Very therapeutic, by the by.
Sprinkle some seeds into a flat round planter base (made to place under a large pot) that has had a few small holes drilled into it and been filled with some lightweight potting soil. Grass emerges in a few days and must be ” mowed” about weekly. Lovely to run your fingers through on a summer evening whilst you sip lemonade.
I wax romantic…because Dave mows the “big” lawn.
Stefanie and Wrex Phipps are just such generous and giving people. They let us crash their farmland and just became a part of the Moslander family from far and wide as we celebrated and re-unioned together last week. Thank-you sooooooooo much, Stef and Wrex. EVERYBODY fell in love with you just like we did when we first met you. You made us so welcomed and were just a part of us! We love you and will never forget the great time at the farm! pictured: the farmer and his drop-dead gorgeous wife; Stef and Dessa
Aunt Tami-finger licking good; Uncle Gerron saying, “Down boy-Tami is mine.”; Elise-the-Niece and me
Austin feeding the calf; Dawn and Robin, my beautiful sisters-in-law…and two of the godliest women I know
Goat says, “Really. What do you city folk want?”; Cowboy Wrex bringing the horses; Hunter saddled up
Tredessa swinging the rope and getting her steer; Averi taking control of the bull
Cousin Corbin roping; Gemma bull-riding; the boys being little cow-pokes
My mom has always, and I mean always been a cowgirl at heart!; Tristan with his kiddies; Guini and the goat
Tredessa lassos her cousin Corbin (certainly he deserved it for one ornery thing or another he said); the little ones lasso-ing; Dave and his food
Hunter and his corn-on-the-cob; Averi and hers; Gavin and the goat
Corbin; Rocky; Uncle Joe playing horseshoes and losing (to his 71-year-old mother)
Uncle Gerron with Jordan and Austin; my mama roping again; Stephanie and Tristan
Uncle Gerron and Uncle Joe; Rocky and Corbin shooting…plastic bottles and stuff
The bonfire Wrex built; Aunt Dawn and Guini; Wrex and Austin stoking the fire
The boys roasting marshmallows; Guini and Hunter walking down the road as the sun disappeared; a beautiful summer evening with family around the fire
above: Our hostess Stef with sisters Tara and Tredessa; Aunt Dawn and Guini doing sparklers
below: Uncle Gerron is loved by animals and toddlers alike – here with GemGem; Hunter and his fireworks
It was an unforgettable evening of love on the farm with the fam.
See a more complete report here: The Moslander Family Reunion…
pictured: At Mile High Flea Market ~ Jordan, the semi-pro football player; Uncle Gerron innocently shopping for the right pair of jeans; Aunt Tami with Jovan and Averi
pictured: me (what the heck with the hair??) and my mama; cousins Tara & Elise; Gerron and Dave, the bro-in-laws (some people think Tami and I married brothers becuz we both went for the hot Latino types)
pictured below: Elise with her daddy and my brother, Joe; Elise at the jeans shop, where unbeknownst to her, there was the inevitable Moslander-booty discussion happening; Tara and her Aunt Tami discussing tank tops
We gathered, we ate, we Mile-Hi flea marketed, we cooked out at the farm (Stef and Wrex~ Thank-you so much for an unforgettable evening) and roped “cattle” and rode horses and played horseshoes. We bonfired and sang, we talked and talked and took pictures. We prayed. We cried sometimes and laughed a lot. We ate some more. Robin cookie-ed us silly! We shot off fireworks (which may or may not have been illegal from over the Wyoming state line) and BBs and air-soft pellets. Grandma (or great-grandma) Moslander whipped everybody’s butts in horseshoes at the age of 71-years-young! Seriously? If she would color her hair, you’d only think she was 54 by her activity-level. She also perfected her roping skills after the lesson from Cowboy Wrex. The woman kills! We ate some more. In short, we just hung out together.
pictured: Dawn and Dan and Grandpa Moslander relaxing; the little ones on the horses; praying before the big steak and corn on the cob and all the other delish food meal
pictured: Aunt Tami can truly talk to the animals!
pictured: a horse, of course; Tristan and Gemma riding; Rocky and Guini riding into the sunset
pictured: Grandpa Moslander reverted to his farm days as a kid and spent a lot of time feeding the mama goat and the albino calf
pictured: Aunt Tami with her new friend the horse; Guini and Hunter riding by; Grandma Moslander winning at horseshoes
pictured: Uncle Joe and Grandpa visiting between songs; the calf
The giant 3 1/2 foot snake that almost ran right over my feet! Yes. It was a giant!
Psalm 34.11 “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”
Barbasol.
Twice a month, we get the Kelley kids on Sunday mornings. This was getting ready for church last week.
This is my 600th post. Wow. I started timidly on November 29, 2006 and now I am a raging blog-o-holic.
“Anything worth doing is worth doing well.” ~Tom Hanks responding to a disgusted inquiry as to why he was scratching himself so much in A League of Their Own
They began arriving at about 3 pm on Friday, by plane and by car. 6 o’clock there were more. 8:30 pm we increased. Then more and by 10:30 pm, as Dave and I stood outside in the backyard and looked back at our house, fully lit up and fairly burgeoning with the exuberant noise of love and hugs and kisses and “Oh, you’ve gotten taller,” and “This is Averi!?” and “I am so glad you could come,” we smiled. It was loud and it was sweet and we were so thankful to have everyone together for a few days.
pictured below: an impromtu baseball game in Nederland; horseback riding at the farm; my little sister talked me into some weird face; the nieces with Aunt Tami ~ Stephanie, Elise, Auntie, Tredessa, Jovan, Stormie, Tara
I am the oldest of 5 children born to Ross and Norma Moslander. We are blessed to still have our parents with us. They came from Springfield, MO, where, for the second time, they are trying to ditch retirement and are looking for a pastorate. Anyone want a roomy house in Springfield? pictured: my dad with the 4 originals who were here at church on Sunday morning ~ Dan, Joe, me and Tami; both my parents with their grandchildren and great-grand-children in Nederland
My brother Joe and his wife, Robin, came, bringing Corbin-their-youngest with them, joining niece-Elise, who has resided with us here in Colorado for the past year and a half. Two of their kids couldn’t make it, but we were glad they came all the way from Aberdeen, SD, where their church just held a dedication for their new facilities. pictured: Robin talking to dad during the bonfire; Robin and Joe dancing in celebration of their 25th anniversary, the rest of us dancing, too; the fam ~ Joe and Robin with Corbin and Elise
Tim and his family from Butte didn’t make it this year and we were very sad about that, but we plan to make him really sorry by super-imposing him into photos from some old 1970s pics we have of him. That’ll teach him. Hehehehe…evil laughing.
My sister, Tami, so energetic and lively, and her husband came from Corbin, Kentucky (youth pastors by day). Gerron-the-husband fancies himself “the great one.” They are adored by the nieces and nephews and are both natural born animal-whisperers. pictured: T & G at the Mile High Flea Market; later that day at the farm, charming the animals
My youngest brother, Dan and his wife Dawn (we have known her since she was 14 years old!) got to come from Hobart, IN (very near Chicago) and brought 2 of their 3 handsome sons, a beautiful family. pictured: Dawn and Dan on the patio one fine summer evening; Dan and Dawn’s youngest son, Austin, Joe and Robin’s son, Corbin, and Dan and Dawn’s firstborn, Jordan (a semi-pro football player) at the flea market.
We gathered, we ate, we Mile-Hi flea marketed, we cooked out at the farm (Stef and Wrex? Thank-you so much for an unforgettable evening) and roped “cattle” and rode horses and played horseshoes. We bonfired and sang, we talked and talked and took pictures. We worshiped at church together and on the patio as a family. Dad told how we got our spiritual start, about his salvation and baptism of the Holy Spirit. He preached it up. We prayed for each other, we cried sometimes and laughed a lot. We ate some more. Robin cookie-ed us silly! She brought vats of her unbelievably-delicious cookies (peanut butter, chocolate chip, monster, and oatmeal raisin) omygosh – truly, Mrs, Fields – watch out! We celebrated Father’s Day late and floated down the Platte River (how are there no pictures of this??!?…especially of Corbin trying to float on a shark and it nearly taking him under as he tried to swim to shore!? Hahaha!). We splashed in the pool and sunned a little. We shot off fireworks (which may or may not have been illegal from over the Wyoming state line) and BBs and air-soft pellets. We ate some more. We golfed. Some of us (*ahem) did all-night video game parties at Rocky and Jovan’s. We took a picture on what is affectionately known to us as “Moslander Mountain” up Boulder Canyon (since we photographed ourselves there on our very first reunion in 1995). We picnicked in Nederland and played wiffle ball. Did I mention there was food? We came back down the mountain and celebrated Joe and Robin’s 25th anniversary with a dance (how did Dan get so good at that Cha Cha Slide number?…Is it because he is a high school teacher??). There was coffee in the shade on delectibly cool mornings and rhubarb dessert everyone wants the recipe for (Stormie!). In short, we just hung out together.
The weather was positively perfect: sunny all day, but not unbearably hot. Sweet summer evenings outside. God even held the mosquitos at bay for us. It was seriously perfect. All the time. And romantic lights twinkling around the yard. It was like, for these precious few days, we were all there, together, safe and secure and all was right with the world.
I am so thankful that my children not only choose to participate in the Moslander-Family-Reunions, but they are catalysts for them. They want them to keep happening. They plan for them. They help me with them. They love to spend time with their grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins. They participate in every way (even though it can be hard with young ‘uns), and help with the food and just generally make me so very proud to call them my kids.
Wednesday afternoon at about 3:00, 5 days after it all began, mom and dad, who’d been the first to arrive, were the last to leave. And my heart is full of together memories, for the moments we shared. We’ll do it again in 2010 and much will have changed, but the love in my heart for these people will remain…pictured: mom and dad with Elise and with Tara and Hunter on the “good-bye” porch; and below in the yard with the sign and appropriately sad faces
I miss them already…Jeanie
NOTE TO SELF: Am I blessed with a godly heritage, or what??
That is what every MC and all bands seemed to yell to get a cheer from the crowd in Wilmore, Kentucky for Ichthus’ 40th Anniversary Festival.
pictured: DP praying with people after a break-out session
They so graciously allowed us (Dave, Tara and Hunter, Tredessa, Luke and his wife and son, and Kyle and myself, along with the techno kings) to attend, hang out backstage and ask questions of their leadership. Their generous sharing of insight and wisdom is a priceless blessing to us.
pictured: Dess and Hunter and me; TP + DP; Tre and her “birthday man”; Hunter and Kyle.
Kentucky was wet, very wet…and muddy (we don’t get much mud here), but very lush and beautiful, too. There is great community there and really good food! I had lunch across the table from Shane Claiborne, and just a few tables away from Delirious (although Dave and Tara actually got to “hang” with Martin Smith while Hunter played games on Martin’s phone), enjoyed some awesome worship at the New Song Cafe with Brenton Brown. Skillet did a killer show (pictured below, right). Israel Houghton is the all-new Andrae, incredible show and back-up dancer/singers! Seriously, when I get to heaven, I better be able to dance like that!
One of the great highlights was Kyle and me facing backwards in the golf cart (Tre was riding shotgun) hanging on for dear life while Alpha-2 madly drove the hills explaining security measures to us. Everyone he busted gave Kyle and me the looks. It was like an hour on your favorite carnival ride. Hilarious!
pictured: Tim, John and Dj DC (the rest of our Coloradan constituency) at the techno stage where the party continued until the wee hours…; Dave and Tara and Hunter with Jenn, Stevie (youth pastors at the big Alliance church in Lexington, where DP & TP did ministry on Sunday morning following Ichthus) and their daughter
And unless we end up promoting Delirious in October here in Colorado (which is still on the possibility-table), I got to see them perform as a band for my very last time and they are just.so.stinking.cool. I L O V E Delirious! They changed everything in the mid-90s, everything! They were the final main stage show, a great end to a great festival. I felt very hippie-ish and Jesus-people-early-70’s-ish. (I wrote about Explo ’72 last summer) I was that sweaty and dirty, too.
We stayed in a town home on the Asbury campus and daily passed this house with a “garden” in the gutters. My hair was fuzzy-crap the entire time. Hunter ran himself (and maybe his mommy) totally ragged. We celebrated Tredessa’s birthday there, walked a lot, slept little, ate lots of funnel cakes and onion blossoms and had a pretty great time, all in all.
My mom and dad are arriving late afternoon! Yaaaaaaaay! Oh, and my brother, Joe, and his amazing wife and their youngest, and my sister, Tami, and her man and my youngest brother, Dan, and his beautiful wife and 2 of their “boys” they are coming, too! However, Zach flew back to Montana to hang with my brother Tim and his mom and brothers, who, boohoo, can’t come. It is kind of our Moslander-family reunion.
So we will increase, for the next few days, from the usual 17, minus 1, plus 11. 17-1+11=27.
But we also get to really initiate Stef and Wrex into the fam!
My mom used to sign the Christmas cards: Love, Ross the Boss, Mrs. Moss and all the Little Landers. So, it is that bunch, plus our lovers and the fruit of our love. And some of our fruit have now married and produced a new crop, if you know what I mean.
There will be pictures.
images above, Reunion ’05; reunion ’07
Rocky went camping with his brother-in-law a few weeks ago (Jovan’s sister, Jessica’s husband, Matt). After dark, by the light of the fire, he waxed romantic for Jovan, who was home with Averi. So he started carving a stick to say, “I love Jovan.” Thoughtful, yes?
However, as he was nearing its’ completion, just as he bore into the wood, which by now carried the sentiment, “I love Jova…” on the downward stroke of the “A,” he stabbed himself. He stabbed himself really deeply.
There was blood, lots of blood. Thankfully, he admitted what happened to Matt instead of hiding it pridefully, which he was tempted to do and they were able to take care of it until he could get back to safety and a hospital. We can laugh about it now, but I saw the poor guy barely able to move the next day and it made me wince.
I think, though, for the sake of the romantic points it must surely have gotten him, it was probably worth it.
The video is a song he put together for the church staff, who love teasing him about it, about his stabbing adventure. He’s just silly. And sweet. I love the kid (and his girls).
photos by Ellie, The Photo Card Chef; video by Tredessa
Yes, that’s right. It is June 25 and I am just now getting my fake-tomato-topsy-turvey-thing-a-ma-jig done. I would recommend you do it earlier than this.
I bought a new 5-gallon paint bucket, some potting soil, and a Mountain Pride Tomato. I don’t even know if it is determinate or indeterminate. Guess I should read the little marker.
We drilled a hole in the bottom of the bucket (about 2″). We drilled a series of holes in the lid (I will water and feed through these holes).
I removed almost all of the branches so the tomato plant could be “planted deeply” (is it still “deep” if it is upside down?). Dave held the bucket and the suspended tomato root ball while I filled in with soil and vermiculite. I sprinkled some granular fertilizer on top, which will work its’ way down through as I water.
If I’d started with a smaller plant or not worried about going “deep,” I could have used less soil. It is pretty heavy, so a strong hanger is in order.
Popped the lid on (it will even recieve rain!), and hung it about 6 1/2 feet up on the southeast corner of the house where it will get lots of hot sun. It is almost directly above the tomatillo in the straw bale. I surrounded it with some leftover bamboo shade I had hanging around for aesthetics.
I am truly afraid to face my neighbors. ;]
I would not expect to be eating fruit from this plant until mid-September at this late date. But that is OK. All the tomatoes in the straw bales are producing already and may need a break by then!
Cost: bucket, $3.50; bracket for hanging, $6.99; tomato, $3.50 (could have gotten that cheaper at a local center); 3 gallons of potting soil (practically free from a Lowe’s clearance), $1.00…so since you can buy an “authentic” topsy-turvey for about $10, no $$ savings, BUT mine will withstand micro-bursts and looks better. And that makes me happy enough.
I’ll try to give you updates. We’ll see…