Memorial Day weekend

The photos are going to be out of order as I had to pull some from a friend's facebook page.

 

On Saturday, Bug went to work on an eagle Scout project for one of the scouts in his troop.  eagle Scout is the highest rank you can attain in scouts.  Part of the Eagle scout award is a service project that the scout plans, fund raises for and gets done.  The reason the younger scouts help is because one day they will be working on their eagle scout project and will need help too, so the younger guys help the older guys and the cycle continues through the troop.  I dropped Bug off around 10 am. Throughout the day, I received pictures from the eagle scout's parent.

This is what it looked like around 2:30 in the afternoon, at the end of the work day. 

After picking up Bug, Pablo and I took Bug out for a Hawaiian Ice

I got an ice cream- Pablo got most of this, as I only wanted a small ice cream.  Bug got a large Hawaiian ice.

Sunday, we celebrated Cousin Jason's birthday.  Bug loves the hat.

Jason was not too excited about it at all.

the "shame" of wearing the birthday hat.

Today was Memorial Day.  A day to remember those veterans who gave their lives for our freedom.  we went to the same ceremony we did last year, down at Spring Grove Cemetery.  There 999 Civil War veterans buried here.  Memorial Day was started after the Civil war, as a day to decorate the graves of the fallen with flags and flowers.

The Civil War re-enactment group was present again.

A 21 gun salute.

Decorating the graves.  This is the last part of the ceremony, we listened to one of our local congressmen speak, the Colonel of the re-enactment group spoke and there was a presentation of wreaths

Afterward, we listened to some songs from the Civil War song by a couple from the re-enactment group- I did not get pictures.  I loved the music and it really told the story.  I learned some history about the song "Dixie" and the "Battle Hymn of the republic" and the song "when Johnny comes marching home".  It was really interesting.  The end of the day, was listening to my old music teacher, who is a well known Lincoln Portrayer, teach us with Lincoln's own words about our country.  His words resonate today as we see the country coming apart during this election.  There is wisdom in the words from the past.  Mr. Wernz, was my music teacher back in 1978, he went on to be the junior high principal, the high school principal and then the superintendent of the school district. I remember his kindness and his coaching for us to be the best we could be.  I was so happy to see him today.  I think that Bug was not impressed, but I hope he remembers this day as something that shows honor to those who served, are serving, and will serve to defend our freedom. 

 

Mr. Wernz (President Lincoln) and me

Back to the scout project- all the workers having a rest on the finished area.  It will be an area for the hospital workers to come outside and have lunch or to sit and reflect.  It is also an area where the sick children can come out and enjoy a normal activity that they would not have at the hospital.

Earlier in the day- I think Bug is helping to level the stones, or holding them in place.

Scouting is about working hard and having fun

this is boys being silly- standing in the firepit.  It could be a scout skit, how many scouts can you fit in a firepit?

 

While Bug and the scouts were working on this project, I was home working on the garden.  I was able plant our tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and herbs. I am hoping to get potatoes planted this week and we have "volunteer" carrots and onions already coming up in the garden.  I also planted some flowers.  I am looking forward to the harvest this summer.

This is what the site started like.

It is now the last week of school- 3 days basically, but the reality is that they are done now.  Thursday is the award ceremony and Friday is the family picnic.  Then we are off to summer time.  Bug will be spending the first month in sports camps at the local high school.  He will doing basketball camps.  I will not be able to watch him as I have to work, but I think he will have a great time.  The last 2 months of summer will be Y camp (as he has done for the last 5 years) and a week at Boy scout camp.  I am going to see if I can go up for one day.  Bug has said it is fine with him if I come up to camp. 

It is going to be a busy summer.

Love and hugs to you all,
Deb

Memorial Day weekend 2015

Some catching up first.  Wednesday night, Bug had his band concert.  We only had 2 hours notice because Bug left the flyer in his drum kit, but we got there and enjoyed the concert.  Monday night, BB had his final volleyball game of the season, in the district tournament- unfortunately his team lost.

Thursday Morning, I headed up to the high school to see BB get an award.  The letter that come home just said he was getting an award, not specifically which award.

BB received his Academic letter for perfect 4.0 average this year.  Yeah BB!

Friday I started working on Bug's 100 good wishes quilt.  I started collecting fabric and wishes for this quilt way back in 2006.  I finished the quilt top on Saturday and I finished the back on Sunday.  Now to get it "sandwiched" and quilted.  I have a goal of Bug's birthday to have this done, but I also think I could have it done by 01Jul when Bug gets back from cub scout camp.  he is staying overnight for 4 nights, 3 days, so the finished quilt would be a great welcome home present.

Today, Memorial day, I took the boys and friend downtown.  Before we went downtown, I took my boys to a ceremony at the cemetery, those pictures will be posted tomorrow.

Downtown host a "Taste Of Cincinnati" festival each year.  I have not been since the later 80s/early 90s.  I gave the boys enough money to get 3 tastes if they got the expensive stuff or 6 of the cheap things.  Bug got pizza, the only thing he liked there.  I had an empanda, a potato pancake, and chocolate covered cheesecake.  BB a wurst and jumbalya.  BB's friend had a taco, a schinztel sandwich and a soda.  The taste is 6 city blocks long with food on both sides and music from various live artist as different places along the route.  Usually there are tons of people, so many you can't really walk quickly, but there was a good chance of thunderstorms today, so many people stayed home. 

After walking the taste, I took the boys down to the riverfront.  We have  anew park or at least new sections of the park opening this year.  Since the cub scouts will be coming down later this summer, I wanted to check it out and ensure it was going to be good for the scouts too.

We stopped at the new carousel- all the animals are Cincinnati themed. 

BB's friend rode the passenger pigeon- the last one died in our zoo about 100 years ago.

Bug started on the cheetah, but moved to the Corvette behind BB's friend.  Corvettes were made in Cincinnati back when Pap was younger.

BB rode the University of Cincinnati Mascot, the Bearcat.

I rode the horse painted like a Dalmatian for the first union fire department in the nation

I really wanted to ride this horse, painted like the night sky for the Cincinnati Observatory, but someone else got to it first. Maybe next time.

After we left the carousel, we walked to the Suspension bridge.  This was the prototype for the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.  Our bridge was started before the civil war, but not finished for 10 years due to the war. I have always called this the "whistling bridge" because the cars drive on the steel grid, not on concrete.  Due to the steel grid, the bridge is closed in the winter for safety when the snow and ice hit.

We played for a little while at the new playground at Smale Park.  Loved it. The rope bridge was fun, though Bug refused to cross it.  I was being silly when I crossed it, though I did remember why sandals are not good for playgrounds.

The Bug and Momma in front of the suspension bridge.

We walked down to the swimgs by the ball park.  I saw these when we took a tour last year and I have been waiting to try them out.  Love them too.

We walked along the Serpentine wall, looking over to Kentucky.  This is the area when there are fireworks every year on Labor day.  Perhaps Bug and I will go down for the fireworks in a few years.

We kept walking toward the Purple People bridge, the only pedestrian bridge that joins 2 states, and we found the statue of Cincinnatus.  This is the Roman citizen farmer that our city is named for.  If we had more time, we could have continued walked down to bicentennial park (dedicated in 1988) and see some more fun things, but we had to get back to Kentucky so we could ride the duck boat.

The duck boat goes on the water and on the road.  I have ridden one of these in Boston on one of my business trips.  The tours recently came to the Ohio river, it has been on my list of things to do. 

The boat took us on the Ohio river, covering most of the same are we walked, the guide told us fun facts about Cincinnati.  We were out today almost 8 hours doing fun things in the Cincinnati.

The boys feel asleep on the way home.  Bug woke up at the exit from the highway (we were sitting at the red light).  He was not happy I was taking pictures of him.

BB slept all the way home, including sleeping thru our side trip to Wendy's for dinner.  We picked up some sandwiches to bring home- I really did not feel like cooking today.

It was a great day.  Lots of fun, lots of laughter, lots of memories.  Tomorrow, I will post pictures of the Memorial Day observance we attended in the morning.

And finally, in closing, Bug and I wish Karla and David many years of happiness and lots of congratulations on their marriage this weekend.  We can not wait to see you.

Love and hugs,

Deb