenced in area will now go all the way around where the other rocks are too. 

I never suspected that they would go from one little strip of strawberries to a whole garden that needs stepping stones just so you can get it! 

The goose berries are ALMOST there. I will be ready and waiting with pectin in hand when they are. 

There's nothing quite like goose berry jam!

And the APPLES! There are SO many of them but they are SO tiny! Maybe mini apple pies? 

Something I have started using already- raspberries! I made some raspberry and rhubarb tart-lets the other day and garnished them with mint sprigs from the garden too. They were gone before I could get a picture in! 

We are still getting strawberries every now and then but not fast enough to actually make anything before they hop into little mouths. Hopefully, expanding the garden will help with that next year. 

Something I've never eaten or cooked with- brussels sprouts. I haven't actually seen any of the part you eat yet but the plant is huge and gorgeous! 

I din't take picture of ever thing but we do have carrots, tomatoes, Swiss chard, more rhubarb and arctic kiwi growing too! I LOVE eating right out of my garden every fall. Everything is so fresh and tasted phenomenal- the way ALL produce SHOULD taste. 

Winner Creek

Winner Creek is one of my favorite hikes. I consider this my first date with my husband and every time we go it brings back so many memories.

The hike starts at the Alyeska Resort. This fire pit out front is super awesome! Can I have one please? 

 We have started hiking with a group every Sunday and here is the infamous Megan Moody and I. 

She'll get hte shot even if it mean using her Iphone! LOL. 

One of my husband's quirks is his love for mushrooms! He loves photographing and sometimes eating them. 

My favorite part is the water. Especially the waterfalls! 

 You get to pass right over one on a bridge and if you are careful you can walk right down to it too.

Joel likes to take photos of the burls too. This one is an interesting color. 

Usually just after this they have a hand tram too that takes you to an old gold mining town, but the tram is down until they can fix it. 

The Forrest Fair was going on while we were there too, which was also part of our first date! 

Fun fact: The hike and the Forrest Fair were our first date, we got married one year to the day, and this was right after out 5th year anniversary! 

When the hike was over we got to check out this cool vintage car show in the parking lot too! 

Now do you see why this is my favorite hike? It's just packed full of awesomeness! 

By the way, if you ever make it up there you HAVE to check out The Bake Shop! They have the BEST soup you've ever had! 

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