Where is Mark Lipinski ?

Somewhere I read a brief note about Mark Lipinski NOT going to be the "Quilter's Home" guy ??? Now I don't know where I saw it.

What is up with this........ I got the new issue....not a word about Mark...he is nowhere in the magazine ..............looked in the previous issue...didn't see anything about him in there either.

Did he go to another magazine ?......What is he doing ? And there has not been an update to his blog for a long time..... So.......where in the world is Mark Lipinski ???

I hope someone will help me out and fill me in !

At the lake...... and now there are thunderstorms popping up. Always happens after HOT weather.

And it's Friday night...........

The pictures are from last weekend and my first attempt at making kabobs !

Jeff the Chef grilled them to perfection !!

.......served on a bed of rice.....ok - Rice A Roni........LOL.

They were pretty good !

We didn't head to the lake yet.....lots of stuff to pack and get ready. So I will get the rest of my groceries in the morning...

Warm here today........85 F or a couple more degrees.... My garden partner finished weeding...and I watered the garden tonight. I just have to take some more pics......I can't believe how it is growing......we are eating radishes and lettuce from the garden !!...Yummers.

Have a great weekend !!

Pictures from the weekend............

Sunday morning the lake was like glass......................

Love that clear water.....

Nothing prettier than the calm of the morning...........

they are coming back to roost...................................

There has been a Barn Swallow nest on the light right beside my back door...... At first the birds tried to build at the front door.... I discouraged them from that location and they started building on the back door light. I didn't have the heart to tear down their nest......So.....they had a nest of eggs and I have been watching and waiting for the baby birds. Four baby birds hatched. They have been growing and the 4 of them sure filled up the nest - I was afraid they would fall out. When we left for the weekend they just had fuzz on their heads...and the start of wing feathers..... This morning I could see they had REAL feathers......all over......and looked like they were all about to spill out of the nest.

I wanted to get a couple more pictures of them before they left.......so I got the stool....and got a picture......and then tried to get a bit closer.....and POOF !!! - they all flew out of the nest !!

I saw them fly higher and higher !...........and the mom and dad were flying at me !! I watched as the 4 babies flew out of sight....... I felt so bad !!! I had scared them.....they could fly.....but they were probably not ready to leave....and how would they eat.

So I looked all day for them........a couple times I saw all 4 of the babies flying around a tree across the back yard... Where are they going to spend the night......???? Every time I go out on the deck and mom and dad show up and I could just tell they want to peck me in the head!.

Just a little bit ago..........I saw the parents flying around ......and I think I saw 3 of the babies....and 2 of them came back to the nest.

I just looked again.....and 3 of the babies are home to roost.

Now I feel better.

4th of July !!!

Dessert for later..........................
Boat parade on West McDonald Lake
Pirate ship..............
The gangs all here !..................
Our neighbors watching the parade..............

Happy 4th of July to All ! ............. After last nights downpours.....I think the lake came up at least 3 inches. This morning we awoke to cloudy, cool weather after the last couple days of 90+. But......look.....to the west......what is that !!! - a break in the clouds ??.....Yes........ And what a beautiful afternoon we are having . Probably more breeze then those who want to do fireworks really want......but I think it is just great for keeping us cooled off and the skeeters from landing.

All around the lake shore are people swimming, boating, riding in tubes......and just sitting and enjoying the wonderful day.

Tonight the fireworks will start and go till ......well....who knows. But I will be tucked safe in the cabin either surfing blogs and sites....or sewing on my projects I brought with me....ok...they probably won't get all done this weekend !

Have a Happy and Safe weekend ~!

Happy Trails...............

What a great day for a ride !!!

Marlene riding Bart

Claudia riding Faren

Our instructor - Katie, and my girlfriend Marlene

Cooper - the running dog.

Wednesday was our 3rd and final riding lesson.....Our instructor told us that she was no longer able to give lessons from that stable. We saddled up and rode down the road and along the Wild Rice River... It was a great day....sunny blue sky...and enough wind to keep most of the flies off the horses. Cooper the pointer dog ran along with us......scouting out the ditches and finding the white-tail deer was his high point of the afternoon. After chasing the deer back into the woods Cooper came back and went along with us. Even though we only got in 3 riding lessons we both learned alot and now we can cross that off our "bucket-list".... Not sure what we will try next.

Today was HOT ~!~ 94 was the highest temp I saw on TV. Good thing we had a wind....or we would have baked ! I did get the back yard mowed......and now Jeff is mowing the front and weed-whacking.

4th of July weekend already !!! This summer is going by too fast ! I hope everyone is gearing up for a safe and fun weekend !!! Sounds like the weather in this part of the country is going to be HOT.....and of course a chance of a thunder-storm tossed in. Guess I better decide on the menu for the weekend........always a great time to eat all those good- grilled foods that we enjoy

Stay safe and have a great weekend !

Claudia in North Dakota