More Gardening

Today we fertilized, put up fences and planted the herb garden. 

The little grass seed I planted at Easter has started growing and all the little holes in the yard are filling in.  We started to put up the picket fence around the garden too.

I need to go fix dinner so I can rest, tomorrow I will finish the fencing and begin the planting.  Hope it isn't too hot!

We spent the morning getting the garden spots ready for tilling.  I measured it out and hammered sticks into the ground as stakes and looked behind me as Cherry followed stealing the sticks and running off with them. rolling around in the dirt, and digging in the garden area.  She finally had to get chained up for her own good as Ed's dad began the tilling.  We got the vegetable garden done and it measures about 50ft long by 20 ft wide, tomorrow I must go out and rake the little rocks out that were left behind by the tiller and even out the dirt a little bit.  Planting shall begin on Monday. 

David and the older girls took a long walk together this afternooon, while Dani, Bela, and I watched old episodes of Meerkat Manor.  That is Bela's favorite show and we had several episodes recorded on our DVR.  I always watch the recorded shows rather than live TV, and today was no exception.  In the middle of forwarding through commercials Dani hollered "Stop! I like that commercial!  You never let me watch the commercials.  I think we should fast forward through the shows and watch the commercials!"

The girls and Cherry are going to be camping out, in the yard, outside our bedroom window tonight, it is warm and the tent is already set up.  I think Cherry is more excited about this than the girls are and I have the feeling that they will be bringing her in, in the middle of the night because she is too excited and keeping them awake.  She keeps running back and forth from the house to the tent, going inside the tent and then running back out.

Pictures of the kittens and Cherry tomorrow and maybe the tilled garden spots if I get motivated enough.

God Bless the Men and Women who fight to rid our world of terrorists

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said "How many soldiers died today, Mr.Bush?", let me just say that I don't usually state my political views on this blog because I believe everyone has the right to their own beliefs, but to the owner of that bumper sticker... do you really need to belittle the deaths of soldiers that are out defending democracy and trying to make this world a better place, by turning their death into an insult on a bumper sticker???  You may have whatever opinion of the President that you like, that is your freedom. Thanks to all the military members WHO DIED in previous American wars, fought for our freedom.  It gave you your freedom to hate the President and to have the right to believe whatever you want to believe. and to do all of the things that you do.  But please don't belittle our friends, in the armed services, who are glad to be where they are and believe in what they are fighting for.  We know people who have been over there several times and would volunteer to go back.  They are the ones who should have the right to complain, and they aren't!  God bless ALL the service members who are out there fighting for a cause they believe in and God bless their families, who are at home supporting them and making their lives work without their husband or wife, son or daughter, father or mother.  God bless our President who has to make world changing decisions every day and put up with the complaints of people like you.  The deaths of our fighting men and women are noble, most of them believe in what they are fighting for, give them the credit they deserve. If you hate the President, fine, again that is your right, but don't use the noble deaths of our Armed Service members to get your point across. 

Fun with Yardwork

We spend several more hours in the yard yesterday and today.  Yesterday I planted three blueberry bushes and some impatiens to line the sidewalk.

Today I planted 9 teeny, tiny trees from the Arbor Day Foundation and the small pumpkin patch, and cut an outline for the herb garden where it will need to be tilled.  I also mowed the lawn, which is thickening up nicely.

That is only part of the lawn the rest is on the other side.

Here is where our garden is going to be, in the area where the ATV tracks are and we will be moving the sandbox.  The lady on the mower is my neighbor, our land ends just past the fence.

Here is where the herb garden will be...chamomile tea!

We're getting there a little at a time, I have bulbs and herbs and vegetables to plant still before we even get to say we are close to done.

This is the cutest thing ever

He laid there with her for over an hour, just moving around to get comfortable.  Now that is an awesome bunny.

She is even good at geography!

Dani: Mommy which is better: China, France or Russia?

Me: I don't know honey, which do you think is better?

Dani: China, did we ever live in China?

Me: No

Dani: How do we get to China?

Me: We have to go in an airplane it is a long way over the ocean.

Dani: I want to go there someday.

Stranger in my yard

As I am sitting here typing there is a man standing in my yard kicking the dirt.  I wonder if I should go out and see if he needs something?  Considering we kind of live out far from any town and there are a few people near us, but we know them all, it is strange to see somebody I don't know standing in my yard kicking dirt.

...A little later...he is gone now.  If he comes back I am really going to go out there.

Just thought I would share.

Make somebody's life a little brighter today!

Today I got an apology from someone I knew a long time ago, for something that has bothered me since it happened.  It wasn't a major deal and I never thought he would remember it, but I thank him for the apology, it meant very much to me.

It's never too late to go back and say "I am sorry" or to say something that might make somebody's life a little happier.  It made me think of the Virginia Tech Massacre recently and all the lives that might have been touched and possibly saved, if one person had just seen and been able to get through to the person who did this.  Never pass up the opportunity to tell someone the good things that you feel about them, to say you are sorry for something you have done wrong,  or to try and make someone's life a little better, or just to say I love you.

Our hearts and prayers go out to all the victims and their friends and families, the staff and students of Virginia Tech.  Life is short, take time to make somebody's day today. 

My Space

I have been working on my MySpace page today.  Stop in and have a look if you want to.  I have enjoyed working on it and have already come across some of my friends and family members.

Listening to the wind whip through the trees and bash the side of the house last night, the weather had been quite bad, with rain on Saturday and Sunday and harsh wind all day Monday.  I was surprised when I woke up Monday morning with the house intact.  10:30 last night the lights, the computers, and the tv popped off.  All of the neighborhood was completely pitch black.  David and I scrambled for flashlights and candles, as children who were supposed to be in bed ran into each other in the halls, laughing hilariously.  We decided to call it a night since there was really nothing to do in the dark.  We laid in bed chatting for a few and as David started snoring, I watched the candle flickering and started to doze.  It began to get chilly and I had a hard time falling asleep, I tossed and turned till about 2 when Danijela began coughing.

I knew I needed a nebulizer, but with no electricity and no battery for the neb we have, I grabbed a flashlight and scrambled around in the dark for a spacer and an inhaler.  Very soon I realized that there were no inhalers to be found, so I managed to scrounge up a bottle of liquid albuterol and give a teaspoon to her, with a little dimetapp to counter the allergy part of the wheezy cough.  Danijela was quite distraught so I calmed her by putting my hand on her chest.  Eventually she calmed down to sleep again.  I lay there listening to Dani and David breathe, still unable to sleep listening to the pounding wind and watching the flickering candlelight.

Soon Cherry woke up crying...I think she was afraid of the dark because she calmed herself quickly enough.  4 am, still no electricity, I think I finally dozed off for a couple hours till Cherry woke up for her morning potty.  David graciously got up and took her, as I curled up in the covers, pulling them tighter around Dani and I.  He began to get ready for work, with still no electricity. 

Since we are on well and septic, no electric means no water, which excludes us from being able to shower or flush the toilets.  I had babysitting kids coming over this morning and began to worry about having them here with no water.  They arrived very early and it was really chilly in the house.  The Direct TV technician was due this morning and since I let my cell phones run down, I had no way to get ahold of him to tell him not to come.  The kids entertained themselves by making  up plays, doing puzzles, and playing the "Spider Venom" game that they made up (don't ask, but it is something like "The Floor is Lava" Game from what it sounds like).  After a very long morning of trying to get my work done with no electricity and water and trying to keep myself awake, the electricity finally popped back on at just a little after noon.  The kids were dancing in the halls rejoicing for the ability to flush!

Our friends came to get their dog that we have had for 8 months, Cherry was heartbroken to see her go.  While they were here we found a little bird in the yard that had been injured either by the wind or an animal.  I took her to the vet and they are going to try and help her live.  I haven't heard back from her yet to see what they managed to do for her.

Here is a picture of Cherry, my how she has grown!

Weekend update

It was a really quiet weekend after a busy week last week.  Friday we went to the Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.  It was a big mistake to go during the Cherry Blossom festival as it was crowded and full of RUDE people. 

We waited in line for the elevator for a long time only to have some guy push us out of the way and get his family in and close the doors.  That is just one example of how rude people were.  After our stressful experience at the Museum, we thought we might head over to the National Archives, thinking that it would be less crowded.  That's what we get for thinking, the line was a block long just to get in.  We decided to pass on that, so we drove through the bad part of DC to get to 495 so I could take Jamie to get a view of the DC Mormon temple.  It meant a lot to her and it was very pretty.  I posted a few pictures of the day back in the Jamie's Visit photo album.

Saturday we got Jamie to the airport and we came home and rested.  It has been a wonderful and wild week, but we were very tired.  Sunday I spent the day trying to figure out what was wrong with my HD DVR, but I still haven't been able to fully fix it, so they are coming out tomorrow to replace the DVR.

Two kittens are gone off to new homes and Luna (the dog) goes back to her family tomorrow after nearly 8 months of being with us.   Cherry is growing up so fast and doing great!  She is learning all kinds of different commands and is so well behaved!  I love having her, most nights now she climbs up with me in my chair and lays at my feet sleeping while I watch TV.  She really missed Jamie when she left, but good news for her, we have almost convinced Jamie to come back in September for her birthday.

Oatlands Plantation

I can't believe our week with Jamie is almost up.  She is so fun to have around, it's just like having another daughter here.  We have known her since she was 16 and it feels like she is just that, she is a wonderful young lady and we love having her here.

This morning we changed our minds about Luray and ventured out somewhere new that the girls and I hadn't been before.  Oatlands Plantation.  It was a really wonderful experience and we are glad we changed our minds.  We learned a little history, we loved the house, and the gardens were gorgeous.  There are lots of new pictures in the Jamie's visit album.  Here are a few  of my favorites.

Two kittens are off to find new homes tomorrow.  One is still unspoken for we are hoping to be able to find him a home soon.

Gettysburg and Boyd's Bear Factory

We had so much fun in Gettysburg today.  I added a few more pictures to my Jamie's visit photo album, but not too many, we were too busy having fun to remember to take too many pictures.  I got a couple of the girls actually GETTING ALONG!  We spent a little time building bears at Boyd's Bear Country.

Tomorrow we are off to Luray Caverns, but since that one is a little closer, we get to sleep in first!  Yay...one thing we all are is tired!

Our fun week with Jamie so far

I have hardly had time to sit down, let alone do a post here since Saturday.  Easter was wonderful.  Dani's bouncy castle was a blast and the kids loved it!  For pictures see the new photo album entitled Easter 2007. 

Monday we went into the mountains and we got some wonderful photos and today we went into DC.  David took the day off and went with us.  We enjoyed it so much!  I made another photo album that will have pictures from Jamie's visit.  I will be adding pictures all week.  Here are a few I really liked.

Jamie took this one of a deer that just stood on the side of the road as we drove up.

Check back often for updates on this week, I will try to be better about posting!

Happy Easter!

We picked up Jamie at the airport yesterday and have been enjoying her company ever so much.  We went to Cracker Barrel for dinner last night and then we came home and dyed Easter eggs.  Even Jamie got in on the fun.

This morning we got up at 5 and got all ready and went to the 6:15 am Easter Sunrise Service.  What a beautiful service even though it was 28 degrees.

The bouncy castle is pulling into the driveway and the eggs are ready to hide.

Take a quick moment to think of the impact that Easter has in your life.  Because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice...we are forgiven and we can spend eternity in heaven with him.  I, for one, am grateful every day for the grace that He has shown us.  That we can make mistakes and still be loved and forgiven!

You always make me pay!

When I went to Lowe's yesterday morning I took 4 year old Danijela with me alone.  We did our shopping at Lowe's, loaded up the car, and as I started out I noticed the new Starbucks.  I said to Dani, "Let's go to Starbucks and pick up a treat."

There was a brief pause before she answered me, "Okay, but you are going to have to pay, I didn't bring any money."

Not enough time in the day

I got up yesterday and went to Lowe's to buy a leaf blower.  After all the raking that had to be done I needed to figure out how to get rid of the leaves before Sunday.  Between the leaf blower and the lawnmower, I managed to get rid of all of them and to finish my yard.  It looks very nice, but I am beat.  After all day in the yard, I had to go get Easter groceries before the store closed.  We pushed Brittany around in a wheelchair as she had fallen and hurt her ankle earlier in the day.  After groceries, we took her to the ER for xrays.  Luckily it is just a sprain, but she will probably be in pain for awhile.  It is swollen and bruised.  At 11:30pm I got home, fed and pottied dogs, fed the kittens, put the groceries away and did various odds and ends that I had forgotten to do.  I finally dropped myself into bed at about 1:30 am, still lying there remembering things that needed to get done.

I woke up this morning very sore from yardwork and very tired, but the yard is very worth it!

My Tuesday

I spent the whole day out in the yard raking and raking.  Years worth of leaves gathered in the woods.  I decided I wouldn't get it all, just enough to make the yard look neat.  That was 9 hours worth of work for today and I only got about 3/4 of the way through.  Everything on my body is aching, my hands are raw and bruised from the rake, my elbows and shoulders hurt and I am sunburned.  I have to go back out tomorrow!  When I am completely done I will post pictures, but it may be awhile, so to entertain you while you wait here are some pictures of my little ham.

Is she an angel?

Or a movie star?

Or is she a comedienne?

Maggie's surgery

Please take a minute and say a little prayer for Maggie this evening and maybe tomorrow too.  Her surgery is tomorrow.  Our good thoughts and big prayers are going out to her tonight and all day tomorrow! 

We had so much fun with the kittens and puppy yesterday.  We got the kittens out for their four week pictures and we introduced them to their first soft cat food.  They weren't really impressed.  We let them walk in it and then clean their feet.

Their four week pictures turned out so good it was hard to decide which ones to put up here.

Milky

Ziggy's name has officially been changed due to new ownership...David's parents will be taking him and his name will be Ollie, since their other cat is Stan.

Skinny and Whimpers are still unclaimed, but David has a couple of prospects at work.  They are so cute and sweet, the kids have been begging me to keep them all...I don't think so!

Whimpers...I love his little goatee!

Skinny

Cherry enjoyed it too!

 

History

From time to time someone leaves me a comment or sends me an email telling me the content of my blog is weak.  I don't take insult to this because I realize that a lot of people blog for a purpose like: political views, cooking, or business.  I also blog for a purpose, but it wasn't a public purpose. 

My goal was never to attract thousands of people (though it has many more visitors that I ever imagined), or to state my political views (though I have done that from time to time), but it was for a different reason.  My goal was to leave a little piece of my family's history for my children and my grandchildren and for generations of my family to come. 

I have worked so hard on my past family history, studying my ancestor's lives, just to get a glimpse into the pasts of those who came before me, a little story or some vague description of someone I wish I had known.  Curiosity has led me to many places, trying to retrace their steps or find some sort of something to bring their memory back, to feel a connection, and to give their legacy a few more moments in time.  We have, but a tiny instance here on earth, just a few generations where those after us will have an actual memory.  After that, the generations after us, will have to rely on stories related to them about us and soon enough we just fade into history.  How wonderful it is to be able to leave something to immortalize our stories here on earth.  To leave a little legacy for those to come.   Very few of us will be lucky enough to be President or someone famous enough to be remembered in the history books.  This is my history book.

Thank you to everyone who has come to visit this chronicle of the life of the Wilson family.  I love your visits and your comments.  If you come here and like what you see feel free to comment whenever you want, but if you come here and you don't like what you see, please think twice about leaving a comment or sending me an email about it, because this wasn't written for you.  By clicking on the link to my blog you have only wasted a second or two of your life, but by writing it, I have put on paper, years of my life, my husband's life, and my children's lives as well, ensuring that people long after us, who are curious about their family history, will be able to find out much more about our lives than we are able to find out about our ancestors.  That is why I am doing this and I think that makes the content of my blog very strong!