Tizzy's favorite toy, by far. We keep at least two or three of these blue balls on hand at all times. We are probably on about the sixth pack of three balls. Somehow, they eventually go missing - frequently when I accidently toss one over the back fence...

Snagged this shot of Fae and Heidi from Facebook. Posted by Suzanne, thank you!

From Neil - how we'll be scootering in a few more years, alas...

Well, this is just wrong -

Now, then - what WERE we doing five years ago? Re-modeling the kitchen, is what...

It hasn't escaped my attention that the month is drawing to a close. Make good use of tomorrow - you'll have to wait a year for another chance at April 30th.

April 27, 2009 Mon

Here's a picture of our uke group, that was taken just before we played, by one of the Dunton sisters. A tad fuzzy, oh well...

I get sent a lot of train stuff, as you might expect, being retired from that career group. I am glad to receive railroad related things, and usually post them on the railroad website - railroaddave.com
Now and then something will strike me, and this shot did - reminding me of many evenings spent in many railroad yards under just these circumstances. It seems like you get the best skies over freight yards... Thanks to Tim Vana and the railroad picture website~~

Boat progress - the first coat of primer...

April 26, 2009 Sun

The Skagit Valley Wings Motorcycle Club sponsors an event called the Lime Run, which benefits the Make a Wish Foundation. Ann and I decided to participate this year, even though it means getting up awfully early... It's for a good cause, and after the first twenty miles the temps began to rise nicely and we were quite comfortable.
Several friends from Ann's work showed us the way, and altogether there were hundreds of riders.

We had to leave the ride early to get back and join Mitlyng's Uke Group at Brodniak Hall where there was another fund raiser - this one for the High School Music Department. Richard, Doreen, Bill, Caroline and yours truly sang two songs from our repertoire. Alas, no pictures - except this one of Himself.

Then it was next door for a BBQ to celebrate the fact that Nathan was turning twenty, and home from a tour overseas.

And now, relax a bit and call it a day - a fine weekend, all around.

April 25, 2009 Sat

We are babysitting a friend's dog, who just happens to be one of Tizzy's other pups, the one named, Bo. So, Bo will be staying a few days - and so far the other dogs seem happy enough to have him back in the fold, so to speak. There is certainly a family resemblance - Bo sort of has Leo's face and Lily's ears.

Eagle Eye Ann spotted this fellow on the telephone pole at our corner. A couple crows were taking dives at him, which he casually ignored.

We finally have figured out most of the features of the new phones. Maybe another day or so of tinkering.

April 24, 2009 Fri

Thanks to Remit for the following pictures of our local refinery - shot during a power outage. A car hit a utility pole forty miles away and knocked out power to half this county and part of the next. Apparently, sudden surges do weird things to refining equipment, as well as computers. The refinery belched smoke and flame for a couple hours, before things settled back down.

Ann and I had just taken possession of new cell phones - it was time to upgrade, since Ann's went in the drink. (I can't say anything, I've lost one the same exact way...) We would have moved to newer phones in January, anyway - but this way we caught a great sale at the local ATT store - Blackberries, nearly half off. So we were content to sit around and try to learn the new system and buttons, etc. - which required no power. Just as daylight was fading and we were starting to think about candles and cold beans - the lights came back.

Thanks to Keith - now he's the Great White Hunter...  nice looking bird.

April 22, 2009 Wed

It is said that no news is good news. I'm not sure what that implies? Maybe that bad news travels fast...

In that case, we'll wait for the slow news to get here.

You could help - send along some (slow?) news. Pictures would be good.

If it's any consolation for the lack of news - our yard is looking better, after the all out effort I've been putting into weed destruction and abolishment. It is a running battle, one in which I barely stay ahead.

I've been using a three pronged approach that consists of actual bend down and grunt while (hopefully) pulling up by the roots as prong one. Prong two has been the use of a defoliant that will kill your grass as sure as the world, if you accidently let a wee bit go there...

Prong three is the use of a slightly less deadly but no less disgusting chemical that will attack weeds and crabgrass right in your lawn, and not disturb the lovely grass. Hard to believe, but true - if one follows the mixing directions to a tee.

Now we are told that pouring vinegar onto the undesirables will whack them as certainly as evil chemicals. Stay tuned.

Sat in with The Back Yard Band, as did Richard and a few other members of our Uke group. That was fun.

Ann's cell phone tumbled in the drink. Not working at the moment...

Thanks to Remit for this picture from the LAST time we sat in with the BYB.

cat myth

Ann and I saw the Weinermobile while in MI, at the Henry Ford Museum

April 20, 2009 Mon

It's Lily!

It was time to bring out the all edges brownie pan. This is the way to go~~

The weather has been so good! We rode to Whidbey Island over the Deception Pass Bridge - forgot to take any pictures...  Did take this one by the Star Magnolia bush in the backyard. Our furnace has been off for a week or so, now. Last year it stayed off until nearly December.

We are over dosing on these Motivational Poster thingys.

April 19, 2009 Sun

You may recall that last fall as winter drew nigh we were completing a workshop for Ann in the back room of the larger shed. Everything was completed except for the installation of some shelves when the weather turned abruptly and working outdoors wasn't fun anymore. I had already moved the wood boards from their resting spot, in a neat pile alongside the shed, into the backyard for cutting. And that's where they sat through the long winter.

Much to my chagrin that pile of boards is in every winter picture. About once a month I had to turn the pile over so that the longer boards wouldn't become permanently warped. So it was with some relief and satisfaction to finally convert that pile of wood into actual shelving. Here's what we put up with all winter:

This is what's left of the pile:

Ha ha - you can observe the degree to which the floor goes downhill in our shed!

We had occasion to dine at a restaurant in Burlington yesterday evening. The occasion was, Tip A Cop, where representatives of local police departments bus tables and fill water glasses to earn money for the Special Olympics. The event appeared to be a big success. You might recognize one of our local heroes~~

Richard keeps threatening to get us a tour of this boat -- he has a connection.

April 17, 2009 Fri

Richard has put together a webpage for the Senior Uke Ensemble (SUE). There are pictures and movies, and links to other interesting 'OOK' stuff! Take a moment, and check it out.

Self explanatory...

A visit to the 'OOPS' department, thanks to Kurt. First, a boat oops~

also, a plane oops~

And finally, an 'I don't get it' ~~ musta' been a tidal wave...

Interesting plumbing department - a combo sink and urinal?

Thanks to Ann for recording this brief and partial rendition of Hot Rod Lincoln.

April 16, 2009 Thu

While Fae was here, she and Evelyn assisted Laura in the construction of a Danish dish; Ebelskivers.

The Remit, doing his thing~

In all, most everyone played an instrument - it is no surprise that a guitar was held.

This mandolin belonged to our grandmother's sister, Aunt Vera. It is probably nearly a hundred years old. It also isn't playing in tune up the neck - we are checking on this.

Internet humor ~~

April 15, 2009 Wed

Here's a picture showing the relative height of several buildings, and a ship, if it was stood on end.

From Linda, vacationing with family in FL - John and his new best friend, Minnie Mouse~

Here's that moon picture we're always striving for, but never quite seem to capture...

What were we doing five years ago? It was a ballet run - now a thing of the past. The girls are all still in ballet, and now they all drive. Saab was 'new to us' - meaning I've been driving it for five years!

Going to string up our Aunt Vera's antique mandolin.
Posted to the wiki. Link at top of page...

April 13, 2009 Mon

Hope you had better luck...

We enjoyed a family meal and the good company of friends - played a few tunes after dinner. In attendance, Dick and Laura, Fae, Cass and Evie, Joe and Richard. Ann, David and four Toy Fox terriers.

Thanks to Remit for taking these~~

photos by Ann

Ann's, and my - family history in pictures~

OOPS - horse variety