Well, I guess the June newsletter is better late than never! Right?!? Yipes. It has been a crazy last few weeks. I really thought that once school was out, things would slow down a lot. I would have time to get everything organized & put away & get back to some sanity...not the case. We are in the midst of gearing up for our first official everyone is showing in 4-H at the County Fair. Sydney will be showing her 4th summer in 4-H and Jackson will be showing his 1st. And what I mean by real 4-H, they are actually competing. Both kids were in Clover Kids and have every single project possible...and it was much more relaxed. With each passing day, we are inching closer & closer to fair...and my nerves become a little more rattled. The kids are doing the work. 10000% Each morning, they feed all their animals, and walk them after they eat. After we eat lunch, we all head outside and wash all the animals & walk them again. Then, after supper we feed them & walk them all again. The kids don't complain, they do it. They love it. But the closer we get to fair time, it is just alot. I think as a mom, all I see is the never-ending list I have yet to make. I know I need to make it, the lost of all the stuff I need to do, pack, clean, cook, etc. But it is just a little bit daunting. So, I have decided that after I get this sent off... I will write it. I am looking forward to all the things we have planned for the summer and I hope we can throw in a few relaxing days here & there. So, I'm off to write my list for our county fair next week...and if you follow us on social media, we will bring you along! Elly |
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What I am Reading & Watching |
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| | Mike Ryan has quickly become one of my go-to authors. I really like his writing style & he writes books in a series, end better. This series is about a man who ends up being named Matthew Cain. He was shot in the head & woke up and couldn't remember a single thing. A super secret government agency catches wind & gets him to start working for them. Then, it all begins... | | |
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| | Well, I saw all over Instagram & TikTok that this was the series to watch. I have only watched the 1 episode of Season 1. I must say, I do enjoy the period clothing & the story line. This is definitely a far cry from my Jack Reacher shows, lol. Will I continue to watch thru season 3? No idea...but maybe. | | |
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Meet Maggie! Wade & I have known Maggie for almost 10 years. We were fortunate to know thru church and youth group. In the last five years, Maggie has helped watch our kids & made it an easy decision to ask her to come Intern with us this summer. |
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Our family has a few trips (our county fair, Junior Simmental Nationals & Iowa State Fair), and by trips I mean we are showing livestock and having someone here who knows what we do will be a big relief. I asked her for a quick bio: I’m Maggie Rayburn. I am originally from Fairfield, and I am currently a sophomore at Iowa State majoring in Animal Science. I have always loved companion animals and grew up with them all around me, whether that is having pets of my own or pet-sitting for others. My future plans include working in animal rehabilitation or training dogs to assist people in their daily lives. We are so excited to have her here & I look forward a great summer. **Update! Maggie has fit in here seamlessly. We are so thankful we can be gone for a whole day & not worry about anything. As we gear up for our county fair next week, Maggie will be holding down the fort. |
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I have not bought a *SINGLE COFFEE** since January 1st. I have found that I absolutely love a good, strong coffee. I don't *need* a coffee to wake up, I usually have my 4 shots of espresso latte about 10:00 a.m. but the flavor. I love it. It might take awhile to find the one you like, but once you do....OOOOO! It is so good! | | |
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Summer Litters Are Planned... |
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Our Summer Litters are planned...and now we wait! After we contact families with deposits, if any are available they will be posted on our webpage. | | |
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Here in Iowa, we are about to start roasting! For the next 10 days, our temps will be high 80s/low 90s with heat indexes over 100. We live in the country & our dogs are exposed to little hard roads. They are mainly on grass, dirt or a little bit of rock (we don't have much in our driveway! LOL). As we enter the heat of the summer, pay attention to the temperature & when you have your dog outside & where they will be walking. |
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My All-Time Favorite Planner |
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For the last decade, I have been using this planner. I just checked my order history on Erin Condren & it did confirm that I have been using & ordering from this company since June 18, 2014. I absolutely love these Life Planners. I write everything down for our family, dogs & puppies and when it rains/snows in it. I keep these & refer back to them as needed. If you are in the market for a great planner, try these. You won't be disappointed. | | |
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When we send puppies home, we send a sample of our favorite pet shampoo from Monat. I signed up to be a Market Partner 5 years ago when they launched and believe in all their products 100% I used their haircare and skincare line. So does Sydney and Jackson. Wade still uses Melaleuca...it's about the only thing that gets piggy smells out, LOL! If you are interested in getting some or the spray, here is a link. | | |
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If you are interested in adding a furry friend to your family, reach out to us! Email us at ellystrem@gmail.com Call or text at 641-919-7840 Or find us on our website or social media pages | | |
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