Nice drive

Hubby and I decided to take a drive in my truck to make sure all was running well. We decided to check out Cottonwood Lake which we tried to see a few years back but ran into too much snow on the road to get any further in. It is located about 25 miles from Lakeview and a good five miles up winding roads into the mountains.

Cottonwood Lake

It was so nice and peaceful back in here. I would come back and tent camp but would not want to bring my trailer here as the spaces are way too narrow for my comfort. Look how nice and calm it is.

It was too shallow for large motor boats. Looks as though only canoes and electric motors were being used. Not a lot of people, but very peaceful place.

From here we headed back towards home and I decided to check out a picnic area along the Sprague river which we have passed many times and not stopped at. It was straight down a real winding, narrow road (no trailers allowed) along the canyon wall. But only a few miles from the highway. One would never have known how pretty it is back here without driving in and checking it out.



This was a parking area next to the river. There were horseshoe pits, a large picnic area with firepit and bbq pits. It has a net set up for playing volley ball or badmitton. There were several picnic tables set out and about along the river too.  A nice place to come and spend a leisurely afternoon. 

Sprague river

great swimming hole





I'm thinking how nice it would be to climb in and get wet. Next time I'm bringing swimming clothes and lunch. I think I may even bring the dogs. I'm sure they would love a dip in the cool water.


Just a few hours away from phones and tv and my mind feels a little less conjested. I really should do this more often. Either that or hubby needs to go back to work. (smiling)








Birds, bumble bees, and butterflies

It's God's little things that make me happy.

Don't you just love Spring?

Things are blooming

I have been busy sewing a costume and a few chemo caps for Relay For Life in July. I've also been planting a few more things in the garden and enjoying all my pretty flowers in bloom. I'll just share a couple pictures of my garden. It's small but enough for me to keep busy at.

I have a few pole beans, broccolli, corn, lettuces, collards, radish and chard that are growing. I just planted my tomatoes, jalapeno plants a couple days ago.

I'm still hoping to get some kind of a green house up this year. I would really like to get a lot of tomatoes and peppers to can salsa.

I saw this on a homesteading blog. I got them painted, now I need to fill them with dirt and plant some more veggie starts.

I am trying to incorporate more color around my home this year.

With more warm days ahead, I also hope to squeeze in some camping days out at the lake soon. Hope your days have warmed up nicely for you too.

My First Attempt At Dandelion Wine

This is my first ever attempt at making a wine. I have read various articles on making dandelion wine and I thought, why not. I have no shortage of dandelions this year in the yard and what better thing to do with them but try making a wine out of them.
I found one You Tube recipe I really liked. It was made by Erin Bried and she says this recipe is over 100 years old. I like old things so this was another reason to try it. (Plus she has a great sense of humor)

So I picked a coffee can full of dandelion flowers. It took several weeks to collect the good ones so I kept the can in the freezer until it was full. I then cleaned them and placed them in a crock and put boiling water over the top. Here is where they sit for 3 days at room temp.

After the 3 days I then strained the juice through a cheesecloth into a large pan. I then added 9 cups of raw sugar, the juice of 4 oranges and 3 lemons. I stirred this until the sugar dissolved.

Next I strained the wine into another pot and put a packet of champagne yeast into a half cup of warm water until it dissolve then added it to the wine. Next I poured the wine through a funnel into my bottle and placed a balloon over the top. I will periodically check it to release any gases that form.

I then placed the bottle in a dark closet and here it will sit for 6 weeks. After the 6 weeks I will strain the wine again and then put it back into the bottle, taking out whatever settlement from the bottom of the bottle.

 Now all I can do is sit back and try to be patient.