Art Show

Tidying up before the show

Grace is graduating from high school with a "major in integrated arts" and last nite she was presented with the diploma and cord and then there was an art show.

She picked out her favorite 10 photos from the year and framed them for showing.   And her teacher also chose some for placement in other locations, including the night time sky picture below.  The art show was awesome - its crazy to see the talent of these kids.

Sad Sack

Hops somehow hurt her hip over the weekend and was letting out random yelps when she moved.  One time it was so bad she hid in the bushes and refused to come out.  So I took her to the vet and he manipulated her leg, knee, hip, back and neck and determined her right hip was bothering her.  Although you could barely tell because she was being so stoic with the vet. 

So he gave her a shot of anti inflammatory and pain meds and told her to rest.  She actually is resting - she is putting herself in her crate.  I think that is a sign of how bad it hurts her.

The sad thing is her puppy came into town that night and they couldn't play with each other like they normally do.  So it's been 3 days and she is still on self imposed rest.  She hangs out a lot in her crate and is even sleeping downstairs in it.

Poor pup!

Mother's Day/Mini Family Reunion

Play a monopoly dice game with Ev and Brit before everyone came

Cousin Dian was coming into town from Chicago and asked for recommendations where she could have a cousins breakfast at a restaurant.   Since it was Mother's Day and no one in the older generation of the family can hear well,  I offered to have a get together at our house and asked if we can invite all family in the area.  That is exactly what we did and everyone showed up!  35 family members gathered for a mother's day visit

Tre was a hit - he loves parties!

Karen, Gary, Nancy, Dian, Rudy

Grandpa Roy, Richard, Jon

Cousins

Moms

Bookends

These two.... Grace was trying to get a pic of them both looking at the camera and this is what she gets!

Graduation Festivities

Good friends are a blessing!  These girls are so lucky to have shared their lives since they were little and are now graduating together.  We have so much to celebrate!

Sabbaitcal - Day 2 - Fishing Woods Creek

Crazy digger

This has got to be one of my favorite things to do - wander around in the beautiful forest and meadows and fishing tiny creeks with my dogs.   Ahi loves it too.  She likes to hunt in the meadows.  She finds a spot and then digs like crazy searching for a critter.  She has never caught anything but she thinks her work is very important!

Shoulder deep!

Stopping for a snack!

We had done a last minute trip to the cabin and I got picked up at work to head up.  That meant I didn't pack my own bag and didn't come prepared.  I was hiking in jeans I had worn to work, my work glasses and my snow boots!

I caught one little trout but got lots of hits.  The fish were between 3 and 6 inches long - tiny little stream trout.

Day 1 of Sabbatical

I am starting the second sabbatical of my life! And of course, I couldn't be happier.  I have lots of travel planned for this one and hope to have some quiet time too. 

The first day was spent cleaning the boat and getting it ready for the summer.  Sounds like a lot of work, which it is, but its fun to be able to plan for summer fun.  Daisy enjoyed being outside with us.

Spring is a beautiful time at the cabin with lots of flowers, birds and wildlife.  There was this cool nest right off the deck.  Doesn't look like anyone is living in it though.

Hungry?

Real story.....real picture...not a re-enactment.

We go out to dinner at the cabin.

Hops helps herself to bags of dog food.  Maybe between 6 and 9 cups of dog food.

This is how big her belly was the next morning.

We spent the weekend calling her "Dumbass".   It's not the first time that has been her moniker.

Real Conversation

Me (referring to the duck couple living in the front yard):  I think the mama duck is limping.

G:  Oh really?

Me:  Yea, on her front left leg.

G:  She only has front legs.

Me:  (Thinking.....) HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Senior DItch Day

The kids took Monday off as Senior Ditch Day.  The plan had been to go to the beach but it was cold and they were unmotivated.  So I told Grace, "if you don't end up doing anything, come have lunch with me."  She responded, "can everyone come?"  And that is how Senior Ditch Day ended up being lunch with me!  LUCKY LUCKY me!

Salmon Season

Jim is out commercial salmon fishing and this was the first pic we got from him.  Fish are between 12 and 15 pounds each.