Dogwood, View from across cove

A view of the "prettiest dogwood on the lake" from across the cove. Don't know how much longer it will last, as yesterday and today hit 80+ with strong gusty winds. I've packed my two pieces of luggage with just under 70 lbs (Brazil only - everywhere else is a max of 50 lbs or a $50 charge for overweight with max of 70 lbs). Carol and I will drive to KC on Monday and have lunch with the "breakfast" bunch. Carol will take car back to lake and I will stay o/n with Bob and Pat. Since Bob is playing golf Tues morn, Pat will take me to MCI for 10am flight which gets to Belo Horizonte on Wednesday at 8:15 am. It seems like all the flights will be American Airlines. We are still waiting for the storms that were forecast for Saturday evening!! It's 2 pm Sunday.

Happy Birthday Ashley, Chad & William S.

The snow scene with Ashley is to offset the HOT weather that has blown in on April 23 (birthdate) and lasted today. It will blast the dogwoods to green leaves and the oak trees will rain down the green allergens!! Chad is in the Easter video. William is out shaking his spear somewhere!!!

Doggone Dynamic Dogwoods in 2009

The tree outside our door is loaded again this year!! There are MANY trees throughout the lakeside roadways that are absolutely gorgeous this year. If it hits 80+ today many of them will be hidden by the greenery that is starting to pop out. Hope you get a chance to see the wonderful display that Mother Nature has prepared for us this year.

Earth Day 2009

Earth Day 2009 at Waste Watchers featured several "exhibitors" who recycled items into art and other useable creations. First table was rocks into jewelry, (2) was fabric into welder (pipe fitter)caps, (3) was recycling tires into a house foundation and going utility-less, (4) was Waste Watcher table with crushed glass samples (fine crushings used in concrete and asphalt, coarse crushing used in decorative mulch, etc. (5) pop bottle caps and misc metal into decorative flowers, motorcycle toys, etc. (6)not shown was recycle cooking oil into clean diesel, (7) cardboard recycling bins (9) recycle flourescent tubes, light bulbs, and YES the new energy efficient bulbs and batteries of all types. Waste Watchers is now a collection center for flourescent bulbs!!! YEAH!! 6-9 are not shown in the picture. Of course the normal bins for #1 & 2 plastic, paper and paperboard, cardboard, metal cans, aluminum cans and glass were also present. Glass can not be recycled for the time being, as a belt has broken at the processing center in Lebanon.

The diesel recycle gentlemen (located near Linn Creek)fired up his 1 ton pick up and it smell like a hamburger joint, rather than the obnoxious diesel aroma!! It doesn't leave the odor on your hands when you fill the tank, either!! Hint Hint, Shelby!! I think he said he is selling it at $1.80/gallon.

First Butterfly of Spring

This swallowtail found the purple creeping phlox tasty this morning. It is the first butterfly of the season for us.

JP as Mayan Warrior

I doubt you can read the text. This is the front page of The Daily Star-Journal, Warrensburg, MO: Monday,April 6, 2009. I tried to get a link to the newspaper but wasn't successful. Chad has video of the "painting" of the warrior. The spray paint was pretty cool (cold!!). We can say that a family member made front page news in a POSITIVE setting. Way to go JP and family.

Easter 2009 at Chad and Karla's

It was a drizzly rainy day near Warrensburg where delicious food was served and consumed by the clan. Representatives from Nicaragua, Korea, Peru, Nebraska, Haiti and Missouri enjoyed spirited conversation and a least 2 Easter Egg Hunts. Lots of cash was uncovered in those plastic eggs!!

EASTER TULIPS

This photo was from a few that sis sent our way. We don't have any tulips left in our garden. Maybe we should buy some as the season ends. We do try to locate the bargins!! More on Easter at Chad's as the photos come in. Hint Hint, Kim and Carol.

ORCHID of the DAY

We've been babysitting this orchid for a couple of years and it finally rewarded us with a nice bloom with a couple more to follow. I'm not sure if it was one of the ones that Sara brought home from the flower shop in the Crossroads district or if it is a purchase. The leaves have always stayed bright green so we just kept watering weekly and keeping it fairly humid. It is a pleasant "spring is here" reminder even if we keep having freezing mornings!! If you heard "distant screams" it was probably lots of weeds that we were ripping out of our flower gardens this morning. With the recent 3/4 inch of rain, the weeds pull easily with their roots!! Gotta git them while the earth is moist!!

Trip to Brasil for Ron

A flight to Belo Horizonte has been booked for April 28-29 thru June 3-4 for Ron. Luggage to Brasil still permits 2 x 70 lb bags!! Of course American Airlines will charge $15 for the first bag and $25 for the second one, but lots of goodies should make there way to Sara, Wem, Max and Lucas in the next month!! Flights are more reasonable than last year. Airlines are working with each other again and international flights from KC to Belo are available thru many carriers. They hook up with TAM or GOL in Brasil. It means bags can be checked in KC and picked up in Belo with NO handling by travelers til final destination. YEHHH!! Eric has arranged for a Dell laptop to be sent to us, so Ron should be able to "keep in touch" during the flights or at least while in the 4 or 5 airports on the way to Belo.

The Bright Yellow Harbingers of Spring

With the appearance of the forsythia and the daffodils, it must mean that Spring has sprung. The cool weather has kept the blossoms bright and enjoyable for over 2 weeks and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. Enjoy.