One More Birthday Gift

When Kasey saw Kylie's Moses Basket in August, she whispered to me, "Grandma, will you make me one for my birthday?' What else is a grandma to do?

She needed it large enough for the American Girl doll she was able to pick for her birthday from her Mom and Dad.  She selected "Kaya." Kasey and her mom made a trip to the Mall of America to the American Girl store.  They ate lunch at the restaurant where they had a high chair for the doll to sit in at the table. 

It is deer hunting season in Wisconsin.  This afternoon Conner and Tatum came with their dad to hunt with Papa.  While DS-2 headed to his stand, the others went to Papa's stand.  The new stand makes it possible for the kids to safely spend the afternoon with papa.

They didn't see a deer to shoot.  However, many memories were made.  Conner had his Daisy BB Gun along just in case there were any squirrels in the tree.

We have the week off of school for Thanksgiving (Hunting season) Vacation.

Until later,

Combining in Northwest Wisconsin

Today DH is driving the combine while son and nephew are hauling semi loads of corn to a facility about  90 minutes away one direction.  Our grain bins are full which requires the corn to be hauled away.   I went to the field to ride with him.

The head is 20 feet wide which takes twelve corn rows at a time.  

The combine is equipped with a computer.

 

This is one of the touch screens.  It shows a running bushels per acre, the bushels per acre for the field, the moisture of the corn,  and many other things. 

 The main control for the head is a type of "joy stick." Each of the buttons controls part of the head.  Another computer screen is on the right.  Usually it shows how full the grain tank is.  When it is 4/4 full it signals with a "beep".   Another amazing feature is "auto steer."  When one of the yellow buttons is held until it beeps twice the computer takes over to drive the combine down the rows. 

This is the view from the drivers seat.  This year they have chased several bear out while going through the field. 

If you look closely you can see our dog, Pepper lying on the floor watching or sleeping.  Sometimes when Colby is riding with Todd he will lie their also and take a nap.  One day he slept over two hours while riding with Todd. 

When the grain tank is full the corn is emptied into either a wagon like these, the grain cart, or one of the trucks. 

They start extra early and work long after dark.  

This year it continues to be all family.  From DH to our son to our grandkids riding safely in the combine.  Also, our nephew moved here from New Jersey and is helping.  He is learning farming is hard work, long hours, and yet he is learning why his grandfather, Herb and now Todd spend the hours farming. 

A Grandma and Tatum Day.

A perfect Granddaughter and grandma day.  I thought I was getting the two youngest girls.  However, when Daughter in Love arrived she said we were having a day with only Tatum.  Tatum needed a grandma and papa day.

 So on our day..We mixed and baked cookies.  She did all the cutting and decorating while I did the rolling out and frosting.

 Then we headed to the woods on the Gator to see how Papa and Tatum's daddy were doing with the new deer hunting tree stand.   Chad built it in his shop this week and hauled it up this morning.

DH and Chad set the poles last weekend. Today they placed the new stand on the poles.  It is large enough for Papa and a couple of grandkids.

The new stand  is replacing an one that has definitely exceeded its safe time of use.  It is good I had never taken a look at it until this summer!

Yep, the ladder was made of two wooden poles with boards nailed on for the steps.  Last  year a 2 x 4 was nailed how to attempt to give it stability. 

After returning to the house. Tatum and I decided to go for a walk to take a closer look at a muskrat house.

The end to a perfect day....
I am blessed.

Hello Friends!

Hello  Blogging Friends,

It has been a long time since I have updated my blog.  I am still here.  It has been a challenging beginning to the school year.  However, this is Saturday and I don't have to think school!

This afternoon is a beautiful fall day in NW Wisconsin. This morning when I looked out my kitchen window I saw the swans had returned.

Colby, who will be three in another month, has had to spend the past two weeks with his Dad or with Papa.  He has loved everyone moment of it.  Many hours in the combine, tractors, or in the truck running for parts with Papa.

If you look closely you will see Colby next to Todd in the combine.

Yesterday when he was with Papa, Daddy and Uncle Pete there was a deer close on the edge of the woods.  Colby walked within 20 feet of the deer before it ran off.  If you look carefully you will see the deer on the edge of the woods.

The only sewing I have accomplished was to finish the Christmas tree skirt for a teacher at school.  We have a long history together.  I had her daughter in kindergarten in 1980.  We began teaching full time together in 1997.   We have a special bond in experiencing the death of a child.  Her grandson died of a brain aneurysm at the age of 10.

On this beautiful fall afternoon, I attempted to put together a fall arrangement in our yard.  I went out to the barn for the straw bales, to the cornfield for the corn stalks, and a stop at the local green house for mums on closeout.  Our neighbors raise pumpkins .  They stopped to drop off the fantastic pumpkins to finish the look.

Thirty four years ago our oldest son, at the precious age of four, was killed in a farm accident on our farm. As I have shared before, it is something you never got over, however you do learn to live with the grief.  It is hidden away in a special spot in your heart.  On the anniversary of the accident, the grief tightly hidden begins to surface again.  I am so very thankful and blessed to have friends who pray me through the day.   When the day is over, the grief returns to the secret spot in my heart that only I know is there.

However, my birthday was the day following the funeral service.  My DH has never been able to celebrate my birthday since that time.  I am so very thankful I have friends who have been faithful and make me feel loved and special on my day.  Also, since I have Daughters-in-love who now make sure there is something special for me.  I am so very blessed.

Kylie loved her baby carrier.  Now I have requests for three more!

The best place to be when you are tired is on your papa's lap.

God Bless you my friends,

A Birthday Project...

Kylie's second birthday is coming up in a few days.  She loves baby dolls.  I saw a baby doll carrier online and decided it shouldn't be too difficult to make. 

I searched through pinterest looking at different styles and possibilities.  I found a e-pattern to purchase with three sizes and all the directions.   MOST of the instructions were ok.  Other things, I am glad I know how to sew and how to quilt.  It was challenging in some things.

 It called for fuseable interfacing on the sides and bottom of the outer fabric and lining fabric.  High loft batting 1/2 inch.   Sewing the sides to the one bottom piece at the corners was interesting.

 The directions called for 1/2 inch double sided bias tape to go around the top.  The top was WAY to thick to sew with bias tape.   I decided to go around the top with the same type of binding I use on my quilts.




It worked and I appreciated my walking foot!  I used the same fabric as the lining.

There are many things I will do differently when I make another one. 

 The pattern called for a simple blanket... I knew it needed a matching quilt.

I will find out next week how she like it.  Kasey saw it today.  She walked over to me to whisper, "Grandma will you make one for me for my birthday?"

July is ALMOST over!

I am trying to decide if it is my age or if there are just more deaths and funerals and hurting people.  In the month of July I have attended services for: a forty six year old co-worker who lost her battle with cancer,  the 93 year old mother of friends,  an 18 year old young man where I was asked by the parents for a tribute and reading,  the 81 year old husband of a close friend who had suffered a serious stroke four days before his death, and the 89 year old mother of a very close friend.   Also, a co-worker's father and brother were killed in a farm accident, which struck very close to home.

At Tyler's service, the 18 year old. Our pastor talked about numbering our days to grow in wisdom and knowledge.  We do not know what tomorrow will bring.  Use each day to show those around us we care and love them.  Make each day count.

This is the reading Jill and Burt asked me to read as a tribute to Tyler, I spoke telling them it was a tribute to them as Tyler's parents.  I expressed that Herb and I would walk this road with them as we have with many other parents.

A Child on Loan


by – Edgar Guest
“I’ll lend to you for a little time,


A child of mine,” God said,


“For you to love while he lives


And mourn for when he’s gone.”

“It may be one or seven years


Or twenty-one or three,


But will you till I call him back,


Take care of him for me?”

“He’ll bring his charms to gladden you


And should his stay be brief,


You’ll have these precious memories


To comfort you through grief.”

“I cannot promise he will stay


Since all from earth return.


But there are lessons taught down there


I want this child to learn.”

“I’ve looked this world over,


In my search for teachers true.


In the crowds of this great land,


I have selected you.”

“Now will you give him all your love


Not think the labor vain,


Nor hate me when I come to call


To take him back again?”

I fancied what I heard them say,

“Dear Lord, Thy will be done.


For all the joy Thy child shall bring,


the risk of grief we’ll run.

We’ll shelter him with tenderness,


we’ll love him while we may

,
And for the happiness we’ve known

,
forever grateful stay.

But should the Lord call for him

,
sooner than we’ve planned,


We’ll brave the bitter grief that comes


and try to understand.”

In the midst of all this I desperately needed therapy time.

 I finished three UFO baby quilts which needed to be given as gifts. 

My favorite pattern for a little girl ( Liesl). Her mom was a neighbor her entire life.  At 36 she found and married the love of her life.  A year later they have been blessed with a beautiful little girl. 

A gift for a new baby boy (Solomon Gerald )who lives 1/2 mile up the hill.  His dad grew up in our neighborhood and has been a friend of our sons.  Our families are more than neighbors, we are unrelated family. 

This is the quilt I made earlier and didn't realize I turned a square.  I hadn't added the binding.  I looked at it again and realized the baby (Jaeger James) would love it even it if wasn't perfect. 

  I started piecing together a Christmas Tree Skirt for a co-worker.  Her family celebrates Christmas when they all come home at Thanksgiving for deer hunting.   I will finish it in time for her October birthday.  

Last weekend we celebrated Tatum's 6th birthday.  Since Jessa didn't have a formal party she didn't have the mermaid cake she wanted in February.  So we celebrated her "almost 4 1/2" birthday also.

Tatum designed her princess cake and had her hands on top of mine while I did the decorating.  She designed the first four mini cakes. Then she decided she could do it also.  She decorated four mini princess cakes herself.

DS-1 and DIL-1 and family went camping for four days at a KOA located in Hayward, WI. It is a true tourist haven that is 40  miles away.  One highlight is the go-carts.  They invited us up on Thursday night to the go-carts and cook out. 

 We enjoyed sitting around the campfire with them and cooking iron pizzas and pies over the fire. 

Monday I leave for a three day conference in Wausau, WI.  When you have been in education for many years you are able to experience the swinging of the pendulum from one extreme to the other.  The current swing is to have all special education students involved in the general education classes completely.  I do understand the concept, however I am very skeptical for the students with extreme learning disabilities.  I have worked with students as third graders who come as non-readers.  When I used direct intensive instruction with them they leave my program as seventh graders reading at a fourth or fifth grade level.   

I will admit, I am going with an open mind.  

I very rarely, if ever, become angry.  But, I do become frustrated.  I found this the other day. 

Until later,