Smorgasbord of a post...

My mother-in-law, Vicki, took me aside shortly after Shawn and I got engaged and shared a very insightful tidbit on my future groom.  She said, "Shawn is very even tempered UNLESS he is tired or hungry.  Don't try to reason with him if he is either of these two things... just feed him or order him to rest!"  Time and again this has proven to be very helpful info.  BUT recently I have found another 'trigger' for some irrational behavior and ranting in my husband.  That newest trigger?  Weeks without rain.  Yep.  Especially when pouring rain is spotted just yards away, yet we only get a few drops.  Especially when we get the horrendous winds related to said thunderstorms but no rain.  Shawn's sense of reason is lost entirely when the sky goes black, the wind whips, the lightning strikes, the thunder booms... and still no rain.  It isn't pretty folks.  I think my dear hubby is so tired of dragging hoses all over our acreage fighting what I think is a losing battle mother nature and trying to keep trees and plants alive.  I have learned to go hide when he is ranting... I attempt to grab any innocent children in arms reach and save them too... good thing is these rants are quite dramatic yet short lived.  Ohhhh, do we need some rain,  BAD!!

Today I went out and gathered some maple branches that were victims of the latest storm winds.  I figure there should be at least one good thing that comes of the thunderstorms of late... so I brought them inside and plopped them in vases.  Not sure if this reminder, of our rainless state, inside our house will push dear husband over the edge, but I'm taking the risk.

 On our round family room table I put some Solomon's Seal that was flattened to the ground by the wind.  If you haven't planted any of these, and you have a shady spot... you really should, their foliage is breathtaking!

 My favorite things to put in these French Spice Jars is hostas and ferns. 

My quinces have stopped blooming but I think their branches are lovely all on their own.

 My niece, Emma, came over for a few day last week.  One of the first things she said, "You changed your dining chairs AGAIN?!"  Observant gal.  Grimace.  There have many different chairs that have served as dining chairs but these are my favorite by far.  I was wanting to add a natural element here and the woven chairs were the perfect texture.

 And these are so comfortable too.  I want to find a different seat cushion, these are the ones that came with them and they are an outside vinyl-like material... but for now they are fine.

 These are the pillow covers I got for the banquet benches for Summer.  Love.

 I fell in love with a new floral fabric at PotteryBarn called 'Vanessa'.  It has the perfect grey blues and also introduces some fantastic yellows and muted greens.  I used this fabric in some updates in our bedroom too... hopefully I can post about that finished project soon.

 I have been stalking this bench at PotteryBarn for quite some time.  Actually they first introduced a daybed in this design but it was too large for a nook upstairs that I want a daybed for.  But then they made this bench in the same design but I couldn't pay that much for it.  2 weeks ago I got a huge 'family & friends coupon' for PB and I ordered the bench immediately.  I love, LOVE the shape, and I think it looks great on the front porch... but the color is blah.

 I think its because it is right next to these chairs which are brown too.  Brown overload.  Thoughts on a good paint color for the bench?  I am leaning towards a grey blue and then heavily sand it so the brown comes through.  Not sure though?!

 I moved this huge canvas out to the front porch.  For 5 years I could not figure out something fill the huge space in this nook.  I stole this canvas off the wall in my bedroom, the size is truly gigantic.  The funny thing is that Shawn did not even notice it missing off our bedroom wall, NOR notice its new presence on the front porch.  Observant much?

 The canvas is wired to the wall so it stays put and is under the overhang of the porch enough that it is doing quite well out there.  I think I want to paint the bench a blue pulled from the sky of this canvas...

A post with no rhyme or reason... very appropriate for our lives right now ;)  Summers tend to be crazy for us... but I'll miss the crazy when all settles down in the Fall, so I am trying to roll with it!

HeeBeeGeeBee!

Christian was assembling some picnic tables on Wednesday... when he reached for his drill, this creeper was right next to it!!  We see these 'beasts' all the time around the farm, especially in the tack room of the barn, but this was the largest one we've seen yet.  Shiver.

4th of July

Every 4th of July, we invite friends and family out to celebrate.  This year we had a huge storm blow through minutes before everyone arrived.  It blew over as quick as it blew in, so we were able to regroup quickly and continue on with original plan to picnic outside at the firepit.  The 4 wheeler is running non-stop, and this year Chris brought one of his kids Power Wheels for the smaller kids to ride.  It was a huge hit and he brilliantly brought several batteries because this thing was NEVER sitting still.

 What do you want to bet these two guys were chatting about 'dentistry', snicker?!

 The fellas played tons of cards... and they were l.o.u.d!  Competitive much?! 

 Aunt Mimi brought the most gigantic marshmallows.  It tested the weight limits of the sticks Emma and Ty had gathered earlier in the day.  This kids were very impressed... bigger is better, right?

 We ended the night with fireworks, of course.  We lit ours at the same time as our neighbors and their friends just on the other side of the tree line, so we got twice the show!! 

4th of July on the Farm has become quite the family tradition along with Christmas dinner.  I'm hoping to add a few more 'events', party throwing has lessened in years past, but now that my back seems to be healed... let the excessive merry making begin! 

Wordless Wednesday

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Wordless Wednesday

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Today...

Today, I drove in to town to drop Ty off at a Lego Robotics camp.  I am humbled that the act of steering a car is still such a challenge.  I felt like I should have been sporting some kind of bumper sticker begging forgiveness for my snail like pace, you think I jest?  I do not.

Today, I sat in the car waiting for Ty to come out of his camp and felt 202 years old... Not one second younger than that.

Today, I finally believe my doctor when he said that it may be as much as 6 months before I am completely healed, whimper.  I surrender.  I shall start marking off the days til then.

Today, I cooked dinner for my family.  Monumental.  First meal I have cooked in 7 weeks.  I have not grocery shopped, menu planned, cooked, done laundry, ironed, cleaned, etc, etc in 7 weeks.  Nice break?  I can not tell a lie!  Funny how cooking a whole meal by myself is such an achievement.  Slowly but surely.

Today, I tried to pull a large door open and was reminded yet again that doors will be my challenge for quite a while.  You know those round handicap push panels that will open a door for you if you punch it?  I call them the 'EASY' button but for doors?  I now think they should be required on all buildings just like a ramp access is.  I am thoroughly appreciative for the help of strangers... even though I bore them unmercifully with the explanation each time that I had surgery and blah, blah, blah, blah... blah. 

Today, I loved being home when the rain moved in.  The sound always does me good, relaxes me.  The kids?  Not so much.  Rain always knocks out our satellite internet... and they are in the mucky middle of finals for school and just want to be done already.

Today, I decided the first thing I will do when I have the chance... flip/rotate our mattress because I have created quite a groove on my side of the bed, snicker.  I will also trade out our bed linens for bright summer ones, asap!  I think I shall rearrange and change some things around and give the whole space, I have been hibernating in, an overall overhaul.  Oh happy day.

Today, I am so thankful I am 7 weeks removed from surgery.  I am thankful that this body of mine is on the mend and in a few short months should return me to my 'loves' that for years have dwindled to almost nonexistance.

Today, I cut the boys hair.  I had not cut their hair since the day before my surgery.  While Christian was rockin' his long locks, Ty was just downright frustrated with his mop top.  I felt heroically successful.  Yep.  I did.

Today, I really love my incredible husband.  Deeply... overwhelming... adore him and how well he has taken care of me, our kids, his calling, our house, our farm, etc, etc.

Today, I grimaced and cringed while driving into town.  I felt such exhaustion when exerting the most minimal effort.  I stood stranded outside of a door until someone came and helped me get inside of the school.  But today, I really, REALLY started to feel healing.

Today, Ty came running into the kitchen and stood there staring at me.  I was perplexed.  He said he heard me laugh and he liked the sound of it.  Awwwww. 

Today, I will collapse into bed, completely exhausted... with a grin.  good night!

Wordless Wednesday

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