Long Ago....

Have You Heard....

That Spring Has Arrived...

The grass is green and finally some rain will bring some flowers...

Spring fever has also appeared...

I have had it myself, part of a day off to catch up

on the house... soon to start some spring cleaning...

Spring also brings the end of the school year and celebrations...

sometimes there is no need for a celebration other than it is

FRIDAY!

This weekend is our schools PROM -- a time for dressup,

dates, fancy meals and fun for the high school students.

Now to the real purpose of my post -- Have You Heard...

that Minnesota Highways were most deadly last week...

in four days 16 people died of which 7 were teenagers.

The newspapers are full of questions/answers in regards

to the age of our drivers and their drivers education.

My job involves those under 18 years of age and although they

want to say us adults are: strict, too tough, ask to many questions,

just prying into their lives, and even ruining their lives... and on and on...

I hope deep down (even just a little bit) that they know we care...

I hope through this fun grown-up weekend the students in our

community do just that --- act grown-up and responsible

so that their families, friends and even strangers do not have

to read about any tragic accidents come Monday morning.

My thoughts and prayers go to all those touched by the unnecessary

loss of 16 people last week and especially to those who were

simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

My bet is that all involved in those tragedies wish to take those days

back and replay them....with a happy ending.

Shoot Me! 17 of 52

This past weekend was busy with my parents'

pig sale --- the sale of young pigs to young people

for showing at the county fairs.....

This picture is of us gals who pretty much clerk

the sale under our supervisor "Mom"....

(myself, Sharon, Mom)

Sharon and I issue out bidding numbers and

take payment at the end.

Mom keeps track of all of the bidding and records the

final price!

Shoot Me! was started by Forever in Blue Jeans -

instead of always being behind the camera start

today and be in front of it!

For more pictures click here.

To The Highest Bidder!

Sale Goers!

These little piggys go to market the FAIR!

This past weekend my parents had their (what is now) an annual hog sale -- where they and another (or two) breeders get together in one location and offer state fair eligible stock (young pigs) that young people can use for the local fairs. It seems like it may now be five years that they have been doing this.

Dad works towards this all year long -- deciding what breeding line to use with the stock he already has; determining what boar pigs should be used for artificial insemination; planning the farrowing time so the young are eligible for state fair and of course the farrowing and raising of those little pigs. Oh and don't forget the daily chores, the earnotching, teeth clipping and castrating of those little boar pigs and clean barn duty! - now that Mom is retired she gets recruited to help, too!

The end of each April, Dad and Big Kenny gather for an afternoon of PIG BLISS! It is all about the PIGS --- old people, young people and PIGS! Big PIGS, Little PIGS, Purebred PIGS, Crossbred PIGS...Just PIGS!

Well that is enough blogging for this entry --- I'm very frustrated (takes all the fun out of it) --- thanks to Mom she figured out the old editor issue but good grief.... I could get the pictures loaded but not where I wanted them -- couldn't move them, couldn't move the text. Ugh! I had this post done early yesterday evening (easy peasy) another day later it still isn't done the way I want it. .... I quit on this entry!

Trouble? YAHOO FIXED!

THANK YOU -- for all your bits of information. It was the "updated editor" versus the "old editor"..... Right now I guess I love the old editor. Thanks Mom at West Side of Straight for figuring this out....

Hey I'll have a post later tonight!


Getting my post ready tonight and I was ready for the pictures --- Ugh... I get a different screen for uploading images..... It lists: Pictures from my blog; Picasso or URL --- I don't get the choice to search for one from my picture files...

Anybody else having trouble?

What do I do -- I have a post already to go on --- :(

Tuesday Treasures

Since this week most of the posts will be featuring

pigs -- I found this cute picture from 1993....

Lineman Son (with grandpa) would have been 4 yrs old and here

he is sporting his "zuba" pants and holding

a baby pig -- looks like that pig is probably a "blue butt" or

in other words a white pig with a grey bluish speckled rump...

Tuesday Treasures is a time to pick out one of those old

but goody pictures and share it with you all!

Father - Son

A recent picture I took inspired me to do a post on fathers and sons.

I grew up in a family of three girls -- so the father and son in my life are Hubby and Lineman Son.

Are fathers and sons alike? --  ~sometimes~

The father and son I know have many of the same interests - ~they

both enjoy the outdoors and both take pride in their automobiles

specifically their trucks!~

I have seen Lineman Son do many things in his actions that remind

me of Hubby -- especially that grin from ear to ear

complete with dimples! ~I'll have to catch that picture~

But I had no idea!  You have to see this...

This picture was taken at the "hog sale" (another post coming this week)

the guys had just been loading pigs into a guys' truck - small enough

pigs that they could carry out to the truck as they returned

I snapped this picture.

They are pretty much walking the same...arms and hands about

the same --- same expression...

Love ya guys!

Weddings....

We have two weddings in the very near future -

A niece in the month of May and

a cousin in the month of June.

So that means showers....

Today we attended the niece's shower - the

flower bouquets were beautiful and daughter

won one of them!  Yahoo -- I get to enjoy these beautiful

spring colors!

The bride-to-be received many nice gifts - part

of the shower we worked on a hands-on craft.

These are fabric pom poms - these are ones that are

finished... it was announced that they still had 80-some

to complete.  They will be hung at the wedding and

at the reception... it takes fabric, glue guns - folding and gluing

and "LOTS" of patience.

This is the bride-to-be showing us some of the

finished pom poms.  She even has plans for the

pom poms after the wedding...one being as decorations

on their Christmas tree.

To be continued after their wedding in May.....

Have A Grand Saturday

This photo was taken quite a few years ago at a nearby

refuge -- it was a beautiful fall day.

It is a busy Saturday here in our country 

 maybe post tonight - you

all have a wonderful day!

Sum..Sum..Summertime Bargain Hunting....

A few weeks ago I began my search after others in blogland

either had giveaways or highly recommended

(if you can find it) the Flea Market Style magazine.

So I set out on my search... Walmart, Walgreens, our local

grocery stores.... the website indicated the "hot spots"

that the magazine had been sighted... one was in the

State of Louisiana where my sister lives -- no luck?

So to the local bookstore I went -- they had had other requests

and were taking names in case they came across some

more of the magazines.

Today I had a message from the bookstore -- wahooo!

a magazine was being held at the store for me --

This magazine "Flea Market Style" -- some items looked familiar -

if I find that I already have the magazine it will make an excellent

giveaway.  There are some wonderful ideas and this magazine

even says "Back by Popular Demand Second Printing"...

I wonder how many people are really looking for this

I'll still be searching because now I just have to have it -

just like that  bargain hunting...

Has anybody seen this magazine - the one with

the blue walls?

--------------------

Shoot Me! 16 of 52

Imagination this week you may need
for my Shoot Me! contribution --

Apparently I was too busy this week or didn't plan well enough

to get me in some photos --

We weren't boring -- hubby and I had two evenings out

and both days of the weekend I spent horsin' around...

I did some ditch cleaning this week, watched a

bit of American Idol and signed Lenny and I

up for a dog training class. 

And I did take some pictures...

On a drive over the weekend I found this gurgling

river running....

I could have pulled out my lawn chair and

just sat and listened....

I also took some snapshots at the little

country cemetery just down the road...

We have another busy weekend -- I will do
some better planning and think about ME!

 Shoot Me! was started by Forever in Blue Jeans

to get those behind the camera out in front of it once
a week. It can be a challenge and sometimes means
you do self portraits -- Come on and join the fun every
Thursday - to see others click here.

Tidbits and More!

We are slowly turning to green.... this field was just planted within

the last couple of weeks -- it is a very bright green

The farmers are ahead of schedule with the small grain

planting and I know we saw a field last week or so

being planted with seed potatoes.

We still haven't seen any rain but it looks like that may be

on the agenda for the weekend -- it would be nice we

need it badly (even Lenny runs and kicks up the dust!)

Dad's little piggies going to market  the auction sale --- to be sold

to families for showing!  Those kids will feed them, work with

them and finally show them at various County Fairs this

summer ---

----------

Busy  times coming up as each family member

is going a different direction.  

--------

Oh My Goodness -- you all are busy posting about your

gardens and planting and so on....

Look what I just found on my countertop!

WOW - the last time I looked I didn't have any black soil

on my countertop  -- it is huge!

Happy mid-week to everybody -- now the countdown to

the weekend!

Tuesday Treasures

One of my treasures

My "little girl" who loves those four-legged

friends as much as I do...

here she is hugging Sheba, one of our very

loyal Chow Chows.

Sheba was a playmate for many of those younger years...

My two little treasures....

Time spent with the other Chow Chow, TC.

I'm not sure who loved the other more... the kids

or the dogs.

This is one of my all-time favorite pictures -- certainly

a treasure of my two little treasures

 -- whom I love with all my heart!

As they both grow into adulthood I watch as they

take steps farther and farther away and

as I watch them I smile (yes, with tears) --- because at one

time I carried each of them near my heart

now I carry them in my heart!

It Was A Summer Like Weekend...

We just had a wonderful "summer like" weekend

here in Minnesota....

So we grilled out! 

My most recent "money-saving"

grocery item ---  I've been buying the large 5 lbs and larger

of the pork loin -- we put it in the freezer 'til firm then

Hubby slices it in 1" pork chops and we've been

sealing them up in convenient meal size packages

and putting them in the freezer.  The last one we

sliced 20  porkchops -- that is less than $1.00 a porkchop

and they are so delicious!

I have to thank one of my co-workers for this wonderful

idea --  they are so good.

This weekend I didn't get into my flower gardens -- didn't

start the windows

but I did get the inside of my car clean and

worked a couple of the horses both days!

The weekends are not long enough - I'm still washing clothes!

Lineman Son after 15 days on storm duty returned home

for some R and R.  He will find out in the next couple

of days what the crew will be doing next.

This is a new tower.

Springtime --  filled with prom, wedding showers

and weddings will keep us busy the next few

weeks.

NOTHING BETTER THAN

A SUNNY WEEKEND!!

Shoot Me! 15 of 52

Last weekend the guys hauled in two loads of wood - the

first load they just dumped -- I surprised Hubby and finished

stacking off this row -- Surprise!  On me, he didn't notice!

I had to tell him!

The next day we stacked the second load -- what

a nice job to have done....  this keeps our shop

toasty warm in the winter for our little

shop gatherings and Hubby's projects....

Shoot Me! was started by Forever in Blue Jeans

to get those behind the camera out in front of it once

a week. It can be a challenge and sometimes means

you do self portraits -- Come on and join the fun every

Thursday - to see others click here.

Dandelion Love!

The first blooming flower of the season I saw a day last week.

It is bright yellow and beautiful?

To some it is beautiful and to some it is strictly a WEED!

An interesting spin on determining whether or not you are loved. Instead of picking the petals off a daisy, try blowng the seeds off a dandelion.  It's said that if you can blow all the seeds off with one blow, then you are loved with a passionate love. If some seeds remain, then your lover has reservations about the relationship. If a lot of the seeds still remain, then you are not loved at all, or very little.

        "Dandelion Folklore"

Hmmm.... I think I will stick to the "Do you like butter?" -- rub the yellow

dandelion under your chin and if it leaves a yellow mark ---  AHA!  You like butter!

"Elementary Playground Fun"

Tuesday Treasures

This is a well used picture! One of my favorites-

definitely a Tuesday Treasure!

It has hung on my fridge - that is why the dots and lines -

a weathered time look.

Hubby and Lineman Son probably 10 years ago now

looking out over Theodore Roosevelt Park in

North Dakota.

Hubby's thirty-something birthday - the kids were

so excited to give Dad gifts.

Another thirty-something birthday --

Hubby on one of his 4-wheeler adventures - here

he is maneuvering this rocky trail.

Happy Birthday Honey!

If you wish to join Tuesday Treasure - just include your link

in your following comment.

Tidbits and More!

It was a wonderful spring weekend...

Some projects now complete -

Extra time with the horses and some R and R with Hubby.

As the sun went down...

I am reminded of all the things I am thankful for.

Thank you God!

----------------

And before I forget I've been tagged by Rae at Weathervane.  The rules are

to post your tenth picture that you downloaded into picaso or photo folder

and then blog about it.  Then tag 5 others to do the same. 

If you wish to play along please do so if not that is OK.

A similar picture would have been posted before - this

was taken last summer at a local farm -

there are actually two black horses in this picture

(eight legs and two tails).

I am tagging:

The Goodwife -- Goodwife Farm

Nagle5 News

A & MD Ranch

Misha at From My Front Porch

The Hohman Homestead

Have fun!

Busy Day Here

The ol' tractor was working again today.....

hauling wood in to be stacked...

Ace and Smoke took turns spending time

with the "patience" tree...

and we took a closer look at those baby pigs...

These two Duroc barrows are littermates --

they got their start thanks to goats milk

following the death of their momma.

The one on the left is the smallest in the

litter -

If you enjoy "country" pictures -- check out my

photo blog Livin' It Up Country Photos.

This Little Piggy....

This time of year also brings 4-H pigs -- they have to be on our place no later than May 15th -- which is just around the corner.    Our county fair is the end of July.

The daughter is down to how many years left?   Who knows at this point - she has this year and at the most an additional 2 years left?  They can show the year they graduate from high school and the next year.   That next year is always a difficult one because usually the kids are in college. 

This weekend we will be visiting the Duroc breeder -- Duroc (der ock) is the breed of swine that we get.  Grandpa raises registered durocs - he's already been checking them out and we received an email tonight.

Look at this one!

This little guy isn't even 8 weeks old - he is looking good...

 This little guy and his litter mates

have quite the story they started out on goats milk.

Will post more pictures later! 

This is a picture from the county swine show last year.

A New Season -

With Spring arriving, it means in Minnesota we are spending time in a new season....a season when everything comes alive!  No more snow of the winter and the anticipation of the soon-to-be flowers  and gardens right around the corner.

I'm wondering what wildflower surprise the Hoefs Rock will have.  The Hoefs Rock is a very large rock Hubby hauled in last year and then we planted wildflowers around it.  See last years'  beautiful flowers.

It is yet another season in the country - dusty road season!

And don't forget cleaning ditches season...

Another new season is my Weight Challenge  "I'M BACK"!!

I had a good night at the scale (finally) - goals for next week:

**Continue drinking water
**Lessen my pop consumption - one pop a day or none by July 1st.
**No snacking at my desk
**No snacking after 8:00 pm
**Soup or salad once a day (usually lunch)

Another WW lifetime member made a comment regarding exercise.  It is noted that you don't have to exercise to lose weight but it is recommended that you do exercise.  Another lifetime member agreed with me in that she has to exercise - she has too!   That is exactly how I feel = if I miss more than one day my body begins to ache.   ...and why does it feel like you are starting all over again!

Another new season is coming up -- in May it will be a year since I starting blogging and over 300 entries on Livin' It Up Country not to mention the number of pictures and other stories posted on my other blogs.  And I noticed today I have some new followers - why?   I always wonder why a new follower pushes that button  except it must be like myself you either enjoyed a story, a poem or a photo and thought hey interesting folks or hey they are kinda like me ---whatever your reason I hope you enjoy your visit and maybe even "smile" about  something you saw or read about here in my part of the country!

On the other side I see some bloggers hanging it up... I will miss their stories and especially their pictures!  I know it can be overwhelming and sometimes downright addicting....but I enjoy blogging in moderation - some like to watch tv (I don't watch much) -- some like to read (I like to read also but when I do I  make time for that)...  I enjoy taking pictures and blogging has been a creative outlet for that and I've come to enjoy what blogging does -- it makes me always look for things of interest. 

Now some country pictures:     "Enjoy"

and Tigger found a new place to take a nap or

is he just keeping the cardinal company!