Cutie pie Cousins!

We had such a special week with Kassidy that we decided we should ask Katie to come play with her cousin for a little girl time. Since we went to Kelton's soccer game on Saturday, it was perfect to pick up Katie. After a little play time with the kids and Theresa fixed soup, we loaded up the girls and headed to the farm. I of course didn't get a lot of pictures - cause we were just too busy- but here are a few of the goings on!

 

Had to go pick some pumpkins in the pumpkin patch - DeeDee tripped and injured her finger but thankfully, we had the hot tub to the rescue to make the booboo better!

 Fun in the hot tub with papa

 After the hot tub we enjoyed our popcorn and boy do they love popcorn! They kept swiping our popcorn. LOL

 

 The next morning we went outside to do chores after breakfast. Then the girls enjoyed a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows...

 

 I love this picture of the girls after I fixed their hair..... they both wanted braids cause its their favorite... What a great time! Seems like it went by way too fast and I think they will remember giggling and having a lot of fun in the sand box as well as riding the bikes in the shop and feeding Pepper and the horses. I could go on and on! God is Good! Thank you Lord for these precious girls!

 

Minnesota in a Minute~

If I say this stop to Minnesota was a quick one, that would be an understatement.... but at least we got to see everybody and visit the kids at their activities. Didn't get to see Kolsen run in his cross-country practice cause he was having some breathing issues but there are plenty of other pictures of all they were doing. The activities include dancing, horse riding, speech, duck hunting and I'm sure I left out something... mind you this is only on Monday and Tuesday = we left early on Wednesday!

 And then Kassidy got to come home with us in the Skylane, we were a little worried but she really loved seeing the houses get smaller and the cows look like ants!

 It didn't hurt having the ipad either... LOL!

 And, she loves all the animals and they love her back!

This was a really quick blog - so much to do in so little time! Until next time.....

Mean Green Machine and more...

Well the Green Machine - Papa Guy's old John Deere 60 officially started -- and traveled down the lane on her maiden voyage. After around six months of tender loving care from Papa - most of the parts are back on! She still needs her decals and the front end finished but for the most part - done!

 Almost ready for parades  - I am sure we can find several kids that would love to ride!

 I think Jeanean would enjoy seeing these pictures of the tractor Bruce and Eric hauled from her house! Somewhat of a change.... don't you think?

 Our harvest moon last night was breathtaking as I was sitting in the hot tub!

 And this morning after 5 a.m., the sunrise was one to behold! Amazing... I love living on the farm - so much to see and do and you don't have to pay nothing for those views.

 Bruce worked the ground last Saturday and then planted the wheat so the cattle will have some green this winter. I got to ride shotgun and take a few pictures....

Finally, I have been wanting to try some fused glass projects.. It was really fun but I can tell you there are a lot of tricks for this artistic medium. I can see how talented Peggy is now after I tried this ... She makes it look very easy with her beautiful work!

 My iriodized tile (sp)

Nothing like a little experimentation - I had no idea how the different glasses and other stuff would work together - might have to try this again! I LIKE! :-)

Green Acres...

is the place to be ~ Farm living~ is so nice when you have 80 degree weather in August!  Thank you Jesus for this beautiful weather and the RAIN! We are so blessed to have such cool temperatures for August and this wonderful rain. Since July 31st, we have had 6 1/2" which doesn't seem like much to central Kansas standards, but here in the desert - it is paradise! No hot winds, no parching sun, no sun scorched grass - and we are getting to give our John Deere mower a pretty good workout. We actually have grass growing and where the grass was DEAD - it is starting to come back! It has quite a ways to go though. We drove the gator up on the hill tonight and the pond is about to go around the island! Hallelujah! I should have taken my camera but I didn't - what a view tonight from the Hill. We love looking down at the farm from our vantage point of the hangar. Maybe I'll remember on our next tour to take my camera. Here are some of my green August shots---- I know, it is shocking!

Our garden is still producing cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, some tomatoes, blackberries, peppers, and now the okra is getting cranked up! We actually have had issues with the squash and cucumbers molding and dying. Its okay though, I'm about ready to pull the vines! I think they are about done... not looking too great now! Papa has a bunch of pumpkins planted too for our fall harvest.

 As you can see, there is still a lot of grass that hasn't recovered yet, but it is starting to fill in. The area where the row of south trees are to the house were totally dead!

 Dad's feed was almost dead after the last graze, he sprayed for kosha weed and then the rains came. The cows are really eyeing this feed, they get to graze on it again starting Sunday. We pray the rains continue to flow - we still need to catch up from the severe drought of three years, but what a wonderful start!

And then there is poor Emmy, who though Pa was still here at the farm when in reality --he had left with the big truck-- but she thought he was still here and sat for probably 15 minutes waiting for him to show up. She was not about to leave her post - I think she thought she was gonna hitch a ride! Silly but faithful mutt! :)

It's County Fair Time!

Every year the county fair rolls around and I usually help with entering open class quilts and oftentimes help the judge in the afternoon. This year was no exception, so on Friday - I took 7 of my quilts, clothing, etc. and got them entered. I was excited that my McKenna Ryan Art quilt won the "Judges Choice" award! She really LOVED it! So below are a few pictures of it!

 This was all made with batiks which I love!

 and the kids had a great time playing outside in the pool. What imaginations they have! They were swimming to Candy Island!  Sounds yummy....

 and of course the horses needed a little love!

 Meant to ride Cheyenne but we ran out of time!

 Then there was rocket launching time... Kelton and Eric had build some model rockets so we got to watch them launch.. Sure did fly high! Konnor and Papa went out in the pasture to wait on the parachute from the rocket.

 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 and we have blastoff!

 Katie was on recovery mission! Success!

and another one is getting another engine!

Got a some canning done too! Zucchini pineapple and zucchini relish that Theresa made. I only helped a little with shredding. The zucchini pineapple tasted just like crushed pineapple - really! After talking to some of my bible study friends, they said they have done it for quite some time! I must live under a rock! Today, I canned another 4 quarts so think I am done with that!

 

We also went to the rodeo on Saturday and walked around the fair! I believe the kids all had a great time! I was certainly ready for bed on Sunday!

 

Scary Clouds!

but we have rain! We are so excited to see the rain gauge this morning with 2 1/4" in it! The pond has been filled about a 1/3 so we are so thankful for that! You should have heard the bullfrog chorus!! Notice the clouds as they approached... a tornado was out by Aetna which isn't but about 14 miles as the crow flies.

 Approaching front!

 Right before the lightning show started!

 Just a little eerie outside! I'm so glad the horses were in the barn.

Thank you Lord for that blessed rain!

 

Eric and Theresa came home this weekend so the next blog will detail the visit! :)