Charlie Brown's Wisdom

Improving the View

With all of the work we've been doing to get our yard ship shape, one thing always bothered me.  

Sitting at the firepit and staring at those big, bulky trash and recycling  bins. 

So I had a plan. 

(I do this a lot to my husband...  draw out something on paper for our next project.)

And we went to work. 

Of course our favorite seven year old was here to help. 

Now you see it - now you don't!

The bins are still accessible.  The fence is actually panels which lift off to wheel out the mower or the bins.  I am very happy with the reality we created. 

Art on the Wall

Mike volunteers at Birds of Prey.  He has thousands of hours accumulated as a volunteer.  This spring he was given a large lithograph print of a golden eagle.  I knew right away what I wanted to do with it - and since we spent the spring adding a fresh coat of paint to the house I was able to know which prints I wanted to put with the golden eagle and where it was going to land.  

Getting them there was another story.  I'm happy to say we have one less item on our to do list. Now if I can just get back to painting the foyer.  THAT will be a major accomplishment.  

Ruidini Escapes

We've been bad about using the crate for Ruger at night.  When he arrived, we worried about his puppy cries keeping Erin, Chris and Baby C awake at night.

When they moved out we just didn't try.

We do use the crate when we leave the house.

Now Ruger is 7 months old.  We thought we'd give him more room for the longer stretches when he is home alone.  We set him up in the laundry room with a baby gate.

A couple weeks ago Mike left Ruger securely in the laundry room - and came home to be met at the door by the dog...  three different times.

We were completely baffled.  The tile floor and island outside the door seemed to make it unrealistic to jump over the gate - though the dog has some hops.

We were running to the store one evening and I set up my laptop to record the laundry room while we were out.  Sure enough when we got home Ruger met us the door.  We quickly put down the groceries and raced to watch our escape artist at work.

By the way it took him four minutes and 27 seconds to get over the gate.
What a stinker!

Oh and the  next day I returned the $100 bark collar.  He figured out how to bark with a pitch just low enough to avoid setting it off. 

Words to Live By

Happy Father's Day!

I feel Father's Day snuck up on me this year.  Usually it is closer to our anniversary...  lame excuse.

Father's Day we were invited by Matt and Brit to go to the Harley Dealership and enjoy a breakfast of biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon.  Since that is more than likely what I would order if  we went out we said sure.  Besides Dad's ate for free and the rest were only $3.  Hard to beat that deal. 

I was a tad bit nervous to get back on the motorcycle with my hubby.  I haven't rode with him since he had to dump the bike last December.  The morning was a little overcast and temperatures cool.  

One for the road...  

And we're off... 

Britnee and Matt

Sorry Shaw, you can stretch but you still won't be as tall... 

Suppose this is an "Us-ie"

Dad's happy.  And isn't that what the day is all about?

We spent the remainder of the day enjoying visits from the youngest two, and the oldest two plus Baby C.  The middle two returned with Mr. T for a quick visit before heading over to the other Grands.  All in all a successful day.

Indeed!

It's JUNE!

 For whatever reason I adore the month of June. 

Maybe it's because I grew up having "June is Dairy month" engraved in my head. 

And since I am a cheese head by birthright it just seems to go hand-in-hand.

Or maybe it's just my love for ice cream. 

Friday we had a sleepover with this little guy.  Isn't he a cutie?

Baby C isn't much of a baby any more.

  

Papa had the evening shift.  Dinner.  Playtime.  Bedtime. 

It was my late night at work.

I was the first smile he saw in the morning.  

Mr. T had Saturday afternoon soccer.  His Momma had to leave to work.  

Gramma was completely outnumbered by testosterone when it came to our close proximity to High Desert Harley Davidson.  Actually Papa and Mr. T's Dad were registering for the Patriot Thunder Ride.

We wrapped up our afternoon together with dinner. 

Sunday AM, the guys headed out for their ride with 200+ of their closest riding buddies, 

for the Idaho Patriot Thunder ride. 

Normally it is an organized ride, with Idaho State Patrol escorting the riders to Mountain Home.  

This year ISP was not able to budget the escort and it was said the ride would have to cancel.  The money collected for the ride was meant for the Veterans and not the salary of the escorts. 

A couple of organizers started a social media campaign.  Riders registered, and the money went to the Wounded Warrior fund.  Famous Dave's donated catered food for the riders.  

They started from Idaho Ice World. 

Scary biker dude

The ride to Mountain Home was a success. The Mayor spoke and donuts were offered.  The riders returned to Meridian where they were welcomed by Governor, the Mountain Home AFB Commander.  There was a flag raising ceremony and food to celebrate the successful, safe ride.  

ISP reported only one complaint by a driver who said the miles of motorcycles on the Interstate were causing him to feel road rage...  (anger management...)

Matthew made the KBOI News.  

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...  Mr. T and I were holding down the fort.  

This amazing seven year old was such a great help.  He dead-headed flowers in the gardens.  He watered the vegetable garden.  He used the blower to clean the cut grass from the sidewalks as I mowed.  

And Gramma got to spend the entire afternoon with him.  

He reminds me of his daddy, who was always willing to help work in the yard.  

Here's to a job well done!

The guys got home and Papa got some time with Mr. T too.