Summer - in Full Swing

 The week has raced at a pace faster than opportunities to blog.  If a picture is worth a thousand words these should help to keep pace. 

In the midst of all the rush and work - it's heavenly to snatch a moment or two to rest in the trees. 

Or rest on the couch while prepping for an exam. 

We may hit $6 up here....it seems to go up by leaps....

I'm always worried when I see garden pictures of others harvesting as we are are just starting to plant. I always hope things will produce - they didn't last year. I'm ahead this year...but still wondering if we'll have lots of green with no produce. Ah well, the chives and cabbage will be ready before fall. LOL 

Millie has never been as sedate. 

The broccoli has a long way to go, but it's out of the greenhouse and into a bed. 

Liv is sporting a new hair cut! 

📷by Carrie

EVERYONE loves Bre's cookies and bars, and Jojo will go great lengths to snatch a taste! It looks like he has the climbing ability of big brother Gideon.

📷by BreAnne

We've had our first rain in weeks this week. It's nice to have an excuse to sit inside with a hot drink and  a book or movie. 

This drink is 100% SUGAR FREE 

Luke and Krista surprised us with a visit. 

Millie is feeling much better. It is nearly impossible to "keep her from jumping and bouncing" at this point. I'm hopeful they didn't really mean two full weeks of laying around. We're focusing on keeping her from getting at the incision and staying as quiet as we can keep her.  The sedatives have allowed us to catch pictures of her. 

WHAT???? This is what we usually see when new hens begin laying...but I found it in the chicken yard with the OLD hens.  The youngest in there is 2 years old. Could one of them just have begun laying? Or do they get smaller as they near the end of laying? I've not noticed this before. Odd. 

Much life this week - not much blogging time.  Dad got an infusion on Thursday. He didn't feel good after but I think he's starting to perk up. We shall see. He'll get another one this week.  Allie finished week two of her new job. Millie was spayed and is recovering - that covers Stacia's week as well. Bre had a birthday. Nolan finished another 3 credits for this semester....some went to Colony Days... others have been unpacking and settling in...caregiving...gardening...moving church classrooms...

The gang at the Colony Day Parade - Cory, Bre, CyRi
and grands📷by Arielle

...camping and salmon fishing...

Livvie and Cy 📷by Carrie

Josiah made a quick trip to Seward after the parade and caught his limit in just under an hour! Izaak reported the same when he dropped by with fresh caught salmon. 

Josiah 📷by Carrie

A Day of Fun & Errands

 We have an exuberant Labradoodle. If she weren't quite so bouncy she wouldn't have to be sedated in order to "CHILL until the incision heals." She immediately begins to run into things, hit her head on things, when we put the cone on...so one of the girls have been by her side to make sure she leaves the incision alone. We read suggestions to try a t-shirt on Facebook and so we are trying that tonight.  

I spent an hour in the garden this morning. I got this bed planted. I have no more beds to plant until the chicks move into the chicken coop.  I planted peas, bush beans, broccoli and zinnias in here.  I was especially happy to repurpose one of the moose damaged row covers as a trellis for the peas.  Michael has plans to use a couple of them in other places. 

The afternoon found me playing with BreZaak's kids. At one point Arielle and the boys joined us - you may remember they are neighbors. It was cooler today but it hasn't rained and it was a gorgeous day for playing outside. 

Bella on bike, Annie, Benny, Gideon  on bike

The kids had saved a kiwi box to do with me. This one was musical instrument themed. Annie put together a dancing ribbon. 

Bella made a xylophone.

Gideon made a tambourine. 

When Bre got home I ran to Freddies for some supplies Stacia wanted for this evening. A friend at youth group was having a birthday... She and a couple of others showed up early to decorate. Great fun. 

Other things which filled my day are: trips to the library and post office, rides to youth group and work and I even found time to read a chapter of a new book while I waited for youth group to end. 

Off to bed.... 

Millies No Good Terrible Horrible Day

Our Millie girl got spayed today. I know we waited much longer than many of you do and did it sooner than many of you...we're happy with Stacia's decision. Millie - maybe not so much. 

We could hear high-pitched whining and "complaining" when we arrived back at the vet this afternoon. As we waited, I leaned over and told Stacia, "I think that's your Millie." 

Sure enough...our drama queen was very sedated but quite willing to let everyone know she was unhappy with the circumstances. 

Being Doggie Mama is hard work 

We were happy to keep the cone off Millie, but she began to want to lick and bite at her incision. She was highly offended by the cone. She acted like it made her head too heavy to hold up. 

She does love the attention. They said she should be a couch potato for two weeks. They want her to lie around, not jump on and off furniture, not catapult at visitors...we're trying, but she may need the third sedative. We'll see. 

Stacia and Millie have gone to bed. Hoping tomorrow is a bit easier of a day for both. 

PROGRESS IN THE GARDEN

 I am not cut out to be a farm hand! LOL 

The weather forecast contained showers this evening and all tomorrow. Wednesday is supposed to clear up and then rain again Thursday and Friday. We NEED this rain...but I NEED to have the ground ready for the potatoes, pumpkins, beans...AND the job was far more than I could handle alone. 

What a mess....

The above photo was taken standing about 1/3 of the way into the garden space - at the end of the squash patch. I told Michael it felt more like a micro-farm than a garden.  I suggested we could simply move the fence to the side of the garden house and the rest could be yard for someone else to maintain. Michael had more vision than I. Most of this space has tarps, black plastic or carpet over it...so...today's goal was to clear all the debris and storm damage from the garden space, remove tarps, plastic and carpets, weed whack it to a manageable length and then rototill it. I do NOT want to rototill it, but we want to get it planted and don't have the time and money to build a bunch of beds, lay cardboard and build up the beds. We've had it covered for two years. 

I got started early and worked an hour alone. Stacia came out and helped me move the things hidden in the grass - tires, garage door panels (to make more beds), twisted row covers... she couldn't get the weed eater started. 

Repurposing these to be cages around Aspen trees

Michael came out and the girls joined us while Nolan studied and stayed with Grandpa...all total Stacia worked 1 1/2 hours, Allie worked 1 hour, Michael worked 5 hours and I put in 6 hours....that's a total of  13 1/2 man hours. 

Removing tarps

This is would be a pretty little meadow right outside the garden if it weren't for devil's clubs. One of our goals is to get the devil's club pushed back and make this space useable. I would like to mow it down, if we can get the riding mower back there, and throw wild flowers everywhere. LOL 

Master of the Weed Eater

 

Grass had grown up through the carpets...The girls and I weren't up to the chore. Michael was. 

This is the back side of the carpet....

And the front side of the carpet - BTW the carpets are from BreZaak and CoRielle's home...both renovated before moving into their home. It served it's purpose in the garden.  It kept the weeds in check while we worked on other projects. 

The truck was quite useful today

We have had a huge tree in this part of the garden. I used plant snap and it gave me three different names...not sure what it is...but it got BIG....Michael cut all the branches back and plans to remove the stump. We found two more stumps in the space and he got one out with the crowbar. 

The good news is the soil which was covered won't need to be tilled. It looks like great soil. 

I think this is the biggest stump we need to remove...and there is more carpet to remove. The girls called us in for dinner and then the rain arrived. We'll get it done.

We got quite a lot done....

The end of the day came when the thunder began...

We were ready for showers and baths...and a night of rain and thunder. LOL While I could barely move this evening, took 2 naproxen and sat with 2 ice packs while Michael showered, I do like the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day. The work was hard, not very fun at all, but it was wonderful to be outside all day...and it was great to spend the day working on a project with Michael. We passed on respite this week so we could work on this project.  I think it was a good decision. 

Sunday Fun

 Dad said he wanted to go to church - on Saturday night. Sunday morning, I got up at 0500 so I'd be at a stage where I could break and help him get ready when he was up.  He woke up and was fired up to get out again. We got him ready, cooked him a big breakfast and set him down with the paper and coffee. I went to put on makeup and change my clothes. 

When I came back out, he was in bed. I tried to wake him and he wouldn't wake up. Michael suggested he stay home and I go to church today. I was glad to be back at church after the weeks of staying home. 

The girls and I went to a spot we NEVER go when Michael or the boys are with us. It was perfect for US for lunch. We had panini's and were perfectly full...no need for chips or fries or such. The girls also had Caramel Frappuccino's.  I had water. LOL 

Bre texted and said the kids wanted to visit and she wondered if they could come over. Yippee.  They found me in the garden and told me that the chicks were GONE. The chicks were missing.  They were not convinced the chicks were fine until they saw them in the garage. They are suitably impressed with how much they've grown. They are nearly ready to move to the side yard. 

The kids had brought towels and swim suits...they were ready to play in the water. We were happy to oblige. 

Bella, Gideon and Auntie Stacia

Go Gideon! 

Yay, Bella! 

You've got it, Annie! 

Annie ran up to me several times during the day with a sweet message - "Grandma, I love you!" a hug,  and off she'd run. She certainly knows how to win the hearts of Grandmas. 

Bella picked a huge bouquet of dandelions at church and Bre helped her keep them alive until they visited.  Flowers, touch, and words of affirmation - these kids are well taught. LOL 

It was a gorgeous day. There are rumors we'll have showers in the upcoming week. We made the most of today. Snacks in the backyard. 

This little spot has become magical! The kids had to try it all out...I heard several comments about needing one at home....I am so happy to have the sturdy cluster of Birch trees so we can have this spot. 

Bella and Jojo

Nolan came out and played on the trampoline while Bre and I continued to visit. 

Michael mowed about 1/2 of the yard...look, not a dandelion in sight. We still have a nice crop behind the greenhouse and to the south of the driveway. But not one in sight when relaxing....well there is the garden but we're working on that....one dandelion at a time....

Grandpa felt well enough to come outside and sit on the deck. I know the sunshine is good for him so it's always nice when he ventures out.