projects completed!

It's been so hot this summer, that I wasn't sure I'd ever get a fall garden in. Got a load of garden mix soil from the dirt yard. Carl worked it in with a shovel (we'll use the tiller in the spring), and got it all planted in an hour -- lettuce, red and green cabbage, broccoli, chives, cilantro, dill, yellow crook neck squash. Most of it will be unaffected by the few bouts of really cold weather we get in the winter.

My most fun summer project, which was finally completed this weekend, is this twin size quilt I made for sweet Ava (stitch in the ditch for the main body of the quilt, and hand quilting around the flowers in the border). I told Ava every time she pulls the quilt over her, that Grammy is giving her a hug.

Our first retirement trip

Just got back from a wonderful week in Bemidji, Minnesota, where we enjoyed crisp, clean air, cooler temperatures, the most gorgeous scenery (lots of lakes and forests), and best of all, spending time with Mark, Courtney, and Colby.

We helped them move into their new place, which is like a mini resort, with scenic views from all of these great windows.

What fun it was to go for a canoe ride right in their backyard. This very large pond has beautiful water lilies, catfish, and a very large beaver damn.

We spent an afternoon in Itasca State Park where we enjoyed canoeing on Lake Itasca, right where the Mississippi River starts. Here we are sitting on a log over the mouth of that mighty river.

We had lunch at a historic pine lodge that was built in 1910. Besides enjoying the waterfront view, and the hummingbirds, we had fun watching Colby sample french fries, a pickle, and whatever else he could get his hands on.

Colby's getting to be such a big boy at 9 months, going canoeing with his parents, almost walking, and climbing up on the sofa. We loved being with him and his mom and dad so much.