What I haven't posted in 3 years!!!

Life has gotten so busy- finishing up a 31 year career teaching, starting an on-line home décor business, and moving to the mountains.  Life is good!  My Facebook page and Etsy page are known as My Simply Rustic Home.  It started with my love of Mason Jars and canning!  Well, that developed into painting Mason jars and making home décor items.  My addiction to thrift store shopping became a great source of repurposing vintage and rusty items!   I started my business in 2015 and worked full time and well, got very little sleep!  My husband has given me a space (that's growing) in his garage for all my goodies!   Everyday I wake up excited to paint, sand, or create a new piece for my shop!  My local gals in Peoria have really been the reason for my success! Thank you, girls! 
Today I am just posting some of my Mason jar creations! 

Wow!  It is amazing what 2 inches of rain will do in two weeks.  We just got home from a two week vacation to TX and boy did the garden grow.  I think the tomatoes doubled in size.  Beets are ready and I picked all the radishes.  The lettuce and spinach are out of control.  Love it!

Horton Creek Hike

What a beautiful hike, probably my favorite hike in the area.  Horton Creek is gorgeous any time of the year.  8 miles round trip.  We took Wink with us and she loved running through the creek.  I think she even got tired.  Well, at least she slept on the way home.

Haigler Creek

 Haigler Creek hike this morning. We were amazed that the water was still flowing.

Strawberries

Strawberries are starting to produce.   I've only picked a few, but they were delicious.  Last year, I had a little mouse that kept getting the berries before I could.  Yesterday, I saw a gardener snake in the strawberry patch.  Mmmmm maybe I will get some berries this year!

Bird Nest

Found this nest on the ground near one of the blue spruce trees.  One little blue egg next to it.  I put the nest on top of the "antler tree". 

The Lone Elk Returns

We had just gotten home from a 3 mile hike with our neighbors and found our friendly cow elk back in the yard.  Winky ran right up to her, off the leash, and she just stood there.  If the elk would have run--goodbye Wink!  I hope she finds her herd.