Happy Indepence Day Weekend!

We are careening into a really busy section of the summer.  And the boys are having fun with it!

This week's weather has been awesome, cool nights, warm days.  During the week I put nearly 200 miles on the motorcycle, quite a bit of it for work.  I almost froze the other morning when I went to Holland for a 7:30 AM meeting, 40 miles in 50 degree weather, chilly to be sure, but by the time I left,  I knew it was the right thing to do.

It's Saturday morning and everyone's still abed.  I love the house at this time, it's quiet and cool and the coffee is fresh and hot.  I'm living the dream, to be sure.

Today's Birthday Shout Out is for our country, the good ole US of A.  As usual, let's start with the baby shot, the original 13 colonies. And an adolescent shot, gaining the Louisiana Purchase and the current version.  All kidding aside, let's all do our best to celebrate our freedoms and honor our veterans that have fought and died for those freedoms. 

There's another Birthday Shout Out that should be mentioned.  As many of you know, I have the same birth date as our country and since I am at the keyboard, I can control the shot's that are used, so here's my own shout out.

One of my all time favorites, is this one, Jack, Dave and me as  little guy.  I try to maintain that zest for life.  Though a full set of teeth, for now, has changed my looks a bit.

 








Here's a shot from my wedding day.  Wow, we were so young!  My hair isn't that color any more, that's for sure.

Here I am, monitoring the shotgun rifle range at an outing in 2008. 

I must admit, it's feels weird to toot my own horn and so I'll leave you with this; Take yourself serious enough to be a good member of society, but remember to have fun along the way!










Have an awesome 4th and please forgive the ramblings of a 53 year old kid.
Pat

Wednesday is Humpday!

Nearly to the holiday weekend.  Ahh!

Work has been insane, really challenging  and not slowing down for any rest any time soon.

The boy scouts finished up the project for Josh's Eagle project.  As I mentioned it's at Equest Therapeutic riding academy.  It was a shelter, now it's a resting place for the riders.  We tore off the entire roof and replaced it, replaced have the wood on the back wall, built benches and then filled it with horse friendly mulch.  Rumor has it that if a horse walks in mulch that's got some black walnut in it and it gets wedged in the hoof, it can kill the horse.  Who'd a thunk?  Anyway, it's all done!




Have a great day!
Pat

Sunday is drawing to a close

This marks the end of our lazy weekend.  Today was a pretty easy day, went to church, took a nap, Holly went to work and the boys and I went shopping for a bit and then had dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings, we like it, Holly's not such a big fan.

It rained off and on most of the day and so the shiny motorcycle stayed in the garage.

It's also Cousin John's birthday today.  Happy Birthday John!  I have a few shots so here you go.

It's been confirmed that John's the baby in this shot.

This is the Clark, Sipley and Young shot, with Nancy held by John Young, then Herb, John Sipley holding Maureen, Keith, then David and yours truly down in front.

Here's John and perhaps me having some ice cream or pie or probably both for me.

At my Mom's funeral, David, me, John Young and John Sipley.

John and his lovely family, showing that indeed, he turned out pretty well.

I hope that you have a great year John!

















Have a great day!
Pat