What a week! It's been a great week with lots of things happening. We're almost finished with the 4H fair! My husband and I are going to put in some work hours at the fair today. He and Gideon are working the "Lemon Shake-Up" stand for the benefit of the 4H club. Becca, Jennie and I are going to work in the "Bee Hive" which is the kitchen and cafeteria for the Homemakers' clubs (which I belong to.) I worked on Tuesday (12 hours) and Wednesday (just 9 hours thank the good Lord!) and Friday is check in day for the state fair and we are decorating the banquet room for the wedding reception and decorating the church as well. Then we are doing the rehearsal dinner that evening at the church. It would be nice to have it catered or go to a restaurant but that just isn't in our budget for 50 people so we are having a lasagna dinner at the church. We will still have a nice time, I'm sure. It's nice to have such a "reasonable" group of family and friends! (and a new daughter in law!!!!!!! :) ) My daughter Jennie has been doing the babysitting responsibility of the little granddaughter this week since I worked and was busy this week. She's a pretty nice kid...brag, brag, brag, brag.......



There is an open show at the fair and we put some items in it. Gideon reentered his footstool and his picture and got blue ribbons for each of those. Becca reentered a sock monkey and got a blue ribbon and reentered her picture of the baby and got a blue ribbon and the "judges' choice award." She gets a ten dollar prize! I asked her what she was going to do with the money and she said "Buy art supplies." I joked with her and said, "Or maybe start paying your mom back for all the money she spent on supplies for your 4H projects???" She hesitated and said, "OK!" Poor kid...she still doesn't get it when I'm just joking! I relieved her mind and I imagine we will go look for art pencils next week!



I was so encouraged and motivated by "Jennie" at "The Fruit of Her Hands" blog that I preseved some jam! Then I entered my orange marmalade and my strawberry preserves and got blue ribbons! I made homemade bread and biscuits and also got blue ribbons. What really surprised me was that I actually got champion on a wreath that I made. The other things were sooo much harder than that silly wreath. CRAZY!!!! It was fun though and it is encouraged to enter things like that by our homemakers club...who, by the way, sponsors the open class. There were hundreds and hundreds of entries! It was pretty cute to see the look on my kids' faces when they saw my champion ribbon...they found the wreath before I did and they just looked sooo pleased and excited for me! That was so precious of them! Sweet kids!



So things get back to normal next week...hopefully...and maybe I can get some housework done! It is such a mess and I am just ashamed! We also have to get out the girls' new school books that just arrived and look through them for their homeschooling time! I told them that we could not open the boxes of books until the house is clean(er) and last year's books are put away or given away! What a mess.......They are pretty excited about the new year though....(what is wrong with those kids???? )



Well, lots to do today...I have to go find some shoes for the wedding. I hate to buy shoes...I'm more of a "purse" kind of girl!! (and crafts, and teddy bears, and dishes, and teapots, and teacups...see what I mean when I say that I need to learn to be content? Oh I need to learn it quickly!) I did find a really neat purse at the Salvation Army store yesterday. I have a cloth purse that is also a little backpack...nice for hiking, etc. (like I hike so often????)...so I got one that is leather...or looks like leather...because my cloth one is falling apart. Yeah, I know, not a necessity...and now I have "buyer's remorse". But luckily, it was only $3.00 and it wasn't a new car that I regret buying!!

I hate to buy new shoes.......but that's what I need to go do....yuck. I told my future daughter in law that I wasn't going to wear any shoes to the wedding and was that ok with her??? I hope she knows I was teasing. But as soon as "clean up" begins after the party, THOSE NEW SHOES ARE COMING OFF!!!!!!!

Have a lovely day!

Beth