celebrating with our graduates

 

Friday, May 31, 2013 ~

            

                    

       

 

 

          

      

                                     

                    

                    

                                                   

Kids of all ages enjoyed carousel rides…

{click for photo credit and info on our carousel}

Good friends Theresa & Sarah took charge of the kitchen for the evening ~ with help from their hubbies and Theresa’s daughter  :-)  They along with a couple other families stayed to help clean up too!  I think we were done by 9:30pm – So the Rays came home with us for an after-the-party party…  crazy but fun.

     

    

     

So if we look a little sleep-deprived… take a closer look at the clock!

    

 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

 

   

 

Congratulations, Abigail & Daniel!!!

our may days {daze}

 

Thursday, May 23 ~ Piano Recital

     

     

                     

 

May 24 ~ Getting creative with a card for Meg & Austin {newlyweds} & cupcakes {by Kate} for Memorial Day

   

 

Saturday Tim took me again to the furniture store where we intended to order new sofas.  Instead we purchased a sofa/love seat set off the floor – along with a couple small tables which we were able to bring home immediately.

Sunday night we ‘observed’ Memorial Day by watching the movie Gods & Generals.

Monday was a Work Day!  Tim led the charge to clear out more junk – and to rearrange the rest… anticipating a major furniture rearrangement.  :-)

May 26 ~ I suppose a flooded creek would mark the end of last year’s drought.  Thankfully it did not go over the road.

 

Thursday, May 30 ~ the cake frosting begins!

  

We celebrated with gyros for supper ~ and Abby & Daniel opened a few gifts…  including their diplomas!  :-)

               

                               

Abby finished with her last subject {Greek}, so her ‘new’ camera came out to play!

 

woot, woot!

 

The open house deserves its own post…

daybook 6/3/2013

 

Outside my window... the corn looks better with some sunshine; the creek is well inside its banks again; the mustard is in full bloom; the rhubarb looks like it might be going to seed {time to harvest some!}  And yes, the columbine are still in bloom too.  :-)

Hearing... the dryer rumbling

Pondering...  carpet samples for the stairs

Praying… for dear Eleanor who broke her ankle on Friday; for young Meg who is newly married while waging a serious battle for her health; for productive days at home as we enter into a summer routine {ha – routine?}

Thankful... for help from many friends who made Friday’s party so much more fun!

Reading...  Bible – Luke 

In the kitchen...  leftovers!

In the learning rooms... almost ‘closed’ for summer – the Cowgirl just has a bit of math and science to finish.

Creating… a ‘new’ living room.  Stay tuned for pictures, but don’t hold your breath for more than 45 seconds please! 

Around the house... Oh dear.  I had the front door wide open for the UPS guy to view inside this morning.  ahem.  So I guess I should continue the process of putting things away ~ bags of tea lights, photo books, and more… all from Friday’s party.

The Mother Load… I’ve made one trip to town this morning – and already have a list going for another  :p  More prep and cleaning for Wednesday’s delivery of new furniture!  End of the month financial reports.  Abby’s transcript.  Plant flowers into our landscape at home – used first at cemetery and graduation party.  Blog posts!

Something to remember for later...  I’ve added several notes to my “graduation” notebook.  Profound thoughts such as Don’t fill the fruit cups so full!

A Bible verse...

Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.  Luke 11:28

 

A few plans for the rest of the day/week...

Tonight ~ graduation open house for my niece & nephew

Friday-Saturday ~ local celebration “Scandinavian Days” [not that we are doing anything with it, but it’s an option  :-) ]

Saturday ~ local celebration in our church’s town –> which means the kids could walk the short parade to help promote our upcoming VBS.  After Kate & Abby serve the men’s prayer breakfast at church.

{{Tim}}  needs to give the Cowgirl some introductory driving lessons… before Driver’s Ed classes begin next Monday!  Meanwhile he’s headed to the fields in the sprayer today…

next Sunday ~ Sunday School Picnic after church

 

  A peek into my world...

 

 

  We celebrated at home on Thursday night ~ their sisters thought the grads needed hats. :-)

 

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

 

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it. Colossians 4:17

syttende mai

 

May 17, 1814, Norway adopted its own constitution and became independent from Sweden.

Our local celebration is called Scandinavian Days {held in early June}, but that’s just because we Iowegians are so tolerant  ;-)

I don’t know any of these pretty girls, but aren’t their bunads nice?

 

My mom made little costumes for my sister and me {long, long ago} that look more like this:

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

No parades here today.  Tim is busy planting soybeans {they finished with corn yesterday – yay!}  Kate & Abby are still recovering from Wednesday’s surgeries.  The younger kids took a swim in the creek this morning ~ so I had the joy of removing a leech from the Cattleman foot.  :p  I’ve lost count of the ticks we’ve flushed this spring.  Life on the farm, eh?

daybook 5/14/2013

 

Outside my window... the sun is already shining brightly.  After near freezing temps for lows this weekend, we are headed for the 90s today.  Praise the Lord for air conditioners.

Hearing... birds.  I *LOVE* having the windows open this time of day.  :) 

Pondering... another long day of gadding about. 

Praying... for a friend Sara and her family as they had an unexpected death in the family.  Long story, but God’s grace is sufficient and evident.

Thankful... our God is good. 

Reading...

Bible – Proverbs, Mark 

The Black Arrow (RLStevenson) ~ history read aloud {yay, me!}

Living Proof (Jim Peterson) ~ Tim is reading aloud for the kids’ missions trip {really glad Tim is reading  it to all of us!}

In the kitchen... Yum, still tasting Sunday’s grilled steaks and turkey tenderloins in my mind.  Tonight ~ taco rice casserole.  Tomorrow ~ broccoli cheese soup for my girls who will have oral surgery first thing in the morning  :p 

Last week a friend came over to help us with frozen fruit cups and cream cheese mints.

        

     

In the learning rooms... enjoying The Black Arrow, preparing for piano recital, and finishing Greek (Abby).  Must update transcripts for our seniors soon –

Creating… Abby decided to make a pair of earrings for a friend who wanted a pair of boots for her birthday  :)  I didn’t stay up to see the finished product, but the birthday girl loves them!

               

Around the house... we potentially need an excavator.  ahem.  Preparing for an open house and welcoming home a college girl make for lots of S.T.U.F.F. under foot…

The Mother Load... and more laundry.  Soon, I will catch up the ironing!  Famous last words. 

Something to remember for later... How our kids enjoy catching up/hanging out with each other especially when one comes home from afar. 

A Bible verse...

Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord,

that thou fulfil it.    Colossians 4:17

A few plans for the rest of the day/week...

Today – running to multiple towns {good news is that will include picking up an Azure order!}

Tomorrow – wisdom teeth extraction for Kate & Abby :(  My plan includes about 24 hours of sleep for them with a happily ever after.

Not attending the state homeschool conference.  Oh well.

Saturday – two graduation open houses and a birthday party.  Fun!

A peek into my world...

I finally took a tour of the newly fenced orchard on Sunday.

             

    

  Yes, that’s the Popper in the driver’s seat!

~.~.~.~.~

Giving credit where credit is due:

While I am not linking up with anyone, you could read more weekly news posts at other blogs by following any of these links:

• Peggy at the Simple Woman’s Daybook

• Julie for adapting this daybook version as her own ‘Grasshopper Days’ ~ Perhaps I could call it the GHV Daybook. :)

• You can also find a similar weekly meme in Happy Homemaker Monday at Sandra’s

~.~.~.~.~

when life gives you lemons…

 

…make lemonade.

When it snows in May… go sledding. 

 

The snow continued all day, although it did start to melt.

 

Today the snow continues…

 

So the Cattleman built a snowman  :)

oh the weather outside is frightful…

 

 

…is not what we usually sing in May. 

But there it is.  Snow. Wind.  On the second day of May.

 

Bullwinkle and the Jersey calves look sad {the cows are off in the far trees}.

 

 

The blooming forsythia is probably not happy either.

 

The high temp was ~80F on Tuesday; 50F yesterday; and currently 33F today.

But the weather is sure to warm up – and stay warm – one of these days.