Blog hops….

If you are like me it’s such a thrill to meet and greet new people. To enjoy what others have to share, to learn new things. To compare yourself to others and just see where you are in life. I LOVE IT!!!

Today I am part of the

and

There are tons of blog hops for just about any day of the week but Fridays there are tons of them. There’s no way I can keep up with them all so these are my two favorite I’m sharing with you.

I hope that you all have a wonderful, terrific, peaceful, renewing, rejuvenating, relaxing, blessed Friday and weekend. Take care and God Bless you all!!

Gardens….

I’ve been wanting to share my garden with you for a little bit but either it was to weedy, to wet, to little, to something but yesterday we worked in it and I got a few good pictures to share. I would also so much love to see your gardens so I’m hoping that you’ll leave me a comment to come and see your posts about your garden. I was going to do a Linky Tool but not sure if you’d like that or not. You can always leave me a comment if you’d like me set up one.

So how are your gardens doing? Flowers are pretty as a picture? Gardens growing like weeds? How about that tomato sitting in a pot? Or that upside down strawberry? I’d love to see whatever you have. A garden doesn’t mean something huge, it can be anything. Also got tips or ideas to share, I’d love to hear them too.

So on to my pictures.

 

  

Oh I also have to share my “helpers” yesterday. Jon was truly a great helper and Justin and Hannah gave it a try. We are missing a few beets and tomato plants but they are learning too.

So there you have it. I hope that life is treating you all wonderfully. Take care my friends and God Bless!!

How was your 4th?

Ours was amazing. We had our 13th annual family/friend reunion and had a turn out of 23 people. Sometimes there’s more, other times less but this year was just the perfect amount of people to be able to visit with everyone, play some games, eat some wonderful food and enjoy each other. I took some neat pictures of the kids playing games and really good pictures of people that I’ve never met but mama and daddy have been friends for way over 50 years. I also got a great picture of Cindy and I. Then in the late evening Mike got to shoot off his graduation fireworks which ended our day perfectly.

Life is now onward and upwards to the next thing. For now it’ll be somewhat normal with daycare, scouts, gardening and all. I’m ready for the normal. Enough big events this year to last awhile though I sure do love seeing all these people I don’t normal get to see.

Here are a few pictures of our day yesterday.

 

Mike always does the Flag Ceremony and wears his Boy Scout Uniform. His last year to wear it for this. Wish we had thought about the sash, oh well.

 

 

Scott has grown up so much this past year. Those two boys together are a riot. They went swimming in the lake this weekend. Our lake isn’t a swimming lake, at least not one you walk out from shore on. You have to take a boat out to the middle and swim and you could hear there laughing all over. It really was great!!

Here’s Cindy and I. For all your that know Cindy, she is doing pretty good. She still has some issues with her right eye but it’s healing. Her body is working hard at healing too.

 

Ever try picking up tooth picks with an oven mitt? The boys loved this one and Mike won with picking them up in 20 seconds.

Try stacking cups in the wind. That was a challenge.

 

How about catching water balloons with a pillow case. I didn’t manage to get to wet but my partner did and so did Scott.

 

Here’s just two of Mike’s many fireworks. We got to ohh and ahh our way into the night.

  

And this, is all the smoke left over from the fireworks. It looked so cool in the dark to see that.

So there you have our 4th of July. I sure do hope everything was as grand for you also. I hope everyone is now safe and sound at home ready to head on to the next adventure. What will that be? Hummm….camping I’m hoping. How about you?

Take care my friends, God Bless you all!!!

Tornado…

Less then two weeks ago a Tornado went though Wadena, MN, that is less then 100 miles west of me. Last weekend Jim and I went there and the devastation was horrible. One block would be fine, the next a little damage and then WHAM!!! there it all was. Today I received a link to view a video of the damage and I wanted to share it with you all. It doesn’t have a link to so I can paste the video in my blog but here’s the short cut to it. Just click on it and it’ll take you right to it. When you’re done looking, say a prayer for these people. On the west side of town was their school, grain businesses and farms and lots of homes.

Wadena's Tornado damage....

Take care my friends. God Bless you all!

 

From potato cannon to water toy….

Mike was home today and played with the kids. He was proud to show them his potato cannon and what it can do and then he turned the pressure way down and made it into a water toy. The kids had a blast playing with Mike. Have a peek…

Waiting……

WOW!!!

Then onto the water toy….

 

 

We also did get to go to the park and play and have our picnic. The park in Deerwood is just 8 miles from home and so easy to get to and play at. Here’s a few fun pics of the day.

 

 

So there you have a day at daycare. A busy one and exciting. I love the days Mike can be home and play. He’s going to start working on a huge wood project starting next Monday so he won’t be playing as much with the kids but it is so time for him to do something he really likes. It’s a secret but he’s going to build his grandma an Garden Arbor. He’s got the plans and will pick up the wood this weekend. I’ll share pictures as he builds it. 

So it’s onward and upwards to another day. Tomorrow I have an extra wee one which really got the kids excited. He’s been here before but not on a regular basis so it’ll be a fun day showing and telling. I think we’ll go to great grandma’s and see the goats, donkey, horses and sheep. I’m sure he’ll love seeing them again plus my grandma loves seeing the kids.

So until next time folks, have a great week. Oh I have a movie I want to share with you too. So I’ll get that on the bottom here and be finished up. Take care everyone and have a blessed evening.

Finally….

It will still be a long time before they turn red but there’s tomatoes on them there plants…. see!

 

 

The ones in my garden are a bit smaller but they are beginning to flower too. The broccoli is looking really good, the brussels sprouts are so strong looking, beans are flowering, corn is still really short, I don’t think it’ll be knee high by the 4th though. The weeds, well they are always growing the best.

I spent 4 hours on the mower yesterday. The yard looks so good when it’s freshly mowed. We’ll have to do it again either Friday evening or Saturday because on Sunday my parents are hosting their 14th annual family reunion and since we’re neighbors gotta have a nice yard to match their beautiful one.

This week will be a normal one here. I have 5-6 wee ones each day and tomorrow we’ll start the week out by going to the park to play and have a picnic. I promised a trip to the library also but will wait until Wednesday so that we can keep the movies we borrow until Saturday. I’m not sure what else the week will bring for the kids but I’m sure I’ll keep them as busy and happy as possible.

I have a couple ideas for crafts that I’ll be sharing as the kids get them done.  I found the coolest site called Skip to My Lou and there are some very cute idea. Like side walk chalk from corn starch, food coloring and water, painted rocks and so much more. Ideas, love them. I also found a good recipe for bubbles from Making It Count. 

Well my friends, I hope that you all have a great week. Take care and God Bless you all!!

What to do with these?

Oh I know, I would of done something with them but Mike had a better idea and I sure wouldn’t rain on his parade. Check this out….

He was so proud of himself and to watch him build it and see it work for the first time time, well it’s priceless!!

I have more pictures to share with you but it’s to late now, I’ll see you this weekend.

Take care my friends. Have a blessed, relaxing, rejuvenating, enjoyable weekend. God Bless!!!

Remember when I won…..

Remember when I won the free poster print? Remember when I had you help me pick the picture I wanted to have printed? Well today Lorelie, that’s Rachel and Abby’s grandma, brought me the finished framing. I had just asked that they take it to the framer that had done a picture for me a few years ago that they gave me for a Christmas present. I didn’t care the cost (I knew it wouldn’t be horrible) Anyways, she gave me this most beautiful finished picture. It even has a thin hand painted gold line around the matte. Oh guys I just can’t tell you how good it makes me feel. First it’s a picture Mike took for me because it’s sunsets, then the framer did the most awesome job and then it is given to me not only by my wee ones grandma but a really great friend. It will hang in my house for years to come with honor and love. So do you want to see the picture? You do…..Well I am going to warn you, these pictures I took of the pictures do not do them any justice but you get the idea. I’ll try and take a good picture once I get it up on the wall.

Okay, here’s the picture and also a picture of the first one they had done for me back when Mike was 12.

So there you have it. I love them both and can’t wait to get the big one hanging in my livingroom. I have the perfect spot.

Take care my friends, thank you for letting me share my joy with you. Have a great and blessed afternoon.

Monday Madness….

So guess what I found? Another blog hop goodie. How I found it….?…I haven’t a clue. I was just jumping from blog to blog this morning just reading and enjoying and came across Home Sweet Farm.  I am so in love with this blogging and blog hopping and finding new people and sharing and getting comments. So today I will spend a little time just playing. I didn’t have morning daycare today and this afternoon just have two big girls and right now no one wants to do anything but watch Myth Busters which usually I don’t let the TV be on but it’s yucky outside and Mike is home so…go for it kids, enjoy the TV and I’ll play a bit here.

So it’s like this…

So go to Home Sweet Farm and add your blog, facebook, twitter or all three and see who you can find to follow. If you follow me, I follow you back and I think that goes for most of the bloggers out there.

Take care my friends and have a very blessed afternoon.

Monday Madness….

So guess what I found? Another blog hop goodie. How I found it….?…I haven’t a clue. I was just jumping from blog to blog this morning just reading and enjoying and came across Home Sweet Farm.  I am so in love with this blogging and blog hopping and finding new people and sharing and getting comments. So today I will spend a little time just playing. I didn’t have morning daycare today and this afternoon just have two big girls and right now no one wants to do anything but watch Myth Busters which usually I don’t let the TV be on but it’s yucky outside and Mike is home so…go for it kids, enjoy the TV and I’ll play a bit here.

So it’s like this…

So go to Home Sweet Farm and add your blog, facebook, twitter or all three and see who you can find to follow. If you follow me, I follow you back and I think that goes for most of the bloggers out there.

Happy Father’s day daddy…..

My daddy has never had any other name then daddy. I can’t imagine calling him dad or father, it’s always been daddy. When I worked in town for a few years I’d see him driving though town and would step outside my shop and yell daddy and he always knew it was me. He’d stop by and I’d close the shop for a little bit and head across the street for a treat with my daddy. When I drove truck I thought I was going to die missing him so when we left for the first time I took a flannel shirt he use to wear out to the barn and wore that every single day for months until I was ready to just sleep with it. Finally after a year or so I was able to just have it around and be okay. When we moved back home and I had to work at the nursing home Jim and I would be fighting and daddy would come and pick me up from work, take me for a ride and a snack and tell me to grow up, “you picked him” he’d say and I’d go home ready for another day. When we built up our home/hobby farm next door he would come over any time I’d need help. He has helped me more then ever on so many different things. Daddy loves chocolate chip cookie dough, so when I’m making cookies I always save him a cup or so of dough and he’ll come over for a treat. Daddy has helped build garages, pour and smooth concrete, mow when I was just to sick to do it, helped me till the garden, trim trees, cut wood, pile wood. He’s come and praised me just when I needed it the most. He has the smoothest hugs and he loves to hug and so do I. He rubs my back. One time we watched the movie Spirit and he rubbed my back the whole movie. He comes for a snack once in awhile to just sit and visit with me. We go fishing a lot together and we walk lots and lots. My daddy loves my daycare kids, if I’ve had a bad day or just need time without them I’ll walk over and he’ll take them out and about while mama and I just sit and visit. The kids love “grandpa”. My son looks to his grandfather when he needs a man to really appreciate him. When Mike bought his first car it was grandpa he took it to, showed it off to. When grandpa needs help Mike is there in an instant to do whatever it is grandpa needs. My daddy is special, my daddy loves me, I love my daddy.

 

Happy Father’s day Daddy. I LOVE YOU!!!

A beautiful day today….

Today was one of the most busy days I’ve had in a very long time but also one of the most beautiful days. This morning I spent 4 hours laying carpeting at my parents home. Their porch looks amazing now. My mom took pictures that I can share later after I download them and mail them to me. Then I came home and tilled my garden. That took me about an hour along with weeding. I’m impressed with the garden this year. Considering we have had more rain then sunshine it’s looking pretty good. Then…. Mike got off early, loaded up the bikes and we went to the Cuyuna Lakes State trails. We rode 6.6 miles and had a blast. Mike took some amazing pictures I’ll share with you. On the way home I took Mike to a place Jim and I use to stomp around, Tromald and Section 6 mine pit lake. With all the rain we’ve had we had a couple questionable place we went but Mike had to show me the way first by walking the puddle to make sure they weren’t washed out or extra soft. All in all it was a great day and now I am so tired I think I’ll be heading to bed early. I had today off but work tomorrow but you don’t hear me complaining. If all my days off could be this productive and fun I’d do them all the time.

So on to the pictures. I hope you all have a great and blessed weekend. Be sure you take them time to relax and enjoy.

 

My knees after after laying the carpet

 

 

 

 

   

 

  

Take care my friends. God Bless you all!!