Connor and His "Popper"

I think it was his birthday that Connor got his first 'popper'. He came to our house and immediately wanted to start shooting it. At birdies, at deer! Poor Crystal was astonished that he even knew what a Gun was, but he did and he called it that. She has spent the last several months retraining him to say 'popper' ! After leaving his little popper at Mimi's this weekend, Dad replaced it with this!

You can only imagine how happy Crystal is now.

Not raising boys I was no help. Today I visited with the kids for the day, and Connor wanted to show me how he shoots! He was showing me close up, right at me!? I narrowly escaped popper problems.

Our Garden

This is from the front gate looking back. Matt planted all of this from seed. I know, yes really he has an incredible green thumb. You can see how big everything is by looking at him in the back left of the garden.

All along the right side, he planted flower seeds, and they are now blooming. They are so pretty.

This is the first year we have ever planted tomatillos, they are really small, but if you magnify the picture you can see them. They look like little lanterns. I always wondered how the skin got on them, it grows as the tomatillo is, not first or after - with it. They will make incredible salsa verde.

Garlics galore, we gave all of our guests some to take home last weekend, that's how much we have.

The flower edge.

Thinning out the lettuce for more peppers.

Matt and His Magic

Matt found this old wheelbarrow(?sp) and planted it full of flowers and grasses. It is blooming now and gets more beautiful everyday.

Pictures From Party Prepping

LeAnne making her potato salad, Jeremy, Terry, Connor, and Crystal were watching.

What do I say, everyone loved the potato salad, although no one saw her making it. Ha ha.

Jeremy, Terry, and Leanne.

LeAnne got Eddy to help.

Cute!

LeAnne, Blane, and Heather.

Jeremy, LeAnne, Terry, Dan, ?, Mary-she is Tim Pfarr's wife. We also went to school with him.

More Party Pix

Connor took this amusing picture of Dad, with Mom and Grady in the back. Not bad.

This is Ally, Heather's friend. She is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She is always this happy.

Another Connor picture of Auntie Henry, as we call her.

Ally and Connor.

Grand Babies Listening To Music Too!

On Saturday the boys, Connor and Grady, were sitting with Mimi and Grampa listening to the Blue Grass Band. It definately made our day having our son in law James, our daughter's and grandbabies here with us also!

Specially Made by Mike Kennedy

What a crazy Mike Kennedy made this for us, pretty cool. What is funny is that Vickie and Mike used the same  picture of us!? He not only tye dyed us, but he put in stars and planets, too! We have some great friends. Friends we have had since we were 12 and 13 years old.

A Gift From The Streeters

Jeff and Vickie Streeter make their own wine. They specially made this label for us. Read the bottom and the side.

Cool, isn't it? What an idea.

This side label is 'R' rated, but hilarious!

Party Day

2nd band was several of our friends playing together, Eric Menig, Tom Menig, Gary Campus, Charlie Faber, Elaine Reynolds, Paul Kamm, and Lorraine Gervais. They played some killer rock and roll.

 

Cindy Menig putting cake together, Matt, Lorraine and Debby watching.

Some Party Pictures

Check out this cake!

Heather, LeAnne, and Blane,

Blue Grass Band.

Matt, Mike Kennedy, Jeff Streeter, Chris Sardo are in front. Crystal, Vickie Street holding Grady in back.

Setting The Stage

Flag is up!

Stage is set!

Garden Goods

Matt brought in some yellow squash and zucchini yesterday. It is amazing how fast they grew from itty bitty to edible.

I love this time of year, soon the peppers and tomatoes, the onions and cucumbers will all be ready to eat and can. This year we also planted heirloom tomatoes, some are black, green, and purple. They are supposed to be really tasty and can well.

Baby Deer

These little baby deer come and eat in our yard every morning with their herd.

The super little ones still have cute little spots on their backs.

You can see momma looking at me, but they do not spook when we come around them, they just continue to eat. And, they do eat everything, that is why my flowers are on the deck, behind bars.

My Little Angels

Connor and Grady in their pool at home...Aren't they so cute?

Crystal posted these on  her blog, so for those of you who did not see them there...I do not know what to say other than OMG they are adorable!

I am not sure which the bigger ham is!

Sleeping Over

We started out with Heather and her friend staying in one of the extra bedrooms, and my friend Leanne and her husband Terry in the other. Everyone else is camping in the yard. Thank goodness we have almost three acres.

Well as of yesterday, Matt's brother Tim is staying (somewhere here?), my friends Pat and Mario called, she is going thru radiation and needs a room (in the house), um huh...

Ok, so I told Heather that her and her friend could stay with me in my room, that way Pat can have a room, and well Tim, hmmmm bedroom for two days, then camp outside!

Last night Leanne called and told me that another friend and his friend are coming Friday night and need a place to stay.

Really!?

I am not going to worry about it, hence the saying above!

So this is going to be my Mantra, gafbos are never really planned anyways, and they are always perfect. So I am going to enjoy rather than worry.

Posts are In

The posts are in now. We will hang the parachute tonight to make sure it will all work the way we think it will.

Today people are starting to arrive. Am I ready, NO! Matt's brother is coming into town today, so they can go fishing tomorrow. Ummmm really, fishing? We still have tons of things to get ready.. But if you know Matt, he is all about fishing...

The Stage Is Going Up

First Matt had to put sand down to level it out...

Now he is jackhammering holes for the poles.

It's pretty hot out there today, next weekend it is supposed to be 10 degrees cooler, that will be perfect, about 80 degrees.

Most of the bands have five or six musicians, so this was the widest place, and of course the only place without trees above it?! The musicians picked it so...

I will keep you updated as the week goes on.

Happy Father's Day Matt

Creative Crystal is at work again. She had the card custom made (but of course she did!) and Connor made the frame for Matt...

He loved it guys, so sweet of you!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day Dad, Gordon, James, Matt, Mark and all those other dads out there. Hope you have a wonderful day today.

Love to all of you!

The Deck

I think the deck is finally done.

Everything is coming together.

I got our bedroom deck all sunscreened in. It makes a nice morning retreat for coffee.

I put the last touches on the furniture.

It came out pretty 'beachy', if I do say so!

There is plenty of seating now.

This area below the lower deck is where the bands will go. No it is not ready yet, we have to lay the sand down, and then put a piece of carpet down, put a parachute on the top and make sides for the stage. In a week!

The sunset last night was breathtaking, and hot.