tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87313428877899843692024-03-05T18:39:39.140-08:00The View from Camp KreitzerMary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.comBlogger416125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-40610266813703638692024-02-07T08:53:00.000-08:002024-02-07T08:53:52.149-08:00Cooking Day at Camp Kreitzer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEpTaRD85cMHMH3bTOpk5ysHL6Nl46zJ0sIwMiVQo2h1P5eyfSVrk_1tX-XesQgw-P_ZzyiGc5dfboQjTXxFzGkKQamV2Yi6Ai5HmBMIRI8W1_GBB5bCZxxPmDeQ0eNiJaUNz9Tu7HZt72Wn4K2mtN8LOqE-KC2jbLfy7KvAvicd0aYjg7EclKfv3wdCU" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhEpTaRD85cMHMH3bTOpk5ysHL6Nl46zJ0sIwMiVQo2h1P5eyfSVrk_1tX-XesQgw-P_ZzyiGc5dfboQjTXxFzGkKQamV2Yi6Ai5HmBMIRI8W1_GBB5bCZxxPmDeQ0eNiJaUNz9Tu7HZt72Wn4K2mtN8LOqE-KC2jbLfy7KvAvicd0aYjg7EclKfv3wdCU=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I love spending time with my grandkids. Two of the local grandsons decided awhile back that they want to do "cooking day" with Grandma every week. So for the past month or so we meet weekly to learn cooking skills and enjoy the results. One of the big benefits is that it gets them away from the computer games. They bring their Ipads to do math tutoring with their grandfather (They're home schooled), but that's it. Bike riding, board and card games, and cooking are the fun for the day. They are becoming quite the little chefs.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcwvGMfaG9UByqvjcNOpXGPWvoCCUODjvDs6mFzH4BZ92LtoUK34uijwJW9dsegVHkJM7pxNyMzKwNA7yhxICVscQ1CeBgzE-RKlslnhqLGBXV79cUk_zQwztKG_04mBumwF7Xig5JJ2nYjeNV233-ruGRjIOjwdQJgyIiCYsUB2KX5K-pu9JJtqMHDwY" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjcwvGMfaG9UByqvjcNOpXGPWvoCCUODjvDs6mFzH4BZ92LtoUK34uijwJW9dsegVHkJM7pxNyMzKwNA7yhxICVscQ1CeBgzE-RKlslnhqLGBXV79cUk_zQwztKG_04mBumwF7Xig5JJ2nYjeNV233-ruGRjIOjwdQJgyIiCYsUB2KX5K-pu9JJtqMHDwY" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">One of our little chefs.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You might think the boys would be asking to make cupcakes, cookies, and other sweets. </span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They haven't. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The first week they wanted to make quiche. Then it was fish fingers and fries. Another week we made shepherds pie although Jude doesn't like it, so he opted out that day and built contraptions with the dominoes. We made chicken fried rice another week. Yesterday we made pretzels. Next week they want to do fish fingers and fries again. We made sweet potato fries last time. Those didn't go over that well, so we'll be doing regular fries this time. </span><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to try our pretzel recipe, </span><a href="https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/easy-homemade-soft-pretzels/#tasty-recipes-66433" style="font-size: large;">it's online here</a><span style="font-size: large;">. </span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCmgeNF1iiZlRxdMq6kHKUvbWbIDMXdHZFZxD2DsBO7MZD2AY8i003z4s5GLg7pA_8jej8wG9eMOfugStpDcmiVVzaYPtiWzn-ox0_zZhCVlak8b_0hIs5JGyqQ8_MHTYLm4ZG8P7Bv8GRpPjWjfKEc012OHLzcW2Oqx8tt_SZW0qYiTN_FBnDAXaoyfg" style="clear: left; float: left; font-size: large; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCmgeNF1iiZlRxdMq6kHKUvbWbIDMXdHZFZxD2DsBO7MZD2AY8i003z4s5GLg7pA_8jej8wG9eMOfugStpDcmiVVzaYPtiWzn-ox0_zZhCVlak8b_0hIs5JGyqQ8_MHTYLm4ZG8P7Bv8GRpPjWjfKEc012OHLzcW2Oqx8tt_SZW0qYiTN_FBnDAXaoyfg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I've also done cake decorating with one of our granddaughters and a friend. I'm no expert, but I have cake decorating tips and parchment paper to make the icing bags. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I cut the cupcakes in half, tops and bottoms, to give them more to decorate. Actually, I liked them better that way and may do that in the future. Since most kids like frosting more than cake, that strategy works well.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We spent a fun afternoon chatting and decorating and the results were charming. Often at Easter the decorate a lamb cake for the centerpiece on the dining room table.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4AJYWE6Xcapo7QwaZFljEbCRqGNxIywk9ueyBm1Hg71h_rxSegbU2NpnmlObnTLzf6b0by6sp0IwnpK-tf2-mCplCNlvncXpeJQ4bnDwEzO7uMv-5dgnrp_QzpEGdZzDV6pENMUEqQkpUwsJZ-8LtBhnPhddyMsajxWtJ11qgUzZR39Pq7fHt2O1LJXU" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><p><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="761" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj4AJYWE6Xcapo7QwaZFljEbCRqGNxIywk9ueyBm1Hg71h_rxSegbU2NpnmlObnTLzf6b0by6sp0IwnpK-tf2-mCplCNlvncXpeJQ4bnDwEzO7uMv-5dgnrp_QzpEGdZzDV6pENMUEqQkpUwsJZ-8LtBhnPhddyMsajxWtJ11qgUzZR39Pq7fHt2O1LJXU=w317-h400" width="317" /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Larry and I look forward to any day we can spend time with our grandkids. We wish everyone lived nearby. Often the day ends with the kids riding in or driving the tractor. Our John Deere and trampoline are the "amusement park" activities at Camp Kreitzer along with the bonfire site where we gather to cook hot dogs, s'mores and tell stories and jokes and listen to our son do Emo comedy routines. (If you don't know Emo, check him out on YouTube.) Most of Emo's routines are clean. He's definitely different and very funny!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the older grandkids are too busy to spend a day cooking or baking so we try to make "dates" with meals out to hear all about their activities. Or we go to a game, a recital, a play, etc. to cheer them on and go out for ice cream afterwards if they're free.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Being grandparents is a fun stage of life. We thank God we are still healthy enough to have active fun with the kids. As we slow down, we will focus more on less active pursuits like games</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Bon appetit!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCmgeNF1iiZlRxdMq6kHKUvbWbIDMXdHZFZxD2DsBO7MZD2AY8i003z4s5GLg7pA_8jej8wG9eMOfugStpDcmiVVzaYPtiWzn-ox0_zZhCVlak8b_0hIs5JGyqQ8_MHTYLm4ZG8P7Bv8GRpPjWjfKEc012OHLzcW2Oqx8tt_SZW0qYiTN_FBnDAXaoyfg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiCmgeNF1iiZlRxdMq6kHKUvbWbIDMXdHZFZxD2DsBO7MZD2AY8i003z4s5GLg7pA_8jej8wG9eMOfugStpDcmiVVzaYPtiWzn-ox0_zZhCVlak8b_0hIs5JGyqQ8_MHTYLm4ZG8P7Bv8GRpPjWjfKEc012OHLzcW2Oqx8tt_SZW0qYiTN_FBnDAXaoyfg=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-86567037901617172802024-01-17T14:46:00.000-08:002024-01-17T14:46:27.292-08:00A Snow Day at Camp Kreitzer with Max and Jude!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixIq04YSIq9aKNLgQjxmZKfF25VzCXYEuqX1irnptY5lVPZ5FGYVtxJ6xLocXc6XLYY0irfemF4LnzOFBdiRM8QMQFjmeVT_5vLlR6LrKiGLwFf1kylBT_G_O7tLx-YMRQPYZoo63kUoofocRIAKpdA2XxnFSJCfUKZpLLnrP54sSp4jirPEPRFpR9CQA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="720" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEixIq04YSIq9aKNLgQjxmZKfF25VzCXYEuqX1irnptY5lVPZ5FGYVtxJ6xLocXc6XLYY0irfemF4LnzOFBdiRM8QMQFjmeVT_5vLlR6LrKiGLwFf1kylBT_G_O7tLx-YMRQPYZoo63kUoofocRIAKpdA2XxnFSJCfUKZpLLnrP54sSp4jirPEPRFpR9CQA=w640-h466" width="640" /></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Believe it or not I have a real life besides my virtual life on the blog and Facebook, and that's the life I cherish. It usually starts with morning prayer time invoking the Lord's blessings on Larry and me and all our loved ones. I have a little prayer box in my home chapel overflowing with funeral cards, ordination cards, prayer requests, etc. that I cycle through. I've grouped our parish friends, the folks at the nursing home I used to visit, priest friends who have gone to the Lord, etc. It takes me about a month to make it through the entire box.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After that I move on to chores and activities. My favorite pastimes are spent with family and friends. Yesterday we went to the funeral of a dear Catholic mom of ten who was a role model and mentor to me when we lived in Alexandria. She would have been 94 this month. It was a blessing to touch base with her children and I'm so grateful that Ann called to let us know her mom had died.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Since the funeral took place in Northern Virginia we arranged lunch with our son and his wife and the two youngest boys still at home, one of whom is a high school senior and the other in third grade. Next year Charlie will be "home alone" with Mom and Dad missing his older siblings to whom he's very attached. We brought chickie eggs for them and returned a coffee mug left last time they visited Camp Kreitzer.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Winter fun has taken on a new look this season. For the past few weeks I've been hosting a cooking day, usually on Wednesdays, at the request of two other young grandsons who will likely be great chefs as time goes on. They are homeschooling elementary ages (ten and seven) and always bring math to tutor with "Paka." But I get the bulk of the fun in the kitchen. We have already made quiche, fish fingers, meatloaf, and sweet potato fries. Today we will be making sushi and chicken fried rice.</span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZRON9DiwAvshwe1C0lhoOBfrSGFOW3S_qKr5wI2llk91BaOdcyJWoUTxL1rNiWL97L2SrPIfk4FxDwyC74ltKN01QYIZ7Z933ubXMs8Cet8v6LvYVk4cFJmaLJxkzYhqFTg61Y6udgCo88dKBSR3J9G7645MBRMNUPLVwEXxKMUYplu5Lm4TDL_ORKQs" style="color: #336699; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgZRON9DiwAvshwe1C0lhoOBfrSGFOW3S_qKr5wI2llk91BaOdcyJWoUTxL1rNiWL97L2SrPIfk4FxDwyC74ltKN01QYIZ7Z933ubXMs8Cet8v6LvYVk4cFJmaLJxkzYhqFTg61Y6udgCo88dKBSR3J9G7645MBRMNUPLVwEXxKMUYplu5Lm4TDL_ORKQs=w480-h640" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="480" /> </span></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_Lul63HH3XR2SwTbj-JZs2mxOweiDU0W3x51RINYzw-u39hJS9KlY0fu7okiyBWO65mkQEhnBq5Bb-yRvBWoEfYeW5YcKQs4H0z7S665rSYNG_dz_80JcpcsG6hP-q3bohiJNJ78W7geARh6gPkuVbQZgUBzpyVeb477C-TcHM6XrJ_XPk1mDhCn3qOQ" style="color: #336699; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_Lul63HH3XR2SwTbj-JZs2mxOweiDU0W3x51RINYzw-u39hJS9KlY0fu7okiyBWO65mkQEhnBq5Bb-yRvBWoEfYeW5YcKQs4H0z7S665rSYNG_dz_80JcpcsG6hP-q3bohiJNJ78W7geARh6gPkuVbQZgUBzpyVeb477C-TcHM6XrJ_XPk1mDhCn3qOQ=w480-h640" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="480" /></span></a></div><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Larry has driven off to pick up the little chefs. I am busy getting out sledding gear. Because that is the first order of business for our little visitors. We can't let this powdery, sled-perfect snow go to waste. I did two practice runs, one on the toboggan and one on the saucer. The toboggan is definitely more fun.</span></p><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxiQuuKQ_SrY7jflalYJpLTLqP1kNynTFtvs5VgHYnelJkCa34hWzQv_ZbWW89rHvx468j5ZuyfuQ2Dm1JL4ggWz9XFCoiIgTixWtzAMLxEZbNrx4taxgcW3zaCtBsAk_CCnnYopLERt-y5ZH3b-aHZCo_yKeE24HDcF7w3c3nu2HKk92Cjt7t7lifOzY" style="color: #336699; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgxiQuuKQ_SrY7jflalYJpLTLqP1kNynTFtvs5VgHYnelJkCa34hWzQv_ZbWW89rHvx468j5ZuyfuQ2Dm1JL4ggWz9XFCoiIgTixWtzAMLxEZbNrx4taxgcW3zaCtBsAk_CCnnYopLERt-y5ZH3b-aHZCo_yKeE24HDcF7w3c3nu2HKk92Cjt7t7lifOzY=w480-h640" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS-Z_V9WEzA5a_p0rBcfoCvOVq0Ha_7IY2HAGfvVLZC-_ZRqfLKTIXReUFyWheKvUX15DnGM_xZw1ZkQ9B0RmuzLyUUOtaI-qOfPM35QOHRVe1iUyox8rV38oWTizFHRTGn5pxr6Ke9Oqa3penNCuOY1yUnUHdMJJ_z1IUuwqJ8UgM3sTw2SnTQQJljXo" style="color: #336699; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="956" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjS-Z_V9WEzA5a_p0rBcfoCvOVq0Ha_7IY2HAGfvVLZC-_ZRqfLKTIXReUFyWheKvUX15DnGM_xZw1ZkQ9B0RmuzLyUUOtaI-qOfPM35QOHRVe1iUyox8rV38oWTizFHRTGn5pxr6Ke9Oqa3penNCuOY1yUnUHdMJJ_z1IUuwqJ8UgM3sTw2SnTQQJljXo=w637-h640" style="border: none; position: relative;" width="637" /></span></a></div><p><a name="more" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><br />We're doing our last chore of the day -- cooking the fried rice. Then off home with dinner and two tired little boys. And then Grandma and Paka will crash, but first we'll eat sushi and fried rice!</span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Last word before leaving, "Can we come back on Monday?</span></div>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-34966020460889502732023-12-24T15:34:00.000-08:002023-12-24T15:34:27.259-08:00A Tiny Camp Kreitzer Christmas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFC52UOrFVrBMpQqCFx_XFu7rU8uZhX7psZ300Z3wjB-8d5He3ghwcuIdCFzW8XHnr_gmmgsepPOs1jURoYRAa7ZQ-ORSgU1GJX6aB6AXBCMD9Smr3m0BrjP3KKoBEzuYyHkjeJh5TjpFOavNawIN-35GoFtZGuOFSIPv8dvgcSIebFbAeJn9uEIFb1nc" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFC52UOrFVrBMpQqCFx_XFu7rU8uZhX7psZ300Z3wjB-8d5He3ghwcuIdCFzW8XHnr_gmmgsepPOs1jURoYRAa7ZQ-ORSgU1GJX6aB6AXBCMD9Smr3m0BrjP3KKoBEzuYyHkjeJh5TjpFOavNawIN-35GoFtZGuOFSIPv8dvgcSIebFbAeJn9uEIFb1nc=w384-h640" width="384" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Our oldest daughter gave us a delightful little book for Christmas titled <i>Tiny Ridge </i>with almost no words, just photos. The brief introduction reads:</span></p><p></p><p></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">Deep in the mountains of North Carolina, my daughter Josephine and I imagined a tiny world coexisting just under our feet. All of these images were created in-camera (with lots of balancing and not Photoshop alterations.) The series is designed to reflect how our organic farm and the residents of Tiny Ridge wake up over the seasons.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do yourself a favor and <a href="https://www.boredpanda.com/i-spent-a-year-photographing-the-tiny-world-on-our-farm-sarah-jones-decker/">visit the author/photographer's page </a>to see the incredibly delightful and creative photos. Then let your imagination run rampant! <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Have you ever imagined yourself climbing a daffodil stalk and taking a nap in its sunny cup? That's what I'm going to do when Spring arrives. But I'm not waiting until Spring. I decided to imagine myself climbing up the Christmas tree. Want to join me in my adventure?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I began looking for a place to start the climb. Hmm....all these packages are pretty smooth. Can I find a place where I can reach the lowest branches? Yes! And so I took the first steps on a journey to climb to the top and meet the angel on top of the Christmas tree. Don't ask me how she got there.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmILKVWDfAVS_AVy9pdtokbOF2dVK7iqnKR_0A0TrOSHJTXgwWVYJlHPfwv50pNqD04dC8h4To1rrhjSEPWw_NaSCD9bC_3gBHdUkpNoTyN0kfu4DIGDCmiZahw16EckG-j4GoMRrJ7QlZYlhw5SF08f16WiBPfoWdvmL6Lx5-Q8ByT4Ki3vtmL1VhBw/s3121/fullsizeoutput_4787.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3121" data-original-width="2652" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmILKVWDfAVS_AVy9pdtokbOF2dVK7iqnKR_0A0TrOSHJTXgwWVYJlHPfwv50pNqD04dC8h4To1rrhjSEPWw_NaSCD9bC_3gBHdUkpNoTyN0kfu4DIGDCmiZahw16EckG-j4GoMRrJ7QlZYlhw5SF08f16WiBPfoWdvmL6Lx5-Q8ByT4Ki3vtmL1VhBw/w544-h640/fullsizeoutput_4787.heic" width="544" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-48cDiNnVUy-jUWIKscn5BqrSuprYz1gEV2JeH8vp33ykeMa09tsn7Kfa-jaAPbPEMHkfyoEaXQWFQVip0Z2Ip7WvaiXFpa1hD_yDhEgO09AFTvH-QjUehP_PMrJCWQ_pzDo7mW3LXhE3Lq26LHtD0_Bw0VsbPdymLWoYsT2AylTfL3gw-YYxoW4ygVA/s4032/kFIrfkULT6q9u9akEJmyzA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-48cDiNnVUy-jUWIKscn5BqrSuprYz1gEV2JeH8vp33ykeMa09tsn7Kfa-jaAPbPEMHkfyoEaXQWFQVip0Z2Ip7WvaiXFpa1hD_yDhEgO09AFTvH-QjUehP_PMrJCWQ_pzDo7mW3LXhE3Lq26LHtD0_Bw0VsbPdymLWoYsT2AylTfL3gw-YYxoW4ygVA/w480-h640/kFIrfkULT6q9u9akEJmyzA.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Like Alice who met many interesting creatures in Wonderland, I stop along the way to visit some of the Christmas tree residents. One of the first is a little angel who encourages me along the way as I begin my journey at the bottom of the tree.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdPb2cckh0cSlkQpVmtdbYM25cKdXdGHEZMZVCn29jR6Z5IZridCnigF4hGt5YpCnjmnKpwPyC2k2ZxepMf_FM21HwmHy_f9t3KuGS1YPwa4WoQs9o8LDoVDd2qBxAO6b1dotERCod_YhLKR6qBUDwrBORmDBegFRlhMaMBU6k2JkRZPf1AyabqqK0HY/s4032/gYkN+MBDSQ60EPGsHb%25r+g.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdPb2cckh0cSlkQpVmtdbYM25cKdXdGHEZMZVCn29jR6Z5IZridCnigF4hGt5YpCnjmnKpwPyC2k2ZxepMf_FM21HwmHy_f9t3KuGS1YPwa4WoQs9o8LDoVDd2qBxAO6b1dotERCod_YhLKR6qBUDwrBORmDBegFRlhMaMBU6k2JkRZPf1AyabqqK0HY/w480-h640/gYkN+MBDSQ60EPGsHb%25r+g.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I love birds and there are many on the tree who I will stop to admire and talk to. The dove becomes a fast friend who will do me a big favor later.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LRuxetZ9xCKOOs6YEBP7a2j5HqpDrLFTw9LAsLwwGse6DmkvSHEqd4FZcDVUGPFKx8GciayS_eyszoJSIi4u3p1BS4BkXVpx2UH03ydD0T7JA5FsOFoTksTx5bhTVgrp8QtNeruslQC2XHZ3KxVfSDwIIyFWIPssB9SxRVJPqpHwIpO227ldhmDNWwk/s4032/zaAe5TCaTqW+pSSXwBciDg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2LRuxetZ9xCKOOs6YEBP7a2j5HqpDrLFTw9LAsLwwGse6DmkvSHEqd4FZcDVUGPFKx8GciayS_eyszoJSIi4u3p1BS4BkXVpx2UH03ydD0T7JA5FsOFoTksTx5bhTVgrp8QtNeruslQC2XHZ3KxVfSDwIIyFWIPssB9SxRVJPqpHwIpO227ldhmDNWwk/w480-h640/zaAe5TCaTqW+pSSXwBciDg.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The little mice are good long-time friends as well. I made them for the tree many years ago. They wake up from their walnut shell beds to say hello and point the easiest route to the top of the tree. Thank you, little friends.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-jsPVjdq8G_JRl1a049dI9Sv22pQZE1h_FUavPqLgILcL-veniODYtcIncRLODpy_GEkf6FjPFNp3iH0tD1Xc8mbvCeAK8sdNSAZ8n9EvFYjkK4R22jXlJmQWsOqhgXO_gtTAmSIlZVdWYYSF8Tmu5Gh3F7yp9cJk-n-M3WaLMUf-1uyK2bJ1Ou_-9g/s4032/uRrbYtOSSiGeduAtDhQcEg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-jsPVjdq8G_JRl1a049dI9Sv22pQZE1h_FUavPqLgILcL-veniODYtcIncRLODpy_GEkf6FjPFNp3iH0tD1Xc8mbvCeAK8sdNSAZ8n9EvFYjkK4R22jXlJmQWsOqhgXO_gtTAmSIlZVdWYYSF8Tmu5Gh3F7yp9cJk-n-M3WaLMUf-1uyK2bJ1Ou_-9g/w480-h640/uRrbYtOSSiGeduAtDhQcEg.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I stop to say a prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe and have a chat with Juan Diego. I have shrunk to his size so we visit face to face, eye to eye. He was a gift from a friend and reminds me of her whenever I hang him on the tree. Thank you, Mary Kay!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMzy5HvrK_8ehjs9C6t4hJr5bzLtOCGodfFadKk8Ia9zb_K-qo_ttqvGBg3JiWqIWvfTV2wfLGC1rvW7Er8adgLrJmT-rB1i9b9wTNUy5DZATHR8K21F_3OqfwUK4Z3syP3Ex41EQ2P8wcDWVQqal52dsAMtqtzo6kDw8LI6ksBJA8ags0XUCY3ARHbA/s4032/9y1%25+UipTaiPag%25B8WysKQ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUMzy5HvrK_8ehjs9C6t4hJr5bzLtOCGodfFadKk8Ia9zb_K-qo_ttqvGBg3JiWqIWvfTV2wfLGC1rvW7Er8adgLrJmT-rB1i9b9wTNUy5DZATHR8K21F_3OqfwUK4Z3syP3Ex41EQ2P8wcDWVQqal52dsAMtqtzo6kDw8LI6ksBJA8ags0XUCY3ARHbA/w480-h640/9y1%25+UipTaiPag%25B8WysKQ.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Christmas is a great time for memories. Many of our ornaments were gifts: some from our children, some from other relatives and friends, some from my students. I stop to say a prayer for my Aunt Dorothy as I look at the Santa she sent in her Christmas card one year. May you rest in peace, dear Aunt Dorothy. Whenever I think of you, I hear your infectious laugh and think of all the beautiful gifts you knitted or crocheted. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c4UVhC0HNB7AF-eUgsGvH9IuzDUUnnROpXcwga__g_wbQyHhcVMJiI7vXzQ2S3_F404U4Cv8C37sfh4KML8H4LyuBqQymVbK_hgoqv4Ynr8MRHmwa9zOtY3Hp3gJhU3SXq3WKmsWOL9D_W32JE7mTO242pUmXjejAsKRgRSPWuKTkLrJZwW11td4gGs/s4032/wPBAQRDrT16mp0lg2hl7dw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2c4UVhC0HNB7AF-eUgsGvH9IuzDUUnnROpXcwga__g_wbQyHhcVMJiI7vXzQ2S3_F404U4Cv8C37sfh4KML8H4LyuBqQymVbK_hgoqv4Ynr8MRHmwa9zOtY3Hp3gJhU3SXq3WKmsWOL9D_W32JE7mTO242pUmXjejAsKRgRSPWuKTkLrJZwW11td4gGs/w300-h400/wPBAQRDrT16mp0lg2hl7dw.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ever since we became beekeepers, our children and friends give us bee themed gifts including this sweet ornament. I'm always careful to avoid their stings since I get a big reaction, but I love their sweet golden gift. Hello girls! Thank you for all the work you do to make the honey that sweetens my tea!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB1Bn3KHp28YoNBoufaWsc57XYlfoAHY7uVPC1ktxlTyVqylja-WkDXtbFN0q_lr0kpw175auR6nZY4CdrQ8V7weZUzXd_D3jQHCgWmtf447G_hocT9x8klDLJ6IYyVixZqDHVFThVmHjfVwMMW2dXOmDIDEjeRDzG8HIX8Io__5Z-vm96uOb7Qma1L0/s4032/NGz6b4NNQNqZUl3oLVmDxw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB1Bn3KHp28YoNBoufaWsc57XYlfoAHY7uVPC1ktxlTyVqylja-WkDXtbFN0q_lr0kpw175auR6nZY4CdrQ8V7weZUzXd_D3jQHCgWmtf447G_hocT9x8klDLJ6IYyVixZqDHVFThVmHjfVwMMW2dXOmDIDEjeRDzG8HIX8Io__5Z-vm96uOb7Qma1L0/w480-h640/NGz6b4NNQNqZUl3oLVmDxw.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This funny fellow graced a Christmas present many years ago from one of our children to Daddy. Don't ask me why; I can't remember. But he is the one ornament that Larry added to the tree. Poor grouch certainly needs cheering up! Did someone steal your bananas?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyNy2XvSpuivLs8gPGNLKjLnsV3Br4XUUDdZalcxubE5Xa_ZJhpadBHtlzpuEx9NNSqRh-4J8IVhGJITV7UmhDvSA5di8V9M48IWm8gacMiBqMTPSkSKmqVpGf2I4C7W7Wy6bBCp8qxE88zXjBEqG5di5saymVD-hquHU2DeA1GNDEFAcMFl1kPfWZ40/s4032/xweeGmtUS62+ZXmUJSKA2Q.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyNy2XvSpuivLs8gPGNLKjLnsV3Br4XUUDdZalcxubE5Xa_ZJhpadBHtlzpuEx9NNSqRh-4J8IVhGJITV7UmhDvSA5di8V9M48IWm8gacMiBqMTPSkSKmqVpGf2I4C7W7Wy6bBCp8qxE88zXjBEqG5di5saymVD-hquHU2DeA1GNDEFAcMFl1kPfWZ40/w480-h640/xweeGmtUS62+ZXmUJSKA2Q.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Goodness, what a climb! I stop to visit with the cardinals and use the daisy chain (an old necklace) as a climbing rope to the next level. Will I ever reach the top?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlaHoXdTrmSgV0zUte4qVcwIj99MEQx5BOa9pzOLKg2zTVtlMJOmz20RL_JMZ6KmSSs1C9oMbsp7-llV_n7DP3PzfMmJNURGPJokXLXYqbTH31Tfyqd-cQqe9FkiiyzSiG_NBBymqbL_l9xAW932DjCcVK2T-PsT63-NcKMhvjNEoA_S9BLc9PiYvO6s/s4032/4xlUNVP2QxmgeObxD0qNbg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYlaHoXdTrmSgV0zUte4qVcwIj99MEQx5BOa9pzOLKg2zTVtlMJOmz20RL_JMZ6KmSSs1C9oMbsp7-llV_n7DP3PzfMmJNURGPJokXLXYqbTH31Tfyqd-cQqe9FkiiyzSiG_NBBymqbL_l9xAW932DjCcVK2T-PsT63-NcKMhvjNEoA_S9BLc9PiYvO6s/w640-h480/4xlUNVP2QxmgeObxD0qNbg.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Phew! Yes, I finally make it. But wait! Something (or someone) is missing! What to do?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OJv0Ye4BBjtSYzHTT6rcfSW8WsqOcI6LwCI3Kvne-ctUv9amhjtn1EyFaNJYigc36DaOhhcTVzmILzzmv_xR5yxa2VlA89vrz07KOqFV-4kaM1a3htEebsGsIZTJ7d2e0Q9yYuNPeZ9RuOjFPOLKGNZujaOHxMKKylMxlabDYkOVCt0iQNnPoRvZpN0/s4032/L7t19ygRQpW1qHZFvQvsBA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OJv0Ye4BBjtSYzHTT6rcfSW8WsqOcI6LwCI3Kvne-ctUv9amhjtn1EyFaNJYigc36DaOhhcTVzmILzzmv_xR5yxa2VlA89vrz07KOqFV-4kaM1a3htEebsGsIZTJ7d2e0Q9yYuNPeZ9RuOjFPOLKGNZujaOHxMKKylMxlabDYkOVCt0iQNnPoRvZpN0/w480-h640/L7t19ygRQpW1qHZFvQvsBA.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I call on my friend the dove to help. And off we go to find the one person I absolutely must have to accompany me at Christmas festivities! Off we go.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBFe3bgc8xb0-gfawCF4fvtQ1VIzDE4hF9A03U_Cr2AxzPC8yQaSu6ODVGrQ4x_VQ4qe6t9PQma1_zcjdm3z9QNn8hhXsZXgIDWGwu5iz_8uKpudYiI6E6juDXGKYzbRUF-XlXkftLmajv2CL-5j4ZwShhyXNXjodlgyR7wrX0zYYGHj-Vz5XOemVCMc/s4032/bhXGqLj+SpC%250p%25hkvVt1A.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBFe3bgc8xb0-gfawCF4fvtQ1VIzDE4hF9A03U_Cr2AxzPC8yQaSu6ODVGrQ4x_VQ4qe6t9PQma1_zcjdm3z9QNn8hhXsZXgIDWGwu5iz_8uKpudYiI6E6juDXGKYzbRUF-XlXkftLmajv2CL-5j4ZwShhyXNXjodlgyR7wrX0zYYGHj-Vz5XOemVCMc/w480-h640/bhXGqLj+SpC%250p%25hkvVt1A.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ah...that's better. My Christmas sweetheart who has accompanied me for 54 Christmas Masses and celebrations has arrived. Joy to the world!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIrbuokvUNAIv_iKZpGTUoAhisK59YUAQvQLskL3I_UUy7U7qWHDiOYj62q2-7ooHtvAgHQltyNQ1aNMTJOT0U-bsW9wyPU7zYTf4-rOolO7l_tdauoEVad_EMohbKawNSOLm95QhDQSDnVEke-B51o9VWraLLgJ4HwHdCSVxpvJNGJh3uIKAaFTmeeo/s4032/h+BOeNUyQ5+T2089DyWIkQ.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIIrbuokvUNAIv_iKZpGTUoAhisK59YUAQvQLskL3I_UUy7U7qWHDiOYj62q2-7ooHtvAgHQltyNQ1aNMTJOT0U-bsW9wyPU7zYTf4-rOolO7l_tdauoEVad_EMohbKawNSOLm95QhDQSDnVEke-B51o9VWraLLgJ4HwHdCSVxpvJNGJh3uIKAaFTmeeo/w480-h640/h+BOeNUyQ5+T2089DyWIkQ.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And now the dear angel takes us on the final leg of our journey as she sings, "Hosannah in the highest, blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0vkM5_pTElm0qo2qprN4qaXshYevPDnmJgojNX2LywiBndvicMkVvhmwnpXnD2OL0WdImWjOyybaANieA1N-vNnxD67wOh12cPPfpmUf6oYkyVBtvUEXtE_eFaaly7pocKkDo1Z_e79FloF5vX7kYPPPVOXJ3qUqDrxcI1kfc-0ftabeEQWDWMJM89I/s4032/KKZ677i2QYGvoQizr7szLA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0vkM5_pTElm0qo2qprN4qaXshYevPDnmJgojNX2LywiBndvicMkVvhmwnpXnD2OL0WdImWjOyybaANieA1N-vNnxD67wOh12cPPfpmUf6oYkyVBtvUEXtE_eFaaly7pocKkDo1Z_e79FloF5vX7kYPPPVOXJ3qUqDrxcI1kfc-0ftabeEQWDWMJM89I/w640-h480/KKZ677i2QYGvoQizr7szLA.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">These little dolls who represent us can't bend the knee, but you can be sure Larry and I will kneel at the crib (Larry with difficulty) praising and adoring the newborn king!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;">May you have the holiest and happiest of Christmases. I will be remembering all my blog readers at Christmas Mass. Thank you for your kindness, especially your prayers, over the years. May God reward you abundantly, full measure poured into your lap and spilling over. God bless us, every one! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheeMe49G5xoeYPXADQD3wATGMrNPK1VWlgyaR6426y_vbZ3OhM6o2A8urGp8gHhAEuIT0GBZPUqQp38q2VAkAPsRJ6RCMR8-DSQk7yUGt3Okmw_QYiWFNSSTG-OvMyjAGHvkHp4flN0bJBtOslnneC0a2kh_lFBaZELaf05EyRgmcThlFFnPS8kjRyOCo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="96" data-original-width="474" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEheeMe49G5xoeYPXADQD3wATGMrNPK1VWlgyaR6426y_vbZ3OhM6o2A8urGp8gHhAEuIT0GBZPUqQp38q2VAkAPsRJ6RCMR8-DSQk7yUGt3Okmw_QYiWFNSSTG-OvMyjAGHvkHp4flN0bJBtOslnneC0a2kh_lFBaZELaf05EyRgmcThlFFnPS8kjRyOCo=w640-h130" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-21680931608402924732023-09-19T12:51:00.002-07:002023-09-19T12:51:12.184-07:00Beautiful Fall Weather Calls for a Walk in the Park!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj07lXuQD_0rhCP-hDMbjVRbRemImod5VrPBq_GRyMENJCm3hzL-8cio0i2n2uIbT62DAhfVMzw8-rDwxNe_de4Vi1TbhKhM0PjRvHclfAQqM9XdVR1QL6ddJJfO21PyyGwWXYAfqt9fyGCY7EDay44_oh55MIxSsVodYqP0c6BNRDUO0xV-P2iI4P5DgQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj07lXuQD_0rhCP-hDMbjVRbRemImod5VrPBq_GRyMENJCm3hzL-8cio0i2n2uIbT62DAhfVMzw8-rDwxNe_de4Vi1TbhKhM0PjRvHclfAQqM9XdVR1QL6ddJJfO21PyyGwWXYAfqt9fyGCY7EDay44_oh55MIxSsVodYqP0c6BNRDUO0xV-P2iI4P5DgQ=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: large;">Goodness! It's been ages since I posted here. But today I was so thrilled with the beauty of God's world, I decided it was time for a Camp Kreitzer update from Seven Bends State Park. It's only five minutes from home and is becoming our go to place to take a walk. A prime advantage for two oldies is that so many of the paths are flat! So here goes. Near the parking lot is a little history of the park parcel. Much of the acreage used to be used by Massanutten Military Academy as a camp. There are markers all over the park that tell about its history.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzemipXmwc2z7kFDoaJzHfKjz3v70oN0Ei8aS8U7CYJclm5qtLVvBEwoDDdbBSVlKphYttS2ifS2O7iFJa8MIJu49Kt8pbroy-BdHgP6sQzih3XgoqR0fchQz92mb2AnTcrlnuVes34fQk2uFr8fBzmOx7-7RqeLZoSXBQyhBIGHlscgzH5Fc85gV2XcI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjzemipXmwc2z7kFDoaJzHfKjz3v70oN0Ei8aS8U7CYJclm5qtLVvBEwoDDdbBSVlKphYttS2ifS2O7iFJa8MIJu49Kt8pbroy-BdHgP6sQzih3XgoqR0fchQz92mb2AnTcrlnuVes34fQk2uFr8fBzmOx7-7RqeLZoSXBQyhBIGHlscgzH5Fc85gV2XcI=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />One of the particular pleasures of Seven Bends is its location along the river which explains its name since "seven bends" relates to the ribbon-like meandering of the Shenandoah. If you go up to the Woodstock tower you can see the river like a piece of ribbon candy twisting back and forth.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/67/ca/24/67ca243bd50c16e88a22d9288d10b2a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="333" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/67/ca/24/67ca243bd50c16e88a22d9288d10b2a5.jpg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy some of the photos from the park today.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Several fisherman enjoyed the day. I spoke to one who caught two fish but threw them back.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZq4Ynca3xGjN9T0SGqcik_1WP6guXpIxfRJ6yTmXYAH3FXPi334_6lHOqKHVNKP719sFzxdx1606VnRMKs7LiOHV8HL235tfX9gpsPKloD048fsyDiBAn1wSaO00MsOWTjfT8AZmAm9KtcwHEaH0BHTFYhvLBv9xSiQSqByRAQIXbbuijFzxUAwnfZrw" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZq4Ynca3xGjN9T0SGqcik_1WP6guXpIxfRJ6yTmXYAH3FXPi334_6lHOqKHVNKP719sFzxdx1606VnRMKs7LiOHV8HL235tfX9gpsPKloD048fsyDiBAn1wSaO00MsOWTjfT8AZmAm9KtcwHEaH0BHTFYhvLBv9xSiQSqByRAQIXbbuijFzxUAwnfZrw=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I love the little knotweed. A few bumblebees were collecting nectar from it, but no honeybees.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMctr1khaLmYxO3MXzXxjQvQxFly-PRHgxsT_LbwxECC4GBGDmEg-tdd-MdGOkpsqYHQtRraPj4RXbG3BlpWEeefW-bOMkau_mUrpmo7Fs-UCko_27iOuJHaK-QiDjxnQezXRpvo2phynB6NK8ZtQEsjFHuP7ox1tZ1fiiQrtgNwhKvj_X41L5hXnM1Q8" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMctr1khaLmYxO3MXzXxjQvQxFly-PRHgxsT_LbwxECC4GBGDmEg-tdd-MdGOkpsqYHQtRraPj4RXbG3BlpWEeefW-bOMkau_mUrpmo7Fs-UCko_27iOuJHaK-QiDjxnQezXRpvo2phynB6NK8ZtQEsjFHuP7ox1tZ1fiiQrtgNwhKvj_X41L5hXnM1Q8=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm fascinated by trees, both living and dead. I wonder how old this monster group is.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc1C5vfUyCEpAX62A9rOGHD3vbObhmFZ0JSyk17maxlKts1mVwZXM9V0Fx_5C_IsZVW76-3wnOlY6QMvKXUUNHmrUJAO3fKTIcWiYUrTa9pDIceZabEauQKL9_MYYhi7gD_zrvh3_BbQ4BL0lh8c5Ve2Bb5M-0BJT5GYXr6QjFWaNsq5pwuVL0Kdr8RyY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgc1C5vfUyCEpAX62A9rOGHD3vbObhmFZ0JSyk17maxlKts1mVwZXM9V0Fx_5C_IsZVW76-3wnOlY6QMvKXUUNHmrUJAO3fKTIcWiYUrTa9pDIceZabEauQKL9_MYYhi7gD_zrvh3_BbQ4BL0lh8c5Ve2Bb5M-0BJT5GYXr6QjFWaNsq5pwuVL0Kdr8RyY=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYiSnEh748GGj_sv8KmL5OcyZkIiLhQ33eDF60otMm6QoLdGJ1dMzUhacqNwRvF4XdWmckOQyj5u4pGUkBnLS8D1eACKMvoZ6R0swXzgrGiXm3tgi_S6IBpBE9QO_fZiVUOMse2w5NZWgqoa_Jjln5EjYiC1n811w0fsQ3o2xYbboSCN6jgncjj4aFsUI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYiSnEh748GGj_sv8KmL5OcyZkIiLhQ33eDF60otMm6QoLdGJ1dMzUhacqNwRvF4XdWmckOQyj5u4pGUkBnLS8D1eACKMvoZ6R0swXzgrGiXm3tgi_S6IBpBE9QO_fZiVUOMse2w5NZWgqoa_Jjln5EjYiC1n811w0fsQ3o2xYbboSCN6jgncjj4aFsUI=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like an artist the river creates sculptures by "gluing" stones to this large piece of concrete.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgahTC83XyW5V_j4M5BND4svl895Miq4Q5WgJqDNFPWVmfJBWoSMBPXlUfGGb3wc7vtuf9Jfr5B5WQ8XSxcVjtXQgqSwGke74uinTxq10-nwfM3A3eL4MmulAxGcMQvkTMYCzvvumXuM-w-Ucp8RhjlN1psKAsBkIkVN7b_D5m55OTF0eFO4odZvXEpYdg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgahTC83XyW5V_j4M5BND4svl895Miq4Q5WgJqDNFPWVmfJBWoSMBPXlUfGGb3wc7vtuf9Jfr5B5WQ8XSxcVjtXQgqSwGke74uinTxq10-nwfM3A3eL4MmulAxGcMQvkTMYCzvvumXuM-w-Ucp8RhjlN1psKAsBkIkVN7b_D5m55OTF0eFO4odZvXEpYdg=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>Some markers along the trail tell a story for the children. The author, Lisa Currie, is in our bee club. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggdvpW9UAlfl5Jq_99Y4GFMnrZPmU8opES2UAtbXN70IfE1vI19-SdveAQvTr3nx9oSARbThnJ_I6ZfNpTGj60zsfULY6thYMcRlIZi0TTlQm-_ydgGOWZxLir_mR495IsLuuiv2mJf7fK6E_YYmKwBlCKWCmKLeTeI1KY5u7oiBkHkOPE_mS6aWRfrE0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEggdvpW9UAlfl5Jq_99Y4GFMnrZPmU8opES2UAtbXN70IfE1vI19-SdveAQvTr3nx9oSARbThnJ_I6ZfNpTGj60zsfULY6thYMcRlIZi0TTlQm-_ydgGOWZxLir_mR495IsLuuiv2mJf7fK6E_YYmKwBlCKWCmKLeTeI1KY5u7oiBkHkOPE_mS6aWRfrE0=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQytTaNXBX7g8QES29phuEnDEOVixa996kmo0qPDRHii6eCeSu2W2JijyZdDM89iYlp1DL1ZqMFxPJ5VyDjuAxZSyw_WH5QTtEu0gmfDaeKo0HjA5lJHTBBol9dZAd8_ObqWh2_mJbNapm2VHD_ZxuHW_MdHsEh6PKcC9DB_0GsUgrf1O_YrIjlb7fWHE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQytTaNXBX7g8QES29phuEnDEOVixa996kmo0qPDRHii6eCeSu2W2JijyZdDM89iYlp1DL1ZqMFxPJ5VyDjuAxZSyw_WH5QTtEu0gmfDaeKo0HjA5lJHTBBol9dZAd8_ObqWh2_mJbNapm2VHD_ZxuHW_MdHsEh6PKcC9DB_0GsUgrf1O_YrIjlb7fWHE=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are still plenty of fall flowers to enjoy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiJ1I6feihKB8MgFW2VEU_I9uM4nIveuojaH_FGa82-Smet2aqZoUwFSOxNcyP0QiOCdh3xOEM-biL486-IFXy3klJ5hhBljhpvZ1Sj9eNBWntYstrZcLAV-10Ukwb-FNA55Ni-t4phFFmEqgTBVH5nP0E1uY7lIRCrhee4ND1DJuPUNh6UiJDHsMXN54" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiiJ1I6feihKB8MgFW2VEU_I9uM4nIveuojaH_FGa82-Smet2aqZoUwFSOxNcyP0QiOCdh3xOEM-biL486-IFXy3klJ5hhBljhpvZ1Sj9eNBWntYstrZcLAV-10Ukwb-FNA55Ni-t4phFFmEqgTBVH5nP0E1uY7lIRCrhee4ND1DJuPUNh6UiJDHsMXN54=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Come visit. We'll go to the park and then make a stop at the vineyard, a perfect way to spend a fall day!</span><p></p></div>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-49069445068477726922022-12-10T11:09:00.007-08:002023-07-26T16:51:10.845-07:00The People in Darkness Have Seen a Great Light! Tour a Lit Up Camp Kreitzer!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-xp5kV8ds6QNS-t21fMJXEUhwMGgVBliCPYYQAa2iplw6jG_TaLPw1ZLPKe3JlfPNNJ6x6T1l4ouGKZb9XdgX5xSZUMq5qePjWZctRRuGx8Ddx0Y6G8nxDqmtKTRlkI5jkDjapL1Et0y57T7Qo78qABSBITwuJdsOxN6uZd7RtEOM2sKgEuAnrent" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-xp5kV8ds6QNS-t21fMJXEUhwMGgVBliCPYYQAa2iplw6jG_TaLPw1ZLPKe3JlfPNNJ6x6T1l4ouGKZb9XdgX5xSZUMq5qePjWZctRRuGx8Ddx0Y6G8nxDqmtKTRlkI5jkDjapL1Et0y57T7Qo78qABSBITwuJdsOxN6uZd7RtEOM2sKgEuAnrent=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div>I don't like the winter. I don't like the cold; I don't like the dark. Thank God for the holy days of winter! <br />How I love the holidays. I love to fill the house with light when it's dark outside. <div><br /></div><div>I love coming home and seeing our Nativity scene out front with the wayward donkey straying off on his own and the star of Bethlehem over our front porch. I love setting up the crib, the tree, and my Christmas village that all shimmer with light. And I will leave them all up until the winter is on the wane -- until at least Candlemas Day on February 2nd. <p></p><p>One year I didn't take the decorations down until Ash Wednesday. It was early that year, but I just couldn't bring myself to turn off all the lights and go back to Ordinary Time. So I skipped it that year and continued celebrating Christmas until Lent. </p><p>Every room gets its little bit of Christmas. </p><p>Here's the tour.</p><p>As you come in the front door, the living room/home chapel is on the right. I put my village there with all the trappings of an old fashioned Christmas. It begins with the little stable I fashioned out of an old shoebox and the Precious Moments nativity.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-ug4UsJLxjjb5s8s4OswSgLv6fggGzhkuT9Yl9HbpEvW0J2n6szsK4bdy1IAokmLcLMImB5B3VHwk2fIGm9M_BJd3EEkeP6roJx0oWcb9BAGt67u5sCIg3K1IGDhv63tfXdQFdsGgWolKMc7a37CauJRPKhQ7XYOvZFB8MQqJa4Xv4AiH2E3KkySL" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-ug4UsJLxjjb5s8s4OswSgLv6fggGzhkuT9Yl9HbpEvW0J2n6szsK4bdy1IAokmLcLMImB5B3VHwk2fIGm9M_BJd3EEkeP6roJx0oWcb9BAGt67u5sCIg3K1IGDhv63tfXdQFdsGgWolKMc7a37CauJRPKhQ7XYOvZFB8MQqJa4Xv4AiH2E3KkySL=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Ebenezer Scrooge no doubt complains about all the children playing on the frozen stream with their squeals of delight, but after his visit from the spirits he will happily change his tune and no doubt offer them cookies and hot chocolate and maybe even join in their snowball fights.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFGo_6XHHyjf7M4suVV_9Xr-FHrUW_1Jp4URpBxjOkYBar-anpZJHM2VkCL5hk666FNqFtNeYX18sS5H482PSP7rD46smDpx1MWkGd1ibvuUk9E7NBSp0E8B5__ngj_8yP3P_hE31hdTPIVFNwa75ahBeMPbrLGGEjtr_SghtEoZXZlmJj5AROcTkB" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFGo_6XHHyjf7M4suVV_9Xr-FHrUW_1Jp4URpBxjOkYBar-anpZJHM2VkCL5hk666FNqFtNeYX18sS5H482PSP7rD46smDpx1MWkGd1ibvuUk9E7NBSp0E8B5__ngj_8yP3P_hE31hdTPIVFNwa75ahBeMPbrLGGEjtr_SghtEoZXZlmJj5AROcTkB=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />The chimney sweep listens to Christmas carols and the message of the town crier while he cleans the chimney of the inn keeping all the guest safe as they enjoy the warm glow of the fireplaces in their rooms. But in case of a fire, the team at the firehouse will be Johnny-on-the-spot to help anyone in danger.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmfMMDvE7v2zJ2GEVZQMuYjb4Fsmoeq6iBShcooctwFfsC3Wm5SvhYxL1CTGyHkekVd6ucKbP8Lvi5DhObFuD5SXcZIBZ8xVlwcCvR4R7qyzctbSEUDD2BCx1vWpRwfJzuWyfxn_bMmzEGRbaUvHzL10TVrWy_rV6Xsc7RTzOnAzoieSqUHQIOXqsz" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjmfMMDvE7v2zJ2GEVZQMuYjb4Fsmoeq6iBShcooctwFfsC3Wm5SvhYxL1CTGyHkekVd6ucKbP8Lvi5DhObFuD5SXcZIBZ8xVlwcCvR4R7qyzctbSEUDD2BCx1vWpRwfJzuWyfxn_bMmzEGRbaUvHzL10TVrWy_rV6Xsc7RTzOnAzoieSqUHQIOXqsz=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />And Santa flies above the cathedral wishing all a happy Christmas! <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwT6TtKbpmVcW0xK-SUFnfX0aKhkaAdJQoWXSOhz-VJDtmwEz6r4aYty-o6dd4F_shGCE0LpJthAzFc2684A9LCLNgQlk-oEhWlrIJXUx0bF9w9XhbfqhIsFySdUNqQA4yj1AAq1Dlqni01_zzq1oKvJ3R-_wlMyYlbu1V1yUBbOndlaxJGzWvpio-" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiwT6TtKbpmVcW0xK-SUFnfX0aKhkaAdJQoWXSOhz-VJDtmwEz6r4aYty-o6dd4F_shGCE0LpJthAzFc2684A9LCLNgQlk-oEhWlrIJXUx0bF9w9XhbfqhIsFySdUNqQA4yj1AAq1Dlqni01_zzq1oKvJ3R-_wlMyYlbu1V1yUBbOndlaxJGzWvpio-=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p></div>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-36561515088391978392022-10-26T08:09:00.006-07:002022-10-27T07:22:12.464-07:00The Pumpkin Party!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJi39_i9y46DQsViygnB5PWL2XoTyOaPqC5YoUlqlS0z1faqllCN-RFXlkzrpG5UTIyNY-K7Mo9wRkuTvAAw_xA8BWxuhacX0NX5jfim-SQFr3f7-zlymnZzsBlRyojtuN0c2qbill-bIDKh6pgYz295MRjHl4zjuORm8oSH-GmViVOK60duQHyON8/s4032/IMG_2133.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJi39_i9y46DQsViygnB5PWL2XoTyOaPqC5YoUlqlS0z1faqllCN-RFXlkzrpG5UTIyNY-K7Mo9wRkuTvAAw_xA8BWxuhacX0NX5jfim-SQFr3f7-zlymnZzsBlRyojtuN0c2qbill-bIDKh6pgYz295MRjHl4zjuORm8oSH-GmViVOK60duQHyON8/w300-h400/IMG_2133.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>One of my favorite October events is dinner in a pumpkin. Last Sunday we had a family party and invited everybody to bring a pumpkin to decorate or carve. Nobody took us up on that, even our daughter who suggested it. I had to laugh when she and her children arrived with no pumpkins. Our son's family had a late sports event with their second grader and arrived shortly before dinner, so they anticipated no time for pumpkin carving. And our other daughter's family had already decorated their pumpkins. So other activities, mostly catching up on everyone's news, took precedence.</div><div><br /></div><div>The dinner was a success: chili in the pumpkin with rice, muffins, coleslaw, and broccoli salad. Dessert was pumpkin cheese cake, rice krispy treats colored and shaped as orange pumpkins, and a big box of European chocolate coated cookies from Costco. A good time was had by all! And hopefully this is one more memory from Camp Kreitzer to treasure in the future and maybe repeat in the next generation and others to come. It's still not too late to host a pumpkin party at your house. And if you want extra fun, watch the hilarious Steven Spielberg short, <i>The Mummy</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UjjH1kp75EU" width="320" youtube-src-id="UjjH1kp75EU"></iframe></div><br /><div><br /></div><p></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-88459909324083526722022-10-07T11:56:00.001-07:002022-10-07T11:56:06.565-07:00Thinking about Prepping the Chickies for Winter! And the Bees as well.<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZNl2lmYZaGnSMoespZRsx5pCQwO_6u7fg7z6u4YKxan4nb9sjo_BPsT0bIOitPsTOH62lU9F0r0w8TmWh69Hmtps8bq8hQpcu49EiINwRrodeoNztilVGhYWOLLnFnLHZAfzC2-3m2iVGoGKY-DT2D_uZm0z_coj7iBscDV3riuzdit6wUjsbTZm/s2048/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmZNl2lmYZaGnSMoespZRsx5pCQwO_6u7fg7z6u4YKxan4nb9sjo_BPsT0bIOitPsTOH62lU9F0r0w8TmWh69Hmtps8bq8hQpcu49EiINwRrodeoNztilVGhYWOLLnFnLHZAfzC2-3m2iVGoGKY-DT2D_uZm0z_coj7iBscDV3riuzdit6wUjsbTZm/s320/006.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>This time of year is busy at Camp Kreitzer. We've been working on closing up the pool and getting our bees and chickies ready for the winter. The mouseguards are on the hives and we've reduced the hive entrances. We've also been feeding a heavy sugar syrup to make sure they have enough stores to survive til Spring. Those preparations and the help of the beekeeping patrons give us confidence that all will be well. Hopefully we will come out of the winter with both hives surviving. They are strong now; we pray they will stay that way. And the reward for our efforts is the yummy honey. I've been making a honey egg custard that looks and tastes like flan -- delicious, light, and gluten free.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH4ppz350XnNP99koRapP1ENrgPax1lnzswJkNE2m_9WNNWN4fpVpPQVCDHPAwE3rSS7YFOHcTQdGA-OsIcKtSVuh7PiLorLGGlSDUFkE58EtYIPo0KO0up1mWgrTOB8_FLDPzWaTHOGFDwNk-Oc6JOxZOYZWAMzQersH3F3r1T81tk0PQegAvwvZ/s1188/image.png" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH4ppz350XnNP99koRapP1ENrgPax1lnzswJkNE2m_9WNNWN4fpVpPQVCDHPAwE3rSS7YFOHcTQdGA-OsIcKtSVuh7PiLorLGGlSDUFkE58EtYIPo0KO0up1mWgrTOB8_FLDPzWaTHOGFDwNk-Oc6JOxZOYZWAMzQersH3F3r1T81tk0PQegAvwvZ/s320/image.png" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bonnie Bluebeard is a Plymouth Blue.</i></td></tr></tbody></table></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The chickens are thriving and still giving a full complement of eggs every day -- except for our welfare chicken, Whopper, who is an Americauna and will lay blue eggs if she ever starts. Our five ISA Browns, one Orpington, and one Plymouth Blue are all laying big brown eggs which usually measure jumbo on my chicken scale. And despite the days getting shorter, they are still almost all laying every day. So we generally get seven eggs and six on a day when one of the girls decides to take a break. I love going out to collect the eggs every day! And we enjoy sharing them with our children. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If you are in the neighborhood, stop and meet our girls. We will introduce you to the chickens by name, but the bees are nameless. We just say, "Hi girls!" when we go out to work the hives. Maybe that's why they are testy some days which is why Larry is holding the smoker. It's a lifesaver on days when the girls are not happy.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-82338265884936960662022-06-28T09:28:00.006-07:002022-06-28T09:28:58.393-07:00Two Hives Queen Right, Two Not!<p>We've never had such a hard time getting a split to rear a new queen! Bethesda still doesn't appear to have a queen so we gave the colony two frames of larvae and capped brood from Elkridge. Morgantown doesn't appear to have a queen either so we gave that colony one frame of larvae and capped brood from Wheeling. Hopefully, before the end of the summer we'll have four queen-right hives, but this is getting a little frustrating. We took two frames of honey, one from Wheeling and I can't remember which other hive. All the hives are bringing in lots of nectar and quite a few frames are almost ready to harvest. Elkridge doesn't seem to like the box of plastic frames. Wheeling is doing a great job drawing comb on the plastic and filling it. I got the plastic frames from two different places. Both were supposed to be wax coated, but I'm wondering if one set of frames are more bee-friendly than the other. Hopefully, Elkridge will start to draw the plastic frames before the next bee inspection.</p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-45893586112045777292022-06-16T08:48:00.004-07:002022-06-16T08:48:45.121-07:00A Hot Day in the Bee Yard<p>After the wax moth invasion last week, we decided we needed to make sure we were on top of things. Since the mercury is climbing up to about 90 degrees today we headed out about ten after Mass and breakfast. Whooeee! Already hot as blazes in those bee suits.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>We started by checking Bethesda which is closest to the road. They seem to have a queen. We put some brood in last week, but it looked like they had younger brood than we'd expect. So we pretty much left them alone. No sign of wax moth. We considered opening the hive entrance completely, but decided to leave it alone and give the guard bees less to protect.</p><p>Elkridge is booming! Lots of bees and lots of brood. Not so much nectar collection though. Get busy, girls! No ants fortunately and no sign of wax moth. We pretty much left their colony as is. They haven't started drawing out the top box much. The wax coated plastic frames don't seem to be as popular as the beeswax foundation. Got stung on the thumb -- darn it. But most of the venom was on my glove so I don't expect to get much of a reaction</p><p>Morgantown looked like they had a queen last inspection, but there was no brood. Plenty of nectar collecting going on though and the hive didn't seem too upset which is typical when they're queenless. We put in a frame of brood and eggs from Elkridge. They won't miss it.</p><p>Lots of bees and lots of activity in Wheeling. We took out one frame of capped honey which brings our total to twelve. Lots of frames close to being ready. Hopefully before the harvest at the end of July we'll double our collection.</p><p>On the way back to the house we heard a hawk overhead so I decided not to free the chicks yet. I'll go out in a little while and look for the hawk. The chicks love to be out and about and it's hot in the coop. </p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-65186116898939168292022-06-10T10:12:00.000-07:002022-06-10T10:12:04.854-07:00Bee Inspection and a Hive Disaster!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.livefoods.co.uk%2Fimages%2Flive-waxworms-new.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="267" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.livefoods.co.uk%2Fimages%2Flive-waxworms-new.jpg&f=1&nofb=1" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Well, we're down one hive today thanks to an infestation by wax moth. Bethesda was the first hive we checked and they were doing okay but still don't seem to have a queen so we added another frame of eggs and larvae from Elkridge. Hopefully they will get queen right and give us a fourth hive.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When we opened Cleveland we were met with a vision from a horror movie. Wax moth larvae everywhere and devastated honey frames. We took out all frames and took them over to put on the bonfire. I'll wash the boxes, bottom board, and covers with bleach water before we use them again. It's always sad to lose a hive. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What makes me even sadder is that it didn't occur to me to give the chickens a treat. All those yummy little squirmy things went up in smoke instead of into the chicks tummies. Oh well. Next time we check the hives and take out some of the drone larvae I'll feed that to the chickens.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Elkridge is doing well although none of the honey frames were completely packed, but they have lots of capped and uncapped brood so we added another box for them to work on. Morgantown is doing okay, we checked a bit and decided to leave them alone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The master hive, Wheeling, is working like crazy and for the first time in ages was calm. We took out seven frames of capped honey and an eighth was almost completely capped. So we now have 11 frames of capped honey in the freezer and fridge which is close to our biggest harvest of 14 frames. Each frame produces about three pounds of honey so we already have over 30 pounds of sweetness coming. Hopefully we will have twice that many before the harvest at the end of July. So exciting! </span></p><p><br /></p><p></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-25426005061526046402022-06-09T11:44:00.001-07:002022-06-09T11:44:18.161-07:00Chicks are getting big! Only about six weeks until egg laying!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I took this photo on May 14th, the day we moved the chicks into the coop. When I looked at this photo today I could only say, "Wow!" They are so much bigger now.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb-zEdSCNg3sOXY5rDyLuKKGKXgxkMVUQ_49jK4-enJmVrR3oT4X73Hlvf1gRicS--F-xGchC60sj36V4_GY3ii3rffavaXtHMzSUxaHN7tmmq6kzL-Vlf-wlKjePI8GbHXAieIILcHyjXYCI1vDQTwHPA5FyOH8g5OPTtgxHWii-pqwFFTKE3V27H" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="388" data-original-width="600" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhb-zEdSCNg3sOXY5rDyLuKKGKXgxkMVUQ_49jK4-enJmVrR3oT4X73Hlvf1gRicS--F-xGchC60sj36V4_GY3ii3rffavaXtHMzSUxaHN7tmmq6kzL-Vlf-wlKjePI8GbHXAieIILcHyjXYCI1vDQTwHPA5FyOH8g5OPTtgxHWii-pqwFFTKE3V27H=w640-h414" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So here's the crowd today.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOKrYd75LrHJxE8FXnZYHIrmlvv0aHBI7oVRiM2kKp1olHeAhBijJnWSgeXGNv21OegYPDcGw1kTsqyHSMN2czHr-EJ_DDsS5t8y0zudbhumJIVq3KRrgLdrnbFBVk5keM4rQssjBrzZtJqrY0SUoV_yWcA7ztjrW33H-IknhSJ404tylujVBs1E0M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOKrYd75LrHJxE8FXnZYHIrmlvv0aHBI7oVRiM2kKp1olHeAhBijJnWSgeXGNv21OegYPDcGw1kTsqyHSMN2czHr-EJ_DDsS5t8y0zudbhumJIVq3KRrgLdrnbFBVk5keM4rQssjBrzZtJqrY0SUoV_yWcA7ztjrW33H-IknhSJ404tylujVBs1E0M=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">And here's our Plymouth Blue.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmADPzFKyitpoHleBJJGEGdr8Oc4V6_sOaigJxFGrj_mZky6zNBRKWZyPLU9BnVMXqloR8VkWLgYXrh-MDR12cC_nQXYnRUGDl1lCKoOP1VOIB9rnlvwlv3EnqUapWMO1PmIECDZS3UpLnonuBh1tg_607TXxke6mQAIpcZuZMs1gA-mh-2dVSwhA0" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmADPzFKyitpoHleBJJGEGdr8Oc4V6_sOaigJxFGrj_mZky6zNBRKWZyPLU9BnVMXqloR8VkWLgYXrh-MDR12cC_nQXYnRUGDl1lCKoOP1VOIB9rnlvwlv3EnqUapWMO1PmIECDZS3UpLnonuBh1tg_607TXxke6mQAIpcZuZMs1gA-mh-2dVSwhA0=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></div><br />Here's how she'll look when she's full grown.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghbESYQzUDkxPG5B029r7mgMRsYRp1BU4fuSut3qfAJMIVzcQuRAeoys4mSPji97FIgPhZQC3iWiaZqsBGF3hvRtx57smaplpV0_qQVD_fVQrqhwodGYBDMLsjQB68LH-Fn5JamYD-woHY2eIPw2vCt8rlYLasPHwLkiMKaKsxKCQmhLkRYA3mi5in" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1188" data-original-width="1000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEghbESYQzUDkxPG5B029r7mgMRsYRp1BU4fuSut3qfAJMIVzcQuRAeoys4mSPji97FIgPhZQC3iWiaZqsBGF3hvRtx57smaplpV0_qQVD_fVQrqhwodGYBDMLsjQB68LH-Fn5JamYD-woHY2eIPw2vCt8rlYLasPHwLkiMKaKsxKCQmhLkRYA3mi5in" width="404" /></a></div><br />We continue to enjoy the antics of the chickens. They are hilarious! One will start to run and the whole crowd joins in the thrill of the chase. Getting them in the coop in the evening is a challenge although if we wait until dusk they often go in on their own -- except for one of the Isa Browns who seems to love her freedom. She wanders around by herself until she starts missing her sisters and heads up the ramp. <p></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-16095786110414507562022-05-29T17:52:00.002-07:002022-05-29T17:52:18.816-07:00Bee Inspection Today: Good News and Bad News<p>We began our inspection closest to the road. We hoped the kingdom of Bethesda would have a queen, but no dice. We saw no brood. I split the hive on April 30th so they should have a laying queen, but maybe she's just a slowpoke. We put in a frame of young brood from Wheeling in case they have no queen so they can rear one. Hopefully all will be well before long. They are going gangbusters with honey production. We took out two frames of capped honey to put in the freezer.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>Cleveland had fewer bees than we would have liked. We took some queen cells out on May 11th and gave them to Morgantown which may have been a mistake, because we think they may have swarmed and they don't seem to have a queen at present. So we gave them some immature brood from Wheeling. We took out two frames of capped honey. They are producing well even if they have fewer bees. We don't seem to have an ant problem there any more.</p><p>Elkridge was loaded with bees but also with ants. Not Good. Larry washed off the inner cover and the lid and we killed as many as we could that were running all over the outside of the hive. Larry sprayed around the hives for ants. Hopefully that will reduce the problem. Elkridge is producing honey in abundance and had many frames nearly fully capped. In another week we'll definitely be taking some frames out for the freezer in preparation for the harvest at the end of July provided the ants don't eat it all.</p><p>Morgantown definitely has a laying queen, so maybe giving them queen cells wasn't such a bad move. That hive also has many frames of nearly fully capped honey, almost an entire box. No ants there either. </p><p>Wheeling still has so many bees they are spilling out the door. We added another box. they are still the testiest of the hives. Their queen is a super layer. We could probably split again, but we'll wait on that and see what happens with the added box. Hopefully having more space will calm them down some. We used the smoker today and thankfully no stings.</p><p>To sum up, we have three queen right hives and two with no queens. But there is still plenty of time in the season to get them queen right. Hopefully when we check again in a week or ten days. Things will be looking up. And we have four honey heavy frames in the freezer.</p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-48509868516169409132022-05-23T19:19:00.001-07:002022-05-23T19:19:09.771-07:00Not Doing a Good Job Keeping Track of Bee Management!<p> I'm not doing a very good job keeping track of our bee management. I'll try to catch up.</p><p>April 30th: Larry and Chris were working on the chicken house so I worked the bees by myself. I did another split from Wheeling because that hive is still so strong. They should have a laying queen since it's been 24 days since the split. Next warm, sunny day I'll check. If they don't have a laying queen we'll add a frame with eggs.</p><p>May 12th: Bee check. Cleveland had lots of ants. We washed them out. Another hive had ants as well, but I can't remember which There was a lot of drone brood in Morgantown so we took some of it out and also added another box to discourage swarming. Everything looked pretty good. Lots of nectar and pollen coming in.</p><p>We did another check but I don't remember the date. We think that Cleveland swarmed since there seemed to be a lot fewer bees. But if that's the case they don't have a queen and need to rear another. So we'll need to keep watch and figure out what's going on there. </p><p>I need to make sure I record data the same day as inspections because I can't remember what I had for breakfast, much less the detail about five hives. If I wait a few days I'm lost!</p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-85803065205922513372022-05-11T18:40:00.005-07:002022-05-11T18:53:55.886-07:00Naming the Hives to Make Management Easier: The Girls are Working Hard Bringing in the Gold!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitL2nv6N_HqaUaf6-Gel13tMbQBWuGpIod5louIekM087Pd5CJjtfZ3ylwrfbRGHLQHmGQRWmkAx413m8szq0MJYm8eh-wJug__dyioz-AU74ned6Um42ccXXIQBdb0jUqlKlBuOIKUyFSISpAhZO4k1sBjq-MQJFcNE2YalnBc_DPUBUFrzgfxEk0" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="843" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEitL2nv6N_HqaUaf6-Gel13tMbQBWuGpIod5louIekM087Pd5CJjtfZ3ylwrfbRGHLQHmGQRWmkAx413m8szq0MJYm8eh-wJug__dyioz-AU74ned6Um42ccXXIQBdb0jUqlKlBuOIKUyFSISpAhZO4k1sBjq-MQJFcNE2YalnBc_DPUBUFrzgfxEk0=w640-h397" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Our five hives from left: Wheeling, Morgantown, Elkridge, Cleveland, Bethesda --<br />All of those cities are significant places from our family history.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I decided to name the bee hives after some of our favorite places to make it easier to record what's happening in each hive and keep it straight. I use the blog as my bee diary. I'll give the hives ABC names in an order that helps me identify them individually. For now they are Bethesda, Cleveland, Elkridge, Morgantown, and Wheeling.</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Bethesda is the recent split closest to the road (far right). No point checking it today because they are still a month away from having a laying queen. Bees are going in and out which is a good sign. <span><a name='more'></a></span></span></li></ul><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Cleveland had an ant problem so Larry washed off the inner cover and we killed any ants we saw running around. That hive is huge and getting ready to swarm. We will try to stop it by splitting, but didn't have time today. We added an extra box to give them more room and took out a frame with several queen cells to give to Morgantown (second from left) which should have a queen but doesn't seem to. She may be in there and just not laying yet, but just in case, they now have a several queen cells close to hatching that will give them another chance to get queen right relatively quickly. I'm sorry we didn't take one of the queen cells and put it in Bethesda to hasten their queening. If we see another queen cell when we do the split we'll give it to Bethesda.</span></li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxe3om04XWYlOP-YkQVAzFnLuPzaYzFbwhLy7oeYv-PMutuVCi6C_Q14cc1mMvKq_Q8Vdv81vUbTP86vZFm0qHeZvlOQ981nQb9I2OYzicBWYnuP3fJZRFU06HZt9ZLIwwctyN6u5_Pca8M4frYXJJtNruo1lrUyKRG4cHmMW9xdS_LMn6m6RaXmWp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjxe3om04XWYlOP-YkQVAzFnLuPzaYzFbwhLy7oeYv-PMutuVCi6C_Q14cc1mMvKq_Q8Vdv81vUbTP86vZFm0qHeZvlOQ981nQb9I2OYzicBWYnuP3fJZRFU06HZt9ZLIwwctyN6u5_Pca8M4frYXJJtNruo1lrUyKRG4cHmMW9xdS_LMn6m6RaXmWp=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I keep a close watch on the girls with my spotting scope. <br />I got it for bird watching, but use it more for bee watching.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Elkridge is going great guns in honey production, but had a serious ant problem. They were all over the inside of the outer cover (confusing?) and inner cover so Larry took them to wash off. Lots of ant eggs too. We'll need to check on that again in a few days to make sure we get ahead of the ant problem. That can definitely encourage a hive to abscond. They don't like pests. Other than that, Elkridge looks great with plenty of brood and they are already capping honey.</span></li></ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Morgantown is busy bringing in nectar. We saw a little brood but think it may have been from before we split and may be dead. We'll see what happens now that we've given them queen cells. </span></li></ul></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-size: medium;">I put a new box on Wheeling two days ago. Nothing's happening there yet, but hopefully they will draw it out and start using it. </span></li></ul><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Things look good for a very fruitful honey harvest. We'll be asking the beekeeping patrons to intercede and look forward to taking a lot of honey to the Poor Clares later in the summer. They give our little apiary lots of prayer support. Come visit us at Camp Kreitzer and we'll have tea with toast and honey!</span></div></div><p></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-49379160840826890022022-05-11T06:06:00.000-07:002022-05-11T06:06:00.752-07:00First Campout of the Season with Two Happy Little Boys!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_9BHELlwaNbOGfYmiakRwQs---oD8kvF6KL23yZnoCFzxOM9hAttU7ZhwtUrjjZsKU4tKHu5aJebf_Tw6NyVjbVZjlQ5mtBqb-PMqY7_POxkPULFx6d3V4F8hLfBq6YBc_ASPjisbm3zzV4poWUxiYqSZpclGt4N2BOgUZh01QSxhtLhB2wpjzZL_" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj_9BHELlwaNbOGfYmiakRwQs---oD8kvF6KL23yZnoCFzxOM9hAttU7ZhwtUrjjZsKU4tKHu5aJebf_Tw6NyVjbVZjlQ5mtBqb-PMqY7_POxkPULFx6d3V4F8hLfBq6YBc_ASPjisbm3zzV4poWUxiYqSZpclGt4N2BOgUZh01QSxhtLhB2wpjzZL_" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Shenandoah River State Park - View from the Overlook Trail</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We took a quick camping trip on Monday with two of our youngest grandchildren who are five and eight. A lovely park close to home, Shenandoah River State Park, outside Front Royal, VA was the destination. One of the great blessing there? -- no cell or internet service!<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbQwY9WJ3XZpdZnCFhs8dmWiaq-lFQNgMq_EL8FUvLVureEvW2sK91--QhCneSqRkGKyag0cRP5y9kC2-d7QHwofYxC9rxJmy0yq4m9Zqn3243ZToTUw9_2jpWuRLr4zPxe5g1606M3vkeLOP0ymt3Mei2vl7Q3Bdg1HqQBa2IF331J1-TKXn6Q6j8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhbQwY9WJ3XZpdZnCFhs8dmWiaq-lFQNgMq_EL8FUvLVureEvW2sK91--QhCneSqRkGKyag0cRP5y9kC2-d7QHwofYxC9rxJmy0yq4m9Zqn3243ZToTUw9_2jpWuRLr4zPxe5g1606M3vkeLOP0ymt3Mei2vl7Q3Bdg1HqQBa2IF331J1-TKXn6Q6j8=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>No noise but the sounds of the raging river, the breeze rustling the leaves, <br />the bird calls, and happy conversation.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The boys and I ended up taking a longer than planned hike on Tuesday morning -- about 3.5 miles -- but it was a real adventure, "a quest" as Max, the eight-year-old described it. We were nature detectives, looking for animal prints in the mud (There was plenty of that after several days of steady rain.).<span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqrhqhkhf2bo3kZawrBQmFsHjsY38lnd5RbhL6F1BmYProjD0k8a6fqeC-aGDm2WW_pnr4CBEXuBVPCMs3OWqKk572YIL1rD9pLMolb1bk837IRHGNcu-xsz96LKVeuLnG5NN6urb9PUKU5079Rye10d_WEbXFGxRNPrvVykChuCP_R_9wfYZrD9FW" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqrhqhkhf2bo3kZawrBQmFsHjsY38lnd5RbhL6F1BmYProjD0k8a6fqeC-aGDm2WW_pnr4CBEXuBVPCMs3OWqKk572YIL1rD9pLMolb1bk837IRHGNcu-xsz96LKVeuLnG5NN6urb9PUKU5079Rye10d_WEbXFGxRNPrvVykChuCP_R_9wfYZrD9FW=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmenO-ftPWaAVE_fxBn3on_WhW_MqWMqHI2QntOOcNw6WYdUCvjUl_vDEFdMC0Xaw-o-SbMMuhGdWuoBnq-bwkw9_elw6zO1cT25sPpkdueUkTh69cz-Dw_0MkmLrvyl7u1Ib0AeVyWODlnzR3qV9lXh4Rqj7Rfsc7FZKUgZ9xzAEBMcS82ucC1HGS" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhmenO-ftPWaAVE_fxBn3on_WhW_MqWMqHI2QntOOcNw6WYdUCvjUl_vDEFdMC0Xaw-o-SbMMuhGdWuoBnq-bwkw9_elw6zO1cT25sPpkdueUkTh69cz-Dw_0MkmLrvyl7u1Ib0AeVyWODlnzR3qV9lXh4Rqj7Rfsc7FZKUgZ9xzAEBMcS82ucC1HGS=w300-h400" width="300" /></span></i></a></div><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">We hoped to see a bear print, but the closest we came was a big dog.</span></i></div><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoeBA6gjqFrFUzXKUv1t2XFMfclafhZsNxc3sCI2O18GYXvHrY3nNX2zVKavR6BySrmYpKmySoY-sTxxDEnW0qG2Kgi5F_D-2yUXBXRk4gprddZuySDkB8WAoLBz36MLxGOAhWzuQbOEFCAEhTXc8BaCw0EQn4yAqnrbypRg1UI-Na-wIhrTyfQF9v" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="696" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgoeBA6gjqFrFUzXKUv1t2XFMfclafhZsNxc3sCI2O18GYXvHrY3nNX2zVKavR6BySrmYpKmySoY-sTxxDEnW0qG2Kgi5F_D-2yUXBXRk4gprddZuySDkB8WAoLBz36MLxGOAhWzuQbOEFCAEhTXc8BaCw0EQn4yAqnrbypRg1UI-Na-wIhrTyfQF9v=w290-h400" width="290" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">We saw deer prints in several places - no surprise there!<br /><br /></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> We also counting the number of different wildflowers (We got up to a dozen.), although we only saw one bluebell, the last holdover.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjUoLwqMDIbFs8vErzBKn_p6AlVIs8bVgQvVBb6f22yvzddqxw3LSTkckAr3KCOpi7_rSPh1VueU4Pzr2L8S-m2evUq4XILrTJnMkLsWFgd_-bE3efFvELw4upY_y1S4HQ74kFWQqyX_rs3A6EXa9u4ZnPLQdMOYxvkkr-c9e0MPEfz5qPsYlpYTsp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="781" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhjUoLwqMDIbFs8vErzBKn_p6AlVIs8bVgQvVBb6f22yvzddqxw3LSTkckAr3KCOpi7_rSPh1VueU4Pzr2L8S-m2evUq4XILrTJnMkLsWFgd_-bE3efFvELw4upY_y1S4HQ74kFWQqyX_rs3A6EXa9u4ZnPLQdMOYxvkkr-c9e0MPEfz5qPsYlpYTsp=w325-h400" width="325" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHYRXlwEq6C-77cYv_xkLR4MYsSLK7okSNlJ-ts3H-ty6w4_tJ8773AfMlGVSWAaESVgw2ks9sdDmheTg_R-53cz4srFiXmja90zvQ1eh5nv5ytnaju_faknJH386ziLHOvBcJYBcHlGuHtztUGS2_gk5rEQXw44K64hNYiUsCc0XfxJz1KnoPc6DA" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjHYRXlwEq6C-77cYv_xkLR4MYsSLK7okSNlJ-ts3H-ty6w4_tJ8773AfMlGVSWAaESVgw2ks9sdDmheTg_R-53cz4srFiXmja90zvQ1eh5nv5ytnaju_faknJH386ziLHOvBcJYBcHlGuHtztUGS2_gk5rEQXw44K64hNYiUsCc0XfxJz1KnoPc6DA=w300-h400" width="300" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYncvkc3WWSVLA537D5GCc75W5_pAGTbYLFK_I_kUdigv-Q4QJCH_w_GBDY4_eBEov8PBCNvWkKq29a_dcdeGBwlunUYW62dtzz1M5ksMtxkbncxbXKFGHzjZf5S0V1qDOnkQ7F51PYgvXau44qSqIEGl2Ye5i6nrdzLpPzst9BkKlBfo-8pQvzj-Y" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgYncvkc3WWSVLA537D5GCc75W5_pAGTbYLFK_I_kUdigv-Q4QJCH_w_GBDY4_eBEov8PBCNvWkKq29a_dcdeGBwlunUYW62dtzz1M5ksMtxkbncxbXKFGHzjZf5S0V1qDOnkQ7F51PYgvXau44qSqIEGl2Ye5i6nrdzLpPzst9BkKlBfo-8pQvzj-Y=w300-h400" width="300" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">I have garden phlox in my own yard, but enjoyed seeing them in abundance in the woods.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiCfpPfAG_gTwjyLzwJX5dpqKAi226X3ImoGIlEupkEGj9siNiJbyYhTcKLDVRU-bvNPJRsOna93Kuu-TT7j39Xv4llR_7esrdKvV-LTqD2SGvvYxy3HoBbVeaVIhGagmVVVWs-7hBt3YSX6pQTeiFEn7Zss-QyoQHWccaWTDtYBywe-bmkg5__LGq" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="733" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjiCfpPfAG_gTwjyLzwJX5dpqKAi226X3ImoGIlEupkEGj9siNiJbyYhTcKLDVRU-bvNPJRsOna93Kuu-TT7j39Xv4llR_7esrdKvV-LTqD2SGvvYxy3HoBbVeaVIhGagmVVVWs-7hBt3YSX6pQTeiFEn7Zss-QyoQHWccaWTDtYBywe-bmkg5__LGq=w305-h400" width="305" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, what are these? I'd like to see them in bloom.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQEPJDSEzzadFl7wvVcQ5yfQz00qRF9YIut9YeDqHMG8YTXr5XW5RkIa5GMyeAep39DvfAkmzlzILtqAevfOx5edm5nM0bP5BMkLD4vk3GXYF8XXb7KFUA_PhFPHxNXi_lfpE_KUTA5x_z1W_DhOSejLz_uFJxZXW-jDanEtFWUy8JgcrVL0W0gHhu" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQEPJDSEzzadFl7wvVcQ5yfQz00qRF9YIut9YeDqHMG8YTXr5XW5RkIa5GMyeAep39DvfAkmzlzILtqAevfOx5edm5nM0bP5BMkLD4vk3GXYF8XXb7KFUA_PhFPHxNXi_lfpE_KUTA5x_z1W_DhOSejLz_uFJxZXW-jDanEtFWUy8JgcrVL0W0gHhu=w400-h300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Fairy umbrellas?<br /></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Once we reached the trail head at the parking lot, I didn't want to go back on the muddy trail, so we walked on the road to the Visitors' Center which was an uphill treck and about another mile. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsN40s8SSFHJFzOENOGxQYeiCkC-pLmNiJnT6-h3m2FfNH1dkm_aRDDtFgAJMU0apazYJVkZnF27FXdiOOC7Q1YbuK-DQDgh65bzZcQ1tmgZoZcpBJS2t1ys1bFBNRR2rVheXszJw3KgBaRaZBPGO1XG_mGsL6IQq7Zi9vIPeXhvZtNdw45yJJypd8" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsN40s8SSFHJFzOENOGxQYeiCkC-pLmNiJnT6-h3m2FfNH1dkm_aRDDtFgAJMU0apazYJVkZnF27FXdiOOC7Q1YbuK-DQDgh65bzZcQ1tmgZoZcpBJS2t1ys1bFBNRR2rVheXszJw3KgBaRaZBPGO1XG_mGsL6IQq7Zi9vIPeXhvZtNdw45yJJypd8=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Lovely little resting place at the Visitors' Center</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Once there, I asked the shortest way back to the campground. The boys were tired and Grandma was more tired, but we still had a mile+ on the trails ahead of us. I promised the boys an ice cream when we came back later with Paka since I don't take my purse when I hike and had no money. The kind park manager, Veronica, said I could get them treats and pay later. That made the hike back, which was mostly downhill, much more agreeable and there were still plenty of interesting things to look at before we rejoiced to see an RV through the trees. Everybody was eager for lunch.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Since Larry didn't expect us to be gone so long, he was getting ready to come looking for us, but the battery on the car was dead. Really? Seems like every camping trip offers an unexpected vehicle challenge. Last time it was the hitch release on the camper. Fortunately the park ranger came by in his truck and went to get a battery jumper. So while the boys and I played Quirkle at the camper, Larry drove off to Front Royal for a new battery. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We were only there for a little over a day, but enjoyed two campfires with s'mores and lots of conversation with two interesting little guys. Everybody slept well so there was no nighttime excitement.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioIQocS3lupNN8OkH9qPMlNcYWj3IZrE6MQkgGQUNbKPg1cu5gUdQU6v-GqMIgvrRaLFhnf13GGzH308zEo1G5bxdW4dzbig8GmUFMttojndc3wG6f11--Fqal9e-5vp5x8edAAr9DEBII07kkHDVjep1tiUzTBQoyVBQis3MMITZwdSDwO0jai32T" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEioIQocS3lupNN8OkH9qPMlNcYWj3IZrE6MQkgGQUNbKPg1cu5gUdQU6v-GqMIgvrRaLFhnf13GGzH308zEo1G5bxdW4dzbig8GmUFMttojndc3wG6f11--Fqal9e-5vp5x8edAAr9DEBII07kkHDVjep1tiUzTBQoyVBQis3MMITZwdSDwO0jai32T=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We picked up some Lego animals at the visitor center to take home to extend the memory of our quick trip to the woods. Jude selected a river otter, Max picked a fawn, and we brought home a cardinal and butterfly for their sisters back home. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Next grandchild adventure? A trip to the Green Valley book fair on Friday with our recently confirmed granddaughter -- a one-on-one with Grandma to book shop and have lunch. Can't wait! Need a sanity break? -- spend time with a child. Caveat: no electronic devices unless it's a book on tape. And don't forget to talk about Jesus. The wonders of nature offer plenty of opportunity!</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG_9KwgQitVIxBJdFKK9EU_L9mt60m3sS2UuCdwO2oh2PZFCnAyjSxDaKlljhU4Dim2ECYnC9dOlGQYekoe4Lvf7jRzCYB3_KqCe5FxKKGrumnrXFA8ciiLHQIJqZCjeOsQddrgGs2dmYClOwbvePuKUjO51fhCezy08gLdlYgwaTEGsVwLb3TnJ9V" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhG_9KwgQitVIxBJdFKK9EU_L9mt60m3sS2UuCdwO2oh2PZFCnAyjSxDaKlljhU4Dim2ECYnC9dOlGQYekoe4Lvf7jRzCYB3_KqCe5FxKKGrumnrXFA8ciiLHQIJqZCjeOsQddrgGs2dmYClOwbvePuKUjO51fhCezy08gLdlYgwaTEGsVwLb3TnJ9V=w480-h640" width="480" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Hurray for camping and for God's beautiful world!</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p><br /></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-1023931374868565632022-05-09T08:54:00.000-07:002022-05-09T08:54:00.173-07:00Time for a Serious Bee Check of All the Hives!<p><span style="font-size: medium;">But it won't happen today. I added another box to the hive farthest from the road. They are the mama hive of all the others and really needed it. We can't do anything else until we get more foundation for the boxes. I have some coming today, enough for two more boxes and I have more ordered from Dadant, but I'm not sure when that will come. It's a little frustrating that the local bee store had no frames made up and he wasn't sure when he was going to get to it. So we are doing the best we can at present. Hopefully on Wednesday we'll have the supplies we need and can add boxes to some of the other hives and do a queen check on the split we made six weeks ago. They should have a laying queen.</span></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-77684036048449052332022-04-30T08:48:00.004-07:002022-05-02T15:55:45.024-07:00With Food Prices Rising and Shortages Possible in the Future, I'm Practicing Foraging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxUKV2pxL_eIBDQrcou2xBVZ3v1YjczF0tTgyS63LLqxi2u9iOB72gxv8C8tw22KNKS7W6amdEa6Z1ftEa42-i8J1tJt3U4ChSlcqs1NvEjWGBzJBpOdn6uGjeuFeExY3nqRzcUEP78zUkgutcLfaNGp7K890FC32vBbN9UTVefAYF_U_nwRNHtMw7" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhxUKV2pxL_eIBDQrcou2xBVZ3v1YjczF0tTgyS63LLqxi2u9iOB72gxv8C8tw22KNKS7W6amdEa6Z1ftEa42-i8J1tJt3U4ChSlcqs1NvEjWGBzJBpOdn6uGjeuFeExY3nqRzcUEP78zUkgutcLfaNGp7K890FC32vBbN9UTVefAYF_U_nwRNHtMw7" width="326" /></a></div><p>Dandelions! Yes they are dandy and edible as long as you don't use weed killer in your yard. We've never put anything on our property in 20 years! So today I decided to go foraging in my abundant dandelion crop. Everything about the dandelion is edible: the flowers, the leaves, even the roots. You can read about eating dandelions <a href="https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/five_ways_to_eat_dandilions">here</a>.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>I'm making salad tonight and will add a heaping helping of dandelion greens. They are incredibly nutritious. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiP8VnQNBYAQVs-kwSE8dunNuwCs-9AuEgLOzYGiJDG0eiPI9eDUPbrV5uSJ7lYYTRk6KAm_2xr4jsRgEIfYVmNl3TJMb0FA4WiVL8gQoJNJdLmGxREN9SIfcgNO-xpK6HrMNPve92-oibX97b6L0uszW2_cp_N_TnTJtYU_NIKv8VFPejL6zZbVbH6" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiP8VnQNBYAQVs-kwSE8dunNuwCs-9AuEgLOzYGiJDG0eiPI9eDUPbrV5uSJ7lYYTRk6KAm_2xr4jsRgEIfYVmNl3TJMb0FA4WiVL8gQoJNJdLmGxREN9SIfcgNO-xpK6HrMNPve92-oibX97b6L0uszW2_cp_N_TnTJtYU_NIKv8VFPejL6zZbVbH6=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The little dandelion "fritters" I made will be the "crouton" topping. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlya-3ZOtOanNUq6odp1tZdpn1thwGknFjQg6Fe0Bqa_Wxw0PwI__qldrzGQEtg_cETSX02CvMEGLmu0SsjZjDQB5ViYzGMEgkGCJYwbZO6MtixsYTgkeR9nSQ4Wu_CyquC7yKSvwuJIWyhpTEtRJ56d-3claeKB18r_VFqUXe9ihi0olQg6w7Hpi5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjlya-3ZOtOanNUq6odp1tZdpn1thwGknFjQg6Fe0Bqa_Wxw0PwI__qldrzGQEtg_cETSX02CvMEGLmu0SsjZjDQB5ViYzGMEgkGCJYwbZO6MtixsYTgkeR9nSQ4Wu_CyquC7yKSvwuJIWyhpTEtRJ56d-3claeKB18r_VFqUXe9ihi0olQg6w7Hpi5=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqzad8LZjEBeiKXOfGS8dsDVw6cqR4FrKFhc40QDOipeA0dbMMuopSWlrs4VCl9FaBjfJewMXmHOSyTmpxuR87KT3_OUs94PeJQRsZOSDYckuRT2PK52R-vuUGNG_qt3z8Uur-nYJ8nNvEFFQemesHs0a4htqVFuA-Ub5NHsCsTweto93_sbXXCOfk" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhqzad8LZjEBeiKXOfGS8dsDVw6cqR4FrKFhc40QDOipeA0dbMMuopSWlrs4VCl9FaBjfJewMXmHOSyTmpxuR87KT3_OUs94PeJQRsZOSDYckuRT2PK52R-vuUGNG_qt3z8Uur-nYJ8nNvEFFQemesHs0a4htqVFuA-Ub5NHsCsTweto93_sbXXCOfk=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaMMdleVjyH-738hqBoA77QJTFK7VijcPh2pvZ7Tk2Q3WgHhyAe8EW-tbXchKEoy8LbC7c99ddhnVcF7Xw-Mx-IWmpWhnir7G1nw48VeluBSRpFJ3QE_HMvDC74JJHGRYFXc9MxA1WlfaptaLx3j2xyiEQFyqiIqh0Ig6MZ6DU94tmwTYwnKzKyeS5" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiaMMdleVjyH-738hqBoA77QJTFK7VijcPh2pvZ7Tk2Q3WgHhyAe8EW-tbXchKEoy8LbC7c99ddhnVcF7Xw-Mx-IWmpWhnir7G1nw48VeluBSRpFJ3QE_HMvDC74JJHGRYFXc9MxA1WlfaptaLx3j2xyiEQFyqiIqh0Ig6MZ6DU94tmwTYwnKzKyeS5=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not doing the roots...at least not yet. They are more labor intensive to prepare. I'll leave that for another day. But these are delicious ways to use dandelions. Give it a try. I suspect the grandkids would enjoy dipping the fritters in syrup or honey. Just don't tell them what they're eating until they beg for more!</div><p>I read once about a prisoner in one of Hitler's concentration camps coming back from the day's forced work to see a dandelion and plan to "harvest" it to supplement the meager rations they received. Think of this little treasure plant as a life saver. There may come a day when it really is!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-66138800625824487162022-04-28T16:16:00.000-07:002022-04-28T16:16:16.864-07:00The Chicken Coop is Coming Together - But it's the chicken mansion!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDVp6HvEWepe4i0YkbIrVdvT1ucxVxCE7XSeTClo6QYIvGFagMG4mNwt6b2m7A7kzD56t1A8nd1lo3Hio5QICreg5WohfMXxiZPfpHRmJpgW8hl_30IiOMQ5teTxA0irCPSdwgc4yl-d68FpAL_-a5ziuQ9Iq2vyla9cLAA7s9zVHvFr4Ob7VCDP9M" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhDVp6HvEWepe4i0YkbIrVdvT1ucxVxCE7XSeTClo6QYIvGFagMG4mNwt6b2m7A7kzD56t1A8nd1lo3Hio5QICreg5WohfMXxiZPfpHRmJpgW8hl_30IiOMQ5teTxA0irCPSdwgc4yl-d68FpAL_-a5ziuQ9Iq2vyla9cLAA7s9zVHvFr4Ob7VCDP9M" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;">The roof is on and the floor is painted. Now really, what other color would you paint a house for nine clucking girls -- at least we hope they're all girls. Saturday is wall day, so it won't be long before the house is ready for occupancy. The girls are still a little young -- not five weeks old yet. But in another month they will no doubt be happy to graduate from their limited quarters in the garage to the big wide world near the pine forest.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo6YhpffKcPqszjlM1QVYFlEl9zK0vYUYAVN0-FaRIXgENHBCx6P00cYzgKx3F10oPALKhEyKsVmDH7ZkU4laMi6dIka0tlFxTdf6KCY6QscC-UchogEbP_Zls0cPcvigWsinSN_0IRH0rC8DmvpuZEUA4hBTh5Xt0Sckf4zH35GE7pKcP-D0XnYuQ" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgo6YhpffKcPqszjlM1QVYFlEl9zK0vYUYAVN0-FaRIXgENHBCx6P00cYzgKx3F10oPALKhEyKsVmDH7ZkU4laMi6dIka0tlFxTdf6KCY6QscC-UchogEbP_Zls0cPcvigWsinSN_0IRH0rC8DmvpuZEUA4hBTh5Xt0Sckf4zH35GE7pKcP-D0XnYuQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-50769098729489640832022-04-22T09:29:00.002-07:002022-04-22T09:29:50.020-07:00Bad Tempered Bees in the Bee Yard<p> I think next bee check we'll definitely use the smoker. I looked at the swarm trap hive first. No sign of wax moth invasion so I left it alone. Hopefully we'll catch a good-natured queen and start a friendly new colony. I checked the hive next to it and just lifted the top box which is already pretty heavy. I looked at one end frame which was full of uncapped nectar. Added a box of undrawn frames which will give that hive plenty of work to do.<span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p>I was planning to add a frame with eggs to the new split but those ladies weren't happy when I opened the hive. They should have a queen cell a few days from hatching so maybe they were in high protective mode. They have lots of bees and will need another box as soon as they have a laying queen.</p><p>I checked the mother hive and they were really testy when I took off the inner cover. I lifted the box which was pretty light so I decided to just leave them alone. I had lots of guard bees following me around the yard so I was careful to walk around until they all decided I was no threat and went home.</p><p>Smoker next time! But it's clear we need more frames and foundation. The owner of the bee shop has convinced me to try wax coated plastic frames. He says you can't combine in the hive but I'm going to try putting a full box of the plastic frames on top of a hive and see what they do. We have one plastic frame and we've never had a problem with the bees using it. So we shall see. Beekeeping is as much an art as a science.</p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-43333353611194372722022-04-14T11:15:00.001-07:002022-04-14T11:15:06.402-07:00A New Adventure: Setting Up a Bait Hive in the Bee Yard<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-O3czfP8rANJ75t4_cZoHjAytP8kEtt8UB9qEIgR7GmqWafQCsSG3-RdVYQfcVHpDdsV8EQt_0uYGixgp_Y8zg-UxtwOOhOz04jsUvZgt6T3DndO-RPdvobW9_i7hn9YfmHSwvfzVnrE6ToBZbkJWRJefOmdOhIh9kfcDZooqzV7v_3es5lg8k2Oq" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="782" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi-O3czfP8rANJ75t4_cZoHjAytP8kEtt8UB9qEIgR7GmqWafQCsSG3-RdVYQfcVHpDdsV8EQt_0uYGixgp_Y8zg-UxtwOOhOz04jsUvZgt6T3DndO-RPdvobW9_i7hn9YfmHSwvfzVnrE6ToBZbkJWRJefOmdOhIh9kfcDZooqzV7v_3es5lg8k2Oq=w640-h442" width="640" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's swarm season and a good time to try to attract one to our bee yard. So today I set up a swarm trap/bait hive. It looks the same on the outside but inside it has only two frames of <i>drawn</i> comb instead of nine frames. (For non-beekeepers drawn comb are frames the girls have already built on. You start with wax foundation which is like a blueprint. The bees build it out to make cells for pollen and nectar storage and egg laying. I added a few drops of lemon grass essential oil to provide a scent that attracts the bees. Now we wait and see. I'm asking all the patrons of beekeepers to invite swarms to check out our lovely little dwelling.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">On another note, while I was stealing drawn comb from one of the other hives I realized the girls are busy filling up the top box next door, so I'll need to give them another box. That is good news for honey production. The huge hive at the other end of the yard. also needs another box. We're out of drawn frames so we need to put together 18 <i>new</i> frames for the two "supers." (Why don't they just call them boxes?) That's a project for another day, but soon. If they run out of room they start thinking about swarming and we sure don't want that!</span></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-4890402320259898332022-04-12T12:13:00.003-07:002022-04-12T12:13:39.441-07:00Bee Expansion! From Three Hives to Four.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJndnGf4aeyTX_0zzljMMC0kTNfjvsFRIUqyFRBc9_YZB48e6j6LzVKxpixqR7mXrewyupNuo6c-wFsLYOI2jMSG2pcE0o1GST85LUgb9P127I_mUWA_JBjneqmlBjgPBD9SWtu467oqxqUZTHSfN-qyMX7h6anVE2w908LlTII542x-wmTDb-M_Ro/s843/278390274_10160252028702533_8762031101540475101_n.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="843" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJndnGf4aeyTX_0zzljMMC0kTNfjvsFRIUqyFRBc9_YZB48e6j6LzVKxpixqR7mXrewyupNuo6c-wFsLYOI2jMSG2pcE0o1GST85LUgb9P127I_mUWA_JBjneqmlBjgPBD9SWtu467oqxqUZTHSfN-qyMX7h6anVE2w908LlTII542x-wmTDb-M_Ro/w640-h398/278390274_10160252028702533_8762031101540475101_n.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We checked the hives last week and decided we needed to split the big hive on the first warm day. The colony is huge and will definitely swarm if we don't do something although there are no immediate signs in the hive that they're ready to swarm. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So yesterday we divided it in half. Well, not exactly in half. The bulk of the bees are still in the main hive where the queen is, but there are plenty of bees in the split and hopefully they will get busy at once rearing a new queen. There's a little activity going in and out in the queenless split, which is good because many of the foragers go back to the original hive. At any rate, rearing a new queen takes about two weeks and then another week or ten days until she's made her maiden flight for mating and starts laying. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today I added another super (bee box with nine frames) to the big hive. That will give the bees plenty to do since I put in five undrawn wax frames that the bees will have to build out before they can use it for storing nectar and pollen. That box should end up being a honey super while the queen lays in the boxes below. Plenty for the workers to do, a good thing because busy bees are happy bees.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We are off to a booming bee season and are asking all the patrons of beekeepers to intercede for our little apiary. If all goes well, we will have a bumper harvest of honey come August. If we are extra fortunate, we will have honey before then. Our supply is getting low. </span></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-25326936321862950462022-04-04T07:01:00.000-07:002022-04-04T07:01:22.627-07:00A Sad Beginning to Passion Week<p><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the baby chicks died during the night. I checked them last night and two had clogged vents (also called "pasty butt") when dried feces hardens around the exit hole and prevents the chick from excreting. I read about it and it can be fatal. I followed the instructions to gently remove the feces and hoped for the best. But when I came down this morning poor Raptor was dead. The other chick is doing fine. So I've buried my first baby chick and have been reflecting on how people can kill human babies with nary a tear. I'm crying over a five-day-old chick and abortionists are murdering babies who can live independently outside the womb.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus wept over Jerusalem comparing Himself to the hen who gathers the chicks:</span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size: medium;">Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Your people have killed the prophets and have stoned the messengers who were sent to you. I have often wanted to gather your people, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you wouldn't let me.</span></blockquote><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Please pray for the nine rescuers who went into a D.C. abortuary recently and are charged under the FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act). (<a href="https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/video-surfaces-of-biden-fbi-raid-arrest-of-nonviolent-pro-life-activists/">See video of FBI raid</a> at one location.) The person responsible for disposing of "medical waste" turned over five late-term babies to them, babies who were probably murdered by partial birth abortion, a federal crime. They have turned over the little ones to the police and have held a funeral service for them. They hope to recover the bodies for a decent and dignified burial. These poor little ones, unwelcome in life, may be treated like garbage after death. Let's pray not! </span></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-20887297793531225182022-03-31T12:03:00.006-07:002022-03-31T14:11:52.736-07:00The Babies Are Here! Six Little Chicks!<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been bugging my husband for about ten years that I wanted to get chickens. He resisted big time and I didn't want to do it without his agreement. So, as I approached my diamond birthday. I said, "All I want for my birthday are chickens." How could he not say yes?</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJxkOLbalrAaVBHsDxelWNz5Pn0VsK73BGkSp7hI4T82_5KMjE-34od_LzcPIZe5g7mq3Q2Juxx08qZUxXt_DCcCGlexCByHjkdwUSWTS4--ZimrNbWEzR6RRBAUhls_PxMs7zXBY6SdsMlhhA2WUbe-LP5xWVJtByl6ZQziE0K9ja-qJhx1l8H6WQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiJxkOLbalrAaVBHsDxelWNz5Pn0VsK73BGkSp7hI4T82_5KMjE-34od_LzcPIZe5g7mq3Q2Juxx08qZUxXt_DCcCGlexCByHjkdwUSWTS4--ZimrNbWEzR6RRBAUhls_PxMs7zXBY6SdsMlhhA2WUbe-LP5xWVJtByl6ZQziE0K9ja-qJhx1l8H6WQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">This little girl is a Plymouth Blue. Shall I give the chicks pirate names? <br />She can be Bluebeard's Daughter or Bonnie Blue(beard).</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: medium;">Today we went to Tractor Supply and I got six two-day-old baby chicks (who should all grow up to be hens since we paid extra for pullets, young hens) and a starter kit. They are now happily enjoying their new home where they will stay for at least a few weeks. </span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz5kgwG2yZ1G-4CVfQZIpzgNnLUnnk6a-HVcURKsmaTcsx9QE1APkpM3C1LQZBtPn5AMroribdpgpYtdXPB84LZLX1jWwKednQe1LMN_nDuCJYzfRdp9iUuhcV0mH1RvuyaGQ_SVRUGyxvuT3QrB-47U3Q8la1erKih-zHxCTKTze-k-iXmQP3GOdd" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiz5kgwG2yZ1G-4CVfQZIpzgNnLUnnk6a-HVcURKsmaTcsx9QE1APkpM3C1LQZBtPn5AMroribdpgpYtdXPB84LZLX1jWwKednQe1LMN_nDuCJYzfRdp9iUuhcV0mH1RvuyaGQ_SVRUGyxvuT3QrB-47U3Q8la1erKih-zHxCTKTze-k-iXmQP3GOdd=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">A big plastic container makes the perfect temporary home!<br /><br /></span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJVKWSCgfpgGzn6cyZ66im02xE-vOm8eypHCgNOiyOLjXi2LKeEUn-oI-5S4pcaUehyGERzrvyFnnMe_TaLQolEW-cx0pJpcaSaSczw4PbRwkMBizXbi8O4pJHNbJ6whxRZ6jJwGYGD0uaeHB_Odm5jUep5bVigJp-s-Ggkm8Z-4H1VSywxQ16aXvP" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJVKWSCgfpgGzn6cyZ66im02xE-vOm8eypHCgNOiyOLjXi2LKeEUn-oI-5S4pcaUehyGERzrvyFnnMe_TaLQolEW-cx0pJpcaSaSczw4PbRwkMBizXbi8O4pJHNbJ6whxRZ6jJwGYGD0uaeHB_Odm5jUep5bVigJp-s-Ggkm8Z-4H1VSywxQ16aXvP=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>And they love the "sun" that keeps them warm and also gives them a rosy glow.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Once they outgrow the container, if we aren't ready to put them outside, I'll use a little pen in the garage. Yes, I know chickens are smelly and make a mess, but I'll just clean 'em up every day until they can go outside to the coop which has yet to be built. The question now is, do we get one already made that needs to be put together or start from scratch? I leave that decision to the builder.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisNqm2pUYpvsdADB-zPo6c0OQLGgSpsFvjiISaP9dyMh6l2hv52ZEM2T85je1mKRRH4CP_juZ04Hj5CDB_xkEgcyxhgF_ImY9lu8N7EXggmDaTl3AYYesM4Hla4OGHwrOqs6Fkc680yWgApkAX71IzS2ztfzJ2OTi9ihRN1FqFVYVgfUkrl2VMkuXT" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i><img alt="" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="518" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisNqm2pUYpvsdADB-zPo6c0OQLGgSpsFvjiISaP9dyMh6l2hv52ZEM2T85je1mKRRH4CP_juZ04Hj5CDB_xkEgcyxhgF_ImY9lu8N7EXggmDaTl3AYYesM4Hla4OGHwrOqs6Fkc680yWgApkAX71IzS2ztfzJ2OTi9ihRN1FqFVYVgfUkrl2VMkuXT=w552-h640" width="552" /></i></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span><i style="font-size: large;">This little yellow baby is an Orpington. Now what would be <br />a good pirate name for her? </i><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Buttercup Barnacle?</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I picked out breeds that are calm and docile. I don't relish the grandkids getting pecked to death. So I got a Welsummer because the clerk said they have beautiful colored eggs (or was that the Americauna? I got two of those), an ISA Brown, an Orpington, and a Plymouth Blue. I expect by next year if the predators haven't eaten our chickens I will be as enthusiastic about them as I am about our bees and boring people to death talking about them.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Old folks thrive on new adventures. These babies, I'm sure, will help keep me young -- or at least young at heart! And maybe we'll have a "Name the babies" contest with prizes for those chosen. </span></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-50905058286423449072022-03-30T15:35:00.004-07:002022-03-31T04:24:18.617-07:00More Photos from the Pirate Party! A Good Time Was Had By All!<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBSY6aj1lqTLoJWEznaeNnr-Ytj0kkVaz1VYIE7WoRmweDon9-OwUri_dwidUzLuNJE-9NdPt-3h55bSJ8a_DmkW73APlobuPxUWEyed1yBuFieoUeZoQhF2mYiH-QkbC4MjxMwUhcHq2E-nNEgD6O-QAGHQbnavM_hh7v16kpC3T_apxMfEpzFf_z" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjBSY6aj1lqTLoJWEznaeNnr-Ytj0kkVaz1VYIE7WoRmweDon9-OwUri_dwidUzLuNJE-9NdPt-3h55bSJ8a_DmkW73APlobuPxUWEyed1yBuFieoUeZoQhF2mYiH-QkbC4MjxMwUhcHq2E-nNEgD6O-QAGHQbnavM_hh7v16kpC3T_apxMfEpzFf_z" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Plenty of Pirates at the Pillagin' Pirate Tavern<br /><br /></i><span><a name='more'></a></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTSZG71rrJdOsEXt8iyyAjPV1SbUujOEpi95pGBwCfYyQ_qEO0rhpBTUY0W_QKAYx8RdAYlk9FxoNrozLalDwRUzb9plotdmK2kJuuNVULcz9O6P8Do-M9RzG7aNmFPQy4dHjJ200FQh3k2NQmSr_cu5IyNAHSOCMvHIF3x9H2zzAuoW2tuXH5Z71R" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTSZG71rrJdOsEXt8iyyAjPV1SbUujOEpi95pGBwCfYyQ_qEO0rhpBTUY0W_QKAYx8RdAYlk9FxoNrozLalDwRUzb9plotdmK2kJuuNVULcz9O6P8Do-M9RzG7aNmFPQy4dHjJ200FQh3k2NQmSr_cu5IyNAHSOCMvHIF3x9H2zzAuoW2tuXH5Z71R=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The only pirate who correctly guessed the murderer! Good job, Bibi.<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYb5mi4_2YUr7O4Litl17gIrqN0QePfZvGpUFMwafwFTWDc-gc6GCz-dRHkBuoHi0cLSmEfl4Pk_EIG17-ZRZpEPRSDCiNi5XyK1xp5vLpyL2sqzdn2BPEFuWqKWn-XhM0kf4dY0qPmE7P3sQ4UM0BPiemCpRTa4EDr2BmmSj2ReHItHDbCCs1AHps" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiYb5mi4_2YUr7O4Litl17gIrqN0QePfZvGpUFMwafwFTWDc-gc6GCz-dRHkBuoHi0cLSmEfl4Pk_EIG17-ZRZpEPRSDCiNi5XyK1xp5vLpyL2sqzdn2BPEFuWqKWn-XhM0kf4dY0qPmE7P3sQ4UM0BPiemCpRTa4EDr2BmmSj2ReHItHDbCCs1AHps=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>All the lady pirates are angry at misogynist Cap'n Burntbeart! <br />He stole my treasure and Lady Ocean Dragon Smythe's heirloom. <br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjENMkN3zI1CFM8_TqMRgvw0ZB69szHPKBCBoAb9ekEHAWVP0C6XQmhz2u5Yy60YFoNsRy8BOC_iZ2AvEzxFIAXU6BjRBbEJvIKQVoOzprxzKrFYX4URIyqZL9XS42iSLjgT3vBXth4L2wurNBCQLRAyNmF7aaj5xJfjxMq2DO96Nqvk-qLOwBKVk6G" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjENMkN3zI1CFM8_TqMRgvw0ZB69szHPKBCBoAb9ekEHAWVP0C6XQmhz2u5Yy60YFoNsRy8BOC_iZ2AvEzxFIAXU6BjRBbEJvIKQVoOzprxzKrFYX4URIyqZL9XS42iSLjgT3vBXth4L2wurNBCQLRAyNmF7aaj5xJfjxMq2DO96Nqvk-qLOwBKVk6G=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Three sister with a cousin, the pirate from outer space!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgespJ5e1qKLgedVW0osR3-WxqhEJ8ukIw0ym3hegDJ7Cbi26qPtTXZUVsdLPqKdKXPiQ72HDnZe8d1AGQFPGjjb5URDjH81svpdEs46MtsTvyFvB3kCF51Nz374OK54gX3L0yDHspeJIxTII8OjQW3ScNEoXwspKg5_bkJzC9jcQ42Tz7FMTDsjuzj" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgespJ5e1qKLgedVW0osR3-WxqhEJ8ukIw0ym3hegDJ7Cbi26qPtTXZUVsdLPqKdKXPiQ72HDnZe8d1AGQFPGjjb5URDjH81svpdEs46MtsTvyFvB3kCF51Nz374OK54gX3L0yDHspeJIxTII8OjQW3ScNEoXwspKg5_bkJzC9jcQ42Tz7FMTDsjuzj=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></div>Cap'n Jack with Hara Norrington who has ambitions to take me ship!<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUrwUH3g8PX4LADNCffq0Q68sf6VQ2b6eLUUH0pZtywUxsdhUpKHVWkpKKA9lWtNHqiN30cqQJTS-04bLeW8__VcE_U8FArKHM4d336fUyh_J90z5eB8-Nm2tYLjjlqVAJHfW_T8iF7YdUT1JZHIDN8fOFrwI5zuvN4Fcsx9Jw_H-Jp9iA9Hh50KPj" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="720" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjUrwUH3g8PX4LADNCffq0Q68sf6VQ2b6eLUUH0pZtywUxsdhUpKHVWkpKKA9lWtNHqiN30cqQJTS-04bLeW8__VcE_U8FArKHM4d336fUyh_J90z5eB8-Nm2tYLjjlqVAJHfW_T8iF7YdUT1JZHIDN8fOFrwI5zuvN4Fcsx9Jw_H-Jp9iA9Hh50KPj=w640-h480" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fun, food, and family -- It hardly gets better than that!</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8731342887789984369.post-78922115563357413302022-03-28T08:10:00.007-07:002022-03-28T08:46:24.637-07:00Argh, Matey! The Pirates all be Restin' after Seekin' the Treasure at Parrot Island!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5OjTOtZ747cBY2N3yoBxHAxvWHOxEkEAEGM69OADzItZzhnvdmqoiZpMVI9ITrYE68kF_yXHvoL6-tyn5_cfMbBlGcPRy69EvWkkYlYL2kGnCwg70OWeogphdEpGcMx1U79cxfEpkO3es-ivEmhWeGbwwkU1mY8dhCW7i_U7plWOZAjBuv7sOVeYM" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="506" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh5OjTOtZ747cBY2N3yoBxHAxvWHOxEkEAEGM69OADzItZzhnvdmqoiZpMVI9ITrYE68kF_yXHvoL6-tyn5_cfMbBlGcPRy69EvWkkYlYL2kGnCwg70OWeogphdEpGcMx1U79cxfEpkO3es-ivEmhWeGbwwkU1mY8dhCW7i_U7plWOZAjBuv7sOVeYM=w600-h640" width="600" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Cap'n Poncy Hawthorne of the Ragin' Cannon with her rival, <br />Cap'n Jack Blacksparrow of the Black Onyx. Who will reach the treasure first<br /> and be the richest pirate on the Ocean Main?</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My birthday weekend continued on Sunday with a mystery murder party with a pirate theme. what a lot of planning went into it and everyone was there at the "Pillagin' Pirate Tavern" (aka the Woodstock Brewery). Every one had a pirate character and the costumes were as varied as the personalities. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was Poncy Hawthorne, "Captain of the Raging Cannon" and "one of the most brilliant minds on the open seas...[who] can repair anything from a parrot's beak to the ship's engine." I can't say that was typecasting. My gaggle of girl shipmates mostly came from Ireland and we had lots of fun combining pirate jargon with an Irish accent. "Sure and we be seekin' a treasure to rival the leprechauns' pot o' gold. And we need be kidnappin' Jolly Turner from El Lobo del Mart to be our galley slave. Be sure, we hard a rumor that he can cook up some tasty corned beef and cabbage."</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ0AkMp07OqXpbJpjq2T7UZny5rAHogdmGMK5OH1OKKTlJiEJpWSnEiFMSDREgP9_bgh1CfhxPk5i7_0mX2XVXLY3gF_qAVKdIdXjfNa-4tmk9v1bUqdt734Q34yUYx2eFNpLJp4gh9IgOXU2Z40hZBKPxZNA1x1_6hf_p0vNgEVfQVxr3B7g3wSPV" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjZ0AkMp07OqXpbJpjq2T7UZny5rAHogdmGMK5OH1OKKTlJiEJpWSnEiFMSDREgP9_bgh1CfhxPk5i7_0mX2XVXLY3gF_qAVKdIdXjfNa-4tmk9v1bUqdt734Q34yUYx2eFNpLJp4gh9IgOXU2Z40hZBKPxZNA1x1_6hf_p0vNgEVfQVxr3B7g3wSPV=w427-h640" width="427" /></span></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Three dastardly pirates: Montblog Axe, Lancilot Cabondish, and Motley Capulet</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The murder victim (discovered in the second round of the game) was an old enemy of mine, Cap'n Barnacle Burntbeard, so I certainly had a motive to do him in out of vengeance for stealin' me treasure and insultin' me crew of fine Irish lassies as weak and unfit pirates -- to girly for the Ocean Main. He definitely deserved the crack on the head with Lady Ocean Dragon Smythe's eyeglass. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCx5LJRn9Zeu2FYD1mGrtL9HRxx_uxk91XkCdj-dCH5kVXEiCkbtetAqI_lVOWoRudaH-hZd6QIWpZIylWydpTOo7u2lG4NJXGpF2IDI7W_d8Z2GlWAnQF8NSEsDq_xTNXREHDSASw2Iev_imYkqL76FyBvUxuu-iyUqqrIwIQckHy1AUrGfxOqe53" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgCx5LJRn9Zeu2FYD1mGrtL9HRxx_uxk91XkCdj-dCH5kVXEiCkbtetAqI_lVOWoRudaH-hZd6QIWpZIylWydpTOo7u2lG4NJXGpF2IDI7W_d8Z2GlWAnQF8NSEsDq_xTNXREHDSASw2Iev_imYkqL76FyBvUxuu-iyUqqrIwIQckHy1AUrGfxOqe53=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Our littlest pirate, Doris Danger's Ally with Blackheart Royal <br />who has a soft spot for baby pirates.</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The party was great fun! And what a joy to have almost everyone there except our Texas family and a son-in-law who was out of town. Even the college kids took time off to come and celebrate and we don't get to see them often enough these days.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnAOCiDjw0BBqQm9IjiSvPO297g2tuOuO0lKR720jT2IZz5JBahIR8UTYCTrkS0UdeeKtqk7WR-hmLayFtLyCr4VDW7cIeR-eVP9Qg-bIOiMJ3ZJ6MQUF1LVv4TeIRGqCK0C0HPdklj06zOLccBN3V7txmYt8Mg2X5xe66mQzGrMUfFuatkl0xE6Qf" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="552" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhnAOCiDjw0BBqQm9IjiSvPO297g2tuOuO0lKR720jT2IZz5JBahIR8UTYCTrkS0UdeeKtqk7WR-hmLayFtLyCr4VDW7cIeR-eVP9Qg-bIOiMJ3ZJ6MQUF1LVv4TeIRGqCK0C0HPdklj06zOLccBN3V7txmYt8Mg2X5xe66mQzGrMUfFuatkl0xE6Qf=w640-h586" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Lovin those bangles on me deck hand, Alvilda Neptune, and the other Irish Lassies on me crew: Ann Marie Deadbones, Bonny Anne Blackbeard, and Hara Norrington, me youngest deck hand and new to the Ragin' Cannon. We kidnapped Montblog Axe to make him our mascot or maybe to hang him from the yardarm or walk the plank.</i><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd2XKZJLwG4yoV8hjE5AsZuFCa4XvWE7pFWqCuAY5DfORvLmuPBfAGsYhezhL8Dd0nj2U2FoGwFApS8HHqJIJz4MG6qm6SMqMR9GDQPaNmGWRVBOcxjnVwjTZZd6ZLunYwtdVNKdeOV8fluOFA6Ft9JPMCFYUrM17IcQ7oxbE1toRB6HgEagkkvkX4" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="526" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhd2XKZJLwG4yoV8hjE5AsZuFCa4XvWE7pFWqCuAY5DfORvLmuPBfAGsYhezhL8Dd0nj2U2FoGwFApS8HHqJIJz4MG6qm6SMqMR9GDQPaNmGWRVBOcxjnVwjTZZd6ZLunYwtdVNKdeOV8fluOFA6Ft9JPMCFYUrM17IcQ7oxbE1toRB6HgEagkkvkX4=w531-h640" width="531" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>We had the fire crews on call during the lighting of the cake and I had two little pirates<br /> to help me when it was time to say, "Thar she blows!"<br /></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>So great big pirate hugs to the crews of me own ship, the Ragin' Cannon, and her rivals from the Black Onyx, El Lobo Del Mar, and The Yeti O' T' Sea, and, of course, the owner of the Pillagin' Pirate where so much conspirin' and talk of treasure and mutiny went on. Even Cap'n Burntbeard came back to life and went home intact. (Will post a picture of all the participants later when I get it from our official family photographer.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p>Mary Ann Kreitzerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18245237845099708478noreply@blogger.com0