20 Questions

I ran across this on another blog...20 questions along with a few of my more recent photos of the day.
20 questions

1. when you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
When did that happen?

2. do you miss anyone right now?
Yes, my dad, every single day.


3. if you could move anywhere else, would you?
Somewhere in the country with lots of land.

4. if you could choose, what would your last meal be?
Surf and Turf....shrimp and steak....with a loaded baked potato and a bottle of wine to make having my last me not so sad. :-)

5. what famous person, dead or alive, would you want to have lunch with?
Tough question...I'd most likely be too nervous to talk....probably folk singer Greg Brown.

6. what was the last book you read?
I am reading McKettricks of Texas: Garrett by Linda Lael Miller on my Kindle. I read a lot more now that I have a Kindle.



7. what was the last movie you watched?
Julie and Julia

8. what was the last song you heard?
Three Little Birds....the ring tone on my cell phone.

9. what is your dream vacation?
Spending time on Hawaii

10. what is the next trip you will take?
Hawaii in the spring with the boys

11. did you ever go to camp?
Volleyball camp twice...and I worked at a YMCA camp one summer as the arts and crafts director.

12. have you ever been in love?
Yes

13. what do you want to know about the future?
If we were meant to know what the future holds, we would. Not knowing brings mystery to life.

14. where is your best friend?
In the back yard building a fence, wondering where his help went.



15. how is your best friend?
Hot and sweaty and wondering where his helper went. Hey...I'm waiting for the batteries to recharge on my drill! :-)

16. who is the biggest gossiper you know?
Ummm....if I told that she wouldn't tell me anything anymore.

17. what does your last text message say
When will u b home?

18. what are 3 things you've always wanted to do, that you still plan to accomplish?
Lose weight, live in the country, and make money creating stuff.





19. what is one thing you learned from your parents?
The importance of family from my mom and that I can do absolutely anything I put my mind to from my dad.

20. what is one thing you hope to teach to your own children?
to know God, to be kind, caring, and respectful, the importance of family...and that they can do absolutely anything they put their minds to.

What would your answers be?

Wild Flowers

You've may have guessed by now that one of my favorite things to take photos of are flowers. On Sunday, I took a little walk through the woods at the cabin to see what was blooming. There are a lot of wild geranium right now....pretty lavender blossoms.

I don't know what these are, but they were pretty.

More geraniums....

...and another one. Their colors are subtly different. Some light, some a little more purple.

Some just getting ready to say hello.

This one looks like the purple one that I didn't know the name of.

Another geranium.

And the trillium. Lots of trillium. I don't think they'll last much longer before the blossoms fade.

Such pretty white flowers on the floor of the woods.

Peaceful woods, beautiful wildflowers....

....it doesn't get much better than that!

Sunday Recap

We had a sort of busy and very warm Sunday. We got up early and drove to our home town to get there in time for church. We had a birthday to celebrate! Eric's dad was having a party at the cabin in honor of his birthday.

After church and before the party we had a little time to spend at the farm. I got to say hi to my boys. The warm day had them feeling a little lazy. Here's Skylar, ignoring me but keeping his eye on me just the same. No buddy, I don't think you need any more food today.

Czar was happier to see me, but it was so warm he was almost too tired to eat. This is the first summer that the horses aren't sharing the pasture with cows...I don't think there will be a lack of grass for them to eat.

I had to get a picture of my mom's hanging basket...such pretty subtle colors.

Then it was time to go to the cabin. Eric and Brian headed down to the boat house to get the boat ready for the day.

The boathouse was built years ago, in a ravine on the river. Structures like this aren't allowed to be built anymore, but this one can stay because it's been grandfathered in. Eric and Brian pulled the boat out to get it ready.

Tug, tug, pull, pull....

...it's a heavy little boat!

Did you check to make sure that the plug is in?

Whew, it was. Good job Brian!

Brian's job was to sweep out the leaves that had accumulated in the boat over the winter. Something about a boy and a broom that leads to some serious air guitar....or broom guitar....or something. Brian, I think you are supposed to hold it the other way!

Eric's job was to hook up the newly charged battery to the battery powered winch....but it wasn't charged after all. That would have been too easy.

Sweep, sweep, sweep....Brian's job went a little better.

And then the guests arrived. And boat rides were given. Dawn's boy Logan headed for the swing.

It's a cabin favorite. Nothing like a dad powered swing to put a smile on a boys face!

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Dawn and I had a nice chance to catch up and enjoy the peaceful river.

My mom was there too.....so nice of Eric's aunt Dorothy to snap a picture of us. I'm usually behind the camera!

We took a group shot of the people that were there at the moment...some more came later and didn't get into the picture. We had quite a group!

Then my little boys sat on my lap, just like old times. Squish.

And then the moon came up and we headed for home.

It was a fun filled day!

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

Last week, after Billy's confirmation we ventured over to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. The weather was beautiful and the tulips were in full bloom. It reminded me of the trip to Pella, Iowa that my mom and I took last spring. So for today, flower pictures. Come and tiptoe through the tulips with me. :-)

Tiptoe Through the Tulips

by Al Dublin and Joe Burke.

Tiptoe through the window

By the window, that is where I'll be

Come tiptoe through the tulips with me.

Oh, tiptoe from the garden

By the garden of the willow tree

And tiptoe through the tulips with me.

Knee deep in flowers we'll stray

We'll keep the showers away

And if I kiss you in the garden, in the moonlight

Will you pardon me?

And tiptoe through the tulips with me.

The song is best known for the version done by Tiny Tim in the late 1960's...but it was originally done in 1929 on Broadway. I was going to post a youtube version of Tiny Tim singing it, but seriously, I couldn't listen to it. Oye.

The version done by Nick Lucas is better....here it is if you are bored today.

Anyway, back to the tulips. There were thousands and I was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful they still were.

That cold, rainy week that we had the week before we saw the tulips must have helped to preserve them.

The Arboretum was crowded! But there is something about looking at flowers that can make you feel like you are the only one there. I'll stop typing so you can enjoy the flowers in peace and quiet too.

Ahhhhhh.....feel better now? While we were at the Arboretum this cardinal was singing his song way up high on top of a pine tree.

He was probably wondering when all those people were going to leave his peaceful flower garden. Cardinals are kind of cranky like that.

After the tulips we wandered over to the stream and water falls. Another peaceful, beautiful place in the middle of everything.

It doesn't take much water to make a statement.

Some parts feel powerful.

Some spots serene.

Here's a little tidbit totally off the subject of the Arboretum, flowers, and serenity. I opened up Facebook this morning and the first message in my message stream was that my son, my little Billy, has changed his status to: "In a Relationship".

WHAT?!? OK, I know that there aren't many options for a person's dating status in Facebook...but "In a RELATIONSHIP"??? Oye. How about "dating" or "seeing" or "friends with" or "went to one dance with".

Parenting is sure different in this day of technology....so is being a kid. Cell phones, texting, Internet, social sites like facebook. Yikes. When I was a kid we had one telephone placed where everyone in the house could hear your conversation....and it was a "party line" that was tied into all of the neighbors phones so all of the neighbors could hear your conversation too. Times change quickly.

But flowers don't. I think I better go and tiptoe through some now. I hope your weekend is a good one.