Summer 09

A spring with no late frost gave us a good start on summer.
Gardening as well as extensive yard work is a main stay of this season on the home place.

Dinner parties with friends, in this case the Schwarze, break up the routine of weeding, mowing and irrigating.

Kim was able to spend a couple of days with us in the middle of July during the month recess from her teaching duties in Moscow, Russia. We did not get many pictures taken during her visit. The details of her year's experiences teaching and copping with living in Moscow made for many hours of great conversation.

Her pictures are superimposed over an early July sunrise at home with a couple of storm cloud pictures in late afternoon light.

The storm clouds really unloaded on us for two days during the Sweeney visit the first week in August. Amy and Jay's efforts in cleaning up fallen limbs from the storm and fallen fruit was a great help. Jay made a special effort to remove some dead limbs caught in the branches of the big cottonwood. Both efforts were greatly appreciated.

We had a great time with Ian and Katie working on the looms. Katie made the rug pictured below, picking the colors herself and threading the weft while Grandma worked the treadles. Ian worked with Grandma on the small loom until the ant mound became too distracting. He was in such a hurry that he jumped right out of his shoes on his way.

There was a prolific display of Humming Bird activity during their stay. Jay got some spectacular photos of birds on the feeder but this is our solitary picture. It was not unusual to see all eight holes on the feeder serving birds at the same time.

On the last day Ian and Katie worked with Grandpa in the work shop making toys. Ian used the scroll saw to cut out the treads for the tank that he designed and Katie supervised the construction of her doll bed.

A few days were spent the third week of August in Eastern Idaho with Milt and Debbie taking care of some business and doing a little sailing. We put in on the American Falls Reservoir at the Aberdeen sportsman access and did some sailing in the harbor as that was the only place there was any wind. The main reservoir was calm and we had expected the wind to pick up in the late afternoon but alas. We had fun just the same. We learned some of the routine maneuvers and practiced "man over board" drill. Pour "Blue Man" would have surly drowned during our attempts.
Pictures below show the sequence of getting the boat in the water from gassing up in Blackfoot through erecting the mast and deploying the sails. Great fun!!!! :)

Below are pictures of the intrepid sailors including the Bibi crafted boat pennant made for Milt's birthday. The photographer of course is missing.

Close to the end of the summer of 2009 we honored the "Great J.C." on the occasion of his OLD MAN celebration ( his 75th Birthday) To those who are unfamiliar with the "Great J.C." title, it is an age old family moniker for Uncle Jim.

May we present his portrait featuring his birthday Red Barron flight helmet.