Thursday, May 23, 2013

Yellow Rose Time is upon us.


The annual Suzanne Jacobson Memorial Fund annual fund raiser is coming up the first week of June, the 3rd through 7th. To learn more about this fund raiser and what it provides click onto the following link.

Download the Suzanne Jacobson Memorial Fund Brochure and Form

Cocobolo on the left, Bocote on the
right.
In honor of this fund, Abby & I have made some pens and will be selling them with all of the profits on the Cocobolo and Bocote pens, selling for $20.00, going to the SJMF. On Saturday, June 8th, 2013 we'll be set up in downtown Watertown, SD in front of the Northern Light Stain Glass shop selling our pens, and if you buy one, we'll throw in a Yellow Rose. For my friends and family members online, if you would like to purchase one, let me know, send $20.00 to me at 1122 43rd St. NW, Watertown, SD 57201, and I'll mail you one.(Sorry no rose)

Now here are the photos of Abby & I making these pens.

It starts at the table saw, the blanks
are cut.

Abby glueing the tubes into the
blanks.

Abby working on the Lathe
turning the pens to size.


Our Cocobolo line up.

The Bocote line up.

John taking his turn on the
lathe.



Drilling the blanks for the
tubes.
Abby assembles the pens.

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Goodbye's are always hard

Grabby getting goodbye hug
from Scout.
We have ended our trip to Berlin and this morning we sit in Minneapolis, MN and reflect on our trip. We are truly blessed for a couple of reasons. We have such a wonderful family, that we do love to spend time with. That we can afford to make these trips.

Grandpapa and Scout saying goodbye.
Becca has been able to get us to some great touring sites. Japan, Sweden, United Kingdom, Crete, Spain, Estonia, and now Germany. We have always enjoyed our trips, look forward to more of them, and I hope that all of you that read my blogs enjoy me sharing our family's time together.
Abby, Scout, Becca, & John
one last photo at the Airport.


 Two weeks of vacation goes by quickly. In those two weeks we were blessed to see our lil flicka Scout grow so much! Rolling over, crawling, gaining more attention to her surroundings. Getting to know Grabby and Grandpapa, coming out in the morning with a great smile. All of this brings the two of us to want more. The distant between us hurts, the memories heel.

Life is great! We know that we are not the only grandparents that have their families away from them. Whether it's one or thousands of miles, the urning to hug, kiss, watch, the growth of the next generation grow and mature, will always be with us.

Until our next meeting we'll cherish our last. God Bless our family, and all of yours.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Day 11-Berlin

As I wake and turn on my lap top, I find a ruthless act of terrorism occurs in Boston. I pray for all of the people affected by this act. I pray for all mankind.

We tour the city of Berlin, a city that has been here for more than 750 years. A city that was more than 70% destroyed in WWII. A city that was divided for around 29 years during the cold war.

Remains of the wall now a
gallery.
Becca told us a story of a co-worker, friend, that grew up in East Berlin. She was about 9 years old when the wall came down. She told Becca that the government gave them some West Berlin money so that when they crossed for the first time from East to West, they could buy something. Her memory was yogurt. In the East they had yogurt, one flavor fits all! In the West, there was flavors, a rainbow of flavors.

Yesterday, it was around 70*F in Berlin. A wonderful, coming out type of a day! There were thousands of people milling about the city. On the side walks, in the parks, all taking in the warmth of the sun.

Check point Charlie.
More East side gallery art.
More East side gallery art.
All of this glory, and yet when you tour a great city like Berlin, the reminders are there.

Next to check point charlie now is a McDonald's, Becca said it best, the West has won.
Becca & Scout at our lunch stop.

 We get off our bus to stretch our legs and grab a bite to eat. We're in the Western part of Berlin, Charlottenburg, we find a brewhouse and partake in local German cuisine. I love the German sausage that is available, goes great with the beer and kraut.

Our bus tour is available for 2 days on the tickets we bought. So Abby & I will go back to a couple of the spots for closer inspection. Specifically, we are going back to a antique area and Check Point Charlie.
The TV Tower, tallest building in Berlin.

Daughter & Mother.
We were going to go up in the TV Tower last night, but wouldn't you know it, of all days, it was closed for maintenance on 4/15/2013.
Grandpapa & Scout on the bus.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Sunday Day 10-Berlin-Breaking the Mold


For my friends, you know who you are! 

Becca, Scout, & Grabby.

Jesper & Scout.

German Capitol.

Everybody pedals here.
Brandonburg Gate.
Todays post will be photos only, enjoy!
Beautiful reflections.

Becca & Scout.

Tax write off!

East to West.

Night caps, White Russians!

Friday evening walk.
Abby, Scout, & John.
Grandpapa & Scout, morning time.

Friday evening drink.
Becca, Scout, & John.

German beer, yummy!
Passport stamp.

Abby & Jesper.

Day 7-Berlin

Spicy or Mild they were both
good!
Becca & Jesper's favorite Pizza
Parlor. 
A little rain, cloudy skies, then the sun pops out, the temperature has been very nice, around 50* to 55* F. Our walking helps us offset the wonderful food that is available around us. Thai, Indian, Spanish, Italian, of course German, the choices are many, the flavors are bountiful.

The Spanish Restaurant "Tauro".
 The wine and beer are always so complimentary of the food. 

Today we look forward to riding the tram and expanding our tour of Berlin. On the way to the tram we'll walk through a Saturday market. The population of Berlin is over 3.5 million and over 80% of these people live in apartments. As we walk about, there'll be blocks with just apartment buildings, then some with stores on the first floor or even in the basements. All types of shops, makes you wonder how they survive. We haven't seen any large box stores, yet. 

Getting back to the market. The vendors offer many items from fruits, meats, cheese, clothing, olive oil and olives, wines, and the list go on and on!

Lot's of people walk, there's lots of cars, lots of bikes. The ladies push strollers, dogs are being walked.
The journey continues....
Of course Grabby & Scout enjoying each other!


Thursday, April 11, 2013

Day 5-Berlin

Abby next to the Berlin Wall.
Abby & I walked to the Berlin Wall or what's left of it, which is the history. Relics of the wall still stand, and iron pipes are set in the ground to give the appearance
Relics of the wall.
of the wall. As you walk along in the DMZ, you read about the history of the wall. Least we forget that this not only divided a city, but a country as well! Thousand escaped the east, 136 tried and died.

As we walk about the city center, we find many shops, bakery's, clothing, shoes, bicycle, markets, restaurants, bars, and the list goes on. Great cathedral's and synagogue's are around us. The bells ring daily.
Synagogue
Lunch pleasures! 
 Breaks for latte's and muffins are easily to take as we walk through the streets. Stops for lunch, never going back to the same location twice, but always duplicating our beer at lunch. The Europeans have that down!

This evening, we're tired so Abby and Becca prepared our evening meal, we watch a movie, and play with our lil flicka, Scout.
Our lil flicka, Scout!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Day 3

Vietnamese food is found quite often.
Of course we all here can't play, so while Becca works, the rest of us play! Abby, Scout, and I went to the store yesterday to shop for the days grocery's. That is one thing I noticed about Europe is that there are plenty of market's, bakery's, to go to. I have said before and will say again, the breads are the best in Europe!
The lower level here is Pizza.

Fish & Chips, pub style bar, serves a South Dakota flank steak
Home cooked meal.
 Three of the places we have ate thus far. We went to the pizza place the first day. Thin curst pizza was very good. Then supper at White Trash, which also serves as a Tattoo parlor. I couldn't talk Abby into that yet! Then yesterday, Abby & I was out walking around and took in a light lunch at the Vietnamese restaurant, spring rolls with chicken and shrimp, wontons, and chicken satay. Mint tea for Abby and Earl Grey for John.

Last night was John's turn to cook. So at the market we picked up pork chops & fresh vegetables, baked in a tomato base.

After supper walk took us for a couple of night caps. On a personal note, I've woken to some great blood sugar counts. The only thing I can contribute this to is the amount of walking we do when over in Europe. This should tell me something shouldn't it. Until the next blog, we say auf wiedersehen..
Grabby gets to feed Scout!