Nothing beats a parade.

 From beginning to the end nothing beats a parade.From the flags and our veterans at the beginning.
 The grand marshal,Jennie Stevens. .At 92 she is still busy.

The 100th anniversary of the Alden fire department was held during Alden Days celebration. The parade featured many fire departments from surrounding communities. I like seeing the old fire trucks.

There was a bag piper this year. Never have seen a bag piper in person. The sound is amazing.
The kids got their share of candy.


Of course there were old cars,bands and the horses bringing up the rear. The rain held off until the parade was over. The fire works are not my favorite thing and they are not Ziva's either.Hope your week goes well.j

 

Checking in.

The last few weeks have been pretty uneventful.
We have done some gardening between rains. We have done some camping.While we were camping we watched as a very big crane moved 3 sections of a new shower house. It was interesting.I will share those pictures another time.

Cam was here for a week.Here he is planting a rose bush and riding his new scooter.
We found a project to do. Made a patio light for his mom.A jar, the flat sided marbles and silicone to glue the marbles on. In the background you can see the standing snowman.Well frosty was on his way to the garden shed but the hot weather took its tole.  He is no longer : > (
Went to pick him up to put him away and broke a big hole in the side. Sad end .He was around a lot of winters.

Cam was a happy camper. Caught 16 fish.This one was a bass.
 Not big but no one cares how big as long as you catch them!

Cam mowed for the first time.




The Kuipers and one Lewandoski were here for a weekend visit. Including Max

 I forget what this plant is.I planted a few of my big planters this year but not all.

 Finally the clematis is climbing and blooming. The watering cans get impatience each year.

.The fish are back in the pond.We had to do some ground work on the south end of the pond. I hope you all are having a great spring.Linking to Tootsie Time.
http://www.tootsietime.com/2013/06/fertilizer-friday-flaunt-your-flowers_13.html
 Alden days are this weekend. Maybe I'll see some of you there.j

 Ziva is growing.10 weeks weighed in at 6 1/2 #
She did not like the falls.Not much going on.Gardening and puppy. That is about it for now.

 

Ziva with her 2nd mom ,Mikki.












 !2 weeks. Weighs 8 1/2 #

 The Maple is beautiful as is the flowering almond and the blooms on the fern peonies. The dandelions not so pretty!

Hope everyone has a wonderful memorial day holiday.
Please remember our veterans in your prayers.
It is the VETERAN, who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, who has given us the right to vote.

It is the VETERAN, who salutes the Flag,

It is the VETERAN, who serves under the Flag,

We can be very proud of our young men and women in the armed services no matter where they serve, and to all those that have served this country before them for the sacrifices that they and their families have made to provide all of us these freedoms.j

Birds and blooms

Iowa. Snow on the ground in the morning and mowed in the afternoon.
The birds are back and some I have not seen before.

 

 The dove is such a soft color looks like velvet.

A robin is trying to build a nest on a drain pipe.It is a really messy nest in not a good place.We will see if she succeeds.

 

My 1st fern peony has 4 buds this year.

 The tulips and daffodils did not freeze off this year. Just starting to bloom.

This 2nd tiny fern peony was a root I found and planted. It has been a struggle but this year it is growing.I think spring might be here. We can hope. j

LINK. http://www.tootsietime.com/2013/05/fertilizer-friday-flaunt-your-flowers_9.html

Spring

We have been busy planting potatoes,corn,peas, cauliflower and broccoli. Monday the forsythia bush was blooming.I went out and cut a bouquet for the table.
 Good thing because this is what it looks like today.Then old man winter decided to have one last party.

Green grass by the camper.The birds were happy to have the dry spot under the camper this morning.

This is the bridal wreath bush.green leaves covered with heavy wet snow.

I had picked up a flat of impatience.

Did not plant any will keep them in the greenhouse for a while. Last year I had trouble finding red impatience so thought I would get them when I could. I am linking to.Go visit there are is spring some places.
http://www.tootsietime.com/2013/05/fertilizer-friday-flaunt-your-flowers.html

 Ziva is growing and went out in the snow this morning for the first time. Fun to watch. Her belly was dragging with those short little legs .Mr.T. had to scoop the snow off the grass so she could do her business.

 . Mr.T gets on the floor to play.What a sweet baby girl she is.She is a joy.Hope your days are good. j