Thursday July 29 ... Full Fun Day

But let me think, I am not sure what I did to make it a fun, full day.  It was an unusual start;  at 3:30 am I took a melatonin.  And slept until 8:30.  Well, I was considering taking flowers to the Cherokee Farmer's Market and I knew that waking up that late, it wouldn't happen.  I joined Denny for coffee.  And then went out and picked lisianthus.  Oh, My, there were a lot of them!   Denny and I took a load of steel into Schau's.  At home we loaded up stainless steel feeders and 4 SS water tanks and took them in about 1.  When we got home Denny took the flat Prius tire into town and I started to put flower bunches together.  I made 17 and decided to take them to Horn tomorrow am, if that works.  Denny came home because they were backed up with tire repair and said to come back around 4 when the tire would be fixed.  At 4 he went in , got the tire, and put it on the Prius.   We took the steel out of the tile block nursery and loaded it on the trailer.  Steaks and Salad for supper.  YUM!!

Niece Barb and her 4 sweet kids in NE Iowa

Putting together 17 bunches of flowers

Flowers to Horn

Another amazing day

I was up at 5 and unloaded / loaded dishwasher and had devotions.   When I went out to check how the rocks we put in the stream were doing I saw two young raccoons leave the creek and climb up in a tree.  Now the big question was, "Do I wake up my shooter and have him issue lead poison, or do I let him sleep?"  Well, we got rid of 2 raccoons before 6:30 am.  AND then we stayed and had coffee on the log bar.  It was a great way to start the day.  I planted the 25 spike plants that I got free at Bomgaars and then went to help Denny load up more steel.  We took a load into Schau's.  Not quite a ton, but $60 is $60.  We started another load when we got home.  Oh, the fun of picking up steel.  Boy, we did not expect to get all this done!  Then old wood burner ...gone.  The old feeder ... gone.  The big gates in cattle shed ... gone.  LOTS of metal junk ... GONE!!!! Hurrah!   We got cleaned up and chilled on CSA chairs while we watched the combine and baler run on Cherry Creek acres.   Phillip was going into IG for a CT scan at 3.  Denny had a haircut at 4 in IG.  He got more lead poisoning at Bomgaars and I got ice cream at Brownies.

We left IG and drove south of Denison to purchase a hutch for the Cabin.  It was out in the Boonies.  $50 from Morgan 

Blue Dress, Blue Icy

                                            

Ditto!!!!

I didn't sleep well last night, but was ready to get up to start another great day!!  Thank you, Jesus!!  I left for OGT around 8.  Nice people there.  OGT has sent shippings to 37 of the 50 states this year and 69 different countries.  Impressive and such nice people.  I stopped and got a few more free flowers from Bomgaars.  On the way home I stopped at Barb H's and got some cucumbers and green beans for supper.  At home we worked on taking out fences across the road.  AND got ALOT done.  Uffda!!! Brooks helped when he was done with school work, putting the chain on posts and helping load the posts on the bobcat.  .  To cool off we took a pitcher of water to the creek shade.  Brooks and I waded and put in some of Nancy's 6x6 inch mosaic stones along the north shore of the stream.    We visited a little with the Jensens about their day as they ate out by the firepit.   

Another Great Day!!

Tylenol pm helped me sleep until past 8:30.  Denny was out having breakfast on the deck.  I weeded in the garden where I had watered last night.  This is the kids' last day before the school year starts tomorrow.  Boys went to Stephanie P at 10.  Phillip and Missy headed into IG.  Denny cleaned out the machine shed lean to in case Cooks need a place to store their RV.  After lunch Anabel, Denny and I pulled out some heavy gates across the road.  At 3 we went in to pick up the boys, get groceries, go to the bank, go to Dollar General for school supplies, and stopped at Bomgaars where they were going away their nearly dead plants.  Denny started smoking chicken quarters around 4.  We chilled when we got home to LOUD music that Denny was playing.  

Love a day of rest

I lay awake for a couple of hours before getting up at 5.  Devos, and sitting out on the deck enjoying the am.  After I made coffee Denny got up.  The smell of fresh coffee does it almost every time.  We started listening to Pastor Dave from last week on the deck.  It was interrupted when 2 of my flower eating bunnies came close to my flower garden.  Denny got the gun and shot BOTH of them.  I guess that is a perk of stay at home church.  I started watering/ weeding the transplants by the creek.  I sat at the desk end of the log table as I finished writing notes.  Pretty sight,  nice sound.  Jensens went to church in Arthur, and were the only ones wearing masks, and went to the front of the church hoping to find a row to sit in with every other row being used.  NO available seating, so Missy said they marched back and went to the overflow.  She felt like there was nothing like making a grand entrance ... when you REALLY didn't intend to do that.  Uffda!  We ate supper of chips, guacamole, and cheese salsa dip on the patio.  Matt texted pictures of the improvement of 4 loads of brush yesterday and 7 loads today removed so they can see the lake from their home.  Missy started teaching tonight with parents meetings.  The kids start school tomorrow night at 9 pm..  (8 am Nepal time).   Lord, guide them as they make this transition with the differing time zones.  

Cleaning Coop, Cabin, Garage, Plus back up sewer

I took a Tylenol pm at 12:30 am and slept until 7:45,  groggily.  I wasn't sure what I should do today.  Decided not to go to IG.  Missy+ was in charge of cleaning cabin.  Phillip+  was in charge of Coop.  Denny plus cleaned the bunk house.  Then Denny cleaned the garage.  About noon the sewer in the basement backed up.  Uffda!  That took several hours.  I was picking flowers for Susan, so she can take them  to church tomorrow.   Before I picked flowers, I sat at log table by the creek and wrote some thank you notes.  Mandy and Jason went to Sioux Falls and bought an RV.  It looks great!!

Cherokee with Anabel

Up for Devo's and to pack 9 flowers and 5 boxes of donations for New Leaf.   Anabel went with me at 6:30 am.  I had a great day with 3 Grands.   When Tyler took his am nap I started mowing, but quit when Jan came to visit.  She took 4 flower bunches with her to share with friends.  And gave us the idea for using the slide with the blue swimming pool.  While the littles had lunch I ran to the grocery store (and New leaf to drop off boxes) and Anabel watched them with Jason who came home for lunch.   They took nice pm naps and I finished the lawn.  Anabel and I got ingredients ready for supper for the Cooks.   I filled the pool and the boys really liked it.  Especially Tyler.  The water was cold, but he didn't seem to care. SUCH BIG SMILES!!!  Jan came back in the afternoon and was SO happy 'cause the gals who got flowers were SO happy.   Mandy and Jason came home and I gave her a quick hug before we headed home.  Phillip's cousin Kelsey and husband Ryan were at the farm with their 3 boys: Jack, Lane and Jesse.  I took a shower and changed clothes before going out to talk to them.  They brought pork chops to grill and invited us for supper.   Wonderful Day!!!  Denny finished spraying down the house siding and washed ALL the windows (again).    Thank you, Jesus.

Spray the siding

I was up and putting flowers together after devotions.  Beautiful morning.  Bill called today and said he was not making the trip to Keokuk; he had been there to visit 3-4 times this summer and had good visits with his dad before he passed.  Denny had an appointment with Pastor Dave at 10.  I had a dentist appointment at 12:20.  They x-rayed my tooth and it came out ok.  So she is thinking maybe something got caught in gum to cause infection.  It seems to be better today, of course.  When I got home about 2 I watched the rest of Flight 232 and cried.  Denny is busy spraying the outside of the house.  I am in cabin.  Evan is in living room talking Dungeon & Dragons with Torren on their computer.  Uffda.  

I think I will put pictures of Luke making the table for the creek.  What a guy!!  

                                           

  

Happy Birthday Lincoln!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINCOLN!!!!  May God bless you your entire life. 

                                           

Well, Schau doesn't take tenderfoot....

I took some Tylenol for a tooth soreness during the night, so slept until 7:30.  Slow am.  So slow am... We took a stainless steel load of feeders to Schau's at $.33  pound for 1300 pounds.  Felt rich.   Then spent the next couple hours loading up steel and heavy tenderfoot hog nursery flooring only to find out they didn't want the tenderfoot.  Hope the hole that Dan dug 2 years ago north of the sheep shed is big enough for the flooring to be buried.  We started to watch rescue flight of the 232 before we headed to Schau's.  We were invited to the Grands 24 hour challenge in the cabin for supper.  We watched more of the movie until the plane landed and then we left and chilled by the CSA barn.  Beautiful night on the patio.   

                                         

Bill Real's dad died this week.  4 generations. 

The making of a Swedish torch OGT

I worked on laundry last night/early morning. It is cool this am, so I am outside on the deck working on my blog.  Phillip and Evan left about 5:30 for a Doctor appointment in SC.   He is taking a stress test and then a covid test and self quarantined until his pulmanary/cardiac appointment on Friday.  Blogger is doing something new with the writing of posts. Uffda!!! Hard for this old dog to learn new tricks!   I went to OGT and stopped to get black duct tape, turmeric, steaks & salad, gas for Prius, and forgot to stop at First State Bank.  When I got home Denny and Brooks were loading steel on the trailer.  We took a load in and went home, napped and then worked on getting steel off of stainless steel pig feeders and using the bobcat to load them on the trailer.  Matt texted to let us know that TJ wasn't feeling the best, they are testing him tomorrow.  We ate supper with Jensens on the patio,  a combination of left overs, rice, Tikkamasala, pesto and Jalepino poppers.  Kris B. delivered the Grands who had been playing with their cousins.  Lots of bug planes flying over the farm.  Closely over the farm.  

 

Quiet morning

I was in bed until almost 7:30. Brooks was up and we got out leftover pizza for breakfast. It is so nice to have Luke's family still here. He went to work in the cabin and Karen was in charge of organizing and getting their stuff ready to pack. Of course, the garbage is overflowing and varmints got into it and spread it around. I can take that inconvenience when so many fun things and good food went on this weekend. Leftovers for lunch. Luke and family left. In the afternoon I kept busy working on my blog and putting away from this weekend, toys, chairs from creek and pickleball, bedding, dishes.  We shared leftovers with Jensens on the patio as they told us about their school day schedule starting next Tuesday.  

Sunday July 19

Denny was "Making bacon" on the patio. I brought out yogurt, granola, watermelon. YUM!! Kids played with Jack's jeep, Matt's family left around 10 and Mandy left around 11. Mike came and got flowers for Gert's 81st birthday. Left overs for lunch. Naps as Luke worked on a split log table-top vision. 3 hours worth of work. Denny helped with wedges and pounding. They used the bobcat to position it. WELL, it wasn't what Luke envisioned, but it is useful. Jake L. was here with Evan, They Luke and I played Power grid. Oh, yes I lost again, Luke won.... Pete and Carol came out and brought Casey's pizza. We ate on the deck and then had s'mores by the creek, with the Swedish torch and split log table. I was so tired I went right to bed. Amazing weekend Christmas present. Thank you Children. The weekend was filled with so many wonderful memories.

 

SMOKED BRISKET

I got up about 6, soon to be joined by Tyler. Luke and Karen fixed egg casseroles for breakfast. We moved the chairs in the patio out of the sun as we coffee'd. There was a kickball game, then pickle ball. $5 for the winner of the most 6 point games:TJ Becky made make your own salads for lunch. After naps there was spa for the gals. SO fun!! Jenn the photographer came at 5. She has taken our family pictures twice before and I sure appreciate Denny arranging for her to come today. Denny's brisket went on yesterday, got done about 2 and Denny put it in a cooler to keep it hot. It was still really hot when Denny went to cut it. Oh, my was it good!!! Also had veggies, fruit, chips, party potatoes, asparagus. I made cherry dessert and ice cream and we sang "Happy Birthday to Jack, Lincoln and Tyler". Denny lite the Swedish torch in the firepit and there were tournament brackets for carpet ball. Anabel was the overall winner, second, Mandy, and TJ was third. We had Smores for a night time treat.