Creative Response

On a previous post I asked for help in identifying a plant. I received several responses but the most creative was this painting my Gramma H. did for me. As you may be able to tell, I've framed it in a floating frame and it now adorns my office wall. I love it! Thank you so much, Grandma! It means a great deal to me!

Edit: You might notice the beam of sunshine- this is a rare sighting here. Most of this "summer" we have not had actual sunshine. Almost every day has been overcast.

In Case You Missed It....

My "little" sister has made a big announcement. In case you missed it, click here for the post on her blog where she reveals what's new in her life.
She has always been one to make her announcements special!
I can't wait. I am hoping to be able to earn enough airline miles to go out for a visit in the spring.
Here's hoping!

Why you should proofread. I couldn't help it!

This sign was posted on the front of the gas pump. Oddly enough, I was on my way to my first class in Technical Writing, which is a course designed to prepare people for on the job writing.

It should serve as a testament to us all: Proofread and don't totally rely on spell check.

My iPhone. I don't know how I did this.....

How Tater Entertains Himself.

More bars in more places.

I guess I watch too much tv.

Disappointment but Later a Good Surprise

Well, yesterday I missed Ranger's phone call. I was so bummed. He won't be able to call for a while because he's in his final field training exercise. However, I got a letter from him in the mail today and he told me that I could find a picture of him online. It took Sgt. Dad and I both to be able to recognize him. Can you believe that I had a hard time identifying my own son??? He's changed A LOT! Enjoy this photo of him.

Sometime tomorrow I'll update on our visit with Sgt. Dad's parents. We went on a glacier sight seeing cruise and through the famous tunnel to Whittier. More on that adventure and the photos tomorrow.

Matanuska Valley Glacier II

So, we visited the Matanuska Valley Glacier. The boys didn't appreciate it but they will when they're old and realize what a rare treat a glacier is to see. We found the same crevasse from the last visit and it's about twice as big. Sgt. Dad doesn't believe me and I didn't take the right photos to accurately compare the crevasse. Also, half a dozen of the pictures that I took today didn't record properly. I'm so disappointed. Enjoy this photo of the family walking across the top of the glacier.

Guess Who's Coming for Dinner?

Sgt. Dad's parents have arrived for a visit. I haven't taken pictures yet but I will and get some posted soon.Our plan is to take them to see the Matanuska Valley Glacier today. Possibly we'll stop in Palmer for the flea market and local color. The forecast is for scattered showers. It doesn't look like we'll be blessed with nice, clear weather for their visit. It's really unfortunate because on the clear days Alaska is stunningly beautiful. On these cloudy, rainy days there isn't much difference from Rochester.
Other good news, we've got our tickets and hotel and car reservations for our trip to see Ranger. His graduation is coming right up. Unfortunately, we couldn't afford to take our younger two sons but Ranger will make a trip home sometime soon and they will be able to see him then. I can't wait to see my boy again.
That's about it for now. Time to hit the showers and get ready for the day. (yeah, I know it's almost noon)

Happy Birthday Strummer!

So Strummer celebrated his 15th birthday. His girlfriend came over and we had a backwards birthday. What is a backwards birthday? Well, we started by opening his gifts. He got an AC/DC sweatshirt and XBOX microphone, and a a game from his brother, an All American Rejects shirt and decal from his girlfriend, and a micro amp from us. He loved all of his gifts. We then enjoyed cake and ice cream. Then we had dinner- pizza and chicken wings. It was fun doing it all backwards and watching Strummer enjoy his. I couldn't help but remember that I met Sgt. Dad right after my 15th birthday. It's so strange that now our youngest child is that age.

Don't he and his girlfriend look so sweet together?

Technology Facilitates Visit

Well, you all know how much I enjoy technology and today was just another of those days that made me to happy to be able to enjoy these modern conveniences. Ranger has a pass this weekend and he went to the PX to video call me. So, I happily logged on and was SO excited to see my oldest child- LIVE! He looks so much like his father. Here's a picture I grabbed from our web call. It's not very good but you'll be able to recognize him. He looks really healthy and surprisingly happy. What a great day!

Flag in a Beautiful Sunset

I bet you thought I fell off the face of the earth!

So, absolutely nothing has been going on. Sgt Dad has returned, Strummer and Tater are just fine and Ranger is too.
Here's a joke that actually had me laughing out loud:

On the first day, God created the dog and said: 'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.' The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?' So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.' The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? T hat's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?' And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun! , have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.' The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?' And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?' 'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.