Angels Among Us -Today Was Her Birthday

July 20th is Mom's birthday. It's just past the middle of the summer months, June, July & August and easy to remember. When we were kids, we would make a freezer full of ice cream or she'd buy her favorite, Maple Nut. I had some a few weeks ago. It was more delicious than I remember. Mom would make a German Chocolate dripper cake, too and take it easy for the day.

She loved seeing her great-grand children. There are 59 or 60 in all now. The youngest two are Junie, Melody's baby and Russell, Alyson & Stephen's. We weren't ready when she left us, but I am sure she knows these two little ones and others that have come along in the past five years.

Mom was a friendly gal, one of a kind. She stopped folks in the store, but they didn't mind, Or someone in the check-out she stood behind, To talk about gardens or watermelon rind.

These two angels are the first children and the joy of their families and came at the perfect time, with love and comfort to all. Best wishes the new Moms & Dads and our parents in heaven. From all of us.

Greeting from Glacier National Park

Greetings from Glacier National Park, Where our family had a reunion as we did embark. We skipped rocks, hiked, saw waterfalls & stayed til dark. What a fun time to be together and a lark!

This was a place no one had been to before. We talked about it a year ago and made plans in the middle of winter. Not everyone could go, but fourteen of us made the trek. what fun to be together discovering this beautiful place and each other, too. Our first things to do was skip rocks on McDonald Lake. See the towering mountains in the distance.

There were waterfalls at every turn, garden walls, wild life, sharp drop-offs. At the top was Logan Pass, where hikers met the glaciers still melting. It was stormy on top, but that didn't deter anyone.

We couldn't resist going through it again and got stiff necks from looking up at the many summits over 10,000 feet. Be sure to go yourself one day.

Colleen's Cycle Spin

Who doesn't love a motorcycle ride? Feel the wind in your face & son by your side. Life is free, easy and you can abide. As long as you don't hit something and slide!

Years ago I imagined going cross country on motorcycles with my son. My hair would be bleached blonde and we would be free as the breeze. But that cant happen because a mother worries when her son has a motorcycle, especially when he is a father. The statistics are pretty good for being safe. When you hear about one bad accident, it seems to be a scare factor.

I had to take a spin on Jory's candy apple red bike, because he's decided to sell it. I'm glad, but oh how great it feels to take a ride.

Roof At Rest

Well the roof is re-shingled without a glitch, Cant say it was much fun, with it's 12x12 pitch. Al and Aaron avoided landing in the ditch. Hoping to never do it again, we'll get Mitch.

Years ago Allan reroofed his Uncle Hen's roof to make extra money. It was a wood shake roof, which required him to remove the old shingles and put the new wooden slats on. It took forever and the $400 he made didn't come close to the time he spent.

When it was time to do our roof, we waited until it looked awful before tackling it. We could have hired someone, but it surely would have cost $15k+. Aaron, our son-in-law agreed to help. He used to do roofing. Together they were able to do the job. Aaron got a harness to finish the steep east side that has a sheer drop of 20 feet. Now the roof is at rest for a few decades.

A Surprise in Sweden

The gang made it to Sweden with all their toys. They surprised Grandpa. He loved seeing the boys. With that many people, there's sure to be noise. But who cares when with loved ones they shout, "Ahoys!"

It was the eightieth birthday for Sven Stierstrom in Sundsvall, Sweden. Sarah, her brother, Jordan and their families along with mom, Ingela, made their way to his home and surprised him a few days before the big event.

Jordan has not been to Sweden for sixteen years. That is a long time to not see your grandparents. Mom, Ingela, was born there, but married an American. She has lived in the U.S. for almost thirty years. It is tough but she has gone back as often as possible.

What a blessing to be with Morfar (grandpa)!!

No More Bowl Blahs

I got some bright, brand new bowls They have lids to cover their holes. I wish my shoes had this bright of soles, But for now, I'm just happy to have goals.

My old ones are mostly white and boring, so when I saw these on sale at Costco, with lids, too. They flew into my basket. I'll be buying birthday gifts all month to please my palate. It's time to show my colors. Why don't you too?

Grumbling About Ground Cover

Do let your ground cover know, who’s the boss. Remember to yearly clean out and toss, All that new growth so you don’t become cross. It’s the same when we take the time to floss.

These two yards are examples of how ground cover and perennial plants are beautiful one week/year and out of control the next. Perennials grow back year after year and annuals are re-planted each year. When our home/yard was new, I begged for starts from friends and family. Slyly under their breath it was a way of thinning the pack.

Oh how pretty the plants were at first. Now after twenty-five plus years, I am cursing the day I asked for many of these. One is called Bishop's Weed, for good reason. Although pretty, it's like a weed. Another, Jupiter's Beard, sends seeds everywhere and the purple flowering plant is everywhere. Therefore, each year a good clean-out takes place. With twenty plus different plants it takes awhile to accomplish the task.

After lots of hard work, they have a smaller footprint and I am in control for a few weeks at least. Then it's on to the babying annuals to grow.