Pretty Bottles

Sunset

Rainbow Over the Garden

Garden Beauty

Red Rasspberry
Purple bean blossom
Pumpkin blossom

Snow

Last week we had a little snow. It didn't last long, but it was pretty.

The Garden

It's so exciting to watch everything in the garden grow.
I can't wait until we can start harvesting the vegetables
and melons. This morning, I had fun taking pictures in
the garden , here are a few of them.

A cheerful sunflower

Summer squash blossom

Purple bush bean flower

A cute baby watermelon

The colorful Painted Mountain corn

Long orange pepper

One of the many tomato varieties

Summer squash

Pear

Grapes

Tizzy loves watching the chickens
while I'm in the garden.

Blue

My wedding colors are green and blue. We have been getting ideas for decorating and flowers. We have been finding pretty blue glass vases and jars at thrift stores. I am also hoping to use blue delphinium in the bouquets. Here are some of our blue finds.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I came across this today on a blog I enjoy reading. It originally came from The Simple Woman blog. It looked like fun so I thought I would try it.

Today ~ Wednesday, June 4th 2008

Outside My Window ... I see the trees blowing in the breeze and patch of blue sky overhead. It is a lovely sunny day.

I am thinking ... about Andrew as he rides up to Spokane on the bus. He left last evening for a visit home, and will be gone three weeks. I miss him very much already.

I am thankful for ... my family, my friends and for Andrew. For the amazing way God has blessed me and made my dreams come true in ways far better than I could have ever imagined.

From the kitchen ... there are leftover spice muffins from breakfast. For a little snack we had some dark chocholat covered malt balls.

I am wearing ... a denim skirt and navy blue t- shirt with horses running and the word Montana on it. I have brown flip-flops on and my hair is in a ponytail tied with blue and green ribbon.

I am creating ... this blog post, and working on wedding invitations

I am going ... to finish cleaning my room this afternoon and also do my laundry and ironing.

I am reading ... nothing much. I haven't had time to read a book. The only things I have been reading is my Bible and letters.

I am hoping ... that Andrew will call me soon. He is planning to call when he arrives in Portland which should be soon.

I am hearing ... Jonathan and Mom discuss setting up a Paypal account, the breeze blowing outside, and the hum of two computers

Around the house ... there is not much activity. We are all in the living room, reading, blogging, and setting up the Paypal account.

One of my favorite things ... growing unusual and colorful vegetables. I am enjoying having the garden all planted and anticipating the harvest.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

A trip to San Luis to get fabric for my wedding dress, and a trip to Solvang to look for green fabric for bridesmaid dresses, start sewing the dresses, finish the invitation address list, print part of the invitations, and maybe go to yard sales on Saturday.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing for you... one of the little watermelon plants.

A Ball with Andrew

Last Friday evening we all went to a Civil War ball. It was an especially fun ball because Andrew came with us. I danced every dance that night. Here are some pictures from throughout the night.


Before the ball...





...during the dance...







... all worn out after the ball.

Tea Party Surprise

Over the last two months Andrew Engell and I have been courting. So early last week my friend Jessica who I hadn't seen since before the courtship started, called to invite Melissa and I to tea at the Tea Cozy. She wanted to hear all about everything going on. So we set Thursday afternoon to go.
It was a little odd that morning how much my mom and sister encouraged me to wear something a little nicer. Finally I did, and was glad for it later.








We had a lovely time having tea and visiting. It was very very calm and relaxing. I was just enjoying myself and taking my time.
As we were leaving Jessica said she had forgotten something and had to run back inside. It took several minutes. Then she sugessted that we stop to see the Cambria Pines Gardens.


We walked a little way then came to a bench where Jessica wanted me to sit and take my picture. After she snapped the picture, she suddenly told me to stay there for a minute while she showed Melissa something, and they quickly walked away.


I only had a few seconds to look around and wonder what was going on, before Andrew came around the corner singing.


He gave me a red rose, then got on down on his knee and asked me to marry him.
My answer was yes.





Afterwards we sat in the gardens for quite awhile and talked, then we went to the beach and walked on the pier, and then we went and had dinner. When we went home there were lights, and candles, balloons and a congratulations sign.


It was a perfect day. Andrew did a wonderful job of surprising me and making it very romantic.
We are planning the wedding for the end of September. We will be living up in Washington. I am very excited and so happy.
It has been amazing to see how God has brought us together, I feel so blessed.

Water Fight

Last weekend was the the homeschool group campout. Dad and Jonathan went for the whole weekend and the rest of us just went up for Saturday and again on Sunday. It was a fun time. We ended up having quite a wild water fight on Sunday afternoon. Here are a few pictures of the fun!

Wildflowers

Yesterday after church a group of us went out to see the wildflowers. It was a beautiful day for the excursion. There were fields of blue, yellow and orange flowers. There were patches of small purple and white flowers also. We enjoyed exploring the hillsides and picking lovely bouquets.


Sitting on the hillside


Mary picking flowers


Melissa and I


Bethany enjoying the view


Here are some of the flowers we saw. I only know the names of a few of them.


California poppies and a few lupines



Cheerful yellow flowers


These dainty blue flowers were some of my favorites.


California poppy


A wildflower bouquet