Keep Smiling

Keep Smiling

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

Enjoying The Month Of May

 

 

Welcome Dear Friends 

Like the sign says,

Ring The Bell 

if there is no answer

Pull Weeds. 

 

 

It's May and we have 

plenty of weeds to pull.  

 

 

Good Weeds & Bad Weeds

but it's all a matter of your

opinion. 

Do you know how many beneficial

vitamins are in dandelions?

I've been researching on YouTube

and this "weed" is amazing.

 So; I made my first batch of

dandelion tea.

They said it was bitter so I added

a mint tea bag to the mix.

 

 

 I planned on drinking it

like ice tea, but didn't 

like the taste.

I'm going to try again with 

only the yellow of the flowers

and make it hot with honey.

They also said that it doesn't

mix with all medications,

so do your own research,

before trying

 

 

The next few photos are 

of an old shepherd's wagon.

I have a dear friend that

restored it.

It was a mess when he got it.

I wish that I would have 

taken a before photo.

 

 
 

Here you can see the place where

the mattress would go.

Under it is a pull out table,

drawers and cabinets. 

Notice the wood band that makes

an "upside-down U shape" 

that forms the top.

He had to boil that wood in long

pots of water in order to

shape them into the bands.

This man and his sweet wife are amazing.

I'm blessed with such sweet friends.

 


 

It even has an old wood stove for cooking.

 

 

At the back there is more storage.

The wheels had to be 

replaced so that they were

highway safe.

Wouldn't you just love to

pull into a campground

with this as your camper 😊

 

 

Here are the original wheels.


 

Beulah and I are spending a lot 

of time outside enjoying the 

lovely Spring weather.

 

 

Suzie Scarecrow got 

a new bonnet this year.


The garden is all planted

and now we get to watch

it sprout and start growing.

 

 

I did pick rhubarb

and put enough for two pies 

in the freezer :)

 

 

 Life is good,

we have so much 

to be thankful for.

Spring brings with it a lot

of hard work, but after 

being inside most of 

the winter, it feels so 

good to get outside and get 

our hands dirty.

Beulah's feet dirty

(as you can tell by the photo, LOL)

 

 

Until our next post . . . 

we pray that you will be well

and that you take a little time 

to be still, relax, look around you

&

enjoy all your blessings.


 God bless you,

Your blogging sister,

Connie :)


43 comments:

  1. Connie, when I make dandelion jelly I just use the yellow flowers - no green parts at all - it tastes like honey. Perhaps it's the green parts that made your tea bitter - I hope you'll try it again with just the yellow parts. ;)

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    1. I would love to try making dandelion jelly. Maybe you could share a recipe with us.

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  2. OH my goodness! I love everything here...Your front door is so pretty...I love the color...and Beulah looks quite lovely sitting there. I notice that she didn't bother to pull the weeds for you, however! LOL. I am glad you are appreciating the benefits of dandelions! We don't get many of them here in Florida, but I have always loved them and don't consider them weeds at all. However, I've never tried to make tea with them. I've heard of using the greens for a salad, however. I just enjoy looking at their happy sunny faces. To me it is a beautiful sight! I've never been one much for perfect lawns. I'll take dandelions over perfectly green grass lawns any day! That Shepherd's Camper is amazing!! Wow! What a beautiful little "home" away from home! I am surprised to see the wood stove inside...I would think one would really have to be careful with that as the roof looks like fabric/canvas? And it would certainly get very warm and cozy in there in a hurry! But I guess that would be nice on a cold winter's night out in the fields with the sheep. Do they actually plan to stay in it? Very unique! I love your Suzie Scarecrow and her new bonnet! She is very lovely indeed!! I am not a huge fan of rhubarb, mainly because I once ate too much of a strawberry rhubarb pie and lived to regret it later! LOL. But I do remember trying to eat it raw once on my Grandpa's farm in Ohio! I thought it was celery until I tasted it! LOL. What a surprise! It doesn't grow here in Florida, so it's not something we get to sample very often. But I do hope you will enjoy it when you make your pies. Will you add strawberries to it? I do hope you continue to share your fun and beautiful happenings there. This was delightful. Have a blessed and wonderful rest of your week. Your blogging sister, Pam

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comments. The shepherd's wagon isn't mine and they don't intend to use it for camping he refurbished it to display at sheepshearing exhibitions. It is an authentic Shepherd's wagon used to live in while up in the mountains tending sheep.

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  3. Connie,
    Love the sign and Suzie Scarecrow!! So cute!! The wagon is really interesting!! Thanks so much for sharing!! I hope you are having a good week!!
    Hugs,
    Deb

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    1. Thank you Deb, wishing you a lovely week as well.

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  4. Your creativity is so amazing. Lovely decorating as always

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  5. Good morning Connie. It's nice to visit with you and Beulah on your sweet property today. Love the sign about weeding. Dennis had an aunt who has now passed away but she and her husband lived in a Shepherd wagon in the mountains outside of Buffalo, WY years and years ago. He was an actual shepherd on a ranch! Aunt Dorothy had the most interesting life. At one point of her life she also took the cog rail to the top of Pikes Peak everyday and cooked at the restaurant at the top of the mountain. I loved to listen to her stories of life on the ranch.
    I hope you have a wonderful day my dear friend. Still praying for you daily. May God bless you greatly.
    Blessings and hugs,
    Betsy

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    1. Betsy, it is always a pleasure reading your comments as well as your blog. Thank you for sharing about your aunt and uncle. I love hearing history about the real people of America and not just our forefathers although that is interesting too. But I believe our backbone is in the hard-working Blue collar America.
      You have no idea how it warms my heart to know that you pray for me. When I count my blessings you are among them. God bless you always.

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  6. Replies
    1. Thank you. I wasn't sure at first but it's beginning to grow on me.

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  7. Connie, it made me happy to visit with you here today! Your post about spring brought a smile to my face. Thank you for sharing, and have a cozy day!

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    1. Well Billie Jo, thank you for visiting and leaving your sweet comment. Knowing that I put a smile on your face brings me joy. God bless you and have a lovely day as well.

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  8. Looks like spring is well underway at your place. Rhubarb already - mine have just popped out of the ground.
    We can't plant anything till Memorial Day because we may yet get frost.

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    1. I am so surprised that you're planting season is so late in the year. That probably prevents you from growing some vegetable crops like maybe tomatoes, just curious if you can grow them there?

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  9. Another lovely 'Connie' post! I always enjoy reading about the things you have been doing. The Camper reminded me of your camper car that you renovated and I wondered if you were planning to use it this Summer?

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    1. I am thinking about selling my truck and camper shell, but I would like to go camping once or twice this summer before I put it up for sale.

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  10. What a fun post, yes it is so nice to be outside after the never ending winter we had. Looking forward to reports on the tea.

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    1. You'll have to go online and check out all the benefits of this little weed called a dandelion. I remember my grandma had an area in her backyard that she fenced off to keep the dogs away and she let the dandelions grow wild and she cooked them like greens. l was never into green vegetables as a child so I do not remember ever tasting them, but Grandma loved her dandelion greens.

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  11. Hi Connie! That's so fun - the gypsy wagon! They made smart little mini homes!

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    1. They were pretty amazing. We think the idea of a camper or a tiny home is something fairly new and then we have to stop and remember the covered wagons.

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  12. Restoring that shepherd's wagon must have been a labour of love. How interesting to display it at sheep-shearing get-togethers.
    Looks like your rhubarb is doing well. I need to pull mine soon before it gets too mature. Maybe I'll do that later today when it cools down. Have a lovely week. Give Beulah a little pat for me. GM

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    1. Have fun putting up your rhubarb or baking a yummy pie. It's the first thing of the season, at least for me, to put up but oh how yummy.

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  13. That wagon is pretty impressive.

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    1. I know, I have some pretty amazing neighbors.

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  14. Spring is a lovely season, and we love rhubarb too, we have some growing away in the back yard. Such a lovely old wagon, it must be fun watching it being restore. Thanks for sharing these pics with us. Beulah looks lovely, I'm sure she is wonderful company for you.

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    1. She's a little sweetheart and I love her so much. You can see that she gets her feet pretty dirty, she loves digging and helping me garden. She does have an appointment next week for a haircut so that will help keep her cleaner and cooler this summer. Have a sweet weekend my friend.

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  15. I knew dandelions have a lot of healthy properties, including the leaves as greens, but I've never tried making anything with them. I do simply leave them in our lawn (we don't use any chemicals) as they're good for the bees. And I happen to think they're pretty! You friend's wagon is amazing. Thank you for sharing with us. My rhubarb is about ready to harvest, too. I still have some in my freezer from last year! Wonder if it's still any good? I just saved some new-to-me rhubarb recipes, including rhubarb cookies and a snack cake, so looks like I'll be doing some baking soon.

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    1. Oh, I've been researching new rhubarb recipes, too. It's always fun to try something new. I love rhubarb in muffins, but then I'm pretty much a " any kind of" muffin fan :)

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  16. I'm loving May too!
    I love rhubarb - ours isn't ready yet.
    That wagon is so interesting. He did great work on it!

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    1. If I had "before" photos, his wagon would truly blow your mind.

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  17. I love your sign, yes there are plenty of weeds every day to pull it seems. Love the new hat for your scarecrow.
    Wow your friend took on quite the challenge with that wagon but it sure looks great so far, it is amazing to me how wood can bend. MMMM rhubarb pie does sound very good!

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    1. It's wonderful to have you drop by for a visit. I made that old scarecrow about 15 years ago and every couple of years she gets a new hat or a new shirt. I'm very surprised she's lasted as long as she has.

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  18. The restored Sheperds wagon is amazing.Beulah is a sweetheart! Love that Susie Scarecrow is sporting that pretty hat! ...Nancy
    .

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    1. It's so nice having you stop by and leave a comment. I missed you Nancy. There's not that many of us older blogging sisters still around blogging and keeping up with others. Wishing you the very best of health, God bless you.

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  19. Hi Connie! Finally remembering to comment on this sweet post! Beulah is so so sweet looking and so pretty. So glad she is such good company for you. Oh no! Selling your camper!!??? We need to get some camping in! I've thought also of selling my van if I don't use it this summer. There is such a short window for camping before it gets too hot! We need to at least give it a try. My main concern is the reliability of it on a longer trip, though my hubby took it to Montana once and to Southern Oregon and it did fine.
    Love your Mrs. Scarecrow and her new hat, and that wagon is darling.
    Our weather here has cooled down. Was in the 90's for a week or so. I haven't planted anything yet!
    Big hugs and blessings to you! Marilyn

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    1. Hi Marilyn, oh I'm the same way I go back and forth, and back and forth again should I sell it or shouldn't I sell it. I just hate paying insurance on something that's just sitting in my driveway. I even had to buy a new battery for it this year and the battery salesman said the only reason I needed a new battery was because I never drive it. He told me to get it out and put a few miles on it every week, I just don't do it. It burns more gas than the car so I hate to just use it to run around town in. Anyway it's a conundrum and I can't make up my mind.
      I'm delighted that you got the kinks out of your blog and that the email notification is working for you again. I'm looking forward to seeing your post about going to the ocean.

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    2. Connie, I have "standby" insurance on my Van. I have State Farm. It's not insured when just sitting in my driveway (but still has comp on it) and when I drive it, I just call them and tell them I'm driving it, and then when I get home, I call and tell them I'm home. It works great! I do drive my Van about once a month, just to keep the battery good and keep it in shape. If I have an errand to run in town, I just use it and call State Farm. I think my monthly charge for the standby is about $8.00 so well worth it. Maybe if you could do that, you could justify keeping it! Maybe we can plan at date to go use our sweet little campers! I'm in the process of having the top "de rusted".. there are rust spots on top, so have bought the sanding stuff, primer and paint. My neighbor boy is going to do it. I want to keep it in as good a shape as possible! See you soon! xoxo Marilyn

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  20. How amazing to see that old wagon and the fix up! Love your pretty door and beautiful home! Your dog is gorgeous too! Enjoy your weekend! I wish you had been with me to pick sunflowers at the sunflower farm. It seem like something you would enjoy!

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  21. Dear Connie,
    Weeds are growing like crazy here, too! But I'll put up with them because the peonies and roses and other flowers are what draws the eye. Fun scarecrow!

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  22. Hi Connie, you are totally right about dandelions, as a child I would wait til summer my dad and I would go and harvest all the greens and flowers we could find. The greens are super yummy sautéed in garlic and olive oil with plenty of Italian bread. I believe the grownups made wine maybe with the flowers.the greens make a nice salad. That wagon is crazy cute! I knew you would have your garden in, I must say out of all the gardeners you have the very best harvest! You will soon be busy cooking up your harvest. Happy spring/summer to you ! Lisa @ Sweet Tea N SALTY Air

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    1. Visited your blog this morning and couldn't leave a comment. Just to let you know that I was there. You probably won't return to see this, but just in case you do. Love your pretty Zinnias :)

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  23. Look at that, my own reply on my own blog comes up as "Anonymous" if I don't first switch to my Google account. WOW!

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