The Chicken Came First

Then the coop!

Stan, Caleb & Andrew worked on this in July

And early August





The chickens moved in but still like to roam around some.

We have nine. The white Ideals from Ace (look like leghorns to me) are the oldest, hatched before Easter...

and the 2 hens are now laying!

Not the dog. She is begging.

But she will lie down on command. ;-)

Polish Chicken

A sure-fire winner of crazy hair day.

Yes, that really is a chicken.

Yes, there are eyes in there somewhere; I have seen them.

No, I'm not sure if it's a hen or a rooster but the name is Tina Turner so you know what we are hoping. :-)

Dr Seuss for 2010

From an e-mail...

I do not like
this Uncle Sam,
I do not like
his health care scam.

I do not like
these dirty crooks,
or how they lie
and cook the books.

I do not like
when Congress steals,
I do not like
their secret deals

I do not like
this Speaker, Nan.
I do not like
this "YES WE CAN."

I do not like
this spending spree,
I'm smart, I know
that nothing's free.

I do not like this
kind of hope.
I do not like it,
Nope, nope, nope!

I do not like
your smug replies
when I complain
about your lies.

So for the future
make a note:
"I do intend
to vote, vote, VOTE!"

Ken, no, Andrew Doll

NOT! But I thought he looked so handsome in the tux for LAM Opera that I took a couple of pics too.









He is such a model son. :-)

Just hope he doesn't hide from my camera from now on...

Ushering in Andrew

What would get Andrew into a tux besides his brothers wedding?

A good cause! Lake Area Ministries, our area food bank has been raising money so they can move into a larger location. The latest fund raiser was an Opera - well, excellent singers singing opera songs actually.

Andrew and his manager at Ace, Kelly, were asked to usher the event with Sweet Peas (florest inside of Ace) providing the tuxes.

I have no photos of the guys in action but heard they stayed busy and did a good job.
And LAM has started moving into their new building. PTL!

United We Stand One Nation Under God

Two Pioneers pose {you earn an extra 5 points if you can identify the person in the van} as they will carry our American Heritage Girls banner in front of our float. We are parked in our spot putting the finishing touches on everything (and everyone) preparing to walk in the parade > sunscreen on everyone and plenty of water bottles as we nearly roasted last year. Of course, rain was predicted for 11 a.m., parade start time.

Photo shoot time while we wait for the judges to drive past. Jacqui named our float theme One Nation Under God.

Here's my group of Pioneer/Patriots. Rachel is excited about being the first Patriot (high school age) in the group.

The uniformed paper dolls, standing in AHG unit order:
pathfinder (blue T), tenderheart (red vest), explorer (blue vest), pioneer(sash/white shirt), patriot (sash/red shirt) -
spell out the parade theme "United We Stand". Peggy was so organized!!

And we are off! See me in the red, white & blue floral hat? :-)

Stan & Caleb came to watch. The big guys & Maryn had to work.

Here's the view into "downtown"

and the rear view.

As we rode along, we sang the AHG creed and oath songs. Ms Traci kept telling the girls, "Louder!"

I told them, "Smile and wave!"

I enjoyed seeing some folks getting into the spirit of the day. God bless America!

Many smiled and waved back at us. It was fun seeing many friends in the crowd - a benefit of living in a small town. :-) Sometimes people applauded when the girls got to the end of a song.

"I have a creed (I have a creed) That I live by (that I live by) that helps me choose (that helps me choose) the way that's right (the way that's right). I have a creed that I live by that helps me choose the way that's right. I'll be compassionate, helpful and honest. I'll be loyal, perseverant and pure. I'll be resourceful, respectful, responsible and reverent. This will be my creed..."

How can you prove you are patriotic? Just decorate your livestock!

Here we are close to the downtown craft show. Doesn't Laran's hair look beautiful?

Some of the girls handed out leaflets telling about AHG which they offered to families with girls.
There's my Rachel in her red patriot shirt.

See how thrilled the girls are to have won the "Best Youth Float" trophy for the second year in a row, the second year of our troop existance?

More important are the young lives, impacted, we leaders & parents pray, by the AHG themes and goals: building women of integrity, promising to love God, cherish their family, honor their country and serve in their community, remembering what an American Heritage Girl is supposed to be to help them choose the Way that is Right.

Amen.

Where do I begin

to catch up? When one gets as behind as I am in blogging, one must start with today!
On in this case, yesterday.

Here is Peggy watching Cricket cut out paper dolls for the parade.

What a COOL MACHINE!






See all the excited dollies we have cut out, pieced together & clothed?

No streakers allowed at our parade, although I suppose that would get AHG into the paper BUT it would not be in line with our motto of raising women of integrity so no matter how HOT & MUGGY the weather > the dolls shall remain clothed. I know you are much relieved.




Now we are not doing this because we like to play with paperdolls but because we love our daughters who will once again this year be on a float in the Independence Day parade with their American Heritage Girls troop - providing it doesn't get rained out.



See, these little paper AHGers have no rain gear...

unless today we can find some place to laminate them. In that case, they'll be better prepared than the girls. :-)


United we stand as One Nation under God.