Simple Pleasures

Talking time: I just spent a full,

uninterupted hour talking on my cell phone

to my man as he makes his

way home from a business trip.

Snuggling his pillow.

Quiet.

Listening to the radio without interruption.

Seeing an old friend.

Baby smiles.

Feeding on Scripture.

~Blessings~

~P.

What We've Been Up To . . .

The Broken Y has been fairly busy lately . . .and I've had, as some like to call it, "Blogger Block". There is no medication for this ailment, however the symptoms are this . . . you sit down at the computer, sign in to blogger, pull up a new post, and stare at the screen with absolutely no idea what to write! You think, surely I can come up with something creative and it just never hits!

So . . . here are a few pictures, a few descriptions, and few simple thoughts. Hopefully, you will be entertained a little!



New Curtains:

Before the B's headed to Kid's Camp, I started making curtains for the kitchen / dining room. I stood in front of the curtain selection at Wal-Mart three different evenings trying to decide what I wanted. Never finding exactly what I was looking for in the price range I wanted, I walked over to the fabric section and found exactly what I wanted. I had no pattern, I just came home, started measuring and came up with the curtains you see in the pictures. I am quite proud of them . . . I love the color scheme and am really quite suprised that it all worked out so well.


Off to camp the B's went and I started in on my white walls - my kitchen and dining room needed curtains and paint so I started painting . . . it took me five days! My precious friend, Pat came out on day five and gave me a kick start and we were able to knock out the hall and laundry room as well


I painted the walls a "Butter-Creme" and was afraid that it looked too peachy but once I got the curtains up it started to pull a muted yellow which is what I had intended in the first place. Really warmed up the rooms and pulled all the colors together.



After the paint job, I had a Home & Garden Party to put some pretties on the newly painted walls.


In all honesty, I hate having these parties. I always need therapy afterwards. Why do I subject myself to this torture . . . Anyway . . . I got this cute star basket on my wall, the star candle holders and this really adorable cowboy boot bird house that I will NOT put outside!

Okay - Enough about the house that I've been in for two years now and am just now getting settled into!

My precious niece, Jessica, was married on July 18th. I was sixteen when she was born and we spent alot of time together when she was little. She called me Aunt Palda and she went everywhere with me. I don't know what my sister, Yvonne, was thinking letting me haul that little thing around all the time but she did and I loved her! She married a really nice, young man, Scott Winter. Bailey was a candle lighter in the wedding and did a lovely job!

Bailey and my sister, Leah, from Lexington, Kentucky

Bailey & Jessica - The only girls on my side of the family

Parents of the Bride, my sister, Yvonne & David, my mom, Vera and step-dad, Ron, my nephew, Joshua, and Grandma Vada, David's mom.

The Groom - Scott Winter - We like him alot, you have to be tough stuff to deal with the women in this family. I think Scott will do fine!

The reception was lovely, we danced until our feet hurt and the kids had a really good time. My sister, Yvonne, made sure that her princess had her fairy tale wedding.

All of this while we cut, baled and put up our own hay (for the first time), played baseball tournaments, did style review at the county fair and finished up our school year. I have several homes listed that are getting quite a bit of activity and now I am getting ready for the next school year, starting in a few weeks!

Any mother, regardless of her career, number of children, or size of home, has a busy life . . . for those of you reading this . . . Psalms 94:18 & 19 says, "When I said, "my foot is slipping," your love, Oh, Lord, supported me, your consolation brought joy to my soul." Blessings ~ P.

Heavens to Betsy I've Gone Techy!

Thanks to Ranch Girl's adorable blog, I figured out how to put the "BAM" in mine! This has taken me longer then I would have liked so the actual post is coming later!

Chow Babes! & Dudes!

It's coming . . . . . . . . .

Seems like all I've had time to do is read a few posts each day. Updating mine has not been a priority but I sure love everyone elses!

I've got some good pictures and some new songs on my play list coming so be sure to check it out in the next day or two!

Blessings,

~ P.

An American Girl!

My Bailey fell in love with American Girl dolls and books when she was about 6. She's read every book that is out there and we even flew to Chicago for her 8th birthday, met her Aunt Leah and went to the American Girl Place, saw a musical, shopped for doll clothes, had her picture put on the cover of American Girl Magazine, and enjoyed a nice dinner.

Her favorite doll is Molly and she has two other dolls that resemble American Girl dolls without the price tag! Last night, Bailey informed us that the new "Kit Kittredge" American Girl movie was in theatres and if it was all right with Dad, she was going to take her mom on a Chic date!

We went to the 9:00pm movie, Bailey bought the tickets, I bought the pop, and we were the only two in the whole theatre until an older couple came in. That didn't keep us from laughing out loud and chatting back and forth! It was an excellent movie depicting the need for love and compassion during the Great Depression.

We had a great time, sang to the radio on the way home and fell into bed, quite satisfied with our Chic date!

Bailey is real sweet about just doing something to bless me. Whether it is cleaning up the kitchen, painting me a picture, folding a load of laundry, or taking the K's outside so I can get some work done. She has a heart for God's word and a desire to share His love with others. I should learn a lesson and follow her lead!

Blessings ~

P.

I FORGOT THE CAMERA!!!!

We went to Dodge City this weekend to watch Bo play in the Kansas National Baseball Congress State Tournament - The Winfield Sliders won their first game and then faced the Butler County Mudcats - a team that has beaten us in 5 close games. Our boys played like pro's - didn't make one error and ended up beating the Mudcats! They used all their energy and skill in that game and ended up losing their next two games, sending us home around noon on Sunday.

The only time we had to take in the sights was Friday and the weather was so nice, the pool called our name all day long! We did see an enormous amount of cattle, heard trains running through town at all hours of the night and heard more Spanish then English. I'm thinking I need to learn more than just Taco & Enchilada!

In route to Dodge we drove through tornado pounded Greensburg. It is just amazing how a tornado can tear through a town and leave one building standing and completely destroy one right next door. The rebuild process is slow but Greensburg is moving forward.

Laundry, laundry, laundry called my name when we got home and then the yard begged for mercy. My garden is a gonner - so much rain and I can't keep the crab grass and weeds at bay. Quite frankly, I don't like gardening enough to spend that much time out there!

We turned all the horses out to pasture while we were gone but fortunately, they were easily caught and hauled back up to the barn for a look-over and a re-aquaintence to the civilized world! All were rode last night and no one had to make an emergency dismount!

All is back to normal . . . well as normal as it can get around this place and the men are ready to get some ropin' in since baseball is done and Bailey is itchen' to turn some barrels. I'll make sure I take my camera with me!!

Blessings,

P.

My country tis of Thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of Thee I sing,

Land where my fathers died,

Land of thy Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountain side,

LET FREEDOM RING!

Hello Friends!



I know, my blog responsibility has slipped greatly! I think Ranchwife called it blogger block!



We've been praying the rain would stop and it would get hot so the hay would dry, we could cut it and then get it baled. We cut on Friday, baled on Monday and Tuesday. We are a three person operation - one man picking up, one boy stacking, one woman driving the baler all while Bailey keeps the K's under control.



Friday after we cut, we took the boat to the lake for some R&R - I was so hot, I jumped right in! The water felt soooooo good! We pulled the kids in the two-man tube, anchored and played in the water and called it a night with fireworks!



Tomorrow we head to Dodge City for Bo's state baseball tournament. May take in Boot Hill and a good 'ol gun fight, hunt down some outlaws, and get a whiff of our great Kansas beef industry! The whole family plus one will be in the historic cattle town for the entire weekend.



Good Lord willing, I'll post pictures on Monday.



Blessings to you all and I hope the fourth found you celebrating all the different aspects of FREEDOM!



Paula