One Day at A Time.

So many changes in the air.  It's that time of year when I really just try to take one day at a time.  The weather feels fallish.  The sunflowers are blooming.

My horses are getting older.  One has a tumor in his nostril.  The vet came out, he sedated him, he floated his teeth, he took a really large chunk of the tumor out to do a biopsy.  He didn't like the looks of it.  The biopsy was sent in, then we waited.  And waited.  Waiting to hear results in any situation is hard.  You try not to think about it, but you do.  The call came, the tumor is benign.  Still need to have it removed, he wants to wait until the flies are gone, it could have been so much worse.  One day at a time.

We spent some time at the cabin.  A nice change of pace.  So peaceful there.  The sunset on the river was beautiful.

After church on Sunday we went to the local Threshing Bee.  It was their 57 annual event.  It's fun to see the big old tractors in the parade.  It's mostly a chance for the local farmers to catch up with each other, reminisce, with a few tall tales thrown in.  My dad would have said that they were "chewing the fat".  I enjoy going there to reminisce as well, but it sure makes me miss my dad.  He loved having all the grand kids on the tractor with him for the parade.  The grand kids loved it too.  One day at a time.

We had some errands to run on Monday night, we didn't get going until almost sunset...so we stopped by a local lake.  Sunsets almost always look better over water!  This one did.

The perennials are still blooming.  The bees are keeping busy!

Crazy looking bee getting some pollen from the Russian sage in my front yard.  Bzzz.

Billy is done with baseball for the year, but he played softball with his dad last night.  All the college supply shopping is done, there is a pile of stuff in my living room.  He leaves next week.  I think he's pretty much ready.  I do know that I am not.  I'm going to miss the sunshine that he brings to each and every day.

Ready or not, changes are coming.  I'm just trying to face them. One. Day. At. A. Time.

Already August

We're already a solid week into August, it feels like the summer is slipping away too quickly!  The flowers in my garden are abundant, so are the weeds.  The good news is that the purple cone flowers are taller than the weeds!

Billy and Eric were gone for over a week on a Mission Trip to West Virginia.  Unfortunately it was during the Sr. Babe State Baseball Tournament.  Fortunately, Billy's team fought their way through the losers bracket to play for the Championship on Saturday, and Billy was able to get back early in time to play on that day.  It was a double elimination tournament, so their team had to beat the winners bracket team twice to claim the title.  They did it!  Yeah!  So exciting that Billy's season wasn't over and that the team got to travel to Oskaloosa, Iowa to play in the Regional Tournament!

The summer has been busy, there hasn't been much time to stop and smell the roses.

Somehow my photo of what is left of my petunias makes them look pretty good.  They aren't.  They are leggy and scraggly.  I think that the constant rain we had early in the summer wasn't the best thing for their root system. Oh well, there is always next summer!

I like to wake Molly up from her naps...she's usually not amused.

I was lucky enough to be one of the mom's making the 4.5 hour drive to Iowa.  The tournament check-in process was very lengthy, but the boys got to practice a bit afterwards.  Pretty days in Iowa!

The opening ceremony for the tournament was right before our game, all the teams were announced.  It was nice, it made the honor of being there sink in a little bit.  This is right before the National Anthem.  Love how tall and straight Billy stands...#16 was making me proud all weekend long.

Making a catch in game one.  They won vs. the host team Oskaloosa.

Had to get a picture in the corn in Iowa.  Most of the boys are too young to know about "Field of Dreams" but the parents got a kick out of it.

Sharing a light moment with a team mate before game two.  I have to admit that I misjudged some of the parents, it was so good to get to know some of them better during the tournament.  The nice boys didn't get to be that way on their own!

Game three the team faced a boy that was throwing a 92 mph fast ball, and a breaking ball that they couldn't see.  They played tough against the team though, ended up losing in 10 innings when the opponents perfectly executed a suicide squeeze play.  Intense game!

Sunday, before warm-ups.  3 teams left in the tournament...happy that Minnesota was one of them.  The boys lost to the host team Oskaloosa...who they had beaten just a few days before.  The two games that they lost were both by one run in extra innings.  Couldn't have been closer.  3rd place in Regions, something to be proud of.

And then it was back home to catch up.  Catch up with work, catch up with laundry, catch up on housework...hah...and take a minute to enjoy the butterflies.

And the flowers in my garden.

And to enjoy these last few weeks before Billy leaves for college.  The littlest bird is leaving the nest.  So many changes coming.  I kind of like things just the way they are, but life isn't like that is it.

The changes are coming whether I like it or not.  I guess I better just face it and go out and buy those extra long college sheets.  And a rug for the dorm.  And all those other things the boy will need.  I think I had better buy a box of tissues too.  And so it goes.

Friday Greetings!  So what is up with my blog header??  ^^^  It is supposed to look like the photo below.  Apparently I need to look into what the best picture size should be.  Not feeling like pursuing it at the moment though.  Just scroll down and hide it ok??

Last week Eric and I went to a rodeo in Hamel.  Last Friday my friend Kris and I went to a rodeo in Waconia.  I didn't get too many good shots, but I like this one.  I brought my cheaper lens, the lighting and seating wasn't as good...but it was still fun....just not phototastic.  Yep...I just made up a new word.

The full moon was really bright last weekend.  It even lit up the clouds.  Not quite full here, but I like it.

I spent a night at my mom's while Eric and Billy were out of town.  Fun to see this guy first thing in the morning!  Breakfast with a friend.

Loving the day lilies right now.  My garden is needing weeding right now...so I should get in there and admire those flowers up close.  Why don't rabbits eat weeds?

Cosmos are one of my favorites...I like the pink ones best, but this one seemed so bright and clean.

Another day lily.  I like the ruffles on the edges of this one.

One last day lily.  Eric and Billy are on their way home from West Virginia.  Billy's team is now in the losers bracket of the state baseball tournament...but two wins today would put them in the championship game tomorrow.  I'm hopeful.  I sure would like to see him play one last game!

I hope your day is filled with sunshine and flowers....unless you need rain...then I hope you get that!  Thanks for stopping by.

Summer Days

We waited and waited for the summer days to come.  They are here...and it is hot!  Hot, humid, sultry.  Summer!  The low last night was 77 muggy degrees.  Oye. I have been thankful for the air conditioning in my house and car with this heat!  Here are a few summer photos from the last week.

I walked home from Eric's softball game last week...so many stop lights between the fields and our house made me think that it was farther than it is.  2.5 miles or so on a beautiful summer evening.  And I found this morning glory growing a a fence next to the road.  Note to self...walk more!

The coneflowers in my garden are liking these warm days.  I'm liking the coneflowers that are about to bloom.

Eric and I went to the rodeo in Hamel on Saturday night.  It's a fun rodeo...and I got quite a few fun pictures.  This one of a steer wrestler is my favorite.  Get 'em!  He did.

Warm summer day, even for the birds.  Hello chickadee!

Billy's last regular season baseball game...maybe his last game all together.  He left for a mission trip at 6 a.m. for a week and won't be back for most of the State baseball Tournament.  He will get to play if they make it into the Championship game...go team!  This at bat...strike out.  It would be a bummer to end on that...and end on an artificial turf field.  Fake turf pitchers mound, fake turf infield, and even fake turf base paths.  Yuck.  The place smelled like hot tires.  Not how baseball should be played.

My daylilies are blooming...fresh and new everyday.

Coneflowers at various stages.

And I'll end with a hot sultry sunset.  Cooler and drier air is on it's way...yay!

Warm or cool I hope that you are enjoying your July days!  Thanks for stopping by!

Back to the Photos

I can get behind in my blogging in a blink of an eye!  I'll blame it on summertime busyness.  Maybe it's because it's more fun to do things than blog about them.  Or maybe it's just that I'm not as organized as I should be.  Anyway, here we go with another photo catch up session.  Billy playing softball.  I loved the sky behind him!

Billy playing baseball.  I loved the sky behind him.  Oh wait...yep...it's a trend.

Billy had some fans for a game.  Three generations of Young men.  Yep...my baby really is a young man.

We went kayaking around Madeline Island.  It was a beautiful day followed by an amazing Brandi Carlile concert at the Big Top Chautauqua.  Quick but wonderful trip.

 Sometimes they shake things up on the baseball team...Billy got to play third base in this game.  I loved the light!  Oh...and he made the play too.

At bat early in the game.

My daisies are amazing right now!  I was hoping that they would be blooming in time for Billy's grad party...but no such luck.  Worth the wait though!

Grand finale at the fireworks show.  I'm not sure which type I like best...long exposures or short...this one is sort of in between.

Boat ride on the river.  The water is still high.  This is "Tin Can" Island.  Not much left of it.  Rivers keep changing...it's sort of cool.

One of my favorite views at the farm.  Everything is beautifully green.

One of the day lilies at my mom's place.

Back home and enjoying the daisies.  After all of our rain, things are getting sort of dry now in July.  A happy medium would be nice!

Billy's last game at Round Lake Stadium.  Calling time against a wonky pitcher.  He had hit the two batters before Billy...it kind of gets in your head!  Six batters hit that game, one boy was hit 3 times.  Poor kid...and he wasn't a smart Alec or anything...just unlucky!

Last nights game in Osseo / Maple Grove.  Billy playing third again.  The mosquitoes were ferocious...never seen anything like it.  Youch!  A friend on Facebook said that she was bitten so much she was sure that she had West Nile Virus.  Nothing to joke about...but I know what she meant!

And I'll close on that itchy note.  I hope that where ever you are, your space is bug free!  Thanks for stopping by.