Milestones ...

This has been a most interesting "spring". A visit from Tyler after first year at ORU, Beth graduating from high-school, Tyler turning 21, Noah going double-digit, Jake flying to DC on his 14th birthday and now Cooper going front-facing!!!

. . . and it's only May!

Mr. Sun is "back in town"!

We have quite a collection of, as we call them "Mr. Sun's", from our travels on our back screened-in deck. I guess we like to remind ourselves of the places we've been and of the warmer, sunnier weather Nebraska will always have! So several years ago I purchased a windsock in Missoula, MT. to hang in our covered patio. It's in the perfect location too as I can look out south kitchen window and see what he's up to ... is it windy, rainy, sleeting, etc. Well, unfortunately ... the south side of our house is completely exposed to the summer elements and he (Mr. Sun) has taken a beating over the past few seasons.

He really started to look bedraggled so I took him down with the intention of somehow repairing him. I obviously really liked him and wanted to give him new life.

I subscribe to alot of magazines and receive many, many, sewing/quilting catalogues. Fortunately one of the seasonal catalogues had rip-stop nylon in just the right color ... so dee-dah ...

Right now he is hanging on the screened-in deck, stormy weather was predicted and I didn't want to chance it having him back out in the elements. As it turned out southerly winds we had been experiencing all day (20-40 mph) changed to the north around dinner time and we had rain. So I guess I made a good choice! Later today he will return to his designated hook and again keep me posted of impending weather conditions!

I must say he looks rather spiffy!

OHS - Class of 2012

Had a great time this past week celebrating Beth's graduation.

Jake (13), Beth (17) and Tyler (20)



Oh ... my ... goodness ...

Our beautiful Bethany!!!

Yarn Bowl

Received a yarn bowl for my birthday this year from sister Debi. If she had not included a note about it's designer I never would have figured out what it was for obvious reasons. Whether it was poor packaging or a clumsy postal worker we'll never know.Because I love a challenge I glued all the pieces together. Wood glue works wonders!

I let Debi know that the bowl arrived in pieces. She was able to personally deliver it's replacement this past month. Now I have two originals done by a young artist/teacher from Chugiak AK!I love my two yarn bowls, they are handmade AND Debi gave them to me!!!

Argh! They killed it!!!

I always ordered the Reuben's at Bennigan's. I loved the ambiance at the Lincoln restaurant. The Lincoln site "hit hard times" and closed its doors about two years ago. Imagine my delight when I discovered on a recent road trip through Iowa that a Bennigan's existed near the hotel where we were staying!!! Yippee Skippee ...

The Iowa menu looked different, but I attributed that to evening versus lunch menus. I ordered the Reuben. Imagine my surprise when it was brought to the table ... a triple decker held together with a steak knife ...


While it tasted "good", it just wasn't the same.

Mount Baldy ...

That, my friends, is a big pile of sand!