A Sisterly visit...

My sister, Jenny, was on her way through Nebraska to Montana from North Carolina. She stopped last night and stayed the night. It was so good to see her. Also, it was such a spectacular day, weather wise, that we just spent the whole time outside and down by the pond. The fact that there were as many dogs as people had something to do with that also. 

This makes me smile...

Strange as this may seem, this makes me smile. It is the bed we just put in one of our spare bedrooms. It just makes me happy. I love the old bed frame and the colors in the quilt. I have big plans for decorating this room. 

Game over muskrat?...

Yesterday we got the ingredients to  make homemade ice cream. Not too involved really. Milk, eggs (from our chickens), sugar, salt, vanilla and cream. Anyway, while I was making the mix, Ashley called about a pie she was making. So I sent her a text later saying that it was too bad her pie couldn't meet our homemade ice cream. Well, then in the afternoon she sent a text asking if the invite was open and of course it was! So, she and Blake came out for supper and then we made homemade ice cream and ate it with her delicious cherry pie. She had even pitted the cherries and created it all from scratch. After that we went out in the boat and fished and tried to find the muskrat so we could shoot it. When we were done with that we came back in and more pie and ice cream and a shoot out at the targets. It was such a fun evening. I just don't have any pictures. :-) 

Oh but look!! they magically appeared in my inbox today! 

When the children leave home...

Yes, when the children leave home you start to take pictures of your animals. I just couldn't resist this morning. The chickens looked so cute wandering around the lawn and up by the house. 

They just make me smile. 

It's a date...

Last night Bryan and I went on a date. We were going to go mini golfing but the heat index was higher than a hot flash in July and well, speaking from personal experience, it would not have been too much fun. So...he suggested wandering around the antique mall. (This is Bryan's go-to activity when other things don't work out.) I said, "I am not feeling too antiquey (yes, I used that word) tonight." So we tried to think of other things that wouldn't kill us with heat stroke and while thinking he was driving. The next thing I know we are outside of A Street Antiques, which really isn't on A Street anymore it is on North 33rd, but there we were. So in we go. I found a cute little dresser and some books. Then we ate supper and he says "We are going to Aardvark Antiques just to check and see if they have the bottle opener we need on our old 7up cooler." "Fine but I am still not feeling antiquey." We walk in and I found this. 

I mean, it was literally on a display in the front entry. Must have. Loved the color and it is super clean and works so... I got it. I am so excited to make dessert down by the fire and crank ice cream while the dessert cooks! Back to the story. We wander around, I find an old belt I like, we keep wandering and finally Bryan says, "Well, shall we go? I'm not seeing anything like an old bottle opener that goes on those old pop coolers." I look down into a glass case and laying right there was an old bottle opener that mounts on a cooler and it was a 7up brand! So, all in all, for a person who wasn't "feeling antiquey" I believe I was the only one that walked away with all the finds. How am I ever going to live that down? 

Oh Deer...

On Wednesday,Bryan and I went to the Saltdog's game with Doug and Kathy Kroeker. Not sure that Kathy and I see too much of the game. We mostly people watch. I took this picture because "Homer" the Saltdog seemed to like sitting right there near Bryan. I think if there had been a seat right beside him, then "Homer" would have been in it. As it was he spent quite a little time across the aisle from him. 

Also on Wednesday, Bobbi and Jayme went out to camp in Bryan's vehicle because he didn't think they should drive either of theirs out there. So...on the way home on the interstate a deer ran into the side of the Montero! Fortunately, they weren't hurt, they didn't hit anyone else and the damage is fixable. 

And people wonder why I want to hunt a deer this fall? Just one less to hit a car. I am very glad that it hit the side and not the front! But that had to be scary hearing it hit the car. 

Another Dr. visit...

Today I had to go get the delightful experience of a mammogram (notice there are NOT pictures included in this blog!! haha) checked off my list of things to do. So I went in and they said it would only take 15 minutes from the time they started. One hour and 15 minutes later I walked out. Not their fault, just things weren't going as well as they would have liked and they had to do some extra testing. As I was sitting there waiting for the ultrasound to be done, I thought, "How do people tell their families if these tests don't come back fine?" Then I started wondering what was taking so long and why they hadn't come to get me and well, anyway, sitting in that room with only a little cape on and my own thoughts sort of made everything seem drastic. The Dr. and tech. finally came back in and told me they thought everything was just fine. But for just a couple minutes there, I started to wonder. 

What HAPPENED!!?

 I am not crazy (I don't think, but if I was, would I know it?) and I realize it isn't  July yet, but this is how I feel. We leave on tour on July 6 and I keep looking at my notebook that keeps track of my life and each day is filled and I keep wondering what I am missing. I have so much stuff to do before we go and so little inclination to do it. Signs that maybe I should resign this job, but then I always feel this way every year and it goes away when we drive out of the parking lot. Unfortunately, this summer is driven by the thought that I only have 114 days until Ashley leaves. I honestly don't say that to be sad it is just how the summer is this year. So I keep checking things off my list and hoping that I have remembered to write it all down. 

We went to the zoo...

Today I went in to watch Hudson for a little while so Ashley and Amiah could have some girl time. Ashley wanted time to talk with her about leaving for Spain. After they came home we packed up a lunch and headed to the zoo. Blake met us there. Amiah brought her nature journal and drew some animal pictures.

The kids and Ashley climbed into the eagles nest.

We went into the butterfly enclosure. Hudson wasn't too thrilled about the idea of them landing on him. Well, neither was Amiah for that matter.

We visited the camels. 

We ate lunch, rode the train and then Blake had to leave. We went back and finished up the animals we had missed and headed back home. The weather was beautiful. It was a fun time. 

It all started...

 When I went out to gather the eggs, I realized that it is so gratifying to go out everyday and find 3 eggs in the nest. Such a small thing, but it got me thinking then, about gratitude and do we always demonstrate that. Then that led to thoughts on how we treat others and are treated by them. (did warn you early on that my thoughts may ramble in my blogs) 
Jayme called me crying today (very unusual, she rarely cries anymore) and I had to work to understand what the problem was. Once explained, I had to talk myself out of confronting the other person. (taking my own advice here)
1. Because Jayme is an adult now. 
2. It really isn't in her best interest for me to interfere and it is none of my business. 
3. I would most definitely have said things that could hurt more than help. 
But that didn't change the fact that I wanted to, and ask that other person: Did they feel better about themselves when all was said and done? Did it make them a better person? Did it change anything?
I am sure it didn't. 
So, as I often have say to myself and fail to follow sometimes, I give this advice to anyone who will take it. Stop and think how you treat others. Bite your tongue before you bite their head off. It will not hurt you. But if you don't, it will hurt them. 

Today...

I went to lunch today with Ashley, Amiah and Hudson. We ate at Jimmy John's. The first plan had been to pick it up and go to the park for a picnic, but it was so hot and windy that we decided eating inside might be better. We had a great lunch. Laughing and talking. Hudson told stories as only he can "tractor bump bump baby daddy (made running motions with his arms) help baby." So cute. Amiah was full of ideas and funny comments. Then we went back to their house to hang out for awhile. Amiah started a nature journal. (my friend Kim does that with her grandkids and I loved the idea so I gave Amiah one) She did some really nice drawings and writing. Then she went inside to get a drink and came out with a drink and an ice pack. As she sat down she said "Ah, a cold drink and an ice pack, just the thing for a princess." It cracked me up. And the fact that she shortened my name to "Pad" Such great kids. We had a very nice day.

The coming storm...

I was sitting on the couch reading and Bryan called me to come out on the front porch with my camera. This is what we watched for awhile. It was amazing.

Doctor visit

I had to go to the Dr. today. Not because anything is wrong, just because I needed a check-up. Which then leads to more Dr. appointments, which is really annoying me. Just needed to get that said. This is why I put this stuff off for 10 years! I hate going to the Dr. But now I am good until I am 61, according to the standard I have set for myself.

Summer love...

I eat a sandwich so I can have chips...

You are probably thinking "did she really take a picture of her egg salad sandwich?" Yes, I did, because while I was eating it I thought, "This is good but it needs something... OH, barbecue chips, that's what is missing."  I really do sometimes eat a sandwich so I can justify the chips. 

Jayme rides again!...

A couple  days after Halsey Jayme sent me a text and said she wanted to ride with her dad soon. He was thrilled. It has been a long time since she has ridden. She fell off of Trixie once and is afraid of heights and the combo sort of scared her a bit. 
I just love this picture. 
She looks so good on Dakota. 

 I am sure more rides are to come.

Fireflies...

Last night as we were driving home from church (I had stage crew and since Bryan is on vacation, he decided to go Saturday night) all along 68th the fireflies were out and twinkling away. I had an intense desire to get a Mason jar out of the house and run around catching them in it. I don't know why I didn't. Maybe I will someday soon. I am grateful for the humidity for this reason - we have fireflies.

In Bloom...

 

I went out to water the plants that are on the front porch because even though it rained, they didn't get water. Anyway! I noticed that my lilies were in bloom and then I just started walking around the place to see what else there might be blooming and noticed that the yellow day lilies that I had thinned out last summer and thrown into the drainage ditch (because I was tired of replanting them) were huge and blooming way better than the ones that I replanted. That made me happy. I would love to have them just take over that whole area. Then in front of the house I noticed that I had two foxglove plants instead of one. I found the one out in the field one year and dug it up and planted it in my garden. Now it has multiplied. And last but certainly not least is my sweet pea plant. I bought this about 6 years ago and it was in a 2 inch pot. It has now taken over an entire part of the front garden, a corner of the pasture and is taking over the ditch. That makes me super happy!! 

My hair...

Thanks to Bobbi! I always have a great time sitting in her chair and catching up on her life and just being with her. Bonus that she can change me from the Medusa who walked in to lovely hair walking out.

Reading Memories...

I don't know if anyone out there has read this book but it was Ashley's favorite book to read when she was little. I'm not sure if her copy has a cover and if it does it is taped together with packing tape. She almost wore the book out. It now resides in her "Special Box". When Bryan and I were on our way home from Kansas City we stopped in some antique stores. In one of them I found two copies of this book and bought them both. One for me and one for Ashley, that isn't falling apart. 

I am convinced that reading this book to her taught her:

A. How to read early

B. What things in her everyday life were.

And

C. A love of all books.

It truly is a well named book in our opinion.

Bryan in still life and not...

Yesterday afternoon I walked out from the office, where I had been since about 7:00 a.m. working on Esprit tour stuff, and saw this laying on the table just like this. I thought to myself, "That is my husband in still life." and took a picture. The only thing in this picture not Bryan, is the 5 bobby pins laying there. He was working like a maniac (as usual) to repair the lattice around the back patio. All year long, since he built it last summer, he has looked out at it and said, "I need to fix that, maybe if I just..." Then a storm tore off some of the lattice he put on and he was tired of looking at what was crooked, sometimes for the life of me I couldn't see it, but he could, so, he fixed it. The only reason it didn't get torn out last summer as soon as he saw the twisting on the beam is because I kept saying "Maybe it will straighten up as it dries, etc." 

He says there is a little trimming to do and then he is satisfied that it is much better. I am always grateful that I have a husband who can build, create and fix just about anything. (as is witnessed by the girls calls to him about their cars, garbage disposal, etc.) I try not to take that for granted. I have never had a "Honey Do" list. More likely, I need to have a "Honey, Don't Do that project yet, I'm not ready for it" list.

Decorating Dakota...

Jayme came out Wednesday evening when we got home because she didn't have to work on Thursday. So Thursday morning when I went to feed the chickens I found this moth. I had Jayme put her hand by it so the perspective would be better on how large it was. I think it had just hatched because it didn't fly away for quite a while. It really was beautiful.

Then she decided to fix Dakota's mane in a fancy way. He took it like a man and stood very still for her. I think it looks lovely.

I am back...

And maybe you weren't aware that I was gone. We got home from Halsey on Sunday, Monday we took Bryan's mom to the airport in Omaha. Then Tuesday morning we headed down to Kansas City to go to some antique stores and Worlds of Fun. Yes, two 51 year olds at Worlds of Fun. :-) Here is proof.

We had a good time just hanging out and people watching and this was our one ride because I don't handle the roller coasters at all. Too high for my taste. Oh wait we rode the train, too!! Party animals. 

Halsey 2010...

I warned you there would be pictures. Although, I didn't do a very good job of getting pictures of everyone there. 
 Bobbi had ridden up early with Bryan. We left Lincoln at 5 p.m. on Thursday evening after Jayme and Ashley got off work. I am the family packing genius. Let it be noted that we were this fully packed and when we opened the hatch up at Halsey and not one thing fell out! Jill told me I got major camping points for that.  

Here is a lovely picture of all of us in the vehicle. Notice the tightly packed luggage area. Nothing fell on any one's head either. We arrived at camp at 10 p.m. Fortunately, Bryan and Bobbi had taken the tents and had them all set up.

We always camp right across from the horse corrals and this windmill. This year there were all the Brown family - Byron, Kim, Chelsea & Ben, Chelsea's kids, Jackson, Jonathan and Olivia, Heidi & Jay, their kids, Hunter and Landon, Hannah & Tyler and their son, Miles.(14 people), Kim's friends, Sue and Alicia, Heidi's friend Leah and her son, Braydon, the Clark family, Bryan, Patti, Ashley, Bobbi & Jayme, and Ashley's friend Jill.

Friday dawned a beautiful, warm, sunny day. The riders got up and left early for their ride. Since no one rode Dakota that day, Jayme got him out to graze and get some water.

 

Miles got a ride on Fiona with Grandma Kim.

Jayme, Bryan and Kim

Byron, Hannah, Miles and Tyler

Bobbi kept us all entertained around the fire. Notice the chair she is in, it is Bryan's new chair, which I told him he would not get to sit in much once the girls discovered how comfortable it is.  Jill was deep into Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.  

As we were sitting around the fire Friday evening the clouds came in and it rained off to the southeast. We started to wonder what the weather was going to do to us. It rained a little that evening but then about bedtime it really started to rain. At 1:30 in the morning we were in a huge storm. Hail, high winds and tons of rain. The wind whipped Bryan's and my tent so hard that it shredded the fiberglass tent poles. Bryan had to use duct tape to tape spare poles to them for the rest of the night. At 3 another storm hit, fortunately it didn't last long and wasn't as bad as the one before.

This was the beauty in the storm.

Saturday dawned bright and beautiful and it was my turn to cook for all 24 of us. I did rotisserie chicken and grilled pork loin. Everyone else pitched in with the side dishes. 

We had a great time, everyone got lots of sun and Bryan got to ride a lot with all the people who brought horses. The girls went to the river and just enjoyed being able to relax. I got sun, read and relaxed.

In other news...

I had put the younger chickens in with the older ones to see how it would go. The older ones picked on the little ones a little but for the most part it was ok. Now as you may have noticed I named the chickens after characters in the Twilight Saga books. Bella, Alice and Roselie are the older chickens. Victoria (Rhode Island Red) and Emily are the young ones. 

I must say this to show the irony of this story.

Yesterday for some reason they really started in on Victoria. Well, by last evening they had injured Victoria to the point of death. (I couldn't get to her to rescue her) 

Herein lies the irony. Victoria is the evil, redheaded vampire in the books. She is destroyed by the good vampires. Oops, sorry, little red chicken.

Going Camping...

Tomorrow we are heading up to Halsey for a weekend of camping. This is an annual tradition that we share with the Brown family. We take the horses and basically the entire house and barn. I have been packing today and feel like there isn't much left in the house but I am sure that I will get up there and wish I had this or that. Just like when you go to the grocery store, spend tons of money and get home without bread and milk! 
This is the first and last year that all the girls get to go. Bittersweet.
Pictures will follow, I am sure!

A Memorial day...

I looked out and knew it was going to be a perfect day. 

I got the hammock, my coffee, camera and a good book and headed down to the pond to watch the sun come up. 

It seems an odd concept, relaxing right after I just got up, but, it makes the rest of the day enjoyable to me when I have had that slow time at the beginning. I am not a "hit the ground running" type person. I love the morning quiet and having that, orders my day. Bryan, however, hit the ground running and worked hard all day. Just like any other day. On Friday he had met a man who needed to get rid of some stuff that he had sitting around his place. Bryan, in true "American Pickers" fashion, went through it with him and relieved him of some of that stuff. So he and Chan went to pick it all up. This wagon was just one of the things that he came home with.

It looks so great sitting out on the corner of the pasture. Then he put the new bumper on Jayme's car, fixed a piece of the roof that had blown off, worked on stuff in his shop, rode his horse and then ate supper with all of us. In the meantime, Ashley, Bobbi and Jayme were soaking up as much sun as possible out on the dock. Blake came out after he got off work and we all just spent the afternoon enjoying the amazing weather. Grilled burgers for supper down at the fire. 

 Then we just had to do some target practice. Jayme and Bobbi shot the bow and arrows, we shot the pellet gun. 

Back down to the fire for s'mores. And may I just say that no one got choked on, was suffocated by or was burned by the giant marshmallows. What a perfect day