Blogging friends

I've been blogging now for about 2 1/2 years. When I first started blogging, like many of the rest of you I did plenty of blog hopping and reading different blogs from all over.  Yeah--spent a lot of time that way!

As time went on I established my favorite ones.  Maybe there was some connection of people, maybe something we had in common, maybe it was because I stepped out of my comfort zone and commented on their blog & they responded to me, maybe it was those who commented on my blog.

Sometimes for some reason you just "feel" a connection with certain people causing you or them to reach out a little further than causal comments.

Those of you who are around me hear me in conversation refer to "My blogging friend from ___"  I find myself saying this quite a lot.  I feel very fortunate to have gotten "acquainted" with quite a few bloggers and consider them friends!  But, the truth is, other than my family and very few others that I actually do personally know;  I have never met any of the other of my blogging friends.

Until this weekend!!

Last week I got pretty close....if you remember I posted about meeting some of Alison's family.

When I made one of my "house tour" posts, Patty made the comment "we're coming to visit", and I responded that would be awesome,  and then she said "Seriously"!!  I still can hardly believe it.

They arrived Sat. afternoon, and we had some friends/family out for a potluck for supper that night.  The question was asked, "when did you meet"?  uhhh, TODAY!!

We joked about the fact that they were stopping by to meet us on their way home to TX after visiting in CO!
Really they were on a road trip and heading on east & south, but they did go out of their way to come see us!

 

Can you think of a more appropriate place to have our picture taken together than beside the computer?!




We had some family and friends over for a potluck on Sat. eve,

We spent some time inside eating...

My younger sister--and our friends aka big Opps, I MEANT older! "sistah" Cyndie & Dan

The middle sister--Gay and Patrick.  Yes, she's the one who makes those delightful comments, and is the mother of THIS delightful blogger, my niece

 And with my mom

On the porch eating;

Alisha & Ryan, Derek,  Becky & Paul & Leon at the end

On the steps eating....

My friend Shelley from HERE; with her delightful mischievous little grandson

Outside eating on the play set;

Gay's youngest, Jackson, & her oldest grandaughter Felicity, with Kaela in the middle.

In a tree eating;

 

Her Grandson Latham--

And outside under the trees in the cool breeze visiting, too full to move

and the sun went down on another day of country memories

Andy & Patty--we are so happy you came to meet us, and spent some time with us.  We so enjoyed having you as our our first guests in our country home, having you in our Sun. a.m. gathering, sharing you with our friends & family--both here and Sun. evening at Russ & Lanae's too.
We hope you have a wonderful & safe rest of your journey "home"!

Work boys, work!

Thankfully Friday and Saturday were sunny. We've had alot of rain and everything is lovely green, but we were hoping for sun and warm with all our weekend company


I got a load of wood chips to use for landscaping...now if it would just quit raining long enough to get my yard work done!


My brick-laying son built us a new fire pit for bonfires!


And some stood (or sat) around and watched him..


NICE job Ryan!! Thanks!


We roasted all our hotdogs & enjoyed the fire.


Play kids, play!

Well, some of them weren't kids, and some of us didn't play, but it was fun to watch anyway. Hopefully they had fun.


These were kids, and they were playing. The little ones loved the outdoor space, and I hardly saw them inside!

More to come.........

Pictures...

Here's some pictures of our garage sale day to go with the last post. Rather random, not terribly exciting.
Kara & Kaela

Going GREEN! :D


With their cousin Katie

We're going to miss this!!

Yesterday and today we had company! Austrailia visitors, here in the US traveling around.

They met our 3 older girls some years ago before they were married.

We had a very wonderful time visiting! Come again any time!!

Our kids this morning before they left.

Such a lovely family, and it was SO special to meet them & have them visit!

A "normal" weekend!

Weekends are not my favorite part of the week. As those of you who are on my facebook page know, I love Mondays. Excluding Sunday mornings, they are the best part of the week for me. Basically because for years, Leon's work schedule has been working 7p.m.-7 a.m. Friday nights-Sunday nights. Earlier last year he got switched to Monday nights instead of Friday nights, which was nice because it at least gave us Friday evening-Saturday afternoon free. By Sunday night, the kids are usually climbing the walls, and terribly hyper, & I'm about climbing the walls because I'm the only one here to deal with them!
Currently, the plant he works with, like many other places is doing lay-off's and cutting hours, so we haven't known what to expect for sure, but last week got the notice that he would be switched from weekend hours to weekdays, 2nd shift (3p.m.-11p.m.)
Since we were expecting company for the weekend, this was especially good news, as it meant he could spend time with them/us without cheating himself out of sleep!
At this time we don't know yet whether it will be a 4 or 5 day week, but we're glad for a job. We also don't know how it's going to work with his installation job schedules, but I'm sure we'll manage to juggle things somehow. We're just thankful for work in this present economic situation!
So, not only did we get to experience a "normal" weekend, like "normal" people (lol!) we actually had company for the weekend. Now, understand, we do have occasional company. But, seriously occasional. EXCEPT for a fairly steady stream of boys, boy-friends, and a few girls! But, this was a family! Adults!! Wow! and the kids had a blast! We had a great time, and hopefully this will only be the beginning of more company. (come see us!)
Now I don't really expect to love Monday's any less, but maybe I can enjoy weekends more!

Our company this week

WHY can't they just all behave so I can get ONE good picture of them ALL?? Even the threat of putting them on my blog doesn't help!!







We're delighted to have Jana & Darla together for a couple weeks while both their co-workers are away at other conventions.

Our special company

last Saturday!
We were so happy to see Berry & Jessi M. from Texas again! They had been up here visiting Berry's Dad & sister and came by our house on their way back thru. Berry grew up here, he & Leon were good friends. He stood up with Leon at our wedding. We now live miles apart, across the country, and seldom see each other, don't stay in very good contact, but love the ties that bind. Such special memories!
Wish you guys could have stayed longer, but loved our fellowship together in the short time we had, and COME AGAIN, Don't wait so long :*)
Berry's family and Ours goes back a long ways! His mother met the truth thru Leon's mom. Our families met together for many years, & we spent many Sunday afternoons at the J. farm singing & roaming the hills, sleding & bonfires as teens together.

Getting aquainted!

Congratulations Russ & Lanae!
She's definitely a little sweetie!


We were thrilled yesterday when Lanae stopped in to say hi and show off their new baby and we all got to take our turn's holding her.
Corle Reece (Pronounced korLAY) was born Friday Aug 12, 6 # 10oz, she was just 4 days old here!
Doesn't give me "baby wants" anymore (thankfully!...LOL!!!) I'm enjoying where I am now, but I also miss those tiny baby hours. They are so short & fleeting! It's sure easy to forget how little and dependent they are. I'm rather jealous of the fact that MY mom had her grandbabies right here in town & could see them any time she wanted!