Liz working on getting us "home" safely day 4

RESTING BETWEEN GAMES

THE PEANUT GALLERY

Jill had SOMETHING to cheer about.... could it have been Nathan's and my big LEAD??

That be Karl and Barb at the July 4th "GAMES BY CRYSTAL"

Chloe making friends with Sydney

Ryan and Adam honoring Gramma Vivian with real tats.

4th of July

Ryan on the job. There IS LIFE after the Navy and before class starts at SDSU. Congrats Ryan on getting yourself a taste of the electrical business.

Happy Birthday Crystal

I don't think you wanted to "sit" for this picture Crystal...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHAWN

Hope your BIRTHDAY is filled with lots of family and fun.

KARL JUST GOT PROMOTED

NOW he tells us there are BETTER ways to get money from the BANK!!!

Home made by Ms Liz

Sorry ------- it's gone now

If you guess what kind it WAS, maybe (?) she will send one to you!!!

(THIS MESSAGE N O T APPROVED BY LIZ)

Easter in Watertown

You guessed it.... Squash, Wild Rice, Broccoli and Pork Loin. Did I mention the VINO???

HAPPY EASTER!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAN

This is no ORDINARY woman and neither is her horse Amber. They actually work together in the PROFESSIONAL FAMILY COUNSELING ARENA (npi) or is it FIELD (still npi). Any way, one figures out your "problem" and the other hangs out waiting to give you a ride if you promise to work on "THAT PROBLEM". I'm sure I got that all wrong ... But this I know for a fact: Jan just had a birthday, and the number is big--- I'm talking BEE EYE GEE (B I G) !!!

If Jan had a blog it would probably be named HORSE BLOW.

LARRY AND SIDEKICK

Looks like they have been friends for years!

"COME ON GIRLS... LETS EAT 'EM UP"

You may as well get to the edge of your chair NOW, cause that's where you will END UP... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCYnJp7L7Es

crime scene investigation

Saw this in the snow this morning. The large OWL that hangs out around here at night must have swooped down and picked up his late night dinner. One wing hit the snow. What you can't see is the rabbit tracks leading up to the point of "impact" and then just STOP...

THANK YOU ZACH AND CHLOE

Thief in the night???

One of Liz's sisters at our Super Bowl party was surprised by this four legged guest, when she went into the garage to get some beer. This is actually a pic of the second one we had in there in less than an hour. I shot the first one, picked it up (by the tail) carried it out to the nearby field and threw it over the fence. Did the same to this one and when I got to the fence, the first one was gone... soooo... THAT'S why they call them oppossum!!!

Picture of the picture Liz spotted at an antique store in town. Like a good soldier, I raced down there and got it just in time for her birthday!!! Now it can hang over OUR mantel for a few years.

Ghosts of Cape Horn

If you are a history buff (Carl) a sailor (Nathan, Barb, Ryan, Crystal) or just like a great documentary (the rest of U's), check this out.... http://www.nshof.org/videos/nshof-video0006_player.htm grab a cup o' coffee -- it's not short! STICK IT OUT-YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY

VISITOR FROM AFAR

Larry Moberg stayed with us Thursday night. We started out at Minervas for some horsd'oeuvres, then back to our house for some Crane Lake; played a few LP's (Larry is a Neil Diamond fan), but most fun was hearing his stories. Ask him about the "wrong way Moberg" tag. Thanks Larry for a great evening. (He is the guy playing "footsy" with my SISTER!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZ!

Toasty warm and a tv with three (3) channels... I'd still rather be SAILING!!

Just another tough day in the fish shack... no fish on Kampeska (for me anyway), maybe I should stick to Pelican Lake.

This year's gang at the Pollards for Christmas.

Sandy, Crystal, and Vivian ..... never too busy for a snap shot!

We got together with Roy and Sharon ( she is "working" the dough) and made our Lefse for the season. No true Norsky Christmas is complete without it!!! Growing up, my family always filled them with meatballs and cranberry sauce. Liz's family would spread them with butter and a generous amount of sugar.

Roy was in charge of cooling and stacking... We ended up with 47 Lefse and will split the 'bounty' to take to our various Christmas celebrations coming shortly.

I think he was just told that he got Steph and Shawn as parents... he is one lucky young man !!!

Meet Mr Jacob Ryan Zerbe, our new grandson from North Carolina. He looks like his Dad for sure.

Snowed 8" so far today. The bridge will have to wait till Spring for its handrails... ( Darn, I was just going to do that today too! )

Just before it snowed this week, these Snow's and Blue's stopped by for a little rest before continuing South. Can you tell if they are LANDING or TAKING FLIGHT???

YES, YES I know. I already got the SPANKIN'. Stop back in a couple days and see if maybe something has been posted... Many things have been going on, so I will bring this space back to life!! In the meantime be thinking GRANDPARENTS...

We boarded Ryan's ship in San Diego for a 4 day "cruise" up to Bremerton, Wa. After the BATTLE with claustrophobia (which I WON through lots of prayer), it was absolutely fantastic. The Stennis was just coming back from an 8 month deployment which included the Persian Gulf region. What an experience to live with these great American Sailors for their last 4 days at sea, and to see the reception and appreciation of the WELCOME HOME crowd at the dock. It was very moving for us and the other family members on board.

This is what the Captain sees as he and the bridge crew steer the ship.

We stood "WATCH" with Ryan a couple times over these 4 days. This is the steering room where all the hydraulics move the rudders.

Over 3 football fields worth of flight deck.
We could roam up here most any time unless the wind was too strong.

hangar bay with door open and elevator up

Maybe these were used when they were in Persian Gulf, but not this day.

Ryan and Liz in a mess hall. (one of several) Yup.. thats a flat screen TV behind them. This ship is basically a small city, they make around 400,000 gallons of water a day and serve up to 18,000 meals per day.

Stored in the hanger bay is this Fleet Admirals 'Barge'. Its maybe 38' and used to shuttle the "brass" around in certain ports...

TV lounge connected to our berthing area. There were several of these on the ship

Liz keeps finding all these cool places to watch the sea.

As Crystal would say, "these binoculars ROCK!!!"

These canisters (approx 3'x5') are the life boats. When released and dropped to a depth of about 12 ft below the surface, a sensor pops the whole thing open to make a rubber raft that will hold 25 people. Oh ya... and enough food and water to last 5 days. Both sides of the ship have lots of these since the Stennis can accomodate over 5000 Sailors.

We are closing in on a resupply ship 40 miles offshore. Once both are side by side and maintaining 13 knots, the supply lines are "shot" across to take on more provisions.

Ships hanger bay full of (dress white) Sailors, ready for the END of their nearly 8 month deployment

Tug spraying water in honor of the carriers return

Hard to imagine the emotions here as these Sailors line the flight deck. The boat is making its way through Puget Sound just minutes before seeing the crowd gathered at the Bremerton dock.

With the Stennis just pulling up to the dock, a sailor and his very proud mom...

What a nice SURPRISE!!! From left Verda, Lis & Gary, Faith & Larry all from Ryans adopted church in Bremerton. They made a very special effort to come out and welcome him home from deployment. They have really taken to Ryan, and he likes volunteering and being a part of their congregation.