A Thought to Start Your Week

We all have our own life to pursue,
our own kind of dream to be weaving,
and we all have the power to make wishes come true,
as long as we keep believing.

Louisa May Alcott

Sweety has a New Home

First I want to thank everyone who took part in the August Farmers' Market Challenge. It was great to see all of your markets with the wonderful produce and assorted goodies. This challenge gives us a nice view of what's available from our local farmers all across the globe.

As a part of this month's challenge I decided to hold my first giveaway. See the little guy in the photo above, that's Sweety Onion. Sweety is the mascot of the Walla Walla Sweet Onions produced here in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington state.

The drawing was held yesterday and now it is time to announce the winner. Where is Sweety's new home? Little Sweety Onion will be going to live with ....... (Drum roll please) ........ Mama Mel of Mama Mel Loves..... Congratulations Mama Mel, I know Sweety will be so very happy in his new home.

So that's my first giveaway! Since I have another Farmers' Market Challenge scheduled for Saturday, September 26th maybe I will have another giveaway. What do you think? Let's see what I can come up with for next time.

The Farmers' Market Challenge - August Edition

Hello Everyone! Welcome to the Farmers' Market Challenge. Mister Linky is now OPEN!

The purpose of this challenge is to raise awareness for purchasing locally produced foods. Be it fruits, vegetables, dairy products or related items we want to know what's available where you live.

This is for everyone. If you have a Farmers' Market in your area we would like to see your photos. If you don't have a farmers' market how about a roadside produce stand? Or maybe you grow your own vegetables? Do you raise chickens or geese, do you use the eggs? We want to see your photos. The Challenge will be open all weekend so you still have time to post.

Participants may now sign in. You should have you photos and/or story posted on your blog before you sign in. You can link any and all of your farmers' market posts. Mister Linky is very easy to use, just follow the instructions. If you have any questions or problems my email address is on my profile.

The Farmers' Market Challenge - Walla Walla, WA

We have two farmers' markets in Walla Walla, one is on the weekend and has lots of vendors and fills a large area. The second market is held on Wednesdays at a small park in the downtown area. It has only six or seven vendors most weeks but still has lots of fresh produce and assorted goodies.

Our Wednesday Farmers' Market.

This is Heritage Park in downtown Walla Walla. The mural you see on the right depicts the original downtown store fronts. There are several such murals on buildings all over town.

The venue might be small but the produce is always fresh from the farm and the assortment is good. I found some of the sweetest, juiciest blackberries on this table.


Don't these tomatoes look yummy?

It's time for fresh corn.

It all looked so good. I bought some of the summer squash and zucchinis that you see on the right hand side of the table.

This vendor came from Oregon to bring her farm fresh fruits and vegetables to the market. LaGrande,Oregon is a bit of a drive from here.

Because LaGrande is a higher elevation the growing season is later, these are a new crop of Rainier cherries, super yummy. Of course I just had to take a few home.

Can you believe the size of these squash, the large one had to weigh almost three pounds. The zucchini was enormous. Wow!

And of course with this being Walla Walla there are always onions.


To see more markets from all over the world go to the post above this one and check out the links on Mister Linky.

It's Almost Time for The Farmers' Market Challenge

The next Farmers' Market Challenge is this Saturday, August 29th. Are you ready?

I will post Mr. Linky tomorrow evening. After you have posted your photos and/or story about your local farmers' market on your blog come back here and leave your link so everyone can visit you. Do not sign up on Mr. Linky until after you have posted your entry on your blog.

Remember the purpose of this challenge is to raise awareness of what is available in our communities in the way of produce and other locally produced products. The products might be grown by local farmers or raised in your own backyard. The "market" might be a fruit stand, honey sold by a local beekeeper, or the lady down the road who raises chickens and sells the eggs. We just want to see what's available where you live.

Get ready! I will post tomorrow evening and the challenge will be open all weekend. You still have time to get photos.

Sweety Needs a Home

Sweety Onion is looking for a home, have you entered for a chance to win? Time is running out, the deadline for entries is Saturday August 29TH at midnight. For more information and to enter to win click HERE!

A Thought about Travel and Home

No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.

Lin Yutang

A Desert Working Vacation

Hello All,

First I want to apologize to everyone for being so slow in visiting your blogs to comment this past week. My nineteen year old stepdaughter has been down from Anchorage, Alaska for a visit before going back to college. We only see her about once a year so it was a little hectic around here.

As if that wasn't enough to keep us busy, on Saturday night we got a call from my Brother-in-law asking us to come to Las Vegas. This coming week is the Vegas to Reno race sponsored by Best in the Desert and his teams could use some extra help and support. Since we really love desert racing it was hard to pass up this opportunity. No time for casinos or gambling but lots of desert time.

To make this long story short we are flying out to Vegas this afternoon to meet up with BIL and the teams. We will be down there for about a week.

The best part is I should be coming back with lots and lots of photos of both the race and all that gorgeous desert scenery.

I hope all is well with everyone, I will be back to blogging Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Love you all.

Judy

Pursue this Thought

We all have our own life to pursue,
our own kind of dream to be weaving,
and we all have the power to make wishes come true,
as long as we keep believing.

Louisa May Alcott

The Brenda Photo Challenge - A View From Above

Standing at a view above that of this little squirrel, I snapped his photo. Then, out of the corner of my eye I saw a movement and turned my head to see. . . . .


this cute little fellow. While I was taking his picture I felt something touch my foot, it tickled. I looked down and saw . . . . . .

the first squirrel. I think he wanted to check out the human and maybe pose for some more photos. Now for some views that are really way above.

This photo is from the time I lived in Anchorage, Alaska. I was flying out for a vacation and shot this as we took off. The view is the city of Anchorage and Cook Inlet.

This photo is also from my Alaska days. This was taken at Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine. I did a post on the Independence Mine back in May, to see it go HERE.

This challenge is the brainchild of Donna at The Brenda Photo Challenge. This month the challenge is being hosted by Charmine at Travel It's Fun and the theme is A View From Above. For more details and to get the links for more great photos visit Travel It's Fun and The Brenda Photo Challenge.

Camera Critters - The Birds and the Bees!

Hi Everyone! Miss Cindi Lou Who here to bring you this week's Camera Critters. If you haven't been here before you should know that my mom lets me pick the photos each week for Camera Critters. I like it because the first photo you see is ME! Wait, would that make me a critter? I think not.
My picks for this week are birds and bees, or should I say the birds and the bees. Maybe both.

First a robin, that's our birdie.

Then a honey bee, which of course is our bee.

And now a Skipper, which is neither a bird or a bee but ...... well you just have to look at the rest of the photos and see what happens when a little girl Skipper (above) meets a boy Skipper. Don't worry, it's rated PG.




For more fun photos and to join the fun go to Camera Critters.

A Thought for Today. . . . . and Everyday

When one door of happiness closes, another opens;
but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.

Helen Keller

Consider This Thought

You are today where your thoughts have brought you;
you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.

James Allen

An Important Thought

While we may not be able to control all that happens to us, we can control what happens inside us.

Benjamin Franklin

Wordless Wednesday - Sunny Yellow

To see more photos go to Wordless Wednesday.

A Photo Challenge Reminder

I wanted to remind everyone of an upcoming photo challenge. The next Brenda Photo Challenge is being hosted by Charmine at Travel It's Fun.

It is this Sunday, August 16th, and the theme is A View from Above. For more information visit The Brenda Photo Challenge and Travel It's Fun.

Something to Think About

Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life. A positive attitude causes a chain reaction of positive thoughts, events, and outcomes. It is a catalyst, a spark that creates extraordinary results.

Anon

A Thought to Start Your Day

Whatever we learn has a purpose and whatever we do affects everything and everyone else, if even in the tiniest way. Why, when a housefly flaps his wings, a breeze goes round the world; when a speck of dust falls to the ground, the entire planet weighs a little more; and when you stamp your foot, the earth moves slightly off its course. Whenever you laugh, gladness spreads like the ripples in a pond; and whenever you're sad, no one anywhere can be really happy. And it's much the same thing with knowledge, for whenever you learn something new, the whole world becomes that much richer.

Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth

Camera Critters - Dragons and Damsels

Miss Cindi Lou Who here to show you my picks for this week's Camera Critters. Mom said I could pick any photos I wanted so I will show you the Exercise Flies! Mom says I get exercise when I chase them because I have to run and jump so much. But I never get one, they are way too fast. I will keep watching them, they can't outsmart me forever, can they?

For weeks I have tried to get photos of Dragonflies but they were always so fast and just refused to stay still for more than a second. And then one day they were every where and even posed for a few photos.

This little fella was willing to pose but he only wanted to sit on the concrete which makes his beautiful wings very hard to see.

I suppose when you flitter and flutter around a lake at Mach 1 it's almost impossible to keep your wings from getting banged up. This little one has taken a few hits on his delicate wings.

This dragonfly just posed for me.

And then he decided this was his good side and posed some more.




Here's another little dragonfly that enjoyed posing, he really seemed to like having his photo taken.

And then he waved to me and flew away!


To see more photos of critters from around the world go to Camera Critters.