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need a few days to figure out what just happened between March 13 and June 25.... I'll be back.... Hey has anyone heard from the Texas Woman... She has been on my mind lately.... send her just a little message or prayer if you can. She is battling breast cancer... I miss her....
hugs, Lori

JUNE 21ST....

What a glorious joy it would be to hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant".

I am sure my mother-in-love heard these words last night after she passed. Thanks for all your prayers and well wishes.....

SAD DAY....

It is a sad day... dealing with hospice for mother-in-law, who we have lived a mile away for 32 years. My husband is an only child and has been really the best son to his mom. This struggle has been going on since June 2nd, 3 days before the wedding. Oh how I just want her to have peace.... I know her and my God will take care of that.... Thank you God ♥

A FEW PICS...

I can't hardly wait to get the pictures back from the photographer.... Last weekend was our daughter's wedding. Here is just a few of my favorite pics. Oh, I will be sharing more....

Pre-wedding pics.... she was just stunning.... of course, I am partial....

One of my weepiest moments....

I just love my new son and our new extended family. We will be making so many new memories.......

YOU CAN NEVER GUESS A DAY....

I will be away from bloggerville for a bit. Too many crazy things going on... just can't take time to type and I do have soooo much to share, just hang in there and check back soon.... love ya all...... miss you all...... Lori

RHUBARB LEAF IN CEMENT....

A friend of mine, Laura, said we should get some rhubarb leaves and make some cement castings.... You can imagine my excitement!!!!
Something I always wanted to do, but didn't know the procedure....
and my rhubarb leaves were HUGE this year!

So, even though I have my hands completely full with trying to get my house clean for company, doing wedding stuff and trying to get yard stuff done,
I was all into making a birdbath with a rhubarb leaf!

Our first attempt, 2 of the 3 castings broke. We needed to get the cement thicker where the veins are sooo thick. So yesterday, I made two more and thought I would take pictures as I went along.

FIRST... mound up sand (we used damp sand from Laura's grandson's sandbox.) When the sand is dampened, you can shape it to fit the leaf.

SECOND.... cover the sand with saran wrap so it does not stick to the leaf or cement.

THIRD... fit the rhubarb leaf over the mound of sand taking care to make sure the saran wrap is under the whole leaf. Make sure all edges are laid out flat.

This leaf was huge. I measured it 24" from side to side and 23" from top to bottom.

Use portland cement and mix it with water, the consistancy of like brownie mix. I just put one handful at a time down on the edges first, being careful to shape and form the edges of the leaf.

Make extra sure, that all holes are covered. I probably mixed 3 different small batches and just kept layering the cement. I needed to build up where those heavy thick viens were.

Then when you are all done working the cement, cover it with saran wrap again.

Let it sit and dry for several days. I left mine sit for 3 days. I didn't move it at all.... Then I turned it over and let it sit for 3 more days before peeling off the rhubarb leaf. I took the pressure hose to it (not full blast) and it scraped that leaf off quite well.

Here is one from the first batch I did. (The others will be done in 5 more days!)

I LOVE IT!!!! I hope to get some paints and paint it some pretty colors or maybe even just green. and then seal it.... I have a masonary seal that I use with my stepping stones that I will use. (Thompsons Seal for masonay work).

AND THE SKY OPENED UP.....

Yesterday, Tuesday... the sky opened up and just dumped.... and dumped....

For two hours, it went through this siege of water deluge,,, never really letting up... just changing directions...

After just two hours we were left with 4" of rain

lakes in the corn fields

3 sump pumps running full blast in the basement....

This front ditch hasn't drained off that much since last night. This ditch is 3-4 feet deep from the front bank.

AND THEY ARE CALLING FOR MORE RAIN TODAY.....

Where's an ark when you need one!!!!!