On the Hunt

I have just returned from travel for work.  I spent the last 6 days in Perdido Key,FL and Orange Beach, AL. We were there to trap Perdido Key Beach Mice, which are an endangered species. We were trapping, tagging, and taking genetic samples before releasing them back into the dunes.  It was exhausting work that consisted of working all night every night and resetting traps during the day.  It was such a rewarding experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  It is, however, great to be home with my husband and fur babies...which expanded while I was away.  We now have a pet baby opossom named Cheese.  Here are some photos from my trip and our new family member.

Cheese nesting

Cheese :oD

My first beach mouse

 Perdido Key

Beach mouse

PICKLES!!!!

This past week our cucumber plants kicked it into over drive and pumped out some huge fruit.  Looking at them, I knew exactly what I was going to do with them.  Make pickles!!!  Here's the process.

Some of the ingredients

The dill brine 

Spices in the jars

Top view of the cayenne blend.

Top view of the habanero blend 

Cucs in the jars, ready for the brine

Chips. Cucs in the jars, ready for the brine

Spears. Cucs in the jars, ready for the brine

Brine added

Ready for the canner

In the canner

Cooling off

Finished Cayenne pickles

Finished habanero pickles

Can't wait to try them in 2 weeks!!!!!!!!

Bird Bliss

I've been into bird watching lately...Mainly because we have beautiful birds visiting our feeders in the backyard.  Here's what's been in our neck of the woods over the past week.

 House Finch

 Monarch Caterpillars

 Indigo Buntings & Cardinals

 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks & House Sparrows

 Indigo Bunting & Thrashers

 Indigo Buntings & Rose Breasted Grosbeaks

 House Sparrow

 Mocking Bird

And this picture of Murphy is so cute, I couldn't not share it :-)

Garden Update

Our garden is coming along nicely.  I took these photos a few weeks ago and the difference is amazing.  Things are a LOT bigger!  We will be picking veggies in no time.  

Blackberry Bliss

We have been picking blackberries like crazy lately.  Our hands are thorny and stained purple...but our refrigerator and freezer are FULL of those sweet little berries.  We have 9 & 1/2 gallons so far.  We've made cobbler and jam.  I think I am going to try sorbet next!

An Xtreme Weekend

We participated in an adventure race on St. Patrick's Day.  It was an annual event put on by the MWR at the base that Jim works for.  Average completion time is ~ 7 hours.  It was a grueling day, but we had a blast.  We did challenges that included canoeing, rock climbing, running, biking, marksmanship, orienteering, ziplines, rope bridges, etc...and we finished in under 5 hours!  We can't wait to do it again next year.  Here is a before and after shot of our team: The Sand Crabs!

R and R

I made these chairs over the past 2 days.  What a fun and easy project.  We're all set for some warm summer nights!