This is our alternative to building a screened-in porch. Assembly required a good 3 hours of our working together. When that was accomplished we then sat in our swing with a bowl of fat-free yogurt, topped with fresh strawberries and almond slices. It even started to rain, but we stayed anyway.




And here are my 2 new flower beds. The top one is planted with wildflower seeds from Makenna's and Andrew's wedding. The lower bed is only partially done (want to expand it later), but it's a difficult place to mow because of the steep incline. Am hoping the seedum plants will provide a ground cover. Of course, that lower part is also a highway for deer...we'll see what happens.

Wedding weekend.....

and these pictures are in random order...hey, I just wanted to get them posted.


Austin (brother of the bride) and his wife, Alissa...absolutely pooped!




And Keely thinks her daughters are hams for the camera????
(We're all gathered in Dale's basement watching Makenna and Andrew open their gifts.)




Saying goodbye (Keely, Deb, Maynard, Mom, Steve)



More goodbyes (Keely aka "Schmeel", Deb, Mom, Phil)




Walking Mom and Maynard to their car as they leave the party




Watching gift opening




Sister shot (great, except Mary and Marti are only 1/2 there)



Here we go... (Mary, Deb, Penni, Dee, Lori, Marti)



family photo (front: Penni, Lori, Deb. Back: Phil, Mom, Dee, Marti)



These are our relatives from the back woods.



Me with Uncle Fudge (Darwin)



Mom and Lori at the reception



Makenna...just too cute!!!!




Makenna visiting with Uncles Larry and Bill



Deb and Bill



Dee and Mom (Deb and Lori in the background)



Marti, Zeke, Steve




Makenna and Jesse during $ dance



Jesse ushering Grandma to her seat



Me and my wonderful husband

PIGMAN TRIATHALON SPRINT 2007


Kevin and I got up early to go watch 3 friends compete in the Pigman. Kevin competed last in 2004...the year we met. He met another teacher from his building at the Pigman today and they decided to compete next year as a team...she will run, Kevin will ride bike, and they just need to find a 3rd teammate to do the swim.



Nadine and Kevin teamed up in 2004. She ran and Kevin rode.




Dan...can you believe he's 5o???!!




Belinda's first time in the Pigman....just out of the water. (She's always smiling...I mean always!)



Belinda coming in for her finish.



Jennifer...mother of 3 little boys! (Sorry, Jen....but my camera just doesn't snap (doesn't that word imply instantaneous??) pictures. But you looked great!!)



Belinda and Dan...after the finish. Then rushed home so they could get to church.

Kevin asked me if I want to go for a walk (right now it's not raining...today has been wierd...rain, then sun, then rain, then sun and blue sky, then rain, then sun...so we're going...be back later to post more pics)
But for the new pics posted below from wedding weekend:


Bocce Ball in Dale's back yard. (Julie, Steve...measuring distance..., Keely, Jon)



Julie's school work...of course she brought it along...to share with all of us. We were tearing apart printed euros for her students. She was very clear in stating that Kevin and I cannot take any with us to France this summer.



More helpers....



and more yet.



The sibs: Phil, Deb, Dee, Penni, Marti, Lori



More Bocce ball

OK...I'm back.
The weekend of Makenna's and Andrew's wedding (and I'll try to post those pics of family members tomorrow...be patient), Deb and Bill stayed with us. Bill was in the area on business, but needed to get back home...so Deb was able to hang around here an additional day. We went in the back yard to play Snake Toss (Jesse thought it was called Snake Balls...oh well) and the gnats were biting something fierce...so we got out the gnat hat for Deb to wear. Here she is, folks:



Now tell me, my siblings and Mom....does this not look exactly like her as a young girl posing for the movie camera? She still looks so innocent...







Deb in action


At last....time and weather finally permitted an evening of paddling at the lake.



Kevin with his new Werner paddle...weighs only 28 oz and he's loving it.
The water was perfect....like glass or rather, like a mirror.



We paddled all the way to the far end of the lake just to enjoy the beauty of this spot



We just sat in our kayaks, watching and listening. At one point there was a chorus of bullfrogs. We never saw any...but we suspect they were talking about us.




This is the Love Boat....check out the lower left corner of the pic....2 small yellow dragonflies. Seriously, I think he's connected to her head!!!! I tried to blow up and crop the photo, but can't figure that out yet.



Look at that incredibly calm water. Thank you, Kevin for introducing me to this great pasttime. It's the best!!