Homestead Days

In mid-June, Beatrice has Homestead Days which includes all sorts of events for a week.  One of those was concerts.  We caught one by the Tallgrass Prairie Express String Band.  The violinist was quite the character and played more than one instrument.  It was pretty neat.  Will have to make an annual thing about it but go with more time to explore next year.

New Door

I finally have a door on my bedroom (versus the curtain that went up just last summer).  Actually, the door itself (less the hardware) was hung the day after Easter.  I finally finished at the beginning of June doing the staining and putting on the hardware.  I've never stained wood before, so it was pretty exciting to finally do something like that.

Frame done.  Door still naked.

All stained.  Waiting for hardware.

Ta da!  :)

Graduation

Somewhere near the end of May, Nikki graduated from pre-school and Ivy graduated from pre-pre-school...or something like that.  Anyway...a couple photos from that...

Nikki gets her cap and diploma.

She can't read it, but she's happy to have it.

Basement Work

I have started having work done in the basement piecemeal.  Ultimately, I would like to have a 100% finished basement.  In the meantime, it has other things that need to be done first.  Besides, it is expensive (ungodly expensive) and so it almost has to be done in pieces.  First I had some anchors put in and insulation done.  Next will be waterproofing.  Here's what the anchor work looked like.

Before...

Another part of the basement before...

During...

Outside during...

More outside during...

Done-ish...with the anchors, anyway.  These ended up getting covers put over them.

After...and somehow, I'm going to remember and be able to tighten these monthly.  Riiiight.

April Showers Bring May...Thunderstorms?

We had some pretty good storms in May.  Caught some evidence...

Aw hail.

 

I wish I could have posted the video with the huge crack of thunder, but it was way too big a file to post.  :(  That particular storm, we had hail, watches, warnings, a lot of rain...and it smelled so good!

Want to see a picture of a happy dog?

Is that rib bone for me, Mom?  Oh thank you!!

It's A Race!

Hmm...If Justin, Nikki, and Ivy raced, who would win?

On your marks...get set...

Go!

I think Nikki might win.

Helping Auntie

In the middle of May, I was lucky enough to spend time with Nikki and Ivy for a good chunk of the day.  They helped me with some yard-type work and planting flowers around the mailbox - flowers they picked out.  Here are some photos from our nice day together.

Look!  An inch worm!

Nikki strikes a pose for a photo of her garden look.

Preparing the flowerbed.

Planting the flowers we picked out!

Ivy helps Auntie fill in the soil around the flowers.

Nikki waters the newly planted flowers.

A Dog and His Toy

Don't all dogs watch TV from the sofa holding their favorite toy?

I love lilacs!

My favorite flower in the world and they seem to only be around for a few minutes a year.  These were in my backyard this year.  I would stand with my face in the lilac bushes every chance I had.  Weird, yes.  I blame my upbringing.

A Healthy Work Environment

This is what an office should look like (more or less).  :)

Science is cool!

This was pretty neat.  I bought some mini-seed-starter-kit things.  I hadn't used them before and probably won't again, but it was a neat moment watching science happen.  They aren't the best pictures, but you'll get the idea.

Starts with what feels like a pellet of cardboard.

Drop it in the baby flowerpot.

Add water and suddenly you have mud!

Into that mud, you plant some seeds and hopefully get plants you can transport into the garden.  Or, rather, that's the plan.  Two of the three plants I tried didn't make it.  The basil popped up and still looks like some of the little weeds I pull from the flower and garden beds.  ...But that turning cardboard into mud thing was pretty cool!

Chris Tomlin in Concert in Omaha

One of the most exciting times for me this year!  I was lucky enough to go to the Chris Tomlin concert in Omaha.  We were supposed to have to sit halfway to the nosebleed section, but when we got there, they moved us up to be just to the right of the stage!  It was awesome!!  :)

Kari Jobe opened.

So did the Soggy Bottom Boys...just kidding.  This guy's with Kari's band.  :)

Yea!  It's Chris Tomlin!

Yea!  It's Chris Tomlin but greener this time.  lol

And in case you were wondering what he looks like up close,
there was a giant screen so close it almost hurt to look up at it.

 

Having Fun

This was longer ago than the last couple months, but too cute not to share.  These girlies just know how to have fun.  :)

 

Since when did computers say that?

I got the most bizarre error message on my laptop a while back.  When I ran across the photo just now, I had to share it.  I didn't know my computer was this hip!

Homestead in the Rain

Last year Dad, Samson, and I went to Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota during National Parks Appreciation Week.  We went.  We saw.  We sweated.  I suppose that means we conquered.  This year Dad and I (Samson had to stay home because pets leashed or otherwise were not permitted on the trails) went to Homestead National Monument near Beatrice, NE.  It rained buckets while we were driving there and while we were in the indoor exhibits.  God kept it to mere sprinkles at most while we were out on the trails.  Here are a few photos from this year's adventure.

The hole represents how much of the state was homesteaded.

Post it and he will stop to read.

A river runs through it.

Some people go that way.

The indoor exhibits were great!

Those Native Americans had a good idea.  Hey, Samson...

We were having so much fun trekking around the monument that I threw a shoe!

Ye old farm machinery

Didn't get to go in because of the rain, but we got a picture.

I have more pictures still on the camera.  If I get real ambitious (or just plain motivated), someday I'll have the pictures printed out and in an album for people to look at in person - like in the old days!  :)

The Best Laid Plans

I always say "that's going on my blog" or "I need to post that on my blog" and et cetera, et cetera, et cetera...and then nothing gets posted on my blog!  I have so many pictures I've meant to put up here that are sitting on my camera or phone just waiting to serve their purpose.  So many never will because I'm just too far behind to go all the way back to last fall's pictures...or too lazy/tired - one of those.  But, tonight, I have a plan: post as much from the last couple months as I can...and maybe tomorrow, too, but we'll see.  I also am supposed to be getting ready to go stay at the farm for almost a week...when I'm not working on cleaning up the spare room.  Talk about plans!