Happy Birthday, Jack!

Jack turns fourteen years old today. He joined our family Thanksgiving weekend in 1997. Don & I decided to check out the puppies at the pet store at Meadowlane shopping center & there was Jack with some other Beagle puppies. We both fell in love with him right away but I was the one who said I didn't want a dog (because I knew who'd be cleaning up after him). Of course when Don continued to plead his case I caved & the next day he was ours. There were several times during that first year I wondered why I'd said yes, but Jack has since become part of the family. He is always so calm. A friend who listens to all our complaints without criticizing. Greets us at the door when we come home. But his age is catching up to him. Walks have slowed down. Waaaaay down. But we'll keep taking them as long as he's able. In fact the photo below I took just this morning. He is waiting for me at the top of the basement stairs, waiting for his walk.

Connie

Connie visited us over the weekend. I practiced taking some pictures with my flash off the camera. The first photo was an accident. The second was intentional. I love them both.

the Sunken Gardens

This past winter my friend, Joan, asked me to take the Master Gardener classes offered at UN-L. As part of the program we are required to volunteer forty hours in the community. I have put in several mornings at the Sunken Gardens & this morning finally took my camera along. Mostly I've pulled weeds & deadheaded flowers (geraniums, dahlias, cannas, hostas). It has been a great place to volunteer. It is just gorgeous right now & I'm glad I could capture some of its beauty.









































My basket of faded blossoms . . .





I'll never be a real master gardener but I have learned a few things.

Ryan & Katie's wedding reception

In between Austin's wedding & Sturgis, Don & I attended a wedding in South Sioux City. Ryan & Katie. Don works with Ryan. During the reception we sat at a table near this doorway. I loved seeing people framed by the light from the hallway. So I entertained myself with my small camera by capturing the profile of wedding guests passing through this doorway. The reception was supposed to held at Bev's On the River. But that became Bev's In the River & the reception got moved. So the wedding party made their entrance with the women wearing arm floaties & the guys hoisting a sandbag on their shoulders . . .