Here are my best memories from my first summer in North Dakota

Best nature find: Painted Turtles, roaming freely in the Turtle Mountains. Several came to visit my campsite each evening.

Best garden plant: Jade green beans. I planted green beans for years. This year I ordered Jades from Territorial Seed Company and loved them: long dark green pods, more tender than regular varieties, and they freeze well.

Best camping: Beaver Creek Recreation Area. I found this COE spot late in the summer, over on the Missouri River. Prairie, farmland and the river ecosystems all converge there. Other reasons this was the best: a Great Horned Owl greeted me, I camped next to a Vulture rookery, the area was empty and quiet during the week

Most embarrassing summer faux pas: Loud gas emission while showing someone how to do the sciatic stretch. Laughter is good medicine, though.

Best adventure: James River Trip

Best book: Lord Jim, Joseph Conrad

Best family moment: Kerry’s Wedding

Favorite new birding hangouts: walking trail and auto tour route at Arrowwood National Wildlife Reserve; Snowy Plover breeding area, Long Lake NWR

Birding Surprise of the Summer: the number of hawks who breed and summer up here; makes sense because of all the open farmland and resident small mammals who scurry amoung the crops.

Best new bird: Kingfisher

Best book about writing: You Can Say that Again: 750 Phrases to Think Twice About, Marcia Johnston

Best summer project: blue/white sweater knit shawl with crochet edge

Best church moment: first baptism up here

Best senior moment in church: forgot the Lord’s Prayer

Best plug-in for JanesJournals: grammarly

Best new app: Lumosity

Favorite discovery about North Dakota: Many farmers provide access through their land to zillions of small lakes

Best news about North Dakota: Man camps in Baaken oil field closing down as the housing market catches up with demand for decent homes

Best local event: Homecoming Parade

Best international event: Pope Francis’ visit to the US

Best acquisition: Yogurt Maker, heavy-duty Food Dehydrator
(for garden veggies)

Local food discovery: Breakfast pizza

Best new shoe design:

Best new minister garb (just kidding)

Best thought: We all do just fine in life: making decisions, taking risks and raising our kids. We do the best we can at any given time.