Perfect Day!

Today was a wonderful day! Well, I guess it was fine while I was at work, but it was after work that the fun really started. It was a PERFECT day in Fergus! It was not too hot or too cold, there was a bright sun out but some great shade under the trees, it wasn't windy but there was a slight breeze to keep the air moving. Really just a perfect day! It really couldn't have been any better!

And for me, this perfect day was spent in a much-loved way. I got to enjoy the late afternoon sun on one of my favorite decks, at the home of some dear people. My good friend, Laura, and I were invited to the Wasson's for dinner (which is always a treat!) and were joined by a few of their relatives and another fun friend. We enjoyed good conversation, a great meal, and entertainment that only a two-year-old can provide!

I have to say, one of the best things about the day was the chance to see my FAVORITE dogs again!!! I had missed them SOOOO much ever since their owner moved them away. Since they had come back for a visit, I was thrilled to enjoy some time with them! Jim, Maggie, and Fionn are three of the smartest dogs around (even though sometimes they forget they're supposed to act smart!) and are very lovable. They love to play, run, show affection, explore, and play some more. Today we enjoyed a nice walk down to the dock where Jim and Fionn decided that in order to drink water from the lake, it was best to just jump in and get soaking wet. I guess they thought it was easier to lap up water that way! After they were nice and wet they found a few good dirt piles to run through and dig in. Maggie decided she'd had enough of the boys and headed back to the house on her own. All throughout dinner they had a fun time running from side to side on the deck watching to see if we had done anything interesting yet. It was hard to leave them at the end of the day!

I realized I didn't take any pictures today, but here's some from the past:

Jim and I at Maplewood State Park (that was another perfect day!).


Jim and I at a late night campfire.


Maggie and I on a walk in SD, where we had gone to help some friends during lambing at their farm. Isn't this a picturesque scene?

I also heard a fun update on Elvis. No, not Elvis The King, but Elvis the cat. Now, some of you might know, I'm really not a fan of cats. They just aren't my favorite. I think there's a lot of truth in being either a dog-lover or cat-lover, and that it's a rare person who can cross the line. I guess I'm not one of them. However, Elvis is a little different. You see, when Elvis was very little, I was asked to step in with my nursing skills and do something I thought I'd never do. Because of a terrible deformity, I needed to help amputate one of Elvis' paws. I'm not a cat lover, but when you provide a few supplies then hold down a cat during this kind of procedure, your heart tends to be softened a little. I really did feel a special sort of bond with Elvis, so was worried when he went missing for quite a while (many months). After all, a three-legged cat in the woods has some disadvantages. So, today's update was that now that he's been back for a while, he is healthy and strong, growing well, and basically king of the house. Go Elvis!

Just to show my cat-lover friends that I can tolerate a few select cats, here's a picture of me with Dexter, who always seems to find his way onto my lap.


Well, there's my tribute to Perfect Days, and favorite animals! I hope you get to enjoy a Perfect Day sometime soon!

Back to the World of Blogging

So it's been pointed out to me that I haven't posted in a while, and that all of my blogs seem to consist of pictures of my nephew (love ya, Em!). Since he is the greatest little guy ever, you can see why this has happened. He's just too cute to not fall in love with!! Rumor has it he's been smiling for a little while, but to see pictures of that, you'll have to go to my parent's blog (there's a link on the right). I'll be there next weekend to see it in person! I think I saw him try to smile during my last visit, but I haven't seen a full-blown grin yet. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm guessing you'll get to see a picture or two!

As for life here in Fergus, it seems to be flying by as usual. My parent's came up this last weekend to help me start packing. They arrived on Saturday at lunch and left again Sunday afternoon. I'm able to report that we got two boxes packed! How's that for progress?!!


The good thing is, they are labeled well and I have a notebook where I'm listing the contents of each box so I'll be able to find anything as I'm living out of storage for an unknown period of time! And, if you count the container of Christmas decorations that I packed in January, that's actually three items that are all ready for storage!

We did a LOT of organizing, so the rest of the packing has to go easier, right??

The other great thing is that the garage sale pile has gotten pretty big. And, there are lots of other things around the house that are headed for that pile but just haven't yet made it there. Wouldn't it be easier if those things grew feet and made it to that pile all on their own?

If you see anything you want, like the crutches, working printer, dining room chairs, or pumpkin lantern, just let me know!

My mom will be back in a week with a surprise, and is staying with me Thursday and Friday nights to help pack some more. Then that Saturday, the 5th, we'll head to the Cities for David's baptism on the 6th. I have big goals for when my mom is here (all my china and dining room stuff), and I'm praying that our time together will really get me motivated to get packed up. I think I'll be able to get quite a bit done while she's wrapping crystal.

As far as my new job goes, I won't know anything more until June because most postings don't happen until two months before the start date. I am still hoping for a position in the Twin Cities to start with, but if there's nothing open there, then I'll head somewhere else first. I'll be sure to give updates as I get them!

Well, that's all folks! For those of you checking out this blog for the first time, see, that wasn't so hard! Now, if you want, you can click on the word "comment" just under this post and type a comment in the box. That's my favorite part of blogging! Just remember to sign your name in the box if you don't have your own account.

Stitch-a-Quilt

These last two years I've had the privilege of spending my Tuesday mornings with a wonderful group of ladies, the quilters at Bethel. Like I said in my Christmas letter (see the post in January), these are the ladies that have taught me so much about life. I treasure their friendships!

I meant to post this last Tuesday, but...well....time got away from me. Here are some pictures from last Tuesday when we had our last day of actual stitching. There are around 15 of us, but I didn't get the camera out in time to catch everyone.


Here is a baby quilt that Mary and Elaine finished.


This is Orpha, Solveig and Verna Mae working on a table-topper or wallhanging that was given as a fundraiser in the Hillcrest auction.




Some of the quilts we've finished recently.

Today we met as a group and decided how to disperse the money that was raised for missions. I usually just think of this group as the big blessing it is to me, and how much I'm learning or the fun that I'm having, but today I was reminded of how unselfish these women are. They volunteer hundreds of hours, don't ask for anything in return except the camaraderie of the other women, and then give away all the money they make on a quilt or the quilt itself. It was amazing to learn that since it's beginning in the 1980's, Stitch-a-Quilt has raised over $30,000 for missions! WOW!!!!! What a blessing to the kingdom of heaven!! I have very much felt part of this group, but when it comes down to that, it's too humbling to think of "we" and much easier to think of "they". Besides, I'm so slow at stitching my help doesn't always count!!

We finish the year with everyone going out to eat, so here are some pictures from that. It was pretty sad to think that this was the last time for me that I'd have all these ladies together in one place. Since I'm not leaving for another 3 months, I'll still get to see everyone, but not together as this group.




THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ladies for the incredible impact you have had on my life! I will miss you terribly! Check back here at my blog often for updates on where I'm at, and I'll look forward to coming back to Fergus some Tuesday morning to join you in stitching!

Fun with David

I'm in the Cities this weekend to celebrate Easter. It's good to be with family! I'm sure you're not surprised, I've gotten in some time with David as well! It's only been two weeks since I've seen him, but I can definitely see that he's grown a little. He's filling out more, and is making the switch from newborn clothes up to the next size. In fact, Julie and my Mom and I spent some good time organizing all the many clothing items they've been blessed with since his birth. As his auntie, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has been so generous with gifts! I know Julie will be working on thank you notes, but it was overwhelming for me today to see all that he's gotten.

You can't read a post about him and not see fun pictures to go along with it, so here they are!


He was sleeping when I first arrived, but I couldn't resist holding him anyway! We had a cozy time together.


Here he is playing on his new playmat from his Grandma Pat.


His shirt says "Just Hatched".


He's getting ready for the shotput in this new outfit I bought him. I just couldn't resist!


After he screamed through his bath the last time I was here, I wasn't sure what to expect with his bath tonight. It turns out he loved it! He didn't cry at all, and instead had as much of a happy face as a four-week-old can have.


I love this picture of my mom looking at her daughter looking at her son.


The new Olson family.

The Office

"Oh, it was a weird day. I accidently cross-dressed."

I'm still laughing at this scene! Michael unknowingly buys a woman's suit, denies it at work when other people notice, and then ends up sitting next to a woman wearing the exact suit! It's one of those great scenes when you laugh aloud, and then giggle about for a long time.

This isn't a show that I watch faithfully, but when I'm able to catch an episode, I usually find myself cringing and laughing all at the same time.

Yesterday I was home alone all day, and I kept finding myself laughing aloud at things I saw on TV. This happens alot. Is that weird?