Fun On The Farm

The image to the left is something I had not seen in over 25 years, a view from the combine.  Riding in the combine with Dad and Hope was one of many highlights during our family weekend on the farm.  It just so happened that Hope was on Fall Break from her law studies and Heath and Amy were going to take the kids to the farm to ride in the combine, so Bailey and I made a trip up north as well.  When I asked Bailey if she was going to ride in the combine, her response was 'I'm not much of a farm girl Mom'.  But when she got out to the field and climbed into the combine with cousin Lauren, her farm girl attitude changed.  Now she wants to go for a ride every year...or at least until her teenage years like her mom did.  It was fun to have the family together for an impromptu weekend and we may have established an annual family gathering outside of the holiday and birthday gatherings.

Bailey after her combine ride

Bailey and Lauren having fun in the field

Austin ready for his combine ride

Graham has fun with in the corn stalks

Bailey in a tractor tire

Alli and Lauren in a tractor tire

   

Pine Lakes Scrapbook Retreat

The fact that I haven't had a blog post since the end of September is definitely an indication of how busy the month of October was.  The nice part is that now I have lots of new blogs to post.  That is when I can find time as November hasn't been much slower and the holidays are only weeks away.

With the hustle and bustle of everyday life, there is one thing I've found over the years that can take all my cares away and remind me of what's important in life...pictures of those I care about.  I believe I started scrapbooking way back in junior high when my Mom gave me a scrapbook.  I'm not really sure why she did, but I am sure am glad she did and that now I have found a hobby I truly enjoy.  Over the years I would scrapbook when I could find the time or during my time off in the summer when I worked at Sumner.  Now I have a table set up in my bedroom all the time where I can escape and scrapbook for hours...or days which was the case when I was home last week for a couple sick days with Bailey.  Last fall my sister-in-law Amy invited me to a scrapbook retreat at Pine Lakes Christian Camp in Eldora, Iowa.  It was awesome!  A room full of women cropping away for 2 1/2 days interspersed with spiritual and cropping break out sessions.  Not to mention fantastic food and fellowship.  This fall's retreat theme was County Fair.  The weeks can't go fast enough until the next retreat at the end of March.

Our Cropping Table: Amy, her cousin Lindsey and Lindsey's friend Angie

County Fair Games: I found Wilbur.  My prize was a souvenir pig nose and a rice krispee bar on a stick

The following are a couple pages completed at the retreat. 

Me and My Mom page

My Favorite Things page

My Favorite Things page

Wapsie Pines page