Friederike returns to Germany today.

Well 10 months have come and gone and our wonderful German exchange student had to leave us today.

Last night we had a going away party for her and most of the girls in the neighborhood attended and so did alot of neighbors. We had a great BBQ with grilled chicken and pork ribs and hot dogs. No one left hungry.

Friederike decked out in her cowgirl clothes of hat, boots and Wrangler jeans for her flight to Denver then Frankfurt and then to Hanover, Germany where her parents and sister and friends will meet her and take her back to Celle.

You have touched my life forever Friederike and that of my family. I will always consider you a daughter and a friend. Love you tons girl.

Farewell Friederike Baumgaertner-Clyde. Keep in touch.

Summer is here!!!

Summer is here and we have had 16 days of rain in June so far. The record is 17 days. We just might make it. We have had some fun though since school finally ended.

I took the kids to Yuba Reservoir and we had alot of fun canoeing and playing in the cold water and roasting hot dogs and s'mores. Friederike had not been camping before so she even pitched out small tent and slept in it one night.

Warren joined us the second night with a car load of scouts and they camped in the site next to us. We all had a good time but it was nice to get home to a hot shower and flushing toilets.

The garden is growing great this year thanks to all the rain and I have been harvesting peas and strawberries already. I even got the tractor back from my brother in law finally so we can get going on the rest of the yard now.

We are also trying to get the basement apartment sheetrocked so that at least one of the bedrooms is done for Leigh to use when he gets home in August..

Hard to believe he is coming home so soon, but I am very happy about it.

Love to you all. Cindy