Al's 95th Birthday

Surrounded by family, Al reads birthday cards on his 95th birthday.

Christopher's birthday

On Christopher's birthday, the family gathered on Revere Circle.

Summer fawns at play

Summer Sunset on the Lake

Another pretty summer sunset on Medicine Lake in Plymouth Minnesota.

Kids love donut holes

Four generations enjoy a Sunday afternoon in spring.

Surviving the snows of 07

After several years of mild winters with no bragging rights, we finally experienced a good old Minnesota winter, like I remember from my childhood. This one brought real school closings and a genuine "snow day" when everyone staid home from work and school.





This is our deck after the first storm.










Trees were heavy with wet snow.

























9 inches of snow after the first storm of the week. Another 10-12 inches fell later int the week.
















The snow clung to the tree branches like a python.

The sun finally returns!

Judy and Davey

Nenagh Castle tower

Nenagh Castle tower standing 100 feet in height is a reminder of the first castle built by the great Butler family around 1220.


When the Normans came in the 12th century, a powerful warlord established himself here at Nenagh. The warrior, Theobald Fitzwalter, who occupied the lands and began the building of the castle. Appointed to be the Norman king’s butler, Theobald adopted Butler as his surname and was the originator of one of the greatest families of Ireland. He died in 1205, years before his grand castle could be completed.






An effort is being made currently in Nenagh to preserve and restore the tower and castle grounds.

On top of Aran Island at ancient Dun Aengus

Ireland is steeped in history. There are buildings still standing from the 5th and 6th centuries. We visited the ancient ruins on top of Aran Mor on the Aran Islands yesterday. Aran Mor is the largest of the three islands, about 9 miles long and 1 mile wide with 7 “villages” or clusters of houses. About 900 people still live on the three islands.
Dun Aengus, the greatest barbaric monument of the kind in existence, stands on a cliff three hundred feet above the sea. It is a hundred and forty-two feet in diameter, and has two stone walls fifteen feet thick and eighteen high.


Later, we stopped at the “7 churches”, and ancient monastery on the west side of Aran Mor. This monastery was started around 500. It thrived as an austere school for sanctity and learning with as many as 150 disciples at a time living on the island.

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01677b.htm

Colored Skys

The sky is a magical canvas as the sun sets over the lake

Sunset on the lake

A sequence of shots while the sun was setting on Medicine Lake

Summer Evenings on the Lake

I'm often driving home from the office these evenings at sundown. I love to drive along the lake. When there is haze in the air, the sunsets are gorgeous over the lake. Tonight the western sky was ominous with an impending storm.

Bud has friends

Bud's neighborhood is full of delights. As the seasons continue there are new sights and sounds to behold. These beautiful wild flowers float gently on the summer breeze.

Bud's Fruit

Back in April we watched Bud emerge from winter's sleep into a spring blossom. Now in early summer Bud has born fruit... bright red berries.

Young owl stops by for a visit

Nature continues to amaze and delight. This young owl sitting on a branch in our backyard today has a fuzzy head with new feathers.
Listen to it screech just after sundown.

Deer in April

It's always a treat when we get to enjoy the beauty of nature right in our back yard.
(Click on the underline above if the video does not start automatically)

Popcorn blossums

Bud is showing off popcorn blossoms .

Bud's in full bloom!

Birds serenade the blossom's coming out party.

My brother the duck

My grandaughter Amelia and I enjoy God's glorious creation on Easter Sunday afternoon. She calls out to the mallard duck, inviting it into conversation with her. This invitation to conversation is evidence that she regards the universe as a community of subjects. She knows what Chief Seattle taught us, "The perfumed flowers are our sisters; the deer, the horse, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the juices of the meadows, the body heat of the pony, and the people - all belong to the same family."
(For video, click on the underlined link above.)

A Month with Bud

“And the day came when the risk [it took] to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom.”—Anais Nin























































“And the day came when the risk [it took] to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to bloom.”—Anais Nin