A Rockin' Good Time

Yesterday Mike & I did indeed have a Rockin' Good Time!  We both had the day off so we made a trek to Independence Rock.  We packed up a lunch and took Bode along.

Let me tell you something about Independence Rock.  It is one BIG ROCK!

 It is along the part of the Oregon Trail where it intersects with the Mormon and California Trails and actually... well, here, let them tell you...

Can you imagine that?  Out in the middle of the Wyoming Prairie nearly HALF A MILLION people came through in wagons, on horseback and even on foot.  This giant rock became a place of importance because it was so noticeable, easy to see.   Many, many of these people took the time to carve their names into the stone.  People continue to do so.

I love the historical aspect of Independence Rock.  I also love the beauty of it!  Mike and I climbed over much of it, dragging poor Bode along.  The weather was beautiful!

 Mike was especially proud of this photo...

I learned that I enjoy climbing UP much better than climbing DOWN.  It is a lot steeper when you're going down!

Oh, I have so much more to show you and tell you, but so little time.  Tomorrow I will tell you about

Drama on the Rock!  

(I have another early work day so I will again be posting late tomorrow.)

Sam's Party

OK, so it wasn't much of a party by most people's standards.  However, I can't think of any better way to celebrate Sam's birthday than to just have a sweet family evening.  Sam prefers to keep things low-key and I prefer to please Sam.

We ordered Pizza from two different places, meeting the dietary requirements and personal preferences of all.  One of the delivery guys stood at our door reminiscing because he said our house was the first place he'd delivered pizza when he first started.  He remembered that we had weird orders. He didn't say that straight off but did agree when I asked him about it. We do have weird orders.  All are veggie pizzas. One pizza is vegan, with no cheese. One has cheese but no sauce that would bother people with reflux.  Sam prefers his pizza to have just black olives.  He likes Dominoes Pizza but we usually don't order from them as they don't have a vegan version and they put too much garlic in it for a lot of us.  It was Sam's birthday, though, so, I ordered from two different places.  I wonder what the neighbors thought of that!

After dinner we just enjoyed our time together. We told stories, we missed Ben and Sara, we laughed and we were grateful.  I'll  just let you check out some of the photos.

What did you all do this week-end?  Did you get time to enjoy your families as well?

Sam's Last Year as a Teen

Sam turns 19 today!  Happy Birthday Sam!

It seems outrageous that it has been 19 years since this day... but it is true.

Sam was such a fun baby, adoring his older siblings.  However, Sam has always been a bit of an old soul.  That is, he seemed to think about things well beyond his years.  He's a watcher.  Even by about the age of 2 he was making comments to me about people that just blew me away.  He'd notice if someone was on the edges of a group or seemed withdrawn.  He's just always been insightful about human behavior.  

Little known fact: In Jr. High School Sam won the Kindness Award.  The recipient of this award is chosen by students AND teachers.  Sam won other awards during his school years, but none that made us more proud than the Kindness Award.  Sam is one of the World's Good Guys.

Sam is now just about 6'4" so he's a bit bigger than he was when the above photo was taken.  He's still a sweet boy.  His siblings are still very important to him.  He's good and kind and loving and sweet.  What more could a mother ask for?

Happy Birthday, Sam!  

Enjoy the last of your teen years. 

Know that you are well-loved.

Survival of the Fittest

As long as I confessed about my less than enthusiastic approach to growing a vegetable garden, I may as well tell you about my flowers.  

I have some mighty fine flowers, really I do.  I have  pots with annuals that are quite pretty.  So far, I've watered them every evening this summer...almost.

I have some Russian Sage that is thriving.

I planted some Creeping Jenny that seems to love this soil.  It is fairly well-behaved.  I like it because I planted it in memory of our niece, Jennifer.

When we first moved to this property 8 years ago, there was a huge mound of dirt in the front yard where previous owners had done some sewer work or something.  Maria and Eric came and spent a lot of time helping me turn it into a lovely garden.  I was very proud of it for several years.  Then, when I wasn't paying attention, it became all shaggy.  I started noticing that some beautiful perennials didn't make it through the winter.  Eventually, some of the plants that were meant just for filling in the bare spots seemed to be overtaking the prettier flowers.  I've forgotten what this ferny stuff is called but it certainly thrives in this soil that used to be the bottom of a river bed.  It is definitely winning the "Survival of the Fittest" contest in my flower garden right now.

And then there is this stuff.  I was quite pleased with its durability the first year or two.  Now, I'm regretting that I ever planted it.  I forget what its called as well.  It's something like Ice on the Glacier or Snow on the Mountain.  Anyone know?  Anyway, it wants to take over our whole lawn now.  Maybe I should just let it.  No, I'm kidding.  We have a plan to get it under control.  But I do kind of wonder why we don't grow things like that to cover our front lawn.  It grows  great.  It doesn't mind being mowed.  And it is a suvivor.

But, alas, I really do have one plant that makes me proud.  No surprise, I've lost the name of it as well.  Not to worry.  I just decided to make up my own name for it.  It is my Umbrella Star.  See, it begins all closed up like this, like a closed umbrella.

Then, Twaaa-Laaa, it becomes a brilliant, blue star!

Isn't that just so cool?  The color is such a bright periwinkle.  I hope I don't kill it.

How Does My Garden Grow?

I've seen quite a few blogs this summer showcasing beautiful vegetable gardens.  The photographs are so exquisite my mouth just waters over the lovely produce!

My Mom is a marvelous gardener.  She always has been.  She could poke and prod the most stubborn soil and end up with her own little Garden of Eden.  My daughter is very much like my Mom.  Her backyard is becoming more and more an oasis.

I've had lots of gardens.  Sometimes I've even managed to grow something edible.  Mostly my poor gardens have been loved and tenderly cared for.  Really! I get all excited choosing what I will grow and I love watching the first little beginnings of each plant.  There is such a mother earthy feel when growing a nice garden.

Then...  Apparently I get distracted.  I need a garden that takes just a week or two to produce food because my attention so quickly wanes.  Typically what happens is this.  I get busy for a few days and kind of forget to water my garden.  As it turns out, that is not good for gardens.  Then, I spend several days trying to revive shriveled plants.  Once that cycle starts there is no more mother earthy feeling.  There is just shame.  Then, I dread seeing those sad little plants so I avoid them.

This year is a bit different.  While it is true that I've let my garden get a bit dry a few times, I've so far managed to keep it alive.  I water it every evening, although I believe it would appreciate a drink twice a day.  I am seeing actual food growing!  It is not quite time for my big harvest but I am confident that I will make it to that point this summer!  Well, pretty confident.

Aren't you proud of me?  I'm so excited I've decided to post my own garden photos...or should I say, photo?  Tell me what you think of my vegetable garden.

Yes, that's it.  That tomato plant is my entire vegetable garden this year.  It sits right outside the backdoor so I see it every time I let the dog out.  So far so good!

Are you a gardener?  Do you love digging in the dirt?  How about all that weed-pulling?  Are you aware that too much gardening leads to even more work...  canning and freezing!?  

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Reminder:  Now is a good time to stock up on gifts as we are continuing with our big inventory reduction sale at 

Wyoming Rose Boutique.  

Many items are just $2!

Click on the photos to the right of this post and you will magically be transported to our little store!

Put Your What Where?

Is it wrong that I thought this was a funny sign?

Do you see that there is a website?

That made it even funnier to me...

until I checked out the site!

Did you know that cigarette butts are the most littered item in the world?

Did you know they are made up mostly of plastic and do not easily biodegrade?

Do you know that many follow the flow of rain and are washed into our rivers?

Did you know they are a big hazard to wildlife and little children?

Hmmmm... I am no longer chuckling.

First, A Word From Our Sponsor

Wyoming Rose Boutique News:  Maria and I have decided we need to refresh inventory in our shop.  As a first step we have gone through and drastically reduced many items.  I'm not kidding!  We have lowered prices on many items as low as $2!  If there was anything you had your eye on, you might want to check it out.  


(I am really sorry that we no longer ship outside the United States.  We ran into some real problems, such as finding out certain countries won't let us ship jewelry, etc.  We also have had trouble shipping even just to Canada.  One package had to be shipped 3 times before it made it to its new owner.  That got very costly!  Anyway, that decision made us sad as we loved knowing our creations were landing in homes around the world.)


OK, now to my regular post...


Yesterday was absolutely lovely.  I am still enjoying what my friend, Pam, called grammaternity leave.  Maria and Eric brought their lovely girls to our house and my Mom and Aunt Michelle came to town.  Together we celebrated the addition of pretty little Elise to our family tree.

The Baby of Honor

Cordy and her Great-Great Aunt Michelle

My Beautiful Mother

The Handsome Family of Honor

Elise Enjoyed Her Party

Grandma Grace, Aunt Michelle and Elise Ione

Four Generations of Females

Sweet Times and My Big Fashion Boo-Boo

I have a few days off in a row and I am enjoying them!

Yesterday, Elise had her first pediatrician appointment.  While her parents took her for that check-up, which she aced, we got to play with Miss Cordelia.

One of Cordelia's favorite things is to walk to the river.  Grandpa had the day off as well so the three of us had ourselves a leisurely stroll.

Cordelia is wearing her great-great grandmother Rose's hat.  Isn't that cool?

Later in the afternoon, Mike & I went rafting.  I think I've told you before that we tie together a small raft that Mike rides in and an inner tube that I ride in.  I'm guessing we look a bit strange that way but it works for us.  It's peaceful and relaxing.

When we get out of the river we call Sam and he comes to pick us up.  Actually, he picks Mike up while I wait with our gear.  I just relax while Mike goes to get his man truck, left where we got into the river, so that we can load the raft and inner tube.  

I wear a swimsuit for the float, and it feels appropriate.  I remembered, though, that as I waited with the stuff afterward I always feel a bit awkward standing there in a swimsuit.  Today I planned ahead and actually had a pair of shorts along in a plastic bag.  I was very glad I'd done so as we rafted in town this time.  The spot where I waited was on a corner by a big welding/steel something-or-other place.  It was change of shift time so there was constant traffic.  I was so glad I had my shorts on!  It just isn't a good feeling to be in a swimsuit when every one around is in work clothes.  

So, as I said, I felt pretty smart for having my shorts.  I wasn't very wet, except for the parts of me that hung low out the bottom of the inner tube.  When I got home and glanced in the mirror I realized that putting on my shorts over my only-wet-in-a-few-places swimsuit maybe wasn't my best plan after all!

So, if you are local and happened to drive by and see me yesterday, please know that I did NOT wet my pants!  Quit laughing!

The Sisters Have Their First Bunk Beds!

Cordelia was telling me that when  Elise is bigger, they will go into the playhouse together and they will                                                          giggle!

  

After the Rain

After the rain...

Leviticus 26:4  Then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Happy Birthday, Mom! Thanks for the Genetics!

Isn't genetics weird?  

I look at our new grandaughter and marvel that in a way, she is 1/4 me.

She  is 1/4 Mike.

She is 1/8 Mike's Mom, Carol.

She is also genetically linked to a bunch of other people on Eric's side of the family!

A new child represents bits and pieces of two families genetically linked.

That is a strange but wonderful concept to me!

Elise and Cordelia are also genetically 1/8 my Mom. 

Today  is my beautiful Mom's birthday!

Happy Birthday, Mom!

I was hoping that Elise would be born on Grandma Grace's birthday but she got in a bit of a hurry.

My Mom represents all that is great about motherhood.

She is warm, caring, protective and kind.

She is also compassionate, creative and really quite beautiful.

Another thing I know for certain about my Mom is that she is wishing she were here to 

hold that new little great-grandchild! 

Soon, Mom!

In the meantime, the following pictorial review of our beautifully exhausting

week is presented here today, especially for my Mom. 

We are all so very glad to be genetically

linked to you!