Standing tall...

Help to the rescue yesterday from someone we've known since he was a wee boy...thank goodness he still has big toys. Dick gets the chain hooked up to the rope around the tree clump...

...then Ray Allen lifts it up, so effortlessly.....

Dick removes the chain, so it is all unhooked now and in place, in what, five minutes of effort? Any job is made easier with the right equipment!

Wow...Ray Ray looks like his dad more and more...what a fine young man he is! He definitely comes from good stock...thanks bunches!

Thanks also to neighbor Al for holding the rope...nice looking tree, right? We'll certainly enjoy the shade it will provide after we let it settle and then remove the confining ropes. It is all nicely watered in and staked up to keep it standing tall.

On a current note, the inauguration is now complete, and we begin a new chapter in our country's history. May God bless President Obama, and may he stand tall on his campaign promises.

Life is good...we have our freedom, thanks to all the vets, past and present!!!

Grab it and Do it!!!

Grab it & Do it!

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!!!

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept in an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitchhiked

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse (lunar)

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo's David

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten cavier

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chicken pox

89. Saved someone's life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Lost a loved one

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

100. Read an entire book in one day

...thanks to Echoes of Grace for this idea! Enjoy your Monday, y'all, and do something for fun today, OK?

Oh yes, and a big Happy Birthday to Dan C! On this day in history, 1977 to be exact, it snowed right here in West Palm Beach. Trust me on this one...I was big as a barrel before Amy popped out on February 4. I remember it well!

Carnival Valor - Day 8 - Miami and home to the moho!

Here is a shot of the Port of Miami...

And one of the moho...welcome home!

Carnival Valor - Day 7 - final fun day at sea!

Today is our final 'fun day at sea.' Tomorrow we'll dock in Miami and then head home to the moho and Missy. I hope she's been a good girl while we've been away and not thrown any wild parties!

Here is a picture of one of the public areas onboard, copied from the Carnival site...

I think they should hire Miss Bee to take their pictures...she does good work:

I hope you've enjoyed the cruise with us. See y'all down the road...or in the air...or on the high seas........Life is good!

Carnival Valor - Day 6 - Second fun day at sea...

Y'all know that all these pictures were posted ahead of time, right? This is supposed to be what our stateroom looks like...and it does!

This is an actual photo of the water slide...thanks to Miss Bee, along with the next interior shots...
Isn't this gorgeous? I can see why this is Bee's fave Carnival ship. It honors our heroes, which is something we all need to remember to do. Just sayin'. Thank you, vets!

We tried going to the piano bar last night to hear Ron, but it was packed AND filled with smokers, so we couldn't stay:-( These ships need to be smoke free, people! There is a cigar bar...go use that!

We've found the food to be good, entertainment is hit and miss in our estimation, but that's OK. We do like one couple...Two's Company...she sings and he plays the keyboard. She does Whitney and Celine to a 'T' and is awesome! Had bitter and blac last night...divine! And had chocolate melting cake the other night...delish! Just for you, Bee!

Having fun on the High Seas...hope your day is super!

Carnival Valor - Day 5 - St. Maarten, NA

So this was us in '07 when we visited here with friends Jim and Janet and stayed in a condo. We are at the famed Sunset Beach Bar, with the airport seen in the background. Topless women drink for free here! I paid for my own beer, thank you very much!!!

And these are street vendors in Marigot...
...although we didn't venture over there. We had never walked around the dock area where the ships dock, so that is all we did and then went back to the ship for a relaxing afternoon. I did find Miss M's request, and I think she'll like what I got for her:-)

So what are y'all doing on this sunny (for us) Thursday? Snow is expected back in Mayberry, poor babies! I'm not sorry to miss that. Friday and Saturday are sea days, so we'll be doing more ship exploring. We'll go say HI to Ron at the piano bar for Big Ed of the Evil Crew (Bloggers' Cruise). Life is good!!!

Carnival Valor - Day 4 - St. Thomas, USVI

This is a beautiful island. We haven't been here in years, so I know we'll get off the ship today and look around...