Easter Blessings ~Here’s my Report ~Where the Week Went

This year was a different holiday, indeed.

I enjoyed seeing your on-line photos

of children all dressed up,

your colored eggs,

and your Easter Baskets.

Hubby and I also dyed a dozen hard cooked eggs.

Look who else dyed Easter Eggs.

Papa and Gigi enjoyed these photos.

Jack’s Aunt Emily and Uncle Jake

made their own batch, too.

A Good Friday Blessing was our weekly

Happy Hour FaceTime Chat with these Friday Night Friends.

This is not a blessing.

I think we have had a dusting of snow

three different times this week.

However, it is a blessing to see the sunshine

come out and melt that snow on the ground.

Last week I reported on my Mask Making project...

making them for our family and friends.

I had several folks comment and send messages,

so I took the week off from Spring Cleaning

and spent my time in my Sewing Studio.

If you are still in need, please let me know.

I have about a dozen left.

Plus, I’d be happy to make more.

While I am measuring, cutting, pinning, sewing, and pressing,

Hubby is here in his “work-from-home” office.

This is where he spends most of his day.

Helper Cat splits her time between us.

However, I think she finds checking his emails is rather boring.

So, My Easter Report...

The Bunny visited our house, twice!

We found two slices of Lemon Meringue Pie

in a box on our Front Porch.

(Thank you, Charlotte and Chuck.)

While I was preparing dinner, Hubby answered

the doorbell to receive this

Cheerful Easter Chick gift bag.

Inside that bag, two sweet handmade cards

and colorful Easter Eggs...

And inside those colorful Easter Eggs,

we found sweet Chocolate Candy.

These handsome young men were responsible

for that kind gesture.

How did they know that we’d missing our young family?

 Maybe because they were missing their own

Grandparents on this special Holiday Sunday.

Sending virtual hugs your way.

(Thank you Parents, Brittany and Ken)

This is a tough time for so many people.

Whether you are getting rain, sleet, or snow,

the sun will come out.

We will get back to our familiar routines

of school, work, and daily activities.

Someday.

Stay safe and well, everyone.

Take care,

~Natalie

It is a Good Weekend to Stay Inside ~How’s the Weather in Your Neck of the Woods ~Thank Goodness for FaceTime and Bluetooth

It’s January in the Dakotas...

It is cold and there is snow.

Everyone is talking about our weather.

Since the holidays are now a memory,

and our family has gone home,

there’s not much happening here that is blog worthy...

Except for our winter weather.

There’s plenty of wind out here on the open prairie,

which causes blowing snow...

...and dangerous wind chills.

The combination of snow, wind, and cold

classify this as a Blizzard.

This is the view from our front door.

This is the view out back.

Our patio table has a muffin top.

Hubby bundles up to go out and clear our sidewalks.

I am thankful for our treadmill so I can walk inside.

This is how our house looks from the street.

We are also thankful that our neighbor has a Bobcat to

help clear our driveway after the plow goes by.

To all of you empty nesters that have

launched your adult children into the world,

you all know that a highlight of the day is hearing your phone ring.

When this daughter calls on her way home from work,

this photo shows up...It’s like I’m riding shotgun

and listening to her tell about her day.

It is also a blessing to have this daughter and family

live a little closer..now, only one time zone away. 

We enjoy our FaceTime chats with them.

Jack had so much to tell us on this call.

I hope you all are staying safe and warm.

Cherish those connections you have

with your family and friends.

Take care,

~Natalie

Merry Christmas to our Family and Friends ~Our Celebration ~~A Little Peak at our Christmas Past

We are sending Christmas Wishes from our family to yours.

We hope you had a wonderful holiday with your family.

Here’s a look at how we celebrated here.

There is a box of Hubby’s Toys in our attic.

 I thought it would be fun to create a Centerpiece 

with one of his Vintage Pickups decorated with a wreath 

and a couple of Christmas trees.

Emily knew what I was up to and sent 

the Holiday napkins to complete our appetizer table.

Thanks to my friend and neighbor,

I have these cute little Christmas bowls for my snack mix.

These are the napkins that I purchased in a Boutique,

when visiting our family in Boston.

On the Appetizer Menu,

Mini Bacon Ranch Cheese Balls...

And Raspberry Brie Bites.

These even look like Christmas, Don’t they?!

Grandma’s Table looked beautiful today 

with the centerpiece that she received from family.

And speaking of family,

Here’s a photo from Christmas past.

Our daughters helping Grandpa play Santa 

on Christmas Day was a special tradition.

I hope you all made sweet memories today.

Take care. 

~Natalie 

TGIF ~A Unique Visitor to Hubby's Man Cave

Did I say that nothing blogworthy happens around here?

Not true!

Last evening, I was in the kitchen starting dinner, when

hubby comes inside to say, "Guess who's in the mancave with me."

I'm thinking a squirrel? bird? a mouse?? a bat???

Nope...

It was a turtle!

We quickly alerted our neighbors...our driveways are adjacent.

We wanted to share this moment with these cute little boys.

The boys named him "Ertle the Turtle".

Check out Ertle's tummy.

It is a work of art.

And Ertle was fast!

So much for being as slow as a turtle!!

The young family took responsibility for Ertle's future.

Besides being fast, Ertle was agile.

He could climb out of the box that I provided,

as well, as this tin planter.

So in the tin, in a plastic tub,

the boys and their parents took Ertle for a short drive

to release him in a nearby pond.

And Ertle lives Happily Ever After!

Happy Weekend, Everyone.

Take care,

~Natalie

Our thoughtful neighbors...Thank You!

Our doorbell rang this afternoon...

It was the neighbor girl.

She and her mom have been baking for the holidays,

and they wanted to share their goodies!

Since my surgery, I won't have the strength or energy for baking...

so this is much appreciated.

Do you see your favorite Christmas cookie?

I have my eye on those Russian Tea Cakes.

Take care,

~Natalie

College Game Day Report ~ The Dakota Marker was on the Line...

The Dakota Marker is the trophy awarded to the winner of the annual college football game played between the 

NDSU Bison and the SDSU Jackrabbits.

The Dakota Marker is a model replica of the quartzite monuments that were used to decipher the border between North and South Dakota when Dakota Territory was split into 2 states.

photos courtesy of gobison.com.

So, the Bison traveled across the border, ready to play some football,

and NDSU retains the Dakota Marker.

NDSU 38 - SDSU 14

photo courtesy of NU Relations at gohuskers.com

And at the same time...on a different channel...

our neighbors to the south were playing our neighbors to the east.

The University of Nebraska was at the University of Minnesota.

The Huskers did not disappoint.

UNL 41 - U of M 14

Did your team win?

Enjoy what's left of the weekend. 

Take care,

~Natalie