Parade

I thought about heading to LakeVie FM, but had too much to do here.  Weeding and planting orange Mexican sunflowers north of deck.  Jensens ate lunch here, then we went into the parade about 12:30.  Kathy and Rory came out about 4:30.  We drove in together to the all school meal.  It was very nice.  Rainy, Rainy.  Pictures are from Sunday after church picnic.  Jensen, Goodenows and Teresa joined us for brats.

Garden Party in Spencer

Last week I called a gal from Spencer and talked about the Clay county fair.  She told me about a garden club tour of 5 homes that was going on tonight.  Denny said he didn't care if I went to his class reunion, so I headed north about noon.  Dad had gone earlier to Storm Lake to get his bike.  I went to Mandy's clinic and took 12 bouquets of flowers.  The office gals at United Community Health Care were pretty happy to get them.  Mandy had not thought that there would be flowers for the dental gals, but I had enough.  Mandy and I went to Walmart so she could get supplies and food for their trip to the boundary waters.  They were leaving after work, after she got all the write ups done for work.  My next stop was at Sioux Rapids. Now I did not take the most direct route there.  Uffta!!  Becca and Ben's' kids were at the pool so we visited a little and then went to the pool.  The hit for a treat was orange sherbet pushups. After I got to Spencer I stopped at Goodwill, and Helping Hands.  Then to the garden tour.  I asked if I could ride along and two gals  from Webb let me ride with them.  It was fun to see the pretty yards, but I came away thinking that I like my yard the best.  After the tour I had my laptop and went on line to the CCF and signed up for 2 exhibits.  Then I headed home.   It was Denny's 50 year class reunion at night.  He went to the Skate palace about 5 and I joined him about 9:30 on the way back from Spencer.  

Happy birthday Kane!!! what a day!!

Happy 7th birthday Kane!!!!  We love you so much.  I am thankful for the joy you add to our lives.  It was fun to visit your school and eat lunch with you.   And thanks for washing my car!!

Tried to stay in bed until 6.  The kitchen was a mess and so that was first on the agenda, and then the laundry room!!!  So hard to know where to start when everything is a mess because I left it that way.   Denny and I went into town to deliver flowers to Sue K. and get a grasshopper hose at Napa.  We fixed pizza for lunch with Jensens.  8 gals for study. TP,SG,Jean A,MKR,JP,PG, JP,RT,  I picked some flowers to add to the ones I got from Mandy and put together 14 bouquets and put them in the cooler.  We got the lawn mowed.  It was so beautiful to sit out at the CSA barn and enjoy the night.
Denny went on his first bike ride since surgery May 30.

Jack Day

Luckily, Mandy told me that the river overflow in Cherokee had closed Highway 59, so I took Alpine north to 520 street.  It worked very well.  Denny and Anabel had breakfast on the deck.  So nice that she stayed at our home last night.  Another fun day with Jack.  After Jason left for work Jack and I played in the garage for a while, Jack liked to carry around a golf club.  We came inside and played for a while, then Jack slept from 9:30-12:15.  Two and a half hours.  Now that is a morning nap!  After lunch we went to the other G'ma and were there for about an hour.  We shopped  a little and when we came out of a store into the day light,  Jack sneezed 3 times.  Apple didn't fall far from the tree.  An hour nap this afternoon.  Before I left I picked some lilies; Cooks are going to be gone for 10 days.  At home, I started mowing after Missy had mowed the soccer field.  Denny grilled pork chops for supper plus sweet corn on the cob and potato salad.   We ate on the big heavy picnic table that Denny moved from the trust house.  Love those meals with the Jensens. 

Clean Clean Clean Amazing women!!!

I went into the OG train and went to the Missy's where friends were cleaning for Jensens as they are moving from their home.  It was so nice it made me puddle up.  The house looked great!!!  All those helping hands really made it sparkle.  Later in the afternoon I went in and touched up with paint all the dings on the white woodwork.  I also took the wall paint and covered any scraps on the walls.  Susan had left her lasagna from last night and desserts ... so good.  We invited all of the cleaning gals and Rachel (who had watched kids for the cleaners) and the 8 kids that were at Rachel's' house.  It worked so well.  It was kinda rainy so we put the food in the garage and people ate on the deck or in the coop.  Great bunch to clean.  Wendy Nick, Jaci, Elise, Mary Kay, Ranae, Kathi, Missy, Sandy, Sarah, Melissa.  When Jaci saw the fresh strawberry pie, she was so happy.  So while we were waiting for all the people to get to our home, we ate dessert first!!!  So good.  So thankful for all that got done.   

Wonderful supper

There had been rain last night and all looked clean and fresh.  I put all the PP plants in the garden.  Lord, help them grow.   I also fixed the succulent pots.   About 10 I headed to Jensens; we had grilled cheese and salad for lunch for everyone here.  I went over to do some touch up painting in the trust basement.  Denny worked on cleaning the house all day  and it shone.  Looked so nice.  I talked to the gal from  the Clay county fair.  Very interesting.  Lord, guide me.  Jensens delivered stuff to store through out the day.  At 6 Susan and Gordon brought supper.  It was wonderful!  Lasagne, fruit salad, Strawberry pie, and ultimate Chocolate cake.  It was so visiting with them and listening to the answers that Jensens gave to their questions.

Prairie Pedlar pm

Another beautiful am as I put flowers together for church.  It is so fun!!  After church I gave away 8 bunches.  After naps I went and dug up some hostas and ferns and put them in the back of the pickup.  It started raining and so I unloaded them and that is as far as it got.  We went up to Prairie Pedlar's evening of lights and sunset.  Mary Kay met us there.  Plants were on sale.  I won a gift certificate of $25.  Such a good deal.  Visit about next weekend.  Brooks is at Hidden Acres camp for 3 days this week.

First Farmer's market

Slept too little last night ... baked onion dill buns,  Left for FM about 7.  I set out my 14 flower bunches and I also brought coffee this morning.   When Mary Kay came and set out her few baked goods at my table, Terry (in charge) called me over and said " in order for everyone to make it at FM, only one booth can have baked goods. (i.e, them)  Uffta!! She was ousted.  She took it like a trooper.  We left about 9:45.  I sold 11 flowers and 2 buns bags and about 4 cups of coffee.  At home I took a nap.  As I looked out bedroom window, I saw out Airbnb gal with her red headed toddler walking on the deck holding a kitty.  Cute!!  I was lazy all afternoon.  Denny washed the pickup.  After supper I went out and rototilled around all of the flower beds.  Before I came in (about sunset) I visited with our Airbnb guests on the deck.  They thought our flowers/yard/setup was pretty fun.

Another full day full of blessings

It was beautiful in the am.  I planted the plants from Thistle down.  Tomatoes, tomtillos, jal. peppers, dahlias, gerbera daisys, So glad to get them all in the ground.  I went over to help at Missy's after the kids got their haircuts.  Her clothes are now gone thru,  some are saved back for Iowa Minnesota wear this summer and some rolled and banded and labeled with index card for August trip.  Jensens left for Ames and Jensen weekend.  Denny and I went to Denison to get lawnmower and Mexican food.  Denny thought the carnitas were better than Texas or Mexico because of the Iowa Pork.  At home Denny laid down.  I pulled all the weeds in 1 row of asparagus!! Wow what a LOT of work and weeds.  And the aspargus will probably not grow any better.  Then I put together 14 bunches of flowers in CSA.  Inside I baked brownie bars and cream cheese coffee cake.  I started onion buns and set timer to put into balls for rising and bake later.  Short night.  Cute picture of Goodenow girls!!!

Wet, but still mow

Beautiful morning.  I didn't get out to pull weeds though.  I started cleaning the baby chair I went to Missy's around 10.  We moved food to CCF and our place. They moved the kids clothes.  Some one bought the tractor.  Actually a guy from Holstein that grew up in Pocahontas, a couple years older that Phillip, who caught for Phillip when they played baseball.  The big pickup was sold last night to a guy from Minnesota? who was traveling back home from Nebraska?  Both washers and dryers are sold. Plus the scale, sofa, and the living room set was given to Josh L.  Study was here from 1:30=3:30.  SG,MKR,TP. PG.JP.LS,  Jensens brought the trampoline over before we ate Mary G. poppyseed casserole.  I mowed the damp lawn after they left.  So good to have lights on the Dixon.  The house is looking amazing with Denny washing windows, spot cleaning the carpet, vacuuming,  cleaning the tile floors.  SO NICE!!!!!  Brooks and Anabel found a second baby kitten some where. 

Sorting clothes

With the rain last night and this morning ... it was cool and fresh and pretty outside.  I worked on getting the bnb ready and started laundry.  Missy called to see if we had any spray paint.  I went over there and brought the paint then I was a sounding board while Missy talked out the choices of clothes to pack... Clothes  for Brooks to take to camp on Sunday afternoon.  Clothes for Evan, Anabel and Brooks to take to Ames for Jensen weekend on noon Friday.  Swimming suits to take to Cherokee tonight.  Then the BIG clothing selection:  Clothes to pack for the August trip for Evan, Anabel and Brooks.  Starting with Brooks clothes, Then Anabel's clothes, then Evan's clothes  Missy sorted and laid out clothes on living room floor, chose out clothing, rolled the clothing, secured with thick rubberbands and slipped an index card under the rubberband that had the clothing item name and name of person.   Example: Brooks travel jacket, Brooks shorts outfit 1 of 4, Brooks 9 pair of socks, Brooks  2 pair of jeans ...  Each child had about 25-30 rolls of clothes ready to put into a travel tub.   Plus some clothes for the June and July Iowa/Minnesota time.  Extra wrong size or disliked clothes are heading to the Train.  Missy was really glad to get the task done and I was happy to help and really impressed (albeit, not surprised) by her organization.  While I was put to work labeling index card, and rolling and rubberbanding clothes, Denny cleaned his heart out.  Clean windows at home,  laundry done, carpet cleaned, floors cleaned.    He really worked and it looked great.  The trouble is I noticed too late and too little.  Uffta!!!   Jensens headed to Cherokee for a visit.   Denny took a well deserved nap.  I went out to the soggy ground and pulled 6 wheelbarrels fulls of weeds.  Haley  got a new phone and Torren got his first phone after signing the contract made by their parents. 

So thankful for this great day!!!

Up for devotions and then I went out and picked some lilies to put in the cooler. ... Nothing starts the day better than being outside and picking beautiful flowers.  It had rained last night and everything was fresh and clean.  AND my flowers are starting to bloom.  Wonderful.  It seems like it has taken so long this year.  I left for the Train about 7:30.  Stopped at the bank to get Denny's name on the checking account.  It seems like that took forever.  At home we had a quick sausage sandwich and I went to Jensens to watch all the activity and hear about their lives.  Closets cleaned, rooms empty except for mattresses and blankets.  I took Grands to their special friends to play.  Brooks to Logan B.  Anabel to Sophi J.  Evan to Jake L.  Lord grant them good Christian friends in their August home.  I headed to Thistle down and bought Plants!! Dahlia's, Gerbera, and veggies: Tomatoes, peppers, tomatillos, and cukes for Keelie to share, Jalipino, Everything was on sale.  So much fun!!!  I left for Cherokee and got there in time for a quick stop at New Leaf before going to the golf course.  So much fun to play golf with Mandy.  Not so hot on the game, but so much fun to be with my daughter.  We ate a burger there afterward, stopped by to see a sleeping Jack and 2 hungry baby birds that were in the nest in the bush I trimmed yesterday.  Home by 9:45.  Full, Fun Day!  Thank you, Jesus.  Evan came over and replanted a maple tree with Gpa.  They also planted 2 oak trees.

Jack Day!!

Left home 6:30 ... Cherokee 7:30   Poor Jack has had some rough diapers and is feeling a  little under the weather.  We took a 2 mile walk with the stroller.  Nice almost 2 hour nap in am  and 2 hour nap in afternoon.  He watched as I trimmed the snowball bush and found a baby birds nest.  I got home about 6:30, Dad went to Sac county Cattleman's feed.  We visited with Jensens when they got home. 

Happy Father's day, Denny !!!!!

I woke up about 7.  After showering I took a cup of coffee over to the Hendersons to say goodbye.  I headed home and I went to church in Arthur.  After church we drove to Cooks; they grilled burgers for John, Jan, and us.  It was really nice!!  We stopped back at church to pick up a meal that Mary G. had made.  It has been such a blessing to have friends at the church fix some meals.  They are such good cooks; we have had great meals that lasted for several meals.  Naps and then we went to the Arthur Fire Department grilling.  At home Denny rode the bike about an hour and  I picked flowers to put in cooler.   We ate with Mandy.  Luke called and we showed Rose the kitty on facetime,  Denny called Missy and we heard a short synopsis about their busy, information packed week.  Matt had texted earlier this am and we spent the afternoon with his family yesterday at Atlantic.   Such good Dads.   I am so thankful for Denny and the kids we have!!!  Lord, keep them in the center of your will.

Let's celebrate!!!

I got up at Highfills; they had gotten home from Germany about midnight last night.  When I got to Hendersons, Hope was awake and so we played dolls and went on a golf cart ride.   Texas and family came for cinnamon rolls and fruit.  About 9:30 we went to the tennis court to play pickleball.  Then at 11:30 to Highfills for burgers for the Texas people.  It was so nice that we could have a fun meal and place to go and visit.  At 12:30 we went to play golf.  Fay and I played with Scott and Allan best ball.  It was fun except when the 8 some  in front of us (that we had been told at the register would let us play through) gave me a hard time.  By the time we finished the round one over par, Matt and family and Mandy and Denny were at the country club pool.  Mandy and Jack had stopped to get Denny.  Denny had riden 45 minutes on bike in the morning and walked a couple miles.   Very warm day, but there was a strong breeze that made it very comfortable.  Kids were in the pool, but we adults just sat and visited in the shade with Marilyn, Jane, Bruce, Christy, and family until 5:30 when we went to a pasta buffet that Gail and Bruce treated us to.  The DJ dance went from 7-10.  Fun dancing.  I got down to Jack's level.  It was fun to watch everyone's Grands dancing.  Kane asked about the pictures of Gail and Bruce by the bathrooms, so I took a picture of them with their (what Kane thought were their) portraits.  My family left about 8 after some dancing.  I stayed until the end and helped Gail straighten up and take stuff home.  We went to their place Brad, Micki, Todd and Julia were out side because the kids were sleeping, so we all just visited and they opened gifts there.  The front door was opened at Jan and Dave's.  Nice day in the Midwest.

140 year cellebration

For some reason I could not get to sleep last night.  And I did not have coffee at Bible study.  Some times I am just so excited about my life and the next day that my mind just races.  I remembered I had a slight ear ache and took some benadryl.  Good night.  My flowers are finally starting to bloom.  I gathered my first 2 baskets of flowers for arrangements, so I made 2 for airbnb, 2 for Gail and 1 for Marion.  Denny rode 2  10 minute sessions of bike.  I had a dermatology appointment with Crystal O. and headed to Atlantic after that.  I got there about 5.  Henderson were going out with Marion and family.  Us  7 Texas snowbirds went to eat Mexican downtown.  Good to visit and catch up with their lives.  They let me off at Gail's and I swept the garage and set up some tables and chairs for breakfast tomorrow.  Todd and Julia and Hope are staying there tonight, so we visited a little before I headed to Highfills for bed.

Quick trip to SC

A little cooler this am.   I headed to SC to pick up my new glasses about 9.  I returned to sheet sets to Bed, Bath and Beyond, bought some pillow protectors, and then went to South Sioux SA and bought 3 pairs of shorts.  I drove home for study at my home.  In am Denny gave Mark a ride to his pick- up and then walked a couple miles at Moorehead park.  9 gals at study PG, TP, LSN,JP,RT, JP,LS, SG, I mowed the lawn and at dusk I went to pull some weeds out of the lily bed.

Look at those mulberries.  The tree looked red from the road.   Pictures from Tuesday walk:

Doctor appointment

Slow beautiful morning.  I battled the biting flies and went out and weeded.  For a while the bug repellent worked and then those flies didn't care, they just bit and bit.  Doses brought supper right before we left for the appointment with Dr. Meyer.  His check up went well.  The doctor gave him the go ahead to train for ragbrai ... now if only Denny felt good enough to train.  As we were leaving the hospital Denny noticed Mark's truck.  A God thing: He was just coming out after having a knee scope done and needed a ride home.  We brought him home for Dose's supper and later Denny took him to Odebolt.  Brent called about Phillip and I asked about getting the grainery moved.  ??? Hopefully!  In summery, :) I was really glad to get some of the weeds pulled today. 

Pictures: Last night nice walk to dirt road with Keelie.  Keelie loves to go on walks and LOVES Denny (or anyone else that will show her attention, (ie pet her, feed her, talk to her)