August 2014

A fish fry dinner in my kind of Iowa country. Wish I could bottle the smell!

 

If you missed last night's beauty, too bad. Our evening out here, with a group from John Deere, was a perfect way to spend a summer evening.

 

 

Sara Johnson-So enjoyed my kids free evening with some of my favorite moms! We had a great dinner at Safari Ethiopian Restaurant, if you haven't tried it out yet....go! It's totally yummy! The funny thing...we couldn't wait for an evening away from our babies, and what did we spend the evening talking about? Our babies! I am a blessed girl to have such wonderful friends! Thanks for the fun evening Allison Martin, Francesca Harris Djordjevich, Beth Anne Ewing, and Andrea Wanner.


Below you find a portrait (by Ms. Ava) of a lady, from the city, who knocked on my door today informing me how my front yard needs to be torn up again because they didn't meet state codes when they finished our sidewalk. Brilliant City planning again, & this lady, well, "she looked so angry," Ava.

 

 

I've been repainting walls in my house, & yesterday I accidently (& pretty scary like) let the large, heavy ladder fall on my head. I got a bump, I freaked out for awhile, then got over it...but today, oh lord. My neck & arm are super stiff. I quit my painting job today!


Run, don't walk, to the Dutchmen Store in Cantril...this sweet corn is Iowa heaven.

 

Horses, cornfields, prairies, & gravel roads. Iowa summer.

 

 

Impromptu date night...we always used to do this, so we are getting back to our roots.

 

 

 

Sara Johnson-- Ava D. "I know the year my mom was born! She was born in 1875!" Wow Francesca Harris Djordjevich you look great and get around really well for being 139! Don't feel bad because Bailey and I argued for about 10 minutes since he insisted I was born in 1881! Haha! I'm dying with laughter!


After 35 years, my in-laws will be moving from their home. I will certainly miss my morning walks around their property during our visits.

 

 

Today's picture discovery while cleaning out old IPad. Number 1 nephew paused for a photo last year.

 

 

Just because we needed to be somewhere quiet, peaceful, & slightly away from the real world. Today's perfect everything, was just what we needed.

Heirloom tomato rescue today...3 have been chomped on, three we can eat, 8 more on the vine. Wish us luck. Ava & I have worked hard for these, so game on rodent!

  

 

Guess who's beating out the rodent!!??

 

 

Because if you live in Iowa this time of year, you also take corn selfies...

 

 

Yup, my Friday night is standing out here waiting for the bats to come out so we can stop them from crawling through our attic & walls. I'm really bored...

 

 

Our porch moments are my favorite.

 

Holy sh** f**** damn it!!! We just caught a bat in our house ...then spent 30 minutes trying to save it from the net we caught it in... what's wrong with us!!???
(pictures courtesy of Tracy Brightwell--very funny, lady)

 

 

 

In between being a mom, wife, and ASP Director, I allow myself down time to do this... Sit in the sun, listen to the sounds of late summer (particularly squirrels scratching away at acorns at the moment), admire the blueness of the sky, & be thankful for these few quiet moments to be just me. Aahhh, refreshing...& a little hot! Imagine that, this summer warmed up.

 

 

How do I describe my short lived camping trip...I'm not sure at the moment because I am still mad at my daughter for bringing forth her worst behavior that required a strong parenting moment. Instead of going to sleep under the stars with our fabulous friends, we slept at home. We waken to the sound of air conditioning instead of birds & a gaggle of laughing children enjoying the world like they don't get to do often enough. sigh. Sometimes being the parent stinks.

We did have some fun before it all went down...

  

"You seem nicer when you wear your hair down Mommy," Ava.



The sun has set on our last laid back fun loving summer vacation. Ava & I both got teary eyed tonight...tomorrow is full steam ahead.  First Grade begins...