Saturday, July 05, 2014

the traveling wall


So, if the week wasn't busy enough.... we had the chance to go and see the "traveling wall".. which is a 1/3 scale of the Vietnam Wall in Washington DC. This particular wall is going to be retired very soon, so this will be it's last visit here. The wall was set up in the Cabela's parking area, so Linda was asked to have some of the service puppies there as part of the ceremonies and to also be "comfort" to any of the folks who were coming to visit. 


The real wall in Washington is very impressive, and we visited it just a couple of years ago, when we went down for the wreaths Across America.  This wall is just about as nice and I love the way it was set up. 



It certainly touched the hearts of many people... I don't know how many came to see it, but I would have to guess a couple thousand anyways.....
It was nice to see one of the "wreath" trucks... which I dare say we'll see again in December. We're hoping to make another trip down with the wreaths this year.... time will tell.....

I had Danny with me, of course, but what was really cool was.. I had Rylie with me when we visited Washington... and since Rylie and Danny are half siblings... I wanted to "re-create" this photo.... 
We brought Abbie along and tried as best we could (to a four year old) explain what it was all about. Ed found the name of a young man that our family knew, and showed Abbie how to do a "rubbing" of his name. She was very interested and good, and I think she really tried to understand what this was all about. 
We haven't had any rain all week, and wouldn't you know, we had to deal with some today. But Linda just set up a nice tent and had all kinds of information about the service dogs to share. Getting the word out to our veterans about service dogs is important.. many didn't even know that much about them, so we handled out all kinds of literature. 
For anyone who lives around here, these ladies will look familiar... They are called the Freeport Flag Ladies... and every Tuesday... rain, shine, heat, cold.. no matter what, they stand together and hold the flag for all to see. I'm not sure how long they have done this.. I think they started just after 9/11... but they have not missed one Tuesday since.. and have become a bit famous because of it. So, we just had to have a photo of the service puppies and the ladies.....

Danny had a grand time meeting and greeting all the folks......

He certainly knows how to 'work the crowd".....


nice to see so many people, taking the time to come out and see the wall. So much work went into just getting it here, never mind all the set up, manning it and the like........

I have to say, though, the day did get be rather long. There were many speeches made, lots of people to talk with... and these two... just wore out in the end....

Danny and Otis... showing their love and support.....


This veteran really took a shine to Danny. He didn't know about service dogs, and said "if I could have this dog , I would have one in a minute"  sadly it doesn't work like that, but who knows... maybe Danny placed a little "seed" in his heart.......

It was quite a day.... one I will remember for a long time.....


Since the 4th was a little rainy... the folks around the lake decided to post pone the boat parade until Sunday (the 4th being a Friday). Bright and early in the morning they began to line up......


Abbie, the doggies and I all went down on the dock to watch the parade and wave to all the boats that joined in......


(I think Livy was happy to know I wasn't taking her there to swim....)

It was a fun parade... I think I counted 30 boats... some were decorated, and other were just there to join the fun.....


(don't know if this is a good thing or not.......)

It was such a pretty day... but a bit sad too... because this wonderful week has come to a close. I'm hoping we get to spend more time up to camp this summer, but the truth is... we have so much lined up.. it's going to be hard to even get back there....



puppy love.... Abbie tells me that Livy had a great time at camp.....












But ol' Silver seemed happy to see us pull up to the farm......

4th of July...


This week at camp has been the most fun... just as I thought it would be. It's so nice to step back from "life"... no time schedules, no commitments, just peace and sleep... well.. sleep for Camille, I have other things to do. 
Each morning we wake up to this view. I do have to run back and forth to the farm, and take care of the big animals... but other than that... we are right here. Ed and Nate have been going to work together, but because of the holiday..it's already a short week for them. The weather has been grand, and I just feel so very blessed. 
But, it hasn't all been "just sitting around". The strawberries are ready.. so early one morning before it got too hot, Sadie and Abbie, Kassy and Reagan, and me... packed up and headed to the berry patch. We were hoping to catch up with Mom and Dad, but they had beat us there and were on their way out of the patch when we arrived. 
It's a very good berry year, and all the kids got right to picking. Reagan came last year, but was just a little thing and in the stroller, this year, he's on his feet. I have to say, we all did pretty well to be able to pick berries and chase after him!!!!
He did discover that if he sat a moment, he could find (and eat berries)... but he's a busy little guy and even that didn't last very long!!!!
Abbie, on the other hand, was quite happy to sit and eat berries. We tried to convince her to help with the picking, but eating was just way more fun.....
Because the berries were so plentiful, it didn't take us long to fill up our baskets and head back to camp. Good thing, because it was already proving to become a very hot day.......
Back again, it was right to the water. Danny is absolutely loving this time. He now runs to the water and hops right in......
the other dogs are swimming too... but this boy really loves it....
and as much as he does swim, he is often just as happy just sitting and enjoying the lake like this...........
I had to convince Livy that swimming was fun. Not so sure that she agrees, but since she likes to be with me.... she did give it a try. Hunter and Trev sort of felt the same way about swimming when they first began, and now they love it too... so, well have to see what Livy thinks later.....
Abbie is getting very comfortable in the water. and her goal is to do a cannonball off the end of the dock before the summer is over. She certainly has no fear of swimming under water and I think she is spending about as much time under as above. 

Kass invited her friend Jenny and her three children to come and spend the day with us. The kids had such fun together and the lake is always "better with buddies".... kids, dogs, water and a hot day.... you just can beat it....
Reagan has been funny this year, how much he likes the lake sort of depends on the day. Some days he is beyond happy to go in and other days, not so much...... but I guess that's how it is when your just a year old...
Jenny, her new baby... Kass and Reagan... enjoying a little down time after playing in the water....
Sadie gets a fire going.. because you just can't be at camp and not roast marshmallows.....
And the two little girls became very good buddies...... 
One little tired boy at the end of each camp day...... 
But "giving up" at the end of the day is just something he's not ready to do. Kass decided that bedtime was just not going to be, and would happen once "someone decided to crash".
Another morning, and after a good night's sleep, we have one happy guy ready to take on another day of fun.....
Can't wait to get out there. The lake is "busy" because of the holiday, so there are always boats going by. Our neighbors are up, so there are kids to play with, and the lake is just alive with happiness and fun....
The ice cream truck knows a good thing and (smartly) makes his rounds each day. Who can resist ice cream being brought right to your door.....
Robbie shows off his mini bike, and if Reagan could manage it, he'd be riding right along. These boys (our camp neighbors) Rob and Dom have grown so much over the winter, and it's always fun to see them each summer. I have to say too... they are the sweetest kids, and now being the "big" ones on the street... (used to be Kassy and Sadie).. they are so good with the little ones....
We had a cookout on the 4th itself. And a small baby shower of sorts... Catie is expecting her little one in a few weeks. Because of camp, we didn't make it to her shower, but I think finding presents at camp made up for that.....
Next year, we will have another little one at camp..... that's always good news to me.....
We decided to fry a turkey again this year. Sometimes its nice to get away from the usual hamburger/hot dog thing. Ed has this turkey cooking down to a science and makes it all look so easy.....
Reagan had to watch Papa from inside.... he was just a little too curious about what Papa was doing and we felt safer keeping him in.....
Not one drop of rain all week, and of course, today .. with the cookout and all the family here, we did have to put up with some showers. Oh well......
it certainly did not stop the kids from swimming.........
And between the over head tent and the house, everyone found a good spot to sit, visit and eat. Fortunately the showers were more of a nuisance than a problem... and we just had to dash inside once in a while....
Amy and Reagan have a little chat....
Lunch is ready!!!!!!
visiting with Beepa!!!!!!
And Camille helps put the giant puzzle together....















Perfect holiday... perfect week... and I take the greatest joy in every moment of it.....