Summer's End

The month of August went fast! It all seems like a distant memory now, so pictures are always evidence of by gone days. I would like to say that summer was relaxing as this photo, but it was all so rushed, so I took photos of serenity amongst the chaotic days I had ahead when I went back home to ND to visit family and go to my niece's wedding. Usually when I make the trip, I go through Indiana, Ill., Wisc. and Minn. to go to get home. This time I went off the beaten path through Mich. and the upper penninsula to get across. I am so glad I did. Lovely views across the Great Lakes. I took this photo on a beach viewing Mackinac Bridge. I couldn't resist the couple in the foreground. It made me want to enjoy it too! There is something about being near the water that is so calming and inviting.










I even caught a Canadian Goose trying to defect from Canada! LOL



And I caught a parasailer coming in for a landing.









In a small town in Minnesota, I ran across the BIG FISH! Certainly an eye catcher! Unfortunately it wasn't open. Appears to be an evening eating place and bar.



When I was growing up, we would visit Bemiji and view Paul Bunyan and Babe the blue ox. It's been many years, but somehow it appeared a LOT larger when I was younger! LOL



In August it is lovely to see all of the sunflowers in bloom in the fields of North Dakota.



It was good to see family too. This is my niece's little boy, Mason riding on grandpa Dale's tractor.


Here he is in the hot tub at the hotel with his uncle Jared.



Mason's mom is Jenifer (my niece on the left). Her Sister,(My Niece),Julie on the right, Got married Aug. 20th. The day after Jenifer's birthday.



Their brother, Joseph (my nephew) attended and his girlfriend, Jessica.



My sister Veda is on the left, is Julie's mom. I am in the center and our mom is on the right.



This is Ben and Julie. Ben is from Columbia,South America. He was adopted and he also has two sisters, each were adopted for other areas in South America. He is really a fun loving guy and I wish the two of them all of the happiness in the world!


Their wedding was so lovely!







This is Lesa, Julie's best friend and Maid of Honor.



Remember all of the flowers that I dyed? They looked lovely on the head table! The lighting was an awesome touch!



All of the flowers were silk, except that I made the bride's bouquet, the groom's bout., the cake flowers and the tossed bouquet all in real flowers. There were little crystals on the table that looked like diamonds.





I also made these yummy orange cookies rolled in pecans or coconut and dipped in chocolate for the wedding. They are awesome and easy to make. Here's the recipe if you would like to make them sometime.

Orange Balls

1 box (12 oz) vanilla waffers
1 lb. powdered sugar
1/2 cup softened butter
6 oz. can of frozen orange juice,thawed
1 1/2 cup crushed pecans or flaked coconut
1 pkg. chocolate chips

Crush waffers fine in a food processor. Add all ingredients except for the last two.
roll in pecans or coconut. Shape in 1 oz. balls and chill until firm. Use double boiler and melt chocolate. Dip half of the balls and chill again until firm.

The rest of the trip home was spent helping mom. I painted her porch, her deck, kitchen and entry way. Scrubbed floors and defrosted her freezer, helped babysit the kids she takes care of and cooked. Time goes by so fast when you're busy that the visit seemed so short, but as always, there's no place like home!