Another view on the bike...

There are babies up at Laing Lake. I loved watching the little ducks and geese swim along after their mothers! So cute (or adorable, as Brooklyn says).

Since Sunday, it has been pretty rainy and cool out. So, not much bike riding has been going on. I did ride on Monday to exercise class, as I posted earlier.

We did get to go on a walk a couple evenings, and it turned out to be very pleasant out. It is just very cool and damp weather right now!

First Peek at the Iris

You may remember last year our bike rides through the Iris Farm ?? They were so beautiful and we rode through there quite often. Brooklyn and I rode through on Sunday, and they are just starting to bloom. I can't wait until they are all in full bloom again!


For more photos, you can view the Summer Fun 2009 album.

He's back....

Brooklyn is back for the summer! We met his mom on Saturday. He brought along his "Wii" and so Saturday night he showed us how to play some, and we were, well, pretty terrible.

Sunday we got in our first shared bike ride of the season. He also got to play with his buddy, Bailey, and later we walked the dogs. We had a great day.

I hope he has fun staying with us this summer!

Last Days

Brooklyn went home on Saturday. He will start third grade on Monday! Here are some photos showing a few things we did during his last few days.

Best Buds

Brooklyn had Bailey over. They have so much fun together. They have been back and forth, riding bikes, swimming, playing DS, and playing like boys do. They really have just gotten along wonderfully!

Brooklyn is sad that he'll be going home and won't be playing with Bailey any more, but they can get together when he visits again!

What's For Supper?

I don't know about you all, but nothing sounds good. I look at some of the blogs I read, and their recipes look so good, but I just don't feel like cooking. I think I need a maid.

Pioneer Woman Cooks had a wonderful bagel sandwich recipe. My daughter wants us to try it. I'm game, so next time I go shopping, I'll get some of the ingredients.

No one else here will eat it, I know that.

Do any of you feel like cooking?

Mikkelson Trail

Last Friday, Brooklyn got his first ride on the Mikkelson Trail in South Dakota. He (and we) rode about 12 miles. We picked a fairly easy part of the trail (Crazy Horse Trailhead to Hill City), but that little guy pedaled non stop! He did great. More pictures are in the Summer Fun 2008 album.

Best Buds Hang Out

On Monday and Tuesday of this week, Brooklyn got to spend the day with Bailey at his house. They had SO MUCH FUN. Monday afternoon, Bailey came over to our place, and they swam in the pool, rode bikes, played in the play room, ate supper and just had fun hanging out. Aren't friends, old and new, just the best!

Lasting memories!

Field Trip

Brooklyn had been wanting to see Jailhouse and Courthouse Rock since passing it on the roadway many times. So, we figured, what the heck. What an easy way to make him happy! So, off we went on Saturday for our "field trip". Here are a few photos of the day, and more can be found in my pictures in the Summer Fun 2008 album.


Here's a little history about the landmarks:

Located just 2 miles south of Bridgeport Nebraska on State hwy 88 - near the Bridgeport Golf Course.Located just 2 miles south of Bridgeport Nebraska on State hwy 88 - near the Bridgeport Golf Course.

Courthouse and Jail Rocks are two of the most famous landmarks of the mid 1800's westward migration. Nearby is the Oregon-California Trail, the Mormon Trail, the Pony Express Trail and the Sidney-Deadwood Trail. The rocks were vanguards of the unforgettable scenic wonders that travelers would encounter farther west on the trails, including Chimney Rock and the rugged Scott's Bluffs.

Hundreds of overland emigrants mentioned Courthouse Rock in their diaries. Often called a "castle" or "solitary tower," the name Courthouse was first used in 1837. One 1845 traveler described the rock as "resembling the ruins of an old castle [which] rises abruptly from the plain. . . .It is difficult to look upon it and not believe that art had something to do with its construction. The voyagers have called it the Courthouse; but it looks infinitely more like the Capitol."

Courthouse and Jail Rocks, rising some 400 feet above the North Platte Valley, are erosional remnants composed of clay, sandstone and volcanic ash. The rocks are listed in the National Register of Historic Places and in the Nebraska Natural Areas Register.

To an emigrant who had never seen a mountain, or even a bluff, Courthouse Rock and its companion, Jail Rock were quite stunning. Many pioneers were so enraptured by these bizarre geologic features, they took a side trip of several miles--on foot--just to get a closer look.

Historian William Hill said "A lot of them really did a lot of sightseeing along the way. It's kind of amazing to think that some of them would walk 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 miles off the trail just to see a sight like Courthouse Rock."

On down the road, was Chimney Rock.

It was so much more fun seeing these things through a child's eyes.

Summer Fun

We rode bikes on Sunday from home to Carhenge. Brooklyn did great....rode almost 8 miles, and still had energy! Old grammy did ok, too, proud to say. Gotta get ready for a couple fifty mile days this fall on the Mikkelson Trail!

Best Buds

Brooklyn has a best bud here, my friend's son Bailey.

They really have a blast together!

Independence Day

Here are a few Independence Day Memories.

(purple smoke bomb)

Hope yours was fun, too!

Sammy Sighs

SCARY!!!!...


(at least that is what Silly Sissy thought, as she barked and hid from the Loch Ness Monster!)

Geez, Sissy, it's only Brooklyn.

King(s) of the Road

Future Hell's Angel?







Nah, just a kid getting a fun ride....

Summer Beauty

Hello. Last week, Brooklyn and I rode through the local "Iris Patch". Let me tell you , these acres of Iris are just awesome. They are beautiful and fragrant.

I hadn't been through this at all, even though it has been in our area for years.

The owner used to grow and sell trees. Years ago, we bought some really nice trees from him. Then he started growing hybrid Iris. He sells to companies all over the world.


This variety to my left was my favorite. I am sorry it is a little blurry as I took the photo on the fly on my bicycle.






I thought I would try to capture this ... industry vs beauty. I didn't get focused well enough to capture what I wanted with the BNSF train crossing in the close background to the beautiful Irises.









Brooklyn thought they smelled so beautiful...like bananas????







Of course, he had to pose for one photo. Unfortunately, the iris are about done for this season. We were lucky to have several bike rides through before this week, and enjoy the beauty and aroma.


For more information on this place, go to: http://www.bluejiris.com. Enjoy!

Sammy Sighs

It is pretty fun having the kids around, I guess. I get a lot of extra attention, and extra bites of food, when I shouldn't. I get extra walks, and extra belly rubs...but hey, a fella has to draw the line...why is my ball in the kids' pool?

This is a bit ridiculous. Mom doesn't want me to get in the pool...she thinks I'd drown. But, I can swim, and it is so tempting...

I think Brooklyn would save me if I absolutely needed saving, don't you?

I love the kids, but then look at this very humiliating picture...


Like I say, a guy just can't get a break around here.

Summer Fun : Episode One 2008

As I said, Chloe was here this weekend. On Saturday we met my son and wife and Brooklyn, who came back to stay for a while with us. After Memorial Day week, he had asked his mom if he could stay all summer. So, he's going to, after the approval of both parents. (Or until he gets homesick)...so we'll see...

Anyway, we had set up the pool on Friday, so on Saturday, they begged to get in. The water was still pretty cold, but they had a lot of fun! There are lots of pictures in the photo albums of the kids enjoying the pool last summer.










Then, since Brooklyn is so old and experienced, having already passed onto the third grade for next year, we had a p.e. lesson. Here is the lesson on doing pushups:

Poor girl...she'd follow him anywhere...she thinks he is just all it. Of course, he eats that all up, while pretending to be annoyed....