Memorial Day

Today, lets stop and take a moment to recognize those fallen men and women who fought for our country and our freedoms.

Memorial Day

by Michelle Keim

As we stand here looking
At the flags upon these graves
Know these flags represent
A few of the true American brave

They fought for their Country
As man has through all of time
Except that these soldiers lying here
Fought for your country and mine

As we all are gathered here
To pay them our respect
Let's pass this word to others
It's what they would expect

I'm sure that they would do it
If it were me or you
To show we did not die in vein
But for the red, white and blue.

Let's pass on to our children
And to those who never knew
What these soldiers died for
It's the least we can do

Let's not forget their families
Great pain they had to bear
Losing a son, father or husband
They need to know we still care

No matter which war was fought
On the day that they died
I stand here looking at these flags
Filled with American pride.

So as the bugler plays out Taps
With its sweet and eerie sound
Pray for these soldiers lying here
In this sacred, hallowed ground.

Take home with you a sense of pride
You were here Memorial Day.
Celebrating the way Americans should
On this solemnest of days.

Sunset with storm

I happened to look out our back sliding glass door after some dark skies went over and barely spit on us.  I was amazed at the beauty of the sky and the glow that blanketed the back field.

I then went outside to take a picture of the sun setting.  From the front side of our house, at 9:20 p.m. CT, here was our westward view . . .

if you look closely you can see the stormy skies and rain on both sides of the sunset,

and this is a view of the southwestern sky . . .

and the northern sky.

Truly beautiful!

Cute little Toad

The last couple of nights when Jay has let Chloe out, this little guy or gal has been enjoying refuge on our driveway.

State bird

We hear them all the time, but this time Jay was quick enough to get a picture of the Meadowlark perched in our tree singing.

Making Breakfast – together, sort of

The other morning Mackenzie and Zack worked together to make their own breakfast.  Mackenzie makes wonderful scrambled eggs – matter of fact I think the guys like them better than the ones I make and that’s okay. 

The other morning Zack actually asked for chocolate chip pancakes and I told him he is old enough to make his own breakfast.  There are some mornings I make breakfast for all, but then there are others that each has to or is expected to fend for themselves. 

I’m not sure why, but I find myself doing more for Zack than I do for the girls.  Maybe it’s because he’s a boy and really has no interest in being in the kitchen, maybe he’s just a little lazy when it comes to making his own breakfast, but usually when he asks and I say he can do it himself he’ll opt for a quick bowl of cereal.  Well, on this particular morning, Mackenzie offered to show him how to make his own pancakes. 

She started from the beginning and had him help get the pan, the butter and the ingredients for the pancakes – a premade mix that only water has to be added to.

Zack was good about helping with the prep, but once the pancakes were in the pan he was off and Mackenzie was left to finish. 

She did a nice job of fixing breakfast for the two of them.  I am very proud of her willingness to do things for herself and others. 

Best $2 spent

The other day we stopped by a couple of thrift stores and we found this nifty little game.  The kids have had the best time maneuvering the ball through the maze.

Veterans Cemetary

Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?  To be honest, I couldn’t tell you much other than I know Memorial Day is suppose to be a day to recognize those who have fought for our country.  So I Googled and came across a little bit of history. 

I learned it was originally celebrated on May 30th and it was called Decoration Day until it became a mandatory three day weekend government holiday in 1971 moving its observance to the last Monday of May. I also learned that it is a day to honor and mourn those fallen men and women who have fought for our country. 

I wonder if we have lost the true meaning behind the day?  It seems it has become so commercialized and celebrated as the kickoff to summer.

I’m done.  Anyway, the other day Jay took us to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.  They seemed to be prepping it for the upcoming Memorial Day service.

 

We noticed that the headstones had different symbols on them and then there were names on the back of some of them.  

1st time - Rhubarb

The other evening a call came in from one of the members from church. She asked if I liked or used rhubarb.  Well, we have never had – at least the kids & I have never had rhubarb and I’m willing to try just about anything. 

When she arrived she showed me how to strip the outer layer and then she shared ways she enjoys eating it.  Mackenzie and I both tasted it raw – it wasn’t horrible just really tart, which I had heard it was tart and that’s why a lot of people I know don’t eat it. 

I dug through a few of my cookbooks – I figured I was bound to find a rhubarb recipe of some sort in a Gooseberry Patch, and sure enough I did.  In their One Pot Meals, I found a Rhubarb Cream Cheesecake . . .

okay the picture isn’t the greatest, but it actually didn’t taste horrible.  I do think rhubarb has to be an acquired taste.  Even with the amount of sugar in this recipe, it was still a little tart.  I still have plenty of rhubarb to try out some other recipes too.  Maybe I’ll make a bread or muffins.

Indoor fun

Over the winter we dealt with bitter cold that kept us cooped up in the house, but now we have had some rainy weather and even really high winds, 25-35 mph with 50-60 mph gusts, that have kept the kids from wanting to go outside. 

Well, the other day the kids spent hours building with their Legos.  First, Mackenzie was very proud of her building and all the little details she incorporated.

Then the other day, they spent well over two hours constructing this massive home.  It included multiple levels, a deck, a basketball court, a flat screen TV, a frig with cans of pop, and so many more things.  It sat on display in the living for a couple of days, but when it came time to move we took pictures just in case it broke in the transition.  The posed with various angles.

 

I am so glad they are finding things to do together indoors and out!

Fort Lincoln, part two – Custer House & barracks

After we took in some of the sites, we ventured over to General Custer’s house so we could take the guided tour.  The gentleman that gave us the tour was very good and once we stepped into the house it was like a time warp and we were present in 1875. 

We learned that they set the table with the dishes upside down because of the dust & dirt that would blow through the open windows.  He also talked about what was being served and of course Gen. Custer’s favorite vegetable, which he would be seen eating like an apple, onions was being served. 

Our guide told us before we went in that if he said “take special notice” of something that meant it was an actual item that was present in the house when the Custer's lived there.  The first thing were the curtains on the front windows in the parlor.

This picture isn’t very good, but it was the bathroom with the tub (left corner) and apparently, Mrs.. Custer said it was like taking a bath in a thimble.  LOL

The turkey platter in the corner on the counter in this picture was an actual wedding gift.

Above, our guide was sharing a story with the kids about this wild cat (below) that was chained up in the basement.  It was really neat how he was in character the whole tour.

Above our tour guide wanted us to “take special notice” to this writing desk that General Custer used.  Then the little green book (below) was General Custer’s favorite book.  Which books were a rarity to have so many of the soldiers would trade books, but this was one that Gen. Custer never traded.

This was one of Gen. Custer’s favorite pictures, which it was a pencil drawing of his wife on their wedding day, another actual piece from Gen. Custer. 

We enjoyed our tour and learned some fun and historical facts about Gen. Custer. 

Barracks at Calvary Post

After our tour of the house, we got to - at our leisure tour the calvary’s barracks. 

We enjoyed our visit and actually spent way more time than we had originally planned, but we didn’t realize how much history was there.  Who knows we’ll probably go back and take in some of the natural beauty by walking or riding our bikes on the trail.