~~Simple Things~~

Simple things are
A beautiful butterfly
and lovely flowers.

Happiest of birthdays, Christine!!

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

Birthday parties are grand and an invitation to celebrate should not be refused. So all are invited to Christine's place at Soul Aperture. Offer your congratulation along with others who are visiting.

~Adventure Tour Express~



Picture slideshow created with Smilebox

No family reunion is complete without a baseball game. We were lucky to be in a city for our reunion where baseball is the name of the game. These pictures were taken by Ron. I personally enjoy the pictures of the St. Louis skyline. The pictures are all pre-game. That's because on an adventure like this one, if you are to enjoy it, you watch the game, cheer, have a beer, and heckle...ya don't take pictures. So what you see is what you get. You get the referees, the grounds crew (they don't get enough praise!), Fredbird, and a few celebs...OH! St. Louis was playing the Oakland A's and St. Louis won 11-3.

It's apparent that a good time was had by all!!!

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

To join in the adventure simply copy and past the button into your post and sign in with Mr Linky! So All Aboard!!! Share your adventure. We're looking forward to joining you!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

The Walk of the Presidents

Rapid City, South Dakota is only 23 miles from Mount Rushmore and so I suspect it gets overlooked by those on pilgrimage to the "Mount." I know that until our last two trips to visit my mom in Montana, it was just a stop over on the way. Not so any more.

I really enjoy our visits to this city of the High Plains. Not a big city but is has an historic downtown where walking is a delight. There are lots of antique stores, wonderful restaurants, and the Presidential Walk. On nearly every corner in the downtown is a bronze sculpture of the Presidents of the United States.

Every President is represented except for the last three. There are the Founding Fathers, fathers with sons, and cousins. It really is a walk through history done by gifted sculpture artists and you never have to set foot in a museum.

If ever you have the opportunity to visit South Dakota, do it. There is so much beauty and history to be explored!

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

Wizard of Oz-- If I Only Had A Brain

My granddaughter, Kellie, is performing in the summer production of the Wizard of Oz. She has been working every evening for the last month preparing to perform. She dances as a poppy, flying monkey, and tornado. She loves to dance and has since she was old enough to walk.

Grandpa and I will be going to Saturday evening's performance and we are truly looking forward to it. Oh, the benefits of being a grandparent.

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

--Tea Talk~~

A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how
strong she is until you put her in hot water.
Eleanor Roosevelt

My teacup is...really a glass of iced tea. I know it's early in the morning but it's already sticky with the humidity outside. Iced tea seems appropriate.

I'm feeling...renewed. I had a good night's sleep and I accomplished far more yesterday than I had hoped! It makes a body feel good!

On my mind...remembering the wonderful time we had over the 4th of July with the kids and grand kids. There was great food, slip and slide, laughter and great conversation.

Duchess staying out of the heat.

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!!!

Now won't you join me and visit Ruth at Celebrate Friendship is hosting Tea Talk at her house? Share a cup of tea or a cool refreshing drink with us.

~Adventure Tour Express~

This is such a wonderful summer. We have done so much traveling and revisiting places dear to our hearts.

When I first met Ron he was a student at Colorado School of Mines. He was studying metallurgy and minoring in "gold panning." Often dates were spent up on Clear Creek panning. In the Spring when the thaw began you could be sure that he would be up their early in the morning until late at night. He should have been a "49er" but he was born too late.

After we married, Ron would take my brothers and their friends up on the river to work the tailings. Tom, Phil, and friends have probably got tales of their own to tell, but not today.

It had been probably 20 years since he'd been up on river, but this summer we decided we would do it again. Here are the pictures of this adventure.

The boulders that need to be moved to get the dirt to pan.

Tools of the trade.
(Only a small part as we didn't bring the sluice.)

Panning it down.

Checking the results.

And the earth gave up ONE flake of gold.

But when all is said and done it wasn't all for the gold. It was for the thrill of being on the river again and playing in the dirt. There of memories of the past and the one newly made. And Clear Creek still flows on.

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

To join in the adventure simply copy and past the button into your post and sign in with Mr Linky! So All Aboard!!!

It's Really Tuesday

For the last two weeks I've had Monday off, one because of vacation, the other because of the holiday. So what's the problem, Cathy, you may ask? Well, the first day back to work seems like Monday and then the rest of the week is all MESSED up. Complaining? NO! Befuddled? YES! But I'll survive. Just understand that until I get back on schedule, I can't be held responsible for what I may or may not do because my biological calendar (is there such a thing?) is all messed up! Have a grand day!

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!

~~Mosaic Monday~~

It was a grand 4th of July here in hot and humid Indiana. The kids and grand kids were here. The pond was repaired and little fish added to the pond. We had Thai chicken by Jimmy, a specialty of his and we haven't had it in oh so long. There was "slip 'n' slide" in the back yard and the walk to the river for the fireworks. There were the dogs, Cocoa, Duchess and Sandy. Indeed, it was a weekend to celebrate all the things for which we have to be grateful.

~~^j^~~
God bless America
and
Thanks be to God!!!!!

Please visit Mary and The Little Red House. Her pictures are grand and so are the pictures of others!

4th of July Fireworks!!!!

Digital slideshow made with Smilebox

It was a grand adventure last night as we walked to the river to watch to fireworks. The kids were real troopers and we all had a grand time!!!

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!!

Oh!!! Just as an aside...It is really hard to take good pictures of fireworks!!!

Happy 4th of July

I was going through pictures of our trip to Montana and Colorado early last month. It's so grand to see the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. We saw antelope and deer, elk and horses. There were lovely groves of trees and mountain glaciers. Amazing what the glory of God has to offer. All of this is in a country in which I have been privileged to live and explore at my leisure. This country has an abundance of resources both natural and human. Please let us resolve not to waste any of them. Please from this day forward do not take them for granted.

~~^j^~~
Thanks be to God!!!

The family all begin to arrive tomorrow evening. Wishing you all a GRAND 4th of JULY!!! May all your fireworks be bright and all your gatherings be blessed with friendship and love.