New swings to the old Big T..

Yesterday Wally and I decided it was time to add some new swings to the boys old swing set, called the "Big T". I think we purchased it in 1983. We still have the rings and the trapeze bar but the swings are long gone. Also, we removed the old slide and added a nice new one. When grandparents have 7 grandchildren (and counting...) it's a good idea to have those swing sets functioning huh? We look forward to seeing Timothy, Luke, Hannah and Josiah in 2 weeks so that was good motivation! So after church, Daniel & Meghan and the children came over for an impromptu lunch so their children could try out the swings.

Preston likes both swings - the "baby" swing and the bigger swing.

Brooklyn liked the swing and Sean Patrick stayed in the baby swing the whole time we had our lunch. He was so content in it.

It was so comfortable here in the shade - no bugs yet - and to think we never sat out in this spot in our yard for a picnic as far as I can remember. It was so pleasant!

The fresh air and gentle swing lulled this little fella to sleep... isn't this cute?

Life is always better with good friends!

Happy Birthday today, dear friend!

Two months from today we'll be cruising Glacier Bay!

Happy Memorial Day

Today we relaxed after our busy weekend. It was cold and cloudy so there was no desire to be outside either. For supper Daniel, Meghan and the children came over and we grilled some brats and ate left-overs from the weekend hoopla. Brooklyn loves to listen to the old children records - most have a coordinating book to follow along while the story is being read. I am glad I kept these old relics - a record player with 45 and 33 1/3 speeds - remember that? (Even a cassette tape recorder is out-dated!)

Preston decided that he was old enough to enjoy the record player as well and he cuddled up next to his sister. Isn't this a sweet picture?

Here they are listening together. So cute.

And Sean Patrick didn't want to be left out of anything either! He knows if he is being ignored and wants to be where the action is..

He was happy to play here - as long as he knew Grandpa was close by watching him!

Grandpa gets his golden alumni pin!

A big day for "bumpa" - he received his golden alumni pin from his high school. Who would guess he was a 50 year alumni from high school?

Little grandson Sean Patrick was not too impressed though.

But Preston was and he wanted to go up and see his grandpa as soon as the graduation ceremonies ended.

Grandma was pretty happy to see him too!

In fact, we shared a pretty good laugh.

What was happening here was that Preston had this really adorable hat and every time we sat it on his head for a picture... well, can you guess the rest of the story? Hence, no picture with the cute hat...

Party weekend

Last evening we welcomed many of Wally's classmates to our home for the start of a fun weekend of food and fellowship. Here is what greeted them!

For more pictures check out www.hillcrestclassof1958.blogspot.com

(this is our 1924 model T)

Here we go, almost ready...

Well, today is the day company arrives - we are expecting about 40 people this evening and again tomorrow afternoon and evening as Wally's high school class mates join together for their big reunion. Since we live in town, we open our home for a central place to gather. I know folks will have a good time seeing each other again. Will they notice that the wallpaper from their 4 previous reunions is gone??

Here are some pictures of the living room. Lamps were added yesterday. Very cozy.

I love the new french doors. A bigger change then I had expected.

My grandfather used to sit in this rocking chair.

Even the piano got tuned!

Now, about the picture.... I was trying to find a picture that I felt suited the living room and all my nice art work is either winter scenes or wildlife scenes. I remember that I had stashed, under our bed, a picture from Wally's family. I don't remember ever liking it which is why it was relegated to its location under the bed! It had this strange frame with mirror all around it too.

The picture was actually one that had just been left in the house that Wally's family bought here in Fergus Falls in the 50's. It just stayed on the wall then but eventually, when they sold the house, they brought it home with them to Canada. We eventually became the owners.

Well, I hung it up, first as a joke, to see if Wally would notice it. However, it began to take on a new life of its own and when Meghan came over she pronounced it very good! So I dusted it off and polished it some, reglued some of the mirrors in the frame and then found out it had a name and an artist. It is "Song of Love" by M. Detlef and quite a relic.

So, here is our new spring artwork.

I don't expect any more changes in the near future. This is it, folks! Phew!

Rare sightings

No pictures with this post since the subjects were so rare... there were two rare sightings this week in River Oaks. First was the elusive indigo bunting. A fabulous bird that looks a beautiful shade of blue but the feathers are actually black! I tried to get a picture but he was gone so fast! Just get that seed and get out of there, is his approach. We have seen him three times so far.

The other really rare sighting was of Candis outside all day planting flowers, etc., and doing yard work. You have no idea how rare that sighting is. Usually once a year and that's it. Hmm...

Preston gets Grandma time!

Oh, for fun! This morning Preston got to come to Grandma's for a little while all by himself. He was such a happy boy. He loves all the toys and plays so great with them. He tells me everything he is doing and expects me to know everything he is saying.... He loves to hammer just like Daddy and Bumpa!

We made many trips to the toy closet in the basement and now he knows there is this big container of transformers. (I think Timothy and Luke introduced him to the cool things in this big container.)

Hammer, grandma!

And the Sesame Street clubhouse, which is now 29 years old, is still a highlight.

All the Sesame Street characters say Hi to you!

(And people thought I was too much when I would always have to find all the little pieces to our little boys toys before I put them away. Now who was the smart one? I am proud to say I have all the farm animals to the barn, all the people and cars to the Fisher price garage, all the pieces to the "lift and load" depot... I couldn't sleep well if something went missing! So silly but now I'm so happy I was so diligent!)

Sara's shower

On Saturday morning Sara was the center of attention at a sweet baby shower, hosted by her good friend (and maid of honor), Rachel. Here is Sara showing off the little sailor suit from me - I always had the boys in little sailor suits (much to John's displeasure I now learned..) and so I thought this might be perfect for a new grandson. :)

Sara's mom (on the left) and her Aunt came from western North Dakota for the weekend. This will be the first grandchild for Sara's parents and I know they will be wonderful grandparents!

This darling quilt is from Sara's grandma, Julia.

We had a nice brunch. Thank you, Rachel!

The all important "diaper genie!!" No more odors!

Hannah was all decked out in a pretty dress, fancy shoes a necklace and her hair adorable!

Josiah was as good as gold; happy to be on the floor playing, rolling, crawling (sort of) and just the most contented baby I've ever known.

Any advice?

I'm having a hard time deciding what goes where. I have more things then necessary for decorating and I know "less is more" so I am trying to make it look ...ah.... artistic? Here I have switched to pewter and took off the brass and hummels and vase. I would like to have a different picture but that will just have to wait until I find it. (I was going to check one out of the library but none of them were right.) I do like my great-Aunt's mantle clock there. Is this too symetrical? Too boring? I'll keep trying...

What do you think?

I'm in the process of moving things back into the living room; I'm still deciding what goes where - on the mantle, on the walls, etc. but here is how it looks right now. I think it's a nice change. We are on the look-out for new furniture but so far nothing has felt right. Most of furniture out there is just way too big and bulky. What do people do who live in small apartments?

Today the piano is getting tuned! Hooray! It really needs it.

I've already changed the things on the mantle after I took this picture. I left the clock there but now I have pewter candle sticks and a pewter teapot on it. I think I like the pewter better.

Wally is working on completing the french doors that open into the river room. They still have plastic wrap on them in this picture. They will be stained to match the rest of the living room. And once the trim is on, I will put the china back into the curio cabinet in the corner. Do you like the cabinet angled like that? It used to be against the wall but I think this is better. We are also getting a new floor lamp and removing that dark green one. Also, no coffee table - ours was so heavy and I didn't want it marking the new carpet. So we'll go without for a while until we find something that we like. Anyone need a coffee table?

Getting closer...

My feathered friends

This is just the best time of year for birders.... (folks who watch birds)... without the leaves yet compromising our view, we get to really enjoy the migration of our birds. They return just like clockwork every year. Today was an especially good day for hungry birds!

Can you identify all these birds?

Time for a new post

Four generations - and me. This picture was taken last week at Brooklyn's preschool program - isn't it great that she had her mom, her grandma and great grandma - and me, the other grandma all there to watch her?

A cute picture of Brooklyn singing and doing the motion.

Yesterday, for Mother's Day, I enjoyed a nice cook-out at Daniel & Meghan's - along with her family. The weather was great and so was the visiting. Here are two current pictures of Sean Patrick, almost 5 months old. He has lots of personality.

Big blue eyes!

A new music room? How did the piano get into the river room? Why?