40th Anniversary Party

In Munich last summer, we got the idea of hosting an Oktoberfest party for our big 40th anniversary. So out came the blue and white checked banners and fall decorations. 

We built a stage out of one of our tractor trailers. 

These are our great caterers who served delicious brats and beer, pretzels and strudel. 

Here is the work crew taking a German beer break after setting  up everything. 

The tables were set with steins full of flowers and apples and pumpkins and fall leaves. 

I think we are looking a bit like a German beer garden. 

The flowers came from the cutting garden and around our property. 

The bar was stocked with imported German-made beer and wine. 

Beer steins with fresh flowers were scattered around. 

The buffet line with a big pile of hot pretzels and cheese sauce. 

The sign was made by Crystal and is in traditional Bavarian style. It says "Happy 40th Anniversary". 

The beverage and dessert table is ready for treats. 

German Chocolate cake, Black Forest cupcakes and apple strudel and ice cream will be here soon. Yum! 

Crystal was my right hand, with her generous help and creative ideas.  

Sharon flew in for the occasion and she helped too. Her dirndl apron tricks the eye. 

Hubby and I are enjoying this wonderful day that we waited forty years for...now we are waiting for the guests to arrive and the fun to begin. 

Big Graduation and a Luau

Our grandson graduated high school. This was the proud crowd who came to witness the big occasion. Okay, yeah, there were a couple hundred other graduates. The convention center handily packed all this pomp and circumstance into one enormous room. 

I wasn't quick on my camera, but my zoom caught the handshake...

and the diploma safely in hand. 

I also caught the proud parents and other grandmother at just the right moment. I loved that his parents were holding hands. An 18 year job well done!

The graduating class's patience was rewarded with a delighted cap toss.

Outside in the beating son, this kid in a gown and several leis, bore up patiently as numerous photos were taken. 

The whole family. 

The Uncle, Auntie and cousins. 

The Nana and Papa. 

The other grandmother, Chu-Chu.

The best friend (in a respectful suit no less. )

All the grandchildren together. 

Sissy and Bro. 

The whole fam damily!

~~*~~

A week later we had a luau for him at the farm. The guys cooked a pig in the ground for 16 hours.


Here they prep it for cooking.


Here they are at midnight, the night before the party, loving every minute of this new experience. It takes a lot of hands to get a pig in an oven.



It's going in this underground oven they built, now filled with firewood.



Imu pig Hawaiian style--you fill the pig with hot rocks and wrap it in banana leaves. Then bind it all together in chicken wire, and place in the underground oven, already full of more hot rocks. Bake for 16 hours.



Cooking away, all night long. 

This is the men unearthing the pig the day of the party. 

Kahlua Pork---funny looking, but incredibly delicious!

The curious crowd.
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The graduate with a lei sent all the way from Hawaii by dear friends.
Let the eating begin!

The Hula Hoop brigade provided entertainment.



Grandpas in leis congratulated each other.


Luau decor just makes everything taste better.


 Real banana leaves on the tables.


Proud mama and dad. Chief Pig Chef and Hostess with the Mostess.
It was a lazy fun afternoon celebrating a wonderful kid and a great milestone.

Spring Fever

Happy Birthday to my SIL. He gave himself this motor home for his birthday.

They have big plans to tour the country in style when he is out of the military. It's a fancy house on wheels, with a hearth, hardwood floors and a comfy master bedroom. Roll on, Sean and JoAnne!

At home, we are enjoying hanging our with our many visitors. Cody is in his favorite spot, next to his Master and Commander.

The Easter Bunny dropped this good egg on our porch...Rachel love. 

My 82 year old mom also flew in for a 2 week visit. Doesn't she look great? She's a natural beauty and I hope I got some of those genes.


There is nothing like good times at the table with those we love. Here, our friend Marek, a Czech missionary and teacher,  tells a story about his visit to exotic Dubai.



He came all the way from Prague to make us crepes for breakfast.
Delectable.  What a guy. Oh, and he was also doing a bit of paper work for the US government to maintain his residency status. 

Mom and I visited DC on a failed quest to see cherry blossoms. On an unrelated side trip to the White House, Mom decided it was appropriate that the residents of this house were kept behind bars. #political humor #no offense #just laugh

Grandma and Uncle Sam. My mom is a patriot and loves her country deeply.

We found some cherry blossoms under this arch at the botanical garden in Richmond. Beauty springing up everywhere. 

Spring and baseball go together. My grandson is playing second base, for his first season ever. Put down the joystick and get your game on, grandson o' mine. 

First time at bat here. One for the memory books...



Mom and Dad, Nana and Great Grandma relishing this big moment. Aidan, not so much. His team lost.

The farm is beautiful, changing every single day. The willow is green and flowing.

The daffodils are popping up.

The tulips, too, one by one, with the sunniest spots popping first.

My favorite junky planter is bursting forth.

My cabbages and lettuces and onions are growing with abandon.

Little tulips are emerging from the grass next to the pond.

And the pond itself is coming to life with hundreds of baby fishes and dozens of turtles. Apparently someone has been laying eggs all winter long.


There are three turtles snuggled on the bank right above the reflection in the water of the center tree. 

And we have baby frogs here and there.

A true boy's paradise for Aidan and his buddies. They have hours of play every weekend,  in and around the pond and woods.

All of this wonder, while Papa makes pancakes for breakfast. Don't you love a Spring morning?
Spring is finally here. Life is good.

So thankful to our God for these fresh, sweet, alive days, bursting with new beginnings.

Zecheriah 10:1  Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.