The Big "29"

Oldest, wisest but still a Junior. I am so lucky to have you as a big brother. Thank you for always being there for me- I hope "29" is good to you. Enjoy birthday boy...

I hope all your wishes come true!!

"I like you and cake"

Friday Favorite: My Boys

They are the peanut to my butter, the milk to my cereal and some sort of handsome just like their father. My brothers, my boys, my very favorite people (ever) in the world.  They are my steady ground to stand on, the ones I listen to, the ones I learn from. I am proud to be their baby sister. They are successful and hardworking and have a lot to show for it- including beautiful homes and lovely wives and I am proud.

Yesterday it was sweltering hot and humid outside. Me and my boys decided to skip out of work early and go try out Ev's new jet-ski (woohoo). I ran home to grab my bathing suit and this little baby was looking at me over the fence. I just couldn't resist- I decided to cool him down with the hose- he loved every second of it...

& the fun begins...

 This is how I could spend the rest of my life.

Oh yeah I almost forgot- mom and dad arrived in Wyoming yesterday evening & they miss me already...

Happy Friday,

The Swiss Miss

& dreams come true

Today was the day, bright and early my parents flew the coop. West bound and down- Wyoming or bust. Curly’s sad- I’m sad. We miss them when they go. My dirty laundry never miraculously gets cleaned, folded and placed carefully on my bed. Dinner is never on the table when I get home from work and the dishes, well they most certainly do not do themselves. Funny the things you notice when momma bear isn't at home picking up the slack. About halfway through the summer though, every year like clock work I get really homesick for them (it’s true). The second I send out my distress call (every year) I can almost guarantee a ticket with my name on it will be booked. Usually within less than a week I am on a plane flying into Jackson Hole (naturally, they miss me too). If you’ve never been, it’s a very lovely hole to fly into. Ask my friends I always bring a few of them along.  It's better that way- like having the best of both worlds. But for now I'll just wait until then and keep busy doing laundry and making dinner and doing dishes because I have no choice and Cinderella did it and Cinderella married a very handsome prince...hmmm. A girl can dream.

Me & Wade took curly for a walk after dinner tonight...

The view from on top was dreamy & so was the boy leading the way...

We watched the sunset...

& Curly could not wait to get home- he was hungry, he's always hungry.

But little piggy or not I love this boy and he loves me.

"Home is whenever I'm with you"

The Lucky One

Four years and counting, every Father’s Day weekend, an annual event- Bald Mountain, you still get me every time. This year there was 25 of us camping- secluded down a long Vermont dirt road. There is no cell service there- it is fabulous. The campground sits on a river. We tube and fish and grill and for that one weekend every year there is not a worry to be had- just good clean backwoods living. 

Bald Mountain Campground Townshend, VT

This year we had tee-shirts made- I guess I'm officially the Swiss Miss...

Ready, set, time to go tubing...

Meet Squirrel- ain't he cute?!

&&& best of all I was home Sunday just in time to enjoy a lovely Father's Day with my daddy!

He's pretty special (& a cowboy)...

& because of him I have been many places and seen beautiful things, 

& because of him I know right from wrong.

& because he's my daddy and I'm his girl I know I am the luckiest one (ever) in the world...

"And I know that I want to go where the streets are gold 

cause you'll be there" -George Strait

June: I like you

June, I like you because...

You’re a beauty,

& strawberries are ready to be picked in June.

& the weather is warm enough to take a dip but not sweltering. 

& my seedlings grow and mature with your bright rays of sunshine.  
& June I like you.
Not only when your sunny-side-up but, also when mother nature does her tricks with the rain and the thunderstorms and believe it or not- I like that too. 

Oh yeah, and one other reason I like June?!-

Check out that banner...

I'll be available to sign autographs later -_-

Also: 

I have an announcement to make- I must introduce you to our newest family member. He's from Denver, CO & handsome as can be. 

Meet Big Boy Cash

 &&& a few snapshots from today:

Jackson Turned "1"

And he loved every second of it...

Can't ya tell?!

It was a beautiful day for a pool party

And I got my baby fix- mission accomplished.

xo

Happy Week Flower Sniffers,

The Swiss Miss

Banana Bread: Feed Your Inner Monkey

Banana bread, I love this recipe- it’s so filling and tasty and nourishes your belly leaving you to feel just right. Perhaps some of you will even feel your inner monkey sneaking out on ya- be careful. The prep is quick and easy but it does take a while to bake- so make sure you leave yourself enough time.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 Cups Suga’ Suga’

1/2 Cup Butter Softened

2 Eggs

2-3 Bananas Mashed

1/2 Cup Buttermilk

1 Tsp. Vanilla

2 1/2 Cups Flour

1 Tsp. Baking Soda

1 Tsp. Salt

1 Cup Chopped Nuts (Optional)

* If you want to know a little secret, I’ll share- when I first went to make this recipe I did not have any buttermilk in the house. So I googled “substitutes for buttermilk”. Here’s what google came up with... Combine 1 Cup of milk with 1 Tablespoon of fresh lemon juice- stir and let stand for 2 minutes. Come to find out it worked like a charm... Just thought you should know in case you don't have buttermilk on hand either. 

Step 1: Preheat Oven to 350 degrees and move oven rack so that it is positioned in the center.

Step 2: Grease the bottom of (1) 9x5x3 bread pan.

Step 3: In a large bowl mix the suga’ and butter together. Then stir in the eggs until the ingredients are well blended.

 Step 4: Add the bananas, buttermilk and vanilla- beat until smooth.

Step 5: Stir in the flour, baking soda and salt until moistened- if you decide to add nuts now is the time.

Step 6: Pour the batter into the bread pan and pop it in the oven for about 1 hour- to be sure it is cooked all the way through insert a knife and if it comes out clean your bread is complete. 

YuuMMM...

I don't even need banana bread to make me feel like a monkey

It just comes natural-_-

Told Ya!!!

Enjoy your weekend & some banana bread,

The Swiss Miss

Happy June Bugs

It's been a while,

I’ve missed you,

I hope you missed me too...

I’ve been busy sun bathing & laughing & jeeping & frolicking & camping & picking flowers & sewing seeds.

What a lovely life...

MDW 2012- Back @ The Pond

 New Stars & Stripes

 Hey Soul Sista

 I finished planting my veggie garden...

Curly watched.

Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Lettuce, Sweet Corn, Yellow Squash, Pole Beans, Sugar Snap Peas (favorite), Peppers, Broccoli, Eggplant, Watermelon & Cantaloupe...

That's everything I planted- Now say it over ten times fast-_-

& my peonies are in full bloom...

I have little bouquets everywhere.

They are my happy place & I love them the most.

Also-
I recently stumbled upon some Skinner Family throwbacks- I love finding old photos almost as much as I love peonies...

Ev & Chris

Me & Warren

Check her out, oh yeah and that sweet little boy too...

That same little boy that's hangin' in the pool with his momma just shot his first bear yesterday- Congratulations Chris!

My what big paws you have...

Happy June Bugs,

The Swiss Miss