Yard workin'

We've been working on the yard all day. I was out cuting and trimming some trees in the backyard. Some are just overgrown or grown branches too low. A couple others have been broken and are now growing through or fell onto another and they are all just a mess. One corner of my back yard doesn't get enough sun due to the mess. I think it will all get better there.

We have some cherries growing on two of my Sand Cherry bushes. One of our 5 apple trees finally have apples on them. My raspberry bushes are growing good this year, too. There's been a lot of rain, but it's been hot and damp, too. Everything has been growing great.

This is the first year that the hay field developed fast enough that we could have it hayed last month and will probably be able to get a second cutting.

Just working along trying to get a handle on this property for once.

TV - 2011

a quick critque of what I've been watching.

Hawaii 5-O. Love this show. When I watch tv, i don't need complex characters, at least not at first, these characters are developing. Dano is growing on me weekly. I want this character to get back with his ex and be happy. I'm not sure if the writers are going to do it. And let me say here, I like Scott Caan in general. He has grown into so many mannerisms of his dad. It's nice to watch him. Scott, and his Father James have many unique mannerisms. Very controlled intensity as an actor. The character of Chin Ho has to get through this problem with the Hawaii police dept. It was an okay basis for Daniel Kim's character's smouldering personality at the beginning of the series, but it needs to be resolved now. Grace Park's character has been one of mainly girl-fluff. The character has potential, but needs the depth explored. I would like to see her soon go through a life changing or strength developing crisis. We need to see how tough she is. The character of Jenna Kaye is a good addition. It takes the weight of the only female action character off Grace Park, allowing for development of her character. Now, what about Alex O'Laughlin? This is not your father's McGarrett. I like this character. I especially love the interaction between O'Laughlin and Caan. This has been a fun pairing. Caan whines, and O'Laughlin broods, but they both take it out on each other. I have a lot of fun watching this show and use it as excapist tv. Good show. Next: Castle

Tell me

This is the safest place to post this question, because no one will read or respond to it.

If you are an Obama supporter, please tell me what you think he has done since he has gotten into office. I'm not trying to trick anybody, and I'm not looking for a raging discussion between conservatives and liberals, I just want to know what you think he's done. No sarcasm intended here, I just want your thoughts.

Grandparents?

We are to become Grand parents in August/September. Eliza is having a baby and we are excited to begin spoiling it.

Vacation 2011 - Florida

Best vacation to date. We flew out of Fargo directly to Orlando. Picked up our car and drove to Fort Lauderdale. After a few days of lounging around, we borded the Ruby Princess, and headed out to sea.

This was our first cruise. The staff were excellent, and the ship a wonder. We ate too much, and had lots of fun. There was a performing troup onboard and they gave some great shows. Also were a couple of comedians performing. We had a couple of dancing lessons and saw a couple of movies under the stars. We had signed up for assigned dinner seating, so we ate at 5:30 every night with the same two couples and the same wait team.

Both the other couples were great people around our age and we had fun meeting with them and discussing our day's adventures. Jimmy, our waiter, is Phillipino, and has been working there for 21 years. This was to be his last cruise. He was attentive and friendly and at one point seemed almost hurt at the refusal of the famed White (desert) Menu. Just a great fellow. His assitant waiter, Vladimir, was from the Ukraine, and a sweet young man. He was lots of fun and both of them served us well and made us feel at home.

We had fun exploring the ship, and even took the galley tour. The biggest kitchen I have ever seen! There is a place in the middle of the ship called the Piazza. It opens through thre decks and has continual shows of music and such. We watched the Checkerboard Guy perform his juggling and comedy. Very fun. We had a balcony and loved to stand or sit out and enjoy the night air and warm temps.

Four stops. Princess Cays. This is a beach area on the southern end of Eleuthera, Bahamas. It is owned by Princess. We went kayaking in the surf and walked the tide pools and swan amoung tiny fish.

St. Martin or Sint Maarten is a Dutch island. We went helmet diving and had a great time. Had fish eat out of our hands and held a sea-urchin and sea-spider.

St. Thomas is an island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, so our cell phones worked for a while. We went on a pirate schooner (Bones) to Turtle Cove for snorkling. Had a fun time there. The rocks around the port were covered with iguanas. We got rained on. a short strong storm, we just walked around while others ran for covered. We'd been in minus degree blizzards before, a nearly windless 85 degree rainstorm was refreshing.

Last stop was at Grand Turk. The main island of the Turks and Caicos islands. We just sat on the beach and swam in the surf. Very relaxing.

We had a wonderful time there. When we got back to Florida, we went to the Ft. Lauderdale beach and walked it. Then we drove to Orlando.

We spent one day at Disney World. It was disappointing compared to Disneyland. It didn't seem as well run, but it was okay.

The next three days we spent at Universal Studios and had a great time. This guy hates roller coasters. Well, I did. Awesome! we rode every one they had except for this one that just drops you straight down over and over. Saw lots of cool things and got really, really wet.

Well, that's about it, had a great time but missed everybody. It's good to be home.

Easter - He has risen!

(pretend it's last week. I've been busy, okay?)

Easter 2011. Just got home from vacation yesterday. To my surprise, all the animals are alive and the Easter lake in my north field didn't materialize.

Attended worship service provided by Bethel EFC, at Lake Region State College. Always a huge event. Great peformances by the music and performers. Good testamonies and another superb sermon by Pastor Bruce Dick. A glorius time.

Consider Isaiah 53. Written 700 years before the birth of Christ, yet details his sacrificial work at the cross in minute detail. This continually blows me away.

Isaiah 53:5-6
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on himthe iniquity of us all.

Thank you, merciful Father, may we always remember what your Son has done for us. It is finished.

There is something wrong here

I was just thinking. Back in the days before electricity, everyone knew the basic problems and dangers of kerosene. lamps on buggys, house lights, street lights, etc. They all knew that a lamp could get broken and the whole house could go up. So, did the government step in and say that the dangers were too great? Danger of fire, people breathing kerosene fumes and such? Did they outlaw it without something to replace it first? They did not. The world continued to use it until some private citizens invented, under their own motivations, something better. Then the world, seeing a better solution, willingly converted everything to the new technology. It used to be "Build a better mousetrap...", now it doesn't matter, the government decides the mouse trap is innefiecient, and outlaws it. then tries to fund the creating of a new device to fill the gap. Meantime, we are being over run by mice. There is something wrong here.