More dear oh deer

Yeah the damn deer did come back for desert. Got the squash all the way down to the nub in the middle of the plants. Don't seem to like the old leaves. Phillip covered up the beets,chard and new cukes with wire. Just a little late to save the squash in the garden. I have some planted up close to the house out in front where the deer hasn't ventured yet. I hope it is too close to the house to suit it. They are in bloom now and have small squash on them. Got some cukes and watermelon out with the flowers that are doing good so far. Maybe the marigolds will keep the deer from smelling them. So far so good. Been in the high 90's here yet so maybe all will make it to maturity.

Here is a puzzle or two to look at. I got them from a guy who used to live in Spokane and now has moved down to Walla Walla to live with his Daughter on a farm.

When you look at this do you see grey spots in between the black squares?

Stare at this one for 30 or 40 seconds and then look at a light colored blank wall. You will be surprised at what you see.

Granny

Getting motivated!

Last night I had the intent to get up early and try my hand at fishing the Blue River north of Silverthorn. I set my alarm for 6:30 A.M. so I would be there before the sun rolled into the valley. When the alarm went off this morning though I felt like fishing was less favorable than crawling back into bed for more sleep. I checked the reg's and thought "ehhh... I can only keep two fish and both of them have to be over 16 inches..." I have fished the Blue before and I've caught some decent fish, by that I mean I fished it the summer of 2003 with 15 outings and landed one rainbow that was about 13 inches. Sooooo, I crawled back into bed. I got up about 9:45 and felt pathetic. Since I was not going fishing I felt I had to motivate so that I would not feel like a total lazy slob. So I ate some breakfast and put on my hiking clothes and hit the trail. The goal was to walk out my door and hike all the way to Buffalo Bill Cody's grave site/museum, which is about 5 miles uphill from where I live.

Steph and Sis are familiar with the network of trails that link up to the Lookout Mt. Road where the museum is. However, they may not be familiar with this new trail. The Jefferson Co. park system must have cut the trail not too long ago.

There were other changes as well, this section of Apex trail has been re-routed.

One thing I thought was a bit scary is that it looks like they have been thinning out trees on the "Enchanted Forest" loop. I think it is kind of scary because we have had three big fires in Colorado and here is a tinder box of cut trees all dry as a bone.

After slugging up the trail I finally made it to the top. Here is a picture looking west from the museum parking lot.

Here's a picture looking down on Denver. Denver doesn't have the best air quality so this picture is a bit hazy. The haze that normally exists is supplemented with the fires going to the north, so this would be a neater looking picture under different circumstances.
Around 4:00 I made it back home with tired feet and a tad dehydrated. It was worth it though and I feel like I did something today other than loaf around. Maybe next week I'll go fishing on the Blue River.

First frost

We  got frost enough to kill the garden a few nights ago. The lettuce actually survived, and I figured it would be the first to go on a cold night. The arbor filled in quite nice but the east tower has a bit of frost damage on the top. The M-wall is pretty much finished for now, until spring, unless I get some time and cooperation from old Ma Nature.

I have built a royal exalted grand throne in the far corner of this picture. It is Poobahtic design and location, towering over all other rock benches around the area. From the driveway the top of the throne is about 6 1/2 feet tall, from the floor of the Corgi Coliseum below the throne it's about 10 feet to the top. 

The M-wall has been fun, but when my neighbor saw how it was going he decided to build a huge retaining wall at his place and that was about fours days of hard rock lifting work. I am so burned out on rocks right now. I could barely muster the energy to finish my project, [still not finished]

So,,,anyway from the Royal Exalted Grand Poobah thrown I can throw the Kong for the Corgis and get good distance because I am so high above the ground. And of course it is a most lofty and prestigious position from where I may be adequately worshiped. Yes,,I said "worshiped" ,,,,Oh! It's good to be Poobah.

Dear me deer.

The damn deer did come back and brought others with him. They ate everything in sight, even the flowers.
Didn't eat the squash or the cukes but maybe they are saving them for desert. Phillip is just going to have to put in a better fence next year or maybe have venison in the freezer.

Since we still have summer squash I will pass on a recipe or two to anyone else who has some.

Zucchini fritters.

2 cups shredded zucchini
1/4 cup shredded onion
2 eggs
1 tab. oil
1/4 tsp salt
dash pepper
dash garlic salt (optional)
1 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup pancake mix

Beat well and fry big spoonfuls in hot oil. Smash with spoon a little to flatten.
Eat as a side dish or pour on the syrup for breakfast.
If you feel you can handle it then fry up a couple slices of bacon to crumble and add to the mix.

Surprise crisp.

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or oleo
1/4 cup shortning
1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cups quick oatmeal
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
Mix together and pat half in a 9X13 or larger cake pan.
pour in the cooked mixture and top with the other half dry mix.
bake at 350 for 30 to 45 min or until browned and bubbles come up the sides, which ever is first. Serve with whip cream or ice cream . don't tell anyone what is in it and they won't guess.

Filling

4 cups shredded zucchini
1 large shredded apple
juice and zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/3 cup water
Put all in a sauce pan and cook till soft and slightly thickened.

Good stuff ...Granny