A new look

I've always wanted to change my blog template, but I didn't like any of the ones that come with blogger and didn't know how to use one I found "out there" in the big www. But today another blog I read was mentioning how she was getting ready to change her template and she listed sources for doing it...

I cheated, and used her links and got myself a new blog look! So excited. And it wasn't hard (although it was a bit time-consuming) so other than the time issue, I may be doing this again.

preparing

Months ago I read this lovely post on a blog I read everyday. I wanted to have a wood pile picture to post...well today I have. And without the ax because we (Mr. Wiedz) didn't have to split all this wood. We ordered 3 cords of wood to be delivered and the first load came yesterday.

Last year we ran out of wood during the last cold snaps of spring. Not this year...we're get prepared.

And from the looks of it 3 loads of firewood will be plenty of work to stack so even though we're missing out on the splitting fun we'll get our fair share. And we'll be able to start the kids off on my least favorite childhood chore: carrying and stacking wood!

Getting wood to burn isn't all we had to do for our "preparing" bit. Mr. Wiedz borrowed the chimney sweeping brushes from our local store and climbed up on the roof.

Unfortunately, Mr. Wiedz picked the wrong size brush and it got stuck.

Eventually he was able to get the bottom part of our chimney (the part that goes into the wood stove) apart and got the brush off the rod and got everything put back together. Now it is all clean so we have wood to burn and no worries about a chimney fire.

I love preparing. Especially when it feels so much like fall already. The mornings are cold and fog is settled on the fields and mountain crevices around us.

Come on over and help stack wood if you're in the neighborhood.

Cowboy Cookies

I have a little tradition. I make the same cookies every year for the first day of school after school snack. They are "cowboy cookies", my grandmother's reciepe.

Years ago, I think after I'd had a kid or two, I asked my Grandmother N for her receipe for cowboy cookies. I remember these cookies at her house. We didn't visit grandparents N but every couple of years so I'm not sure why these cookies stand out in my memories but they do. I thought they must be something really fun and special because 1) I hadn't heard of them anywhere else and 2) they were something in my mind as being special.

So Grandmother N wrote out the receipe, I just love her handwritten reciepe card. I received it in the mail along with what I'm sure was a very nice note. I looked over the receipe, anticipating how special these cookies were going to be.

They are oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

I was a little disappointed at the time. My balloon of "special cookies grandma used to make" was popped. Now, I just remember wanting a special cookie receipe from my grandmother and chuckle as I make what I hope my kids will remember as amazing "cowboy cookies".

We're ready!

The morning responsibility lists are up (hopefully I'll have a new set up for this soon).

The table is set for breaky.

Clothes are laid out for the morning.

As I write this my #1 is due home in about an hour from her first day back to school. She was squealing this morning as we drove to school because she was so excited. She has a new teacher this year. And her own desk, every other year they've used tables. She had a backpack full of new school supplies and a note from Mommy in her lunch box.

Tomorrow is #2's first day. He'll go 3 days a week to 4 year-old preschool. He was a little bummed that #1 got to go first without him but I think he's over it and just excited for tomorrow.

Go Fighting Ducks!

Football season has arrived!

We're UO Duck fans around the Wiedz home. Mr. Wiedz has season tickets and LOVES attending the games. Last year each of the older kids got to go to a game too. This year Grandpa N was going to go to the opening game. Grandpa N fell about a month ago, breaking some ribs, so he is still recovering and the 2 mile walk and the long flight of stairs to the seats just wasn't a good idea. Mr. Wiedz took #2 instead.

Not that #2 does very well on the 2 mile walk either.

But they had a good time together. #2 fed the ducks in the park on the way to the stadium. The game was good and it was great to spend time together.

Plus, the Ducks won!

Tomatoes!

The tomatoes are ripe!

Catching up...

I never got around to blogging about the boat.

Mr. Wiedz thought it would be fun to borrow his friends boat. Remember the day I had to go and pick Mr. Wiedz up from a trip to Eastern Oregon? When I got half way to our meeting place Mr. Wiedz informed me that they were pulling the trailer with friend's drift boat. He thought it would be fun to take the family out on the boat. I thought..."right, in all that spare time you have."

That night as Mr. Wiedz transferred his belongings from his friends vehicle to ours and friend started moving the trailer. I noticed the tire was quite low and mentioned it. They kicked it. They looked around for air to pump it back up. They decided we could make it to the next town that would have air available at a gas station open later than the town we were in.

So we headed off.

We didn't make it far before the tire was coming apart. We decided to turn around and park the trailer at a friends lake cabin. All the way through this sleepy town we made so much noise dragging the tire which was now throwing sparks from the rim.

We got to the cabin and had to unhitch the trailer and walk it down the embankment to the driveway without killing ourselves or letting go and sending the trailer careening down the steep hill into the house. Not a small feat.

Mr. Wiedz jacked up the trailer and removed the wheel by flashlight. That job done, we were able to finally head home. Mind you all of this was happening at 11:00 PM.

The next day Mr. Wiedz took the big kids with him to get a new tire mounted on the rim and take it back to the trailer.

After finishing that job he took the kids to Lost Lake for a boating day. #4 and I stayed home since it wasn't that great of a day weather-wise and since the boat wouldn't hold us all anyways. I didn't want to hold #4 on a cold shore for the day when I could be home "alone" for the day.

I did have a great day. After the kids and Mr. Wiedz left I went back to bed while #4 took a fantastic nap. I ate what I wanted to for lunch. Lounged around and read my book. Watched a movie. Did a little bit of laundry but not too much work. It was fabulous!

The boaters of the family had fun too. #3 caught his first fish, which he was so proud. #1 had a couple fish on but they got away before getting into the boat.

Fun for everyone.