Bottling my Homemade Vanilla

It has been 18 months since I started this project!

Tired of waiting, I decided that it is time. So, I gathered it all together.

I wanted to strain the vanilla as I poured it in the bottles. After trying several apporaches, using the K-cup seemed to work perfectly. 

There are beans left in the bottle along with what was caught in the straining process. Those are saved for another project. Like... Homemade ice cream? Vanilla Cream Scones? Mmmmmm....

All bottled 

and ready for the labels.

There is nothing hard about making this, except the patience to wait for it's time!

Our Summer Part 1

We made a trip to DC for July 4th.

We enjoyed our son and his family...

And the fireworks!

The Washington Monument was open after the repairs were made from the earthquake.

Spending a day at Mount Vernon made us aware of the fascinating life of George and Martha Washington.

Good bye, DC!

Hello Spartanburg and cousins!

Our daughter-in-law and daughter at the pool.

Home to Texas with these grandsons!

In the mountains with this fun retreat group.

Family

I love the time that I get to spend with my brother each summer when he comes to the mountains and brings his grandson. Their Saturday arrival brought the opportunity to attend church together on Sunday. I loved it!i

We play a lot of Farkle games.

Driving lessons were on the agenda this year. Jacob really did well.

We enjoy a fire that Jacob starts in the evenings.

Homemade ice cream! What a treat!

We watch the clouds and rain.

The 4 wheelers always provide a fun afternoon ride!

There's just no place like home!

There has been some wonderful rain!

We are thankful.

The evening sunsets are so so beautiful! 

And my flowers have flourished!

GrandKid's Camp 2014

The gang. Ready for fun!

Cuties!

The injured.

More injured.

Swim Buddies.

The Water Park is the place to spend hot afternoons!

All piled up.

Whew!

Pool Frisby.

Hot dogs? S'mores?

Fire building.

Game time!

Helping a friend.o

The big boys.

We had a private speaker at the CCC museum.

Card games.

Chess matches.

Bicycling.

Kayaking.

Canoeing.

Looking pretty on the dock.

The Outdoor Adventurers.

Our Spring Trip...

Our trip began with a stop in Lewisville for a few nights of camping at Pilot Knoll Park in Highland Village with high school friends. Yes, we are all aging gracefully! As you would expect, we were too busy with our memories to take pictures. Or, maybe we forgot?

WOW! This is our Nani Dot on her 87th birthday.

And, on her grandson's Harley!

Next stop was Destin FL for a full week of beach. 

Ahhhh...

Much needed!

On to the East Coast to St. Augustine, a city in Northeast Florida and the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement and port in the continental United States. This is a picture of my souvenir from the trip. I didn't have to fit it, store it or worry about breaking it because we ate it!

Up the coastline to Savannah to put some south in our mouth at Paula Dean's place.

At the waiter's suggestion, I added a little Sangria and Mickey had a Mint Julip.

The cornbread and cheese biscuits! Oh my!

My salad with tenderloin strips.

Georgia is a beautiful state and we even stopped to photograph these lily pads!