Super Moon

Moon rise at Chimney Rock

The super moon has waned. I went out to try and see the super moon rising at my homestead to no avail. The cloud cover obscured my view several nights in a row, so I just have to admirer other peoples photos that were more fortunate.

Life continues to be a whirlwind of activity these past few weeks since I started working on a more regular basis. I have the Fourth of July week off from teaching but still will be doing some consulting work. Yesterday Linda and I maned the Lion's fire works airstream trailer in 90 degree heat for 6 hours and I mowed my yard earlier in the day. Whew! Today for some reason I just felt tired. After weeding and watering, it seemed like I couldn't get it together to start on a new project. I thought I might be going to Box Butte Reservoir with Jessamyn and the family today but those plans fell through. I also could have gone to Lewellen to watch my friend Dan's auction, but couldn't rustle up enough energy to start out. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be more inspired and less fatigued. Maybe it was just time to stay home for a change!

Laughter uplifts the soul!

Adjustments

It has been a week of adjustments, some good and some bad. Lets take the good first. My life has become a whirlwind of activity. I have been busy before with travels and such, but it has been quite awhile since actual work has been the culprit. Yes, I am working! Next week will be my third week teaching a BNA (Basic Nursing Class) three nights a week. My business Western Nebraska Consulting LTC, Nursing Solutions, LLC has been lucky enough to land a job assisting a long term care facility over a period of 3 months. I am a little rusty at task management and have let my domestic duties fall by the wayside. Don't get me wrong, I am glad to be adding to my bank account instead of depleting it constantly. It is just a super adjustment in my psyche. 

Being installed by Chris the Lion's District Governor.

Not only am I monetarily working, I am also civically working in my community. Last Wednesday night I was installed as the Alliance Lion's Club president. When I originally signed up to go up the ladder as an officer Brian was still alive. He was president at the time and I thought by the time I took the helm he would help me. Well as we know things don't always work out like planned. So here I am the new president and will have to brave the waters independently. I asked at the picnic the other night if there is a quick book on the subject, like a Lion's Club President for Dummies. No such luck!

My garden is doing wonderfully with no hail as of yet. We have had more rain this year and the guineas are still policing the insects around the yard. However, there are so many weeds. I don't know how they got so big so fast and so MANY! It is going to take me forever to get them all pulled or chopped out. I thought gardening was suppose to be like therapy, but I am going to need therapy before it is all cleaned up. One good thing though, not as many of those pesky hoppers this year, thank goodness.

The bad news is that our family lost a wonderful women. Brian's Aunt Luella who lived in Denver at the age of 85 had a stroke and passed away peacefully this week. It saddens the heart that only one remaining sibling out of 11 is still living in his Mother's immediate family. 

Luella M. Stadig, age 85, of Denver, Colorado passed away on June 20, 2013. Luella was the daughter of Adolf E. and Gertrude M. (Fehringer) Groeger and was born on April 28, 1928 in Peetz CO. 

Luella was preceded in death by her loving husband Burton R. Stadig and her oldest daughter Annette M. Retzer. Luella is survived by her children: Glenn and wife Cynthia of Denver, Christopher and wife Lori of Aurora, Mark and wife Joyce of Evergreen, Barbara Hearon and husband Mark of Westminster, Regina Delamaide and husband Darras of Wichita KS, Arthur and wife Fay of Westborough MA, Lorraine of Dallas TX, Jeffrey and wife Annie of Lakewood, Janet Vogel and husband Jim of Denver, Martin and wife Veronica of Arvada; Sister Caroline Burke and husband Michael of Casper WY; nineteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Emily Groeger, brother-in-law Don Hyde, brother-in-law Guy and Pauline Stadig and sister-in-law Sharlene Indge; and many extended family members and special friends. 

Luella was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers: Raymond, Earl, Carroll, Paul and Ron, and four sisters: Germaine, Mildred, Lorene and Edna; and her special friend Les Whittemore.

Luella lived on a farm in Peetz CO and graduated from Peetz High School. She attended beauty school and was a beautician in Denver. She met Burton at a dance at St Joe's in Denver. They married in Sacred Heart Parish in Peetz, CO on September 30, 1950. They built a home in Southwest Denver and lived there for life. Luella was an active member of Saint Rose of Lima Parish since the early 50's.

Luella enjoyed music and was a pianist and soprano singer. She was an active member of the church choir and many other choirs and singing groups through-out the years. After raising eleven children (and some grandchildren), Luella enjoyed cake decorating and served hundreds of people by creating wedding and other specialty cakes. At times, Luella could be called a gardener, traveler, club president, baby-sitter and companion. Grandma Lu loved being with family and friends. She will be missed and lovingly remembered.

Ash Hollow Weekend

I have always wanted to see the Ash Hollow Pageant. Vicki, my friend from Sterling and I decided this was the year. The year we both would finally make the effort to see the pageant first hand and enjoy the readings taken out of the diaries of the pioneers that traveled the trails west. Both Vicki and I had friends who were in the pageant and we enjoyed watching them play music, sing, and act. We also experienced an old time chuck wagon meal in the spirit of pioneer cooking.Vicki and I met up with Dan who also helped provide the sound system . We stayed overnight at The Gander Inn Bed and Breakfast in Lewellen NE.

Vicki and Dan

Ash Hollow

The cast was a varied lot of pioneers that entertained us in the most unusual manner.

Friends Mark Jones and Cindy Miller

Vicki and I were even invited to the cast party afterwards at the MUP (Most Unusual Place). There, we were fortunate enough to hear more music and have more food. What more could you want in entertainment during a weekend. 

Tom, Mark and Cindy

 Had a great time catching up on all things and family with my friend Vicki!

Birthday Bash Weekend!

It was a dream come true! Having all the family gathered to share  another milestone of my life.  Sixty, can you believe it? I still feel like that rebellious soul that I was in my late teens and early twenties. However, the creaks in my joints and the stiffness in my muscles remind me that I might be a tiny bit older. My motto of late is that it is ok to grow older, but I am not EVER going to be OLD. Thankfully, my family keeps me young with grandchildren surrounding me and inspiring to keep living life to the fullest.  

Birthday Dinner at Nicky's in Estes Park

I rented a large cabin on the Fall River west of Estes Park so the family could enjoy a extended weekend making new memories together. Renewing our bonds that hold us together.

Marmot

Elk

Where the elk are roaming the front yard and the marmots scurry for food in the nooks and crannies of porches.

Jarret, Zeyda and Taylen

Zeyda, Marc, and Paqui

Fishing, hiking, go-carts and site seeing were on the menu.  Even the youngest of us got into the act.

Breqkon

Taylen, James, Jessamyn, and Jay touring The Stanley Hotel.

Fun, fun, fun...

Its a Guinea's Life

These two invited themselves to the party.

Guineas, they are a marvelous breed of fowl. They are very independent and have a carefree existence.

Guineas are an interesting addition to your farm or acreage.  They have great personalities. Guineas are the farm yard watch dog, sounding the alarm whenever anything unusual occurs.  They will consume large amounts of insects and seldom bother your garden or flowers.  They are easy and inexpensive to raise.  Once started, they fend for themselves, living on insects, seeds, and grasses.  They control deer ticks, wood ticks, grasshoppers, box elder bugs, flies crickets, and all other insects.  Their call will discourage rodents.  They will kill snakes, and will alert you to anything unusual.

Even though these two guineas aren't mine, they and about six others often grace my yard and property helping me keep the insect population in check. I give thanks to them for their efforts!

It has been awhile since I have blogged, over a week I think. Life has been very busy with preparation and planting the yearly garden. Thanks goes out to Dan who has worked hard at tilling my ground and made me raised beds for my tomatoes, peppers, onions and radishes. After waiting for the weather to clear and the rain to stop, I finally got my garden planted. Hallelujah! Praise be to the garden nymphs and that the fairies give me their blessings.

I planted two new grapes plants in front to go with the others climbing the lattice on the front deck. I love spring and have my deck pots all planted and I am waiting for them to proliferate.

Thank God that I have a great mower, two wheeled gas powered trimmer , sprinkler system and my health to do the all this yard work on my six acre homestead.

It wasn't all yard work this past week though. Western Nebraska Consultants LTC, Nursing Solutions, LLC had an actual consulting job. Yeah! Linda also just got done teaching a medication aide class through WNCC here in Alliance and I will be starting a 80 hours basic nursing assistant night class next week. So things are starting to shape up business wise. Not too much, but just enough is my motto...