Labor Day Harvest
Marshal and Gabe fenced the garden and fields this year, and Lydia grew a garden. We are reaping the rich fruits of her planning and labor.
Have you ever seen such marigolds and sunflowers?!
Summer Highpoint
Mid-Summer Highpoint was Mt Adams Summit.
Lydia said, "That is the hardest thing I have ever done, but the most amazing fun! I don't think I'll do it again."
Marshal said, "Don't ever make me do that again." I said, "Good thing you only have one daughter."
Jesse is counting how old he'll be when he summits with his last 12 year old. This was Abijah's year, and they all summitted on Naphtali's timely birthday to carry out family tradition. Lydia hadn't been up before, and we had cajoled Marshal and Gabe to support her in the opportunity.
TL XC Club Bake Sale
The kids are running with Coach Marshal this fall season. Lydia helped coordinate a successful bake sale on Labor Day weekend Saturday. Delicious gingersnaps, chocolate chewy cookies, Grandma's dish pan loaded oatmeal, Naphtali's lemon pound cake, Mayana's chocolate chip zucchini bread, Shana's amazing cupcakes, and the boys went and whipped up some fresh from the oven Snickerdoodles! They serenaded with music, and it was oh so pretty and professional under the awnings.
The Farm
Gabe has been collecting more fowl, Americana turkey, pair of geese, a few ducks. And Marshal has his mix breed pasture piglets!
Trout Lake Fair
Marshal entered a Trout Lake Clinic float in the parade! Dad Harpe drove the John Deere, pulling the Stage Coach. Grandpa/Great Grandpa Harpe drove the stage coach with a team of ponies in the Pendleton Roundup historically!
Someone in our household won the most coveted prize at the annual town fair, the KitchenAid Mixer!! This was Lydia's first year to be entered into the Adult Division at 17 years. Somehow we missed the photos of the Best of Show and Blue Ribbon winning Best Chocolate Cake. What was the secret? Perhaps Marshal's fresh roasted and brewed coffee in its layers and icing had something to do with it? No one can duplicate Lydia's baking though. She also ribboned with Artisan Sourdough bread loaf, Grandma Marge's Best Ever Gingerbread, and delighted someone at the auction with her chocolate chip cookies. She also ribboned with purple cabbage, Romanesco Zucchini, heirloom purple potatoes planted from Grandma's last year's harvest, and yellow summer squash. The other Best of Show ribbon was for her photography and her cat photo entered at the last possible minute. She also earned a red ribbon for her cable knit head band in Junior Division Fiber Arts. She was rewarded for all that she puts her mind and hand to, completing her General Education Diploma this spring and investing her time in self taught gardening and baking. We are so blessed to have this girl and that she is content to stick around with us!
July Birthday
Marshal's family here to celebrate his birthday with cheesecake and fresh raspberries.
First of Summer Cooling Off
