Buzzzzzzzzz

By mid September I could not work in the front yard.  Every trip across the lawn would bring a swooping attack of stinging critters with a buzzing sound.  We looked everywhere for the source and could not find anything.  We even wondered if they were nested in the ground and sprayed every hole that we could find.  Following repeated counsel to "look up", Bob discovered the nest in this maple tree.

What beautiful handiwork.

When Bob bravely climbed the ladder in the dark of night and sprayed the nest, he hurridly jabbed a plug in the hole to keep them inside long enough to expire.  These are wicked looking bees ?  wasps?

This nest/bee hotel had at least 5 floors.  We threw the whole thing into the flames of our first outdoor burning. 

North Dakota

Benjamin left home on Tuesday for a railroad project in North Dakota.  Today they arrived in Minot.  (my not)  The grain storage looks familiar. But the tracks are going down to get the abundant oil transported. 

This should be a great experience for him.  I love looking at the big blue sky.

School Desks from Eastside School

In 1969 when our parents departed from Wyoming they brought with them these two school desks from Mother's classroom at Eastside.  Our boys used them and then Joleen and Shannon held long school sessions seated there.

Later, Ben used them during grade school.  Then various grandkids thought the desks were just right to conduct their business and the desks moved from house to house.  Maybe that is why they look a little battered.

The desks  just found a new home with these two kids.  The stools were something that Bob created.  They are almost as old as the ownership of the desks.  Lots of kids, both in the classroom and in various family homes, have spent hours at these desks learning to write, draw and coloring with wonderful crayons.  Forgot to mention learning to cut paper into a zillion pieces with scissors

Made in the USA

 Recently, Bob had to replace this part on his Chev pickup.  Yes, the original part was made right here at home.

However, check out the replacement part.....classic evidence of "jobs shipped out of our country.  And so it has gone.

A Young Man and His Tractor--1941

Driving the gray Fordson is Mark Petersen, Robert's older brother.  The family farm was in Ferron, Utah.  Using this tractor instead of work horses was a huge advancement in farm work.  Mark was born in 1921.   His life was cut short 20 years later by this very tractor when it flipped over as it was driven on a slant in a silage pit.  It was a tragedy that the family felt ever afterward.
In honor of Mark, our Benjamin's middle name is that of his unmet uncle, Mark. 

So What's the Big Deal

Any guesses as to why Joel wanted "G.G." to get down?

Nap Time

 On a hot summer afternoon, this little boy would not take a nap.  But later he came and flung across my lap and promptly fell asleep.  Because he was so warm, I slipped out from under him and he assumed this position.  For ventilation?

Much later we could not wake him.  Even his sister could not get his attention.  This must be a hard way to sleep.

Loving Uncle Ross

 There is a reason these kids love to see Uncle Ross come.  He showed up while we were taking care of kids on Thursday.  Although they were excited, one ran to Ross for protection from the added company.

While the other one had this boy's dream experience!  He was in heaven!

Quilts for the Military

 Ross became the proud recipient of this beautiful quilt made by Aunt Elizabeth and her quilt guild specifically for military who were wounded in the middle east war. 

I believe the pattern is Rail Fence and when it is all laid out, you can really see the applique stars and the quilting pattern.  Ross was very appreicative.  Thank you, Elizabeth!  Your quilt is beautiful.  Thank you.

I think he likes it!

August Birthdays

Our family is loaded with August birthdays.  First, we had Joel who turned 4.

Then Natalie had her 9th.

Grace had her all important 8th B-day.

and Elissa became 19 the same day that Shannon turned 42!

We still have David and Kerry's big days to come before the end of the month.

There, I think that makes 7 birthdays in one month!

Happy Birthday to them all.

Shannon's Dog

This  mutt is Shannon and Grace's pride and joy.  Grace named her Charlotte, from Charlotte's Web.

Ross Came Home Tuesday Night

But he didn't come alone.  "Chief"  is his new traveling companion and Joel likes that.

 He is cute.  Will he stay that way?

We are happy that Ross's year of recuperating is done and his year before that in Afghanistan is over and done.  Now it's time to play with the neices and nephews and help me in the garden.

Gathering The Wood

 Over the last three or four years, whenever a tree needed to come down, Bob would limb it and put that on the brush pile.  So one of his projects for the summer was to go through the woods and gather everything that could be used for firewood next winter.   John Deere and the little red cart were very helpful.

Some of these chunks of maple were from sizeable rounds.   To verify how much better Bob's shoulder is, he was able to split them all.  I can still hear the maul hitting the wedges and that wonderful splitting sound in the wood.  The woodshed is pretty full. 
Today, July 16, is cold and rainy.  Maybe a fire in the fireplace tonight??? 

Summertime Warm Weather Activities

The morning was too cold to get dressed.  So I added a pair of sweat pants with my nightie.  It wasn't quite right until I added a heavy flannel shirt.  I could work like this all day!

July 13th brought the best gardening weather ever.  It was nice and cool with plenty of rain to water the garden as I worked.  My jacket is not stripped, the rain was just coming down pretty good.  Conditions were prefect!

Running Through the Sprinkler

A picture is worth a thousand words...here is Grace and Grandma running through the sprays from the soaker hose. It was a fun day!

The Fourth of July

Not the Fourth of July, but Christmas time and Jay is giving instruction on the flag that they got as a present.  Love that scout salute!

A real summer time Fourth of July Parade.  Ross is leading, naturally.  Joleen beats a mean drum and Shannon just follows along because.......  One of the most stirring parades I ever saw.

Ross's Birthday Today

Wanted to recognize a special day for us and wish Ross a very happy birthday with a favorite photo.  It makes him look more like a farmer than an attorney.  What a great disguise!  Anyway, best wishes for a good day and mid-July cannot get here soon enough.

Happy Father's Day & Happy Birthday Ben

Happy Father's Day Dad & Happy Birthday Ben!

Grandma let the kids put candles on their Dad's cake.

But the frosting was too tempting.



So Joel came up with a great idea to fix it!



See? If you put a bunch of candles in the hole,

you'll never know someone's finger went through the frosting!

Cold Weather Vibrant Colors

 These deep blue iris lasted for 5 whole days and then disappeared into a seed pod.  But the 5 days were worth it.

 The rhodies lasted longer than I can ever remember.  It is nice to know that our very cool weather had some good benefits.

And this one is my favorite.
(Thanks Dwight for your help in saving these photos.)

Happy! Happy! Two!

Cupcakes are always called "Happy".  And so yesterday was a cupcake day.