tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30817034814045291612024-02-19T13:23:26.225-05:00Life at the Llewellyns'Pam L. in Marylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16363175184067651107noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-51698797609491524362013-11-14T09:54:00.000-05:002014-11-13T08:27:09.815-05:00Mackenzie's 15th birthday!! Some people don't like Friday the 13th, but our precious Mackenzie
was born on a Friday the 13th, and I would most DEFINITELY say she
certainly was not bad luck!! Happy 15th birthday to you, sweet little
girl -- you're one of the best presents God ever gave me!!<br />
<br />
2nd birthday --<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKJj4rqewP-wWwMQEKttKLrVMQk6jQdM7hhLci0QDlN7BxdxJjiC9MqkPGq2ye_lNOakBu2K3mzlPjaQMRpf2kz6Xn-WVFopdS5gMak6H-7KSUG-5a9hPSJurDY3AGvV0ltlQrx5VTeo/s1600-h/Mackenzie.Birthday.3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKJj4rqewP-wWwMQEKttKLrVMQk6jQdM7hhLci0QDlN7BxdxJjiC9MqkPGq2ye_lNOakBu2K3mzlPjaQMRpf2kz6Xn-WVFopdS5gMak6H-7KSUG-5a9hPSJurDY3AGvV0ltlQrx5VTeo/s400/Mackenzie.Birthday.3.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403801313659531858" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 337px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
3rd birthday --<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpZQsEV1hkiE0un0BAIzHDI7l72hUgQpsgasbnseUNHIW53GvfReYdci-kHtAhso9VQAN49yN_Zh8EMkFSjOiCPb0nPlKEE3H0ThR68uaQhqQLGOLipvOxCgJ-JMtePL0XS1xuRjFj04/s1600-h/PB130109.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEpZQsEV1hkiE0un0BAIzHDI7l72hUgQpsgasbnseUNHIW53GvfReYdci-kHtAhso9VQAN49yN_Zh8EMkFSjOiCPb0nPlKEE3H0ThR68uaQhqQLGOLipvOxCgJ-JMtePL0XS1xuRjFj04/s400/PB130109.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403803656826260530" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
4th birthday --<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMJ5PP8GQ-_cJHwztltwrhdGGoTJCH6dVH19rdGr9CGG3jvyIbEOYLaFMIDRUi96U37vp8ePF2AuHcWwfTH5Qo_GFPiD3UiYdv8wsPsPFTCEv_HrCwENtoSDW2v_z0ZglBLbkU3M5Scw/s1600-h/P1010041.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMJ5PP8GQ-_cJHwztltwrhdGGoTJCH6dVH19rdGr9CGG3jvyIbEOYLaFMIDRUi96U37vp8ePF2AuHcWwfTH5Qo_GFPiD3UiYdv8wsPsPFTCEv_HrCwENtoSDW2v_z0ZglBLbkU3M5Scw/s400/P1010041.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403802016495222466" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
5th birthday --<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkG7JwEBsV-yLdYW3v6Xn0qpoXbYVgmRSdjerKi8_Xnc54bHtwSK4FKmenOkjvaVpAWRD66Vb0m3-gmKLo_Dlj3CXJ-Mbe6uQa9TBxj7ZAwbUQqGrjgzCrj8xSxKO5JwnKRhgvVI7g74/s1600-h/PB190117.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkG7JwEBsV-yLdYW3v6Xn0qpoXbYVgmRSdjerKi8_Xnc54bHtwSK4FKmenOkjvaVpAWRD66Vb0m3-gmKLo_Dlj3CXJ-Mbe6uQa9TBxj7ZAwbUQqGrjgzCrj8xSxKO5JwnKRhgvVI7g74/s400/PB190117.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403805285824621826" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
6th birthday --<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMpomYoYrcVc2AzQP5Gwh67Yjw3EWTciHTb-cT6krZGw9NguyIKHpbkwtAGi9RVEyE5XV-gxo3ofw07sqWP-3jM4xUJh9DC6A_M7jQM1RjR_nX5pjk-vARoLMcz0Qcm7R8TaQZ_8HlZY/s1600-h/PB130022.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMpomYoYrcVc2AzQP5Gwh67Yjw3EWTciHTb-cT6krZGw9NguyIKHpbkwtAGi9RVEyE5XV-gxo3ofw07sqWP-3jM4xUJh9DC6A_M7jQM1RjR_nX5pjk-vARoLMcz0Qcm7R8TaQZ_8HlZY/s400/PB130022.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403806161161756370" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<br />
7th birthday --<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC-zEYIi9Jq9u62ZcBSZDTjVmsMGesXP5PkrSz9Vns8hJpOjDblVTk2Z83a29-o3S2ZDhMizPQ_L98IwKTnQIQvNW1sRW_HkWH_awRmRimZmQv3jbWSUjY2fCEVdP_TGEN1u2j4M59xg/s1600-h/PB150011.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxC-zEYIi9Jq9u62ZcBSZDTjVmsMGesXP5PkrSz9Vns8hJpOjDblVTk2Z83a29-o3S2ZDhMizPQ_L98IwKTnQIQvNW1sRW_HkWH_awRmRimZmQv3jbWSUjY2fCEVdP_TGEN1u2j4M59xg/s400/PB150011.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403806165931827506" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
9th birthday --<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx-_yB6iXnxa_jtBIAJZRzsS0t4uva2sbREwpazvo59n4JI6QrAfwbyVEVOcfypqC-y3Af7GqCQbHCI7iFfntqWNYJNBt5sxnznRj8NFAkvXuzDBF1m3aA3UgeIXX90XS_PA1qlPHrHI/s1600-h/027.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx-_yB6iXnxa_jtBIAJZRzsS0t4uva2sbREwpazvo59n4JI6QrAfwbyVEVOcfypqC-y3Af7GqCQbHCI7iFfntqWNYJNBt5sxnznRj8NFAkvXuzDBF1m3aA3UgeIXX90XS_PA1qlPHrHI/s400/027.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403807591488851890" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
10th birthday --<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngatjTSyUFCe3dTZIEmJn0uK5MKlnyZJjkqAqFc3lTSkHT7drAnzjr7zkCcvg8olFDGMJuTSC6WsiHyq_iOvR6lXE8neOpfN9KxH-B6MORw2GYiJJvgyCS4jfUMSl5FaI7lWsSNETeLA/s1600-h/100_6386.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngatjTSyUFCe3dTZIEmJn0uK5MKlnyZJjkqAqFc3lTSkHT7drAnzjr7zkCcvg8olFDGMJuTSC6WsiHyq_iOvR6lXE8neOpfN9KxH-B6MORw2GYiJJvgyCS4jfUMSl5FaI7lWsSNETeLA/s400/100_6386.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403809502740429154" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyezto9fAkouy9_QMg6iJ8J-E78-ykdpGmhTDaQW1kP8i8vkzzxGxuVxsLfnNOzyZOw5H2c7VhoGNkKoNLS6VY26cJv6dXhQ_9BDmY_UQmScP2vA0CwG4vVNPxPx_BlqxGr59QSKnfiNY/s1600-h/100_6372.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyezto9fAkouy9_QMg6iJ8J-E78-ykdpGmhTDaQW1kP8i8vkzzxGxuVxsLfnNOzyZOw5H2c7VhoGNkKoNLS6VY26cJv6dXhQ_9BDmY_UQmScP2vA0CwG4vVNPxPx_BlqxGr59QSKnfiNY/s400/100_6372.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403809494800819362" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<br />
11th birthday --<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmHvNtiIRCWscJWESc_ssZu-yOEAI-gNbr1T9w5jOvJtA6bKlIyZLKpNEMues_h5HnOuoc5NXtg8_yj6bPfkFqPmqMP1IEvS5poxC23K1dnjJhhkds61KDLj_cg3eZcWY1tkGT43F3Jw/s1600-h/100_9758.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmHvNtiIRCWscJWESc_ssZu-yOEAI-gNbr1T9w5jOvJtA6bKlIyZLKpNEMues_h5HnOuoc5NXtg8_yj6bPfkFqPmqMP1IEvS5poxC23K1dnjJhhkds61KDLj_cg3eZcWY1tkGT43F3Jw/s400/100_9758.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403810501925428786" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>
15th birthday -- TODAY!!
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Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-15143108103396219802013-09-23T12:52:00.001-04:002013-09-23T12:52:20.658-04:00Apple Crisp Cheesecake<div class="EditableField Control" id="RecipeViewForm_name">
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Apple Crisp Cheesecake</div>
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Ingredients</div>
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CRUST:<br />
1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs<br />
1/4 cup quick-cooking oats<br />
4 teaspoons brown sugar<br />
3 tablespoons butter, melted<br />
<br />
FILLING:<br />
2 packages (3 ounces each) cream cheese, softened<br />
1/4 cup packed brown sugar<br />
1 egg, lightly beaten<br />
3 tablespoons sour cream<br />
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger<br />
2/3 cup sliced peeled apple<br />
<br />
TOPPING:<br />
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour<br />
1 tablespoon quick-cooking oats<br />
1 tablespoon brown sugar<br />
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
2 teaspoons cold butter</div>
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Preparation</div>
In
a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, oats and brown sugar; stir in
butter. Press onto the bottom of a 6-in. springform pan coated with
cooking spray; set aside.<br />
<br />
For filling, in a small bowl, beat
cream cheese and brown sugar until smooth. Add egg; beat on low speed
just until combined. Stir in the sour cream, cinnamon and ginger. Pour
over crust Arrange apple slices over filling. For topping, combine the
flour, oats, brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Cut in butter until
crumbly. Sprinkle over apple.<br />
<br />
Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or
until center is almost set. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer.
Refrigerate overnight. Just before serving, remove sides of pan.
Refrigerate leftovers.Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-53786103177888673942013-09-23T12:50:00.000-04:002013-09-23T12:50:18.508-04:00Caramel Cheesecake Bites<span> I keep running across yummy sounding recipes and then promptly losing them. I'm going to start posting them on here for safe keeping! If you try one and enjoy it, please let me know!</span><br />
<br />
<span> </span><img alt="Portrait: Caramel Cheesecake Bites
19 ounces cream cheese
3 eggs
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
caramel:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup evaporated milk
crust:
1 cup almond meal
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon fine Sea Salt
1/4 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 cup melted butter
Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Crush your slivered almonds.
In a mixing bowl whisk together the almond flour, almonds, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the butter and combine with a spoon.
Line a muffin tin with liners. Push the almond mixture into the bottom of the liners.
Bake for 10 minutes to set.
Turn oven down to 300°.
In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, vanilla, sugar and eggs. Beat until light and fluffy.
Spoon mixture into the muffin tins with prepared almond crust.
Bake for 40 minutes.
While cakes are cooking, start on the caramel.
Combine granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until sugar dissolves, stirring gently for 3 minutes.
Stop stirring and continue cooking 10 minutes or until the color of light brown sugar. Remove from heat; carefully stir in butter and milk. Place pan over medium-high heat until caramelized sugar melts. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute.
Remove pan from heat; cool caramel to room temperature. Cover and chill 1 hour or until slightly thickened.
Take cheesecakes out of the oven when they are done. Once cool, the middle will slightly fall and this is the perfect indent for the caramel.
Spoon about 1 tablespoon caramel over each cheesecake." class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="504" src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/945307_628913573802596_610992895_n.jpg" width="504" /><br />
<br />
<span>Caramel Cheesecake Bites<br /> </span><br />
<span>19 ounces cream cheese<br /> 3 eggs<br /> 1/4 cup sugar<br /> 1 tsp vanilla<br /> </span><br />
<span>Caramel:<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> 1/2 cup granulated sugar <br /> 2 tablespoons water <br /> 1 tablespoon butter<br /> 1/2 cup evaporated milk <br /> </span></span><br />
<span><span class="text_exposed_show">Crust:<br /> 1 cup almond meal<br /> 1/2 cup slivered almonds<br /> 1/4 cup sugar<br /> 1/4 teaspoon fine Sea Salt<br /> 1/4 teaspoon ground Cinnamon<br /> 1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda<br /> 1/4 cup melted butter<br /> <br /> Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.<br /> Crush your slivered almonds. <br />
In a mixing bowl whisk together the almond flour, almonds, baking
soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the butter and combine with a spoon.<br /> Line a muffin tin with liners. Push the almond mixture into the bottom of the liners. <br /> Bake for 10 minutes to set. <br /> Turn oven down to 300°.<br /> In a mixing bowl, add cream cheese, vanilla, sugar and eggs. Beat until light and fluffy. <br /> Spoon mixture into the muffin tins with prepared almond crust. <br /> <br /> Bake for 40 minutes. <br /> While cakes are cooking, start on the caramel.<br />
Combine granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium, heavy
saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until sugar dissolves, stirring
gently for 3 minutes. <br /> <br /> Stop stirring and continue cooking 10
minutes or until the color of light brown sugar. Remove from heat;
carefully stir in butter and milk. Place pan over medium-high heat until
caramelized sugar melts. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute. <br /> <br /> Remove pan from heat; cool caramel to room temperature. Cover and chill 1 hour or until slightly thickened. <br />
Take cheesecakes out of the oven when they are done. Once cool, the
middle will slightly fall and this is the perfect indent for the
caramel.<br /> <br /> Spoon about 1 tablespoon caramel over each cheesecake.</span></span>Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-76978718367969693862012-07-08T14:29:00.002-04:002012-07-08T14:31:33.920-04:00What the heck is a "derecho"? (Part 3)<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_140053" style="width: 610px;">
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I saw this link with this amazing picture and just had to share. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://earthsky.org/earth/videos-and-images-violent-us-storm-of-june-29-2012">http://earthsky.org/earth/videos-and-images-violent-us-storm-of-june-29-2012</a><br />
<br />
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_140053" style="width: 610px;">
<img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-140053 colorbox-140047" height="450" src="http://en.es-static.us/upl/2012/06/Samuel-Shea-Chicago-6.29.2012-e1341098514386.jpg" title="Samuel Shea Chicago 6.29.2012" width="600" /><br />
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Shelf cloud from the developing derecho in Chicago on June 29, 2012. Image Credit: NWS Meteorologist Samuel Shea<br />
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On June 29, 2012, a violent wind storm system – called a <i>derecho</i>
– advanced eastward across Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, the
District of Columbia, Maryland, and in parts of New Jersey. It produced
hurricane force winds that gusted as high as 91 miles per hour in Fort
Wayne, Indiana. Millions of people were left without power as trees
snapped on power lines. The Storm Prediction Center (SPC), reported
nearly 800 wind reports from this derecho. <a href="http://earthsky.org/earth/state-of-emergency-in-washington-dc-following-last-nights-storm" target="_blank">Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell declared a state of emergency</a>
Saturday, June 30, 2012 – which also affected Washington DC – after the
storm devastated the region. In fact, McDonnell announced that the
derecho that pushed into Virginia made it the largest non-hurricane
power outage in state history. As of now, at least 13 people are known
to have died from this destructive storm system, with six deaths
reported in Virginia, two in New Jersey, two in Maryland, one in
Kentucky, one in Washington D.C., and one in Ohio. As of 5 p.m. EDT on
June 30, 2012 (21 UTC), at least 1.6 million people were still without
power, which is bad news because residents in these areas are
experiencing hot temperatures over 90°F. Check out these images and
videos from this destructive and deadly derecho event.<br />
<br />
~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-12933845553207199642012-07-06T21:08:00.001-04:002012-07-06T21:08:47.141-04:00What the heck is a "derecho"?? (Part 2)June 30 -- We awoke to find the power still off. Now THAT was a bit unusual. We have lost power many times over the years we've lived here, but usually not for more than 1 to 5 hours. We had a cereal breakfast, some fruit, and whatever didn't need heating (all my appliances are electric!). Then we decided to take a drive around town and see what the damage looked like. Here's what we found:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CgxaHOHLYtU/T_eFcYyx3II/AAAAAAAAA5g/TfoerN_FppQ/s1600/IMG_0914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CgxaHOHLYtU/T_eFcYyx3II/AAAAAAAAA5g/TfoerN_FppQ/s320/IMG_0914.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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House about two blocks from ours with a large tree on the roof</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpspBelILvw/T_eFhYKRxHI/AAAAAAAAA58/mLLaKUFywDk/s1600/IMG_0917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpspBelILvw/T_eFhYKRxHI/AAAAAAAAA58/mLLaKUFywDk/s320/IMG_0917.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div>
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In the Laurel Lakes Shopping Center parking lot, the model sheds on display at Lowe's Hardware were all blown over onto their backs.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gWE0dQMUAA/T_eFf2A10TI/AAAAAAAAA50/JBa8hhXw19o/s1600/IMG_0916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8gWE0dQMUAA/T_eFf2A10TI/AAAAAAAAA50/JBa8hhXw19o/s320/IMG_0916.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This one was blown down the small hill behind where it originally sat.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngdVra2pE4U/T_eFue9VMvI/AAAAAAAAA7I/wCL_y51-CGc/s1600/IMG_0931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ngdVra2pE4U/T_eFue9VMvI/AAAAAAAAA7I/wCL_y51-CGc/s320/IMG_0931.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The rest of the shed that blew over the hill.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EnMU9ifuzlU/T_eFkioy7NI/AAAAAAAAA6M/PbvRhEkrcDI/s1600/IMG_0919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EnMU9ifuzlU/T_eFkioy7NI/AAAAAAAAA6M/PbvRhEkrcDI/s320/IMG_0919.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another view of the parking lot mess.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8QGgup61zk/T_eFvoJyHFI/AAAAAAAAA7U/Lc1ARhX_Dzs/s1600/IMG_0932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8QGgup61zk/T_eFvoJyHFI/AAAAAAAAA7U/Lc1ARhX_Dzs/s320/IMG_0932.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And THIS one blew down the hill and across a street!! Amazing that no one was injured by all these flying sheds.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBCG0mSeMXM/T_eFnTQMGLI/AAAAAAAAA6c/GRSWQBxyoKo/s1600/IMG_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lBCG0mSeMXM/T_eFnTQMGLI/AAAAAAAAA6c/GRSWQBxyoKo/s320/IMG_0923.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Across the street from the shopping center were a series of five telephone/electric poles in a row that were pulled over or broken. A few others were heavily leaning in one direction or another. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQlDqglR-7M/T_eFo7mK0lI/AAAAAAAAA6o/f4KMjwuwSRE/s1600/IMG_0925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kQlDqglR-7M/T_eFo7mK0lI/AAAAAAAAA6o/f4KMjwuwSRE/s320/IMG_0925.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The car sales lot took some damage.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ-YRWKp5nQ/T_eFqCcYhrI/AAAAAAAAA6w/tmhFCkHafw8/s1600/IMG_0926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ-YRWKp5nQ/T_eFqCcYhrI/AAAAAAAAA6w/tmhFCkHafw8/s320/IMG_0926.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This pole landed on top of a Range Rover!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXo_E1tLHjY/T_eFrWIe75I/AAAAAAAAA64/_NK-SMlDaUE/s1600/IMG_0927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXo_E1tLHjY/T_eFrWIe75I/AAAAAAAAA64/_NK-SMlDaUE/s320/IMG_0927.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The broken pole fell on top of an old bank building (currently vacant).</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ5aOpFJ8rg/T_eFs5QZjgI/AAAAAAAAA7A/wzH-c8vS0XU/s1600/IMG_0929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aQ5aOpFJ8rg/T_eFs5QZjgI/AAAAAAAAA7A/wzH-c8vS0XU/s320/IMG_0929.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's the equipment that WAS on that pole!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHLcg3vi1oI/T_eFxNXoQPI/AAAAAAAAA7c/hcfqLAuEb1k/s1600/IMG_0933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHLcg3vi1oI/T_eFxNXoQPI/AAAAAAAAA7c/hcfqLAuEb1k/s320/IMG_0933.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Various view of Cherry Lane....</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3h73TkYTp-o/T_eFylB6K4I/AAAAAAAAA7k/lduMde_pOEo/s1600/IMG_0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3h73TkYTp-o/T_eFylB6K4I/AAAAAAAAA7k/lduMde_pOEo/s320/IMG_0936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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more trees down on Cherry Lane...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x7rHGPyM9DM/T_eFz1Bys4I/AAAAAAAAA7s/iUyQKEW57_k/s1600/IMG_0937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x7rHGPyM9DM/T_eFz1Bys4I/AAAAAAAAA7s/iUyQKEW57_k/s320/IMG_0937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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and even more.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--lw6GyNw9aY/T_eF1ojLF7I/AAAAAAAAA70/BIUYFfjS_O8/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--lw6GyNw9aY/T_eF1ojLF7I/AAAAAAAAA70/BIUYFfjS_O8/s320/IMG_0940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This tree fell in the parking lot of some apartments near our home; the tree narrowly missed several cars.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVqc4tceDUk/T_eF3tK2WmI/AAAAAAAAA78/LH1wTp31_KE/s1600/IMG_0941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RVqc4tceDUk/T_eF3tK2WmI/AAAAAAAAA78/LH1wTp31_KE/s320/IMG_0941.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This tree is located in a field in the same apartment complex. It split off.....</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vt4yX2qUvQ/T_eF5U9DrAI/AAAAAAAAA8E/a-gKn8dLv8Y/s1600/IMG_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vt4yX2qUvQ/T_eF5U9DrAI/AAAAAAAAA8E/a-gKn8dLv8Y/s320/IMG_0944.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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narrowly missing a brand-new chain link fence that was installed around the complex's swimming pool this past spring.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-Tvr0MCSbk/T_eFYfrs0kI/AAAAAAAAA5A/W9dykUWop1c/s1600/2012-06-30_20-43-29_210.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B-Tvr0MCSbk/T_eFYfrs0kI/AAAAAAAAA5A/W9dykUWop1c/s320/2012-06-30_20-43-29_210.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This tree fell onto a fence behind a gas station. The blue tent/tarp apparently blew in from some other location.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8pVJYzbq1Us/T_eFXbH6_0I/AAAAAAAAA44/wrbRmlOOyg8/s1600/2012-06-30_14-14-10_232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8pVJYzbq1Us/T_eFXbH6_0I/AAAAAAAAA44/wrbRmlOOyg8/s320/2012-06-30_14-14-10_232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cleaning up our yard wasn't TOO bad -- here's the first set of larger limbs we drug to the curb....</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtfHAuG0_qg/T_eFV516THI/AAAAAAAAA4w/ff3VHrWxWdI/s1600/2012-06-30_14-13-59_555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BtfHAuG0_qg/T_eFV516THI/AAAAAAAAA4w/ff3VHrWxWdI/s320/2012-06-30_14-13-59_555.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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....and the first trash can of small yard debris.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sndb8XjK3xg/T_eFZDfuxUI/AAAAAAAAA5I/oQkSOl1xMbk/s1600/2012-06-30_20-52-24_258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Sndb8XjK3xg/T_eFZDfuxUI/AAAAAAAAA5I/oQkSOl1xMbk/s320/2012-06-30_20-52-24_258.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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This is a terrible picture; I took it at dusk out of a moving car. But if you look carefully, you can see many balcony doors open, trying to cool off these apartments, and there are also a number of people standing or sitting on the balconies. Can you imagine how hot it would be in a 14-story building with no A/C? </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4I1qrJbEJrM/T_eFZ2zbSeI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/KvLzGIWr5QY/s1600/2012-06-30_21-01-30_254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4I1qrJbEJrM/T_eFZ2zbSeI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/KvLzGIWr5QY/s320/2012-06-30_21-01-30_254.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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The digital indoor/outdoor thermometer I have in my upstairs showed that at 10 pm it was 86.4 degrees outside, 86.0 degrees upstairs in my home. Needless to say, we ended up sleeping in the basement Saturday night -- much, much cooler!!</div>
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~~~~~</div>Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-60302326776508229392012-07-06T16:35:00.000-04:002012-07-06T16:35:04.736-04:00What the heck is a "derecho"?? (Part 1)Do you know? I didn't -- until last week. According to Wikipedia, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derecho">derecho</a> is " a widespread, long-lived,straight-line windstorm that is associated with a fast-moving band of severe thunderstorms. Generally, derechos are convection-induced and take on a bow echo <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_echo" title="Bow echo"></a>form of squall line,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squall_line" title="Squall line"></a>
forming in an area of divergence in the upper levels of the
troposphere, within a region of low-level warm air advection and rich
low-level moisture. They travel quickly in the direction of movement of
their associated storms, similar to an outflow boundary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outflow_boundary" title="Outflow boundary"></a>(gust front), except that <u><i><b>the wind <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind" title="Wind"></a>is sustained <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_sustained_wind" title="Maximum sustained wind"></a>and increases in strength behind the front, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_front" title="Weather front"></a>generally exceeding hurricane-force.</b></i></u>" I highlighted and underlined the last part as emphasis. I feel like saying -- yeah, really?? That was the understatement of the century!! <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjRAmOIhc_M/T_dJpKu_ArI/AAAAAAAAA4k/yBGwX0hWXoM/s1600/derecho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KjRAmOIhc_M/T_dJpKu_ArI/AAAAAAAAA4k/yBGwX0hWXoM/s1600/derecho.jpg" /></a></div>
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Last Friday, June 29, a derecho blew through the DC area around 10 pm. This was a storm that tore apart our region in less than 30 minutes, with very little warning. We were among the fortunate -- we "only" lost power for about 54 hours. Several of our friends didn't get power until last night, so it was a full SEVEN DAYS in this blistering heat without power. <br />
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I'm going to chronicle, in several parts, what happened over the last few days. It was pretty rough! I have a new respect for the people who originally settled in this part of the country, before there was refrigeration or air conditioning. I do not know how they survived -- seriously.<br />
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Friday, June 29 -- We were out for some dinner and a bit of late-evening shopping. We came out of Target in Columbia, MD to see lightning off in the distance. At first, we thought it was heat lightning, but it was frequent, intense, and getting closer by the minute. As we drove home, we turned on the radio to hear about a "severe storm" with winds gusting over 80 mph approaching our area. We drove home quickly, making plans about who would take trash cans in, who'd get the dogs out quickly, and so forth. We rushed to accomplish those things, and literally within eight minutes of getting home, the storms started. Huge, HUGE winds; some rain, but not anywhere in proportion to the amount of wind we were getting. Lights started to flicker and at 10:45 they went out. This is not an uncommon thing in our neighborhood, and so we always have flashlights at the ready. We kicked on a battery-powered radio, listened to the weather reports and waited for the storm to blow through. And really, the worst of the storm was gone in about 45 minutes -- how much damage could it possibly have done, right??? Wrong.<br />
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As we listened to the radio, we began hearing the reports of power outages from all over the area -- 60,000, 80,000, 100,000 customers without power -- and the numbers kept rising. It became clear that we wouldn't be getting power back anytime before bed, and so we all headed off to sleep. Can't do much else around the house without the electricity. The house was fairly cool, the sun was already down; we figured we'd be fine until the power came on.<br />
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~~~~~ <br />
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<br />Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-69106556258914485652012-06-29T14:38:00.004-04:002012-06-29T14:38:45.704-04:00RIP, Lance Cpl. Eugene Mills<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U5NP83eW-v8/T-30L4ja3mI/AAAAAAAAAxc/rSyNN2hBNzQ/s1600/Eugene+Mills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="505" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U5NP83eW-v8/T-30L4ja3mI/AAAAAAAAAxc/rSyNN2hBNzQ/s640/Eugene+Mills.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span class="hasCaption">~ In Honor Of Marine Lance Cpl. Eugene C. Mills III ~<br /> <br />
Lance Cpl. Eugene C. Mills III, 21, of Laurel, Md., died June 22 while
conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was
assigned to 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II
Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.</span></div>
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<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-marine-death-20120625,0,5908644.story" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://www.baltimoresun.com/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>news/maryland/</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>bs-md-marine-death-20120625,0,5</span><wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>908644.story</a></span></span></h6>
<h1>
Laurel Marine killed in Afghanistan remembered as patriot, 'all-around great kid'</h1>
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21-year-old man, killed by enemy fire, had dreamed of joining military since 9/11</h2>
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<img alt="Dignified transfer" border="0" height="382" src="http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/photo/2012-06/70689037.jpg" width="580" />
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A U.S. Marine carry team
moves the transfer case of U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Eugene C. Mills III,
during a dignified transfer at Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Del.
Mills, 21, of Laurel, was killed in combat in Afghanistan.
<span class="credit">(<span class="photographer">Getty photo</span> / <span class="dateMonth">June </span><span class="dateDay">25</span><span class="dateYear">, 2012</span>)</span>
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<li class="newRelatedItem">
<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-marine-killed-20120624,0,2635320.story" target=""><img alt="Laurel Marine's remains to arrive at Dover" height="105" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-4fe7c000/turbine/bs-md-marine-killed-20120624/187/16x9" width="187" /></a> </li>
<li class="newRelatedItem"> <a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-marine-killed-20120624,0,2635320.story" target=""><span></span>Laurel Marine's remains to arrive at Dover</a>
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<li class="newRelatedItem">
<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-eugene-mills-20120623,0,324303.story" target=""><span></span>Marine from Laurel killed in Afghanistan</a>
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<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-marine-killed-maryland-20120121,0,7474657.story" target=""><span></span>Naval Academy grad killed in Afghanistan</a>
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Afghanistan
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September 11, 2001 Attacks
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Camp Lejeune (military base)
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<span class="toolSet" style="width: 335px;">
<div class="byline">
<span class="byline">By Kevin Rector, The Baltimore Sun</span>
<div class="date">
<span class="timeString">9:04 p.m. EDT</span><span class="dateTimeSeparator">, </span><span class="dateString">June 25, 2012</span></div>
</div>
</span>
"Pops, when I come home, Natty
Bohs and crabs?" Lance Cpl. Eugene C. "Gene" Mills III asked his father,
Gene Mills II, during an impromptu phone call early last week, about a
month before the younger man was due to return home to Laurel from <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/intl/afghanistan-PLGEO00000021.topic" id="PLGEO00000021" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>.<br />
<br />
"One more mission, Pops, and I'll be home," the son told his father. "Love you, Pops."<br />
<br />
Those were the last words his
father — a retired Prince George's County police officer known as "Big
Gene" — would ever hear from "Little Gene," 21, a High Road Academy
graduate and Marine stationed in Helmand province, on his second
deployment to the country.<br />
<br />
On Monday, Corporal Mills' remains were returned to the United States
at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where family and friends —
including his father; mother, Theresa Mills; stepmother, Melissa Mills;
and brother, Jacob "Jake" Mills, a rising senior at Atholton High School
— were waiting on the tarmac.<br />
<br />
On Friday, Corporal Mills, a member of the 1st Battalion, 8th Marine
Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/unrest-conflicts-war/defense/camp-lejeune-%28military-base%29-PLCUL00000556.topic" id="PLCUL00000556" title="Camp Lejeune (military base)">Camp Lejeune</a>,
N.C., was leading his five-man infantry team on a patrol in the
province's Sangin Valley when they became involved in a firefight.
Corporal Mills was shot in the upper left chest, his father said. He was
treated by another Marine on the ground, then transported to a medical
facility in Afghanistan, where he died, his father said.<br />
<br />
Two Marines and Laurel Police Chief Richard McLaughlin brought the family the news.<br />
<br />
"There's nothing worse," Gene Mills said, choking back tears. "You know
it's not good. I prayed that it was just he was injured, I prayed that
he lost a leg, I prayed that he lost two legs but was OK."<br />
<br />
The news of Corporal Mills' death quickly swept through Laurel, where the Mills family has deep roots.<br />
<br />
Mayor Craig Moe announced flags in the city will be flown at half-staff
in honor of Corporal Mills until his funeral services, which have not
been set.<br />
<br />
"Everybody's coming together," Jim Collins, president of the Laurel
Volunteer Fire Department, said of the city's support for the family.<br />
<br />
Corporal Mills had first announced his desire to join the military on
Sept. 11, 2001, his father said, after watching live news coverage of
the terrorist attacks on a 13-inch television in his room, unknown to
his father.<br />
<br />
He had come out of his room, a concerned look on his face, and asked his father what was happening.<br />
<br />
"So I sat down with him and discussed everything, and I said,
'Everything's going to be all right. We're the United States of America.
We can survive this,'" his father remembered. "And he said, 'Dad, when
I'm old enough, I'm going into the military, and I'm going to help
protect us.' "<br />
<br />
Corporal Mills never lost sight of that goal and joined the Marines
shortly after graduating from high school, onFather's Day2008, his
father said.<br />
<br />
He was first deployed in 2010 to Now Zad, Afghanistan. He left home for
his second deployment in the country in March. His family would send
him care packages, and he would give most of what was in them to Afghan
children, his father said.<br />
<br />
"Gene was just the all-around great kid," his father said. "He wanted to make a difference."<br />
<br />
Corporal Mills' superior officers have recommended he receive the Purple Heart.<br />
<br />
Though funeral arrangements have not been completed, Mills will be
buried in Arlington National Cemetery after a service at Grace Community
Church in Fulton, his father said.<br />
<br />
<em><a href="mailto:krector@baltsun.com">krector@baltsun.com</a></em><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> ~~~~~</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Gene is the son of a friend of mine from junior high and high school, Theresa (Stea) Mills. Semper fi, Eugene.</span></span></i></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> ~~~~~ </span></span></h6>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-68308722564346802582012-06-15T11:54:00.000-04:002012-06-15T11:56:02.911-04:00Kenzie's cooking -- again!When I posted yesterday about the Monkey Bread Kenzie just made, I realized that I'd forgotten to post about the day she made the New York onion buns and an entire dinner. Here are the pictures -- hope you don't get too hungry!!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jRCXzbUvKTY/T9tTsH7x3RI/AAAAAAAAAuA/bWvluRTOd8I/s1600/IMG_0558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jRCXzbUvKTY/T9tTsH7x3RI/AAAAAAAAAuA/bWvluRTOd8I/s320/IMG_0558.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Kneading the bread.......</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pdTUVRIYMIw/T9tTv2qA32I/AAAAAAAAAuY/kn4av0tVgUM/s1600/IMG_0561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pdTUVRIYMIw/T9tTv2qA32I/AAAAAAAAAuY/kn4av0tVgUM/s320/IMG_0561.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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for 10 minutes! It's a long time!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WRUMhTWRU7o/T9tTyvRLDFI/AAAAAAAAAuo/aqSIDg4_UsA/s1600/IMG_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WRUMhTWRU7o/T9tTyvRLDFI/AAAAAAAAAuo/aqSIDg4_UsA/s320/IMG_0563.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Almost done kneading.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ocIf-sjK70/T9tT1Lxd91I/AAAAAAAAAu4/dw__d8kpiBQ/s1600/IMG_0565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ocIf-sjK70/T9tT1Lxd91I/AAAAAAAAAu4/dw__d8kpiBQ/s320/IMG_0565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Forming the dough into bun-sized balls.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fG0Fwf8n9ys/T9tT5cD_KyI/AAAAAAAAAvM/ld2El_on8rk/s1600/IMG_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fG0Fwf8n9ys/T9tT5cD_KyI/AAAAAAAAAvM/ld2El_on8rk/s320/IMG_0567.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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On to dinner -- chopping an onion for the meatloaf.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TX0IM0b2VhA/T9tT6Txt8BI/AAAAAAAAAvU/wPMqIJTleBo/s1600/IMG_0568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TX0IM0b2VhA/T9tT6Txt8BI/AAAAAAAAAvU/wPMqIJTleBo/s320/IMG_0568.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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This requires some concentration!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59izM0rhht0/T9tT7976EsI/AAAAAAAAAvc/h8yumzuRd1A/s1600/IMG_0569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-59izM0rhht0/T9tT7976EsI/AAAAAAAAAvc/h8yumzuRd1A/s320/IMG_0569.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Cut up red-skinned potatoes, prepared meatloaf waiting to go in the oven, and chopping up fresh rosemary!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-ds3Zq28K4/T9tUAbZF3WI/AAAAAAAAAv0/bSAS7kaa5gY/s1600/IMG_0572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g-ds3Zq28K4/T9tUAbZF3WI/AAAAAAAAAv0/bSAS7kaa5gY/s320/IMG_0572.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The rolls after being topped with the onions and after rising -- ready for baking.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_h6UT6PmbpQ/T9tUIMkLkKI/AAAAAAAAAwg/LIXoZF57Ii4/s1600/IMG_0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_h6UT6PmbpQ/T9tUIMkLkKI/AAAAAAAAAwg/LIXoZF57Ii4/s320/IMG_0577.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The chef with her baked goods!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k50x3laUl6g/T9tUJnEzvAI/AAAAAAAAAwo/qdFCoMuxA6k/s1600/IMG_0578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k50x3laUl6g/T9tUJnEzvAI/AAAAAAAAAwo/qdFCoMuxA6k/s320/IMG_0578.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And the entire dinner, done by Mackenzie!! Yummy!!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-51682661718631562902012-06-14T22:42:00.002-04:002012-06-15T11:55:00.446-04:00More of "Kenzie in the Kitchen"!Kenzie has been taking an on-line bread baking class. I already posted pictures of her <a href="http://lifeatthellewellyns.blogspot.com/2012/03/bread-baking-success.html">loaves of bread </a>a while back. She also made some amazingly delicious New York onion buns, and this week, she made Monkey Bread. Too bad you can't smell the cinnamon through your computer -- it was a wonderful aroma!!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V-Bc5lbWjLE/T9qgBoy8d-I/AAAAAAAAAtA/Ati7I6NxbBM/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V-Bc5lbWjLE/T9qgBoy8d-I/AAAAAAAAAtA/Ati7I6NxbBM/s320/IMG_0602.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kenzie kneading the dough..... </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUadOQy5IT0/T9qgDNSEM6I/AAAAAAAAAtI/D7eGnbNN7bg/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUadOQy5IT0/T9qgDNSEM6I/AAAAAAAAAtI/D7eGnbNN7bg/s320/IMG_0604.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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....and kneading it some more!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kyQ65Y3_WCU/T9qgEM2PrGI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/JvLsapea6go/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kyQ65Y3_WCU/T9qgEM2PrGI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/JvLsapea6go/s320/IMG_0606.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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The dough was then made into small balls, dipped in butter, and rolled in cinnamon.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHEgfXHGcPw/T9qgFrwsNYI/AAAAAAAAAtY/_o_GV23DD-o/s1600/IMG_0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qHEgfXHGcPw/T9qgFrwsNYI/AAAAAAAAAtY/_o_GV23DD-o/s320/IMG_0608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The balls of dough were placed in a Bundt pan, and some candied cherries were scattered into the pan.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tit9fwSnPVk/T9qgGqaE37I/AAAAAAAAAtg/XgPKViqQvio/s1600/IMG_0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tit9fwSnPVk/T9qgGqaE37I/AAAAAAAAAtg/XgPKViqQvio/s320/IMG_0610.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The dough was left to rise for about 45 minutes.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_HsXZS8AVs/T9qgIJEwYjI/AAAAAAAAAto/srHVnvKSfWE/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r_HsXZS8AVs/T9qgIJEwYjI/AAAAAAAAAto/srHVnvKSfWE/s320/IMG_0611.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another view of the dough after the rising time.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cx6fTanQMCs/T9qgJT2LG5I/AAAAAAAAAtw/MKGuRUO4bb0/s1600/IMG_0613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cx6fTanQMCs/T9qgJT2LG5I/AAAAAAAAAtw/MKGuRUO4bb0/s320/IMG_0613.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The final product!! Tasted even BETTER than it looked!!</div>
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<br /></div>
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Great job, Mackenzie!! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
~~~~~</div>Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-32885099854807914662012-06-12T10:23:00.000-04:002012-06-12T10:23:19.939-04:00Fun at the riverI'm always on the lookout for places with water that will be safe to take our dogs. Last week, I found a new one, and took Kenzie and Taylor out to play there. The photo qualities are not the best, as I was using my cell phone camera AND looking into the sun for many of these. But -- enjoy anyway!<br />
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~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-80769131942555751832012-06-06T16:00:00.000-04:002012-06-08T15:18:05.594-04:00My journey to straighter teeth!I'm not vain about my appearance and ESPECIALLY not about my teeth. However, over the last few years, my teeth have decided to migrate all over the place. This has made it hard to floss (some teeth very close together), some teeth have begun overlapping others, and a few teeth have cracked when I've bitten down on something hard (cracking due to the misalignment putting pressure on spots where they shouldn't have been). All this led me to consider braces -- not an appealing thought when you're part of the over 50 crowd. Because I meet with a lots of clients, however, I did not want to do the metal railroad tracks type of braces. Over the last year and a half, I did a lot of reading, soul-searching and saving ($$) and opted to get the <a href="http://www.invisalign.com/Pages/default.aspx">Invisalign</a> braces.<br />
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The whole process of actually getting fitted for these was a bit intimidating. There were regular x-rays; panoramic x-rays; and digital photos of my mouth from every possible angle, inside and out -- and yes, I mean that!! They even put a small mirror in my mouth to aid in taking pictures of some of the teeth in the back!! Then the hardest part -- the gooey stuff they put in a mold and have you bite down on for several minutes. It tasted pretty bad, but the worst part was that on the first attempt, the technician put too much goo in the tray, and as I bit down, it started going down my throat, setting off a horrible gag reflex. This was REALLY tough, as I NEVER, EVER get sick to my stomach -- and I truly thought I was going to throw up with a mouthful of gooey trays in the way!! Scary and strange......<br />
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But that was finally finished and all the information, trays, photos, and x-rays were sent off to the Invisalign labs to create the series of trays needed to give me well-placed, gorgeous teeth. All I had to do now was wait.......<br />
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My "kit" arrived, and my appointment with the dentist
was Monday. The first surprise was that there were "buttons" or
"attachments" that had to be added to several teeth in order to help the
braces rotate them into position. You can see a few in the picture below.<br />
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Then they handed me a set of these handy-dandy little plastic trays......<br />
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.... and told me to try to put them on. Uh, yeah, right........ I sat in the dentist's chair, struggled and struggled, and could NOT get them on. Then they suggested I go to the lady's room and try doing it in front of the mirror. Nope, still not happening!! Those suckers are TIGHT!! Then the technician came in to help, and with me standing up against the wall, bracing my head, the two of us were able to snap those things into place! OK, now they're in..... will they ever come out??<br />
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Back to the exam room to get all the instructions: wear them for 22 hours per day; only take them out to eat, brush, floss, and then right back in; only drink water while wearing them (don't want to get the sugary liquids stuck against your teeth all day); remove them from the back molars first and work your way around; don't bite down on them to snap them into place; keep them out of reach of the dogs!!<br />
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As I was walking out the door, the dentist told me, sort of in passing, that "they're much easier to get out if you leave them in for 48 hours or so, so the teeth have a chance to shift a bit". I nodded and hurried out of the office. It wasn't until a few hours later that it dawned on me -- if I leave them in for 48 hours, how the heck am I supposed to eat??<br />
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When dinnertime rolled around, I'd only had the braces in for about 3 hours, and I was definitely not ready to try to take them out. I made dinner for the family, and then broke my first rule -- I ate with the braces in! Well, not really "ate" -- I took a piece of bread, ripped it into small pieces, and washed them down with water! I HAD to have something in my stomach.<br />
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When it was time for bed, I just brushed around the trays a bit and decided I'd worry about all of it in the morning. I took a good dose of Motrin to help ease the ache of the teeth moving and headed off to sleep.<br />
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In the morning -- getting them out?? Uh-uh.... not happening. Like I said, these suckers are really, REALLY tight. I pulled, twisted, prodded, and could NOT get them out. The solution was to make a smoothie and call that breakfast -- so I didn't really "eat" with them in, but I was definitely getting stuff stuck in them!<br />
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I had a full day's worth of client visits to do, followed up by the end of year Promotion Night picnic and promotion night with <a href="http://www.cedarbrookacademy.org/">Cedar Brook Academy</a>. It was a lot of fun until it was time to figure out how to eat -- again -- sigh....... So off to the ladies' room I went, determined that this time, those trays were coming out. And after about 10 minutes of struggle, I managed to remove....... ONE. Sigh again........ At this point, hunger overrode any concern -- hey, I had the bottom teeth free anyway, right?? So I carefully managed to eat a hot dog, some potato salad, and part of a soft cookie -- enough to keep the very hungry tummy from growling during the program!<br />
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After getting home from the program, it was definitely time to do something about this. In front of the mirror, I again tugged and pulled from every possible angle, and miracle of miracles, finally managed to get both of them out!! Yay!! Now I could finally give my teeth (and the molds) a good cleaning. Getting the braces back in was another huge ordeal, but a task that was finally accomplished, though not without a lot more struggle.<br />
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Today, I've managed to get both trays out for breakfast and lunch, and it's getting SOMEWHAT easier -- enough that I am feeling somewhat hopefully that the trend will continue. Of course, in two weeks, I graduate to the next set of trays, which will probably be tight again, but I'm cautiously optimistic that by that point, I'll have figured out some tricks of the trade to make this whole process easier.<br />
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To aid in that, I Google'd "removing Invisalign braces" and came up with an entire blog devoted to this. It's informational and at times, pretty darn funny -- it's entitled "<a href="http://myinvisalignblog.com/" title="My Invisalign Blog">My Invisalign Blog</a><a href="http://myinvisalignblog.com/"> --The Creation Of My Hollywood Smile </a>". One of the best posts I've found thus far was this: <a href="http://myinvisalignblog.com/2010/06/removing-invisalign-aligners.html">Top Ten Tips For Removing Invisalign Braces</a> -- very helpful, informative, and gave me hope that I too would get over this difficult part!<br />
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In the meantime, my teeth have probably never had such meticulous hygiene, the braces have the unexpected benefit of protecting my teeth from some of their cold sensitivity, making it easier to drink ice water, and then only downside (besides getting the trays out!) is that one of the "buttons" or "attachments" is rubbing a raw spot on the inside of my upper lip. I suspect this will improve with time as the skin toughens or the tooth moves into its proper location.<br />
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In the meantime, take a close look at these two pictures...... <br />
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Pretty amazing how invisible those braces really are, isn't it? (braces on in the bottom shot). At least I don't walk around feeling like the world is staring at my teeth!!<br />
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I'll probably post from time to time as I start to see my "Hollywood Smile" improve, too!<br />
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~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-59770345020208424832012-03-19T10:04:00.000-04:002012-03-19T10:04:48.799-04:00Growing up so fast ..... :-(Kenzie's Pioneer Girls group had a father/daughter dinner/dance recently. This was a formal occasion, with the rather catchy name of "The Snow Ball"! Here's my lovely lady, growing up so quickly.....<br />
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~~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-80294611360697990672012-03-19T10:00:00.000-04:002012-03-19T10:00:09.338-04:00So crafty!More and more, Kenzie is interested in things she can do with her hands -- projects like crochet, knitting, drawing, sewing, baking..... and the latest is weaving. We bought her a rigid heddle loom for Christmas, and she is absolutely having a blast with it. Learning how to warp the loom the first time was a bit of a challenge, but she's now able to do it on her own (except when extra hands are needed to provide tension). Here are pictures from her first project:<br />
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She did a great job, didn't she? And she just completed a much smaller second project yesterday. She found on YouTube that there are tons of videos that show how to make different types of weaving patterns, so she decided to make a sampler! This kid's got a lot of creativity, that's for sure!<br />
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~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-23561263710677980282012-03-17T19:42:00.001-04:002012-06-15T11:55:31.119-04:00Bread baking success!Kenzie and I are taking an on-line bread baking class. Today was Kenzie's first attempt at making bread; she made a delicious honey-oatmeal bread.<br />
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Mixing the dough.....</div>
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......and more mixing.</div>
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Kneading the dough.</div>
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Dough is kneaded, rolled into a ball, and ready for the first rise.</div>
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After rising, Kenzie rolled it into a loaf shape....</div>
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placed it in the pan, and allowed it to rise a second time.</div>
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After the 2nd rise, look how big it was! Kenzie made slits on the top of the loaf, brushed it with egg white and sprinkled rolled oats on top.</div>
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After baking, here was the final (delicious) product!!</div>
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And here's the very proud baker! Great job, Kenzie!</div>
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~~~~</div>Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-58135494443165249602012-01-11T15:04:00.003-05:002012-01-11T15:04:47.053-05:00Babies, babies, babies!It has been quite a while since I last posted, and in between Kenzie's orchestra concert, holiday parties, shopping, guests, Christmas, New Year's and so much more, we had an EXPLOSION of babies!! Here's my list for the last few weeks.... try to imagine fitting in a little bit of sleep around these babies, plus all the holiday activities, and you'll understand why I had NO time to write!<br />
<br />
12/3 -- baby girl, family's first baby, born at the birth center<br />
12/8 -- baby girl, family's fourth baby, born at home<br />
12/16 -- baby girl, family's third baby, born at home<br />
12/20 -- baby girl, family's second baby, born at birth center<br />
12/22 -- baby boy, family's fourth baby, born at home<br />
12/26 -- baby boy, family's first baby, born at home<br />
12/30 -- baby girl, family's fourth baby, born at home<br />
1/5 -- baby girl, family's first baby, transfer to hospital from birth center for non-progressing labor<br />
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So, eight babies in thirty-three days, and those are just the births<u><i><b> I</b></i></u> attended; my partners did others as well!! It's a busy few weeks, with no sign of stopping soon. One of my partners did a birth late last night, my other partner did one this AM. <br />
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On top of everything, I'm organizing a dinner at a restaurant next week for hubby's 60th birthday. It's not EXACTLY a surprise; he knows it's happening. The surprise is -- he doesn't know who's coming! My parents are flying in from Florida, our daughter is flying in from Texas..... He will be VERY surprised! (And I can write about this, because he NEVER reads this blog -- yippee!!)<br />
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So -- if you don't hear from me again soon, it's because I'm either at a birth or busy planning/scheming/partying!<br />
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~~~~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-53629768881808834642011-12-23T19:56:00.002-05:002011-12-24T16:37:08.656-05:00It is more blessed to give......<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Why is it so easy to forget that we are
always blessed when we bless others? I'm so incredibly blessed by God to have so much more
than I need... </span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">I had to mail an overnight package today, and happened
to have a $50 bill burning a hole in my wallet. I felt God urging me to
give something today; I made myself (and God) a promise that after I
mailed the letter, I'd give the remainder to the first needy person I
saw. </span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">I have to admit, I did have a bit of a mental struggle. 'God, this package is only going to cost about $15 to mail; you really want me to give $35 to a complete stranger?' But the feeling that I should do so was strong and compelling, and I made up my mind that I would follow God's cue, regardless. </span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">When I came out of the post office, standing on the sidewalk outside the door was a young Indian man
with his small son (maybe 4 years old), homeless and looking for help. Were they there when I went in? I don't know.... I was so wrapped up in the Christmas rush, maybe I didn't see them -- or maybe them being there right then, at that moment in time when I left the post office, was MY small Christmas miracle. I stopped and spoke
with them, told the man of my promise, gave him the money, and also put all the
loose coins in my wallet in the little boy's pocket. I got huge hugs and
excited thank you's, and I walked across the parking lot trying not to cry. </span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> My wallet is now empty, but my heart is full and overflowing. God,
help me remember to always be grateful for all my blessings .....</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Luke 6:38 -- Truly, it is more blessed to give than to receive.</span></i></span><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span style="font-size: small;"><i> </i></span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><br />~~~~~~~</span></h6>Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-90983304335084487212011-12-02T17:40:00.000-05:002012-06-15T11:57:44.245-04:00Mixed messagesAs I sat at the ATM last evening, I had the opportunity to read the signs posted on either side of the screen. To the left of the ATM's screen was a large green sign that entitled "Safety Information". One of the safety tips (in case you can't read the fuzzy print on my photo): "Prepare your deposit envelope and deposit slip before arriving at the ATM."<br />
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The blue sign on the right of the screen?? It said: "For your convenience, ATM Deposit Envelope will be dispensed during transaction"!!!! (Sorry, I can't get this picture to post in the right direction!)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A5KAmqtuptc/TtlVOaZR_dI/AAAAAAAAAjg/99EaVmwvL2U/s1600/IMG_20111201_170443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A5KAmqtuptc/TtlVOaZR_dI/AAAAAAAAAjg/99EaVmwvL2U/s400/IMG_20111201_170443.jpg" width="396" /></a></div>
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So, M&T Bank, what do you REALLY want me to do in order to be safe???<br />
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~~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-8134031966697164532011-11-18T11:52:00.001-05:002011-11-18T12:17:44.848-05:00Thanksgiving funnies!Haven't had much time to post lately, but I figured I at least needed to add my favorite Thanksgiving cartoons, old and new! If I don't get to post again before Thanksgiving, I hope you have a wonderful, bountiful day, filled with family, friends, happiness, good food and THANKFULNESS!!<br />
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~~~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-30486756659113959982011-10-10T11:29:00.000-04:002011-10-10T11:39:36.601-04:00Happy 1st anniversary, Russell and Iris!One year ago today, Kenzie and I were in Honduras for my nephew's wedding (posts from then, <a href="http://lifeatthellewellyns.blogspot.com/2010/10/day-5-in-honduras-wedding-day-part-1.html">#1,</a> <a href="http://lifeatthellewellyns.blogspot.com/2010/10/day-5-in-honduras-wedding-day-part-2.html">#2,</a> <a href="http://lifeatthellewellyns.blogspot.com/2010/10/day-5-in-honduras-wedding-day-part-3.html">#3</a>, <a href="http://lifeatthellewellyns.blogspot.com/2010/10/day-5-in-honduras-wedding-day-part-4.html">#4</a>). Amazing how quickly time goes by...... Congratulations, Russell and Iris!!<br />
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Wishing you many more years of happiness!Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-85995745270583879012011-09-12T09:21:00.003-04:002011-09-12T09:24:46.351-04:00The dogs of 9/11: the other heroes<div class="content">
<div id="post_message_1964910558">
<blockquote class="postcontent restore ">
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: black;">These are the dogs that worked the trade center that are still alive but retired; they are heroes too. Their eyes say everything you need to know about them. Just amazing creatures.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">True heroes of 9/11 still with us today...</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--TmJJd1Nd7I/Tm4BzTVa4II/AAAAAAAAAdI/6_f3C5LEA_E/s1600/Moxie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--TmJJd1Nd7I/Tm4BzTVa4II/AAAAAAAAAdI/6_f3C5LEA_E/s320/Moxie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="color: black;">Moxie,
13, from Winthrop, Massachusetts, arrived with her handler, Mark
Aliberti, at the World Trade Center on the evening of September 11 and
searched the site for eight days.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</blockquote>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qhNF0pQ_r7c/Tm4CCq1NpFI/AAAAAAAAAdM/id1M3Z7AYUs/s1600/Tara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qhNF0pQ_r7c/Tm4CCq1NpFI/AAAAAAAAAdM/id1M3Z7AYUs/s320/Tara.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Tara,
16, from Ipswich, Massachusetts, arrived at the World Trade Center on
the night of the 11th. The dog and her handler Lee Prentiss were there
for eight days.</span> </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGWDMJr4ON0/Tm4CQtM6KoI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/cCzIdrTvtW0/s1600/Kaiser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BGWDMJr4ON0/Tm4CQtM6KoI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/cCzIdrTvtW0/s320/Kaiser.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Kaiser,
12, pictured at home in Indianapolis, Indiana, was deployed to the
World Trade Center on September 11 and searched tirelessly for people in
the rubble.</span> </td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E37TfPCY1X8/Tm4CiaeZ9hI/AAAAAAAAAdU/wj5sQ-7vK4c/s1600/Bretagne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E37TfPCY1X8/Tm4CiaeZ9hI/AAAAAAAAAdU/wj5sQ-7vK4c/s320/Bretagne.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQH0jCHTQ4s/Tm4EqJdXLEI/AAAAAAAAAdY/vPl1G20JPjk/s1600/Bretagne2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="199" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xQH0jCHTQ4s/Tm4EqJdXLEI/AAAAAAAAAdY/vPl1G20JPjk/s320/Bretagne2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Bretagne
and his owner Denise Corliss from Cypress, Texas, arrived at the site
in New York on September 17, remaining there for ten days.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cIIo1cI2pcQ/Tm4E24tXGII/AAAAAAAAAdc/-EmbaLiV-OY/s1600/Guinness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cIIo1cI2pcQ/Tm4E24tXGII/AAAAAAAAAdc/-EmbaLiV-OY/s320/Guinness.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Guinness,
15, from Highland, California, started work at the site with Sheila
McKee on the morning of September 13 and was deployed at the site for 11
days.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HOPi2mYnXZs/Tm4FIspK-4I/AAAAAAAAAdg/06UwpmDaQ-Y/s1600/merlyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="163" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HOPi2mYnXZs/Tm4FIspK-4I/AAAAAAAAAdg/06UwpmDaQ-Y/s320/merlyn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Merlyn and his handler Matt Claussen were deployed to Ground Zero on September 24, working the night shift for five days.</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pC8_7O9qRlw/Tm4FUmGdgBI/AAAAAAAAAdk/TINfV7HiFVo/s1600/red.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pC8_7O9qRlw/Tm4FUmGdgBI/AAAAAAAAAdk/TINfV7HiFVo/s320/red.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Red,
11, from Annapolis, Maryland, went with Heather Roche to the Pentagon
from September 16 until the 27 as part of the Bay Area Recovery Canines.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2rXiWt7jdg/Tm4FhwCSelI/AAAAAAAAAdo/A2lbVCdau7U/s1600/abigail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2rXiWt7jdg/Tm4FhwCSelI/AAAAAAAAAdo/A2lbVCdau7U/s320/abigail.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abigail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gK51gQhW5DM/Tm4F1AEkiZI/AAAAAAAAAds/D22bcTglsJc/s1600/tuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gK51gQhW5DM/Tm4F1AEkiZI/AAAAAAAAAds/D22bcTglsJc/s320/tuff.jpg" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuff -- <span style="color: black;">Abigail,
above, was deployed on the evening of September 17, searching for 10
days while Tuff arrived in New York at 11:00 pm on the day of attack to
start working early the next day.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="postcontent restore ">
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUkwEBU-1tk/Tm4GFBIeZWI/AAAAAAAAAdw/YfxQaDb995Y/s1600/Hoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUkwEBU-1tk/Tm4GFBIeZWI/AAAAAAAAAdw/YfxQaDb995Y/s320/Hoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Handler
Julie Noyes and Hoke were deployed to the World Trade Center from
their home in Denver on September 24 and searched for five days.</span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="postcontent restore ">
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNGhtOaUHHQ/Tm4GSJIUmVI/AAAAAAAAAd0/Yu1f9mm7IHs/s1600/scout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="187" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNGhtOaUHHQ/Tm4GSJIUmVI/AAAAAAAAAd0/Yu1f9mm7IHs/s320/scout.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">Scout
and another unknown dog lie among the rubble at Ground Zero, just two
of nearly 100 search and rescue animals who helped to search for
survivors.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
~~~~~ </div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="postcontent restore ">
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: black;">During the chaos of the
9/11 attacks, where almost 3,000 people died, nearly 100 loyal search
and rescue dogs and their brave owners scoured Ground Zero for
survivors. Now, ten years on, just 12 of
these heroic canines survive, and they have been commemorated in a
touching series of portraits entitled 'Retrieved'.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">The
dogs worked tirelessly to search for anyone trapped alive in the
rubble, along with countless emergency service workers and members of
the public.</span> <br />
<span style="color: black;"></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="postcontent restore ">
<div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="color: black;">Traveling across nine states
in the U.S. from Texas to Maryland, Dutch photographer Charlotte
Dumas, 34, captured the remaining dogs in their twilight years in their
homes where they still live with their handlers, a full decade on from
9/11. Their stories have now been
compiled in a book, called Retrieved, which is published on Friday, the
tenth anniversary of the attacks. Noted
for her touching portraits of animals, especially dogs, Charlotte
wanted 'Retrieved' to mark not only the anniversary of the September
2001 attacks, but also as recognition for some of the first responders
and their dogs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;">"I felt this was a
turning point, especially for the dogs, who although are not forgotten,
are not as prominent as the human stories involved," explained
Charlotte, who splits her time between New York and Amsterdam. "They
speak to us as a different species and animals are greatly important
for our sense of empathy and to put things into perspective."</span><br />
<br /></div>
<i><span style="color: black;">Charles Mayfield</span></i></blockquote>
~~~~~ <br />
</div>
</div>
Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-21577594891556815202011-09-11T00:01:00.001-04:002011-09-11T00:01:00.440-04:00Proud to be an AmericanIn remembrance of 9/11/2001 and looking forward to our future.....<br />
<br />
"Home of the Brave", performed by Eric Dodge <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
"In God We Still Trust", performed by Diamond Rio<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/DiYgpPB1kwU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Pam L. in Marylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16363175184067651107noreply@blogger.com0Laurel, MD 20708, USA39.0554966 -76.81442979999997139.010828599999996 -76.86277429999997 39.1001646 -76.766085299999972tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-31402785567679709082011-09-09T11:20:00.003-04:002011-09-09T11:48:23.939-04:00So glad I have a sump pump!!The rain around here has been relentless this week. It started mid-day on Monday and has continued to pour ever since. This morning, it's gray and very overcast, but NOT raining. However, that appears as if it will be short-lived, because www.weather.com is showing more storms here starting in about an hour and going through the night, light showers tomorrow morning, and MORE storms tomorrow afternoon.<br />
<br />
Here is an amazing video of flooding in Ellicott City, MD. This water is running DOWN the hill from the tremendous amount of water that was dumping on the area.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jtsT-BIotz4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
So much flooding caused a retaining wall in Ellicott City to collapse, smashing several cars parked nearby.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ehrceMMwWhs/TmofmqimnaI/AAAAAAAAAcM/hQ2brhLmmn8/s1600/4b87656961057363c2ef923e03093485.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ehrceMMwWhs/TmofmqimnaI/AAAAAAAAAcM/hQ2brhLmmn8/s320/4b87656961057363c2ef923e03093485.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(photo from the Ellicott City Patch)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>More pictures of Ellicott City, from the Baltimore Sun:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3b4mah10sDg/TmogJBFlQlI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/bMZj-bv1q2Q/s1600/4-17294-325224-376277.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3b4mah10sDg/TmogJBFlQlI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/bMZj-bv1q2Q/s320/4-17294-325224-376277.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UIoQnmyYCGo/TmogJ38vT0I/AAAAAAAAAcU/56ODQv62zpY/s1600/4-17294-329395-332889.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UIoQnmyYCGo/TmogJ38vT0I/AAAAAAAAAcU/56ODQv62zpY/s320/4-17294-329395-332889.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
Check out the flooding on Rt. 29, which is a major road (3 lanes in each direction) connecting Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC. This flooding is right outside the entrance to Columbia, MD.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--DQuxIZ-fxs/TmogQQhTpQI/AAAAAAAAAcY/5vuvksHbwU0/s1600/4-17294-32698-231440.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--DQuxIZ-fxs/TmogQQhTpQI/AAAAAAAAAcY/5vuvksHbwU0/s320/4-17294-32698-231440.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Kenzie and I decided to drive around Laurel and Savage yesterday and take photos of flooding. Here's some of what we saw:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qRSB9u6lDFE/TmohNHz3dhI/AAAAAAAAAcc/zLaYPEvMUFU/s1600/102_7441.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qRSB9u6lDFE/TmohNHz3dhI/AAAAAAAAAcc/zLaYPEvMUFU/s320/102_7441.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flood waters receding on Contee Road behind Laurel Hospital</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-un_ICoaj9Gc/TmohWjSAWoI/AAAAAAAAAcg/LNqYEAIzaJI/s1600/102_7450.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-un_ICoaj9Gc/TmohWjSAWoI/AAAAAAAAAcg/LNqYEAIzaJI/s320/102_7450.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water into the woods (and over the bridge the night before) on Brock Bridge Road, Laurel, MD</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dASq7ua3cu4/TmohfUqAKfI/AAAAAAAAAck/iPjN7cjIqsk/s1600/102_7462.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dASq7ua3cu4/TmohfUqAKfI/AAAAAAAAAck/iPjN7cjIqsk/s320/102_7462.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Further down Brock Bridge Road, near Annapolis Junction, MD -- bridge at the river completely covered by flooding</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JipWGUqAQbs/TmohqO7-91I/AAAAAAAAAco/haIU1bKAnsQ/s1600/102_7464.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JipWGUqAQbs/TmohqO7-91I/AAAAAAAAAco/haIU1bKAnsQ/s320/102_7464.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the same area -- see the large tree that floated downstream and is across the road?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eAvQ-onHPQs/Tmohv0sgG4I/AAAAAAAAAcs/aV_66-RreLY/s1600/102_7525.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eAvQ-onHPQs/Tmohv0sgG4I/AAAAAAAAAcs/aV_66-RreLY/s320/102_7525.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water and mud left as river starts to recede.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wafbu0CYK7U/Tmoh0g8embI/AAAAAAAAAcw/LB9zdhfUeBA/s1600/102_7555.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wafbu0CYK7U/Tmoh0g8embI/AAAAAAAAAcw/LB9zdhfUeBA/s320/102_7555.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laurel Lake, extremely full!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mt2IcRGzJqA/Tmoh_vs9XRI/AAAAAAAAAc0/_v9sv7BNc3E/s1600/102_7559.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mt2IcRGzJqA/Tmoh_vs9XRI/AAAAAAAAAc0/_v9sv7BNc3E/s320/102_7559.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view across Laurel Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwBdxev-vog/TmoiKH6grHI/AAAAAAAAAc4/XskLXc-OWDo/s1600/102_7561.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rwBdxev-vog/TmoiKH6grHI/AAAAAAAAAc4/XskLXc-OWDo/s320/102_7561.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spillway/overflow creek for Laurel Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52tuFbkOv4k/TmoiVpVBe7I/AAAAAAAAAc8/_JBjXg47zUg/s1600/102_7562.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-52tuFbkOv4k/TmoiVpVBe7I/AAAAAAAAAc8/_JBjXg47zUg/s320/102_7562.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see in this photo how much higher the water was the day before!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aEG4zJTpVXs/TmoigyGjhNI/AAAAAAAAAdA/_mJlb79bT94/s1600/102_7567.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aEG4zJTpVXs/TmoigyGjhNI/AAAAAAAAAdA/_mJlb79bT94/s320/102_7567.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Patuxent River, Savage, MD (taken from the Bollman bridge next to Savage Mill)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MNCpd4x-Sgk/Tmoipl50HbI/AAAAAAAAAdE/cV4PI4uux_o/s1600/102_7573.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MNCpd4x-Sgk/Tmoipl50HbI/AAAAAAAAAdE/cV4PI4uux_o/s320/102_7573.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of river from opposite side of bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>And lastly, a video I took of the Little Patuxent River:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9enixAeaJac?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
<br />
It's lightly raining right now; I guess the next round of storms is gearing up. I'd better get off the computer and keep working on my Ark!<br />
<br />
~~~Pam L. in Marylandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16363175184067651107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-85277504751757610362011-09-07T22:17:00.002-04:002011-09-07T22:17:50.819-04:00Cruise to the Bahamas -- Day 3 at Port CanaveralPort Canaveral wasn't one of the locations where our ship was originally supposed to stop; however, Hurricane Irene changed those plans. At first, I wasn't too thrilled about this stop. I've been to Florida SOOO many times before; why would I want to stop there on a cruise?? But it was what it was, and we were determined to make the best of it. <br />
<br />
We were supposed to go on a special trip at Grand Turks to visit an uninhabited island and see/touch stingrays in the wild. Since we were no longer going to Grand Turk, we decided to use our refund for a different side trip. We eventually settled on an airboat ride into the Florida swamps to look for alligators. Mackenzie was a bit ..... dubious??.... at first, but as you'll see from the pictures, she had a GREAT time!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--T_6aPTLtU4/Tmga9WOV1FI/AAAAAAAAAaI/2vk6QKpkSBI/s1600/102_7022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--T_6aPTLtU4/Tmga9WOV1FI/AAAAAAAAAaI/2vk6QKpkSBI/s320/102_7022.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Port Canaveral from the ship</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O-9rY_b_da4/TmgbCCKpAOI/AAAAAAAAAaM/yFZMN8J_8DA/s1600/102_7036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O-9rY_b_da4/TmgbCCKpAOI/AAAAAAAAAaM/yFZMN8J_8DA/s320/102_7036.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenzie's ready for another adventure!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Smci-8wFcUM/TmgbIsjvhSI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/Z35PvDqGfHk/s1600/102_7039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Smci-8wFcUM/TmgbIsjvhSI/AAAAAAAAAaQ/Z35PvDqGfHk/s320/102_7039.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at one of the other airboats and the dock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rbRaZg6L254/TmgbOPrI1gI/AAAAAAAAAaU/Wyzq9DbzX8k/s1600/102_7040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rbRaZg6L254/TmgbOPrI1gI/AAAAAAAAAaU/Wyzq9DbzX8k/s320/102_7040.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to GOOOOOO!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--50b9hI8LAk/TmgdEYHp30I/AAAAAAAAAaY/q6D_t1rQLuY/s1600/102_7043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--50b9hI8LAk/TmgdEYHp30I/AAAAAAAAAaY/q6D_t1rQLuY/s320/102_7043.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look closely -- it's our first alligator sighting of the afternoon!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here it comes.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captain Kenzie, ready to to go hunt down those varmints!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the airboat ride, we were given a demonstration by a local animal rescue group that specializes in wildlife/exotic creatures. Here are the "critters" they brought for show and tell......</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So guess which one Mackenzie had to hold afterwords?????</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ugh.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at the ship, leaving Port Canaveral, and enjoying the warm breezes.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Cocoa Beach from the balcony of the ship.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another look back at the beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And last, but not least, our towel critter for the night? Is it a bulldog? Not quite sure......</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Tomorrow...... arriving in Nassau, the Bahamas!!<br />
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~~~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-80425703545012461862011-09-07T13:23:00.001-04:002011-09-07T13:23:22.612-04:00Rain, rain, go away........ and don't come back for a long, long time! In addition to the 7+ inches we got a week and a half ago from Hurricane Irene, we're now dealing with THIS:<br />
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I think I need to go dig out the canoe and paddles.... Good thing my house has a sump pump....<br />
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~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3081703481404529161.post-26961634877924648182011-09-06T15:27:00.000-04:002011-09-06T19:30:17.434-04:00Cruise to the Bahamas -- Day 2 at seaToday was a full day of sailing. We were pretty lazy most of the morning, and slept in until the very last minute before breakfast ended, then dashed out for food. After breakfast, we went to a shopping seminar in one of the lounges. At these talks, they tell you about which stores in a particular port can be trusted, which offer special deals, how to make the most of your shopping trip, and much more. The room where this seminar was held was called the Butterfly Lounge. In the back of the lounge, there was a wall of glass cases and in each case was a mounted butterfly. I knew Kenzie would be bored with the talk, so I brought my camera along and turned her loose taking photos of the butterflies. Here are a few good ones; she took over 90 photos! Click on the picture if you want to see a larger version.<br />
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After the talk, we had a quick lunch and went back to the room for some gazing at the ocean..... </div>
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.....and goofing off in the room!</div>
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Then Nelson and Kenzie headed off to the pool and the waterslide. Here's the main pool on the ship:</div>
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But that's not where I found them -- they were goofing off up on top of the ship in the kiddie pool! Why?? I don't know.....</div>
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Then off they went to the waterslide! Here they are before going down the slide:</div>
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Then downstairs to the pool for more fun! </div>
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While they played around, I walked around the deck and took shots of the ship and the scenery. </div>
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That evening was the first formal dinner. Here's Mackenzie dolled up for the occasion: </div>
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Nelson was having a good time!</div>
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And apparently I was, too!!</div>
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This is a lousy photo, but it's a view of the dining room from where I was seated. The circle of lights on the ceiling is where you can look up to see the 2nd floor of dining room seating.</div>
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Standing in the lobby/atrium of the ship, looking up about 7 floors. Glass elevators are on the right, outlined by the blue lights. </div>
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Another view of the elevators (taken at night, pretty dark pictures!)</div>
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The bar in the lobby, and one of our favorite performers on the cruise was sitting on the small stage above the bar that evening. (Very hard to see again!)</div>
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Then back to the room, where we discovered our new towel critter, complete with Nelson's sunglasses!</div>
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And then, off to bed. Tomorrow, Port Canaveral, Florida.<br />
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~~~~Pam Llewellynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00571872433110726955noreply@blogger.com0