50 degree party

It reached 50 degrees today.

Wonder if the home town university students held a 50 degree party. Met a friend at the local coffee shop today and he asked if I was throwing such a party. Haha. Said friend knows about such parties as he is a former attendee at a few.

Actually, such a party was not "held", it happened. The first spring day the tempurature hit 50, the university vacated - students as well as some faculty - and headed to a local park where we celebrated the arrival of spring. Some years in a drizzle, some years while standing on soggy grass and some years while standing atop snow banks.

There were snow banks the year I decided to do what my mother warned me against - jumping off the bridge because someone else did. All I can say is water is darned cold when ice chunks are floating in it - but what the heck, I was young and looking for an adventure. And I got one - mighty cold walk home with all those wet clothes on - didn't think that through very well.

I'd like to think I'm smarter these days.

Back in the saddle

......after a brief hiatus and a wonderful Thanksgiving trip to South Dakota.


Here's a photo of the Missouri River taken from what I refer to as the Lewis and Clarke Wayside, although my friend S tells me it's the Chamberlain Wayside. Lewis and his buddy Clarke and their crew camped near here - so it's the LCW to me.

It was incredibly windy and cold that day, the camera kept shutting off after only a picture or two.

An amazing view, and a wonderful start to a whirlwind vacation.

A lovely weekend at the beach

It's been an extremely lovely weekend at the beach. The annual kite festival brought 20,000+ folks to town to view two days and one night of kite flying. Food, food, food, ice cream, kites, kites and more kites, an evening bon fire, lighted kite fly and friends, friends, friends. The whole town turns out to put on the incredible event, the brain child of local super-kiter Chow of UFO.

That's Chow in the photo below. Here's a link to more Kite photos on Jeff's Flik'r site. And for more Kite photos, check out Nate's Flik'r site.

What do you do for the fourth?

What do you do for the fourth? I attend the best bash in this part of the world! Friends E & B host a varied lot of their friends in a back yard barbeque and food fest. After hours of eating, we stroll down to an overlook on the lake and watch fireworks shot off from the harbor.

Quite incredible - we get to see two sets of aerial pyrotechnics. First is the fireworks display from a town six miles down coast. Actually, that's where I live - out on a peninsula. Thus, the clear view from the town six miles up coast. When the grand finale is done six miles down coast, then the fire works six miles up coast kick in - WOW!

We all lie down on blankets and watch in wonder - just like the tykes sitting next to us. Oohhhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, ooooooooohhhhhhhhhh.

And when it's all over, we stroll back to E & B's back yard to polish off what's left and meander on home - all tired. And this year, we're really glad that tomorrow is Saturday and most of us don't have to get up too early to go to work, but must still get up early enough to get the best buys and freshest stuff at the local farmers markets. Strawberries are in season!

Friends make me happy

Meeting my friend D for coffee and a chat today! We haven't seen much of each other for the past couple months. I just love being around her, she's so positive and upbeat no matter what's going on in her life.

She wants to start a shared use kitchen in our area. What an idea - and we need one! D loves food and she's a great chef.

I'm hoping they have the really good cookies at the coffee house today. There's nothing like organic tea and a yummy cookie to start off the day - it's like eating sunshine.

I'm New at This

Well, here I go. I'm new at this. So many of my friends blog, I thought why not? I'm sure I can figure this out -- with help from the blogger friends.