Olivia celebrates turning 2 in Des Moines! 02 27 2016

 Olivia opening her gifts from the Markey crowd of cousins/aunts/uncles...great grandma/grandpa, etc..........(and, of course, her grandfather and me!).  From left: Harper, John, Audrey, Blake, Brian, Great-grandma Lenore, Amanda, Ben, Olivia and Alex on the couch far right, and Reed on his knees in the middle of the room.

 'Aunty' Michelle and Olivia outside on a day when 71 degrees beat the heat record for Des Moines yesterday!  (That's Uncle Martin behind on the left, and my nephew, Ben, on the right.)

Aunt Sam with Reed, Olivia and Harper greeting her.  (Sam IS actually Olivia's aunt, but Michelle's kids--Reed and Harper-- call Sam that, too, and adore her!)

Grand-dog Stig is at Camp Stanhope for a visit! February 19, 2016

 We're having warmer weather, but the wind gusts are up to 48 miles per hour in our neighborhood, with gusts to 60 mph in the open areas (which blew over a semi truck/trailer on the interstate near here this morning!).

Grandpy is home-- so Stig is happier!  Stig has to share attention with the cats when only Grandma is home, so Stig really prefers both of us to be here..... so he can get HIS fair share of lovin'!

An eagle is resting in one of our trees! February 16, 2016

 Just hanging out in a tree waiting for lunch?

 They're not a common thing to see, but I did see an eagle flying over the field across from us just a couple of days ago.

While inside, Watson hangs out on the cat tree.

After yesterday's blizzard! February 9, 2016

 Those west bushes are just barely sticking out of the top of that drift, which is the biggest one there we've seen since we lived here (almost 18 years!).   The view looking west from the garage.

 The driveway wasn't too bad, except for that big drift by the electric pole.  (We had the worst drifts on the gravel road during the winter of 2010-2011, when we were driving through a tunnel on the road!)

Beyond the deck bench is a pretty tall drift, too, and that one farther back in the yard is pretty common, but that almost-bare spot between the pines is a little weird.  It's still windy, but nothing like the 35-45 mph winds we had yesterday (most of the day!).  (This is looking north of our house.)

Cat habits after last week's blizzard! February 7, 2016

 Ron, relaxing after a long winter's day.

 Ron and Gracie checking out the new toy mom ordered for the storm!

 Bogie thinks keeping warm is the most imporant thing.

 Watson (1 1/2 years old; the 'baby' at our house) relaxes with the Amazon boxes and filler paper that surrounded the new cat toys!

Watson checking on that mouse in the toy while Bogie non-chalantly keeps tabs on the %$#@ baby Watson!

Before and after the great neighbor Alex came with his tractor!!! 02 03 2016