Many Hands Make Light Work

We all came together to kick off the gardening season

on March 22nd (Elmer and Mollie's birthdays) to get Dodie's yard
prepared for the spring and summer.

Susie found herself the (un)official crew leader
Everyone kept coming up and asking her what and where?

She loved it!

Greg, Jeff and Lisa edging the side garden
filling up one of countless wheelbarrow loads.

Chris and Jenny were dueling lawnmowers!

We had a classic rock station playing on the radio
Greg is playing air-rake?

Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.
~Henry Ford

Our mascot~ Greg the garden fairy!

Susie, these boys need something to do.
No standing around allowed!

Gardening requires lots of water -
most of it in the form of perspiration.
~Lou Erickson

Kevin manning the leaf blower.

Ryders job was to walk around looking cute.
We had cousin Sam making sure Ryder didn't
go after the sharp garden tools.
I think he made it home with all 10 fingers and toes.

Luke helped his Mom for a long time clearing out

the little garden patch at the front gate.

Here he is taking a much deserved break
doing his Harlem Globetrotter's tricks

I was very proud of all the kids who rolled up

their sleeves and lent a hand.

Any and all help was appreciated.

Work is either fun or drudgery.

It depends on your attitude. I like fun.

~Colleen C. Barrett

So does Desi

Bradley taking a break from all that "fun".

Jordan giving Nellie a new coat of paint
for the new season.

Opportunity is missed by most
because it is dressed in overalls
and looks like work.
~Thomas Alva Edison
Ian and Devon making the most of their opportunities.

Desi taking his turn unloading top soil.

Cousins Nick and Jordan
showin' the love.

Jordan, Mollie and Nick

This was Mollie's birthday and she was very sick
She mostly watched Ryder and kept him out
of trouble so his Mom could do some work
Aren't they cute?

Quick Brad....look busy......here comes Susie!

Many hands make light work
~John Heywood

Some of the fruits of our labor.
When all was said and done the pile grew pretty tall.

Here is the Thurston County Work Release crew
on loan for the day.

Lucas brought his pick-up loaded with the dirt

and then he took home the brush we cleared out

It was quite a load! We were worried Lucas would

get a ticket on the way home.

Lucas, Greg and Jeff making room for more.

Jordan and Nick volunteered to assemble the

Reuben sandwiches we were having for dinner.

They were made in honor of Elmer...his favorite

sandwich, sauerkraut and all!

They were yummy!

Good job guys

I hope they washed their hands! Yikes!

The beautiful result of our hard but happy work.

We hope you enjoy the view Dodie.

Happy Spring!

Love,

~Your family

Our Miss Mollie is 17 today

March 22, 1992. Mollie Marie came into our lives

4 months old

Every time the camera would point at her she would give this smile.

She still loves pickles!

A little lady

She has become a very good friend
I love her so much

She is one of my very favorite people to be around

Mollie Marie at 17

Beautiful inside and out

We are blessed to have her

Spring Daffodils

A house with daffodils in it is a house lit up,
whether or no the sun be shining outside.
~A.A. Milne

Awake, thou wintry earth-
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn, "An Easter Hymn"

Mac-N-Juno

Our friend Mikel brought his sweet Husky puppy, Juno, over to meet us.

He is such a sweet, well-mannered puppy of 15 weeks.

So playful and curious.

We have two dogs ourselves, Baxter and Daisy.

We slowly introduced them to Juno.

They all eventually warmed to each other (sort of) as all dogs do.

Mac, our cat, was a different story.

The pictures below will tell you exactly what Mac thought of this intruder.

Not much!

Mac kept this steady posture throughout the entire evening.

A low, menacing growl could be heard coming from him.

For the most part, Juno could have cared less about Mac.

But he would cut Mac a wide berth when going past the table.

Every once in a while Mac would give a good hiss.

Juno truly desired a closer proximity to Mac

But Mac was having none of it.

A few times Juno would try to get closer and Mac would

hiss and swipe at him. Juno was sufficiently

intimidated by that.

He didn't know Mac had no front claws.


Look at that face. Who wouldn't want to get closer and get a big

wet puppy kiss from him?

Mac.....that's who.


This behaviour does not win many friends Mac!

That is just fine with you I see!

We love you too Mac.

But how can you resist such a sweet face?

He is smiling at us.

What a sweet puppy.

~Lisa