A Certain Sunrise

“The sunrise never failed us yet." Celia Thaxter




This

morning's

skies








made

that

clear!




Celebrating today's fresh start Along Life's Road.


PS. Thanks, Neighbor, for checking on this photographer parked on the road side... aiming to shoot the sun with her camera.

Day Four in Paradise

Here's the latest emailing from Dan and the boys who will be leaving San Diego tonight.



Day 4 is nearly out the door and then back to beachless home...

Wisconsin Weekend Part 2

After days of rain, fog and general overcast - which melted away winter's whiteness -


the
sun

rose
gloriously

on
Sunday
morning.


I
sneaked

outdoors

for
a
few

photos


before

we
headed

into
town

to
give
thanks


in the
church
where
Noah's
godparents
were married
and now
celebrate
their
blessings.

After Sunday service,

Noah went to Sunday School, rang bells with the bell choir


and learned about the Prodigal Son in class.


Back at the family's home,
Noah met grand-
parents
for
lunch
and
jigsaw
puzzling.





He
pitched
baseball
to
his
godfather,





took
a
swing
with
the
bat






and covered outfield as the farm's dog brothers frolicked



in a spring day that foreshadowed summer!

Before heading home to Minnesota's North-
woods, Noah shared a moment with his godparents viewing favorite YouTube selections and planning our next meeting.

Grandpa summed that up best, whispering:
"Next time, don't wait so long!"

Wisconsin Weekend Part 1

Last weekend, Noah and I took a Spring Break road trip to Wisconsin to visit his godparents for the first time in seven years.

Our Saturday morning drive went smoothly, so we stopped by the University of Wisconsin-
Eau Claire campus first. There I drove Noah past Bridgman Hall where his godmother and I lived and met during our college days.

We drove down The Hill to Lower Campus past many buildings where I studied, parked, walked to The Bookstore, bought souvenirs, and shot a couple outdoor photos. Here's Noah by The Clock. As the Noon Bells chimed, we headed north to his godparents' farm.

After lunch,

Noah's
first
order
of
business

was

meeting
Lindy's

four pygmy goats housed in a pen behind his godparents' home.

Our

youth

hosts

watched

Noah

in action







feeding

grain

to

Steve





and

hay

to

LuLu.





Following their feeding,

we drove
to the city park and zoo
for a look at more animals.


Sitting on
a bear statue,

Noah posed for a photo
with his godparents -

Karen and Jerry.



He also dared to have one taken with a bison.

This animal was most enter-
taining:

charging and butting the fence to discourage (or was it 'encourage'?) us from a closer look at the herd's younger members.




Before our WI trip, Noah asked if he could help with the milk cows like the last time we visited.

Two years ago, the family farm cows were sold. However, Lance continues the tradition working for a neighboring farmer.

He took us on tour of the organic-dairy facility during milking time



and calf-feeding time

so Noah could have a chance to help out.

Day Three in Paradise

Here comes the third email message

as

The Blues Brothers tour the San Diego Zoo.

This one JUST rolled in as I was making today's post:

Marlin Perkins buys hat, tames giraffe...

Day Two in Paradise

That's Dan's second email message with this photo from their San Diego trip.

I just got off the telephone with the guys. They went out on a launch from 8AM to 2PM today and caught these "rock fish" in Mexican waters. They each got one fishing line with three hooks; baited the hooks with squid or sardines; and dropped the line down 500 feet with a one-pound weight.

Success for all three guys.

Day One in Eden

I just received this email message and photo from Dan and the boys who arrived in San Diego around midnight.

Looks like they've rolled out to enjoy Day One in Eden.

Thunder Rumbles...

Lightning flickers.






Rain

pours.










Hail

pelts.






Spring arrives...




washing


away


winter.



Celebrating the year's first thunderstorm - Along Life's Road!

On Willow Drive

Before
the days
of 911
street
and
avenue
grids,



we used
to live

On

Willow

Drive.








See

why?





Celebrating

Signs
of
Spring
2010

here

Along
Life's
Road!

Winking at Me

I
think
I
caught
Him...







Winking

at

Me!

Some People Paint...

I make images.











Nightfall
















Evening
Forage










Solarized
Sunrise






Pastel
Prelude
















Leap
of
Faith




Sometimes a parent sees
what a privilege taxiing kids - to and from events - can be!

Taking Inventory

A U.S. Census worker

stopped by

our house today.



He handed me an official form to list and count the residents in our dwelling. He asked me to mail the completed information in the envelope provided, wished me well and went on his way.

As I opened the two-sided, tri-folded document and began to ink in information, I remembered the first time I filled out such a document.

The year was 1990. I was living alone in an apartment in southern Minnesota while working at my first job out of college.

A decade later in the year 2000, I filled out such a document for the second time. Now married, I was living in north-central Minnesota and caring full-time for our two children and expecting number three at the year's end.

Today in 2010, I fill in a census document for the third time.

I am still living in the same place with my husband. Two of our children are nearing adulthood. Our youngest child, at age nine, will be officially tallied for the first time.

I'm wondering what the year 2020 will hold.

Clear Vision?

By the next census, my husband and I could be empty nesters.
How time flies...


Taking Inventory

every now and then

makes sense...

if for no other reason

than to recognize

the present

as a gift.