Sunday! Sunday!

As with most Sundays, George & Anna & crew came out for dinner. Today we introduced the trumpet to Natalie, Sam & Seth while Harry and Levi went home teaching. I've picked up a few instruments at garage sales over the past couple years (a trumpet, saxophone, guitar, and clarinet - never give more than $20 for one). The kids are finally at a stage where they understand taking turns a bit better, so it's probably time to get them out and make use of them. Anna brought her flute to practice a song she will be doing for church in 2 weeks. The kids all got their turn to try to the flute and none really got a sound out, so I got out the trumpet and Sam got some decent sounds out of it right away. Natalie heard the sounds and came in to take her turn and she did a good job, too. Poor Seth doesn't have the technique of not putting the whole mouthpiece in his mouth yet so he had less luck getting any sound out. He did a good job humming into the horn, though.

We also had visitors to the back yard after the kids left. It's been awhile since we saw deer and much as we hate to think what they'll do to the garden if they become regulars, they were too pretty to shoo them away.

A Week With Grandkids

We were lucky enough to have Sydney, Nolan, and Allison for a visit last week. Syd & Allie are bosom buddies and Nolan hung out with Grandpa a lot. We filled the week with lots of fun activities but I'd have to say that the favorite past-time was riding the golf cart. I didn't get many photos of the week's events but got a few from Science Central.

Fourth of July on July 3

Big day on the farm with George & Anna's, Anna's parents (Tim & Mary Kay), the Fruths, Amy & Chuck's, Britney and us - a nice round 20. We had a great BBQ and then fireworks in the driveway. Only Seth was a non-participant, reminiscent of another year when Natalie was about that age and was afraid of all the noise. Grandma Lyon and Grandma Jones entertained him inside by reading books. The 4th landing on a Sunday was reason to celebrate on Saturday, the 3rd.

No Longer a Hazard Pulling In Here

After much deliberation, we decided to pave the driveway. Fearing that one day we would be rearended or someone else having the same fate trying to get into our driveway, we made the big splurge to pave the drive. So - come visit!

Speaking of Anniversaries

The Newlyweds & the Oldlyweds

Lookin' Good After 50 Years!

Roy, Linda, Mom & Marleta

Pat & The Gang

We attended a real 50th yesterday as Marleta & Larry celebrated their 50th Anniversary. A beautiful gathering that Dee spent weeks organizing and preparing for. We went to church in Elwood with Pat and he and his gang came right from church to attend the big event.

Remembering Camp Buffalo

Harry thought it was his 50th anniversary of his first camp experience at Camp Buffalo and went to spend the night there with John & his troop last Friday night. Dewey informed him that he went to camp as an 11-year old scout, so it was actually his 51st anniversary. The new dining hall is in the background. Harry says the camp is really top-rate with an indoor virtual archery range and a nationally rated rifle range.

Purple Robe Locust

Our purple robe locust has been in full bloom about 2 weeks. We planted it 3 or 4 years ago and it is already a magnificent tree.

Saturday on the Farm

It was a fun day. Amy and the kids came for a visit and Amy took me to lunch to celebrate Mothers Day. Grandpa played his favorite sport - grandparenting and stayed with the kids. It was an amazingly cold day. They did a bit of golf cart riding but not much - just too cold.

Later this afternoon, we had Seth while George & Anna and the other kids went to a Tin Cups baseball game (in the cold AND rain). We don't seem to ever have just Seth and he was such fun to be around. We did a good bit of playing on the back porch. Now that we have the windows in, it's a wonderful garden and playroom. I start all my seedlings out there and it looks a good bit like a greenhouse at the moment with pots and seeds and trays scattered everywhere.

Grandpa took Seth out to cover the eggplants and green beans with flower pots to protect them from the frost we're expecting tonight. We covered our strawberries with a tarp, hoping to save them. Grandpa loves to teach the grandkids when they spend time here, so he showed Seth the grapevines and explained how they are growing up the wires.

Spring Yard

Everything is in bloom, including my allergies but it's beautiful and still no regrets about moving to the country. I'm doing a little more raised bed gardening this year. I built another 5 beds - all just 1 level high this time, smaller more on the order of the 4x4 square foot gardening type. I have 3 of the 5 beds planted already and we've had spinach for about 2 months that wintered over in one of the larger raised beds at the back of the house that we covered with a heavy window over the winter. It's produced a nice crop and we could probably eat it twice a day and not run out for a month.

About 2 weeks ago we had mallards in the yard. We think they tried to nest in bushes in front of the garage. We found broken eggs on our front steps one day and think some animal (Harry blames the neighbor cat) got to the nest. We haven't seen the mallards since then.

Levi came out one Saturday to help Grandpa in the yard and Natalie went another Saturday to get dirt with him and delivered it to Sister Swing. Both kids are real workers. He was surprised that Natalie shoveled dirt like a trooper. We always knew Levi was a born worker - has always loved it and always wants to help. Last Saturday he and Levi divided and moved some hostas. So it is work time on the farm - always with lots more to do.

The Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Feast

Relaxing Read on the Porch

Who Me Driving?

Yup! She'll Be Driving Soon...

Look Ma! Hands & Feet...

Amy Carries on the Family Tradition of Making Chocolate Eggs

And the Winner This Year - Peanut Butter Cream Cheese...

George Now Organizes the Egg Hunt

Interested Bystanders

Hal opts to hide rather than seek