Catching up

 Last week was Moms and babies week. I had Helen and Amy here three times to swim. On Wednesday Norah and Arliss joined the fun. Not so sure Helen and Norah are having a great time on their "boat", but at least they lasted long enough for a photo! :)

Little Judah came, too, already four months old! He looks like the Gerber baby! We had him floating around in the water for a little bit, even. So cute! It was a fun week enjoying these little punkins!

To the Homestead

We're taking a long weekend this weekend back up to the Homestead. The way I feel you'd think I hadn't been there for ages. Yippee! I'm going back up. This time Den is coming too and that makes it even better! The forcast isn't great for the rest of the week, but maybe we can relax and plan out the garden and/or the house addition. Either way, I'm looking forward to the whispering of the wind in the birches and the pines!

Inspiration

Obviously blogging has slowed to nearly a halt. And it's not just me. The sisters that have blogs rarely if ever blog. Yes, I think the fault lies with Facebook. It's far easier to stay caught up with friends, it's far easier just to write a quick note about trips made or just life's every day activities. Blogging takes thinking. Not just what to write, but what to title it! I need inspiration.

But while I was scraping away the loose paint on the back of the house I thought of people that have inspired me. Hard-working people. Terrific, descriptive writers. Since I've spent nearly the whole month of June in Minnesota among my very hard-working relatives, this blog is inspired by them, particularly my cousin's wife. This is NOT to say the rest of that clan don't inspire me, believe me!

I never really got to know her very well before this year. Oh, we knew each other. I went on visits every year since 1999 when we moved back to America. Since we decided to buy the house in Minnesota, I've made several trips up and stayed with them. This time we worked together and it was so much fun!

A farm wife does not have a lazy life, and a dairy farmer's wife has to work far harder! She can do anything! She mows, chases calves, drives tractors, paints the house, gets meals ready for her family and any others who work there OR who just happen to drop by. She makes delicious snacks for workers in the middle of the afternoon all while also running her own interior decorating business.

One morning we left the house by 7:30 to go to a flea market to get some deals on fresh fruit and vegetables. By that night she had made about 20 (was it more?) jars of strawberry freezer jam and cooked up 10# of mushrooms frozen for later. This is while kids and neighbors are coming and going, spending the night, getting picked up from spending the night, making sure clothes get washed, dried, folded put away and the kitchen stays tidy.

Cheerful, helpful, friendly to everyone. People are always stopping by and each one is welcomed warmly. What an inspiration.

The storm came.  The oak tree branch landed right on the roof but never broke through or broke the huge picture window in front. But the storm brought more work. Everyone was out cleaning up. I spent just a couple days helping but I'm sure it's still going on! We piled load after load into the pickup, hauled it away and unloaded. Everyone worked together. It was hard work, but cheerful. There's something satisfying about working hard together.

So while I was scraping away, I thought of Julie. She is an inspiration!   

Another trip to "Jenny's Place"

We met up with one of my Grandmother's friends while we were there this time. He says he still thinks of the place as "Jenny's Place". It sounds nice. Not sure what we'll end up calling it. It's always "Gramma's House" to me, but Jenny's Place is good.

                   
                                      Grass is green, green, green-And LONG!

                                                 White birch in the green now

                                                    Nelsons' farm bursting lilacs!

                                                   Nothing like spring green!

                                                     Down to the picnic place at Roger's

                                                  Jessica getting that hotdog just right

                                                     Lanae and Melanie chillin'

                                               Farmers thankful for Sunday rest!

                                              Monday Melinda, Joel and Mom came to keep me company. We loved our evening bonfires!

                         Joel rode his bike 57 miles from Finlayson to Duluth. He's finished here and getting a much-enjoyed burger from the Sunshine Cafe!

                                          Lake Superior!

                                                Looking down on Duluth and over to Lake Superior

                                     Just don't get enough lilacs! Spring went backwards the farther north we went!

                                     First iris to bloom at "Jenny's Place"!

Minnesota May

When all three kids were home we decided to make a quick trip up to Minnesota to visit "our" house, our family and our Johnson friends.

 Pale green of spring touches trees and grass.

 Lilacs were just beginning to bloom!

                                                                  Symmetry

                                         Linnea got to the top! Yikes! It was turned in the original.

                                           Gracie found a kitten!

                                             Linnea and Corinne glad to catch up again!

                                            Two old sailors picking up where they left off.

                                               Great smile from Will!

                                              Our military boys. Andrew and Avery.

For dinner that day we met up with Drew in Des Moines! Old friends are sweet!

Homecoming!

 On Tuesday, May 17th, Andrew flew home from Norfolk, Virginia, where the day before, his ship, the USS Ponce, had just returned from a nearly nine month cruise to the Middle East.

A few friends made it to the airport. Two other friends from church came too, but I forgot I had a camera then. Thanks, friends!

I was hoping there could have been a bigger welcoming committee since no one met the ship the day before, but as you can see, he wasn't too upset about it!

It is nice to hear his man-voice around the house again!

Opening Day!

We don't usually open our pool this early in May, but with the gorgeous weather yesterday and company coming for dinner a couple times this week, as well as Andrew coming next week, we thought it would at least look prettier to have blue water rather than black, stinky, dirty tarp covering the pool.
The lilacs are in full bloom this week, and I absolutely love it!

 When I got these lilacs, I didn't know they were white, but they are so pretty all fluffy next to the purple bushes.

 I love the robin sitting on the fence!

 The vinca that was on one of the hosta when I transplanted it has taken over the south side of the tree!

 The man at work. He loves this pool stuff!

 Rinsing off the tarp

 The tarp is off, and it's time to add more water.

 By evening, it was full and getting all vacuumed out.

What a beautiful evening!! Summer is nearly here!