Struck Gold from Alaska for Christmas

LITTLE STELLA ELF

HAD A WONDROUS SECRET....

SANTA HAD GIVEN HER THE JOB OF KEEPING THE

KEYS TO THE WORKSHOP!!!!
Can you find Little Stella's Key?? Look at it all.. stickers, cards, papers, ribbons and flattened souvenir pennys from Alaska

I received the cutes gifts from my swap partner.. The back was even a cabinet card.. The little girl has a story. My swap partner was Deb from Alaska. She lives on an island. Love her blog check her out.. http://dyingtobeyours.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-sweetie.html She put sooooo much thought and creativeness into my gifts.. I love it all.. I participated in a swap.. http://aswapforallseasons.blogspot.com/ It was fun.. but a little frustrating.. I found it hard to take an old picture that I wanted to color and paste on, for ever to be lost. I ask for help from my friend who deals in antiques.. Jill... she is also an artist.. Among her specialties are antique frames and cabinet cards. Thank you Jill for your help.. You can check out Jill at etsy store as outsiderartsupply or ebay store jabberjill.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Surprise party for Mom

Mom and I visited Uncle Johnnie and Aunt Vicky. They live in Ohio. It was fun going on a trip with mom we stayed for a long week end. They pulled off a great surprise for her.. It was moms 81 st birthday.. They had a cake with candles and we sang happy birthday to her. Johnie took us both on a ride in his Vet that he redone himself. I even got to drive it. We visited his 2 sons homes. After supper we played cards. I laughed till my sides hurt. Uncle Johnie had a toy farting machine under the table. Not everyone playing cards knew it was a noise maker. Those of us who knew got in on the act of Uncle Johnnies practical joke. Some times we would even pull his finger to make him fart. Every time he farted he would apologise and make a face. It went on for hours... The cards and farting.. We visited Jungle Jim's International Market.. wow .. what a place. it really was like a two hour vacation. If Jungle Jim's does not have it.. no one will. junglejims.com There are 22 shops in the store. Cooking classes, post office, florist shop, bakery, wine, they make there own Candy, bread, hardware, fish market, rides, garden items pharmacy, eye doctor, and food from all over the world.

It took a long time for my mom to give in and go on this little trip with me. I hope you will try to get away with your mom. I know how lucky I am to have the memories. August 2009

Air Plane Barn

This is the farm at the home place. My father-in-law flies a plane. He and my mother-in-law have been long time members of the 'Flying Farmers' of Indiana. IFF.. International Flying Farmers

Jenny comes home from Germany

Jenny and her sis Astrid came for a very short visit back in June .. It was so nice to have Jenny home again. Jenny came to live with us as an exchange student for the school year 4 years ago. They are beautiful. 2 years ago Jenny and Andy came to stay with us for 4 weeks. This time she brought her sis.. (Jenny is setting on swing - Astrid is standing.... the swing is in our yard. )

All of Jenny's family are in the fashion industry. Jenny travels all over to purchase items. For instance she goes to Italy to buy shoes and purses. The family use to own this business but recently sold it. http://www.cinquestore.de/ Check it out. He grandfather and father have passed down the talent to Jenny and Astrid. While they were in the states they visited New York and Chicago. Jenny always had the greatest clothes. If you have ever considered having an exchange student Please look into it. I have loved all my kids. We have learned just as much from them as they have from us. Kids from all over the world are waiting to experience your way of life.

Jenny and I in our house.

Jenny and I at the air port.
While we were setting out in the yard the Amish Church wagon was on the road. The Amish have church at each other houses. Every 2 weeks the wagons are pulled to the next house for Sunday Church. They have lots church benches and other supplies in them. It was a beautiful windy day and and the sound of the horses clippy-clopping added to it. My Jenny was home ......

Ducks Salute the flag!!

Every evening the ducks and geese come through the yard to salute the flag.. Funny the one looks like he is leading the others.

This is the bunch of fowl we received in the mail a few months back.. You can check this blog to see them in the box.. They were small then and not a noisy. http://debbiedohair.blogspot.com/2009/04/fowl-chickens-ducks-and-turkeys.html

You Can Call ME GRANDMA

We are finally GRAND PARENTS!!! yeah... My Beautiful Grand Daughter.. what a sweet heart..

Her name is Macie May.. what a fun name..

Now for the funny story... The day Macie May came into our lives..

Macie May was over due. Poor mom.. it is miserable to be over due.. I have the best daughter in law.. she held up like a trooper.. she felt good looked good and had a wonderful attitude. She went into the hospital to be induced on Thursday.. That same day I went in to have knee surgery.. in a different hospital.. Thursday night no baby.. Labor went on and on.. no baby Friday..

.. Friday night ..My girl friend came over to set with me and take care of me.. she is a wonderful friend and we have loads of laughs together. Our husbands are busy working in the fields. Planting and harvesting times Cindy and I go to the movies a lot. Not this time we stayed home and watched videos. ('The Curious Case of Benjamin Button') That day Cindy had 2 ingrown toe nails cut out on her left foot.. As she was leaving work to go get that done she fell and broke her little toe on her right foot.. poor thing.. so we stayed home.. her with her toes.. me with my knee.. I was in a lot of pain.. worrying about how things were going with the baby.. finally at 11:15 pm.. I said "Cindy I am worried." Then I got the call that Tanner thinks I should come to the hospital.. an emergency c-section is needed. Cindy and I both had emergency c-sections. We were glad that they were not going to make her go through labor any longer. We figured she was very tired. Kenny and Cindy load me up in the car.. Cindy drove very carefully.. I hurt at every bump in the road.. but Cindy and I laughed any way.. her toes my knee..

Cindy stole a wheel chair from the emergency room.. when she went to park the car I wheeled my self into the hospital. She couldn't find me.. I was so excited I forgot she wasn't behind me.. When she found me she said she was going to push me to the mental ward.. We were laughing so hard .. as we got on the elevator everyone was laughing with us. She did take me to the maternity ward any way..

They had just taken her into surgery as we got there. After surgery the nurse came out and told us every thing went fabulously .. the mom and baby were doing great. Hospital policy says we have to wait for 1 hour after they return to the room to see them. I decided I would come back with Kenny the next day to meet our granddaughter together.. It was late .. they needed the rest .. Cindy still had to drive home after taking me back home.. I was in pain.. so we left . .. we rode down the elevator with the pediatrician who delivered Macie May. She told us she was very spunky healthy baby and every thing was great. .

It was around 1:30 when we got home. Kenny was asleep when we got home. I managed to get back into the house pretty good. Cindy was making up my bed on the couch.. I don't know what I did but... i was walking to the couch with the walker.. I lost my balance .. I began to topple over. I felt like it all happened in slow motion. I fell over back wards still holding onto the walker... holding my foot up in the air .. protecting my foot from hitting the floor. I landed hard on my butt.. holding my foot in the air and the walker strait above my chest.. I think I cracked a rib or my butt.. not sure what.. I wanted to cry but laughed .. I will never forget the look on Cindy's face. She had both hands on her face and said.."I am a terrible nurse. I can not believe I let this happen to you. How are we going to get you UP!!" Kenny heard the crash and came running in.. just out of a deep sleep.. He grabbed me right up off the floor. Poor Cindy she felt so bad.. But .. we gotta laugh.. It was like a Lucy and Ethel moment..

Camping 2009 The fun and the pain

First camping trip of 2009.. It was a beautiful week end... will until it rained. Short sleeves on Saturday. We even got a little tan. The food was good.. We decided to go at the last minute. My camper was empty. I made what I could with what I had. I made spaghetti. Our friends made fun of me. "You don't make the usual camping food." When I was a girl scout we always made some kind of pasta... The spot where we went camping is in Michigan,' The Bluffs'. It is for horse camping the trails are nice. It is owned by a elderly couple. They love every tree on the six hundred acre woods. We are not sure what will happen when they are gone. They have an old telephone booth, stop signs, cute signs, fishing holes and cabins along the trails. The water tank for the horses is a blue bath tub.

Of course we took our dogs. They love to camp. On camping trips they get to eat what we eat. MMMM they say camp food. This is Scooter hunting for something in the wood pile.

This is Rhonda and Brian's German Shepard. The dogs love to run after each other. I didn't get a picture of Kip.

Kenny setting up the generator. Buckston and Chase having lunch.

It was the first time I had rode for months. Saturday was so much fun because it was warm. The ride was good. We could see along ways in the woods because the trees are not filled out yet. We scared up a few dear. The water in the stream was running fast and high.

Saturday was fun .. Sunday was disappointing.. It was cold .. I hate cold. We packed up every thing after a wonderful breakfast. Kenny was kind enough to saddle Chase for me every day. Sunday my knee hurt from riding the day before. Soooo.. when I went to mount up that morning.... i had my left foot in the stirrup. swung my right leg up over the saddle... . didn't make it .. weak knees... fat butt... I went to bounce back down on the ground with my right leg..( I don't bounce like I use to) my knee went pop.. IT WAS LOUD.. I said Kenny did you hear that .. that was my leg. With Kenny and Jed's help I finally got on. We rode for a while I was ready to go back before we even started.. I really did not want to tell Kenny that after going to all the trouble to get me going.. It stated to rain after we got on the trail.. I final

said I wanted to go back.. Luckily Kenny was ready tooo... By the next day I could hardly walk. I went to the doctor.. Had e-rays and mri... Surgery on Thursday..... I torn my meniscus on both sides, torn acl, cyst on the back of my knee, and pieces floating around. He also smoothed out the underside of my knee cap.. .. So I have not felt like doing any walking or even setting up for too long.. I hope to catch up with all my blog friend next week..

Africa. Places we stayed.

We look really tired and FAT!!! It took us 20 hours to get here. Sleeping on the plane was not easy and the anticipation was over whelming.

Ranger Safari was the safari company that we used.

Our most excellent Guide Was Leo. He was very professional. His knowledge was amazing!!

John Maisano from "Safari and Beyond" was our travel agent who did a wonderful job. He was very informative and helpful. John was very patient with all the dumb questions i asked.

Arumeru River Lodge

Perfect way to start an African adventure.
http://www.arumerulodge.com/index.php?module=pagesetter&func=viewpub&tid=1&pid=14

Serengeti Serena Lodge

This was a quaint little cottage. It made me think of something out of a fairy tale. Pictures do not do it justice. It was just down right cute!!! All our rooms had mosquito nets around the beds. I think that was more for romance then necessity. I don't think we seen a mosquito any where.
http://www.serenahotels.com/tanzania/serengeti/home.asp

Ndutu Lodge

One of the best things at this lodge was waiting for us when we returned from safari there was a camp fire waiting on us. Neat chairs and someone bring us wine. We sat around the camp fire enjoying the sunset and shared our day with other guest.

http://www.ndutu.com/

Ngorongoro Serena Safari

The staff here were very friendly. They learned our names and joked with us. Happy people. The view from our veranda and dinning room was breath taking. We could see 120 miles across the crater. Elephants were right out side the hotel.

http://www.serenahotels.com/tanzania/ngorongoro/home.asp

SERENA MOUNTAIN VILLAGE LODGE

It was a mix of English and Africa. Beautiful gardens.

http://www.serenahotels.com/tanzania/mountainvillage/home.asp

Please check out the sights to get more pictures and information. I will post more pictures please check back. If you are interested I also have posted about Africa here. http://debbiedohair.blogspot.com/2009/04/africa-amazing.html

Virgin Mint Julep

1 ounce lime juice (or juice of 1/2 lime)

1 ounce orange juice

1 ounce pineapple juice

1/2 ounce raspberry flavored syrup

club soda, to fill glass

4 crushed mint leaves

Combine all ingredients except club soda in a shaker half filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into collins glass. Add club soda and stir gently. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Add funny hats and kids to watch the race and enjoy the day..

Happy May Day

HAPPY MAY DAY

HERE IS A BASKET FOR YOU..

One of the most popularly known May Day traditions is to hang a basket full of spring flowers and/or other small gifts on a neighbor's doorknob. The trick is you don't want the neighbor to see you! If you get caught, you are supposed to get a kiss.

May baskets can be recycled from tin and glass household containers:
- Hammer holes in the sides of a tin can or antique cocoa tin. Run twine or ribbon through each hole, and knot inside.
- Wrap dark annealed iron wire below the lip of a jelly jar. Loop and twist a second wire around the first for a handle.

May Day occurs on May 1 and refers to the Haymarket affair or any of several public holidays.[1] In many countries, May Day is synonymous with International Workers' Day, or Labour Day, which celebrates the social and economic achievements of the labour movement. As a day of celebration the holiday has ancient origins, and it can relate to many customs that have survived into modern times.

Cally and Scooter say "I think it is FINALLY warm enough to put things dumb plaid shirts away...'

Fowl... Chickens, Ducks and Turkeys..

My daughter and her boy friend have a new project. Its a FOWL job but someone has to do it.. They ordered birds and they have arrived finally. Believe it or not there are 55 some chicks in that box. They arrived in the mail. They have been eagerly waiting for weeks on there new little bunch chicks. The warming lamps are keeping them warm in the new chick coop they made in the barn.. The nesting has begun. Just out side the window where I am setting here at the computer is a pair of doves making a nest in the tree. I know they mate for life. I think the male and female are constructing the nest together. Back and forth they fly with little pieces of grass and twigs. The light is not right for me to take a good pictures. Doves set outside our house every summer. I think they enjoy watching us as much as I enjoy watching them. The pair set on the wires and watch us in the house. I hope the nest survives and they have little ones. Starlings are setting on the same tree watching. Hope they don't over take the nest. I believe they are morning doves.

Africa Amazing.....

Africa was AMAZING. I can not believe that I can say I have been to AFRICA.. We went on a 7 day safari. I lived the lion king movie.. I seen things I thought I would never see. Every day was exciting. When I shut my eyes to go to sleep I seen the animals going by just like I was still on safari hunting for my next animal to shot ...with my camera. . I could have stayed up 24 hours of each day so that I would not miss a thing. The warm days and cool nights. The noises of the darkness. The lightning in the sky at night. Wondering what was being hunted in the darkness for a midnight meal. One morning Kenny and I got up got dressed. Had our cameras ready and our day pack ready to go. We sat on the bed and wondered is anyone else was ready for breakfast.. just to find our it was 3:30 am...

I am working on getting my pictures all in order. I have 1,000. Plus videos.

Just a couple of things were hard to take.. ... the public bathrooms... or toilets as they call them or the LONG DROP.. (funny but true .. great name)॥ ॥ ya that's right just a hole in the ground... squat and pee... no seat.. but it did flush.... no paper most of the time.. .. I usually splashed on my shoes when I went। The last leg of the flight home was miserable। It was a 20 hour trip. The last 8 hours on the plane were difficult to set still. I got car sick a couple of times. But.....the trip was Amazing. If you would like to see more about Africa's toilets visithttp://foodfunfarm.blogspot.com/2009/04/tanzanian-toilets.html#comment-form

Africa Amazing.. I have lots more to show and tell.. hope you will check back..

Swap for all seasons... from Linda

http://aswapforallseasons.blogspot.com/

Swap for all seasons.!!! Wow I got the cutest items from Linda... http://www.wiredlinda.com/I can not believe it..I came home from vacation to this thoughtful, creative swap gift. This lovely little dress which is tea stained and has patch on it that says 'live, love, laugh'. It matches every thing in my house. The hand made wooden hanger is fun too. A cross to hang on my wall. A bag of Easter Candie. Wow .. I feel bad that I was not as creative as my swap partner. My mom has been sick in the hospital and we left on vacation the day the swap was to be mailed.. It was hard to shop for someone without knowing them. I mailed her a cute doll Patten and a home made flower. I haven't heard from her.. I hope she got it.. The idea of a swap is fun..The rules were simple... Not sure I will do one again because it was HARD to pick something out with out know the partner. . I am so picky about gifts that I give.. I usually shop and shop until the right thing hits me in the face. Thank you Linda!!!!! I love it all..

The Little Pigs are here... Pig Parade

Our farm has been working on a new adventure.... BIG time hog operation. It has been about 5 months in the working. We have helped our son and his wife start a new business.. HOG HEAVEN... I will post pictures of the building process later. The hill where all our kids rode there horse and us girls had our horse camping is now a 81 x 413 building.. It will hold 4,400 pigs. They will come in just after they are weaned until they are ready to go to market, about 5 months old. The first picture is of them coming off the truck and making there way down the shoot then into the nursery rooms. For now I just want to post a few pictures of the cute little pigs.. Our first bunch was 700 little baby's.. They are so cute and very pink. I took this last picture through the nursery window. They soon settle down into their nursery. It is very clean and warm. We have to follow strict sanitary rules to keep them healthy and free of diseases and germs just like any other babies.

Winter Drive to Town...

Here are some pictures I took when I went to town on a cold winter drive. The frost was sticking to every thing. It was beautiful.. The picture just can not capture how enchanting it was..

We finally replaced Kenny's old chair. The snow came before we got it disposed of. Funny thing it matches our blue house.. hehe.. i love the way my camera caught the snow falling.

I think its cool to see the color in this picture. The Amish don't believe in wearing colorful cloths. I think it is ironic that they put bright blankets on there horses. This is the buggy parking lot behind the hardware store. With all the white snow and black buggies the pink and blue horse blankets brighten up the view.

This is of our drive way with the yellow school bus. The frosty snow almost looks like fur.

Day off of school because of the cold doesn't go waisted. The Amish kids found a great place to ice skate.