First Day of retirement

I It was amazing!  Nice slow am.   Second cup of coffee on the deck ... instead of in the car on the way to Arthur.  I went out to put flowers together and Denny took a shower.  We went for a 3 1/2 mile walk.  I went back out to CSA to do flowers.  I baked 2 batches of onion buns.  (not one sold at the FM). There were 7 gals here for study.  TP, GA, JP, SG, MKR, DW, RT, and me.   Denny mowed the lawn.  Rose had Golden Horizon residents at FM.  Free blood pressure test and free ice cream.  I sold 16 batches of flowers.  :)  I stopped at Odebolt on the way home from IG and visited Maryann. Then I went to Missy's and put together flowers for 5 staff for her.   Oh, the flowers were fun to put together!  I had so much fun today!! 

 Thank you, Jesus!!

Last day at the bank PLUS Awana training

IUp and made coffee cake for Denny's last day at the bank.  Also made peanut butter bars, but didn't have cocoa to make brownies.  Went to town for groceries.  At home I picked flowers for FM and baked brownies.  About 20 or so leaders for Awana training.  Denny does such a good job.  We chilled in sunroom as Denny reminisced  about his years/ friends/ coworkers at the bank.  No need to go to bed early ... NO WORKING AT BANK tomorrow.

Phillip has been painting the buildings across the road.  Looks great!

Tuesday great day

 It was a beautiful morning.  How could you not be happy when the morning glories are blooming and monarch butterflies are gliding around?  I have seen about 3 of the monarchs and it makes my heart so happy.  The asters I picked were amazing!!!  Look at all those pink, purple and white flowers.



About 40 were at the home school picnic.  Little Olivia got cockle burrs in her hair, but we got them all out.  It was a beautiful afternoon and night!!!  Just amazing!!!  So many nice people.

Impressive I did not know

On Jeopardy the other night, the final question was, How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the Tomb of the Unknowns? ------ All three missed it ---

This is really an awesome sight to watch if you've never had the chance Very fascinating.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

1. How many steps does the guard take during his
walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why?

21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the
highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin
hisreturn walk and why?

21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1

3. Why are his gloves wet?

His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not?

He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb.
After his march across the path, he executes an about face
and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed?

Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?

For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30.' Other requirements of the Guard:
They must commit 2 years of life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives.
They cannot swear in public for the rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn.
The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the wreath pin.

The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.
There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform.
Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror.
The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV.
All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred.

Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame.

Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington , DC , our US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment.
They respectfully declined the offer, 'No way, Sir!' Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can
be afforded to a serviceperson.
The tomb has been patrolled continuously, 24/7, since 1930.

God Bless and Keep Them

I don't usually suggest that many emails be forwarded, but I'd be very proud if this one reached as many people as possible.
We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.
Duty - Honor - Country
IN GOD WE TRUST

https://www.facebook.com/kcfridd1/posts/453332838355533?pnref=story  K. C. Fridd

Salsa.

Who would have guessed it would take me until 2 pm to make 14 jars of salsa.  Skin tomatoes, cut tomatoes into cubes, chop 8 cups of onions, mince 8 jalipineo pepper, chop 3 cups of green peppers, mince 5 cloves of garlic, get jars clean and in hot water, wash lids and rinse well, measure sugar, chili powder, red pepper, cook salsa, put in clean jars, put jars in water bath for 10 minutes.  Uffta!! At least Denny just came in and said he liked it.  After that I had to clean up the mess.  I started to mow at 3.  Lynn came and we picked basil.  Denny worked on Awana, I went out to finish mowing and now I am tired and in bed.  Love the little guy in the tie.  

Sunday funday

Up at 7ish.  Jack had been up at 1 and 3:30, but I had not heard him.  Mandy made coffee before we headed out to go home and unload groceries before we go to church.  Sue and Gordon are taking us for lunch at Zimmies after church.    It will be a fun day.  Hopefully clean out the garage and clean the bank car.  And we got 'er done.  

Jack's party

We got this pic of Rose this am!! They were headed to the Minnesota State Fair.  I went to the Haiti garage sale before meeting Missy and Anabel and going to a baby shower for Jack.  The shower was really nice,  about 15-20 friends of Jan.  Lots of nice gifts and great booksk.  We went to Mandy's afterward so Anabel could hold Jack on a soft chair.  I got home about 2 and then Denny and I went back to Cherokee at 3:30 to babysit Jack while his parents went to a concert in SC.  Fun time for us.  Denny got groceries for next week at Hyvee.  I just sat and held a sleeping Jack.  I went to bed about 11 and Denny said the kids got home about 12:30.  Sounds like they had a great time at the Tobi Max concert.  

Effie's

Full day and so glad I made the trip.  I left about 7 for Donahue, Iowa and Miss Effies.  I got there alittle before noon and spent a couple hours looking around, picking flowers and picking Kathy's brain.  I found some plants I will definitely order next year and got some names of other online green houses.  I bartered Mexican vanilla for the fresh flowers I picked.  I had taken a FM bunch of flowers along and realized I was close to Tipton so I did a surprise visit to Jess and Cole's school.  It was a shocker for them and brought a lot of laughs.  I was home by 8 and Denny was grilling a great meal.  Sauted onions, and a wonderful pork chop on the grill.  It was a great day.   I knew Susan would have lots of questions when she checked my blog and saw this picture.  Fun!!!

FM

It was another full wonderful day.  I got up and used most of my flour to make a batch of onion dill buns.  I had just enough flour for a second batch in the bread machine before I headed to IG.  Uffta!!! I realized I put 1/2 cup oil instead of 1/4 cup oil in the batch!!  This is not good; I had no more flour, but I remembered I had some whole wheat flour in the closet. I tried to salvage a double batch of whole wheat buns from that mix up.  I went to IG Dose GS and grocery store.  At home I made brownies, coffeecake and PB bars.  Plus the second batch of OD buns and 2 batches of salvaged WW buns.  Uffta!!!  9 of us were here for study.  TP SG SG DW RT LN JP GA.  I was bagging up bars during the dvd play time and then Mandy called and we visited.  I loaded the car and headed to FM.  One gal came about 4:45 and said she wanted to buy flowers. She asked if I remembered that i gave her flowers last week and she really enjoyed them.  She gave me a wooden cross she had made. That was so nice, but I, like a fool, did not get her name.  It was so kind of her to make that for me.  I brought in I think my 2 season record amount at the FM.  Lynn and Toshi came over after the FM and we visited in the yard on a beautiful evening.  What a great day!!  120

Wed August 23

Cooks got back from boundary waters.  Jensens' first day of school.  I picked flowers for the farmer's market and worked/played out side most of the day.  I did the lawn mowing.  At night I put together 12 bunches for the FM.  Denny worked on Awana.  

Cuz fun

The Mo grands had school today.  The IG grands got up to say goodby before the bus came.  We left for home about 8:15 and got home.  After lunch Anabel helped me pick flowers for Holstein FM.  The boys helped Denny clean the bnb.  It was pretty nice in Holstein, 7 out of 12 flowers sold.  Denny got a haircut.  We ate steak from Odebolt grilling on Monday night.  Nice visiting after transition meeting.  The cousins had so much fun playing together.  

Eclipse

Nice lazy fun day!!!  We got up around 7.  Matt fixed pancakes and eggs, Becky fixed bacon.  It rained right before the eclipse, but we could see the first "bite or lick" of the moon in front of the sun.  Then the clouds came in, so we watched a total eclipse on tv in oregon and .  It cleared off about an hour later so we could see the last lick of the eclipse.  Between time there was trampoline jumping, eating, bean bag tossing, and more eating.  Next naps for the adults and the movie "Sing" for the kids. My goal for the day was to get pictures of us in the glasses.  Mission accomplished.  We are loving 2 days off of work for Denny.  Lord, keep us healthy and safe.

Family

Devotions in the sun room.  Donuts before church.  2 floral arrangements from the rehearsal supper went to Sandy and Lydia.  Sunflowers from Missy's reunion were shared.  After church we packed up and at 2 we headed to Savannah with 3 Grands to stay with Mo Grands.  Torren was having football practice in their front yard.  The kids were so excited to be together!!  Nice day!!!

FM Wedding

I made 2 batches of onion Dill buns this am.  Then loaded the car and headed to LV.  It was kind of a slow morning.  They said there was a pancake breakfast in WL and it was getting closer to the end of the summer when attendance drops off.  Sam the coffee guy was there & I bought a cup of coffee from him and he bought 2 bunches of flowers from me.  Next to IG to find Missy's classmates at the school playground.  They took a tour.  At home I worked on sunflowers and jars for Missy's reunion supper.  I barely got done at 1:18 so I had 12 minutes to get ready for the wedding.  It was a great wedding.  The jars they filled Thursday am lined the center aisle of the church.  Marshall did a great job marrying them.  Reception at Little Sioux park by Correctionville.  Beautiful day!!  Such a very nice ceremony and family.  Thank you, Jesus.

44 years and Gail

Up early.  I met Gail in Carroll at 9.  We shopped at New Hope for about an hour.  I found a table that might work for the meal on Sept 1.  We ate Mexican.  So good to spend time with her.   I was home by 2 and started mowing.  Aaron and Sadie came about 3 to stay in airbnb.  I worked on flower bunches for LVFM.  Julie did come and get 2 bunches of flowers in afternoon.  I headed to Holstein Boulders for rehearsal supper.  Denny went to the church to do the sound system.  The wedding party got to Holstein about 7. Susan played the game that Laurie brought to Missy and Phillips rehearsal supper.  Wonderful brisket for supper.  Denny and I celebrated out in the CSA while I made FM flowers.  

Flower fun

A day does not get any better than by starting it off holding a grandson.  Mandy wanted the Harley pix.  It is the Mo Johnsons first day at school.  Mandy left about 9 for a Dr. appointment,  Amanda and Isaiah came about 9:15.  Sue, Mary Lee and Whitney joined them to make 12 vases of flowers for the wedding.  They turned out very nice!! Isaiah was made for cutting sunflower!    I worked on flowers for IGFM until study at 1:30-3:30.  Then to FM until 6:30.  Denny was mowing when I got home.  I finished 8--- 5 inch square arrangements for the rehearsal supper.  Full day!!   (Do all I can, for as long as I can,  a day is coming soon when I won't be able to do.)

FULL CHAIR     FULL ARMS     SLEEPING BABY       FULL HEART!!!!!!!

Pesto

I can't really remember how the day went,  but it was fun.  It rained most of am.  Mandy texted and said she had little sleep last night.  I texted back and said we had a quiet room in the basement for her to sleep and I would love to watch Jack while she slept.   I went into IG to get groceries, when I got home the rain had stopped for a while, so I picked basil for Missy and Ranae.  Mandy got home, fed Jack and then she headed down to sleep.  Jack went down in the airbnb bassinet.  (until he stirred and I got to pick him up).  It stopped raining and kids played here while gals made pesto.  Boys were boys playing and girls dressed up and had a tea party.  Denny fixed brats for supper.  Such a great day!!  Mandy fed about 8 and went to sleep, I got to hold a sleeping Jack until midnight.  I went out to the coop with him and looked at my phone.  Uffta!! I shared a couple things that I do not know how I did it.  Uffta!!