Moving in to the Back 40

When we bought our house, we got a deal.

It was a dipped market, and our house was underpriced,

but there were some obstacles to overcome.

The greatest of these obstacles had to be our back hill.

It's really steep.

I have to physically and emotionally prepare myself

each time I decide to get up there.

So, we (read: I convinced Nick who faithfully obliged and) 

decided to build destinations worth visiting.

Last Spring, Nick built me a dream potager garden,

which today looks like this:

Thank you, Nick!

On the other side of the hill, we had some rail-road tie raised beds,

which were overrun with blackberries and spider-webs,

and we converted into this:

We love it!  The story of getting to this is kind of crazy,

but we neither want to disparage or endorse the greenhouse company,

so if you want to whole story, either call me

or swing by and share a few drinks, 

and I'll be happy to dish the dirt!

The very warm, very fertile, green-house dirt, that is.

Grandma Flo Passed Away

My Grandma, my mom's mom, passed away.  

My mom, who's in her seventies, 

doesn't have either of her parents anymore.

Just writing that makes me cry.

There's no picking up the phone - even if just to check in.
It's hard on grandchildren to lose their grandparent,
but it's really hard on children to see their parents lose their parents.
It makes everything in life seem more fragile.

She was a strong, opinionated, and Godly woman,

who always emphasized the greatness and grace of God 

to her whole family and community.

She had six kids. Taught school without a college education.

Started a school, which became a bigger school.

If you're inclined, the story is here: 

http://www.littlecountrychristian.org/our_history.html

Her legacy lives on in each of us.  

Not just her six kids, 18 grandkids, and umpteen great grandkids, 

but it extends into the community.

She had to have taught thousands of children to read.

I love my Grandma Flo, and miss her greatly.

She was a great, great woman way before she was a great grandma.

I love you Grandma!