25 years and counting!

I don't know how I got so lucky 25 years ago today, to marry this wonderful man I'm married to, but God was sure looking out for me when he brought us together! Yes, to some people he may not be perfect, but I'm so far from perfect myself, I think he's way to good for ME! I do know he's PERFECT for ME, and that's all that matters! I'm also blessed cause he thinks that I'm perfect for HIM, even though I don't know how most of the time.

He is the sweetest, kindest, most gentle...in words and actions...MAN I know, and I'm so blessed that he's mine! I will never be able to put into words, how much he means to me. All I can really say is, that without him, I don't know where I would be now as he has helped me make it though the tough times...when I'm not strong enough to make it on my own. God knows what we need before we do, and I'm so grateful he KNEW I needed this fantastic Man and kept him for me.

We may not be "where" or "who" we hoped we would be, all those years ago in some respects...but we are who and where we are...and I have to say I'm loving the ride, even if it takes us off the beaten track at times! Those unexpected turns usually turn out to be the best!

I love you Dearly, Galen, You light up my life with your smile...your love...your presence, and I'm a better person, because of YOU!  Thanks for all the surprises that made this such a special day, I am feeling extremely spoiled!  ;-))

The lengths my hubby will go to, to keep me laughing!

Yesterday, I was at my computer when I heard my hubby come in the back door, and go over to the kitchen sink...and say "I could use some help up here!"  I get up, and ask what's wrong as I go up the stairs...no answer. Wondering how bad he is bleeding, I reach the top of the steps, and see him bent over the sink. No blood showing...so I head over to him and he kinda turns a little so I can see his face and it's all black and is his hands and arms. He turns back and starts scrubbing again.

I kinda chuckle and asked "What happened!" thinking it looked like he was covered in soot, but didn't know HOW he could have managed THAT!

He said "A paint can exploded" and he continued to try and scrub it off him.  It was a loosing battle...so I chuckled again and said you need to go down and jump in the shower.  So he picked up his glasses, looked at them, then put them back down and headed down stairs.

I grabbed his glasses...and tried to clean them, but it was stuck good (they were good and covered too...both lenses were totally black)...so headed downstairs with them.  DH was in the tub already, and the paint just wasn't coming off...a little did, but not much.  The above photo is the result of the first shower...still a LOT of black left!  *giggle*

I tell you, when he tries to cover gray...he COVERS it!  ;-))

So....here he is, his face, hands and arms covered...I have some on my hands I can't get off, from his glasses and we are wondering what the heck to do...neither of us can touch anything much because we didn't want paint all over the place...and I'm still having giggle fits, every time I look at him.

So...I gingerly grab the phone and call Mom, and ask if she can google how to get paint off...since I didn't want to get paint all over my computer.  Naturally in the middle of the phone conversation Galen reminds me I COULD put gloves on.  DUH!  ROFL  So...I get some medical gloves out of the cabinet, and put them on, so least I can again touch things.

We decide to try paint thinner...which we didn't have as Galen doesn't use it, so I meet Dad part way to his house to get some he had...and Galen is going out to at least try getting some of the paint off with Gas while I'm gone.

When I got back, we went to work getting the paint off his skin, with the paint thinner...and it got some out of his hair, but it still wasn't coming out of that very good.  Galen was just SURE he was going to have to shave his beard and head...but I kept saying NO...it's working, we just have to keep trying.  Galen jumped back into the shower, to get the paint thinner off, and used laundry soap as soap since it's harsher.

I called Mom and said it worked on his skin, and she said she read to try mayonnaise to get it out of the hair, so I went up and got some and we sat with that soaking for a little bit, then he used more laundry soap, cause it was working somewhat before...and he managed to get the rest of it out of his hair.  No shaving required!

As he was drying off, hubby quipped "Real men don't use hair dye....they use paint!"  ROFL  That's my silly goofball!!

I chuckled about this ALL DAY yesterday!  It was just to funny...had me worried a time or two, cause I know paint isn't good to have on your skin...and I was so thankful that his glasses stopped it from getting in his eyes, as that would have been disastrous...but God was good and helped us get it off...and I have to say, I do LOVE laughing, so it was good to have that chuckle not to far away all day.

That event pretty much filled up my morning...slowed me down a lot, but oh boy, did it keep me entertained!  As I was headed over to help my Mom that afternoon, I stopped off at our neighbors house, to drop off a jacket he had left in our car...and I just HAD to share the photo I had on my phone of hubby with them.  *snicker*

I just HAD to share it with the neighbor...as hubby has enjoyed telling a few stories about him...so I made sure HE had a good story about hubby this time.  *giggle*  I'm sure that one will get around our little Amish community over the next few days...several others have, but that is an extremely good one!  Not to mention...the neighbor now has a printed photo to go with the story!   I printed the one from my phone (which wasn't real good...my phone doesn't take good ones) and he took it when he came over last night.  ROFL

I had a good ol time sharing that photo...sent it to my brother...two nieces...and as I mentioned showed it to our neighbor, all the while laughing my head off.  Stuff like that just doesn't happen all that much...where I can laugh at something that happened to HIM...usually it's myself I have to laugh at...so it was good to have the tables turned for a change!  :-))

Poor hubby...he may be the talk of the neighborhood for a few days now...oh wait...he already has been!  He's famous with the Amish around here, they get a kick out of him and his stories I think.  Now they really will.  ;-))

I'm thankful it all turned out ok...makes it ok that I laughed at him.  *snicker*  He does love to see me laugh...he really doesn't have to go to this length to get me too...but since he did, I took advantage of it!  ROFL

Tractor's, Company & other Rambles

It's been a somewhat busy spring here when it comes to visitors too. We've had our niece Abbie here a couple times for several days. It was good to catch up with her.

DH's friend Kirk also came over for several days, to help hubby get one of his old tractors running again. They had to totally rebuild the motor I think, but they did manage to get it running before Kirk had to leave. It's always wonderful to have Kirk here. :-))

They both rode this old tractor around our yard a time or two, once it was running...it left some holes in the yard, from the wheels...but it wasn't long before you couldn't see them with all the rain we've been getting. It was nice to see a cute tractor running around here for a change...as the other ones hubby has worked on weren't near as "cute" to me as this one was. LOL

We have also had the neighbor kids here for a few nights, while their Mom had to go out of town...so yep...been rather more busy with the company aspect so far this spring!!

As for hubbies knee replacement surgery...we still don't know about that one.  He keeps having more and more trouble with his knee...but God willing it will hold out as long is needed, till they get around to doing the replacement.  Prayers are still appreciated if you can send some up for him!

Anyway, that's about all the major stuff that I can remember at this moment in time.  I'll share a few photos tomorrow of our "spring" beauty if I remember to and have time to, and then I think I'll be up to date least photo wise!

Hopefully I can get a few taken in the next few days...depending on the rain for some of them, since it seems we are in a major rainy season lately, and update you on a little more newsy stuff.  Until then...I'll be in my soap room, or at my craft table if I'm not busy cleaning, cooking or helping my Mom at her house!  ;-))

Or...as the case of this evening and tomorrow is, in my kitchen helping butcher a cow that we were just given because it was down and the vet said it wouldn't be getting back up.  Hubby, my Dad and a neighbor just went to get it...and I'm taking a break for a sec, to post this...and just had to add our latest news on there.  LOL  Guess we will be busy tonight!  Least a neighbor or two will help us, for a share...and that way we don't have to try and find room for a whole cow in ours and Mom &Dad's freezer since we do still have some of our last one in there (although I was getting low on ground meat).  So...Praise be to God for giving us more, before we ran out!

 God is Good All the time!!!

See ya when I see ya!!

Another year bites the dust!

A 2014 Sunset.

Wow...once again I can't believe that another year is pretty much over. Seriously, where does the time go?

Yes...I know, I wonder that EVERY year! LOL

DH's surgery that was suppose to be next week got canceled...a bad lab report snookered us, so now we try to get him "healthier" and wait a few months and try again.  *sigh*  Not sure if we will be able to should the labs come back better next round...because of our cows having calves around that time...but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

In the mean time, we pray...for DH as well as our sister-in-law (my brothers wife) who is in the hospital with congestive heart failure and failing kidneys.  It's been a hard year in some respects...with loosing family and having health problems but we've had worse!  We've also had some blessings, so for them I'm grateful.  :-))

We got our office moved downstairs...and even though it turns out we didn't need it quite so soon, I'm thrilled with the move so far!!  Don't know that hubby is, but wow is it wonderful to be cooking supper, and need something out of one of the freezers, and not have to go down the stairs to get whatever it is!!  I LOVE having those freezers up there, where they are so much easier to get to!!!!  :-))

Now if DH can just find time to get his stuff unpacked and put away...so we can get the downstairs looking better for once, I'll be a happy camper!  *giggle*  It already looks better than it ever has...but I'm still waiting to see what it's like once the boxes are all gone!

Anyway, I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Years Eve and Day...and that this next year will be better for everyone than the last was!!  Have a wonderful 2015!

Busy Beavers....

Hubby and our fur babies almost a year ago.

I'm going to stop saying that things are slowing down around here...as soon as I think it will, and I'll have more time to do fun things (like blog or play in the soap room...or cook new things, not to mention reading) things happen and time gets away from me again...so sometimes I'm lucky to get the basic's done around here that need done. So much for learning new things or relaxing more! *sigh*

Lately, I've been trying to spend at least one afternoon a week with my sister-in-law, who has major health problems (going blind AND can't walk to well). I've helped out a little around the house, as well as sit and talk with her so she has a little company. We've never been real close, but she IS family and as such deserves to be cared for since she is struggling. It really has been nice to get out and see her more...who knows, maybe this can bring us closer?!

On top of that, I've been trying to pack up our office, so we move it downstairs, and move the freezers/fridge's that are down there up to the porch where the office has been. We never have gotten around to getting that back porch built, where I was hoping to put the freezers, and have no idea when or IF that will happen...so this is the next best thing, and will kill three birds, with one stone.

First, it will put the office on the same level of our bedroom/bathroom, so we don't have to do stairs, to get to our office if we are in the bedroom or outside. More on why this is important in a little bit. Second, it will put the freezers on the same level (for the most part) as our kitchen...REALLY important to ME, cause my knees are protesting going up and down so much! The 3rd reason this is hopefully a good thing, is so then once we can put a door in between the dinning room and porch, we can keep the house warmer/cooler depending on the time of the year. The porch lets in lots of heat in the summer, with all the windows...and lots of cold in the winter, cause it's not got the heat in the floor out there...or any other way to heat it. So...all in all, hopefully this will be a GOOD move for us! LOL

Why do we want the office on the same floor as our bedroom?

Cause, that way, since it's a walk out basement, and is the ONLY door we have that doesn't have steps up to it, DH can stop having to many steps to do, when he wants to take a break and check his e-mail while relaxing in his comfy office chair...and more importantly, the office is down there where he will have to stay for a week or two after he has his knee replacement surgery early next month. I have my tablet I can use upstairs, so hopefully won't miss having the office up here to much...and if I do need my computer upstairs, I can always carry it up in the morning when I come up to start my day since I have a laptop. :-))

So...some of our wonderful Amish neighbors will be coming over next week, to help with the "move"...and I'm trying to get things packed up in between everything else we have going on around here as well as a few added trips over to my sister-in-laws as we try to get some things done with her.

While things are changing around here, one thing that HASN'T changed, is we STILL haven't really slowed down all that much! Go figure! LOL

There has been some blessings come out of the last few weeks, even if we did find out that hubby was going to have to have knee replacement surgery. Once again, we've seen how blessed we are with the neighbors we've got here, Now that we are racing against time trying to get ready for me to take over the chores that have to be done, DH has had help from one of the neighbor kids with a few things outside, mainly getting the wood stacked up closer and now today with changing out a door we've been putting off but that HAD to be done, since it was hard to open and close and would be getting used way more once DH has his surgery.

Also, the guys at the Amish saw mill close to us asked hubby if he wanted them to put some scrap wood blocks on a pallet as they get it, cause it's smaller and "would be easier for me to handle".  How SWEET is THAT!  That's the same men who will be coming over and helping with the office/freezer move.  Truly wonderful neighbors!  I have no doubt, if I need anything while DH is laid up, all I have to do is go ask, and they will be here to help.  Now THAT'S what I call being neighborly!  I've never been THAT comfortable asking for help from neighbors before, but I am with those we have now, because they have proven themselves as true neighbors.  Talk about being blessed!  We ARE!!!

We are in the process of drying the last two remaining cows who are still in milk up...because that's one thing I don't want to have to do.  One of the cows is NOT real happy with anyone but hubby milking her, even our Amish neighbor had trouble the last time he had to, so it will just be best if they are dry during the next few months.  I'm just hoping they are actually pregnant so they will be back in milk come summer, when I will need to be stocking up on butter again.  LOL

We actually have one cow sold, to a neighbor (once she gets the money to buy her)...Daisy, the cow I got for my birthday a few years ago.  She is getting older, and since we probably don't really need 4 cows to milk, decided she was the one who should go.  Besides, we let her go cheap, as she IS older, and has a few bag issues, so the neighbor lady could afford her, and couldn't one of the others.  I hated to part with my cow...but yet realize keeping the younger ones is a smarter idea!  LOL

Needless to say...we've been busy lately, even though we SHOULD have been in the slower season.  We had a WONDERFUL thanksgiving, with my parents and hubbies friend from Nebraska.  It was probably one of my favorites since we moved for some reason!  We had some good laughs, as we all remembered the funny things we have all done over the years.

I hope all of you who are still "following" my blog are doing well and had a great holiday too!  It's hard to believe that a new year is almost upon us already!  If I don't get back to blogging...you will at least now know why!  LOL

Oh one last thing...in the "other news" department, our niece Abbie, has moved her stuff into a storage garage, and will be spending more time with her husband out on the road, with time spent here from time to time.  So...we have our house back for the most part now, yet can look forward to visits here and there.  As much as I love our niece, it IS still nice to have the alone time we were used to also.

Before I go, I would like to ask for prayers for my wonderful hubby...that his surgery will be a huge success, and his recovery quick!  Thanks so much (in advance) for your thoughts and prayers!

Belle turned 1 today!

Peaches and Belle getting Belle's birthday cake!
Today, our sweet little singing troublemaker (Belle) turned one! She has sure added fun to this house...more trouble than we have had in some area's with our fur babies, but lots of love too which makes up for the trouble. LOL

She loves to play, sometimes it seems she is non stop playing...if she can't get someone to play with her, she finds something to play with. I see her tossing her toy's up in the air, flinging them around a lot and running to get them again. It's so cute, seeing her play by herself.


Belle eating her Birthday cake. She sure looks like Autumn in this photo since her ears are back.
DH had to run to town today, so he went to the bakery and asked if they had a couple small cupcakes that weren't frosted so we could give our fur babies a special treat since it was Belle's very first birthday. (Peaches 4th is coming up at the end of the month...hard to believe we've had that special little sweetheart for almost 4 years already!)  They enjoyed their cake and it vanished quickly.

Belle has been entertaining us lately by singing.  We started watching Star Trek Deep Space 9 on netflix and when the intro music comes on, she will sometimes sing for us.  Even going so far as to throwing her head back and howling at times.  It's only during one spot in the music...and not near as long as I'd like it to be, but it's so FUNNY!!  LOL

I actually got her to sing with a youtube video I watched this morning, but didn't think to have my phone ready to capture it on video (since I didn't know she was going to do it)...it was longer that time, and would have been great to have a record of it.  LOL  I did get a decent one of her singing to the deep space 9 theme music...just haven't gotten it off my phone yet.  If I ever do, maybe I'll upload it and share it on here.  Anyway, she has sure been entertaining us with her singing lately.  She talks to us a lot too, when she wants something, not by barking, but with her strange little talking howl that she has.  It's priceless!

All in all, it's been wonderful having Belle in our lives...it's always an adventure when you have fur babies!

Happy Birthday Sweet little Belle!!  :-))

Nap Time

The above photo was taken with my hubbies phone...cause thats what was handy, so it's not real wonderful...but thats ok. LOL I just wanted to get a photo of hubby napping, with Peaches.

We've been busy at times....and not so busy at others the last couple weeks here. Nothing of major interest going on, least that I can share with photos...so I haven't blogged. That, and I've been kinda not spending all that much time with my camera anyway lately, or on the computer for that mater.

Winter is still hanging on...it warmed up and the snow melted, but then we get another round of snow this weekend along with the well below 0 temps, that I'm SO TIRED OF!! Least we didn't get as much snow as they were calling for...for THAT I'm very Thankful!

Still...it's white outside again, and as pretty as that can be, I'm so ready for the white to be GONE....and hopefully start seeing Green taking over...soon! I sure won't hold my breath though, with how COLD this winter has been. My luck winter will hang on forever. LOL

Spring can't come soon enough!  This winter sure has brought to mind a photo I saw one time of a mini snowman laying on a deck, with a knife plunged into it and the words DIE, WINTER, DIE! on the photo!  I'm feeling kinda like I need to do and say THAT myself this year!  *giggle*

Oh to see the beautiful green of spring again! Hear the frogs singing their spring song...feel the warm sun on my skin, not to mention smelling the earth as it warms up releasing it's earthy aroma.

Yep...I'm sure ready for spring...and feel like taking a nap until it finally arrives because I'm so tired of my world being blanketed in white and everything frozen with the extreme cold temps.  

If ONLY winter would DIE!!!

Happy Birthday to the Love of my Life!

Just a quick note to wish that wonderful Man of mine a very Happy Birthday today!!

We went out to eat at one of his two favorite places in town yesterday (since he had to go to town and couldn't wait till today we had his birthday dinner a day early LOL), and since they found out it was his birthday, he got a free fried ice cream (it was much larger than we thought it would be too!) and had to wear their special birthday hat while he ate it.  *giggle*  I just snapped a few photos with my phone, since I didn't have my camera in there with me, and while they aren't perfect they will work.  :-))

I hope you have a wonderful day Galen! I am so lucky to be your wife and blessed beyond measure to share my life with you.

I LOVE YOU Dear!!!

An Arm Full of LOVE

I had to snap this photo of hubby holding our two doxies.  I thought it looked like he had his arms full of LOVE.  Even Belle, the trouble maker, has her loving sweet times now and then.

Love our fur babies!  :-))

It's been a BERRY good year!

ROFL I couldn't resist that title to the post, because of all the wonderful berries we found to buy from the Amish around us this last spring. It really WAS a BERRY good year for berries! LOL

Wasn't to shabby for us in other ways too. Yes, there were trials...gotta have them, and tribulations....gotta have them too, but there were also good times and while our large family doesn't seem so large anymore, with so many holding grudges, that's ok too. God has his reasons for things happening, and I don't have the energy any more to worry about it so much. What will be will be.  I enjoy seeing family when they come around and thank God for those we have who are still a blessing in our lives.


Our animals are some of our best blessings and they have blessed us with good times again this year! Yes, we lost a few...sadly it was Autumn's year to go...but we gained some too.

While Belle, our newest doxie fur baby,  has been a little more of a challenge to train cause she likes to do her OWN thing, she has been a blessing too in her own way. It's been so good to see her and Peaches play together, since Peaches never was able to really play to much with Autumn...they tear around the house after each other having a ball at times, which in turn makes me laugh!

The cows have really been enjoyed, both for the milk, their meat, and their babies! Loving having a couple calves around to see them romping around the pasture again! Course Pearl (our horse) is always a pleasure to look at, she's so pretty and adds some interest to our menagerie.


There are so many things we enjoyed this year! The beauty around us being one of them of course, both in the colorful sunrises and sunsets...


...the beautiful fall color we get here in Missouri...


...and the oh so pretty wild flowers along the road sides here.


The time we spent with family, (Having my Aunt and Uncle stop in one afternoon when they were back in the states was wonderful! We haven't seen them all that much in the last few years, but sure enjoy them when we do, and it was so good to laugh with them and make more memories.)...


...and friends, were of course the high light of our year. Having Galen's best friend spend a couple weeks with us...and not just cause one of those weeks he spent building Galen's shop...was great! We had some good times, laughing, playing games and just hanging out when they weren't off doing something on their own. The new friends we've made here have also added to our blessings for the year.


As much as I loved all of the above mentioned things, the BEST part of my year was spending it with that wonderful hubby of mine!  He lights up my life and is so understanding, I've never know anyone who understands me as well and is as accepting of my limitations.  That's not to say he ALWAYS understands why I do something...LOL...but he understands more than anyone else ever has.  I love being with him, and watching him with our animals, because he is so gentle and kind to them...kinda like how he is to me.  I am SOOOO BLESSED!!!! :-))


All in all it really was a BERRY good year! Good friends, family, furry friends not to mention all the good eats we've been blessed with this year has really helped us settle in for our first full year back in Missouri.

 Here's hoping that 2014 is at LEAST as good! I'm sure looking forward to berry season again...between the berries and the peaches I'm longing for warm weather and fresh fruit! LOL

Hope everyone had a wonderful year...and will have an even better 2014!!

 Happy New Year!

Cats!

Ever since Peaches was little and the cats we had were mean and would attack her if she got to close, she has been afraid of cats. Now that our cats aren't as mean and she has seen Belle playing with them she's gotten a little better about being around them...not running from them quite as much.


Thats NOT to say she really LIKES them...or is totally comfortable around them though, as seen by the photo above! She still is uneasy...and doesn't really like them this CLOSE to her. *giggle*  Had to chuckle at how WIDE her eyes were in this photo...poor baby still has some fear left in her for cats. She wasn't willing to give up her special spot by hubby, but she sure didn't want that horrible cat that close trying to get some attention too!  LOL

In other news...my SIL posted something on facebook this morning that I thought was interesting about introverts...which I've known for some time I'm one of.  Go here to see the link she posted.  I wouldn't have put it quite like that, but think it's actually a good way to look at introverted people.  I have to have solitude to recharge, I've known that for years...but I do like people...well most people anyway, *giggle*

I can do without a crowd, and do better one on one, but I still need that alone time to "recharge".  Now I know why...cause people like my hubby who are extroverts are taking my energy!  Although to be fair, I've never felt like I needed time away from my hubby...so he must be nice to me in that way too, and doesn't take it all!  LOL  There are those people who do though, as much as I may not mind being around them there is only so MUCH of them I can take without some alone time to "recharge".  :-))

Ok, gotta run, hope everyone has a safe weekend, it's the beginning of hunting season here tomorrow...so God willing, we could be busy getting our freezer full of meat this next week depending on how many deer, friends and neighbors give us and my parents!  I may or may not be posting here much next week...depending on if I have anything to say or time to say it!  Then Thanksgiving is coming up the next week...so...may not then either.  LOL  Time...something I don't seem to have enough of here in Missouri!  No wonder I am not always regular at posting on this old blog of mine any more!

Oh....and thanks for the e-mails I'm just fine and that's not going to ruin thanksgiving for me, least not so far...I just had to vent...then I let it go!   Besides...I got a chuckle out of something that happened this morning, because of it, so that's always good!  ;-))

Weekend Romp

DH joined us in the side yard on Saturday, and the dogs had a blast racing around him and playing with him.

Peaches did what she used to do a lot as a puppy, and ran around in wide circles around him, with Belle following as fast as she could go. It was so funny to see them playing, and being caught by DH, only to run around again once they were free.

Love watching my girls play with hubby...they have such a good time!  :-))

Twenty-Two Years

I've loved this big strapping former Marine for over 22 years now! What a blessing he has been to me, and countless other people.

He's Such a gentleman, gentle and kind ALWAYS to me, our animals, as well as other people we come into contact with, be they family, friends or strangers.  He is the BEST Man I know, and I've known some pretty darn good ones! :-))

He is always willing to help someone, be they family or friends, without expecting anything in return. He gives you chance after chance to redeem yourself, even if you don't deserve it (ask me how I know!  LOL) and forgives easily if the slight is to himself...although I've noticed it's not as easy for him to "forgive" or maybe I should say...to move past or forget the "slight" if it's against me or hurts me.  Gotta love a man who HATES to see you hurting!  :-))

He makes me laugh...even at myself.  He lighten's the heaviest of days, and thinks it's his job to cheer people up if they are down...and does a real good job of it too.  One of our niece's mentioned how she needed his "goofiness" cause it brightened her day, as we hugged goodbye a week or so ago, after going to see her when SHE was having a particularly bad day.  That's my Man...teasing and goofy...yet still strong, gentle, kind and hard working.  He may be getting older, slowing down and not able to do what he could do 22 years ago...but he is still the Man I fell in love with!

He has such wisdom about some things, he "knows" things I couldn't begin to know and knows how to deal with things I want nothing to do with.   He is my Rock, my Best Friend, my Knight in Shinning Armor, My Life!!

Happy 22 Anniversary Dear!  I LOVE you...ALWAYS!!  Thanks for all the laughs over the years, and most of all,  your love.  :-))

Playing in Photoshop

Speaking of my Aunt and Uncle visiting....we took some group photo's just before they left to go home (my Dad had already left, which is why he isn't in the photo's) and since I didn't set up my tripod so we could get everyone in the photo, my Uncle wanted me to try to add myself to the photo of everyone. So...DH took a photo of all of us (and I actually had a brain and stood behind and to the right of Uncle Mike, (not to the left LOL) NEXT to where DH had been...so I could actually add myself into the photo of the rest of them easier.  It's far from perfect, and wasn't quite as easy as I thought it would be (cause I have done something like this before) but finally managed to get it "good enough" I hope.

I have to say, even if I'm not managing to do any scrapbooking...and have forgotten a LOT of what I used to do in photoshop, it is still FUN to play now and then with my photo's if nothing else.  All those years of scrapbooking really has made it so I am able to do a little more with my photos than I ever would have been able to, had I not been scrapbooking.

It was fun to manage to play in photoshop, for a little bit again...more than just cropping and lightening up my photos!  Just thought I'd share the end result...like I said, it's not perfect, but hopefully workable.  :-))

Ok, better get off here...have to set this up to post tomorrow (hopefully), as we have plans...and then get to bed, so we can get up early!  Poor fur babies will NOT be happy campers, since they will have to stay home by themselves, but hopefully we will have lots of fun, on a day trip with my brother and his wife!

Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll share photos if I get any good ones on our day trip as soon as I can find the time to get them off my camera...hopefully Sunday, but no promises.  :-))

Buggy ride with Pearl

Once Pearl was all hooked up to the buggy I opened the barnyard gate, and they were off! Pearl pranced down the driveway in front of that cart...she was so pretty!

They took her out and around past John's house (where Pearl used to live before we got her and John bought the place) and DH said it looked like she was waiting to pull into her old driveway...she must have remembered it.

They turned around at one of our other neighbor's farm, and that neighbor said she was looking better than the last time he saw her. DH drove on the way back, and there is a big hill he had to drive down...so John told him how it was done, so they didn't get to moving to fast down the hill. They drove up past our drive, then turned around and came back home.


It seems like it was a long drive, for Pearl's first time out in 6 months, but DH said John said she could have gone further. I think she needs to build up slowly though, cause she looked tired when she got home...and was lathered up a bit.


DH thinks she enjoyed herself, but she was also happy to get back out to the pasture. She rolled around scratching her back a bit once she was free.

I'm going to wait till DH knows more about what he is doing I think before I take a buggy ride, I'd rather be a little more sure she isn't going to take off running or something, before I climb onto the buggy.  LOL  Yes I'm a chicken, what can I say.

It's so nice our Amish neighbor's are so willing to help us out, and teach us things!  Hubby was sure happy that night after the ride, he had a LOT of fun!  :-))

Fitting the Harness

Once Pearl got her "shoes" on, John, our Amish neighbor asked if DH wanted to hook Pearl up to his hack and take her for her first drive (least her first since we had her). Naturally DH was all over THAT idea, and was really excited about it!  I didn't get as many photo's of the process as I'd have liked, cause I was trying to not get too many with John in them...but least I managed a few!

Hubby went and got the harness out of the barn, while I went to get the two pads that we still had inside, and they preceded to get it on her and fitted correctly. DH said he was so glad John helped the first time, cause he wouldn't have known how tight things should be, not to mention exactly HOW everything went on.


Getting the halter on, is something thats going to take practice, cause getting the bit in Pearl's mouth wasn't as easy as it looks...least not to us who have never done anything like that before. She wasn't real happy with the bit, but who would be happy having something in your mouth like that! LOL John showed DH how to get her to open her mouth, so hopefully he can get the hang of it.


It takes a bit to get the whole harness setup on her, especially the first time since things had to be fitted to her, but they finally had it on and ready to hook her up to the cart. Hopefully DH can remember everything the next time he wants to hook her up to our cart...cause I'm not sure I could do it myself yet! LOL


There is a trick to getting the horse in the cart...who knew! John said they train them so they can lift the shaves (the wooden things that go on each side of the horse) with one hand while hanging onto the horse with the other hand, and the horse then swings their hind end around so it's between the shaves...then the shaves are lowered so they are on each side of the horse. I couldn't get photo's of this process cause there was no way to do it without getting a photo of John's face...so I just watched.

Pearl didn't do it the first time John tried to get her to, after all it's been at least 6 months since she's been hooked up to a cart...so she has to be reminded how to do things. She did however finally remember what she was to do, and we saw her swing her hind end into place. So cool!! So nice to see she remembers what she is to do, and behaves! I told her she was a good girl. LOL

Getting her all hooked up to the cart is a process...certainly not as easy as grabbing your keys and going out to your car and taking off, but...if that's how you have to get around, guess you would get used to having to take extra time to get ready to go.  I'm rather fond of having a car...but this certainly is interesting, and may be fun to take a ride now and then in the country.  DH is certainly excited about it...I'm just waiting to see cause I'm a bit more "chicken" than he is.  LOL

I'll share some photos of them driving tomorrow!

Rambles about our week.

Last week we got the barn roof on...not that we should have been doing it then, but I helped DH lift the panels, handing them to my Dad who then got them on up to my brother. Between all of us we managed to get it finished up. Just have the front left to do...but DH is slowly building some doors for the front, then we can get the rest of it covered. It's nice we got it finished...just would have liked to wait till we knew what was going on with DH's back. Somehow my "vote" didn't get counted though. :(

They used, used tin on the two sides and the back of the barn, cause we are hoping to add onto the barn on those three sides, so saved the good new white tin for the lean to's. That way they won't cost quite so much to build...and we can hopefully do it sooner. (Especially the one that will house the milk-room!) It's slowly coming together around here, and we are turning it into a usable farm for us! :-))

This week we haven't gotten to much done...I made DH slow down a bit cause of his back pain. We also had to make a trip back to his back doctor in Nebraska this week for his checkup...it's been a year and they wanted to see how he was doing. He basically got a pat on the back...yet also got a "talkin" to cause they were impressed that he was able to be back to doing more...yet obviously he had been doing TO MUCH...so they told him good job...but slow down a little! LOL They did say the rods and screws they put in his back looked solid, and didn't look like they were what was causing the pain, so they think he just did to much and his back was just telling him to slow down.

As long as it gets to feeling better they said they didn't need to see him for another year...so hopefully we won't be making a trip back to Nebraska to soon! Thankfully I think his back is responding to this slowing down I made him do, and he is feeling a little better, cause he didn't use his stick walking around outside today! That was good to see! :-))

It sure was nice to get a little good news this week...I really needed it after the last week. Everything was kinda getting me down.

While we were gone, we picked up some more cupboards I needed in the basement...so I could finish getting the basement organized and my soap room up and running! (Well...once I get finish on all of them, and get DH to install them and put in a drain for the sink in the soap room. That's plumbing, so may be kinda hard to get him motivated to do since he HATES it! LOL)

I've got the first round of them finished up today...so if it's not raining tomorrow (which it's suppose to) we could actually get the sink base and one of the upper cupboards over here and installed...but I won't hold my breath. LOL It's raining right now (remnants of the hurricane) so probably will be tomorrow also. Not that I'm complaining about getting rain for a change. LOL

Once I get all the new cupboards finished, I'll have room to empty the soap room boxes, most of my sewing room boxes should fit in the ones for there (least I'm hoping) and I'll actually have a place for stuff in our bathroom downstairs...we've been storing towels in a plastic tote there, and some other things are still in boxes (I can't believe they had a huge downstairs bath in this house but no linen closet for it!). It will be so nice to finally get most of the boxes unpacked! Love being organized...and that's something I've not been able to be here since we moved.

Sadly, since I decided to spend the last of my "house" money to get the downstairs organized...I won't be able to get new (and all matching) counter tops in the kitchen...but maybe we can save our pennies and do that sometime next year! I'm hoping anyway. I'd rather see mismatched counter tops than go crazy from the mess that is our basement at this time, so I can't complain to much. :-))

Anyway, I'm starting to feel like I'm closer to being able to finish organizing the house...and slowing down...depending on how the canning goes. Mom and I worked on more tomato sauce today...and hopefully will have more of that to do as well as apples, pears and beets. But...once all thats done...I SHOULD be able to take any of you readers I still have on a tour of my new home! LOL Been a LONG time coming I know...but I've just been far to busy this summer to have much camera or computer time!  Stick around...I WILL post more about our new home one of these days...even if it doesn't get done till winter gets here I WILL do it!  LOL

Ok, gotta get off here, haven't gotten the tomato sauce out of the canner yet, so I need to go do that and a few other things before bedtime gets here!  Hope everyone has a great labor day weekend...and hopefully you all who were in the path of the hurricane are safe!

Gas...and back news

This house was an all electric house when we bought it...I've never understood why anyone would want an all electric house (if someone is reading this who has one I just want to say "I'm Sorry!"). Ever since we got married, I've had a gas stove, and loved it. It's so much easier to use when you cook...and especially when you can, in my opinion.

I have not been happy having to use the darn electric stove (above) that came with the house, and especially since the large front burner stopped working. I almost always cook on the front burners...and some things like making cheese I just refuse to do on the back burner. With Daisy giving us milk now, I was hoping to start making cheese now and then, unless we are busy with canning...which we are some.

A couple weeks ago Mom talked to the local propane place, and found out they would do the digging and everything to get propane to the house (we thought we had to...which is why we hadn't gotten around to talking to them yet, since we hadn't had time to do that). We also found out the price for propane was WAY down so we hurried in to talk to them about getting us set up with a large tank full at the cheap price.


We finally got it installed today!! I haven't used my stove yet, cause we had supper at my parents...as they didn't finish installing it till after 6 tonight, but man I'm thrilled to finally have my gas stove back...even if it is just a cheap one (and a piece of junk GE one at that).

The strange part about today was...I was talking to my Mom on the phone when DH and one of the guys who came to install it came into the kitchen, so I got off the phone and went into the kitchen to see what was going to happen. As soon as I walked in the guy looked at me and said "hey, I know you!". Yes, I know it's not REALLY strange, since I grew up here...but it still is to me, cause I've been gone so long and haven't gotten used to people knowing me. LOL

Sadly, my memory is bad...especially this summer (I think it got fried in the move or something *sigh*) and I couldn't place the guy. It turns out I went to school with him, and I think he was kinda dejected that I didn't remember him. LOL Oops! Seriously, I don't remember a LOT of people...and some I MAY think I should know, but still have no idea who they actually ARE so in a way it was kinda funny...yet I felt bad cause he obviously knew me, and expected ME to know him...yet I didn't. *giggle*

Oh well, by the time he got everything installed, and I'd talked to him (mostly about his cousin who was a friend of mine in high school) some of it was coming back to me and I could vaguely remember him. As I remember he was quiet in school so wasn't one who irritated me, which is probably one reason I didn't remember him really (although did remember the name...so that counts for something doesn't it?! LOL)

I really hate it when people know me, and I have no idea who they are. I know that will happen a LOT here, since I grew up here and don't remember people that well, but I still hate the fact that it will happen all to often now that we moved here. I'm not like DH, able to "fake" knowing someone...so guess I'll just have to be honest about it. Just hope they don't all get dejected when they figure out I don't know who the heck they are...cause that makes me feel bad for sure then. LOL

***Sorry Brad, don't take it personal. Except for a select few I don't remember to many people from back then. *grin* There are to many years, miles, moves and events between now and then for me to remember...especially when I tried to forget high school for the most part, since I never really liked it anyway. ;-))

Anyway...I'm just so happy to have my gas stove back!  I'm thanking God tonight for the fact that the company we decided to go with would do the complete install (for not to bad a price) instead of us having to do it ourselves.  We have enough to do before winter, we didn't need that too!

Also...in other news...DH has had a set back on his back, not sure what he did, but it's really bothering him the last few days, bad enough to have to use his cane again.  I'd sure appreciated any prayers anyone is willing to send up, that he hasn't done any major damage to his back, and that he gets to feeling better again soon!

We have to go back next week to have it looked at (as he hadn't been released yet from his surgery of last summer) so we will see what they say...but hopefully by then he is starting to feel better.  I'm praying that he's just been doing to much...and hasn't actually messed something up.  I knew this move was a bad idea...when it came to his back, but what could we do...I couldn't do all the moving myself...and we didn't have so much help that he could get away from doing some of it...so he did it.  It bothered him, but not this much...not sure what he did now, but hopefully it's just angry at him and will get better again without help from the doctors.  *sigh*

More than I deserve!

Last week, I was a bit down...several things converged to knock me for a loup...or least make me loose my temper a little to often. *sigh* I'm FAR from perfect. :(

However, after spending some time with family on Saturday...and petting my cow a while yesterday, I felt a LOT better. (Praise God!!)

Then, yesterday afternoon DH came in and said they were going to start on my Dinning room floor today, instead of starting the barn, so I was suppose to get as much out of the dinning room as I could.

My brother was planning on doing it for us (after all he does that kinda thing for a living) but hadn't found time to yet. I guess my Dad was tired of seeing him stressed out, so offered to do it for him, if we could borrow his tools.

I thought the barn needed done first...but what do I know. *giggle*

I have to say I'm thrilled! Can't complain it's getting done BEFORE the barn! I certainly didn't "deserve" it though...but wow, I'm extremely thankful that soon I won't have to squeeze through the basement, when I have to go down there.

Gosh I'm so happy, just THINKING about FINALLY being able to get my basement mucked out!!! Yippee!!!!!

They got about half of it down this afternoon. They didn't get started till afternoon, as there ARE other things to be done on a farm...but maybe, before the end of the week, I'll be able to see what my dinning room furniture looks like in my new dinning room!!!!!

I CAN'T WAIT!!! *doing a happy dance!*

I have the BEST Hubby and Daddy ever! Thanks so much you two, I LOVE you, AND already love my new floor!!! :-))

He who loves to talk.

When I first met my wonderful handsome hubby, I found out right away that he loved to talk to people. There were in fact times I thought he and my Dad would NEVER shut up, so I could get a word in edge wise. Course I tended to be far less talkative, even quite at times, so it wasn't a major difficulty, but it was annoying sometimes.

Over the years I've discovered if we go somewhere, and he gets to talking to someone...I have to finally put a stop to it, if we HAVE to get somewhere...or we would always be late. He could strike up a conversation with a perfect stranger, and talk for hours...if I let him I think. *giggle*

His ability to talk comes in handy a lot to though...cause I find it hard to talk to people, and usually prefer to sit back and listen (hard to believe with as much as I yak on here huh?!!! *giggle*). With him around, its easy for me to just listen...which could have something to do with preferring to not go anywhere without him...well that and the fact that if he is along I don't usually have to drive, but that's a tale for another day. LOL

Anyway, he is really good at talking to perfect strangers, as well as people he knows. He is also really good at talking to people who know him, and who he SHOULD know, so that they don't realize he doesn't remember who they are. He is always coming home telling me someone stopped and talked to him while he was out, and he couldn't figure out who they were...even though they obviously knew him. It always gives me a chuckle to hear his story, and I'm always in awe that he can pull off a whole long conversation with them not realizing he is in the dark as to their identity. Sometimes he does eventually figure it out...but other times he leaves them, still wondering who they were.

Hubby came home today from a day out with a friend, and told me it happened to him again...only...with a twist. I got a good chuckle from his tale, so thought I'd share it with you...you can read about it on his blog here, if you haven't already. :-))

Yet another way my wonderful hubby is perfect for me...he can talk enough for both of us! LOL