After three weeks of back-breaking work, Rocky, Becky and I have finished the front “make-over” of our little acre here in Missouri. No matter how fine, beauteous, fancy or expensive…….I wouldn’t trade this little acre for any other kingdom in the world. My dream yard came true, just as I had envisioned. With some good input from Rocky and Becky we used up every last bit of soil, manure, slag rocks, mulch and Rainbow River gravel. With the three of us, the neighbor’s trailer and Dave helping lift here and there, it is now complete. Thanks a million, guys, couldn’t have done it without you.

We celebrated Friday and Saturday evening with cook-outs on the deck and the company of our neighbors…..who are more like family. We fight, sweat and die for each other. Little Davy saves us all many steps…….he is an eager helper. Mom and dad are bringing him up to know what work is….and HOW to do things….and WHY. He’s a special kid who is lucky to have such good parents……and of course, “Aunt Beck”, Gramma and Rocky.

Today we leave for St. Louis to stay over night with Rocky’s sister and husband….then in the morning the four of us will travel to Amana, Iowa to tour the Amana Colonies. We will meet the third Rockenbach kid, Richard and his wife, Helen, upon arrival. Now don’t you know we are going to come home with some good food hanging on our bodies. Our blood lines run along that vein of German/Scandinavian/ Danish heritage. The Amish are master craftsmen and the women make quilts to die for as well as cloth dolls and stitching of all kinds. The food………well!! Wonderful would be a good lip smackin’ word for that.

We return on Wednesday of this coming week. The neighbor’s will take care of our new plantings and Becky will take care of our critters……..we’re leaving it all in good hands and I hope to be back blogging next Thursday. Of course…..to give a good idea of what we did and how it stacked up with expectations.

So God bless all until we meet again,
Essentially Esther