Summer Chores

Apparently Boyd and I are able to disagree on the most ridiculous of things.

Case in point: who is going to mow the lawn?

Mowing the lawn has long been a part of my existence. I used to get paid to mow my Grandma’s lawn in high school and I loved it. It was four hours of tanning and singing and cash at the end. Yes!

Fast forward to marriage. Boyd is very good at construction. So early on we decided that we would do fixer-uppers which meant I was incapable of many tasks EXCEPT for such delights as mowing the lawn.

Fast forward 12 years. I am still mowing the lawn.

But here is the thing: Boyd would LIKE to mow the lawn but I don’t let him. How backwards is that?

So basically it goes like this:

Me: (surveying the wild lawn that is now waist high due to us not having a mower)

*sigh*

I guess I will figure this out today.

Boyd: (starting up my parents’ mower) Here! Let me get it started for you! You go and pick up the large tree branches that have fallen in the yard and drag them to the driveway and I will start mowing.

(30 minutes later I’m bleeding from tree scratches and sweating like a complete girl)

S: Get off the mower. Its my turn.

B: Just a little longer.

S: No.

B: Yes.

S: Go build the porch roof like you have been meaning to for the past 30 days!!!

B: I don’t want to today. I want to help you with yard work.

I persisted and got my way.

And then I promptly drove over the electric fence wire (Lou’s boundary) that he had pointed out to me and said: "Don’t drive over this".

So. I walked back to the house and told on myself.

And then I went back to mowing only to get stuck.

So. I walked back to the house and told on myself again.

And then I went back to mowing only to have my dad show up and tell me that I’m running his mower to hard and it's an $80 belt.

So now I am push mowing the rest of the lawn which means . . . . . .

½ is tall grass. ½ is cut grass. And we still do not have a porch roof.

P.S. We have running water again. But then we got our test results back and apparently it is extra special with high Nitrates. *sigh* So. On to rural water hook up. No more fancy dreams of our very own well.

P.P.S. The Farmers Market got cancelled.  Go complain to someone else.  I'm booked.

****
Update:  We now have our very own riding mower!  It was a throwaway of my parents but it only took Boyd 60 hrs to get it working.

Party On.

I'm getting lazier about writing about the "goings-on" at the Knudsen House.   So here is a half-a*s attempt:

We have a resident deer on our property and the other day I saw her with 2 fawns. They were beautiful - I was thoroughly delighted by this discovery and the very next day I went to buy a salt lick to keep them around. I asked where I would find one and they told me with admiration in their eyes: "over in the hunting section". 
My intentions are often misunderstood.

I found out that the cats at the farm are slowly dwindling.  Apparently "Lucky" has not been seen for quite awhile (obviously did not live up to his namesake unless he is shacking up with a lovely feral female somewhere) and "Oreo" is also now missing.  This leaves "Leo".  Mom told me that Leo has been mean to the other cats (who are now missing) and so she took Leo "for a drive".  

What does that even mean?!

Other than that: We are looking into moving a barn onto the property.  We still do not have a porch roof.  Our lawn still looks like crap.  And the other day Lou, my beagle, finally found his life's goal:  his very own bunny nest.  This was extremely traumatic for all involved and led to much research on "how to save wild bunnies".
The research was all for nought.

The 4th of July celebrations were intense.  Boating, fireworks, reunions, etc.   Without further ado, the rest of this post will be in pictures . . . . because . . . lazy . . . .

Skoglund Reunion:  We like to celebrate family by splitting up into 4 teams and then pitting everyone against each other.

Wheelbarrow portion of the "amazing race".  Brian and Owen won this event for their team.  Owen was extremely proud of himself.

I love reunion food.  Like. Really. Love. Food.

My team won the tug-o-war.  Obviously.  Look at my beefy arms.
(d*mn reunion food!)

mmmmmuscles . . . . . 

paintball target shooting

There was also trap shooting, racing thru the trees, leap frog, knock-out, football toss, and speed-matching-nuts-and-bolts together.  The only thing I am good at is spelling and for some reason, they never include this in the "amazing race".

I learned 2 things.  (1) Boyd's team always wins; and (2) Should the Zombie Apocalypse ever happen . . . I'm in good hands with the Skoglund Sharpshooters.

In other news:

My friend Wendi is having a baby!!! (she's the 2nd from left)
Cute as a button preggers lady.

The 4th of July was WINDY.  So we flew some kites.  The novelty lasted about 5 minutes.

Miss Ellie in all her gangsta glory

Enjoying the Farkleberry Parade with friends and Oli. :)

Oli won the 4 year old division in the pedal pull.  He totally kicked the other kid's butt.
Scholarships here we come.

Brother2, Cooper and Jake. 
Fishing Fishing Fishing

I took G and Oli to the Bryant Pool.  Brought back so many memories.  
Most prominent:  My fear of the high dive.  

Max, Lou and Mel.  Max is Wendi and Tony's dog.
Mel and Lou love having friends over. :)

A truck full of nephews.

More goodness from Farkleberry.  G exclaimed: We never get candy at our parades!"
Take notes Lame-Watertown-Parades.

4th of July Tradition: Lake Norden ball game with fireworks following

Boyd and Lance - 5th place!
Dad actually got 1st place but I need to make a note that his teammate did the running AND the biking.
Apparently he wanted to win and thus just had dad help with the canoeing. 
Sorry Dad! :)

I cannot get enough of Caters and her cats. :)

Brother2 just turned 15!!  WHAT IN THE WORLD?! Boyd and I started dating when Brother2 was 2 months old so he's kind of our indicator of how long we have been together.  He's by far the best 2nd-youngest-brother a girl could ask for. Mom knew what she was doing by making me babysit as an 18 year old.  The. Best. Birth. Control. Ever.

It must still be working. :)

Guns are great at any age.

 Party On Y'all.  Hope your July has treated you wonderfully.

For the love . . . I don't even like this pic of me but frankly it is all I have to work with.

  Fail.