Let the good times roll...

...or so the saying goes!!

We just had our anniversary on the 24th, which Cowboy forgot, by the way...
I do forgive him though, as in our chosen way of life, we rarely know what day it is anyhow! They all meld into one another, days into weeks, months into years.
I can not begin to tell you about the miles we've traveled,

the time that has flown by, the experiences, the people....

....and the huge tolls that have come a long with us!

...and Yes...the rewards too!

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It all began here...in this old homestead! (you can read more if you want)

The day turned out to be the hottest day on record,

maybe it was our love that set the world on fire that day!

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~Early morning means a lot of hustle & bustle,

after all....there's going to be a wedding!~

The help is arriving!

Brothers, Sisters, Nieces, Nephews, Friends & Children~everyone pitched in!
Open that gate & bring on the muscles, bales of straw & plywood!

One can not have a Spaghetti feed that I'd prepared on the wood

cook stove the day before without tables now!

All the kids joined in the fun & excitement of the day.

They were making garlic bread to be heated in the oven.

(despite the fact that this was going to turn out to be a record breaking temperature day!)

Oh yes, there is always some last minute 'finishing touches' that need to be

done on the treadle sewing machine...

I made the shirts & dresses sitting right here!

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~The Ceremony~

"Do you take this Cowboy...."

"You may kiss the bride!"

Signing our lives away ....for better? or worse?...

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~And now the fun begins!~

Ohhhh! What? A waiting line!

Was it for the outhouse? (yes, we really had one)

or for the keg in the woodshed?

We danced......as we did the night we met, as we still do so many years later!

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We even had entertainment by the fireside!

Cowboy's wild cousins.....played the spoons!

My cousin.....played the guitar!

It's was a long day, filled with friends, family, laughter, & wonderful memories! A good time was had by all! We got baby calves as wedding gifts which ran around all day with the 9 puppies ... catching hugs & loves by everyone! (wished my picture taking Brother would have got some of those!)Some of our guests were camped out in the fields overnight, to share in a hearty breakfast!

Not my Gramma though! She REFUSED! Claims she lived like this years before & would not even slip back in time for one night!

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This is a very special picture of mine that I have to share....

My two Aunts, talking with me, who gave me so much love & support over the years when there was no one else. Cancer took them both in recent years....I so miss them!

Then there is my Great Uncle! (the really tall one! NO, I did not get that gene when the pool was stirred up, turns out that I am the shortest on that side of the family! Actually...I ended up the shortest on both sides~ hmmmm!)...
I cannot thank Uncle Harold enough! He taught me to search out & live my dreams; pay no mind to the road blocks that may appear, just work around & through them; have fun, laugh, love & enjoy life! His greatest teaching was "Don't EVER stop learning!" He never did!
I love this man with all my heart & he showed his love & support in my life like no other!
I know, he knew I was there holding his hand at the end....he gave me that warm gentle squeeze, as he had done for so many years!
I still hold on to those squeezes in my heart!