Fall Push

You know what the Fall Push is ?!

It's when the first day of Fall arrives and suddenly your feeling

 "Pushed" to do those things you said you were going to all summer,

"Now"! before Winter gets here.

I worked in the old orchard yesterday,cleaning up branches, pine cones

 and cutting our star thistle and blackberries.   We stopped watering it 

a few years ago.  We were putting more into it them we were getting out.  

Not a lot to do there but I try to keep it clean.  It has good grass in
 the spring,  someday I hope to take out the trees and put in pasture.

Ranch Dog and George were not invited to come.

I had some other helpers

Then I moved down to the burn pile.

If you have a farm you most likely have one of theses.

There was a patch of stickers, I'd been putting off cutting.

These Beauties, Spanish Sabers

Next on the list, the woodshed, it's the summer catchall.
Once everything was out, swept the floor, washed down the
 wheel barrows.  Some new tire perhaps ?

 Washed the woodring and  will be giving it a new coat of 

black paint before it go's in the house.

Cut up what wood there was for kindling

and need to start gathering more.

All clean and ready.

In a couple of weeks Youngest Son Zach 

will be home to split firewood.  More new tires!

 He doesn't make it home much and I can't wait to see him.

Well, back at it today.

Pretty Picture Monday

Fall is coming to the Sierra.

The Dogwoods give us to shows a year.

I love Fall.

Thursdays Thoughts, Mans Best Friend

God Said
I need somebody
strong enough 
to pull a sled
 and find bones
yet gentle enough
 to love babies
and lead the blind
Someone who
will spend all day
on a couch 
with a resting head 
and supportive eyes
to lift the spirits
of a broken heart
So God made a dog

Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake

Sunday, JS and I went to the Cattlewomen's Fall BBQ

potluck and I posted this photo on Facebook.

Well I got a lot of request for the recipe.

There is all kinds of versions of it, here's mine.

"Cherry Pineapple Dump Cake"

(or as I call it,"Lazy Wife Cobbler")

As you can see the ingredients are simple

and so is the recipe.

Ingredients 

1   Yellow Cake Mix, your favorite.
2   21 oz cans, Cherry pie filling.
1   8 oz can Crushed Pineapple.
2   Sticks of Butter.
1   Small Bag of Sliced Almonds  (optional)

Preheat oven to 375

Mix together well, 
cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple in bowl.
spread fruit mixture evenly into a prepared 9 x 13 pan.

Top the fruit mixture with the "dry" cake mix,
spreading with a fork, "do not mix into the fruit mixture."

Cut the two sticks of butter into pats,
 about 16 to 20 per  stick.
Place the butter pats across the top of the dry make mix
in a single layer.

Top with nuts.

Bake about 45 minutes.



I like it best,
 Hot out of the oven,  over Vanilla Ice Cream.

Oh ! Baby !!!!!

!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY JS !!!

Today is JS's birthday, at our age birthdays are pretty low key.

Big breakfast this morning, birthday wishes by phone from the kids,

a few cards in the mail and dinner out tonight.

A simple birthday for a simple man.

Sunday Stills, Watershots

I actually posted this photo about a week ago, in a story. 

  When I saw the challenge I knew I wanted to put it up again. 

      I like it.

I Would Really Like A Day Off

"Yes I'm Whining"

Last weekend we had a crew working in the mountains at the new cabin.

I wasn't planning on going to the cabin but, "Working men have to be fed."

Spent most of Monday in town and two trips to Chico,

making it back in time to work horses with Tammy.

Tuesday was our Cattlewomen's meeting and I can't even remember

what I did that afternoon.  Babysat the Biscuit on Wednesday,

 worked horses that night.

 Took Mom to the eye doctor yesterday,  She's having Cataract eye surgery,

on Tuesday.   Today I have the Biscuit, Saturday Dawn and I are go to

 Sacramento to look at lights and appliances for the new cabin.

Sunday we go to the Cattlewomen's BBQ and 

Monday it starts again. 

"I think I have a bottle of wine around here someplace"   ;D

AMERICA

!!  America Is Not Weak  !!

The President and his advisers are. 

I don't care what ivy league university they attended,

they are in over their heads and couldn't find their asses with both hands. 

!!  America Is Not Weak  !!

Cattlewomen's Creed

BELIEVING THAT THE LIVESTOCK

 INDUSTRY IS OF BASIC IMPORTANCE

 TO THE WORLD EXISTENCE, 

WE THE BUTTE COUNTY CATTLEWOMEN, 

DEDICATE OURSELVES TO SUPPORT

 IT WITH OUR LABOR AND FINANCES;

TO PROMOTE IT THROUGH

 INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY;

TO ENCOURAGE ITS PRODUCERS 

WITH OUR UNDERSTANDING AND LOVE;

TO DO ALL IN OUR POWER TO 

INSTILL IN THE COMING GENERATION

THE LOVE OF THE LAND AND OF LIFE,

THE HUMILITY AND AWE BEFORE

NATURE AND THE HOPE AND FAITH IN 

THE FUTURE  THAT IS INHERENT IN

CATTLEMEN AND CATTLEWOMEN

Pretty Picture Monday

Sunday Stills, Headshots

The "Biscuit" and Grandpa, having lunch together.

Photo Fishing Trip

Yesterday Sister Cindy invited me to join her down at the river.

The Feather River goes through our town and the Salmon are running.

We found a trail and climbed down the rocks to the waters edge,

picking a place to sit, to scope our pray.

The fish were jumping everywhere and our excitement was high.

Camera settings checked, the sun was right, plenty of subjects,

cameras amid.  Let the shooting begin.

Here's how it went from this point.

"Fish jumps out of the water, go's back in to the water, we point and shoot camera."

we have some really nice photos of the water splashing, no fish!

After a few "Word" the conclusion was that this wasn't going to work.

We needed a new tactic.

The thought was now to hold the frame in a single

 position and wait for the fish to simple jump into it.

   "Photographing the Majestic Salmon perfectly captured in mid air."

You know,  like in all those fishing magazines.

It's hard setting there looking in a single spot and hearing the fish jumping

 on both sides of were your looking.  From the far side of the rocks I hear

 Sister Cindy's voice, "They wont jump in to my frame."

I had already digressed to the landscape.

Laughing and joking we decided to move closer to the diversion dam.

More Fish and More Jumping.  Our chances would be a little better.

Side tracked by some pretty flowers, we were soon in position, 

for our attended targets.  Same tactic, but with a bigger frame.

Both happy with a few of our photos, 

it was established that, we are no fish photographers

"It's Really Really hard work."
and maybe, we might want to get into a little better shape,
if were going to be rock climbing.

It was a good challenge and time spent with Sister Cindy
 is always worth while.  Can't wait to go again.

Pretty Picture Monday

Pfriday Photo Play

Thursday Thoughts, Blues Skies

If the sight of the blue skies fill you with joy,

if a blade of grass springing up in a field has power to move you,

if the simple things in nature have a message you understand,

"Rejoice"    

for your sole is alive.

Wordless Wednesday

"I need you to go take a picture of ?"

That's how it always starts.

  JS discovered last summer That I had a camera and ever since,

 I have been taking photos of what ever crosses his little pea pickin brain.

Really cool stuff like, chipped paint, drainage pipes, cracked concrete.

I guess I need to look that it as practice.

Pretty Picture Monday

Sunday Stills, Shades of Blue

WOW!     I haven't done a Sunday Stills challenge in a very long time.

I so enjoy it and have really missed out.

This weeks challenge is "Shades of Blue" 

  This tree is dead,  the blue mark at it's base, indicates it's removal. 

necessary to keep the forest healthy.

Hope you that time to visit Sunday Stills.

Butte County Cattlewomen at the Fair

Our county fair over in Gridley, is in full swing this week.   Last night 

our Cattlewomen  participated in "The of Butte County"  great turnout.  

The fair said that about 700 came through the event.

Tammie MaElroy is from our county and is now the California State

 Cattlewomen's President.  Here's Tammie talking to evenings

 participants, explaining the benefits of beef.

One of my dearest and closes friends Gwin, we were passing out

 samples or Flatiron Steak, raised and cooked by the 

students of Chico State School of Agriculture. 

I had to take a walk though the beef barn before I headed home.

It's a walk down memory lane for me.

Lots of good times spent with our kids and 4-H animals at this fair.

Our Cattlewomen's group isn't big, but we make an impact.

Wordless Wednesday

Very Lucky

The sound of rain was a welcomed change this morning from the low

 drumming of helicopters and steady paraded of tanker plains overhead.

Friday a fire started less then 6 miles from our farm and burned as close as 4.

We lucked out, as it moved north and east, away from us.

However the sirens were a reminder of those in it's path.

Today the quite is very noticeable.

The fire is 75% contained, the evacuations have all been lifted,

 no lose of life and only one house.

Lucky indeed.

Pretty Picture Monday

Thursdays Thoughts, Life & Time

I've said it before,

"I have more life then time."

and realize I'm not the only one in this boat.

Two days a week, The Biscuit come for the day.

 Two nights a week, I help my friend with her horses, for and event in November.

Every Friday we go the mountains to work on the new cabin.

House, yard, orchard, animals, other activities 

and the unexpected (JS).

You know how it is, you plan your day and by 9am your on plan B.

 I know the blogs been a little boring and I feel bad that

 I haven't had time to visit my favorite blog.

Felt like my photography had taken a step backwards so I've

been taking an online photo class,  hopping to see an improvement.

Life is good, just wishing I had a little better handle on it.

"Biscuits Learned A New Trick"

"The Kids on The Move"   Shes learned to roll over !!

This is where you take time to reflect,  just how nice it was, 

when the little monster was happy laying on her back

 looking at the ceiling fan.

Shoot !!!  

 This means Nanna's going to have to start

 keeping her floors a little  cleaner.

Pretty Picture Monday

Wordless Wednesday

"Click on Photos to Enlarge"

Cross One Off The List

 It's a good feeling, when you can cross off an item from the "To Do" list.

Shane came and got a gate hung for me today.

Now the back yard is completely fenced in for the dogs, if needed.

Of Course Ranch Dog always helps

and this project is done.   Good job Shane.

Pretty Picture Monday

Pretty little Indian Corn Flower in the mountains.

Happy Monday

Thursdays Thoughs, Anniversary Gift

Tuesday I had to go to Chico for the company.   Pick up a sprinkler to

 replace one the concrete truck broke and paint.  Since it was the end of the day

 and no one was waiting for me to return, I took a little time to stop off 

at one of my favorite places............The Plant Barn.

 

JS isn't much on gift shopping, so I picked up a little anniversary gift for myself.

"Happy Anniversary To Me, Happy Anniversary To Me"

35 years ! ............  I'm running this dog, till it can't hunt.....   ;D