Another beautiful day

The progress on the pavilion is great. Despite the wind and the cold the guys have been cookin' right along. I snapped a few shots today between laundry, crochet and baking about 5 dozen cookies...... Yummy ;-)




















This little ditty is called a Crinoline Lady Motif. I found some of these when I was searching eBay to see what type of crocheted goods were selling and decided to try one myself. This was the only free pattern I've found for Crinoline so far, but will keep looking because there are some really intricate ones out there. Its an interesting and pretty thing, though I'm not sure what I would do with it. It could be a doily, be stitched to a pillow or matted and framed if you like that sort of thing. The colors on this didn't photograph well. For some reason the dark purple yarn photographs blue. This one is quite large; like everything else I crocheted it from light weight yarn rather than thread. Its 18x20 inches top to bottom and side to side.

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8 years of love

Not the best photo, I admit, but the most recent I found of Bubba and I. This shot was taken after services on the day we became members of the Heritage United Methodist Church.

Today we celebrated 8 years of wedded bliss. Its hard to believe we've been together 9 years. Time flies when you're memory is spiratic. HA HA HA Just kidding.

Our relationship has been like few I've ever heard of. for the first 5 years no one would believe we weren't newlyweds. We've never faught, not even really argued. We've disagreed on things and been disappointed in one another at times, but never angry. We made one agreement with each other when we met; "If you think it, you say it." If you have a feeling or an idea, share it. It doesn't matter how trivial, positive or negative it might be; its in the open.

It was difficult at first. It was a learning process for both of us, but we were determined to follow the one rule we set for ourselves. We told each other where we thrive and where we falter and agreed to help each other where we needed it. Now, 9 years later, we're nearly one person. We've both gotten much stronger in our faith these past 8 years and I know that is one of the greatest bonds we share. We've been through some difficult times. There were days when I raced him to the ER and wasn't sure if he would come home with me. But he always did and he's feeling better now, most days, than he has in years.

I thank the Lord every day for bringing Robert Allen Brooks into my life. :-)

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Up She Rises

And the beat goes on.

Some folks need a hand when they work. Jerry needs a foot. Contracting polio at age 7, he walks on crutches and his legs are supported by braces from the thigh down. To say the least, he is amazing! He works at ground level and occasionally needs someone to stand on the board while he cuts. Today I saw him working on a ladder. He's a contractor that doesn't let the world get him down.

I'm trying to be inconspicuous and have been taking these photos thru my living room window. They turned out pretty well considering they're taking through glass ............. glass that hasn't been washed in ages. ;-)

Yesterday I remembered that I used to be good at pool. Not as good as Bubba, of course, but not bad. There is a pool table in the clubhouse/office and we had fun challenging each other while we did laundry.




Today we received word that Bubba has lost two family members. He's been disconnected from his family, by mutual agreement, for several years and it was unexpected to receive contact. It wasn't a big surprise that his father had passed away as he was in his 80's and not in good health. It was a surprise, however, to find out that he had lost a son. Please keep Bubba in your thoughts and prayers. He's very strong and is handling it like a champ, but I know it hurts him terribly.

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After the bath; before the brush

Its true. Those of us who have no children look at the world and our pets differently than those who have. God has given each of us an immense capacity to love and has given most women, though sometimes dormant, a maternal instinct.
I believe that my maternal instinct is completely put upon this poor little dog. ha ha ha Mijo has been with us well over 6 years and we hope he will be with us for many years to come. Most days we are attached at the hip. If I'm at my desk he's under it. If I'm on the sofa he's next to me. If I sit in my chair he's in my lap for at least 10 minutes before moving to his favorite hiding place. If I'm in the shower, he's in the bedroom, keeping his eye on both Bubba & I. BUT ......... When I head for the shower and use the words MIJO BATH, he mysteriously goes deaf and cowers in the living room. He desperately needs a hair cut but its just been too cold. I can't, in good conscience, trim him short and take him outside when the weather is in the teens and twenties. I don't have the talent to trim him without taking it too short so he'll just have to live with polar bear paws. This picture was taken today, after the bath and before the brush.

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Workamping

Before you go crazy and tell my I can't spell, check out this web site: www.workamping.com
The idea of work camping was something I first considered when we were RV shopping. I have been fixated on many other things since then and haven't thought about it since. Today I signed up on this web site and already received 10 listings, just posted today, of openings in RV Parks for the upcoming summer camping season. I'm hoping to secure a spot in a year round park in the South for next winter. We'll see what happens. I've created a workamper resume with all the pertinent info and my preferences. After reading the stories of others, it sounds like something that could be very rewarding.

The online home of Workamper News

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Angel Food in Arkansas

Though we thought we were cold ................ alas, we were confused. Despite the fact that we awoke to 11 degrees this morning; I was informed that the Angel Food Volunteers in Iowa enjoyed a balmy -12 while unloading the trailer in Cedar Falls. Yes, you read right, it was twelve degrees below zero there. BBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As reserved as ever, as you can see, Bubba jumped right in and enjoyed helping unload the truck and set up the table. The Host Site Director, Greg, brought his four teenagers to help and we enjoyed the company of several others we had met at church as well.
Tonight we're looking forward to a wild game feed and the beginning of Revival; my first. Rene is coming with us as well as Cecilia's Mom. The new pastor who has been "called" to the church will give his first message tonight and will continue to preach throughout the five night Revival. The congregation will then vote to decide whether they accept him as their new Pastor.



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Follow Bubba with a mop ........

Have you ever seen a grown man slobber?? Take a man who loves to fish to a Bass Pro Outpost for the first time and be prepared. ha ha ha
After a great tour of the Bass Pro Outpost and an interesting conversation with a Tracker Boat saleswoman, we headed across the parking lot to their restaurant on the river. Even though there was remodeling going on inside there was still a great experience to be had. Our server turned out to be from Denver, Iowa (small world) and she had worked at the Hy Vee grocery store in Waverly. We started the meal with an appetizer of Alligator tail and Jalepeno corn bread. Bubba enjoyed a shrimp and pasta dish while I had a fried catfish sandwich and homemade potato salad .............. YUMMY!

Once again; our greatest experiences and the most money we spend while 'making like tourists' is on food. Material things serve to clutter our little home and harbor notions of guilt eventually. An amazing meal and/or conversation are much more valuable to the two of us.

I'm very excited about the Angel Food Distribution tomorrow. Will try to remember the camera to share it with you all.

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PRAY OFTEN
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LAUGH OFTEN
LOVE MUCH