littlebrowncottageintheoaks

Grandkids new pics

2010-05-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

We have the pleasure of our 5 grandchildren from North Carolina living with us for a while. It certainly has been fun to have them around all the time. Visiting once or twice a year is not the same. Enjoy the pics

2010-03-20T17:41:00.000-07:00

This is a view of the clubhouse at the park from the back of the pond.

Florida Trip

2010-03-20T17:35:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago we took a few days off and made a quick trip to Florida. The weather was pretty cold but we had a couple of fairly nice days. Saw lots of birds, a couple of dolphins that were too far out to get pictures of and we were able to visit for a few hours with some friends from Elkhart that winter in Sebring.

Christmas programs

2009-12-20T16:31:00.000-08:00

Last week was busy with Christmas programs. Noah's was first, held in the gym at Trinity. VERY crowded, but we still were able to see well. Chase's band concert was next, held on Sunday at Constantine High School. He is a senior this year and so very grown up. Dakota's program was Tuesday, at Beickman Performing Arts Center at Concord. Wonderful program, his music teacher is the same one Sara had.

Crystal Valley Christmas

2009-12-10T10:06:00.000-08:00

Dakota and I were able to attend the ice carving at Crytal Valley Christmas in Middlebury. The ice sculptures were wonderful and Dakota had a good time at the old time hardware in Middlebury.

Christmas Cookies

2009-12-10T09:54:00.000-08:00

Early in November I spent the weekend with my cousin Donna and two friends Judy and Pearl baking cookies and sweets for Christmas. We baked Friday night until about 9:00 and all day Saturday until late. Cookies, brownies, bars and candy. We all took home container after container to have for the Holidays.

Jean Stratton Porter State Historic Site

2009-10-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

Thursday on my way to Fort Wayne for my mom's 88th birthday I stopped at Jean Stratton Porter State Historic Site. Is is beautiful. The sun peaked out a few time while I was there. I didn't take the time to tour the log home. Maybe next time. Enjoy the photos, I am looking forward to going back in the summer, the gardens are lovely.

Cat's Cradle

2009-10-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I got to have Kyle and Dakota overnight. Dakota has discovered Cat's Cradle and he was teaching Kyle how to do it. They both spent hours with two pieces of yarn. Who says kids need video games?

Sara and Willie's Wedding

2009-09-14T11:50:00.000-07:00

Saturday my daughter Sara married her soulmate and best friend. It was a biker wedding complete with a Chaplain from the Christian Bikers Association and a bike ride after the wedding veil and all. Enjoy the pictures.

Visit with Mom

2009-08-30T15:51:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I got to spend the day with my mother we visited for most of the morning and did some mending on a crocheted bedspread that I had bought at a garage sale for $10.00. I have seen these in antique stores for $75 to $100 dollars. We got it mended and it is now on my bed.

Dakota and the climbling wall

2009-08-20T17:49:00.000-07:00

Dakota and I recently spent several hours at the Middlebury Summer Festival. He got to climb on the rock wall that they had there several times. He made it up all but the most difficult side, I don't think he was tall enough to reach some of the handholds.

60th Anniversary Party

2009-07-21T16:22:00.000-07:00

Sunday my sister and I had an Open House for our parents 60th Wedding Anniversary at my home. They were surprised by a visit from my mothers niece from southern Indiana and from a cousin and her husband from north of Grand Rapids. We also hosted one of my fathers old co-workers from Bendix and Magnavox and other cousins, another niece and two friends of my sisters and mine from high school that spent lots of time at our house growing up.

2009 Little League

2009-06-09T09:45:00.000-07:00

Noah and Dakota both were in Little League again this summer. Noah played for FOP and Dakota is on a Concord team. Noah played outfield and the pitching position which in machine pitch, just means he has to get the ball back to his coach. Dakota got to pay shortstop, catcher and pitch some games this summer.

Spring at Little Brown Cottage

2009-06-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Now that spring has FINALLY arrived, my garden is looking wonderful. Still having trouble keeping up with the weeds, but oh well, that is part of gardening. Enjoy the beautiful pictures.

Vacation Time

2009-05-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged for awhile because we have been on vacation. We traveled to Tennessee and North Carolina. Our first stop was Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. We stayed at a campground we like on the very end of the Pigeon Forge strip just before you enter the Parkway for Gatlinburg. We took the trolleys and visited the Old Mill and also took the trolley into Gatlinburg. We rode the lift chair to the top of the mountain the looks over the town. The next day we rented a car and went to visit friends that have property there. That was quite an adventure, VERY hard to find their place, lots of back roads. Very beautiful once we found them, their property goes right to the top of their mountain, the view is incredible.

Painting Easter Eggs

2009-04-13T13:19:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was able to visit Sara and her family and I took craft eggs over for the kids to paint. They did it last year also, and had lots of fun.

Sophie's new bed

2009-04-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

It seems that Sophie has decided that the spare room bed is now hers. When we do not put her out in the kennel at night we keep finding her on the bed in the spare room.

Spphie's First Swim

2009-03-14T16:31:00.000-07:00

We had to get Ralph, Buford's nephew un-stuck back at his father-in-laws farm this evening so we took Sophie with us. I had forgotten there was a pond back there, we haven't been back there since our children were small. Sophie discovered the water and in she went. Buford and Ralph threw sticks for her and she brought them back. Never mind that it is about 45 today.

Sophie missing dad

2009-03-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Buford had to go out of town. Sophie spend most of her waking moments looking out the window watching for him to come home. When I let her out, she went to his truck and smelled all around it looking for him. She was one happy dog when he got home. They are best buddies.

2009-03-08T09:01:00.001-07:00

MORE WINTER !!!!

2009-02-22T16:09:00.000-08:00

This morning we woke up to about 4 - 5 inches more snow again !!! I am so tired of winter. The birds have been eating at the feeders all day, hardly taking a break. It clears off for a little while and then here it comes again. Where oh where is spring?

5th Grade Basketball

2009-02-22T15:54:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday I was able to go to one of Dakota's basketball games. What an experience!! This is the first year for inter-school games and the first year Dakota has tried basketball. He has played baseball since he was 5 or 6. Check out the pictures! They really get into the game, although they need a little help with the basics.

Dakota and Noah's Birthdays

2009-02-22T15:39:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrated Dakota's 11th and Noah's 6th birthdays. They were born 5 years and 2 days apart. Kind of a drag now, they ususally have to share their celebrations. We went to Sara and Willie's for the party. Wilie's birthday is the day after Noah's so they have three birthdays in one week.

2009-02-16T15:36:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday was Girls Day Out. My daughter Sara and I met my best friend Denise, her daughter Heather, and her granddaughter Kylah and her friend Nikki in South Bend to go to Shipshewana on the Road, which is a large number of the vendors from the Flea Market in Shipshewana. We spent a couple of hours there and then went to American Countryside Farmers Market in Elkhart for lunch and more shopping. Sara and I enjoyed a Thai lunch and the Amish made ice cream cones before we left. It was a wonderful time to shop and spend time together with family and friends.

More about me

2009-02-11T15:33:00.000-08:00

Just a few pics to give you an idea of my love of cottage decorating. Most of our home is antiques, some from my family and my husbands; most of them we have purchased together. Except for the TV room I have tried to show my love of teddy bears, anything romantic, and anything related to the taking of tea. My grandmother and my mother started my love of tea. At first they called it cambric tea, which was mostly hot water, milk and sugar. Now it is English Breakfast, green tea, or plain old decaffinated, (mostly for the Dr.s benefit, supposed to cut down on caffine.) Enjoy the photo's, I enjoy taking them.

Sophie and Noah

2009-02-08T16:33:00.000-08:00

My grandson Noah decided to wrestle with Sophie the last time they came out for dinner. I think she probably outweighs him by about 50 lbs. but she is pretty gentle with him most of the time.

Grandson Chase's spring play

2009-02-01T14:57:00.000-08:00

Friday night I got the chance to see my oldest grandson in his school play. They did Once upon a Mattress and he was King Sextimus. The play was great, and the crowd loved it. He is taking after his grandfather Lonnie who was is many plays throughout his high school years.

Life at Little Brown Cottage

2009-02-01T12:03:00.000-08:00