Midtown

At Alex's Ballgame

2011-04-26T22:20:00.003-05:00

Lil Jon at 11 months

2011-04-03T20:34:00.002-05:00

Flying Mallards

2011-03-07T19:11:00.002-06:00

Oh Deer

2011-03-07T19:09:00.001-06:00

Butterfly at the Zoo

2011-02-16T19:45:00.001-06:00

Lil Jon at 9 months

2011-02-01T21:03:00.002-06:00

Lego Creation by Alex

2011-02-01T21:02:00.002-06:00

A Pair of Jets

2010-12-20T20:37:00.001-06:00

What the

2010-12-02T21:50:00.002-06:00

Troll in shop window in Wisconsin Dells.

Dog Jump

2010-12-02T21:46:00.002-06:00

We watched this dog jump across the rocks.

Lake Erie

2010-11-20T11:48:00.002-06:00

We were able to see all five Great Lakes on our trip. We practiced our kung fu at each lake. Actually we threw a pebble or rock in each lake as a means of interacting with each of them. We had trouble finding rocks at Lake Superiors south shore, so we found some small pebbles to use. Rocks at Lake Ontario were so large, we used some we had collected at Lake Huron thanks to Jerry's idea to do so. So we called our trip The Great Lakes and Niagara Falls Road Trip

Lake Ontario

2010-11-20T11:44:00.002-06:00

After visiting Niagara Falls we drove along the Niagara River north to its exit into Lake Ontario and then west until we came to a public access to the lake shoreline. As we looked out across the lake, we noticed a major city. What Canadian city were we looking at?

Horseshoe Falls

2010-11-15T18:43:00.005-06:00

This falls is next to Niagara Falls, but is in Canada. It is even more massive. We took a ride on the Maid of the Mist - that boat that takes you right up to the base of both falls. They give you rain ponchos, but those in front of the boat got their shoes and pant bottoms soaked. Also included a view from the barrel ride we went on (haha).

Greetings from Niagara Falls

2010-11-06T20:51:00.001-05:00

Lake Huron Trumpeter Swans

2010-11-04T21:11:00.003-05:00

In Port Huron, Michigan.

Lake Michigan Waves

2010-11-04T21:10:00.001-05:00

Near Petoskey, Michigan.

Mackinac Bridge

2010-11-02T21:47:00.005-05:00

This is the Mackinac Bridge. It is said to be one of the world's most beautiful bridges and the longest suspension bridge in the Americas, with a total length of 8,614 feet suspended. It is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world. Much of the beauty comes from the setting at the Straits of Mackinac. The Straits link Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. (Lake Michigan is on the left side of the bridge and Lake Huron is on the right.) The 5 mile long Mackinac Bridge (Big Mac) links Michigan's Lower and Upper peninsulas. The UP is on the far side of the bridge in this picture.

Tahquamenon Falls

2010-10-30T09:10:00.002-05:00

The Tahquamenon Falls are two different waterfalls on the Tahquamenon River. Both sets are located near Lake Superior in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The water is notably brown in color from the tannins leached from the cedar swamps which the river drains. This phenomenon is responsible for the alternative local name 'Root Beer Falls'.

The upper falls are more than 200 feet across and with a drop of approximately 48 feet. During the late spring runoff, the river drains as much as 50,000 gallons of water per second, making the upper falls the third most voluminous vertical waterfall east of the Mississippi River, after Niagara Falls and Cohoes Falls, both in New York State.

The Tahquamenon is noted as being the land of Longfellow's The Song of Hiawatha - "by the rushing Tahquamenaw" where Hiawatha built his canoe.

Munising Falls

2010-10-27T17:13:00.002-05:00

This is a 50 foot waterfall in the city of Munising, Michigan. It was only a quarter mile hike to get to it.

Miner's Castle

2010-10-22T08:44:00.002-05:00

We traveled down this neat road in the upper peninsula (UP) of Michigan to get to Miner's Castle along the southern Lake Superior shoreline in what is part of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. The only way to really see any more of the shoreline was by boat. We got there too late for a boat ride.

Lake Superior near Marquette, MI

2010-10-18T09:45:00.002-05:00

Elephant Rock (in central Wisconsin)

2010-10-18T09:43:00.001-05:00

Golden Cassia

2010-09-19T11:29:00.001-05:00

A gray hairstreak butterfly alights on the Cassia fasciculata plant.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

2010-09-08T16:00:00.002-05:00

Oh Deer

2010-09-06T20:24:00.002-05:00

Swallowtail Butterfly in the Garden

2010-08-30T20:44:00.001-05:00

Sunflower and Monarch on Ironweed

2010-08-18T16:52:00.002-05:00

Summer Green

2010-08-13T09:11:00.002-05:00

Bambi thru the windshield

2010-07-30T15:04:00.002-05:00

Kermit the Bullfrog

2010-07-30T15:03:00.002-05:00

Happy 4th - exploding plantworks

2010-07-04T11:56:00.003-05:00

This first plant is a flowering milkweed.
The second plant is known as 'goat's beard'.

Backyard Roses

2010-06-30T09:20:00.002-05:00

Missouri River Spectator

2010-06-26T17:23:00.002-05:00

Hiker in Fontenelle Forest

2010-06-26T17:21:00.003-05:00

Father's Day Fishing Outing

2010-06-23T09:40:00.003-05:00

They fish, therefore, they are.

Jon Jr

2010-05-30T11:20:00.002-05:00

The Graduate

2010-05-08T09:10:00.003-05:00

Bachelor of Science in Biology. We celebrated Adam's grand achievement at M's Pub afterwards.

Pretty Birds

2010-05-06T09:36:00.001-05:00

Proud Grandparents

2010-04-30T16:03:00.002-05:00

Tulip Time

2010-04-17T10:56:00.002-05:00

Guess which art piece is Cassia's

2010-04-08T20:32:00.002-05:00

More Cranes

2010-04-05T09:21:00.004-05:00

Cranes at Sunset

2010-03-30T10:24:00.002-05:00

Cranes and Moon

2010-03-30T10:23:00.002-05:00

March Mountain Forest

2010-03-28T21:33:00.001-05:00

Guess Whose Capitol

2010-03-24T14:36:00.001-05:00

Which Way Is Up?

2010-03-22T18:12:00.003-05:00

From a little little pond under that Lake Natoma bridge Mryna posted February 19th.

Eagle Watch

2010-03-08T09:35:00.002-06:00

In Memory of Our Dog

2010-02-25T21:30:00.003-06:00

Maggie
August 1994 - February 2010

Word Game

2010-02-14T19:48:00.002-06:00

Who can guess the words covered up by the tail of this immature redtailed hawk? Its tail will eventually turn a reddish brown in a year or so if I remember right.

Spring Trail

2010-02-07T21:12:00.002-06:00

How Many Deer??

2010-02-01T11:08:00.005-06:00

We drove through Boyer Chute NWR on Thursday and saw a sight that had us stop for several minutes along the main road. A partially mowed and partially unmowed recreated grassland held an unusual sight. Along the line of mowed/unmowed grass approximately 200 feet back from the main road occured this "line" of deer. We got out the binoculars and counted at least 150 deer. We probably missed a few that were laying in the grass. Never before have we seen so many deer in one gathering. Bob's last highest count was close to 100, and also at this refuge, but on the other side of the chute and about 2 miles further east. How many deer do you count in this picture?

Sunset at Desoto Bend NWR

2010-01-07T19:33:00.002-06:00

At least the sunset looks warm. Who can guess the bird in the tree? Actually there are two of them.

Before and After Christmas Blizzard

2009-12-28T12:30:00.001-06:00

Happy Winter To All

2009-12-16T19:39:00.001-06:00

Ketchikan Creek Street

2009-11-18T09:33:00.002-06:00

Here are some scenes of Ketchikan Creek Street and salmon trying to get upstream. The lower part of the creek is a boardwalk with shops. The creek itself was loaded with thousands upon thousands of salmon trying to move upstream. The closer the salmon got to the point where the salmon is jumping out of the water, the more densely they were packed together. The jump shot is at a waterfall that proved to be a formidable obstacle for them. Some teenagers offered to let Bob use their fishing gear for $5 each fish he caught, but he didn't have a fishing license. The teenagers said he didn't need one - yeah, right. The salmon were 18-24 inches, and would have been alot of fun to catch.

Another Glacier

2009-11-13T08:14:00.002-06:00

Another glacier we got to see was the Lamplugh Glacier. Notice the meltwater river running through it! Google says this glacier is eight miles long, 150 feet high above the water, and only 10-40 feet below the water.

A Recent Photo

2009-11-04T11:33:00.002-06:00

Took this a week or so ago WHILE DRIVING down to Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge from Fort Calhoun. Had to avoid a deep ditch on my left, AND oncoming traffic. Not highly recommended method of bird photography, but it is the best photo I have ever gotten of this bird in flight. Who can name the bird?

From sea level to heaven

2009-10-29T10:48:00.002-05:00

The Face

2009-10-29T10:46:00.001-05:00

I think I have been processing these Alaska photos toooo long!

Heavenly Glacier

2009-10-21T18:56:00.002-05:00

Below this high up heavenly glacier was a rocky shoreline. Can you find the big face in the rocks? It looks like a floppy-eared dog face or maybe a turtle face to Bob, or is he just seeing things?

Coastal Mountain Stream

2009-10-12T15:45:00.002-05:00

I just happened to have been on the 'porch' of our railcar and got a spot to take a picture, and to my surprise we were crossing a picturesque stream, so I quickly shot this picture, and then the scene was gone. Shooting pictures inside the train did not turn out well - lots of glare mostly, but also lots of people in the way during the second or two you have to get the picture as the train is moving along.

Yukon River

2009-10-05T13:42:00.002-05:00

Shirley on a salmon run

2009-10-01T14:44:00.003-05:00

Sheep Mountain

2009-09-29T22:39:00.003-05:00

Click on the picture with the sheep to see them a little better; but still not very good because they were so high up on that mountain.

Resting

2009-09-25T22:37:00.002-05:00

How we made it to the Yukon

2009-09-21T19:35:00.003-05:00

Alaska Pipeline

2009-09-15T09:08:00.002-05:00

A statue of Granite

2009-09-12T16:59:00.001-05:00

Susan Butcher's Trail Breaker Kennel

2009-09-12T16:57:00.001-05:00

How we got from Anchorage to Fairbanks

2009-09-10T22:33:00.001-05:00

Willow Ptarmigan

2009-09-07T09:32:00.003-05:00

This is the Alaska state bird. It turns white in the winter time.

The Three Bears

2009-09-01T12:06:00.002-05:00

All the grizzly bear pictures were taken with a zoom lense from inside the National Park Service concessionaire Tundra Wilderness Tour bus. The sow grizzly and its two 2-yr old cubs came down a mountainous hillside to the side of our bus and then crossed the road and down to a stream below. Was a great grizzly experience we wanted to share. One more picture - of the 3 bears as they first started to come down the hillside. They took their time, yet it took them no time at all, and they paid no attention to us in the bus (but we were told to be real quiet when they got real close).

An advancing grizzly bear

2009-08-27T14:04:00.002-05:00

Has the right of way

2009-08-27T14:03:00.002-05:00

Or she might come see you

2009-08-27T14:00:00.001-05:00

State Flower

2009-08-05T11:03:00.002-05:00

Birthday Boy

2009-07-29T10:49:00.002-05:00

Black Rasberries along the trail

2009-07-25T08:22:00.002-05:00

Bfly

2009-07-21T10:32:00.002-05:00

From the Garden

2009-07-16T12:39:00.002-05:00

Shaggy Daisey

2009-07-08T19:40:00.001-05:00

Klipspringer

2009-07-08T19:38:00.002-05:00

Not from Shirley's garden

2009-06-08T13:22:00.002-05:00

2009-05-25T17:41:00.001-05:00

Strawberries and Cream Tulips

2009-05-18T22:22:00.002-05:00

S'more Tulips

2009-05-11T15:07:00.002-05:00

Cherry Blossom

2009-05-01T11:22:00.002-05:00

6 Funny Things About Others -- per Janell's tag

2009-04-29T23:17:00.009-05:00

Six is a large order -- as you can see it's taken me a long time to get this far, but I'll try. These are a few moments that made my laugh-out-loud list.

ONE:
Our family has a couple of fashion police people in it. Last May we were all out for an ice cream treat at Dairy Queen. As we sat enjoying our treat, April stopped eating and looked close at Bob's shirt, then said, "excuse me, is that corduroy?" Bob looked a bit puzzled, and then said, "is something wrong with that?" We all looked at each other. Then Jonathan said, "not if you're Paddington Bear." We laughed at Jonathan's joke. It was funny. To finish my story, for Christmas Jon & April gave Bob a brand new corduroy shirt, with a stipulation that he was not to wear it between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

TWO:
Our very bright California niece is an elementary school teacher. It has been fun to watch her grow into her profession and become the confident, fine tuned, professional she is. But years ago when she was practicing on some preschoolers, she had a slip up. She was teaching colors and flavors to the youngsters with the help of some lifesavers. The kids were tasting and guessing colors and flavors. All went well for cherry and grape and orange -- the pretty basic stuff. Then she gave each child a tan honey flavored one. The group struggled with this one, so our teacher tried a hint. She said, "sometimes a mommy might call a daddy this name."
Well, one little girl spit out the candy, and yelled, "Oh my gosh, it's a**hole."

THREE:
This story I did not witness, but it is funny. When the CA and NV relatives were traveling to NE a couple years ago, I asked them to just pick up a couple of nice rocks for my garden as they drove over a couple mountains. I had to convince my sister this was perfectly all right, and it would not upset the balance of nature to put a few Wyoming rocks in a garden in Nebraska. Well, they did stop and gather a few rocks for me. And by the sounds of it had fun doing it. The two kids on the trip were very willing to help, and they all got rocks for Aunt Shirley. Then someone decided that Uncle Bob should have some rocks, too. So the whole group gathered more rocks with little Shea leading the way, saying "yes, we need some rocks for Uncle Bob, too." And they all found perfect rocks for Uncle Bob. The mission complete, they headed on down the road. Then Shea asks, "Who is Uncle Bob?"

FOUR:
When the new W*Mart opened, I went with Bob to see the mega structure, and buy cheap stuff. The parking lot is screwy. We were creeping along looking for a place to park, and I was helping Bob drive. Well, he kind of bumped the back of a car. Didn't seem like it was going to be any big deal. But this guy got out of the car, and came walking back to our van. I saw him and said, "Oh gosh, Bob, that guy is a dwarf." Well, Bob put his window down and the little person came up to the car and stated, "I AM NOT HAPPY!" Bob looked down and said, "Well, which one are you then?"

FIVE:
We are a family of wildlife watchers. Grandson Alex seemed to learn this at a very young age as he has spent a lot of time with Grandpa spotting animals and birds while driving through parks or hiking. One day Alex and I were walking around the back yard looking at plants and smelling flowers. Alex was about 2years old at the time, and he seemed so pleased to point some things out for me to look at. I was a little taken back when he very clearly said, "look Grandma, a wolf." I looked where he was pointing and there was the neighbor's dog. That dog does have wolf like coloring and body, but he is a little short to be taken seriously. Later we were standing near the back door on the patio, Alex and I facing each other, and Adam came out the door, and I said something to him. Then I heard Alex say "look Grandma, a snake." I looked down and there was a snake slithering between Alex and me. "Arghhhhhh! A snake!" I said a little too loud and scary. Upon hearing me, Alex freaked and started screaming, too. Who knows what happened to the snake, I just picked up Alex and headed into the house. After calming him down, I tried to explain that the snake was harmless, and we didn't need to be scared. Yeah right, Grandma.

SIX:
I have a cat story, too. We had a little black and white kitten that had a name, but we just called Babycat. Cassie brought it outside on the patio and set it on the picnic table where Adam & I were sitting. We don't have outside cats, so this was not something we did with a cat. But we were just watching the kitten and talking, and a squirrel came hopping towards us. Babycat caught sight of the squirrel and it was like a cartoon. She arched her back, hissed, screamed,turned around, and took one leap down to the bench, next a leap to the ground, the next leap was up onto the back of the dog, Maggie, and then sprung up to the screen door and hung there. The dog looked around having no clue what just happened. Lucky for Babycat, she still had her claws and she hung there until Cass pried her loose.

SEVEN: Bonus story.
One day there was a man who did not belch loud, fart, take control of the remote, or make sex his only priority.

But it was only for one day.

Monsella Tulip Monday

2009-04-27T10:26:00.001-05:00

Tulips Thursday

2009-04-23T09:25:00.002-05:00

Teasel Thursday

2009-04-16T11:24:00.002-05:00

Wood Duck Wednesday

2009-04-08T16:15:00.003-05:00

Waxwing Wednesday

2009-04-01T19:02:00.002-05:00

Watery Wednesday (Coots)

2009-03-11T19:53:00.001-05:00

Treelimb Thursday

2009-02-26T13:29:00.002-06:00

Ruby Tuesday

2009-02-17T20:21:00.002-06:00

Walnut Wednesday

2009-02-11T16:23:00.001-06:00

Wintery Wednesday

2009-01-21T15:40:00.001-06:00

Ruby Tuesday

2009-01-13T17:15:00.002-06:00