Where have I been?

Okay, okay... after a few complaints I've decided I'd better post something new, as Jayne brought to my attention that it's been since June... :)

So here's what's been going on in our lives since I last wrote, (don't forget to throw in a wedding every other weekend or so)...

1) Harvest: we spent one month in harvest, which went really well. Between lunches and driving combine I kept pretty busy, but let me tell you - I'd never want to trade jobs with Corey or Mark, they work so hard! I took my camera with me daily, planning on posting my pictures but obviously didn't get get that done, until now! :)

Leaving the stubble behind

My view...

Breakdowns make a good photo op!

I see God everyday!

2) Lake Pend Oreille (pronouncPonderay): a week before school started I went to Idaho with Michelle to visit her grandma and family cabin - we were there for three days and two nights, it was just what the doctor ordered before work started. It was RELAXING and GEORGEOUS!!!

The Lakehouse!

Jill & Michelle on the boat!

Rough water but pretty!

3) Fall work... school, seeding & budgets! I'm in my 6th week of school, things are going well... not too much new besides I have about 15+ new members in my Generation College Club! Corey has been doing a little seeding, working around the place and doing always joyful paperwork. ;) Needless to stay our work keeps us pretty busy but we still manage to have a lot of fun!

4) Round-Up: we went to the Round-Up concert on Saturday night, following a delicious birthday dinner for Grandpa Tad. The concert was great - Reckless Kelly (one of Corey's favorite alternative country bands) & Rodney Atkins. We also went back over on Friday for the rodeo, 1984 court renioun picnic, and happy canyon dance. The best part was the picnic (no offense, the happy canyon party was pretty good too) but I really enjoyed our visit with two of my favorite ladies... Elma (Helsinki) Printz (92) and Millie Martin (94), two fiesty women who remind me so much of Grandma. On Saturday they were heading to Bend through Heppner with their chauffeur's (children) Becky & John, so they stopped by our house for about an hour to vist...

In the hospitality room (that buckle is good for something)!

Helsinki, Jill & Millie

Helsinki, Corey& Millie

5) Continued changes: we're still making a few changes around the house, this weekend we got new light fixture covers for the bathroom vanity! Check out the difference!

Old

Old
New

6) This last weekend we went to Tri-Cities, we went to Lowe's (to get the light covers), and go to Costco... did you know that Costco closes at 6 on Saturdays??? Well, we didn't. So we didn't get to buy our bulk sized granola bars, bummer! But we did have a DELICIOUS dinner at the Bonefish Grill, if you haven't been you need to go! It's fantastic! Yesterday we went to church, visited with grams & gramps, came home where Corey sawed down some dead tree branches and we went to a neighbor's 3rd birthday party. This coming weekend Corey's got friends coming up for deer hunting and I'm heading to Walla Walla to spend a night with Jayne & Parker, can't wait!

Corey found a comfy seat in Lowe's!

Well... it's off to the shower & bed, I hope it's not another 3 months until I post!

~ Goodnight!

It's definitly BBQ weather!

Okay - so this is coming a bit late... guess I've been busy not blogging! :)



As for a recent update? We went to the Holdman's for the 4th of July and had a great time!!! The first wheat stocks were cut tonight! We got most of the equipment down to our first field tonight and Mark got enough wheat cut for a parking lot... harvest will commence tomorrow. It looks like all I have to do this week is make lunches!



Our BBQ a couple of weeks ago was a success - we have great friends & family! Thanks to those who came, and hope those who couldn't make it will be able to next time! (Yes, even Corey said we should do it again!) Here are some pics - most of them taken by a young photographer, first picture is of her! :)



















































Would someone PLEASE throw the ball? Fergie didn't bother a soul, just wanted to play! :)

BBQ Anyone?

We're planning a BBQ for this Friday the 26th, 6 PM! Bring a lawn chair, and if you want bring a salad or dessert... or don't - whatever! :)

Hope to see you!!!

Mission Accomplished!

So... Monday I started out, a bit scared, on my fireplace revamp project. Yesterday (Thursday) it was completed! It looks wonderful, thanks to my friends and family helpers. Ashley mastered the jigsaw & nail gun... Marcy is darn good with the screw gun... and it turns out that Mom is a great painter!

Check out the before/after pictures! What a difference!

Remember this???

Look at it now??? Can you believe it's the same space? :)

The last step will be getting new cords (turns out 2/3 are too short to get from the tv down the hole to where the need to be... dang!) and then getting them fed down the fireplace - Marcy will hopefully be assisting?!? :)

My mom came down on Thursday - we had a great time, obviously she helped with the project and then today (Friday) we planted shrubs and worked in the flowerbeds... looks great! Thanks again mom - I appreciate your visits & your help!

Thanks for the help everyone - LOVED THE COMPANY & LOVE THE OUTCOME!

~ Toodles

An Ode to Dishwashers

Since the day that we were wed,

"Let's use paper" I have said.
New unused dishes sat, Fiesta brand...
Me being too lazy to wash by hand.

Finally, today - a day to rejoice,
a beautiful Whirlpool of my choice!
Installed and plumbed in just right,
Lookout Fiesta, tonight's your night!

Yes... I'm so thrilled to say that we now have a WORKING dishwasher!!! I'm so excited (Corey is too - as it was him who often helped out!)... I'll be so happy to stop buying paper plates & bowles and use our beautiful dishes!!!

The note from my friendly electrician! :)

Now that I don't dread the dishes - PLEASE feel free to stop by for dinner any night!

~ Toodles

Call me Bob.

So I've been working on the TV cabinet - and I must say that I love these sorts of projects! Remember the hole in the wall after I took out the fire place? Well, yesterday I started working on the cabinet...

Framework...

Power tools :)

Be honest... does this scare you? NOT ME! :)

Wow... really? A cabinet!

The mess to be concealed... I HATE WIRES!

The TV cords will go through the wall and into the cabinet as will the movies... all to be hidden!!! So now I need to face out the cabinet, I'm going to make a shelf/mantle type frame - I'm pretty excited! I've been thinking about this for some time now! I'm so proud - must have gotten these skills from Dad, which is why I will now answer to "Bob"! :)

Also yesterday, my friend Ashley came over and helped... here are 2 of her 3 helpers - CUTE!

Paul & Claire

Be prepared for an update... also, the electrician is (FINALLY) supposed to be here today or tomorrow to hook up the dishwasher. Lookout dishes, prepare to be WASHED!!!

~ Toodles

One step closer...

My days have been full of home improvements - LOVING IT!!!

The dishwasher is in place and hooked up to water - just need the electrician (who apparently runs only on his schedule) to come and hook it up.

Isn't is BEAUTIFUL??? Can't wait to hear it run! :)

I hung my new valances in the living room... I like them!

Ahh... my next project is to turn our fireplace (doesn't work properly) into a cabinet to house our T.V. box, DVD player & DVD's... We have our TV hung on the wall - when Corey mounted it he drilled a hole in the wall for the wires to go through, in preparation for this project.

Here's how it started out looking...

Today I removed the face of the fireplace and measured the inside - I'm headed into town today to order a cabinet to fit and I plan on facing it out and building a mantel around it.

Now...

So it may not look a whole lot better to you, but to me it does! I had the chest and the boxes sitting in front of the fireplace - now at least they have a semi-home! I'm super excited!

Oh summer - what a lovely time! :) Hope your days are filled with fun too!

~ Toodles

It's a comin'!

The dishwasher I've been waiting for is on it's way!!! Yesterday the contractor came and took out the existing cabinet/drawers...

(Old)

And installed a new cabinet and counter top... apparently our counters are not standard height so he had to raise the new cabinet up about 2 inches - looks pretty good!

(New)

Today he'll be back with the plumber - we need new pipes, ours are old and not working quite right... they think they won't hold up to the quantity of water the dishwasher will run. I'm hoping the project is finished this week! YIPPY! :)

~ Toodles

Graduation & Bachelorette Party Fun!

This weekend was fun as we had visitors & parties to attend. Josh, Michelle, & T-Roy came up to join in on the festivities, arriving Friday night. Saturday morning Corey & the boys left for an overnight bachelor party at a hunting lodge where they shot sporting clays and had a *few* beers.

Saturday Michelle & I went to Tri-Cities... and had a disappointing shopping experience - we're wondering where all the cute clothes are??? If you find any, please let us know! We were especially disappointed with Target, typically a favorite, we found it to be too messy & picked over to find anything good... SAD! :(

After shopping we blasted some tunes & sang along as we drove to the Holdman household for Elliot's graduation party! We had a great time visiting and enjoying my family... Denise joined us too!

Here's a picture of the grad... lookout for his knife!

Denise, thinking I don't see her sticking her tongue out at me!

After the graduation party we headed to the Jen's (the Iffer of the Robiffer) bachelorette pary! By the time we got there the girls were having a lot of fun!

Denise & Jen, the blushing bride!

Jen & I... scary or sassy? Not sure...

Michelle, Denise & I... awwwww!

Overall, we had great weekend! The boys returned Sunday morning, they had a great time! I spent the morning cleaning out my flowerbeds and planting a few new summer flowers! After seeing my sister Katy's yard I'm inspired to spark mine up a bit. My spring bulbs are all done blooming and I think I'll put in some shrubs... not sure, we'll see! I called mom, she said she'll come down next week sometime and we'll make a miracle! Right now - Corey & I are headed outside to mow the lawn... wish Fergie could do it for us! :)

~ Toodles

Sweet Release!

So... the past two years I've been in charge of the yearbook at school, which means I've lost a lot of sleep worrying about getting it finished. Yesterday it was finally finished!!! I have two great girls at school that showed up and spent about 5 hours working on it to get it done - thanks Myriam & Blanca!!! I also got checked out (nothing inappropriate), and now I'm officially done and worry free - what a relief!

Today I'm going to Heppner to run some errands and say hi to Tad & Melba (Corey's grandparents). Tonight Corey & I are going to Tri-Cities, he has to get fitted for a tux (wedding is in two weeks - cutting it close?) and we're going to go to the Olive Garden - yummo!

This weekend Corey's going to Rob's bachelor party. I'm headed to my nephew Elliot's graduation BBQ and then on to Jen's bachelorette party! Should be a fun weekend! Hope everyone else gets to have some fun too!

~ Toodles

I'm Scared...

This is the first post to my first blog... I'm scared I don't know what to write!

Thanks Becky for inspiring me to start a blog... sorry it's taken SO long!

Let's see, what's new with me??? School's out, I just have to finish cleaning up my classroom and then I'm free for the summer. Kind of... I will be driving combine again this summer - so I'm free for a month.

My plans for summer:
1) Clean out the basement... there are still boxes and piles from moving that haven't gotten put away yet.
2) Make cookies for harvest
3) Whatever I want! YIPPY!!!

Well that's all I have for now... I promise to be more exciting next post - maybe I'll even add some pictures! I didn't want to get too wild & crazy my first time!

Toodles!