How can you NOT smile?!

We ordered my new computer last night. I finally convinced Jeremy that a laptop was a good idea - yay! It won't be here for a couple of weeks, yet. Since I hate writing posts without pictures (and J doesn't want me taking up a bunch of memory on his computer with my photos), I'll be searching for other things I can share with you.

I found this floating around the web, and had to share. I'd love to see this happen somewhere!

Free Concert!

The Hastings Symphony Orchestra is hosting their annual end-of-season free concert this Friday at 7:00pm. If the weather is nice, it'll be in the Pavilion at Chautauqua Park. Otherwise, it'll be at the Masonic Temple. So, if you're in the area, come enjoy a free concert by my talented uncle...and the rest of the orchestra, of course!

This isn't the best picture, kind of small, but I copied it off HSO's site. That's my uncle playing the clarinet, middle row on the left. He's been with the HSO for as long as I can remember, and this year was awarded with the Jim Johnson Memorial Chair*. We're very proud of him!

*Dr. Jim Johnson was a long time conductor for the HSO, but passed away several years ago. Since then, one member of the orchestra is given the Jim Johnson Memorial Chair award.

Taking a small break

I'm having some issues with my computer. We think either the processor or the motherboard died on us. So, I'll probably be taking a short break from blogging until we can get another one. Hope to see you soon!

Weekend Wisdom

"Patience is the companion of wisdom."

~St. Augustine~

Another photo of the chair I posted about yesterday. This was taken at an old farmhouse just east of where I live. I was using it as a prop while taking pictures of my sister-in-laws kids.

Vintage Thingies Thursday - My Red Chair...and...

tea towel and picnic basket and apron!

This is my chair, and has been my chair for as long as I can remember, although it has only lived with my for a few years.



My entire family thought I was insane for insisting on bringing this home with me when we were cleaning out the old farmhouse. They think I'm crazy, but know that when my heart is set on something, there's no changing it. I know I've mentioned before on here about the old Stewart farm south of Chadron, Nebraska. It was originally settled by my great-grandmother's paternal family, the Summers. While my grandma's two older brothers were born on the Husak homestead (great-grandma's maternal family), they moved to the Summers homestead a mile away just a few years after my great-uncle Faye was born. This is where they survived the Depression and WWII, and where my grandma was born. In 1998, Faye was presented with a plaque - the farm had been in the family for 100 consecutive years!

Growing up, we would visit the farm twice a year, and forget about Disneyland. This was the happiest place on earth! There were three things I could always count on and always looked forward to: 1) Faye would have a 1lb bag of M&M's for each of us kids, 2) I would get to help Faye collect eggs from the chicken coop (although I didn't look forward to this much after I was chased out of there by the rooster) and 3) I would get to sit in my chair. I'm not sure how old the chair is, but before it was mine, my older brother, mom, and uncle all used it. Uncle Tom was born in 1951, so I'm guessing it was made in the early to mid 1950's.

It now sits in my kitchen with a vintage tea towel hanging on the back, next to an old picnic basket I found at grandpa's house that now hold my potatoes. I usually have a small plant in a teapot sitting on the chair, too. I love this chair.

The other day, I posted a pic of the apron I made for the Flirty Apron Swap. Yesterday, I recieved mine!



Jennifer did a beautiful job, and this picture doesn't do it justice. My parents came over last night to re-till my garden area, so I had my mom model it quickly. You can see a better pic here, and Jennifer posted more info on how it was put together here. Be sure to check them out so you can see the pin-tucks - one of my favorite features of my new apron!

Also, don't forget to check out more VTT goodness here!

Happy Earth Day!

Every year on Earth Day, the boys and I take a walk around town, each carrying a sack to collect any trash we might see. The past couple of years, April 22 has fallen during the week when Taylor has school. Last year, Landon and I walked up to the high school to meet the bus, then the three of us walked home collecting trash along the way. This year, though, Taylor is in 2nd grade. He's too old to have his mom walk him home from school, so we're doing things a little different. Taylor took 3 bags to school - one for him and a couple of extras for friends he walks home with - and will pick up trash between the high school and our house. After lunch, Landon and I will head over to the ball field and pick up trash there.

I picked up a few flowers last weekend that I'll be planting today, and I'm hoping to start putting up the fence for our victory garden. Jeremy and I have plans to head to Menard's and Orscheln's this weekend for a new mower, some more garden supplies, and a few more flowers & plants (like columbines and hostas and whatever else strikes my fancy) - can't wait!

Another Apron Swap Finished

Today I made a trip to the post office to send off another flirty apron. The theme this time was "Vintage Linens", and even though it was difficult to get started, I had a lot of fun with this one. I ended up using a cute sheet and made up my own pattern for it. I think it turned out pretty cute!



Along with the apron and a vintage tea towel I found, I included a recipe for something I've been craving today - Runzas! Unfortunately the restaurant is only in Nebraska, with very few exceptions, but here's a recipe for making them (they're also called bierocks):

Runza Recipe

2 pound ground beef

1 large onion , chopped

Salt

Pepper

1 Medium Cabbage, chopped

2 batches of egg dough

Saute onion in a bit of oil until just translucent. Add hamburger and saute until no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper. Drain away the grease, and return to the pan. Cover the mixture with the shredded cabbage and cook until the cabbage is done. Stir occasionally. This could take about 45 minutes or so.

Using an egg-dough recipe, roll small balls of dough thin to make a 5×5 square. Put about 1/2 cup of cabbage mixture in center of square and seal closed. Place seal side down on a parchment lined baking sheet (or a lightly greased sheet).

Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 or until lightly golden brown.

And, if you're ever in a town that has a Runza, definitely stop and try them out! Go here to find their locations.