Rose of Sharon Dolls

She's finally old enough to make these!

2015 County Fair

Titus entered Toby, his soapbox derby car.  Isabele entered her button tree pillow, her hand stitched apron, and a pocket doll.  I entered the winter twill dress, a flutter sleeve hankerchief top, a skort, my jellyroll lap quilt, and Brian's sweater.  Will post pictures in a couple days when we go see how the judging went.

Window wells

We put in escape windows this spring for both the kids rooms and or bedroom.   A LOT of hard work,  but well worth it in the end.

Before, with just a hole dug.

the new window 

Looking out,  with the blinds and curtains done.

Titus's window.

I took the broken blocks and made a walk ib the back in back then covered with the extra dirt.  Then I split a bunch of hosta and autumn sedum,  and some other stuff and planted it on my new wall. 

Pepper

We got an Alaskan Malamute puppy in December of 2014.  She was born the beginning of October, in Alaska, and flew to Chicago,  where Brian and I picked her up.  She's turning into a great dog and walks twice a day with me,  every day,  averaging 3 miles a day.   She loves the snow and loves to swim, which made me super happy.   Here are some pictures from the first 9 months of her life.

This is on our way home from Chicago.

Hanging out in the garden. 

Loving the snow. 

on the boardwalk on the pike lake loop

at the woods on spring break, april 2015

she's good with the kids,  unless she's full of energy,  then she treats them more like litt r mates, but she's getting better about the mouthing.

Asleep on the kitchen floor just a couple days ago.

4th of July

Isabele loves the American flag...so she is being very patriotic this 4th of July. I did her hair with many ribberbands, braids, and ribbons from Hannah.   She loves it!

Titus' Last Saturday Before 2nd Grade

 

Titus got to hang out with Brian this morning, on his last Saturday before school starts.  Brian took Titus flying in the Cherokee for about a half hour.  Looks like they both had fun!

What I great smile!

 

Titus flying and looking out the window.

 

 

They flew over Winona, where Isabele and I were helping at my mom's garage sale.

 

Sweet Potato Box

I read that it is possible to grow 100 pounds of potatoes in 4 square feet.  So, I bought the lumber and made the box - 2 feet by 2 feet, with a pile of boards to add as the plants grow, making the whole thing eventually 2-3 feet tall.  You are supposed to be able to harvest from the bottom while the top continues to grow.  We shall see.

Just the other day I added my second layer of boards, and some more dirt.

I'll have to take a better picture later - so the whole box is visible.  But this is a start.