July Happenings 2017

Yeah, less and less creative titles.

I remembered last year we went up American fork canyon and played in the stream. I wanted to go play in water with the dogs again (and we didn't have a family dinner that Sunday) so we headed out.

Well... Apparently last time we went much later in the season when the water was gentle and cool. This time the water was running high and freezing.

Aaron putting his hand in the water.

It was so cold Daisy pulled her collar off rather than go into the water... She doesn't like to swim :)

I was wearing a white skirt... it might have gotten a little muddy, but no picture evidence so perhaps it didn't really happen.

Then it was the 4th of July. This was the picture I sent out to the nieces to get them excited. Setting up for water balloon volleyball!

And here we are playing. Amy's sisters family came to join with us. We had hamburgers on the grill.

And that is the end of the pictures that day...  See Marco Polo :)

This month my boss Susan decided to leave Jacobs and move back east to be closer to her family and other interests such as highland dancing. Emily misses the plums, grapes, and leaves she had shared with us. I miss her advocacy in the office. And of course, we both miss her! 

I wanted to make fruit pizza for her before she left since I know she likes it. I practiced by making one for 4th of July in the shape of a flag which turned out pretty well other than the fruit bleeding into the frosting.  Didn't take a picture of that but here are the two I made for work.

Didn't actually need 2 but we ate the rest at home :)

Remember when we sold the other working small tractor? Well, we got a younger one (1980s vs 1970s) that we bought along with a trailer, plow, and snow plow.  Craftsman is also still around so Aaron thought it will be easier to find parts.

Aaron did a little work on it with my help (I suggested the bicycle pump to clear out the gas line... which worked!) and Angela bought us new tires for the tractor and the trailer. Thanks so much Angela! We have mostly used it for carting the garden waste over to the goats.

Then it was Pioneer Day...I took a video of our beer.


And a picture...

Emily made a beautiful zucchini pie..

I think Aaron made a quiche too.

Obligatory fireworks... We just had Megan with us so this time I took pictures.  When we have tons of people I forget to pull the phone out.

Our pies... chocolate, key lime, apple, and some pumpkin cheesecake. Ended up with lots of leftovers so it became our Sunday dessert as well.

Just for my own journaling purposes, whoever of the nieces and nephews can come, join us for Sunday dinner. Jared and family come as well of course. We have had as many as 14 and as few as 7, not counting babies. It's always an adventure :)

July is the start of canning season. We are on our way to can enough for whole year, 4 quarts at a time.

I think this is applesauce, tomatoes (blended and then cooked down to a sauce), and cheese making.

The Friday night pizza tradition lives on.  I think I have mentioned this before, but Aaron has gotten really good at making dough. Lucy (sourdough starter) died while we were in Maine so I haven't made the flat bread like I used to. I think Aaron likes it better :)

See the ricotta goat cheese? Yeah, I made that.