Sharing

Bumblebee and lightning bug sharing the wealth of pollen available from a sunflower. (Photo taken the end of August.)

I-is for Iris

Yes, I'm still here, living life with all of its up and downs, ever grateful for the solid rock of Jesus Christ through it all. I don't know how people manage without His strength. I know that some of the stuff we've dealt with since I last posted was only manageable through his grace. I also know that the blessings we've received during this time were also only through his grace!

The "Scribble Picnic" art cooperative I was part of came to an end last year. It did a good job of keeping me posting fairly regularly. Maybe I need to get back to using a theme. Hmm... I started going through the alphabet a few years back. Guess I'll try to continue with that. And who knows--maybe I'll pick up my colored pencils and throw in a scribble now and then!

Here's a bouquet of some of the iris, and a few roses, we gathered from around the yard last evening.

I give B. credit for getting them planted years ago. In fact, it looks like I did a post about all the varieties we had back in 2008. This link will take you there if you're interested in seeing them. Iris from 2008

Previously posted ABCs:

Apple, Blog, Cornflakes Candy, Cantata and Christmas, Draw This,  EEEEE, Family, Gum Ball Machine, HIE

Strawberry, anyone?

Strawberries are one of my favorite things we grow in our garden. I was just out there pulling weeds earlier this week and saw some little green berries just starting to form. Hooray! Before we know it they'll be large and red, destined for topping a bowl of ice cream or shortcake, or going into a pie, or going into the freezer to be enjoyed throughout the coming year!

Linking with Michael's Scribble Picnic. Check out this page for more fresh-picked strawberries!

Thanks to Sketch Dirt for guiding me through this drawing with her great instructional video.

Golden Pennies

Thirty-two pints of carrots finished out this year's gardening!

Some Questions, Some Answers

Who..... has continued to check in on my blog, even though I have been very lax about posting?  I don't really know, but hope that not everyone has given up on me!

What..... have I been doing all summer?  Well, there's been VBS, cat-sitting, serving free monthly meals with our church project, celebrating birthdays, taking a vacation with B, and trying to get the computer room/office in order, but probably nothing that really justifies my extended absence here.

When..... will I post again?  I would promise a post every week, or every few days, or... but I don't want to make any promises I can't won't keep.  ; )

Where..... did we go this summer?  Hmmm... that sounds like a post (or two) of its own.  I'll just give you this hint for now--it was farther north than Kansas!  (No fair giving it away in comments if you already know.)

Why..... don't I post some pictures?  I don't know.  Maybe I will!

Hey, western Kansas friend, R--this photo of our yuccas in bloom is for you!

Spud, our visitor for half the summer.

T (my brother) and Mom when we celebrated her birthday.

This is just a quilt I saw during our vacation.

See you next post!

Some September/October Stuff

Seven sweet kittens--do you see all of them?

A.'s prize-winning horseshoe pitching form.

Dahlia and cosmos by the barn.

T and M at her new place

T's first kitty, Spud. Only 5-6 months old here, I think he's going to be a Big cat!

We enjoy having friends over to fly kites. This looks much better if enlarged.
This is what's at the other end of those lines!

Our swing tree in October

Spring Blooms

I took photos of flowers.
I planned to blog.
It didn't happen.
But when I saw the asparagus was up and ready to eat, there was no doubt that Spring had happened, and I knew I'd better get something posted before it's suddenly Summer!

Hodge Podge

Stopped by for a brief visit with Uncle Neil on the way out to pick up T's stuff from college.

The liquid we saw in this truck made some interesting waves and splashes, especially as it slowed and turned.

This cross-eyed buffalo made me smile!

By the time we could mow the grass, it seemed like it could have been baled! And it was cold that day!

The roses were blooming nicely.

Hooray for ripe strawberries! We just don't have enough in our garden.

We do have plenty of cauliflower.

One of four scaredy-cat kittens!

Welcome, Spring!

B and I stopped at a greenhouse yesterday to get a few broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage plants. Ummm, we did that, but I think we brought home more pansies than veggies! So today, even though it was only 50-some degrees, B put out the garden stuff, and we set the pansies out along the south side of the house. (A garden photo would have just showed a row of milk jugs covering the plants.)
T has been home this past week on spring break from her freshman year at junior college 5 hours west of here. She left today to visit some friends before going back. K's final college spring break begins today, but she won't be home until she and a friend do some visiting elsewhere first for a few days.
Almost two weeks ago, B, M and I went to visit my mom for a few days. I was tempted to post a photo of her looking in the refrigerator, from when she was trying to load us up with food for the trip home. I think she'll appreciate this one better!

Thanks for the good visit, Mom!

He's Lost It

Yep, B's lost it! But that's a good thing. What he doesn't have anymore is the wound V.A.C. They took it off yesterday, and today the UPS guy stopped by to take it back to Texas! The sore isn't completely healed, but is almost there and is so much better than when we started. Now I "get" to play nurse for the next week, changing the dressing as needed.

I think we had record high temps for March 5 here. It was in the 80s! Unbelievable. B planted peas in our garden today.

Iris 23