This was taken 22 years ago after  Ethan's mother harvested her pumpkin crop. This remains my very favorite autumn picture. Ethan is our 1st grandson. Now he is nearing completion of his college studies and he is a really nice young man.

I have permission to walk in these woods so with my camera I sought out a Kodak moment. Through the trees and brush I saw this ahead of me. Looking like some kind of building among the trees

Growing closer to it I saw it was a shed of some kind

But what is that thing on top? An old cupola?

Oh wow!

And more wow!

And even more wow. Not only an old cupola but one in amazing shape, ornate and with a great weather vane atop an old shed.

I love nature pictures. Love the trees,clouds, sunsets etc but this man made item is also very stunning to me and a grand surprise to see.

One of life's little pleasures to stumble upon such a beautiful thing!

~~~~~~~~~~

The familiar music pounded out of the speakers

and in he walked..

Mighty fancy for this assortment of farmers, red necks and business men gathered in a machine shed on the Iowa-Missouri border last Saturday night.

Elvis...

He gave me a hug...
*swoon*

My photographer was so excited evidently her hands shook as she snapped this picture

~~~

He performed the songs all of us know and love

The crowd went wild.  Shown below with a cousin, Boy Genius(in the hat) enjoyed it also.

We have a cousin who each year hosts a pot luck gathering with a band, hay rides, a place for campers and this year our cousin who does actually do Elvis impersonations in Las Vegas as a fun hobby joined us. His lovely wife applies his make up,wig and side burns and also operates the sound system. As he sings 'Elvis' directs much of his attention and teasing to her.

Everyone enjoyed his singing and he sounded very much like Elvis himselvis.

Then it was announced that "Elvis had left the building" and the country western band resumed their entertainment. They were good but no one felt like swooning as we had for Elvis.

It was a lovely evening, made even better by this visitor

One of our 5 grandsons. Fritz had just showered and put on his pj's but posed for these photos with Sam.

Family resemblance?

Sam is a senior in high school. Of our son Boy Genius's sons this fellow has the most mannerisms like his dad and also sees the world much as his dad does. He sees the humor in people and situations and entertained us with several very funny stories. Below is one of his senior pictures done in b/w since he knew I have a wall with only b/w photos.

Here is his recent family's picture that I made b/w for my wall. Oops in the process of scanning and editing it I have

made it too small and can not enlarge it on here. Anyway here is Boy Genius and his family. The 2 older ones are in college, one finishing up and the other in his 3rd year, Sam's a high school senior and Paul is a freshman.

I've been very busy and having a lovely time enjoying this beautiful fall weather.

I hope this finds you well.

Suddenly my washer quit. Fritz carefully looked it all over and diagnosed the problem. A check online for parts revealed it would be  over $100 for the replacement part. Older washer by today's standard of 7 years (don't get me started on that issue as someone who remembers 25-30 year old appliances still perking away doing what they were designed to do). The decision was made to go the 140 mile round trip to Des Moines to get a new washer.

Easily accomplished purchase  and a lovely afternoon to take a drive and admire the autumn trees in their height of color.

We pulled behind the store and the little pick up truck was quickly loaded with said washer filling the bed of the little Toyota.

and then......he saw this row of riding mowers.....

on sale no less.............

After nearly 50 years of loving this man I can often read his mind so I noted the decision making process rattling around in his mind as he looked to the loaded pick up, back to the greatly reduced in price riding mower and them back to the loaded bed of the pick up....then he looked at me....I said,"hey it's up to you, either way we 'll have to return for either this mower you'll use next week or the washer I'll use tonight, the decision is yours". He disappeared inside the store, paid for the mower and will pick it up today. I praised his good thinking and his appreciation of having a constant supply of clean clothing as we headed toward home with the washer.

I know the utility companies have to do what they have to do but this looks so sad and butchered to me. I'm not a 'tree hugger' but I am a lover of trees. Nevertheless this tree bravely put on the colors of fall. I couldn't pass it by without capturing this shot.

~~~

From Ms Janet Thomas.....
Madina Accra Ghana.

Please Permit me to inform you of my mind, Because I have make up my mind to write to you
this way. however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against
your will in my earnest search for a reliable individual who can assist me to make this
transaction a reality after going through your profile i decided to contact you to help me
out of my problem.With my believe in God that you will never let me down.

I am a 22 years old lady now, i was born on the 1of january 1989 to the family of Nado and
my father name is Thomas he is a very wealthy gold and dymond merchant who based in ACCRA
GHANA respectively, and my mothers name is Sheila.and I am there only child.well when i
was a kid i went to a private schools and things were going on well for me and my parents
my mother died on the 21ST october 1995, My father took me so special because i am
motherless. and he shower all his love on me and promised me that he will never have
another woman because he did not want me for any problem.but has fate his my father got
dead last year.but before the death of my father on the 12th june 2010 in a private
hospital here in GHANA,
he called me secretly to his bed side and told me that he kept a sumof $9.500 000 (Nine
million five hundred thousand united states dollars) in a bank in ACCRA GHANA.
meanwhile that he used my name as the next of kin in deposit of the fund.He also explained
to me that it was because of this money he was poisoned by his business partner and that i
should seek for foreign partner in a country of my choice where i would transfer this money
and use it for investment purpose, such as;real estate investment or stock market
investment. Plesae,
i am honourably soliciting your kind assistance as follows.

1) To provide a bank account where this money will be transferred into.
2) To serve as the guardian of these fund, since I am 22 yearsold..
3)To make arrangement for me in your country to continue my educational career and to
procure me a residential permit in your country.

I am inclined to offer you 20% of the total sum as a mode of compensation for your effort
after the successful transferring of these fund to your nominated account overseas. Please
I will be very
happy if this transaction will be concluded with in seven (7) working days from now. I am
expecting to hear from you as soon as possible,
I am expecting to hear from you as soon as possible.

May Almighty God bless you as you do care for an orphan like me.

With my best regard,

I particularly like the reference to God. I am so mean and hard heartened I think I shall now ignore this message. What do you think?

The hills and trees

the corn ready for harvest, the sunrise making the tassels to glow golden

the beans dry also ready for harvest

Across from our home the corn crop looks great, one large fully filled out ear of corn on each stalk

I hope to get closer to this barn and get more pictures of it soon.

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As I made this entry in my journal today,"I can not remember ever being more content or happier than I am today" I checked back to last year's journal entry that said,"I can not remember ever being more content or any happier than I am today". Either Lucy is easily pleased or life is good for little Lucy most of the time. All these troubling events in our country and the unrest many people are feeling make me praise the Lord because I know He is in control. The examples of unintended humor of many in our society make me laugh. The so called 'tolerant' who will not tolerate opinions they do not agree with and those who applaud  the 'hate crimes' and 'hate speech laws' often are the loudest in laughing and calling others name and poking fun at those they disagree with. All this while touting the virtues of being 'non-judgmental'. Like I say unintended humor is the best! Two things are very sad, losing a sense of humor and the greater sorrow, having no faith in God as if mere man is the highest power.

Originally posted in 2010

As we approached the church I saw the 5 grandsons visiting together. A Kodak moment for me with my little camera in my handbag. When Fritz joined them I did make the mistake of asking them to pose. A mistake you ask?  Yes, giving youngest grandson Paul an opportunity to ham it up! His brothers told him, "now Paul you behave" they demanded. He is a rascal, a sweet sweet little rascal! Of the several I took this is the best one.

I remind Fritz that someday he will be happy we have all the photos I've taken. He gets weary of my compulsion. If he would smile and if Paul would behave only one shot would've been needed!

Added info re the church:

A couple of years ago I asked my grandsons and granddaughter to pose for a quick picture.

i then noticed Paul was missing so we rounded him up to join us.

Everyone but me knew the little fellow in front wearing the bright blue jacket had joined us.

No one knew who he was, but the expressions of my grandchildren's faces proves they knew the little stranger had joined us.

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