Sarah & Josh's Big Day

Both Sandy and Betsy have already posted pictures from Sarah and Josh's wedding day. Check out their blogs too. Here are mine, in no special order. I wish I had taken more pictures. For example, here is my newest Swedish great nephew, Oliver William, with his lovely mom. Unfortunately, I didn't get a single picture of Felix.

Clara was resting a bit before the wedding. Later, she danced the night away.

Here is my good looking spouse and my oldest grandson, Henry, the author of books about dinosaurs.

Henry and Clara were willing to pose for me for a change. Sarah and Josh used roses and baby's breath for most of their decorations.

Jessica and Mike came from Nashville. I've never seen a bad picture of the two of them. Great smiles! And in another three plus months, they will be blessing us with another grandchild! Yay!

Cousins from Iowa City and California were also there.

Anders liked the baby's breath. He also danced the night away.

The person who introduced Sarah and Josh to each other gave the opening toast. Sorry, but I don't remember her name.

Here's their first dance as a married couple. They looked terrific. Sarah was so pretty and Josh so handsome, and they really had some moves on the dance floor.

I took this shot from a distance. Neither Anders nor Will probably knows that I took it. I have no idea what they were discussing.

Eleanor and her Pop watched the dancing, but they danced together also.

Eleanor liked the chocolate fountain and made herself some chocolate strawberries.

Cousins! I have so many great pictures of these two darling girls through the years. Here is one more.

Tighe Update

Tighe is now presumably half grown. We like his masked face and his curled tail. He is becoming more mature in his behavior but still has a long way to go.

Sometimes, he is very hungry.

There Is Always More Fun to Be Had at the Lake

Good friends, Dick and Rina, were here for most of last week. Of course there was fishing. Dick just couldn't get enough of it. He prefers to fool fish with plastic rather than try to entice them with meat, as he puts it. (Worms, minnows, leeches.) For him, bass striking a lure, even when they miss, seems to make any outing worthwhile.

Both Rina and Kathie caught nice bass on one trip up the river. (They used meat.)

I love this shot of Dick, who looks the very essence of a north woods fisherman here.

Rina enjoyed herself too. What's not to like about the scenery and the fresh outdoors?

Kathie took this picture of me. I guess I need to shave more often.

There was hot tubbing, with margaritas served by the cabana boy.

There were walks in the woods with Daisy, Josey, and Tighe. Tighe couldn't leave Daisy alone, and she was so tolerant of his constant nipping even though it made her neck sore. Too much puppy still!

There were more nice sunsets while we were out fishing.

Here are Dick and Rina just before they headed for home. Kathie and I enjoyed their visit very much. Hope they can come again next year.

Tighe Is Growing Up

Maybe some of you wonder how Tighe is coming along. On the one hand, he is not very well behaved. He has trouble leaving other dogs alone, although Josey seems usually to succeed in putting him in his place. Stealing things from other dogs is evidently completely justifiable to him. He isn't very obedient, and has a definite mind of his own, although he is learning sit and a few other commands. Everything in the world is available to him for chewing, or so he would believe. Repetition and training may eventually bring him around. He is still a puppy, after all, and at least he seems to be well house broken. His weight is now about 24 pounds, roughly twice what he was when we brought him home. Kathie believes this may have him topping out at about 50 pounds. There is no doubt he is cute.

Kathie succeeded in getting the two dogs to play tug-of-war with each other.

Both dogs like being at the lake. Here they are suggesting that coming back inside would be welcome.

Luna, a neighbor dog, comes to see Josey occasionally. Tighe likes chasing chipmunks and exploring, but he stays close to home for the most part. He accidentally went for a swim in the lake one day, and he seems to like paddling around, but the jury is still out as to how much of a water dog he will be.

Anders' Birthday

On our way back to the lake to spend the month of September, we stopped to see Anders and his parents. Anders has a second birthday coming up, and since we are not going to be able to join the big birthday bash, we thought it would be fun to bring his gifts and celebrate a little early. I made him an easel and a footstool, both of which you can see in use here. He was fond of saying that the footstool let him do pictures "way up high."

I think he is quite the artist.

He appeared to enjoy the gifts.

Will had a dinner to attend the evening we arrived, but while he was away, the rest of us enjoyed some yummy pasta that Sandy whipped up.

The next day, Kathie and I took care of Anders all day, while his preschool was in recess. We had a wonderful time having waffles at the local coffee shop, playing at the playground, playing in the sandbox, and taking wagon and bicycle rides. I forgot to take my camera along when we left the house and missed lots of opportunities for great pictures. I should be ashamed of myself! Later, we spent the evening with Anders so that his folks could go out on a date.