Today I love

 The sight of the sunrise over the fields out my living room window.
The mild coolness of an early spring morning.
The first sight of a shade of green on the tree line made me break into a big smile this morning.
The anticipation of a day at home.
The desire to head outdoors on a brisk walk before starting my work inside.
The feel, sound and sight of spring during my walk.
Even the silly dog running ahead of me.
Opening every window that I could to let spring into the house.
The sound of the birds singing.
The sound of roosters crowing.
The green shoots coming up in the flower beds.
The sound of water running in the creek across the road.
Blue Sky and Sunshine.
The ability to smile.
Seeing my youngest child's report card with another row of straight A's.
Anticipation of a new "era" while totally loving my days here and now, and hating the thought lf leaving them.
That my husband found a new job he is so happy about.

LIFE.


Did I repeat myself?
 Did I mention  I. LOVE. SPRING?!

Scenes that make me smile today

Beautiful Spring

 Some of my earlier planting

 The lilacs popped today!  I do love lilacs!

 Everything is just bursting! We've finally had some sunny days and higher temps.  The Iris are popping out of the ground at a great rate, Flowers just burst into bloom the last few days, today I saw blooms on my strawberrys --do you suppose I'll get more than 1/2 dozen of them this year?  This is my 3rd picking of Asparagus, I could eat it nearly every day!  Clematis are finally turning green & have buds and my transplanted raspberries are doing great!

 Our first batch of chickens are growing quickly!  They are ready to go outside, only we don't have the pen ready for them yet.  These are our fryers

 2nd batch of chickens (our layers) are doing great too.  We were happy it was warm enough that they could go straight to the chicken house without them being in the house.

Today Kara preformed in the Central District Music Festival.  She has been taking lessons for about 2 years, and this was the first time she has done something like this.  The students had to memorize their songs they played, they also had sight-reading & scales heard by the judge and then there was Theory Ear training exams.
We don't know what the results from those tests were, but she received a 1- rating on her playing!

P.S.  In case you're wondering--the cool clock on the wall was a Mothers day gift from one of my special daughters :)

 

For today

This morning I thought about this little journal format that I have on one of my private blogs and so I went and looked it up.  I had done the last one a little more than  a year ago right before we moved.  Just a few weeks more than a year we've lived in the country.  I have to say I've loved every minute of it & have never missed our house in town regardless of the more than ample space it gave.

A year ago I was asking you all for suggestions to change my blog name.  Making Country Memories is certainly what we've done this last year.  We haven't gotten very far with "farm" life other than a progression (and "disappearance") of a total of 9 cats, 3 dogs and a pet coon.  At the present time we only have 2 cats (with a new set of kittens on the way) 2 dogs and an occasional sighting of a possum, badger, wild turkeys, deer  and the sound of an occasional coyote howling. 

We're working on plans to hopefully expand the animal population around here, I'll keep you updated on that adventure as we figure it out.

For today...... 

I am

• Energized--when I do housecleaning jobs for others it makes me want to come home and clean, organize and or re-decorate my own.
•  
• Enthused--After we finished our cleaning job my sis & I went to visit a green-house.  I came home with Lavender and Chives to add to my herb garden.  I really know nothing about this little venture I've started, but I'm excited to learn!

• Inspired--Cleaning house last night and having new plants that I couldn't leave outside led to re-decorating, cleaning out the closets, putting some winter things away & making a corner for my herbs & daffodils I bought.
•  
• Excited--Pleased, awe-struck, and at times a bit overwhelmed to think that in 2011 we are gaining 4 new grand babies.  I think it is time to make me a chart to keep track of them all.  Names, birthdays, and possibly with my memory maybe who they belong to would be a good idea too! :D
•  
• Thankful--That I have a sister to work and play with.  That we share so much in common.  Cleaning jobs are much lighter work when you co-work. Exploring the greenhouses, sharing ideas, getting & giving opinions makes planning much more fun.  A random stop at the antique store to scout out some treasures, be green-envy (in a nice way) over the treasure the other-one found first and then deciding that really we've spent all morning anyway, we might as well go enjoy lunch out too.

• Impatient--Wanting to have everything I want WHEN I want it, & HOW I want it NOW.  I really want to do better at enjoying the process.

Outside my window.....We are having our first thunderstorm of the season.   gray skies and it went from light rain falling with the occasional thunder to a full blown rainstorm with sharp lightening later this afternoon when I was on my way home from town.  I'm seeing green grass, tiny green leaves, trees that have burst into bloom & flowers poking their heads up from the earth.  Ahhh, spring!

I am thinking..... About some of my kids coming home next weekend, looking forward to loving on baby Raya who somehow is already 6 weeks old and looking forward to taking a new grandkids photo.

From the learning room........  Researching raising chickens, gardening ideas, container plants and herb/kitchen gardens.  

I'm also learning about "Norwex".  In a few words, the definition of what Norwex is:  From the highest quality microfiber cloths & mops , hygienic kitchen products , personal care products – facial cloths , the most innovative toothbrush on the market , crystal deodorant , and environmentally friendly detergents & toilet cleaner, plus SO much more. It's relatively new, at least in this area, and I along with many others have never heard of it before.  For some of us who are not only interested in using environmentally friendly, but SAFE and NON-toxic products to clean our homes with. It sounds and from the little I've already seen, like  wonderful products.
 
I am thankful for......My life.  My husband, my kids, finally having a chance to live in the country, and I'm thankful for good health to be able to keep up with it all. I'm ever constantly thankful for healthy children, (and so far grandchildren!) especially when I see and hear of those who have so many different health issues.  I may not be so very interested in all the health issues themselves, but I am interested in the why's & wherefore's, and possible causes of the issues and what can be done to avoid them in the first place.

From the Kitchen.... Our first picking of Asparagus--EVER!!  I'm so excited.  I've planted it several other times & never could get it to grow.  I also picked Lettuce leaves for our first fresh salad of the season!  It's chilly in the house this afternoon, and I'm thinking that cinnamon rolls baking would be a wonderful way to warm & cheer up the house & kids.

I am wearing

Warm fuzzys. With this rainy day it's chilly in here and I'm not wanting to kick up the heat anymore than totally necessary these days.  I'd prefer not to have to call the propane guy again!

I am reading..... Besides our Bible study chapters (Genesis currently)--All the country magazines I can find around here--flowers, chickens, farms, gardens! I'm trying to resist getting another book to start reading at the present, I can't seem to put it down until it's finished!

I am hoping.....The weather will clear up for my trip to Sidney tomorrow, and for working outside next week. I am hoping that I can get everything done I need to do before next weekend so it can be a happy, enjoyable, stress free time.  It certainly will be noisy, messy & way too short!

I am creating....Reviving my house with spring decor & my plants indoors.  Wanting to do some more scrapbooking before I'm totally swamped with outdoor work.  I got started on my Finland/Sweden album, now if I just can focus on getting it done...

I am hearing....Raindrops on the windows & roof, The wind, One child on the piano, one on the computer.

Around the house.....It's all clean from having Bible study here last night--Yay, I always love Thursdays like this!

Some of my favorite things......New things.  Spring, new looks, New baby news, New to me old antique/vintage or just plain old things. Sisters & Friends.

For the rest of the week....Taking my two "M&M" kids to meet a friend so they can spend the weekend with their kids. If the weather is cold, rainy maybe I can scrapbook this weekend.  If not, then more yard/garden work.  It's almost Friday, and beings that next weekend will be a full and busy one, I'm hoping for a calm, quiet and relaxing one this week!

 pictures I'm sharing............

 Herbs & daffodils-- The old wagon from my dad out of the barn, grab some planters, baskets, buckets & plop them in front of the porch windows.  It's too chilly yet to get them in the ground outside.
Hmmm, I like this pretty well.  Can I leave them inside year round?  That would be a handy & cheery kitchen garden!

My asparagus!  I just planted it last year (plants, not from roots)  It's grown about 4" every day. 

Shopping at the antique store today I was reminded that I had my big round tin somewhere around here.  I didn't pull it out last year, so when I got home I went scouting.  Ah! I pulled it out of the back of the shed, now it's ready to be filled with something.

 Every farm needs an egg basket, don't you think?  I don't have my chickens yet, but it worked for putting my fresh cut asparagus in.

 A bit of tweaking in my porch herb garden--Lavender & Chives from today's trip to the greenhouse, A few "spring" decorations from the basement storage,  I added my collection of farm/mud/rain boots, and my new large containers for outdoor planting are stacked, ready for using. Oh yes, and a cute "new"/old box I sat my lettuce & spinach in.

I heart spring

 I am so happy for the sun, for warmer temperatures, for blue sky, for birds happily singing.
I can't wait to dig in the dirt, pull my outside decorations out of the shed & start our garden.

The grass is quite green from all the snow that's melted. The trees are budding out, Iris are poking their heads thru, crocuses are blooming & today I saw stems of asparagus poking their tips thru the ground too!

It's been a year since we moved to the country.  It's hard to believe!  I've loved every moment of it and am looking forward to another wonderful year.   So much to do.. So many things we want to do that we've never had the opportunity to do.  Country living, I'm in love with you!

Along with spring breezes blowing, I was ready for a new look (at least for a while) on my blog.
Thanks to my good friend Wrena--she did her magic again for me.  I'm looking for just the right photo for the blog header, and in the meantime this one of our family (Sept 2010) will do.

When you're having your morning, afternoon or anytime coffee--Think of me. 
*Cheers*  Here's to a beautiful, enjoyable spring!
 

A beautiful day!!

What a beautiful day it is today! No matter that the calendar says the first day of spring is Friday, for me it's today! It got up to 79* today, and we have enjoyed all the windows open while working on our house project!
This morning as I looked out my kitchen window to the back yard I could see a hint of green in the grass for the first time! The bushes all of a sudden are loaded with buds. The birds are singing and pecking around the yard. It reminded me of this song! Spring has arrived. Even if we get more snow or cold weather, spring is here!!

Friday

It's Friday,
Memorial day weekend
The kids are out of school
The first day of "summer" vacation
It's raining, pouring, WET
My flower beds are weeded
My garden is NOT in,
The grass is green, green, green!
The trees are green
The sky is green....Well, not today, it's GRAY! But last night it was rather green. Storms all over.
We were actually just on the edge of a severe storm system moving thru, and got lots of lightening & some hard rain, some wind, but nothing serious like some places!
Jim and Lynisha came from Sidney last night, after being in Denver and coming home through the horrendous weather out there that did result in some tornadoes around the area.
It took them 2 hrs longer to get here than normal, lots of hard rain & wind, so they were pretty wiped out by the time they got here.
This morning Jim and Ryan are out van shopping for us, and there is a van that Leon found while he was in Hastings that they're going to check out too.
I'll be glad to have a vehicle again that fits us all instead of having to juggle rides!
Here's a current picture of us that my friend Sharon took last week when she was here for the weekend.Have a great weekend everyone!!
Next post.....Another birthday!!!

My garden work

Last week we had a couple of really nice days, so on Thursday the garden/dirt bit hard enough that it sent me out to work. I have a problem getting seeds planted. I like to buy them, but then they sit here, and by June, somehow they usually still aren't planted, and the Nurseries call loud & clear. I usually end up satisfying my craving for flowers by buying way too many plants. Even tho I try to buy perennials, they don't always survive, and my *budget* always feels the pain. This year (once again) I swore to do differently. I got one flower bed planted, and spent a good 3 hrs on some yard work exercise...for what? We'll see if it's worth it, two days later it snowed again, and got quite chilly. If this weather doesn't improve, I'll be buying plants again after all!!

Views from yesterday

Cold, windy & snowy!
We didn't actually accumulate very much snow here, it rained quite a lot, and then snowed quite a while also, however it was warm enough that not too much of it stuck. We have a light covering on the ground today and there is some very light flurries if I look close but the streets/sidewalks are dry.
I'm sure this will pass...but I am longing for sunshine & warm~
by the way, the beautiful house in the picture is only our view across the street, not ours! At least we can enjoy looking at it every day :*)

HAPPY SPRING!!

I went outside this afternoon to look for signs of SPRING! Obviously by my header, we're quite aways behind last year! But, I did find small signs...The lilacs are putting on buds, a patch of green in the grass, My fruit trees, pear & apple have buds on them, the cherry trees are heavy with tiny buds...and most exciting of all, I found our first flowers! It's actually here! HAPPY SPRING!!
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