Taking a quick break after watering & weeding the melon patch. Drinking another cup of coffee, thought I would write a little.

The melon patch is looking good. Watermelon, cantaloupe. My dad called them muskmelon alot, is there a difference? Zuchinni -green & yellow, butternut squash, cucumbers. So exciting to see it taking off. I was raised with garden. Dad planted 3 acres of garden and many of my uncles were truck patch farmers during the summer, but we werent allowed in there much. Then when I was first married, XDH (not dear) was in competition with my dad to see who could out grow who. So I never got involved with the planting and planning part of it, just the canning & freezing & cooking part of it. So this is all new and very exciting for me. I am so pleased with the way things are growing so far. Super happy.

I also have 3 raised beds. 4x16. I didnt want to over do it for my first year, so this is manageable enough. Peppers - green, red, purple. The banana peppers, jalapenos, yellow & orange peppers got frost bite and I havent replaced them yet. 12 tomato plants. Green beans, okra, eggplant, sweet tators, strawberries, blueberries, onions, lettuce, garlic, red & green cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli. Pear & cherry tomatoes in containers by the back porch. That is all I can think of right now.

Also super excited about this weekend. DH's (yes, dear) daughter is visiting with her 4 children. They live in North Dakota and should be here by evening! Super excited about that. Havent seen then for such a long time. And then his son who lives in Topeka will be here at some point with his family. So 2 more grandkids! We do see them more often but they have not been to our new home and this is our 3rd summer here! And then hopefully my daughter will make it with her little boys. So 2 more grandkids!! And then one grandson lives here, they sort of have their own pad upstairs. So that should be 9 grandkids total! And then if my other son makes it, and DS18 gets back from Branson in time, all they kids and grandkids will be here!!! That has never happened!!! So I am super excited about that prospect.

I have been stocking the freezer and pantry. Need to get a few things but should be in good shape food wise. My step-daughter's children all have or had... allergies of some sort. I dont think they do so much anymore, but it was mostly wheat and I dont know what all they eat now, but I don't do wheat and pastas anyways, so it should all work out great.

I have washed all the bedding. Now just have to put the guest rooms back together. Should have plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms for everyone. We built this house with smaller sleeping type rooms, just for occasions like this. Not huge guest rooms, but just some place they can get away too for some privacy and have their own space while they are here. We do call this our vacation home. Because everyone will have have to come here for their vacations because now we can't afford to take a vacation haha! However since DD is driving from North Dakota, with 4 children, we are picking up the gas tab. Figured that is the least we could do and glad to do it so we can see them and it not be a burden to their family.

Weatherman is calling for a great weekend, so hopefully lots of swimming and smores happening down by the pond! We will have to make a trip to town for life jackets. I only have a few. They can all swim but I dont want to take any chances. We will be doing lots of horseback riding I am sure. Last time they were here, it was so miserably hot, just too hot to get the horses out. And the pond wasnt finished either. So they should have such a good time at Papa & Nana's house this year. I hope so anyways. I hope it makes some great memories for them!!

Now, where is my grocery list, I think I better add an extra bottle of ibuprofen