Christmas past

Some scenes from Christmas as we file the year into history.

Aki places her jello salad onto a silver platter for her annual Christmas brunch with her friends.

A refreshing salad.

A business card holder with Larsen's likeness is a thoughtful gift from a colleague.

Some R&R during the Christmas season.

Memorial Day

Although the origins are ambiguous, Memorial day in the US seems to date back to the Civil War, and probably originated in the south, as May provided a fine month for remembrances and decorating the graves of the fallen.  Today we honor sacrifices of those who have died in all of the nation's wars.

"Memorial Day in America – or, if you're a real old-timer, Decoration Day, a day for decorating the graves of the Civil War dead. The songs many of those soldiers marched to are still known today – "The Yellow Rose Of Texas", "When Johnny Comes Marching Home", "Dixie". But this one belongs in a category all its own:

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored…

See the rest of the story at Steynonline.

4th of July, final report

Memphis style ribs, cole slaw, baked beans, and blueberry pie were the order of this red, white, and blue day.  Ray and MaryAnne Brown stopped by to complete the festivities.

Ray Brown views the set table.  MaryAnne is in the mirror (click on photo to see entirety).

Aki's Memphis-styled BBQ ribs were a hit.

The blueberry pie put some new notches in the belt.

Fireworks, interrupted.  Larsen glowers at Chance (not in photo) from within his crate.  

4th of July, so far

Aki went off to run the Peachtree Road Race, the 10-K that features over 60,000 of the most elite runners in Atlanta.

Larsen and I snuck off to Lake Alatoona, where a "dogs on 6-foot leash" sign recently had been installed.  I had to chase Larsen from one end of the lake to the other to try and get his lead on him.

Aki pins on her number in anticipation of the road race.

It was cool, 67 degrees, but humid, at 90+ before the  race.

Congratulations, Aki.  Another Peachtree Road Race in the record books.

Father's day 2012

Mom and dad April, 1951.

Flag day 2012

Red & white and red, white & blue

On this day of remembrance, we thank the servicemen and women who safeguard our liberty.

(Although the photo does not show it, McDonalds correctly is displaying the flag at half mast.  The flag will be raised to full mast at noon.)