Hi all. Give me some suggestions on how to make my blogs more interesting. I seem to get relatively few reactions/comments. Thanks,

DAD

Nate got his wisdom teeth out!

He just got back from Dr. Ogilvie's office. He's drugged up for now...tomorrow will be a little tougher. At least he's got his X-box to keep his mind off the pain and the hunger!

It wasn't an easy extraction job...the doc had to do some diggin' and chiselin'! It hurts just lookin' at these pieces of tooth and bone!

Get well quick, bud! We love you!

Miles is Two Years Old!

Miles had a birthday yesterday and entertained Grandma and Grandpa with his sweet personality. He's such a cute kid and full of fun! His Mom and Dad are wonderful parents. Lucky Kid!

When we first arrived, he was a bit quiet...but he soon warmed up!

He enjoyed opening presents with a little encouragement from Dad and El.

Uncle Dan entertained him all evening...they are good pals!

Here he is playing with some new stuff!

He's showing Grandma the new tractor!

I tried to get an impromptu shot of Grandma and Great Grandma. Hah!

We love all our kids...they are all making wonderful grandkids.

Happy Birthday Miles!!!

CHLOE!!!!

She's here! She's Gorgeous!

Congratulations Sarah and Pedro! Well done!!!

Hannah at the Prom!

Here are a few pictures of our beautiful Hannah. She went with her date, Parker Stewart, to the Jr. Prom at Rich High School last Saturday night. Isn't she lovely...isn't she beautiful! He is a nice kid too. I think Hannah enjoyed dancing with a kid that's taller than she is. It was a nice event and Mom and I enjoyed spending a couple of days with all the Lamborns in Laketown.

I've been doing some drawing lately...mostly bird dogs...with colored pencils and pastels. I think I'm getting progressively better. Here's one of Nick's English Setter, Sam...my first bird dog drawing:

This is a pastel portrait of a beautiful little French Brittany, Arrow:

This is a pastel of a great little English Pointer, Belle:

And, finally, this is a pastel in progress of a handsome, multiple champion German Shorthaired Pointer, Clown. I think he's shaping up nicely:

I'm enjoying this and will get more adventurous/ambitious and include birds and hunters soon. More to come.

Fish Stew!

A great new way to enjoy fish! Lamborns brought us a bunch of striper filets from Lake Powell...and I knew we had to start using them before they freezer burned. So I looked up a recipe...and combined two lbs of striper with a pound each of salmon and sole. The recipe was something like this: In a big stockpot, drizzle some EVOO and drop in three bay leaves. Toast the bay leaves. Take two of them out and reserve. Put a layer of oily fish (salmon and sole) cut into 2" chunks, on on the bottom of the pot. Then layer in sliced onions, sliced peppers, sliced potatoes, slice tomatoes (or canned tomatoes out of season), garlic, one of the bay leaves, chopped fresh cilantro, dried parsley flakes, salt and pepper. Then a layer of striper filets, also in 2" chunks, then repeat the layer of other ingredients, then a final layer of striper. Top it with a cup and a half of vinaigrette (I used rice vinegar, EVOO, and herbs...and any fish juice from the thawed fish). Bring to boil at med high, then lower heat, cover, and simmer for 35-45 minutes...or til veggies are soft and fish is done, but not dry. MMMM, good. You might want to add some red pepper flakes or some Sriracha sauce to taste...as part of the pre-cooking seasoning.

The pic doesn't do it justice. It was delicious served over a slice of toasted, crusty, home-made oatmeal bread.