Red, White and Ol' Blue

We have all heard of our dear flag being referred to as Ol' Glory; today Ol' Blue is doing his part to help represent the color blue on behalf of "Ol' Glory"

We had a lovely Fourth of July Weekend.  We went on a picnic Sunday afternoon, with Ol' Blue as our Chauffeur.  Just a couple of miles down the road.  I took a few pics to share.  It was so pretty out.   You almost wouldn't know that we are having a terrible drought.  

This little creek is usually a river.... 

The water fall is no longer falling, but a little bit of water still remains at the bottom.

Look at that lovely sky.

RED

Love this wonderful old gate.  It was a part of an old homestead... the only remaining relic of it in fact.
I think its a wonderful red. 

WHITE
This is closest to  white I could find... got a pic of  him today at the parade.... he was enjoying a great cool off, and I could not resist him.

And Blue
Good ol' truck

The Pueblo West  Wet and Dry Parade..... We all agreed in our family that this is the funnest kind of parade of all.

 The streets are lined with cars and the people are prepared with Super soakers, water balloons water bazookas, and hoses of all calibers. 

 Close friends and all of our families relax in bathing suites or shorts and catch up with each other as we wait for the parade to begin.

 My Friend Roxy with our Luke with Steve and Barry in the background.

Roxy and her Hubby Danny and their son, daughter in law, and grandsons made everything great fun... especially since Barry (Roxy's son knows how to bring enough water to win the war.

 This is Roxy's Grandson... atop the water tank... ready for the big water fight.

The horses are so calm and easy going.

 Three cheers for our soldiers.... every one clapped and cheered as they went by.

 Amy, and little guys all loaded with their super soakers and hoses, just waiting for those fire trucks to come and start spraying everybody.

The wet part of the parade is about to begin.... everybody is ready.

 Here come the fire trucks... sirens are blarring.

I took these pictures at great risk of getting blasted... and put my camera up when the  really big trucks came through.
Some of the trucks had blow up pools with people sitting in them, spraying everyone as they went by.   There were trucks and trailers, Fire trucks, Police and Sheriff vehicles, people walking, huge bus's that had people in every window with super soakers and water coming from people in the parade and people on the sidelines.
What boy doesn't love a "Huge Water Fight".... although notice that you do not see Eddie in these   pictures... he would not get wet, nor let me get a good picture of him... So Barry and Luke had to hold him and drench him Ha.... I  didn't get my camera back out in time, but take my word for it, it was funny.  I had the privilege of getting Steve wet myself, he wasn't as eager as I was to get wet either... can't have that.  We all went home nicely cooled off.

And then along came this guy... He was hot.  His Mama didn't remember about the parade when she started on their walk this morning.  She got detoured and so did he.  He wanted somebody to spray him down and give him a drink.  No problem; he was certainly in the right place.

My country tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died! Land of the Pilgrim's pride! From every mountain side, Let freedom ring! My native country, thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love. I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills; My heart with rapture fills Like that above. Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees Sweet freedom's song. Let mortal tongues awake; Let all that breathe partake; Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong. Our father's God to, Thee, Author of liberty, To Thee we sing. Long may our land be bright With freedom's holy light; Protect us by Thy might, Great God, our King!

Happy Fourth of July Everyone

Have a blessed week

Thank You Trisha

I have had the hardest time getting back to blogging.  We had company arrive less than a week after we got home from our trip, and with so much to do to get ready for them,  it has been non stop.  My Mom and my niece Rachel came for a fast and furious visit.  It was great to have my Mom here again (in what I consider her home).  We had a great time, and hated to see them go.  Rachel and Luke cooked up a storm together; they both share a love for cooking, and inspired each other all week long.   They left at the beginning of the week and I miss them already.  All week I have said to myself... "just a few more things, and I will be caught up and can get back to blogging."   Well at last I am here...,  not necessarily caught up (I'm not sure that ever happens, yet one does try), but satisfied with having laundry done, an almost clean house and the garden a little more in order.  

I wanted to say a big Thank you"  to Trisha from amultitudeofmercies.blogspot.com, because; I am now the delighted recipient of a new cupcake cookbook that she sent to me.   I signed up to try to win her give away last month, and was amazed to find that I won it.  I have never won one before, so this is a "wonderful first" for me.  You all will enjoy her blog when you pop over and check it out. Now I am inspired to get creative.  Thanks again Trisha, I'm lovin it.

Don't you love the cover?

This sweet little note came with the book.

I am going to make this one  first.  Doesn't that tantalize you?  Do you want the recipe?

I miss having my Mom live next door... nice to have her for a visit though.

Cooking Cousins

What is everyone doing for the  Fourth of July?

Hope it is a great weekend for everyone.

Many Blessings,

Pam

Father's Day and an Update of our Trip

Its always nice to come home after being away.  I love to go and I love to come home again to my own bed.  We had a great visit with all of our family, and saw some lovely sights along the way.  Steve flew back home from Phoenix and Eddie and I drove on to California together.  We stayed at the Navy Base with Russell, and had a great a visit with him.  The ocean was lovely.... I could look at, smell,  and listen to the ocean forever (I envy you ladies who live near the ocean). From there we drove up to Nevada and visited my Mom, brother and nieces.  We came home by way of Utah... a very pretty route. I am posting the pictures that Eddie and I took along the way.  Unfortunately they are unedited, so I think even the bug slpats on the windshield show up in some of them... sorry.

Today is Father's Day.  Happy Father's Day to my precious Dad and my precious hubby and also to my son Nathan, and my sons in law Jon and Benjamin;  to me the best Dads in the world.  Love you so much.

Dad and I  when Steve and I got married.

From desert to mountains to ocean to desert to canyons  to mountains and home.  My camera did me wrong again.... only half of my pictures downloaded.  I had some great ones of Eddie, Russ, the ocean, some seals and more... oh well. perhaps I will get a new camera one of these days.

Have a lovely week everyone.
Blessings to all,

Pam

Little Hobbit and the Mad Hatter Tea Party

We forged through  mountains and deserts, to get here. At last we  arrived at our destination: Sunny Arizona; Phoenix to be exact.  We arrived just in time to celebrate the birthday of Little Hobbit who is now 2 years old.  It was to be a tea party... a "Mad Hatter Tea Party".  Little Hobbit was dressed adorably; The Mad Hatter himself could have no negative word  to say, and if Alice were here, she would be confused as to who the real Mad Hatter really was.  Mommy/ Himilce was dressed like the  Queen of Hearts (a little variation of the red queen), she looked almost as cute as "Little Hobbit".  Princes and Princesses arrived from other privinces.  It was great fun all around.

Little Hobbit is ready for tea.

He smiles sweetly even though his tea cup is empty.  The day is still young.  Tea will be something to look forward to.

 The Queen of Hearts has been slaving for days to prepare for the party.  None of the servants showed up, so she had to do all the work herself.

Little Hobbit grows slightly weary of waiting for his tea.  So much activity, so little tea.  What is one to think.

 Princess and Princesses from other provinces are still in good humor as they too wait for their tea.


 The situation is improving as more sandwiches are brought out, and tea pots are filled.

The Topsy Turvey Cake  is a delight to all  in the Kingdom.

Little Hobbit examines cake.

All Five senses are applied to determine the quality of the cake.

 Topsy turvey cake is approved above all cakes in the Kingdom.

 A little more careful examination, just to be sure.
Yes.... it is indeed the best.

 "Mommy" I think "Little Hobbit" has had too much cake and too many presents, and way too many festivities, perhaps I should go ahead and open this one for him; I am afraid he might become overwhelmed".

Everything is just a blurr, as they say all good things must come to an end.  Good bye to all good friends.

On Saturday, all Hobbits were exhausted.  So it was decided that we should go fishing.... a cure for everything even overindulgence.

  The big hobbit in the middle was threatened  by fear of bodily harm or (exposure on facebook) if he didn't smile... and so he did.

Little Hobbit is still a little peaky from the previous days activities, but willing to give fishing a try.

 Such a delightful pond to fish in.

 Fishing is such a soothing occupation for all.

Night Song

 I have been hearing a bird singing outside my window all week.  The interesting thing about it, is that it has been singing at night.  It has continually intrigued me when I have woken up to hear it singing in the darkness.  A couple of days ago I researched the "Nightingale Bird", remembering that they got their name because they sing at night; but alas there are no Nightingale birds in America.  I found out that there are several other birds in North America that sometimes sing at night.  So now I have learned something new. There was something very lovely and sweet about it.  It made me think how the Lord's Light shine's in the darkness.  He has given us beauty for ashes and a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness; He prepares for us a table in the presence of our enemies.  He blesses us even in darkness, and not only that, He watches over us all the time.

 ¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
   where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.

 ³ He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.

 ⁵ The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.

 ⁷ The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
⁸ the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121

   " But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." 

Job 12:7‑10

Of everyday things,  Eddie graduated from 8th grade this week; Highschool next year.  Its hard to believe. School is out and we are all glad.  The last few days were spent workinging on the garden like crazy.  We are off tomorrow for our trip... I wanted to have as much of the garden done as  we could.   Luke will be home, holding down the fort, watering the garden and taking care of the critters, so that works out very nice.

Here's Eddie the night of his "graduation ceremony".  It came out a little blurry, but he looked cute I thought.

Have a delightful week everyone.  I will post when I get a chance. 

Many Blessings to all,

Pam

The Busy Season Has Begun

We've been home since last Wednesday, and all my aspirations of posting pictures of our lovely little trip have gone by the wayside.  The busy season of the year has begun.  Between gardens, and school finishing, (and 8th grade graduation for Eddie) returning from a trip and leaving on  another at the end of the week,  it is hard to keep up.  As for the pictures, I have been having trouble downloading them onto the computer, simply because of some weird malfunction when I was taking them.  I think, if I understand it right, the pictures were re-allocated on my phone to a diffierent storarage center... how, which, why it is there, and how it got switched, and how I retrieve pictures from that storage center, I don't know..... (I have tried over and over to download them... they are not cooperating). I can at least look at them on the phone itself.  So I would like to invite you all over to my house for tea and cake (chocolate),  cucumber sandwiches, and a happy visit with a lovely slide show off of my phone so that I can delight in showing you  pictures of the most amazing countryside, and animals of Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole Wyoming.  We had a great time.  We saw buffalo everywhere, including in front of the car, beside the car, to the right, to the left....you get the idea.  We saw elk in like manor,  a Mama bear with 2 cubs,  a Grizzly Bear, 2 Moose... or is it Mooses,  or  Meese Ha Ha! We saw a coyote (we see plenty of coyotes around here, but none that are so accommodating as to pause and pose for a close up photo), the amazing Teton Mountain Range, "Old Faithful", the beautiful "Snake River " and the delightful little town of Jackson ... among many other things.  It was a great time, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly for a family vacation to all.

I snagged a couple of freebie pictures very like my own, courtesy of google, so that I could at least show you how pretty it was.  If you google "images" of Jackson Hole, the Tetons, or Yellowstone, you would see some amazing pictures.

I hope to post once  or twice more before we are off at the end of the week.  We are making a visit to Phoenix to visit my son Nathan (who is graduating from Collins College), daughter in law Himilce, and two precious grandson's; one of which is celebrating his second birthday (So excited that we get to be a part of this one Yea!)  We are also going to visit my my Dad and Kathy, and our other son Russell, who is in California now, and my Mom (next state up in Nevada) and brother... it will be a fast and furious couple of weeks, but a highlight of our summer.

Have a blessed week everyone.

Wyoming Road Trip

This time last year, I was on a road trip with Olga, and my friend Roxy.  We had gone up to the Northwest corner of Wyoming to visit  a college that Olga was going to attend.  Now we are here again.  This time  Steve and I are the travelers. A whole year has gone by, and Olga has been through year number 1 of college.  She will be a photography major.  Her work is looking very nice. I might have to post some of  it one day.   She will be staying through the summer taking a couple of classes and working.  She has rented a little house with 3 other friends, and they are settling in.  We came up to bring her some much needed things; Pots, pans, dishes some of her boxes she had packed away etc.  We also brought her a nice start of groceries (amongst which is 20 pounds of potatoes ....ought to hold her over for a few months don't ya think?... that little potato eater... )  It is very pretty country here.  Steve and  I are going to take the scenic way home and come down through Yellowstone National Park, and Jackson Hole.  Can't wait... a long waited for mini vacation for us, even if it is very brief. I 'll post pictures as we go.

Have a Blessed Week Everyone

Pam