Memorial Day

First off, let me ask all who read this to join in the National Moment of Remembrance today at 3PM, to honor in particular those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect this country and our freedom.  Go to http://www.remember.gov/ to learn more.
Secondly, for those on Facebook, the White House has a great application where you can honor a random fallen soldier.  I've been updating mine about every hour to honor another.  Go to my profile to find the app.
You all know me to be not much of a "flag waver."  I prefer to show my patriotism and respect in my own way, which tends to be with 100 percent sincerity and in my own words, as opposed to doing what others have made and decided is the right way to show patriotism.  On this Memorial Day though please take some time to think about what sacrifices have been made, what it's meant to the families of those who made that sacrifice and what it's meant to our country.  Also, try to take time to personally thank anyone you know who has served because without them as well this country would not be as free as it is and the ultimate sacrifice could have easily been theirs to bare.
Memorial Day is also a day to remember loved ones who are no longer with us.  I tend to do this myself by remembering all the good times shared with them, what wonderful people they were and how much they meant to my life.  I won't list all those I miss but will say a special remembrance to my daughter Jennifer Lee, who I never had the opportunity to get to know.  Miss you, sweetheart.  So while we remember and honor those who've served and those we've lost, let's cherish the time spent with them but also take advantage of the time we still have with those who are still with us.  So how about just letting them know in some personal way that you're glad they're in your life.
(cross posted at Inside Zebster)

Just like doing mountain climbers

You saw me whine the other day on Facebook after a lawmowing session, so I thought I'd share a couple of pics of the backyard.  What's not included is the yard next door that I also mowed that day and that's why it was a two-beer Briggs & Stratton workout.

What you're looking at:  The front of the house (not shown) is on street level, which is the same level as this first picture looking down into the backyard, which was taken from the deck that connects our front porch to the carriage barn. 

There's a set of steps from that deck down to the upper backyard (immediately behind the barn) and that is level with the floor of the basement.  Then down the hill to another level and small yard, then yet again down another level to the lowest part of the yard, which is where these 2 pics looking up toward the house are taken from.   What's also not shown in these 2 looking up the hill is the long sloping lawn running from the bottom all the way to the street level to the left of the house.

The 4th picture is a close-up of a Japanese type of willow tree that's the centerpiece of one of the gardens holding the hill up.  Unfortunately the big wildflower hill garden and the crabapple tree were not in bloom when I took these last week.
There's no way you could mow that with a riding mower, which is why the beer frig is in the basement near the backyard.  It has lots of character and I do like mowing but it's one helluva workout each week.