White River Rafting

White water rafting at Noahs Ark River Rafting Co. in Buena Vista, Colorado.

It's exhilarating for sure.  I definitely used the foot anchors inside the raft and kept hold of the rope.  My Son is riding on the back and I'm in the front along with my two granddaughters and Daughter--see were all holding on!

What an adventure, we loved getting all suited up -  can't you tell!!!

 

 

 

 

 

The "Crew" ready to go along with our raft captain.    All DRY for now but we're excited.  I would definitely do this again!!!


Linking with Oh, The Places I've Been

 

 

 

Ann

S is for Star

Memorial Day is this coming next Monday so I thought I would try and find something S that would fit the occasion.  Sitting in my sun room is this great little framed STAR.

I've had this little framed piece quite a few years. I used to collect patriotic memorabilia  more than I do now but I couldn't let go of this.

 

/

 

 

The back says "As a token of our loyalty and respect to the member of your family who serves in the Armed Forces of America".

STEPHENSON OIL CO.

Iola,  Ks

 

 

 

I imagine this was given out for WWII families considering the frame, glass and actual cloth STAR, paper and cording.

 

 

 

 

 

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com

Thank you to Mrs. Nesbitt and Roger for the opportunity to play along each week on our alphabet adventure.

Ann

 

 

 

 

Porch flowers

This weekend I decorated my front porch for summer.  Got my ladder out and purchased some annuals.

I like to use my vintage blue metal student chairs to hold some pots for color.  I used my little red shoe to show we're in OZ and my birdhouses always are not far away.

 

I used an old clay pipe and planted some mint.

 

My other little chair is sitting in the front garden.

Found a really cute bird house at a garage sale this weekend, the roof is a license plate.

Hope you are enjoying this new Monday and week like I am.

Linking with Sally @ http://smilingsally.blogspot.com   for Blue Monday

 

 

Ann



Oh, The Places I've Been #5

SOUTH DAKOTA

One of my favorite trips was a trip that my hubby and I took to South Dakota.  We flew out and rented a car--spent the week sightseeing.



One of the first things we went to was Mount Rushmore.

Each states flag is displayed and a plaque with the states entrance into the union.

It is so majestic up close!!


Just 17 miles from Mt. Rushmore is the Crazy Horse Monument.  This is the worlds largest sculpture and it is still in progress.  It was started in 1948 and after the sculptors death in the 1980's his children have taken over the quest.  It is a non profit undertaking, all done by donations.  When it is finished it will be longer than a cruise ship and taller than a 60 story skyscraper.  It is being sculptured in the Thunderhead Mountain.

This is what the final sculpture will look like.

 

 

I did not get a picture of Crazy Horse as it is now, so this one is from the Internet.

 

His face measures 88'. 

 

The Badlands cannot be missed. The colors in the rock formations are beautiful. Lots of pinks!

We visited Wind Cave-another beautiful site.

This really took us by surprise, South Dakota has 19,000 recorded archaeological and paleontological sites.

 

We visited the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, South Dakota.  This is the largest concentration of Colombian and Woolly Mammoths ever found in their primary content (where they died).  It is remarkable to see the shapes and bones of them laying right there before you!!!

There are many hands-on activities for children--would be a wonderful place to take the whole family.

 

 

The Indian culture, the breathtaking badlands and black hills made this trip one to remember.

 

Linking withOh, the places I've been

 

 

 

 

 

Ann 

R is for Rust-Oleum

For all of those gardeners who like to spruce up their garden ornamentals,  I found a product that is for concrete.  It transforms all those slabs and statues and gives them a new garden glow.

This is my Wizard of Oz Lion.  He was looking pretty bleak.  He is a concrete statue I found at a garage sale years ago.  The Kansas sun had done a number on him over the seasons.

My Rust-oleum stain really worked well, it is UV/weather resistant.

 

 

I gave him two coats and he's ready for summer.

 

 

 

This color is Burnt Brick and they do have a number of other colors.


Linking withABC Wednesday

Ann

Mother to Be on Mothers Day

Today, three beautiful ladies and myself hosted a baby shower for my nephews wife  a soon to be mother. 

From left - Debbie, Lori, Me and Jan.

 

Her main colors were red, black and pink.

 Our cupcakes were vanilla, chocolate and red velvet.

 Our candy station.   Sugar and Spice





All hand designed onesies.

This is the little dress and hat that I made for the new baby girl.

 Chicken salad and croissants, vegetable trays, hand dipped strawberries, spinach dip, chips and quiche was our lunch.

Our mother to be and her two grandmothers.

A lovely setting with a picture with big brother.

 

What a very special Mother-To-Be party, 31 ladies and gifts that took an hour to unwrap. Lots of laughter and delicious food.

 

 

Linking withPink Saturday

 

 

Ann

 

Mind your "P's" and "Q's"

LETTER Q

I could have also used this for P--but here's my Q.


How many times have you said "watch your P's and Q's and really didn't know where the saying came from?



Well I was very curious and have been studying this phrase the past week.


I found the following explanations from Wickepedia  but no one can know for sure the true origination.


1. Parents have used this to stand for "p" being please and "q"- being for excuse me-the q sounding like ex-cuse.  P and Q being easier for them to pronounce.

2. A possibility from English bartenders in the seventeenth century, they would keep an eye on the alcohol consumption of their customers.  They watched how many pints and quarts were consumed.
 They would say to the patrons "watch your "ps" and "q's.

3.  Maybe it came from sailors in the eighteen century who were reminded to pay attention to their peas (pea coat) and queues (pony tail).

4. This origin I think is more than likely the origin--it comes from the early printing presses.  Printers placed individual letters on a frame to print a page of text.  If the letters were reversed (they are right next to each other) it would be easy to mis-spell a word. They were fined for every spelling mistake!!! I can easily see how you would remind those to watch their "ps" and "qs".


I think of our children when they are learning the alphabet how easy it is to mixed these letters up!!!


There have been books written on this subject if you want to learn more!!

Linking with  ABC Wednesday

Ann