Mushy Stuff you don't have to read! But please do!

I am not sure if any of you are aware of the fact that

Guy and I have known each other for many, many moons.

Guy lived around the corner from me when we were in Junior high and Freshman

in high school. One of my first memories of Guy was playing with his chemistry

set at his house one day after school. We shared a science class, if I recall and he

had mentioned to me he had received the set as a Christmas or birthday gift.

I can't remember if we walked or rode the bus home together that day but

 I remember clearly thinking "This is nothing I would norrmaly do and not with

anyone I would normally do it with" but I do recall we had a lot of fun.

Guy and I always got along but we ran in  different circles.

He was the kid in the class that was always listening in on my conversations with a

big goofy grin on his face. (He still gets that same look and it is one of my favorite things about him.)  But imagine being in the 7th grade, sitting there with a few of your friends laughing

and telling stories and suddenly feel a creeper… you look around the room, and there is Guy.

Leaning in, mouth open with a half grin on his face and eyebrows high… I would stop, slowly, all the

heads turn and look at Guy. I would just laugh…never mean. Some friends would smirk at him.

But he was always nice to me and vice versa! Besides that, his baby sister Jessica Dockins was always at our house or my little brothers were at hers. And she had the same look… except she would sit under our kitchen table and just observe our household. Which was pure entertainment alone! She would sit there and take it all in with a goofy smile on her face like she was experiencing something she wasn't suppose to be experiencing...ha ha ha! We always had a FULL house of people coming and going of all ages and sizes. Arguments, pranks, conversations…Jessica had a front row seat to it all. (Sorry Grace…if she had any bad habits, blame my mother…It wasn’t me!)

Any whooo back to the CHEMISTRY…

oh la la!

So, when Guy and I were done making our chemistry together and it was time to go home,

his shiny new test tubes and vials, that had been full of this and that, were now

nearly emptied and coated with gunk running down their sides. I expressed my concern

that he might get into trouble for having ruined, what I thought, was a gift that should have

been taken care of better. I remember him shrugging his shoulders, like it was no big deal.

His only comment was, "Well, we had fun!"

We did have fun. I remember it like it was yesterday. I never told my friends about that afternoon

nor did I ever. Especially when my best friend of all time told me later that year that she was in love with Guy Leppin.

I remember turning to her and saying "WHAT?? Guy LeppiNN??" (This is important that you put the emphasis on the N! ) Lucky's response…"yeah, he is funny and he is kinda cute. Don't you think?"... I said nothing and just shrugged my shoulders. I really couldn't say anything. He was funny…in a goofy kind of way. And he was kinda cute, if you liked shorties. (He was shorter than I was back then) By the time we hit high school I was a cheerleader and he was in 4H or FFA or the CIA, I can't remember… and he was just the kid around the corner I use to play with but now we were worlds apart. He moved to California that year and I had not seen him for almost 25 years.

So, let's fast forward to New Years Eve 2010- I did not plan on going out to celebrate, nor did I want to go to the bar. But for some reason, that is just where I ended up. And I am so glad I did! Guy was there with his little sister. Except this time she was NOT hanging out under the table gawking at everyone, she was out on the dance floor with her older, now much TALLER and good looking brother. I said to myself…"WHHAT?? Guy LeppiNN???? - I am in trouble!"

Ten days later he bought me a Chemistry set for my birthday hoping we could spark some old memories.

Guy and I were discussing the other day that perhaps we somehow cooked up a 25 year love potion that day after school at his house, that would not reach its' potency until Dec. 31, 2010. I would not doubt it. 

Aaaaand we have work to do…so good bye!  Ha!



Guy, Freshman year with his 4H Group



So cool! Dance Team 7th grade. I am in the back on the right.



7th or 8th...can't remember. Cute kid...but a short kid!

What a weekend!

You know those weekends that seem like it was over in an instant and yet you did enough to fill an entire week? Well, I keep having them. This weekend was full of events that started early Saturday morning. You can read about that in my previous entry. Here are just the highlights of our weekend.

Saturday morning about 11:30, I awoke Guy so he could get his day started. Keep in mind the poor man has been working graveyards so he had only been sleeping for a few hours before I went in to fetch him. The previous owner, Lorin, had made plans to come out about noon or so. This was a difficult visit. You see Lorin is dying of cancer. You can just tell how much he loved this farm in the way he planted his orchards and cared for his home. And he was content that afternoon with just looking around and enjoying the wonderful view. It was a short visit but full of interesting tidbits on what was planted where and when. The tumor in his brain is gaining in size and now he wears a patch over one eye since his vision is affected. His memory is being eaten away by his disease and he apologized for not getting up here sooner. That made me feel a little odd since I felt as if I should be apologizing for expressing the happiness for our fortune at the cost of his misfortune. Very odd feeling indeed. His entire face lit up when we told him he was welcome to come up at anytime. He was thrilled with the idea of just driving up here to take in the view. Lorin doesn't think he has much time left. He is not being pessimistic in his evaluations but more realistic. He knows he is bad off. We expressed that he needed to hang around to see the first crop. And if he could not come up and see it, then we would deliver it to him! He really liked that thought! How could your heart NOT break?

After Lorin's departure, we came back in the house and realized we needed to get out of our funk and get some work done. Jumped in the suburban and went to Rickreall for supplies. One file for sharpening the blade on the chain saw, one 50 pound bag of dog food, and a ball hitch so we could hook up the trailer that Guy's mother Grace had gotten him for his birthday/father's Day/Palm Sunday/Full moon and You got yourself a farm present!! We came away with all of it but the ball hitch. WTH AG WEST HARDWARE??

Cruised into the Big D for beer. Because that is always called for on a sunny Saturday full of work that includes driving a tractor! Stopped off at his Grandparents house so we could check out how they tame their raspberry bushes. While we were there Guy's grandpa had fixed him up with a ball hitch AND a battery for the riding lawn mower! TAKE THAT AG WEST HARDWARE! ;)

Back at the farm... after some mickey mouse engineering. Guy had the trailer and tractor all ready to go. With just him and I as the work crew, we paraded that tractor/trailer around the house trimming everything that looked over grown or dead. Throwing the clippings into the trailer. We even pulled out a few bushes just because we could! TAKE THAT AG WEST HARDWARE!

We have quite the burn pile going on! We made a few trips down the driveway to the "crater" in front of the shop. Guy driving the tractor while I sat on the side board behind him. LIFE IS GOOD!

Sunday morning started with a visit from the Rabago's. My sister Tracie, brother in law Eddie and Kimber came out to visit. My niece Kimber hadn't seen our place yet nor the baby chickens! Tracie also wanted to get some pictures taken for her website. If you can, check it out...there are extra pics of the farm on her BLOG and she is just a great photographer. http://tracierabagophotography.com/

My mother, in danger of falling out. ;)

My parents came out shortly after they left. We gave them the tour and Guy had the idea to throw some hay bales into the back of the trailer and give us a ride down to the pond. We had a great time. My dad had a white knuckle ride out of "fear that my mother was going to fall out"...wink wink...she was perfectly fine and enjoying the ride! Hay rides with Coors light...what else is there in life? She was enjoying the moment.





Soon after the trip to the pond, Alice and Frank Harvey (Guy's Grandparents) and Grace and Allen Hibbs (Guy's Mom and Step Dad) joined the party. We all visited together down in the shop for a little while and then my parents left. Guy wanted to take the Harvey's and Hibbs to the pond, too! Well Hells Bells, thanks to Frank Harvey and his ball hitch, we were able to do just that! TAKE THAT AG WEST HARDWARE!

Down by the pond, we emptied the wagon and walked a little while Guy turned the tractor around. Grace pointed out this very sweet scene unfolding in front of me.

Alice and Frank... still holding hands after all these years. Gives me hope! And an understanding of where Guy gets his loving personality. I have this to look forward to, as well! 

So, this weekend was full of parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, nieces, smelly dogs, kisses, hugs, tears, sweat, hay rides, laughter and BEER!!! I hope Guy and I have many, many, many together JUST LIKE THEM!!!!

TAKE THAT AG WEST HARDWARE!!!

I am tired and missing my man. Good night everyone... hold tight to those you love...in these small hours. ;) (Thanks Tracie, I am singing it still!)


Here are some random shots from Saturday evening. I sat and enjoyed the last few of sun rays while my man mowed the lower orchard.

Saturday evening mowing of the front Orchard

He is watching over his Master

Sun in the eyes, no make up...Life doesn't get better than that! :)

Older orchard

Loving the farm!

Magnolias

Best looking man ever to be on a tractor!

He has quite an audience!