How Corny!

When someone gives you beautiful corn already picked, you have to "put it up" Dad came over and saw the proceedings. He mentioned some nifty tool some friend had that makes getting the corn off the cob much easier. He ended up going online to locate a source and off we went to what was called "MSI" This tool is wonderful! We had our corn done by time the purchase was made but the Ritchie's volunteered to try it out. Dad was overjoyed to see it lived up to his expectations. The corn-sheller is available by appointment at the compound. It is slightly messy to use so dress for the occasion.

Let's Salsa!

That is what Eileen said to Ryan the other day. We invited a few other "guest" and had a party. Ended up with over a hundred quarts, pints, half-pints. Kristina Ritchie, Helen and Ryan, Randy, our summer kid(Eileen's nephew), Mallorie(Matt's girlfriend)Jed, and myself all had a great day bonding over tomatoes.

Ordinary Days

Donald trying to reach the top of our huge sunflowers.



I recently watched a Hallmark movie called "The Magic of Ordinary Days" starring Keri Russell. Her life takes an unexpected turn and she ends up, well I won't tell the ending if you happen to ever see it. I think it was filmed in Idaho for all you westerners.
Anyway, that is what I love about summer in spite of the heat and humidity. I love digging into the dirt to plant seeds or walking along and spying a huge cucumber hanging on the vine. I like the boredom of knowing tomorrow I will get on the mower and go round and round in circles. Summer has a kind of predictability that is not present during the school year. Yet it also has a kind of magic as I watch the gardens grow, as long as I don't forget to water them. There is also the way nights are different. Nothing like dodging the horseflies who love to buzz over the pool right at dusk. Heck we even saw fireflies last week!

Memorial Day get-together

Happenings at the compound tend to take on a life of their own. I don't mind because we always end up with great food and good times. Jen and James were coming over to pick up Nate for a few days. Glen Ritchie (who will be put up for sainthood soon) was helping with the new office construction. Ryan was cooking out for Vickie. Sarah was in town to see her mom. We all ended up eating, swimming, and yes working. Ryan cooked the buffalo burgers Carol brough from Wyoming, we had hotdogs for the kids. Eileen did shave ice. I missed a picture of the cube cracking and shooting across the garage toward Aunt Susan.