Cornfield walking....

We've been trying to walk most every night. We don't get much further than a mile or two but at least we're moving. Living in the middle of the midwestern cornfields is a tad limited but enjoyable just the same.

Would you like to come along with us and see what we see? You would? I just knew you did!

Here's a look down the Harper Highway as my son calls it. It's a lightly traveled township road next to our house which leads to a small settlement of about a dozen homes called Harper. It's kind of boring but nice, smooth walking.


Another option is alongside the railroad tracks near us. Hubby expecially likes this but it's definitely not my favorite place. Uneven walking surfaces, plus it freaks me out when the train comes by.


Our favorite is a path that leads back into the field behind our house. It runs about a mile and a quarter round trip.

The surface is pretty even and smooth enough for the grandkids stroller plus there's a nice little stream to reward us at the bottom.


The worst part is the climb back up the hill to the house. But wasn't the sunset beautiful tonight?


And who says romance can't blossom on a walk along a country road? I love wildflowers! You can keep your big bouquets of roses but take the time to stop and pick some wildflowers and you've got me.

We found this boulder down by the creek tonight and he decided to carry it back for me to put in one of the flower beds. The thing weighed 50 pounds for pete's sake! Now that's love!


Thanks for joining us!

POWERFUL!

Happy Sunday!

What makes YOU crazy?

Do you ever wonder how you got to be like you are?

I was just making our bed with clean sheets washed and dried on the clothesline (mmmmm - what a wonderful smell) and thought about how I have to change the sheets on my bed at least once a week, if not sooner.
Now, why on that magical 7th day the sheets instantly start to feel and smell gross is beyond me but they do.

And why do crumbs on the kitchen counter drive me totally crazy when the cobwebs (plural) in the corners don't phase me a bit?

Or how about pillows thrown all over the couch instead of placed neatly bug me but dirty windows, not so much?

I can also leave the cap off the toothpaste and goober up the inside of the medicine cabinet without a problem; but by golly, the darned hand towel better be hanging up neatly instead of in a wad on the towel ring.

Now that I've bared my soul of idiosyncrasies, do tell WHAT DRIVES YOU CRAZY????

We had our first bonfire of the season the other night. It was a little chilly but that made the fire feel even better.

There's something so peaceful and relaxing about sitting around a fire. We used to use our firepit alot, but the last couple of years we haven't gotten near the use out of it. Life just kind of got in the way.

Our goal this summer is to have a fire every couple of weeks. Hopefully, we can make that happen.

So...if you're ever in the mood for a nice campfire, come on over and we'll light 'er up.

Now grow, darn it!

I was finally able to get out and dig in the dirt this last weekend.

There aren't many things more satisfying for me than planting flowers in the Spring. As I'm planting, I see these beautiful "magazine style" planters in my mind. Some years I achieve something close and other years unfortunately not so much.

Of course, I could buy these gorgeous planters from the greenhouse that are already put together but I'm too cheap for that.
So instead, I plant and water and fertilize and hope.

Now, grow darn it!

We're baaaccckkk....

We had a great trip south(albeit too short) and are now back home resting from our "vacation." Why is it sometimes a person feels like they need to go back to work to get some rest after a vacation? It seemed we were on the run the entire four days but it was a wonderful change of scenery. Bedlow are views from a couple of the properties we looked at while in Tennessee. It wouldn't take much for me to get used to waking up to this!

I'm cheating a bit. I posted this last year on Mothers Day. As I was thinking about what to write I looked back at least years post and couldn't say it any better now.

I'll be spending my day getting some serious windshield time starting at 4 am Mothers Day morning. We're off to Alabama to pick up a motorcycle, then on to Tennessee for a few days for some R&R Miller-style; lots and lots of driving but away from the day-to-day pressures just the same.
***********************************************

From May 2008...

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so overwhelmed and happy all at a the same time.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.

For those of you who are moms - thank you for all you do.

For those of you whose moms are living - enjoy every minute spent and conversation spoke for you never know when the last one has just happened.

For those of you whose mom's have passed on - I feel for you especially today.
I know too well the pain it can bring when you can't make that phone call to wish a happy mothers day, ask for advice or just chat. Thankfully though a Mom's legacy and memory lives on long after they are gone. I see it in my sisters, children, grandchildren but mostly when I look in the mirror. There are times I walk by a plate glass storefront window, get a side-vision glimpse and see my mother in the glass. The older I get, the more I see her in me. There could defnitely be worse things. If I have to be like somebody, I couldn't think of anyone better to take after than my mom. She was a good lady with a great sense of humor.
I love you and miss you Mom.
Harriet Anna Gesin
October 29, 1929 -- November 4, 1983


HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Back to crafting

I was finally able to get back to doing some "crafty stuff." It feels like an eternity since I've turned on my sewing machine.
I needed a couple of gifts and have been wanting to try my hand at purses. I'm pleased with how they turned out and how easy these were to make. I love this black and fabric. And as much as I'm not a "pink person", I really like the look of the pink with the black and white.

Spring must be here

Spring must be here. Our first "real" thunderstorm banked up and blew through tonight. For all of the thundering and as long as it took to materialize, it really didn't amount to much. Lots of talk and not much action.


As a side note, the picture above with the three silos is where I grew up as a child. It's only a mile across the field from where we live now.

Michele sent this to me and I just had to share it. If you have sons or brothers, I think you'll especially enjoy it.

This was so our boys.