We have Fireflies!!!!

Sorry that I cannot catch a photo of them but we have fireflies. The last time I saw a firefly, I think I was a child and it might have been at my Aunt's farm in Epps, Louisiana. Ken and I decided to sit out on our front porch this evening, something we have not really been able to do together yet. He lit the candle that keeps the bugs away and I brought out two glasses of wine. Ken, Magic (gotta do a meet the German Shepherds blog) and I were sitting on the porch enjoying the evening when I spotted the "flickering lights of the fireflies. Man, that brought back so many fun memories of childhood. Deer, woodpeckers, morning doves, spanish doves, finches, black and regular colored squirrels, blue jays, cardinals etc have all been in the side yard between the house and the woods where I put out food for them. I am in seventh heaven. I am really looking forward to the time when we get the deck built off the dining room (because it is located in that side area) so we can sit there and watch the wild life up close and personal. You sit there quietly and they come and eat and never pay any attention to you. Best blood pressure medicine in the world!! :-) Did I ever tell you all how much I love this place??

What an Awesome Retirement Gift

The guys at the fire station where Ken was serving when he retired (after 30 years) had a retirement party for him on Saturday. These men are his brothers because that is what they are, living and working together the way they do. The photo below is what they presented him. This shadow box contains his life with the Houston Fire Department. Ken joined the fire service at 19 and served the citizens of Houston in some of the hottest fire stations in the city for a little over 30 years. We were married in 1986 and just a year later he was severely injured when a wall collapsed on him and several other fire fighters. He suffered a broken back, his ear had to be reattached, his ankle was reconstructed and they had to do some work on both knees. But as soon as the doctor cleared him, he returned to duty even though more times than not he is in some kind of pain. When they say that being a firefighter is a calling, they are not kidding. As they say, Firefighters, Police Officers and EMTs/Paramedics run into situations the rest of us run from. I am very proud of my husband.
PS Don't tell him that, he might think I feel he is something special and we can't have that! LOL

The shadow box background is a wood siding material (that is what it looks like) that was burned to make it look like a house fire. There are flickering red lights to make it look like fire burning through the wall of the house. He drove the ladder truck, hence the axe. There are also two shields from his helmets, one from Station 19 where he drove the ladder truck and Station 96 where he also drove the ladder truck. He had also worked at 9s, 74s, 17s and 35s but he never kept the shields when he transferred to another station. You will see his two badges, one as a pipe man and the second when he was promoted to driving a ladder truck. There are also the two patches of the fire department. The one on the left is the one that was used when he first joined, the one on the right is what they are using now. The plaque says:
Presented to Kendal C Bryan
for over 30 years of dedicated and faithful
service to the Houston Fire Department
September 28, 1978 - May 25, 2009
Thank You from
The Crew of Fire Station 96 D Shift

To the crew of Fire Station 96/D Shift, thank you. Good Luck, Stay Safe and God Speed.

Judy Bryan