Life in Nebraska ....

      Jeanie has surprised me.  She's very taken with our new ponies!   The second day they were here she marched out to the fence and climbed up and over and trotted her little self over to the largest most untrained pony, red hair all around her face, and patted the mare on the tummy and talked with her.  Not sure what was said but the pony looked at her kindly and went on eating.   The boys quickly got her out.   And then tonight we went out for rides and she loved it.  She giggles and talks and bounces and laughs.  After her ride she went and pick up the lead rope and led the pony all over the place and she let her!  This is the pony that is snippy and quick to show all the other horses who's boss.  But with Jeanie she's calm and slow and mannerly.   I hope this stays true.  Because I am amazed and thrilled.  And btw, I tried riding this pony  twice and I do not like riding!...

Well here's a scramble of pictures that have probably all been posted on fb or ig or some such place but I want them here for my own personal record. And they are all mixed up.  Enjoy......   An apple pie baking for my own therapy one day.  It was tremendously good too.  My clothes can testify.  She has a firm belief in my patience and coping skills.  Because, this getting into my flour barrel and taking it places and then WALKING it all over was severely testing it.  Apple dumplings before I baked them.  My husband thought these were so amazing.   Which they were actually.  Ugly picture though.  Matt's cousin Zach and his wife Danielle and baby boy Kasen were here for about a week.  They were the most comfortable guests ever.  They ate our cold cereal for breakfast without complaining and best of all didn't mind hanging out doing nothing.   Apple pie filling.  It was ...

    Good morning!  It's Saturday.  In every way it's Saturday:  The house is upside down and dirty from too much schooling and canning.   The boys are still in bed.  I heard the middle one yelling something up the steps about getting certain things ready for him.  One of those things was hot chocolate.  Well dear child, you won't be getting hot chocolate.  We're nearly out of milk.  And there's another proof it's Saturday.  I need to go grocery shopping.   I had my coffee and bagel out on the back deck this morning.  With the dog and chickens roaming the yard.  The sun was shining and making the wet grass glisten.  Saturdays are for catching up on projects and cleaning and working on being positive.  Its's definitely a day where I tell myself, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming".      We had meetings here this week.  Another reason I'm spinning and behind on things.  So ...

One morning this past week I was working at the computer when I heard Jeanie screaming this really wild scream.  And I smelled something.  I ran.  She had crawled up onto the counter by the burning candle with her favorite blanket.  It was on fire and the box of Kleenex was on fire and it was all flaming up around her arm and face and hair.   And she just sat there and screamed!  So I did all the right stuff to get  it out including doing some of my own screaming.   And all was well.  Except for her favorite blanket.  So last night I was shoveling through my sewing stuff and I found these two garage sale pieces of fabric.   So today we have a new awesome blanket that she is thrilled with!   Never mind it's frogs and tadpoles!  It's totally her.  And I'm thankful for a house and a whole girl.   Angels are definitely on high alert at this house! Thank you God!

Baby sister gives big brother hugs because he was so sad.   Silly kids.  Loving on each other.

This is a boring picture showing a most exciting happening.  Saturday breakfast with Matt home!   We actually had him for more than 12 hours home.  Supper and breakfast together!   Bleary eyed and exhausted from too much busy.  Just taking the moment.   Especially noticing because of that scary earthquake episode this morning!