In Answer To Claudia's Question...Did We Have To Wait Long For Guests To Show Up At Bill's Botanical....

These guests showed up soon after the picture was taken. Chelsey puts the girls on the bus...EXCEPT...when she has to work early at Target. That's when they get to stay the night with Gma and Gpa. We love the time and hugs we get when they visit!

 
  

Did We Have To Wait Long.....??

Other guests here at the gardens were these two youngsters. I got a call from Chris Brunner whose children I had as studnts at Toboso. He called because he had his grandchildren for the week and wanted to bring them over to meet their Dad's "old" school Principal! Sure enough....we had a good time on the back porch talking about what their Dad was like when he was a boy. By estmate I had over 2500 students in my 30 years of education. I keep in touch with several in the first class I taught, one of whom is currently serving in Iraq. That first class of students are currently 57 years old! I'm always glad to see those I have had a part in "building" into their lives....and their kids!

  

New Mother Melissa And Baby Doing Well

Rod and Melissa Anderson are special people in our lives. Melissa actually lived with us for a while. Baby Amelia is a special gift to us all for a number of reasons. We went to see her for the first time this evening.

  

Millie Is A Cutie!

  

Aunt Pat and Uncle Willy

  

The Pot!

  

The Falls

An afternoon by the falls

 

Waiting for guests...

  

A Flower In the Pond

For you, Jennifer!
  

Bill's Botanical Garden Compound

Last winter I awakened to find four white tail dear munching away on our Japanese Maple trees and other ornamentals. I consulted with Dawes Arboratum and they recommended a dear fence to keep the critters enjoying the areas AROUND the garden for forage! I threw up a temporary fence until we could get a more permenant structure in place. Here it is nearly completed. Thanks, Bill and Joyce for your hard work and help!

 
  

Leak Found And Fixed

We have gone for sevral weeks without the sound of gurgling water over our falls and stream because of a LEAK! Pat and I identified the leak where the lining was not overlapped far enouogh and Pat proceeded to fix it. All visitors will now be able to enjoy the ambiance once again.

  

Bright Lights Swiss Chard

Pat and I saw the use of swiss chard as a decorative plant around the garden. I started some from seed and they are adding splashes of color here and there.

  

A Young Weigelia Shrub

  

I Love To Be Surprised By One Of Our Friends Around 'The Ponds

I also like to play with the "effects" function of Picasa when I post some of these pictures.

 
  

Shots From Around Pat's Secret Garden

 
 
  

Yes, We Have No Bananas!

...but...we do have a fourishing banana tree. This hardy (will live through the winter) banana tree has grown over 10' tall over the summer. We love the tropical look it gives to Pat's Secret Garden.

  

What a Jewel !

We totally enjoyed time with our lovely, interesting, witty, wonderful second cousin, Elizabeth, this evening. She makes us feel so young. Along with son, Sam, she has taught us the value of blogging. She brings fresh new perspective about God, life, laughter and love. It's great to have a person like her a part of our lives.

 
  

Pictures From The Isle Of Corsica

Sam and Mel have returned from a recent "business trip " to this beautiful island in the Mediterranean. Sam is searching out venues for future bike tours.

 
 
  

Gorgeous Setting...Beautiful Dive...

  

The Dive ....

Note the similiarity in form of this one and a half gainer in semi pike position done by his Father in an earlier post on this blog!

  

Today Is Our Day Of All Days In Katroo (Thanks Dr. Seuss!) Today Is The Day We First Said, "I Do." ....39 Years Ago!

People ask us what life is like since we are "retired." 39 years to the day after this picture was taken, we are going to chronical the events of "our special day." This morning it started when we both woke up at 6:30 AM and wished each other "Happy Anniversary!".....and here is how it went from there.....

  

Good Morning!

We wake up this morning as we do every morning to the smell of hazelnut coffee brewing. But wait.....there seems to be extra things on the counter today. We had each gotten the other Anniversary cards. If you notice....in the background are beautiful jars of fresh canned tomatoes Pat did yesterday.