The House Siding

Jerry worked the entire week I was gone at Girls' Camp. He was working on the foundation facing and the siding on the house. He plans to take it one day at a time and then paint it next year. Everything he did had to be hand cut and made to fit. Notice that there is no gaping square hole in the concrete anymore (with an old doormat over it). Notice the beautiful foundation and the nice squared-up backdoor. How about that new siding? Home restorers would want to keep the old tongue and groove siding, and maybe someday someone here will want to do that, but Jerry doesn't. I can't blame him. He will have to work very carefully to get behind the electrical panel and electrical service hookup. Once he gets that done, it will be a bit easier. Today for FHE he and I are going out and finishing up making the cyclone fence shorter. Right now it's 2/3 done. It will be good to have something finished.

Rhubarb

So, what's with this rhubarb? They get the same amount of water and sun. They were planted in the same type of soil. I don't get it. (Unless you count the fact that a whole dumptruck load of dirt was dumped on them at one time and they survived somehow.)

Garden 2010

We have had quite a time with the garden, since it rained up until July 5th. Not just rain either, cool weather, too. Here's our effort so far. I still enjoy going out there and seeing what's up and what I can take care of.

Perfect Day

It is so beautiful outside--the sun broke through about 1 o'clock showing a perfect blue sky with big, fluffy white clouds. There is a perfect breeze. It's heavenly. The fields around us are all overflowing with wild daisies and overgrown grass. It's just one of those days to tell yourself to be contented, to slow down and look around and feel the breezes. There is more beauty in the world than ugliness, and many people to love.

Seminary Is Almost Over

I have one more day of seminary for this year. Maybe then I'll remember to take the time to write all the things that have been going on around here. We had an auction today which was lots of fun, as always, but not so much fun for those who didn't earn much money. That was probably only one or two students, thankfully. Everyone else went to town. Top seller was a real lasso from one of the girls, it was nice and used, too (super dirty). The second top seller was a bag of candy, which was the last of what was in our treasure chest. The oldest candy was from Easter, not too bad,but if it's still in there, well...no one really wanted it. That was Willie Wonka Krispy Eggs and little packs of Twizzlers. The other top sellers . . Sunny D., Fiddle Faddle and popcorn. Those boys are always hungry. There were squirt guns, a real grenade that had been drilled out, a remote control car, a T-shirt that was from "Monopoly" that had the picture of the cop and said, "Go To Jail", and just a bunch of stuff. We always get a kick out of it. We had some wealthy people because some had not used up all their money from the Christmas Auction. I will miss this group and I am glad I will most likely get to do this again next year.

Violet Louise Glaus and My Grandchildren

I just got back from spending a few weeks with Joy as she awaited the birth of their daughter, Violet. I enjoyed very much everthing I got to do there. Oliver woke up on the first morning after I came, which was before Violet was born, and through the monitor I heard him say, "New baby." He was so aware of what was going on. Even though he wanted to do everything himself ("I do it!"), he was very patient with Grandma. What a sweet boy, but he is 2, so lookout world.

Violet is very beautiful and Joy and Nate did so great through it all. I was sorry to come home, but we all need to get on with our lives. Here a few pictures of our little Violet.

Each and every grandchild, whether newborn or 14, is very special to me and each is unique. I picture their faces, hear their voices in my mind, see their expressions and wonder what they are doing each day. I think of their talents, too and wonder what life will bring for them. The heart's capacity to love is amazing. I should not be surprised that I feel this way about them--even if I had 50 grandchildren I would know each and every one of them and feel connected to them. I feel that way about my children so why not all the grandchildren? It is a gift from God that we are so connected on such a deep level.

Family Pictures

It was a lot of fun getting everyone up, dressed and together the Saturday after Christmas. Brandon and Traci came the farthest and were there in plenty of time, with everyone looking so nice. At our house, we all shared bathrooms and got ready in shifts. I'm so glad that Heidi and Scott and their 3 girls were close by and, with 3 girls, I'm sure there was some scheduling of who got the bathroom when. I'm so glad that we did it.