Sometimes I have absolutely nothing to post on the blog. Sometimes I get an idea at the last minute. Today happens to be a good day - but a bit disjointed. I hope you don't mind!

Thursday: Nate took this during a downpour. We see it whenever it rains - but we still get a kick when it happens. (hint: it's an underground gutter from the house)

Friday evening: Maybe you were going to a movie, or out to dinner. We were spending big bucks at Sam's Club (and the Walmarts) buying school supplies and dorm food. Oh for the days of buying crayons, glue sticks & lunch bags!

Saturday: I got up at stupid o'clock to hang pictures, etc. at the church building. Then came home to this: Some of you may be thinking that my wonderful hubby defrosted the freezer and cleaned the fridge. What this really means is that when I woke up early (I don't like to get up early) - I found a puddle of water in front of the fridge. Not sure this 15 year old is gonna pull through. The fridge doctor hasn't called us back.

Timing? Yeah, not so good. Danae took a load of stuff to her apartment this afternoon and sleeping there tonight, then home tomorrow for load 2. Kirk and I will go with Nate and Danae to Winona tomorrow to help move in the rest of DJs stuff and move Nate in.

So, guess it looks like we are living out of the garage fridge and cooler for a few days.

Now for the last installment of horse facts, by Natalie....

"You can tell how old a horse is by looking at its teeth."

Can you name this famous horse and his human friend?

A Glimpse into our wild and crazy life . . .
Not a normal day here....
1. I rarely get up before 9am on Saturday.
2. Because I don't get up til 9 on Saturday, I don't usually garage sale...but Cara and I went today.
3. Then we picked up Nate and went to Kohl's to buy wedding guest attire. (shirt/tie/shoes)
4. Jackie and kids came to swim and hang out
5. Out to dinner with kids
6. Watched movie...."Fractured" --- very good.
7. 12:30 a.m. and I'm still awake.

Danae and Kirk took a spin on the bikes.
A cute father/daughter moment

I told you.....crazy.

A beautiful rainbow after dinner.

Dinner at Chester's with our kids.

At least one of the above photos probably causes you to ask questions...

No goldfish were injured in the production of this blog. (the fish was already dead when Cara scooped it out of the barrel with her bare hands then proceeded to play with it ....remember it's dead.....and torture others with it....me.) Danae is the goldfish swallower of the family. But that's a story for another day.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Recycling - in the flower bed !

Another revelation about me - I like bottles - not just any bottle, but the ones with some character or that are old, antique-y, vintage-y bottles. Or pretty colored bottles.

I don't have many bottles, but I love to look at them and am drawn to them in stores like IKEA and World Market. Recently I came up with a plan to recycle and enjoy some of the wine bottles we've emptied..... which I've hated to throw away!

With our bottle cutter, we cut off some bottoms of wine bottles.

and we left some bottoms in tact....then I stuck the bottles top (neck) down along the edge of the flower bed in the backyard flower bed. . . and put tea lights in the little indentation on the bottom of the bottles -- or set the candle inside the bottle on the ones we cut the bottoms off.

It really makes for a pretty evening light display (when there isnt' any wind!)

Now you can start recycling wine bottles for your own collection! (or you can give them to me for mine!)

Happy Summer!

Cheri

The Earth Laughs In Flowers

Ralph Waldo Emerson

This petunia "volunteer" showed up between the pavers around the pool. It's pretty hard not to smile at the tenacity (can flowers be tenacious?) of the little bloom. Of course if I had tried to plant petunia seeds in a pot --- they wouldn't have grown.

I'll have some more please.
So today was just a "little" windy....but it was still a good day. We slept til 9am (perfect) had breakfast, then Cara joined Kirk and I for a cup of coffee on the back patio. That's when some friends stopped by (we hadn't showered, and some of us were in our pajama's still) -- but it was good! We visited with them for a bit, then started to get some things done.
I was happy to finally get my little barrel pond up and running. This year it is on the back patio, and has 5 goldfish in it! (thanks to JoLynn).
Gabby was happy to have the barrel full....she likes to drink from it!

When you want to hang your bedding outdoors, the wind is a good thing!

Everything dried on the clothesline in about 20 minutes!

Rosie and Dorothy spent the day out in the yard (instead of the pen). It amazes me how they stick around, and how Gabby leaves them alone!

Kirk got a lot of painting done on the barn. We love the shade of red we chose!

I really wanted to help Kirk paint the barn. But the sun and pool were just too much of a draw for me and I gave in to an hour of float & sun time. I did get all my laundry done, folded and put away today, and made a salad and salsa and frosting for banana bars that Cara made, and helped Nate put on a birthday party for his friend Maggie this evening (which is still going on at 11:30 pm!).

Tomorrow....more outdoor time for me!

You don't need to be a smoker to make rings!

But it takes talent to make "air rings"

While laying on your back on the bottom of the pool

Evidently it is hard to explain the technique

the result is pretty cool though. I'll tell ya, such talent in our family ! :)

Then, there is little Maddie who finds it difficult to get her chubby little body onto the top step of the pool!

Those hazy, lazy days of summer.

Oh, the life of a college student . . . . . . in the summer.

This was the beginning of Monday evening. . . then there was strawberry shortcake for dinner. Which is a bit of a tradition at our house in strawberry season. Then 3 more college students arrived. Danae gets tossed (accidently) :) in the pool by Aria. Aria jumps in out of sympathy, I guess. Now that two are wet, the other three decide they want to go downtown to RochesterFest for cheese curds! Aria borrows shorts, boxers, shirt from Kirk (is that TMI?) and off they go at 9pm (earlier than usual for a night out). Me? I go to bed! And that is exactly where I am going now!

Sweet dreams,

Working from the "back" office . . .
This is one of my favorite places to be in the summer, especially in the evening as the sun is going down. Last night I spent a couple hours out here working on a plan for the new church office. I think I've found something that will work, but have to run it by a few people (Wendy ;)....not to mention I need approval to spend the $$. It always adds up faster than I think it will!

I think one of those outdoor area rugs would be really nice here. What do you think?
Anyone have one they aren't using?

Although this isn't even close to what I have the office "looking" like, it gives you an idea of how I was working. You can see that I have the IKEA website up and that I'm using their planning tools. That's what I used for the church kitchen too.

Now that's a Lofty idea!

Loft complete.

First apartment questions for dad.

Kirk finished the barn loft tonight. Danae got her apartment "defects" report list done on line. I worked on the church office design (so far 3 hours of work on it). I'm hungry with coffee jitters. Tomorrow is my annual "show & tell" doctor appointment and bloodwork, so no food for me until after my 10 am blood draw! Eeek. I'm not so good at waiting to eat! It's just so inconvenient.

Girl stuff.
Margarita's & appetizers on the patio. A walk. A glass of wine and some card making. Break for more appetizers & then some "Guitar Hero". Back to making cards. Bedtime at 2:30 a.m. A sleepover. Brenda's hubby is out-of-town. My hubby is out-of-town (golfing & baseball with friends). My kids are all...you guessed it, out-of-town.
Morning coffee . . . sitting on my bed. Because I asked Brenda to wake me up! She always wakes up early, I don't.
Back to making some more cards in the morning, then sit outside and soak in relaxation and sunshine til 2 pm. Lunch is poolside.
Brenda heads home. I take a nap :) -- a shower -- clean up the kitchen -- and blog.
What an awesome 48 hours this has been!
May you all find some girl time (and guy time) with your friends this summer. Because ~ we need to connect more!

Good evening. No, really, I had a good evening. No housework, no yardwork. Just doing stuff I like to do. Like cooking, eating outdoors, spending time with family...and friends. Guitar playing (not by me). Candlelit evening. A fire.

The grillmaster cooking our yummy Spiedies!

Danae's friend, Aria playing guitar.

...and singing. romantic songs

Candlelight

There are currently several 18 & 19 year olds on the patio. I'm glad they are here. I do miss our Nate though. I wish he would call! (Got that hint Nate??)

Good evening blog friends (and family) ;)

A bird's eye view . . .

of the robin family . . .

only takes a second for the little ones to wake up!
Someone is still hungry !
Mom's gone, so back to sleep for the 3 little ones . . .
Sadly, this egg didn't fully hatch and got booted out of the nest.

Progress !

Ummmm.....psssst.....ahem. .....Kirk?......

your barn door is open honey. . .

There ya go....

You're welcome. This is a family friendly blog after all.

I think I need to go buy paint!

Are you my mother?

Today we decided to test how the adult chickens would take to having the chicks around. First we only let Rosie in with the chicks since she was so "motherly" to the younger chicks last summer. Rosie did great. The other two hens....well, let's just say they were not as happy to have the little ones around! We only had the little ones in the pen for awhile before taking them back to their warm little "nursery" in the garage.

Then we did a little "Chicken Chasing" . . .Sometimes we are especially nice to the hens and let them out of the pen to scratch the ground and get some of their favorite foods.....bugs. The challenge comes in when we want them back in the pen before they want back in. . .

Just when you think you have one.....they escape your hold

and make a run for it again

It can be quite a challenge to get them out from under the spruce trees

But it is Very hard for them to resist a bright red strawberry!

Finally....within reach

Chicken hypnotizing: "repeat after me......never, run away from the people"
~~~~never a dull moment I'll tell ya!

Can you do this?

Danae can. This is a photo from Mother's Day at Applebees. Ask her sometime, she'll tell you how!

Today I am tired. Kirk worked on the barn all day. I worked in the yard, flower beds transplanting and planting. For you weather junkies....it was a perfect yard work day ending with a lightening storm, and a little rain.

Later,

Did I mention my baby chicks arrived? I picked them up at my friend Craig's house Friday night. They are in the garage...with the heat lamp til they grow feathers. I digress. Back to the day . . .

So, while I was at the Plummer House I snapped a few pics. I love this place. This is just one of the beautiful areas . . .
Here's the actual Plummer House.... built by Dr. Plummer, an inventor, physician, and architect....he was also "in at the beginning of the Mayo Clinic" --- this was his house. (for those of you not from Rochester)

It's 11:22 pm --- the day's activities are done, and cleaned up, and put away. I've made the grooms flower and the bride's bouquet. The candy gift bags are filled (thanks Brenda!), the camera battery is charging. . . .

Church at 9:30 tomorrow. Pick up wedding cake on way home. Change clothes. To the Plummer House by 1:00 pm for pre-wedding pics. Kirk is coming too, I volunteered him to take video! 2:30 wedding. After the wedding --- to Hubbell House (very nice restaurant) --- Kirk and I are going too. I hope to post some photos when I get home. We'll see.

Wish me luck. And for those of you who pray --- when you think of me --- go for it!Good-night blog friends. Bless you friends who helped in so many ways today.

Amen.

Pool time . . .
Here's a picture from last summer. July.
This is what the pool area looked like on Saturday as we prepared to "open" the pool. The term "open" is used loosely. Very loosely. You see, at this stage of the process, "open" means we begin the process of getting the pool ready to use. It really isn't "open" to swim in. Unless you are Gabby.
First we have to clear out the leaves that gathered in the landscaping over the fall/winter/spring. This year we discovered the neighbor's leaf blower was MUCH more efficient than raking. And what man doesn't like a reason to use a power tool!

Gabby quickly realizes what we are up to and stays very nearby, leaving the snakes to find refuge. From this point on, Gabby circles the pool in a continuous motion.

While Nate screws down the bolts that the cover springs were attched to.

and Kirk loosens the springs from the bolts. (they actually did this in reverse order)
Then it's time to pull the cover off. Notice how Gabby is making another round? Normally I would be helping, but someone had to document this major spring event.

almost to the shallow end, where the heavy, water-logged cover is pulled out of the water . . . but wait, where's Gabby?

There she is . . . looking for toads, snakes, mice or any other varmint that might have met it's demise in the pool. She is also faking it...pretending to get a drink...but we are "on to her".
Oh yeah, we knew it would only be a matter of seconds. She literally walked to the other end, and jumped in to the freezing cold water. Think Lake Superior, Lake Michigan - cold.

and she didn't get out until she had made a several laps -- about 5 minutes! She's a Yorkie with Lab genetics!

Meanwhile, the men keep working on the process. Another excuse to use their toys . . to move the cover to the front to dry it out on the driveway.

Nate took charge of opening the pipes --- I'm glad he knows what he is doing cuz I don't!

Getting the cover on the driveway to dry and wash off the leaves and bird poop.

In a week we should have blue, yet still cold, water. At least it will be prettier to look at than the green cover. and if we really want to swim, we COULD turn on the heater.

Talk about being on the inside looking out....

this female cardinal found her way into our garage, but had a hard time finding her way out. She really wanted to go out the window -- I coaxed her out the garage door. after I took a few photos of course!

It is crazy how many cardinals we have in our yard this year! I think we have more cardinals than any other bird. After seeing them in contrast with the snow all winter, it's fun to see their red color contrasting with the green grass!

Today was full of activity....more barn work (lots), clearing flower beds and opening the pool (as in getting it ready to be usable). Was going to blog about all the different activities, but blogger is being stubborn, and I'm too tired to deal with it.

Can you guess what these are?

If you guessed fabric postcards -- You are right!
I learned how to make them tonight! My friend Mary was so sweet to come with all the supplies needed to show me how to make them. I made the very simple ones that didn't require alot of fussing, but Mary was making really nice postcards with bead embellishments and trim. I didn't trim mine, only used pinking shears (why are they called that? they aren't pink. Anyone?) These can be mailed just like they are, with postage of course.
Poor Maddie..she thought she was going to get a ride on the 4-wheeler...not have to sit around and wait for the kids to quit playing.

One more day of work. I can't wait for the weekend!

A barn. Trees. Chickens.

A barn raising - slowly, but surely. The barn is going up. The weather hasn't exactly cooperated with barn-work, however the weekend is looking good!


Finally, the flowering crab is about to burst into beautiful color.

One branch is on the way ... by Friday it should be all out blooms!

Only one pear tree is blooming - not quite all out-full bloom, but close.
It's strange that only one pear tree is blooming - usually all three bloom at the same time -- and at the same time as the apple trees (which aren't close yet). It's a crazy year.
And about the chickens . . .

Last night Kirk called my cell phone and asked if I wanted him to put the chickens in. I said, "no, they'll be fine and will go in on their own". Thinking he meant put them in the coop since there is a chance of rain. (which I haven't been doing). Fast forward to this morning....

I go out to gather eggs -- and our 3 chickens are at the back door waiting for me! Kirk had meant put them back in the coop/pen. I had no clue they were "out" as in out of the pen/coop. So, they were "out" all night. So -- this begs the question...."who let the chickens out in the first place?" A little CSI (crime scene investigation) and I notice foreign poop in the coop. I think a raccoon let them out! We tightened down the hatches tonight!

photos courtesy of Kirk