Walmart….

Well it’s not my most favorite store but it could be worse. They did have the best deal this weekend on Microwaves. Not quite what I wanted but within my budget so here’s what I got.

It’s not a big as my old one and it short a few functions but at least it still can defrost and cook/reheat. I’m happy for now, I’ll keep looking for another one like I had but for now, this will do.

We had a terrific weekend. The weather was a perfect as it could of been. Not hot, not humid, no rain, all sunshine and cooler temps and breezy. It was perfect for a craft show, landscaping, reroofing and paintballing. Really the reroofing isn’t that, we are extending the eves because the splash back from all the rain is making the bottom part of the garage green so we are adding 16” on and then because reroofing isn’t in the budget this year we are going to put on flashing to extend it for now. It’s what we’ve seen they do in the UP in Michigan and it works for all their snow and rains so it should work for us.

The Eagle Court of Honor was wonderful. I am so proud of Todd and Alex. I have got to share this picture with you. It’s Jo and Kevin with their 5, did I say that loud enough 5 Eagle Scouts. And their two Scoutmasters Kevin and Sue.

The 5 brothers, Eric, Dave and Matt – back row and the latest Eagles, Alex and Todd - front

CONGRATULATIONS!!! I am so very proud of all of you.

Then we had our farewell to our college students. It was a great afternoon of paintball and fun. I do have to say paintballing is not for the faint of heart though, it does hurt but….well it’s worth it.

 

Both Mike and I got nailed a few times. These are Mike’s trophies for this weekends. Mine, aren’t sharable, the are in parts no one would like to see, my behinder, my tummy, and close to “there”.

On the way home the sunset was the most awesome in a long time. You know me and sunsets, well Mike took a bunch of pictures for me and I’m sharing them with you.

 

 

 

It was the perfect weekend. I hope you’re was grand too. Now this week we’ll finish up the roof, hopefully the landscaping, get our yard mowed before we call the Terri to come and bale it. Mike said he’d work on my water feature and ….well I’m not sure what else but I bet between daycare and all of this I’ll find other things to do too. Oh we have a craft show on Saturday, there will be an afternoon of cleaning jewelry and getting out display ready.

Okay, I’ve bored you enough. Enjoy my pictures and have a great afternoon. God Bless you all!!!

My poor microwave….

It’s dead. It’s died. I feel so bad. How can something still look good, tell time, light goes on, but won’t work. There is something wrong with it. It works for 5 seconds, sorta and shuts off. Jim said there has to be some kind of short in there. I need my microwave. With daycare I am using it all the time. Last night I had to heat up the beets on the stove, oh me oh my….just like old times….I don’t want old times I like my microwave. Guess I’ll be shopping for a new one this weekend, sure do hope I find a sale.

All the kids have been playing with Lego’s for weeks now, they aren’t getting tired of them and keep coming up with new creations. Last night when it was just Jon play he brought out a Lego guy and stuck him to my ivy. He really looks like he’s climbing Jon said and called him Mike because Mike loves to climb.

My daddy came over yesterday with these for me. Oh they are so pretty and look so nice. I have got to remember to grow Zinnia's. They are such a hardy flower and come in such beautiful colors.

I hope that all is well with you guys. I hope that you have a terrific Friday and a most relaxing and Blessed weekend.

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Today is the 12th edition of…………..

Follow Friday 40 and Over!!

This is the neatest way to meet people my age. People that have been there, done that, or going through it. I have found help with many issues, I have found tons of ideas and most of all I have found some super cool people. If you have a moment, go and check it out…I promise you won’t regret it at all.

Thank you to JAVA for hosting this most amazing blog hop.

Gardening….

Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? Well mine is doing really well. I worked in it Saturday afternoon before hauling dirt and picking rock.

I picked enough beans to make us happy for the winter, got two cabbages, 1/2 5 gallon bucket of beets and tomatoes. See..

 

I have got to share my tomatoes plants with you. The ones above are just cherry tomatoes up by my porch. These are the ones we snack on all day long. The kids love them and every once in awhile I’ll find a DM or JR written in magic marker telling me this bunch is for David or Mike. But back to my tomato plants. I have always had huge ones that produce tons and tons of tomatoes but this year I have a couple plants that are more then huge plus the tomatoes growing on them are almost dessert plate size. See…

 

Can you find Wilbur, my dog?

Soon I’ll have to be giving them “hair” cuts so then they’ll look naked but before that I wanted to share them with you. I love the smell of the garden. The scent of fresh veggies, sunflowers, corn….oh there’s nothing like it.

We also had a visitor last night, a mug-wamp.  Don’t know what that is? His mug on one side, his wamp on the other? How about a Great Blue Heron. He’s been visiting our pond this summer and has finally gotten use to the noises around here and doesn’t fly off. Mike was able to get some really good pictures of him, let me share them with you…

                              

So today it’s hot and muggy. A good day for a swim so that’s what the kids were doing by 8:30. We did go see my grandparents today, grandpa isn’t doing well…doctor said his battery is almost done. Grandma looks tired and worn out but of course is stubborn and won’t expect help unless she asks for it. I kissed grandpa today and rubbed his back and I’m not sure if he knew me or not but did smile and look at me. When I was talking to grandma he said “yap, yap, yap is that all I’m going to do” so that’s when I went in to sit with him. My little ones always stopped in and say hi to him and he just smiled but at least acknowledged them and that make them happy. My grandpa is 97 years old and grandma is just about 93, so we know what’s up but that doesn’t make it any easier. Can’t change life and even grandma says we are very lucky to have them here so long but I’d love another bunch of years. We’ll just see what life brings. Hopefully lots more hugs and back rubs.

So there’s my week so far, gardening, landscaping, daycare, visiting and tonight our scouts meetings. Plenty to keep this lady hopping. I hope that all is well with you all. Take care and God Bless!!!

I’m back……

What happens when you take 8 teens, 2 “old” teens and put them in a Venture Camp?

They have the time of their lives. I have got to tell you, I have been going to camp since Mike was a tiger cub in 1st grade and now he’s graduated so that means a smack load years at least and I have a great time at each and every camp but nothing, NOTHING!!! compares to this past week. Ventures Crew 52 ROCKS!!!! 

Here’s our Venture Crew…There are 7 men and 3 women (I’m hiding behind the camera).

The weeks events were Archery, Rifle, Shot Gun, Low COPE, High COPE, Climbing, Swimming and mega hiking. COPE means Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience. There are seven goals in a COPE Course and they are Teamwork, Communication, Trust, Leadership, Decision Making Problem Solving and Self-Esteem. And I have to tell you something, it is great for the soul. I saw kid that are not the greatest friends work together in team work that was amazing. I saw kids afraid to do something and achieve a goal and the look of pride of accomplishment is heart warming. Before I tell you about what I did here are some pictures of the kids and some of the activities.

 

  

 

VENTURE CREW 52, I AM PROUD OF YOU!!!! Thank you for letting me be part of something as grand as this!!

Now remember the Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience part? I went this year to be part of the group. To be there if a person needed some help, need some advice, needed some support. I am a giver and love giving. I’m not one to ask for help, except help unless no choice. I don’t ask but they taught me this past week I can ask, receive, be pushed and push myself to do things I didn’t even know I could do. I did just about everything the kids did or tried. Archery….I can hit the 3D target without snapping my boob to many times. Rifle shooting, I can hit a target in a quarter size grouping. Shot gun, I can hit a clay pigeon with both a 20 gauge and an over/under 20 gauge.

For the Low COPE Course I feel flat on my face and not literally, I chickened out. I did not do “The Wall”. It’s a 12’ wall that you work together on. I felt like such a failer, I let the kids down. They wanted me to do it, they all would of worked hard to get me up there but I chickened out. I decided then and there tomorrow for the High COPE and Climbing I would do all that I could do AND……I did it. Well to the best of my abilities and more.

I got 15’ up the cave ladder. No I didn’t make it to the top but I made it 15’ off the ground on a ladder that is 6” wide, steps about 12” apart, that is wiggly and hard to climb.

My next challenge, a 30’ climbing wall. Straight up in the air, climbing by rocks and bricks then hoisting my body up on the top to then repel down the side with no one to save my butt if I screw up. I DID IT!!!! TWICE!!!

 

My looks says it all. I think :o)

My last big challenge was the Fire Tower. For years Jim has been trying to get me to climb the towers around our area but I get up a flight or two and start to shake, shiver and just freak out but this time I had 1 scout in front of me to lead the way and 3 behind me cheering me on and I made it to the top of this…

Looking down we look like this… and it’s just from the 3 level

This is what you see from the top, Bad Axe Lake. Camp Wilderness, Park Rapids, MN

So can you tell that this was a camping experience of a life time? It was and I can’t wait for our next trip. Where are we going? Well I think next summer the BWCA for possible my last big camping trip with Mike. He’ll be 19 and getting ready for college, big moves and life. For me, it won’t be the last for me and my scouts, both boy scouts and venture crew, I plan on being part of their program as long as they’ll have me. We have paint ball coming up, another high adventure weekend in October and then things will slow down a bit for the winter but there’s movie nights, parties and bowling so more fun coming.

I found out that no matter what your brain says, you can make things happen. You can push yourself out of your safety net and do some cool and interesting and exciting adventures. It is possible even when you’re an “old teen” of 48 years.

Now it’s back to life. Daycare starts on Monday. We are planning an End of Summer Party for the 30th of the month. I want to take them swimming a few more times and if I possible can swing it I think for a round of mini golf at our local place. There will be trips to the farms, play dates with cousins and other fun things too. School starts in a month and then I’ll be missing my not so wee ones while they are off learning. It’s so hard sending them off when they’ve been such a huge part of my life. I am so glad I do daycare for some awesome families.

Take care my friends and hopefully I’ll be back early this week with a new project or idea, but if not….I’ll still be reading your blogs, checking out what you have to teach me. I’ve been missing a lot this past month or so but will be back to read what’s happening soon. God Bless you all!!