WWII - B-25 in Alva America!

Last Saturday on the 21st of April, I went down to Alva to witness a piece of history - WWII history! We had a B-25 come to the airport and it was escorted to town by Bobby Baker's P-51 Mustangs which are based out of Alva. The B-25 did a flyby with a Mustang on each wing several times. I managed to get a good shot of that and then later, Bobby had a dinner in his hangar with the crew from the B-25, WWII veterans, and normal "airplane" people that helped out. Bruce and I got to go up in the bomber and it was something to see. The machine gun turrets, bombay door, and all the artifacts were so intriguing. It was hard to decide what to look at first. One of the most remarkable things I saw, was many of the veterans had signed the bombay door from their tour of duty in WWII, year, etc. So below, you will see what we saw! I had a wonderful and remarkable day witnessing this "little piece of history". I can't help but think of my dad who was a veteran and worked on B-17's during WWII. Its so nice they we can "Keep um flyin'" for future generations to see and that we never forget what the Greatest Generation sacrificed so that we can be FREE! Thanks to all of our vets!

 On arrival - the flyby!

Here she is landing - Gear Down!

 the B-25

 Nose Gunner Tourret.

 View from the pilots seat that evening.

 Our little L2 - with the Big Daddy B-25. Every one really enjoyed seeing these Birds.

 The Pilots!

 Col. Wiebner is an Alva native and just happens to have been Eric's commanding officer at Cannon Air Force Base!

From the Pilots seat!

Gutter Gardening

Who knew...... this would be such a great idea???

Since I've been roaming Pinterest, I have spied a few exceptional ideas... and this would be one of them! Gardening is really a fun passtime not to mention a healthy hobby that Bruce and I have been doing over the years, but we do become a little frustrated when little critters and bugs get our produce. We decided to give this a try - especially since Bruce had some left over 6" gutter coil left in the machine! We came up with the height to set the gutter and I bought some Miracle Grow peat moss to put in with our regular soil. The soil gets a little too hard when harvesting, but it grows really well. I would probably change that part but you need something to hold the moisture in since we get lots of wind and sun. Also, Bruce didn't seal the gutter so if we did get a big rain, it will drain and not overflow and flood the garden. We planted really early lettuce, onions, radishes and spinach thinking the sun would heat the gutter. It germinated way before the big garden so this little plan is working. When it gets hot, however, everything will cook, so this is really only for the early growing season.

 I had already harvested the lettuce and onions, but you can't tell. It will be hard to keep up with it!

Anyway, I picked lettuce, onions and radishes from our gutter garden for you to see, admire, and we enjoyed it!  What wonderful flavor!  Give it a try! It really works......

A friend laid to rest....

Today started out so wonderful with our Risen Savior on this beautiful Easter Sunday.  So much Good News to proclaim on this very very special day. Bruce and I went to Sunrise Service at the Yazel ranch and the service began at 6:45. I have quite a few beautiful pictures of the 3 crosses as the service progressed.....

 When we first began -

 next,

 Beautiful

 until the service was almost complete,

 and finally -

 He is Risen ..... Gorgeous Son Rise!

Frankie our little donkey hasn't been feeling well - and we had a veteriniarian out on friday morning to examine him and he gave him a big antibiotic. The Dr. never had a diagnosis, but my sister thinks maybe the Rhino flu hit him.  Anyways, Frankie died today and we are SOOOOO Sad.  I know seven grandkids that will truly miss him. The last kids to see him were Kelton, Katie, and Konnor. These are the only snapshots I got of them that day.....

 He truly did love the kids and he looked forward to their visits. You may think I'm nuts, but it is so true. He would get a little depressed after they would leave.... moping around, and hee hawing for his little friends.

Poor Bruce has had to bury so many of our "friends" over the years. Eli & Calyja - our rodeo mules, Miss Kitty and her yearling Angel, Joy Bar, and now Frank..  As you can see, Cheyenne will dearly miss him. As I came in the house she was still whinnying for him, but she knows in her heart that he is gone....

As I'm writing this through my tears, I don't know if I can bear many more of our cherished and dear friends to pass on. We have buried so many dogs as well, but our Lord has put them in our life for us to enjoy, and I honestly can say that Frank brought only JOY to our family.....  So as the day ends, the sun sets, and my heart is very heavy.....I thank God he was in our lives for the last 17 years. You will indeed be misssed little friend. Rest in peace!



A few of my favorite things!

Roofing season has officially started, so we are back to running here and there fast and furious. Delivering material, estimates, phone calls, book work, and with the spring it also ushered in gardening/mowing. About all we have to mow is weeds, but at least it is green!

Family and friends have been requesting to see pictures of the sunporch with our new deck, so here it is. I can say that it is complete outside. Bruce is working inside on the steps to the cellar and we have a new door on the cellar as well. So after a little tweaking tomorrow - he will gladly proclaim the end of this project!

 The picture above was before the skirting and stairsteps and rails.

 Doesn't the steps and railing look great?

 Bruce and his project. He has already said we have to go shopping for

a new gas grill to put on this deck and we need a bistro set for inside the sunporch.

Sounds like we need to go shopping ......

 And another project. This is the addition on the North side of the shop.

 The inside of the shop on the west side. It  has 4 new overhead doors - 1 with an opener.

 West side..

 The inside of the middle of the shop.

 And another favorite - my gutter garden and it is doing AWESOME!

We'll be eating onions on EASTER.

 My beautiful lilacs - oh how beautiful it has been smelling on the farm.

 Been leaving the windows open to smell the lilacs.

 My special girlfriend Gayla - gave me this gorgeous quilt. It needs a little TLC but I know

what to do. All was handstitched! Thanks Gayla for my treasures!

The pattern is the Dresdan Plate.

 

 My new old treadle sewing maching from Gayla - thank you!! Can't wait to refurnbish it.

 My very special girlfriends from college - Vicki Nett, Jacki, Gayla, & Vicki Nylund.
We have sharedso many special times. Was great to get together again!!

 Gayla's new house is now under construction at the Peacock Roost. Can't wait to see it completed.

Cheyenne and Frankie - good buddies. Little Frankie is feeling a little under the weather right

now so hope he gets to feeling better real soon. He is loved so much by all our grandkids!