Registered for school!

Just got both boys registered for school!!!

Our youngest, Aaron, is starting middle school this year... he's a 6th grader. Our older son, Matthew, will be in 10nth grade.

Last week we got Matthew's school shopping all done... next week it's Aaron's turn.

Matthew picked out an "awesome" black and red checkered tie... interesting...

Chicken noodle soup and homemade bread...

It's Sunday... ah.... I love this peaceful sabbath day!

My guys are a bit under the weather... not sure if it's allergies... or what. So today I've got chicken noodle soup simmering on the stove. Wish you could smell it! I love filling the house with yummy aromas!

Went to the garden and pulled a few lovely carrots, plucked off some swiss chard, a few green beans, some basil, and two little onions. Into the soup they went!

Aaron just had two bowlfuls complete with bread! Guess it has his seal of approval.

Soup time!

In a few weeks...

It's only weeks until the beginning of school. How can that be?

The kids are ready... they're getting to the "I'm bored!" stage.

Soon we'll buying new shoes... oh how Aaron's feet have grown! Actually... he has grown so much this year!!!! He's 11. What a big year for growth!!! I'm just maybe... maybe.. 1/2 inch taller than him!

I had to laugh because the other day he was trying to put on a pair of socks (they're way too small now!).... he was pulling and pulling trying to get them to pull up more.

Add to shopping list:

Socks for Aaron

Shoes for Aaron

All new clothes... for Aaron

Next week, we'll have to have a Billings, MT shopping day.

Went to the Bighorn County (Wy) Fair

Totally missed the Park County Fair last week... darn! We were really working diligently on our new home... couldn't take the time.

But did make it to the smaller fair in Greybull. The highlight is ANIMALS and lots of kids there to show their animals!

There were lots of beautiful quilts too! Didn't take any pictures though.

The big fire...

Last Friday, we set fire to a growing pile of debris.

We've been collecting wood scraps from the house for over a year now.

It was an all afternoon job. My husband said that it took 3 hours to extinguish it!

The big celebration

The Pioneer celebration is about to begin in our little town. Cowley Wyoming was settled by pioneers about 100 years ago.

We'll have a parade down Main Street... and lunch in the park. My favorite event is the Saturday evening talent show. Such talented roots, trunks, branches, and leaves in this town... families gather from all over to sing, play instruments... and share their talents in different ways.

There's a rodeo that lasts all afternoon. My niece is doing barrel racing this year. My nephew usually tries to stay on a bull... but generally only lasts a few seconds. Our kids lost interest after riding sheep.

At our house, we're getting ready to burn a huge pile of wood. It'll be a huge bon fire! Complete with marshmellows... maybe some hot dogs too. Pictures to follow.

How can it be?

I just don't know how I can be the mother to a driving teenager!!

Who then got his long hair cut short. I was so overwhelmed with how good his hair looked short... that I forgot to take the after photo!!!

This is Matthew (our 15 year old son) sitting in the hairdresser's chair... getting ready to have it CUT OFF!

Kind of like Christmas....

Our extra stuff from our move to Wyoming has been in storage for 5 1/2 years... in my brother-in-law's garage.

We've been living temporarily... in a tiny rental house all that time while building our new home.

Today with the help of my two sons (ages 11 & 15), we started going thru some of our boxes and bringing them to the basement of the new house.

My older son found a metal slinky. I guess they don't make them that way anymore... I haven't gotten it back yet...

My younger son found my grab-it thingy for reaching into high cabinets. He thought it was great fun until I took it away. Poor kitty was being tortured with it!

I'll tell you... it's like Christmas... except as I went thru each box... I had a flood of wonderful memories of life back home in Massachusetts. I could remember where I kept each item in my big, old turn of the century colonial home.... sigh... : )

Now, if I can just get the mudding done... and painting done!!! Yes, I know... one step at a time!

I'm just getting impatient because I have all those wonderful kitchen appliances that I want to start using!!!!!

Big day!

(Old Faithful, taken summer 2007)

Matthew is just got back from 5 days at scout camp. He did high adventure... and I haven't heard the whole story just yet... but I did hear that he went CLIFF DIVING....

Our scout camp is located on 40 acres just outside the East Gate of Yellowstone National Park. I hear it is frequented by grizzly bears!!! I found this awesome video overview of Buffalo Bill Scout Camp: See Buffalo Bill Camp!

Worked all day on the house. I'm getting so excited, I can hardly contain myself! It is truly changing from "the house..." to our "home!"

Our kitchen appliances came today. I ordered them back in Nov 2008... so you can imagine how excited I am to finally get to see them! Can't wait to use my new stove!!!!

Getting late... and we've got a big day tomorrow!

The back of my pickup

The back of my pickup has a bunch of buckets and a shovel.

Came in handy this morning when a friend invited me to dig up some of her Shasta Daisies!

It just got me to thinking... how most trucks here in the country have at least one 5 gallon bucket and a shovel in the back... but usually... there's also a dog back there!

(photo of Bighorn Canyon, Wyoming)

Enjoyed a fun family gathering

We had such a nice weekend. Rich's uncle and girlfriend are here from Iowa for a visit.

Dinner outside with family... complete with s'mores and sunset!

And a cool... I mean...totally... rad.... little video involving Cheese Puffs..

Kids say...

Today is work at the house day... until the celebration, BBQ, fireworks...

From the mouth of my 11 year old... in reference to his chores... and the holiday...

Nice try...

"It's Independence Day, a day to celebrate being free... I should be free from working at the house... and doing chores..."

Happy 4th!!!

The sun is shining brightly as I write this post.

I'm so looking forward to this day!

Today, my laundry room will have walls! Yeah!!!

Later this afternoon we'll be celebrating the 4th with friends, food, and fireworks... how awesome is that????!!!!

Wanted to share these pretty flowers with you this morning... Have an awesome day!

Mudding, Gardening, and Yellowstone!

A photo taken at Yellowstone summer 2007. Hope to get back there this summer!!!!

Going to be a busy day..

-got mudding to do up the house...

-and in the garden it's time to dig out the leaf lettuce that has gone by. Hmm... what to plant in it's place???

-veggies to chop up for Clam Chowder for a big July 4th celebration at a friend's house.

Because I've got so much going on today, I threw a beef roast in the crockpot. That'll be yummy for tonight! And there will be lots to share with family that might be arriving today... and with the friends that the boys always have hanging around!

Thought for the day...

Every experience brings wisdom and perspective into our lives.

Mom, would you log off?

So, when Aaron (age 11) reads 5 chapters in his book... he gets 30 minutes on my computer.

Recently he said to me, Mom when you're done on gmail, would you log off?

Hummp.... I was thinking that when he's done... that HE should log off MY COMPUTER!!!

It's the season of Pioneers... what to bring for the pot luck???

Here in the west... where Pioneers settled this land... it's a time of remembrance and celebration!

Our town's celebration isn't for a few more weeks.. .then end of July... but the next town over is having their big time.

It's a tradition that one branch of our family has a gather for lunch after the parade in one of the town parks... it's a pot luck type deal...

Been so busy with our house building activities that I didn't really have time to pre-think my take along dish. So I went into the pantry...

OK... black beans... corn... I have fresh cilantro growing in the garden and some onions... one of my favorite spices is cumin... and let's see... got some mild picante sauce... oh and garlic powder (next year I want garden fresh garlic... love it!!)

Great... a yummy bean salsa!

Chips... none in the pantry (that's because they get sniffed out by the kiddos and last about 2 seconds after they arrive from the store... LOL!)

Yes, have some flour tortillas!!! A local mexican restaurant that we enjoy going to makes their own chips out of tortillas... Hmm... I guess that I can do that too!!!

Found this video on google: How to make tortilla chips!

Almost done baking chips!!! And off we go!

Ever wonder where it's made?

Barcode info

I never knew that you could tell where a product was made by looking at the first few digits of the barcode... how interesting!

My blogger friend, Sue, just shared how you can know... where a product is made... by looking at the barcode! More here....

It's finally summer!

The weather has finally turned here! Been a cool June so far. But the next week will be sunny and in the 80's or above... bring on the summer!!! Time for my cucumber plants to grow!!!!

Maybe now the kids will be able to get some use of the town's swimming pool! I think that it's so awesome that our little town has a swimming pool! I buy the kids a pass so that they can go whenever they want.

Aaron (my 11 year old who broke his leg in Jan... had screws put in his ankle.. and just had the screws removed on 6/11) hopes to get his stitches out today... and hopes to be able to go swimming really soon... at least by July 4th!

Well, got to "git er going!" I want to make the kiddos some waffles this morning!

Zappp... back to real life...

It's Sunday morning...

Why are there NO towels in the bathroom cabinet? None... not a one...

Why must teen boy... and preteen boy use a fresh, clean towel EVERY TIME they bathe?

A longing for the country...

It's another beautiful day here in Wyoming. Blue skies with a slight breeze. The weather man had forecasted thunderstorms... rain... possibly and it still might happen later... but until then I delight in the beautiful sunshine!

--*--

I grew up in Massachusetts just north of Boston. We lived in a city with lots of people from all over the world. My neighbors on one side were Italian and on the other side, they were from Israel.

What a great experience to live in that place with all it's culture and diversity. I loved going into Boston... to the Museum of Science... the Aquarium... and into Fanueil Hall. Wonderful restaurants with delicious food were taken for granted...

My folks came from the country... eastern Maine and just over the Canadian boarder. We got to visit there. I have memories of traveling by car across route 9 known locally as the Airline to visit my grandparents for Thanksgiving.

I remember my grandfather's huge garden... eating beat greens is what I most remember!

This is where my dream of country life began... a longing deep within my soul.

Another beautiful Wyoming Day... and I love it!

Sunset at the Horse Shoe Bend campground in Bighorn Canyon

Bighorn Canyon

Another beautiful day here in northern Wyoming.

I was thinking yesterday how blessed I feel to live here. I am surrounded by sooo much beauty! It really contributes to my well-being!!!

The sunsets are incredible...

the mountains ever changing...

the animals grazing are ever so peaceful...

the bright sun makes me feel happy...

my growing garden helps me feel connected to nature that surrounds me...

the singing birds provide wonderful music that makes me smile...

I am so incredibly blessed to live here...

and I truly love it!

Sunlight Basin. As I toured this area with my son's 5th grade class... I was filled with awe and brought to tears by its beauty!