Summer Projects

As promised ... pictures of the sheep shearing day of fun.  It was a little rough this year because our master shearer was not available.  She is from southern Arizona and couldn't make the trip up north.  And with the weather heating up into the 80's the girls were terribly uncomfortable and we didn't feel they could wait even another week.   It all worked out ~ they are cool and cute but it was a long and drawn-out process for them and for us.  Happy it's behind us now.

Peanut

Two of the girls showing off their pretty little figures and looking a bit shy about this  ~  I think they each lost about 5+ pounds of wool.  They are looking at me as if to say "What now Mom, please will you leave us alone"  . . .  poor kids.

Peanut and Dottie

I decided to paint this old wooden bench to match our patio chairs.  It still needs another coat of paint but so far it's looking okay ~ much better than before.  I like the summery colors!!

This is always a fun time of year . . getting the bicycles out, airing up the tires and giving them a good shine!  We have some great bike paths within a few miles of home where we can enjoy a nice ride ... and get a little exercise too.  Here is daughter-in-law #2 on a warm up ride.  She is looking cute & a little sassy ... don't ya think?  There is something about this bicycle that just makes you feel good.

There is much happening here at our house.  We have baby birds everywhere from Mexican Blue Jays to Orioles.  We can always tell when we approach a nest ... the mama birds chase us around letting us know we are in their territory and instructing us to GO AWAY.  I've tried to get pictures of the babies at the feeders or even in the nest ... but no luck so far.

Mexican Blue Jay

Oriole

The sunflowers are beginning to peak through the dirt ~ so excited to watch as they grow up nice and tall toward the sunshine.  We also are seeing the squash, cucumbers and tomatoes coming up.  Nothing better than fresh veges ...

The Art of Being Wise is Knowing What to Overlook.

                                                                                         ~ William James


Happy Rest of the Week!

Happy Birthday!

Tomorrow is a special day .... Granddaughter #1 is celebrating her 5th birthday.  Oh how time flies by.  Here is one of my favorite pictures of the two of us.  Even though she was about 2 years old here ... to me it seems like yesterday.  This quote by Brian Andreas sums it up ....

"Are you a princess? I said ... 

and she said I'm much more than a princess,

but you don't have a name for it yet,

here on Earth."

Happy Birthday My Sweet Girl !!

Here is what I found in the chicken coop a few days ago.  I think one of our wild birds tried out the cushy nesting boxes.  Either that or someone is laying down on the job ....  kind of a cute little egg but not good for eating ~ 

Happy Monday ... be encouraging!

Christmas Table Runner, Sunflowers & Our Marines

I finally finished this project.  So excited!!  If I am completely honest ... this pattern has been waiting for my attention for a long time.  I started working on it last year in hopes of finishing for Christmas 2012.  Well, I just finished it!!!  So hey ~ instead of being late for last year .... it will be early for next.  I think it's a cutie ...

Since the weather has been so pretty ~ sunny and warm ~ we have been doing lots of fun things outside.  Last year I wasn't able to plant our sunflowers and have been so anxious to get them in the ground.  Here is where the seeds are planted, hopefully getting all warm and cozy in the dirt ..... just wait ~ you won't believe how big these beauties get.  The lavender bushes are in the foreground.  They have been through a tough winter with no protection from the snow.  But every year they come back and provide sweet fragrance and pretty flowers for us. 

Prayers Please!!  This is our #3 son on his first tour of Afghanistan.  He will be headed back for his 2nd tour sometime in September.  We couldn't be more proud of him and what his commitment means to our great country and to our family.  But as a concerned Mom and Dad, we are always hopeful that our men and women will all be home safe and sound from that region .... soon.

His twin sister is also proudly serving our country.  Yes, really!!  She is stationed in Okinawa and just returned from an exercise in South Korea.  She is happy to be back in Japan.  

Encourage each other ... every day!

New Puppy!

We recently adopted a new pound puppy .... she came with the name Lacey.  It's amazing to me how lucky we are with adopting pups, they have each been really good girls.  Lacey's big sisters are sweet Molly, 5 years old, a retriever mix and Abby, our matriarch who is 12 years old, a most precious rottweiler.  Molly and Lacey have turned out to be best buddies ... the first couple days were interesting as they were barking out orders to each other.  I would imagine in doggie talk it would be something about who really is the boss and who Mom likes the best and get away this is my bed . . . . I can just imagine how the conversation must have gone.  All this while Abby looked on with confidence ... our proud gal.  She doesn't look too proud in this picture but this is her favorite position ... asking for a tummy scratch!  Sometimes I wonder where we would be without our pups.  They bring us so much joy and happiness  ....  not to mention their unconditional love!

Abby

Molly

Lacey

 Hubby found this sign somewhere .... don't ya love it!  

Hooray!!  This is the 1st year out 7 years that we have big beautiful blossoms on our apple trees.  We are so excited for apples ~ finally ~ and we are praying that the cold weather is over.  Each year the blossoms have come out and within a week or so the weather turns and they freeze and fall off.  We are babying the trees with plenty of water .... and so far they seem to be holding up.

Be like the flower, turn your face to the sun.

                                                                   ~ Kahlil Gibran