didn't forget

Last month we "spaced out" with Abbie's monthly photos, just too busy with the house and all. But this month we remembered... though "someone was too thrilled" about this idea!!! It amazes me how much she is turning into a little person!! And when things don't go her way (like today) we are made very aware of it. I don't know if it was because she had to sit still (which she hates).. or if the fact that she had to wear shoes (which she also hates) but either way, it took us a little time to get these photos....





A bit of "pasci" time to calm down....















and finally, a pic with her puppy.....














and the "Camille photo".....

and...... "now can I take these silly shoes off???"

Happy 9 months Abbie!!!!!!!

pictures to share..

As most of you know, my camera is never too far from my hands. Whether I am getting photos for the blog, or just taking pictures for fun.. here are a few of my new favorites that I thought you might enjoy....



swimming on a hot summer day....














baby barn swallows.. out of the nest, but not too far from home....













parent barn swallow... wondering when the job will be done!!!! :-)










"our" wild turkeys...enjoying the farm













considering my past history with things are that "green", I'm pretty pleased at the way this flower garden is growing....













birdies at the front door... looking for some treats

just happened to be in the right place at the right time...

and enjoy the beauties sent from God.......

and it contiues...

Even though we have had hot temps in the 90's, humidity in the 70's and took a little time out to play when the family was visiting.. the work continues in the house. OH.. and one more thing.. my dear Ed is dealing with (yet another) kidney stone!!! If you have been a blog reader for sometime, you are well aware that he has dealt with them before, but now it seems that this is a beginning to be a yearly occurrence. Last summer while trying to get the house sided, he dealt with one, and now this year.... It would be nice if we knew what caused them, but it would seem that there are no real answers. So, next week, he heads in for surgery to remove the latest and greatest of all of the stones he has had!!! I'll be sure to keep you posted on this one!!!

Any who, Ed works on despit some days when I know he really isn't feeling that well, determined to get us into this house and settled once again. My projects seem to have me all over the place.. one day I am getting a coat of poly on the stair treads....








and another, helping Ed get the oven into place (after I got the cabinet painted and ready for it)....
















The kitchen is coming together, all the upper cabinets are done... doors on!!! and the lower ones have their first coat of paint, and will soon be ready to be measured for the counter tops!!!









Sadie couldn't wait any longer, and has already begun to set up Abbie's room!!! I still need to finish the windows here, and get her doors in place, but overall the room is done, and it does look nice to have some of her "things" in place. Hopefully the other bedrooms will soon have this same look!!!!








Ed assembled the hallway lamp. I found it at Lowe's.. it's called a "wheat light". I thought it was a perfect fit for a country farmhouse (and fell easily into my budget).










I thought the "wheat tips" were gold painted metal... turns out they are rubber!!! I was a little surprised and disappointed when we pulled them out of the box, but once they were in place... they looked great. And the rubber tips will certainly be easy to keep dusted, or even wash off. Once it's hung up, you won't even know!!!!













John's work on the stairs has come to a stop until we can finish up the walls and get out of his way. So, Ed set up the staging and got the last two hallway walls painted. You won't catch me up on this staging, so this painting was left to him. Since part of the brick of the chimney is seen from the stairway, I had the bight idea of painting the wall upstairs a red to make it somewhat appear that the brick continues.












I'm not sure that it exactly came out the way I thought it would.. but since I have tried some bold and different ideas in other parts of the house... why not here as well. And it's paint, so if I decide later that I really don't' like it, we'll just paint over it. Course it won't be so easy once the railings and balusters are in place.

The last wall of the hallway.... done. Note the hall light is now in place, and the "red" wall is all done.

Some trim work, and the staging can leave and we can call and ask John to come back and finish up. Oh to have this stairway done.. that will be a big project off the list.

So, it's coming along. Even though we are very anxious to get moved, we are trying to be patient and smart and get things done before moving in. It's silly to move in, live in the construction and "mess" when we have a nice little place to stay. The camp is little and we are tripping over each other, but it's a place to sleep well and have a break from work. I am trying to be patient and work as many hours as I can at the house, and get as much done as possible. A move in date... soon... very soon!!!

doors, dog pen, bad neighbors.......

Doors and windows... I am beginning to think that I will never see the end of them!!! Even though every time I get one done, and say.. "that's one more off my list".. it seems like the "to do" pile is just as big. I remember when we designed the house, Ken said.. "you have a lot of windows there" and my reply was "that's good, I like the light"... course, back then, I wasn't think of all the painting that had to be done. But I am getting there, as of tonite, the count on "windows to do" is down to five!!!




The doors are simply getting a coat of poly... I like the natural look on them. Since all of them had to be taken off for the carpet and flooring to go down, I told myself that they wouldn't go back up without being done. I fear that if we put them back without doing them, it would be one of those jobs that might be "easy to forget"... so, I am hanging tough and no door goes into place without being totally ready to go. Since I am anxious to get doors in place and out of piles, they have been a big focus for me....


Now, Ed and I have had several conversations about the dogs and how we are going to "contain" them at the farm. We have a nice back yard with a walk out cellar, so I have been thinking a good fence would be the best choice. Ideally I would like a nice six foot chain link fence, but since we have so much landscaping to do, that isn't practical right now.

We had also talked about the invisible fence. The dogs are all trained to that - we have one at camp, and it would be an easy transition for them. But, then, I think about when the chickens and guinea hens are in the back yard.. and "our" family of wild turkeys, and I wasn't so sure the invisible fence would really suit our needs. I would also one day, like to have a small doggie daycare here.. and certainly will need a "real fence " for that. So, the dilemma continues. But, we have come up with an idea that will work for now... a temporary fence made of good strong wire.




It's not very tall, but it will contain the cockers well, and when we get to the landscaping, it can be easily moved. Camille wasn't too impressed with this idea, she has been used to running about the back yard all she pleases. It was tested when the chickens and the guineas made their daily walk to the back, Camille couldn't reach them.






But, I was very please with the fence idea when this "neighbor" showed up... Mr. Porcupine!! and let me tell you, pictures don't do him justice.. he is honestly almost as big as the cockers. He lumbered out of the woods and was happily munching on the clover in the back yard, very close to the fence.







This is a mature "porky" and the white tips of his quills are nearly as large as tooth picks. I would HATE to think what the vet bill would be if one of the dogs had a run in with this fellow. I hope that we can live in peace with this guy, he has obviously been here for a long time, and I don't mind him being around if we can come to an understanding... so, it will remain to be seen. He seems to come around late in the afternoon, and if I can keep that in mind, we'll just be sure no dogs go out that time of day.

No sooner had Mr. Porky left when who showed up but "junior"... This little chap is much smaller that the other, but those quills mean business as well. I don't think this guy will be around as much as the big guy will be, he is quite skittish and took off moments after I got this photo. I think that when he figures out dogs are here, he'll find somewhere else to go... maybe....

But that idea of a good six foot fence is looking better all the time....so that will more than likely be put on the project list!!!!

a visit to Storyland

While Rachel, John and Naomi were here, we decided to take a day and make a visit to Storyland. Now, anyone who has grown up in this area probably knows Storyland and has made at least one visit there. I know we did... my parents took us there several times when my sisters and I were little. Then, when Kas and Sadie were small, we took them , and now on this day (which was last Wednesday).. we took yet another generation to Storyland with Naomi and Abby.

This is a sweet little park. It is over 50 years old and they have kept it in great shape. Adding new rides over the years, and keeping the older ones in perfect condition. Some of it has changed, but I was happy to see that much of it was (is) still the same. The whole park is based on childhood stories... and the first greetings you get are in the "Crooked Man's house"......

Our next stop was at the picture frame. Somewhere in all my packed away things, I have a photo of me and my sisters in the picture frame.. and another of a very small Kas and Sadie in the frame. Now we have this up dated version.. Sadie and Tom, baby Abby, Kas and Nate. (I even got one with Ed and I, but already I have too many photos in this post)....

The little cars are still here. Now they run on a quiet electric engine, and you no longer do the steering (it runs on a track).. but we still had fun "driving them". Naomi thought she was quite the gal, being able to drive her very own car!!!

Course, for me.. the favorite is the beautiful carousel!! This is a German made carousel, and the horses are wonderful, All of them are hand carved and each one is different. The other great features about this one, is each horse rocks back and forth, so there is a "double movement" when you are riding (they do not go up and down). And, maybe you noticed, this one goes in a clockwise direction.. most carousels go counter clockwise. Every year, Storyland restores 12 horses, and that way they keep them all up to date.


Naomi certainly enjoyed riding her pink horse. I actually rode twice (and could have gone a dozen times more!!!!)

But the biggest smile was on Abby's face. She had a grand time on her horse and laughed the whole time!!! I was amazed that she seemed to know how to hold on (Sadie was right there beside her) and she just had a great time. It was actually hard to get her to leave!!!!!

We did all the rides, visited Cinderella's castle, ate all the "junk food" and certainly had a day of special memories....

Abby "dressed up as Alice in Wonderland".....

This has to be one of the oldest rides!!! It's now called the "Tiger turnabout".. but when I was little... this was "Little black Sambo's ride". Course in this day and age, that is no longer politically correct. So, they have changed it up a little bit, but I was pleased to see that they didn't just throw it out. And maybe it isn't as exciting as the new "log flume".. but it has it's own special place, and is a great little ride for the smaller kids!!!




As a kid, Kas thought the "Three bears house" was the best. So, she was happy to see that it was still there, and as cute as it always was....

Sadly, she doesn't fit in it like she used to... but she still paid a visit to it just the same.





The day was very hot - in the 90's - but we spent the whole day there, not missing out on one thing. I am very sure that in the summers to come, we will pay many more visits...

and it was very tired children that we brought home!!!!

a very happy 4th

Our 4th of July celebration actually began the night before... my sister Rachel, her hubby John and little Naomi, moved into our back camp for their week of vacation. It is so much fun having them in our "back yard"... and was a perfect way to begin the holiday!!!! I am so very grateful that I live in the United States and am very thankful to the folks who keep our country safe!!!!















Once everyone was settled, we fired up the "cooker" and had a feast of s'mores!!! Abby didn't need to have her marshmallow cooked... or add the chocolate or graham.... just "plain" was good enough to her!!!!









But the "older kids" (including me) had to do them right... my goodness, they were yummy, and I fear that I had way too many!!!!










We celebrate the "real" 4th with a big cookout that included family and friends!!! It was such a wonderful day and again, I am truly blessed to have such a great family and the joy of being all together with everyone.....














We had.......





lots of good food!!!!











and many dogs (10 all total)....

babies!!!!

and kids!!!!

and of course, lots of swimming in the lake!!!!

Last year, it was rainy and cold... I remember we sat around the cooker wrapped in quilts... so this year, the warm temps and sunny day made everything "perfect"

and it is my sincere hope that all of you enjoyed your day as well...

Happy 4th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!