Ben, Becca, Fam, Keith, Jane come to visit

So hard to decide what to do when there are options that all are fun. After deliberation I didn't head to Atlantic for the run. At 9 Missy, Mandy and I headed to IG for a garage sale. We didn't buy a lot, but it was fun. I finished the book Dakota by Kathleen Norris. Girls fixed salsa with the tomatoes. About 7 Ben and Becca's family came. Keith and Jane came from Atlantic. I think we grilled burgers, and had fresh salsa, and cowboy caviar. Keith and Jane stayed in Brooks room, the others stayed in our apartment.

A day with daughters in Omaha

Great day. Left Grands with Stephen and Bethany S. at 7:45. Drove to Omaha. At first Good will store we got 4 sets of new sheets. We left there and drove by taking the long route to return Denny's knee scooter. Called for Whitney's address and got behind a car accident. This was a high stress time for me, being late, not knowing the roads, waiting for the accident to let traffic through. SO GOOD to sit and chill at Whitneys'. I needed the relaxation and fellowship. Erin came out of the house beaming and gave us a great big hug. What a greeting by those gals! We chilled on the deck, had salads for lunch, and walked around the yard, visualizing the transformation for the wedding on September 1. Kathy took us to the art gallery on the way home and we drove country roads- much less stressful- all the way home. Along the 30 highway they had a buyway and we stopped at another 4-5 garage sales. Best story was Mandy having 50 cents change and wanting to get a plastic picture frame... " It's just a dollar". Phillip to Stangl's home. When we got home, Denny and I went to Larson's to see Myrna and Bruce Olson. Sounds life thier life is full, too. I was pretty shot when I finally went to bed.

Sisters to Spencer

Up early and helped Missy pick green beans before heading north with Nancy and Gail. Jean had a doctor appointment and couldn't go with us. We stopped at the Country condo. Mandy was not there. We stopped at bank in Arthur. Denny was not there. We stopped at church to get the basket of statice. Then to Linn Grove to see Ben and Becca. They have such a nice apartment. The to Sutherland to see Bogenrief stained glass. I was leaving town and didn't fill with gas, so I sweated it all the way to Spencer.

Nancy visits

I was awake, but made myself stay in bed until 5:30. Missy wanted to help Laura paint, so I watched the grands. I cut the corn off the cob that was left from the HS picnic. We went to Howard's, visited, and watered the roses. Mandy had a close coworker/friend from the intensive care unit at the University of Denver hospital that drowned at Okoboji Monday night. Very much of a shake up, very sad. So many things we don't understand or see the reason for. Mandy was talking to another coworker and the coworker said Jennifer commented on Mandy's face book post about Mandy doing the triathlon. Jennifer had said she didn't know how to swim and the coworker said she would be glad to teach her. I came home and picked and refrigerated flowers for CSA share. Then I came in and bagged corn for the freezer. We left for IG about 11:15. I took transcript to school and we went to Laura's. Missy took kids and I swam 26 laps at outdoor pool. What great water. It felt so good. At home I made the third pan of cinnamon rolls. I read some pages of Dakota. I fixed BLT's with Denny's favorite thick sliced peppered bacon. Nancy got here about 5:15. Howard, Mandy and Denny got here about 5:40. After supper we walked around the acreage and Later Denny joined us at the CSA shed. What a great night to visit. Nancy has a new Ipad and it was fun to look at and work with. I made a batch of pesto when we got in. Great day!! Pictures from Barn Party. Our take on American Gothic. Some people did better than others creating the essence of rural life.

Home school picnic at night

I didn't even make it over to Howard's today. Not sure what I was busy with, but I did keep busy. There were a lot of dishes to clean up in the kitchen. I fixed corn salad, ramen noodle salad, Cowboy caviar, corn on the cob. I picked corn in the field, and froze about 10 3 cup quarts. I got flowers for tables, and put chairs around. Susan came about 5:30 and the rest came about 6. It worked out very nice. About 40 people were there. I was really tired and fell asleep during Olympics.

Pictures are from Barn Party.

Monday August 6

One week until school starts. Another full day for me, mostly just in our apartment. It has been filled with stuff and not put away this weekend. Mandy worked last night and came over after work. I went to see Howard and ask him over for lunch. Did lots of laundry. Filled dishwasher. I had ham sandwiches and Becky's pasta salad for lunch with Missy, Evan, Brooks, and Howard. I had a mammogram at 2 and then got prescriptions, and stopped at school to pick up Jensen home school material. I painted my corner of the resource room. At home I read for a while and picked sweet corn for supper. Denny and I chilled by fire pit and hada burgers and corn for supper. Then in to watch Olympics. Looking back it doesn't look like that full of a day, but I am tired. My ankle is a little swollen, not really sore, but not quite right either. Pictures are from Barn Party. It was Jan and John Cooks 39th anniversary on August 4.

Sunday August 5

I took my Bible outside this am. What a beautiful morning. It was quite dewey. About 7:30 Haley and Torren came out and we picked flowers for church. At 8:30 I took Haley, Torren, Evan and Brooks for donuts. Torren asked specifically that we stop at GGpa and say Hi. We invited him to eat with lunch with us. The kids ate donuts during prayer time. Then I found out that there was coffee cake as we listened to the Unrues, missionaries to Belgium. After church Missy went to IG and got pizza for lunch. We ate out in the yard. It was a beautiful noon in the shade. Andy had driven back to Omaha. Matt and Luke took tomatoes, corn, peppers, basil. We spent a little time picking up the yard. Great to have 2 parties in a row so we can leave the tables in the yard for Tuesday night. Naps in the afternoon. Denny is doing the exercises Becky designed for him. We watched the Olympics. Pictures