Sunday, August 14, 2022

Today is the party! But first things first: the induced baby was born at noon yesterday. 7.5 pound boy and everyone is healthy! Our cookout went well last night - DS ended up cooking and said he was going to come today.

Today seems less hectic as yesterday involved a lot of shopping, prepping and cleanup. Today we just have to get there a bit early, set up centerpieces, make sure the cake gets there and enjoy. I need to make a couple of signs for the tables. One to encourage pictures and asking them to send them to me and another indicating who gets the centerpiece (the person with the closest birthday). And the only "ceremony" is our dance together. Apparently we inadvertently picked the song Mike's sister and her husband used over 40 years ago though she doesn't know yet (she just mentioned what it was last night).

Have a Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Sunday!

Happy Marriage Celebration Day Liz!! And there is much to celebrate! You and Mike are both wonderful, and especially wonderful together. Enjoy it all.

Today we are going to an Irish Fair in St. Paul. The food tends to be the typical fair food trailers (so not Irish). The attraction is lots and lots of great music. 2 main stages and several "wee stages" (usually duets or trios) which I find just as enjoyable as the bigger bands.

It's been rather quiet here in our group. Hoping everyone is having a great last hurrah as summer winds down (or winter for Shirl). If you haven't posted for awhile, check in, we miss you!

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Soooooo....last night I checked in to read and catch up on the "few" days lapsed since I was last on before posting....FEW Days???!!!!!~ oh, my gosh! How can so much time have slipped by? Weeks of vacations, wedding celebrations, puppies, clay fire-ings, property and health insurance discussions- House purchases, new teaching assignment adjustments--Houdini like dog escapes. Wowiekazowie......

All I can say is dramainSEKansas (nothing life changing or scary- just tedious and seemingly unending feeling of being stuck in revolving doors) has taken up attention and energy that could have been better spent elsewhere (like visiting with you all).

Love the thought of a new home for CC! Sounds absolutely decadent and delicious! I'm not real sure what a house snob is, but if the result puts you in such digs as you've described, go for it.

I am in semi-amazement over the property tax situation out there both in Arizona and California. We are on just short of 3 acres in a 2,700 (m/l) vintage craftsman (not pristine -well used, but by no means shabby). Our property taxes run about $400 a year. (Full disclosure: we are a bit of an aberration- the property has privately passed hands through the family over its 100 years existence thus avoiding the usual appraiser's adjustments.) In the 28 years we've been here, taxes have increased 100%; but then we started at $190/year, so there's that.

Thank you for the various shoutouts- it is nice knowing I am missed in among such shining stars as make up this group. My days go so much better when I check in daily.

Good Morning All - cool winters morning to start the working week for me. Its going to be a super busy one! I did joke with my boss I had come in for a rest........ Though we both know that is very far from the truth!

Busy weekend at the farm but we left yesterday with a big sense of achievement. We mowed and slashed the grass - DH replaced belts on the slasher. He came across a baby Rosella which had been chomped by something - likely a fox. Poor thing was missing most of its flight & tail feathers. I found a wildlife carer and he dropped it off. She is confident it will make a full recovery and once ready will bring it back to our farm to release it. That made my heart happy. There was much cleaning and sorting then we brushcut the chook yard - I cant get the ride on mower into all the areas. The cows are all healthy and happy :) We then planted 11 Maples along one of the fencelines and finished the day by pruning our fruit trees. Just as a huge storm rolled around us. The neighbouring town was white with hail. Being up high we could see it coming - quite a sight. Happy to say we had showered and snuggled inside before the heavy rain hit. Sunday we cut back 8 standard roses by DSD didnt want when they bought thier house - we have planted them at the end of the shed and will make a path & proper garden beds in time. There are never enough hours.... I would only fill them anyway

I have to meet DS at the shops tonight so we can get a pair of dress pants for his Graduation on Wednesday night. Then I am picking up the Autistic guy I help and taking him out to dinner - as he hasnt been out for ages. My best friend who also helps watch over him is meeting us there.

Tommorrow night I have Chiro then will pick up my grandbabies and take them home. I made a smashed potato dish last night when I got home, will serve with homegrown lamb chops and veg. Will be nice to see them. We are in full swing organising for Elliots 3rd birthday party. This Nanna will be cooking for days :) But happily so

Wednesday is DS graduation. I need to leave work around 11am so I can swing past and collect my mum. My ex husband will take my son in there and help him get gowned up. Im excited to see him receive his Bachelor after many years of hard work.

Liz - I hope the wedding party was everything you wished for and I cant wait to see pictures. Congrats on the new bub too - so special

DD - Good on you for doing Karoke :) You are living by the motto "If not now - when?"

CC - So happy to hear you are exploring your new areas. Its so stunning :)

Diane S - The facebook picture was an older memory from our previous farm. We had 19 breeding ewes and I loved spring so very much. Seeing new lambs play in the paddocks is just so special. We will have sheep again once we retire to the farm - as they need a lot more care than cows. We need to be there especially at lambing time

Peps - Hope you are doing ok? Think of you often

Miss - So lovely to read your posts again - you have been missed lots :)

Paula - Great to see you back again too :) And you too have been missed

Diane O - you are in my thoughts daily x

BB- Love seeing you living your best life on FB with those precious girls

Well I had best go prepare for my meeting in 20 mins. Love to you all and have a great evening

S

Had to look up Rosella to see just what kind of bird- stunning color. Are they scarce? There used to be a "Carolina parakeet " here in the states,but they've been extinct for almost 100 years.

No they are one of our common birds - I love seeing them fly around the orchard. The baby could only hop around so it was lucky DH managed to chase him down and throw his jumper(sweater) over it. We got it into a crate without getting bitten - they have super sharp beaks.

They are one of our native birds. I love them - high pitched shrill

Greetings all

Just got back from visiting the friend who has a puppy from us. Dogs had a play date. Poppy was a little reluctant but then got into the swing of running around the huge fenced yard. It is indeed a meadow. We had lunch and looked at my friend's collection of Mexican pottery. Its beautiful. She is a true artist herself and has a great eye for special things. Her home is lovely on a few acres tucked into the redwoods. There are even a few stumps of old growth redwoods and they are as wide as a car. It must have been an astonishing place 100 years ago before they were all cut down.

Anyway, the dogs ran and played but then got a bit snarly and we had to stop that. Poppy has really been pretty sheltered and has not been out and about, unlike her sister who has been to Mexico and back. Such a sophisticate.

Liz by now your party is in full swing and we wish you all the best. And glad DS will come.

Shirley love your farm stories - like "we planted a forrest today" LOL ok only 9 trees but thats a lot. Glad the critters are well. I must look up the injured bird to see what it is. Enjoy the graduation.

Lordie Bonnie 150, $400 house taxes!!! I remember my grandparents complaining about Nebraska property taxes after they moved from Tennessee. Amazing how things vary. Hug Swann.

CC glad you found a mortgage advisor. Very useful. The choices make a big difference over time. I used to keep a mortgage amortization book table in my office.

So far no more pup escapes. DH seems to have found all the weak spots. Plus Tesla being spayed puts a cramp in her style. I know she is the escape ringleader and not Poppy.

Well its getting to be the dog dinner hour. Old Chip was glad to see us after we were gone for a few hours. Rarely are both of us gone at once so he is used to having his servants about.

Cheers Diane S

I popped some pics up on TT for you Diane S x

HAPPY WEDDING CELEBRATION DAY, LIZ!!!!!!

Hi everyone! I am alive! LOL! Seriously busy with my new job during the day and then in the evening I have been OCD obsessed with selling and replacing GOAT v2.0. I just can't with it anymore..... So, it will be a brand new coach with a warranty. LOL!

Weight was great until last week. Then BOOM! Up 5 lbs in 3 days. Water for sure, and it's already ebbing, but boy, that kind of fas****er weight gain is uncomfortable. I feel it in my lower legs - tight skin and ankles feel restricted.

Glad everyone is doing well.

I read over last week's posts to catch up. Kids.... I don't have any, never really wanted any either. I think I have fulfilled my paternal needs through teaching. Yet, who will look after me in my dotage? And to whom will I leave my vast fortune???

Tomorrow is my first day of actual teaching music. I'm looking forward to it.

I hope today goes well with the kids (I am sure it will)!