Taking Care of Business

Unfortunately cows don't take care of themselves...so Brian has been spending some time at the pasture making sure it lasts all summer for them.  He spent most of the other night out mowing and fixing fence...if there is one place Brian is happy, it's on a tractor!

Random Happenings in our daily lives

I've been on a blogging hiatus...as you can see...it's been 2 weeks...and for me, that is a long time!  That just means summer is officially here and Brian and I are now busy with work and not as much fun.   He has been busy busy planting trials, having field days, and driving all over the country side- as for me, wedding season has started...needless to say we have been slammed.  I haven't taken a picture of Brian or I in weeks...ofcourse it would help if we actually saw eachother...

Here are a few pictures as of late...love summer blooms, even if they are weeds...

I made these glazed lemon cookies the other day....oh my goodness...soooo good..

• GLAZED LEMON COOKIES

  Ingredients

   1 1/2 sticks butter room temp
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus more if necessary
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Directions

1. Beat the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, zest, and salt and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour, mixing until just incorporated.
2. Divide the dough in half and shape into 1 1/4-inch-diameter logs. Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
3. Heat oven to 350° F. Slice the logs into 3/8-inch-thick pieces and space them 1 1/2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until lightly golden, 13 to 17 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, and zest until it forms a thick but pourable glaze (add more lemon juice if necessary).

It's now pesto time...I just wish pine nuts weren't so dang expensive.

Maddy has been doing alot of sun bathing lately...I joined her today for a little bit, but she kept licking my ear while I was trying to nap outside.

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Lind Combine Derby

Every year the second weekend in June, Lind holds the annual Combine Demolition Derby!  It is a fun weekend complete with a parade, wheat truck races, and combine's smashing into one another.  What's not to love!  After LindyJean's bday party, Brian and I made a mad dash to Lind and made it just in time.

Meagan, Lyndenn, and I

Here are the ladies racing the boy's wheat trucks in the powder puff.....they all did awesome!

Here is the infamous JAWS...Josh and Matt have shared responsibility of driving the combine and rotate years, this was Josh's year.  

Check out that guy's back tires...

Party in Prosser...

This weekend was LindyJean's first birthday party and what a party it was! I went to Prosser Friday night and hung out and helped Jolene with the getting ready!

Here we are with the Birthday Girl!

Eric made the most amazing meat, Jolene will fill you in on that story, but here is boss offering his assistance...I think he was just sneaking bites...

Adelaide was way to into her cupcakes to pose for a picture with me!

Green Thumb

My brown thumb might be taking a turn for the better this year...the test will be weather I get my tomatoes to turn red and can eat them...but for now...

My basil is growing nicely, I am getting anxious to start making pesto...

 These pretty little pansies see too be flourishing. 

First Boat Outing

This weekend we finally got the boat out for the first outing of 2011.  The Tait family joined us for a little evening sunshine and fun on the water!  The boat fired right up which was a plus....and the water was actually not too bad!

 Jacoby drivin' the boat.

Sky High

Brian better watch out, all this flying and I am going to get addicted and he's going to have to go get a pilots license so he can take me flying!  Mike Wren took us up on Friday morning for a ride over Brian's crops so we could get some photos.  We flew from the Ephrata airport to Tri-Cities, back to Quincy, and then home.  It was awesome!  

We even made it over our house! It looks so crazy from up there!

 Checkin' out the scenery!

 How great is this plane!  It's a 1960's Cessna.  She was a smooth ride!

 Our trusty pilot!

 Here's just a few scenes from the day!  I love seeing crops from the sky! 

Here is part of Moses Lake!

Alaska Adventures Part 3

This post concludes our Alaskan adventures.  But I did save the best for last!  Our helicopter tour was phenomenal!  We took off from the Juneau airport flew over mountians, the glaciers, etc.  We got to land twice and get out and roam around.   The photos do not even do this place justice....it was breathtaking!

 This is one of the glaciers we landed on.

 Brian drinking fresh glacier water.

 Next stop was the Juneau Ice Fields.  Which is exactly what it is....hundreds of miles of ice fields...it was gorgeous.  And the best part about it was we landed in the middle of this untouched fresh snow...it was incredible!

 Brian out exploring!

 The snow was awesome!  This is me falling backwards into it and then I made a snow angel!  

This was our formal night on the cruise, we got dressed up had a nice dinner and went out dancing a bit. Emily and I danced...the boys went to the casino.  

 Last stop on the cruise was a short visit to Victoria BC.  We took a pedi-cab cruise through town and saw some of the sights.  This was our pedi-cab driver.  

Isn't this parliament building beautiful!

 The Empress Hotel, it was a cool building!

 Here is the parliament building all lit up at night!