Memorial Day

Yesterday hubby packed up his cleaning supplies and cut some flowers and we headed off to where my Dad is buried to polish up his marker and visit with him.  My older sister Roberta and husband Teddy joined us, as did our oldest son Shawn and wife Beth and son's Michael and Gabriel.  It always brings a lump in my throat to see my dear husband, himself a combat wounded veteran, down on the ground, cleaning the bronze on the grave of my beloved Father.  Dad had a rough go in the service, huddled down in a foxhole for over a month on the island of Iwo Jima.  He told me of holding a dying friend who called out for his mother.  Is it a wonder that I am a peace loving person?

We are constantly amazed at the rough condition of almost all the other markers.  We are so proud of what Dayle does for Dad's.  I must tell you how soft-hearted my sweetie is, as before we left he took the extra flowers we brought and filled the vase in the man next to dad and left him flowers.  We've never seen flowers there in all these years.

Family... while we watched Dayle do his magic on the marker, I told our grandsons stories about their great-grandfather, and asked Dayle to tell them about the day he was shot while flying the helicopter in Vietnam.  I want them to know the family stories.

My sister and BIL holding a Marine flag she found - the Marines on Iwo Jima raised when they took Mt. Suribachi during the Iwo Jima battle.  

And here is the marker, all shined up.  

I did a walkabout to photograph some of the flowers in the farm yard.  This is our first rose to bloom of the year.  It's my "Scentimental" rose - beautiful and fragrant.

And here is our "Beauty Bush".  When someone first told me the name of this, I was skeptical, but I did some research and indeed that is it's name!  And it is very pretty, covered in orchid-like flowers.

A close-up of the flowers.. see the fuzzy little bits at the base of the cluster?  So cute! 

The apple tree is looking nice and green after the blooms have fallen to the ground and been mowed into mulch.

A warrior through the leaves.. this guy stands guarding the top of our creek and pond. 

The Beauty Bush is located up behind the creek and waterfall.. I thought I'd show you this other vantage point of our water feature.. love the Hosta and Japanese Grass that comes back every year. 

The Rosebud Azalea is staying strong and beautiful for a long time.   

Another variety of Rhododendron is opening.. I find it curious that each variety opens at a different time, which is nice as then we always have a new one to enjoy.  This one has yellow markings in the throat.  Pink buds, open to white flowers.  I wish I knew it's name!

We're just taking it easy today.  What are you doing?  We have a lot to do over the next week, getting packed and ready for our trip to DC and getting the house ready for the house-sitter.  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)