Photo 5 on Friday

Saturday I volunteered for the Iowa Food Coop during Osceola's Spring Fling event.

All week, we've had construction vehicles across the street at the neighbors' so this is how they've spent the majority of their mornings.

Sunday, I picked up fresh chickens, so one went right into the crockpot on Monday. Tuesday, this was the stock I drained out, YUMMMM! Wednesday's had less of a fat cap so its in the freezer.

Tuesday evening I jammed my toe on the dog gate in the hall. Reminded me why I always wear shoes. 

We upgraded Kora to a nice cone since she seems to need one at the constant right now.  hopefully now that we own a nice one, Murphy will take over & we won't need it again.  It does fit both dogs though, so that should take care of both via Murphy. 

How was your week? 

5 on Friday: September 2014 edition

This month, Mom & I went to the last of our local outdoor concerts which happened to be Trick Pony & they were AWESOME!!! So much energy, they ALL looked like they were up there having fun instead of just getting a pay check. I thoroughly enjoyed them. 

with out many overnights at the lake this summer, I was missing the bonfire portion of it so we started having small camp fires in the back yard & I love that they are small enough that if I only sit there for a couple of hours, I don't feel guilty. 

 I got to participate in helping to celebrate the 60th anniversary of this terrific couple, my only remaining grandparents. Love Love Love them!

A couple of weeks ago, Mom & I were heading to a crop so I checked out the map of the new freedom rocks being painted in Iowa & found one semi-close to our destination & routed ourselves that way.  This is the 2nd one I have seen & am hooked! I plan to make a mini album of photos of them as we visit them. 

I love the Farmer's Markets in every single season but fall is super fun as the temps are super comfy, the produce switches gears, & I have made friends with new vendors by now. 

5 on Friday: Iowa State Fair edition

Tim & I often joke about how we eat our way through the Iowa State Fair. this year was different. We didn't really eat that much but I did take lots of pictures of food stands.

1. Southern Style Nachos. YUMMMM homemade potato chips, nacho cheese (even if it was out of a can), shredded smoked pork & BBQ sauce (again, even if it was store bought). This was a first for us, recommended as back up plan if the line to the hot beef sundae was too long for us-it was, now I am thankful. 
2. American Gothic statue. Somehow I managed to cruise right on by this bad boy on our first Saturday at the fair. Place in the middle of one of the main drags that I know we walked on both directions. Way more impressive than I expected it to be. 
3. The big Pepsi clock.  It was always a 'center point' for us growing up. We were taught (?or maybe just learned on our own) how to remember the location of almost everything in relation to this clock. I love that its still there, still works & still in great condition.
4. The flags lining the top of the Grandstand.  I don't remember them there as a child but I do remember that when someone was lost or missing their meeting time, there was an announcement, "would John Doe please meet your party at the Hall of Law located at the West end of the Grandstand" & on the repeat of it (they always said it twice) my brothers & I would repeat it with the announcer. Oh the funny things we did as kids & then remember as adults.... 
5. The food stands. I haven't tried but I imagine I could find the exact number of food stands located on the fairgrounds & I bet the number would boggle my mind even though I know there is A LOT. 

5 on Friday

trying to work blogging back into my routine this fall, I would really like to talk about something other than scrapping for my non-scrappy readers.

5 things I am thankful for this Friday:

1. I am so thankful I've been able to be a part of the Iowa Food Coop!  I think it was just the boost I needed getting back out in the public after being an at home childcare provider for so long.
2. I am so thankful to be allowed to work with the county conservation board in their rehabilitation & redesigning of a playground that has been in a local park  since the 1970's. Shopping for new stuff is fun but figuring out how to fix/add to/adjust our old-school toys to keep them with in the modern day 'safety regulations' is way  more rewarding.
3. I am thankful to all kinds of friends pointing out job possibilities to me every few days.  Trying to decide what I 'want to do when I grow up' is frequently on my m ind. I wonder what is in store but I rarely worry about finding the right fit or making enough to support our lifestyle.  I know we will be taken care of, what is meant to be will be, & the best things come when we just have faith in how its meant to be. Their pointing openings out is really keeping my eyes open to options I never would have considered but having someone else say 'you would be great here' or 'you would really make a difference in this position' not only is flattering but eye opening as well.
4. I am so thankful to be surrounded by a houseful of children in the mean time. I truly love my job (most days as most people can say) and I am thankful for those families that are sticking with me.
5. I am so thankful to be healthy enough to help keep up on the yard mowing, house keeping and meal fixing as Tim's job has gotten busier, requiring him to work later evenings & Saturdays. Yes I am blessed with a husband that was rocking the yard work as well as enjoying trying out new recipes in the kitchen. 

What are you thankful for this week?

5 on Friday

Scrappiness this week  5 things on my wish list:

1. this whole kit over @ Elle's Studio is going to be a must for my collection soon! it screams camping, lake & summer!

   

   http://www.shopellesstudio.com/Saltwater/
   

   

   2. this month's kit over at Studio Calico is a terrific mix of brings & lights. fabulous summer goodies!     
                                            

   http://www.studiocalico.com/kits/marks-co-scrapbook-kit
   
    

   3. I have been drooling over this new kit ever since its sneak peeks popped up on blogs last month! YUM!
   

   http://store.scrapbook.com/fp-1855.html?t15-19=beach

   
   
   
   
   4. these little memorabilia pockets are adorable!
    

http://store.scrapbook.com/mw-3223.html?t15-19=beach

5. & then these 3 single, double sided sheets.  2 of each please :)

5 on Friday

Summer at home.  I have done several posts on my favorite things of summer over all.. so this one will be summer at home. In phone pics.

Laundry on the line.

  This ivy plant that is amazing.

Dogs soaking up some sun. 

 Baby feet in the green grass.

The cat on the garage roof @ sunset.   

5 on Friday

5 favorite things from my phone shots since May 1.

1) banner on the court house lawn last week during the festivities

2) old school playground that makes them as happy as it makes me.

3) venturing out of our comfort zones to explore new places to eat. Yes that is a normal sized plate but A HUGE BURGER & BUN! so yummy!

4) that my group was so good to cluster together so I could get this shot while we toured the hospital since I forgot my big camera.

5) fresh flowers delivered on our anniversary. He never ceases to surprise me!

5 on Friday

5 thoughts I am having today after joining a 5AM Zumba class...

1. I have NO IDEA how I ever was allowed to stay in the percussion section of the high school band! (must have been pity!) I have NO rhythm!
2. I didn't forget near as much as I dreaded from the 3 classes I attended 2 years ago.  I love that Zumba is made up of A LOT of repeating actions. does this mind good!
3. I can be a morning person w/the right encouragement-zumba class is one.  Nursed that burst of energy that comes from a good work out just as long as I could. dishes, laundry, 3 littles to the grocery store...
4. I am out.of.shape. I was not as 'flexible' as I remember, I was almost instantly feeling the dormant muscles, & am loving the little reminders yet this afternoon that I worked my body this morning!
5. Zumba can be done to a wide range of music!  Country Girl & Big & Chunky are 2 of the songs we danced to this morning.

Short & Sweet.. hopefully getting back on this blog habit as I struggle to get other areas of my life healthy as well.
Have a wonderful weekend!!

5 on Friday

the whirlwind weekend was followed by a like-minded week! whew this weekend looks to be more of the same. So today's 5 is going to be a Friday Phone Dump post full of gratefull-ness.



1. PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY: Last Friday was provider appreciation day & I have some of the best parents. Only one that knew it was that day. here's what she sent w/her little guy!! For future reference, its always the Friday before Mother's Day. Grateful for the people who think of the little things that mean so much!!

2.  ANNIVERSARY: With a photo shoot the next morning, I had a cousin do french tips on my nails. Love them!!  too bad I am so rough on my nails that they are already chipped & nasty looking!  Then I knew which shirt I was wearing as I had bought this purple & white one just for the occassion, next I had shoes & jewelry to decide on.  Here are the photos & questions I sent to my (much younger) fashionistas in a mini-panic Saturday morning:  a) with the belt or without? 

b)  short & chunky or long & sparkley? (necklaces)

Grateful for a wonderful husband of 15 years as well as enough means to have to decide on jewelry.

Flowers for our anniversary (5/3) -the reason for the photo shoot.  He really rocks the fresh flowers lately!!  these he took the time & energy to pick out blue & purple so they were our wedding colors *swoon*  Grateful for his thoughtfulness!

3. ENGAGEMENT: I already blogged a bit  about it on Monday when it was fresh in my heart, but to recap: I was blessed to do an engagement shoot on Saturday evening with friends that refreshed my love for the camera.  Grateful for great friends who did more for my heart than they realize.

 4.  TROPHIES: remember the hog hunt we went on back in February in Oklahoma? hmmmm maybe I haven't blogged it yet since I can't find a post... note to self: blog hog hunt. Anyyyyy wayyyyyy the trophies were done Wednesday so Tim buzzed up & picked them up from the taxidermist.  Pretty cool that we got 2 trophies (plus meat) from one kill.  The head went right on the wall by the antler rack & the skull (european mount) went on my display shelf at the top of the stairs, which in turn meant it was time to switch up the decor there!  I had threaded this empty frame w/twine one evening last week w/o a plan of where to use it.   When the skull went on the shelf I immediately clicked into knowing the photos needed to be displayed on the frame w/the skull! Grateful for the means to get to take trips & share in his love of a sport.

5. CHANGING SEASONS: the back yard is coming alive! I love watching theings change year to year & see what blooms & when  here is a pic of one of the yucca plants getting ready to bloom.

the warmer temps & more sunshine means we are spending more & more time out in the yard.  here is a super cute shot I caught on Wednesday.  Grateful that every day is different!

WHAT IS ON YOUR GRATEFUL LIST FOR THE WEEK??

5 on Friday

I am so excited to see the productivity I have achieved in the past week!  having lists keeps me moving-not a new fact, just one I needed reminded of.  I am being careful to not have so many that I need a list of my lists ;)  So today for my 5 I am going to brag about what got accomplished with a list-hope it doesn't bore you too much :S

1. tried new cornmeal (that I will be sure to buy more of) by using my May Goals list -and going gung-ho on 3 other items
2. sold the rest of the children's VHS movies we've had hanging around for no reason for over 4 years (no player).  Love the facebook (city specific) swap group.  not really on a list but it sure started an avalanche, there is now a sack of adult, mature PG-13 & R rated movies bagged up to donate to the public library just to have them out of here too, I sold the dress I wore for Valentine's a while back but never again (red is not my color-nor was the fit), have books at the top of the stairs to take to a new book store opening (free coffee or dessert w/donation-heeeeelllllllllo!), boots I cannot wear anymore also to the stairs to take to cousin, see what I mean?? 
3. I am on the look out for an electric sander to get moving on a couple of my Twelve in 12 list items.
4. I have already started my June Goals list
5. I needed to locate the pearl handled wedding/anniversary cake serving set for the June wedding coming up & I thought they were in my cedar chest at the foot of the bed, in order to get IN it I had to clean it OFF.  it is the largest flat space in our bedroom therefore it collects a lot of clutter when trying to clear other flat spaces around the house so it was quite high.  I was able to clear it without any drama & only minimal sneezing from the dust the things had acquired.  Upon finding the cedar chest FULL I decided to re-thing everything in it.  My infant clothes that were hand made-Keep, my christening gown-Keep, a bag of books from Tim's childhood-Keep, wedding cake top from a now divorced couple-TOSS, barbies in great condition- pull out to re-home, baby doll kit w/handmade blanket & pillow-pull out to re-home, giant plastic ducky bath toy-pull out to re-home, my graduation robe-pull out for childcare dress up box JUST to name a few.... In all, I was able to put in a king size quilt that had been storing under the bed and filled a kitchen size trash bag between the top & inside of the cedar chest.  THAT FEELS GOOD & It wasn't even on a list either.

Right now, I am in a 'get it out' mood so I am being rather ruthless with things that aren't handmade, used regularly or loved deeply.  Several things are leaving the house this weekend, others next week.  Spring Fling, I think so!! :)