the littlest ones

So the other week we spent 6 days in North Dakota. I can't post all the pictures here. I have all too many for that. I'll give you snippets here and there.

These two little people are our littlest grandluvs.

I think it is a Nana's job to sit and rock these little people. Soak up snuggles, smiles, drools and whatever else comes my way. I wish they both lived closer but they don't. I am incredibly thankful that we are able to travel to see them as often as we do.

Meet Princess Sage.

Another piece of living far away is that we often miss celebrations such as baptisms. This time we were able to be there! God's blessings to you dear Elliott.

The love just keeps multiplying!

an early Sunday

Having a yen for the lake but not tolerating the temperatures during the afternoon this summer season. 

The alternative is getting up with the chickens.

If you don't have those critters ... that means early. 

Real early.

We live about an hour away from our favorite water hole. 

There must be a cool spot in that section of road 'cuz that 76 degrees didn't last more than a minute.

Little people joined us with their parents. 

Another reason to be out there early. 

Don't want this little guy overheating.

These guys like the water. A lot. Sebastian was my swimming partner today.
And ... they tolerate sitting on the back seat of the boat!!
Serious progress there!

I have stayed out on the water in the summertime and been croaking hot all nite long so am a wee bit nervous about doing it again.

This morning I was a bit bummed that we didn't stay out there last night.

The air this morning was delicious and the water absolutely perfect.

Kind of like my happy place.

the end of a weekend ...

The sun was shining and drying out all the miniature lakes. Jari was hatless and without sunscreen so we tried to find shade at every opportunity. Beautiful day!

A tour around the grounds with Grandpa and Grandma. What a beautiful way for the older folks to see how large everything was when the walking would have been impossible.

Two years from now I have high hopes of being camped on these grounds in an air conditioned camper. Going to keep the fingers crossed that it works out. If it does ... come over to my porch for coffee!

Homeward we went on Saturday evening. Although it was a bummer to end our time there sooner than the festivities ended, we had a very busy work week coming up. It was rather nice to spend some time at home on Sunday taking a nap before it all started. This getting older business is sometimes challenging for a crazy schedule.

Traveling again tomorrow ... almost before the sun rises. Going to find some little people snuggles this time.

Yes, we are very blessed to be able to do this.

Friday at services

Friday morning we went to Litchfield and Cokato.

Sometimes weekends can be a little hard on the heart strings.

Then to feed our hearts and souls. I have gone back and looked at pictures of my own and online about a million times or more. My heart just wants to be back there.

What a beautiful day. In between some rain drops. We did find an umbrella in Mummu's stuff that we went through so we were set!

July is cooking

Nothing good cooking in the kitchen over here other than the eggs these girls are laying.

Jari fixed them up right proper before we went to Minnesota. It is hot outside. Summer has come and it is downright intolerable as far as I am concerned. These little gals were getting a wee bit toasty. So ... they now have a sprinkler that wets their shade cover and a good chunk of earth beneath it every 12 hours. They're happy ladies and I'm pleased to see them looking comfortable.

I have taken up guessing what the temp is outside when I  leave work. I can certainly tell you when it hits this hot. I did send a text to my coworkers Wednesday evening saying that being as I'm the sensitive sort, I might just have to stay home and indoors on Thursday. That didn't work out so good.

Leftovers for lunch nearly every day. 

That blessed sun. I gauged that if I parked in one of these 6 specific spots, my car would be shaded when I left after work. Apparently, if you leave at 6pm .... the sun has moved over to the next 6 spots. Will need to make some minor adjustments next time I work.

Have you every been so tired that it is easier to wash the dishes by hand than to unload and load the dishwasher? Couldn't quite believe it myself but 'tis the honest truth.

Here's to a fabulous week!

Wednesday and Thursday

Running a little bit late here .....

A week ago we did a we bit of traveling.

We started our Wednesday morning in Phoenix at the funeral of our dear Helen. She was a very dear woman to so many and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew her. We were so pleased that the timing worked out so that we could attend.

We left at the very end of the funeral and headed to the Mesa airport toward Minnesota.

I love this view from the sky. I sort of feel like I was looking at the Alaska coastline instead of a sky with hanging clouds.

We spent Sunday night in St. Cloud and then headed to Sebeka to visit Pekka and Dagmar. This was our first visit with them together. Our first time seeing them as a married couple. The first time we've seen them in their home and interacting with each other. I have to say that we laughed until we nearly cried and left with hearts warmed by new love.

Dagmar loves flowers as much as I do.

I can't wait to go back and visit again sometime soon.

And the rain came ..... as we headed down toward Monticello and the service site where tents waiting thousands of guests.

Yeah .... it's going to be a bit damp but do we care?
Not really.
We don't have littles but we don't have mud boots either.
Going to be interesting!

O little star of Christmas

Unwanted ceiling fan blades can make the best little projects. I found these on Pinterest (link found here) and decided to try use up some of those pieces taking up space. If they didn't work, I didn't have anything but play time invested. Worst case scenario .... I could turn them into something else, right?

So months ago I started working on the band saw. That shiny nice thing that showed up for Christmas. I filled a box with oodles (at least it felt like it!) of little cut out things from scraps of wood. As I've found a moment here or there, I attack one project at a time and try get them to a point where I can bring them all to a group of willing ladies in the fall. They can whip out the final details on them in no time flat.

If you don't work with wood, you probably don't understand the amount of time we spend sanding things. And sanding things. And sanding things. I do have the best sander I've ever owned and recently hubby found some much cheaper sanding discs on Amazon that I am now using. They work like a dream and save wee bits of money. I have an aversion to hand sanding and do as little as possible.

Then the fun part. In order to make these 3 dimensional stars, they needed this little notch cut out to fit them together. I was a bit nervous that it wouldn't work, but it did!!

I had pieces that fit together like a glove for the most part!

And the weekend came to an end, other duties called my name and they went back into the box in the garage.

The following weekend I hauled them out.

I very much enjoy multi-tasking nearly everything in life. So these got a dab of glue ...

they got set to dry while I went and took paint remover to a dresser out in the garage.
I haven't used paint remover in years ... I still don't like it. Just so ya know.

They dried inside and then moved outside (to a well ventilated area in case you had any concerns about my brain cells!) to get some spray paint applied to them.

O Little Star of Christmas ....