Eclipse

I spent part of the evening last Wednesday looking at the lunar eclipse. One of the problems we had was that there was a partly cloudy sky. During the early and full stages of the eclipse it was very hard to get a good view. Later, as the eclipse was ending, I was able to get some pretty good looks through the telescope.

Here are a few pictures I took with the zoom lens of my camera. Not too clear but it was fun to try.

Musings in Late Winter

The last couple of days have felt more like spring than winter. I know some of you live in places where you may not feel the same. It will not be long before the growers here are thinking about planting crops. In not too many days we will be hearing the roar of wind machines when we wake up in the morning in an effort to protect the fruit crops. That is one of the unique things about the Yakima Valley, the long slow coming of spring with the threat of frost putting an early end to the hopes of a good fall harvest. You may not see the slow crawl of frost warnings along the bottom of the television screen where you live but here it is just a part of everyday life.

The other sure sign of spring is that the schools begin practice for spring sports on Monday. Can you believe it is already time for tennis, track, softball, and baseball? And the sure sign of spring for our household is that rehersals for the spring musical have begun. The Z-Center Stage will be producing "Annie" this spring with performances the second and third weekends in May.

The Zillah girls basketball team goes to the state basketball tournament next weekend and our kids can hardly wait to showcase what the believe is the best pep band in the state. Nevermind if the team is good or not, there is no way you can convince the pep band that they are not the state champion pep band. Of course there is one little fly in the ointment. The opening day of the state basketball tournament also is the next taping day of the high school quiz show known as the "Apple Bowl". The best Zillah quizzer is also the famous "Maraca Man" of pep band reknown. Also on the Apple Bowl team is the pep band bass guitarist--"Glenjamin" and the trombonist, Phil. Depending on the schedule of the games on opening day of state basketball this will have to be worked out. Some alternates may get their chance to be on TV. But "Maraca Man" will almost for sure have to do Apple Bowl, being the team leader. At least they will only have girl's games to worry about to conflict the schedule.

City Work

The city is installing a water line behind our house. They have had to build up the area for the installation. I tried to get some pictures so you can see how it has changed the landscape behind our house. Hope you can get an idea of what they are doing.

Repainted Bathroom

While Rose was away we re-did her bathroom

All-State Music

We enjoyed going to the WEMA All-state concert at the Capitol Theatre this morning. It was a four hour long concert featuring a choir and four instrumental ensembles but it really did not seem that long. The music was really good, as you would expect it should be with the best students in the state of Washington High Schools. We were really proud of Rosemary and her performance. She was principal bassoonist in the Wind Symphony. She had a couple of solo parts and she nailed them.

Home and Back to Work

We got back from our quick trip to Utah on Monday evening. We made good time only stopping for gas and lunch and one or two quick pit stops. We were kind of in a hurry to get home as Rosie was sick. She called about the time we getting into Idaho from the Utah side and said she was at school and sick. Teri called the school and got her released. Glen brought her home. She was really sick Monday night and most of the day Tuesday. By late Tuesday she was starting to feel better but she still did not get up to go to Seminary this morning. Its hard to get going after a bout of the flu.

We had a good trip otherwise except it was way too short. I would have liked to have been able to visiti family but it was just to short of time so the only people we saw besides our immediate family was Sheila and Nathan. They were kind enough to give us a place to lay our weary heads for a few nights.

Now we are getting back into the regular routine, which is not exciting so I will not go into details.

I didn't notice until just now that my shadow is in the foreground of the picture. This is a long shot taken from the same place as the other photo.

I had my camera with me one day at work so I just took a shot of the Welcome sign in front of the plant.

Tag...
Heather tagged me so I will respond for what it is worth.
A- Attached or single: Attached for 30 years.
B- Best Friend: Well that is kind of tough. I don't have a real close friend except my wife of course.
C-Cake or Pie: Pie. Any kind of fruit pie except ruhbarb. D-Day: Work work work.
E-Essential Item: Money
F- Favorite Color: Red G-Gummi Bears or Worms: Worms..they are bigger than bears.
H-Home town: Preston, Idaho I- Indulgeneces: Can't think of any
J- January or July?: I'd say July except that is the start of Corn pack so maybe January is not so bad. Besides our anniversary is in January.
K-Kids: Three girls, two boys, three grandchildren.
L-Life is incomplete without: Family
M- Marriage Date: January 20, 1978
N- Number of Siblings: 8-two brothers and six sisters
O- Oranges or Apples: Apples
P- Phobias or Fears: Tight places
Q- Quote(s): A book tight shut is just a block of paper
R- Reason To Smile: Every day is a new day
S- Season: Spring. Fall would be second place
T- Tag: Two--Teri and Glen
U- Unknown Fact About Me: If I told you it wouldn't be unknown
V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: I like meat but not everyday and not every meal. Can I have bread with it?
W- Worst Habit: I waste a lot of time when I could be doing things
X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Never had an ultra sound but they are pretty cool when you can see your unborn child. X-rays remind me of the dentist
Y-Your favorite food: Beef stroganaff
Z: Zodiac Sign: Aries--whatever that is