ALCATRAZ
It's Wednesday and time to  join Susan at  http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com
Please check out her blog for other great outdoor posts.

I know this is quite different than most of the outdoor posts you will see today. 

Many vacation and flowers, but looking through all my pictures I was drawn to these. 

It was another reminder of the consequences  of our choices in this life. 

Last September we visited San Francisco and toured Alcatraz Island.

One amazing fact to me was that many of the guards families also lived on the island. 

They were know as the Children of Alcatraz

 The children would take a boat across to the main land to attend school each day. 

What a strange environment for a child to grow up in.

 

The house to the left was the Wardens home.    

The other is a tunnel that was one of the entrances into the prison.  

Notice the date of 1858 above the entrance

Inside the prison we toured with headphones that told many of the stories of life and prisoners.

Remember the old Sunday School song "Oh be careful little hands what we do..."  It's a shame more people don't take this to heart. 

I'm so blue ue ue blue ue ue I don't know what I'll do!  Do you remember that line from Madam Blueberry- Vegie-Tales?  It was one of my favorites and so is Blue Monday.at   http://smilingsally.blogspot.com










Nothing blue around here today.  I AM GETTING READY FOR COMPANY! 

I am really looking forward to all the laughter and fun as my Great nieces and family  play in Aunt Debbie's Lake.   

We live about 8 hours from my sisters and mom and 14 hours from my husbands family so company doesn't get to just drop by.  They will be here this Thursday for the 4th of July celebrations.  The lake we live on is about 350 acres with about 1000 homes about 400 of those are actually on the lake but the others have access to the water at the marina.The 4th is about the busiest day of the year on the water.   As a community we put on a fabulous fireworks display and if you have never sat on a boat with the fireworks right above you, well you are really missing a great time.  

Have a safe and wonderful 4the of July!


Of course we have to have a bit of paint splash... and yes I have actually been asked to paint fireworks.  This is a children's dentist office. 

PINK PINK PINK

SORRY THIS IS POSTED LATE. I'VE HAD MY 14 YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER AND WE SPENT THE DAY PLAYING...

I always love joining http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/ Beverly and all the gals who enjoy pink!


It's Pink Saturday again and I don't know about you but this week really flew!  I was looking through all my photos and decided to share a bit more about one of our trips to Quito, Ecuador. If this is your first time visiting you will find this place has stolen our hearts.  Bob and I have done 4 trips to this beautiful country and fell in love with the local Pastor and his wife and son.  One this thrip we flew on air miles so we didn't fly with the rest of the church group.  We stayed several extra days and visited another part of the country with Pastor Alberto and Sylvia and Samuel.  It was a red car  (hmm could we count that as a darker shade of pink???) Yes we fit Pastor, his wife, son, Bob and I in this little car.   This picture was taken when we were driving to a state park and had to cross the creek.  We were praying those clouds wouldn't bring rain or we would really have been in trouble.  

From left to right. Samuel, Pastor Alberto, Sylvia, and I In front of the volcano.

At the park we visited  a wildlife museum there. We saw this huge stuffed bird.  Rather ugly I thought...not to offend anyone from Ecuador
The Andean Condor is found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, it is the largest flying land bird in the Western Hemisphere. A vulture... well, I do have ON pink...hope that counts.


We also visited a beautiful Hosteria Cienega http://www.ecuaworld.com/hosterias/la_cienega.htm  There were beautiful arrays of pink yellow and red roses throughtout. Wonderful quiet paths to walk and a restaurant. .

My best friend and the love of my life standing next to this huge cactus.  Isn't the size of this plant amazing?

There was going to be a wedding in the chapel on the grounds and we were able to watch this lovely lady make flower arrangements with Pink roses and Pink and white Lillie s 

 


There were also beautiful fern taking in all the light from all the windows in the enclosed porches around the house.




I wish we could have stayed overnight. the inside was as amazing as the outside and grounds.   If you click on the picture with the pink and white roses above,  you can glimpse the dinning room.

The clouds had almost lifted when we took this picture of Bob and I taken at this look out point.  

For all of you who have never left the USA. There is a beautiful world with wonderful people out there.  Blogging has been another way to visit and know some of these awesome new friends.

Friday Wedding Celebrations  

and 

Bloggerette Sorority Rush

Thank you Stephanie   http://angelicaccents.blogspot.com/
of Angelic Accents for 
Hosting this fabulous party!

 Jewel Etta and Alva 
My Maternal Grandparents
This picture was taken when they were first married. Grandma was 5' and Grandpa was 6'2"  Quite a pair.  They weathered the storms of the depression, but after 23 years of marriage and 5 children they ended their marriage. They both lived well into their late 90's and outlived their spouses. Grandma was a strong Christian and remarried Paul who I knew as grandpa until he passed away when I was 17.  I did get to visit my grandfather a few times.  He called every year on our shared birthday.  He remarried and they became  Christians about 15 years later.

Ralph and Nellie on their wedding day in 1946. 

Mom and Dad were married 47 years.   

They had 4 daughters. Three of us are happily married the fourth is mentally disabled and still lives with my 83 year old mother. Dad passed away in 1992
My beautiful Mom today.

Bob and I have been married 38 years. We meet at church when I was 15 and he was 17. He offered me his bible during the sermon and then put his hand over mine.  My heart was overwhelmed on this first sign of his friendship. He was my one and only boyfriend and is still my very best friend.and the love of my life.  We have 2 children and 5 grandchildren.

When our daughter married she carried the white bible that held my bouquet. 

When she had her first daughter I took my wedding dress and made a Christening gown that can be passed down to my great granddaughter someday. 

 Both of her girls have worn this dress.

The first picture is Mikayla and the   second is her sister Ashlyn.

Jim and Mary were married in  June of 1949

My Husbands parents are 
both still living. 
They are still farming over 340 acres of wheat.

 May all you days be blessed with love that last a lifetime.