Spring has sprung!

Here we go again, with another big gap.  It seems time gets away from me.  There have been a lot of changes since the last post. The biggest and the best is the arrival of our grandson, Caleb.  He was born on January 22, and is just amazing!  We are so excited to continue to get to know him and spend time with him.  Megan has been doing well, and is a great mommy.  Josh and Megan both start new jobs soon, and I will be able to spend more time with him then.  It will be a bit of an adjustment w/coordinating the bed and breakfast w/babysitting, but I am sure it will be fun!

We have been enjoying unusually warm weather for this time of year.  I haven't heard anyone complain!  It has been 80 or warmer for about 2 weeks.  There is rain moving in and it won't be as warm for a few days, but I am hoping it warms back up again after the rain is gone.  The flowers are all blooming, the birds are singing, and I have even seen a few butterflies.  I haven't seen any hummingbirds yet, but they should be coming soon.  I usually put the feeders out the first week in April, but I think I will try putting one out later today and see what happens.  Along w/the warmer weather is motivation for me to exercise more.  I have either been walking or riding my bike, which is great.  It always makes me feel better.

Our garden is growing...we have planted peas, radishes, lettuce, spinach, onions, garlic, shallots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussel sprouts.  The peas are sprouted and getting bigger.  I love fresh vegetables.  The problem is that my husband has issues w/planting too much.  He always tells me to just throw it out if I think there is too much, but I always feel bad wasting it.  I wish he would understand from the beginning that he needs to cut back on how much he plants.  I like peas too, but not like he does.  He is a bit obsessed, and I'm past being amused by it.  A few years ago, he planted too much (again!) and I spent about 2 hours picking the peas.  He joined me later and we spent another hour or so.  Next comes the hulling...We both worked on them for several hours, and saved some to finish working the next day.  I had customers at the bed and breakfast, so while I was fixing breakfast, Jeff got lonely hulling peas by himself, and joined me.  My customers started coming down, and the first one told me that I should make that man a pie b/c of him being such a big help to me!  I said "I'll make him a pie alright!"  We have been laughing about it ever since, but seriously cut back on the peas Jeff!!

Pretty soon, Jeff and Jerry will be back in the fields to plant crops.  It's hard to believe it's that time again.  Jeff has already pointed out that the new combine has a buddy seat, and that is Caleb's spot this fall.  Jeff has been busy working on his 963 trackloader.  He has rented it out a few times already, and has several jobs lined up for it as soon as it's fixed.  He has been repairing the radiator.  It always reminds me of Wyatt when he was little when people talk about radiators.  He was a bit obsessed with The Fox & The Hound movie, and I didn't realize how much he was paying attention to it, until we were in the grocery store and he was shaking his fist at a random lady, telling her that she busted his radiator.  It was too funny!  He also used to like to tell women that they were "blasted female drivers!"  We still never know what he is going to do!  Sometimes that's good, and sometimes it's not. 

I am anxious for a camping trip!!  I love to camp!  My friend and I have been talking off and on this winter about our next float trip, and we are going to try kayaks this time, instead of rafts.  I think it will be fun!  She doesn't know how to swim though, so she is a bit nervous about it.  She will have a life jacket on, and it's not like we go on crazy rapids or anything, so I think she will be fine.  We are also wanting to go on a trip to Amish country again.  Jeff is jealous and wants to go, so I don't know if that will mean two trips or if it will mean the three of us going.  I'm not sure he is ready for our adventures or giggling, so we will see!

Happy New Year!! I can't believe it is 2012!  I noticed that the last time I blogged was November 1.  I guess time got away from me.  In mid-November, I went on a new adventure.  I flew for the first time!  I went to Ft. Collins, CO, and spent some time with my sister and her family.  While there, we explored Estes Park, and I also took a lesson on skiing.  It was both good and bad.  I am very glad that I tried it, but I also know my boundaries.  I cut the lesson short, mostly because I am not a big fan of heights.  I especially don't like heights if there is a fast drop involved.  First, I learned how to stop (very important!), then practiced on a very small hill.  Then I was introduced to the "magic carpet".  I am not a big fan of this at all. In case you don't know, it is basically a flat escalator that goes up the hill.  It's pretty tricky trying to get on w/the skis on and not falling...it is also just as hard to get off without falling.  I think I fell 3 times throughout my time spent there. Next, we went up a bigger hill.  To arrive at the top, you have to put this pole thing between your legs, and it lifts you to the top.  I had to remind myself not to look down-lol!  Getting off of this was also a challenge for me.  The bigger the hill, the faster you go, so I had enough. I learned the basics, and am very glad that I did.  I may never try again, but then again, I might.  One never knows.  It was good to get away from things, and I like trying new things.  I was very glad to get back home though.  I missed Jeff a lot. 

The remainder of November and most of December was spent taking care of customers, and getting ready for Christmas.  I did lots of baking, including the following:  Choc. chip cookies, Springerles (both Anise and Raspberry Chocolate), Snickerdoodles, Ginger, Megan's Candy Cane Sugar Cookies, Pizzelles, Glazed Sugar Cookies, Peanut Butter Cups, Choc. Covered Pretzels, Fudge, Choc. Covered Marshmallows w/crushed candy cane, Rum Cake, Banana Bread, etc.  It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.  I always look forward to it, but I also am glad when I am done!

Jeff took a week off after Christmas, and worked on several things around the house and the bed and breakfast, but mostly cut wood.  He's back at work, and Wyatt is back at school.  It's pretty quiet right now. 

Jeff and I are putting a new floor down at the bed and breakfast in the kitchen.  Things are always more complicated than you expect though.  We bought a different stove, but it is smaller than the other stove, so the counter has to be moved.  When moving the counter, we discovered that the wall behind it wasn't finished, and neither is the floor under it.  Now Jeff has to patch the wall w/drywall, and do something about the floor.  We have to make it be the same height as the other floor, so it will be even.  In the process of all of this, we also decided to paint.  That means lots of Kilz to cover the stenciling!  GRRR...so when you notice that I haven't blogged for a while, now you understand why!  LOL!