Noel!

For our mutual friends, here are some pictures I took at Noel's wedding in B'ham. I didn't get any during the ceremony so enjoy!

Grizzly - A Capital Dog

Grizzly was the best, last week he tragically passed away. This is my tribute to my little friend.







Grizzly came to our family almost three years ago, a gift from a nurse that just didn't have time to spend with a little pup. He was a peek-a-poo and his temperament was perfect for folks that had never had a little house dog. He was house trained when we got him and that made him even more likeable.

Grizzly moved with us from Alabama to Colorado and his friendship was evern more valuable to me as I began a career of working from home. He kept me company during the day and played with all of us during the evening. He was my companion at track meets, cross country events, shopping, and walks. He loved riding in the car and especially running along side the four wheeler on the ranch.







He was a capital dog; friendly, loving, and fun. Henry, Hank and I will miss him but will remember him for the good times he brought to our family.

Something New, Again!

Hank surprised us again this school year. Although he's never played soccer, he joined the team. His goal was to have fun and I think he did just that.

Wiggins High School doesn't have a team so he played for Fort Morgan High School which is about 15 miles east of Wiggins. Since I don't know much about soccer, I can't even tell you his position but you can see from the photos, that it involves running, jumping and kicking.

I can't wait to see what is next.

Northwest Coastal Drive Vacation

Who ever heard of flying to a spot and then driving to another spot just to catch a plane and fly home again? Well, that's exactly what we did at Hank's suggestion. As a goal, Hank has long challenged our family to visit all the States in the USA so this year he asked to see Washington, Oregon and California. And see it we did.
Mom, Henry, Hank and I flew Southwest Airlines' $79/one way special to Seattle, WA. We arrived at 9:30am which gave us almost a entire day to explore this city on Puget Sound. After getting a big 'ol Mercury we checked in the Doubletree hotel, ate lunch and then drove into the city. We toured Seattle University (a school on Hank's short list), drove to a Puget Sound lookout, and finally rode the Space Needle to finish our view of the city at sunset.

Early the next morning we packed our bags into the trunk to catch a ferry that would take up across Puget Sound and get us started towards our destination - the Scenic Northwest Coastal Highway 101. Across the Sound, the 1139 mile journey began with a drive through the Olympic Pennisula Forest. The forest is filled with huge trees and lots of greenery. The water that can be seen as from the road is the southern edge of Puget Sound and it is beautiful. Small fishing villages hug the coast and vessels both large and small are everwhere. Fishing and commercial transport of goods supports the economy of this region.

At the western tip of the Olympic Pennisula, Highway 101 begins. As we turned south and see our first glimpse of the Pacific Ocean. It is inspiring. I've seen the Atlantic and the Gulf Coast but the vastness of the ocean viewed from high above on a rocky cliff takes your breath away. Our first night on the Pacific was spent in a small resort town, Ocean Shores. This area had a wide beach where you could drive your car out to the ocean shore and we did just that - at SUNSET! Chill bumps !
The next day we jumped in the car and headed south again, leaving Washington and entering Oregon as we crossed the Columbia River. Our first stop was at Lewis and Clark National Park We saw the canoe and landing site and a fort had been reconstructed that represented the location that 33 men wintered and scouted the coast.
Continuing down Highway 101, is an amazing experience. The views of the rocky coast and vast Pacific Ocean is amazing. We stopped and walked down a coastal ridge to the ocean below. The wind blows pretty strong.

As we drove down the coast line through Oregon and onto California, we saw sea lions, lighthouses, rocky coastlines, foggy coastlines, huge redwoods and beautiful flowers. We ate some great seafood and drank some great wine.

A week later we finished our drive crossing the golden gate bridge and entering the beautiful city of San Francisco. We joined a flood of tourist on the Warf and ate fresh seafood, toured the SF Bay.

Our 2009 vacation gave us a beautiful view of the awesome world God has created for us to enjoy. Enjoy the pictures!

Grandbaby Update

God has blessed me this year with visits to Alabama. Jon-Wilson and I have had a few opportunities to get to know each other better. He is soooo cute! Now 7 months old his personality is coming through loud and clear.
He is smiling and cooing and almost laughing out loud. As he grows, so does his activity level. He is sitting up and beginning to scoot and pull up on the tables.

Here is a couple of pictures I took about the middle of August. Their Boston Terrier, Rozzer, is the baby protector! Daddy is watching over both of them.

See that cute kid stuff isn't just because I'm a Grandma!

Jane

Summer Guests

We have enjoyed company this summer!!

Henry's nephew, Eli Waltz, came by on the way from California back to Columbia University where he is beginning his senior year as a Mechanical Engeering student and Football player. It was great to see Eli since we've missed his visits back home to Ohio the last couple of years.

Also, we had two special guest Stewart and Nichole. These two young folks came to Colorado to search out job opportunities. Stewart is a Business Ed major from Charleston SC and Nichole is soon to graduate from the University of Alabama's Nursing program. They plan to marry next year and was just getting a "look around" to see if the west might be a place they'd like to settle down.

Eli, Nichole and Stewart were at the Ranch the same weekend. Nichole, Eli and Hank are in one picture. They are watching Stewart as he took Girlee for a ride!

Mom came to visit and to go on vacation with us August 13-19th (pictures when I get the Vacation Story written).

Most recently, Retta Morton, a friend from Atlanta, GA came to visit. We toured the Coors Brewery in Golden, CO, visited Taste of Colorado in Denver, picnic'd in Estes Park and traveled onto the Prarie to see a Wind Farm. And no trip to the Ranch is complete without a burger from AJ's Tavern, we did that too!

Love visitors - so you come on out, you hear!

Jane

Hot Summer

This is a picture I took during a walk from our home to the South Platte River (about 1/2 mile from the house)

Boy has it been hot in Colorado. The Denver Post reported 14 days over 90 degrees! Now that is not such a big deal for you friends in Alabama, but out here where air conditioning is not mandatory in every home - it is hot.

Hank's worked on the Golf Course again this summer, King of the Mower and Weedeater! The course looks real nice as this photo shows. He is tanned and buff! In addition to working he is running with the Cross Country Team each day, lifting weights, and riding a bike. Yes, you read correctly. He bought a road bike and is trying to get into a new sport. Boundless energy!

Henry stays busy around the ranch. Alot of work this year has been on the golf course, keeping the mowers and weed eaters going can be a full time job some days. In addtion, he is working on trucks , tractors and hay mowers. Willy, the ranch farmer, calls on Henry to help with the farm work which most of you know is a pleasure to Henry (one of those, "and you call this work").

July 4th we enjoyed a bit of Americana that the big cities don't get to see. The parade and Wiggins was attended by what some may say was the entire town. The event was lead by the tractors, followed by the motors cycles and race cars. At the rear was the local fire truck spraying water. There was a huge fireworks display at the park after dark and then street dancing. You missed a good time if you were there!

Keep in touch.

Jon Wilson Revisited!

Alabama visits are more important than ever. Jon-Wilson had gained about 8 lbs since I saw him last. Eric and LeighAnne are certainly enjoying him and he is a happy kid.

GJ (that's me, Grandma Jane) is coming to town and will be the grandma sitter June 26-July 3rd. If you read this and are going to be home that week, let me know so we can come and visit!

After Prom - uhm...

Well, its another first for the Pratte's. An "After Prom Party" at Wiggins High School was held by the Junior parents. In case you don't know what this is, as Henry nor I did, it is a party that starts at midnight after the Junior/Senior Prom and ends at 3:30 am Sunday morning.

Months of planning went into the event and included invitations, decorations, games, prizes and of course , food. Those that know me can guess where I was assigned, yep, head of the food committee.

Area businesses provided gifts as well has funds to host the party. Six huge blow up games were reserved and 150 gifts ranging from $5 to $100 were purchased as prizes for the students. There was a cool "room" the kids entered and prize tickets swirled around. Each student would catch a ticket and that ticket was attached to a prize. The prizes were mostly items that college students would need to begin their new adventure, dorm stuff!

When the kids began to arrive, the local police was there to assure no drinking had been taking place. Each student registered and would not be allowed to leave and then reenter the party. As they walked into the gym the big games were ready! There was a ping pong tournament, Texas Hold 'em, Spoons, Twister and Bean Bag Toss and a cool human blowing game!

The owner of the local cafe make cookies, cake and rice krispie treats, sub sandwiches and chips were available and plenty of soft drinks, water and gatorade. The kids had a great time and so did the parents. The pictures speak for themselves.

At 3:30 am the kids left and the parents cleaned up the mess and returned the Event Center into a school building. What a good idea, the kids had somewhere fun to go, were supervised, and safe.

All of us had a good time.