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[I took this on our trip back to ND; the clouds were rushing in to cover the sunny evening.]

We got to go home for a quick weekend. It was much needed! I love the feeling of peace I get as I drive the familiar roads near my parent's house.

All of my siblings except the SC ones were home for Sunday lunch, and we also got to visit with Mark's brother and family. The weekend rejuvenated me in a way that only being in MN can. Now I'm ready for my Alaska trip!

I'm going to tell you the way I told Mark

We're having a baby!

I just saw the doctor for my 12 week appointment, and my due date is September 28. Thus far, I have been lucky in that I have not thrown up, and the nausea was minimal (only lasted a few weeks).

*After I had a positive pregnancy test in January, I ordered this Red Wings sweatshirt as a surprise way to tell Mark.

Beautiful weather + new guns

Like the rest of the midwest, we've been having some awesome weather. To celebrate (and because he's been working so hard the past few months), Mark bought two new guns. I went out shooting with him this past weekend.

I've been nervous about just having them in the house, but after handling, loading, unloading and of course shooting them, I feel a lot more comfortable.

This is his Roughrider. It's an old-fashioned looking six-shooter, and my favorite of the two.

This picture is a littler farther away, but I'm shooting his Smith & Wesson M & P 9 mm. It can fit seventeen bullets (?), and is louder. Heavier, too.

It was nice to get out together and do something he loves and I enjoy too (although I wouldn't say love :). Plus, we have now been married for six months!

NoDak ladies

Alanna, Lana, Amanda, Me, Lorina, Melissa, and Clare

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous for about a week now, so we've been gettin out to enjoy it. Last Sunday, all of the couples met for a cookout in Medora (Theo Roosevelt Park once again). It was fun!

Road Trip!

Last Saturday, Mark and I took an impromptu trip from Dickinson to Williston. Williston is the hub of the oil field, so I really wanted to see it. Joce had mentioned the 2.5 hour drive between the two towns was interesting, and it was.

Here is an oil drilling rig.

These drill the initial wells, and then the oil should free-flow. Once it stops free-flowing, a pumping unit is put on the well. Then if there is a problem, that's where Mark and his workover rigs come in.

A closer picture of the drilling rig. We don't have quite as many near our town as there are up around Williston.

The road winds right through the ND Badlands. It is very pretty.

I know a lot of people don't like to be in the car on a nice day, but I do.

And we got to stop at the North unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We saw the South unit in November with my parents.

The North unit was smaller (part of it was closed), and we didn't see as many animals. However, the landscape is better- it feels like you're deeper in the badlands.

We saw two bison just off the road.

This guy looks a little skinny. Maybe this isn't his best angle.

They are such big, different looking creatures. I am intrigued. My mother will be happy to know we did not get out of the car to see them closer.

Seeing their eyes made the experience more real somehow.

While we were in the park, we ran into two people from the yoop. A Wesa and a Kinnunen, both living in Williston. So unexpected, but it brought a smile to our faces.

The Missouri River.

Upon leaving the park, the landscape flattened out to rolling hills of amber grain. Well not really grain, but that's what it makes me think of when everything is golden and dead.

The closer we got to our destination, the more we saw trailers, campers, even a school bus that someone was clearly living in. Every small town was bigger than before the boom.

There were many, many trailer parks such as this one in Watford City (about an hour south of Williston).

Lots and lots of the afore-mentioned pumping units as well.

A short distance south of Williston (you can see it in the back of the picture), there is a land bridge between what looks like two lakes. Apparently it's all flood waters. North Dakota had a huge problem with the Missouri River flooding last year. Mark said the water used to be right up to the road in this picture.

Driving into Williston. I dislike the look of towns in North Dakota. As Mark said, "they look like garbage on the landscape". It is simply because of the lack of trees to camoflauge man's stamp on the land.

Campers for sale! I'm sure they're selling like hotcakes.

Williston has some beautiful old buildings in its downtown. Here is one across the street from the Elks lodge where Jocelyn and Mike live.

And another, across the other street. The same man who built the lodge built this one.

The Elks Lodge, with Jocelyn in purple to give you some idea of how big it is. It is approximately 26,000 square feet. Right now, I think there are eight adults (including Mike, Joce, and Cousin Wade), two kids, and three dogs living there.

Here is one of the kids- Vivian! She is still her energetic, expressive self. Does anyone think she almost looks a bit like a little Aunt Lynda in this picture?

Drumming is hard work! Someone found this drum amongst the old things in the lodge, and Viv had a blast playing it.

Here's the other cutie-pie there; Haas. He's pretty Haasome. Very smiley and content.

After a fun afternoon and evening spent mostly outdoors, and a delicious dinner made by the "Hawaiians", we headed for home. There are two men from Hawaii catering out of the commercial kitchen at the lodge.

During the drive, I could see H(little 2)S fires and the bright lights of the drills in the distance. The fires are present on all (I think) well sites to burn off hydrogen sulfide gas that comes out of the ground. This gas is very poisonous and flammable, and one reason working on oil wells is dangerous.

Here is the same drilling rig from the first picture.

Not a very good photo, but it gives you an idea of how bright the rigs are at night. They're almost like their own little community.

I hope this gives a better idea of what western ND looks like.

A proper High Tea

S Ladies Weekend, and our lodging, was amazing. I didn't get pictures of everything, but I'll try to give you a peek with what I did get.

We stayed at Linden Hill, a historical mansion in Little Falls, MN. There were 11 bedrooms, with beds for 23 people, and 8 bathrooms. It was really the perfect size for our group (33 ladies and 6 babies attended the weekend).

Each bedroom had a name, and all had a bathroom nearby. The Bev and Dale relations scored a suite with 3 beds and our own bathroom and large closet at the end of a hallway. It was very quiet!

This is the "hot flash" room, where my mother and 3 other ladies stayed. They named it thus because it has a three-season porch off of it.

Beautiful period furniture was everywhere in the house, and it fit our Victorian them quite nicely.

When you came through the front porch into the house, a large foyer greeted you. On either side of the large fireplace were padded window seats, and I saw at least one person sleep there.

The Music Room (living room) was enormous, and again, perfect for our whole group with no squishing. It was fun to have a grand piano, and it was played many times.

Baby Kenley. She was the social butterfly baby. I would glance at her, and she would be smiling up at me, just waiting for me to look at her.

In the basement of the house was a conference room, which was perfect for the auction we held. Everyone brought things they had made, or things they didn't need, and we auctioned them off. All the money went toward the cost of the weekend.

We thought this conference room would be perfect for a crafting weekend some other year.
I scored some raspberry sauce!

Friday evening; chilling in our pjs.

Unfortunately, I didn't take more than a few pictures of the food. Both evening meals were multiple-coursed, and every meal was delicious (of course)!

We were on Saturday morning breakfast. Here is one of the dining rooms during setup.

And the other.

Dishes afterward, one of the least favorite parts. :) Our group was exhausted, since we stayed up way too late the night before, even though we had to get up early to make our meal. It was all worth it though.

Saturday afternoon there was a high tea, and we were supposed to wear fascinators. There was a great variety of headgear, and the creativity was fascinating!

The Peterson family

The original ladies of SLW.

Joce and I. Yes, I am wearing my wedding veil. Nice to get another use out of it!

The food was scrumptious, and beautiful too.

Gina and Jill

Following tea, we adjourned to the parlor for parlor games. Here Janel is playing Blindman's Stick (?).

Another game, looks like pass the baby, but it's something else.

This is the game where there are two teams, and a blanket in the middle. Someone sits in a chair on either side of the blanket, and when it's dropped, they try to say the other name first.

We dined with Lady Edgecomb-Finch for dinner. It was a lavish affair, with everyone in their best evening clothes.

Beauford the butler, escorting Lady Edgecomb-Finch.

Laurel and children, dressed to the nines.

One of the best dinner outfits was Sophie's dress. It was handmade, complete with bustle.

During the after dinner entertainment, these girls showed off their talent with "Mom Jeans".
and then "Life would surely be much finer, if I had lots of lace and chiner..."

The composer of the song accompanied them on the grand piano.

It's always relaxing in the evening, with all the singing and chatting. Usually people are pretty tired, too.

Saturday night, the residents of each bedroom filled out a tea card and handed it to the staff with their picks for Sunday morning tea. We were awoken at our chosen time with hot tea and scones in our rooms, served by two maids. The breakfast that followed was quiches, muffins, cake, juice, tea and coffee, served by Tina and her girls.

The house next door, a museum.
Jocelyn and I had to leave after breakfast for our long drive home, while the others stayed to visit. It would have been nice to enjoy a little more time, and maybe even another night, but it just wasn't possible this year.

I was so looking forward to seeing family and socializing, and I got a lot of that in. It was another wonderful SLW, and I already can't wait until next year!