the grass lump

I was running a bit late yesterday

so I took the shortcut (about 1/2 a mile of gravel)

 to the highway that I take to school.

As I started down the road I saw a huge lump

of what I thought was grass just past the bridge.

I figured the road had just been graded and that had been

left behind.

I made sure to drive around it and was I ever glad I did!

Whoa!!

 I came to a screeching stop, backed up and grabbed my phone

to take some pictures.

They didn't turn out great because of the angle of the sun

but you get the idea!

The turtle - the snapping turtle as it turns out - was quite wary of me

so I stayed pretty clear of him

and his snap!

He was obviously feeling pretty anxious and 

wanted to get back

into the water.

After surveying the situation from the bridge

he realized that to jump from there would be quite the leap of faith!

So he wandered off down the bridge 

and I drove on to school 

with my pictures and my story!

fairy chimneys

 The fairy chimneys in Turkey are quite stunning.

 One feels like this must be what the moon looks like.

 For centuries, the people here have been making

good use out of them.

 Hiding in caves built in them was very popular.

 As was making them into churches.

They make quite the landscape.

my dad

My dad

has been gone now for 7 years.

It's hard to believe it's been that long already.

My cousin, Della, posted this picture yesterday on the

"Dennis Clan" facebook page

marking the anniversary of his death.

What a treasure to have this picture

and to remember what a dear man and dad he was

to me.

peter and the wolf

The grade ones finished their unit of Peter and the Wolf this week.

I think - no, I KNOW the highlight for the kids

 was making their masks!

 As I was taking these pictures I thought -

"Hey, I can post these because there are no

faces showing!"

 So here they are.

I thought it was rather ironic that out of the 3 classes of grade 1s

not one person picked the Peter mask.

I guess the animals were just far more exciting - especially the wolf!

katy graduates from the university of manitoba!

 It all started with dear Mrs. Schmidt in grade one.

Katy didn't know HOW she would ever get over losing her

dear, one and only grade one teacher.

Fortunately, she did manage to move on!

 There she is!

 She's starting the "walk"!

 On the big screen!

 Some dear girlfriends came out to cheer her on.

 Only Katy would actually wear the hood!

 She matches the "little flowers"!

Such a happy day.

Congratulations to our dear youngest daughter.

You have made us so proud.

We love you!

cappadocia - staying in a cave hotel

 When we knew we would have time to visit the
Fairy Chimneys

in Cappadocia

I knew we would stay in a cave hotel.

 The hallway to our room.

 Ours was a very modest room compared to

others I had seen on the internet

but it was still pretty special.

 Our private balcony!

 Our room from the outside.

 The view was spectacular.