2nd Annual

Woelpern Resort get together. This began a few years back with just Jess and Melissa and last year Chrissy, Kimmy, Kim and Tom joined us. The crew has already 'made reservations' for next year. And yes I made these dorky T-shirts in honor of the 2nd annual. Dorky as they may be it was fun to wear them in town where everyone asked, "Now where is that resort"?

As always we took a day to float in the pond


And yes the pond is deep enough this year to actually swim in.
A few of our 'guests' relaxed on the beach
With their feet up
And one little boy went swimming only to roll in the dirt afterwards
Food, oh we had food. Each twosome made a meal this year. We dined on a grilled whole turkey, hamburgers that came from an organically raised cow....it was awesome and by golly organic does taste better at least in this case, wild rice patties, french toast and omelets in a bag.
Melissa and Tom are getting their omelets ready to go into the boiling water
And wa-lah a delicious meal is made

Kimmy and Chris busy in the kitchen-it was not all rest and relaxation..haha

Well perhaps most of it was R&R
I even snuck a cup of coffee or two or three

We all have been waiting for Tom to ask Melissa to marry him and apparently so have some of his friends as they gave him this rock to give to Melissa. Dear Melissa, I'm betting yours (when you do finally get it) will certainly not be this ....gaudy...haha
Melissa has been trying to talk Tom into getting a lap dog. I think Peeko may have helped him decide that it would not be such a bad idea

Lots of cards. There was shoot, cribbage, right-left-in the middle (Kel and Len we are going to teach you that one this coming week) and golf. Golf was a new one for the crew and they enjoyed it.
Chrissy and I took a morning to pick strawberries. We each got 16 quart bags frozen

So what do you shop for when traveling up north MN...why moccasins of course.

And a t-shirt or sweatshirt or two.
Ummmmm OK Jess whatever you want to think....

A couple of nice fires as well...until the mosquitoes drove us indoors to the card table

It looks as if lots was solved around this fire pit :)

Don't forget the smores they were pretty darned good and perfectly roasted.
It was a blast, thanks to the group for taking the time to come up to the Northwoods. Love you guys.

July 4th 2011

And is also, of course, known as Independence Day. And since a well known MN Congress person tends to put her own spin on a variety of subjects I thought I, a little known American, could as well.

Independence day it was this past week for my MN girls. While Julia was at school Shelby and I got to try out her new pool.

Here she is asserting her Independence by totally ignoring grandma's request to stay in the pool


The two of us did enjoy our day together

Here the girls are with their Independence Day outfits on for the school parade.
And true to the word Independence, they are asserting theirs
Deciding they did not want to pose for pictures
But I kept snapping and was able to catch this adorable one
Have a wonderful safe July 4th everyone

My Gardening Passion Take One

Even on a rainy day-and we have had way too many of them lately-my garden brings sunshine. One thing I am going to try to do more of this year is to cut my blooms and bring them in.
These are my first cut blooms of the season

Outside the flowers are speckled with raindrops-below are my new addiction, thanks to my friend Mary, Earthwork Gardens Iris's. And of course I didn't save my order form so have no clue what the specific names are but they are very colorful.
This little lady fell over with all of the rain, her legs just couldn't hold the load

Oh but not so this one, standing proud
Another shade of purple holding onto the raindrops
Not sure if this one fell as well or if I forgot to rotate the picture. I am thinking the second may be so.
Colorful Lupine
With gorgeous foliage
A lonely painted Daisy in the new bed.
A single flower on this Harbell.
And Oriental Poppies-they are gorgeous
And look like tissue paper when they bloom
The Dianthis is certainly brilliant
My Windflower (I think-Mary, Lisa am I correct) was the second to bloom and is still blooming
My first attempt at a Clematis. They bring nice color to a Hosta bed
And the Hosta bed, I love my Hosta bed. It seems like diamonds are dripping off this Hosta leaf, oh I only wish.
Yes Hostas are easy, forgiving and just plain wonderful.
One rose bush out of three survived and survive she did with many blooms about to open

If it ever stops raining and the sun shines more flowers will show up. Take two will be posted then...if it ever stops raining and the sun ever shines again.

An Oncology Appointment, A Spanish Lesson and A Sleepover

Friday June 10th turned out to be an emotional day for me, a good day but emotional. It was my regular 6 month oncology appointment with Doc C. After the scare last time this one was totally the opposite. Doc C, who is a numbers guy, ran the numbers and decided that I have been on my cancer pill for the required 5 years (as of June 1) and because I am 6 years out (a 6 year survivor in October) and cancer free, I no longer need to take my Armidex! Not only that but I no longer have to go in every 6 months, let's do annually from here on out.
Yep wonderful news indeed but the emotions of this news are conflicting. Conflicting because while taking the Arimidex I was still doing something to fight the crazy disease and seeing the oncologist more frequently was a security blanket. It took a few days to wrap my head around it all but I am good with it all now and am patting myself on the back so there!
The above Iris pictures were taken at Earthworks Garden Center in Kasota. My friend Mary has passed on her Iris addiction to her good friend Bobbi....those darned addictions cost money Mary:)

That was the oncology appointment now on to a Spanish lesson. We spent the weekend in Prior Lake with the kids, David helped landscape (drove the bobcat) and I kept the girls busy so momma could work on the planting. At one point Julia sat me down for a 'Spanish lesson' She got out my camera books, sat in her lawn chair and paged thru them telling me we were having a Spanish lesson. Never mind that no Spanish was spoken but in her mind it was a Spanish lesson. Where oh where do they get this stuff? During that same 'lesson' she showed me a page in the book and asked me to 'find the letter d' and 'find the letter l' etc etc.....too danged cute.

Julia loves flowers and loves to help in the garden. Here her and momma are hard at work


Shelby seems to say, 'I can help'

'OK, if I cant help I'm just gonna see what this tastes Black Eyed Susan tastes like then'

'Who me, hey I'm innocent and grandma let me !' (BTW the leaf did not get any further into her mouth than you see in the picture so don't holler at me haha)
And feet, big sister who loves her flip flops
Little sis who loves naked feet. Yep both are grandma's girls at heart, although their feet are cleaner, for now.
And a sleepover. This was Julia's first sleepover. The first grandkid sleepover for us ever in fact. It went well even in the camper where we had absolutely nothing. Kelly provided the bed linen and the snacks and breakfast etc etc....but it was fun. We watched, 'Finding Nemo' way to late. In fact when I attempted to run the movie I realized that I had the external speakers on - all three of them. I wonder how the neighbors liked Finding Nemo at full volume at 9pm on a Friday night?


Peeko the lap dog found himself a new lap, pillow and blanket.
Grandpa and Julia sharing breakfast and Finding Nemo.
Anytime spend with good friends at garden centers and family is a great time. This past weekend was no exception.