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Borrego Springs, CA

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Put on an addition to my home today

I had a long list of things to accomplish on my day off today in Detroit Lakes.  I’m not a big fan of shopping, but today was one of those days when the stars were aligned and everything just clicked.  First stop was the farmer’s market that goes on every Saturday in Detroit Lakes.  I didn’t have high expectations since winter is barely over in this neck of the woods, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

I scored two delicious loaves of bread…pretzel bread and  split top buttered white bread, a batch of fresh asparagus, and two home grown pork chops.  As the season progresses, I know this will be an almost weekly stop for me.  I was pleased to see that this farmer’s market hadn’t degenerated into a craft fair.  There was also plenty of locally produced honey and maple syrup available, but I wasn’t in need of any of those.IMG_3236

The young ones are starting to arrive on the refuge.  These proud parents were carefully watching their four goslings.

Next up was a trip to L&M Fleet to pick out a pair of steel toed boots.  Not much available for ladies, and what there was turned out to be ugly and didn’t offer much foot support.  I opted for the smallest sized men’s Georgia boots.  With no arches, I have a wide foot, so the small men’s size worked best for me.  They were not cheap by any means, but the refuge is picking up the tab.  Perhaps I’ll model them along with the new hat I bought after the refuge picks them up next week.

While there I picked up some more bird food for the Hard Rock Bird Café.  Since the bear still seems to be hanging around the area, the refuge has stopped putting out their feeders.  I still put mine out each morning, and take them in before sunset each night.  I may have to get a second job just to pay for the bird food!IMG_3230When I got home, a young male orchard oriole was visiting.  They’re not very common around here, so I was happy to see one.  I also picked up another jug of grape jelly while I was in town.  That jelly is a real hit with all of the orioles.  I’ve even taken to filling up the orange half with it after they eat the insides.  Turns out grape jelly is cheaper than oranges up here.

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Here’s the addition I put on to my home today.  I’m thinking it won’t be long before the mosquitoes and deer flies will be a real challenge to put up with, so I wanted a safer place to sit outside with Emma.  The directions said one person could put this screen room up, but help might be needed the first time or in very windy conditions.  Today qualified on both counts.  I tried to put it up myself, but the high winds made that impossible.  I asked fellow volunteer Steve to help, and we both struggled to get it put together.  I later added a guy wire on one side so it didn’t collapse in the wind. 

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Here’s the view as I sit in my rocker and gaze out the front of my new room.  Not too shabby!  The birds have also adjusted to it, and now I’m only a few feet from the feeders. 

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I also decided to experiment with making my own trail mix to snack on while I’ll be doing all of those bird surveys.  Most trail mixes contain peanuts, and I don’t care for them.  So, I bought some raisins, dark chocolate M&M’s, cashews, honey roasted sesame sticks, and M&M’s pretzels.  I think I’m going to like that combo.

Well, temps were finally warm enough this afternoon after I got back from town to put on some shorts.  That means I’d better close for now, get out the electric razor and take care of my HLS (hairy leg syndrome).  Confused smile

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                                                                                THE END!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

37 comments:

  1. Tat does sound like a good trail mix. We buy the deluxe nuts i.e. no peanuts and then add lots of raisins. This is very close the mix that is sold at the street markets in the Netherlands called Studenhaven. Not sure why that name, but I got hooked on in back in the 70's and still enjoy it as a snack anywhere.

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  2. I love to visit the Farmers Market - such interesting items! Homemade trail mix - looks delicious! :-)

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  3. HLS...that's a good one and one I just may have to borrow :)
    Love your new screen room.

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  4. Love the new addition. I bet you could sit out there all day long. I know I could!

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  5. I decided I needed to do something about the forest growing on my legs today too. Really interesting how the leg has thinned out and now I have a beard. I don't understand but there's a lot I don't' understand.

    Trail mix looks good ~ nice screen room

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  6. Cant wait for you to model those new Georgia boots and hat! I love the screen room and I know Emma will too! Your trail mix ingredients look yummy...love cashews and dark chocolate! The orchard oriole is quite a handsome fellow...so sleek!

    Have a great Sunday!
    Hugs to Emma!

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  7. I like the farmers mkt much better when they don't try to get crafty, but I notice now that just about every one has live music. Usually a duo singing the music I hate - Beatles! I want to get my produce and get out of there quickly. I bought a screen room before I worked at Lassen in 2009. I didn't really like to sit in it - somehow the screening gets in the way of the view for me. I didn't have any problem at all setting it up by myself once I got the hang of it.

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  8. The screen room looks like a great addition to you site. Don't leave any snacks inside, or the beat might want in during the night!

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  9. the screen room is a great addition to your home!!
    I think I like your recipe for homemade trail mix!!

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  10. Sam too..no peanuts cashews only
    Grape jelly, thats interesting
    Donna

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  11. I haven't had pretzel bread in years...yummmmmy!

    I make our trail mix also. I throw in some dried cranberries. Delicious.

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  12. Wish we could have a screen room here, but the weather is just too volatile. We'd be constantly putting it up and taking it down or seeing it blow off to Colorado . . . Can't wait to see you modeling the boots and hat! Yep, the trail mix looks yummy!

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  13. That's a really nice site you have. We bought one of those screened tents while in Florida last year trying to get away from the no-see-ums. It worked!

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  14. I discovered while sitting in the hot tub last night that I also had a case of HLS. When you can feel the hair moving, you know it's time to shave.......and I just did it a few days ago.

    Love the view from your site.

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  15. Those screen rooms are a blessing. I put one up here at the RV Park, but I sure didn't want to take it down every time I went camping. So I bought this cheapo one at Big Lots!. And it wasn't cheap enough let me tell you. But with the help of my friends we are making modifications and it will work for us.

    I love all the pretty birds you have up there.

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  16. Any trail mix that includes chocolate in one form or another is a good mix ;-) Enjoy the addition to your room. If you're getting winds frequently, it is worth adding guy wires on all sides.

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  17. Yum - homemade trail mix! Nice to have a farmer's mkt in the area. We always go when we can.

    Can't wait to see the picture of you in your new steel-toed boots, esp if you wear shorts!!

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  18. I often make our own trail mix. That way I can put in the things we like. Now you definitely have to take that picture of your boots with shorts. I need to dehair today also.

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  19. wow... i need have home it... its cool
    http://bloggingtravel.blogspot.com/

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  20. Great looking addition - even comes with air-conditioned comfort!

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  21. What a wonderful view! And great you can get closer to the bird feeders.

    Given my current commitment to stay in locales where I can live in sandals, developing HLS is not an option...

    The trail mix looks yummy. Might need to mix something up like that myself.

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  22. Great view!! I have a question for you over at my blog...about the snapper.......

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  23. SUPER DUPER post! Glad you got a screen point of landing! Great idea! Th goldmine landing of goodies...that had to feel great! Homemade trail mix the ultimate and especially a good feeling when you whip up your own!I think of you every day and the ticks,etc. but I'm sure you wouldn't trade it for anything! Hope I make it to that heaven soon!

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  24. SCORE on the screen room!! I would have to have one if I were there for very long, too!! There is nothing like a Farmer's Market that actually is all food..no carnival...another great find.

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  25. Hope the screen room allows you to be bug free and outdoors. Thanks for the grape jelly suggestion. I vote for shoes, hat and shorts too.

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  26. Catherine used to always make a mean trail mix for our road trips. I am thinking that will be perfect for our car trip to get our stuff. Great idea.

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  27. love, love, love your new addition. . .and the trail mix looks great too. . .yum!

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  28. I've pretty much turned into a hippie when it comes to legs since there's not much left. I do take care of the stray hairs on my chin since my grandson said, "Grandma's have beards," to me one day while we were playing together. They notice things like that.

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  29. A screen room is a great addition. sitting outside getting devoured by mosquitoes is not my idea of a good time. I like your idea for the trail mix. I love peanuts but eating more than just a few does bad things to my body!!

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  30. I like the new porch! Can't wait to see the boots. As always - great pictures of the birds.

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  31. Great idea to put the jelly in the orange. I recently read of a tick deterent that you may want to try. 1 part tea tree oil 2 parts water in a spray bottle and you spray your shoes, socks and pant legs. May be worth a try.
    http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/camping-hacks-that-are-borderline-genius George found this on this link. They have some clever ideas for camping. Love your blog!

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  32. I like your new palatial palace. I bet it didn't cost peanuts!

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  34. Oops, something went wrong there, I'll try again!
    Love the screen room, we just talked about it last night when we noticed the first mosquitoes of the season were out! We'll probably get one too on our next shopping trip.
    (In reply to Annekes comment at the top: "I think you mean 'studentenhaver' which translates to 'student oats'. It's a classic poor student’s snacking mix, but a healthy one, and said to improve your IQ! :)

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  35. I haven't been able to leave comments for a couple of weeks... but never miss reading your blog. I've never used grape jelly to feed birds but it sure looks like it works for you. Glad you got your tootsies covered with steel... now you can be klutzy like me and have drop heavy weighted stuff on them ;-)

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  36. That's a lovely addition and a gorgeous view. I'm very very jealous!

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  37. I'm having shoulder surgery tomorrow and will soon be a victim of HAS (Hairy Armpit Syndrome). I'm kind of curious as to what is going to happen since my armpit hasn't been unshaven in 30 years!

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