tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81995842024-03-13T21:39:43.282-06:00Pensive? No, Just Thinkingmusings and memories to share with family and friendsKevin Moberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107279652774289955noreply@blogger.comBlogger1180125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-70299063551199514822022-12-31T23:59:00.073-07:002023-01-06T15:08:53.751-07:00St. Maarten Vacation, Day 8<p>Well, all good things must come to an end. Today was our final day in St. Maarten with Abigail. She took Susan, Hillary, and me back to the airport in the morning and Suzanna in the afternoon.</p><p>But first she took us all to a restaurant called the <a href="https://www.reveilmatinsxm.com/" target="_blank">Réveil Matin</a> (French for "alarm clock") for breakfast. We had delicious crêpes (cue the "This tastes like crêpe!" jokes). And then we headed to the airport to unload our luggage and clutch each other, hugging and crying until we could sense the airport parking monitors coming our way to shoo Abigail out of the drop-off zone.</p><p>Susan, Hillary, and I are spending the night in Dallas, Texas, before our morning flight to Bismarck, North Dakota. Suzanna's overnight stay is in Boston, Massachusetts, before she flies from there to Nashville, Tennessee, in the morning. I can hear the New Year's Eve fireworks outside our hotel room window right now. 10, 9, 8, 7 ...</p><p>Happy new year to you all!</p><p>(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZpDYVicXnpr9aRFOc-KK1SWg80zmKRik3e9X6IxS4crM14IIX6NuW-1KW6_LVjkMoryD7rQjhzoIdlQuPJVYiUB5-BwzMo0lO92wz6ZgHjRM0sbZzp-iMVGXMJ9U2lgcE36xgUWZnH6xaRAi0H_Xvk4S6eO2uP7o8iBQTu6hdaGwDYvwAA/s4032/20221231_092100.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilZpDYVicXnpr9aRFOc-KK1SWg80zmKRik3e9X6IxS4crM14IIX6NuW-1KW6_LVjkMoryD7rQjhzoIdlQuPJVYiUB5-BwzMo0lO92wz6ZgHjRM0sbZzp-iMVGXMJ9U2lgcE36xgUWZnH6xaRAi0H_Xvk4S6eO2uP7o8iBQTu6hdaGwDYvwAA/s320/20221231_092100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Look at those fancy coffees!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSg9A56OAdhQtcY8REu4lkyQXIwrTWPh8E5ZkYLpQncCMuNX1E9t_2GUzHfb6rSbr_uMKb57g8Monhx8iqpPVI5X5ilm-claFnmJi9cy_QKHAdxY9ApIy9bXfCVb5sV29x7V5V8A9iO_4bUE3Zn4xiNMAYPBl-tAf7ceNFGTGf2ntrGtc0Q/s4000/20221231_131922.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSg9A56OAdhQtcY8REu4lkyQXIwrTWPh8E5ZkYLpQncCMuNX1E9t_2GUzHfb6rSbr_uMKb57g8Monhx8iqpPVI5X5ilm-claFnmJi9cy_QKHAdxY9ApIy9bXfCVb5sV29x7V5V8A9iO_4bUE3Zn4xiNMAYPBl-tAf7ceNFGTGf2ntrGtc0Q/s320/20221231_131922.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After dropping Susan, Hillary, and me off at the airport, Suzanna had a little time before her own flight ... so she enjoyed another French pastry (that Susan and I had ordered but left behind--we were too full) while catching some rays on Abigail's apartment rooftop.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb5M1OQBPypcBmgaJZ302WdzGMWC1SVJgU6CUfHGNnFLMNgzyzAUQSjP8mvJ-8JvdrAytql8tcnK2IbEtm0-vUlzVDyS1SRIkz7V13aSjsqMcfrde4irL9Ir4jb95JJy4yuwE_K5eW7zRx4Ue8NzkosQRMF_-YqZoi6LRqD6-avHm5UpvIA/s4032/IMG_2593.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb5M1OQBPypcBmgaJZ302WdzGMWC1SVJgU6CUfHGNnFLMNgzyzAUQSjP8mvJ-8JvdrAytql8tcnK2IbEtm0-vUlzVDyS1SRIkz7V13aSjsqMcfrde4irL9Ir4jb95JJy4yuwE_K5eW7zRx4Ue8NzkosQRMF_-YqZoi6LRqD6-avHm5UpvIA/s320/IMG_2593.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBx4YmhDpYekaarUzuw3hvFLcZoAqEMegqLTrSgi14fJ930OkOAvf_6qm1ppYcJ-fWMJYquM8eLtJhgk4xxMjRIhwY0yfUMLnnsCXXGZrdeBF1b4ktLVE_rcybE_xzWVGTj3DrGwrc93wg3Ya7TdjojxB2VbjB9irUdCUBiyxo8JbkoZCOwQ/s4032/IMG_2601.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBx4YmhDpYekaarUzuw3hvFLcZoAqEMegqLTrSgi14fJ930OkOAvf_6qm1ppYcJ-fWMJYquM8eLtJhgk4xxMjRIhwY0yfUMLnnsCXXGZrdeBF1b4ktLVE_rcybE_xzWVGTj3DrGwrc93wg3Ya7TdjojxB2VbjB9irUdCUBiyxo8JbkoZCOwQ/s320/IMG_2601.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Boston is an hour ahead of Dallas, so Suzanna already rang in the new year. She shared some pics of the fireworks over Boston Harbor.</div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Sint Maarten18.04248 -63.05483-10.267753836178844 -98.21108000000001 46.35271383617885 -27.898580000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-57174078945593634112022-12-30T23:59:00.138-07:002023-01-06T14:45:38.906-07:00St. Maarten Vacation, Day 7<p>Happy birthday to Suzanna! In lieu of a birthday <i>cake</i>, Suzanna had a birthday <i>pastry</i> ... back to Jule's, the French pastry shop near Abigail's apartment.</p><p>Then we went to Simpson Bay (the Dutch side of the island) and the Sint Maarten Yacht Club there, where we boarded a boat with <a href="https://boomerangsxm.com/" target="_blank">Boomerang Boat Charters</a>. From 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., our captain and crew took us into the Caribbean Sea to voyage along the west, north, and east coasts of the main island with a few stops along the way (all on the French side of the island):</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>at Creole Rock (a small island) to snorkel and explore the reef</li><li>at Tintamarre Island to snorkel and swim with the green turtles</li><li>at Pinel Island to feed the giant iguanas</li><li>at Long Bay to jump off the roof of the boat and play in the water</li></ul><p></p><p>Throughout the day, they served us tropical cocktails. Midday they grilled shrimp skewers and chicken kebabs for our meal (and for dessert served birthday brownies!). And we lay out on the front of the boat for the long ride back from Pinel Island to Long Bay, drowsing in the sun and blinking the occasional sprays of salt water out of our eyes. So relaxing!</p><p>In the evening, we went into Maho (adjacent to Cupecoy, where Abigail lives on the Dutch side) and had Mexican food for supper at Three Amigos. Then we enjoyed some of the nightlife of that area (albeit a little quieter than usual with the university students out of town for winter break), including drinks at a karaoke place called The Saint Dive Bar and at another place called the Hole in the Wall, where a musician performed an Elton John song and got the girls to join several other women on stage to sing backup!</p><p>(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo85_6PHOF7zpLjkMaua3SqRuF_1q7b-h_qcyTpNtriu_rcxQFpmRbk1YOrO8fAdUZnWelDC1zu1em8q2MiK4BtvPyMKGh4LJUQ4M1kvuMFIMKJrE1C7HHszJzWuQw5jvxrN5V76vPlTiJq_65DxxwPqSVpeEFMaUwIWNO281S6WzoZakEpA/s4032/IMG_5577.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo85_6PHOF7zpLjkMaua3SqRuF_1q7b-h_qcyTpNtriu_rcxQFpmRbk1YOrO8fAdUZnWelDC1zu1em8q2MiK4BtvPyMKGh4LJUQ4M1kvuMFIMKJrE1C7HHszJzWuQw5jvxrN5V76vPlTiJq_65DxxwPqSVpeEFMaUwIWNO281S6WzoZakEpA/s320/IMG_5577.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A French pastry made by a pastry chef who actually is French? Magnifique!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaNyxhBZTsR_NsPdWaBAW5fsbLTCSev-hUDZ75UYSa39sXsAfTCit3fvxtj0YgkN_c9-hEiWZJIeu63w0z0zULvZOVTaRSyM1LeS6V22M9qHt6EvMSFF6nYfsTytGEgJHF1vteA6XdAJYb3v4v2hMMqfJQoGJyjtWzX0OY7u92Of0mGqgWg/s4032/20221230_112826.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaNyxhBZTsR_NsPdWaBAW5fsbLTCSev-hUDZ75UYSa39sXsAfTCit3fvxtj0YgkN_c9-hEiWZJIeu63w0z0zULvZOVTaRSyM1LeS6V22M9qHt6EvMSFF6nYfsTytGEgJHF1vteA6XdAJYb3v4v2hMMqfJQoGJyjtWzX0OY7u92Of0mGqgWg/s320/20221230_112826.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The girls snorkeling at Creole Rock.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9bLiuWzbTD35zXbyUmiqvBXwoFMFYVDmmgDu9URvZNZqMQdbgflbSSIA1NLWCYoZkLFe-cb7heXT5pW4xfgTUjMIExGWIXbDMlhGtUfr2GMGM76OhPzBu9yOtTrWW1IK5ItJtPabxXSMp8LYAiT6_7y7mu7Rb1SrVtqHYqAqcCfGLHKeZg/s4032/20221230_140931.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd9bLiuWzbTD35zXbyUmiqvBXwoFMFYVDmmgDu9URvZNZqMQdbgflbSSIA1NLWCYoZkLFe-cb7heXT5pW4xfgTUjMIExGWIXbDMlhGtUfr2GMGM76OhPzBu9yOtTrWW1IK5ItJtPabxXSMp8LYAiT6_7y7mu7Rb1SrVtqHYqAqcCfGLHKeZg/s320/20221230_140931.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3T3KN6Kl9dnmBF1zNP_H_--iPA5tXNdgiYrBezc-XKCV_DKtZ6ovlCUx3g3EjnbLVH_k360wQu8iasTF82FprGmjivzqm36GxGq3yLI8qlyPVf9eWtbtqIuxJnyFLYPpPvJgw6hQ1rLMb6N8D0uwC_uQAerl9pMxUKUniLi9Y8nX3aNyL0A/s4032/20221230_141257.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3T3KN6Kl9dnmBF1zNP_H_--iPA5tXNdgiYrBezc-XKCV_DKtZ6ovlCUx3g3EjnbLVH_k360wQu8iasTF82FprGmjivzqm36GxGq3yLI8qlyPVf9eWtbtqIuxJnyFLYPpPvJgw6hQ1rLMb6N8D0uwC_uQAerl9pMxUKUniLi9Y8nX3aNyL0A/s320/20221230_141257.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Abigail snorkeling out where we saw green turtles surfacing for air while Suzanna and Hillary hang out with me (a non-swimmer) near the boat.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa_6Rht2Ej4n6UEJxOBCahEpBYiFNJMoOotIrWnQieW6yGwR3bAZEvuXPCZFR0A9MO7In3w03TgJOnITbMjIjjuRoYiBpsPiNlnXnyPPPs9NFzM59-YLFAWxjvKEcz6Fb8WwKXggYMtjrs--U2CJK7Xbz0J2eoE_feDgJWjCmhcPl_ktMLQ/s4032/20221230_155113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFa_6Rht2Ej4n6UEJxOBCahEpBYiFNJMoOotIrWnQieW6yGwR3bAZEvuXPCZFR0A9MO7In3w03TgJOnITbMjIjjuRoYiBpsPiNlnXnyPPPs9NFzM59-YLFAWxjvKEcz6Fb8WwKXggYMtjrs--U2CJK7Xbz0J2eoE_feDgJWjCmhcPl_ktMLQ/s320/20221230_155113.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Suzanna with a bite of her birthday brownie!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6BrSCdfRLLSancpqipTTC0zL3RA8_IHnvM85y5wQkW_MIlExUe0w_ZcZwbUnf2F6HcZLUC3APjfIXyuDo09dNv834lPtS0_ZQEdF7e9jGu0SL1UwfNezrbiDEJqc7RvnTf1fJv0t3ZoNSFItooLJzBBNiYWPyG_FTLX7sPq1FXUKDsGP4A/s2208/IMG_5628.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2208" data-original-width="1206" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6BrSCdfRLLSancpqipTTC0zL3RA8_IHnvM85y5wQkW_MIlExUe0w_ZcZwbUnf2F6HcZLUC3APjfIXyuDo09dNv834lPtS0_ZQEdF7e9jGu0SL1UwfNezrbiDEJqc7RvnTf1fJv0t3ZoNSFItooLJzBBNiYWPyG_FTLX7sPq1FXUKDsGP4A/s320/IMG_5628.JPG" width="175" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The requisite family photo in the elevator at Abigail's apartment. Off to supper!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9pwfjLeYgykyO8PbkGdwgmt0CDdlvU2jvGPVbljssuHaYduMHG1010Ci8HbkTdawEQgLlXiUmVSC8wosm00Epnc8T0rdkgD3p93uiAvKtqQ2uLaEEXWo65p5VdW6QTbRbdeMtbr7Z4QYnwUXLlvQ8Ez0REYqRaB15OlcPvLdrYVFIGBv5g/s4000/20221230_172948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9pwfjLeYgykyO8PbkGdwgmt0CDdlvU2jvGPVbljssuHaYduMHG1010Ci8HbkTdawEQgLlXiUmVSC8wosm00Epnc8T0rdkgD3p93uiAvKtqQ2uLaEEXWo65p5VdW6QTbRbdeMtbr7Z4QYnwUXLlvQ8Ez0REYqRaB15OlcPvLdrYVFIGBv5g/s320/20221230_172948.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HHdr4SWdfe9W1Jr52dbbC00rIsSCEiohHqJe_6dKnU-A-wWjrGAjIxX8WruwCMFzjliszQi0PbAFZ5aMAASV3229TUk7nzzfYqAEuBuYDhQwklZtqdCrUPpDF3IGfDxZwvleEU3Vj5L0Qbeu_P1AMT8xxeM0u5LDzNRJCH3V06jFks6JkQ/s2838/20221230_184712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1556" data-original-width="2838" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HHdr4SWdfe9W1Jr52dbbC00rIsSCEiohHqJe_6dKnU-A-wWjrGAjIxX8WruwCMFzjliszQi0PbAFZ5aMAASV3229TUk7nzzfYqAEuBuYDhQwklZtqdCrUPpDF3IGfDxZwvleEU3Vj5L0Qbeu_P1AMT8xxeM0u5LDzNRJCH3V06jFks6JkQ/s320/20221230_184712.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tasty food and a cool vibe with the decor ... and a fitting backdrop for these three! 💗💗💗</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaH_3Lfjel7GQ3QA2CupLy365vEG4He9wNT0ZQLCYPJ-qioWexgj4D-JbXv_jGnx-jdr7fEwawaJgn5wJjaVNjbJpKozVwzUNWT-VNnB1_ZR2ciWrNr-N6yt5OiQLCHPS7RqSdQo8irMBiPR_0HNw_0Unc_ThfubxDiR43SSXdP0TMIVRKg/s4032/20221230_213436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaH_3Lfjel7GQ3QA2CupLy365vEG4He9wNT0ZQLCYPJ-qioWexgj4D-JbXv_jGnx-jdr7fEwawaJgn5wJjaVNjbJpKozVwzUNWT-VNnB1_ZR2ciWrNr-N6yt5OiQLCHPS7RqSdQo8irMBiPR_0HNw_0Unc_ThfubxDiR43SSXdP0TMIVRKg/s320/20221230_213436.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LvH8aFwia5WAoGEAs3affuR62ob07faZww5LCRt8D-O6gej8ebh-df9BO6djruGnSmrn9pLI7EVAHUydE08WVB6kTffYoImetjmtZk26DUfA9bRZGQuoGyv_6IhyO3Nj0sfXqqPdPg4tiSeKfEKQ0kKawdmZ886_7s9aGMjK56F94hMrng/s4032/20221230_220245.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LvH8aFwia5WAoGEAs3affuR62ob07faZww5LCRt8D-O6gej8ebh-df9BO6djruGnSmrn9pLI7EVAHUydE08WVB6kTffYoImetjmtZk26DUfA9bRZGQuoGyv_6IhyO3Nj0sfXqqPdPg4tiSeKfEKQ0kKawdmZ886_7s9aGMjK56F94hMrng/s320/20221230_220245.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Suzanna did not actually know the song that the girls were called onstage to help sing ... so note her conferring with her sisters for a crash course on the lyrics!</div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Sint Maarten18.04248 -63.05483-10.267753836178844 -98.21108000000001 46.35271383617885 -27.898580000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-70395828648582269792022-12-29T23:59:00.135-07:002023-01-06T13:42:39.497-07:00St. Maarten Vacation, Day 6<p>Today we spent some time walking around the island's two capital cities. In Marigot, capital of the French side, we had some fresh pastries at a pâtisserie ("pastry shop" looks/sounds fancier in French), explored some shops, and wandered through the food stands set up in the market on the waterfront.</p><p>Outside Philipsburg, capital of the Dutch side, we spent more time than anticipated at Parotte Ville, a bird sanctuary where we got to observe and feed--and get perched upon (and pooped on) by--many exotic breeds of tropical birds, including varieties of parakeets, cockatiels, and parrots. We didn't want to leave because it was fun to coax the birds to come and eat out of our hands and to watch them interact with each other.</p><p>In downtown Philipsburg, we ate at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marabou_creole_sxm/" target="_blank">Marabou Creole</a>, enjoying a Haitian meal that included an okra and goat stew, fried plantains, and potato salad with beets. Then we walked the boardwalk along the waterfront and soaked in the sun.</p><p>In the evening we had appetizers and cocktails at <a href="https://www.bamboohouse-sxm.com/" target="_blank">Bamboo House</a>, a restaurant at the top of a hillside in Cole Bay (on the Dutch side). The place is a restored 19th-century colonial sugar mill with reflecting pools, a stage for live music, and dining tables all on an outdoor terrace that overlooks the lagoon in Simpson Bay below. The sun was just setting as we sat by the edge of the terrace, enjoying the views and the warm night.</p><p>Then we drove into Simpson Bay to have supper at <a href="https://www.skipjacks-sxm.com/" target="_blank">Skip Jack's</a>, a seafood restaurant on the opposite side of the lagoon from Bamboo House. Another delicious meal in a place set up for open-air dining, as are most places here. Temperatures drop from the mid-80s by day to the upper-70s by night, so it is quite a burden to be outdoors here in the evening. 😉</p><p>(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnJrVFT5hMQE46z2-bXZxa3uCrl48d55WOCtH7e-78VRMSXDMwFPoRLjoAbk23no2Bn_Ukp2lTbNIYbL_Ni9-ZcY_EwwjjX2PHufyjK3il_5XZBCd8tx486YVeB-J413TsnrHwrP3hxDR9sMyC8vDZ0ZMA8CBpO7tUYwqGtke8dQy8UPxqw/s4000/20221229_083515.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2141" data-original-width="4000" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSnJrVFT5hMQE46z2-bXZxa3uCrl48d55WOCtH7e-78VRMSXDMwFPoRLjoAbk23no2Bn_Ukp2lTbNIYbL_Ni9-ZcY_EwwjjX2PHufyjK3il_5XZBCd8tx486YVeB-J413TsnrHwrP3hxDR9sMyC8vDZ0ZMA8CBpO7tUYwqGtke8dQy8UPxqw/s320/20221229_083515.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We seized a photo opp near the waterfront in Marigot. (SXM is the international airport code for St. Maarten.)</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZfUMKD6Vvy4azKaFrO3U_cKWLqpBNQruCt6851Aqc_GiXEy0BC_8oo9NgpEHQFPvhB9hWLy4q2iNT1DKdEOa9BV2jWhwzKtUQEaz_rasG2yXK3mcUmkX3wHcYDgz4YY5980SrdZcvKeusF2a2EwF6D1wkRoN5_79CJSIUP_hUcxEfPFJ1w/s4032/IMG_2165.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZfUMKD6Vvy4azKaFrO3U_cKWLqpBNQruCt6851Aqc_GiXEy0BC_8oo9NgpEHQFPvhB9hWLy4q2iNT1DKdEOa9BV2jWhwzKtUQEaz_rasG2yXK3mcUmkX3wHcYDgz4YY5980SrdZcvKeusF2a2EwF6D1wkRoN5_79CJSIUP_hUcxEfPFJ1w/s320/IMG_2165.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSP0u5g8jS5ERHpiUPT6d6Arm8NXx1EUdCfDLbFfTtTSFj4AxcU5d9Z4_elbaF41CcXM8y-aPbb4EKMz_lpiJRbZxodKQYxUPHCM32b52HIF_H3GO6C9HqF7jFQsa4sc4EY-QViqk6B_AglGZAQa8Fsj29IqQuSuOlYOabKMApburAtfPWGw/s4000/20221229_123158.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSP0u5g8jS5ERHpiUPT6d6Arm8NXx1EUdCfDLbFfTtTSFj4AxcU5d9Z4_elbaF41CcXM8y-aPbb4EKMz_lpiJRbZxodKQYxUPHCM32b52HIF_H3GO6C9HqF7jFQsa4sc4EY-QViqk6B_AglGZAQa8Fsj29IqQuSuOlYOabKMApburAtfPWGw/s320/20221229_123158.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit91pyk_udAUK_9NjvyHPcHb5TVJM1pCSarfJ0nwomWdUTyLpx0B_-hkGG_nW2USO_Xv9GGAmcf44GwNt3ZX4SCgT0PmuyBBfLMsCjUfHwvQQRnNUCBJllDYgfjO2pEJG2FK9gY3TWxffGLkn41Yj2uxG_JBe_9W1dD3GFd3K0OT8QYzyizg/s4032/IMG_2132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit91pyk_udAUK_9NjvyHPcHb5TVJM1pCSarfJ0nwomWdUTyLpx0B_-hkGG_nW2USO_Xv9GGAmcf44GwNt3ZX4SCgT0PmuyBBfLMsCjUfHwvQQRnNUCBJllDYgfjO2pEJG2FK9gY3TWxffGLkn41Yj2uxG_JBe_9W1dD3GFd3K0OT8QYzyizg/s320/IMG_2132.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnM_UajnAX4ahpTymYGJRVTXEKsCr0nzSUG73ADRS_YuKRwPTccOgdU9IVc7E35uiFHHJISyGHnSR2ZxhzB28AOTqPyeS5MQoINCg6vA-WAtP0KYafou-QM6H-tVIWb2-3swW2OwWjJWWHQ3AWA5wG35fsuVUuJBMkJnIBzTvFTc70UDXXw/s4032/IMG_2075.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJnM_UajnAX4ahpTymYGJRVTXEKsCr0nzSUG73ADRS_YuKRwPTccOgdU9IVc7E35uiFHHJISyGHnSR2ZxhzB28AOTqPyeS5MQoINCg6vA-WAtP0KYafou-QM6H-tVIWb2-3swW2OwWjJWWHQ3AWA5wG35fsuVUuJBMkJnIBzTvFTc70UDXXw/s320/IMG_2075.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">By the way, in that photo of Suzanna, the bird on her hand pecked at the power button on her phone case until it actually removed the button and flew away with it!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC9nXPLGS81PtyjS2hRl8-3j-VFusHn5Y3Kj8QUpCIKALQDLI7fjqqmbK1a6KdB_gnvA_zYd9zI8CyvqbiBQhwCupyuyVlOD3nSHCooDD8Xu-0TY459UV7e4NbiCm2idPaiKQcTdlV17n-A9CoWnfkW7_-3pORvFiYBNxM8evQyjJXJMXuA/s2998/20221229_134909%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="2998" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC9nXPLGS81PtyjS2hRl8-3j-VFusHn5Y3Kj8QUpCIKALQDLI7fjqqmbK1a6KdB_gnvA_zYd9zI8CyvqbiBQhwCupyuyVlOD3nSHCooDD8Xu-0TY459UV7e4NbiCm2idPaiKQcTdlV17n-A9CoWnfkW7_-3pORvFiYBNxM8evQyjJXJMXuA/s320/20221229_134909%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you spot the goat?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfff0aB4WzBwfb9BLxz8F_436y7EmRrdUzMXmEkXt3zrjspNL9PmiW8v2QMTzLxyneNF6uo2NRjVs9-OCjvqVcgbmlS6EQKJrzBhcUhalpAgzN3cjIUcz6uhGgmF8UK6SNQxE56R0ykBNMHtMBoGOqtZREuffwZQ5ehVVKcMyBmV3u9ZvxQ/s4000/20221229_151608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfff0aB4WzBwfb9BLxz8F_436y7EmRrdUzMXmEkXt3zrjspNL9PmiW8v2QMTzLxyneNF6uo2NRjVs9-OCjvqVcgbmlS6EQKJrzBhcUhalpAgzN3cjIUcz6uhGgmF8UK6SNQxE56R0ykBNMHtMBoGOqtZREuffwZQ5ehVVKcMyBmV3u9ZvxQ/s320/20221229_151608.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-2oeJn5_79JQjEZkiT44R-kQiJt4ilmiaThzuGvGu-I_AAC7Ur1pExV2DoKPQN4gncHsAqfbWa8YZ1dRE4vlZKU57e_NXajRknh4gxJkU2Mbtn1a7mPGyhfmmwafAy6Ug8jXsQk9T9Q7f-9E6hrf5iFuEwnFLzksfGchc6CQgfRifRfMxA/s4000/20221229_162733.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-2oeJn5_79JQjEZkiT44R-kQiJt4ilmiaThzuGvGu-I_AAC7Ur1pExV2DoKPQN4gncHsAqfbWa8YZ1dRE4vlZKU57e_NXajRknh4gxJkU2Mbtn1a7mPGyhfmmwafAy6Ug8jXsQk9T9Q7f-9E6hrf5iFuEwnFLzksfGchc6CQgfRifRfMxA/s320/20221229_162733.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Bamboo House terrace.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfK0drb7-3ef7iLY-F0HoMa8Ngq5DSWtmwHsC7RFkwAKee4oJEXdcWpz-ODXXH4O7jIRURlymASu0B4h_gGPDlyAfAGkIbDPHL9xcrIWco8Sxvl_q7HFUZ_d84dctyuf0exXjyPDDpHTW5eqM0sK0In5V9Ni_sOsNoXxVn87qRWD0gJ2CnA/s4032/IMG_5523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfK0drb7-3ef7iLY-F0HoMa8Ngq5DSWtmwHsC7RFkwAKee4oJEXdcWpz-ODXXH4O7jIRURlymASu0B4h_gGPDlyAfAGkIbDPHL9xcrIWco8Sxvl_q7HFUZ_d84dctyuf0exXjyPDDpHTW5eqM0sK0In5V9Ni_sOsNoXxVn87qRWD0gJ2CnA/s320/IMG_5523.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The requisite family photo on the terrace.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmryfftgOHI4gSsqn-eoCZ5lBXCFHuStriU4-u6j9ycKORegf9zyi75FYzQOjHoiZDBZwUXasGBKrM8Hfm2R3575zFX44WlEQCMR4DBGOgHqvqzJRYE9YQtl9JLyNyD4TVFPKqmsXbCQMWuj9qkvpIaYJVqpdqujX-bQcocH5b9caMgxFfQ/s4032/IMG_2311.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmryfftgOHI4gSsqn-eoCZ5lBXCFHuStriU4-u6j9ycKORegf9zyi75FYzQOjHoiZDBZwUXasGBKrM8Hfm2R3575zFX44WlEQCMR4DBGOgHqvqzJRYE9YQtl9JLyNyD4TVFPKqmsXbCQMWuj9qkvpIaYJVqpdqujX-bQcocH5b9caMgxFfQ/s320/IMG_2311.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgmi7FdBvlJuk8DvK4VF44uk1rET4oVzVHq3za3wjyDHq5q9Udx5wErETlpUckACZhN875LSrEa_Tx4TKDOmNoe5AMj8ziGVqPzf3ovIXod4V7FbR_9Gf2tK1W9kRSerqzbH-ZNMsJ2IUmcQkmTI-Kf-GP3Ms5-HZPPzMUTd-LYjufGBC8w/s4032/IMG_2370.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgmi7FdBvlJuk8DvK4VF44uk1rET4oVzVHq3za3wjyDHq5q9Udx5wErETlpUckACZhN875LSrEa_Tx4TKDOmNoe5AMj8ziGVqPzf3ovIXod4V7FbR_9Gf2tK1W9kRSerqzbH-ZNMsJ2IUmcQkmTI-Kf-GP3Ms5-HZPPzMUTd-LYjufGBC8w/s320/IMG_2370.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3bR1msfWyNP4FdDhsPNSza0SrPpEJAqFCKbVh8yVNe2qTFojZsQLKX43_n3dyeaxHyJ8nXa20OVh1F52R2sAtIyApO03Q7uRY7gtoFsISL4kci1R9-F6fUvvWEsbgjeW5GHgX5tr10J1UE4l_d9ZWfmJrF-JafhsD-EVhKJYbrVgmX5-vg/s4000/20221229_180820.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3bR1msfWyNP4FdDhsPNSza0SrPpEJAqFCKbVh8yVNe2qTFojZsQLKX43_n3dyeaxHyJ8nXa20OVh1F52R2sAtIyApO03Q7uRY7gtoFsISL4kci1R9-F6fUvvWEsbgjeW5GHgX5tr10J1UE4l_d9ZWfmJrF-JafhsD-EVhKJYbrVgmX5-vg/s320/20221229_180820.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR1OW5GA0R2_CutIE4jqG2c3bviWtbrOQwiFbIB1vcK9kqW32tzGFxt2KeafMvCl_DeEgHqPoFlQyYnrKa7oDUw4Vk95L-fhr4vfhgPHToF_igOqhAeABZf8cYbV97TOFp9NnhkWEGZFfUNMjtcewwHn_WRe_hHjDAD5b6nVhfkUj17y35w/s4032/IMG_2422.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTR1OW5GA0R2_CutIE4jqG2c3bviWtbrOQwiFbIB1vcK9kqW32tzGFxt2KeafMvCl_DeEgHqPoFlQyYnrKa7oDUw4Vk95L-fhr4vfhgPHToF_igOqhAeABZf8cYbV97TOFp9NnhkWEGZFfUNMjtcewwHn_WRe_hHjDAD5b6nVhfkUj17y35w/s320/IMG_2422.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWrMX3CD-ZFLurnvNKzJ049TgdFZ2w2AzdSRxQ9Ls-ACuAsmWbC4Gq0g8a0AzX2u_dhMasnZKdJRvTiGqd-w6FtUdzK8tyCvnx8Mx2o5nqZ9D8s8sIR3yk-h9O2npEiJZypnA0MQKmKlctxOiddWsZ1nVos9qAgS9rFC2fRhtGsEf9G4HkQ/s4032/IMG_2437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWrMX3CD-ZFLurnvNKzJ049TgdFZ2w2AzdSRxQ9Ls-ACuAsmWbC4Gq0g8a0AzX2u_dhMasnZKdJRvTiGqd-w6FtUdzK8tyCvnx8Mx2o5nqZ9D8s8sIR3yk-h9O2npEiJZypnA0MQKmKlctxOiddWsZ1nVos9qAgS9rFC2fRhtGsEf9G4HkQ/s320/IMG_2437.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Individual portrait poses on the terrace.</div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Sint Maarten18.04248 -63.05483-10.267753836178844 -98.21108000000001 46.35271383617885 -27.898580000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-85084742969826942862022-12-28T23:59:00.093-07:002023-01-06T12:23:45.770-07:00St. Maarten Vacation, Day 5<p>Today was spent mostly in Saint-Martin, the French side of the island. We went to <a href="https://loteriefarm.com/" target="_blank">Loterie Farm</a>, a misleadingly named private nature reserve in Rambaud. Loterie Farm offers adventures (like hiking trails and zip lines) and relaxation (like a restaurant and swimming pool). We did a little of each!</p><p>First Abigail drove us as close as possible to the top of Pic Paradis (French for "Paradise Peak"), the highest mountain on the island. We hiked the rest of the way up and enjoyed the serene setting and the incredible views, not only of the island but also of the ocean and some neighboring islands in the distance, including Anguilla to the north and Saint-Barthélemy (a.k.a. "St. Barts") to the southeast.</p><p>Then we returned to the vehicle and drove onto Loterie Farm's main grounds, where we had a day-long rental of a poolside cabana at their "Jungle Pool" area. We swam, we napped, we read our Christmas Eve books, we ate, we drank champagne ... it was heavenly.</p><p>For supper, we picked up takeout from Chef India, an Indian restaurant between Abigail's apartment and the medical school. We got several dishes to share and thought everything was absolutely delicious. We remained at her dining room table to play card games into the night. A great day!</p><p>(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5pIBQHg2bnRvNgOBqru7jfI5yIj8bbaGTDQmxj432dicta_jVaUznsDs19sg7g63RJK1eVTjqpju6-giDsKQFiFfnFZR2U0wgxSTTLiDiZa5MYJT0qtFLxBDB3scNBOVaz_FCzfARfLrRuj2i2QeX6bTX8QtCugBn1WQ55eb47gBnJS-0g/s4000/20221228_071130.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5pIBQHg2bnRvNgOBqru7jfI5yIj8bbaGTDQmxj432dicta_jVaUznsDs19sg7g63RJK1eVTjqpju6-giDsKQFiFfnFZR2U0wgxSTTLiDiZa5MYJT0qtFLxBDB3scNBOVaz_FCzfARfLrRuj2i2QeX6bTX8QtCugBn1WQ55eb47gBnJS-0g/s320/20221228_071130.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One view from the top of Pic Paradis.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiju-X3oFrQLPYDU54w-613qyIs6a3NXi-2V0eVg7RI5fpEJznsgHbY7KEaUN7TDlkwu3vCMieWh84nBgsQ4oIHGcArum5tpKwpxG1r4LFWOCiAE2k700SfUeLqCE1xBGZ2PyCytQzB_JCwdwflBz2lS_wf2FlBOR49VWV0G2DBcHEncgaNDQ/s4032/IMG_5436.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiju-X3oFrQLPYDU54w-613qyIs6a3NXi-2V0eVg7RI5fpEJznsgHbY7KEaUN7TDlkwu3vCMieWh84nBgsQ4oIHGcArum5tpKwpxG1r4LFWOCiAE2k700SfUeLqCE1xBGZ2PyCytQzB_JCwdwflBz2lS_wf2FlBOR49VWV0G2DBcHEncgaNDQ/s320/IMG_5436.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The requisite family photo from atop Pic Paradis.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zGWnwI7xf94_JSVkZc0r-PepCBOnW0-wg_xr4Eto4_F9ezaj3Uw3WNw8o19YKDvVWe-cImf5bbjBwQUrpUdNELCHP9bfPxMg1X2JrY72cWv-nLk7XlG53gir8H3RBA0EKOvYMPAOh-if0I-yy0aJCebEVAuPqeX3Ij80QJgXzAn10FD_eg/s3000/original_26631541-17df-4db4-8077-a9b15e2910b7_20221228_084155.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2612" data-original-width="3000" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zGWnwI7xf94_JSVkZc0r-PepCBOnW0-wg_xr4Eto4_F9ezaj3Uw3WNw8o19YKDvVWe-cImf5bbjBwQUrpUdNELCHP9bfPxMg1X2JrY72cWv-nLk7XlG53gir8H3RBA0EKOvYMPAOh-if0I-yy0aJCebEVAuPqeX3Ij80QJgXzAn10FD_eg/s320/original_26631541-17df-4db4-8077-a9b15e2910b7_20221228_084155.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view from inside our private cabana looking out at the Jungle Pool.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZaDSSUABGe77uRM7lAsPl1oydLEvwZyQChSrvDScGVvlwItWfzCbIIDnvk9b168kIpbeiK1pYbNNLCE5wr6Cj4evcAQLRaTXZ3xke0F_rll0JGP8UZc8klEfdTqKCm6PkGiAov-yHSV26vIzwRaikqnWSHy-w-qfX0DjEXMzevXFBbY-yg/s4000/20221228_085013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCZaDSSUABGe77uRM7lAsPl1oydLEvwZyQChSrvDScGVvlwItWfzCbIIDnvk9b168kIpbeiK1pYbNNLCE5wr6Cj4evcAQLRaTXZ3xke0F_rll0JGP8UZc8klEfdTqKCm6PkGiAov-yHSV26vIzwRaikqnWSHy-w-qfX0DjEXMzevXFBbY-yg/s320/20221228_085013.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The champagne that was the first thing brought to us upon our arrival!</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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZjhWg4OL-sa5-zxax8953OF9POwlpwhy04UU4T84QuY4p6mmiN9ETvLH1B2YF368NCnUGkVET2ZS2uQElLO14poaI_xMljmvqDa2nUKn0mZPRjHloscsTtQKT9_LUiSqoRc4BADnp5DBWpnaZkk21GaslzI6wDujD5QNVbpGcg1AmF0ffw/s2365/20221228_125403%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1847" data-original-width="2365" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZjhWg4OL-sa5-zxax8953OF9POwlpwhy04UU4T84QuY4p6mmiN9ETvLH1B2YF368NCnUGkVET2ZS2uQElLO14poaI_xMljmvqDa2nUKn0mZPRjHloscsTtQKT9_LUiSqoRc4BADnp5DBWpnaZkk21GaslzI6wDujD5QNVbpGcg1AmF0ffw/s320/20221228_125403%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The array of appetizers that we shared for our poolside meal.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fddfiDkegJL0a6hQe7RBMNuv9lg4nn10gPc8Rw5c-L3sacQ5OiIsoH0_IGAIq09G7JxH3sksfW-OBL4JROBEDV8vq1zewtktD-fG_FSQcBOtlVRxdXlCK-mB4euw15G968hyWHvqqR98Ux_rsuzZ-kalpbFdLnAugtyq9xVLvBHlIArr4Q/s3648/20221228_123343.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fddfiDkegJL0a6hQe7RBMNuv9lg4nn10gPc8Rw5c-L3sacQ5OiIsoH0_IGAIq09G7JxH3sksfW-OBL4JROBEDV8vq1zewtktD-fG_FSQcBOtlVRxdXlCK-mB4euw15G968hyWHvqqR98Ux_rsuzZ-kalpbFdLnAugtyq9xVLvBHlIArr4Q/s320/20221228_123343.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The requisite family photo at/in the Jungle Pool.</div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Saint Martin18.0708298 -63.0500809-10.239404036178847 -98.2063309 46.381063636178844 -27.893830899999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-46409571526454897242022-12-27T23:59:00.093-07:002023-01-06T11:20:33.506-07:00St. Maarten Vacation, Day 4<p>Today started with a trip to the beach (of course) but otherwise mostly revolved around food (not surprising for Mobergs).</p><p>We ate midday at the <a href="https://www.thegreenhouserestaurant.com/index3.html" target="_blank">Greenhouse Restaurant and Bar</a> in Simpson Bay on the Dutch side of the island. It is right on the beach, so we were in the mood for seafood and had some tasty dishes, like shrimp with bang bang sauce and even Caribbean conch made into spicy fritters.</p><p>Not too far from there, we later took a tour of <a href="https://toppersrhumtours.com/" target="_blank">Topper's Rhum Distillery</a>. We sampled many (very tiny portions, actually) of their flavors of rum, made right on site. They also make gelato, which of course we had to sample, too.</p><p>Then we stocked up on groceries and enjoyed seeing the tropical fruits and vegetables and unusual meats and other foods available there.</p><p>Our evening meal was at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FatTonySXM/" target="_blank">Fat Tony's Smokehouse</a>, a restaurant right next to Abigail's apartment in Cupecoy on the Dutch side. There was live music featuring a vocalist and a steel drum player!</p><p>(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5-5L0OdhmPitg24pf6tvZnt9zjkivTgT7d-JmWaYx-x3X2Qf9xaudbHVSYMrr8MBVLpBzok73hQvOyFjWXzAMC1GcjiinU4cgeYFDLgUGRj14Cr1yi-E_JAqATCzWXVR1sSqPW3shCzDiYNBndQUXXfH1Qt2253FmADwF5j5a-BHWq4E7g/s4000/20221227_084247.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5-5L0OdhmPitg24pf6tvZnt9zjkivTgT7d-JmWaYx-x3X2Qf9xaudbHVSYMrr8MBVLpBzok73hQvOyFjWXzAMC1GcjiinU4cgeYFDLgUGRj14Cr1yi-E_JAqATCzWXVR1sSqPW3shCzDiYNBndQUXXfH1Qt2253FmADwF5j5a-BHWq4E7g/s320/20221227_084247.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This has been a typical sight for us at the beach near Abigail's apartment: the girls in the water, boats nearby, incoming planes overhead, and lots of sun and blue skies.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOzEpnYBoPOc2c8mBUxMR8gACRHDktwO4tPZ9cw4cYrRxZj0D_-PcPcnNAePyLKKDndvmeKswzktqrWAGg0WJfFlEPLE2-oiTKJwNOUwdxLQ1ZTnDrPjMbcjJMXZUPEXg_lmcgcmYLNQgu8cvy9tjQN-gh4DVt1Ahnfj9C2fzpQywDN9myg/s1657/bereal-2022-12-27-0230%20(1).JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1657" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOzEpnYBoPOc2c8mBUxMR8gACRHDktwO4tPZ9cw4cYrRxZj0D_-PcPcnNAePyLKKDndvmeKswzktqrWAGg0WJfFlEPLE2-oiTKJwNOUwdxLQ1ZTnDrPjMbcjJMXZUPEXg_lmcgcmYLNQgu8cvy9tjQN-gh4DVt1Ahnfj9C2fzpQywDN9myg/s320/bereal-2022-12-27-0230%20(1).JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Family photo at the Greenhouse. Notice that Hillary and Abigail's chairs are about two feet away from the sand of the beach!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhus1b7fQJLM1eEwaJ2xHs0hj0XuU12looa5NqWdHKTD_appjT66SfAJvfPDb-yeuhY2WHDxZk2jUgPSw3X3lhwJ0f1FZGAviDmUSLrLrBHvobWd-XrOA1UbX1oI9dcDGlKu4tUOsLgwrcVM7ap-DOhcNxWpREtfprZcGAQwDdybYuCK0irtQ/s4032/IMG_5379.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhus1b7fQJLM1eEwaJ2xHs0hj0XuU12looa5NqWdHKTD_appjT66SfAJvfPDb-yeuhY2WHDxZk2jUgPSw3X3lhwJ0f1FZGAviDmUSLrLrBHvobWd-XrOA1UbX1oI9dcDGlKu4tUOsLgwrcVM7ap-DOhcNxWpREtfprZcGAQwDdybYuCK0irtQ/s320/IMG_5379.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this room at Topper's, an employee shared with us a history of their business specifically and of the island's rum industry overall. She also told us that we <i>clearly</i> are related to one another!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGbEDpDyg-64zqsUJXwOMc1iP7sumYpB7IJ6RMUTdSyKMoGnTQUb08c5x08F40Efvo_rb3fFOQumK93xM2zUuxzt_cImYeUq9iYspVsmTEgnaWkKxXyqmj_krlUM-gKHmjd1bw-wnSSspxsR2C4VjunSUkBPIb5tkahrp48qjIr-cR3HmDA/s4032/20221227_161034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGbEDpDyg-64zqsUJXwOMc1iP7sumYpB7IJ6RMUTdSyKMoGnTQUb08c5x08F40Efvo_rb3fFOQumK93xM2zUuxzt_cImYeUq9iYspVsmTEgnaWkKxXyqmj_krlUM-gKHmjd1bw-wnSSspxsR2C4VjunSUkBPIb5tkahrp48qjIr-cR3HmDA/s320/20221227_161034.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The employee asked for volunteers to help serve rum and food samples for one stage of the tour ... so we volunteered Abigail.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLRTnjWXlqjIQxVpbj5503tnL6H1-mCtAdvf9ePzePeMrl_N27yzsVOzQlcIBGUvZMq9qjg4E5Q41eHAKOHl7FEtM_AGLv1M6XhCEi1uND9FtujJPKCed-TMNr9hDEdMGBbE3vbI2IR7-lDt90EbOh0zbzb-yGo8msgzHExlCrMbl1tXdxw/s4032/20221227_185153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLRTnjWXlqjIQxVpbj5503tnL6H1-mCtAdvf9ePzePeMrl_N27yzsVOzQlcIBGUvZMq9qjg4E5Q41eHAKOHl7FEtM_AGLv1M6XhCEi1uND9FtujJPKCed-TMNr9hDEdMGBbE3vbI2IR7-lDt90EbOh0zbzb-yGo8msgzHExlCrMbl1tXdxw/s320/20221227_185153.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hillary and I are pretending to pose for a photo at supper, but really Susan wanted a photo of the steel drum player behind us.</div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Sint Maarten18.04248 -63.05483-10.267753836178844 -98.21108000000001 46.35271383617885 -27.898580000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-81851490615934579342022-12-26T23:59:00.118-07:002023-01-06T16:49:21.068-07:00St. Maarten Vacation, Day 3<p>A few yards away from Abigail's apartment building is a French pastry shop called Jule's, where we had fresh pastries for breakfast. Then she took us on a driving tour of the island. The southern third is <b>Sint Maarten</b>, a Dutch country that is one of four comprising the kingdom of the Netherlands. The northern two-thirds is <b>Saint-Martin</b>, an overseas "collectivity" of the republic of France. They share the same island of <b>Saint Martin</b>. Got that?!</p><p>Abigail's apartment, her medical school, and the island's international airport are on the Dutch side. However, traveling to the French side to look around was easy because the border between countries requires no stops or customs check-ins--it is like driving across state borders in the U.S.A. And the entire island is just 34 square miles.</p><p>English is widely spoken on both sides of the border. We did overhear some people speaking French in Saint-Martin, but we have heard no Dutch at all spoken in Sint Maarten. Also, although the euro is the official currency of Saint-Martin (and France), and the Netherlands Antilles florin is the official currency of Sint Maarten (whereas the Netherlands itself uses the euro), the American dollar is accepted across the island. In fact, on the Dutch side, businesses list their prices <i>first</i> in the dollar and <i>second</i> in the florin!</p><p>(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_ZcGLxliw4Ujtjqpj18dO4S5gKrB1yqN7_M3OYltFM-ME1eWlsYEHWPfgfgHUSYAL4OidSHIool9GqUQDXIlkqoJeefM9axdYzV9eMYayuvJpac6-Gvj6jXYLDyCMo6aiRKVcMZpqWKN7BRPvx_Mk46vf2SAC7LiuvxnB2tR40VaX6Z-PQ/s4000/20221226_073039.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW_ZcGLxliw4Ujtjqpj18dO4S5gKrB1yqN7_M3OYltFM-ME1eWlsYEHWPfgfgHUSYAL4OidSHIool9GqUQDXIlkqoJeefM9axdYzV9eMYayuvJpac6-Gvj6jXYLDyCMo6aiRKVcMZpqWKN7BRPvx_Mk46vf2SAC7LiuvxnB2tR40VaX6Z-PQ/s320/20221226_073039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is Bell's Lookout Point on Cole Bay Hill with a flagpole flying the national flag of Sint Maarten. At the base of the hill is a statue of William Henry Bell, Jr., whose family once owned this plot of land.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWmKPqBt1mtsmkmoYxB1FjCVUqX0dMSZuHnoWcN3kZwt8SbvBLDo__i4lYNFUsOkpxVQJnYygZwYIMsrH7kEanbama8TsX4yU5mRX7zLlm9Nu2awc9a64PlOyixtCnCurlG3s1tSvvG0wFfdKqmk2ZEZV0XypJIPVFuPbSi7xlPxchbGM6g/s4000/20221226_073315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWmKPqBt1mtsmkmoYxB1FjCVUqX0dMSZuHnoWcN3kZwt8SbvBLDo__i4lYNFUsOkpxVQJnYygZwYIMsrH7kEanbama8TsX4yU5mRX7zLlm9Nu2awc9a64PlOyixtCnCurlG3s1tSvvG0wFfdKqmk2ZEZV0XypJIPVFuPbSi7xlPxchbGM6g/s320/20221226_073315.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A view from atop Cole Bay Hill. By the way, in the center of the photo are two tall apartment buildings that are located near Abigail's medical school and her own apartment.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCyUsuMRYsaAc91kmHmfIHesI5M5ihjfu9yToTKVeZBimH0TX9MFi9j_7VLW6O8KIN7eRXhtWPlnNo3GxWAM4BrwHwoLe4sTlyesuFGNfvCGKZcNSZ1R92BuQ0lEV9X9q16YQw9PFgONWfAp0E9ZFRLTz15ZZ-iuD_De4bgktJF4ZwLAYfg/s4000/20221226_083524.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsCyUsuMRYsaAc91kmHmfIHesI5M5ihjfu9yToTKVeZBimH0TX9MFi9j_7VLW6O8KIN7eRXhtWPlnNo3GxWAM4BrwHwoLe4sTlyesuFGNfvCGKZcNSZ1R92BuQ0lEV9X9q16YQw9PFgONWfAp0E9ZFRLTz15ZZ-iuD_De4bgktJF4ZwLAYfg/s320/20221226_083524.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We toured the ruins of Fort Amsterdam outside Philipsburg, the capital city on the Dutch side. We got rained on a lot, so not many photos of the fort itself ... but the ladies did pose for a pic during a pause in precipitation.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDh-WgN287UVWB4BDPEXyaO9VZoSJ9_53rIuN8OTu7hceGOE6tdM8Ednkz1khathl4qi6ydvyP8-qHrNzm4VpJdhxcRUxXzW0X6fgjBefzCtKyc0xzEukg4fKUEDJ8ZZzMkNOYCt9JHRZwQTUkTwU7sV-iswb3996ekfaeIDiLsn83EtbkQ/s4032/20221226_115816.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCDh-WgN287UVWB4BDPEXyaO9VZoSJ9_53rIuN8OTu7hceGOE6tdM8Ednkz1khathl4qi6ydvyP8-qHrNzm4VpJdhxcRUxXzW0X6fgjBefzCtKyc0xzEukg4fKUEDJ8ZZzMkNOYCt9JHRZwQTUkTwU7sV-iswb3996ekfaeIDiLsn83EtbkQ/s320/20221226_115816.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We also toured the ruins of Fort Louis in Marigot, the capital city on the French side.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IveuV65z0nFW5z2EMhyFj2MVmpVYDwyuGpD-ozkVpHXaQdEooVkyYkh1WZE98-1cEdxJJUOVUTjUKPCfFB0TlchXABsytVriwE0Di8f07Cc80UyxM0rNpWB_tcJ2LBhJL95w4pWZHRlPKta66WHZARV1CTo_YY7nj-wTi9tq7qfe5keUWw/s4032/20221226_120403.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3IveuV65z0nFW5z2EMhyFj2MVmpVYDwyuGpD-ozkVpHXaQdEooVkyYkh1WZE98-1cEdxJJUOVUTjUKPCfFB0TlchXABsytVriwE0Di8f07Cc80UyxM0rNpWB_tcJ2LBhJL95w4pWZHRlPKta66WHZARV1CTo_YY7nj-wTi9tq7qfe5keUWw/s320/20221226_120403.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I won a game of king of the hill, clearly.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYDr6ofEqWptxra2MAzf7ylMkBysyGKy_w7a6qejnvvl4bnpEU_n1vW-hc2uSN4wkiiwXgCi_OQ0VHp0JYYCaViW7YRidHBISGczezzxir1clACfQ5uONkvRgA7uoUeG4lx_LQ3HLiIjPzFnFjg3fRg6X-e3EhEcf7V5e4UbDpi-BsPh1Cg/s2208/IMG_2027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="2208" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeYDr6ofEqWptxra2MAzf7ylMkBysyGKy_w7a6qejnvvl4bnpEU_n1vW-hc2uSN4wkiiwXgCi_OQ0VHp0JYYCaViW7YRidHBISGczezzxir1clACfQ5uONkvRgA7uoUeG4lx_LQ3HLiIjPzFnFjg3fRg6X-e3EhEcf7V5e4UbDpi-BsPh1Cg/s320/IMG_2027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ate at the Sunset Beach Bar on Maho Beach. The restaurant is situated at the end of the airport runway, so it is a prime spot for viewing low-flying incoming planes as they appear to be just a hand's reach overhead!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWs9LLLKFk0S9MQ2RDgz2b61wYcCOkIXj-ZSmUkFQYwiCtOLRYdyvEtRLH0j2Ks2Y-UJBgkzuuo9tqRrOtroIl6exiRtUt4TRwbQEB3uYCfVm_AzqIve2a48_Qe8Kxj1Wo0hJ-jJsupFKidkN48eyDlYka_uI-WCsz0HAR2jVMo-mHO-liSw/s4032/IMG_2025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWs9LLLKFk0S9MQ2RDgz2b61wYcCOkIXj-ZSmUkFQYwiCtOLRYdyvEtRLH0j2Ks2Y-UJBgkzuuo9tqRrOtroIl6exiRtUt4TRwbQEB3uYCfVm_AzqIve2a48_Qe8Kxj1Wo0hJ-jJsupFKidkN48eyDlYka_uI-WCsz0HAR2jVMo-mHO-liSw/s320/IMG_2025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And, of course, another trip to the beach to frolic in the ocean.</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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-b2pEtdLgHcVIfHQMnPENnHkkbgOJZdiT-g0y68AJntnRsh72BWaDJ1eUMjtLIdZoHTiQvGkgvD8P0cte8M82EyXqb5OeGjzQ6kzoiglxhNkIusJNxOl93055uHBGCcsJr7Yd47r4WzjB6Wh7TVCchpm0OBmJ3NiPoDrcOPQFoahkloQqmg/s2261/IMG_20221226_041456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2261" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-b2pEtdLgHcVIfHQMnPENnHkkbgOJZdiT-g0y68AJntnRsh72BWaDJ1eUMjtLIdZoHTiQvGkgvD8P0cte8M82EyXqb5OeGjzQ6kzoiglxhNkIusJNxOl93055uHBGCcsJr7Yd47r4WzjB6Wh7TVCchpm0OBmJ3NiPoDrcOPQFoahkloQqmg/s320/IMG_20221226_041456.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We ended the day with a video call with extended family! My sister Cathy (upper left) was in the Mountain time zone; my sister Sandy and our dad (third row) were in the Central time zone; and the rest of us were in the Atlantic time zone ... three hours later than Cathy. Makes it tricky to schedule a call!</div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Sint Maarten18.04248 -63.05483-10.267753836178844 -98.21108000000001 46.35271383617885 -27.898580000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-60768000749452606452022-12-25T23:59:00.099-07:002023-01-06T09:21:51.905-07:00St. Maarten Vacation, Day 2<p>Merry Christmas from the warm and sunny Caribbean island nation of St. Maarten! It is over 100° warmer here than back home in southwest North Dakota, and we are not sad to be missing out on the typical white Christmas. (Well, the clouds in the clear-blue sky are white. The sand on the beach is white. The foam on the waves in the ocean is white. Our sun-starved Scandinavian skin is white.)</p><p>After we had eaten brunch and opened Christmas presents, Abigail took us to her medical school and gave us a tour of some of the buildings and classrooms where she learns. Later we went to the beach (about a five-minute walk from Abigail's apartment) and frolicked in the water and drank margaritas on our beach blanket.</p><p>Our family usually makes a Nordic meal for our Christmas Eve supper. However, because yesterday was a travel day for most of us, we delayed that until this evening instead. We were all "cozy" working together in Abigail's apartment-sized kitchen!</p><p>(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakk8KJ2Ul5f_rqYC424l0LufxN5rwlcivv0lv3RzS8vzgqHLKq749X9Ssfkb0VL0tak7twuYudWeGU3DoqnoDtlC3T9g5ZjrlXIumiS6dnwW_pv_akeJa2AwSrZDgQTuoFqq9-Ne2ScsO_0sAu8oAyuwoB-LvjAubBzEJrUtCK8OlwV32-w/s4032/20221225_084018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiakk8KJ2Ul5f_rqYC424l0LufxN5rwlcivv0lv3RzS8vzgqHLKq749X9Ssfkb0VL0tak7twuYudWeGU3DoqnoDtlC3T9g5ZjrlXIumiS6dnwW_pv_akeJa2AwSrZDgQTuoFqq9-Ne2ScsO_0sAu8oAyuwoB-LvjAubBzEJrUtCK8OlwV32-w/s320/20221225_084018.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Brunch ... notice the pastry dough laid out in the shape of a Christmas tree!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUznVsaNSq0q28fGkwE73DFmCxJrG3Ka6jpWkBHCKnUm4OlCjq85DKkhNlMKst_KeocLhZt__3qvfTr8fsplABqlQ4mNtY_usXvDVBlfuPXA4HXWddkICdM_JpW9drtjF74j6HBnzzLpC2kOkWGo4ihcwMmQLSQI8HTrv2vSPAqHaic66hQ/s2208/IMG_5189.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2208" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzUznVsaNSq0q28fGkwE73DFmCxJrG3Ka6jpWkBHCKnUm4OlCjq85DKkhNlMKst_KeocLhZt__3qvfTr8fsplABqlQ4mNtY_usXvDVBlfuPXA4HXWddkICdM_JpW9drtjF74j6HBnzzLpC2kOkWGo4ihcwMmQLSQI8HTrv2vSPAqHaic66hQ/s320/IMG_5189.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Family selfie outside Abigail's apartment.</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/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV6IN-mW6QjbNHyE2xIQtd4O1vmriNNq-0A-ktAI00_uZEj46pwsuID15Zal3Gvg9omfd_iruIeHkvbxy8_rjxQo1pB68BqIMwRhNJn9NNpdl3cfHd012RPoIQKSYN2tAOR6QNFVRTFJzvc8HMFm2Mr90IPRpiFVKnJU_4DSgoftVSVayhw/s4000/20221225_115913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWV6IN-mW6QjbNHyE2xIQtd4O1vmriNNq-0A-ktAI00_uZEj46pwsuID15Zal3Gvg9omfd_iruIeHkvbxy8_rjxQo1pB68BqIMwRhNJn9NNpdl3cfHd012RPoIQKSYN2tAOR6QNFVRTFJzvc8HMFm2Mr90IPRpiFVKnJU_4DSgoftVSVayhw/s320/20221225_115913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR5XlkjTqM9q6YHS14UO7DQ8px49a0HSduIOmxOsgw3HGdsQyvGEhwul8xPM3ZAdO7XPg8EylilE3h0ddgoqhsb-JgU48lkLNlQWedMkGn62fYCCh4NUVZnthsj7Z3gzXWOlvlm99_l_FZQEPU5zjQzyo1eLpAQboajtYlNJ3Ih1fODAAMw/s4000/20221225_120235.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUR5XlkjTqM9q6YHS14UO7DQ8px49a0HSduIOmxOsgw3HGdsQyvGEhwul8xPM3ZAdO7XPg8EylilE3h0ddgoqhsb-JgU48lkLNlQWedMkGn62fYCCh4NUVZnthsj7Z3gzXWOlvlm99_l_FZQEPU5zjQzyo1eLpAQboajtYlNJ3Ih1fODAAMw/s320/20221225_120235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A couple views of what Abigail experiences every day when she goes to class.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsQcJGBRIPnZVSAbKOIM_nGmXxmPQTtYgWS0xt3eNBRGf5wQKZGijtCAcpdJd-vW2tPPkpbm49UCm7Fp7zmNfwczwrTdYyYJHPxeiJ8rfdWX_dv_jJDHD1bKrh3USMzx-WwBmKucaGpTVlT7nl2R3q_IwO_8jP1UGtN3XE_SfCXfdbbDAAA/s2208/IMG_5244.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="2208" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsQcJGBRIPnZVSAbKOIM_nGmXxmPQTtYgWS0xt3eNBRGf5wQKZGijtCAcpdJd-vW2tPPkpbm49UCm7Fp7zmNfwczwrTdYyYJHPxeiJ8rfdWX_dv_jJDHD1bKrh3USMzx-WwBmKucaGpTVlT7nl2R3q_IwO_8jP1UGtN3XE_SfCXfdbbDAAA/s320/IMG_5244.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Family selfie inside the rotunda of one of the buildings on campus.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAA7TpfQXCoxiEKPpYvaLyL_riHm2RWDigicyzN2iQ86JIFPG57A1u7LauD_s4mPF-RKX40XevPedmM15EomefCIAJtVNvoHgvYqqpFSIVznRT7-I7FqjQYt6OE2HmKZQDBxyuqP0jS3SLVC-wd9i3rYTLOaIwQqWDNNNN9SEJiOaotHyJw/s4032/IMG_5272.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAA7TpfQXCoxiEKPpYvaLyL_riHm2RWDigicyzN2iQ86JIFPG57A1u7LauD_s4mPF-RKX40XevPedmM15EomefCIAJtVNvoHgvYqqpFSIVznRT7-I7FqjQYt6OE2HmKZQDBxyuqP0jS3SLVC-wd9i3rYTLOaIwQqWDNNNN9SEJiOaotHyJw/s320/IMG_5272.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Family selfie on Mullet Bay Beach.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinixhCFodD60R8lAKYb6nfMHokBO4Ju6wTzzDGlDG1q_fkUyXavUrjkM9NrCPejkEXPW8teQdlLp9rkPFSlFBm8iHIkE3VOZLoJnSpZCgzCiATttuZu0VUKeeh-l9jrge0rxE42r-qgSoao96J5J4eCF07dn0WY5XJJHkOWwDzPfIXanAwRw/s4000/20221225_185708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2006" data-original-width="4000" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinixhCFodD60R8lAKYb6nfMHokBO4Ju6wTzzDGlDG1q_fkUyXavUrjkM9NrCPejkEXPW8teQdlLp9rkPFSlFBm8iHIkE3VOZLoJnSpZCgzCiATttuZu0VUKeeh-l9jrge0rxE42r-qgSoao96J5J4eCF07dn0WY5XJJHkOWwDzPfIXanAwRw/s320/20221225_185708.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Scandinavian supper: Norwegian meatballs and gravy; mashed potatoes and carrots with nutmeg; peas with dill, pimento, and cheese; sliced cucumbers in a lemon/dill sauce with shallots; and wine.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi05M6MPSVWU98Mv7fBwNV5PjGK179icXKudAWqfUeui2JkJJVGu86xRxf7KYZUl2tMQM1SRwCEabBuDGjzKA4vNgNC7xdL2Fwzx7Dp4RMIj5JvtUKCa0SSSq1E5T76yqL1s4Hu9VojYZ16N-X0Tv57JqzyWqOnsp-arj3v-6byTrjGMQKAA/s2903/20221225_193455.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2836" data-original-width="2903" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi05M6MPSVWU98Mv7fBwNV5PjGK179icXKudAWqfUeui2JkJJVGu86xRxf7KYZUl2tMQM1SRwCEabBuDGjzKA4vNgNC7xdL2Fwzx7Dp4RMIj5JvtUKCa0SSSq1E5T76yqL1s4Hu9VojYZ16N-X0Tv57JqzyWqOnsp-arj3v-6byTrjGMQKAA/s320/20221225_193455.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And dessert: "lemon-scented" rice pudding with raspberry sauce.</div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Sint Maarten18.04248 -63.05483-10.267753836178844 -98.21108000000001 46.35271383617885 -27.898580000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-48582704683303480112022-12-24T23:59:00.094-07:002023-01-06T09:21:11.211-07:00St. Maarten Vacation, Day 1<p>Despite the best efforts of the winter weather, we made it from Bismarck, North Dakota, to Dallas, Texas, yesterday--and from Dallas to Simpson Bay, St. Maarten, today. (Suzanna's itinerary took her from Nashville, Tennessee to New York City, New York, and then to here.)</p><p>Abigail lives in nearby Cupecoy, St. Maarten, where she attends <a href="https://www.aucmed.edu/" target="_blank">medical school</a>. She rented a car for the week and picked up Suzanna when she arrived. They returned to get Susan, Hillary, and me when we arrived. However, our checked bags did not make the trip from Dallas to St. Maarten ... so Abigail took us to (also nearby) Philipsburg to shop for some overnight necessaries and then back to her apartment to eat charcuterie and play card games in her dining room all evening.</p><p>It is so great to be reunited with all our daughters again!</p><p>(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrRYeFfmCfh8AqAN-qKjAU6HUpo0Uxlp5Ds32JwnsDEZDH_QlmH6v-qdTIPvXYOEP5jRj5FI9cFzWvFHyjfxTvPNlpW4IznXPDXIlOFrI8kCI8cX3EGfB0UkeCn7XbwHKb6TuH2NCyOcKXEYUqkg0RV0f5PPaHd9plOEC6xhs_s10nYgqKQ/s4032/IMG_5171.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrrRYeFfmCfh8AqAN-qKjAU6HUpo0Uxlp5Ds32JwnsDEZDH_QlmH6v-qdTIPvXYOEP5jRj5FI9cFzWvFHyjfxTvPNlpW4IznXPDXIlOFrI8kCI8cX3EGfB0UkeCn7XbwHKb6TuH2NCyOcKXEYUqkg0RV0f5PPaHd9plOEC6xhs_s10nYgqKQ/s320/IMG_5171.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Susan, I, and Hillary enjoying the Christmas "joy" (from the wrong side) in the Dallas/Ft. Worth airport.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShuHLiqGfWFapRvguEF-_dR3_IMi9iDiV1EWI5JjRxmOT1k6kdVZ_wuGAo_kcdDnNN5ZQJHrpdDrj59fpzz9SrYFifqj8GY1ibHq_4WDf7zMNzfA5XRvorYQEDwyTnp0419KBjPtxZjbU2drWZ9-Xqz3gVDGdBm-5sZrrN7roGbUnv9nXDA/s4032/IMG_1958.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShuHLiqGfWFapRvguEF-_dR3_IMi9iDiV1EWI5JjRxmOT1k6kdVZ_wuGAo_kcdDnNN5ZQJHrpdDrj59fpzz9SrYFifqj8GY1ibHq_4WDf7zMNzfA5XRvorYQEDwyTnp0419KBjPtxZjbU2drWZ9-Xqz3gVDGdBm-5sZrrN7roGbUnv9nXDA/s320/IMG_1958.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Suzanna and Abigail posing at the end of the outdoor corridor to her apartment. That body of water behind them is the Caribbean Sea!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldK1FJAgCqvjj2d3lGRX_-aIWHE7E_kmL0WF-AA2zYqv7BtI9BCPfhTsKhwqKX3UqvfOzQt-4Cv1Yb7IqP9Ekr8MhvxqpcpiwWKJyrSw7_sfEY59yH2Nm5yclAZI0YunRaB3AIM5OmwzEGM4SEVyhT7o_xlSa9MlPhuMJ4vDFNUltgMoFfQ/s4032/20221224_204951.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjldK1FJAgCqvjj2d3lGRX_-aIWHE7E_kmL0WF-AA2zYqv7BtI9BCPfhTsKhwqKX3UqvfOzQt-4Cv1Yb7IqP9Ekr8MhvxqpcpiwWKJyrSw7_sfEY59yH2Nm5yclAZI0YunRaB3AIM5OmwzEGM4SEVyhT7o_xlSa9MlPhuMJ4vDFNUltgMoFfQ/s320/20221224_204951.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Abigail's cute apartment-sized Christmas tree! Spoiler: Some of those gifts are new books, which are a traditional Christmas Eve gift in our family. The idea is to put on our new Christmas pajamas and snuggle in to read our new books while waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.</div></div>Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com1Sint Maarten18.04248 -63.05483-13.786419507745418 -98.21108000000001 49.871379507745417 -27.898580000000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-83506575446751956972018-08-19T13:50:00.002-06:002018-08-19T13:56:17.663-06:00Our Silver AnniversaryAugust 10 was my birthday; August 12 was Abigail's birthday; and August 14 was Susan's and my silver anniversary. Yes, 25 years of marriage! To celebrate, our daughters were sneaky and turned the tables on their parents. Usually it's Susan and I who are keeping surprises from the girls--but this time, they planned and threw a surprise party for us! Here's how it happened:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On August 7, the girls brought Susan to my office so that we'd all be together when they gave Susan and me our anniversary gift: a collection of gift certificates for a weekend spent together out of town! We had been told ahead of time to clear our schedules for August 10 and 11, and this is why: they wanted to send us to Bismarck, ND for a special birthday/anniversary getaway.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FhXgb6EaivE/W3T2ZLkFL4I/AAAAAAAB81s/qT6-JVyeAfoO3Nzep4W56aidhOi0d_8gQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180810_070622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="722" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FhXgb6EaivE/W3T2ZLkFL4I/AAAAAAAB81s/qT6-JVyeAfoO3Nzep4W56aidhOi0d_8gQCLcBGAs/s400/20180810_070622.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On August 10, my birthday breakfast = Norwegian pancakes filled with fresh peaches and drizzled with maple syrup . . . and, of course, a side of bacon. Thank you, Susan!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We went out for dinner at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/the.somb/?rf=122264171117043" target="_blank">El Sombrero</a> in Dickinson. Then the girls sent us off to Bismarck. Well, first we stopped at <a href="https://dunnbrothers.com/" target="_blank">Dunn Brothers</a> in Dickinson, where a free coffee awaited me for my birthday. When we arrived in Bismarck, we stopped at <a href="https://www.starbucks.com/" target="_blank">Starbucks</a> for another free birthday coffee. Then we checked into our room at the <a href="https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wingate/bismarck-north-dakota/wingate-by-wyndham-bismarck/overview" target="_blank">Wingate</a> in north Bismarck, where the girls had reserved us a room. Super-friendly service at the front desk and a lovely room with a king-sized bed.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The girls had pre-paid for movie tickets and popcorn for us at the <a href="http://grandtheaters.com/" target="_blank">Grand</a>, a movie theater complex in Bismarck. They also gave us gift cards to use for our meals. Still full from our dinner and two coffee shop stops, we opted for cocktails and an appetizer at the <a href="https://www.redlobster.com/" target="_blank">Red Lobster</a> (which is near the Grand) in lieu of a full supper. Then we saw the movie <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5758778/" target="_blank"><i>Skyscraper</i></a> starring Neve Campbell and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. A great action film!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On August 11, we started our day with breakfast at the hotel and then some shopping, getting a <i>lot</i> of bulletin board materials and posters for Susan's library for start-of-the-school-year decorating. We ate dinner at the <a href="http://bistro1100.com/" target="_blank">Bistro</a>, a terrific "American café" in Bismarck. Susan's lobster bisque was filled with huge chunks of lobster instead of the shreds of seafood in most lobster bisques.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Before we left, the girls made it very clear to us that we were to return to Dickinson at 4:15 P.M. Mountain time, no sooner or later. Their explanation was that Abigail, who is a resident assistant (R.A.) this year in the residence halls, had to be at R.A. training at the university most of the day but had a short time available at 4:15 P.M. to meet with us and hear stories about our trip to Bismarck. Riiiiiiight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Okay, so Susan and I had some time to fill between dinner and our departure from Bismarck. We went to the <a href="https://www.nd.gov/omb/public/state-capitol-information" target="_blank">ND State Capitol Complex</a> and got a tour of the Capitol. It had been several years since either of us had gone on the official tour, and it was interesting to get to look around and hear stories about the building's history. (And the tour guide was a hoot!) This is a view of the chamber where the state House of Representatives meets.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this is a view of the chamber for the state Senate.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this is a view of the Capitol grounds, looking south from the observation deck on the 18th floor.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another building on the Capitol Complex is the <a href="http://www.library.nd.gov/" target="_blank">ND State Library Memorial Building</a>. I asked the librarian to pose near the waterfall on the east side of the building.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then we spent some time in the <a href="http://history.nd.gov/" target="_blank">ND Heritage Center</a>, which houses the State Historical Society and features several terrific exhibits--and a great gift store with a lot of ND products and books. By the way, the Capitol tour and admission to the Heritage Center both are free--so not only are they worth your time for the content they offer, but also the price is right!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbCn78l5w8w/W3T2bcZkyaI/AAAAAAAB82E/pSF8jwJSU447DAQb0AHdB-6fIdhbp7QmACLcBGAs/s1600/20180811_172921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbCn78l5w8w/W3T2bcZkyaI/AAAAAAAB82E/pSF8jwJSU447DAQb0AHdB-6fIdhbp7QmACLcBGAs/s400/20180811_172921.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We made another Starbucks stop on the way out of town (yes, one of our gift cards from the girls was for Starbucks) and made it back to Dickinson on time. As we neared town, I had Susan text Suzanna to say we had enjoyed ourselves so much that we were opting to spend another night in Bismarck. Suzanna's response: "Get here." That confirmed that something was up!<br /><br />And when we drove up to our house, we saw a driveway and garage full of family, friends, and neighbors, all waiting for us to arrive for a party in our honor!<br /><br />While we were in Bismarck, my sisters had come to Dickinson and helped the girls set up our garage and veranda for a surprise party. There were tables and chairs everywhere, all decorated and featuring photos of Susan and me. There were counters filled with food, and along one wall of the garage were several coolers with beverages of all kinds. There was a gift table with a guest book and a photo display, including our wedding scrapbook, and strings of lights adorned the walls of the garage. It was over 100° outside, but we stayed near the fans and kept hydrated and found the shade and enjoyed a lot of hugs, laughter, and visiting into the night.</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bu6rHg1HHPE/W3T2b0p7pfI/AAAAAAAB82M/bRfMuUgeYKMvRB5MuoOAq2blEookY_KuACLcBGAs/s1600/20180811_193539_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1191" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bu6rHg1HHPE/W3T2b0p7pfI/AAAAAAAB82M/bRfMuUgeYKMvRB5MuoOAq2blEookY_KuACLcBGAs/s400/20180811_193539_2.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">These three beauties decided they'd better throw us a 25th anniversary party because they had heard enough stories from me about how my sisters and I had done the same for <i>our</i> parents the summer before <i>their</i> 25th anniversary--and the girls took the hint! They did a great job keeping everything a secret and enlisting help from my sisters and others along the way. Susan and I <i>still</i> are learning the details of the girls' planning as we ask "How did you three manage to . . . ?" types of questions from day to day. How fun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Others were taking photographs throughout the afternoon and evening, so I did not. I did ask people to share their photos with me. Until then, here's one photo that I <i>did</i> take: a look at the garage setup toward the end of the night. The only people left were Susan, the girls, and my family. We had just opened gifts and cards and were sitting on the driveway, enjoying the cooling temps and the glowing lights in the dark of nighttime. What a great weekend getaway ending with a terrific surprise party!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-klZxz6eo3LQ/W3T2cqxKeHI/AAAAAAAB82Y/icF1l-6fDJ8_UBNS3a-x4K9Yq3PS9D0vQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180812_100317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-klZxz6eo3LQ/W3T2cqxKeHI/AAAAAAAB82Y/icF1l-6fDJ8_UBNS3a-x4K9Yq3PS9D0vQCLcBGAs/s400/20180812_100317.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On August 12, we were able to go out for brunch with Abigail, the birthday girl, before she had to return to the university for more R.A. training and duties. Suzanna had to head back to her job at <a href="https://www.badlandsministries.org/" target="_blank">Badlands Ministries</a> south of Medora, ND to help run one last camp for the summer, so she couldn't join us. Throughout the day we bid farewell to Dad, Sandy, and Kathy as each one headed back home; and the next day, Cathy left for home, too. Thank you all for spending the weekend with us and making our 25th anniversary party such a great celebration!</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com2Dickinson, ND 58601, USA46.8791756 -102.7896241999999946.7923496 -102.95098569999999 46.966001600000006 -102.6282627tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-43845383144206712462018-07-22T23:59:00.000-06:002018-07-23T12:24:58.653-06:00Family Reunion in a DayWe were up at 4:00 A.M. today in order to get to Fargo early enough to maximize our limited time there. We had to return again tonight due to our previously scheduled obligations in Dickinson tomorrow. However, we wanted a chance to see Susan's family, including her out-of-state sister and <i>her</i> family!<br />
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Cassie and her family live in Tennessee but were in Fargo for the weekend to participate in a friend's wedding. Susan, Hillary, and I headed east to spend some time there visiting. (Suzanna and Abigail couldn't join us because of their jobs at a summer Bible camp.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shYXLiMM-X4/W1YZ8ceuocI/AAAAAAAB7no/6pdYzi-y-a8b1aQguGdtae19NHyargBygCLcBGAs/s1600/33556.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-shYXLiMM-X4/W1YZ8ceuocI/AAAAAAAB7no/6pdYzi-y-a8b1aQguGdtae19NHyargBygCLcBGAs/s400/33556.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is an infrequently gathered group: Nick (Susan's sister Cassie's husband), Roger (Susan's dad), Jerrett (Susan's brother), Cassie, Susan, and I.<br /><br />After eating dinner together at <a href="https://doolittles.com/" target="_blank">Doolittles Woodfire Grill</a>, we headed to the <a href="https://www.fargohi.com/" target="_blank">Holiday Inn</a>, where everybody but us will spend the night . . . and where the kids spent most of the afternoon in the pool while the adults visited poolside. After some <a href="https://www.happyjoes.com/" target="_blank">Happy Joe's</a> pizza for supper, we said our goodbyes and hit the road for home. A short-but-sweet visit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cassie and Nick's kids, Marly and Davis, are <i>so! danged! cute! and sweet!</i> They spent a lot of time with their cousin Hillary, not only in the pool but also at the arcade games near the pool.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Such a handsome family! We surely wish that we all lived nearer one another--but it's terrific that, whenever we do get together, time doesn't seem to have passed. Well, except that our nephew and niece keep growing up!</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-80406713429689100442018-07-21T23:00:00.000-06:002018-07-23T12:09:11.063-06:0090 Years of MinistryToday Susan, Hillary, and I joined Suzanna and Abigail for an anniversary celebration at <a href="https://www.badlandsministries.org/" target="_blank">Badlands Ministries</a>, the Bible camp that the girls have attended for years . . . and, more recently, at which they have been working.<br />
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It wasn't to celebrate our <i>own</i> wedding anniversary, mind you. That will happen next month. Instead, it was to celebrate <a href="https://www.badlandsministries.org/90th-celebration" target="_blank">Badlands Ministries' 90th anniversary</a>!<br />
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There were activities all day for all ages. We arrived in time for the 4:00 P.M. worship celebration. Scripture readers and speakers included the bishop, the current and past directors of the Bible camp, and Suzanna! This year she is serving as the summer program director (and Abigail is a counselor). Suzanna presented a meaningful message with confidence and grace.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qSqlmUCVxk0/W1YWqdGCtBI/AAAAAAAB7nQ/xD3dzq68JxAAM36mFCy1FCWWf9fqb3vmwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180721_163750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1072" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qSqlmUCVxk0/W1YWqdGCtBI/AAAAAAAB7nQ/xD3dzq68JxAAM36mFCy1FCWWf9fqb3vmwCLcBGAs/s400/20180721_163750.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Later in the evening, many in attendance found Susan and me to tell us what a great job Suzanna had done. One couple read Suzanna's last name in the program and didn't recognize it--but they were sure that she must be a Gustafson (Susan's last name) because they thought Suzanna resembled Susan's dad's sisters Bonnie and Nancy!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">During the service, we prayed for the staff of the Bible camp. There's Abigail, 11 people from the left. And there's Suzanna, two people farther on.</span></td></tr>
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Afterward we enjoyed visiting with other members from our congregation and eating a <i>delicious</i> meal provided by <a href="http://www.mulliganscatering.com/" target="_blank">Mulligan's Catering</a> in Dickinson. We chose not to stay for the post-supper games, campfire, and s'mores because we need to get up so early in the morning. Check in tomorrow for all those details!</div>
<br />Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Badlands Ministries, 3892 Bible Camp Rd, Medora, ND 58645, USA46.85511 -103.5337250999999721.333075500000003 -144.84231909999997 72.3771445 -62.22513109999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-24019418945604250812018-07-15T14:53:00.003-06:002018-07-15T14:53:48.231-06:00Norskis in the ParkToday our local <a href="https://www.sofn.com/" target="_blank">Sons of Norway</a> lodge (Hardanger Lodge) had a picnic at <a href="http://dickinsonparks.org/index.php/project/optimist-park/" target="_blank">Optimist Park</a>. 79°, sunny, slightly breezy . . . perfect weather!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvxuC4QGg7k/W0uxwKAsLlI/AAAAAAAB7L8/svLv3dsa9ps6_ma9TWaRykbC-RV9-YKSwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180715_124320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="961" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvxuC4QGg7k/W0uxwKAsLlI/AAAAAAAB7L8/svLv3dsa9ps6_ma9TWaRykbC-RV9-YKSwCLcBGAs/s400/20180715_124320.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">They say that one ought to eat colorful foods to maximize nutrient intake. (Please overlook the sodium and sugar intake. And dessert isn't even pictured!)</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-psibxFI5z-4/W0uxwDYH84I/AAAAAAAB7L4/SPMslImajnoNNgLuhFk91RygJW9SS9ZCgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180715_123457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="1600" height="153" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-psibxFI5z-4/W0uxwDYH84I/AAAAAAAB7L4/SPMslImajnoNNgLuhFk91RygJW9SS9ZCgCLcBGAs/s400/20180715_123457.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some lodge members played kubb before and after the meal. It's a yard game that originated with the Vikings, whose game pieces <a href="http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2016/03/24/play-kubb-the-game-the-vikings-played-with-the-skulls-of-their-enemies/" target="_blank">purportedly</a> were the skulls of their enemies! Coincidentally, the <a href="http://www.usakubb.org/" target="_blank">U.S. National Kubb Championship</a> is just today wrapping up in Eau Claire, WI. Maybe we'll qualify for next year's tourney.</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Dickinson, ND 58601, USA46.8791756 -102.7896241999999946.7923496 -102.95098569999999 46.966001600000006 -102.6282627tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-5545525199354555592018-07-15T10:47:00.001-06:002018-07-15T10:47:56.693-06:00Pretty in PinkRecall <a href="https://kevinmoberg.blogspot.com/2018/07/looks-like-shes-moving-out.html" target="_blank">the other day</a> when we emptied Hillary's bedroom of all furniture, wall hangings, and other belongings so that it was back to an empty room, like when we moved into the house? That was in anticipation of the delivery of her new bedroom furniture, which we received yesterday, and which we assembled and set up today.<br />
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Many furniture companies sell very similar bedroom sets; but some of those companies manage to offer their own sets at much lower prices than their competitors do. They do so by delivering the furniture unassembled, requiring the buyer to put it together upon receiving it at his/her house. A cost-conscious buyer may buy such a furniture set thinking that the savings will be worth the work involved in assembly and setup.<br />
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They are <i>not</i>. The savings are <i>not</i> worth it. People: <span style="color: red;">Buy preassembled furniture, delivered to your door complete and ready to use, no matter what the cost!</span><br />
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It took us <i>all day</i> to assemble Hillary's new bed, which included time to problem-solve for some broken and wrong pieces. The bed was manufactured in Malaysia--and, although the illustrations were helpful, the directions sounded like the writer might have created them first in the Malay language and then used Google Translate to come up with an English version.<br />
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Many parts of the bed could be attached with hardware and a hex key, provided. However, most parts of the bed required screws (provided) and, according to the instructions, "a screwdriver (not provided)." Also not provided: pre-drilled guide holes for the screws. Thank goodness I have a drill of my own, or we might <i>still</i> be on the floor of Hillary's room, screwdrivers dangling from our weak and bloody palms, the bed still mostly unassembled, its impenetrable wood lying unharmed in a stack against the wall.<br />
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After finishing the bed just before suppertime, it was a blessing to discover that Hillary's two new dressers came nearly fully assembled. We just had to attach the mirror to her long dresser. Other than that, it was a matter of opening the boxes, removing the dressers, and setting them in place.<br />
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After supper, Hillary started putting her clothes away in her new furniture and moving her other belongings back into the room. I snagged this video before she started that process:<br />
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com2Dickinson, ND 58601, USA46.8791756 -102.7896241999999946.7923496 -102.95098569999999 46.966001600000006 -102.6282627tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-4186335308044445392018-07-12T10:52:00.001-06:002018-07-12T10:52:33.738-06:00Looks Like She's Moving OutThe last time Hillary's bedroom was this empty, we were moving into the house (2006) and had just painted her bedroom walls her favorite color.<br />
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On their 16th birthdays, Suzanna and Abigail each received a new bedroom set. Suzanna's castoffs went into Abigail's bedroom as an upgrade; and then those dressers and bed went into Hillary's bedroom when it was Abigail's turn for new furniture.<br />
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Hillary turned 16 last summer but, for numerous reasons, we only just this spring got around to ordering the bedroom set that she chose for her room. Also this spring, Suzanna moved into an apartment and needed a bed and a dresser--and took Hillary's, knowing that her littlest sister would soon be getting new ones of her own.<br />
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Since then, Hillary has been living like a nomad: sleeping sometimes in Abigail's bed, sometimes in Suzanna's (both of whom were living in the residence halls on campus during the school year and now at the <a href="https://www.badlandsministries.org/" target="_blank">Badlands Ministries</a> Bible camp, where they work in the summer) . . . Hillary's clothes and other belongings strewn about four bedrooms (her own, of course--but also Abigail's and Suzanna's, as she has been a squatter in their rooms . . . as well as the guest bedroom, which is next to Hillary's own room and, thus, a convenient place for her to move boxes and stacks of clothes as she empties her bedroom in preparation for the arrival of her new furniture).<br />
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The new bedroom set is due to be delivered tomorrow--more photos to come.<br />
<br />Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Dickinson, ND 58601, USA46.8791756 -102.7896241999999946.7923496 -102.95098569999999 46.966001600000006 -102.6282627tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-25371474069533689542018-07-08T23:00:00.000-06:002018-07-11T20:59:19.210-06:00Aune Family Reunion 2018My paternal grandmother's maiden name was Aune. She and two of her sisters all had large families, meaning my dad had a lot of cousins on the Aune side, and I have a lot of second cousins, and my kids have a lot of third cousins!<br />
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Every since 1997, our Aune family members have been gathering for reunions every four years or so, each time a different branch of the family taking a turn to serve as hosts. The Wilsons (my grandma's sister Bea and her family) hosted the first one, followed by the Clarks (my grandma's sister June and her family), and then by the Mobergs (my grandma Olga and her family).<br />
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Up until this weekend, each family except the Mobergs had hosted two reunions--so it was our turn to step up and get the Aunes together again. And we chose to do it in <a href="https://medora.com/" target="_blank">Medora, ND</a>! It doesn't have a particular meaning to our family--it's just a great tourism spot where we could do fun activities together in addition to visiting and eating.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWDMNlvrWUI/W0Z8A7eiy6I/AAAAAAAB698/WbqxOwDesl40NqD8QvwEW8k2b3qc6htnwCLcBGAs/s1600/36776614_2159701964058051_8337650686934122496_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="673" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWDMNlvrWUI/W0Z8A7eiy6I/AAAAAAAB698/WbqxOwDesl40NqD8QvwEW8k2b3qc6htnwCLcBGAs/s400/36776614_2159701964058051_8337650686934122496_n.jpg" width="395" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everybody got a bright green T-shirt to wear so that we could be identified as a group while out and about in Medora all weekend. On the front is this image of <a href="https://norse-mythology.org/cosmology/yggdrasil-and-the-well-of-urd/" target="_blank">Yggdrasil</a>, the tree of life from Norse mythology (the Aunes are a very Scandinavian bunch). At the trunk are my great-grandparents; and in the branches are my grandma and her siblings.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u5M31Lm78rw/W0Z8AznD7sI/AAAAAAAB6-A/HOZNnLh8M5Uy0gXLKpAivxjjmrLDoF-UwCLcBGAs/s1600/36745273_2159702677391313_4568691587613196288_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u5M31Lm78rw/W0Z8AznD7sI/AAAAAAAB6-A/HOZNnLh8M5Uy0gXLKpAivxjjmrLDoF-UwCLcBGAs/s400/36745273_2159702677391313_4568691587613196288_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Aunes are not particularly ranch-y/cowboy-ish people, although there are plenty of farmers and ranchers among us. This just seemed like a fitting image for the back of the T-shirts, considering the distinctive Old West flavor of Medora.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g7BHJLieFt8/W0Z8AiIDJBI/AAAAAAAB694/KbHoAKCLtic79NQbYZQNEPrmrHR1lTNEACLcBGAs/s1600/36718744_10213740115151446_5263996692042088448_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g7BHJLieFt8/W0Z8AiIDJBI/AAAAAAAB694/KbHoAKCLtic79NQbYZQNEPrmrHR1lTNEACLcBGAs/s400/36718744_10213740115151446_5263996692042088448_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And here are a bunch of Aunes (in the bright green T-shirts) seated in the Burning Hills Amphitheater Friday evening, awaiting the start of <a href="https://medora.com/do/entertainment/medora-musical/" target="_blank">the Medora Musical</a>, our first reunion activity of the weekend. Just over 100 Aunes were able to attend the reunion festivities.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cmVEXS3-bpI/W0Z2HsLQocI/AAAAAAAB68Q/A4F8pQineE4XhT2Wt5gh5WOWCMxVy8ovQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180706_200516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="649" data-original-width="1600" height="158" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cmVEXS3-bpI/W0Z2HsLQocI/AAAAAAAB68Q/A4F8pQineE4XhT2Wt5gh5WOWCMxVy8ovQCLcBGAs/s400/20180706_200516.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It just so happens that "family reunion" was a theme of this year's Medora Musical! How fitting.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most of our activities yesterday and today were held in the <a href="https://www.medorand.com/project/medora-community-center/" target="_blank">Medora Community Center</a>. Saturday started with early-morning golf at the acclaimed <a href="https://medora.com/do/outdoor/bully-pulpit-golf-course/" target="_blank">Bully Pulpit Golf Course</a> before meeting at the community center for dinner at noon. In the afternoon, we had a scavenger hunt around town, requiring us to look for objects that had been hidden at various spots outdoors as well as for items on the shelves and walls of various shops around town. In the evening, we had supper at the community center followed by entertainment and games.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_du_cGIQ_nA/W0Z2JD8avkI/AAAAAAAB68k/LfISl3vsbeQk3Zzq2L0DYcKjLfHz1F07gCLcBGAs/s1600/20180707_193431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1562" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_du_cGIQ_nA/W0Z2JD8avkI/AAAAAAAB68k/LfISl3vsbeQk3Zzq2L0DYcKjLfHz1F07gCLcBGAs/s400/20180707_193431.jpg" width="390" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">None of my grandma's generation are alive anymore. But here are "the Aune cousins": my dad (seated) and the other members of his generation who were able to attend. Three of my grandma Olga's children are still living: Alden (in the purple shirt), Rose (in the white sweater), and Arlo (my dad). Four of my great-aunt June's children attended: JoAnn (seated), Vickie (behind JoAnn), John (in the yellow hat), and Jay (next to John). None of my great-aunt Bea's children were able to attend this year.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saturday night's entertainment included some games, such as competitive Nordic cross-country skiing (on felt-bottomed skis from one side of the community center to the other). Here are Hillary, Suzanna, and Abigail warming up to beat the team of Clarks getting ready behind them.</span></td></tr>
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This morning some Aunes returned to the golf course before we all gathered for brunch in the community center and then said our goodbyes. And now we look forward to the next reunion!<br />
<br />Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Medora, ND 58645, USA46.9139028 -103.5243535999999846.9139028 -103.52435359999998 46.9139028 -103.52435359999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-34308617422249223532018-07-05T23:00:00.000-06:002018-07-11T15:16:51.744-06:00Mystery Road Trip, Day 7Today we drove 316 miles, heading east from Billings with stops at <a href="https://www.blm.gov/visit/pompeys-pillar-national-monument" target="_blank">Pompey's Pillar National Monument</a> east of town; at <a href="https://milescitychamber.com/visitor-information/" target="_blank">Miles City</a> and <a href="http://www.cityofglendive.us/index.php" target="_blank">Glendive, MT</a> to see some local attractions there; at <a href="http://www.beachnd.com/" target="_blank">Beach, ND</a> to watch an outdoor performance of a Shakespeare play; and finally back to Dickinson, ND.<br />
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Before the play, we ate supper at Buzzy's Cafe in Beach. Great "small-town cafe" type of cooking and friendly atmosphere.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On July 25, 1806, Captain William Clark carved his signature into the sandstone pillar at this site, a rock outcropping where he and his crew (from the Lewis & Clark Expedition) stopped. With him were his guide, Sacagawea, and her toddler son, nicknamed Pompey.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking down and northeast from the top of the pillar. You can see the Yellowstone River with the tree-covered hills on its north bank.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Gratuitous selfie with Pompey's Pillar over our left shoulders.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This to-scale metal sculpture of a Triceratops is in a public park near Hollecker Lake in Glendive and is named Glendisaurus after the town.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our timing was great because Beach had booked a performance by Montana Shakespeare in the Parks for tonight. This summer the theatre troupe is traveling Montana (and border towns in neighboring states) and offering productions of William Shakespeare's tragedy <i>Othello</i> and his comedy <i>Love's Labour's Lost</i>. Tonight's show happened to be <i>Othello</i>, and it was done so well! The actors, costumes, sets, and sounds were polished . . . and the weather couldn't have been better. It was a great ending to our mystery road trip vacation!<br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's an overview of our route for the seven-day mystery road trip. With our side trips through towns, to/from various sites, and backtracking through the national parks, it ended up being just over 2,000 miles of driving!</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Dickinson, ND 58601, USA46.8791756 -102.7896241999999946.8791756 -102.78962419999999 46.8791756 -102.78962419999999tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-70827720917766976732018-07-04T23:00:00.000-06:002018-07-11T14:51:22.347-06:00Mystery Road Trip, Day 6Today we drove 271 miles: from West Yellowstone, MT, where we spent the night, back into Yellowstone National Park for more exploring; then out the northeast entrance/exit and onto the winding, treacherous <a href="http://beartoothhighway.com/" target="_blank">Beartooth Highway</a> to <a href="http://www.redlodge.com/" target="_blank">Red Lodge, MT</a>; and finally to <a href="http://www.visitbillings.com/" target="_blank">Billings, MT</a>, where we spent the night.<br />
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Today we dressed in red, white, and blue to celebrate Independence Day. We had a great steak supper at <a href="https://www.outback.com/" target="_blank">Outback Steakhouse</a> in Billings and then capped off the day with a late-night viewing of the fireworks display in <a href="http://www.billingsparks.org/park/castlerock/" target="_blank">Castlerock Park</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are so many otherworldly sights throughout Yellowstone . . . </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">. . . including the sight of these otherworldly creatures today. Aaargh!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Shenanigans with the panorama setting on my camera.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We paused while driving through Beartooth Pass to take a look at the snow-covered mountains and take in the cold air after having just driven out of temperatures in the 90s!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Looking down at that Beartooth Highway.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-91155055720777506062018-07-03T23:00:00.000-06:002018-07-11T14:32:08.811-06:00Mystery Road Trip, Day 5Today we drove 214 miles: from Dubois, WY to the southeast entrance of <a href="https://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm" target="_blank">Yellowstone National Park</a> (which required first entering <a href="https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm" target="_blank">Grand Teton National Park</a>); throughout the park, including to and from the geyser <a href="https://www.yellowstonepark.com/things-to-do/about-old-faithful" target="_blank">Old Faithful</a>; and out to <a href="https://www.destinationyellowstone.com/" target="_blank">West Yellowstone, MT</a>, where we spent the night.<br />
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For supper, we ate at the restaurant in the <a href="https://threebearlodge.com/" target="_blank">Three Bear Lodge</a>--terrific!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Apparently Dubois, WY has a thing for <a href="https://www.legendsofamerica.com/wy-jackalope/" target="_blank">jackalopes</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">There are many geothermal features throughout the park: hot springs, mud pots, fumaroles, geysers, etc. They're dangerous but beautiful.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi23lcouUho/W0Zdd0DQ9DI/AAAAAAAB6x0/STBy6K-RyvAJqF6pQLM52IOjnA9klhC6gCLcBGAs/s1600/20180703_152142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1372" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fi23lcouUho/W0Zdd0DQ9DI/AAAAAAAB6x0/STBy6K-RyvAJqF6pQLM52IOjnA9klhC6gCLcBGAs/s400/20180703_152142.jpg" width="342" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The lakes, waterfalls, rivers, mountains, trees . . . so many gorgeous natural sights (and sites) in Yellowstone.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-72E6j06Pvqg/W0ZdeNeVorI/AAAAAAAB6x4/2SjROlLkQFsKTxhKX9xRMgBwH6W7gs7LgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180703_183433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1055" data-original-width="1600" height="263" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-72E6j06Pvqg/W0ZdeNeVorI/AAAAAAAB6x4/2SjROlLkQFsKTxhKX9xRMgBwH6W7gs7LgCLcBGAs/s400/20180703_183433.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And we got to view an eruption of Old Faithful!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This greeted us upon our entry into Yellowstone . . .</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">. . . and this bid us adieu as we left the park for the day.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YoutTIKTknA/W0ZddH5oBQI/AAAAAAAB6xo/gULD9zPzK6wnnmlr3guWR1RJaujDmNm4ACLcBGAs/s1600/20180703_143351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="781" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YoutTIKTknA/W0ZddH5oBQI/AAAAAAAB6xo/gULD9zPzK6wnnmlr3guWR1RJaujDmNm4ACLcBGAs/s400/20180703_143351.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oWU-lbWH7Ts/W0ZdeGe8qcI/AAAAAAAB6xw/adGy_gh4rJ09gZkObusZJz7os-mqAkIrQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180703_182005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oWU-lbWH7Ts/W0ZdeGe8qcI/AAAAAAAB6xw/adGy_gh4rJ09gZkObusZJz7os-mqAkIrQCLcBGAs/s400/20180703_182005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So! Many! Selfies!</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0West Yellowstone, MT 59758, USA44.6621493 -111.1041091999999844.6621493 -111.10410919999998 44.6621493 -111.10410919999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-13648344387978152082018-07-02T23:00:00.000-06:002018-07-10T16:59:39.266-06:00Mystery Road Trip, Day 4Today we drove 434 miles: from Denver, CO to <a href="https://townofdubois.org/" target="_blank">Dubois, WY</a> with stops along the way in <a href="https://visitlaramie.org/" target="_blank">Laramie</a>, <a href="http://www.rawlins-wyoming.com/" target="_blank">Rawlins</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Washakie,_Wyoming" target="_blank">Fort Washakie, WY</a>. We ate supper at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NostalgiaBistroWY/" target="_blank">Nostalgia Bistro</a> in Dubois and had some tasty items there.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zzLYp_PCTrA/W0UplQrL87I/AAAAAAAB6tU/6Tl35CbzClccb3u9oGXKadAfAqE8FTKgACLcBGAs/s1600/20180702_080212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="933" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zzLYp_PCTrA/W0UplQrL87I/AAAAAAAB6tU/6Tl35CbzClccb3u9oGXKadAfAqE8FTKgACLcBGAs/s400/20180702_080212.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We tried to start our day with a tour of the <a href="https://www.usmint.gov/about/mint-tours-facilities/denver/visiting-the-denver-mint" target="_blank">United States Mint</a> location in Denver. Unfortunately, even arriving there before the tour ticket office opened wasn't early enough: all available tour tickets were already gone for the entire day by the time we arrived.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QSZDsrz1mI/W0Uplf7gklI/AAAAAAAB6tc/5BzwhW_a6TcFObjKTIXoXAooB1xF-5S1wCLcBGAs/s1600/20180702_103930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="973" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0QSZDsrz1mI/W0Uplf7gklI/AAAAAAAB6tc/5BzwhW_a6TcFObjKTIXoXAooB1xF-5S1wCLcBGAs/s400/20180702_103930.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Beautiful scenery in this state--especially along the route that we took today.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Laramie, we explored the campus of the <a href="http://www.uwyo.edu/" target="_blank">University of Wyoming</a>. The grounds are inviting, and the buildings are beautiful. We saw a memorial to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard" target="_blank">Matthew Shepard</a> and posed for photos by a huge copper statue of a Tyrannosaurus Rex.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uhbB8ejSHD4/W0Upl7BpODI/AAAAAAAB6tg/ySWUpk3k6NMfWTGtwAZu83OlsQxdo6GIwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180702_140210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="1600" height="131" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uhbB8ejSHD4/W0Upl7BpODI/AAAAAAAB6tg/ySWUpk3k6NMfWTGtwAZu83OlsQxdo6GIwCLcBGAs/s400/20180702_140210.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One of the roadside attractions in Rawlins is a 1955 Cadillac with two front ends!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fn4Pegd9v3A/W0UpmI5FY3I/AAAAAAAB6tk/G9mfnfSI00Yy2lw1Rf3-rMFnqdhnl-bNwCLcBGAs/s1600/20180702_145442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="1600" height="168" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fn4Pegd9v3A/W0UpmI5FY3I/AAAAAAAB6tk/G9mfnfSI00Yy2lw1Rf3-rMFnqdhnl-bNwCLcBGAs/s400/20180702_145442.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mountains, plains, big blue sky . . . it was a beautiful drive.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VgPGw5_7Kfg/W0UpmoE6kbI/AAAAAAAB6to/aPfL-kkh4BYGPDESi_uEKbnH2RwcaCxEgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180702_170847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VgPGw5_7Kfg/W0UpmoE6kbI/AAAAAAAB6to/aPfL-kkh4BYGPDESi_uEKbnH2RwcaCxEgCLcBGAs/s400/20180702_170847.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-43P7RPwkRcc/W0UpnPw7yiI/AAAAAAAB6tw/2IGx3eIw5WYpnr9YhePMvqeRO0bNpsRMACLcBGAs/s1600/20180702_171431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="895" data-original-width="1600" height="221" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-43P7RPwkRcc/W0UpnPw7yiI/AAAAAAAB6tw/2IGx3eIw5WYpnr9YhePMvqeRO0bNpsRMACLcBGAs/s400/20180702_171431.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Outside of Fort Washakie is the "Sacajawea" Cemetery, which has a statue in memory of Sacagawea as well as a tombstone with her name (well, the "Sacajawea" spelling, at least) on it, flanked by headstones for Bazil ("son of Sacajawea") and Baptiste Charbonneau ("papoose of the Lewis and Clark expedition" and "son of Sacajawea").<br /><br />But is this <i>really</i> where Sacagawea is buried? Read <a href="https://www.history.com/news/whos-buried-in-sacagaweas-grave" target="_blank">this</a>!</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Dubois, WY, USA43.533565 -109.6304334999999843.533565 -109.63043349999998 43.533565 -109.63043349999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-42144808879037968652018-07-01T23:00:00.000-06:002018-07-11T12:03:41.302-06:00Mystery Road Trip, Day 3Today we drove 0 miles! All our frolicking was in Denver. We competed in a scavenger hunt from <a href="https://www.urbanadventurequest.com/tours/things-to-do/denver/default.aspx" target="_blank">Urban Adventure Quest</a>, which required us to explore points of interest in downtown Denver from the <a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/visit-learn" target="_blank">CO state capitol</a> to the <a href="https://www.brownpalace.com/" target="_blank">Brown Palace Hotel</a> and numerous spots in between; to answer questions about those locales and their historic significance; and to do so faster than other teams who have done the same scavenger hunt.<br />
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We did some shopping up and down the <a href="https://www.denver.org/things-to-do/denver-attractions/16th-street-mall/" target="_blank">16th Street Mall</a>, rested in the cool of our hotel room during the hottest part of the afternoon, had a great Italian supper at <a href="https://locations.maggianos.com/colorado/denver/500-16th-st./" target="_blank">Maggiano's Little Italy</a>, and then attended a performance of <i>The Book of Mormon</i> in the <a href="http://www.denvercenter.org/plan-your-visit/theatres-seating/the-ellie-caulkins-opera-house/" target="_blank">Ellie Caulkins Opera House</a> of the <a href="http://www.denvercenter.org/" target="_blank">Denver Center for the Performing Arts</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gmtVc0BYdyQ/W0UhrXJ026I/AAAAAAAB6rY/Pj5eI0xoihwteQawpMFYcn1XwEvL3RQnACLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_093045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gmtVc0BYdyQ/W0UhrXJ026I/AAAAAAAB6rY/Pj5eI0xoihwteQawpMFYcn1XwEvL3RQnACLcBGAs/s400/20180701_093045.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TGCShtTpS6M/W0Uhr38TwxI/AAAAAAAB6rc/CjTdyA5Tx-43XveLLhSBtywq_P1x2UlBQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_100549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="742" data-original-width="1600" height="182" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TGCShtTpS6M/W0Uhr38TwxI/AAAAAAAB6rc/CjTdyA5Tx-43XveLLhSBtywq_P1x2UlBQCLcBGAs/s400/20180701_100549.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two views of the capitol.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kwnn1IWN6WA/W0Uhrbl2WtI/AAAAAAAB6rU/M-CIbAgWPQwNhpmxvY8sfwXTVj_8BWYHQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_095037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kwnn1IWN6WA/W0Uhrbl2WtI/AAAAAAAB6rU/M-CIbAgWPQwNhpmxvY8sfwXTVj_8BWYHQCLcBGAs/s400/20180701_095037.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/content/yearling" target="_blank">The Yearling</a>, a work of public art that sits on the grounds of the <a href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/" target="_blank">Denver Public Library</a>.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P9OCcWUYrOM/W0UhrfQ8XoI/AAAAAAAB6rQ/PXNRwvapoXMxoC7t3yWHZljf7HoNeGwjACLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_095804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1143" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P9OCcWUYrOM/W0UhrfQ8XoI/AAAAAAAB6rQ/PXNRwvapoXMxoC7t3yWHZljf7HoNeGwjACLcBGAs/s400/20180701_095804.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://denverartmuseum.org/object/1998.496A-H" target="_blank">Big Sweep</a>, a sculpture just outside the entrance to the <a href="https://denverartmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Denver Art Museum</a>. There's Hillary to give some perspective as to the size of the sculpted broom and dust pan!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_ZKexmG4JY/W0UhsColqOI/AAAAAAAB6rg/NMffv5U8ecYSnp-uV8NTC6hqAOrlepe_ACLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_101447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="719" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R_ZKexmG4JY/W0UhsColqOI/AAAAAAAB6rg/NMffv5U8ecYSnp-uV8NTC6hqAOrlepe_ACLcBGAs/s400/20180701_101447.jpg" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Civic Center Park, there is a public art exhibit called <a href="https://www.denverpost.com/2017/10/18/circle-of-animals-zodiac-heads-ai-weiwei-civic-center-park/" target="_blank">Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads</a>: bronze sculptures of the heads of the animals that make up the Chinese zodiac signs. Suzanna was born in the year of the ox.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yRstx30UDW0/W0UhsarZrXI/AAAAAAAB6rk/x26AIpvopx0sZBxnJEOJXVf6_sttqVlawCLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_101516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="791" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yRstx30UDW0/W0UhsarZrXI/AAAAAAAB6rk/x26AIpvopx0sZBxnJEOJXVf6_sttqVlawCLcBGAs/s400/20180701_101516.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Abigail was born in the year of the rabbit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iIJfVshxp58/W0Uhs2ddGPI/AAAAAAAB6ro/5pFuRirv9ys2iFlwh6rsZsl0bsdZB1LHgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_101533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="771" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iIJfVshxp58/W0Uhs2ddGPI/AAAAAAAB6ro/5pFuRirv9ys2iFlwh6rsZsl0bsdZB1LHgCLcBGAs/s400/20180701_101533.jpg" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hillary was born in the year of the snake.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVIH7Ccl89Y/W0UhtQdqwZI/AAAAAAAB6rs/5YLjTuNOJPoyfvCuRrab1JDFkTeTMmviACLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_101615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVIH7Ccl89Y/W0UhtQdqwZI/AAAAAAAB6rs/5YLjTuNOJPoyfvCuRrab1JDFkTeTMmviACLcBGAs/s400/20180701_101615.jpg" width="178" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Susan was born in the year of the rooster.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jv9aswC_3so/W0Uht6aaA1I/AAAAAAAB6rw/1NRqbi3jBvQLnLgSIK9jNBjg-43KpOWugCLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_101642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="912" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jv9aswC_3so/W0Uht6aaA1I/AAAAAAAB6rw/1NRqbi3jBvQLnLgSIK9jNBjg-43KpOWugCLcBGAs/s400/20180701_101642.jpg" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was born in the year of the dog.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXuorUPUtPY/W0UhuTjtCRI/AAAAAAAB6r0/R9ct3KaBdWgU1yZPHtjT1eQEFYQ3oA2PQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_110822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="647" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXuorUPUtPY/W0UhuTjtCRI/AAAAAAAB6r0/R9ct3KaBdWgU1yZPHtjT1eQEFYQ3oA2PQCLcBGAs/s400/20180701_110822.jpg" width="158" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although we didn't tell the girls that we'd be seeing <i>The Book of Mormon</i> tonight (because: <b>mystery</b> road trip!), we did pass through the <a href="http://www.artscomplex.com/" target="_blank">Denver Performing Arts Complex</a> during our scavenger hunt, and the banners for the musical caught the girls' eyes. Therefore, they were not <i>too</i> surprised when this is where we ended up this evening . . . but they were delighted nevertheless. It was a great production. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GO3zfe4Dvg8/W0Uhu0hoQFI/AAAAAAAB6r4/zlRkobgjbK0r0WF3UUt7Io5fQ1EKOsYIgCLcBGAs/s1600/20180701_222131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GO3zfe4Dvg8/W0Uhu0hoQFI/AAAAAAAB6r4/zlRkobgjbK0r0WF3UUt7Io5fQ1EKOsYIgCLcBGAs/s400/20180701_222131.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Had to take a selfie in the lobby of our hotel at the end of the night.</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Denver, CO, USA39.7392358 -104.99025139.346544800000004 -105.6384445 40.1319268 -104.3420575tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-58543181040406090732018-06-30T23:00:00.000-06:002018-07-10T14:36:51.215-06:00Mystery Road Trip, Day 2Today we drove 475 miles: from Spearfish, SD to <a href="https://www.nps.gov/deto/index.htm" target="_blank">Devils Tower National Monument</a> (southwest of <a href="http://www.blackhillsbadlands.com/cities-towns/hulett-wyoming" target="_blank">Hulett, WY</a>) for some hiking--and then on to <a href="https://www.denver.org/" target="_blank">Denver, CO</a>, where we spent the night (with stops along the way in <a href="https://www.wrightwyoming.com/" target="_blank">Wright</a> and <a href="https://www.cheyenne.org/" target="_blank">Cheyenne, WY</a>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l8-UrDkxc5U/W0UXNeLl2jI/AAAAAAAB6pI/0Te9pAEtKKER0mGJDpHhjqqKGWwULQvYQCLcBGAs/s1600/20180630_110704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="923" data-original-width="1600" height="230" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l8-UrDkxc5U/W0UXNeLl2jI/AAAAAAAB6pI/0Te9pAEtKKER0mGJDpHhjqqKGWwULQvYQCLcBGAs/s400/20180630_110704.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A kind stranger snapped a family pic of us before we started our hike around the tower.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-msx6IHDnbho/W0UXNXcI2JI/AAAAAAAB6pM/fSw2xD-VlK8I-kGH2Lo2BoNRiy5WYMy5QCLcBGAs/s1600/20180630_111109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-msx6IHDnbho/W0UXNXcI2JI/AAAAAAAB6pM/fSw2xD-VlK8I-kGH2Lo2BoNRiy5WYMy5QCLcBGAs/s400/20180630_111109.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tower is an impressive geologic structure that looks different from each direction and is surrounded on all sides by impressive views of its environs.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s0ThPjCfOo8/W0UXNTq0r-I/AAAAAAAB6pE/Z5meJ2m-awIqdGk1MB_HCvtz7e7JXtRggCLcBGAs/s1600/20180630_203353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s0ThPjCfOo8/W0UXNTq0r-I/AAAAAAAB6pE/Z5meJ2m-awIqdGk1MB_HCvtz7e7JXtRggCLcBGAs/s400/20180630_203353.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">After exploring the area of downtown Denver near our hotel, we ended up at <a href="http://www.littleindiadowntowndenver.com/" target="_blank">Little India</a> for supper: papadam and dipping sauces to start followed by fish saag, chicken tikka masala, and shrimp korma with jasmine rice, raita, and naan.</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Denver, CO, USA39.7392358 -104.99025139.346544800000004 -105.6384445 40.1319268 -104.3420575tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-85907965100242570602018-06-29T23:00:00.000-06:002018-07-10T15:31:55.034-06:00Mystery Road Trip, Day 1Last Christmas we told the girls that we would take them this summer on a mystery road trip. Suzanna and Abigail work as camp counselors for <a href="https://www.badlandsministries.org/" target="_blank">Badlands Ministries</a> and are on duty most of the summer . . . except for Independence Day week, when camp is not in session. So that determined when we would go on our road trip and how long it would last! Susan and I discussed travel options, and she planned the itinerary . . . and all we told the girls was when we would leave and return and what they should pack.<br />
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As soon as Suzanna and Abigail returned to <a href="https://www.visitdickinson.com/" target="_blank">Dickinson</a> after the week's camp had ended, we packed up the vehicle and hit the road. We drove 204 miles to <a href="https://visitspearfish.com/" target="_blank">Spearfish, SD</a>, where we spent the night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8sjE3W58FHY/W0UQfOD283I/AAAAAAAB6og/4DK2xjxwMxYl0lcdxyIHOXMoq8zMMcw5wCKgBGAs/s1600/20180629_175443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1335" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8sjE3W58FHY/W0UQfOD283I/AAAAAAAB6og/4DK2xjxwMxYl0lcdxyIHOXMoq8zMMcw5wCKgBGAs/s400/20180629_175443.jpg" width="331" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Heading south out of Dickinson for parts unknown (to the girls, that is)!</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0Spearfish, SD, USA44.4908172 -103.859369744.399700700000004 -104.0214182 44.5819337 -103.6973212tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-37211311753520062932011-06-26T23:57:00.000-06:002018-07-11T17:38:55.335-06:002011 June 20-26<h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W9tBXVnk_sQ/UBdGnMc-LmI/AAAAAAAAHRM/UFMioDvgJF4/s1600/IMG_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W9tBXVnk_sQ/UBdGnMc-LmI/AAAAAAAAHRM/UFMioDvgJF4/s320/IMG_0034.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Monday, the girls (and Susan and Cassie) took their cousins swimming at the <a href="http://www.dickinsonparks.org/WRCC.asp" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">West River Community Center</a>. This was Marly's opinion of an opportunity to swim.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QN7pBqLUsX0/UBdGXP2vzAI/AAAAAAAAHRs/7ulow33aKAA/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QN7pBqLUsX0/UBdGXP2vzAI/AAAAAAAAHRs/7ulow33aKAA/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Davis, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy it! (That's Abigail holding him with Suzanna to the left and Hillary to the right.)</span></td></tr>
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</h3>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V9swvtKOM7Y/UBdGwqAwX6I/AAAAAAAAHRw/Z29jP5ZfMQU/s1600/IMG_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V9swvtKOM7Y/UBdGwqAwX6I/AAAAAAAAHRw/Z29jP5ZfMQU/s320/IMG_0024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tctYmPfvXKw/UBdG9Tqh5kI/AAAAAAAAHSE/e4WrGzDjB0Y/s1600/IMG_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tctYmPfvXKw/UBdG9Tqh5kI/AAAAAAAAHSE/e4WrGzDjB0Y/s320/IMG_0036.JPG" width="311" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Davis, his cousins, and "Unka Kevin" played outdoors a lot. (I think his hat may be a little too small for my head.)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UZOG5Gl1Rzs/UBdHBFEli4I/AAAAAAAAHR4/emjZWFm0JAo/s1600/IMG_0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UZOG5Gl1Rzs/UBdHBFEli4I/AAAAAAAAHR4/emjZWFm0JAo/s320/IMG_0037.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marly is nearly as amused with bathing in the bathroom sink as she was with swimming at the WRCC.</span></td></tr>
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<h3>
Thursday, June 23</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0R6aeJy_miA/UBdUsgBQ9_I/AAAAAAAAHVA/64WGWFGkabg/s1600/IMG_0039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0R6aeJy_miA/UBdUsgBQ9_I/AAAAAAAAHVA/64WGWFGkabg/s320/IMG_0039.JPG" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had to go to work, but Davis and all the ladies took a daytrip to </span><a href="http://www.medora.com/" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">Medora</a><span style="font-size: small;"> just to walk around and see some sights. Davis liked Medora's Wild West theme.</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDtXoBO4AuY/UBdUyWUVbZI/AAAAAAAAHVE/jj8p7kgwfKM/s1600/IMG_0044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GDtXoBO4AuY/UBdUyWUVbZI/AAAAAAAAHVE/jj8p7kgwfKM/s320/IMG_0044.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Suzanna, Davis, Hillary, and Abigail at the </span><a href="http://www.medora.com/what-to-do/?Medora-Children%27s-Park" rel="nofollow" style="font-size: medium;" target="_blank">children's park</a> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhkaMsTO83M/UBdU3S5pD1I/AAAAAAAAHVI/us9IQnEsCOQ/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FhkaMsTO83M/UBdU3S5pD1I/AAAAAAAAHVI/us9IQnEsCOQ/s320/IMG_0045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Medora, the group met up with Susan and Cassie's aunt Jake, her kids Jon and Kelli, and Kelli's daughter Kynnedi (that's Jake in the red and Kynnedi to her left) for some ice cream. They live in CO but are in the area for a family reunion that starts tomorrow (more pics on that to come).</span>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-3677412584621617432011-06-19T23:54:00.000-06:002013-09-26T17:01:12.854-06:002011 June 13-19<h3>
Friday, June 17</h3>
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The arrival of house guests: Susan's sister Cassie and her two kids, Davis (two years old) and Marly (three months old--and my soon-to-be goddaughter)!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S5lZ30XiG-Y/UBcW8kXXy7I/AAAAAAAAHLI/ndgLrUAGN8E/s1600/IMG_9753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S5lZ30XiG-Y/UBcW8kXXy7I/AAAAAAAAHLI/ndgLrUAGN8E/s320/IMG_9753.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Davis needed sunglasses for the car ride. Clever style of wearing them!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XRX8CWeDHf0/UBcXCM9BKlI/AAAAAAAAHO4/i2v_MaLHLZU/s1600/IMG_9756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XRX8CWeDHf0/UBcXCM9BKlI/AAAAAAAAHO4/i2v_MaLHLZU/s320/IMG_9756.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Abigail and I were delighted to meet Marly Sue!</span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<a name='more'></a>Saturday, June 18</h3>
<div>
A day-early Father's Day celebration in the morning (because Hillary's birthday is tomorrow, too, and we didn't want her to have to share "her day" with me), and a <i>Sankthansaften</i> celebration (<a href="http://kevinmoberg.blogspot.com/2010/06/sankthansaften-at-lake.html" target="_blank">recall</a>?) with our Sons of Norway lodge in the afternoon at <a href="http://www.fws.gov/lakeilo/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lake Ilo</a>, along with the arrival of another house guest: Susan and Cassie's brother Jerrett.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXaz4bHxrv0/UBcY0916lAI/AAAAAAAAHPo/papZ0FRL6P8/s1600/IMG_9773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FXaz4bHxrv0/UBcY0916lAI/AAAAAAAAHPo/papZ0FRL6P8/s320/IMG_9773.JPG" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Although opening my Father's Day gifts, I was already in the spirit of <i>Sankthansaften</i> in my Norwegian flag shirt.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k0gMfyr7BiY/UBcYoWZ9e9I/AAAAAAAAHPU/ivoG0Ei212g/s1600/IMG_9761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k0gMfyr7BiY/UBcYoWZ9e9I/AAAAAAAAHPU/ivoG0Ei212g/s320/IMG_9761.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Abigail was only too happy to hold Davis during the gift opening.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zJkvcp6KkFk/UBcYicmJKVI/AAAAAAAAHPQ/2znQWN6-VgA/s1600/IMG_9759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zJkvcp6KkFk/UBcYicmJKVI/AAAAAAAAHPQ/2znQWN6-VgA/s320/IMG_9759.JPG" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And Hillary felt the same about Marly.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VEMlJe3CMFA/UBcXVwzBS8I/AAAAAAAAHO8/N4sWvvT6fF4/s1600/IMG_9778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VEMlJe3CMFA/UBcXVwzBS8I/AAAAAAAAHO8/N4sWvvT6fF4/s320/IMG_9778.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Susan made two dishes to contribute to the <i>Sankthansaften</i> potluck. One was a platter of <i>laks smørbrød</i>: smoked slmon open-faced sandwiches on pumpernickel with chive, dill, cucumber, radish, red onion, capers, and parsley.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZMk1dkIomI/UBcXiT5GxkI/AAAAAAAAHPE/kcWtakV7QI8/s1600/IMG_9794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZMk1dkIomI/UBcXiT5GxkI/AAAAAAAAHPE/kcWtakV7QI8/s320/IMG_9794.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The other dish was <i>bløtkake</i>: white layer cake made from scratch, soaked in strawberry syrup, frosted with real whipped cream, and topped with strawberries.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9n1JzBP0Csw/UBcXdSQ4KOI/AAAAAAAAHPA/VFCb6eiM6ow/s1600/IMG_9789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9n1JzBP0Csw/UBcXdSQ4KOI/AAAAAAAAHPA/VFCb6eiM6ow/s320/IMG_9789.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-blUEPsZKmS4/UBcYWAggfOI/AAAAAAAAHMA/Cl4l9iBPZUk/s1600/IMG_9827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-blUEPsZKmS4/UBcYWAggfOI/AAAAAAAAHMA/Cl4l9iBPZUk/s320/IMG_9827.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The picnic area at Lake Ilo made for a beautiful spot for our Scandinavian Midsummer bonfire and potluck meal.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3RnA4zSTEw/UBcX4eVOgCI/AAAAAAAAHPI/9hlv3rH22n4/s1600/IMG_9818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b3RnA4zSTEw/UBcX4eVOgCI/AAAAAAAAHPI/9hlv3rH22n4/s320/IMG_9818.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We played <i>kubb</i>, an old Viking game that involves throwing sticks to knock down wooden pins for points. Here's an action shot featuring Hillary and Abigail.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oJ4SVwlIE_8/UBcYdJDvGhI/AAAAAAAAHMI/UrXtLR8-Gnw/s1600/IMG_9825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oJ4SVwlIE_8/UBcYdJDvGhI/AAAAAAAAHMI/UrXtLR8-Gnw/s320/IMG_9825.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A couple lodge members got the bonfire going.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gqMtTNJiAVQ/UBcYAt_zJPI/AAAAAAAAHPM/X-CkuwXz5R0/s1600/IMG_9834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gqMtTNJiAVQ/UBcYAt_zJPI/AAAAAAAAHPM/X-CkuwXz5R0/s320/IMG_9834.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Suzanna took Davis out to look at the lake. (He wasn't so much into playing <i>kubb</i>.)</span></td></tr>
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<h3>
Sunday, June 19</h3>
<div>
Hillary's 10th birthday!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rppK4ug47Us/UBcZyYtqtaI/AAAAAAAAHQU/aGdX_B4sPio/s1600/IMG_9854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rppK4ug47Us/UBcZyYtqtaI/AAAAAAAAHQU/aGdX_B4sPio/s320/IMG_9854.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Her day started with gifts in the morning. This was a homemade card from her sisters; in it, they wrote personalized notes so sweet that reading them aloud made Hillary cry!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CIfUmf4stu4/UBcZYF2oH7I/AAAAAAAAHP0/imtabUZ3xlQ/s1600/IMG_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CIfUmf4stu4/UBcZYF2oH7I/AAAAAAAAHP0/imtabUZ3xlQ/s320/IMG_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Daddy and his little girlies!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tpEHzktYJuQ/UBcZg6YfyMI/AAAAAAAAHQA/m7H0UKHorgA/s1600/IMG_0003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tpEHzktYJuQ/UBcZg6YfyMI/AAAAAAAAHQA/m7H0UKHorgA/s320/IMG_0003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">For her birthday supper, Hillary requested a meal at <a href="http://thegrubandpub.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sanford's Grub and Pub</a>. Here's our whole fam: Abigail, Suzanna, Susan, I, and Hillary.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6SFLGdTXMPE/UBcZoPrO1XI/AAAAAAAAHQM/t3f8hS5P1Uo/s1600/IMG_0011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6SFLGdTXMPE/UBcZoPrO1XI/AAAAAAAAHQM/t3f8hS5P1Uo/s320/IMG_0011.JPG" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Davis loves his "Unka Kevin."</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gQQ2P4f-hYI/UBcZsNAKGII/AAAAAAAAHQQ/DoA43tVZ6vU/s1600/IMG_0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gQQ2P4f-hYI/UBcZsNAKGII/AAAAAAAAHQQ/DoA43tVZ6vU/s320/IMG_0012.JPG" width="204" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The enormous chocolate chip cookie that the restaurant gave Hillary for a birthday dessert.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-1NQ9oAhh8/UBcZ_gX9REI/AAAAAAAAHQg/NEGc-L8JGKc/s1600/IMG_9869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8-1NQ9oAhh8/UBcZ_gX9REI/AAAAAAAAHQg/NEGc-L8JGKc/s320/IMG_9869.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marly just barely got here, and already she's sad about the prospect of having to leave again!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SicbVpT-MHw/UBcaD13MeFI/AAAAAAAAHQk/zXd3yGSJHvk/s1600/IMG_9870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SicbVpT-MHw/UBcaD13MeFI/AAAAAAAAHQk/zXd3yGSJHvk/s320/IMG_9870.JPG" width="286" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think Davis is un-amused at having to model the tiara. And rightly so.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhUQ-zshxec/UBcaJvibRzI/AAAAAAAAHQo/95G6S2gsDHY/s1600/IMG_9875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UhUQ-zshxec/UBcaJvibRzI/AAAAAAAAHQo/95G6S2gsDHY/s320/IMG_9875.JPG" width="247" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Susan's dad, Roger, holding his granddaughter Marly</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jV72CwNCVEs/UBcaPSuL1CI/AAAAAAAAHNw/GPRCOyGpDn8/s1600/IMG_9884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jV72CwNCVEs/UBcaPSuL1CI/AAAAAAAAHNw/GPRCOyGpDn8/s320/IMG_9884.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Time for some birthday cake, baked and frosted by Susan.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l9tEPfg9XiE/UBcaU1OZqeI/AAAAAAAAHQs/3oi9Sf1KgIo/s1600/IMG_9885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l9tEPfg9XiE/UBcaU1OZqeI/AAAAAAAAHQs/3oi9Sf1KgIo/s320/IMG_9885.JPG" width="157" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The obligatory pose with the birthday cake. Happy 10th birthday, sweet Hillary!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmBhDrLi8pg/UBcaemUlIVI/AAAAAAAAHQw/VXn1nTet1Ho/s1600/IMG_9893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BmBhDrLi8pg/UBcaemUlIVI/AAAAAAAAHQw/VXn1nTet1Ho/s320/IMG_9893.JPG" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Marly's excited . . . she thinks she's going to get a piece of that cake!</span></td></tr>
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Kevinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11964924780884894047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8199584.post-741158863358037342011-06-14T22:54:00.142-06:002011-06-17T12:23:31.908-06:00Seeing History Being MadeRuss and the gentlemen at Farmers Union Oil Co. in Westhope, ND did a fine job of <a href="http://kevinmoberg.blogspot.com/2011/06/unexpected-vacation-day-3.html">repairing our vehicle</a>; it ran smoothly the entire way home. We took Hwy 83 south toward Bismarck; and because we were in the area, we took advantage of the opportunity to turn off onto Hwy 200 and go to Riverdale, ND so that we could see an historic even in progress: the water being released from the spillway gates of the Garrison Dam.<br />
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(Remember: click on any photo to enlarge it for greater detail.)<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Faithful Reader, you may recall that, last fall, our family <a href="http://kevinmoberg.blogspot.com/2010/09/day-2-garrison-dam-and-power-plant.html">toured the Garrison Dam power plant</a> and spent some time <a href="http://kevinmoberg.blogspot.com/2010/09/labor-day-weekend-day-2-spillway-pond.html">frolicking at the recreation area</a> at the pond at the base of the dam's spillway. Looking north from the pond, this is what we saw back then:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hjojHmEbO68/TfuND0jrVcI/AAAAAAAAH88/4uCdSWms40E/s1600/when+it+was+dry+10-09-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hjojHmEbO68/TfuND0jrVcI/AAAAAAAAH88/4uCdSWms40E/s320/when+it+was+dry+10-09-04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
What looks like a fence railing along the top is actually the series of gates that make up the spillway. On the other side of those gates (to the north) is Lake Sakakawea, formed by Garrison Dam's stopping up of the Missouri River as it flows south. To the west of the spillway is the power plant, through which water from the Missouri flows out of Lake Sakakawea and continues south--so the Missouri River enters Lake Sakakawea near Williston in northwest ND and exits the lake here in central ND and then continues alongside Hwy 83, flows between the cities of Bismarck and Mandan, and goes on through SD and southward on its way to the Gulf of Mexico.<br />
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In the photo above, notice the closed spillway gates and the dry concrete leading downward from the spillway to the pond beneath it. The spillway was built for emergencies: just in case the water level rises too high in Lake Sakakawea and threatens the integrity of the dam by trying to spill over the top of it, the spillway gates can be opened to release water, which would flow out of the gates and down the concrete of the spillway, into the spillway pond, and southward, forming its own channel on its way to join the Missouri River south to Bismarck and Mandan. Since the dam's completion in 1953, the spillway gates have never been opened to relieve the dam of dangerously high water . . . until now.<br />
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Yep, if you have paid any attention to national news in recent months, you know about the record snowfall in the mountains of MT that is melting and running off into the rivers that feed the Missouri River; and you know about the record rainfall in MT and ND that is further increasing the water level in the river; and you know about the resulting flooding that is damaging property and cities all along the river. Each dam along the river is needing to release water to protect the dam, which further raises the water level for riverside cities downstream--a terrible domino effect that is damaging all sorts of property in communities throughout several states.<br />
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It was a sad reason to visit the Garrison Dam today, but to see the water shooting out of the spillway gates was impressive in its own way. We parked in a lot to the north of the spillway, and a sheriff held traffic so that we could walk across the highway to view the spillway from an area to the south of the dam and on the west side of the gates. (Yes, so many people have been coming to view the open spillway gates that the county has stationed a sheriff there to facilitate pedestrian traffic across the highway.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S04n2i-uGE/TfuMXQ66myI/AAAAAAAAH8g/hHA2CEDZY54/s1600/IMG_9721+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3S04n2i-uGE/TfuMXQ66myI/AAAAAAAAH8g/hHA2CEDZY54/s320/IMG_9721+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a view of the spillway gates from the north side, which is the lake side of the spillway. Water is being flowing from this side out those gates onto the concrete spillway on the other side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bb5bsXvxwy4/TfuMelb5LuI/AAAAAAAAH8k/ejZY-PyKyyw/s1600/IMG_9726+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bb5bsXvxwy4/TfuMelb5LuI/AAAAAAAAH8k/ejZY-PyKyyw/s320/IMG_9726+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here is the water rushing out each of the gates from Lake Sakakawea onto the concrete spillway on the south side of the dam.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dry concrete from the photo we took last fall is no longer dry. This is looking southward from the spillway gates.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uFvVLT6oC-o/TfuM1cFnP_I/AAAAAAAAH84/vUUEf1Kznzw/s1600/IMG_9742+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="120" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uFvVLT6oC-o/TfuM1cFnP_I/AAAAAAAAH84/vUUEf1Kznzw/s320/IMG_9742+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan took this photo from the window of the van as I drove east on Hwy 200 back toward Riverdale. The water rushing out of the spillway gates has formed its own channel across the countryside and flows off as far as the eye can see. At some point, it meets up with the Missouri River, raising the river's water levels for flooded and flooding cities to the south, including Bismarck and Mandan in ND.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpGk4exelZI/TfuMn3znHKI/AAAAAAAAH8w/v8LQpiyLtxA/s1600/IMG_9733+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fpGk4exelZI/TfuMn3znHKI/AAAAAAAAH8w/v8LQpiyLtxA/s320/IMG_9733+%25282%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a zoomed-in view of the gates with water rushing out of them. It's impressive to me that technology designed and built half a century ago, and never used for its purpose between then and now, should function just as planned.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyIJbRSW4CKKMeWA84bQW2dfIubY52-lXsTlx_exXVFBfnCTxdo308uuemTSlV_peZ2A3LaYPeWPag' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Here's a video clip to show the water in action.</span> </div><br />
After leaving, we continued on our way to Bismarck and stopped at the hospital to see my stepmom. She has been hospitalized for weeks (<a href="http://kevinmoberg.blogspot.com/2011/06/hospital-visitors.html">remember</a>?) but is looking much better: she's eating better than before, has more strength than I've seen for a long while, and even suggested that we all go with her down the hallway to a room with an organ in it so that I could play some songs for her to hear. She got herself into the wheelchair, and I played the organ for a bit before having the girls play their piano recital pieces for Grandma and Grandpa. Beverly anticipates being released within the next few days, and she will be <i>very</i> happy finally to be home again.<br />
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After hospital visiting hours ended, we stopped at <a href="http://www.sitdownandeat.com/">Kroll's Diner</a> for supper and now are home. Thanks to vehicle troubles, we had a longer weekend away than planned, making it all the nicer to be home again now.Kevin Moberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11107279652774289955noreply@blogger.com1Riverdale, ND, USA47.497499 -101.3712709000000147.485476999999996 -101.38308590000001 47.509521 -101.35945590000001