Happy Anniversary!

I loved you way back then!

And I love you now!

Happy Birthday, Mike!

We hope this is your best one yet!

Patience

I've been bugging Mike to put a new top on the table for the front porch.  A few months back a strong wind storm did a number on it and broke the glass top that was on it. 

Mike doesn't have quite the urgency that I do for the project.  So, I'm having to be patient. 

Patience is hard for me.

Yesterday, when I had finished working from here at home, I hopped on the ATV with Mike and we went for a ride.  We rode all over our ponderosa and even a little bit of the neighbors'.  We wound up back at Pop's barn where I checked out the progress of the seedlings he has been nurturing.

Then, we eased around the side of the barn to go close up the greenhouse for the evening to keep the new seed trays from getting too cool during the overnight temperatures.  I noticed something as we rode by the seedlings again.  Do you see it?

I think my exact words to Mike were, "I like how you crafted that plant table."

He responded, "Now, honey, that is a fine example of some redneck-carpentry there!"

So, today, when I mentioned how nice it would be if I had a new top on that table on the front porch so I have a place to set my coffee cup, he began to tell me how he would be glad to bring me one of those red plastic tubs and some different pieces of lumber to stack upon it.

Somehow, I'm learning that patience might be easier than I thought.

Happy Anniversary!

One of the best moves I ever made!

Saturday Mornings

Since I have been back at school, many of my Saturday mornings are spent trying to catch up on reading/blog-browsing.  I set up a small desk right in front of a window in the bedroom. 

The desk is one that I remember helping my parents construct.  It is made from the wrought iron legs of an old treadle sewing machine that Daddy connected and stabilized with some metal rebar.  Then, we constructed the wooden top from some planks Daddy had at the shop.  I remember my paternal grandparents expressing disdain that Mama would want those old sewing machine legs. 

I was really glad to get it when my mother was dispersing some of her things after she recently moved to her new house.  The table had been placed in my bedroom when I was a young girl to provide me with a desk for studying.  Honestly, I can say that very little studying took place at that spot.  However, I did have a sentimental feeling toward it when Mom said it was up for grabs.

My view out our new windows is a beautiful one peering through the blinds and looking down the driveway toward the highway across the hay field.  Sitting there is also a good place for me to watch our groundskeeper as he is mowing along the creek bank.

 Watching through the slats of the blinds I can see the canvas shade he has attached to his mower bobbing along even when I cannot see the entire mower.  So, I sit and listen for the hum of the mower and glance up every now and again to see the mower or the top of the canvas and I know that he is safe and hasn't slid off the bank and into the creek bed.

Then, in a little while, up the drive he comes toward the house.  Sometimes there will be another couple of hours of mowing around one of the barns and sometimes into the house he comes for dinner.

 Rounding the curve as he finishes off the long stretch, is always a good sight for me to see looking out the window.  I know that he is safe and I know that the area around the creek and fence looks like a well-manicured park.

And I know that lunch had better be ready in a short while!

Happy Birthday, Mike!

59 looks pretty good on you.

A Book for Levi

You may remember that earlier this year we wrote a book.  It was a good idea, we thought.  So, we wrote another one for Easton's brother, Levi.

Cover

Inside Cover

Pages A & B

Pages C & D

Pages E & F  

Pages G & H

Page I & J 

Pages K & L 

Pages M & N

Pages O & P 

Pages Q & R 

Pages S & T 

Pages U & V 

Pages W & X 

Pages Y & Z 

Inside Back Cover/Dedication Page 

Back Cover

Writing an ABC book seems relatively easy in concept and at first thought.  Then, comes the decision of what words and photos to use for representing each letter.

The level of difficulty increases in a huge way!

Next, comes writing a rhyme for the  pages and the level of difficulty increases astronomically!

Especially when the writer is not so great at rhyming.  So, the writer reaches out for help...

"Hey, honey, give me a word for Levi's book that starts with N."

A good response is shared.  "Nanny Goat."

"Great!  Thanks!"

Then, "Hey, honey, give me a word that rhymes with smart."

Not so great a response - not really appropriate for a sweet grandchild's ABC book!

What to do with all these tomatoes?

I mean, we have them covering the kitchen counter...

...the counter on both sides of the sink.

There are more on the cutting board beside the dishwasher as well.

Beautiful, red, ripe tomatoes.  We have eaten them sliced.  We have eaten them chunked with Chicken Salad or Pimento Cheese.  We have eaten them on burgers, ham sandwiches, turkey sandwiches, and chicken sandwiches.  We have eaten them as bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches.  We have eaten them with sausage, egg, and cheese on a biscuit.  We have also given a multitude away!  They have been fabulous.  But, the plants keep producing and the fruits have gotten ahead of our consuming.

So, yesterday, we made Salsa!  Yep.  Yummy Salsa.

First, I had a great volunteer to help me peel and dice tomatoes.  Then, I prepped the mixture and filled the  jars and processed them in a boiling water bath.  There were nine pints of salsa when we finished.  (Hop over to my recipe blog for info on how we made the salsa.)

Well, there was also a small sample bowl of salsa as well.  I thought it turned out yummy.

 My volunteer tomato peeler and dicer must have thought it turned out pretty well, too!

Now, what are we going to do with the other half of the ripened tomatoes?

Today is spaghetti sauce day!