Bogart in a bag...

Michelle (Izaac's aunt) got this bag when she bought a pair of shoes at "Steve Madden" at Jordan Creek on Saturday (on sale!! she assured me). After I unpacked the bag (which had Izaac clothes in it when I brought it home), Bogie thought it smelled and looked too interesting just to sniff, so climbed in for a nap. Bogie blends in with the bag so well it's almost hard to see where it ends and he starts!

Izaac taking a nap this morning after a few sneezes. His grandmother thinks he may be getting another cold--yikes. Uncle Johnny creating supper--Cincinnati Chili--and it smells great already!

We're enjoying the frosty day--heavy frost for several days in a row and fog in the morning and at night. It's supposed to be really cold tonight, but we'll be in anyway. later now...

More wildlife pictures??

Well, okay, one of them is really in the wildlife category, but which one is for you to decide!

Why do they call them red-tailed hawks? I don't think it really looks like 'red' on his tail. oh well. (the other one is my brother-in-law, Mick, demonstrating the correct way to wear these antlers.... I told you he has a great sense of humor!)

Wildlife close to home--really close!

This is a red-tailed hawk that has lived on the edge of our acreage (in a line of trees) but this year seems to have decided to make a nest in the tree right outside our east 'Prairie Room' window. (I took these through the window.)

I can't believe it sat long enough for me to take several pictures, with me walking down the hall closer and closer to it, and Queenie jumping up to get a first-hand view of it, too. It didn't seem nervous, but eventually left. I see it almost every day swooping through the yard. (PLEASE eat all the little rodents you find out in our yard-and thank you!!) It hasn't flown at the cats (yet??) but I don't usually see it flying much when they're outside.

This is Mick and Katherine showing off their (favorite??) gifts.... Mick said in his Christmas card he wasn't sure which one of them were the 'hunter' or 'gatherer' between the two of them, so I got him some camoflage to make sure his 'hunter' status wasn't over.

Fortunately, he has a good sense of humor-but it's hard for me to choose the right gift for him. sorry mick.

More Christmas Day pictures

Three of the Walker grandchildren open and show off the box of treats from the Peace Corps Volunteer from Paraguay (Rachel Newby).

In the picture above left in the kitchen in Sac City (Iowa) making a great dinner and having some laughs are (from left) Ann Walker Smalley, Grandma Jean Walker, Tag Walker and Kathy Hutchinson.

It WAS a VERY Merry Christmas!

We all had a great Christmas, starting with Christmas Eve day in Des Moines at Grandma Markey's, with everybody but Joe there. He has a new job at Target, and being the low man on the totem pole, worked all weekend and Monday, too. Turkey and all the trimmings--yum--plus the front porch filled with candy!

Christmas Day in Sac City with John's family began at church. After a great breakfast we cleaned out our Christmas socks with interesting stories about the treasures in them.

Then all the presents were opened and the prime rib put in the "set it and forget it" machine. Yum again! Mounds of mashed potatoes and lots of Yorkshire and rolls (that John made last week) rounded out the dinner with a great cheesecake for dessert--REALLY rich cheesecake!

We opened a box of treats from Rachel, who is in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, but currently on a break in Argentina and Montivideo and Uruguay with several girl scout camp buddies.

Izaac meets Santa!

We have all been showing Izaac pictures of Santa for a month hoping he would not be afraid when he meets him. This is the Sears Portrait Studio Santa, who happens to be the dad of a GrandView classmate, Bethany, who also works for Sears Studio.

Izaac's mom (Amanda) took him to see a 'live' Santa last week, but she thought he was a little too unsure to try and place Izaac on Santa's lap. But yesterday at Sears, he thought Santa was pretty interesting. So these pictures turned out pretty cute (well, of course they did, because Izaac's in them!).

Warmer days remembered!

I'm (on the left) in Chicago on a really hot August day (2007). That's John on the right. We were going to the Shedd Aquarium that day, but the line was horrendous because the Komodo Dragon was in residence there. That's not why we went, so we opted to take the boat across the lake to the Navy Pier and enjoy some 'touristing' and LOTS of walking.

I've got to run...bread dough needs punched and made into rolls!!!

Is it frosting?

It looked like somebody took a mega power-washer and blew white frosting all over the trees this morning in our yard (and our whole region). Man, now I understand why some people want their Christmas tree 'flocked'. I didn't used to think it was a reasonable thing to do: take a perfectly good evergreen and make it white??? Why--it's really beautiful that's why.

Alex home from college this afternoon, so I'm making him a work list. He started a job on the weekends in Des Moines for a resident house for "Childserve". He did it this past weekend for the first time, from 6am to 11pm both days. There are two people always in the house with the 4 residents (these were teenagers) and they cook for them, too. They have a rest period in the afternoon of about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, so there's a little break from them. He liked it, of course. I shouldn't be surprised. It seems like two long days to me. I'm glad there are people (like him) who like to do this kind of work.

Starting to communicate?

Izaac arrived here Wednesday evening, and we took him back to Des Moines yesterday. He's trying to say something, I think, by making O's with his mouth. I've been trying to get him to say 'hi', and I think a couple of times he's said "hey" at the right moment. His mom is trying to get him to say 'momma', but she only heard a 'duh' a couple of times.

I've been trying to figure out what Santa still needs to find/buy for Christmas, so the wrapping paper is out (we're a little short on it because I didn't get to shop last year too much!!) and I've got things spread into two rooms of the house! The cats aren't helping much when they lay on things I'm looking for or try and help 'cut' the wrapping paper! oh well.

**fyi--Izaac pic a little dark, so click on it and look, and then hit the 'back' arrow button to return to the blog--those "Tidy Cat" containers have bird food in them behind Izaac--not cat litter! That's Bogart Wrigley looking at the squirrel outside eating the bird food....

A knight in shining armor?

He might as well have had a suit of silver armor and been riding a white horse. We got about 4 more inches of snow from last evening through early this afternoon. I was trying to be helpful by shoveling, but knew I wouldn't last the whole driveway, so tried to start the small snow-blower. It turned over but didn't ever start completely. (Yes, there was gas in it, because I checked that first.)
So then I tried the bigger one. The bigger one is self-propelled, but I've never actually started it before, and when I finally got it going, I shoveled about 3 short strips and then heard an engine noise. I turned around and there was a black pickup with a guy I didn't recognize with a small child in the passenger seat.

He said, "you don't need to do that. I have a blade on my other pickup and I'll be right back to clean this out. Is that okay?" I was a little stunned, since I hadn't even heard the pickup before it was about 15 feet away from me. I said, "you are?", and he said, "I live around the corner, with the horses and the mule. My names is Jones. I'll be right back, okay?" I said, "Sure", with a relieved look no one could have mistaken.

True to his word, he was back in less than 10 minutes with a different (even BIGGER) truck with a blade that looked pretty new (so did the truck, though), and made several swipes each direction in the driveway and then smiled and waved and said, "Now you have a nice Christmas, okay?" I shook my head and said "Thanks" and went in to get warm!!!! Thanks neighbor!!!!!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

So, we decorated a little. We didn't do the full-fledged dragging out of ALL the containers full of tree decorations and lights and characters to sit on the buffet, but it definitely looks more festive in here.

More snow yesterday for us in the amount of 3-5 inches (depends on where you walk at this house). It's sleeting just south of here, but I don't plan on traveling anywhere anyway. Internet--I hope you can do my Christmas shopping for me AGAIN! It's supposed to snow tonight and tomorrow also. Okay, it's white already! Enough!

December in Iowa!

It may be hard to see this picture without clicking on it. (If you do, just click on the "back" arrow to return to this page.) We had freezing rain most of the day last Saturday, and on Sunday morning, it was lightly sleeting for about 3 hours.

Monday, school was even delayed two hours (and the roads were still ice-patched when we left for Des Moines after 10am!). Then there was a snow dusting overnight Monday. It left 3+ inches of solid-packed ice on the driveway/approach to the garage.

Yesterday was cold and sunny, so we both went out and took turns with the ice-breaker so we could get one layer up before it snows (expected to get 2-4" this afternoon) today. Yikes!

Izaac in "Elf Yourself"

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1176999843

Two pictures of the boys, since they didn't both smile in the same one...

Izaac made the trip home yesterday after an interesting visit through the crummy weekend weather and a bout with ear infection. He was himself again after starting the medicine!

I, however, have ended up with bronchitis and sinus infection. So I'm on medicine, too! oh well...

The dog (Chia, now about 14 years old) has taken a spell of sleeping (inside) all day and then chasing rabbits (or whatever moves) outside at night, barking off and on when she gets really excited. It's startling if she's right under the one of the bedroom windows.

The weather outside is frightful!!

This is a picture about 11am 12/1/07 looking south out of the patio door in the kitchen.

The trainman got called at 4:15am, went to work in light snow, and when his train was in Clinton (not Boone) he came home in snow, too, at 6:45am. He won't be going to Boone again today! It's been freezing rain/snow since then, and has covered all the south and east windows almost completely.

The furry children HATE this weather, and Queenie spent a half an hour (seemed like all morning) whining to have the door opened to the outside world, but when I did, she backed up from it and went to bed. later now...

Izaac and I attempt to be creative!

We went to the Hamilton County (IA) Extension office in Webster City last evening for a class on "making a wreath" with a few other handbell-choir players from church. It was actually fun, and Izaac was really good, but I just don't have that 'creative' thing in my brain.

Thanks to my neighbor, Vicki Hill (in real life and in this picture) for helping me to finish the wreath and make the gorgeous bow. I'll hang it later and take a picture when I get the pine cones attached.

Iowa is under a winter storm notice for tomorrow all day--the whole state! I was considering attending Samantha's Mary Kay party in Des Moines but have pretty much decided against it.

Uncle Charlie supposed to be going home this morning if everything progressed as predicted yesterday. He's doing quite well for what he's been through according to the doctors. later now...

Train man with a train...

This picture was taken by another train guy in April of this year. We recently got a cd of pictures from him.

Observations of the ironic nature:
I went to the Ames mall last week, and several stores have changed and it was very interesting==the bookstore was replaced by a video/computer game store, and the cd music store has been replaced by a new and used exercise equipment store. This new exercise equipment store just happens to be next door to the only cookie counter in the mall, which made me laugh (so I hope no one else was watching).
Another observation is one I made driving home on a Sunday evening from Des Moines behind a fairly large SUV. It had a video screen large enough that I could make out the movie from my car while we were stopped, but the problem was I seemed to keep looking at the screen after I was driving again. Has anyone else been distracted by the entertainment in the vehicle in front of them? Maybe it's just me.... later now..

Poor Uncle Charlie!!

Uncle Charlie has been complaining about a pain (sometimes so sharp he can't lay down or even sit down) off and on for a month or so, and today he had an ultrasound (finally, he's had other tests, but mostly inconclusive) and it showed a gall stone plugging the duct, and for long enough that it was gangrene--yuk.

So my mom went and got him and drove him to the emergency room at Methodist and he got out of surgery (didn't even get wheeled to the prep surgery room until 7:45pm) about 9pm. The doctor said it was as big as an orange and icky, and they could get it out without a large incision, but apparently he couldn't believe U. Charlie was still walking around with that thing in him. The doctor told mom U. Charlie must be one tough bird!! I'm sure U. Charlie will appreciate that.

I think it's interesting that I guessed gall bladder when he told me his symptoms, and he's been to three different doctors with this pain trying to get them to believe him. Yikes. He'll be in a couple of days recuperating and getting antibiotics.

That's a picture of U. Charlie with Izaac on Sunday, October 29th at my mom's.

Happy Anniversary to my mom and dad in Des Moines

This is the Chicago skyline from the steps of the Field Museum. The Hilton is on the far left.

We are the proud owners of a new hot water heater today. It took a couple of hours to get the old one out and the new one hooked up and then another hour to get the water hot, but it's working!!!

Alex still looking for a job, and may step up his efforts now that Christmas is coming. Samantha still working at school and now Sears again during their busy season.

This is an attempt to show the gorgeous sunsets we can see from our house. (Picture taken by the train man one evening last week.) This view is looking southwest from our driveway past the neighbor's house.
The hot water heater died today. I had hot water this morning, but this afternoon, lukewarm and then cold. I called our very dependable plumber (that's not a joke, he really is good) and he just called back. He asked if there was a puddle underneath. He was here last month because water was leaking right at the connection from the heater, and he mentioned there was lime and rust build-up there and we were probably not even getting the correct pressure due to the clogging in the line.
He also said that water heaters usually have a life expectancy of about 7 years, and that one said 1999. I think he knew it was destined to fail soon. ouch. He won't be here until mid-morning tomorrow with a new one, so no showering tonight! oh well. Hope the cats don't mind...

It's SNOWING!!

Since I took this picture 10 minutes ago, it has really started to SNOW (as opposed to the flurries we were supposed to be experiencing up north here...). The field across from us is really white.
The cats really hate this weather because it puts a damper on chasing things (like each other) around the yard. They don't mind cold, just the precipitation.
I'm baking rolls for tomorrow's dinner in Des Moines (and some extra to sample). I'll update with a picture later if the snow gets to be really measurable!
Click on this link for a picture of a cat who knows how to 'do' Thanksgiving!

Not sure why the link is not showing here, but I will work on it. Otherwise, you can type in: http://daisythecurlycat.blogspot.com ****CLick on the paperclip if you see one, and it takes you to Daisy! later now....
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DaisyTheCurlyCat?format=xml

Happy Birthday Joe Markey in Des Moines

Happy Birthday Joseph--who turns that magical 18 today. We had a birthday party in Des Moines on Sunday for him and ate tenderloins, malts and fries.
At six months, Izaac is trying to imitate things--like noises. He started making this noise, but when I turned on the video camera (about 3 different times) he quit. It was really cute although his mother didn't think so on Sunday.
Visited Dr. Kobrossy today--full morning with the CT scan and blood drawn, then the doctor visit. My blood pressure is great (116 over 64) and the bloodwork looked normal (even better on some numbers he said) and the scan has not changed-so I don't have to go back for 3 or 4 months for the same routine until mid-September next year, and if it continues as before, the doctor visits will be farther apart--YEAH!!
Met Alex in Ankeny to grocery shop for him and gave him some shoes for a job interview he has Wednesday. It's will Childserve in Des Moines area.

Happy Birthday Ann Smalley in Apple Valley, MN!!

(Izaac taking over blogging today.) It was very bright in the Prairie room this morning, but I was so cute Aunt WoWo had to take my picture anyway. Remember, you can click on the picture to see my face better, and then you have to click on the 'back arrow' to return to this page.

Uncle Johnny made cookies this morning but I didn't get any because my tummy is still a little bubbly. I sure did want to taste one though. But I'm fine on formula for now and mostly happy except when I get a tummy pain.

I like playing with Alex's old Duplo blocks. I can't seem to connect them, but I can sure tear them apart if Aunt WoWo builds something. Alex's baby quilts are nice to play on and with, too! later now....nap time.

This is the winner from yesterday.

I think this is definitely the winning picture of the day from yesterday. He was really good, but his tummy must have been a little upset from the rotavirus vaccine they gave him the day before. That's a new one since my kids got vaccines. He just didn't have much appetite.

He did eat some pieces of steamed carrots and green beans off my Healthy Choice dinner without making faces (which he does when you give him the squished baby varieties). I wonder if it's the consistency of the mashed ones he doesn't like (like his Great-grandmother and mashed potatoes)?

Gheeez-we're boring! I just re-read the blog. oh well. COLD here this morning, with flurries in the air on Wednesday late afternoon, and forecasted for today, too. Next week they say snow for Thanksgiving--ouch. later now...

Izaac at Camp!

Izaac is back at camp for a few days due to his regular afternoon sitters, Aunt Michelle and Grandma Shirley (while mom, Amanda is working) ended up with conflicting schedules this week.

Uncle Johnny took this picture last night with the new camera, and it turned out great.

Izaac and I went to visit Dr. Kobrossy while he was doing his rotation in Webster City today. They all thought he was very cute and LOVED his blue eyes. He had fallen asleep in the warm, sunny car on the way up. He was smiley and polite, but unusually quiet. Dr. K said he is still using me as an example of the person most nauseated with a germ cell tumor!! yuk. I will be seeing him next week. yuk again.

He's been pretty good today considering he got his 6-month shots yesterday morning.

I'd rather sit here....

This is Noel in the box that came with my Christmas present (I picked it out and ordered it, and mom paid for it....we both like presents like that!). The container filled with their 'running' toys (from one end of the Prairie room through the hall, the kitchen and then the living room...) is close by, but none of them seem overly anxious to exercise this week (like me!).

Sunday afternoon was warm with no breeze, so I worked outside all afternoon, putting the deck garden pots away and filling the holes in the yard the tires of the garden tractor get lost in when I run over them. I even mowed the 'near 40' and the west. There were some leaves to chop up, too, but they are the most plentiful in the west patch in front of the lineup of pines for a windbreak.

The view from my front window!!

I got a new camera yesterday because I couldn't stand not having one to use so constantly as I did the other digital camera. It's an HP 547, and I like it so far.
This picture was taken from the front of our house to the field, and it turned out pretty well for the distance I think.

New entertainment...

I purchased this cat playset last spring and was trying to save it for the first snowy day when the 'furry kids' would be whining at me to go outside. Since I was gone during the day a couple days this week, I decided they deserved a new toy, and put it together with some struggling.

Bogie seemed excited with it, and after I was done, he raced through it and then came back to sit a bit and tipped it over just by leaning on the side (on the second level). I put it back up, and he got on the second level and tipped it, too. It doesn't seem to bother him, but he didn't pay much attention to it today. oh well. (Bogie weighs in around 17-18 lbs. but the box did not have a weight limit!)

Shopping--again! Thursday, November 8th

This picture is of Patrick and Hannah after the wedding when some of the guys lifted them both in the air on the chairs and danced around... (my camera is on the blink, so no new pics)

Went shopping again yesterday with Kim and her mom, starting out in Perry at a few stops.

We then ended up in Winterset (birthplace of John Wayne, and I've been through his house and souvenir shop--that was fun, too) in their downtown 'square'. We visited several shops before going into Fons and Porter's (Love of Quilting) quilt store. For those of you not familiar with these two women, they got together more than 25 years ago and are on public television with their own show, teaching quilting techniques and giving examples and hints. They are on the internet, too, but I haven't actually checked that out yet.

We didn't see either lady in there, and then continued around the square to Ben Franklin--and low and behold==there was Marianne Fons in the fabric section, sorting out a counted cross-stitch pattern for a sampler. Apparently she had done this years ago, but didn't remember EVERY detail, so Kim's mom and I were giving this very knowledgeable quilter advice on how many strands of thread to use and NOT to wash the cross-stitch fabric! Interesting, and a great story to tell!

To see the Fons and Porter website, click on this link: http://www.fonsandporter.com/

A trip to Sac City and Lake View

This is a picture of the cousins (except Patrick) who were in Chicago in August for Patrick's wedding. Claire, Samantha, Michael and Maria are in front, then there's Will, Katherine, Ann, John Dominick and the Trainman (Tag) showing from behind that first row. Still regretting we didn't get a picture of the "antiques" (the next generation up). If anyone got a picture of that crowd together, I'd love to have a copy.

Trainman arrived home at 6am, and we went to Sac City to visit and help with some 'technical difficulties'. We had a great lunch and chatted non-stop (of course!!). Trainman made peanut-butter mini-chocolate chip cookies when we got home. They were warm and yummy. later now...

It's Friday! It's nice outside, too...

Courtesy of Samantha's camera, we have a picture of Izaac's first Halloween. Apparently I overfilled the front of the suit (it was a little wimpy after 20 years) and Izaac couldn't move his arms very well so he didn't like it much. oh well. Maybe next year.

The hunters have been using our west yard as a parking lot already this fall which irritates me. It's not a show yard for Earl May or Scott's turf builder, but that's really no excuse for them to use it as a parking lot!!

Allergies kept me from working in it for more than 8 years! This is the first year in a LONG time I've been able to be outside as much as I want, and it was hard work, but enjoyable at the same time. I even mowed several times (most of the time) and there's BUNCHES more work to be done, but I did make a dent (I thought, at least) on the thistles and some of the creepy vines. Next year, I'll tackle it even more! It was warmer today than yesterday, so I probably should have mowed the front yard one last time. I was going to mow the west, but the hunters pretty much mashed it down and put some really interesting patterns in it with their tires. later now.

Thursday, November 1st--Happy Birthday Margaret!

I can't believe it's been a week since I've updated this. Izaac went back to Des Moines last Friday.
This is Uncle Charlie (Izaac's Great-great Uncle) holding Izaac last Sunday at his Great-grandma's house for Michelle's birthday party.
I just got home from a junk-shopping spree my friend, Kim, and her mom and I went on today. I bought a couple of things, some earrings, a couple of books and a couple Christmas presents. It was sunny and cold, but we did fine and had lunch in Story City at the "Bistro" sandwich and soup place (great sandwich and bread).
Uncle Johnny stayed home and baked bread and made Cincinnati Chili and covered some windows in plastic for the coming season. Yesterday he and I went to Ankeny and met Samantha for lunch so she could buy herself a new cell phone. oh boy!! I actually got two magazines read while riding. later now...

Happy Birthday MOM!!

This would be the birthday girl, my mom, at the dinner party a few weeks ago.

Last, but not least, Noel....

This would be Noel, the 'weakest link'. We adopted her after Puff passed away, and are pretty sure she was mistreated in her first house. It took a LONG time for her to trust either one of us, even though she followed us around everywhere. Queen, of course, wasn't friendly, and ocassionally still bullies her around the house, She's actually quite lovey-now, at least with her 'pet adults'.

She's in the dryer, and yes, I re-fluff/de-fuzz the stuff after she gets out. Something outside attacked her late one night this past summer and we had to take our first trip to the emergency room with a cat (Iowa State University Vet Teaching Hospital in Ames) and they treated her well (she didn't like it either way). We're not sure she can see out of her left eye, but hasn't run into anything yet.

Wednesday in Iowa...

This is Uncle Johnny giving Izaac a bath last night getting in practice for tonight (when I was gone to hand-bell choir practice). They did just fine. Izaac loves baths.
We also had a short road trip today to Kim's house so Uncle Johnny could help her take a bed apart and take to the basement so she could set up a futon in there (her computer corner desk is already set up). Kim's puppy, Max, was excited to see an outsider and jumped and tried to lick Izaac, and Izaac thought he was fun.

Camp Stanhope logo on our garage door

My husband commissioned this painting (by Rachel Newby, our niece) for our 20th wedding anniversary, in August, 2000. This became our 'logo' for Camp Stanhope. (The name came from my mother-in-law, when, the first summer we lived here all three of her children ended up at our house at the same time, unplanned, so she thought I must be 'running' a camp.) This is a good picture to click on to see details. I am standing on the left side of the picture with a cake that says "20" on it and John is at the other end of the picnic table with a tray of burgers complete with his grilling apron on. All the Walker and Markey grandchildren (plus Jason Reynolds, our friend and old neighbor) are represented sitting at the table.

At the bottom of the door, there are drawings of our (then) cats, Puff and Queen, and the dog, (Chia), and the 3 pigs, because we are neighbors with several pig operations. My friend, Kim, likes to say the 3 pigs are her hubby, Ron, and two other guys, Dave Carlson and Steve Carlson. The boat is for my dad, since all the grandkids love to go boating. The parents of all the grandchildren, and grandparents are all on the boat, plus Aunt Mary and Janet Reynolds (our friend and Jason's mom). My dad is supposed to be at the back driving from the motor, but Mary claims that she is driving in the front with the steering wheel! There are also emu depicted (those gray heads showing on the right side of the door), because there was a farm of them just north of here (but they're gone now). There are corn stalks, of course, representing the farms around us also. It's a great painting!

Chia's turn

This is Chia, who came with the house 10 years ago. She's a great dog, but is getting a little slower as she gets older (aren't we all?). She's made up from "leftover parts of other dogs", according to John's sister, which is Chow, Blue Heeler and Akita. She's still got an intimidating bark but doesn't chase as long or as fast as she used to. She's afraid of thunder, and can sense it in a 5-state radius (well, sometimes it seems like it, more like surrounding counties, etc.). She just wanted her equal time in the blog!

My corner of the world

These cows (and their friend, the horse in the background) are technically our closest neighbors here near Stanhope. The bull (the big one in-between the two females, with baby in front of the white one) arrived about a week ago. Last summer, the white and black cows were alone with the horse, but when the calf arrived this summer, the horse was moved to the other field.
This is a picture of our house from the road. The end room on the right is the one we call the "Prairie Room" because it looks across to the field and we are surrounded by native Iowa prairie, which can be quite pretty in summer. There are lots of coneflowers and different grasses and black-eyed Susans in there.

I noticed when I look at the blog page, you can click on an individual picture (and wait a minute) and it will show up larger for you. I then clicked on the 'back' button to get back to the complete blog page. (for the novices, like me, in the viewing arena!)

Izaac at Camp and posting today

This is Amanda (Izaac's mom) and Izaac at the end of September. It looks like they are in their yard at home. Izaac continues this blog this morning after arriving last night at Camp.

dfklsdzsdfjl;hug;asdfasdf'k'afsdkasfdasdf;;klmxcv

I just noticed he got a real word in there--'hug', but that may have been when I was moving his hands (not fingers on keys, just his hands on the keyboard to get some different letters in there...).