I Smiled

To wrap up the week I thought it would be nice to share a bit of the things that made me smile this week, so here goes.

Isn't this cute! Source

Although the fatigue persists, this week was very productive for me. By working in short spurts and resting in between I was able to get my current writing project ready for the first round of edits with my editor. I even managed to get a few blog posts up and get out for a half hour and take some photos.

A dear friend who knows how much I like fun little hats made me this cute slouch hat in my favorite color!

On one of the not so good days I decided I needed something to make me smile so I splurged on my favorite junk food combo.

Lexi came across this recipe for taco stuffed bell peppers on Facebook and of course we had to give it a try. YUMMMMM ... it was delicious!

My friend Jilly is the best ever. Whenever my fatigue is really bad and Lexi is at work Jilly helps me so much. Not only does she pick my grandchildren up from school but she even helps them with their homework. As you can image we all love her madly. I captured this precious moment yesterday as her and Bubba read his library book.

So how was your week? Tell me about it in a comment or leave a link to a post about it.

FF: Fragments of My Heart

I have been making a lot of wishes this week. So many that my heart feels fractured into a thousand tiny fragments. Here are just a few of those fragments.

I've been wishing I could go visit my mother in California. This photo was taken when she was sixteen. She has been on my mind a lot lately as she is in her late 70's and just underwent triple coronary by-pass two weeks ago. Thankfully she is recovering nicely and I can call and talk to her often.

I've been wishing I could make a trip to Hawaii to see my lovely sister. I haven't seen her in 28 years and miss her something fierce. Thankfully she is healthy and happy.

I've been wishing my visit with my dear friend last weekend didn't have to come to an end. She is the BEST!

I've been wishing for a magic carpet. Just think of all the places one could go if one had a magic carpet!

Instead here is what I did this week.

 I made a mini top hat hair accessory!

 I photographed a pretty pink flower and shared it Here.

I went for a walk around this lake.

I wrote a fun little post titled 'When Cows Fly!'

That is what I have been up to. What have you been doing?
Please be sure to hop over to Mrs. 4444's and keep on fragging!

Mini Vacation

Here is a glimpse at our 4th of July mini vacation in Sioux Falls. Typically when we go on a trip I average at the very least 100 photos a day, but not this trip.

I was so busy catching up with friends and family, my camera spent most of the trip in my purse. After a family BBQ at my oldest son's place, Lissa and I headed to my friend Jillian's house. There was so much to catch up on we talked until wee hours of the morning. Then early Friday we were off to Dawn's where we spent the day playing with the kids and visiting with Dawn. 

Saturday I spent the entire day with my dear friend Maria. We started the day of just visiting at her place. Then we headed down town and my camera finally came out of my purse. First we wandered around Philips avenue window shopping and enjoying all the sculptures. You can see a few of the sculptures Here. Then a short break from the heat at the Philips Dinner to enjoy a late lunch and some delicious malts.   After that we headed to the Falls to walk off our yummy treats. You can check out the photos from the falls Here.

Before we headed home on Sunday we enjoyed a pick nick lunch at Seratoma Park with friends and family.

Just before we left we decided a group shot was in order. Unfortunately one of my granddaughters some how managed to completely hide from the camera and a few friends had to leave earlier so they aren't in the photo either.

 On the way home we ran into a bit of a storm.

 At least in Mr. & Mrs. G's Durango we were nice and dry, unlike the poor folks on motorcycles.

At one point the rain was coming down so thick and hard I thought we were going to have to pull over also.

 Sissy and Bubba who are both afraid of storms found a way to ease their fears.

As mini vacations go this one was very hectic, but then trying to squeeze a year and a half of catching up into four days is no easy task.

Fast Cars N Good Times

I would like to dedicate this post to my father who left this world all to soon in 1985. When I was very little he introduced my brothers and I to racing, muscle cars and the excitement and fun to be had at the Riverside International Raceway. I think it only fitting that my first Sunday In My City post for our new home town of Rapid City, South Dakota show off the local race track; Black Hills Speedway.

A few Friday's ago Mr. G, Bubba and I headed out to the speedway to meetup with a couple of friends and have a good old time.

Not only was this Bubba's first time going to a race track but it was a special night as the program for the night included a Monster Truck show and two amazing stunt shows.

We got there early enough to go down and get a close up look at the monster trucks and meet the drivers.

There were three mini-monster trucks as well and we met these two drivers. Both have been driving in shows for a year. The young lady is 14 and the boy is 8. I do have to say though that while the female driver was very likable the young man had a rather nasty attitude and was very rude.

Our friends had warned me that it was muddy but of course I wasn't about to miss the photo op. Much to my dismay my flip-flop got stuck in the mud at one point and through me off balance resulting in a rather muddy foot. (Note to self: next time wear actual shoes!)

 The night was full of a variety of races.

The stock cars were Mr. G's favorite and of those number 22 was the one he wanted to win the race.

One of our friends picked number 35 to win and the cheering was on, in the end number 35 won both heats.

The main attraction of the night was the monster trucks, with three full size monster trucks and three mini-monster trucks. Although I have to say the full size ones did not impress the crowd, the mini-monster trucks did put on a very good show.

Of the three full size monster trucks the green truck was the only one that did not seem to hold back and really gave it his all. By the end of the show he had lost the back panels off his truck and died before it could get back to the spot where it was to park.

Of the three mini-monster trucks the young lady was by far the better driver and the one who really went all out making high speed approaches, high jumps and filling the field with her dust as she spun donuts. At the end she even went in reverse and jumped the cars getting her truck off the ground and soaring through the air backwards. I should mention that her father was the driver of one of the full size trucks, so I am sure he has been giving her lessons.

It was a good thing we decided to sit high up on the far side of the bleachers where there were not many people behind us, because Mr. G and Bubba got so excited they were often standing and cheering on the drivers.

When they started setting up for the first stunt, called Wall of Fire and Steel, Mr. G acted like the track crew had gone out to the parking lot and got his car. The car chosen for the stunt was the exact make, model and color as the car we had driven to the track. Of course little Bubba knew it wasn't Daddy's car out there and just laughed harder at his dad's antics.

Can you see the car held up by the stilts? Take a good look because it sure didn't look like that when the stunt was over. Here is a short video of the action:

To wrap up a very exciting evening a Firetruck that was outfitted with a rocket engine completely melted a car.

I do believe that little Bubba will forever remember his first trip to the racetrack, I know I do and mine was just a typical race with a few crashes....

I hope you have enjoyed this virtual trip to the race track and if you are ever in Rapid City I encourage you to visit the Black Hills Speedway. 

To continue your virtual travel head over to Unknown Mami's by clicking the button below.

Summer Fun

What is summer without a picnic? Yesterday was my Son-in-laws Navy unit's command picnic. We got there just as people were arriving. We enjoyed our lunch and my Son-in-law introduced me to some of the people he works with. Then we headed off to check out the games. There were games for both the kids and the adults. Having Sissy and Bubba along we stayed with the kid activities.

 

The adults were spread out, playing; volleyball, horseshoes, basketball, tug-of-war among other games.

 The Navy's fire department was on hand for both safety and fun.

The rides on the little fire engine train was Bubba's favorite, while the horseback ridding was Sissy's. After they got their rides we headed over to the inflatables.

 There were three or four inflatables that looked like tons of fun. However, Sissy and Bubba were more interested in the snow cone's, cotton candy and face painting.

Although it was a beautiful day with a nice breeze blowing the temperature was still very hot so we called it a day and headed back to the comfort of the air conditioner.