Operation Christmas Child 2011

Yes, it's that time of year again! Time to pack up the shoes boxes for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child! I wrote a long post last year sharing about my participation in Operation Christmas Child. I can't believe it's already time to do it all again!


As I mentioned last year, I shop for the shoeboxes year round. I have a plastic bin in my closet that I collect items in throughout the year. It seems like it gets easier and easier every year to collect all of the items.


This year I packed 4 boxes again. Two for girls and two for boys all being in the 5-9 years old age group. Some year I need to branch out and do a different age group! Maybe next year.


These boxes are easy to pack and fun to do! I urge you to think about packing one or two boxes if you have never done it before!


I make an on-line donation to help with the shipping costs of the boxes. When you do this you receive a shipping label with a bar code on it. This bar code will be scanned when the boxes go out and I will receive an e-mail letting me know where the boxes were sent. Fun! For the last two years, my boxes have gone to Mexico.


I really can't remember exactly how many years I have been doing the boxes, but it's pretty close to ten years. I mentioned last year that I think it will be a fun project in a few years for Tressie and I to do together!

Walt Disney World Vacation!

Well, we had a wonderful vacation to Walt Disney World in Florida with Tressie, Emily and Justin! I have been experiencing technical difficulties in trying to download pictures off of a new memory card that I got for the trip....Then, after finally getting them downloaded, I discover that most of them weren't worth downloading. My camera has not been taking very good pictures. I am sure that part of the problem is me and part is the camera. Luckily, Emily took her camera and got some great pictures on the trip! You can look at Tressie's blog at tressiegolding.blogspot.com to see some of the fun times we had!

I did manage to get a few good shots. I love the expression on Tressie's face in this picture! This was our first morning out and we had just arrived at Magic Kingdom. We actually got into the main gate before the big crowd. We had breakfast reservations and so were allowed in early. (Wish I knew what she was thinking!)


After breakfast, we went to visit with the stars of the show: Mickey and Minnie!! Tressie loved them! It was alot of fun watching her expressions and seeing her so excited!


These pictures are pretty random as like I said, I didn't get many good ones. Most mornings for breakfast, Tressie had waffles shaped like Mickey Mouse. They were pretty tasty too!


We stayed at Pop Century resort on the Disney grounds. Described in a tour book as a vivid celebration of Americana. The larger than life "time capsules" commemorate the toys, fads, dance crazes and catchphrases of the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's and early 90's. Huge items such as yo-yo's, hula hoops, eight-track players, big wheels, bowling pins decorate the buildings and grounds of this fun resort! Here Tressie is posing with her friend Goofy! Notice she is wearing her hair bow and her Minnie ears!


At Disney's Hollywood Studios park they have a show called "Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage". This was before we went in. It seems like she is telling us, "I know these guys"! This was one of her favorite things on the trip! Maybe Emily will post some of the pictures of Tressie dancing and enjoying the show! Grandma didn't get any.


It was a great trip with excellent weather, good flights and lots of fun making family memories. Sure, Tressie won't remember the trip, but hopefully she will enjoy the pictures and the stories. And, MAYBE we will do it again some time!

Grandma is seriously saving her money to buy a new camera!

Today's Harvest

This is what I harvested from the garden this morning. I never get the garden planted before the first of June. This year, we plowed up a new patch of ground closer to the new house. It was almost the second week of June before the seeds were in the ground. It was a joint effort: Justin, my Dad, and Tony plowing up the ground, and Emily, Justin and I planting the seeds and plants. I know alot of people plant quite a bit sooner than I do, but I always seem to have plenty! My Grandpa Chisman used to say.... "Plant in June, and it will come just as soon"! I believe he knew what he was talking about!

El Paso County Fair

Last week Tony, Tressie and I met up with my Mom and Dad at the El Paso County Fair. We went to watch the 4-H Market Goat Show. We had sold goats to several kids and went to watch them show their goats. The goats that we sold had a fair showing. No, no Grand Champions, but it's always fun to see the goats and how they grew. It's also fun to see how the human kids have bonded with the goat kids. I am sure that there were probably some tears at the market sale on Friday. Several of the younger girls that we sold to had their goats trained just like a puppy and they were following them all over!


I am pretty sure that Great-grandpa and Great-grandma came to the fair to see Tressie!


And what better way to pass a hot afternoon at the fair, than sharing ice cream with Great-grandma! Tressie loves her ice cream just like her Grandma!


Tomorrow it's off to two more county fairs to watch kids show goats that we sold to them. Elbert county show in Kiowa, CO in the early afternoon and Cheyenne County fair in Cheyenne Wells early evening.

Sonic Simple Pleasure

Another of life's simple pleasures.... A large cherry-limeade at Sonic!!! I love going to Sonic especially on a HOT summer day at happy hour and getting a big cherry-limeade! Believe me, I will not drive on by if it's NOT happy hour! Just gotta stop and get one!

Yesterday, Grandpa, Tressie and I ventured to Colby, Kansas, to take some goats to the sale! And, it was HOT! Seems that Tressie also enjoys her a little cherry-limeade! Yes, we get along just fine!



Too bad that the closest Sonic is at least 75 miles away!!!

Life's Simple Pleasures

Simple pleasures are the best,
All the little things that make you smile and glow,
All the things you know,
Life's simple pleasures are the best,
Are the best,
In all the world.

So where did this come from? The first two lines of this long ago commercial have been running thru my head for weeks now! What commercial was it? How come I remember just the first two lines! It's driving me crazy! So, I do what every other person would do.... I google it! Any guesses? Well, it seems that it was the commercial jingle for VAN CAMPS PORK AND BEANS! Are you kidding me? HA, so funny!

Well, I started thinking about life's simple pleasures and realize that I have many simple things in my life that make me happy.

The pictures below are a big clue to one of my simple pleasures. Watching whatever Tressie happens to be doing at the time! She is so busy and she loves life!


Do you remember running thru the water from the sprinkler when you were little? Well, I admit that I don't remember doing it at this age, but I do remember that it was a simple pleasure when I was a kid!


I actually have some pictures of my sister and I and our two cousins in my Grandpa and Grandma's yard running thru the water. You WILL NOT see those pictures posted in this blog! We were about 5 or 6 and we were in our underwear! Can't believe that our parents took our picture! Anyway, we all had smiles on our faces and we clearly were enjoying this simple pleasure!


A great Sunday afternoon activity for a little girl that needed a nap but was easily satisfied with this simple pleasure!


I plan to share more of life's simple pleasures with you all. You will come to see what a simple person I really am!

Life On The Prairie

Today I rode along in the pickup while Tony checked the water tanks in several pastures. I planned to get a few more pictures, but the battery in my camera gave out! I always think that these little cactus have the prettiest blooms. I had planned to get a picture of the yellow blossoms too, but maybe next time. Was actually hoping to see a baby antelope, but didn't happen to see one. Tony says that he has seen several this season.



Tony has most of our pastures cross fenced with electric fencing. He rotates the cattle thru these pastures every few days. I am always amazed that all he has to do is open the gate to the next pasture and give a little yell, and the cows are ready to go! They are pretty well trained at this little routine! I was lucky enough to get this picture of our belted cow and her calf. I call them the Oreo pair. Notice how the belt on the calf is almost exactly like it's mama!