Monday, May 30, 2005

a work in process...

OK Mel, I've finally posted some house pictures on my house building site.

We're "full speed ahead" on our house deterred only by the rain and wind (like today!)

Come on by for a visit!

Made the big trip to the BIG CITY...

Hi! It was raining this morning.. and the outlook was rain all day... so we, the whole family, headed to Billings, Montana.

We went to lunch at the Golden Corral buffet. The kids really like going here. Then went to see Star Wars... then went to JoAnn's Fabrics... and of course... Walmart! We wanted to go to Costco but it was closed! Closed!!! Couldn't believe it!!!

it's raining...on Memorial Day...

Greetings on Memorial Day!

Fellow BBQers here in town may be dissappointed at the rain... but I'm pretty happy about it. The grass seed that we planted on Saturday is getting a good drink! And my garden will be all set!

It's a day off from watering for me! OK... I'm being really selfish here. Sorry!!!

May it be warm and sunny for your BBQ today!!!!

Do you have a Memorial Day tradition? When we lived in Massachusetts, everyone had BBQs.

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Gardening...

We put in the garden last week. I'll tell you... I'm becoming quite the country girl! I've been in charge of watering the garden... which is NO SMALL TASK!

But I'm really enjoying being outside. Tonight I dug 6 more holes for the raspberry "twigs" that are on their way from Gurney's. Also prepared rows the the 25 strawberry plants that coming...

Last night my neighbor came by with a whole bunch of garlic plants! They smell so good!!! Got those planted this afternoon.

I envision paths of brick near my garden... so I'll have to scout around town for some used brick.

Sorry that it's been so long since my last post. Lots going on!!!

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Well, this is it!

OK, today is the last day of school. We'll have a moment of silence to commemerate this "moment of silence!"............................ there!

Got lots to catch-up on where I was gone all day yesterday. But first... some business calls.

When are your kids out of school?

When I was growing up in Massachusetts. We went to school till June 20something... usually the 25th. I remember counting down the days... till summer vacation. It's nice that the kids here get out so early in the summer... but then again... they have no Spring Break to speak of... or Feb. vacation... hardly any holidays too.

I just had some flashbacks from my childhood...
Playing hide and seek or sometimes kick-ball in the cool of evening...
Playing cards with the whole neighborhood under the shade of a huge maple tree. Ah... those days felt like they'd go on forever!!!
Playing barbie dolls with my 2 best freinds on the side of my house. I had a Ken doll and the sporty car and 1 friend had a house... the other had Dawn dolls who became the children of our Barbie dolls.

Memories!

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

All-day Field Trip...

Just back from an all-day field trip with Matthew's 5th grade class. We went to the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. It was fun... It's a beautiful ride... rolling green hills and pretty farms... but I'm so tired now!!!

The bus trip did me in!!!

Last day of school is TOMORROW!!! (Send help!)

Friday, May 20, 2005

Went to the grocery store...

We were out of milk, butter, bread... and anything quick to eat. So off I went to our grocery store 9 miles away.

I bought all kinds of stuff.

A kind neighbor gave me a bunch of rhubarb... so I'm thinking a nice rhubarb pie would be really good.

Darn... Forgot the butter. See what happens when you're almost turning 40(June 13nth!)! You can't remember important things like butter... until the morning comes and everyone wants toast... or for a sporatic moment you want to make a pie.

What's on your agenda this weekend? We've got a graduation party Saturday afternoon. House building in the morning... Would really like to see the new Star Wars movie too... but that will probably have to wait til later...

Thursday, May 19, 2005

a quick hello!

A quick hello! We seemed to have returned to normal here...
Bright sunshine. Blue skies. Warm temperatures. The mud and puddles are drying up pretty quickly!

We're back working on the house. I'll be posting some new pictures on my house blog soon, promise!

The boys have 4 days of school left.....

Wednesday, May 18, 2005

The garden...

My side yard has become a huge garden. We planted yukon gold potatoes, tomatoes, cukes, corn, peas... more stuff to plant tomorrow.

Yawn... time for bed! Sorry too tired to post the pictures that I took tonight...

The sun is shining!

I can't tell you how good it is to see the bright sunshine and clear blue skies once again. Here in Wyoming, we're just not used to all the rain!

Rich and I will be headed out to the homesite to get going again.... after being rained out for quite a while. The walls MUST go up!!! Watch my http://www.howsthehouse.blogspot.com site for updates, if you're intereseted!

Thursday is Science Fair Day for Matthew(he's in 5th grade). You should see his light board maze. I will post a picture soon, promise!

Just 5 days left of school, May 25th is the last day. Kids are out at 12:15.

Tuesday, May 17, 2005

It's raining... it's pouring...

Good morning fellow bloggers!

Unbelievably... it is raining yet again! I say this with amazament because we honestly don't EVER get this much rain!

6 days of school left.

Rich and Matthew have been working on his science fair project. It's a maze of lights. You have to figure out which buttons to push to get the lights to come on. Matthew just loves this stuff!

Rich and I were tossing and turning last night because... well... it wasn't working!!! And all the light bulbs have been burned out!!!

I woke up at one point and said out loud... you've got to test it using that testing thing. Rich who was also awake, got up out of bed and got back to work on the project... Today it's working!!!

Thursday is the science fair!

Monday, May 16, 2005

Laundry with two young boys...

From load #1, a penny remained behind... guess that's my reward!
Load #2 reveiled a wallet... candy wrappers... and a wad of string (don't ask!)

Lilacs and the countdown...

The lilacs are blooming. They are so fragrant! As I sit here in my office with the window open... oh they smell so wonderful!

I have this wonderful memory from my childhood of these beautiful, tall lilac bushes that came through the fence near where we lived. I remember my brother and I breaking off a huge bouquet of lilacs for Mom. We didn't know that she was allergic to them!

The countdown has officially begun...
7 days of school left!

Saturday, May 14, 2005

I had a sample supper, Mom!

Hi all! The sun is shining and the sky is blue. Life in Wyoming has at least partially returned to normal. Still lots of mud thought!

We had a nice trip to Billings yesterday. We had to go to Costco of course... got to share this with you...

My kids love going to Cosco because of the sample tables. Well, Aaron was sure to try something from each table... shrimp... chicken...sparkling water... soy milk!?! Yes... He even tried the soy milk! We came home with a case on it, as he insisted that he needed some to go on his cereal. The sample lady at that table got a laugh out of that!

Then it came time for supper. Aaron said that he's too full for supper because he had a sample supper already. LOL!

Friday, May 13, 2005

To Billings we go...

Oh my goodness.... my little guy was so poky this morning. doddle... doddle... doddle... till he was just about late for school!

He and I are headed to Billings, Montana this morning. He's having a hearing test done... been failing the ones at school...

Of course, we'll have to go to Cosco... and Walmart... and JoAnn's Fabrics... and go for a meal somewhere... It's a 90 miles trip one way to Billings!

We live out in the boon docks! I love it that way... but it means lots of driving to get to the big stores.

Just for my women friend blog readers!
I recently listened to a wonderful audio called "What do Women Want? Top 7 Concerns"
It's about dealing with PMS stuff. You know what I mean! If you find this at all helpful... would you let me know?

Thursday, May 12, 2005

We are the MUD people...

Mud everywhere. Cowboy boots caked solid with MUD... My back hall... MUD... Red Clay MUD! Shoes, pants... MUD...

OK, enough rain! Please someone... send some bright blue skies and sunshine.

I'm getting ready to make some chicken pot pie. We need something warm and soothing today.

I'm complaining too much today. Sorry! I've got the overcast, dreary blues. So, please DO send some sunshine, if you can spare any... I'll settle for a couple hours worth, OK?

Snow... yes... Snow!!!

Good morning! Got up to see a beautiful blanket of snow covering all that was green.
It is May, right? Mid-May?

Wednesday, May 11, 2005

Day 2 rain... rain... rain...

The humidity is at 65% in my basement. I've never seen it get that high!
Day 2 of rain...

We've been getting a lot of rain in the past week or so! I feel like I'm back in New England!

My little guy said in our family prayer this morning...
"Please let the sun shine so it can dry up."

We must be nearing our drought resolution!

OK... I'm really not complaining! It's OK for it to rain! Honest!

Why do I have so much traffic on my biz related blog today? There have been 19 visitors so far this morning! I have no idea why!

Monday, May 09, 2005


Here's a pretty blooming tree! The apple trees are all blooming here.
another picture by Toni

a bright sunny day...

Good morning fellow bloggers!

May I share a peom that my 11 year old son wrote and included in his mother's day gift to me?

Roses are red
Violets are blue
mother all flowers
remind me of you

Sigh...

Saturday, May 07, 2005


...
another picture by Toni

doing the cowboys thing...
another picture by Toni

a cowboy...
another picture by Toni

It's was so rainy and miserable at the rodeo today... that I didn't take ANY pictures. Here's some from last year.
another picture by Toni

Oh no... It's raining!

OK, normally rain would be a really, really, really... good thing. 'Cause we've been in draught situation for a while... BUT NOT TODAY!

Why?

It's Spring Rodeo Day! And... it's raining...

Friday, May 06, 2005

It's Rodeo time again!

Saturday is a big day here in Cowboytown, Wyoming. It's Spring Rodeo day!

We bought new cowboy hats for the boys just for this special occassion!

My 11 year old son will be riding a steer and my little guy who is 7 will be riding a sheep.

Watch for a picture of the rodeo in my next post!

What happens when...

Ok...
What happens when 2 geminis attempt to brace the foundation forms?

More...

Thursday, May 05, 2005


Things are shaping up! Visit my house building blog for more updates!
another picture by Toni

Wednesday, May 04, 2005

From the pockets of young boys...

Doing laundry is always interesting at my house. Lots of things are washed out of pockets:
  • sunflower seed
  • soy beans (from helping grandpa at the farm)
  • the "prettiest" rocks-tumbled clean!
  • fossils of various shapes and sizes
  • marbles
  • bouncy balls
  • duck tape pieces
  • occasionally I find coins (this is my reward for being a good mom!)