Happy Tuesday!

 It's a little overcast and looks like we might

get a little rain...

They are forecasting some, but it's always 

hit or miss...

This morning I got the tomatoes and peppers

in the raised bed in the backyard.

Yes, our grass looks sad in that part of the yard.

It's never grown well there.

Last summer we seeded it.

TWICE.

And it still looked like that.

So I kind of gave up.

The rest of the yard isn't too bad.

While chatting with Mom on the phone,

I took a walk down the alley.

Here are the big yellow bearded iris...

just growing wild.

And the neighbor's peony bush LOADED with buds. 

Another neighbor's iris are just getting started.

Our rhubarb bolted, but it turned out to be green rhubarb.

so I don't plan to harvest it anyway.

I'll buy some red ones next year for our new yard.

(The bed behind it is planted in green beans...

just waiting for them to start popping up!)

Our heritage roses behind the garage are also

covered in buds!

These are the BEST smelling roses!

I'm excited to see them come back this spring.

(Our rose I planted out front is dead as a doornail...)

The bush under our bedroom window is going nuts too!

These are pretty, but don't have much smell...

They are all mixed in with another bush but I wasn't

brave enough to prune it back.

So it's just messy, but should be pretty anyway.

Anyhow.

I'm sure enjoying SPRING!

Kyle is heading into town in a bit for our

Tuesday grocery shopping.

(He and Bear had their inaugural sleep there last night...)

We have a LIST of stuff he needs for his house.

(Like a garbage can, throw rugs, and a rice cooker...)

We got an official "no" from the local bank yesterday.

But he said he spoke with the other loan board members

and while it was "our of our wheelhouse", they thought

it was a great project and were very encouraging

that another larger bank would be happy to snap it up.

So Jim and I will be carpet bombing all the Kansas

banks this week with our proposal.

SOMEBODY is going to see the potential.

I have faith.

(And lots of prayers.)

Time for breakfast.

Happy Tuesday!

Cutest Puppy

 Although Rozann and Greg might disagree...

But Bear is pretty darn cute.

His eyes are red because he WAS asleep...

Can you stop taking my picture???

I'm SLEEPY!

FINALLY!

He actually does more than just sleep,

but he is FAST and hard to capture.

So we take snaps when he takes naps.

Easier that way...

Update on the plants,

they are looking lush!

Yesterday, after church, Kyle and I took them all outside and sat them

out in the dirt for an hour of sunshine.

It's call "hardening off". So they don't get a sunburn when 

they get planted out for real.

They need an hour or so on day 1 and then an extra hour

added on for each subsequent day.

Tomorrow it is supposed to rain, so we won't be planting...

but we hope to get the majority of these in the ground

by the end of the week.

It's NOT EASY moving these guys.

There are over 400 of them.

(The wind was blowing about a gazillion miles an hour as well...)

While he went and refilled his water trailer,

I took the 4-wheeler for a ride around the property.

Man, we have some beautiful land!

I brought some plants home for the home garden on Saturday.

They are outside now sunbathing.

I also plan to bring a couple home for the sisters that

I minister to here in town.

And then we will have lots to plant.

If they all grow (and the deer / cows etc don't eat them..)

we should have a pretty good harvest!

We are cautiously optimistic.

(The story of our lives right now........)

Still teaching doubles this week.

Meanwhile, Kyle is loading up the stock trailer with

all his worldly goods and will be heading

out to the farm!

Life moves on.

Still Looking for $

 I met with the loan officer yesterday.

He has been out of the bank in meetings

and conferences all week, so glanced at

our proposal but hadn't had the opportunity to

really LOOK at it.

So we discussed some of the finer points.

He didn't seem enthusiastic.

Well, enthusiastic, but not optomistic.

They are simply too small.

They've never done anything like this and want

some ridiculous things up front.

He's going to really review it and then talk to

an associate on the loan board and get back

with me, probably Monday.

But in the meantime, we are pursuing other options.

So.

All is not lost.

But we don't have a YES quite yet.

Still going forward though.

Of course.

In the meantime...

Kyle got all done!

Doesn't that look great?

We need to get him a shower curtain and rod.

But he can't use it for 4 days anyway.

Yesterday morning we got up at the crack of dawn.

4:00 to be exact.

Bear peed in his crate and was crying.

So Rod got up and gave him a bath.

Then I got up at 5 and took a shower, grabbed all

the stuff (already organized and ready to go)

and we headed into town.

Got there 15 minutes early, but the RS Pres showed

up about 5 minutes later to open the building.

We had french toast sticks, syrup, and a 

charcuterie board with grapes, strawberries and blueberries.

(Thanks for all the inspiration Nanc!)

(Mine wasn't as pretty, but hey... lol.)

They loved it!

We sat around their big round table and chatted.

Got some good insight into their lives.

Talked about what they are planning going forward.

(One is graduating, two are moving with their family to

Hawaii for a military assignment for 3 years right after

YW camp in June, another is hoping to get his 

mission call in the next 2 weeks. And one [still a secret]

just got called as the new YW Class President.)

They are really good kids.

They are all on their high school swim team.

And also are either in choir or band or both.

Anyhow. It was a fun hour.

Then we headed to......... Home Depot.

Hahahaha.

Rod needed a tool so he can work on the bathroom floor.

But then we came home and he mowed the yards and

discovered the lawnmower won't go into reverse,

so he spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning out the

garage so we can park it inside from now on,

and then working on the mechanics of it.

Still needs to finish fixing it today.

We took the puppies for a walk when Kyle got home.

And I made a meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner.

The dogs are "besties" now.

Kyle is considering taking Beau with him when he moves.

We'll see. 

I'm ok with either decision.

He won't be home much, so Bear will be unhappy.

If he blocks off the stairs, they could be loose in his house

together, keep each other company, and have a buddy

to play with.

(Luna, the rottweiler, has to stay outside...)

Anyhow.

We ordered him a new grey couch for his living room.

So I think all he has left is to go to the storage and get

his stuff for his kitchen, toaster oven, silverware, etc...

and then we will move his furniture next week!

Weeeeeeeeee!

(Sob.)

I'm excited for him..

Really.

But I'm not.

hahahahahahahahaha

Still No Word.....

 And yes, we are freaking out a little bit...

but in our experience, this is normal.

EVERYBODY is slow...

So I plan to give him today to respond

and if he doesn't then I'll reach out to him

on Thursday.

That should be plenty of time.

But in the meantime, to keep myself busy...

today I'm going to run over to Malay's

(our little town grocery store)

and buy a fresh loaf of sandwich bread.

And then I'm going to come home and make a

huge batch of french toast and cut them into

little fingers (sticks) and put them in

a tupperware.

Tomorrow morning Rod and I get to sub seminary!!!

(The teacher's wife is our YW 1st Counselor and 

they just had a little baby girl on the 15th so he's on

"paternity leave"...)

Anyhow.

It's the LAST day of seminary.

So they suggested we just have an end of year party.

So I'm bringing breakfast

(french toast sticks, syrup, and maybe biscuits and jam...)

And we will just let them eat and talk.

Oh, I guess I'd better get some milk / orange juice too...

They only have 5 or 6 show up regularly so we

don't need a TON, but there is definitely at least 1 boy.

And Peter can EAT.

Anyhow.

We need to be there at 6:15.

And it's a 33 minute drive.

So we should leave here about 5:00.

(Shoot for 5 and pull out of the driveway...

after that...)

So.

Meanwhile, yesterday Kyle and I did our weekly

Tuesday Hays Trip.

(Kyle said he looks forward to that, his day off!)

(kind of)

We needed to get more grout for his shower.

It's looking good.

He went with charcoal gray, so it's really dark.

But he likes it.

He's about 1/3 done. He's out there now working on it.

(He doesn't love doing it though, so he takes a break....

he has some snacks in his fridge / freezer and a microwave,

so he sits in his chair in his bedroom, looks out the window,

eats lunch and watches YouTube.)

It's starting to look like a HOUSE!

We also stopped at Ollies and bought me a new vacuum,

because HE owns the only vacuum in the family

and he took it with him!

(And used it to clean up all the drywall dust, so I don't

want it anymore anyway... lol.)

AND, while we were there, he picked up a new 

living room rug.

Woot!

It's green. (Doesn't look like it in the picture, but trust me...)

I also bought one, blue, but I'm waiting until the

STILL HOUSE TRAINING puppy leaves before

I replace our existing rug.

Then we went out to his shed / greenhouse to water the seedlings.

They are looking amazing!

He's going to bring home some peppers and tomatoes for me

to start hardening off and then I can put them in our

raised beds here in the backyard.

His baby oats and wheat are starting to come up.

We got 4.25 inches of rain over the weekend.

And then last night and this morning it has been

lightly sprinkling... so that's good!

The big garden is starting to sprout as well, but unless

you are up close and personal, you can't see it yet.

(Carrots, beets, celery, lettuce, radish...)

And the broccoli and cauliflower we transplanted.

Jim & Sabrina! This is one of the pretty bushes on YOUR 

part of the property... it smells HEAVENLY!

We cut off some and brought them home and put them

in a little vase in the kitchen window.

They kind of smell a bit like clove, but out there

where there are 3 or 4 BIG patches, they smell amazing!!!

And speaking of flowers, the bush under Kyle's window

is in full bloom and looks so pretty!

We took the dogs for a walk and they were 

simply EXHAUSTED.

Hahaha.

They look like little clones of each other.

Silly pups.

Ok, off to make lunch and then the french toast.

Gotta get ready to teach again this eveing.

Make it a GREAT WEDNESDAY y'all!

First Step DONE.....

 So.

I taught the morning class.

(Only 3 students and 1 left early,

the 2nd was from Alabama and she left after

about 3 hours... so then there was one...)

And none of them were participating.

So I sat here and talked to myself for 4 hours.

It was fun.

Meanwhile, my mind was a gazillion miles away.

Worrying about visiting the banks today.

What were they going to say?

What was I going to say?

When I was done, it was noon.

Probably whoever I need to talk to will be

out for lunch.

I made Rod and I some mac & cheese for lunch.

He finished putting the transition thingie in between

the kitchen floor and the living room and got

it all caulked in.

I think it looks really good!

A pretty good match.

(The floor is oak, but we stained it with a 

REALLY dark stain and then sanded it

all off again, leaving some dark spots

to give it character and make it a little aged.)

So it was hard to get a real match,

but I think this works.

Anyhow.

Then it was time to stop stalling.

I packaged up my proposals and headed out.

(All dressed in a black blazer and earrings... lol)

I went to my favorite, hometown bank.

I was reading their website and they are truly

a hometown bank.

They bought out another local bank.

They started in WaKeeney, they have a branch in

Hill City (where our farm is), but they aren't a big,

impersonal, chain bank.

I just felt good about them.

So.

I went in and asked to see the Loan Officer.

Who (of course) was off today.

But Connor would be happy to chat with me.

I went into Connor's office and we introduced ourselves.

He's NOT the loan officer, but is new in town and

to the bank and is moving forward into the loan officer position.

Anyhow.

I handed him our proposal binder and said, obviously

I just wanted to leave it with them, I wasn't looking

for anything definitive today.

There are a LOT of numbers in there...

He opened the book.

Read most of the cover letter.

Turned and scanned several of the following pages.

And then he looked at me and said,

"Now, I'm NOT the loan officer and I'm not the

one who gets to make these decisions.

But, you guys have really done your work.

This looks like something we would be able to get behind."

And I fainted.

(Not really, but I wanted to!)

We chatted for a few more minutes.

(Weather, Florida, etc)

And then I left.

I made the executive decision (as CEO, and then

with input from Jim, the CFO) 

(hahahahahahahaha)

not to go talk to the other banks.

One is a savings & loan and the other is a chain.

And I really want to be able to work with the

local bank.

So I have the other proposals in my bag

in case we need them.

But I'm feeling optimistic.

We just need to chill over the weekend and

hopefully we will hear something early next week.

So.

(again)

Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers

on our behalf... keep 'em coming!

Now we just need a YES!

Phew.

and now it's time to teach again.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!!!

It's TIME!

 Ok Prayer Warriors...

Friday is THE DAY.

Jim has been working hard on getting all our numbers

together and into a cohesive presentation.

We finally hit on, what we believe to be, the winning

combination of numbers and dialog.

We put together 3 presentation binders

and tomorrow after I finish teaching the morning class

I'm going to visit our three local banks and

leave our proposal with them.

FINGERS CROSSED and PRAYERS REQUESTED.

It's an impressive package.

So hopefully they see the potential and agree

that this is a worthwhile venture.

Guess we'll know.... soon... ish.

I'm NERVOUS!

My New Life (For a bit....)

 For the next 3 weeks,

I'm teaching DOUBLES.

Which means I teach the morning AND the evening

classes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

While Coach Beth takes a CRUISE!

So I'll be busy here at the house.

Today I was planning to run into town between classes

because we need some stuff from Tractor Supply.

But I decided to put it off and go tomorrow.

Need to make sure we know all the things we need.

(We need some quarter round to finish the flooring

and Rod is working on the bathroom today I think...

so we will need more for in there...)

Might as well do it all in one trip.

Anyhow.

I'm still loving the kitchen floor.

AND!!!

We swapped out the old, gross fridge that came

with the house and most of the door shelves

don't have guards on them so you can't use them.

(And the one that does, is held on with shipping tape...)

So we took that one out to the garage and put the

new one we bought several months ago when we

discovered the one we brought from Florida didn't work...

So, I have a new floor

AND a new fridge!

YEA!!!!!

I didn't take a picture.

It's a white fridge.

Snore.

(This is what a puppy snore looks like... hahaha)

Hard at work getting those last little pieces done.

Whew!