Our 4th Of July

This is the first July 4th we've spent at home in quite some time - fireworks were canceled due to COVID-19.

Luckily we had our back yard redone last summer, so it was a nice place to spend a pleasant evening.   We also spent some time in the hot tub and could see some fireworks going off at Emerald Heights, so someone had a few boxes!

We also found that Ruby was frightened by all the noises in the neighborhood - she wouldn't join us out back.  That is the first thing I can remember scaring that girl - she is braver than any other dog we've had.

T.J. Swann

There are some things that have been in my possession for a very long time.  That includes this T.J. Swann bottle that I've had since somewhere around 1980, give or take a few years.  Easy Nights indeed.

I was a beer drinker in my 20s so I'm not quite sure how I got this - perhaps someone I was with one night had wine.   I'm not quite sure.

In any case, I started putting my coins in it and they've remained in there for over 10 moves all over the western US - which is probably the only reason I still have this bottle.  It is probably 40 years old or perhaps older now.

1993 Student of the Week

 I've been using this at-home time to scan in the kindergarten papers that my son David brought on in 1993-1994.  It's time to turn the box over to him, so I wanted to keep a copy for myself.

Here was an interesting one - he was VIP of the week on July 26, 1993 - his first month of kindergarten.

It is interesting to see what brand-new kindergartners think of someone they just met.

And their artwork is just awesome.

In The Car With Ruby

 We took Ruby with us to pick up a car in the shop yesterday.

She was as thrilled as the rest of us to be out and about.

 Teo especially got a kick out of it.

New Zealand Tea Tree at 1 year old

 Our tea tree has reach 1 year old since being planted, and it is going absolutely bonkers.  It must be very happy where it is at!

 There are about as many flowers on there as can possibly fit on one plant.

A shot from a little farther away.

Bougainvillea at 1 year old

 Our bougainvillea is also one year old this month and seems to be doing quite well.

 This is about as happy as a bougainvillea can get, it looks totally healthy.

 We actually have two bougainvilleas on the same trellis.  They should be of the same variety, but from time to time there is debate in the family as to whether I accidently picked up two slightly different varieties.

 We've come to the conclusion it won't matter - if they are the same, it will look great.  And if they are slightly different, it will add another element to the yard.  Either way we win.

Here is a photo taken from farther away.  Those plants still have a lot of room for growth!

1994 Dedicated 2 Kids Graduation

One of my kids went to Dedicated 2 Kids in 1994 and attended their afternoon kindergarten class - after attending public school kindergarten in the morning.

Here is the memory book they gave them at the end of the year.  The kids say some very cute things.  Enjoy.