Memorial Day

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. In recent years it has become a day to remember all those who have served our country, whether they were killed serving or are still living.

My family has had several members serve proudly in the military service.

Betty Saucier

My Aunt Betty, my Mom's youngest sister served in the Navy.

Charles Saucier

My uncle Charlie, my Mom's youngest brother, made the Navy his life time career.

Melvin Saucier

Mom's brother, my uncle Bud ,was also in the military.
 She had another brother Bernard who made the military his life time career too.

Bobby L Cardwell

Then there is my oldest brother Bobby, who was in the Army.

Wesley Cardwell

My other brother, Wesley was in the Navy. Here he shows off his dress blues.

Wesley Cardwell

The whites are being shown here.
R.I.P. brother

 

Me

Then there was me, Navy . . .no wait, I just got the hat.

Today where ever you are, please remember to say thank you, to those serving our country.

A Casita trip (and with the new Casita quilt)

ROAD TRIP!!!

We left Friday morning for Doniphan, Missouri. We would attend a one day blacksmith meeting and then just R and R for another 3 days. Doniphan is a location along the beautiful Current River. It's known for some great float trips, whether by canoe, tube, raft or jet boats. Due to the cool weather, we would just be watching from the bank. 

This is site #23 at KC's on the Current. All sites were available to us except #21, it would be occupied for the weekend.  All 28 sites were empty.

The blacksmith  was anxious to set up and try out our new camp stove/grill. Sure, we have a 2 burner inside the Casita, but there's something about grilling in the outdoors.

Friday night, without internet or TV, we watched a DVD on the laptop. Oh, I love camp life!

I love this Pioneer Log cabin which is next to the Tom Kennon Blacksmith shop. This was the site of the BAM meeting on Saturday.

This old wagon made for a cool picture too.

Saturday afternoon's BBQ lunch was served on the lawn. Blacksmiths always like a good lunch. After a tour of the local Heritage Museum, we returned to our camp site.

Remember I told you we were the only one in the 28 site place. WRONG, someone had moved in NEXT door. WHY?  There were 27 other spaces available.  The couple was nice, very talkative, had a nice almost new camper with all the bells and whistles, outdoor porch carpet, patio lights, outdoor refrigerator, shepherd hook with 2 lamps, BBQ grill and a camp fire already lit at 3 in the afternoon.

This is the bath house on the campground, just about 5 sites away from us. Several weeks ago, Doniphan was flooded. We were told you could take a canoe through the upper part of this bath house and almost touch the top rafters. 

The trees were full of the 13 year cicada's. They were our entertainment in camp!  Well that and the neighbors.

Sunday we went sight seeing, and caught the Current River in several locations.

Sunday afternoon, things got a little hairy, storms moved in. Our daughter, a news producer in Oklahoma City kept us informed of the storms, including the Joplin disaster. We got a call from Kathy, who owns the camp ground, telling us about the sirens in town and where to go in case they went off. We slept with one eye open and one ear tuned to the sky.

Our hearts go out to those effected.

To see more on the Blacksmith meeting check out Osage Bluff  Blacksmith blog.

41 years ago today . . .

I married my best friend!

  And I love him more every day.

May God give us many, many more years together.

Having help is a good thing.

Especially when it's your grand daughter and she is so proud of herself.

Now I'm off to do a "Happy Dance" the quilt is done!!!!

Somebody turned 7

Saturday was the day we got to take grandson #2 Birthday shopping. This was a first for all of us. Normally we buy the gift, wrap it, and take it to the child's birthday party. However I stole the ideal of taking the grandchild shopping on their special day from my blogger friend Deanna who by the way has a birthday this week too. (So be sure and visit her, and tell her Happy Birthday).

Here Alex shows off his special picks. He was so tickled to find the Pokemon cards in the tin. He could hardly wait to show them off to his older brother.

On Sunday we attended his birthday party at Leap Frog. It's a place with many blow up bounce houses. Kids were running ramped. This picture was taken before he got all sweaty!

His older brother got into the ball house and had a ball (pun intended) hiding under them all.

The little sister never stopped the three hours we were there. The only good thing was she didn't get nearly as sweaty as her older brothers.

Mom always makes the cutest cakes. Of course since grandson is so in love with Pokemon, it had to be that for the cake.   Happy 7th Birthday A-Man!

Let's flood her!!

Ball game June 2010

This week is my good blogger friend Deanna's birthday, May 20th to be exact. I won't tell you how old she is, she is just old enough!  Please pop over and leave her a happy birthday comment wish.  AND don't tell her I sent you.


Patti

A few after pictures

Here are the after pictures.

See the Coleus?  Sarah had them in her wedding bouquet.

They are not exactly the same, but close.

Pink Geraniums and pink vincas.

A busy day

Our Garden May 10th 2011

Before starting my morning chores I sneaked outside and took this picture of our gardens. By tonight when I typed this post, I wished I had taken a later photo. Some things really shot up today in the almost 90 degree temperatures and a little sun. The blacksmith played gardener today. He planted more green beans, put papers down under all 37 tomato plants and then added wire cages around them all.

Mother Day's flower

The kids gave me a gift certificate to a local nursery on mother's day. On my way home from work Monday I stopped and spent it all, plus $3.40 more! Pretty good estimating on my part I thought.  I got all these planted today.  Tonight as I type this post I wished I had taken an after picture.

Last fall's Pansies

These were planted last fall and they just keep getting prettier. Today I did work up the dirt around them.  I then planted zinnias. I just don't have the heart to take them out yet, the heat will kill them soon enough.

TJ Maxx hen and chick planter

My hen and chicks are thriving in their new home. I just pray my BIL doesn't push this planter over with his snow plow next winter.

Besides planting all the flowers today, I made two pies, one peach, and one blackberry. I stripped the bed, put away the winter blankets and washed the sheets. I trimmed about a half a dozen cedar trees that I mow under.  I  mowed the front and back yard and helped the blacksmith with the gardens.

About 6 PM, we were having a drink or two on the deck, when company arrived. My mother in law came with Grace and Dan to pick up some garden lettuce. After we looked at the gardens, we had pie and coffee on the deck. It was a beautiful evening.

Are you tired yet?  Well I am, so tired, that we didn't even eat dinner. But the pie and coffee sure were good. Tomorrow I will try to take some after pictures.

Mother's Day 2011

Mother's day started Friday with a luncheon at Mom's assisted living home.

Mom and her 2 girls!

My sister, Lona and her daughter Stephane

My niece was home on a 10 day leave from the Navy, so she was able to see Grandma at the luncheon too.

Come Sunday, the blacksmith and I attend 9 o'clock church.  He than took me out for breakfast at Wardsville's newest restaurant, Christy's.

Sunday morning started with a message on my facebook page from a grade school girlfriend, who now lives in North Carolina. She had a beautiful tribute to my Mom. Patti, I just wanted to tell you what an impression your mother had on me when I was growing up. She taught me how to embroider and helped me make t-towels (7 days of the week) for my Mom for mother's day. (Mom kept and never used them. I now have them.) She wouldn't let you go outside until 30 minutes after your bath (so your pores wouldn't be open). What ever time Wesley came in she would count 8 hours before she would wake him up so he would get a full 8. She was the first person I ever saw make cream filled turnovers. I was fascinated. Please pass my best on to her and thank her for me.

It brought tears to my eyes.  I love you Sheri.

Later in the afternoon, Jeremy and kids came over, while Lori was doing a photo shoot in town. Here he tried out his newest kayak.

The  kids and I looked on. The water was surprisingly warm.

It was bound to happen, the shoes and socks came off and the splashing started. When we left, we were all soaked.

The guys grilled burgers and hot dogs for us. Lori and I made Macaroni and cheese, and a spinach salad with strawberries, mandarin oranges, and pecans.

Sarah was unable to come home, but we talked several times on the phone.  It was an almost perfect Mother's day!

First trip out in the Casita for 2011

We left last Thursday for the 2011 Blacksmith Association of Missouri annual conference. It was so exciting to be taking the Casita out for it's first outing. The weather was beautiful. Friday night we even slept with the windows open. But Saturday night it was back to the heater.

Parked at the Missouri State Fair gournds

Coffee time

It was a great 4 days, not only the camping, but the conference. There was time to visit with old friends, make new friends, and enjoy a little coffee in the Casita.