and babies make 17!

I'm home for our January break to work on wedding stuff and just to be home. Lily & Myrrh both had litters of kittens (Myrrh - 3 on Jan. 9, Lily - 6 on Jan. 18). They're very cute, as I will demonstrate!

This is Sparrow (Jack Sparrow). Because of their dad's name, my mom gave all the boy kittens pirate names.

These 3 are Myrrh's. Back to front: Cotton Blossom, Jack Sparrow, and Will Turner

Myrrh didn't like that I took them out of their box.

Lily and her 6. Most of them have both eyes open now.

Self-portrait of Solomon and me! He helped me watch birds at the feeder this morning.

weekend couch potato

If anything, this weekend trip to Collegedale was relaxing, which was just what I needed. I didn't have to be anywhere or do anything, so we could just hang out. It was great.

Hollie came over on Sabbath afternoon since she was busy on her birthday. Happy Birthday Hollie!!!! She had great wedding advice, just having gone through Heather's. It was fun to catch up for a while.

Settlers of Catan was a hit . . . again. This time Ryan K. was the only newbie. Carlson was just watching during this game because he and Kelli had to leave for a movie. It's quite a feat to get the Ryans to stay seated at a table and play a game while sports are on the TV in the background (Don't worry, we never accomplished it.).

Ryan and I played again the next morning with Randy and Mary Jane. Ryan is trying to strike up a deal with Randy for four of something. Randy beat the pants off all of us . . . again.

Gaby and Grant met us at Subway Sunday. Grant had to work the graveyard shift in the dorm Saturday and Sunday mornings, so he was asleep during most of the time I was in town. It'll be fun to all go to the Family Reunion in Jacksonville in about a month.

Ever since I can remember eating at Subway, Grant has made fun of me for holding my sub remnant, no matter how small, with both hands. Hey, you can't be too cautious!

courtesy of Stephanie . . . score one for the beavers!

This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property. It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania. This guy's response is hilarious, but read State's letter before you get to the response letter.

SUBJECT: DEQ File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. DeVries:

It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:

Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.


A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.


The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2008.

Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action..
We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

David L. Price
District Representative and Water Management Division.


Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:


Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County

Dear Mr. Price,

Your certified letter dated 12/17/07 has been handed to me to respond to. I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane, Trout Run, Pennsylvania.

A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials 'debris.'

I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic.



These are the beavers/contractors you are seeking. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity.



My first dam question to you is:

(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or

(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?

If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued.

(Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.)

I have several concerns. My first concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.

If you want the stream 'restored' to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.

In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).

So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2008? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them.

In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! The bears are not careful where they dump!

Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.

THANK YOU,

RYAN DEVRIES
& THE DAM BEAVERS

weekend away from my computer

I'm headed to Collegedale for the weekend. That is, if I find my wallet containing my driver's license and debit card so that I'm legal and can buy gas!

blog about why i haven't blogged

This last couple of weeks has been pretty busy. We're in the midst of volleyball intramurals, which means I'm either playing or reffing most nights.

Last Thursday I went with the Gymnix to David Lipscomb University in Nashville. They did the halftime show for the Bisons' basketball game.

One of our Seniors, Michielle, flying high. She usually grabs the ceiling and hangs in smaller gyms.

I stole this from my cousin Jason's blog. He said this is his favorite picture of Zoe.

Ryan came for the weekend. We tried out the "Together Mittens" that Amy got us for Christmas!

I was on supervision for the weekend, so Ryan got to come to all of the school events with me. Saturday night we went bowling and took the kids to Dairy Queen (in case they weren't cold enough in the 10-degree weather).

Sunday was the NHS Induction & Honors Banquet. The banquet was Chinese-themed and the entertainment was 5 ladies from China doing 3 different cultural dances.

Nikie and Chadd asked me to come over and take pictures of Carson tonight. They're wanting one to put on a postcard like we did for our Save-the-Dates.

Don came over after the elementary school's board meeting. I don't think he was helping the situation in this picture. When I left, Carson was sacked out on his shoulder.

click me, i dare you!

you knew these were coming . . .

sandhill crane - roadside near skydivers

royal terns - treasure island beach

great blue heron - near john's pass (treasure island side)

snowy egret - near john's pass (treasure island side)

great egret - john's pass boardwalk (see the black instead of yellow feet?)

brown pelican - john's pass

not a bird!
brown anole - EVERYWHERE!

cont.

I'm hearing from the peanut gallery that you people want a blog post . . . Well, I can't very well keep my fans waiting, can I?

This is Christmas Vacation Blog Post, part 2.
Ryan and I left my parents' the day after Christmas for a marathon drive down I-85, I-77, I-26, I-95 (parking lot pictured at left!), 301, etc., until we got to Ryan's grandma's in Zephyrhills, FL.

We even got to stop and see Grandma & Grandpa Rilea south of Savannah during our travels. It was a nice break from driving and Grandma taught Denny's how to make hot chocolate!

One of the sights from the trip was this RV on fire. We saw it before the rescue vehicles got there and flames were shooting way up into the air.

One of the first acts of business once Ruthie & Milton got to FL was to go eat at Sweet Tomatoes, a salad buffet place that was really good. We all had seconds on our seconds.



Later that night, Christmas was wrapped up (get it?) with the final opening of presents. Milton got some extra decorative hats with his present.




Randy & Mary Jane got to open the present from me (pictured) and the one from Ryan and I (a picture of us!).





Friday I learned how to play shuffleboard. I also learned that it's named for the way Milton "shuffles" the scores around when he's in charge of recording them! Funny that Ryan and I won the game that he didn't keep score for . . .


Milton and Randy played against Ryan and I for two games. We lasted until all the regulars from the park had left. Ryan took about 100 pictures and even some video of us playing. I had fun knocking MJ's hat off while she read at the pool with my long stick. =)




Ruthie played for a while, but left to keep MJ company. Ryan and I never did try out the pool while we were there, even though the weather was in the mid-80s.





For the afternoon, we decided to go watch skydivers. I got my camera and big lens ready and assumed the most comfortable sky-watching position I could find.

Ryan watched the sky too, but gave up after a while and threw a football around with Randy.

Skydiving looks like so much fun! Of course, I haven't been kicked out of an airplane door before. Some of the skydivers came in very slowly with soft landings and others were rockets that barely cleared the corner of the building.

The highlight of watching the skydivers for me was when they took two plane loads up and made a 38-person formation with two photographers snapping away. It was really interesting to me to see their flashes go off from thousands of feet up.



We went to the East Pasco church where I actually ran into quite a few people I knew. After church, we took this picture out front of Ryan's grandma's house and then ate lunch before leaving for the beach.

The interesting thing about these two pictures is that they were taken within about 15 minutes of each other. The first picture was us driving across Tampa Bay and the second picture was on the beach at Treasure Island. We could see a huge gray mass in the air hovering over the beach as we approached and it turned out to be "sea fog," a.k.a. pea soup.

We ventured out for a few minutes, then returned to our room soaked and ready for the Saturday night Patriarchs vs. Giants game. Milton was rooting for his Patriarchs and we cheered against them.

Sunday was nice out, so we went for a walk. After several attempts at timer shots with several cameras, we got some! Ryan even has a video of us taking one.

The outside of where we stayed. None of our rooms were on this side, but we did use the elevator on the end a lot. We had a great view of the new hotel being constructed beside us and the nincompoops running their man lift.

Ryan and I found a hammock and took a short break from walking just before lunch. We managed to both get in without flipping, but getting out was a different story . . .

Laying in that hammock in the shade and breeze was about the only time it didn't feel too hot outside. We wanted to transport the hammock closer to where we were staying, but figured we'd get in trouble for trying!


This was about as close to the water as we got. We took these pictures right before stopping to photograph the terns and "peeps" near the water. We quickly exited the beach to go back and eat tomato sandwiches. I wish we could get good tomatoes like that here right now!!!!

After lunch, more walking! I convinced Ryan to go to John's Pass since it was pretty much the only place I remembered hearing them talk about from prior travels. Ryan posed for me with his friend here for a picture. My dad could probably tell you what kind of fish this was supposed to be.

We went across the drawbridge and watched dolphins and pelicans in the water. Then we took advantage of the numerous shops (or did they take advantage of us???) and walked around shopping for a while. Ryan found Blue Jays paraphernalia at the Sports Fan Attic and MJ came to the rescue by bringing our money to us! The only thing I bought was a long sleeved Life is Good shirt. I got Grant a sticker too, but he'll have to come visit me to get it!!! =P

These last two pictures are flip-flopped, but at this point I don't care. I read the comics before going to bed on Sunday night. This love seat hide-a-bed thing is the reason my back feels like this again! Somehow, I slept on my stomach with my feet on the armrest and broke my lower back . . .

The whole group (Grandma & Coleman came Sunday) watching something on TV after supper Sunday. They all stayed and are heading out tomorrow for home.