Flora and Fauna of Alaska

We can never get enough of the sights in Alaska. For example:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nome, Alaska

Wayne has wanted to collect flies on the Seward Peninsula of Alaska for a long time. We finally made it. We were there for 10 days and it was good we planned for a longish stay because they had rain, rain, rain. We were able to get out on the few sunny days and the trip was a success. Nome is a frontier town and was interesting to visit.

 

 

 

 

 

Outer Banks, NC Vacation

We spent two days this month at the Outer Banks of North Carolina with Wayne's sister and her family. We had a lot of fun and were happy that they allowed us to visit their family reunion. The weather, scenery, and especially the people were great! This is the "Before" picture.

 

This is what happened "After" we arrived.

 

 

 

Mother's Day Lilies

 

More Mother's Day flowers...

Happy Mother's Day

 

The peonies in my garden have been prettier this year than they have ever been. In fact, they are pretty enough to share and to wish all of you moms a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

 

"The Bus"

 

This is what remains of THE BUS, an important figure in the history of the Reed Gibbons family. We used this bus to move household furnishings from Logan, Utah to the farm in Pasco, Washington the summer of 1957. Quoting from Grandpa's history:“We bought an old school bus, a large four wheeled trailer, and a small two wheeled trailer. We took the seats out of the school bus and loaded as many of our belongings as we could in it. We set up two bunk beds in the bus for the kids. We borrowed Dad’s truck and loaded a Fordson Major Tractor on it and hooked the four wheel trailer loaded with farm equipment behind it. We had a 1953 Ford car and we loaded the two wheel trailer with a stove and refrigerator and hooked it behind the car. I drove the bus, Necia drove the car with the trailer, and my brother Claude drove the truck with the trailer. It was quite a procession.” Dad built a roof and floor on the side of the bus and we lived there while Mom and Dad started our home and the farm operation. The bus frame and cab later served as a truck and the body still serves as storage space. If you enlarge the picture, many people have signed the bus. Sharron and I thought it only appropriate that we also sign it since we actually traveled in the caravan and lived in the bus for the first few months beginning our Washington adventure that turned into a lifetime.

Grandkids and Orchids

 

The little missy.

 

The big, little brother.

 

Arizona Cowboys Aaron and Grant

 

Soccer fan Jacob

 

'Tis the season of the Lady Slipper Orchid in Virginia. We have found them in two parks but were rained out in the third.

Reed J. Gibbons and Children

 

Our most recent photo of Dad and his kids, taken shortly before his death. I have transcribed and edited his handwritten personal history. If anyone is interested in a copy, please let me know.

Dianne's Projects

Wayne has retired and we anticipate that we will be moving when he gets his projects at the Smithsonian finished. I've been working on reducing my fabric stash. The flannel receiving blankets are self binding and were a fun project. They are easy, especially if you only use two pieces of fabric as opposed to piecing squares. My new sewing machine and walking foot are great! The quilt started out as a puff quilt that I didn't finish. The slippers are a vestige of the past and use left-over yarn. Grandma Nielsen used to make them for us. I was happy to find the pattern on the internet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We're back home...

We have returned from our whirl-wind tour of Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and Florida. Our conclusion: Winter is better in Nevada, Arizona, or Florida!

 

Jacob with his "Tough Guy" look. We helped celebrate his 5th birthday.

 

During our Las Vegas stop we went to Hoover Dam so Wayne could see the new bridge.

 

Michael and his family showed us the wonderful Tuscon winter weather.

 

We were working in Florida but took Saturday as a tourist day and visited Cedar Key.

 

We also visited Payne's Prarie and saw lots of alligators and turtles.

 

Upon returning, we had another birthday--#1 this time.

As I said, it was a whirl-wind trip but we had a lot of fun.