The Flower Gardens Are Doing Well

This past week some more colors popped

in the flower gardens - the weather warmed

up a bit so everything is looking great.

These peonies by the flagpole are about

to open - these were transplanted in 2017

from Aunt Loretta's patch - this is the first

year that they are really budding.

The yellow bearded iris is doing well and

so pretty.

The Coral Belle is growing in several different

spots 

And look - all of the 2nd pumpkin seed plants 

are thriving and growing, growing.   

The heat as you can see is also making 

the weeds grow too!

Some Forest Flowers

We spent some time in the woods last

weekend - I had my eyes peeled looking

for ladyslippers (didn't see any where we

were riding 4-wheeler) - I was a bit 

surprised since there is lowland in that area

and it was pretty wet/swampy in areas.

We did see these though and some

beautiful purple flowers that I didn't

get a picture of.

We have had some recent rains so 

everything is holding up nice and green.

Baptism

A week ago we celebrated the

baptism of Grand #4, our granddaughter.

The church is old and filled with

beautiful stained glass windows, they

celebrated its' 100th anniversary 

back in 2016.

Grand #4 was baptized in a gown that has

been handed down generations.   It was

made by a Great Great Great Grandmother and

is believed to be 104 years old.  The gown 

consists of two layers - a long slip and then

the gown which is adorned with tatting and

buttons in the back.  

That we are aware of it was made for a first

born child (a son) who was born in 1915 and 

also wore by their additional six children (one

being Great Great Grandfather Edward Hoefs)

 - then his six children also wore the gown.

Followed by Grand #4's father (Lineman Son)

and her brother, Grand #2.

We are unaware if any others wore the gown -

being such a large family it certainly

would be possible.

The Lord has blessed Grand #4 and all

of us as she joined our family!

 Hubby and I with Grand #4

Family - a very special day!

Circus

Last week I went to the Circus ~ it has been

a long, long time since I have gone to a circus.

They have changed a bit.... 

There was no Big Top tent, nor three rings

There wasn't really the excitement that

should be at a circus ~ but our group had

a good time.

The Circus today was in a Barn, as

you can see here and we sat on regular bleachers

not the red circus bleachers where you

sit just on a narrow red board.

There were camels - they appeared

to be white camels 

There was a large horse and a miniature

that were in the ring at the same time.

Acrobats that really did a great job

but the little kids probably didn't think so

And the elephant who appeared at the

end of the show.   

It is definitely a new kind of circus

complete with expensive $10 and $20

popcorn, sparkly glowing toys that were

presented to the children but only if

the parents paid (all of the children I saw

did really well in saying no).

And the rides were not busy --  Monster

Truck rides, Camel rides, pony rides and I

don't think I saw anybody on the 

elephant rides.

Today's circus, a bit different from the 
good ol' days.  

The animals were a hit but so was the
dirt bikes riding the inside of the metal
sphere - actually four dirt bikes at a time.

Sometime I will dig out some memories
of the last circus I went. 

Color This Week

The purple and white bearded iris' are in

full bloom and they are beautiful (purple

is one of my favorite colors)

What I call "wild honeysuckle" - do you 

remember pinching the ends off and 

sucking on it?   Some may refer to it as

"wild columbine".   In parts of my garden

it is growing out of control, so I will be

removing some of it.

And more purple in some of 

my pots ~ 

It is the first day of summer - ENJOY!

Critters Are Healthy

 Last week the veterinarian came to take

care of the horses - she also takes care

of the cats and dogs while she is here.

This is an annual visit and is always

a nice visit.

The dogs check-up went great ~ 

This gal is one of the old ones in the bunch -

we have only had cats two different times.

She is still from the first cats we had, she

is now 14 years old and still very spry.

These two are brothers and will be three

in the fall.   They are healthy big boys at

12 and 14 lbs. - they have helped

tremendously with our mouse population

and occassionally a chipmunk.  

Now the reason we have a horse vet - these 

two boys for the most part are now retired but

I sure still enjoy my time with them daily.

Ace ~ now 17 years old and losing more of his

color every year.  He is getting pretty white.

Ace (knock on wood) hasn't had any hoof 

issues since his last episode healed up

last summer.  He has been a lucky guy

several times!

Rusty ~ now 24 years old, he looks great but

does have an issue with a fatty lump that has

attached to one side of his thyroid (there is

no medication) that will take care of it.   It 

doesn't bother him, it just looks funny on 

the one side.  He has slowed down no longer

races (should say no longer beats Ace

across the pasture).  He is our big guy that

spent many days in the mountains working

hard.   He is retired.

Our vet visit goes so smooth - I think we were

done in 30 minutes and than add 30 minutes

of visiting.    :)    Always a good day!

Where Did The Week Go

For some reason this past week got

away from me...   We worked alot on the

yard which seems to be what we
do around here.

We mowed again, the weeding is done
for the most part for now, we
fertilized some trees and did 
some weedwacking.

And the Martin House (Martin Barn) 
is now up.

We attempted to place it away from buildings
and some trees but I wanted it where I 
could see it - it is out in our pasture but
I can see it from the house and the deck.

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One evening we took in the Cruise In car

show at a nearby town.

On the beach... and 275+ cars

This time they even parked cars on the beach,
it was a beautiful night and  there were many 
cool cars!

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It has cooled down again and we have gotten
some rain (which we needed) - I am looking
forward to some warm weather.  This
last week we had a morning again with 
34 degrees (that is too cool for the month
of June).   Come on summer!

Starting to Get Some Color in the Yard (other than birds)

My fern peony is budding and has

opened up.... three buds this year!

Yeah!   I consider this plant a project, it

was planted in 2012, progress seemed very

slow so I moved it in 2014 and it has done well.

The little purple iris' are appearing - other 

than my peonies these are the oldest plants

in the garden - iris' coming from the old

 homestead.

A little creativity with an old strainer

and the wire hooks I removed from a

new plant that weren't needed.

Did some rearranging on yard decor - this one

needs to have some weeding or fixing done

around the chair.   The other gardens are now

done (yeah) and just doing some moving of

perennials and trying to clean up some

crowded space!    Three new perennials didn't 

make it from last year but that is OK - I am not

replacing them  :)   

Hope your day is great!