Happy 4th of July!

As we enjoy our day with family and friends filled with laughter, good food, and memory making moments, take a minute to remember those that not only have served our nation, but those that signed their name on the dotted line paying the ultimate price for our freedoms for such celebrations.  Please also remember the families.

Bringing back a past photo of Old Glory.

Now, sink your teeth into that big juicy burger, have fun and be safe!

I'm Tired

Normally I don't enter into the realm of politics on here, but this is an easy way for me to get things off my chest so to speak.  With that said, I'm tired of watching continued complacency.  And no, I don't know what any of the answers are.

America is under attack.  Maybe not in the literal sense, but with recent court rulings, current political policies, and a generation of kids that just seem simply clueless.....America is under attack.  Under attack from the inside - in my humble opinion the worst kind of attack.

Now, before you start to berate me, I get that not all kids are clueless.  With that said, I see many kids with piss poor attitudes about life in general.  Attitudes that reflect many of our current political policies:  ENTITLEMENT.  Sorry honey, you don't get to "choose" your race, nothing in life is "owed" to you, and if you want something, get off your tush and make it happen.

I fear what is happening in Greece currently is headed for our shores.  Americans have got to pull their heads out of their butt and take a look around.  We simply cannot continue down this spend, spend, spend road we are on.  None of us are entitled to free health care, free lunch, higher wages without earning it, free insurance - I could continue, but you get where I'm headed.  Higher wages are earned - not given.  Don't think I don't understand how hard it is to survive on minimal paychecks; there was a time I worked 2 jobs to live hand to mouth; a time I lived off my credit cards; a time that I did NOTHING extra as simply put, I didn't have any money.  Simple concept:  no money, no extras.

Our current political arena seems to think they can make new laws with no discretion as to the constitutionality of them.  Executive orders are out of control.  To quote our current president, "I have a pen and I have a phone."  Well, good for you.  So do I.  That doesn't mean I am immune to the consequences of lack of thought behind using those two things.  And as far as the Supreme Court is concerned, NEWSFLASH, your job is to interpret current law, not make new law. 

The new SCOTUS ruling the Supreme Court just handed out is a testament to how liberal our nations higher powers have become and how dysfunctional they are to what the countries fore fathers saw.  Again, refer to the last paragraph - interpret law, not make law.  I really don't care if couples choose to have same sex relations.  I am liberal enough and accepting enough to feel that all couples should be treated equally when it comes to medical treatment, housing, banking, etc, etc.  However, I am offended by the Courts ruling that marriage is no longer legally defined as a unity between a man and a woman.  I am conservative enough to hold onto traditional values and integrity's of certain sanctity's, marriage being one of them.  The Courts choice to add another law to the books does not in any way, shape or form change my traditional view on this matter.  Case closed.  And since a precedence has been set by the Court choosing which laws to follow and which to ignore, as far as me and my house are concerned, this law doesn't exist.

Stepping down from soap box.

2 Pots of Gold

So which end has the gold?

Storm Clouds

Last night I was out working on my bike photo project and as I was getting ready to put it away, I looked the opposite direction I'd been paying attention to and saw a pretty cool sight.  This storm went right down the I-90 corridor, missing us.  (We're OK with that as ONE day without rain, is a welcome relief.)  

I just like the detail to the clouds and how some of the sunset colors were reflecting off of them.

Day Break

This morning's view while sipping coffee was quite spectacular.  Every time I think Mother Nature has out done herself, she does it again.

Life is......GRAND!

Remembering Dad

"I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow,

And each road leads you where you wanna go,

And if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose,

I hope you choose the one that means the most to you.

And if one door opens to another door closed,

I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window,

If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.

But more than anything, more than anything

"My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting to where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this is my wish.

"I hope you never look back, but you never forget,

All the ones who love you, in the place you live,

I hope you always forgive, and you never regret,

And you help somebody every chance you get,

Oh, you find God's grace, in every mistake,

And always give more than you take.

But more than anything, yeah, more than anything

"My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting to where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, this, is my wish, (my wish for you)

"This is my wish, my wish for you

I hope you know somebody loves you (my wish for you)

May all your dreams stay big (my wish for you)."

I thought these lyrics to "My Wish" by Rascal Flatts reflect what I think Dad wants for me in life.

My dreams are big, my worries are small.  Moments pass slow, I chose the one that means the most.  Life is all that I want it to be, and yeah, I know you loved me.

A Few Sights from June

We really haven't been up to much lately as the weather has been so S-O-G-G-Y.  Not just a little bit soggy, but soggy enough the rain gauge says 10.75 inches of rain since May 1......And don't forget the 17" of rain we got over Mother's Day weekend.  Yep, in the words of Ian Tyson:  "Moisture!  By God We'll Take It!"  Well, not that we have a choice, so I guess we'll take it.

Right after Memorial Day weekend, we did go visit our friends in Lake Andes (who we got Casey from) and brought one of their dogs home with us for most likely the summer.  Ida is nothing short of a lover.  When she is outside, she runs and hunts constantly!  We had to double her food as within a week, she had noticeably lost weight!  We're really gonna miss her when it's time for Ida to go home.  She came to Summer Camp to get some one on one attention - and let me tell you is she eatin' it up!

Ida has been sending letters home via Facebook....her Mom and Dad have been getting a kick out of them!

The first week of June for the time in literally weeks, we FINALLY had a small enough cloud cover I saw a sunrise!  It's the little things in life that make a person happy, happy, happy!

Yesterday the first sunset here at the house was visible for what seems like an eternity. 

So then I decided to play a little.

This little idea/project is far from done.  By the time I got the bike up by the house, the sun was pretty well gone.  I think if I start to put this together quicker, I can get a good reflection in the tank...or maybe in the chrome.  Stay tuned.....more to come.