More Tomatoes!

It is almost time for bed and I am very tired. I managed to can another 5 quarts of tomatoes today. It is very satisfying to accomplish this task! These tomatoes are cooling on the stove.

Reviving my home making skills!

Today I did something that I have not done for several years. I canned tomatoes! This morning Charlie brought the canning equipment and a box of tomatoes. I got to work and now I will soon have 5 quarts! [I am taking a little break while they are in the water bath.] I think that will be all my canning for today. I still have tomatoes, but some are not ready to be canned. Perhaps next week I will make another attempt.

Find the Toad in the Dirt

I walked around the garden today and got some great pictures, but couldn't resist snapping this little toad. See if you can find him in the picture.

Enjoying each other...

Kickin' back...

Arranging flowers for Mama...

David...so sweet!

David enjoyed licking the frosting off the plastic balloons that decorated the birthday cake.

Watching a movie with "Uncle John"

Making like a monkey...

David enjoying corn on the cob...

Daniel enjoying corn on the cob...

P2 and John husking corn

Catching up...

Last Sabbath we had a family picnic at my sister's home. It was a great time! The kids got to ride their bikes and run across the spacious lawn. The food was wonderful, including- grilled hotdogs, hamburgers and sausage- corn on the cob- salad- grapes and watermelon. We had birthday cake and icecream to celebrate the August birthdays. Mostly, we just enjoyed each other.

Another Sunflower!

I used to assume that sunflowers were all pretty much the same. NOt so! There are many varieties- many colors and sizes!

Pink hibiscus

Friday

Friday seemed to be a big running around day for me. Before I was dressed in the morning the phone was ringing. In the midst of "running" I stopped for a few minutes at Charlie's to take a few more flower pictures. The hibiscus are out now, as are the cosmos and sunflowers. When the pictures are developed some will no doubt be used for a future tea party craft. But, for now, it amazes me how a simple trip around the garden can relax my body and renew my spirit.

Oh Lord, how manifold are thy works!In wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. Psalm 104:24

David on pc

The other day I was telling P2 about how well David was doing with puzzles. He likes the Madeline puzzle, I think because of the little ducks in a line beside the little girls in a line. P2 said I should see him on the computer. He grabbed the mouse and was playing games! Pretty good for a 2 year old!

Sunflower and bee...

Zinnias and a bee

I can do this with my eyes closed!

David was not crazy about the live chickens, but he seemed to like this one. He loved the bunny barn and did not hesitate to stick his hand through the cages to pet the bunnies. He was a little shy of the big cows, but he enjoyed the big black cow that played peek-a-boo with him.

5 Kids and a bumper car!

Baby Jeffrey waves, "Hi everyone!"

Joyce in tractor pull

Daniel in tractor pull

David in tractor pull

Joyce with notecards -3rd place

Joyce with Quillow taking 2nd place

Monday and Tuesday

Monday was the day Joyce's entries at the Farm Show were judged. I had a particular interest in this as I had taken Joyce to sewing class where she made the quillow that she entered. {A quillow is a quilt that has a pocket sewn into the bottom that the quilt can be folded into to form a pillow.} I also have been teaching her my hobby, rubberstamping. Her other entry was a set of stamped notecards with coordinating envelopes in a decorated box. She even made the box! She won 2nd place for her quillow and 3rd place for her notecard set. Quite an achievement for a first time entrant!!!
On Tuesday I went to the Farm Show with Amy and the kids and Amy's sister, Sharon and her little boy. We had a great time- made expecially exciting by learning of Joyce's winning entries!

Scavenger Hunt

Paul Bunyan is handing out toothpicks to the hunters.

Elaine

Charla and Kathy

Brian

Brian made picture cds for anyone who wanted one. He took the memory sticks out of our digital cameras and put all the pics together. He even included his pics from previous family reunions.

Melissa

Irene with painting by Uncle Cam

Daniel, Joyce, and P3

Uncle Babe, Jeff and Aunt MaryAnn

Christy and Maggie

Amy, P2, and David

Saturday - August 5, 2006

Hard to believe that it is Wednesday already! So much going on the past several days! Saturday was the Imm Reunion held again at the Logans Ferry Presbyterian Church picnic grounds. I had a wonderful time visiting with family members that I don't get to see much of. There was a scavenger hunt for the kids which was as much fun for the adults as for the little ones. There was a big bingo game. Daniel was so worried that he would not get a prize. At age 5 he still has trouble reading 2 digit numbers. He needn't have worried, as there were prizes for everyone. The food was pretty good too!

Joyce relaxing

We watched a really nice scrapbooking program on diy this afternoon and learned some new techniques that will also work for cards. We talked a little bit about the next tea party. It has been a busy summer. We had thought that we would have had the next tea party last month. Joyce always has loads of ideas!

Amy and David sharing a drumstick...

Drumsticks!

Paul

Paul is very interested in building things. He has an artistic flair as well. I don't remember what this set was called - something like "bionicals."

Morning

Amy dropped the 4 kids for a little visit while she ran to the store this morning. They made cards for their Grampa Dietrich who is in the hospital. David seems to really like doing puzzles and is surprisingly good at it for a 2 year old. When Amy came back The kids had baked potatoes and hotdogs for lunch and drumsticks that Amy brought for dessert. Joyce decided to stay a little longer and finish up the card she was working on. I must say she did a nice job! Daniel also did a super job. He signed his name so neatly and was proud of his work!