Smoke'n

I smoked my first Turkey yesterday.

Had Trouble getting it lit.  

Not to worry ...I didn't inhale!

Partial Eclipse of the Sun

 Today as the sun was eclipsed I set up my auto darkening welding helmet for it's darkest setting and greatest sensitivity to look at the eclipse.  As you can see above, the inside of the helmet, when darkened, reflects the light back.  To be able to see the images clearly I had to have the sun reflect into a dark reflection like the lens or the back head strap.   ( This artsy picture is for you Jennifer!)

Here is a picture where you see the reflection behind the camera and the sun in the head band.   Some of the pictures below are taken using the zoom and centering on the black spot made by the lens lens reflection as below.  Others are magnified off of the head band reflection.

In this picture and the one below, there is a false reflection you see on the left.

Light clouds (Haze) started moving  over the sun an as the time went on the sun became obscured to the point that the welding helmet would not darken immediately.  Soon after this picture was taken we could not watch the eclipse any longer.

We are on our way home now.  For 40 years we have passed through Seattle, spending the occasional night but only going airport to motel and back to the airport.  This year we spent a day in Seattle.  Here is some of what we saw.

We took the Light Rail and I was able to navigate the ticket kiosk.

 Once there, we navigated the three blocks to the Market.

 We saw them throw the fish although it is not in this picture.

 On the Light Rail we went by SAFECO Field.

 View from the window at the lunch restaurant.  Very good clam chowder.

 

 Seattle Skyline  Click on the picture and see if you can find the Space Needle.

We saw these purple flowers on the way to the Market.  We watched for them all the way back to the Sea Tac Light Rail.  We saw them and snapped the picture at the exact wrong time getting part of the art and not all the flowers.

Patsy and I spent the next week visiting dad and Betty in Phoenix.  The weather, mid to high 80s with lots of sun, was great!  We enjoyed sitting out on the patio and visiting, playing Bingo, and having lunch in the Regency Dining room.  One of the highlights was talking to grand kids via Skype.  The computer is in a public area of the activity room so several people came over to see what we were doing.  Skype is a new installation at the retirement home.

 I don't think I mentioned that Aunt Ev, dads sister, just moved in the week before we came.  we enjoyed visiting with her too.  Here is a picture of the three of us after lunch one day.  If you think that dad looks different you are right.  He had cataract surgery a couple months ago and after about 75 years, does not need to wear glasses anymore.  He has a pair of drug store reading glasses that he uses to read small print but for the most part he does not need glasses.

Since his leg infection dad is working up to longer walks.  For now, when we go to the dining room or when he has to go beyond his building he uses his electric cart.  Here we are getting ready to enter the dining room for lunch.

Spring Break in Portland

Patsy and I spent Spring Break in Portland with The Rusts.  We played games, ate at Sonic, made Puppets, ate at Sonic, watched the rain fall (all week long) ate at Sonic, went to a movie,  .... You get the idea we had fun with the kids.  They also went to famous Dave's for barbeque for papa and that was appreciated.  We decorated foam Easter eggs, Patsy had quite a few beauty treatments from Cate and her Barbie Beauty kit.  We had a great time.

We took a walk and found at tree in Bloom.  The blooms above are coming out of the trunk of the tree.  Below are the limbs.

Here is Cate and the work of art she created.  (The Camera smudged Patsy not Cate.)

Here is Luke Pulling the strings on his Puppet and his puppet below.

Cate and her puppet known as Bobby.

Caleb and his one eyed puppet.

Sno-Machine or Sled?

Brian and Hope got a new sled and Brian and I went for a break-in ride today at Chena Lakes. Brian is going on the Tok to Dawson City (and back) run next week. the Cat is a lot more comfortable than my old Tundra. (It's faster too!)

Catch up Late entries

Here are a couple of Pictures from the past week.

Brian made it in from Haines Junction early Monday Morning. He didn't look too worse for wear.


Tonight I did get a picture of Philip, ready to go home, decked out for winter, sneaking a look at nana. I't's about -30 F tonight.