Buffalo County

   I'm off to Buffalo County to cover their commissioners meeting this afternoon. I have been covering their meetings for 7 years.
   With the Crow Creek Indian reservation within their borders, Buffalo County is considered one of the poorest counties in the country. The three commissioners have a big job trying to stretch those tax dollars and they do it well.
   The courthouse is located in the little burg of Gann Valley. With a population of less than 170 people, you can imagine it's not a very big town.
   But these 170 people are close-knit and very friendly! They just celebrated 125 years as a community and it was a huge celebration.

Isn't this buffalo magnificent?

While I do pass a herd of buffalo on my way to Gann Valley every month, I got this close up shot this past weekend in Minnesota. It was a great opportunity for a picture

as we were cruising down the back highways.

 Mr. B is always so patient when it comes to me

 and my blog photos!   b

 

September

   Did I mention September is my favorite month of the year. It's the time of year I always begin waking up from a long summer slump.
   Sept. 1 was my brothers birthday. He was a great brother growing up. Only one year older than me, he always had my back in school, ha.
   Today Mr. B's mother turns 90. Sadly she is in a nursing home but happily lives in the past. Maybe our minds return to those times when we were the happiest? I hope so.
   The 10th is my birthday! I'm baking an angel food cake with lots of fluffy pink frosting. Come on over.
   And Sept. 23 I married my Mr. B. 38 years this month and going strong.
   This weekend we took a short road trip across the state and into southern Minnesota. It's a favorite place of mine to travel to. The scenery is beautiful and it's always fun to get behind one of these...

The Amish are just so intriguing to me. Maybe it's because you know at one time our ancestors lived the same way. Maybe it's the way we are all meant to live. And maybe I'm just a little envious of their simple lifestyle...b

Who's Got Mail?

It's a very good day when I receive a package in the mail,

 even if it is from me to me!

Went online this week to shop Loft Creations blog 'garage' sale and purchased these extremely fun fabrics.

I'm thinking some very cute pillowcases.

I'll be sharing the homespun towel patterns with Mother.

She loves to sit and stitch on towels.

"Touch Me Nots" she calls them.

Thanks Stephanie! I love her blog with Abby.

Have a fun Labor Day weekend all.

 Me and the mr are road trippin'   b

Sew Happy

Look at all the pretty pink flowers!

Looks like a little piece of pink heaven doesn't it?

And 6 yards of it!

All from the North Dakota daughter.

She's got a pretty good eye, I trained her right don't you think?

I'm dreaming of flannel pants, doll clothes, baby blankets and bibs, pillow cases, maybe a nightgown or two for you know who.

THANKS North Dakota, from South Dakota...b

ranting

   Let me have my small rant here today. Renewed my driver's license this morning, took me 52 miles to get that done. I started preparing for the new rules two months ago. Obtained a certified birth certificate from Alaska - $20! How did I ever get along for almost 57 years with the one I had I'll never know. Never updated social security card but had documentation for that also. Dug out the old wedding license, wow! first time in again almost 38 years. Glad to know they issued legal documents back in 1972 that still stand up to todays rigorous rules. We use post office box numbers on  all our mail here in little old SD, why? because the United States Post Office dictates that, no home delivery unless you live far enough away from the po. BUT! I was prepared for that also, dug and dug for bills that had our physical address on them.
   Well, let me tell you...this woman at the driver's license counter has been at this awhile, she started discarding my documents right and left, "You're social security card is not original!" (I'm thinking really, has served me well for many years now?) "You're W2 is handwritten" (gosh same one government accepts when I pay my taxes every year?) "This bill only has your husbands name on it" (ah lady, look at the marriage license, he's been paying my bills for 38 years!). On and on she went. But thankfully I had 20 numerous forms with me.
   And this year when it's time to pay my taxes I'm telling ol' Uncle Sam I'm really not who you think I am, find someone else to pay your taxes!

   On the bright side of today...It's a beautiful day outdoors and I have the windows wide open. Got a little cleaning done. Received pdf files on new knitting patterns. And daughter won over 400 flannel squares from Loft Creations generous give away to make charity quilts.
   And best of all! I am who I am... and that's all that I am.     b

baa baa black sheep

Such a wonderful family...my son's little family is!

   I had a moment Saturday as son and I along with the gran-girlie's in their car seats were headed out their driveway. The son is fooling with his MP3 player trying to get it to play - of course I'm anticipating some loud type of rock music when instead the children's song "Baa Baa Black Sheep" starts playing and all three of them begin singing along. He says "Yup, this is what we listen to every morning on our way to daycare."
   Well, this ol'grandma got to choked up to tell son that not that long ago I had a wonderful little boy in the backseat of our 1974 Nova singing children's songs as we headed down the highway of life.
   It seems that all I did was turn around once to see him driving his little girl's down the same highway...b
  

queen of goodies

Daughter knit and pearl sent me a goodie box back with Mr. b and these two knit dishrags were included. Such tropical colors, she must have been thinking Florida?

We love the knitted rags, making them and using them.

It's fun exchanging them with her.

There was lots more in my box, Turtle Mountain News, 2 large pieces of flannel, a beaded bracelet made by her, water bottles, a beach scene note pad...I am so spoiled don't you think?

And not to forget the garden goodies - green beans, zucchini and June berries! yum...b