July 4th Weekend

The 4th of July weekend was a real mixed bag. Since the 4th fell on a Saturday this year the University holiday was on Friday the 3rd. The whole week, leading up to the 4th, included a visit from California cousin Connie and her Husband Jim on their way to Ohio, and a whole gob of other events and preparing for events. We did an early morning ski on Thursday morning. Later in the morning I took Skyler and Trae out tubing, had some lunch and then headed into the office. Jim and Connie followed me over to campus and I gave them a quick tour.















I had Friday off so we did another early morning ski run. I had time to do a quick water color, of redheads.

Nature note: Skyler is holding a moth with interesting color and pattern that we found. Skyler is quite the naturalist and treats animals very well. Unless he is trying to shoot them of course.

Saturday the 4th we did a really quick ski run, had breakfast on the deck got everything put away and headed over to Fort Wayne for the day. Skyler and Trae have spent the 4th with Karen and me at the IPFW campus for the past three years. The campus hosts the City’s July 4th celebration with a concert and fireworks. Since I am head of the Physical Plant I get to spend the 4th on campus from about noon until almost midnight. There were about 20,000 people on campus so it does get interesting at times. The fireworks are shot off the top of the parking garage. The chancellor hosts a picnic for 450 of his closest friends.

Covered Stages, sunsetting over the parking garage, a few of the Chancellor's friends

I do get to attend the picnic and for the past couple of years Adelphia’s family has joined us for the fireworks part of the event.

Elisea and Grandpa injoying the fireworks, Elizabeth under the princess umbrella waiting for the show to begin. Trae and Ethan being boys.

We got home about 1:00 AM Sunday morning and then headed to Detroit at 7:00 AM for the wedding of the youngest daughter (Elizabeth) of our friends Dick and Jan Berry. It was a full day, a little over 8 hours of driving and a nice small intimate wedding and reception in a beautiful setting. It was a beautiful day so the trip was enjoyable. The quilt that the couple is holding is one of Karen's creations.