Fun with Family

Here are few pictures from the past weeks...

Summer Flower Job

My extended family members have been asking me what it is I exactly do during the summer months. I think that even though most of them have a tie to a teacher, principal, or para, they believe I do nothing all summer. Well, you guys are wrong! I work for the Casselton Parks and Rec Department (sadly similar to the show at times) and it is a total blast.

I get to drive around in a styling 93 Ford Ranger with a water tank on the back, or a gator.

Stephen was a bit hesitant to purchase a "giant cereal bowl" but it turned out OK:)

I get to work with my buddy Jane who is an amazing person who has experienced more than most people realize.

I get to make flowers and perennials grow, which can be a bit challenging when they are not correctly fertilized to begin with!

Jane and I take a great deal of pride in our flowers and really enjoy making the town look pretty:)

It has been a very mild summer which roses and some flowering plants do not seem to like very much but we are trying our best to make them grow and bloom!
We also love heading out to the "Res" to tend to our raised beds and pots out there. FYI Casselton's Parks basically rock!

Changes

Changes can be positive or negative or both. We are seeing many changes in our little town of Amenia. The last few months have been very stressful as we have seen our property value in jeopardy, garbage on our lawn, trucks hauling constantly, and of course the uneasy feeling of people around the house all of the time. The treatment of ourselves and our neighbors by the builders has been pretty horrible and all and all we can not wait until all of this is over with.
There are extremely large bins going up in town and it has not been a fun experience. The original plan was the bins would be built right next to our home. After a very unpleasant city council meeting, and me having to be a bit direct, the plans changed. The bins are being built further South of our home. The process still stinks and is not pleasant. I feel pretty violated and not safe and comfy in my modest little home. I guess I am getting a tough lesson in the land of the business world and the selfish people who are already very wealthy being greedy vultures. It seems honesty and integrity do not go along with making a few bucks anymore in the minds of some people.
We found out today that there is a warehouse and office building going up across the street from our home now. I have cried many tears over it today and am not really sure what to think. I have done my homework and looked into the matter as much as I could for a Friday afternoon. The city council passed the building permits last week and we actually found out through the grapevine. The property line that was put up in the middle of the street yesterday was our clue in to something going on. I guess I have flat out lost a lot of trust today. Dishonesty is not just telling a lie in my book, not telling is dishonest as well. Not sure how to deal with it so I thought I would blog it out;) Here are a few pics of the "progress" in our little town.

This is the view from our front steps. Kind of lost the skyline.

This is the main "gravel" road that is in front of our house. It is nice white sand now. Maybe a lake is coming next?!?!

This is the view across the street. Pretty quiet today, I did not feel comfortable taking pics when all the workers were out or the road blocked as it usually is.

This used to be the route I took to and from my home each day. Not anymore!

You can see our house in the background. This used to be a nice well kept grassy lawn across from our home.

My hope is that everything will somehow turn out OK. Maybe it will not be so bad. Right now my plan is to pray and hope that everything turns out all right. I guess it will turn out the way it is supposed to and I know we have faith and that is the most important thing. Praying for those you dislike is a difficult thing, I guess in my world as a coach and being yelled at by people and talked about in a not so pleasant way has prepared me to grow some tough skin. That tough skin has really helped in the past couple of months while dealing with all of this. I guess I should say thanks to those not so pleasant people who have made doing my job pretty tough;)

So I guess change can be a good thing and it can be a negative thing. The trick must be to change the negative into a positive. Making lemonade out of lemons can be tough but my cousins say I make a mean batch of lemonade!!

Great Weekend

Bill and I had an awesome weekend! We headed home to Nome to doggy sit Norm and Barney while Dale and Becky were in Lake Tahoe.

We hung out at the farm, went down to Fort Ransom,
took in a ball game in Enderlin,
visited the local establishments in Enderlin and Sheldon with friends,
kayaked and fished at Clausen Springs,
drove to Litchville,
hiked in the creek and drank Spring water at Little Yellowstone,
and totally tuckered out Gus!

Here are a few pics from the weekend...

The creek is still running fast at Little Yellowstone

This is the tunnel under the road that I used to play in with my friend Steph. We had so much fun at Little Yellowstone when we were little. I also camped here about a million time with my buddies. I absolutely LOVE going back here, I have so many fond memories of this place.

Funny sign on our way through Litchville.

The view near the damn at Clausen Springs, I am sure glad this place is still there! Thanks National Guard:)

The Moose

The Turkey

Bill and I at Clausen Springs

Gus and Bill playing. Notice Gus not on on his leash! He did amazingly well this weekend in theses not so familiar places!

Kayaking at Clausen's

An old bridge we walked out to near Fort Ransom. We kayaked under this a few weekends ago. Pretty neat to walk on...maybe a bit scary too;)

My parents have beautiful flowers and gardens at their farm. One of my favorites are the hollyhocks on the South side of their house. There are so many different colors and they smell awesome.

This is Norm. Norm was my best buddy through out highschool and when I moved by home for a semester during college. Norm is an old black lab with the biggest heart. He has a tough time walking but still tries to play:) He is pushing 14 and still has his loving Lab attitude. Below is Norm's best buddy Barney. Barney is the laziest, moodiest, most loving Beagle in the history of the world. He knows he is not allowed on the furniture but feels that when the parents are away he will disobey! The second I opened the front door he waddled (he is fat) to the couch and hopped up, closed his eyes, and poofed at me. Oh Barney!!

Happy Birthday Bill!

It is Bill's 30th Birthday today!


I am the luckiest person in the world to have such an amazing husband:) I hope he has a wonderful birthday and a great weekend doing the things he enjoys and hanging with his favorite person and favorite four-legged friends;) Happy birthday Bill!

Gus strikes again

GUS STRIKES AGAIN
NEW VICTIM: DOWNSTAIRS WINDOW
WHEN THE CRIME OCCURRED: THURSDAY
PERSON IN CHARGE: BILL
As per my previous two posts you can probably infer I have had a wonderful past few days. Absolutely gorgeous weather, wonderful company, and great fun with family. I returned home Sunday evening to my house, comfy bed, and a nice relaxing evening. Monday morning I was sitting on my couch watching the morning news and realized something about the window next to our picture window, IT IS BROKEN!

My first response was "AHHH!"

My second response was "AHHH GUS!"

I was gone for one day and the dog breaks the window! Bill did remember seeing it on Thursday and Friday, he just forgot to mention it:)

O-well at least it is a little window and Gus did learn a lesson because he has a small cut on his nose from it!

Oh and yes I know the window is dirty but note the claw marks!

FORENSIC EVIDENCE SAYS: GUILTY!

Lake Sallie Boat Parade

Each year our lake has a boat parade on the 4th of July. It is a ton of fun full of surprises each year. The boats in the parade hand out a variety of things such as; candy, hot dogs, margaritas, and wine. The boats are lavishly decorated and everyone in the parade and on shore has a total blast! This year Ashley and Dana decided we needed to get back in the parade. We went with our Luau theme and decorated the pontoon. Bill, with a bit of liquid encouragement, also dressed in festive wear.



Becky recruited Brendan and Carter to help get the candy into the ziploc baggies for the parade.


Carter was very helpful when decorating:):)


Bill looked totally hot in his festive outfit. We started our decorated and festivities at 9:00 in the morning and by the start of the parade at 10:30 Bill was raring to go! Notice the beautiful bow on his bottom...he loved it!




Going along on the parade included a stop off to grab a few shots of wine from a group handing it out.

Not only are boats decorated, entire yards, boat lifts, docks, and people look great as well!