The Fruit of My Work

I was hesitant to put this up but Gayle assured me it was fine...I just wanted to share with you what I have been working on for several years...it is now on Amazon for preorders but I still have not seen one! It is my book on how I paint. If you go to this url you can read an excerpt from it. It is feeling rather surreal at this point and I will not understand it all until I actually can see the book for myself which is sometime in August and then it goes around the world to all bookstores in September I guess...Kind of weird. Just wish my parents could see it! Daddy always encouraged me to persue this dream...somehow I think he knows. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_i_0/105-3676027-9721251?ie=UTF8&rs=&keywords=A%20Celebration%20of%20Light&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AA%20Celebration%20of%20Light%2Ci%3Astripbooks

Aric & Heli's House Monday 25 June 2007

Aric has developed a real interest in landscaping and has improved his yard (more than an acre) by adding many new plants and two semi loads of mulch. He has azaleas and blue hydrangeas along the drive that are beautiful when they are blossoming. His cherry trees were spectacular this spring before the cold snap hit and all the leaves dropped from the trees and bushes. The plants are just recovering from the freeze.

Playground fun Friday, 22 June

We took the kids to Ethan's school playground for a morning outing. It was warming up by the time we left but we mostly had beautiful weather for the ten days that we were in SC.

Pearson Falls visit Wednesday 20 June

While John and I were babysitting, (Aric and Heli went to CA for six days), we took the kids to a waterfall in NC. It is an easy and beautiful trail and is a perfect walk to take kids on that want to be carried!

Biltmore Estate Monday 18 June

John, Ethan and I spent the day at the Biltmore. Ethan talked us into a wooden sword and we reluctantly bought it for him. He has slain more dragons and monsters than we could have imagined were lurking around us! We always enjoy our trip to the estate. Great scenery along with good food and wine!

Moore SC and Milliken headquarters

Emily dressed to the nine's on Father's Day! We went for a walk at Milliken and also fed the ducks and geese. Aric feels fortunate to work in such beautiful surroundings. He often goes for a run at noon or can work out in their gym.

Cleveland Park, Spartanburg, SC

We celebrated Emily's birthday with a picnic at the park. The kids had fun and it was nice to have a party that wasn't at Chuckie Cheese!

Flag Day 14 June 2007

We celebrated Jaden's birthday by spending the day with the animals at the Toledo Zoo. We were all exhausted by the end of the day. Jaden liked the reptile house best. He told all the snakes that it was his birthday.

More ND Weeds

I know I shouldn't get this excited over weeds but it may not look like this for another 15 years. Just a few more and now I'm done.

It isn't dry anymore!

I took a walk at the farm today and couldn't believe the thick alfalfa and grasses. It was so dry in April and May and then the rains hit and it is so wet, now, that it is humid and there are things growing that we don't get to see often. It just really is a different year. I wish my camera was better and would pick up the beautiful colors.

Update on Forsberg Well

Here are new pictures at the well site right south of Mom's. They are just getting ready to do the "fracturing" process where they blast diesel, sand and water down to blow holes in the pipe in order to draw oil through the rock. I really don't know what I am talking about but just what I understand through "talk". The row of blue boxes are there temporarily to store the diesel (more talk). Of the 5 tanks in a row only one is for water, I guess, so that is a good sign. The pump will be placed after this fracture process is done. I have heard that all 3 of the wells surrounding the farm are good wells. Who would have known!