this post drafted May 27, 2013

where ya goin', Jace?

"Goin' to dig a hole."

(You just never know what the answer could be.)

Dig a hole? What for?

                                                     

  for the ducks

                                                       ...okay?

Dustin and Jace building the duck pond

                                         

hockey stick break

Kids grow up so fast. One day they're doing everyday things. Hockey games. Fishing. Learning to drive. Hay rides. Duck ponds. You blink. They're in college, doing internships out of state, and moving on. 

Country cold - (*WARNING - disturbing images)

The woods are safer tonight, my friends. Around 1 am Thursday morning, my nephew picked off a coyote. He woke my sister from a sound sleep, "Come on, Mom. You gotta come out and take a picture!" 

Picking off a coyote is not easy. Great job, Jace!  

My sister Danelle was glad for a snow day that same day, for some shut eye.  

In the daylight hours of that same morning Danelle went out to the donkey barn to break the ice so she could water the donkeys. The temperature was -6 without the windchill factor. She pulled out chunks of broken ice.  Heard the scream 30 miles away. Mr. Rat's last sip was his last slip.

Country cold.

Way of life.

Adventures of Lilah Rose and Me-Jonas!

While their mommy and daddy attended the Jazz Fest in New Orleans, 

Evan and I got to stay with our fun friends, four-year old twins Lilah and Jonas.

Jonas enjoyed the video of Evan's rattlesnake hike,
Mike's snail hike, along with looking at pictures from the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

His favorites--

sea turtle

a fish that resembled beluga whale

 and the odd-looking fish

 with no tail

Lilah loved the pics of the Easter egg hunt preparation of Miss Laurie and Miss Becca at FCC

They sang lovely songs and picked dandelions
for Miss Vicki and their parents

 

They earned stickers

and got treats!

 We read before bedtime.

 we all have different smiles

 Jonas showing his eye!

bath time

Jonas wanted to wear his towel like Mommy.

Lilah decided she loved visiting Miss Laura and Ella and wants to go there every day.

Homemade eggrolls

boiling grease crispifying yum

- fresh ginger root, ground turkey, carrots, cabbage, onion -

parallel worlds

Step 1 - Evan's rattle snake encounter on a hike in San Jose, CA (it's important to watch Youtube link below to 1:45 minutes to understand Mike's hike-response)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5tDzzj_M_0

Step 2 - Mike's encounter on a hike

Jamie visited for Lacrosse, Gannon Style!

Niece Jessica #5 
across the field
(senior year)

Like Vizzini in Princess Bride, "I'm WAITing"

Jess rockin' the face-off

we spectators got pelted with freezing rain

players were frozen red from icy, blowing rain 

brrr 

Jessica clean, dry and smiling

Jess and Jamie

Danelle and Jamie pouting, just because

Danelle and Jamie smiling because, why not

Patty and Jamie "hauvin' a lauf"

Digsy Bear is so happy to see Aunt Jamie!

We had a terrific visit and so glad to spend time together!

50-something landscapers and puzzle-stones

Packing our lunch for our first day working together after a two-year hiatus!

brownies and tuna sandwiches

Evan driving his man-truck.

Upon destination:  tear flagstone wall down. Rake mulch back, 

 shovel out clay; design tiers to build foundation with stone.

So, here's the deal. I lack spatial ability. 

Kinda like when you're young, 

dissect the transistor radio, 

reassemble it, and there are spare parts...

 Thank God, Evan has geometrically aligned brain abilities!

  Glad I hitched my star to his wagon--

I hear Liam saying, "Good job, you!"