...where the deer and the antelope play

I had the privilege of going out to our daughters....where the deer and the antelope play

 ...from their back yard...

 ....between the development and apartments near them....

....again from their back yard....(hopefully no developments go in there for a while!)

A few other pictures from my recent time there...

 ...with Grt. Uncle D....

 ...I think this one is self explanatory!..

 Big brother ready for the first day of school....

 ...already to walk to the bus stop with him....

 ...and here is the bus....

...and home again home again...first day is done!

Was special to have the trip out there (except that Farmer Marv wasn't able to go this time).  I got to see family, extended family and special friends.  Weather was nice and I managed the 15 hr. travel time out and back with little fanfare!  (its been a long time since I did that...).  So another summer season is winding down...and definitely signs of fall but what I think is harder to see is the distress of so much vegetation because of draught...maybe this week will bring rain!  Saw some pretty sunrises and sunsets  but kind of sobering to think some of the beauty lies in the fact there was lots of smoke in the air from forest fires...I'm sure the people nearer the fires are hoping for rain, too.

December 2010

We had a first in December....a cruise....was seven days and we were with a group of friends that totaled 19...unfortunately I didn't get a group picture of all of us but maybe can include a few on pictures here...we left ahead of a BIG storm in Wisconsin...one of those kind that could be classified as a 'storm of the century'...that being said we did get a touch of it as had rather high seas one night and part of a day...a few didn't handle that so well....and it was part of the same storm system that had come through Wisconsin.  We had four stops and 2 days at sea...the stops were...Key West, Grand Cayman Island, Cozumel and Castaway Island

 leaving Port Canaveral

our ship docked at Key West...our first stop

our stateroom

this was the high seas we had....they would occasionally hit our porthole!

our table on the formal dress night dinner

 

 another couple

and another

 and another

 and another....think every one is on there somewhere!

 didn't know Farmer Marv had a secret career on Grand Cayman...here's proof!

 some of our friends who met our ship on Grand Cayman and arranged for us to have a bus tour of the island...a special highlight for sure!

 and then there was 'fun night' for dinner!

 Some of the Mayan ruins we saw on Cozumel...very interesting

 and of course, a picture with Minnie....she came for breakfast with us one day!

as did Mickey!

 the last night of sailing...smooth seas and sunset!

So now we are experienced 'cruisers'!... not sure when or where we will do it again but did enjoy a good time and experience for now!