Day 2 Glacier Vacation

Day Two: We made 685 miles and got to Rapid City, South Dakota. We saw Jennifer doing lots of safe driving. Paul made better time, but at an emotional cost... Something neat in the rearview mirror but I can't remember what.

The discovery of gold in 1874 brought an influx of settlers into the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Rapid City was founded in 1876 by a group of disappointed miners, who promoted their new city as the "Gateway to the Black Hills." John Brennan and Samuel Scott, with a small group of men, laid out the site of the present Rapid City, which was named for the spring-fed Rapid Creek that flows through it.

Rest stop lady offered to take our picture together. After having taken the picture she wanted to see the picture. It was so sunny she stood very close to me while I worked the camera. She looked up at me while standing close and said, "You smell good." Jennifer jumped in and said, "He's mine," and we loaded up and took off down the road.

Do I look like a tourist yet? Must remember to suck in the gut for future pictures....

Day 1 Glacier Vacation

Day One: Made 220 miles to Weston, MO. Stayed with niece Emily and nephew David. They were so much fun and great hosts. Even got to read their Kansas City newspaper. David worked all night and Emily hopped up early and went off to her job. Got a great night's rest...

We were glad to leave after work and get 200+ miles of the trip underway. Listened to Dan Brown's Deception Point as we drove. Jennifer only put her hand up a few times to ward off the trucks that were too close.

Summer Camping?

Visited the girls the other day and they were practicing their camping skills. Someday off into the wild. Not just yet I think...

Bye Ange - Green/Baker Girls

Here Grandma Gogo (aka Ange Green), Jasmine Green, Nanna (aka Jennifer Baker) holding Stella Green, and Addison Green pose on the loveseat. What fun we had being together. If you look closely you will see that Addison has an eye with some extra color. This came from jumping on the bed and falling on a bed post--not surprising if you consider how active and fearless Addie is.

July 4th Picked First Real Tomato Off My Vines

Oh Joy... Oh Rapture... My first home grown tomato in 12 years. It is my first garden tomato since moving to Springfield eleven years ago. It was so good..

Look at my rhubarb. It is for the first time growing here in Missouri. It seems to like the edge of the new raised bed. Can you taste the pie?

Took this photo so you could see the asparagus support I constructed. The asparagus would always grow about 6 feet tall and then fall over the bed and into the yard. What a mess and it was hard to mow. This farm panel turned on it side is just the ticket to hold up these plants.

Stella Joins the Family

July 4th - Stella was baptized today at Redeemer. Here is the little sweetheart getting all reved up for the event. Her American grandmother, (Nanna aka Jennifer) is holding her. Her African grandmother, (Gogo--aka Ange) is seated next to her.

Pastor Maas did the official deed - Here is Stella being baptized. Miriam is holding Stella.

This is the extended family from Alex's side that were ablel to be present. From elft to right they are: Justin, Jasmine, Claudia, Alex, Miriam (holding Stella) Addison (being held by Hailey) and Ange. Claudia and Hailey are Alex's cousins. Justin is married to Claudia.

Out Doing Fun Things

Springfield has some of the neatest things. Newly added to that list is a diverging diamond that is supposed to reduce traffic congestion, but it may just confuse drivers in the Ozarks. This traffic wonder is located at Hwy 13 north and I-44. Jennifer suggested we drive the new diamond. All went well on the way north, but the traffic lights were not working and the diamond quickly became a bottle neck. Using stop and go moves we passed through the diamond and headed north. Traffic on that side was backed up for miles. I am guessing these folks were ready to hurt someone. We took another route home. We've been told that this is the first diverging diamond in the U.S. We have our doubts about how well it will catch on. Always good to do something new.