AND, THE REUNION GETS CRAZIER

PART OF A LONGER PERFORMANCE is this video of Julia Baker singing "He's got the Whole World in His Hands" in Kazakh. The other childfren sang, did a scarf dance, and made up some songs with actions all their own.

ANOTHER VIDEO of the kids performing. They seem always to decide that they have some important gifts to share.....and they do!

THE FINAL VIDEO gives a wonderful look at a child losing a tooth. Maddie had a bottom front tooth that was so loose that it laid flat in her mouth. Two bills, a $20 and a single nudged her to flip out the tooth all by herself. She was pleased. Hope you enjoy the video.

During the day, Andrew took passengers out on Shawano Lake for pontoon rides.

The shoreline is not so hilly, but when one takes a panoramic shot from a pontoon boat, there tend to be ups and downs both on the watercraft and on the shoreline.

Athena loves the pontoon ride.



Julia Baker loves the pontoon ride, too. Andrew took us to Lake Washington.

 Madison Richter thought that this "homely" toad was just so very special that she decided to show it to everyone who was willing to take a closer look. Of course, there were some who wanted no part of it!

 Nathan and Holly enjoy a brief moment alone from the crowd with some special beverages.

 John and Miriam entertain the kids with some of the tallest tales ever heard..............

While Esther wows the hearts of the adults with her warm fun-loving manner.

Asher was mighty proud of his sunfish (bluegill). He also caught others including a northern pike.

Jacob and Braeden and a few other guys were out on the pontoon later in the evening to catch these nice two largemouth bass.

"IN THE REUNION BEGINNING"

Here we are at the start. The weather is good; the friendship is good; it's as if we are starting right where we left off three years ago); Nathan is coordinating a good kitchen; and we are blessed to be here. Whispering Pines, Shawano, June 29 - July 5, 2012.

First, watch the video, on the first evening of the reunion.

The kids rule. Megan is the hit of the evening.

Eagle-eye Daniel takes it all in.

Mom, Jessica, takes in the evening activities.

The kitchen staff makes it all happen. This year, Nathan is the one in charge. Great food!

Ross and Taylor try for the big ones.

Well, Mr. Frog, I guess he knows that he's much too small to have his legs in the frying pan.

LILIES

Luke 12:27  "Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these."  Jesus Christ

THERE IS NOT MUCH I CAN SAY ABOUT THESE LILIES. THEY SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!!

These beauties are growing along Main Street in Stevens Point, not too far from where we used to live.

Aren't the colors amazing?

These are at our home!



These are at our home also!

The Japanese say that before a flower begins to open, it is at that time the most beautiful. When the flower once opens, then it is on its way to dying. You will notice that in "Ikebana" there are many unopened flowers.

ROADSIDE TREASURES

Driving along the roadways (not the interstates, but our local and county roads) is exciting these days. All kinds of flowers are seen - some ordinary, others surprises.

Butterfly weed

Purple coneflower

Don't know about this one. Looks like some kind of a "bladderwort." Any ideas?

Milkweed (related to butterfly weed) is loved by the monarch butterfly.

Yellow conflower and a friendly bee/wasp?

This little guy is as common as flies (but don't know what it is)

Blue flag



Common daylily

Isn't this a beauty (common roadside/garden daylily)

FARMER'S MARKET

About a year ago, the old farmer's market in the square was demolished. The old had a permanent roof, but apparently there just was not enough space for all of the vendors (and anyway, the city just wants to burn money so that more people will come downtown). So they built a fountain (a really cool one that children love) and cemented a large area so that the marketers could bring in their tents in order to sell produce.



While I have not been a frequent customer at the FM, I have noticed a change in sellers over the years since 2000. My first recollection was mostly older people, probably from Polish descent, who only sold vegetables. Then came the Hmong who as farmers back in Laos were extremely good gardeners. Little by little, more and more Hmong began to sell their wonderful produce. Along with them came a variety of flower bouquets. Just recently, I've noted that Amish have begun to sell, and with them comes all kinds of baked goods.

There are a group of Hmong young people who sell both fried egg rolls and also fresh spring rolls. Occasionally you will see jams and jellies and pickles. I remember last fall, there was one seller who only had canned goods, of all kinds, to sell.

Note the neat packaging. Produce is washed and otherwise cleaned.



The sales, obviously, are made because of the display of the items and also a relationship with the vendor.

It's early for tomatoes. I have small ones on my vines, both cherry and roma, and maybe within two to three weeks, some will begin to ripen.

This lady advertises her "hydroponically" grown tomatoes. And, wow, did they ever look good enough to eat right on the spot.

No, the dog is not a part of what is being sold!

SUMMER SOLSTICE - MIDSUMMER'S EVE

Summer Solstice is celebrated the Friday nearest the first day of summer. The pagan holiday dates back to the Vikings, but can be celebrated today by Christians as the nativity of St. John. It is also six months prior to Christmas.

The event centers around a freshly cut May Pole decorated with greens. Upon the placement of the pole that has a crossbar added, folk and traditional music is played, and men, women, and children "ring dance" around the pole. Of course, the pole looks like the Jesus cross we usually see.

The whole event seemed to be just a special excuse for family and friends to gather. The weather was unusually beautiful and the bugs absented themselves totally from the area.

Ida Frizzell and her grandson, Bryce, hand out gloves to protect hands from the sap of the pole.

Marlene prepares some of the "children's music" for the dancing. Sadly, as noted in the VIDEO, the singers could not hear the keyboard and so music and singing was terribly dissonent.

Mostly the men donned the yellow work gloves for the work of righting the pole.

WATCH VIDEO OF THE POLE BEING SET IN PLACE!

"Goodies" followed the dancing. Traditional foods are new potatoes, Swedish meat balls, cheese, herring, Swedish crisp bread (roslaysbrod), fresh strawberries and whipped cream (jordgubbskram) and schnapps. Tap Point root beer, Amherst Central Waters beer, and wine were also available.

TURNED OUT TO BE A NICE PARTY FOR ABOUT 25 PEOPLE!

GARDEN: THEN AND NOW; FLOWERS GALORE

The garden then, and now. Quite a difference I'd say. We're harvesting swiss chard, onions, garlic scapes (the tasty seed heads), broccoli, asparagus, carrots, romaine lettuce, and snap peas. The funny thing is, the older I get, the more I like salads. Fifteen years ago, I would never have said that!!

The garden as it looked THEN.......the upper garden  and the lower garden

The garden as it looks TODAY.......the now upper garden and the now lower garden

Clematis on the west side of my workshop. This could be an LWML theme picture - the right colors.

Don't know what these are called, but they are perennials.

I think that this might be the last iris of the summer.

This little guy was sitting on a rock when I launched the boat to fish.

Don't know what these are called either, but Rob said that they were Mother's favorite flowers.

These gallardia, also called blanket flower, grow easily under the washline. They do spread.

Shasta daisies grow naturally in our "meadow" areas around the house. They really provide a splash of color right now.

It's a beautiful time of the year here in Rosholt. I love the many different kinds of flowers (especially the lilies that are soon to burst into bloom) with their reflections of joy and excitement. And I love the garden veggies, ready to eat and so very healthy.

Yesterday I staked the tomatoes for the second time. With the 1/2 inch of rain last night and the nice warm weather, everything grows like crazy. Fortunately, I have kept up with the weeds so that they are not a problem for me at this time. I picked swiss chard and sent it with Karol for her coteachers in the "English For College" program. I guess that they enjoy all the fresh produce too. And I have an abundance.