On Eagle's Wings

This morning we enjoyed a signature Upper Bottle Lake breakfast made by Grandma Susie....Mickey mouse pancakes, poached eggs, bacon, coffee cake and more. As we enjoyed one another's company we spotted a bald eagle soaring right over the lake. Steve rushed out to take a picture and we all felt certain that dad was watching over us. Moments later we saw two other bald eagles. Myndy commented, "It must be Duane Olson, Jim Sponsler and dad watching over the lake." Jim and Duane were both next door neighbors at the lake who have also passed on. Today would have been dad's sixty-fifth birthday. I like to think about him soaring above the lake and keeping a watchful eye on all of us.

Riding Lawnmower

Nothing like a riding lawnmower ride! Simple pleasures.

Real Smiles

Looking back at photos it was always tough to catch my dad with a real smile. This photo is one of the rare instances when we caught his grin on camera. I am so thankful they were able to take this trip together.

Fourth of July Fun

This picture was taken on the fourth of July. Grandpa Myles was not a huge fan of the boat parade..."sort of a waste of gas if you ask me!" Stella clearly twisted his arm.

Deer Hunter

Any of you who ever hunted with my dad know that he was tough to keep up with. Steve always felt as though he had to start working out in the fall a few months before hunting season so that he didn't embarass dad and come off as a "city boy". Hunting season was one of my dad's favorite time of year and I think the thing he loved best was opening his home to all of his friends. It didn't hurt that mom made breakfast for anyone who stopped by.

Pontoon

This picture makes me think of summer and all of the great pontoon cruises we took with dad. There's nothing like a little time on the lake to put life into perspective.

Coon Truck

Ok, the secret is finally out. My dad was a little bit of a redneck. This is a picture of his beloved coon truck. We all teased him about the scene painted on the endgate but he loved it. One of his favorite pastimes was to get all ready for fishing at 4 am and then rev the engine loudly to let everyone in the cabin know he was heading out. When I'm at the cabin I still find myself listening for that sound in the wee hours of the morning.