Time is Flyin By!

We picked some more cucumbers and zucchini and tomatoes from the garden late last week!  I told Patrick to be in "canning mode" in a week or two, because the bounty cometh! ;)  He arranged the produce and sent this photo to the neighbor with the caption:  "Our garden is happy!" ha

Been visiting with my oldest sister--she is back for a visit.  Seen my other siblings at my folks' 65th Wedding Anniversary saturday, as well as other family members.  Was a good time--my niece made and brought the cake from Texas--and it survived the trip (with two kids!) unscathed. ;)
Saturday Pat and I also made it to his brother John and Pam's wedding....it was a long day, but a good one seeing happy family!

We got a couple of nice rains, now the heat is here (and humidity). It's summertime for sure!!
I had transplated my HorseCrippler Cactus (don't know it's real name!) and it's happy and blooming. We found it in the pasture when we lived in Texas, and I dug it up and brought it with us here. It takes welding gloves and a steady hand when messing with it...the spikes are hard and tough and its heavy. Since it grows low to the ground, and is not easily seen, hence the Horse Crippler name (hoof injury when stepped on).

You can see the lattice panel (new!) on the porch.  Pat got the 'roof' on it as well--it's totally awesome (I think!)   Yes, I planted the cactus in an old oblong cast iron pot.  I think it was used for rendering lard.  It has a crack down one side, so I re-purposed it! ;) 

Kyle has been working late closing....he thinks its funny to wake me up when he gets home. Ahhh it's nice of him to let me know he's home, but not good if I can't get back to sleep! :(

Finally heard from Jared (a week later!!) and he's made some requests for the care package.  I don't think he knows mail gets "cut off" July 1......we can't send anything after that or he won't get it.  (Yes, mail is *that* slow!!)  By the time he gets it he'll probably forget what he requested!

Lazy Weekend!

We got 2" of rain this past week--a Blessing for sure!  The cracks in the ground are gone out front, but are not completely filled in out by my clothesline.  Am hoping to get some more rain this week!

Heard from Jared via FB.  Doin' good thus far.  He hasn't got our letters yet, the mail is s-l-o-w there.  I'm going to work on a "care package" to send him this week.  To include things he likes:  Shotgun News, Swedish Fish....repeat! HA  If friends and family would like his mailing addy; email, text or drop me a note in the comment section.

Kyle is back to work for now at Pizza Hut.....not totally sure of his "plans" for now.  I think he needs a gentle push in the right direction.  If he drags his feet too long, it'll be a not-so-gentle push! :)  ha

Saturday and Sunday Patrick and I didn't do too much.  Took some time off and just relaxed.  We grilled steaks for Fathers' Day and at his request I made creamed cabbage for him (one of his favorites).  We also had green beans with bacon, some cake and watermelon later.  Neither of us ate all of the steaks...and we were rightfully stuffed!  It'll all make for a good 'repeat' meal with the leftovers. :)

The creamed cabbage recipe is from an old (long gone) diner from my hometown--Ulbricks.  They served everything Family Style.....they had the best fried chicken and creamed veggies.  When the cow is in milk, I "use up" lots of milk making creamed veggies--Ulbricks' style. :) 

And that's the 'short version' of happenings around here this past week!

Jared called....twice! :)

We got a call around 7 am this morning from Jared, he was leaving for his FOB and wasn't sure when he'd be able to talk to us on a phone again. :(
Yesterday morning he called at 3:30 am! :)  But it was really good to hear from him.....and I reminded him he *can* write to us folks back home! :) ha

Now we start a countdown clock to when he gets home; and we're not sure exactly of when that is.  This fall or winter.....maybe sooner?  One never knows for sure, the Military likes changing their minds!

We just pray and hope all goes well and he returns home soon safely to us all. 

Kyle is home!

Patrick got a call around noon yesterday (I was already at work) to come pick Kyle up in Lincoln.  It seems when they were doing the Physical Testing part at MEPS, there was a popping noise when Kyle did a pull up and the instructor made him stop.
They basically told him to come back in three weeks and try again. 
His arms are sore (inside of the elbows) but otherwise he is fine.

I'm not minding him being home longer, but I don't think he is! ;)

Kyle headed West!

One of the Sergeants took this for us-Patrick, Kyle and me ;)

I'm not short--they're just extra tall (ha ha ha)

Saturday we took Kyle and his GF out for Chinese at our little restaurant in Fairbury.  He did a good job of running around and sayin' 'Bye to folks!  
Sunday afternoon we took him up to the Marine Recruiters' Station in Lincoln to drop him off--with a stop at Dairy Queen for treats on the way.  From there he went to the MEPS station (with the other two fellows who also enlisted) in Omaha.  Today they leave for San Diego for Boot Camp.  It'll be a loooong 3 months for them all.

Jared called Friday night, it was 5 am where he was--it was really good to hear from him.  Not sure when we'll hear from him next, he'll be out in the boondocks for awhile! :(

I took the empty the hay trailer over Saturday to get loaded, we picked it up on our way back from Lincoln Sunday.  I bought some Chocolate Mint and Orange Mint....now I have to figure out where I'm going to plant them!

Thursday night when I came home from work there was a dog in my back pasture (not mine!) and had killed two older hens and one younger one and had mauled my rooster (he was alive--lost LOTS of feathers).  There went 1/3 of my laying flock......anyhow I was p.o.'d (understatement) and the owner got lucky it wasn't a dead dog.  It will be if it happens again--the owner was warned.    It wasn't totally the dogs' fault, it was the owners' fault for not keeping it where it belonged, and not knowing where it was/what it was doing. 
The cows actually went after the dog--the owner had better thank their lucky stars it left them alone.

That's the news for the past few days.....I'm sure Kyle's kitty will be a rebel soon enough from missing him.  (She's a Naughty Cat in the first place!) ;)