"Blooming Trees"??

This is how the dogwood outside our window looked this morning.  It is "supposed" to be spring and the flowers are supposed to be white. 

Same for the Bradford pear.  There are actually a few REAL blossoms on the tree, too!!

T'was Mommy Nature playing a tricky little joke on folks in Mid Missouri on this memorable Monday Morning.  No snow on the roads, but lots of wet fluffies on the grass and "cooler" surfaces.  Thought it might slow down the number of folks showing up at Eldon Food Pantry this morn, but we still had about 70 families.  Several new families this morning!!  Next Monday should be RUSH DAY as a new month will have arrived and the first couple of Mondays are REALLY busy.

Avoiding doing 2010 TAXES!!

Gourmet Group 2007??

Sally, Larry, Barb, Deane, Carol  --  Ron took picture

Isn't this young female giraffe pretty??  Such big eyes

A day at the fair in California Missouri

It is a dark, rainy and gloomy morning in mid Missouri (misery??).  We hope it doesn't freeze in the next couple of days, as lots of green stuff is getting ready to bloom and flourish.

Darn, H&R Block, I guess I have to get back to you!!%*!??**

Nostalgia Trip

We have random pictures from our files that show up one minute after no activity.  This morning this one came up and I thought it would be nice to share.  Date on file says 04??

We have been enjoying the daffodils, forsythia, and flowering trees that popped out during the warm spell.  Hope they don't freeze in the next couple of days.  Forecast is iffy!!

Sammi Cheers!! March 2011 Washington DC

Sammi with her curly hairdo and upbeat attitude.

One of the "stunts", a pyramid.  Sammi is anchoring the far right group.  Her hair is sticking out to the right.  This was on the Jefferson stage.

Here is a better shot of how she helps form the base on the right side of the formation.

The awards ceremony with LOTS of cheerers piled onto the stage.  The received a second place.  The team that won was made up of 11 and 12 year olds.  Her team is a blend of all ages allowed at this level.

Eric and I went down early Sunday morning to watch Sammi perform for the "second" day.  Rachel's group would perform after 8pm and not get home til 1pm Monday morn, so we bailed out as soon as Sammi's awards were received.  Kelly stayed through the whole thing.  Cheer mom's are dedicated.

Capitol City Cheerfest, March 2011

The view over Washington DC from the south.  The capitol and all are out there somewhere.  Did catch a few  

geese and the flag flying 

The view of the Gaylord hotel and conference center.  Yes that is ONE BIG "greenhouse" that faces downtown DC.  Live trees and plants abound in the interior with restaurants, etc thru out.  The area where all the cheer events took place is to the right.

Sammi's  TWISTER group met in the Chesapeake rooms to get ready for events held downstairs in the huge conference area.

Cheer mom Kelly and cheer dad Eric.

Rachel is right in front.  This is the Lincoln stage.  Note the background figure!!

Sammi in the Capitol stage area.  The place was FILLED with cheer squads and their parents, coaches and supporters.

Brandywine Museum of Art, Chadd's Ford, PA Mar 2011

Carol is enjoying a bronze of a boy with bird on outstretched arm.  The Wyeth museum is the red brick building in the background.  Their special exhibit was on Civil War art.  Always a relaxing and enjoyable stop.     

We had planned to eat in their little cafe but it is only open Th-Sun during the "winter months".  We were directed to Hanks, which is very close and was a bustling local cafe even tho it was 1:30 pm.

This bronze rabbit was out in an open area and we did not remember seeing it before.  Two female employees were going to lunch and said that it was added last Easter.  We had been there a month too early in 2010!!  I believe we had posted the bronze cow and pig that adorn the river walk.

Forgot to put this one in for Mom in the gift shop at Herr's (pronounced her's)

No one is getting a coffee cup, as they were over $10 each!!

Herr's Snack Factory, Nottingham, PA : Mar 2011

The back side of Ron headed for the tour, gift, snack shop at the Herr's Potato Chip factory.  It is a 15-20 minute ride from Eric and Kelly's.  There was a strong west wind, so we are looking north for those of you who need to know this type of info.  We got there as a couple of bus loads of 2-4th grade school kids were just finishing up.  We started our tour about 15 minutes later.  Carol did the theater overview and decided not to walk the 45 minutes on concrete for the rest of the tour.

The factory is quite large and this area is to the right of the tourist entrance.  I think they have over 1500 employees and manufacture 24 hours per day, 5 days a week.  Weekends are off.  One engineer has worked there over 45 years.  Many of the "older" workers started as teenagers.  Turnover is very minimal.  I heard the statistic that they process 500,000 pounds of potatoes per day but really think that must be per week.  Potatoes come from all over the East coast.  Sorry Ray, I didn't hear Idaho mentioned anytime!!  The mechanization was outstanding.  All product is X-rayed 3 times before it leaves the plant.  They are looking for clumps, discoloration, etc.  I'm betting they also have data to show that no metal parts or shavings are  in the product.  My QC "antennae" really perked up when I heard those stats.

The gift shoppe is nicely done but pricey.  There is an OOPS rack on the far right wall where product is half price.  Some minor problem keeps the product from retail shelves -- clumps, under/over weight, bad graphics, unsymmetrical packaging, etc.  My "cheap-cheap" policy let me make some purchased here!!

While Carol was waiting in the car she decided to take a short stroll near the plant and found this sign.  How are yours???