The last of the Prairie Day pictures---plus some others!

While loading pictures here, I thought I'd include a couple of our greenhouse produce:

Romaine lettuce, a head of cabbage and a bowl full of....

...yes, peas!

This is kind of a funny place to put this in, I know, but it was also on my camera card when I uploaded pictures, so I thought I'd share it here....

While at Prairie Days, my friend, Susanna (mother of 3, plus 1 more on the way) did a cloth-diapering demonstration Saturday afternoon. She also had a "Door prize" drawing where you could put your name in if you wanted to win some diapers. Susannas' younger sisters asked me if they could put my name in the box, but I replied that I really didn't have any use for them for the time being, but they insisted that I could put them away in my hope-chest, so I consented to my name being put in the hat, if they really wanted to..... I never heard if they did put it in or not and quickly forgot about the whole thing amidst all the busyness of Prairie Days. Apparently, amongst all that busyness, we also forgot our new white folding table at the Dagleys' when we left Sunday evening. After not finding it in our vehicle when we returned home, Mother called the Dagleys and, sure enough, someone had tucked it away in James and Amandas' vehicle when it was raining, and it was forgotten by all.

So, while we were away at the farming class in Bismarck, Mr. Dagley happened to be in our area, so he dropped off the table at our house, PLUS, he left a little blue bag that had my name on it. When we returned home, I couldn't figure out what could be in the bag? I opened it and found several supplies to tuck away in my Hope-chest corner of the attic.

Now I should be pretty close to ready for anything, whenever Mr. Right shows up! ;)

As I was looking through pictures, I decided to also post a few from our trip to the Garrison Dam, as I took some with Andrew in them which he, obviously, didn't have to share with you.

Our picnic lunch in Wilton...

Andrew, getting the perfect angle for his lamp/sunlight photos...

My parents, holding each other up on the bridge.... :)

Looking at the peaceful side of the spillway...

Look at all that powerful water! Just think, the Lord controls all that raging wetness!

There were many, many people also there to see the sights....

And now, finally, here are the rest of the promised Prairie Day pictures, a couple weeks belated!

Sunday morning was spent in visiting and in worshipping the Lord together. I also spent quite a bit of time doing girls/ladies' hair for them. Charis Balyeat braided my hair for me so I could also say I'd had my hair done. :)

One family showed how to do some Hebrew dances...

In the background of this picture, you can see a real, live lemonade stand, operated by Charity Balyeat. :) (See the cardboard box structure?)

Crystal Litfin and I had our annual Prairie Days picture taken. :)

Here are our cousins, just coming out of the bus which was used on Sunday as the Trading Post building...

In the afternoon, several of the young people (girls mainly :) ) and some of the young at heart joined for a time of dancing the Virginia Reel. After a few rounds of that, cousin Kristi and I learned how to square dance, which was lots of fun! I was, thankfully, a girl, (my partner, Camille graciously consented to being the "Man"). In the dance we did, I was James Balyeats' Sally Gooden; Mark Dagley's Arkansas; and Sarah Stovers' Mother-in-law. :) We had so much fun! After 3 times of running through the calls, we were getting it down quite well, but were by that time, too hot to continue!

It was soon time to start saying our "Goodbye"s and "See you next year"s, and to run around, making sure we had most of our things packed and ready to head for our farm. Prairie Days was such a treat this year, as it was the first time we've been able to camp there for more than one night and to actually be there for 3 whole days! Thank you again, Dad for doing the chores for us so we could have such a wonderful vacation!!!

On our return trip home, we had the pleasure of Sarah Stovers' company. She taught us how to play "Guess that person", with just saying the initials of the person and then answering yes or no questions. We had lots of fun with that!

Sarahs' brother, Jonathan joined us a little while later for supper and a time of visiting...

The Murphys and Stover young people spent the night at our place (we were very glad to now own a tent!)

In the morning, the Stovers picked out the 2 goats they wanted to buy from us and we loaded the does (and their babies) in the box/trailer Jonathan had assembled for the purpose...

They had to get going right away then, as Jonathan had to get to work, so we said our goodbyes to them and they headed out our driveway...

The Murphys also had to get going, as they had a VERY long drive ahead of them, but they did take some time to visit and swing with us before they left...

Andrew showed the boys a new way to swing...

....and something else you can do with swings...

We then took a picture of the Murphy family on our teeter-totter. :) "I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again... It was so fun having you all here!"

Go faaaasssterrrrr!

We had to laugh about how well the M.s' vehicle fit in with our vehicles, color-wise, that is!

Here Dad is, I believe, talking about beautiful blue flax fields with Mom's cousin, Kristi...

Jacob, Hristiyan, and Jason, petting Lady (who is so very shy of strangers!)

As you can see, it took us all a while to say goodbye! There was the sit-on-Andrew time...

The hug-your-cousin-who's-holding-her-water-keifer time...

...and also the squeeze-Andrews'-neck-'til-he-makes-a-funny-face time!

(By the way, we've heard a rumor that this young fellow is hoping to come visit us again next month when his grandparents come to ND!!! We're starting to think he either: likes us a lot; really likes farm life a lot; really likes North Dakota a lot; or is it that he likes long drives?)

Finally, after a prayer for the Murphys' safety, it was time to wave goodbye....

...and to try to get back into the swing of farm work again.

Today was a busy day on the farm with Dad and Jacob first winding up some wire that we'd taken down earlier, then the boys cutting down alfalfa while Dad cultivated corn. I worked in the garden most of the afternoon and then headed in the house to finish supper while Mom headed out to the garden. That makes it sound like we don't work together, which isn't true. It's just that Mom didn't want to be outside when it was so warm out, and I didn't mind, but by the time she was ready to head out, I was too tired to stay out and came in to make supper. :) It all worked out in the end. The boys especially liked the end of this day, as they got to shoot off some of the fireworks they (and Dad) bought.......

Here's wishing you all a most wonderful Independence Day tomorrow!

With love,

~Cora