Monday, May 23, 2011

Where in Norway are Karmen & Kyle?

A brief email tells us Karmen & Kyle are in Ålesund today.  So, with that information I found a couple things of interest. 

The city of Ålesund is known for its architecture in Art Nouveau style, its surrounding fjords and the high peaks of the Sunnmøre Alps.  It has been named Norway's most beautiful city. (Population of only 40,000) and is the major fishing port in Norway.

Here is a short video clip I enjoyed and a couple of photos. 





Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Norway!!

Karmen and Kyle emailed a brief note this morning they have reached Oslo via Amsterdam, short on sleep and long on excitement.   Actually I'm excited myself and I'm sitting in Eureka so I can only imagine how they might be feeling!!   Perhaps they will see scenery such as this:
  
or this!



Saturday, May 14, 2011

An OK Graduation - and then some!

Gallagher-Iba arena, the venue for OSU's graduation ceremony as seen through my telephoto lens.  I should have taken the photo from about a block further back because I only got about half of it in!  Kyle's graduation was the first of three on May 7.


Kyle spots us in the crowd.

Don't know who this is but love the message!

The Tulsa Pipe & Drum corp escorted the graduates through campus and into the gym.

Guest speaker, OK governor Mary Fallon.

Our favorite graduate of the day!


Diploma in hand, it's time for a big grin!!

Ready for the recessional.


In front of the library.

Celebration time.

Kyle with Kalynn and her family


Kyle spent the night with us in Tulsa on Sunday before we headed back to IL.  He had three more days to work at his internship at Tulsa International Airport so we parted ways Monday AM.

Kyle & Brenda: parting shot

Kamela - Illinois Wesleyan 2003
Karmen - Cornell College 2006
Kyle - Oklahoma State 2011

They are all done and it's an absolutely wonderful feeling.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Turkeys 3 Hunters 0

Despite valiant efforts, this years hunting team was shut out by the woods-wise and wary turkeys.  The sun rose beautifully Friday morning and the Gobblers were gobbling.  They were apparently as happy to see the sun as everyone else.  A local farmer had measured 17 inches of rain in the preceding 17 days.

Don (younger) had the best opportunities the first day but whiffed on a pitch out of the strike zone.  The bird was just too far away apparently.  His next opportunity was a fast ball right down the middle but he swung just a bit too late and his intended target lived to roost again.  Likely Don shot just behind his swiftly departing target and with the tom so close the pellets had little chance to spread.

Unfortunately a business obligation of mine forced us out of the woods after about 4 hours of hunting on Saturday.  Since none of us even saw a long-beard that morning, I guess you could say it was three strikes and we were out.

So the highlights of the trip were getting a couple days in the woods, time with my folks, camaraderie with some great fellow hunters - and for me the opportunity to bring home a reminder of my hunt from 3 years ago.