Kelsey made this for my kitchen. It's on a canvas. She's becoming quite an artist, experimenting with acrylics, gesso, thickening agents, knives and all kinds of neat things. When she was a little girl she would take over our dining room table with her art and craft projects. Now, she's back home and the small dining table is hers again! So great to have her home!

This is our new house!! We signed the papers on Friday afternoon, paid the down payment but here in Nevada you can't actually "get" the house until it's recorded which will be Monday or Tuesday. So we own this house but it's not ours yet. ???? It needs a lot of work so it will be Dave's summer project and we'll be able to move in sometime in mid or late July. It is going to be so cool; it's in a small neighborhood with all pueblo style homes, about 30 of them. I hope everyone can come to Las Vegas and stay with us at some time or the other. Long story, but it is truly a gift from God.

Sorry about so many photos today. This is the most petroglyphs I have ever seen in one spot! It's near Laughlin in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Grapevine Canyon on a road called Christmas Tree Pass. Actually, Dave and I figure petroglyphs are just ancient graffiti, but who knows?

Funny how life is. Our two children are grown up and off on their own. Kelsey has been away at school and Erik has been away serving with Ywam, Youth With A Mission, in Europe. I am so proud of both of them, God's hand is on them. Now they are both home for a short while and what a blessing it is to be a family again! Family is so important, don't let anything ever come in between your family relationships. Mend tears, sooth hardships, humble yourselves, do whatever is needed to keep the bonds together. In the end, besides God, family is all you have!

Today after work a bunch of us Health Department employees were drafted to help in a practice emergency action plan. They set up to practice giving medication to people should an emergency happen. We went through the line four times in an hour, they were seeing how many people they could handle in their set up. We filled out fake medical forms and got Tootsie Roll or Starburst "pills" depending on our questionnaire. It was fun, and we got time and a half pay for the hour, woo hoo!

Second preview - see May 21

Memorial Day - thanks to all of those who have made our freedom so sweet! We had a friend over for dinner tonight: Raspberry Margaritas, Hawaiian Burgers, Grilled Pineapple, Greek Grilled Zucchini, Potato Salad, Napa Valley Wine, Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream and Mixed Fruit with Pomegranate Glaze. So much fun fixing, feasting, fellowshipping!

This is a neat old building downtown Las Vegas on Utah Street near Industrial. It just caught my eye.

Wow - this car really burned! Kelsey and I went shopping at the District in Henderson today and were on the on ramp go 215 when we saw this on the side of 215. So we went to the next exit and circled around to this exit again to get the photo. How do cars ignite? Anyone know?

Today I inspected an automotive engine rebuilding facility downtown. I never thought so many engines were rebuilt, it was so interesting! The photo only depicts a portion of the engine blocks they had on site. And the machine top right was boring out cylinders for new pistons. My brother-in-law, when I was about 19, and I rebuild my little Fiat engine, we changed the rings on it. So I actually knew what the owner was explaining here! Funny how we can be thankful for things that happened so long ago. The red engine is a '64 Corvette engine they are testing after rebuilding it; it was really loud! I sure do love my job.

A sneak preview

This little guy was sitting on my truck when I got to the car pool at work. He stayed for a long time while I did the mandatory truck check-out; then he was on his way.

After work - hot, tired, thirsty - I jump in the pool, relax, have a glass of wine, watch the sun set some before attacking my night's responsibilities. Ahhh, summer, I love it!

I was driving south on North Jones Street toward Smoke Ranch Road when I spotted the smoke from the fire ahead. Never found out what was burning; by the time finished the Audit I was doing the smoke was gone. Thank goodness for firemen/women!

I love summer, and summer is here! One thing about summer is the change of food, from cooking indoors to cooking outdoors. This was tonight's dinner, Greek Salad with Grilled Shrimp. mmmmm...... The dressing had a hint of mint.

Outside a cafe in Boulder City, NV. I love this town and I'm really glad the cafe has a better kitchen than this one!

Taken a couple of days ago. I forgot to get Dave's camera this morning, but he just now gave it to me. Still bummed out about my work camera. My boss was good about it tho. I'll get another one Monday. I still can't help but feel a bit stupid about leaving it on a counter of a Speedee Mart in a rough part of town. It's usually strapped to my arm. Well, things happen.

Well, no photo today. I lost my camera! I was using my work assigned camera, a very nice Canon Powershot, and today I was finishing up an inspection and left it on the counter. When I went back it was gone, not a good neighborhood the employee told me. I'll use Dave's camera for the weekend, so, I'll post tomorrow. (Yesterday's photo is on the camera I lost, didn't get it posted yesterday)

A bottle bush blossom. It's in our back yard.

Mother's Day - what a blessing it is to have two beautiful children who make being a mom a wonderful experience~ thank you for all the fantastic times we have had together and thank you for all the dreams you have shared with me and thank you for encouraging me when I needed encouraging and thank you for your faith in Jesus Christ! I love you both and I love being your MOM!

The picture that Kelsey just finished painting!

Today Donna, my partner at work, and I were going down Bonanza Street to check on a case she has in a not so great part of downtown when we were blocked from going on the road due to a big, 4-alarm fire at the old Moulin Rouge. We've had many cases here involving sewage spill, bed bugs and other environmental nightmares. We were all wishing it would be redeveloped, but now it looks like it probably won't be. Another icon bites the dust.

Happy Cinco De Mayo! Dave had class tonight so Kelsey and I went to Gardunos in the Fiesta Casino, for dinner. The line of bottles rotate around the ceiling like a train. We only had our phones so I'm using photos from them, they are OK. We did bring Dave home some enchiladas, but he had already eaten so they will be lunch tomorrow.

There aren't to many trees like this one in Las Vegas. This one is on some "farm" property north of town; it's all alone out there!

Kelsey and I took a drive down to the Colorado River today to check out canoe launch sites. It was a fun day and we found a great site. Not the one in the photo, this one you have to hike a bit to. We went on down a dirt road through a narrow passage and were able to drive right down to the water's edge. River, here we come!

Well, check this out! These were slides shown in church tonight. We went to Saturday night service due to Dave having school every Sunday 9-4 until August. So, we were sitting, waiting for the service to start and here ya go, two slides about our own son! How cool is that. He'll be home in 26 days - woo hoo!

Happy May Day! We bought a few new prickly pear cactus plants; this one is a hybrid from a yellow flower plant and a red flower plant. The flowers are just the nicest tone of pink! There were tons of bees swarming around it today, I captured one in a video; notice the pollen gathered on its legs! One time there was one bee doing it's thing and another bee came into the pollen. The first bee chased the second bee out of the flower. It was great.