Celebrating the 4th

It was a full day in celebration of the Fourth of July starting with a ward breakfast, then the Pine Valley kids' parade. After lunch we went to Kendallville to help a beekeeper who has a broken leg with her hives, then canoeing with George's at Bixler Lake. The evening consisted of our annual fireworks here at the house accompanied by rootbeer floats. Of the sparklers, let us just say, "They ain't what they used to be." In all a busy, fun day.

Summer! Summer!

Lots going on of late. First, Levi's 8th birthday, then baptism on June 25. Amber & the kids came and Nolan stayed behind to spend the week with us. We had a pizza party at our house after the baptism. Glad for some time with Anna's parents - good friends.

Nolan had some new experiences with Grandpa this week - helping a sister in the Ward move, dressing up in a bee suit and looking into one of Harry's beehives, going kayaking on Bixler Lake in Kendallville, going to a local horse ranch and collecting a trailer full of composted horse manure for the gardens/trees.

Celebrated the start of a new garage. When you live in the country you either have lots of junk sitting outside, or you put up a building. We've tired of the junk outside option. Yesterday and today the footers and garage floor cement were completed. We're also adding a small sidewalk out front to get from the parking spot to the house sidewalk.

Family Visits

We had visits from Dewey & Susan and Pat, Amber & Griff this week. Lots of fun. Dew & Sue were on their way to West Virginia for business meetings. A busy week with Harry called for jury duty (and dismissed). Susan & I took a trip to Logansport on Tuesday to visit an old friend. One of our beekeeper association members broke her ankle and needed some assistance with her hives, so Harry & I went to Kendallville yesterday to put extra boxes on her hives. Spent the rest of the day trying to catch up on some gardening - way too much to do out there.

Summer is Here!

Last week was a busy one. Highlights of the week included a trip to the zoo with Seth and a visit to Harry & Teresa's with an excursion at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. In Teresa's words - "It's all good!"

The Chicago Botanical Gardens

Saw lots of wedding parties in progress.

Grandpa with some form of giant borage plants - "Tower of Jewels"

Lots of esplanade & unusual pruning techniques - these are apple trees.

Allie & a Japanese lantern - good fortune lights the way in the garden.

Plants are fun!

H.O. IV and V - they ran 5 miles earlier in the day (and walked an extra one).

Look at the fish in there!

A Seth Day

A Day at the Zoo for Grandma & Seth

Grandpa & Seth planting seeds in the garden

Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Friday Night Euchre Game with Hal & Tyler

Trying Out Amy's Easter Eggs - YUM!

The two littlest guys are growing up and becoming buds.

Can it be a whole year since our last egg hunt? George & Anna filled all the candy eggs this year and, as in the past couple years, George organized the hunt. It's getting harder and harder to determine who is part of the "little kids" group. Some of these little guys jump right in and find bunches of eggs before some of the older ones so maybe next year it will be everyone take off at once... This year Brittney joined the fray and helped hide the eggs. We were only missing one egg at final count (not bad out of almost 200 eggs). Uncle John joined us, so it was 100% of the family this year - fun! Enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant rather the big cook & clean affair - everyone enjoyed that, especially Grandma! Amy did her famous chocolate eggs for the family again this year. Can't say there was a clear winner - all the flavors were superior - peanut butter, cherry, and coconut/nut.

You Call This Spring???

We always figure it's Spring when the little cars come out. One bit the dirt this winter - bad battery. Had to bundle up good with cold, windy weather today but the boys braved it to drive the car for the first time.

Brrrrr - Seth wrapped up in Grandpa's coat.

Sam in Grandpa's BIG red hat