The Great Outdoors Update

So, I really owe Logan an apology. I whined and complained about this poison oak rash of mine all week. He was gone to the Oregon State Fair for work and had told me his got worse, but on the day he came home I told him I was thinking about going to the doctor. He told me his was actually getting much better. So, when he got home (when I was taking a sick day from work because of this terrible irritating rash), he looked at my arms and told me how much better they looked. So, I asked to see his arms and he shows me this:

The picture doesn't show how terrible and blistered it really is. It looks like there are only four scratches, but doesn't account for the other side of his arm...and its all over both arms...and this is after it's "much better."

Sorry, Logan. It must have been an itchy week for you. Glad you are back for a few days though. 

The Great Outdoors

Before you decide to help your spouse and your co-worker prepare to build a fence by cutting down a few harmless trees, I would read the following stories and decide for yourself if the risks are worth it. As for me, I will think twice about it next time.

The Great Outdoors: Part One

I guess city life has made me a bit of a wimp. Normally spending a couple hours cutting down small oak trees wouldn't have been a big deal for me. However it would have been nice if my colleague had mentioned two simple words -- POISON OAK -- which he now admits his property is crawling with. Had I known, I may have worn long sleeves, or probably opted not to help at all. For those of you as unfamiliar with this devilish plant as I was, it is obnoxious to say the least. It itches like a mosquito bite times a million. Luckily, I am not suffering alone. Logan was a naive as I was about poison oak; for good reason -- neither of would have any idea about it because it simply doesn't grow in elevations over 4000 feet. He got it a little worse than I did.

This is a picture of my forearm and I hope you won't take this little red mark lightly...it is terrible. Two weeks after exposure, I am still not sure I will recover.

Below is the other arm, each day I keep waking up to more little welts that pack a mean itch. Awesome, they are pretty too.

The Great Outdoors: Part Two

Before you start thinking that the third member of the Ipsen family escaped the excitement, take a look at these little beauties. I found them on Reno today. They kind of turn my stomach. Oh, and no, California ticks don't come in hot pink, that is fingernail polish. I tried to suffocate the big tick out of Reno's neck...I wouldn't recommend that method of tick removal. I pulled them both out with tweezers. yuck.

poor little dog. If I had to choose between these two fence-building tragedies, I would pick the poison oak.

Isn't that sick.

Tan the Man

First of all, let me say I love love love my little (not so little) brother in-law. He is funny, charming and works really hard....he is a lot different than his brothers (just kidding, they all actually work really hard:) Tanner won showmanship with his steer at the Bear Lake County Fair and his steer was reserve grand champion. I'm really sad we couldn't go watch. I laughed for a long time when I got this thank you card in the mail today.

Have I mentioned I love Tanner. He is a stud. I think that is supposed to say fund...but maybe not...maybe he takes after his brothers afterall.

Beautiful Day by the Bay

So, today I spent the afternoon at the Oakland LDS Temple, where one of my favorite young families became a forever family. It was great to see how happy they all are. I hope to see them again soon. See for yourself. It was a beautiful day...

This is the view of the temple grounds from up on the temple terrace. 

This is  a view of Oakland and the San Francisco Bay from the temple.

I would love to post some of the adorable pictures of this lovely family, but it really isn't my news to share, so I will wait until they have their photos before I share them on my blog. Stay tuned...

I had the best day with...

This man. 

I am glad to see his sweet face again. It's been a while. 

LiTtLe BiG ToWn!!!

After three full weeks of travel, Logan and I were so excited to spend a week together at "home." My little sister and her boyfriend came out last weekend so we were able to do a few fun things with them but that was pretty much the extend of our time at home.

The California State Fair started last week and between both of our jobs there has been more than enough going on to keep us busy. But we have at least been home every night. On Monday, Logan had a full day of checking in show cattle. That night we went to see one of our FaVoRiTe bands play at the fair. Little Big Town was amazing. They may have beat out Keith Urban for the best performance I have ever seen live. Plus, we had third row seats so that was pretty okay as well. Sorry for the low quality images. My blackberry doesn't deliver quite like the Nikon.

The rest of the week has just consisted of both of us at the fair alot for shows and work. Logan leaves for Billings, Montana for a few days early Sunday morning and I have to go back to the fair to sweat my guts out shooting photos at a ranch rodeo the whole day. But at least we will get to spend all day Saturday together. We might even do something as special as driving to the beautiful metropolis of Turlock to look at sale cattle....YAY!...I say that last sentence with sarcasm. I guess time spent together is time together regardless of the activity.

Walmart Fallapart

So, pretty much everyone I work with scoffs at me when I say something about going to Walmart. Like it is really that bad. Maybe they grew up in a town county with more than a Walmart to shop at. I didn't. I kind of like Walmart...shhhh, don't tell anyone that. Heaven forbid I tell them I frequent the local Ross Dress For Less. What can I say, I like a good bargain.

Well, lately I have found myself a little depressed because most Walmart stores have gotten rid of their fabric sections. Can you believe it?! and Joann Fabrics is a little more expensive, so I try not to go there. It tends to irritate my husband if I spend $50 on some flannel I couldn't resist buying...like I have a need for flannel.

A few months ago, Logan and I were in Red Bluff, where we had lived when we first moved to California. I love it there. The pace of life (and a few of the people) are a little slower, people are so nice and everyone -- lower, middle and upper class -- shops at Walmart. Red Bluff has one of the few remaining Walmarts with a good fabric section. So I stocked up.

This was in May when I was making a few quilts. When I do any crafting, I tend to get bored easily and need a change of pace. So I have moved on from quilting. But I had this darling fabric from the Red Bluff Walmart. So I decided to make aprons. I guess sewing for me is like cooking. I don't know how to follow recipes and I don't know how (or care to) follow a pattern. So I just kind of made these up. Aren't they cute?!

I call them "Walmart Fallapart" because I am not really confident in my seamstress abilities. I think they might fall apart. But they will be good for at least one wear.