Driving Age

It's been a long planting season on the prairie.  Last year the last soybean went in the ground about the middle of May.  This year we haven't been so lucky.  It's been very, very, very wet and rainy.  M told me a long time ago that when one lives up here, one should never curse the water gods.  This year it's been tough to hold one's tongue.

That being said, we've had an open week.  The corn is in the ground and the beans are getting planted at warp speed in preparation of this weekends rain and oh, yeah... we have one of our own getting married on Saturday.  I wonder if the groom's more worried about his crops or the wedding?  Grandpa reassured me at supper that the groom is equally as stressed as the bride. 

Clearly, Grandpa has never been a bride!! 

I was having some sappy, sad, reminiscent thoughts about this nephew/groom as I'm driving to the field to deliver supper tonight.  He was about 11 when I came into this family.  It's hard for me to believe that he's this grown up. Ugh!

And then I turned into the field to find this...

...just a really big tractor, right?

But as it came to a roaring stop, I found this...

WHAT???!!!!

THAT'S MY 9 (almost 10) YEAR OLD SON DRIVING THAT GREAT BIG TRACTOR!!  Picture quality isn't all that good through the window - but yes that's also his very proud dad smiling in the buddy seat next to him. 

What??!!

This pic gives you an idea of how big this machine is compared to my "little" boy.  This can't be possible.  Wasn't I changing his diapers yesterday?  He's not going to grow up and leave his mama for a life of his own, is he?  I thought he'd be little forever.  This wasn't part of the initial plan...

at least not part of MY plan!

God and I are going to have a chat this evening.

Dad told me a while back that when the kids get into school, the time will be gone before I would know what happened.  I didn't believe him.  I was too busy takin' care of babies - honestly, wishing they'd kick the growing up thing in high gear so that I could take a nap. 

You were right, Dad.  I finally get what you were telling me.

Here's to living in the moment and spending time with our children. 

Around here we don't have "planned quality time" as the experts suggest.  However, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to work cattle together, ride in a tractor together, weed the garden together, eat supper together {sometimes in the back of a pick up and not around a table}, drive around gravel roads together, fold clothes together, and the list goes on.

My point being -

kids don't need activities, they need time with

Mom and Dad.

Talking is immanent when we spend time with each other!

[OK... I'm done being sappy now.]

A few more shots of the "others"...

#4 has his supper and now it's his turn to take a ride in "the big green tractor".

{use your sing-song voice here..hope you know the words}

#3 (age 6) had her training wheels removed tonight and they will not be returned to her.  No, I'm not being mean - she figured it out!!!  The stopping thing still escapes her.  She chooses falling over in the grass versus pushing back on the pedals. 

{and, yes, her shirt is wrong side out}

#2 could not be bothered for a comment.

#5?  I really don't know where #5 is.  She'll turn up when she gets hungry.

Don't blink - it'll be over before we know it.

Blessings-

B

Whatcha Gonna Give?

SATURDAY...

I went to an auction! 

First one in a couple of years.  I'm absolutely GIDDY! 

Kids 1, 2, & 3 had the morning off so they went along to find some kitchen ware for their playhouse.  Number 4 helped Dad fence and #5 would have rather been in a tractor but she had no choice but to go with us.  She's easy to keep entertained with a bag of Cheetos.  I remember early in my mothering career, the statement that I just made would have been inconceivable.  Let my child eat less than nutritious snacks... I think not!  Thank goodness I've relaxed. 

Anyway, on to the good stuff.

For $21.00 we came home with these treasures:

Let's begin with our big purchase of the day coming in at $10-

Mike was soooo excited when he saw my "bolt bin".  Then he was a little disappointed when I shared my thoughts of how pretty my fat quarters would be when arranged neatly inside.

I love the Sioux Steel stamp on the side.

This cute clock was in the same pile of stuff with the bin.  Doesn't work but I liked the face.

One wire freezer basket with a bunch of old tools in it for a dollar and a tall skinny freezer basket with a few other things in it for a dollar.  They're nice and rusty.  Gonna be cute with a muslin or canvas liner for toys and books and stuff.

I fought for this precious storage unit... $4!  

Not quite tall enough for a nightstand but fun sitting on top of another table for storage. 

Needs a bath. 

divided drawers....

... a few extra seed peas if anyone needs some...

...my hand model...

...still the cute 2 year old...

...copper drawer pulls...

I had to give $3 for this cool tool box.

There's a board nailed to the side???  That's coming off tomorrow.

Inside the box were some squares of sheet metal - I'm thinkin' 4-H project.  I'll let ya know.

{I just liked this pic beside my old bike!}

For ONE DOLLAR kids can furnish the entire kitchen of their playhouse.  They were thrilled!!  They played in the grass with their treasures while Mom watched the rest of the sale.

Some people were so kind as to give them unwanted items out of the boxes they had purchased.

Dad needed one or two to help him when we got home.  They decided they'd all help Dad to make it go faster so they could come back and set up shop. 

(Sometimes they work together without being told.)

One last "dollar" item... a box of sewing supplies.  Helloo.. the duct tape was worth the dollar.

There's a glue gun, old buttons, lots of thread, velcro, and so many needles that I'll never have to buy another.

That's my fun Saturday.

I see 90 degree weather is headed our way. 

Tomorrow's project is the shaving of the 140 pound Newfoundland! 

Doesn't he look excited?

He'll be happier when it's over.

I don't know what kind of gross stuff is under his chin but it's coming off too.

Say a prayer for the people dealing with the water.

Blessings-

B