Everything is Growing!

Some of the fruit on our property is wild. We have wild grapes vines, one wild plumb tree, a couple of mulberry trees and lots of dewberry vines growing on the fence line. We never get to do anything with the fruit because the birds and squirrels usually eat all of it. I've tasted all of them and they're so good, but by the time all the fruit is in full bloom, the animals have found the trees.

Our not wild fruit is from our blueberry bushes we planted this spring. They're already producing and we do eat those. Unfortunately our pecan, pear and peach trees all get visited by squirrels too. We have to figure out a way to diminish the squirrel  population!!!!

All of these pictures were taken 3 weeks ago, so everything is in full growing mood now! 

Left to Right... Blueberries, Strawberries, Mulberries & baby Pears

#1 Wild Baby Grapes just starting to form, #2 Wild Plums #3 Peaches, #4 My Favorite Pear Tree, 

#5 Our First Cup of Blueberries #6 Celery Growing From a Cut Stalk #7 Deer in Our Pasture, 

#8 Some of Our Tomato Plants and #9 One of our visiting Woodpeckers

Memorial Day 2012

I wanted to make something Red, White and Blue for a little patriotic feel since it was Memorial Day. Normally May 28th we'd be celebrating Jacob's birthday, but he's in Great Lakes Illinois for Naval Basic Training right now. He missed a good time with the family, but we will celebrate his birthday when we see him in June.

I searched Pinterest and found a great looking "Patriotic" cake, but the recipe didn't sound so yummy. I chose a lemon cake recipe instead with cream cheese frosting. Everyone liked the lemon taste and the red, white and blue layers inside. Surprise!! 

I didn't get a chance to take a picture before we had already eaten more than half the cake, so I'm using the picture from Pinterest. Sorry, I don't know who took the picture or where the picture originated from.

It was DELICIOUS!

Lemonade Cake

INGREDIENTS:
1 boxed white cake mix
1/2 c. water
1/3 c. oil
3 eggs
1/2 c. frozen lemonade concentrate (thawed)

Mix all ingredients together. Bake as directed on the box.

Lemonade Frosting

DIRECTIONS:
8 oz. cream cheese (reduced fat cream cheese is fine, just don't use fat-free)*
2 Tbsp. butter, softened
Zest of one lemon (about 2 tsp.)
1 Tbsp. frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

I will be making this one again. Next time I'll get a picture too! :)

Camping with The Family 

At Shady Lake Recreational Area in Arkansas

 We've been camping at Shady Lake since 1984. We've taken all four of our children for many of our camping trips here and it's still a favorite of all the Zieleniewskis. 

This camping trip, we took the new additions of our family. :)

 Abby and her sweet baby. He loves riding in her backpack.

The Zieleniewski Gang

Barry Carson, Baby Graham & Mandy, Nathan Cruse & Abby,

Dad, Anna, Jacob & Kylie Thompson

This isn't the trail but some of us just have to go the hard way.

Abby giving the thumbs up for this GIANT fungus.

 

This was our Grandson's first hiking trip

Yes Graham, these are some funny girls.

Jacob & Kylie

Dad (Nathan) & Mom (Abby) have to take a break

from all the hiking. Mousie looks like she's ready to go. 

 

Yes, we hiked both of these trails!

  

 

Top of Tall Peak Trail

The fire lookout station is looking old these days,

but it's still a great place to take a break after a very long hike.

Hiking back down the trail.

 Our camping trip with all the kids was SO much fun!

I don't know when we'll all be together again for a family vacation, but I'm so thankful we got to do this before Jacob shipped off for his Navy basic training camp. 

It was a special time together. 

I love my family!

I saw this on Charity Navigator's Facebook page. I totally agree with this statement! What a waist of time and money we all use, trying to impress others when we could put that effort into something way more worth while.

Graham & Tired Me

Oh my, this grandma is SO glad my grandson, Graham likes to take naps with me. This has been a really long week!

A little Sunshine in the Winter

Some of my favorite pictures from our trip to Akumal Beach Resort in Mexico.

I'm so ready to go back again. Five more months and I'll get to use my limited Spanish

and snorkel in beautiful Akumal Bay!

 Snorkeling with the turtles

 So many turtles! One day we saw 10 during one swim.

 Dory! I think these were a type of Parrot fish. ??

One the many birds we saw fishing near the water.

Fishing boats in Akumal Bay

Swings at Moon Rise Bar. These were fun.

Mandy & Abby

So many beautiful views and so much beach & blue water! 

Some Christmas Crafts

I saw some interesting uses for wine corks on Pinterest and had to try my hand at a couple of my favorites. I made this wine cork Christmas tree and a letter Z. I love both of my creations. As soon as I find an easier way to cut the corks, I plan to make more neat things.