Oh, To Be Nine Again

Yesterday our youngest had two boys over for dinner and a sleepover. Since it was Friday night, it was easy-on-the-cook night. We had beef tips and noodles from the illustrious Banquet Chicken Company. I know we were living on the wild side with that beef...

Hubby went to the store to buy a second box, some cheddar cheese and some salad. The kids devoured the beef tips in record time and only nibbled at the Chardonnay Cheese Bread I made. We dined in opposite proportions. The bread was incredible, especially paired with that glass of wine!

The kids ran off to play for about 15 minutes and reappeared for more food. Off to play, more food, more play, more food...

Is it just boys???

We all settled into bed about 11:00 p.m. The three young men decided to sleep in the living room, just outside our bedroom door, rather than the downstairs family room. For the first fifteen minutes my husband and I were treated to an at-length discussion of farting and food, interrupted periodically with hysterical giggling. A brief rumble ensued with much more giggling and just when I was ready to get up to ask them to settle down, they became suddenly quiet and we heard not from them again.

I remembered I had this picture of the same three dudes from this last spring.

Oh, to be nine again!

A Beautiful Morning

It was a cool, peaceful, misty morning,





tinged with the smell of...


skunk!





Oh, am I glad the dogs sleep inside!

From Cow Pies to Homesteads

When we moved to my husband's hometown, we bought a house "in town" with the intention of moving just outside of town within a year or two. We loved our neighborhood so much we stayed for nine years. Even so, we kept our eyes and ears open for land that had a country feel with a close-to-town location. A few years ago, we heard there might be some land for sale. Farm land in this area is profitable with multi-generational families farming it, so land is NOT readily available - especially land close to town. We were thrilled when we were able to make the purchase of 40 acres with our friends and next door neighbors.

We designed a small subdivision with seven lots.

Did you know you get to name your subdivision and streets?



What once led to a cow pasture is now TallGrass Lane with Autumn Blaze Maples lining it's edges. At the top of the gentle hill is Indian Summer Circle to the right and Little Pond Circle to the left. We've already watched as seven houses came from grass to holes to cement to boards to shingles to siding to complete! Now many of the neighbors are planting trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and gardens. The transformation has been mind-boggling.

The last family moved in a week ago and we are now 7 families: 14 adults and 21 kids. We have 12 boys and 9 girls ages 4 through 16.

What better way to celebrate than a neighborhood cookout! We gathered on the back side of our pond, where there's a little shade and plenty of room to relax...


and be entertained...

Two of our newest neighbors jumped in to roast marshmellows for s'mores. Steve also pinch-hit on the grill. Thanks, Steve.

A bonfire does seem to draw a crowd.

The evening was breezy (no bugs), high seventies (no sweat) and finished with chocolate sheet cake (no kidding)!