A Lifetime's Not Too Long to Live as Friends

I have been on a little break from blogging because of a very busy and fun week. 

On Wednesday I went over to the lake to take groceries and supplies 

for our second annual POW Weekend. 

Six of us who attended high school together 

gave ourselves that name last year when 

we celebrated our 50th birthday collectively in April. 

It stands for Pearls Of Wisdom, and we figure we have earned a few over the years.

This weekend was the first anniversary celebration of our 50th birthdays, 

and we all gathered at the lake house for good food, fellowship, and lots and lots of laughter.

What was that guy's last name?

On Thursday, we grilled chicken and Jan's Famous Grilled Veggies. 

Quite yummy!

Ann, Mary, Debbie, and Jan enjoying a little pre-dinner snack on the deck.

Friday morning, Jan and I were up early enough to see these five deer in the yard next door.

There were two does and three fawns, and the fawns 

were romping and playing just like puppies. So cute!

Last year, we got necklaces with a tag that says 

"Celebrate", a disk with a "50", and a pearl (thus, "Pearls Of Wisdom"). 

This year, we added a pearl and a sun to remind us of the fun in the sun we shared at the lake. 

Amy was able to join us after work on Friday, 

and we added our new charms after an enjoyable game of Bananagrams.

Mary cooked breakfast on Saturday morning, and we loved her quiche.

Just ignore the wine bottles in the background.

Quiche, fruit, and morning beverages on the deck made a perfect start to the day. 

Mary, Amy, Ann, Jan, and Deb.

Saturday afternoon, it was time for a boat ride. 

I don't drive the boat much. It seems like there is always 

someone willing and able to drive it, and I would rather take pictures or hold a grandchild. 

So Wednesday afternoon while I was getting the house ready for the weekend, 

Jennifer came and gave me a little boat driving refresher course. 

My friends gave me an A in boat driving, and wanted to be sure 

Jennifer knows that her teaching was successful. 

(Glad they didn't see my practice runs.)

Jan and Debbie.

Ann.

Ahhhh.....paradise.

We got down to the cove at the other end of the lake, and these yayhoos jumped out of the boat. 

No anchor in the speed boat, so I was hoping 

1. that we didn't float away 

2. that we didn't float into another boat, and 

3. that the boat would start up again when it was time to go.

They even tried some water ballet.

One

Two

Three

Four!

Ann and I watched from the boat.

Amy, Jan, and Mary back on the boat.

Toes in the water. Toes in the boat.

Heading back to the house.

This house is down in the south cove, and we're pretty sure we should be friends with them. 

We'd like to hear the story behind the two totem pole statue thingys.

Back at our dock, we did some floating. We don't have nearly as many photos 

as we took last year, because we implemented a "no photos in swimsuits" rule.
(Unless we were mostly underwater or wearing a coverup.)

I'm sure you get the picture. Or actually, you don't. :)

And look! We even got Ann in the water.

We were all quite brave this weekend. Deb and Ann swam in a lake,

Jan jumped off the high dock,

Mary (the gymnast) did a flip off the trampoline,

and Amy and I, well, I guess we supervised.

Jan, the grillmaster, cooked up another round of her Famous Grilled Veggies.

After dinner, we had a POW Taboo rematch: the three oldest vs. the three youngest.

I'd tell you who won, but I, um, can't remember.

You know how it is when you get old.

Deb and Jan liked looking at the pictures of Amy's niece's awesome wedding on Amy's iPad.

It was about 2 in the morning.

Way too late for old folks. :)

Mary thought so too.

Amy was showing Ann her latest Words With Friends move against Larry.

Was he up at 2 am too??

Sunday morning we all posed on the dock for a group shot before heading home.

It was a great time with great friends.

Looking forward to next year!

And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say never
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

~Michael W. Smith

A Hot Time at the County Fair

The cattle show always starts early Monday morning at the Decatur County Fair, and since I had to be there early to help with the horses, I took a quick walk through the barn while they waited for the show to start. The scheduled judge was ill this morning, and an alternate was called in at the last minute, so things got started a bit late.

Tom and Andrew were having a morning discussion.

Dave, in the center of the photo, has been our herd manager for over 30 years. That's a lot of cattle. He retired this month, and our son Andrew will be taking over the position. That's Andrew in the green shirt.

Meanwhile, down at the horse arena, the Horsemaster contest was underway. I helped judge the senior exhibitors, and was able to get a few photos of some of the 4-Hers hard at work. They do a grooming demonstration, a demonstration of their choice, and a horsemanship pattern. They are scored on each one, and also on a written test. The winners are those who have the highest combined scores from each of the four parts.

This junior exhibitor was giving a rodeo demonstration. She showed how to tie a steer using a pigging string.

The judges enjoyed this part of her demo.

Then she showed how to rope the calf. This would actually be done before the feet are tied.

Another junior exhibitor explained, in her words, "the elements of showmanship."

Here, she demonstrated how to move while the judge walks around your horse for inspection.

She also showed how to execute a pivot.

Under the watchful eyes of mom, over by the fence.

These two cousins were waiting their turn, and boy, was it HOT!

Sonny thought so too.

Kelsi is ready for the horsemanship pattern.

As is Kathryn.

And Danielle. Those three senior exhibitors were all very well prepared, and very good. I imagine the scores were quite close.

And... back in the cattle barn, Tom's son Nick has his two Angus heifers ready.

I think the heifer is smiling for the camera.

Guess who else is smiling for the camera? Happy Haleigh!

And Matthew, too, of course.

Nick's two heifers were in the same class, so he asked a friend to show one of them.

Dave and Andrew kept a watchful eye on the show ring.

While Matthew checked out the show schedule.

We enjoyed a traditional fair lunch of fish sandwiches and tenderloins, along with plenty of cold water and lemonade. One of my favorite parts of the county fair!