Benjamin

Friday was the first full day off from school. It was glorious. At the end of the year everybody is ready to move on. The students and teachers are sad and excited. I met with friends for breakfast and we talked and laughed for 2 hours. That's what friends are for, never forget family and friends.

Speaking of family: We got a letter fom Ben-what a nice surprise. It is our first letter ever from him and we hope to get many.
Writing is such a good way to reflect, too bad more people don't get into that instead of texting! I know, my age is showing:)

Tony brought home a Nero/backup with 18,000 songs on it from a DJ. We snacked on shrimp and listened to songs for almost 3 hours! It was a trip down memory lane for sure. This is unusual behavior for us because we can drive all the way to Utah and we seldom listen to XM radio!

Woodworking Season Never Ends

These are just two of the many projects that Tony designs and builds for the kids. It takes a considerable amount of time for construction. After all, you do have to plant the acorn.


Tony loves the orders and the hobby is fun for him so it is not like work.

He currently has a special order from Andy for bunk beds just like Harry and Ella. CJ inherited Andy's fire engine bed so now he needs a bed. (If CJ wants a bed he should order it this summer and then Grampa Tony could make two at once.) The kids select their wood and stain and then they wait. The wood and craftsmanship are complimentary and the joy by the craftsman is unable to be measured.

Utah

There are many reasons to visit Utah, one of the most important is to visit kids and grandkids!
The scenery is fantastic, animals abound, and the weather is warm. Well, hot, when we travel out there in summer. We spend much time in Craig and Gretchen's pool and outside anyway. Who dares to let the weather rule their life?

These pictures reflect some of the best reasons though to visit that state.
It seems there are always helpers no matter what chore you are attempting and they work relatively cheap.
A quick trip to Baskin Robbins for ice cream usually is a great motivator.


Custer State Park has so many animals.

Ben always gets hyper when he actually sees them roaming all over the place.

Come to think of it, so do I! Bison, goats, donkeys, bears, you name it, Custer State Park or Yellowstone has it!

Flowers and More Flowers

This is a rhododendron bush, it only blooms in the spring. Early spring, but it is beautiful while it lasts. The crab apple tree is in full bloom, glorious pink right now so very awesome and fragrant in the back yard.
Wow, unexpected bouquets from Blake and Tea, accent the e to pronounce. I don't know how to do that! Thanks again for your thoughtfulness, it is nice to be remembered.

Happy Mother's Day

Sunday, Mother's Day, cold and and rainy, a typical spring day for May in Wisconsin, 57 degrees will be the high if we are fortunate. That's OK, I need a break from gardening! I have been planting my planters and splitting perennials all week. I will hold off on the tomatoes and green peppers until May 20th.(Bob's advice)
This is the plant from Barry, Margaret, and CJ. What a beauty! I think I will leave it on the screen porch so it doesn't freeze. Thank you very much! I had a beautiful card from Penny and a phone call from Brian. Thanks for thinking of me, all are appreciated. Doug and Melissa are coming for dinner with their children, it will be fun. Tony is grilling, it is not a day to go out for breakfast or dinner, far too busy.

Bubbles Galore

Friday was 83 degrees, we went golfing! Saturday was a rude awakening-Tony had a scratchy throat, sore muscles, he was fatigued! It was rainy and cold, winter was threatening to return, a mere 40 degrees and rain, wind, rain, wind, rain.....
Time for a bubble bath in a Koehler Whirlpool tub to dissolve those aches and pains, no, this is not Tony!
Did you think I would put him on the blog covered with bubbles?
The grandkids love the six foot Koehler whirlpool, it makes bubbles long after you don't want any bubbles and you can stretch out and really get comfortable. Just ask Ben, he fell asleep once and there were bubbles everywhere! It's a great way to relax and fix those achy muscles. Not as pricy as the spa and just as soothing.

Privacy Fence and Pergola

What a day to begin, the sun was shining and the temperature was in the seventies. An awesome day granted by God.
We have a train, a garden train. We live by a park and we needed to keep our backyard private. This is just another designed by "Tony" project.

The posts were the first to be set and then the fence appeared piece by piece and sections.
This was quite a project!
Benjamin assisted with the staining of the lattice which proved to be a time consuming and back breaking job. He worked hard, very hard and I wish I could put some pictures of him on this post but alas, we did not take any. We grilled steaks, sweet white corn, and mashed potatoes as a reward for his labor. The entire project took six weeks to complete but was well worth it. Much of the staining and cutting of the boards was done prior to the actual construction stage.
One month for the staining alone. Three gallons of stain and lots of sweat by Ben and me. We took a vacation break halfway through construction. This is the finished project! Success, it provides privacy and is absolutely beautiful.