This is a picture of Dad and me at my youngest
brother's first wedding.

Happy Birthday to Dad...

who would have been 84 today.
Took flowers to the grave. Molly
went with me so I could tell her a bit
about her grandfather. She even sat
very still on his grave while I took
her picture.

I miss you, Dad. You would have loved
the weather today. High of 80 (it's almost
there now), beautiful sunshine, cool nights.

You would have loved meeting your
newest grandchild and your three new
great-grandbabies. You would have loved
Molly, too, and the house renovations
and the flower and herb gardens.

And you would have listened patiently
as I told you my concerns about my job
situation. And you would have wanted
Mom to go to the beach, but you know
she would never have done that while
you were living unless you went too.
I can think of very few places (in the
ten or so years preceding your death)
that she has been without you.

And you should see how beautiful
the shade garden is that you and Mom
started for me 4 or so years ago. The peonies
and hydrangeas are thriving, and so are the hostas.
Even the yuccas, which prefer sun, are growing well.
I've added coral bells and columbine and more
hostas and hydrangeas. I also planted an azalea
at the west end of the house--the very corner
of the shade garden. Some lily of the valley, too.

You know those bean poles you bought to border
off the garden area until I decided what I wanted to
do with it? Well, I removed them when I added
landscape rock around the garden, but I couldn't
get rid of them. They're stacked, upright, in the
corner behind the screened-in porch. Maybe I'll
even plant some pole beans next summer and I'll
use them. Been far too long since I had a vegetable
garden. I have my flowers and my herbs, but there's
nothing like home-grown eggplant and peas and
squash and tomatoes and corn and limas and peppers
of all kinds.

Yeah, maybe I'll do that, Dad.

Today, Christopher, Jessica, and baby Isaac
are on their way. I wish you could be here
to see them.

Well--gotta go. I'm crying now, which isn't a bad
thing but I have much to do before the kids get home.

Love you, Pop. Happy Birthday.

Molly in her lampshade. These were taken in early August. She's grown quite a bit since then. She had to wear the collar almost 5 weeks, but she's all healed up now and still being a pain-in-the-arse puppy most days, but I see improvement since she started obedience school.

Some examples of some art work in the house. The colors are much more vibrant than this scan shows. Don't know why I can't scan from a good pic and get a good scan. The pics were beautiful.

Part of the kitchen renovation. The counters are not all cluttered now so it looks much better. The corner cabinet is still doorless at the bottom but we will be putting the doors back on. A work island will be built in the center of the kitchen. In the pictures of Molly, you can see the floor.

These pictures don't do justice to the hardy hibisus. The pics were good but apparently I don't know how to scan!