May 2019

Last fall I pruned the black currant bushes I have. When I was going to throw away the clippings I thought I should try to plant these and see if they will grow more currant bushes. Well, it worked. I got like forty new shoots coming up this spring with happy green leaves on them. I was a bit surprised. I thought maybe one or two would take but it was a one hundred percent success rate. I have added a bunch of currant rows out between my orchard and the lavender field. More planting, more sprinkling work...running and digging in drip lines for the currants.

The house next-door was for sale for a significant amount of time. It sold this last winter to a nice couple from Florida. Melissa and Barrett have no plans on moving to Montana anytime soon. We were kind of sad that we would have neighbors who used their place as a vacation home but what do you do. Turns out they have decided to rent the home and we got these lovely cupcakes from our new, new neighbors. Chad and Lynette have moved in and they have three kids who match up pretty dang perfectly with our kids here. Caleb is Tylers age, Cassie is a year older than Ally and Gwen is a year younger. So pretty much perfect. We never hoped to think there would be kids out here living near us but are glad for it.

Well, Tyler is my favorite brown headed son but today I am a little miffed with him. He managed to knock his front tooth in half. Sometimes we make choices and get clumsy in life and there are definitely always consequences, this is one of those that I hope he learns from and absolutely never forgets. We are fixing his face and moving onward and upward.

May 18th is our missionaries birthday. He is turning 19 this year. We sent him a box of goodies we hope he enjoyed. Mostly items he asked for. Amazon was a big help with this. We sure missed having him with us but are super excited he is serving the Lord and doing service for the people in Las Vegas. One of the things they have done every Tuesday is work at the food pantry locally. They move boxes and stock shelves...basic food pantry business but definitely contributing to the community in Las Vegas. We are feeling the blessings of having a missionary out and are glad he is working so hard. We learned recently that Carter has two stress fractures on his foot. He has been instructed to bike more to give his foot more time to heal. Hopefully he can work through this with little disturbance to what his actual goals are there in Las Vegas.

Allys band played with all the other seven grade bands in the valley today. Imagine a gigantic band of intermediately good brass students. It was loud and well really loud. It is amazing how much better they will get between now and high school. This is by far my least favorite concert to attend. The parents sit on the bleachers, much to close to the instruments.

Our bathroom remodel has been frustrating. Building is booming in the valley currently and our builder is swamped. He's a friend of our doing nights and weekends but the problem is his real job is also working him nights and weekends. Progress has been very slow and I have done much myself.

Mother's Day Soccer Tournament. We stayed in the Red Lion along the river. It was also under construction so getting away from he construction smell at my house didn't happen on this trip. The girls played really well though and we had fun shopping and exploring Coeur D'Alene. Such a pretty little town.

Patty brought flower for the girls to give to their mammas. Cute Olivia's mom wasn't there this weekend so I got to be her honorary mom. Any day! She is a sweet one. I did find her dad and sent the flower home to her mom.

So this is what Ally thinks of taking second place. She wouldn't even look at me until I threatened her with no jamba juice on our way out of town. She finally turned around and let me take a photo with her medal. A loss to a really good team is never a bad thing. They learned a lot playing them and I am sure will be better for it. You can't win them all. Unless you're the US women soccer team. They had an awesome season.

Do you see this? There are little tiny grapes unfolding on my somerset grape vine this spring. Eek!! I am squealing with delight out in my garden.

We had a combined activity to spruce up Sister Perry's yard this week. The youth did a great job picking up pine cones and raking the pine needles. They are always so excited to go and visit with her and help her out. She is the sweetest lady and loves to know how many came to see her whenever we visit.

So, Ally and her friends were out at the river and found this cute little duckling. We can't figure out what variety of duck it is but Ally named her Olive and loves her very much. We haven't had much luck with ducklings so far but we are giving this a go again.

Ally came with me to practice my organ skills. I have been playing the organ now for over a year at my ward. Ally was giving it a go here and isn't half bad. Her piano lessons are paying off, though she will never admit to this.

Tyler's band got the awesome opportunity to go to DC and play in the Memorial Day Parade. Jake, Marie and kids and Hollie Jozsef, Laura and their kids were able to go to the parade and cheer him on. How lucky is he to have so much family support all the way in Washington DC?  His band had four days and fit in as much as they could.

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial. This one is new since we lived there.

He found the Utah wreath. Keeping it real in the cool shades.

They found Ty and his group in the Air and Space Museum and got to hang out for a few minutes before their marching began.

Looking awesome in their new band uniforms. They only just got these last year. Perfect timing to be invited out to DC by our Senator of Montana.

Cousin love is so sweet!! 

We had the Weymouth's over for a campfire roast. So fun to get to hang out with them. Ally got to go to their place and play with some chickens....She's a natural.

I've got Kenny, Rachel and Charity going for a spin on Blueberry.

Carter and his companion found a bunny. We get some interesting photos heading our way from Carter's mission. It is fun to see what he says next.

I've been working on my Master Gardener Certificate this spring from Montana State University. Part of the coursework is classes and then you need to complete 20 hours of gardening service in the community to finish the certification. I am planting at a local nursing home getting some of my hours in. 

Ally and a cute little spring toad. She is out in the yard hunting for cute little animals constantly. Lucky little lady lives in the land of many animals.

I think we were at Volunteer Park Beach here on the Flathead Lake. Enjoying the warmer rays of sun that springtime brings with it. Thank goodness we lived through the winter.