Surprise birthday for a dear friend

Nothing beats a surprise party for a friend, especially if you can keep it a surprise which is just what we did. I called Mary a few weeks ago and told her I thought I would come back to Kansas and surprise my friend Betsy for her birthday. Mary heartily agreed to help plan and pull it off. Of course the birthday was planned for today and the blizzard was forecasted for today! So I came out a day early to beat the storm and we moved up the surprise a day. Didn't know if that was going to happen as it was snowing some yesterday morning. We were sure Betsy was just going to cancel out and then I would have to load up Mary and all the food and drive to Betsy's and just show up on HER door step! ha As it was, she braved the weather and made the drive to Mary's. I was sitting up the road waiting (an hour) for her to come so I could then sneak in behind. Usually Betsy is ALWAYS early but wouldn't you know....you was "delayed". Must be the old age has already set in! Finally the guest of honor was in the house so I snuck around and came in the back door singing Happy Birthday (not very well I might add). Should have been holding the camera ready for the shot when she saw me. Priceless. We had the BEST time as girlfriends do, laughing, being silly, sharing prayer and food around a special little table that Mary had set, of course all the homemade gifts. Then in the afternoon we dyed corn husks and hooked them into a rug. More on that later. Once again I am out here with no card reader so pictures will come later. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BETSY! One to remember!

Snow, oh snow

For the past couple weeks my dad has been telling me how nice the weather has been in Nebraska. I believe they even had a 70 degree day so I thought it would be a good time for a visit! I drove to McCook on Sunday and the weather forecast for tonight through tomorrow(Tuesday) is for a blizzard, 6 to 11 inches of snow with wind! Rain back home in Iowa :) Go figure. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Time to start those seeds

Since LaVern is back to working full time I will have to do all the gardening this year. He and I have different "styles" of gardening. LaVern has his tape measure and level and his rows are all neat and straight. The seeds are all in the ground under the same amount of dirt. I'm the sort of throw it on the ground and kick alittle dirt on it gardener. The same holds true with my flower gardens. I love the cottage gardens of lots of mixed flowers scattered. I noticed the other day a box of garden books yet to be unpacked so I dug them out. I best have them close at hand. I told LaVern that I was going to follow the Amish women this year. Last year it was such a wet spring but they somehow got their gardens in early and had beautiful crops. They are all getting ready to start seeds so it must be time. They do follow the moon, etc. I plan on buying the new Farmer's Almanac. They do plow their gardens in the fall and we were not able to do that as we planted rye in ours to try to get the soil alittle better. Our compost pile will help also. The green house is ready, just need those seeds.

Just say no

LaVern has trouble saying no. He'll say yes to everything and everybody until he can't call his life his own. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it's too "selfish" or something. But he is getting better and I've actually heard him say the word a time or two. No is an important word for your vocabulary. No can help you sort priorities so that YOUR time and energy are used for the highest purposes instead of being drained away. Honor what is important to you by being willing to "just say no".