From Laura & Jason

Make a Smilebox slideshow

First Day of work

Butch and I finished our first day of work today. We are both tired tonight. Not used to putting in 8 hours of honest work. We will get used to it soon. Some things have changed and it is all about getting the routine down again. Once we do that it will be smooth sailing.
Yesterday we walked up to the waterfall...at least we intended to. It was muddy, snowy and slick in spots. We had been told you couldn't go all the way up because of a snow melt filled stream and beaver ponds. We did plan to go as far as we could but gave up short of that goal. We did walk far enough to give both of us sore calf muscles. We saw moose, deer and "large kitty" prints in the mud. None were fresh.
I am doing much better with the altitude this year.
I will be doing more posting on the www.smrvolunteers.blogspot.com so may want to check in on that one too.

Leo and Keri's Big Rain

Leo sent me these flood pictures. He said they have never had this kind of flooding, even in 1993!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Our Trip to Snow Mountain Ranch

I took photos through the windshield as we made our way to SMR taking the northern route through Laramie WY and Walden CO. Below is a slide show of my windshield shots. The trip was smooth with great weather. Windy in Wyoming but then it always is. The first hour or two after arrival is spent greeting all the friends we made last year as first time volunteers. So good to see everyone again. Once we get acclimated to the altitude we will begin our duties as campground attendants. The acclimation process seems to be easier this year. I didn't huff and puff nearly so hard walking up the hill to the Commons for meals.
Be sure to check out the www.smrvolunteers.blogspot.com site as well as this one because if I get short of time that will most likely be the one that gets attention since it will be part of my volunteer duties.
This one will always get the straight skinny though so if I need to vent it will show up here. Nahhh...Ain't gonna happen...right?

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Memorial Day 2008

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Hometown Tree

We have driven by this tree hundreds of times and never took note of it. Today we did! It's a doozy!! Located on hwy 4 south side of Jefferson IA on the west side of the highway. White rail fence helps in locating it.

Cat Themed

The black one is Kiki owned by Nicole Morlan and the other is on the Brooker Complex where are currently residing.

News...maybe not!

We are still in Jefferson and will be until early next week. Butch and I were able to get one bike ride in on the Raccoon River Valley Trail. We only rode about six miles total. Roger Conant, a cousin by marriage, lives close to the trail so we stopped for a visit.
Yesterday, we had our annual girls day out. This started a few years ago where we would all meet, usually in Jefferson for a family gathering...just the girls. So yesterday we met here. My sisters Teri and Myrla, Cousin Phyllis and her niece Joanna, and our niece
Karla and her son Devon. We had a fine visit and we always find out a few things we didn't know or perhaps had forgotten.
I am on the final lap of the Swedish weaving afghan I am doing for a wedding in August. It turned out great and I did it in record time. I started it May 1st and will be putting the finishing touches on it today or tomorrow.

Oh and yes, Butch has been golfing.

Gratitude

The Gratitude Sign

Ever wonder how to say thank you when you see a military person in uniform?

See a simple way to do it from across a room or as you are passing by.
Please click on the 'The Gratitude Sign'
Let's do it!

The Morning Bath

Springtime on Lake Anita

I apologize to those with slow connections...

Make a Smilebox photobook

Up to date

Butch and I are at his brother Leo's place in Jefferson Iowa the old hometown. Yesterday we drove to Boone IA and spent the day with son Jason and family. Laura prepared a scrumptious BBQ rib dinner for all of us. Super Tasty!
I went for my walk this morning while Butch mows. It is a never ending chore here but Butch does love it. It seems he can hardly wait to get on the machine when we get here. This isn't new. I teased him years ago about his unnatural relationship with his lawnmower.
I am still working away on the wedding afghan and it is coming along nicely. I am off to Pamida this morning to purchase exactly the right color yarn to continue. Jefferson may only have one grocery store but they have two places to buy yarn so if I cannot find what I am looking for at Pamida I can go on in to Ben Franklin as they have a humongous yarn selection.
Leo rebooted his Wifi system so now I have a speedier connection to get some blogging done. How easily we get spoiled!
Till next time...

Above Average

Every now and then I get a photo I consider above average and this is one of them. The bird is an Baltimore Oriole.

What we do

We are at Lake Anita for another week. Doctor appt. on Monday- Haircut on Tuesday. Angel loves it here. Spends all her time looking out the windshield. The Pelicans are still here. The DNR guys say they have been here for 3 weeks and it is time for them to move on. They are getting all the fish!!
Today Butch went to Jefferson to do some electrical for his brother Leo. We will be up there next week.
I haven't posted much for a couple of reasons. I have had a cranky Internet connection. Sometimes it works great and sometimes not. Also I am working on a Swedish weaving project that will be a wedding present. I started it concerned for the amount of time it may take to finish it. That is no longer the concern as it is going along quite well and I am having fun with it. I will be more content to have it done and ready for giving however.

Pelicans

Make a postcard - it's easy!

April Photos

For those with high speed connections:

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Tuna Cakes

Tuna Cakes 4/28/2008

Author: Sherri Clark

2 Cans (6oz. ea.) light tuna in water, drained, flaked.
1 pkg. (6oz.) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken
1 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 C. shredded carrots
1/3 C. mayonnaise
2 Tbl. Sweet pickle relish
3/4 C. water
(I added 6 green onions)


Mix tuna, stuffing mix, cheese, carrots, dressing, relish and water in a bowl.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 10 min.
Heat a large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. Scoop tuna
mixture, using about 1/3 C. for each cake, into the skillet in batches. An ice cream
scoop works well. Gently flatten cakes using a spatula. Cook 3-5 minutes on each
side or until golden brown on both sides, turning carefully.

I Love It!!

e
I have been looking all over several states for a chair to replace the one we bought at Bubba's that I didn't like. After arriving at the "kid's" house Susan said she would take me to the furniture store closest to them to look but she warned me they were a bit pricey. I walked in and found MY chair! I love this chair. It fits me perfectly in every way. I told Butch I could live in this chair. There is back support in the right spot- the headrest fits my neck and head exactly right- my feet touch the floor- it reclines fully and stays that way. It is in a word PERFECT! The brand name is Best and friend Shirley Franey purchased one in Texas this past winter and I had so liked hers but was unable to find one like it...And now I have!! I am singing a happy tune!

Watchin' and waitin'

If you are watching and waiting for news of us, today is your lucky day! We are in Peculiar Place RV Park near Peculiar MO. We have been visiting with Gary and Susan and Susan's mother Eloise nightly. Last weekend we enjoyed the company of Brad and Amanda Teeter as well. Next Saturday morning we will be headed north to Anita IA with hopes there is an open spot for us at Lake Anita where we will connect with more friends and get up to date with doctor visits.
From there, depending on test results and such we will be headed to Jefferson IA where will make more connections with friends and family before heading west to Colorado for 6 weeks. So now you know as much as we do about our plans and I hope they can mesh with yours somewhere along the way.

Behind...

I was amused by this "setter" in Carthage

We met Sam and Marilynn at the Cracker Barrel in Joplin one day for lunch.
Marilynn was our first level supervisor at Snow Mountain Ranch.

Our son, Gary umpires in the KC area and we went to see him work last Saturday.