Homestead Decor

When I discovered that the dream home of my twin and her husband was to become a homestead reality, I tried to figure out what the perfect housewarming gift would be. It didn't take me long to decide that a "Boot Quilt" was the ticket. Plus, when you give someone something that you 1) made, 2) is somewhat useful, they are bound to carry warm fuzzy thoughts with you year round. So there's that. Below are some final pics of our Tucson Adventure.

This is a picture of Lesley's house, by popular request.

They're renting the guest house on airbnb, check it out! Go for a visit!

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13622348?guests=4&s=zRcUl6Rf

This is a view of her homestead, main house on the left, guest house on the right.

When asked by her children;

Q: What is their property?

A: Everything the light touches.

Her opening up her quilt.

Look at all those boots!

The Boring backside. She chose "yellow" as the theme color for her home.

A kindhearted friend helped me out with some Embroidery.

They're thinking of naming their homestead "The Yellow Barn"

and they got the key on May 31st.

A lot of sweat, blood, tears, sacrifice, prayers, faith and hope came before the dream. This quote is in reference to a conference talk (church speech by an apostle) by Joseph B Worthlin, Sunday Will Come. Indeed, they do.

It mattered not that it was 107 degrees outside.

We cuddled nonetheless.

My Dad spotted a horny toad. They look so fierce, but aren't mean at all.

So he scooped it up! He looks pretty happy to be holding the little critter.

My mom and I, out for an evening stroll.

The kids put together a performance for us. It was Cindrella-ish.

Owen was a horse.

The Plague/ Wild Life Refuge

 My dear twin and her family just moved into their dream home, after years of dreaming, sacrificing, saving, planning and praying. Dreams do come true. Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is actually light, and not an oncoming train. I saw pictures of the place, when it was still in the fantasy phase, but to see it in person?! It is so lovely and so entirely perfect for them, that literal tears sprang to my eyes during her guided tour.  My twin is a nature loving, animal friendly, easy going cowgirl, no fuss, helpful, cheerful, Christian woman, who now has a homestead to match.  Couldn't be happier for her, and I'm so glad I was there to witness the plague of the frogs because I simply might not have believed her had I not been there to see it for myself.

As night fell, frogs made their presence known. Croaking, out on the deck,

 and swimming in their pool.

The plan was to catch the frogs and then drive them to a better home somewhere.

This was what 15 frogs looked like.

And then there were 100+. They just kept coming.

It felt very Old Testament-ish. 

Even more fun is that of the two frog varieties, one of them stings to the touch, so the catchers wore thick plastic gloves. This is my 15 year old niece, kicking frog but and taking names.

Family! How lucky to spend these last few days with the families of my twin, brother and parents.

When we drove into the Old Pueblo (Tucson) they had just had a massive monsoon rain storm (which is totally common for the area this time of year.) What really brought the memories back though was the lack of a drainage system in the city.  Many streets were flooded, and police were helping move traffic along by sending cars on random paths. It took us about an hour to go the 10 miles from the freeway to their home. Our 6 kids and dog really enjoyed that last hour of quality time together:~)

That Ragged Old Flag

I heard this poem recited the other night at the rodeo, and just knew it would be perfect for the 4th of Lukas. I love it!!! Enjoy!!! 10 points for Johnny Cash, who penned this American Gem.

I walked through a county courthouse square.
On a park bench an old man was sitting there.
I said, "Your old Court House is kinda run down."
He said, "No, it will do for our little town."
I said, "Your old flag Pole is leaning a little bit.
And that's a ragged old Flag you've got hanging on it."

He said, "Have a seat," and I sat down
"Is the first time that you've been to our little town?"
"Well," he said, "I don't like to brag,
But we're kinda proud of that ragged old Flag.

You see, we got a little hole in the Flag there,
When Washington took it across the Delaware.
And it got powder burns, the night Francis Scott Key,
Sat watching it, writing 'Oh, Say, Can You See.'

And it got a bad rip at New Orleans,
When Packingham and Jackson took it to the scene
And, it almost fell at the Alamo beside the Texas Flag
But she waved on through
She got cut with a sword at Chancerville,
And she got cut again at Shilo Hill
There was Robert E. Lee, Bouregard and Bragg
The South wind blew hard on that Old Ragged Flag
On Flanders Field in World War One
She got a big hole from a Bertha Gun
She turned BLOOD RED World War Two,
And she hung limp and low a time or two.
She was in Korea and Vietnam
She went from our ships upon the briny foam.

Now they've about quit waving her back here at home
In our good land she's been abused,
She's been burned, dishonored, denied, and refused
And the Government for which she stands
Is scandalized through out the land.

She's getting threadbare and she's wearing thin,
But, she's in good shape for the shape she's in,
Because she's been through the fire before,
I believe she can take a whole lot more.

So we raise her up every morning, and we
Take her down every night,
We don't let her touch the ground,
and we fold her up right.

On second thought, I DO LIKE TO BRAG,

BECAUSE I'M MIGHTY PROUD OF THAT RAGGED OLD FLAG!

Breakfast at my twin's church: Waffles, eggs, sausage, buttermilk syrup, Nutella, strawberries, and a good helping of patriotism.

Swimming at my twin's local pool.

Swimming for goldfish, and then swimming for coins.

My twin and her husband had a little wager: the person who collects the most money won't have to do dishes all next week. She must have found some quarters, because her husband will be having dish pan hands next week.

The night found us in her field with sparklers and Smores made with Reece's Peanut Butter cups, 

a must try.

Norman tuckered out after a great day of fun.

too funny.

Flying Airplanes?

Because Ryan is a rad Dad, he sit up an appointment for us to tour Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, found in Prescott, AZ.  It actually lasted about 2 hours, and by the time it was over, I determined that I wanted to go back to school to become a pilot/secret service, weatherperson engineer, and that this amazing school could help those dreams come true. But seriously, my oldest son (a senior this year) certainly enjoyed the tour, but my second handsome son, looked like a kid in a candy shop.  And let's be honest, Calvin would look pretty sweet in aviators.

We got to go out to the landing strip and check out planes.

Cool model from Nasa. It's of an airplane  that actually got built, but was a total flop.

They keep it around to remind the students that "even Nasa engineers can get it wrong. Just keep trying." Brilliant.

An actual simulator.

Getting dessert in downtown Prescott.

His hands are up, but in two seconds he'll be pulling my hair.

***This post is for Thursday, July 30th, 2016***

Slide Rock at Last!

20 years ago I asked my family if they were planning on doing anything special for the 4th of July, and they said nothing was in the works. So I went with a friend to a small town (Bisbee, AZ) 4th celebration. I think my absence motivated them to do something awesome so they went to slide rock* without me. 10 years ago my family and a reunion just an hour away from Slide Rock, which was totally on the reunion schedule. I was eager to attend, but was a few months pregnant and simply could not hold anything down. The family enjoyed Slide Rock and I enjoyed my morning sickness (with the support of a handsome husband who stayed behind to nurse his wife.) So after two entire decades of wanting to party at Slide Rock, my dreams were realized. And It. Was. Awesome.

* Slide Rock is a river/spring found in Northern AZ. It's claim to fame is that it's a natural water slide, like the kind you would find in an amusement park, only ti's more awesome because it's found in nature. The water was pretty chilly, but the sun was hot and the slide was just amazing.

A Lovely picnic lunch we had right before our hike down to the fun.

Lot's of Steps to the water. Preston helped me carry Norman and his stroller.

Norman was not as amused at the experience as his older siblings were, but boy did he look darling in his little swim vest.

Ryan jumping with Owen!

Going...

Going,,,

Going...

And...

Gone! 

I did go, and would be okay if I never cliff jumped again.

Chilling after a sweet run down the cliffs.

Our way out found us walking back to our car in a hail storm.

Super glad the rain didn't start until we finished out Slide rock fun.

*** This post is for Wednesday, June, 29th, 2016***

My Inner Cowgirl

I went to the rodeo for the very first time in my life. And yee-haw, it was a rootin tootin good time. The evening began with a poem about the American flag, the national anthem, and then a prayer. At the rodeo. It was so patriotic I cried a little. But we also had fresh kettle corn, fresh lemonade, and were in matching hats, so it could have been that, too.

Our new hats purchased so that we would blend in with the rodeo crowd. Blend in we did.

Laughing and enjoying the show.

Cowboy Calvin, concentrating.

Preston is just going to be so glad that I posted this picture.

His inner cowboy really enjoyed the night.

This won't be the last time we wear our cowboy hats together.

*** This post is for Tuesday, June 28th, 2016***

Prescott Party

The weather has been perfect. The company has been well behaved. The food has been tasty. And these are the moments when I wish I could freeze time.  Nothing crazy exotic is taking place. I'm just hanging out in a cabin with my handsome husband and cheerful children. We are playing games, watching movies, eating snacks, playing together. Family fun in the Groom Creek forest. 10 points for holidays.

At the park near our caving with Ryan's cousin and her children. Her family has a cabin close by, so we were lucky to get to spend some time with her.