Sassy the Pony

It's not just chickens that Caleb likes. Here he is with Sassy the pony.   

Chicken Little

I don't have time to blog tonight. This is happening more and more.  Even though I made 6 layouts today, which is quite a few for one day, I'm not posting any of them...tonight.  I just had to show you the picture of me that was taken yesterday down in Charm, OH...I think. Caleb congratulated me for holding the chicken just right. He also said this chicken looks like 'his' chicken, Slippers.

We Love Chickens

Caleb loves Laughing Buck Farm and the chickens there. 

It's the End of the World...

Poor Caleb had taken so many pictures that there was no more room on his camera...and that IS a LOT.  But it really was a wonderful adventure on that cog train  up to Pike's Peak and it was beautiful.  Of course Gramma couldn't resist giving him her iPhone so that he could continue to take pictures. After all, I do know what it is like. So many times I have filled my card or drained my batteries. Now I have to carry spares...cards, batteries and cameras...and of course, when all else fails, there is always the iPhone.

Caleb at the Peak

I had fun putting this together from our trip to the top of Pike's Peak. These animals with the places cut out for the kids to show their faces were in the donut shop. I put them all together for a fun page to commemorate Caleb's trip to the top.

There is a Bible verse about knowing what is good to do and not doing it. I'm not sure it refers to my problem right now, but perhaps is does, because it keeps coming to mind. I need to layoff FaceBook for a time and distance myself from my email because the two are keeping me from getting the books about the family done. I am still working on our Colorado trip. We've been back home for over two months.  I have another book that I've started about June, July and August that I've also been working on at the same time.  I still have another book to do on my childhood and one of Ron's early years. I guess I really shouldn't try to do so much.  But pictures of our family are so dear to me that I just keep working.

I've been asked by several people if I make books for others. I would love to, but then I wouldn't be able to do my own. Our family is so large that all their pictures could keep me occupied as long as I can keep at it. Yes, I am blessed.

In the Crevice

Here are the four of us cramped in a crevice between two of the very large orange rocks that jut from the ground in the Garden of the Gods. This was a case of shooting another group of sight seers so that they would shoot us as well. It is a fair trade to make. We are glad to have this photo of the four of us together.

We missed Beth and Oliver that day, but still had a lot of fun, with all three guys (Ron, John and Caleb) and me.

National Rubik's Cube Competition

Aussie did quite well in the competition, even though he was among the youngest  there and it was his first year to be there.   He competed against some really serious competitors.

He has done other remarkable things with these cubes, both the regular Rubik's Cubes and his 6x6x6.

One thing he does, blows my mind. He solves the cube behind his back. I'll never understand how he does that! As a matter of fact, I can't understand solving it at all. Back when they first came out in a big way, well big in the nerd department, my dad figured out how to solve them quickly. My head just swims when I think of it.

Congratulations Aussie. We are proud of you.

A Family Pose

This waterfall near the stairway in Vail was a natural for a family photo and Caleb found it.  I took several shots, but someone's eyes were squinted every time.  That's what happens to blonds, I suppose.  We redheads have much the same problem. The sun is hard on our eyes.  I love this picture anyway, love this family, loved being in Vail with them. 

Fell in the Lake

I've been hoping that Maggie would have learned a little caution around the water,  but,  I'm not sure she has.  Just a couple of days ago, she was walking along the sea wall and  peering over it into the lake.

Last night, Don came in with a large 'fish' net that we can use to retrieve her if she ends up in the lake again. Yes, she can swim. She is a natural dog paddler, but there is no place where she can actually get out of the water...at least not near by. And since she is not cautious, we certainly may have to use that net some day. Of course, I'm hoping that we don't. It isn't big fun to have to run her to the house for an instant bath. It really isn't that easy. I end up as wet as she.

Thank you again, Don, for saving Maggie's life and for thinking ahead to another time when there may not be anyone around  with arms long enough to retrieve her.

Garden of the Gods

PaPa and Caleb explore at the Gardens of the Gods in Manitou Springs, Colorado. It was a very impressive place with the huge orange rock formations jutting straight up out of the ground.  Here we see PaPa and Caleb exploring as John and I took pictures. I'll post some even prettier pictures of the rocks later.

Great Granddaughter

I am happy to  announce  the arrival of our first great grandchild today, August 17, 2014. Her name is Ava Monroe.  She was born on her uncle Brandon's birthday. That will help me remember the date. At this age, I need all the help I can get.  

We have not yet seen her close up, or held her, but I love her already. 

Thank you Brittanie and Daddy for choosing to make a good home for this little sweet wonder.

ORU Friends

In earlier years we would announce a dress code before a get together, so that our pictures would be color coordinated. In recent years, we've failed in that department. This  time was especially bad. Therefore I am now making a pact with myself to remember to talk about what we will wear on further outings.  Why do I care? Well for one thing, I really like to see our pictures look nice in a layout. It is hard enough to choose a color scheme for the page when there is no issue of clashing going on in the picture itself.

We girls have had a pretty rough time getting it all together this summer.  This is the first time in months when we were all together, so we celebrated birthdays...four of them.  We only had two present who did not have a birthday since we last met.

I, the oldest one there, was one whose birthday we celebrated. The others were Jane, Robin and Paulette.

We were lucky to have chosen the Winking Lizard in Peninsula. Generally a very busy place, Monday is one of its slow business days because the scenic railroad train does not run that day. We were able to take all our presents in without stares. We spent all the time we wanted without tying up a table or causing the waitress to be concerned. A person on the wait staff even had time to take our picture.

I've been fairly busy verifying, or at least trying to verify numbers of political emails that pop up in my inbox every day. It is very time consuming, but important. 

I received one today about Jane Fonda and John Kerry that caused me to be cynical.

I remember things that happened back in the anti-war days. I was already much in tune with politics, having had to read so many books in high school history and political science classes. 

I remember all too well the  book 1984, in which news was rewritten constantly. That is so easily done these days. And we can see facts change from day to day. When we are old enough to remember some of these things, I must repeat, it really makes one cynical. By the way, 1984 was my favorite book ever, and so was it Hillary's...but for different reasons, I'm sure. It scared me to death , but it made Hillary want to be one of those in control.

Mowing

I've soooo many pictures, and soooo little time.  My brain is slowing  down and my  list of chores is getting longer.  I'm frantically trying to finish the book about our trip to Colorado, while all our grandchildren's recent activities are going undone. They are piling up, up, up.  I love doing this, but I am being weighted down. 

It makes me proud of Caleb to see him emulating his daddy and his PaPa. He's a good boy.

While it is still summer, although most of it is gone already, some students are already going back to school. Why so early and why are we in such a rush to start the new year? Is is because our students are falling behind others throughout the world?  The amount of time they spend in school has nothing to do with it. I can name a few reasons our education is getting poorer. 1. There is no real discipline in class. Kids know they can get away with most anything. 2. Parents generally are not supportive of teachers and school policy. 3 Kids do not have good habits, for example, keeping a decent bedtime. 4. Kids who cannot keep up are shoved ahead, making them unable to catch up to the others. 5. Mixed classes slow down those children who can do well.(By mixed, I mean those who learn quickly and those who don't.)  6. They are teaching our children many things that are not only unnecessary, but many things that are counter productive...just look at the new core curriculum. 7. They are trying to funnel everyone into college, whether they should go or not. 8. They have dumbed down the curriculum so much that students have to take and pay for remedial classes in college. 9. The attention span of students is getting shorter. 10. Too few students have good study skills or care to work hard. 11. Teachers unions forbid firing  poor teachers. Oh my, I could go on and on.  

If you are in a position to put your children in private schools or home school, as a former teacher, I would highly recommend it.

Guitar/ Ukelele

John, a saxophonist, picked up playing the guitar while a Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria. He likes to play for relaxation.  Little Caleb wants so badly to play along.   He doesn't seem satisfied to just sit and listen. If I  could, I would love to teach him. His ukelele is quite cute, but it just doesn't sound right. I hope to see the day when he can play right along and make music with Daddy.

Museum of Discovery

Ron and I enjoyed the museum with Caleb. It was difficult at times to keep up with him, since he was quite familiar with it and knew exactly what he wanted to do. I learned a lot, mostly that I could just let him go and follow him. We did see a lot of things in the time we were there. I particularly liked to see the sign admonishing parents to keep track of their children lest they be given a bhp of expresso and a kitten to take home.  lol  I can see it could very well be a problem. The children  could dart from one activity to another in break neck speed.

And speaking about keeping track. Some have been following trends in population, for example.  They have noted that  for the first time ever, U.S. public schools are projected this fall to have more minority students than non-Hispanic whites enrolled, a shift largely fueled by growth in the number of Hispanic children.

You Are Loved

The title on this layout, You Are Loved, is true on this page and in your life.  You are loved. Our savior, Jesus Christ knows every hair on your head. He knows everything you do, including the mistakes and obvious things you might do to your fellow man.

Praise God that he   knows  what you are doing and why. Praise God that he loves you anyway.

The Yellow Nose Knows

While riding from the condo into 'town' one morning, Caleb sniffed at a dandelion he had picked before jumping into the car. It makes my nose itch just to write this. I've never been able to 'stop and smell the flowers' because of allergies. But there he was, as cute as could be. When he got out of the car, I was able to get this cute shot of him holding up the dandelion and showing his yellow nose. Do you suppose that yellow nose knows the smell of that yellow bloom?  

Even though after all these years of avoiding taking deep breaths, I still smell a rat...in Washington.

How about you?  Want to fix it?  We have one last try to get it back together...at least we must pray that we get another chance to cast ballots in a truly free election. That looks a little more unlikely every day.

Great Memories

These were good days that we spent in Vail. Glad to have photos to help us remember. They are more necessary now than ever before, since sometimes I forget what I  did the day before.


Sorry that I'm falling apart so early, but  I really just want to go to bed.

PIrate Photographer

Caleb has become a pirate. He carries his 'sword' everywhere these days. He is also a photographer.  Since that is an interesting combination, I decided to do this page...in case you ever run into one on the sea...or at a park somewhere.   We wouldn't want you to be surprised. You may even want to have your own camera ready to get a shot.

Speaking of cameras, they are everywhere today...even under the clear blue sky you could find yourself the subject of a flying photo. Big Brother is  truly watching everywhere you do, no matter what you do. You can run, but you can't hide.

Oh course this has always been the case in a way. God has always been able to see you no matter where you are, no matter how dark it is.  You cannot hide from him.  As for myself. God watching me makes me feel safer, whereas the government's observation makes me uneasy. How about you?

Ride Like the Wind

Caleb must like to compete. He gets into these bike races and wants to compete with the older kids. It is fun to watch and snap a shot now and then.

Eagle in Vail

Vail, Colorado is a very interesting place, I would have liked it, even if I had gone alone. But being with the family and watching Caleb made is so much more enjoyable. He had been there before and knew his way around.

I wish that those we elected to Congress 'knew their way around' enough to put their feet down and insist that the president obey the law of the land.  Having him sue the state of Arizona for having to take on the task that the federal government has not done and defend themselves from and onslaught of illegal immigrants is highly unconstitutional. Why, the one thing that the federal government is to do it protect this country from invasion or attack of any kind.

We certainly are not safe as long as this man is sitting in the oval office...unless we take it upon ourselves to defend ourselves and our borders.

Pray that God will see a big change in the attitude of this country and will put in place people who will uphold the Constitution and live good, clean, godly lives.

Let your light so shine that God will take pleasure in his creation once again.