BACK TO SCHOOL!

It was a big day at the Diekrager farm - Ashley's first day of Kindergarten.  And her prediction was right, her Mom did cry, after the bus left with all three kids for the first time. Dawson is in grade seven and Eric in grade five.  Ashley had a great first day, had her Ty kitten, Bianca along for company.  She even wore something besides a dress!  Here she is in her pretty pink outfit and her new kitty that Grandma bought at the "pet shop" as she calls the gift shop at St. Joseph's Hospital in Estevan.  It has a lot of stuffed animals of all shapes and sizes so I guess that's where Ashley gets that name.

Ashley and Bianca

The rest of the grandchildren went back to school on Tuesday.  Here's Abbey ready for grade seven at St. Michael's in Weyburn.  It's a very busy week for Jodi too.  Besides her grade nine classes, she is also coaching girls volleyball and is having try outs for the team this week.  (Abbey is hoping that she makes the team!)

Abbey posing beside the new siding on their house

Jamie, Carter, Lindsay ready for the first day

Shauna sent several and an update on Carter.  His arm is very itchy but that is his biggest complaint.  He uses an iPad at school with an app that types what he says so that is helpful as he can then email to a teacher.  Staff and students also help him out with notes so he is doing okay. He can take benadryl for the itching but that makes him tired.  He sleeps well at night so that's good. He still wants to get out on the combine so maybe he will get a chance this weekend.  He is in grade seven, Lindsay in four and Jamie in one. 

I spent a big part of the day in Estevan as I took my Escape in for an oil change this morning at ten.  I take it to Long Creek Motors, where I bought it. The serviceman, Richard, checks everything when it's there for an oil change.  Today it needed an air filter and one of the battery connections was very corroded so needed to be cleaned.  He also checks the tires and adds windshield washer fluid and antifreeze if its needed.  It means a lot for me to have a dependable serviceman!

Then I visited Phyllis over the lunch hour.  We don't get together often enough so this was a good chance to catch up.

Grocery shopping was next on the agenda.  Since Clare and Jason are farming together, we take turns preparing lunches and suppers for the harvest crew.

I'll have to do a special birthday blog this weekend with three family birthdays on Saturday!  Abbey is celebrating here at the farm, but she will also have a party with her friends in Weyburn on another day. Nora is having fifteen people to her first birthday party.  It will be fun to Facetime her that day.

Yesterday a fellow was here to put up a different satellite for the internet.  I am relieved that my email address stays the same!  He had to put this one on the west end of the house instead of the east so it is just west of the garage door on the south wall.  There were too many trees interfering with reception on the east side.  I an now on Surfbeam, ViaSat.  I would hate to part with my internet as it keeps me connected to family and friends even when I'm out here at the farm.  Some are able to use a "stick" to hook up to the internet but we aren't in a good location for that.

Well, that's it for this post.  I wrote some of it on Wed. and finished it this morning so hope that it makes sense when you read it!