sunday May 20 feed baby goat

had a new baby at the barn today, Lexie and Key got to feed him. They were so excited. Really the little guy is very cute and soft. His Mama keep close eye on those kids! Well, I had to hurry and drop the kids off so I could get to the store and work on putting more page kits together. It was a beautiful day. Wish I had more daylight so I could have ridden my horse when I got back into town.

Friday, May 18 Shower the pigs

Friday, May 18, the kids and I stopped to feed the horses before we went home to work in the yard. Keyshawn was to water the horse, but when I got to the paddock there he was teasing the pigs with the water spray. Now that is much more fun than the horses! Those nasty pigs smell bad dry but when you wet them down, lord help us.



























I told you the story of the kids trying to out run the herd of goats, well here is a pic of the goats....



















and this is Mr Billy Goat. He's really a funny guy but he smells so bad if you pet him the smell stays on even after Lysol and Clorox.














When the kids starting running they were up there under the announcer tower and had to run the length of this pasture to hurdle the fence. I think its great practice for football running backs (or what ever those guys are called)

yard party

Today my next door neighbor had a Graduation Party in both our back yards. We have been working like crazy the last week to clean up the yard and get our flower gardens in tip top shape! We both like the same type of statuary and we both have water gardens and English Flower gardens so it looks like our yards are really one big area. This is a picture of about 1/2 my yard looking from my porch over to their yard. I wish I would have take a pic of my 1200 pound water fountain that I truly love. Well, maybe another time. The yard was really cute. We had a gazebo and she had 32 American Girl Dolls all over the yards. One was on each table and then tucked into the flower beds all around. Keyshawn and Lexie had a ball. Lexie because she got to dress up in rhinestone gaucho pants and shoes (I didn't let her were the princess tiara I thought that was a bit much for a yard party) and keyshawn because of all the food.It was alot of work but at least it forced me to get the yard into shape for the summer.

keyshawn school program

Tonight Keyshawn had his school program with his Kindergarden class. Those are always so funny to watch. Keyshawn's favorite part was the punch and cookies afterwards! We stoppped by the farm to feed the horses. Lexie and Keyshawn jumped over the fence into the goat turnout. They were having a ball running they goats until the old billy goat got a wiff of Keyshawn and thought he was a male challenging his herd. The old goat put down his head and head towards Keyshawn. Keyshawn's little eyes about popped out of his head, but he slowly backed up and Billy goat walked away. The goats walked about 25 feet away with the kids following after them. Suddenly, someone drove up to the barn and honked the horn. That's the signal for the goats to get fed, so the whole herd whirled around and with lightening speed took out running toward the gates. The kids stood there in shock and then reality hit and they turned and started running as fast as their feet could go. The goats were gaining on them. Those poor kids were screaming and running and the goats were coming and coming. I was laughing til I thought I would wet my pants! The Billy Goat was in the lead and on the kids heals. Lexie got about a foot from the 3 foot fence and just threw herself over it like an Olympic Jumper. Keyshawn climbed it in a flash of the eye and none too soon. The old goat ramped the fence right behind them. Lexie was laying on the grass and Keyshawn hanging on the the fence with dear life. I couldn't stop laughing. Even the thought of it now makes me crack up! Oh course the kids didn't think it was too funny, but I tell ya it made my day.

Mothers Day at the Farm

I had a wonderful Mothers Day today! Blue ( my blue healer) and I got up before daybreak,it was semi dark and very peaceful around the neighborhood. I made a great cup of coffee and we sat out on the back porch and watched the squirrels and birds. (Ok, I really have turned into my Grandmother,but what the heck! I really enjoy watching the birds fly through the yard, each one with their own flight plan.) I love listening to the sound of my water cascading into the pond and the little wrens twiddling to each other across the yard. I had over 20 yellow finches and a couple of bluebirds show up the other day! I am hoping the Blue Birds are a good sign. I have a 1200 pound water fountain that the neighbors swear I stole from the Plaza that the birds love to splash and shower in it and it attracts all kinds of birds. Sitting on that porch is so peaceful and beautiful. My oldest daughter, Sabrena, called me from an airport where she is heading to Alaska to wish me a happy Mothers Day and tell me she loved me. (Friday she had sent me the most beautiful blue hydrangea I had ever seen. ) then Tiff called and she and Lexi took me to Famous Daves to "pig out". Tiff surprised me with a handmade gift that she was so proud of. Lexi couldn't hardly wait for me to open it, she was dying to tell. I opened the sack and pulled out the "Somebody's Hero Purse" from Sheila's class. It wasn't even completed, but it meant the world to be. Tiff doesn't" make things " and she has never made anything with Scrapbooks. She has been secretly working on the book by herself . She was so proud of her accomplishment of making the whole purse and the first 3 pages. (I think she is hooked now!) She wrote a very heart wrenching sentiment on the outside tag and asked me if I would help her shrink pictures of me and her for the inside and she is going to journal in it. Tiff writes poetry beautifully. That was a very touching moment for my heart. After leaving Famous Daves'
Lexie and I picked up Keyshawn and headed for the Farm. We have 5 horses and I have been too busy with the store to get out and ride them yet this year. I promised Lexie i would take her this weekend, but as usual I really was too tired and too hot to want to go. Needless to say, we went! This is the first time this year to bring them in from the pasture, so we had to walk about a quarter of a mile just to catch them and walk them in. Then we had to get the saddles and blanket etc out. I am out of shape and breath! After an hour of prep work off we went. It really was alot of fun once we hit the trail. Upon arriving back at the stables, both the kids insisted we give the horses a bath which turned into a water fight. The pigs were squealing and we were all of laughing. keyshawn couldn't resist jumping over the gate to chase the baby goats. We did have a lot of fun , but I was worn out (as you can see from my beautiful picture). Life on the Farm ain't it glamorous!

nunsense

I was Mother Superior in "Nunsence" last fall and it made a lasting impression on my granddaughter Lexie. She loves going to the theater to practice with me and she helped me learn all the songs and dances. It cracked her up seeing me in the "Habit" especially when I had the play the part of "getting high on glue". Here are some pictures of me and the group. My favorite is the one of us with our robes hiked up and sitting in front of a fan to cool off. Let me tell you, having hot flashes in a Habit is hell! Ten years ago I played the same part and didn't even break a sweat. Thought I would die dancing and singing and hot flashes ta boot. i was scrapping and Lexie came around the corner in my costumes. She of course knows the whole script, so I took a break and she intertained me as I took these precious pics.

National Scrapbook Crop

Last weekend was fast and furious for Linda and I. We not only had the 3 day national scrapbook crop but Linda's son, Kyle, also graduated from William Jewel. After much hemming and hawing (are those words?)_ we decided that we both could be at the crop Friday night , but Saturday I should stay at the crop while Linda went to the graduation with the rest of the family.
Friday night Linda, Ali , Tiff and I had a blast hosting the Crop. Everyone had bling rings and feathers in their hair. Linda and Ali rolled out a big cart with mini totes filled with goodies and passed them out to everyone. We had great prizes every hour -- several of which were big bowls filled with Pebbles product. Linda handed Jenny the first bowl and then Jenny demonstrated how all the product worked. What fun! I always intend to get sooo much designing done while I am at the crop but that never happens. I don't know where the time goes, but it flys by! At the end of the night Linda, Tiff and I treated all the women to a Mini Spa--Now that was a sight to see let me tell ya. You know these are suppose to be calm and quite with Zen music drifting in the background BUT THEN YOU have Linda and I with our very demure voices directing the whole experience! Needless to say it was not quite. Linda and I cracked up just telling them how this was all going to work. First everyone "came to the hand spa area" (the sink) and washed exfoliated their hands-then moisturizing lotion. After they left the hand spa they strolled over to the foot spa area. Everyone took off their shoes and applied lotion, then wrapped their feet in plastic and were given warmed socks. Tiffany demonstrated applying Lip a Peel and then treated everyone to their own Lip experience! Cold eye presses and everyone laid back and we treated all to individual hand massages and hot packs on their necks. The pictures are blackmail I know, but what fun we had and what a personal experience we had with everyone. Everyone left relaxed and with alot of laughs in their pockets!
Sat. Ali and I held down the fort while Linda went to Kyle's graduation. His ceremonies lasted from morning til night, Linda was running from one corner of the campus to the other. The part Kyle and Linda were really looking forward to was "Walking the Grounds",it's a big tradition at William Jewel. She said everything was beautiful, but the most impressive was the Church Service. She said I really missed out on that one. Minutes into the program she wished I was there. It never fails does it? The one thing you miss -- turns out to be the greatest thing ever happened! Well, Angie (her daughter) ran all over the campus capturing the day and soon I will post those pictures. Kyle left for Europe for his "last fling" before corporate USA.
Meanwhile back at the store-- Ali and I played "Lets Make A Deal" where croppers got to choose a door with a prize, then some times we gave them the option to give that back and choose the ? Door. We gave away $100 certificates, leather albums, paper kits, Pebbles Product Baskets, Purses--well it was a hoot. Ali and I laughed til we cried! Everyone also received a $15 page kit and a $30 Summer Fun Album Kit. I started cooking Roast, potatoes and carrots for supper about 1pm, the aroma filled the air and everyone that came in the door wanted to stay for supper. I wanted the carrots and potatoes to get really brown and yummy like all our Mothers use to do and all was going so well. Then Tiff came and said Mom the potatoes I "falling apart" so I turned it off and told everyone "come and get it". After a few minutes, someone asked if the potatoes were suppose to be "crunchy"!!!! I looked a Tiff (with that Motherly I am going to kill you look) and she said "MoM really poked one and it fell apart". My dreams of that perfect Roast were crushed. Needless to say , into the microwave they went.
Sunday, Tonya won the Making Memories $300 set. Oh, she was so excited. Everyone had a wonderful time!

Disney Class Wed. May 2

look out Action News!

This morning Ali, Linda and I had a scrappbooking segment on Action News. Last night Ali about had a cow worry'n about the whole thing! I kept telling her time would fly by and we wouldn't even get to say 1/8 the things we wanted to. (Linda says I have a skewed view because I work at a TV station in St. Joseph, so going on live really doesn't bother me.) Besides, everyone that knows me, knows I could talk for hours on end and still have something else I want to say. Anyway, back to the trip to Action News; We took 6 albums , Kara's very cool new flowers and a card for Bret to make on TV. It was really very fun and our table looked very nice thanks to all our very talented design team members. Linda and Ali were taking pictures everywhere, the poor camera men didn't know what we were albout, but they were very kind. Bret was alot of fun and easy to talk to. We found out his wife loves scrapp'n so we hope to get her to our store. Linda sat down to wait and watch ; she tried to strike up a conversation with a very prim "Quilter"sitting next to her, but the lady wasn't having any part in striking up a conversation with a "Scrapper". (Really, Linda usually is very in control but that lady was in danger of getting punched in the nose!) Now that would have been Action News! Before we knew it they were giving us the signal for live TV and poof there skinny and beautiful (LOL) Ali and I were for all of KC to see! Ali was praing she could speak and I was praying I didn't forget the name of the products and look really stupid. As I predicted the time flew by and I can't even really think of what we really talked about. I hope we didn't sound to stupid---and I really hope all those chins of mine didn't show up as badly as they did in our photos! In a blink of an eye the cameras moved off us and the Chef was rolled on behind us. Ali now has the bug and wants to "do it again". Hopefully they will ask us back again.
Linda and I went back to the store and worked like mad women on the new page kits we are desperatly trying to get out. We still have a ton of things we want to get done for this week end CROP----everyone that doesn't show up will really be miss'n out I can tell you that for sure. Well it is very late, probably all the spelling is terrible but I am to tired to even do spell check. Talk ta ya all later-- have a great day and take time to enjoy the day .