You are what you eat?!?!

Family time

A little bit of history on the blacksmith. He is the oldest of eight children, 3 boys, 5 girls. One of those owns the home place and still farms it.  Two live on acreage off of the home place. We live 2 miles from the home place. Another one lives 4 miles from the home place. Two live about 12 miles from the home place. Then there's the last one, he lives in the next state over. 

The out-of-stater came home for a 3 day visit. So I decided to have a little dinner party. 6  siblings with their spouses and their mother attended.

It was a great meal, charcoal grilled brats and burgers. Everyone contributed a dish or two, maybe even 3. We had  potato salad, ramen slaw, fresh tomatoes with onions and cucumber salad, relish tray, baked beans, and chips. The carried in desserts were angel food cake with fresh strawberries, peach pie, blackberry pie, cherry pie, (all with ice cream if desired) and gooey butter cake. Did I mention wine too?

Here's the out-of-staters enjoying their meal! (Wine included)

More great conversations going on. It got wild later in the evening when they all started telling stories on each other. 

Before they headed home, we stopped to take one last pictures. Sorry it's a little blurry, I'm sure the wine had nothing to do with it. I blame it on the 10:15 pm time!

Thanks, in-laws, for coming (all 11 of you).  I really enjoyed the evening. I only wished the other 3 or 4 in-laws could have made it. In your defense not one story was told on you. Come next time you will see.  Let's not wait so long to do this again!

Stalled . . .

I have always loved coleus. My Mom grew them when I was younger. 

So I found it very rewarding when my daughter Sarah picked them out for her wedding bouquet. Better yet she didn't even know the history behind them.

So this year in honor of her first wedding anniversary I planted them in the front bed. Despite record breaking high temperatures, and lack of rain, they seem to be doing well.

They almost remind me of a heart.

I show you flowers because I can't sew. My Elna was taken to the hospital last Wednesday. Gosh do I miss that gal. Maybe they will call tomorrow and tell me she is well. Unfortunately I have to work all day. The hospital is about 30 miles away, not like it's a lunch hour trip.


I have sewing to do, a quilt to finish machine quilting, and then binding. I have two or more pot holders to make for my quilt guild exchange next Tuesday. There's at least one pair of jeans to be repaired for the blacksmith. I'm hoping for a quick recovery!

My "hot" blacksmith

Isn't he cute?  He's so hot!  He got even hotter when at noon, the outside temperatures reached 101.  After that I quit checking the thermometer. 


Yesterday he was demonstrating blacksmithing at the LePage steam engine show. This was our 5th year to participate there. 


You can see 2011 here,  2010 here, 2009 here, and  2008 here.


Because the pictures all look alike, I took very few this year. 

But this one of Paul driving off I couldn't resist.

The blacksmith's helper, Terry, apparently didn't work too hard, I don't even see a sweat.  

Hello OLD new friend!!

Look what came in the mail today!  I found it on Etsy and it was only $10.99, I'm pretty sure I couldn't buy a brand new toaster for that price. Even so, I'm a positive it wouldn't be a heavy duty one like this beauty.

This is the old one. You can't even tell the difference. In case you are wondering why I need a new toaster you can read about it here.


Welcome home old new friend.

Congratulations Branden and Aubrey

What a better way to celebrate the 4th . . .  a wedding!!!

 My nephew Branden awaits his bride . . . 

 Let the ceremony begin . . . 

 The combining of families.  Like sands in an hour glass.

Sealed with a kiss!

The gift cart.  An antique that belonged to my parents (his Grandparents).

Congratulations you two!

Showing my Red, White, and Blue

Just a little something I made many years ago. 

Happy 4th!