My Plot at the Community Garden

On a whim I decided to purchase two lots at our new community garden, they were inexpensive ($35 for both) and I was so excited about this garden that I wanted to support this concept. I figured the best way to show my support was to participate. So I planted beets from seed:

Carrots from seed:

Yukon Gold potatoes

Two Pepper plans

And two Tomato plants.


I cannot get over how well everything is growing! I will have fresh veggies in no time! I have already had fresh tomatoes and they were delicious. So exciting to stop by my garden to check on progress on my way too or fro work, I even enjoy weeding. It is relaxing and rewarding. We have a great group of volunteers that laid this brick walkway.

The bricks are form our old brick streets and the “gravel” is recycled glass from the recycling center! I can’t wait to see the community garden grow more and more each year. As a bonus this garden is actually doing better than my larger garden in my backyard – that garden is having a bit of a rocky start….

Little Additions to VanEvery Ranch…

Little by little we are adding accessories to the cabin (aka VanEvery Ranch even though it’s in town). We finally have side tables for a few rooms (compliments of the Goodwill in CB!).


Antlers from a European deer purchased at the Kreycik Elk & Buffalo Ranch (along with a sweet set of Elk Antlers that are yet to be hung).

This very neat weather vane from a local antique store in Crofton called Jeanne's Antiques.

This fun desk used as a nightstand also found at Jeanne's on a rainy day.

And the biggest improvement of all – curtains in the bedrooms!

My dad put his foot down and insisted we purchase and install curtains last weekend –no more peep shows for the neighbors.

Can’t wait to paint this fall/winter and add art/photos/etc….

Fireworks

I love watching fireworks, even if they do occasionally bring flashbacks of mortars, rockets, and other explosives encountered in Iraq. I was lucky enough to kick off the 4th of July festivities with my family and friends at the Council Bluffs Country Club.







We enjoyed a great dinner, drinks, and fireworks over Lake Manawa. Gorgeous weather for the evening and a very laid back and relaxing night.



More fireworks were enjoyed over the course of the 4th of July weekend but sadly I didn’t capture a single firework on my camera. Oops!

Niobrara River Fun

During our last visit to the cabin my mom and I noticed a bunch of people swimming in the river or lounging on the sandbars. Several of our friends also mentioned trips to the sandbars on the Niobrara river so we decided to give it a try! I was a bit suspect as was expecting dirty muddy water. Boy was I wrong.

Instead it was gorgeous pretty clear water full of sand not mud.

Even better we more or less had the whole place to ourselves (it was overcast but no rain and still got a tan).


Such a fun chance to relax and unwind with my mom. Usually I am a pool girl but in this instance may be converted to a river girl!



Can’t wait to visit the river again – next time with a cooler in tow full of snacks and drinks.

Ever try Chicken Gizzards?

Me neither! Well until Friday evening...

My Grandpa proclaimed his love of chicken gizzards when he spotted them on the Two Rivers menu. I was then coerced by my dad and Grandpa to give gizzards a try.


Turns out not much of a fan. Anyone out there love chicken gizzards?

Rosenblatt’s Final Hurrah

It was a bittersweet evening. The final College World Series (CWS) game at Rosenblatt. I had been going to these games for as long as I could remember, we started going when wee little with this boy

And his family as my dad worked for his dad and we were all friends. Turns out my dad started his own company and we got tickets as a family

At first it was all about the game and family. Then I turned 21 and discovered the fun of tailgating and passed this on to my parents

And eventually my brothers! Now CWS means friends, family, tailgating, and the game.



Each year we look forward to this week+ and plan our schedules accordingly. Next year it will be different. CWS will be at the brand spanking new TD Ameritrade stadium downtown Omaha. I am excited for this new stadium and its close proximity to my work and home. But sad to leave behind Rosenblatt and the years of memories and traditions. So we enjoyed one last game.





As did thousands of other crazy fans. Several crazier than the rest, crazy enough to jump the barrier and run onto the field…



Clothing was optional it seems. South Carolina won – their first major victory as a school. Congrats Gamecocks!



We left to fireworks and a bagpipe playing Take Me Out the Ballgame while saying goodbye to friends we made over the years, our seat mates. Hoping that next year we would all be assigned seats near each other. Good by Rosenblatt Section 35, Row H, Seats 1-4