A pretty purple carrot.

Our first carrot year. Picked early but so yummy!

Monopoly millionaire deal...

We like this game a lot. But really love the monopoly deal. But can't find it anywhere. :/ played with friends. But guess it is extinct now. 

   We all play. Even wisdom. Kinda...

Family photos...

I love nothing more than old photos and heirloom treasures. My mother sent these to me and I had to post. 2 reasons

 1: gives me another place to store them.

 2: to share with you. And I hope they are fun for you too. 

This is my Great Aunt Lillie. My Lilley is named for her.  She was my grandpas favorite sister. She whistled all the time I'm told. She is beautiful. I haven't asked but I am certain I met her. But suppose I could be wrong. I was tiny if I did. But I remember walking to her home with my grandma I think. 

   When Lilley was 10 mths old I was on the phone with my grandma. I told her Lilley had started whistling. I thought it was so amazing cause she was so young. She got excited and said she was so excited and asked if I knew the greatest thing about that. I thought she'd say age. But she was thrilled cause it was just like great aunt Lillie! Lilley loves that too!

   The cats were my grandmas favorite breed. Siamese of course. Not sure if they are hers or aunt Lillie's.  

   The next lady (I find her so beautiful) is my Grandmas mother. Great Grandma Pauline. Florence Pauline Distler. I only saw her 2 maybe 3 times. She lived in Indiana. I went there once. I was 3. I remember the trip. And I am so thankful I do! My grandma thought the world of her mother. A very kind woman. She had 3 children. Wayne, Joan (my grandma) and Richard. 

    (Now my brain is on overload... Am I remembering all this correctly??)

Other than my amazingly handsome ( not to mention super ornery! you can see it cant you!) grandpa (far right) and his mother next to him. I would not have know the names. But thankfully my mother explained it. Here is her writing. 

  

"  The picture with dad & aunt Grace with Grandma & Grandpa was taken in May 1946.

Great grandpa was born in 1865 (died 1947) so he was 53 when my dad was born.  Great grandma was born in 1878 she was 40 when my dad was born."

And a little more history from her....

"Great grandma's parents were Lillian (1858) & Peter (November 23, 1850). They had 3 kids, Orrin (1875), Grandma Louella (1878), John (1877). Lillian & Peter married March 1, 1875. Peter diedMarch 20, 1885. Lillian married Charles Skinner in 1889 & that same year a son, Charles Henry Skinner was born. Charles Henry died November  1950 in Oregon."

Add a generation to her talking of course to put it with my time. ;) 

My Joelle grace was named for Aunt grace. She even was able to meet her! I didn't take pictures though. I felt odd taking pictures of people then. I've always regretted it. 

The first James Young. At least in the run of 3. Sadly it stopped with my uncle. He has 2 daughters. Obviously not named James. :)

    Again here is my mothers words with this.... (I love history. Mainly family history. Not just my family. Just down to the person level, rather than blanket events)

    

"My grandpa James Alexander Young. Your great grandpa. No date on it but taken by a Minneapolis Kansas photographer.  He was a teenager when he immigrated to America. He still looks like a teen in that picture. James Alfred was my dad. James Allen my brother. "

   So fun! Was a fun surprise in my inbox! Makes me want to go back to ancestry.com to dig more!

When your mom has a kettle corn business....

Your children know it. And they know how to get Grammy to hand all the leftovers to them....

This has been the main snack for a couple days. Though not sure it will last further than tomorrow.

Wisdom is thankful for Grammys kettle corn! Thanks Grammy!!

Astrid

Astrid is the greatest dog ever. I've decided never. Ever. Again should we get another dog. When she is gone I'm getting a alpaca. Or a llama. But I have only ever loved 2 dogs. Lassie (she was our family dog from when I was 3-13) and Astrid. All other dogs I have regretted. Slap me if I ever consider a dog again. Seriously. 

 No dog could ever even match my awesome Astrid!

Creamed hamburger and new potatoes (with a couple carrots)

This was so easy and yum! And it is a savory dish that uses up the milk! So stinking good!

I even ate it cold tonight as a snack with Judah. Still yummy! Next time I'll add in peas. I forgot to buy some. And DIdNT plant any this year. It will happen often. I will just trade around the veggies and meat.  Could even make a easy pot pie! Mmm

A few of my House plants...

Aloe Vera. A friend at Bakers Creek gave it to me. She said it was sunburnt but she thought it would live. 

It has! And had 3 babies! It is also getting stronger and bigger! 

This guy I fell in love with at the nursery. And brought him home. Earlier that day I had found this handmade mug at the thrift store for 50 cents! DIdNT want to use it for drinking. They are a perfect match!

    A couple weeks later it sent out this 'feeler'. We were tempted to cut it off. Then it bloomed. The blooms lasted a good long while. Then the left. Again I was tempted to cut it off. 

But then it grew a baby! No idea what I do next. Can't find instructions online. But I think I have learned to water it and not touch. ;)

Another cute succulent that keeps having babies! Love them!

They are growing so well I am wanting tons of plants now!

African violet. Friends were moving. I wanted it but was so scared to take it. They are known to die. Not my kinda plant. I turned it down. Parris though accepted it. 

Then forgot about it. It was nearly dead. Had 4 leaves when I stole it from her room. Now it is thriving! And I'm not scared of them anymore. Either she is a good plant or window placement and watering is key? No idea. But I want more of them. And I hope they really are easy....

Lilley's sister photo shoot.

She got herself and Wisdom dressed and ready for a photo shoot. 

Wisdom was a willing participant. I was surprised. But Lilley was tender and they both let it just happen how it happened. 

Wasn't long before Judah decided to bomb the photos. 

Again the sisters just welcomed him in. Like it was purposeful. So fun!

They all like photos! 

Crazies! Or not...

Jump!!

Lilley's sister photo shoot.

She got herself and Wisdom dressed and ready for a photo shoot. 

Wisdom was a willing participant. I was surprised. But Lilley was tender and they both let it just happen how it happened. 

Wasn't long before Judah decided to bomb the photos. 

Again the sisters just welcomed him in. Like it was purposeful. So fun!

They all like photos! 

Crazies! Or not...

Jump!!

Lilleys party.

Lilley set us up with a snack and jewelry making station. It was fun and we made several things. She took it upon herself to set up the fun yesterday!

This is the way she potties...

She loves her rocking chair. So she is willing to potty there... Silly girl. 

The Nourished Metabolism

I'm reading this now. Working on restoring my health. Trying to connect the dots. Here is a quote...

Vegans blame animal foods, low-carbers blame bread, low-fat folks blame butter. 

Different groups have different scapegoats, but the method is the same: restrict, restrict, restrict. 

Look it up. I think I like it so far. And it is 50% off with the code summer50

Quote of the day.

"If you could kick the person in the pants 

responsible for most of your trouble,

you wouldn't sit for a month." 

Theodore Roosevelt 

Our PaPaw

Wish we could have fished with you this Fathers Day. So strange not too. First one ever...

Derek Anthony Grubbs

Today is Derek's birthday. Adds sadness to our day. Loved him so much! He has been gone 10 years as of last mth. Seems so crazy! Today he would have been 28. 

     I'll never forget our fishing trips, frogging times, watching him and Patrick wrestle etc. once the police even were called on them. Thinking they were fighting.rather than wrestling brothers. :) was pretty funny. 

    He was the best. And my favorite brother in law. :) yes I have favorites. And he knew he was my favorite too. 

   Wish I could hug him. Death stinks. 

Anniversary!

I can't believe I've known this man nearly 14 years! Been married 13!He is the best of the best. Cream of the crop. Mine. 

    Love him!