A Beautiful Nebraska Day

Today was one of those beautiful Nebraska days--the kind we have most often in the fall. It's a cool (60's) morning, clear blue sky, with the promise of warming up to the 80's, no more.

I celebrated this fantastic day by riding my bike. My car is fixed (thanks to Don), so I attached my bike rack, loaded up my bike, and headed into town. I started at 56th and Hwy 2, rode to 27th and Hwy 2, turned south across the bridges (Jacob knows), and rode almost to Old Cheney. I figure a round trip would be 6+ miles--a good start for me.

Since it was such a wonderful day, and because it is Saturday, there were loads of people on the trail. After I turned to head back, I counted 44 people who I met or passed or who passed me. They were walking, jogging, rollerblading, and biking. It's nice that Lincoln has such great trails and even better that so many people take advantage of them.

Have a great day!

The Summer's almost over? How can that be?

Where did the summer go? I'm home from a great weekend of visiting Annie and David in Longview and babysitting Paisley while they went on a couple's retreat. Paisley and I had a great time--we played, went to the zoo, read books, shopped a little, and just snuggled.

This afternoon I went to lunch and a movie with my walking/Bible study gals. We saw Julia & Julie and so enjoyed it. It's a really sweet movie, especially if you remember watching Julia Child on TV, or if you enjoying cooking now, or if you're a blogger, or if you've just turned 30 and need a little pick-me-up.

I'm looking forward to the routine (if there is such a thing) of the fall, but am excited/sad too about taking Jessie to college in Minneapolis in a couple weeks.

Have a great day!

Balloons

Here I am: sad one minute and happy the next!

That's all for now!

I Give Up!

I spent all afternoon today--from 1 pm to 8:30 pm--trying to put some new pictures on my computer and then my blog. The blog was entitled "I Keep Trying." But, after much frustration, I've decided my time would be better spent on something else. So, I'm giving up on blogging until someone volunteers to sit next to me, teach me each step, help me write down each step, then watch over me to make sure I've learned it.
So, if you have been checking this blog, I'm sorry. Don't bother anymore! Just look at Steph's blog and go to everyone else's from there.
If you want to see any of my pictures--my grandkids, the balloons, the fireworks, the bats, the spiral staircase of the Kansas state capitol--just ask me in person.

Have a great day!

Feathered Friends

Just have to tell you about all the BEAUTIFUL birds I've had at my feeder the past two weeks: Baltimore orioles (thanks to Jeremy starting them out with some grape jelly), rose-breasted grosbeaks (my favorites next to the orioles), goldfinches, indigo buntings (really a prize), downy woodpeckers, a rare hairy woodpecker, red-breasted woodpeckers, cardinals, a brown thrasher and a nuthatch, as well as the nuisance blue jays, red-winged blackbirds, starlings, and grackles. On the ground I've had turtle doves and robins. One day a robin was in the feeder (a very rare occurence), sampling the oriole's jelly! (Jer, I'm into my second jar of jelly.)

If you can't identify any of the above, look them up in your bird book. I wish I could show you some pictures, but that's challenging through the kitchen window without scaring them away. I'll work on that.

I think that's pretty impressive for just a small-time feeder in the country near Roca, NE! I have a feeder with just sunflower seeds and a little cup (actually a green plastic cup from the gelato place in Austin) for grape jelly; a finch feeder with thistle seed; and a suet feeder (which is now empty--where's Jeremy when I need him?); and my bird bath.

I can only watch them while standing at my kitchen counter, so it really helps pass the time while I'm doing dishes and cooking.

I hope your days are going as well as mine!

Graduation

All our family was home for Jessie's graduation last weekend. We had a fantastic time. Here are a few pictures.

This first one was taken the night of the Honor's Convocation. You can see Jessie and her girlfriends wearing their Honor Society cords.

This is Jessie singing her mini-solo at the Show Choir Show.

You can get a glimpse of our "decorated" garage for Jessie's party. It was so nice to not worry about the weather and the pink and green and black colors looked beautiful.

Here's a great picture of all our family after Jessie's graduation. You can see all our kids and spouses and grandkids, plus our nephew Curt.

Have a great day!

PROM Pictures

Here are some pictures from Prom. You can see Jessie's dress somewhat. The first one is of her "twirling" around while she was waiting for Brad to arrive. The second one is one of my favorites with her by herself. The last one is at the Haymarket. Fortunately, it was a beautiful day for picture taking.

Now onward to graduation!