Trempealeau County Fair

2009 Day 1

You must bear with me, this is going to be a long long post that goes on for days ~ 4 to be exact, that is how long the fair lasts. If I can last then I figure you can deal with photo heavy posts for the duration of the fair. The fair is one of the things I love about summer, if truth be told I am a Fall/Winter lovin gal, so when I love something about summer I embrace it wholly. Last year I didn't get to come to the fair, so this year I am determined to enjoy it, even if it lands me flat on my back~for days! Our lot backs right up against the county fair grounds (I chat about it click-here), the sights, sound, and yes even smells thrill me, I get to have a farm in my back yard, 4 days every year.

Horse barns, I like the rustic decor on this stall.

Is Your Mama a Llama?
I remember my sister reading this book over and over to The General. I wonder if she can still recite it.

Baby Beef
I don't care who you are or what walk of life you come from, baby anything is just so cute.

Big Beef

The porker in the back is smiling for the picture. The pigs looked so bare, I said to Jon do you think they shave them?? I've been around pigs and this is a new one on me, so I found a pig boy and asked. And yes they do shave them, not everyone does, but it makes for a much cleaner look in the show ring. I'm going to say it and just get it over with~the chubby back end of a shaved pig, yes it does, it looks just like a ladies back side, I kid you not! I told Jon "I know why chubby and feeling like a pig go together".

Trempealeau County Fair has been going on for 151 years. It once had horse races, I've seen pictures that were taken in 1976 and they were still racing at that time, they now do demo derby's. The wagon Jon is standing in front is what was used to water the race all those 100+ years ago.

Manure spreader restored and remade in to a ride giver, now that's being creative!

Dairy barn decor.

Not only do I have dream chickens, but also dream cows.

Jon waiting for our order at the KC food stall.
And this would be the reason we patronize this place...
... its the 1919 Root Beer!!!

Love the sheep, Grmpa & Grma Brown memory!

But they never dressed their sheep like this!

Do you think she has an identity crisis?? Or does she say, in a Marilyn Monroe-esque voice "I'm wearing leopard print just for ewe!"

I could want this little fuzz ball.

I leave you with the stuff my dreams are made of!

Stay tuned, I only made it 1/2 way threw the chickens!!

This is one for my dream book!!!

Custom Water Ski Show Boards

My husband is a very talented man. He can fix and cobble like no one I know. He has a few hobbies, some cost money, some save money, and some even make money. Wood working is one of the his hobbies that does all three. Over the years he has refinished, remade (We sleep in a piano-that is a post for another day), and built furniture and toys. This is the latest endeavor of entrepreneurship he and his brother Dave have collaborated on. Dave drives his boat for the Bethany Ski Team-click here, at church, where Grace and many cousins are on the ski team. The ski team needed skis, but they are expensive to buy when you need 15-20 sets. So they figured out how to build them, which was no small undertaking and it has, since then, turned into a little cottage industry.

They start with a big pile of wood, Mahogany and/or Ash.

Then they make a big pile of sawdust. The ripping, planing, cutting, sanding, and scuffing is endless and creates so much dust. They clean up with scoop shovels. I do have plans for this stuff in the near future, and it has to do with chickens (as I explained in this post-here).

If I showed you every step of the process it would take too many pictures, that and I don't want to give away to many trade secrets-ok I don't know all the steps! This photo shows a few steps although not in order. The fixtures (things that mold and press the wood) were designed and fabricated by Jon and Dave.

Dave grading lams before the steaming process.

Some have tips cut and some are waiting to have the tips cut and sanded. Much easier to see what the end product will be.

They make 12 at a time, here each side gets sprayed and scuffed a few times.

All finished, it just needs the bindings put on and its ready to take to the water. A show board is made for basing pyramids in water ski shows or used as a ballet ski. This is a plain Jane one.

This is where the custom comes in.

This part is done by some other guy, who probably has a wood shop in his garage. I'm sure his wife is also thankful that this is one little hobby that makes money.

Click on picture to enlarge. You can see the detail and the beauty of the wood.
Isn't it beautiful?!?! I will post the Bethany Ski Team in action soon.

Cookie Pudding

I begged was given this recipe from the wife of a pastor we had a few years ago (18 is a few right?). This is one of our "potluck" favorites. The kids will snag some out before it is garnished or hope that some will be left over at parties end. They then hide their little stash in the frig, usually behind something they think the others won't eat (Grace-under the lettuce, Ave-behind the yogurt, Will-butter door).

Here's the goods!! If your a stickler for brand name foods, this is one of those times when it really doesn't matter--also this was last minute so Willy and I went to the local small town Piggly-Wiggly, where you can blow threw a whole weeks food budget on just a few items.

Cookie Pudding
2 small boxes vanilla instant pudding
2 cups butter milk (I have used 3 cups when I've felt the need to make it stretch)
16 oz. whipped topping
2 cans mandarin oranges-drained
1 pkg. fudge striped cookies-crumble except for one row as garnish

Mix 2 boxes of pudding with the buttermilk (it will not be a smooth).

Add whipped topping, crushed cookies (save a row for garnish) and drained mandarin oranges.

Garnish with remaining cookies. Its ready to serve and will keep in the frig for a few days if it lasts that long! I could have zoomed in on just the top, I thought you'd want to see my retro pyrex, that for all my wishin' still hasn't broken.

This is what my Dad would call a "potlicker"

Baseball Brothers

A & W are so different, just like the first letter of their names on the alphabet spectrum they are on opposite ends. Not only in looks, body type, complexion, but also in temperament, how they approach a problem, and their study (or lack of) habits, just to name a few. The one thing they do share is their love of the game! Now its baseball, in the fall it will be football. It has also caused more than their share of arguments at times. But when the dust settles they grab their gloves and head out to the back yard to play catch and critique throwing technique. It brings them together in a sweet way. I'm sure they would object to me using the word sweet when referring to them--unless it's a sweet new glove or cleats!

Avery plays 2nd base and rumor has it he will be pitching soon on the JV1 team.

Willy pitches, plays 1st base, and sometimes right field on the JV2 team.

Will & Ave
It is not often that they both have a game in the same place, when they do its a huge bonus and a great time to snap a pictures of them together. It brings us all together in a sweet way, and they can't argue with that!!

One with Dirt

Jon, A & W in their John Deere sweat shirts they received for Christmas.

Jon, A & W living up to the slogan on their sweat shirts.

And when they were done planting the garden--the tub was also one with dirt!

Amazing Party!!

Grace and Ashton have been the best of friends since Ashton, who at 4 months old had the forsight to get started on the relationship right away, visited Grace in the hospital the day Grace was born. They have shared most big and little events in their lives, it was so fun that they shared their graduation party. So many pictures of them growing up together it was hard to pick and choose for use when doing the decorations. Hats off to: Ashtons' Mom, Dawn who picked up alot of my slack; their Aunt Kaye and Cousin Kaydra baked and decorated the cake; Grma came and baked bars for 2 days; Aunts, Uncles, and Grma's worked kitchen duty; and Ashtons' Grmpa as the offical bar taste tester. Not only does this family love to have a fun party they are more than willing to work to make it happen!The Dads doing pre-party prep, the chocolate fountain was a big attraction. It usually makes an appearance at big family events. My handsome husband is pouring the chocolate--it doesn't get any sweeter, my obsessions combined!
Our 5 kids. I may be biased, but--they are fine looking (this is where having a handsome husband pays off)!! Warms my heart having them all in one spot at one time.
Randi and Melissa started off the after party-party with some trick scooter riding. They are considering hitting the local parade circuit.
Avery providing more after party entertainment. When he showed up on bike wearing a biking suit I said look its Lance Armstrong. Ave then proved how "arm-strong" he is!

I leave you with a bit more sweetness. Our Randi and her boy at the end of a very fun day!

You Are Amazing Grace

Artistic
Memorable
Angelic
Zealous
Incredible
Noble
Giving

Gracious
Radiant
Ambitious
Caring
Eyes of brown

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-"Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do Amazing things among you."
Joshua 3:5

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“For the law was given through Moses, but Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”
John 1:17

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Tales from the Duck Side

Every year a pair of wood ducks nest in the maple tree right outside our back door. We have never seen the babies--until this year!! Jeremiah our son-in-law stepped outside and yelled back in to us "Hey there's baby ducks falling out of the sky!!" Some landed on the ground, and some on the deck. they literally launched out of the maple tree, and found the mama who was waiting along the side of the house. The kids put the babies that landed on the deck where they could find mama duck. One got hurt in the fall but waddled to mama just fine. She then led them under the veranda and waited for us to go away before leading them to water (pictures taken by Graci).

We had a busy weekend with Grace's grad party, a surprise visit from our daughter and her family, having all 5 of our kids home for a couple of days, and Jon's mom staying here and baking for the party. Childhood pictures and graduation pictures in piles and on display boards, my mind goes back and I think about the launched, the launching in process and future launchers.

I think about that Papa & Mama duck and I take a lesson. The nest is higher than a second story window, they chose safety for the first stage, knowing that the next stage would be a long drop. My brother told me they have to drop in order to live, an Internet search proved and disproved this. Either way us parents have to release them for the launch. I wonder if the launch and fall is an adrenaline rush for the little ducklings. The mama duck quacks a few times and just waits, she's not all frazzled and racing around making sure the landing is soft. When the ducklings have all found her she gathers them around, waits for them to all settle down and away they go out into an even bigger world.
Two of ours have left the nest. The first one launched successfully, although loss has touched her life she is swimming in the big pond, building her nest, touching lives and tending little souls. The second one launched, fell hard, and has chosen to not follow the leader. In the picture above he would be the one climbing the wall, another one is looking up to him. This is where I really need to take mama ducks lesson and not panic, just call and wait until they all settle down and lead by example. Now the third on stands on the edge, ready to leap. She will launch "Grace"-fully. Two left in the nest, and here I am learning lessons as I am trying to teach them!