Fair Time

Like home made apple pie, fair time reminds us of our youth and good old fashion American fun. For my grandsons it is the accumulation of months of work with a calve that does not always want to cooperate. Both boys did exceptionally well showing and receiving purples with their market steers, Taylen even receive all around Reserved Grand Champion. Not only did the boys have the right stuff in the market beef category, they both received  purples in showmanship. Congratulations!

Feeding Time For The Club Members

Judge Checking Out Jarret's Steer

Taylen Reserved Grand Champion
Kari Gould Grand Champion

I have been becoming more adventurous and maybe a little bit more crazy. Yes, I have bought myself a black demon. A 4-wheeling ATV with power that I have only started to tap into. I bought it from my friend Dan who must have had second thoughts since he has called every few days to make sure I haven't killed myself yet. It is quite liberating having the wind blow through my hair as I tear down the trail roads around my place. I have taken my rightful spot in our community along side the other motorcyclists and 4-wheelers. I asked Jessamyn, "do I need to get a helmet?" She just laughed out loud.

Black Demon

Julie Brockish

I had a pleasant and unexpected visit from an old friend who stopped through Alliance on her way to Rapid City. Her mother, sister and niece were with her and put up with our nonstop chatter. Both of us trying to catch up on our lives for over the last ten years at our local Dairy Queen. For you see, she and her husband Ted have been working in Dhahran, Ash Sharqiyah a part of Saudi Arabia. It was great to see you Julie, even for such a short time!


Also, I had a overnight visit from my brother-in-law James. The man is on a mission to visit all his immediate families. He took me out for supper last night and we watched some of the Olympics on TV. Today he helped do some ladder work and cleaned all my light fixtures of bugs and dirt so I wouldn't have to climb a ladder. THANKS SO MUCH!


It has been another busy week and I am gearing up for the busy August ahead.

Family Everywhere!

It certainly has been a family weekend! It started with picking up Paqui and Zeyda in Scottsbluff, then traveling to Fort Collins to my brother and sister-in-law's home. The next morning both their girls Teri and Dixie showed up with their families in in tow. I haven't seen Teri's family in a long while. The cousins played and giggled. While us older folks visited and laughed. Thanks Margie for the great supper and wonderful breakfast buffet.

Dixie, Avery, Camden and Matt

Matt, Dixie, Margie,Teri, Guy
Darrell

Paqui and Zeyda

Guy, Teri, Rami, and Sonya

Avery, Zeyda, Rami, Camden

After breakfast we headed to Everygreen CO for the larger Groeger reunion. There we encountered many familiar faces, good conversation and food. We visited all afternoon and headed back to the hotel so Zeyda could swim. We had a wonderful brunch the next day at Mark and Joyce's mountain home.

Aunt Lou

Joyce and Karen

 We all visited and caught up with each others family news before heading back home. Topping the day with a stop at Brian's brother James's home in Ft. Collins for a short pit stop. He lead the way to Wellington viva motorcycle so we could eat before heading back to Scottsbluff.

James and his Harley

Then home again to Alliance. Made it safe and sound and have been renewed with all the great family vibes!

Hot, HOT, HOTTIE!

The heat is back, baking me in it's hot oven.  Making me feel like a wet lump with sweat trickling from my brow and down my back. I am not as heat resistant as I used to be. When I was just a young woman it was nothing to be putting up alfalfa bales in 100 degree weather. Boy, I couldn't even hardly sit out in it to watch Taylen's baseball games Saturday.

The Sandhills Dirt Devils are going to the state playoffs in Lincoln, NE this next weekend. Jessamyn is taking Taylen, Sam, and Jarret to Lincoln and  then Monday she has to make a beeline back so the boys can show their 4-H calves on Wednesday at the Sheridan County Fair. Jay is in banking school in Boulder right now and is unable to help. It is his second summer in a three summer run so he can receive his masters in banking and finance.

Paqui, Zeyda and I are going to Brian's mother's family (Groeger) reunion by Evergreen CO on Saturday and Sunday morning. We will be stopping to visit Darrell and Margie, my brother and his wife Friday night. It will be a weekend of family all around. Hopefully, there will be cooler temperatures and no mishaps. It will be the first time I will use my navigation on my new vehicle.

I am off the blood thinners and can now take NSAIDs for the inflammation and pain. Yeah! The swelling is down in the knee and I am getting around better and with less pain. I had my six week check up with my doc and an x-ray was taken to make sure my new metal was in its rightful place. Thank goodness it was and I am doing great! Look mom, no walker, cane or stick to hold me up. Just need those flexible supportive shoes.

Tonight I am going out for a lady's movie with my friend Linda. Yes, the movie is Magic Mike. At least I won't have some man's belly button in my face and can slump down in the dark theater if the movie embarrasses me too much. Go Girls!



Relief At Last!

It was a cooler 4th of July, by cooler I mean high 80's. I enjoyed the hospitality of Marc's sister Yolanda and her fiancee Carlos . We picnicked and watched fireworks, we even sang the national anthem. How patriotic can you get? The kids were all excited, along with Zeyda, waiting for night to fall and the fireworks to begin.





The fireworks did not disappoint us and the family enjoyed front row seats in the drive way.

Saturday I rode to Denver with Linda while she shopped for a new car. We spent the afternoon in shark invested waters at the Groove Toyota dealership. Linda prevailed and got a deal of a lifetime on a new 2012 Camry with the works! However the trade in was not adequate, so I got to drive her Honda back home. I was glad I could finally help repay her with all the driving around she did for me.

Early Sunday morning I was surprised to wake up with rain coming through my bedroom windows. I got up and closed the windows and unplugged the computer due to the lighting . The next day I went out to the rain gauge and received such a shock. I had never seen it read 3.25 inches before. Yippy, my rain dance worked and the heavens opened up! I must have a little more pull up there because Alliance only got an inch :)

Today is a day that our family is celebrating even though Brian isn't here with us. It would have been Brian's 60th birthday today. However, we are celebrating the fact that we were able to be touched by such a wonderful father, husband, and man. Yes, we miss him very much, but he has given us so many wonderful memories to enjoy over our lifetimes! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIAN!



Sweltering in the Panhandle

smokey red sunset

Holy Cow! It has been a hundred degrees for the past two weeks! Whats up with this weather? This weather pattern has brought many grief both in the west where fires have ravished the forests and grasslands, along with the poor folk who are without electricity in the east by D.C. Please God send rain, the cool, cool water of life to help stop the pastures from shriveling and the crops from dying.

the plague

Bad news on the garden front and some of my edible flowers. The grass hoppers have invaded full force. Not only is it hard to keep up with the watering, now the hoppers have started to decimate my garden. Heat and pestilence!

My recovery continues to go well with my right knee. It is getting stronger and less painful each week. This is the start of my fifth week post-op and I will be seeing my doctor next week for my six week check up. All goes well if I don't over do. I get pretty sore if I tackle big projects like cleaning the garage out or cleaning the whole house.

The Voss family went to Montana to spend the Fourth with Jay's uncle and aunt. Jessamyn was hoping to pass through Yellowstone on the way.  I have been invited to spend the Fourth with Marc's family in Scottsbluff, so might cruise down there for the day tomorrow. Everyone have a safe and fun Fourth of July!