Saturday Snapshots Cousins Reunion 2015

I have been very absent from this blog. Life has a way of getting in the way sometimes. Last weekend we were in our camper in the Black Hills of SD. Or more exactly, the KOA in Rapid City SD.

Growing up I had 4 cousins. The children of my mother's only sister. We were as close as we could be living at opposite ends of South Dakota.  They lived "East River", we live "West River".  The river being the Missouri which divides SD nearly down the middle. Our parents made sure we spent weeks together in the summer and lots of Christmas holidays too. My dad was an amateur photographer, so there were lots of photographs. We always were stood in a line, stairstep style. Oldest to youngest. Bill, Jim, Judy, Jane, Kristie, Judd, Stan, and finally Jeff. So when my cousin Kris suggested a cousin reunion for 2015 we all latched on to the idea. She thought we should camp. Mr Busy and I agreed....then problems arose. My sister's husband is disabled and camping in the Black Hills would be a problem for them. My oldest cousin wanted to go to the BH to "scout elk", leaving little time for visiting or sharing. My other cousin's wife, hates to travel. Well, finally all were persuaded to attend. And we had the best time!

Here are some pictures:

 We used to visit Dinosaur Park in Rapid City as kids. Here we are arranged on the tail by age left to right. 

 Here we are farther on up the hill, arranged by height. Yikes, I am on the shortest end!

Some of the younger cousins could still climb the sculpture!  No so for me!

And this is a photo of all eight of us and our spouses. My brother Jeff, in the gray and black striped shirt, was the only one singe here. He lost his life partner, Rhonda in March. It was a bittersweet day for him. 

Thanks for following along with my ramblings. It was a wonderful weekend. We visited, ate, visited, took pictures, ate and sat by the campfire. Priceless! 

Until next time, hopefully more regularly now

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 9-21-15

Linking up with Sheila at Book Journey. This week I will continue with :

Also hope to get to start on

Goodreads Synopsis

It's the Roaring Twenties, Jake and Raisa Kessel are married with two kids and a pile of growing debt. They need a change, some new pickings. They pack up for the bright lights and new opportunity in Port Huron, Michigan. 

My book club met last Tuesday and many of us had not finished the 3rd in the series. So we decided to postpone the discussion of it until October gathering. We are enjoying the stories, it is just that we are all busy. I like that we are all OK with a change of plans and no one gets too upset.


Til next time
Stay Busy and Stay Happy

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday- Second Time Around - 9-15-15

Every Tuesday Diane at Bibliophile By the Sea host a place to share the first paragraph in the first chapter of a book you are reading or plan to read soon. I am looking forward to reading this one.

Chapter 1
"The only way not to think about money is to have a great deal of it."  Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth

     "We all should have gone to law school." Jamie Burton plopped down on a white rattan rocking chair, kicking  off her flip-flops and gazed out at the lake.  " I'm telling you. Everyone who warned me about majoring in English was right. If I'd gone to law school, I wouldn't be flashing my decolletage for tips. If I'd  gone to law school, all my student loans would have been paid off, and I'd be swanning in the trinity of the Christians: Dior, Lacroix, and Louboutin.  If I'd gone to law school, I'd be ----"

    "Careening down the slippery slope of insanity," said Arden Henley, who had a framed J.D. diploma from Georgetown and a plushly appointed office in a prestigious Manhattan law firm. She'd hosted a girls' weekend reunion here at her family's cottage in the Adirondacks every Fourth of July weekend since they'd all graduated from college ten years ago. " You'd hate being an attorney. Trust me."

So, what do you think? Would you read on? I always enjoy Beth Kendrick's books. She writes with a witty charming sense of humor and often about the power of female friendships. I was introduced to her books by my daughter-in-law several years ago. My son and DIL live in Phoenix, as does Ms. Kendrick.

Welcome Back It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

I am so glad to be posting to this favorite meme. I have been reading but did not post very often about what I was reading.

This coming week is the first meeting of my F2F book club after our summer vacation. We will discuss the following two books.

I am a bit behind. I am nearly done with this one and enjoying it a great deal. Check out the The Goodreads Page for the synopsis of this story. 

Goodreads Page

I have not started this one, but I will. I won't be much help in the discussion, but I will listen well. I really enjoyed this first one in this trilogy, The Ticket. 

Also this next week I hope to start The Bell Jar

This classic is one I have been meaning to read for some time. Last week as we stopped by the library, I looked for it and there it was on the shelf so I picked it up. 

In the car I have my copy of   Fire on the Mountain: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire

I have owned this book since 2000. I purchased a copy from the author when he spoke at a Fire Department Banquet that Mr Busy and I attended. At the time, Mr Busy was a volunteer fireman and was a member of the Honor Guard of his department. This Honor Guard presented flags at the dedication ceremony of the Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Glenwood Springs Colorado. It was a very emotional day. It has taken me this long to be able to read this tragic story. 

Until next time,

Stay Busy and Stay Happy

Saturday Snapshots - Mr Busy's Hobby and what I did this morning

Mr Busy flies Radio Controlled Aircraft. He has been very involved in this hobby for the last 8 years. In addition to flying at a local air field, he is involved in the club that promotes the hobby. Last weekend the local club sponsored a Fly-In. An event where fellow flyers come from neighboring communities to join the fun. I took a few pictures. It was very hot last weekend so I spent most of the time I was there in the shade.

Some of the guys ( mostly it's guys who fly, but some young girls and my granddaughter have given it a try) fly helicopters. Off in the distance you can see a small subdivison ( neighborhood). 

Our young great grandson loves to visit the flying field. Here he is offering a bottle of water to one of the ladies who was sitting under the shade canopy.  Also, his favorite words that day were, "Wow" and "Neat"

This picture shows some of the fixed wing aircraft. The blue and white one is a jet. It uses jet fuel and it was completely hand built by one of the members. He flew it just before this picture was taken. To quote my gr grandson, "Wow" "Neat"  If you look real closely, in the right hand middle of the picture there looks like a gray triangular contraption. It is actually a stealth bomber built by the same club member who built the jet. I think he is an engineer in disguise.


This week a friend gifted me some free crabapples. What to do?  Make jelly, of course. I haven't made home made jelly of any kind in many years. My canning supplies have been given away. But I processed the apples, and this morning made jelly. Thanks to my granddaughter who loaned me her canner. I think I may be the first one to use it, but she planted a huge garden so she will be using it soon.

Don't you just love the little "ping" that happens in your kitchen after all the work is done?  :)



Stay Busy and Stay Happy

The Friday 56 - A Soft Place to Fall (Shelter Rock Cove #1)

I joining The Friday 56 today. I have played along before, but not on a regular basis. Here is an excerpt from page 56 of the book I am currently reading.

"He had wanted to square things with the woman with the sad blue eyes and, if he was being honest, square things with himself as well. It seemed he had been leaving nothing but loose ends behind these last few months. Something about her had reached deep into his soul, far deeper that a casual encounter in a parking lot would justify.He felt a connection, a sense of rightness that he'd never known before. "

Librarian's Note: This is an alternate cover for ASIN B007UCZ5WE

I was looking for a book that had a romantic chemistry between the characters, for a book challenge. Do you think I might have found it?  Understand this is an alternate cover, the regular on looks like this:

Sometimes it's hard to know where the story will go from the cover, don't you think?


This weekend we celebrate our middle great grandson's 2nd birthday. His grandparents, aunts and uncles will be there and so it will be a big deal. He is too little yet for his parents to plan a "friend birthday".  

Hope to participate in this meme again

Quilt Chicks Challenge #6 Summer Stitchery completed, ready to piece.

The die was rolled on May 3rd for the next bimonthly challenge in one of the quilting groups that I belong to.  The die says #6.   I must complete the stitching and embellishment of a stitchery that I have planned to do for 3 years. It is a Crabapple Hill pattern. The original pattern is to be made into a pillow, but I want a seasonal wall hanging for above the living room couch. "FALL" has been done for a few years, SPRING is nearly complete, SUMMER is next.

This is the completed stitchery with one border on it. It completes the challenge as I listed it. 

 The same, just a bit different lighting.