The shelf holds things "to go", items borrowed from a friend, library books, car activities and a baby backpack. It is in the mudroom so I can "grab and go". The other is the gardening room inside the quanset hut. The key to organization, of course, is using it. I plan to, but some other members of my family are not as prone to. . .
We are so thankful to live in the United States of America. We are especially thankful to those men and women who have made and are still making it possible for us to live in a free country. We were not able to go to a fireworks display this year but one came to us. From our backyard I could see two towns' displays, one 11 miles away the other about 20 miles away. Another difference in living in the upper midwest as opposed to the east the start time of said fireworks display. In NC the fireworks started after dusk at 9 or 9:15 pm. Here in MN the fireworks started after dusk at 10 or 10:15 pm. I haven't yet committed the brain power to figure out if it is because we are farther north or if it has to do with our location in our time zone. 
A friend from church got chicks, his mom wasn't sure she was ready to go back into the chicken business. So, I said I'd take his half grown chicks. Evidently, he shared this information with a friend from work who also had some chickens that needed a new home. My chicken flock is twice as big now. I have seven bantam teenage chickens, a rooster and six laying hens. The laying hens are mature, we get three( or so) large to extra large eggs everyday. Some of the eggs are brown and some are green or blue. 
Well, we've only explored a couple of state parks so far, and we enjoyed them also. This one enjoys it's status because of location-it's in our city. Taco salad for supper with lettuce from our own garden. The lettuce is the first fruit of our labor. Yum! 
This park was along the riverfront, so there was a nice breeze, but no shade on the playground. However, this is the old playground, a new one was complete except for the woodchips under the playset. At the new playground there is shade. There are also benches and picnic tables. I'm not sure if there is water. There may be bathroom facilities in the building that houses a small nature center. We'll have to check that out when we visit the new playground equipment. Baby LOVES slides, this one was a little steep for my comfort but Little Brother helped. 
The flimsy little clothespin bags never lasted long and they always blew off my clothesline. I saw a picture of a baby dress made into clothespin bag and thought it was cute. I did an online search for directions to make my own and came across this pattern instead. One of the hassels of hanging laundry was hardly ever being next to the pins. Now, they are always with me! 
Not sure we can call them pigs anymore, they may have become hogs. They had cleared the pen of all vegetation in a matter of days. But, we have plenty of weeds growing here, there and everywhere. So we weed, and they enjoy. 
This park had flush toilets, water, picnic tables, and a nice playground. There was shade and a Skate Park. We enjoyed a picnic lunch and playtime. We need to come back here with Big Brother and Big Sister. Baby enjoyed playing peek a boo and waving at me though a porthole in the playset. 
This park had a small playground, swings and a few picnic tables. The big draw was a fitness trail and a frisbee golf course. There was shade, but no water. The "facilities" were a single porta-potty. We need to come back with Daddy and Big Brother to play some frisbee golf. There was a nice path-good for the stroller. 
