Summer Holidays

Our summer holidays have been very nice. We have seen and done many things. Abby got the Little House on the Prairie DVDs for Christmas so we have been watching episodes of that. Holly and I used to set the table each night and watch LHOTP. I do remember many of the shows and the stories. However, Pa/Charles Inglalls is a yummy man, I do not remember thinking that when I was a kid. Abby and Sam love Carrie, the youngest of the girls. And they are bugging for a dog which they will call Jack. I am so glad that Abby is into LHOTP as I was not enjoying the Hannah Montanna shows she was watching.

Janet and Phil, Dan's parents drove to the North Island for about 10 days. Dan went back to work and the kids and I enjoyed some time at home. I borrowed a sewing machine from the high school and Abby has made herself a skirt and a sundress. She patiently awaited Grandma's return as they are working on a pioneer dress, just like on Little House. Sam is avidly reading the Harry Potter Series. He had now finished the second book. Tomorrow we will go to the Library and he will get the third out. Abby has gotten into the Little House in the Big Woods. Again, this is doing wonders for our "anti -sass" campaign!

Last weekend we headed out with our picnic basket to Roxburgh. We went to pick our own cherries and apricots. Roxburgh is an orchard area north of us. We found Pinders Pond. It is a beautiful place where we had lunch and swam after we ate our lunch. The pictures that are below are of that day.

Jo and John Gardyne live about 20 minutes north of us and they are sheep farmers. Jo is on the board for Camp Columba. They had us over last night to see some of their sheep sheared. Jo and John 7000 sheep. They hire a "gang" to come in and shear their sheep. 4 guys were on the stage, sheep were waiting in stalls behind them. These guys were amazing! One of the men sheared 350 sheep that day!!! Sammy and Dan tried their hand at shearing as well. Sam had John at his side coaching and instructing. Sam tipped the sheep and dragged her onto the stage. He did a great job. Dano got his sheep set up and away he went. The poor sheep, she got cut several times. Their skin cuts very easily...and we were sure that Dano's sheep was made fun of by her friends after her bad hair cut!!!