If you build it, we can park our car in the garage.

We took a trip over to the Bitterroot to help son number two build a shed, but first things first.  That means some time for this cute "Stink Bug".  Only Grandma could get away with giving him a cookie this size.  I love being scolded by my son.  "Mom, don't give him that cookie!"   Hmm. 

Cookie, cookie, cookie!

 (No, he didn't eat it.  The photo is of the only bite he actually took)

We are officially Grammy and Papa.  Papa and the little Stink Bug managing the train yard.

One of the reviews for the shed we are about to try to construct said that two men put it together in a day and a half.  They paid someone to post that review.  No way!  When the assembly instructions are in a one inch 3-ring binder, you know you are in for it!

Page 5 of 87 - Let's see, what do we do next?

Stink Bug helps out.

To be assembled.

These pieces go with the pieces above.  You would think with all those large pieces you see in the photo above that it wouldn't take long to put this together.  You would be wrong. 

This shed is necessary so that some of the stuff in the photo below can be moved out.   This is actually a garage.   Where do you park the car?

The weather was absolutely beautiful!  Warmer than normal temperatures -  in the eighties both days.  We did stop every once in awhile to take a look at the wildlife down at the pond below the house.

Sandhill Crane

The Sandhill Crane does not breed until it is two to seven years old. It can live up to the age of 20. Mated pairs stay together year round, and migrate south as a group with their offspring.   You can read all about them and listen to their song at this link:  All About Birds

The Reineke Five

This is a photo of the entire mischievous clan.  I have no idea how Griz Eileen survived raising us.  I think it's because she's one tough lady and yes, she's still taking care of all five of us.  We are hoping to get the entire group together again this summer.

 Here she is fishing on Lake Pend Oreille, one of her favorite things to do.  One of us, (probably my brother, Roy,) is getting a scolding here.

"Say DaDa"

It's was so much fun watching our sons grow up, celebrating birthdays and every milestone in their lives.  Today is our youngest son's birthday, which reminded me of these photos.

I have to say that there are moments I haven't forgotten and these two are among the best. 

Jamie and Collin

David and Ben

Happy Birthday, David!

No Whining!

I love Tuesdays.  Tuesdays are my guitar lesson days and the lesson is sooo much fun with my instructor, Doug Bond.  It's even more fun because I take the lesson with my friends, Ann and Ellie,  the Mandolin Gals. We play our instruments, try to sing along at the same time, (very difficult for me) and laugh at ourselves a lot!

There's one thing about Tuesdays that I don't love -  the errands which are always attached to lesson day.  Yesterday, it was "take the snow tires off the car" day, and after waiting for five hours at the tire center, it also included buying new tires for the Outback.  Ouch! Painful price tag!  Yes, I know.  A necessity, but I would much rather spend the money on a new keyboard or a guitar or a vacation weekend......   Not a necessity.

On the other hand, a flat tire is a major inconvenience.    

Please, no more whining!

Except....

At the end of the day I did finish the labeling and the shrink-wrap for 54 bottles of wine.  These bottles are ready to be moved to the wine cellar. 

It's in the bottle!

We started the wine bottling yesterday and have two carboys of wine in the bottles ready for labels and shrink-wrap.  

Bottles cleaned with sterilizer solution

This handy gadget makes sterilizing the bottles easier.

You need one of these in the bottle as you siphon the wine.

Everything is sterilized in the solution at each step.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Elderberry

Apple/Pear

Another cutting of lettuce before I move the plants outside.