We had a wonderful day at the state fair the other day!  The weather was perfect!  In the 60's with a light breeze to begin the day followed by low 70's and sunshine!  Couldn't have asked for anything better!

Looking at the ducks at the DNR building.

"I don't really care about the ducks!"

Zebra!

Feeding the young camels.

Getting her first "tattoo".  Iowa State Cyclones, of course!

We found Floppy!  He is a beloved puppet from my childhood.  The state historical museum created a huge stir earlier this summer by retiring his display, but the governor brought him for the fair.  Tons of people just a bit older than I, through my generation, and just a bit younger have been having their photo taken with him.  E seemed a bit curious about it, and maybe a bit scared, but I'm hoping to get some dvd's of the old shows and introduce her to the joys of The Floppy Show!

"Eh, I don't care about Floppy, either!"

She did, however, enjoy the calf!

Strolling along the avenue.

There was some yarn bombing going on!  Fun!

Sweet!

Gma and L!  Life is good!

It has been a busy couple of weeks!  Since putting in the french doors, we have begun the process of getting the old siding off of the house.

It was a beautiful day to start working on it and I got some adorable pictures of the girls.

Yes, I love my baby sister!

Beyond adorable!

Pretty!

The sweetest faces ever!

Of course, working on the outside has spurred on some changes on the inside and we've been doing a bit of rearranging and purging!  Hubby's desk has now joined mine in the craft room, freeing up room in the bedroom.  A couple of trips have been made to the Salvation Army and I'm beginning to feel like I'm getting ahead, finally.

Disorganization and change are a struggle for me. It makes me feel all scattered and overwhelmed, so I'm very thankful to be on the home stretch with it.  The outside won't be as big of a deal, well, other than having to get up pretty early and be all dressed and prepared for people, but it will be so worth it in the end!

Saturday was a big day! One of dreams, since we were married 26 years ago, was to put french doors in the south wall of the house.  We live down in a valley and have a beautiful view of the timber, but the little window we had really didn't let us enjoy that view.  Now.......we have one dream fulfilled!

The before outside shot.  We had to strip off the yucky old aluminum siding to the yucky old wooden siding!  In a few weeks, all of it will be gone, replaced with new cement board siding!

The before inside shot

What a mess!!!!!

The hole from the outside.  The dormer above the back porch, which will come off and be replaced with a smaller enclosed porch and a wrap around to the front porch, is what the finished siding project will look like.

Getting it ready

Moving it in

All set!

After outside shot!

After inside shot!  We just love it!!

Today is also a melancholy day for me.  It is the 1st anniversary of our little Adley dying in the womb at 6 months gestation.  She was beautiful and her short life meant the world to our family!  

Psalm 139:13-16 (NASB)
¹³ For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
¹⁶ Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.