Happy Birthday to ME

Well as you might suspect this is the infamous
Birthday Blog I had mentioned in our previous BLOG. I'm not that big on birthday parties at least for myself, but get great joy in having my family come together and watch them as they get to celebrate with me. Kim worked really hard to put things together, and both she and I got a big surprise when Joshua was able to pop in and join the party. Now that he is an area supervisor (or??? for Dick;s Sporting Goods" one of his stores is here in Charlottesville, and he worked it so he could drop in and surprise us and he did. I still have not gotten the knack for getting the pictures or captions for the pictures figured out yet, but I hope you will get it sorted out as you have the opportunity to read. As you can see in this PIC food is always a big part of a birthday party. I got to wear the outdoor cooks belt that Jessie and Tanner got me for Father's Day and made sure that we had some great grilled hot dogs, my famous baked beans, and Kim took care of all the rest. So we know no one left hungry! Then came the "Hot Fudge Cake" Kim made. It is not my favorite, but I will have to admit it was pretty darn good, and by the way it disappeared, everyone else must have thought so also. Then came PRESENTS. I'll have to admit I was too well treated this year. Holly and Micah bought me a bunch of fishing lures. Holly made the mistake of going into Dick's and asking for help, and the salesman tried to sell her the store, and from the picture you can see she bought a good part of it. I've already tried several of them, and caught fish on every one that I have tried to date...what an awesome gift for this Dad. Then I got another big surprise when I got a group gift from Josh, Mark, Jacob, Jessie, and their spouses (even though some spouses didn't want anything to do with it...but thanks anyway)...a 357 magnum 6 shooter, with enough ammo to pretty much do whatever I wanted to do with. I have wanted a nice pistol for the house for years but would never spend the money for it. It is a beautiful gun, has a big bang (see video), and requires much practice to be accurate (see video again). Jacob, Tiff, and Jessie took me out to shoot some last week, (see video again) and I came back a little bloody from the kick of the gun, but had a great time. But with all the goodness that was poured out upon me by my wife and kids and family, the best gift of all was to be together. I didn't get to take a group photo this gathering even though I know some were taken. The closest I got was this one of everyone getting ready for the family PIC. But I rallied in having us all together, and having opportunities like this to show we care for one another, will make sacrifices for one another, and that we find great joy when we are with one another. Are we the perfect family....not even close, but when the need is there we will be there one for another. And that is one great birthday gift for me. So I say thanks Kim, Josh, Ellie, Luke, Emma, Mark, Danielle, Holly, Micah, Jacob, Tiffany, Jessie, Tanner, Mom, and Charlie. You each made my birthday, truly a celebration of living. I love you all...hope you enjoy the video....love Dad....Well looks like the video will not post Sorry...but it was really cool........shucks!!!

Fathers Day 2008

There are few things that can compare to opportunities of bringing family together. There are times when it is emotionally challenging like when a loved one passes through the veil, and then there are these moments: Like Father's Day. I woke Sunday morning to a bevy of phone calls and Well Wishing. Let's see, there was Holly and Micah at 745am...(what were they doing up that early on Sunday?), followed by Jessie, then Mark, then Jacob and finally Josh. Kim made me a big breakfast...normally breakfast is one piece of wheat toast and a banana....not exciting but healthy!!! But this morning it was crispy (pork) bacon not the Turkey stuff and a pile of pancakes that would feed a small army. Now that was exciting to my taste buds and tummy. Of course that set the mood for a morning nap. Early morning meetings at church were canceled for Father's Day, so a nap was doable. Is "doable" a real word? Eh, works for me hope it does for you! We got to church and I was truly surprised to find Jessie and Tanner sitting in our unauthorized "Family Pew". Then Micah and Holly came to our Ward today for Father's Day. It was great to once again fill up our Family Pew with FAMILY, normally sits 5 comfortable, but today it sat 6 wonderfully cozy. As I said before I love my family each and every one of them and appreciate the small and large things they do because they know how much joy it brings to me. Kim and I have decided for Mother's Day and Father's Day we will let the kids, put in the major efforts for the type of celebrating and the level of celebrating they want to do. Of course we do our thing, but want to allow the children to
experience the opportunity of putting in efforts
of their own in this capacity, to help them learn the importance of giving and sharing in this capacity, without too much coaxing. So instead of a big dinner for Father's Day, we left it open and would only have light sandwiches etc...if anyone came by. Well free food of ANY kind is absolute bait for Holly and Micah, not that that was the only reason they showed up on our steps on Father's Day, but Kim and I are always glad for guests, especially when they are among the "guest we love best". Oh that list of guest we love best includes: Josh and Family, Mark and Danielle, Holly and Micah,Jacob and Tiffany, Jessie and Tanner, our Moms, and Our Siblings! But today only Micah and Holly made it by and that is OK. Jessie and Tanner were at church to visit, Jacob and Tiff were still at the beach, Josh and Ellie and kids live 2 hours away and Mark and Danielle are way south of here. But it was still a great Father's Day. I got to tell my Wife and each of my children how much I loved them, and for me that made for an exquisite and beautiful day for any Father. And for that I am most thankful!! Plus look at all the extras that came in...Chocolate and socks from Jessie....a new constellation book from Kim, Holly, and Micah, and I got to hang out with Holly, Micah, and Ethan... oh if you don't see Ethan he is the little pudge just below Holly's navel!!!! Awesome Awesome Father's Day. A great Father's Day...so let's not cry because it's over, but let's smile because it happened...I am, and I hope you are too! Check back soon for the big 56th birthday bash when once again, family comes together, and the ties that bind were snugged a little tighter, smiles were a little bigger, and I got some more great stuff.......................................kjb

Memorial Day 2008

Would like to share with all the wonderful Memorial Day we had this year. Usual Memorial Days in the past have been swimming, cooking out, family...etc...and all that is great stuff. This year Felicia Chavez who works with Kim at The Red Cross invited us down to Culpeper VA for the National Cemetery Memorial Day Celebration. Most times I do not think of going to these events because I get very emotional when I consider and reflect on not only the cost of the great blessings we enjoy, but also because I have been blessed to truly know the blessings we enjoy living in this great country. WE picked Holly and Micah up around 930am...( I guess you all know, but just in case...Holly is Pregnat...YEA). OK, back to Memorial day...We got directions from Google and headed to Culpeper. It's a samll rural community, but a beautiful place to visit and live. I was surprised at the number of people there. But parking was available and it was relatively painless enjoying the event. Of course as soon as we got ther Kim and Holly had to find a bathroom, so Micah and I headed to the Cemetery and Kim and Holly headed back toward town. They found one, but so did Micah and I.....right where we were sitting for the celebration... but we'll know the next time. It was a very moving ceremony mingled with both patriotic music that always fills my eyes with tears and war songs song by a duet. Felicia gave a wonderful talk that no one could walk away and not understand the who and why we were all there that day. WE had a 21 gun salute to the fallen, taps played calling the fallen home, and a rousing opening and closing prayer from a black baptist minister that understood how to get all you can out of a microphone. WE stopped on the way out to reflect upon those that had served in our military and that had been laid to rest there. I knew none of them and yet I knew them all and could not help but feel a sense of comradary with each of my fellow soldiers and I longed for each of them to have had the opportunity to see and understand what there ultimate sacrifice had done for our country. Overall it was a wonderful day. WE did not go swimming, yet we swam in an ocean of emotion and understanding, we did not play horseshoes, yet we through our arms and hearts out to those who will no longer play any games, and yes we did feast not only on some really good hot dogs, but more so we enjoyed the feast of understanding and for a moment partakers of a feast of knowledge and gratitude and reflection on who we are, how we are blessed and that all this and so much more has come with a terrible price given by men and women who had love and courage to willingly expend for their family's and country's freedom. May we not wait for another year to pass before we express our gratitude and appreciation for our family, neighbors and friends who paid the ultimate price that we might enjoy these ultimate freedoms. Didn't get a picture of me while we were there, but perhaps this composition gives you a better picture of me than a camera ever could!!




The 3 Amigos./..Pancho is taking the picture!!!!


The grill was ugly, but the dogs were "GOOD"

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL...kjb

Gardening again after 10 years

I've always had a desire to do gardening. But with fishing, astronomy, and aquarium...we'll did not want to take too much more from family life and be selfish. But Kim got the gardening bug from a project sponsored by her work at the Central Virginia Chapter of the Red Cross. WE found this neat website..... www.squarefootgardening.com that approached gardening a little differently, even to the point of not using our native soil in the backyard as the nurturing source. Anyway if you are interested in growing an abundant crop in a little space you should check out the site. I'll share the project we did today in a pictorial format. Once we got our stuff and got home today the actual project took no more than 4 hours from start to crops growing in our back yard.The 1st picture shows all the goodies we got to get started....Compost, peat moss, and vermiculite for the "Magic Mix", plants from The Red Cross, lumber from Lowes.
Well it is time to really get to work. Had been a cool, cloudy day until we actually began to work...then the sun came out and got a little warm. But that is ok, a little sweating never hurt anyone...has it? Kim's getting that magic mix going. If it works like we understand we should have a good supply of fresh veggies for the late summer and early fall and YOU can have some too....but it would be more fun to grow them yourself. I have tried to figure out how to put the Pics in the order I want, but you probaly can see I have not been very successful. Guess I'll have to get hold of my Blogger Guru Holly when she get back from Roanoke this evening. But you can sort of figure out the order and see the progress right down to the final product complete with growing already going on. I'm glad to see Kim take an interest in this, and it will for the most part be here project with me in the background for advice or more likely brute force as it is needed to dig, transport, or run off varmits as directed by the Director of Gardening, Mrs. Kim D. Brown. Also Happy Mother's Day out there to all those who are, are trying, in there hearts are, or like to think they are Mothers. It's your day, you deserve the best and I hope you get it. God Bless each and every one of you who truly understand the importance and impact Motherhood has on us all....kjb

Spring has Sprung at Dudley Mountain Rd

Spring...at least the blooming part of Spring, seems to have lagged a little for our neck of the woods this year. Usually by now it seems that our azaleas have bloomed and gone by now,but are just coming to their high point of bloomalosity. In case you are wondering that really is not a real word! This is one of the most enjoyable times of the year for Kim and I. The drab of winter has left, the green is flourishing, the temperature is still most comfortable, and we get to enjoy the shrubs and plants that have been given to us by our children or bought over the years, as they reach the peak of their celestial glory. Anyway we thought we would share with you some of the things that bring us a special feeling of peace and home each Spring. May you too find great joy in the creative powers that are for all of us to enjoy and may you find comfort in that place you call HOME...kjb

First Bass of 2008

Most of you out there who know me (Keith) know I enjoy the opportunity to fish for that great North American Fish "The Largemouth Bass". Recently the weather has been cool so I have not gotten out to fish at all yet and here it is May. Mark and I were going to go last Tuesday, but clouds and cold kept us both away from the James River on that day. This week I knew I would be in Crozet at least once, so I called my good friends, "The Zobrists" and asked if I could stop by onme morning before work and just get the feel of fishing out of my system, and as always Sharon called back...on all 3 of my phones....and said sure come on anytime. So at 720am this morning, with Kim's blessing I headed for the pond. It really was a little late to be getting there, but what the heck...fishing is fishing!!!!!!! My first appointment was at 9am, so I had about a hour. The water in the pond was up to full capacity...ran into 2 dozen buzzards on my fishing area, so they left when they saw me coming...good thing!!!!! Anyway, not a great first fishing trip, but certainly better than many all day trips I have been on. Caught 2, nothing huge, but for all those that fish you understand catching as HOG would be great, but just catching fish period is pretty awesome also.
So I am sharing with you, especially those who have not gotten out yet, my first line wetting for 2008. Of course it is always "catch and release", so no fish dinner tonight. Instead I will reflect on the one that got away, (and it did), and on the ones that got landed, and the times ahead for you and I to go fishing again. Everyone have a great day,...... and if you have children, take them fishing....guarantee it will be a memory maker............kjb

Virginia Beach and Old Friends

Well, Kim and I decided this year to use one of the many time-shares that we have instead of giving it away, selling it, or letting it slip through our fingers due to inactivity, and we headed down to Virginia Beach. We had lots of things we wanted to do, but for me a highlight was to try and hook up with my best Friend Paul. That's him right here on the left with the big smile>>>.
And we we also had the opportunity to meet Dave while we were there. We had an awesome time catching up on things that were happening and remembering many great times from the past. Paul and Dave took Kim and I to the "Lynnhaven Fish House" for dinner, and we just had a wonderful couple of hours. Paul even bought me a special gift packed in a beautiful bright yellow gift bag. It was a large can of tomato soup and a box of crackers. There are some of you who will understand the significance of the gift, and for any of you that want to know the details, just give us a call or send a comment and we will update you on the history of this fine gift. Anyway we enjoyed each others company, talked, laughed, and sometimes even felt a tear of joy come to the eye, and at the close of the evening said our goodbyes, for the time being.
Kim and I went on to enjoy the rest of our time at the beach and did a few things, but mostly relaxed and enjoyed the opportunity to "NOT" have to do anything if we did not want to. Kim's sisters..Joann, Debra, and Wanda came down to visit the last part of the week, and we had told them they could use the time share for the last few days. So we visited with them Wednesday evening and night, and had a bunch of laughs and fun,(you can see above where we were all on the Boardwalk and enjoying one of the few pretty days we had while Kim and I were there) and then bid them farewell on Thursday morning a left them to enjoy a nice condo and the beach, while we returned home to prepare for "REAL LIFE". I think the girls had a good time, though I heard there were some of those "Meeks" moments, but they worked through them and they all came home happy and friendly!
Kim and I had a really good time and have decided that each Spring we will do the same, so if there are any of you that would like to spend some time at the beach in Spring, let us know and maybe we can share the week with you next year. Until the next time....Keith and Kim signing off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!