NO RABBIT EARS!!

The last train ride (recently)

In Antonito I made quick friends with the crew of the train, in case we might need something en route.



Eric checked out the entrance to the engine.



All ABOARD!



And then we were on our way. From the flatland and chicos and sage to the foothills, and beyond.



We have all heard about the light at the end of the tunnel.

Here it is ....====>



Even when we were not in the tunnel, things were not always that clear.



Half way through the trip we stopped at Osier and had lunch.



OH MY! Here we go again.

Another Major Scout Award

A few years ago I was the Scoutmaster in my ward. The boys and I went to camp at Camp Tahuaya near Temple. The Senior Patrol Leader was Kevin McCann. On the first day of camp Kevin was not very interested in staying another day. Mark Jacobson was there to help with the camp. He convinced Kevin to stay another day. Kevin stayed. When Friday rolled around and it was time to go home Kevin was sad and wanted to stay longer. I think in the long run it was an experience that he will remember.

One of those days I came back into camp and found that the inside of the tent where I had my gear and I slept was covered with "Silly String". I was not pleased and figured that it was a conspiracy. I retaliated by going around the campsite and pulling all the stakes out of the tents in the campsite. As I was in the process of carrying out my revenge, Kevin came into camp and confessed that he was the one who sabotaged my tent. I had him clean it up and then I had to eat some humble pie and put back up some of the other tents.

Last week Kevin had his Eagle Court of Honor. Kevin gave me the pin noted above in recognition of the contribution that I gave him in scouting. His mother informed me that Kevin wanted to tape it to a can of silly string. I did make an acceptance speech.

"This makes up for the silly string in my tent."

It was nice to see Kevin receive his Eagle badge.

Eric has sent his papers to Hurst Texas to the scout office to be reviewed. We are waiting for his board of review to be set.

Our Garden

In the past week Jeanette and I went out and harvested from our garden while Eric was off to scout camp. We harvested mostly peppers, but there were a few tomatoes and a cucumber. There are serrano peppers, and banana peppers, and jalpeno peppers. They may a good mix for chopping up and putting in an omelet. I cooked myself a bunch this morning, and Jeanette wanted some bacon and eggs. I cooked Jeanette's food in a separate skillet so as not to contaminate her food with spicy pepper oil. I used the same spatula to turn her egg. That was not what she wanted.



If you peak in there, you can see some fine peppers just begging to be harvested.



The tomatoe plants are almost passed, but they will provide me with some salsa base before the end. The potatoes are probably ready to harvest too.

Rope Bridge Again

I was asked to come put up the rope bridge and do a lesson on knots with the 11 year old scouts at their daycamp. Jeanette and Eric came with me to help.



Each of the boys made a contribution by adding in a segment of rope between the upper pair and the lower rope.



The rope was well tied.



Some of the adults went over the bridge too. Jeanette promised not to take pictures while they were on the bridge, but that did not get rid of this one.



Yea Jeanette!

Springtime

As I headed out the back door with the camera Jeanette asked, "Where do you think you are going?" I confessed that I was going out to take some pictures.



Our garden has grown quite a lot the past couple weeks. We have two watering troughs that we have converted into raised garden beds. Donnie and Gloria helped us mix the soil when they came to visit us a few years ago.



Another view....



If you look closely you can see some of the precious flowers growing on the pepper plant beside some wonderful to be soon edible green peppers.



Here is a cucumber blossom. It is climbing up on the tomatoes.



The view behind is not nearly as nice. Our neighbors children play as the the fence is a goal for their soccer practice.



Around the front where the prickly pear is blooming.



One of my favorite flowers.



Spring is here.



Maybe it is time to get some of the junk cleaned up on the driveway. That pile of compost by little gray still needs to be spread.



Where ya' been dad?