new patio

Our new patio- here are before and after pictures of our patio behind our barn room that we just finished. There were remenants of stone foundations and old cobblestones, so we took those up and filled in to the stone foundations and now have a nice patio area out the door instead of a muddy mess. Here's before-



Here's after- Plus some really cute pictures of Erik and Stephie and Erik before prom in his new suit.

Nathan's visit

Nathan in his baking hat,

We have Nathan with us for the week while Liza and Scott and Scott's parents are touring Italy. Having a 2 yr old in the house keeps us all busy keeping up with him. He was helping Stephie bake- and quietly emptied several cups of flour onto the counter while she wasn't looking. SHe put him down ot clean that up and he found a box of garbage bags and emptied that out all over the kitchen.

May update

Stephie, Anne and I went to Prague on Memorial day weekend. we drove the mini and spent 2 days there. It was amazing to just program the GPS and have it take us right into the city and to our hotel. I never would have tried that without a GPS- in a country where you can't read the language - or most of the street signs! This fountain is one we just had to get a picture of - if it offends you don't enlarge it for a bigger view! You see this ALL over Europe so we really laughed to see this fountain with guys with rotating pelvis' (We made sure not to corrupt Anne!)
Here are the girls in the main square and feeding the swans under the Charles Bridge.

Jewish cemetary in Prague

Looks like we have forgotton our blog for awhile, I keep waiting to have time to post pictures, but seems I only have time when I'm at work and can't add the pictures, so here's a post without pictures,we'll have to add those later. We now have Stephie home for a few weeks, she is missing Curt and raking up our phone bill, but we are so glad to have her here for a while we'lll pay the phone bill and feed her too. We had her pictures taken at the castle today, I told the friend of ours we just needed a few very castle-y pictures and she was so excited about the beautiful day the beautiful castle background and the beautiful girl that she took 300 more pictures! I think they will be very cool- now we'll have several albums full of Stephie in her wedding dress and the wedding is still to come!
Erik had his prom last week they went on a Rhine river boat cruise for prom, he says there was no music to dance to so he didn't dance much-which didn't make his date happy- but had a good time with his friends and his car got a through cleaning for the big night too.
Elizabeth and Scott are coming next week and leaving us Nathan for a week while they tour Italy with Scott's parents. Then they will all be here for another week before we all go to Utah for the wedding. We can't wait to see them -and have some quality time with Nathan. Anne thinks she should be able to miss school all week to play with him.

Heidi's Farewell

Today, 11 April 2008. we had to bid good bye to our long-lived and many lived friend, Heidi.

We have had here since 1993, so she was likely 18 to 20 years old, which is next to Methusala in cat years. She has dwindled to half her peak weight of 14 #'s down to 7 pounds and was totally blind. She still slept every night with Anneliese and purred and licked her constantly, but would not eat. She has been a big part of all the kids childhoods and will be missed greatly. She joined Fiona on her right side facing the stream.

We bought some flowers and azalea bushes to plant on their graves. We hope not to expand our pet cemetery any time soon. Anne hopes to get Midnight to start to sleep with her now and to get him to be nicer!! Of course, Heidi never did like him, so maybe it is a lost cause.

At any rate, we like to think of her now in Heaven chasing little mice and bunnies around and not bumping into walls and all fat and happy. We look forward to having her sandpaper tongue lick our hands again. We will miss all the white hair that has adorned all of our clothes for these 15 years!! But we will be reminded of her by her hair which she contributed to our decorations and clothes certainly for years to come!!

We suggest no flowers be sent, but instead to contribute to the perpetual building fund of our Gimsbacher old farm house--yet to be named! Please contribute memories to the comment section for family night on Monday.























Here is our Pet Cemetary which we fixed up today. Notice Heidi's tombstone with the "et al" to signify the incorporated pets along the lines of "Bluebell" and something else "Bell". Stella will remember the names of all her birds that became part of Heidi.

23 April: We received this poem from the Vet Clinic about Heidi:

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven lies the Rainbow Bridge.

When a beloved pet dies, it goes to the Rainbow Bridge. It
makes friends with other animals and frolics over rolling
hills and peaceful, lush meadows of green.

Our pets do not thirst or hunger. The old and sick are made
young once more; the maimed and the ill become healed
and strong. They are as healthy and playful as we remember
them in days gone by.

Though happy and content, they still miss someone special,
someone they had to leave behind.

Together, the animals chase and play, but the day comes
when a pet will suddenly stop and look into the distance...
bright eyes intent, eager body quivering. Suddenly
recognizing you, your pet bounds quickly across the
green fields and into your embrace. You celebrate in
joyous reunion. You will never again separate. Happy tears
and kisses are warm and plenty; your hands caress the face
you missed. You look once more into the loving eyes of your
pet and know you never really parted. You realize that
though out of sight, your love had been remembered.

And now, you cross the Rainbow Bridge together....

M.A. Preston