For Dave ...

My sweet cousin Dave Deming died a few days ago.  

Here's to Dave -- a quiet, kind, brave man.  Fun to be around.  A good husband and father. 

I didn't see him often these past few years and I know we both grew and changed, but I'll always think of him as my little cousin with the soft smile.  

I remember him as a kid, coming to our farm and staying a week.  He spent most of the time out with my brothers, but I still enjoyed having him around (to tease me).  

His sister Janie is just the best, and I know she'll miss him and has lots of good memories to treasure ...

To Dave ....

Here's Janie and I, "swimming" ... Dave is lurking in the background. LOL!

All the Schooley family together at our farm except Uncle Harold & his gang ... in the front row is Janie, me and Dave.  Mom was behind the camera.  (Obviously Elizabeth Jane was wanting to be somewhere else!)

The cousins.  Front row: me, Dave and a pouting Janie! Back row: Don, Phyllis Ann and Gale.  This was taken in our front yard and I can see just a smidgen of an old car in the background, parked outside the fence along the road.  (Why did Mom always make us face the sun for pictures ???  No wonder Janie is fussing!!! LOL!!!)

Wonderful studio portrait of Janie & Dave.

And here they are just a couple years ago.

God bless you Dave.

Whew ...

Boy has it been hot.  I'm soooooo over summer!  Not my favorite time of year.  I think if it was just less humid I'd be okay with it but ...

Enough about weather.  Here's what I've been up to: Hubby had a small accident and so we spent some time at doctor/ER/hospital.  Mowing every week to keep it looking 'just okay' (think I could mow about every 5 days and it would look good).  Trying to get in some 'me' time with kindred spirits (hooking, sewing).  Trying to finish two quilt tops I've been working on for ?? years (half way done).  Keeping up with church stuff.  And doing the usual house work to keep me happy with the way things look around here.  Also, we did get in a few fun things.  Ya gotta live!  So here's where we've been.

We went to Hutsonville IL (just across the river) for brunch last Saturday.  It's not only a neat little restaurant with delicious food (it's a breakfast and lunch only place), but also an antique shop to boot!  Save room for dessert!  Oh, here's the view from our table.  Along the way we stopped at -ISH in Graysville where I found ...

... this cute little paint-by-number picture!  Love it!

We also found time to stop at the Owen County 4-H Fair in Spencer this week.  We spent the most time in the 4-H exhibit hall because there was a lot to see (and it was cool!).  I'm always impressed with what kids can accomplish in a summer... Plus the animals are always fun to see.  Lots of fans going in the barns!  Here's some pix.

There was a lot of poster exhibits which were really very interesting.  Less sewing and cooking than when I was in 4-H.  Just a few crops (hay, corn, soybeans).  Very little electrical or wood working.

Just some of the champions.

Beautiful Hereford steer.

Love the black eye!  The poor bunnies were all panting in the heat.

There were lots of chickens and this one turkey ... Wow, was he beautiful!  But lonely.

I was really taken with this self-portrait; it got a reserve champion ribbon.  Love her style!

I was somewhat disappointed in how few exhibits there were in the open-class fair building.  Also, the women who host this building need to work on their people skills.  Not very welcoming; like it's their own private little club.  (Sorry ... had to vent.)

Here's my favorite exhibit from that building.  It appeared that there was a special exhibit of flower arrangements in unique containers out in the middle of the room.  There was no signage so I was guessing.  Here's my fav arrangement.  Not flowers but veggies!  What a cool idea!  (And the dill made it smell heavenly!)  This woman is a kindred spirit!

Well, that's just a little of what's been going on in my world this past month.  I'm going to try to survive this brutal summer.  But I'm warning you, the heat is starting to get to me folks!  I think I need some time up along Lake Superior ...... dream on.

God is good.  All the time.