Construction Begins

Gina and I woke up early this morning excited since today would be our first day of construction on Mom and Pop’s new apartment. However, first we went on a hike in Custer State Park with Mom & Pop’s. Here are some pictures of the trail we hike most every day.

All four of us hiking


We can even see the Crazy Horse Monument


Mom always leads the way


Most of the trail is narrow


Looking down toward Stockade Lake

Once we arrived back home it was a quick breakfast before we got started on Mom & Pop’s new apartment. Here are a few pictures of our first day.

Making the first cut


The first wall is up


The Boss


That's a 40 foot wall going up


First Day complete, this is a view looking toward the bedroom


The view toward the living room

Around five o’clock we called it a day. Mom & Pop was pleased with the progress for our first day. Stay tuned for day two.

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Building Materials Ordered & Delivered

Wednesday morning found us on the road early heading to Rapid City. We were on a mission to buy lumber, pick out windows and a shower for Mom & Pop’s new apartment.

Pop's having fun in the shower


Mom trying to choose the right size window

We also stopped at Cabala’s so Gina and I could buy a rear cargo box for the four wheeler. On our way home Pop’s decided to give us a drive by viewing of Mount Rushmore. We'll tour it another day, this was just to wet our appetite. First we passed through the small town of Keystone.

Main Street in Keystone, South Dakota


The entrance sign to Mount Rushmore


A view of Mount Rushmore


A profile view of George Washington

We didn’t have much time since Mom and I had a ball game tonight that started at six o’clock. We had a lot of fun. However, we did lose again. At least this time mom didn’t get hit.

Hard to believe Pop's and Gina are wearing coats in July


Mom gets a hit


Then I got a triple


I had to slide to get that triple


Mom is a really good pitcher


Catching that fly ball

We woke up early again yesterday so I could drive my truck up to the Volvo dealer in Rapid City to get some maintenance done to it. It will probably take a few days before I get back up there to pick it up. From there we stopped by Wal-mart for a few items and then started back toward Custer. We saw a Polaris dealer so we stopped there to see if they had a windshield for the four wheeler. Sure enough they had one and we bought it.

Our Polaris with the cargo box and windshield installed

We made it home around 11:30 and Gina and I were both starving. Mom has been joking with me that I cook way too much food because we always have a lot of food leftover. So we both decided lunch would be leftover hamburgers and sausage. While we were in Rapid City this morning Gina bought Pop’s a little house warming present.

Gina and Pop's with his new house warming present

We then enjoyed our happy hour while we were waiting on the load of lumber to arrive.

The truck arrives


Pop's holding the door open so the forklift could fit inside


Pop's is one happy "Cool Dude", He can't wait to get started


Pop's tarpaulin here was so old that when we tried to unfold it all it could do was fall apart

We didn’t’ have to cook tonight since Mom and Pop’s Airstream friends were cooking dinner for us.

Winston, Carol, Mike, Pat, Elna and Jay

Dinner was pork Loin with mango salsa and potatoes with salad. It all tasted excellent. Thanks for the wonderful food and fellowship. After dinner Gina served a homemade Strawberry dump cake topped with homemade vanilla ice cream. It had been a long day so we all said goodnight since we'll start construction in the morning. Yes, finally!!!


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Cool Weather and Homemade Ice Cream

We are loving it up here in these Black Hills the weather is absolutely beautiful, the morning hikes are fantastic and the scenery is gorgeous.

Pop's loves windmills and this one is located just across the road

We woke up again to a cool 48 degrees and looking forward to a high of only 67 degrees. After we got back from our hike Mom and Pop’s decided to start clearing out the side of the pole barn that their apartment is going to be built in.

We measured and then taped off the rooms to get a visual

I estimated the quantity of lumber we would need and Mom called around to get prices. Since I had a few minutes I decided to put up our DirecTV satellite dish. We haven't really watched much TV except at night for the local news.

Angel & Zoey with that look of "Can we come out and play"

Later in the day they had some Airstream friends arrive from Tallahassee, Florida. These friends go way back for Mom and Pop's when they had their Airstream 15 years ago.

The yard is filling up

We had already planned on grilling chicken and having homemade vanilla ice cream. Gina made a peach cobbler to go with the ice cream. Everything tasted great and the vanilla ice cream came out great, considering I only paid five dollars for it.

Grilling chicken and making ice cream


Having fun with my new ice cream freezer


Mom & Gina discussing how good the ice cream was. LOL

We must have been tired from staying up so late Sunday night to watch the fireworks because after dessert we all said goodnight and went back to our trailers. I believe we are ready now to buy some lumber and start building. Stay tuned to watch the progress.


Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Celebrating Independence Day

What gorgeous weather it is up here in the Black Hills. We had an excellent Independence Day.

On our way to Church

After we got back home from church it was raining a little bit. However, it stopped after approximately an hour and the sky cleared up.


Donnalyn showing Pat and Gina her homemade jewelry

Gina said I couldn't leave this one out, I did sneak a cat nap in

It was a beautiful afternoon. I lit the grill around four o’clock and put chicken on along with some country style pork ribs. While I was grilling Gina made baked beans and potato salad. This is what I call the perfect July 4th meal.

Me and Pop's grilling on his new Weber grill

For desert Gina cut a fresh watermelon grown in Washington Parish, Louisiana. These are considered some of the sweetest watermelons in the country. This one didn’t let us down either.

Mom telling Gina to hurry up


Gina is laughing at Pop's since he couldn't believe that watermelon traveled so far

If that wasn’t enough Gina had baked a berry medley pie which we ate with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It all tasted great!! I don’t know about everyone else but I was fuller than a dog tick. Mom laughed at that. Since it was getting chilly I pulled out our portable fire pit and lit a fire. This is a first for Gina and I to be cold on July 4th.

We really did have a fire


While we were waiting on the fireworks these two deer came strolling up


Gina and Mom were quite chilly

We were all sitting outside waiting on the firework show being shot off about a mile away. They started going off around 9:30 and it was a very good show. The best part was we watched them from our yard. We called it a night and agreed it was a wonderful Independence Day.

We only thought yesterday was beautiful. We woke up this morning to clear skies and a cool 46 degrees. After a cup of coffee we headed off with Mom & Pop’s for our daily hike in Custer State Park. Gina and I both agreed this morning that this is the kind of weather we love.

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.

Happy Birthday America

A view looking over the Black Hills of South Dakota

Saturday morning found us back hiking in Custer State Park. We did the same hike as yesterday and the views were just as beautiful. It was a little easier today. Mom says she is getting us ready for some more intense hikes. Gina thinks that’s a good idea since she is feeling a little under the weather due to the pollen in the air. On our way home we stopped at a garage sale. Mom picked up a lamp and I bought a brand new ice cream maker. Pop’s commented that they’re furnishing their apartment before it’s built. We all just laughed. Afterwards we decided to attend the “The Old Time County Fair” being held this weekend in Custer.

The frontside of the 1881 Courthouse Museum

We walked around to all of the booths but didn’t come home with anything. Once we got back home it was time for a nice long four wheeler ride through the mountains.

Mike and Pat with a beautiful backdrop


Gina searching for that first rock, LOL


She's still searching, she said it has to be real special for it to be the first


Mom and I standing behind our four wheelers






Pop's found a geocache on top of the mountain


Pop's blowing bubbles from the cache




The views were breathtaking and Gina and I had a great time

We woke up this morning with beautiful skies and a cool 52 degrees. This sure beats Louisiana’s 95 degrees with 80% humidity. We are heading to church and then this afternoon we’re having a cookout to celebrate America’s Independence Day and then tonight we'll watch fireworks.

Please remember all our young men and women who are serving and have served and especially those that paid the ultimate sacrifice of their life for this country. It is only because of these soldiers, sailors, marines and airman that we are able to celebrate 234 years of FREEDOM. I will end with this poem I found called Veterans.

When we gather around our flag,
our heart beneath our hand.
a prayer should be on our lips
for the veterans who took a stand.
On the ramparts of Fort McHenry,
the bloody battlefields of ol’ Bull Run,
atop of San Juan Hill,
the muddy trenches of World War I,
They stood on the decks of destroyers,
hunting the U-boats down.
The wards of a dim lit hospital,
where weary nurses are found.
They rushed the beaches of Normandy,
flew bombers over Japan,
defended South Korea,
walked the jungles of Vietnam,
They were forced to crouch in cages,
their hands were bound with rope,
still they honored God and Country,
and filled our hearts with hope.
They scorched across the desert sands,
in Black Hawks on patrol.
They served this Nation proudly,
on the doomed USS Cole.
Our freedom is not our birthright,
and courage knows no gender.
Our freedom is bought by veterans,
who stand instead of surrender.
Written by Edward Jack Smith

With that Gina and I wish everyone a Safe and Happy Fourth of July.

Happy Birthday America!!!!!

Gina & I hope everyone has a pleasant and wonderful day, enjoying what our Father has so graciously blessed us with.