Wildlife Safari

I love last minute road trips.  Really, I do.  After remembering that I had purchased a Groupon to Wildlife Safari last winter and that it was just about to expire, we decided Thursday morning to head out.  I'm sure I haven't been there since I was 14 or 15.  And then I was always so paranoid that one of the car doors would mysteriously fly open (in the lion's area) and one of us kids would fall out, that I never was really able to enjoy the drive through.  Gosh, and those emus are so creepy too.  Well, you know how it's important to expose your kids to your own childhood fears, right?  It was time for my kids (and Bill) to pay a visit.

 This bear's toy was a 55-gallon drum.

 The rhino. peed.  Everyone was impressed. 

 This emu looked like a dementor.

 Creepy cheetah eyes.

 Hippo butt.  

 Black bear chilling in his tub.

May Breakfast

Happy Grandma Barb's birthday to you.  She would have been 92 today.  You can bet we'll be eating "Drumsticks" for dessert tonight!

Here's my favorite May breakfast:  Strawberry shortcake.

 Jon whipping the cream.  

This might be our lunch too.

Time Flies

When you're having fun.  Or not.  It's been a busy few months, filled with some good things as well as some not-so-good things.  Let's talk about the good things first, shall we?

Lots of baseball.  Games, practices, laundry.  It's where we spend most of our time right now.  I knit, the kids play.  The weather has been kind to us this spring.

Driving practice.  Crossing our fingers that Madeline will pass her driving test next week.  Did you know that you have to take and pass a written exam before you can even schedule your driving test?  And then you have to wait several weeks, if not months, for an opening at a DMV that offers the test.  Except in Baker City.  You can take your test there anytime.  Really.

Madeline has started a new, "real" job. She is working at the local pharmacy.  She is hoping to save up some money, travel, and take a few classes at the community college in the fall.

Planning, expanding, and planting the garden.  Just about my favorite thing to do.  And tossing around the idea of keeping cows. Thinking about planting new fruit trees too.  I'm like a farm(ish) girl.

And now, the not-so-good stuff:

Family health issues.  Bill's dad was diagnosed with cancer.  (He's responding well to the treatment.  So well, in fact, that his personality has reemerged, unscathed)  Bill is recovering from a yet-to-be-determined illness that caused a frightening series of heart arrhythmia.  Lots of tests and doctor's visits after spending several days in the hospital.  This is especially hard for someone like him who has never been unwell.

Brand new plumbing in the house.  Maybe this should be classified in the "good" section.  It IS lovely to have fully-functioning pipes.  Paying for it was, however, painful.

A misbehaving well that will probably continue to misbehave.  Also not a fun way to spend money.  Why can't I ever spend it on something fun or extravagant like a trip to Disneyland or a new car?! Maybe even just a new bike?

There's probably more, both good and bad, that I could share, but this gives an accurate representation of what we've been doing.  I'm afraid if I give too many more "good" examples people will be crazy with jealousy to have my life.  And conversely, if I give too many "bad" examples people will pity me and arrange for my transport to a "safe place."  

But in the end, it's all good.