Annual Balloon Ralley

This close up photo was not really close up.....that is how close the balloons were to me while I stood in our front yard! We live near the college which is where they launch, so once a year we have upwards of 25 hot air balloons drifting above our house. The local hot air balloon enthusiasts float over our house (usually one at a time) several times a year. Each time I see them, I am thankful to be alive to see the beauty of a hot air balloon that seems almost close enough for me to jump up and grab onto!

The other photo was also taken outside on my front lawn but is of them when they were higher and further away. Then the other photo was a couple blocks from our house and you can see our youngest son there in the photo.




Next weekend will be the baptism of four of our children. I'll also turn 39 yrs old the day after their baptisms. Hopefully this week will also bring a job offer to my husband.

Like Saint Paul said (my very creative paraphrase) "I have learned to be happy when I have plenty and also when I go without.....in all circumstances I sing praise and joy to Jesus Christ, my Lord!"

McDonald's not environmentally friendly

Apparently customers must be driving some kind of gas-using vehicle in order to be served at the McDonalds drive through.

You'd think I had walked in there and yelled "RAT!" with the exclamations and shock coming from some of the employees. (special note to the very uptight and grumpy shift manager/crew leader....whatever they are called)

My daughter and I decided that we'd try one of those fancy "iced coffee" drinks that we have heard good things about. The perfect timing came up for us at the end of a very long bike ride. (it was in the 90's outside and we hit some good hills on the ride) Well, it made perfectly good sense to me that we just use the drive through window.

Wrong choice! It really was funny. First, they tried to ignore me....possibly hoping I'd give up and pedal off? Then I heard bits and pieces of their shock and horror over the order intercom. (quite funny....you'd think it was a international event or something) I was able to place my order but we found out that it is "not allowed".

This was really quite funny and it made my day much more interesting. I was tempted to ask what McDonalds is doing in light of so many more people using human-powered transportation with the high cost of fuel and with the environmental concerns.

I think this entire incident was because I live in rural Wyoming and most people around here are still driving their earth killers. (aka gazillion-ton pick-ups, suburbans and Hummers)

I think much more amusing than our using the drive through was the sight of two people who are in apparent good physical condition, on the end of a workout.....visiting......McDonalds!! Can I supersize that?

And the iced coffee? Nothing to write home about. Just brew up a batch in your Mr Coffee machine at home, add a good amount of vanilla coffee creamer, chill and add some ice cubes. At least that is how I'd make it and I suspect it would taste like the vanilla iced coffee at McDonald's.

Thankfully we did not get my oldest daughter in trouble....she works there. (and found the incident quite humorous)

Summer Birthday!

We have a 9 year old in the house....our youngest is growing up! The next summer birthday will be my 39th. (later this month)