Summer is drawing to a close here in our beautiful North Idaho. I had lows in my garden of 38 degrees in July! We've had many nights in the low 40s in the last couple of weeks.  My plants are doing their best, as I support them and give them everything I can think of to help them - but we all know that Fall and the first frost are close at hand... 

Most of you my faithful readers know that I am Canadian by birth, as I've shared much about my Canadian roots through the years.  I have lived in the United States since 1994, and while having my green card - which grants me most of the benefits of being a US citizen - there were still things I could not do with my green card -  namely voting, sitting on a jury, running for political office, or being able to get a concealed weapons permit. 

Thanks to all of you who shared such encouraging words about the passing of my Dad. I have mourned his passing each and every day - and have appreciated all the prayers and encouraging words each of you have shared with me! There is an ache in my soul every moment with the loss of his presence here on earth, but then I look up into the heavens, into the skies and the Lord reminds me that Dad is at peace there, with Him. What a comfort it is to know that in the darkest moments of our loss, we can still rest in comfort in that knowledge! 

The garden has been a place of solace and comfort for me. It was the place I last heard my Dad's voice. And, it is the place where the voice of our Heavenly Father speaks to me too!

The garden has offered up glorious bounties already this year. Strawberries were produced in abundance!

I have enjoyed hosting garden tea parties...

In July we and our son purchased an older model fishing boat. We have since spent quite a few hours on the rivers and lakes with the boat.

Watermelon is one of our favorite treats to enjoy while on the boat!

A neighbor invited me over for a tea party on the deck of her gorgeous log home built by she and her husband.

It was such a lovely treat to sit and visit each other!

The garden has required much work - the weeds have been abundant! My husband helps in the evenings when he can.  How I appreciate his help with these tasks that can overwhelm me quickly!

We enjoyed quad rides together in the earlier part of the summer. Now that it is so hot and dusty, we will wait until we get some rain.

Our little boat! It is small, but we are enjoying it immensely!

I've had lots of chipmunk visitors to the garden this year. They have eaten their fair share of lettuce, dill, marigolds, and cilantro! They are cute but very destructive!

Dan and I went camping on the northern end of Priest Lake with Miss Riley.  What a beautiful relaxing time it was for us. The campsite was right on the beach with these glorious views!

We went for a ride up some old logging trails - our favorite thing to do!

We enjoyed cruising around the lake with our new-to-us boat.

So quiet and peaceful, and the views are glorious!

Riley enjoys riding in the front of the boat, keeping an eye out for the ducks!

Spotted this sailboat one afternoon - against the beautiful backdrop of the mountains!

Beautiful wildflowers along the bank of the lake.  We hiked along a creekbed - so peaceful and beautiful as the afternoon sunshine filtered through the trees.

Back home - Dan and I celebrated our anniversary together by getting huckleberry ice cream after a meal together. My Dad was almost always here every year for our anniversary as he would often come up to visit in July. So we enjoyed huckleberry ice cream in memory of him! Dan and I sat outside the little burger place in town where my Dad and I would often go and sit and enjoy ice cream together. We cried and reminisced our memories of Dad.

The garden is doing splendidly this year - my clematis burst out in glorious purple blooms over the trellis!

Berry picking has been abundant this year - I am thankful to have many gallons of huckleberries picked, frozen and in my freezer to enjoy!

Raspberries were amazing this year! Really - every berry that grows here has given us a great bounty!

Another view of my garden with the clematis on the trellis.

I am sure you can understand why I've been a bit absent on the blog these past couple of months, as I've had much to do in the beautiful garden space I am blessed to care for. I anticipate a marvelous harvest this year!

I have collected quite a few pictures of the aurora borealis or Northern Lights - and I put together another video with many of my Northern Lights. I hope you will enjoy the video paired with this beautiful song "You Are My Hiding Place" by Selah.