Days With the Duerksens

Cambry entered a pumpkin decorating contest this weekend at our community nursing home.  She went back and forth on a lot of ideas, but finally decided to paint it with rainbow colors.  She didn't want to paint it in rainbow order though - true Cambry form!  She mixed it up a little bit and really had fun painting it.  The residents of the nursing home will judge the pumpkins next week - I like that idea!

It's true - my dad's brother is a wolf - Weirdwolf, that is!  He is the ultimate Chiefs fan - always has been.  So, back in the late 90's he created this Weird Wolf character.  In fact, he was the 2002 Chiefs Fan of the Year! Because of their recent less-than-stellar seasons, Weirdwolf took a little vacation.  Now that they're back and undefeated, he has reappeared, and even made an appearance at the Goessel High School football game last night (his alma mater).  He was there to give away a Chiefs football signed by Alex Smith - a fundraiser for the Goessel Community Foundation.   It was fun to see him again - that doesn't happen very often since he lives in Kansas City.  His wife and son came along, too.  Joe is only a year older than Caiden so they usually have a good time when they get together.  I couldn't get Caiden to get anywhere near my uncle for a picture, but I snapped a good one of him with my dad. Thanks for coming down for...

Last weekend, Delaney, Cambry, and I headed up to Manhattan with my sister, my niece, and my mom - a girls' weekend!  Addison had a swim meet up there (she's a super-great swimmer and she totally loves it), so we tagged along.  Some of the highlights included: 1.  Watching Addi swim.  There was a lot of waiting involved, but the atmosphere of a swim meet was interesting to take in.  Thank goodness the weather was nice because the pool area was HOT and HUMID! Acting silly before her first race (and a little nervous, too) 2.  Playing on the old K-State football field right next door to the swimming pool.  That field was busy all weekend - kids playing on it, college kids playing rugby, high school bands participating in a band festival, and even fraternity and sorority houses learning dances and routines for homecoming week (I think). There was a lot of people watching! 3.  Exploring the K-State Botanical Gardens and Insect Zoo. ...

Our puppies are beginning to leave for their new homes, so we had a little photo shoot this afternoon before the first puppy left.  We still need to find homes for the 2 girls on the right.  Hopefully, they can find new families soon!!

Our garden is definitely winding down.  I have some tomatoes waiting to ripen, a few cantaloupes left, and a row of carrots yet to pull up.  It's been a pretty bountiful year and my jar room in the basement is quite full!  Here are a few random pictures of our produce this year! I discovered I could freeze basil by chopping it with a little olive oil and freezing it in ice cube trays.  Each cube is equivalent to 2 Tbs. basil in a recipe! This is part of our jar room - minus all the jars of tomatoes, salsa, sauce, and juice! Apparently, one should pose while holding an eggplant! This carrot looks tiny, but it's actually the largest, most normal-looking carrot I have ever grown.  Cambry tasted it and said surprisingly, "Mom, it tastes like a REAL carrot!" We'll leave the rest underground for a little while longer!

. . . A dad painting his daughter's toenails!  Cambry says Chelan has a steadier hand than I do!