It's here!

I love McDaniel Bridal. No silly phone message from them to say my dress has arrived. They send a letter on ivory paper to notify you of the big event. I got it on Friday and I'm so excited! MOTB and I are going this coming Friday to try it on (gulp!) and pick out shoes. Yippee! We're also going to look at the Discovery Center for the reception and hopefully give them our deposit. I would really like to be able to check Reception Location and Caterer off the to-do list!



David's sister and brother-in-law were here this weekend. Friday night we had dinner with them at his brother-in-law's sister's house and Saturday morning we went back for brunch before they headed home. We don't see them very often, and it's always nice to get caught up. Saturday afternoon we went to Carthage and caught the last few moments of the British car show taking place around the square.

Photo Credit

And...it's my favorite time of the year - The Ozark Empire Fair! We went last night and ate our way through the fairgrounds. There's always a new fried delicacy at the fair, and this year it appears to be Fried Ribs. I think I'll stick with the tried and true fried-cheese-on-a-stick and corn dogs, but maybe David will be able to report on the fried ribs. We're headed back tomorrow night - did I mention that I love the fair?

I Have Found Me a Home...

You can have the rest of everything I own 'cause I have found me a home (JB song). The kitties are going to their new home today! A teacher from Hillcrest has a farm and lots of barn kitties, but she wants house kitties. They can't wait!

The Dresses Are Here! The Dresses Are Here!

I picked up two of the bridesmaid dresses last week. They're so pretty! :) David insisted on trying them on so they may be a little wrinkled. Robyn - he'd like to try on your shoes with the dress to get the full effect. Teehee!

Hillcrest Kitties

The kitties are still here, and we're still looking for a home for them. I had to post new pictures, because the pictures of them from the first day just don't look like them any more. They looked scared and wild, but now they're just sweet curious kitties!

License to Wed

This bush is in full bloom by our garage. Is it a butterfly bush? I was so surprised to see all the pink above the 'man zone' in the backyard!

Yesterday afternoon, we went to look at wedding bands. We found some possibilities, although I think we'll keep looking. Then we went to see License to Wed. We're not really movie people, and I think this was only the 2nd time in 7+ years that we've been to see a movie just the two of us. The last one was Best in Show, which apparently came out in 2000. License to Wed was cute and was pretty funny. Last night, we enjoyed dinner and homemade Milky Way ice cream in Monett. Yummy!

A Mission for Demolition

Here's a picture for your viewing pleasure from the demolition derby at the Webster County Fair. It was lots of fun!

The Downing Animal Refuge - Again!

Peep! Peep! Peep!

David! Do you hear that?

Hear what?

A bird!

Well, there was a bird hanging around outside the garage earlier.

I check the garage, but it is silent. David checks - nothing.

We go on about our evening, fix dinner, eat, clean up. Again, I hear Peep! I go to the garage again and look up. Peep! Hmmm...seems to be coming from the kayaks. Has a bird gotten in the kayaks? Peep! I head around the front of my car. Peep! There is poor birdy, sitting on a bucket. He looks to be a young - and very distraught - robin. Peep! I ran in to get the camera, and David came out to assist with the removal of the bird. Peep! Robin hops off the bucket and goes toward a crowded corner of the garage. Armed with leather gloves (in case I get the opportunity to catch it) and 1/2 of a kayak paddle, I try to encourage the bird toward the now open garage doors. Touching him with the paddle just makes him flap around, but somehow he began to get closer to the door. Finally - finally - he makes it to the door and hop-flies out. While I put the bird shooing supplies away, I could here him in a tree. Peep! Peep! Peep! I'm guessing he was telling his bird friends about the crazy lady with the paddle.

School Kitties

These kitties are at Hillcrest today. Aren't they cute? The mama kitty (bottom picture - in front) isn't much bigger than her kittens. She sure was happy that one of the counselors brought her some food!

The Ellis-Downing Yard Sale Extravaganza

After much careful planning, the long anticipated Ellis-Downing Yard Sale Extravaganza has come to a close. Okay, so there wasn't much careful planning. It went more like this:
Erin: What do you think about having a garage sale next weekend?
David: (long, long pause) I can't come up with a good reason why not, so I guess we can.
This concluded the planning phase. Next came spending a very hot fourth of July dragging things from the attic and from storage. When we moved a year and a half ago, I packed boxes full of stuff and labeled them "garage sale." I brought that with me from my old house! Crazy!
So yesterday morning before 6 a.m., we drug all of the treasures from the garage into the driveway. Between 7 and 10, there was hardly a time when we didn't have several customers. We met some of our neighbors and several complete wackos. And I sold my first piece of original art! I'd put $0.50 on in thinking that maybe someone could paint over and use it as a blank canvas. Later in the afternoon, when we were down to very little, a college-age guy and his girlfriend stopped. I was so excited when they picked up the giant pink and black, uh, thing. And asked who made it! And bought it! I signed my initials at the corner for him. My first sale!


My mom and dad came by bringing us yummy salsa and chips. I tried to sell my dad an old screen door that he has moved numerous times, but it didn't work. I did sell it though - very late in the afternoon for a great price. And threw in a free windsock!


A cooler full of Land Shark beer and mojitos eventually beckoned our friends like some sort of snake charmer. By the time we began to put away the few leftovers, they were ready to try on a few black shirts that I quit wearing because they're too small. Don't they look great!? Drew kept us entertained most of the afternoon with water and naked baby antics.
Here's Todd and me modeling some of the leftovers. No one was interested in a foam flamingo or crab hat?! What is wrong with people?
Despite how it looks here, Kevin and Todd stayed around to help us clean up for which we are very grateful!Tuley stayed out with us all day and was great help. And by great help, I just mean that he didn't wrap his leash around a table and knock it over. As you can see, the effort has left him exhausted!
I'm not sure why Henrietta is so tired, but maybe she is just glad that we're not opening and closing the door so she can get some rest! We feel a little like the animals today and are sure glad to be able to cross 'yard sale' off the to-do list!

The Downing Animal Refuge

Raul has made a guest appearance in our backyard! Okay, so I don't know for sure that it was the same rabbit, but I'd like to think so. See him in the picture? He looks more like a tree root!

Yesterday morning when I went to work on pricing garage sale stuff in the garage, I was surprised by a furry critter jumping out of of a box of bungee cords and running across the toolbox. I screamed a little, then opened the garage door hoping he'd escape. I call David to report my finding. It was bigger than a mouse, so we assumed it was a rat. EW! This morning I heard the plastic bag in the garage trash can rattling when I went out. I crept carefully to the trash can and peered over the edge. Wasn't I surprised to find a chipmunk instead of a rat! I ran back to get my camera while he waited patiently. Or, maybe he was frozen with fear. Hard to say. I put the lid on the trashcan and carried it to the yard. I turned it on its side and Chip darted out of the can and across the yard. Before he ran under a bush, I think I saw him turn around and wave. Glad we didn't poison the poor little guy!

It Looks Like the Stars Are Dancing!

Hope everyone had a great 4th! We went to Rob's annual fireworks display - now known as Prairie Fire - on the 3rd. It was spectacular as always and bigger than ever. On the fourth, we spent the day dragging things from the attic, storage, and far reaches of the garage for a garage sale on Saturday. We stopped sweating just in time to go to Stobbe's. From there we have the best seats for the Twin Oaks fireworks display. It was great! It was fun to listen to the kids as they were no longer scared and watching from inside. Jack announced that it looked like the stars were dancing. Well said!

Here's the latest on the wedding planning:

• We've decided on a florist - Aurora Greenhouse, Floral, and Gift. Lisa was very helpful and took the time to sit down and answer our many questions. It was fun to have our neighbor from the old house - Phyllis - join us.
• David looked at the Discovery Center last week as a reception location, and I went today and looked. I think it just might work! It's got some kind of quirky features - such as pterodactyl hanging from the ceiling, but lots of positives as well - a separate area for dancing, plenty of free parking, and a helpful events coordinator.
• Next comes finding a caterer - if we decide on the Discovery Center, and a DJ for the reception. It's all coming together!

Silver Wings

Wahoo! We bought our plane tickets for our honeymoon. We're flying into Clearwater, FL and driving to Key West. I'm so excited! Even if Jimmy Buffett can't make it to the wedding, but maybe he can meet us at Margaritaville in Key West! :) More plans to come! Do you think Alamo considers this a mid-size car?