09 December 2009

Cadence


17 months old


Aaliyah at School


More Photos of Aaliyah

Fontenelle Forest, October



Thanksgiving Day




"A Walk through Bethlehem",
Cleo the camel and baking bread

23 October 2009

Fall




The four photos above were taken in Nebraska City
It's a tradition in many families to make a trip here for apples, etc.




Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - the assurance that dawn comes after night and spring after the winter.

- Rachel Carson (founder of contemporary environmental movement)



There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on, and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October.

- Nathaniel Hawthorne (19th century author)


This is my first time in six years to be in the States during the season of fall! One thing I miss when I'm in Kenya is the four distinct seasons that Nebraska experiences. I've really enjoyed this fall - the changing colors of the trees and even raking them after they fall!


12 October 2009

More Fall Traditons

Hay-rack rides



Carving pumpkins




Aaliyah spent a couple of days with Mom and I recently. On one of the days, she and I went to Wenninghoff Farm for some fun activities - including a hay-rack ride, a maze in a corn field, viewing farm animals (like these goats), and many more.

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10 October 2009

Early Snow



The weathermen forecast "flurries"!

Instead, we got six inches!


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29 September 2009

Bike Ride



The temperature was a bit chilly on our early-morning start.


Seven started the ride.
This is 22 miles into our 1st day, at the trail-head of the Wabash.
I'm 3rd from the left.

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I organized a bike ride for the last weekend of September. The weather was great and we had great fun! I love being outdoors and I love being on my bike!

Five of us spent the night at Shenandoah, Iowa. My total for the ride was 136 miles (220 kilometers). It wasn't as far as I had aimed for, but I felt a bit sluggish on Saturday and on Sunday afternoon we had STRONG head winds that really slowed us down. Much of our ride was on the beautiful Wabash Trace Nature Trail in the southwest corner of Iowa.

We will all have many wonderful memories of the outing!


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17 September 2009

Busy Working on My Book




These photos illustrate what I spend a lot of time doing - either sitting at my computer or sitting with a pen and paper in hand!

Since early July, my focus has been to edit my stories from 2004-2008. It is a bit tedious but... I actually do enjoy it!

In fact, it's as if I get to re-live the events all over again. Many of my stories still move me to tears; many of them encourage me.

My aim is to stay on track and self-publish my second book.


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