One year ago today

It's been a year since we sold the farm and moved to our house in a "rural subdivision" of our little town. At that time it was such a frantic rush to find a home and then to pack up a house and five buildings and move it all by the closing date, that there wasn't even time to dwell on what we were doing or how our life was changing. God's pretty smart! We drive by the farm occasionally and now that it has greened up for the summer there's just a teensy bit of sadness. The new people make us feel welcome to stop in anytime. We sure had a blast while we were there and how many people get to realize their dreams - we sure have been blessed. And we really like our new home. A time for everything.

It's really gonna happen

The post office called this morning to say a trunk had arrived. Then she said "He's coming home, isn't he?" Way to make me cry. Actually it's months before he gets home but we're over the hump. He sent what I guess is cold weather stuff. It sounds silly, but when I picked up the trunk at the post office it kinda made him feel closer. He said to go ahead and open it, that there are boots in there and Zak is into other peoples shoes lately. And Zak is also into anything "Daddy" - should be fun.

Too hot?

It's been getting hotter and more muggy lately. Here's a few pictures to cool you off.

Eye Candy

Our Lord was busy with his paintbrush last night and I was treated to a spectacular display as I drove to the city today. The first forty minutes were that pre-dawn light. There was fog but not the usual hazy, hanging down to the ground, block your vision kind. There were thin ribbons of fog that were 5 - 10 feet off the ground. They were randomly placed; they wove in and out of trees and bushes. They were white & silver. Some were fairly close; some were in the distance; some were layered. No matter where I looked it was quite a sight. I wanted to take pictures but with my coffee, phone, breakfast and that pesky steering wheel I just couldn't fit it in.


And here's what happens when you don't keep up with the weeding...



If I had weeded last week like a should have (who are we kidding - last month) I would've have pulled these up. I had no idea they were in there. What a nice surprise. I knew procrastination wasn't all bad.

All dressed up and nowhere to go

Anybody remember where we parked? (Is that the Apple Dress I see?)

The car finally showed up and we found a place to go!

Yesterday it was 33 years that we have been married. YIKES! (I was 12 at the time)

Mom & Dad are thinking "only two more to go"

Grandma Brown (or "Fram" to some)

Look at these two cuties.

Awww. It's hard to believe it's been so many years. We've been up and down and all around. We've had lots of fun, adventures, dreams come true and maybe a few disagreements. We'd both do it all again. Looking forward to the what lies ahead for us.

Thursday is...

. . . shot reaction / recovery day. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good. "Everyday is an adventure" as the MS magazine says in an attempt to encourage MSers. Hah!

. . . garbage day - we're allowed two big bags. I buy the biggest I can - contracters 55 gal bags - and fill them. I don't know how we accumulate so much garbage even though we recycle. We're still (after nearly a year) sorting through stuff from our move and narrowing down what we really need /want. We tend to buy online which means packaging stuff, not all of which can be recylced - what to you do with styrofoam?! And then there's the diapers and dog food cans. On top of everyday stuff I guess that's how the bags get so full.

. . . an anything day. It's between two work days so usually there are no kids involved in the day (boo hoo). Usually no going to Decorative. So it's always something different. Sometimes a "road trip" to shop, or a project around the house, or do nothing "catch my breath, be lazy" day. Today I think we're going to try to put a carrier on the back of the van, we might head for a large grocery store, I'm going to try to get the last of the plants in the ground (scratch that - I am going to get the last of the plants in the ground (although I like Pat's thought that we spend money on cut flowers to enjoy and they only last a week - these have been around a lot longer!)), I'm going to the quilt shop to talk about taking care of their blog (I may have to buy some fabric while I'm there - it just calls out to me), and house cleaning should probably be a part of the day (but it won't be as big a part of the day as it should). So today Thursday will be full - a good day. Oh and I have some sewing to do, a package to send to Justin, a package to pick up, some stitches to pull out, some branches to clean up . . .

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZAK

Blog day

Today was an exciting, bloggy day. . .

The quilt shop in town has an online business which has a blog. I got hired to take care of the blog - how cool is that! Quilting stuff & blogging rolled into one - awesome.

But even better than that - you might be thinking "how could you top that in blog world!?" - but I CAN . . . Sarah started a blog!!! What a great way to keep up with her life when I can't reach her or be there. Check it out . . .

http://mylife-aworkinprogress.blogspot.com/

Another walk

I went for another walk today and walked a little further than yesterday. I found these wildflowers/weeds hiding in the long grass on the side of the road. Every few feet there was another bunch. . . I've always heard it's important to set goals so I have done that - the DQ! It's two miles away so that'll be perfect. Two miles there, a break, and then a two mile walk back while I enjoy my Blizzard! PERFECT! Now, you might think that the DQ would negate all the benefits of the walk, but I'm going to eat the ice cream anyway, so the walk puts me that much further ahead! I'm a bit of a wimp so I'll give myself three weeks to reach my goal. In the meantime I'll have to drive to the DQ.

Summer evening

I finally got out for a bit of exercise tonight. Lately I've been feeling too punk, or it has been too hot, or too rainy, or I've been too busy, or it's too windy, or I've had a hangnail.... but I couldn't find any excuses tonight - it seemed easier to just walk than to search too hard for any reason not to. I walked for two miles. It was a perfect evening.... a light breeze, a few thin clouds to dim the sun a bit. The clouds were such that you could see the sun's rays shining down on the town a mile in the distance - looked like a picture. On the other side I saw half a dozen deer just wandering through the field enjoying the evening. I should walk more often.

Happy Birthday Col!!

I had a chance to visit Cooper today! (Sarah too!) on my way home from Decorative. I think I'm "all better" so he had to put up with lots of hugs and kisses to make up for my not being able to get too close to him on Saturday.

Too sweet. Looks like Zak & Caycee are content with their new stroller.

Zak's birthday party... he's two already!
Pictures are compliments of Sarah.

Forecast for Baghdad, Iraq...

BTW, it has cooled off a bit.

Please stop for a moment and say a prayer for our troops around the world.

'Lord, please hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. Amen.'

....of all the gifts you could give a US Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine & others deployed in harm's way, Prayer is the very best one!

Annie got a shampoo and a haircut today. Don’t know that she looks any better but I’ll bet she feels better… a lot cooler without all that hair.

I need to plant all these flowers. Only a third of what I purchased has been planted so far and I’ve had these for a week. I asked for installation when I bought them, but noOOoo. As soon as it stops raining and I stop procrastinatiog, both at the same time, they’ll be in the ground! (Don’t hold your breath. Besides, they look just fine, don’t they?)

I think this plant is so pretty. Plus it doesn’t have to go in the ground! - no work!

Can anybody tell me what this is...

...just one of the many plants at our new home that I have no idea how to care for, let alone what it is. And it's taking over.

Well, I'm going to try this blog thing. I don't have enough to do so maybe this will help fill up my free time :-) Not sure how to start so I'll just jump in....

We went to Zak's 2nd birthday party today. I'm a little sick so I just watched all the kids from a distance - soooo hard not to pick them up. It was fun seeing them. Zak enjoyed all of it, from the bouncy house to the swimming to the birthday cake to the presents. He got lots of fire engines or as he calls them "Poppa cars". Caycee spent hours with Scott riding around on his scooter. Cooper was adorable as always - such a happy, outgoing little guy. He fell asleep in the middle of it all on John's lap. I meant to bring my camera so I could put up a picture with my first post but I left it at home. Next time.

"Happy Wedding Day" to Lindsey & Jake!!! Congrats!