In the Burg

2012 is here!

2012-01-14T09:51:00.000-08:00

The new year is already 14 days old....so better get up to date.

I still go to swim exercises twice a week and it helps a lot...I did try to go to a faster paced class one day...it was fine til the next day after class....my legs had a very funny feeling..kinda like cramps but in the nerves...my legs were like jelly. So just twice a week for now.

We got our first snow storm "Angela" on the 12th....changed my plans for the day...no driving in snow if I don't have to...so yesterday the roads were clear and I went to visit Levi and Kayla.

Today I cleaned up my house a bit...still has the scrap booking stuff here...maybe Alicia will get a chance to get some more done...

"puppy" Shooter giving Alicia kisses.

Daddy and Mason shoveling...Daddy bought a just right size shovel for Mason.

Shooter likes the snow and the dog across the street!!

Happy Birthday to Chris and Alicia....

2011-12-31T00:05:00.000-08:00

Memories of the winter of 1982

2011-12-30T18:45:00.000-08:00

This was a very hard winter on the farm....every weekend in January we had a blizzard and also sub zero temperatures.. lots of frozen water pipes in the barn and the house... and carrying water to all the livestock in the lean-to. Our wood to heat the house was in the machine shed..so we used a cardboard box on the sled to push it to the house.

One of the weekends we went to town on Friday to get some feed and had it in the trunk of the car and when turning the corner by Klingbiel's there was ice and we hit Brunner's well drilling truck. The car was totaled so we got a Chevy from Marcott's....it worked but it had some interesting quirks about it. Which brings me to the song of Dashing Through the Snow!!

DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW

IN MY RUSTY CHEVROLET
DOWN THE ROAD I GO
SLIDING ALL THE WAY
I NEED NEW PISTON RINGS
I NEED SOME NEW SNOW TIRES
MY CAR IS HELD TOGETHER
BY A PIECE OF CHICKEN WIRE

CHORUS:
RUST AND SMOKE THE HEATER'S BROKE
THE DOOR JUST BLEW AWAY
I LIGHT A MATCH TO SEE THE DASH
AND THEN I START TO PRAY
THE FRAME IS BENT THE MUFFLER WENT
THE RADIO IT'S OK
OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO DRIVE
THIS RUSTY CHEVROLET

I WENT TO THE IGA
TO GET SOME CHRISTMAS CHEER
I JUST PASSED UP MY LEFT FRONT TIRE
AND ITS GETTING HARD TO STEER
SKIDDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY
RIGHT PAST THE NEGAUNEE COPS
I HAD TO DRAG MY SWAMPERS
TO GET THE CAR TO STOP

(REPEAT CHORUS)

BOUNCING THROUGH THE SNOWDRIFTS
IN A BIG BLUE CLOUD OF SMOKE
PEOPLE LAUGH AS I DRIVE BY
I WONDER WHAT'S THE JOKE
I GOT TO GET TO SHOPKO
TO PICK UP THE LAYAWAY
CAUSE SANTA CLAUS IS COMING SOON
IN HIS BIG OLD RUSTY SLEIGH

(REPEAT CHORUS) Da Yoppers

2011-12-30T18:28:00.000-08:00

Farewell to Uncle Bill

2011-12-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

Wilbur Stockwell (1926 – 2011) Wilbur B. Stockwell, 85, of Pittsville died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011, in the emergency room of Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital, Marshfield. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, at Rembs Funeral Home, Marshfield with Mr. Bruce Shaw and Mr. Perry Pearson officiating. The visitation will be held on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until service time. Burial will take place in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery and his children will serve as pallbearers. Wilbur was born Jan. 29, 1926, in Brewster, Wash., the son of Lester D. and Lois Ada (Dissmore) Stockwell. He was a veteran of the United States Army. He married Audrey Brunner May 19, 1950. She died Sept. 24, 1974. He then married Myrtle A. Krisher Jan. 29, 1975. Wilbur farmed in the Dorchester area for 25 years and also worked as a mechanic most of his life. A hobby that he enjoyed very much was working with computers and he was an avid reader. He is survived by his wife, Myrtle, and his children, Alan (Pamela) Stockwell of Winona, Minn., Randy (Deanna) Stockwell of Dorchester, Bruce (Mary) Stockwell of Franksville, Jeannine (Louie) Orlando of Caledonia, Brian (Julie) Stockwell of Jamestown, N.D., Steven (Pearl) Stockwell of Milnor, N.D., Douglas (Brenda) Stockwell of Fairmont, Minn., and Delmer Stockwell of Pennsylvania. He is also survived by twenty grandchildren and thirty-three great-grandchildren.

catching up..

2011-12-30T18:12:00.000-08:00

Before the holidays all of the grandkids had programs at school

Trevor had a choir program and then he also sang in the madrigal....the group does very good!!

Shawn had his and it was each class singing two songs.

Emily and Erin were in the fourth grade group and also they sing another group..they give up their lunch recess a few days a week to be in this group.

It so nice that they like music...something they can use for life.

And then there is Mason....you never know what he will come up with. One day he was down in my house and went in the guest room...he says " this is nice!" and also he found my twin baby dolls that I have... the "babies" had to go upstairs with him and then another day they had to go to town with us!!!!

He has also taking to barking and panting like a dog!!

I am still going swimming twice a week and may try to go more after the first of the year...many in my class go to the other classes too.

Shawns class

Emily and Erin in the center back.

taking baby to town!!

What the girls did.....

2011-12-20T18:19:00.000-08:00

Kara and Alicia scrapbooked as much as they could that weekend...I was planning to help Erin sew...but first the machine was giving me fits and finally got it to sew without breaking the needles and between us we got one little dress done..

The kids also kept busy with their i-pads and the boys did do some R C racing..

We had a big "dinner" Saturday evening

The chair slid and down she went!!!

Erin cutting the doll dress out.

Can you do this???!!!!!!

Alicia busy with her scrapbooking..

Kara on her chair!!! and Kayla checking the internet on her phone.

Goin' to the dogs!!

2011-12-20T18:05:00.000-08:00

We had a family Thanksgiving and Christmas get together the second weekend in December..

We now have a dog..housedog...and Jake was invited to come visit Shooter too.

Mason is especially taken to dogs and so is Emily...so guess where we could find them????

Jake and Shooter

Mason in the cage with the dogs!!

Emily and Jake out from under everyone's feet.

one year ago.....

2011-12-04T11:52:00.000-08:00

Happy Anniversary to Levi and Kayla

We went out to Soleas for supper on Friday night.

Friday Fun

2011-12-03T09:05:00.000-08:00

Kayla found this place in Little Chute that offered classes on making cards....so we did that yesterday..they were cards of the season so I let her buy them.... but here they are...I like the stocking...it can be used to give gift cars!!

Shooter and Mason

2011-12-03T08:59:00.000-08:00

Aren't you going to share????

I-S Aquatic..

2011-12-03T08:56:00.000-08:00

For most of the month of November I have been going twice a week to a swim exercise class...it is for those with arthritis and such....mostly older people...I mean older than me!!!

I started this after my therapy was over...insurance would not cover anymore... but during therapy we did water exercises and that helped a lot.

So this is what I found to do and it is only 8 miles from here..and it helps tremendously!! Now if I would be more careful I'll get fully better....the cane is still my friend...especially outside.

Munchkin and what he does....

2011-11-21T01:00:00.000-08:00

Mason calls his other Grandma...Nanna and now he has started calling me Granna instead of Granny!!

This afternoon he came down to my house and was doing this or that....I wasn't pay close attention and all of a sudden he is saying Granna, Granna,,,HOT, HOT!!! I looked that way and there was smoke comeing off the scentsy holder that I had on the stove.....here he had played with the knobs and turned the burner on!! I had to find the right knob to turn it off and get the holder off the burner..By that time Mason was back upstairs!!!

HOT, HOT!!!!

Do you know which house this dog is from????

2011-11-20T17:09:00.000-08:00

Shooter

Happy 30th Birthday to my "Sonshine"

2011-11-20T17:05:00.000-08:00

Grace Ann deBoer

2011-11-20T17:01:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the family!!!!!
11-19-2011 Parents are Dusty and Kelly

Old brown cupboard.....

2011-11-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

This cupboard has a story...when we moved to the farm in the Medford area it was living in the breezeway of the barn..used for storing cow medicines of everykind. Since we had an old farmhouse kitchen I wanted to have it in there...which meant the big job of stripping it...that was almost 30 years ago. (also this cupboard was used in the house many years before as the only cupboard Aunt Dorothy had when they first moved to the farm)

I used it in the entryway at the Dorchester home and in the laundry room of the Fremont house.

When we moved to the place by Waupaca the girls said I should not put it in the house....that house was small enough there was not room...so it got stored in the garage.

WELLLL....after the fire and I bought the house in New London it came with me...I think it got put in he basement.

Since we moved into the log house in Ogdensburg it found a home in the back room.

After the new old stove got put in there was room in the kitchen for it...but she needed a new dress...so I tried to do a Shabby Chic...turned out not bad for the first time of doing this method...

brown dress

partly dressed

all pretty..

2011 first snow..

2011-11-10T19:09:00.001-08:00

We got our first snow yesterday November 9th and it was a very heavy wet snow and about 5-6 inches..I went to my swim class early in the day and came home about 10:00. The roads were horrible, it took me over an half hour to go the eight miles. We also lost power in the afternoon for two hours....some were out for much longer... find out we really rely on electricity!!

He was working hard!!!!

2011-11-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

and Granny was shakey....

I like the fall trees...

2011-10-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

Middle school concert...

2011-10-27T09:24:00.000-07:00

The other night I got a phone from a little voice down south...wondering what I was doing the next evening...she said that Trevor had a concert....I like to see how the kids do and especially listening to their concerts...

So the next afternoon I moussed down to Kara's....enjoyed the scenery....lots of oak trees and they still have their leaves...

Concert was short and sweet...

7th grade

before school..

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

2011-10-12T00:01:00.000-07:00

new family member!!!

2011-10-09T11:44:00.000-07:00

Behm family 2011

2011-10-09T11:04:00.000-07:00

Carlson family 2011

2011-10-09T11:02:00.000-07:00

Resident of September 2011

2011-10-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

married 59 years)

2011-10-06T11:09:00.000-07:00

Johanna Braaksma March 5, 1921 - October 5, 2011

Johanna Braaksma, age 90, of Sibley, IA died Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at Sibley Nursing & Rehab Center in Sibley, IA.
Visitation will be Friday, Oct. 7th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley.

The family will gather at Jurrens Funeral Home in Sibley at 9:00 AM Saturday morning, Oct. 8th and proceed to Holman Township Cemetery for a graveside service. Following the grave side service a memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM at the Demco Center in Boyden, IA. A time for food and fellowship will follow the service at the Demco Center as well.

Johanna Albertina Rosenthal was born March 5, 1921 in Litchville, North Dakota, the daughter of Peter and Dientje (Olthoff) Rosenthal. She was raised on a farm northwest of Litchville, ND and attended the Litchville Community School. In 1930 Johanna and her family moved to Hastings, MI, where she heard the Gospel and yielded her life to the Lord and continued faithfully to the end of her life. She graduated in 1940 from Woodland High School in Hastings. She continued her education at Detroit, MI where she studied for a year focusing on office administration. She then worked for the U.S. War Department in Detroit for the next five years.
On January 15, 1946 Johanna was united in marriage to George Braaksma Sr. in Hastings, MI. The couple moved to a farm near Allendorf, Iowa where they lived and raised their family. The couple retired in 1979 and moved to a home in Sibley, IA. In May of 2010, Johanna and George moved to the Viola House in Sibley. In July of 2010, both George and Johanna entered the Sibley Nursing and Rehab Center in Sibley, where she remained until her death.
Johanna was active with the Osceola Community Hospital Auxiliary and the Care Committee for the local nursing homes. She especially enjoyed time spent with family, friends and the workers of her faith. She enjoyed traveling, crocheting, reading and cooking meals. She will be remembered as a selfless person; for sharing their home with George’s brother Gerard and sister Margaret during the early years of George and Johanna’s marriage, and later caring for her own mother, and a close family friend, Gertrude Winney.
Johanna is survived by her husband of sixty-five years, George Braaksma Sr. of Sibley, IA; and nine children, August Braaksma, Dianne (Roger) Birkhofer, Patricia (Bob) Dreesen, Mary (Don) Braasch, Gloria (Randy) Bartlett, George Jr. (Margie Newkirk) Braaksma, Bonita (Tim) Thomas, Betty (Tim) Kellen, and Barbara (Joel) Bosma; twenty grandchildren; twenty-one great-grandchildren; sister, Annie Stadel, many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Peter and Dientje Rosenthal, infant twin siblings; infant son, Arnold, infant daughter, Marjorie, and Brother-in-law Laverne Stadel.

Mom worked for George and Jo different times before she was married....helping with the children when a baby was born. Dad also helped George on the farm right after he came to America.
Mom liked to go visit them in the nursing home in the last years..she was able to visit them on the Monday before she passed away.

Uncle Sipke's house..

2011-10-05T19:03:00.000-07:00

Copies of pictures from the real estate ad. It says the house was built in 1875.

therapy scenery

2011-10-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

This is what I saw when I parked at the hospital..

" running away"...

2011-10-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

Elaine and I took a couple days to drive up nort" to see the colors....it was fall like weather...raining sometimes, windy at other times and the temp was where a sweatshirt felt good. We had a great time visiting and we stayed in a place with a pool.

I haven't said much about this .... but I have been getting weaker as for walking...lots of falling down ... especially outside... so I haven't kept up the flower beds very good the last part of the summer. So a visit to the Dr. made appointments for physical therapy. That had helped a lot...so I was able to get 2 sessions of water therapy .... I like doing the exercises in the pool.

Now some pictures of the fall colors..

little house..

always like to see the flag flying..

white birch..

railway bridge...

fall colors....

2011-10-02T12:28:00.000-07:00

sweet remembrance...

A beautiful bow in the sky the morning of Lyn's funeral

Give thanks for today; Pray for tomorrow

2011-09-27T18:45:00.000-07:00

Today many people gathered to say good-bye to our friend Lyn or Lynda.....

It was a very special meeting and am glad for the privilege to be there...

Perry said they knew that she wrote poems but did not see them til she was gone...one was on the remembrance card.

She also wanted each family to get a rose...which were handed out after filing past to say the finale good-bye.....

If perchance tomorrow

I should not greet,

Don't stand at my grave and weep.

Rejoice! God saw my life complete

So took my soul to forever keep!

Lyn

05-30-2003

SAD NEWS

2011-09-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning on the way to convention I got a call from Kara to pull over cuz she had something to tell me... she came to the car window and gave me the news that Lynda Pearson had died the night before.

We had some short visits those last days and Dick shook hands with me on the way out of meeting Saturday night. The picture I have in my mind is Lyn sitting a few rows ahead of us with her beautiful gray hair shining like silver.

Our family met with Dick and Lyn for 28 years or so... we watched each others children grow up and they had fun with each other. Our meeting had lots of losses in those years and we always got strength from each other.....great memories.... Just can't put on paper what those years meant to me and hope to be able to be true forever.

2011-09-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

LYNDA L. PEARSON AGE: 66
W4282 State Highway 64, Medford; A township of Browning resident
PLACE, DATE & TIME OF DEATH: 11:03 PM Saturday, September 24 at New London Family Medical Center, New London, WI where she had been taken earlier by ambulance

TIME & PLACE OF FUNERAL: 11:00 AM Tuesday, September 27 at the Simek Recreation Center, 1037 W. Broadway Ave., Medford

OFFICIATING: Ray Miller & Stanley March
PLACE OF BURIAL: Private family only graveside services will be held at Medford Evergreen Cemetery IVISITATION AT: Hemer Funeral Home, Medford from 5 – 8 PM on Monday, September 26 and also from 9:30 AM until the time of funeral services at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the Simek Recreation Center, Medford

DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH: October 25, 1944 at Wayne, Nebraska
EDUCATION: Wayne, NE elementary schools, and was a 1962 graduate of Wayne, NE High School
MARRIAGE INFORMATION: August 28, 1965 at Wayne, NE to Richard Pearson and he survives
PRINCIPAL EVENTS IN LIFE: After her education, while residing in Omaha, NE she worked overseeing a claims department for an insurer. In May of 1965 she moved to Medford and worked at Klinner Insurance and Hurd Millwork for periods of time. After the coming of children, she excelled in being a contented homemaker and farmers wife. Many years she made ready the home for Sunday morning fellowship meetings, giving each one a warm welcome, and a spiritual encouragement. She leaves beautiful hand stitched quilts, sewn garments and a host of pleasant memories. Granny Lyn will long be remembered with love.

SURVIVING SPOUSE: Richard Pearson of the Township of Browning
SURVIVING CHILDREN: 3 Sons – Chad (Tamara) Pearson of Medford, Brett (Michelle) Pearson of Black Creek, WI, and Perry Pearson of Eau Claire
1 Daughter – Ellen Pearson of Sussex, WI
Also 5 Grandchildren or Grandangels as she preferred – Ashley, Megan, & Claire Pearson of Medford, Nicholas & Natalie Rose Pearson of Black Creek, WI

SURVIVING BROTHERS/SISTERS: 2 Very Special Sisters – Doris Jean Hayden of Fremont, NE & Phyllis (Marlowe) Polen of Cedar Bluffs, NE
DECEASED FATHER: Arthur May DECEASED MOTHER: Audrey Jackson

PALLBEARERS: Family members – Chad, Tamara, Brett, Michelle, Perry & Ellen Pearson

OTHER INFORMATION: Further survived by special friends – Thomas, Andrew & Matthew Reuter

Lyn and her quilt..( picture from facebook)

Iowa convention

2011-09-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

Last week I went back to Janna's so I could take Mom to convention. Well it turned out Janna did a lot of it...first of all on Thursday morning I got there to get Mom, she was at the breakfast table and instead of a walker I saw a wheelchair!! Mom had fallen that AM and her left knee was hurting...she did not go with to convention..but stayed to have the leg checked out... It was okay .... so Mom was off the walking with her walker.. cuz she was not going to stay behind another day!!

Kind of a funny picture.. Mom with her walker and me with my pink cane!!

On Sunday Laurence ( Larry) Mom's brother went with us for pizza..complements of Laura!! and then stopped to see where Mom lives now...

Convention days were great as always...

Mom and Larry....19 years apart it age...

My trip home was safe but some things did happen..my windshield was hit by a good sized rock and of course it now has a run...then I forgot that I had my phone on my lap and got out of the car and it landed in three pieces and the screen doesn't work...next a TRAC light came on on the dash....had to get out the book and see what that was about...all I could tell was the cruise no longer worked..when I got to Waupaca I shut the car off and started it again...light was still on but the cruise worked...was a relief to get home!!!

10 years ago.....

2011-09-11T00:15:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago today, the 11th of September our country was attacked by terrorist....so glad for all that continue to fight for freedom and for those who have fought and others that have died in the name of freedom...

World Tower..pic for the net

Liberty between the towers..pic from net

tower of lights and Miss Liberty... pic from net

mom's health

2011-09-09T18:39:00.000-07:00

Hi! I just wanted to drop a line to you all re: Mom. For the last several months she has become weaker and more unsteady on her feet. She is walking all weird... like a scissors. She has fallen more times than we know about I am sure! I took her to see her family Dr. and requested different pain meds and physical therapy. She will be going to therapy until they determine that she is no longer making improvements or they have no other options for her.

They told her to wear more supportive footwear (which she is), and use a walker. She does not want to use a walker which I can appreciate... She is using a cane instead, just for now until she is stronger. She has excersises that she does at home as well as therapy. Mom needs to do her outings, chores, whatever early in the day mostly, because by the evening she is weaker and unsafe (mentally and physically).

We also have an appt with her sarcoidosis Dr. in Grn Bay in Oct. I will go with her to talk to that Dr. also.

We also applied to a handicapped parking permit... which her Dr. thought she should have had long ago.

So, just FYI stuff for you all. We are not asking for anything, or needing help with anything... just updating eveyone because this is VERY upsetting and embarassing to Mom.

Love from the Behms in the Burg! :)

Helen..

2011-08-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

Helen is one of the residents at CVM and is Mom's friend in putting puzzles together.
When Mom is gone she misses her, which is very nice, I think. They were sitting at the same table when we came with the cake...playing a game with all the rest of the residents. Nice to have friends even at 90!!

Happy Birthday Mom...90 years..

2011-08-25T00:01:00.000-07:00

Mom is 90 years old today.....when I was down in Iowa to take her to visit Freda, one evening after supper Vivian surprised Mom with a cake!!! Then on the Saturday before her birthday all of us kids and some of the grands and great-grands met at CVM to celebrate her birthday.

We did this at tea time and there was plenty of cake to share with everyone. Mom has a special friend there..her name is Helen ....they do puzzles together and wherever Mom is gone she really misses her...sad that Mom doesn't so much because of her short term memory loss. Mom is always missed when she is away.

cake at Wendell's house

at CVM

Jenae, Janna, Peter, Sydney, Brant
me and Mom

"little people"

2011-08-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

A while back I found, on CL some garden "people" that I knew my sister would like...so Kayla and I made the trip to get them....and I was able to keep the secret til I went to MN....when I got there the family was all gone so I was able to just put them by her pond.....when she came home it was dark but she still noticed them...she came in wondering if they were really for her!!!

kissing Dutchman and his Frau

Produce Auction

2011-08-18T07:43:00.000-07:00

We went with a pickup and car to an auction three and a half hours away.... Janna had never been there...but it is where Kerry goes to buy produce to sell...Laura and Evan had been there and Laura was the buyer...also along we Glenn and Jenae, Issac and Alyssa.

There were lots of different things to buy...tomatoes,peppers if different kinds, muskmelons, watermelons, mums and my favorite was purple fountain grass.

This was put on mostly by Amish and Mennonite people.....interesting to watch them and try to figure who is who..

We also went to a local store...lots to look at and buy...material and lots of books that I would like to read...

the load...

purple fountain grass

....

visiting Aunt Freda

2011-08-16T17:52:00.000-07:00

A. Freda is fighting cancer and has been staying at her brother and sis-in-law's home while getting treatment...she was done with the first part and was just starting the last part when she started running a fever... Mom wanted to go see her so I was able to take her down to visit...we left Worthington after meeting on Sunday and got there around 4:30...later that evening U. Wendell and I went to the hospital to visit her....she is very frail but very clear in her mind... Bernice is there to spend a little time with her..

Freda, Mom, and Bernice

With her bonnet on Freda reminded me of a little Dutch maiden!

Chain of Lakes...Waupaca

2011-08-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

All of the family took a day to enjoy the Chain of Lakes...we rented a pontoon boat and a jet ski for the day. We tour the lakes and them found a nice place to stay and swim and play in the water. They used the jet ski for rides and for pulling tubes. That was the highlight of the day...some of us ... like Terry and I did not try that...guess Chris didn't either.. I stayed on the boat and watched and got some sun.

getting ready to tube

Terry and I relaxing

having fun!!!

Mason would not give up until he couldn't go anymore...fell asleep in Mommy's arm in the water!!

Emily and Kayla off for a ride..

sweet corn

2011-08-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

Chris planted a garden with his friend Kevin....we've been waiting for the sweet corn and now it is ready!!

Here are some pictures of us doing it....we boiled the cobs for 4 minutes and then cooled them is ice water for 4 minutes and then cut if off the cob.

ready for cooking

cutting it off the cob
Mason sat at the counter for over 2 hours while we did this..

he tried it out and played with it with his John Deere tractor!!

ready for the freezer bags!!

football

2011-08-06T13:28:00.000-07:00

Shawn...#7

Mason

This year Shawn is in football....and of course Mason needs to be involved too. Mason stays home when Shawn goes to practice....but he would like to be there.

another day of sewing...

2011-08-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

We really kept at the sewing in spite of the bobbin giving me fits....I took two pair of jeans for the girls and made them into skirts...one short, one long and then Erin made most of the pink skirt in the pictures...it was a favorite of hers!!! We made two more skirts out of the simple pattern I got....did not have time to sew pj's from the other pattern I got..

The girls had fun playing with Mason...even got some babysitting in!!! One day Korrye and Bailey were over and they played on the slip and slides....it was hot but not as hot as earlier.

Erin's favorite worn two ways!! or three!!

slip and slide down the hill

summer time fun!!

our first day of sewing

2011-08-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

Emily and Erin came to spend a few days with me....I'm to teach them sewing...Erin wanted to make a skirt so we worked on the that and she got it done with help and it even fits and she really likes it...mistakes and all. It was a new pattern...so I made a few mistakes...plus it has been a while since I've sewn...really should read the pattern first..

Emily wanted to make an outfit for her American Girl Doll....so I was showing her how to cut out the pattern and then how to sew it together...got most of it done...but I decided to learrn how to make buttonholes with my machine...and I'm not getting how it's done....still working on it.

In the evening Chris went to watch Shawn practice football...so Erin was babysitting Mason....Emily helped pick up the house ...so it would be fresh and clean for a new day....

Granny and Erin

Erin

Erin modeling her skirt.

Emily waiting her turn....She was also the photographer..

Door County Wisconsin

2011-08-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

Monday, August 1st Elaine, Marilyn and I made a trip to Door County for the day....on the way up to the tip we decided we wanted to go to Washington Island....which is off the "thumb" of Wisconsin. We took the ferry over which is a twenty minute ride and then when on the island we took a "train" tour of the island.

the ferry taken at Washinton Island

me,Elaine, Marilyn

enjoying the breeze!!

Vista Royalle....

2011-07-26T08:11:00.000-07:00

We went camping for a long weekend to a campground close to Bancrft Wisconsin. We took two of Chris' friend Kevin's kids along. On Saturday Kara, Terry and the kids came for the day. The fun is riding the golf cart around and the swimming pond...plus the great food fixed over the fire....YUM!!

Trevor, Emily and Erin got to spend Saturday night with us....7 kids!!!

On Sunday we got up early got ready for meeting and headed to Kara and Terry's house..so their kids could get ready...in between we stopped at Mickey D's for some breakfast that we ate at their house.

We went to meeting at Al Killiams. Then we were invited for lunch. They had Trent and Sandra Nelson for lunch also....she was a Townsend which I knew when I lived in Scottsbluff Nebraska... so nice to see after 30 some years...when I lived there the young kids got together and went ice skating etc...

memories..

2011-07-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

Last year in May we celebrated Daddy's 90th birthday...one of the things he got was a hydrangea plant...we left it for the nursing home to plant...but they just put in on their patio. When he died I took the plant home because I was afraid it would just die....so here is a nice remembrance of Daddy's birthday....it is so pretty...growing and blooming so close to the ground.

Painted kitchen and living room..

2011-07-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

For three days last week Kayla and I worked on painting my kitchen and living room. Today she was here to help me put the "stuff" up on top of the cupboards...so now I can put pictures on. The kitchen and living room are painted a pale soft yellow and one wall in the living room is a golden tan..also part of the bulkheads were painted too.

kitchen cupboards

hoosier cupboard, "brown" cupboard and table that once belonged to Chris' greatgrandmother

living room from the kitchen

this wall is a golden tan as is part of the stairway

this shows the tan a little better

Mason helping Granny..

2011-07-17T15:21:00.000-07:00

Kayla and I have been painting a good part of my home... and we of course have a helper once in a while... He loves tools and needs to try them out...so in the one picture he needed to be on top of the desk because I was and was checking my electric screwdriver...in fact today he had it and had a tack stuck in the end where the heads go...watching it go around!! First he was upset because I took the ends out...too smart!!! Next he was helping with the taping... and playing on the steps with whatever he could get a hold of...

More pictures coming of the finished rooms soon...still some things to put back together.

Kitchen....

2011-07-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

Chris has been working to get the stove hooked up...it is now hooked up and running...at first we thought the oven did not work but it does...just one burner needs some wiring fixed.

I picked out beadboard to put on the wall behind it...I painted that part today so the stove could be put up on it's brick pad. The rest of the kitchen will be painted at a later date.

I really like the look of an old fashioned kitchen!

football...

2011-07-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

The long weekend was a busy one at our house..this is the weekend of the rodeo in Manawa, so on Saturday we took the kids to the parade...they had fun eating hot dog and getting candy of the street.

Sunday after meeting we met Kara , Terry, Trevor, Emily and Erin and also Levi and Kayla and they had Alyssa with them at Hu Hot for lunch. It was not busy at all so we had a nice leisurely lunch!

Monday Chris, Mason and I went to the Forth of July parade in Waupaca...Mason now had parades down pat and really got into it with his cousins....he even got a fishing rod!!! Shawn was not with us because he was in the Fremont parade walking with the Boys Scouts.

Jill, Chris' sister wanted to have a cookout for lunch at out house...most of Chris' family was here and in the evening to the fireworks...witch we beautiful as always.

Alicia did not get to join in the fun...it was her weekend to work...she had Saturday night off..was on call... and not called in so she did get to join us for Sunday!

my birthday present from the kids....

2011-06-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

"streetlight" up and working!!

A big thank you to the kids and to Chris for getting it up and working for me!! I really like it!!

climbing rose

2011-06-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

dress of roses

camping and 4-wheeling

2011-06-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Friday and Saturday Levi and Kayla, Alyssa ( Kayla's cousin) and the gang from this house went the Fairchild area to camp and go 4-wheeling.

They went out and road the trails on Friday later AM for about 4 hours. We all enjoyed sitting around the fire and watched Chris fix our dinner over the fire...hamburgers and brats. I wanted to see the scenery on the trails so Levi, Kayla and I and Alicia and Mason took a short ride. It is very pretty and green and lots of trees! Our only dislike was the ticks and we found too many of them on bodies where they did NOT belong!!

Saturday morning they went out on a different trail and said it was nicer and much prettier...both days were good with no breakdowns or such.

Mason stayed back with me on Friday and Saturday Alicia also stayed back...now for the pictures...some may be blurry....my camera is having issues....

Kayla and Levi....where are we going???

Shawn and Alyssa

looking back at Mason....he went into his little pout but did not cry

Mason at the playground..not as fun as 4-wheelers!!

more playground

Mason and Mommy on a short ride

Kayla and I...it was fun!!

Mom is back at CVM

2011-06-26T20:05:00.000-07:00

On the 17th Chris, the boys and I made another quick trip to Iowa and Minnesota to take Mom back. She enjoyed her time here but she said she was ready to go back....she watched the boys run some energy of in the parking lot before we left CVM and got a second good-bye hug and watched us leave. They were all happy to see her back and she was received with open arms and lots of hugs!!

We spent the night with Janna's and then headed out about 3:30 Saturday morning....Mason slept until La Cross which was nice for him and us!

Great-grandma and Mason having a milk and cookie break and reading the paper.

Black squirrels...

2011-06-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

We have been noticing some black squirrel in the back yard. This morning there were two of them our here on the patio eating the "helicopters"... they can have all they want!!! cuz I just blew them of the deck and the patio yesterday.... We also have lots of chipmunks and a couple of them found themselves in the pond...not good for them!

the farming never leaves..

2011-06-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Had to take a picture with the tractor...she told of the memories of chopping and Dad did the unloading.

Mom was walking around the yard and found some weeds (surprise!!) that needed to be pulled. Later I was looking for her and she was sitting on my patio. Mom can't get over all the trees in Wisconsin.. every time we are out driving she makes a comment about them.

We've played several games of Scrabble...she still does as good as ever... but on one game we came out one point apart...of course she was the winner!!

Sunday walk around the gardens...

2011-06-12T13:01:00.000-07:00

Guest to Ruth's Cottage!!

2011-06-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

Chris, the boys and I made a quick trip to Iowa to get Mom for a vacation in Wisconsin!!

While there we also made a trip down to the farm...since Mom has wanted to go...it sure does not look well groomed like when the folks lived there!!

We made the trip back to Wisconsin in the early morning hours and the boys slept the first half of the trip.....here is how we spent some of the evening hours while Chris mowed the lawn.

Mason and Great-grandma "Cat" (Rosa)

a change

2011-06-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

Alicia and Chris' oven quit a few months ago and it was going to cost almost half as much as the they paid for the stove...4 years ago....so they have been debating of what to do and then I was making stuff for our camping trip and the microwave started growling....grrr..so all this time we have been using the oven in my house. Well after the microwave quit, I was looking on Craig's List to see if we could find something...their appliances are bisque in color and that will be hard to match...Wellllll I found something on CL that I really liked and we could make it fit and my stove and microwave could move upstairs.. Here's my NEW kitchen range!!!!

Happy Birthday to Mason...#2!!

2011-05-31T07:14:00.000-07:00

Mason Robert Behm

oh deer!!

2011-05-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Some of the cousins found this newborn deer that has been orphaned. Alicia went to see it and show Mason..he loved it!!

cousin Aarich and Mason

Where's Mom??

Let's see..how do we fix this???

2011-05-26T03:26:00.000-07:00

I quick got this picture as I was leaving to go to Kara's for Trevor's concert.

young mechanic

All of the grades have made great strides in their singing since their first concert at the beginning of the year. They sang Beatles songs....liked it very much!! Great job Trevor!!

some of the sixth grade choir

The next day Kara and I went to Oshkosh to run some errands and do some shopping..was fun in spite of the rain that lasted most of the day!! No pictures of us dripping wet!!

remembering Daddy...

2011-05-19T00:05:00.000-07:00

My little Dutch people with some pink tulips in the background. Just remembering this May 19th without Dad...last year he sang " Happy Birthday to me" when we had a little get together for his 90th...now he is resting peacefully. We miss you...

Where's Mason?

2011-05-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

Mason is a busy little boy who loves to be outside..he likes to get right down wherever Chris is working to see what all is going on. Chris fixed up a trailer for the 4-wheeler and did some welding on it and also on the lawn mower....

This picture is when he was down at my house and I went out on the patio to quick do something and when I got back in the house he wasn't there...turned around and here he is out on the patio in the rain with one of Granny's dolls! Told him the doll could not be in the rain so he gave it to me...but he did not want to come in!!!

and then..garage saling in tiring ...

Grandsons...

2011-05-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

I have wanted to have some different frames for the grandson's pictures...I had found the ones I wanted in Arizona but did not buy them because I was afraid of having enough room to bring them back. I found these Monday and got busy and decorated them...it is sort of like the one I made with Dad and his coffee cup.

Mason, Shawn, Trevor

Hen and Chicks...

2011-05-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

she has lots of chicks!!

This is one of the decor that Kara has around the playhouse.

finished!!

2011-05-11T07:20:00.000-07:00

Monday I went to Kara's to finish what I started a couple weeks ago....well it was done but I was not pleased with it...so we found some more material to make the curtains a little longer..to start with we only had 2 yards and I tried to make that work. Now it is really funky to go with the girls' peace signs and bedspreads!

Rose Garden..

2011-05-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

This week there have been days where it was nice enough for me to want to go outside...finished raking the flower beds and picked up the leaves... Yesterday I bought a flat of flowers to plant in the containers and some moss roses for the rock bed.

I got this little lady for my birthday from Elaine and first put it out....she is standing in my rose bed...earlier this spring I found the "lady" trellis for my climbing rose..should be pretty!

Lady Rose

scrappin' weekend

2011-05-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

fun weekend scrappin'!!

This past Friday and Saturday Kara, Alicia and I went to a scrap booking "retreat"..
there were 39 of us there....
nice to meet new people...many were some that Alicia works with or
has in the past. We were able to
use other's cartridges for the cricut and now we know what else we would
like to have!! In the pictures
is one of our "work" area, one of Kara's hat for the hat contest...it was one
that Trevor made for
his play in school and she changed it a bit! I'm doing a weaving like we
got ready for one of the classes
in Arizona...then I used this for the background for those pictures...out of my
comfort zone.. The last page
is one that we did on our Friday night scrappin' and then I used
some of Dad's Holland pictures..
Was a fun time...ate too much..not enough sleep... but got lots of scrappin' done!

Good-bye to Grandpa Lowell Krisher

2011-04-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

All of my children were able to get to South Dakota for Grandpa's funeral. All of his children were there also. The girls were able to get pictures and I would like to have them in my blog book.

Telling Grandma good-bye

Wanda, Glenn, Verdis Mom, Harold, Naida
Loren, Dean, Kenny, Conrad
Della had already left

Grandchildren and great-grands

I was also able to spend a little time with Mom...Janna's family and I picked her up and took her to the funeral and then she spent the rest of the weekend with us at Janna's home.

Grandpa Krisher

2011-04-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

Lowell C. KrisherAug 31 1923 - Apr 19 2011

LOWELL C. KRISHER

Tea, SD
Born: Friday, August 31, 1923
Died: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Sioux Falls, SD
Age: 87 years, 7 months, 18 days

VISITATION
Begins at 12:00 PM Friday, April 22, 2011
George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, SD
The family will greet friends from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM

FUNERAL SERVICE
11:00 AM Saturday, April 23, 2011
George Boom Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, SD
Joe Hobbs, Officiating

INTERMENT
Worthing Cemetery, Worthing, SD

Lowell Clifford Krisher, son of Orville and Hazel (Coblentz) Krisher, was born August 31, 1923 in Jump River, WI. He grew up and received his education there.

Lowell was united in marriage with Elaine Duesing on February 9, 1946 in Medford, WI. To this union 11 children were born. Lowell worked as a carpenter doing fine cabinetry work for over 45 years before retiring. Through the years the family lived in Wisconsin, Illinois, Colorado and most recently South Dakota.

Grateful for having shared his life are with wife, Elaine; ten surviving children, Naida Schulz and her husband, Ralph, Beresford, SD, Harold Krisher, Appleton, WI, Verdis Krisher and his wife, Sue, Newell, SD, Conrad Krisher and his wife, Noreen, Lomira, WI, Della Krisher, Sioux Falls, SD, Wanda Johnson, Eau Claire, WI, Glenn Krisher and his wife, Jenae, Phoenix, AZ, Dean Krisher and his wife, Colette, Sioux Falls, SD, Kenneth Krisher and his wife, Darla, Valentine, NE, Loren Krisher, Appleton, WI; 21 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; five sisters, Naomi Topinka, Stratford, WI, Helen Topinka, Medford, WI, Edna Topinka, Marshfield, WI, Elaine Griswold, Pittsville, WI, Myrtle Stockwell, Pittsville, WI; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Happy Birthday Kara!!

2011-04-20T00:40:00.000-07:00

new dishes!!

cake, strawberries and whipped cream

Erin, Kara, Emily

Happy birthday Kara...remember that day ...you finally arrived.. and we were so happy with our little baby girl...that was in the days before we knew what our baby would be...no US then!! Way back when!!!

We had a girls outing and celebrated Kara's birthday (early)... the we was Alicia, Kayla, Emily, Erin and me...we had a nice lunch and Kayla brought a cake that was topped with strawberries and a whipped cream frosting. We were down by the Fox River...it was flowing full and fast, but it was a blustery, snowy day so could not go out and enjoy the scenery.

2011-04-19T01:36:00.000-07:00

Today, Monday, I spent with Elaine...lunch was the first on our agenda....at Red Lobster...those cheesey bisquits are so good!

They we found a thrift store to visit and the other one was closed....Monday seems to be a day that some stores chose to closed...how dare they!

We drove around and went to a park in Menasha by the lake..it was nice enough to take a short walk and get some pictures. Also saw some results of the wind storms we had a week ago... and then drove to the Kaukauna area ....lots of trees broken and down....some houses and garages damaged. That was the night that I was at Levi's...Kayla and I spent a while in the corner of the basement!!

Elaine finally got a wind chime made out of old silverware and a sugarer....I made it with the help of Alicia...found out I could not do the threading of the pearls....hands are too clumsy and Chris drilled the holes.

budding trees...sping

like the willow tree with Lake Winnebago in the background

Lake Winnebago

60 NOT!!!!!!

2011-04-18T18:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday...had a special day at Clintonville and then came home to a taco dinner that was prepared by Kayla and Levi. When it is put together I will put a picture of what they got me for my birthday.

Oh, the 60 not is because Alicia kept saying I was 60!

cake pop flowers!!

UNCLE

2011-04-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

Roland Faber

(December 11, 1929 - April 13, 2011)

Roland Faber, 81, of Mayetta passed away Wednesday April 13, 2011 at the Topeka VA Hospital. He was born December 11, 1929 in Hawarden, Iowa the son of Peter and Rena (deJager) Faber. At the age of 15 he embraced God's plan of Salvation. Roland entered the United States Army in 1952 and proudly served his country in Germany during the Korean Conflict. In 1972 he married Donna (Toews) Fisher in Topeka. The couple made their home on the family farm near Mayetta. Roland worked for Ford and Chevrolet Dealerships in Topeka until he became self employed full time on their farm. He is survived by: his wife, Donna of Mayetta, KS; his sons, Lynn Fisher and wife Sandra of Olathe, KS and Loren Fisher and wife Lynda of Topeka, KS; his sisters, Rosa deBoer of Iowa, Freda Faber of Mexico, Berniece Faber of Oklahoma, Philene Swearengin of Arizona, Lois Williams of Iowa, Goldie Vlieger of Iowa and Lydia Beemer of Arizona; his brothers, Wendell Faber of Nebraska, Maynard Faber of Oklahoma, Laurence Faber of Alaska, and Ronald Faber of Missouri; and his two grandchildren, Leah & Lyle Fisher. He was preceded in death by his sisters, June and Berneice Faber and a brother Philip Faber. Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday April 16 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton with burial following in Prairie Home Cemetery in Topeka. The family will greet friends Friday evening from 6-7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Thanks to Sydney for sharing this with us and to our Holland family for sharing this with us.

2011-04-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Email from Kees and Saskia van der Meer...

This diary calendar was given to Grandma Jetske de Boer by J. Gerbensma de Boer on March 19th, 1912 in Langweer.

Grandma Jetske de Boer wrote on May 19th "Gerrit de Boer"

Grandma Jetske de Boer wrote on February 20th "Our son G. de Boer left for America, 1947"

Kees van der Meer wrote...

"Hallo Sidney,
As we were looking through Uncle sip's papers we found an old notebook with each day a special philosofical thought, dated Langweer, 19 march 1912 given by J. Gerbensma- de Boer to your grandmother

She used it for a long time ( till the end of the 1940's ) as a calander for special days like birthdays.

I thought maybe you would like to see 2 special days

1 .20 febr. It says : Onze zoon G de Boer vertrokken naar Amerika 1947 = Our son G. de Boer left for USA 1947

2 .19 may Gerrit de Boer ( Birthday)

3 . = frontcover of the notebook.

greetings kees"

This was from one of our cousins in Holland...so nice they remembered us.

Painted couple

2011-04-13T19:00:00.000-07:00

I got these garden figurines last fall... and spring is here and they are dressed for the summer by the pond...

Before..

Mrs. after

Mr. after...

See his bouquet of tulips..

This couple is suppose to stand facing each other and kissing!

Spring is here...and so are the tulips.. in the house..

2011-04-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Mason's doings

2011-04-09T11:20:00.000-07:00

Mason with his hat and he had Shawn's shoes on ...
ready to go outside!! Oh! and in his PJ's.

Mason looking out to see Daddy and the
4-wheeler and lawn tractor.

Mason's Buffet!!
popcorn and peanuts

vintage dresses..

2011-04-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

When I was in Arizona visiting with Jenae ... I don't know why these dresses came up in conversation...Jenae did not remember them....they were made by Wanda Van Loon Faber back in the early 60's. Mom had asked Wanda to make these look alikes for us...they were made to be reversible and had a sort of poodle style skirt. The one side was a light blue and the other was a plaid in a little darker color. The other day when I was looking for the Betsy scrapbook pages I also came across these pictures on a page.

Ruth,Brant,
Peter, Jenae deBoer

Notice in the background there is the supply tank...it was used to hold water like a water tower so we could have some water pressure. Once it was not needed we kids used it for a playhouse. Was surprised to find a picture of it!

Peter, Brant, Ruth, and Jenae sitting on the steps in front of the back door.

Reminisce..growing up

2011-04-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

I got this book just before I went to Phoenix so I took it along to read. While reading through it I came across this picture.

from Reminisce..

I showed this picture to Jenae and she right away said "Betsy" which was my first thought when I saw it! And this was in 1952 !

Betsy’s Story

Betsy was my doll.. I don’t know when I got her
or from who.
I do remember Mom taking her to Goodwill in the
60’s to have her repaired. The only part of her that
was original after that was her head.
Jenae and Janna remember playing with her.
Kara had her as a favorite doll at the time Alicia
was born in 1976. Grandma Krisher made her a pant
suit out of blue polka do material. Kara had to take
her along to meeting.
In the later years I dressed up in a pretty calico green
dress and bonnet. She was lost in the house fire in 2002
at Waupaca Wisconsin.

A scrapbook page I had done...the above story is what is written in the little book.

Brant and I with our dolls.

Home again, home again, jiggety jig jig

2011-03-30T18:59:00.000-07:00

Spent most of the day traveling home....hopped from Phoenix to Houston to Chicago and then Green Bay. Chris and Mason picked me up and I was greeted by a big smile and waves from Mason...then he was back to the window to watch the action outside!!

I had a very nice trip and stay with Jenae and Glenn...thank you so much....loved it!!

A fantastic B&B and more

Tuesday..March 29th

2011-03-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

Today, early in the morning we went to Brandon and Joann's place...Jenae was going with Joann for her treatment and Glenn and I made sure the girls made it to school and then with Traiten we went back to Glenn's house. He had breakfast and then played for a while and then took a nice long nap. By then Mommy was home again so went back to their house.

One of the friends brought supper over that night....later Steph came to be with Joann as Brandon was out of town til later that evening. Joanne was resting as much as she could... fun to be with them and to get to know the little ones a little better.

Left and back to Glenn's to get packed up for an early morning flight...

Pappa and Traiten

Canoe made by Glenn for Brandon and Joann as a wedding gift..what a unique idea for decor!!

Monday...

2011-03-29T00:47:00.000-07:00

Our plans for the day were to go see the desert and IKEA.

We drove out to the desert area after we stopped to get Jenae her pop!

The desert has a beauty all of its own...and most all desert plants have stickers and you could even feel them through your shoes!! They are sharp!!

One of the plants that you usually picture a desert to be is the Saguaro... the plants with all the arms...they grow these arms to balance themselves and it takes many years to grow an arm...also they live to be hundreds of years old and they are a protected plant.

We are a little early for the blooming of the desert....some plants you could see where the blossoms were forming and one plant had an open blossom and a couple more just starting...they are sure beautiful!!

I had never been to an IKEA store and had heard much about it...so now I've been and it is a neat place to visit......they have almost anything you would want in the way of household furnishings and decorating items...just a good thing that there is not one near us because Alicia would really have a hayday there!!

the distant hills....

saguaro

pretty..

yellow and fragile looking

look at my arms!!

picture from home..

2011-03-28T09:48:00.000-07:00

I miss you all!!!

Sunday March 27th

2011-03-28T03:04:00.000-07:00

Today we went to meeting at Doug and Julie's....Julie's brother Scott R was there from Wyoming...was nice to meet Tim and Betty, she is a sister to Sue S from the Appleton area....such a small world! At gospel meeting in the afternoon I saw Philene and Gene across the way but did not talk to them. Also spoke briefly to Jerry and Lydia.

We had supper at Steph's place and then played a few games of Take Two...Jenae won most of the games..

It was nice to see where Steph lives....

Steph getting supper on.

Take Two

Saturday..March 26...

2011-03-28T02:52:00.000-07:00

Jenae and I spent a long time at JoAnn's Fabrics.....it was fun to look around and see what I would like..but can't buy anything to take home...cuz I don't have a truck load of vehicles to store my "stuff" in!!!!! The airlines charge through the roof for luggage nowadays.

Jenae found lots of goodies to sew up.

We had late lunch on their patio and then after a nap we went to Brandon and Joann's for a short visit...

Glenn and Jenae's home

great buy 70% off and then 25% coupon!!

mesquite in bloom

blossom up close

day three..Friday

2011-03-26T08:55:00.000-07:00

sooooooooooooooo cute.......

eating outside in March!!

Today Jenae and I met Joanne, Traiten and Steph at a gift shop called the Orange Patch....it was fun to look at all the neat things there are to buy.. but didn't.

We hit a few Goodwill stores too...I found some old reading books like we had when I was in school.

We had lunch together at Qdoba's and sat outside...didn't think of sitting outside cuz it's not the time of the year for us in Wisconsin!!

Little Traiten entertained us very well at lunch...he knew he had every ones attention...so fun to watch him...brings back memories of my grand kids a while back...

day two....

2011-03-25T03:26:00.000-07:00

This morning after breakfast...Jenae showed me some of the things they have made for craft shows...fun to see all the crafty items....

In the early afternoon we went to school to spent an hour and a half with Keesha's classroom...her teacher is really fun and she had lots for us to do!!! I cut out some egg shapes. Then helped a little in the classroom with papers that the children were doing..can't believe what they do in Kindergarten!!

Jenae and I stopped at a couple stores and then on home to pick up Glenn and Steph. We went to Organ Stop for pizza and entertainment. They have a fellow playing an organ that is really the whole building...it plays from the ceiling, the back, the sides, and just everywhere that you look...we got the go upstairs to listen and you can feel the whole place vibrate!! You could put in requests.

Jenae, Steph and I spent an hour in the hot tub and while we were doing that Glenn made cookies for us...spoiled we were... we also played a game of scrabble and take two.

A fun day in sunny AZ...weather was beautiful....while home had lots of snow!!!

I liked the accordian..

the organ...when it was break time if disappeared...

Glenn and Jenae listening and watching..

one of the pianos....

day one in AZ

2011-03-24T04:11:00.000-07:00

Jenae and I went to school to help out in the classrooms.. We did reading groups with Alawna's class and spent some time helping the different students with their papers. The little girl in the front needed help with her math....imagine me helping with math!!! Glenn went over to Coy's place to water their yard.

We stopped at the Riparian Preserve to look at the desert cactus and also the ponds of reclaimed water..we looked for turtles, watched the ducks play and saw some tiny and big fish. I found it interesting that woodpeckers build nests some of the cactus.

Jenae with her reading group plus Alawna getting a hug from "Grandma Krisher"

We cut papers for a weaving project

''the desert blooms as paradise"

turtle on a turtle!

one of the ponds

most plant life in the desert has thorns

ARIZONA!!

2011-03-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

I spent the day of March 22,2011 flying the skies to Chicago from Green Bay and then on to Phoenix to visit Jenae and Glenn and the rest of the family....

What I've been doing..

2011-03-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

Since Robbie moved in I have moved the sewing machine down to my house....so I got in the mood to use it a bit...I made a skirt from some denim shorts...so I could have a shorter jean skirt for summer.

Today I just finished a project that I plan to use as a coffee table...it is made of a wood box that I'm sure was made by Mom and an old suitcase from Mom...it still has a bunch of double knit material cut in squares .... some are sewn in blocks....maybe I can some day do something with them.

Coffee table

Thanks to Janna for my sewing machine quilt...I like it!!!...

Laundry...

2011-03-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

I do most of the laundry here so this is a project that Alicia and I wanted made, so we could store the laundry baskets out of the way and make a little more room in the laundry room...entryway from the garage.

Chris and Robbie created it and I helped with the painting and now it's in and I just gave ot a trial run...we'll need to get baskets to fit as they could only raise the washer and dryer so far... I like it!! and Alicia hasn't seen the finished project yet.

Loving the outdoors...

2011-03-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

Mason is loving the nice weather...there are lots of tears when he has to come in...this morning Daddy and Uncle Robbie were putting the stand under the washer and dryer.. of course he needed to be right there..

When he wasn't there he was outside finding the mud and snow the play in...shoes are muddy and the seat of his pants are wet....but he's having fun!!!

There were tears when they came in to have lunch..until...he heard there was pizza at Granny's house....here is evidence of what he has been into...pizza, paint, mud, and juice that Daddy put in a pop bottle.. Oh a sore on the forehead,too.

I'm not tired!!

Nine years ago....

2011-03-16T00:42:00.000-07:00

Emily Renae

Erin Marie

Nine years ago our family was blessed with two little girls....now they are growing up fast!! There was a birthday dinner for them on Sunday....Kara made each of them a big cupcake cake....turned out cute and really yummy!! Happy Birthday...love from Granny

sitting around the table....

2011-03-07T19:25:00.000-08:00

Saturday we were sitting around the table with our laptops visiting when Janna came up with a sewing project and asked it anyone would like to do some hand sewing?? So Janna and I were hand sewing and Mom was cutting up some old clothes and cutting them into quilt squares....Alicia at this moment was taking pictures!! Mom just mentioned that we were having a "ladies aide"... funny and with three generations of ladies... Good memories. Thanks to Alicia for the pictures!!