Vietnam

Don returned Wednesday from a trip to Vietnam. Halfway around the world. They are exactly twelve hours ahead of us. I don't even want to think about being on an airplane that long. But it was a business trip for him. Flying business class made it tolerable. He was in the Saigon area. A coworker accompanied him who is from Vietnam & was his interpreter for the trip. They visited his family & Don was invited to family dinner. There was a huge spread of food & drink (Don suspects they've heard about American appetites) which he enjoyed.

Happy Birthday, Nick!

Nancy took this photo of Nick & Hannah earlier this month when they were visiting from northern Nebraska. Nick turns 30 today & has reasons to celebrate this milestone birthday!

red-tailed hawk

A couple of weeks ago I was returning home only to discover this hawk blocking my street. He had killed this squirrel & was standing on it in the middle of the street. Finally the hawk hopped/flew over to the side of the road & eventually flew away leaving behind the dead squirrel. He was a beautiful bird to photograph.

Tracy's family

I met Tracy last year through the Northeast YMCA. She asked if I was interested in taking photos of her family & I was. She was pregnant at the time & earlier this month we met up again & I got to meet the new baby. I appreciate that Tracy lets me practice on her family. This is our second time meeting for photos. These are some of my favorites. Her husband is Bill. Lula is the oldest & she is two years old. Mila, the baby, is six months old. I love the pink tutus!





I love this photo even if Mila has some drool on her chin.

Cheryl's clothespins

Yesterday I attended a birthday party a colleague was hosting for herself & her spouse. She turned 50 a couple of weeks ago & he turns 50 next month. While I was eating a barbeque sandwich outdoors in the shade with a cool (seriously!) breeze blowing I noticed that Cheryl had fastened her tablecloth to the table with her clothespins! I do not take my camera everywhere with me & my cell phone does not have a camera either. But Cheryl's phone does have a camera & she snapped a couple of pictures of this clothespin for me! It's looking a bit weathered.





Thanks, Cheryl! And Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, David!

David is the son of Ted & Yvonne. Has an older sister, Abby. Turns 15 today. Nice kid. He plays guitar & some other instruments. I'm pretty sure he is taller than his Dad now. He gave in & let me take this photo of him on May 29 at his grandfather's house. He was visiting with his Dad.

"Let Me Win! If I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt. "

The Special Olympics' Athlete's Oath. The Special Olympics wind down today here in Lincoln. Tomorrow the athletes return home. My employer provided the medical staff to assist the American Red Cross at different venues this past week. I volunteered & helped at the opening ceremonies Sunday afternoon. Yesterday I watched some track events. It's been an exciting week for these passionate & enthusiastic athletes.

Happy Birthday, Mike!

Mike turns 51 today. All this rain probably means he can't be in the field so maybe it'll free him up to celebrate! Have a good one, Mike!



Nancy photographed Mike yesterday morning in their kitchen before he headed out the door.

Happy Birthday, Deb!

Deb's daughter, Amy, sent me this recent photo of her Mom with her kids: Morgan, Jackson & Sophia, the baby. (Thanks, Amy!) Deb is married to Jim. Mother to Amy & Angie. Grandmother to these three plus three more (Claire, Blythe & Drew)! She is a lot of fun to hang around with. I'm usually laughing at something she says. When around my folks she always called them "mom" or "dad". I've always loved that about her. I you are celebrating the day, Deb!

Laura, Rose & David.

When Butch's birthday party moved to his home some guests chose to stay in the comfort of the air conditioned house. I spent my time on the deck in the back of the house. Elaine set up a fan to circulate the warm air & Butch handed me a cold beer so I thought it was a great spot to hang out. Especially when Butch started telling squirrel stories! They have a chain link fence in their back yard so there isn't a sense of being closed in either. A few of Butch & Elaine's grandkids (Cheryl & Rob's kids) joined us too.








This is Rob . . . I mean David.





Laura. She's gorgeous!





Rose. She seems pretty serious but she did smile for me.

Italian food

Pizza. Pasta. Gelato. Wine. Repeat.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Butch!

Butch is Dad's brother. They are the bookends in a family of seven children. Dad is the oldest & Butch is the youngest. Butch turns 70 today & next month Dad will be 85. Butch lived with my folks for a while after their father died. Don & Roy think of Butch as more of a brother as a result & he is closer in age to them than to Dad also. He has weathered some health problems the past few years so I was grateful to be able to attend the party yesterday afternoon hosted by Elaine, his wife, and the rest of his family. There was a great spread of barbeque ("burnt ends!") and an assortment of vegetables & salads. And of course, birthday cake! The party then moved to Butch & Elaine's home where I snapped these photos of Butch in his back yard. It was also a great chance for me to see some cousins too!





I hope you are still celebrating today, Butch!

Roy . . .

. . . sitting in Dad's chair.

hydrangeas

I've been admiring the hydrangeas for a few weeks now. I finally grabbed a camera before going on a walk last month with a neighbor & snapped these photos along Sumner street on June 28th. By the time I got close to the purple ones they were already fading. But hydrangeas are a favorite of mine. So elegant. So beautiful . . .

Dad's petunia

Mom loved flowers. When she & Dad moved to town she found big wooden tubs to plant flowers in around the house. Some favorites were begonias & geraniums. Both would bloom her favorite color: red! Since Mom's been gone we've been able to keep the flowers going each summer. Dad would complain about it but he'd keep them watered. This year I brought plants with me on a visit to plant in his tubs again. But he was ailing then so I took them back home. Really didn't think he'd be up to keeping them watered. So the tubs are growing weeds this summer. On my last visit to see him I noticed this lone petunia growing in the crack in the concrete up against the garage. He'd had petunias growing last summer by the back door & a seed survived our long, cold winter! It was a beautiful sight!

Happy Anniversary, Don & Cheryl!

Don & Cheryl celebrate 36 years of married life today! They were married here in Lincoln on a hot day in a Catholic church without air conditioning. One of my siblings passed out from the heat but I don't recall who. I do remember the powder blue tuxes & the dresses the bridesmaids wore. Cheryl had made her own beautiful gown! (And I'm sure could still fit in it!) It was a memorable day for all of us to be in the big city of Lincoln from down on the farm. Dad took us to McDonalds on O street for a meal & they weren't open yet but the guy at the door asked if we were a tour. Dad said no this was just his family! Congratulations to both of you!



Photo taken May 30th in Dad's kitchen.

Addendum: Don tells me that both Jim & Dale passed out at the wedding. The temperature was 101 degrees that day.

Jean's clothespins

When I was out at the farm on Friday to take in wheat harvest I noticed that my sister-in-law, Jean, had clothes on the line . . .