Late in Posting Wednesday's Game

I attempted to post this early Sunday but blogger was having issues and wouldn't upload my pictures. I've been spending a lot of time out in the yard trying to get things ready for out 4th of July family get together. I am building a shelter out of pallets, posts and framework from a safety enclosure for a trampoline. I'm also waiting on a tarp to arrive to cover it. I'll post some pictures later. On with the ballgame. The grandson played outfield...
I like this picture of him waiting for his turn at bat, watching the game...
The picture below isn't my grandson, but it's the best action shot of the bunch...
Here he is waiting patiently in the dugout...
I like this one, the managers just keep getting younger and younger...
This is the coach's daughter and she was quite the manager. From where I was sitting I could hear her reading off the lineup to the boys on the team. They didn't win their game but they looked to have a good time and had improved considerably. More than once they were able to get a ball to base and put a player out. Only one game left to play.

After the Storm

I had been waking up early every morning since the family reunion, but this morning the hubby woke me a half hour later than I had been waking to say that a storm was moving in. On the news I heard that 72mph winds had been clocked north of us and were coming our way so I stepped out on the front porch and pulled my potted plants back to the house where they could get some protection. Then the winds came and after they blew through this is what I found...
I had been saying that this particular tree needed to be cut down, it hadn't been looking so good. Only recently had it sprouted any green leaves...
I'm just glad that the wind that took it down blew it the direction that it did or it could've done damage to my car or my shed & house. The neighbor's fence has been in bad shape for a while. Just last week I had driven a short metal fence post in to support the post that is down in the photo below. I haven't been out to see what became of the metal post, whether it's bent or just laid over in the water soaked ground.
This flattened spot in my Day Lilies is where my Aloe plant and chairs ended up. I wasn't able to get the Aloe to safety before the storm and the chairs were suppose to be bungee'd to the metal post.
After the first round blew through the clouds looked soft and bumpy....
...later they got to looking a little more scrambled.

Is there and angry face in the clouds below?
I think the next one looks rather ominous, like there's a reptilian eye peering out.
But as every cloud is said to have a silver lining there is good to be found after storms if only you look for it. These tiny yellow flowers had their first bloom of the season after the storm.
Anita, the trees fared well in all the wind and rain!

My son brought over his chain saw, he had to go to work, but couldn't get it started. Now that the sun has come out and everything has calmed down I guess I'll go give it a try. Really hate to think of having to cut up the tree with a tree saw and axe, though I've done it before. Needs to get done one way or another. Looks like I'm going to have plenty of wood for the fire pit!

Seigal Reunion

I am way behind in my posting. I have pictures and things to post about, I just haven't had the time. By the time I get set down I'm yawning so big my eyes go shut and I can't see to read or write. I'll try to get some posts done in the next couple of days.

Last weekend was our Seigal Family Reunion. This is a line on my mother's side. Below is a picture of the Jacob Conrad Seigal Family. Right at the moment I can't tell you which one is my line but his name is William Edward Seigal. Our family has been having these family reunions ever since I can remember and in the '70s they even made it official and formed an organization with bylaws and everything. We haven't kept up with holding official meetings using Robert's Rules, but we do have informal meetings. We hold our reunions every two years.
This reunion was hosted by my mother's first cousin that lives in Kansas so we didn't have all that far to go this time. The reunion was held at their home so first order of business when we arrived was a tour. In the living room was a wonderful collection of clocks and Coors pottery. I had to get the history on the pottery because I didn't know that Coors made pottery. This was something that they did when they couldn't make beer. Quite interesting.
Most of the reunion occurred out back on the deck. Family members slowly started arriving on Friday evening for supper and relaxing conversation.

Looking over the fence on the deck you see a lovely expansive yard. It's about twice the size of my yard but surrounded by trees and bushes making it totally private.
To the right of the picture above is a large open area that family members pitched tents in.
Looking back toward the house from the garden you can see that the deck is over a walkout basement.

In the basement is the host cousin's workshop, he not only collects clocks but is trained in clock repair.
Saturday morning we all gathered back at the house for a great breakfast casserole made in the dutch oven. I'm going to have to check the web for other recipes made in the dutch oven. Sounds like something I could use for this coming 4th of July gathering. Then after breakfast we all formed a convoy and went to an antiques museum.
The main building of the Yesteryear Museum held a display area in half of it and the other half was a kitchen and dining room. While we all toured the facility the hosting family got busy setting things up for grilled hamburgers, hot dogs and fixings and our family meeting.
The main building held just a small sampling of all the old items in the museums holdings. Out back was a huge metal building and going inside you saw that it was packed on two levels.

I took loads of pictures here, but I'm not going to post them now. In the area they called the Print Shop there was old type for presses that I took pictures of so I can use them in graphics creations. There was also a wall of bricks that had different things stamped on them, both words and patterns.
Below is a small portion of a car plate collection. Anita, if you look near the bottom middle of this picture you'll see a "Big Well" plate.
Below is just a picture taken from the second level looking down. You can see half of the car plate collection in the upper right hand corner.
Back in the main building, after our meal, we proceed with planned activities. One thing we always do is have a fund raising raffle. Everyone is to bring items for the raffle then we all buy raffle tickets. This is how we pay for food and renting facilities like Yesteryear. The children had a GREAT time as there were lots of things for them, two tables full of raffle items.

After the raffle we held our regular meeting, the main objective to figure out where the reunion is to be held next year. This has been a problem in recent years with our aging family population. The same cousins graciously volunteered to take it on another time. Back at the house the boys decided to go to the park for a game of disk golf.

At this time I would like to take the opportunity thank our hostesses for all their hard work. They kept us overfeed and happy all weekend and I know we all appreciated all that they did. Here they 're preparing for Saturday evening taco dinner.
The children headed back to the pool and other games. I can't say that heard one single "I'm bored" all weekend and I know that the two grandsons that roomed with us hit their beds hard each night and slept soundly.
Sunday morning we all gathered again on the deck for pancakes and....
...Boyscout omelets. These were made by putting eggs in a Ziploc freezer bag, add whatever ingredients you'd like in your omelet, mush it all up, zip it shut and dip it in boiling water till cooked.

After breakfast family members slowly started heading out to their respective homes. It was a wonderful weekend of visiting, eating, and seeing new sights.

Juice Bar

I believe I have mentioned that I a huge mulberry tree in my yard that produces an abundance of mulberries, yes? These mulberries can be problem because when they are abundant and start falling from the tree they create a fruity mush beneath the tree. I find it a problem, but the bugs find a Juice Bar. This pretty little butterfly was the first to catch my eye.

While photographing the butterfly I noticed lots of these little gold flies buzzing around. It took me several shots to finally get a good one. It just didn't want to sit still long enough for me get a good picture of it.
This beauty was amazingly approachable. I'd take a picture, then move in closer, take another picture, move in closer. I got fairly close before it flew away.
Below you'll see what they were all coming for, juicy berries.
I don't know if I'll get anything posted this weekend. I will be away at a family reunion and I'm not sure if I'll have an Internet connection, or time. I will post all about when I get back if not sooner.

Cardio Mike Boot Camp Commercials

A few weeks ago Cardio Mike with Genesis Health Club contacted me and asked if we could put together a couple 30 second commercials for TV for his Boot Camp program. So after a few editing sessions with major and minor revisions here are the final cuts, ready to air...

MAKE IT GREAT TODAY

Cardio Mike

Father's Day 2008

As with most little girls, my dad has always been my hero. Here's a little of what comes to mind when I think of my father... first he was a young man, many years before even thoughts of me twinkled anywhere.
My father was a cowboy who would tell me tales of his horse and how the horse would work with him. A cowboy's horse is an asset like another set of arms or legs.
My father was/is a U.S. Marine, and being a cowboy and Marine I always thought of my dad whenever I saw John Wayne movies.
Here he is with the VMSB 343 - Marine Scout-Bomber Squadrons. He's in the back row, right of center.
Another hat that daddy wore was that of a singer. One of the family's favorite pastimes was to get together and sing, and Ohhh the harmony was glorious. Nothing will bring tears to my eyes quicker, or joy to my heart, than to hear, or even think about my dad and his brothers singing. Dad rarely went to a gathering without bringing his guitar along.
When I was small my dad was the biggest, tallest, strongest man anywhere.

Dad could do ANYTHING. He 'helped' us make wooden rubberband guns and sailboats...
...and he built heavy duty swingsets for us. This swingset was actually used to pull engines before it held swings, and it stood in my parents backyard for many years.
The years have flown by, he's not as tall or strong as used to be, but my dad still and always will be MY HERO!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, DAD!

Last night I went into Wichita and joined my brother's family for a Father's Day dinner with dad. Below he's sitting next to my Aunt (mom's sister) reading Father's Day cards while waiting for our table.

My brother and his granddaughter...
...one of my grandsons in the middle and my brother's two grandsons, wife and my mom.

The next two shots are two of my grandsons and their bottles of Sarsaparilla...
...they thought that was some pretty good stuff.
After a filling meal and by the light of a beautiful evening moon...
...I bid my dad Goodnight!

I Love You, DAD!

HAPPY TRAILS!!!