tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17730939108855065962024-03-18T04:37:55.737+02:00Murray & Candace's AdventuresThroughout West Africa, Europe, South Africa, the USA, and the South Atlantic Ocean. Our adventure continues as we seek God's will for our life after Mercy Ships.Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.comBlogger1896125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-6346278725656478822024-03-18T04:37:00.001+02:002024-03-18T04:37:15.011+02:00Clan Lindsay Kilt...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOXPNJcE8QtKacERQBm3uQkBe0fJ8ZLa89JA63ebt4IplkAFMJGfocpI6aIjg7smy9cs0E8Te8cXo49LZDYOX2OsxVuIfPVG2hOvD62raYlzEUYlaixkTx0UCHV3jNhl3t06WXM0KpP2E8oGK7NlYcm_CPkPZGONvi9xeNymYUPNPergnjXRcKmfD/s4000/20240302_154120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOXPNJcE8QtKacERQBm3uQkBe0fJ8ZLa89JA63ebt4IplkAFMJGfocpI6aIjg7smy9cs0E8Te8cXo49LZDYOX2OsxVuIfPVG2hOvD62raYlzEUYlaixkTx0UCHV3jNhl3t06WXM0KpP2E8oGK7NlYcm_CPkPZGONvi9xeNymYUPNPergnjXRcKmfD/w150-h200/20240302_154120.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>We came across this authentic <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Lindsay">Clan Lindsay</a> tartan kilt at a thrift store earlier this month. It's 100% wool and made in Scotland, and since my ancestry is in Scotland, this was a must-have! Incidentally, both Clan Lindsay and Clan Crawford are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earl_of_Crawford">closely linked</a>, and my brother's name is Lindsay, too. :)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzBWydTLnbPFKJMy81cWGMY5GAzS2ar8PEOoOEQVPK50GIQe_Tl8dhR-BXKJbcOJs-ziCYxFcZAX7brpZ6_RPO8r72vkvOb1unsLVZ-OclZ_VJJUdT1Rrzl1DNt7eiBvVS-QlhsZPBiSxH5MvIi1neflCaVX4bMY1nbSuDNKvfzF6pkOUvmVVYTAi/s4000/20240302_155503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzBWydTLnbPFKJMy81cWGMY5GAzS2ar8PEOoOEQVPK50GIQe_Tl8dhR-BXKJbcOJs-ziCYxFcZAX7brpZ6_RPO8r72vkvOb1unsLVZ-OclZ_VJJUdT1Rrzl1DNt7eiBvVS-QlhsZPBiSxH5MvIi1neflCaVX4bMY1nbSuDNKvfzF6pkOUvmVVYTAi/s320/20240302_155503.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Made in Scotland. :)</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-89823958971114104012024-03-10T04:42:00.003+02:002024-03-10T04:42:18.904+02:00Lower Huron Metropark...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCym_gFnP4I3XCvNFrIOZrr_HfMSCGpRBVSz0caEXmAzvR4-ZaDNSzeg3jaIVooRQ3yOoZZIXbmb7NO344bxv9ke8c2uImiKhxNczucO6F4slrtTiYD40io21Ogv2zH8lE_JJ3kzK0MRIkQ__nfZ2UKkYBH5VwzZ87fRDrn-wu3uCajxR4KEj-1Nw/s3535/20240225_151347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="3535" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCym_gFnP4I3XCvNFrIOZrr_HfMSCGpRBVSz0caEXmAzvR4-ZaDNSzeg3jaIVooRQ3yOoZZIXbmb7NO344bxv9ke8c2uImiKhxNczucO6F4slrtTiYD40io21Ogv2zH8lE_JJ3kzK0MRIkQ__nfZ2UKkYBH5VwzZ87fRDrn-wu3uCajxR4KEj-1Nw/w200-h146/20240225_151347.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>We visited the Lower Huron Metropark on the last Sunday in February (25th). This is an area that offers camping (in warmer months), playgrounds, hiking, cycling trails, sports facilities, and more. Friends of ours joined us for the afternoon and we had a lovely walk - and the children loved the spaceship-themed playground!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUbL3BnBiLbTJI8cOlvTjP8Ig3ENKjvw5uxt-gQq0Ej4CrNd_vpXUeXMpiEx0Uxk0Q63aiX2dbYdYXpILnY0rr_XIFOZvN2o7YJJOBqmvYpAPBELinO48mgMi4VZiOOwTqbVOU4n-Aw4ML5rbvS5LzICUsP0b34Su_mASXf_PvcRMGPyPnSI6dAck/s1406/20240225_151634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1406" data-original-width="861" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUbL3BnBiLbTJI8cOlvTjP8Ig3ENKjvw5uxt-gQq0Ej4CrNd_vpXUeXMpiEx0Uxk0Q63aiX2dbYdYXpILnY0rr_XIFOZvN2o7YJJOBqmvYpAPBELinO48mgMi4VZiOOwTqbVOU4n-Aw4ML5rbvS5LzICUsP0b34Su_mASXf_PvcRMGPyPnSI6dAck/s320/20240225_151634.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eliza brought her dog for a walk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjEEiIamFNhQarQJNdTU_xGXU0IZCvbBdZtmRs6NLWn4qqVfPCR5PXQw3JED7bZ3pKwYW3SwHtK3HIWhKc7aExNs5AHM-ej9J5jTm4ZU4EXw0JraMo-XHS0_ZHRpbUHppos5ZLcAnZk9tH9SVqAC5k6F7QiJ2rYrvr8HE24apHrKQGq_jkhZMR26K/s3233/20240225_152914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3233" data-original-width="2415" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjEEiIamFNhQarQJNdTU_xGXU0IZCvbBdZtmRs6NLWn4qqVfPCR5PXQw3JED7bZ3pKwYW3SwHtK3HIWhKc7aExNs5AHM-ej9J5jTm4ZU4EXw0JraMo-XHS0_ZHRpbUHppos5ZLcAnZk9tH9SVqAC5k6F7QiJ2rYrvr8HE24apHrKQGq_jkhZMR26K/s320/20240225_152914.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anya loved the playground.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj9GnrWUE9qX0Pu4Oyxq5UVWBR-zV3QXX3Itzi8FTv-m99cs32n4_tejPUIIADL2dqxGIMqnWWdBzrrnzlzI1iIsRC4aY7rM5mH-9SM05NBbNYFgijK55-UfaFX923gBqycSGCf8WcGfDzvl-QnR4UKKgCcRb_Ecf3WLUr46VeJY4yJh-QmYzCDQk/s3800/20240225_154304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2838" data-original-width="3800" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj9GnrWUE9qX0Pu4Oyxq5UVWBR-zV3QXX3Itzi8FTv-m99cs32n4_tejPUIIADL2dqxGIMqnWWdBzrrnzlzI1iIsRC4aY7rM5mH-9SM05NBbNYFgijK55-UfaFX923gBqycSGCf8WcGfDzvl-QnR4UKKgCcRb_Ecf3WLUr46VeJY4yJh-QmYzCDQk/s320/20240225_154304.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hiking trail map.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl35KE5MgCih6LNN0nJmRnyhspX_fb_rVmUxXQz6N1SqHhhUjvo01fWmBiX5p8JRZwfD0fQ3NTpK9EPUgeob5Ri1byRk8A8kVtjMcr43RP2YKaLkwqxQVuYMlf6Wb7hW6hVbwItHLVq3zXi7TPVRaveNmQxe4gyqkNNFpOgQMPCU1OOqTRQoqAPwQR/s3535/20240225_154825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2651" data-original-width="3535" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl35KE5MgCih6LNN0nJmRnyhspX_fb_rVmUxXQz6N1SqHhhUjvo01fWmBiX5p8JRZwfD0fQ3NTpK9EPUgeob5Ri1byRk8A8kVtjMcr43RP2YKaLkwqxQVuYMlf6Wb7hW6hVbwItHLVq3zXi7TPVRaveNmQxe4gyqkNNFpOgQMPCU1OOqTRQoqAPwQR/s320/20240225_154825.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Walking along past the creek.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57UDeeIoPiOaTP2yFK7JOrhqXLwKx6utY5tMObNKonWeY-L9VFshAu4bb8b-wmZopCYwU8RbqrYbcoHgGuudzphnhJOMVAdpJsmvRxuUG8-MQy9v3rwIZfqbowqEnQJ0bMxMZ_w-J4Sg0Ni5pmv0Fc0oe0TnaJr3A3aUBTkfCenAkWBJLvhUkAZ_A/s3654/20240225_155358.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3654" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57UDeeIoPiOaTP2yFK7JOrhqXLwKx6utY5tMObNKonWeY-L9VFshAu4bb8b-wmZopCYwU8RbqrYbcoHgGuudzphnhJOMVAdpJsmvRxuUG8-MQy9v3rwIZfqbowqEnQJ0bMxMZ_w-J4Sg0Ni5pmv0Fc0oe0TnaJr3A3aUBTkfCenAkWBJLvhUkAZ_A/s320/20240225_155358.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Huron River.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMW_tg2DpoGtz4GNJ5wqAid8_1xekwVRL2nrdeq3GpPhVvTGPxo2GBRiyHzJlN84rA4YL9PQZEm3C8MUnWapGC0tW-1BS1Nk47rhffyVE10zQ02kHhHdjrsJM3qBEqa8gquuPX07MLtqKefmzROsgll86E4KpdX29QyzJltAQXE8_Cw9NoLDV81X5/s2902/20240225_155619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2902" data-original-width="2777" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMW_tg2DpoGtz4GNJ5wqAid8_1xekwVRL2nrdeq3GpPhVvTGPxo2GBRiyHzJlN84rA4YL9PQZEm3C8MUnWapGC0tW-1BS1Nk47rhffyVE10zQ02kHhHdjrsJM3qBEqa8gquuPX07MLtqKefmzROsgll86E4KpdX29QyzJltAQXE8_Cw9NoLDV81X5/s320/20240225_155619.jpg" width="306" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Climbing a hill with the children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF18Jb3eUw4PBd2sxV5mPpmNYNChzvM3WjME781gfBuLGdNbailtk7BXauczth6kTWs-r1whYqjpebxw9wLCagSTHeCk0z10KjUBoR0EjWxSygrIEG2xlZQY5lnzMWhawZ23yLeAh1HSQ6h6qXbkSXRCiVdR14VCkZu22vVWQLkm0SUU_jkeqjLua/s3382/20240225_160726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2361" data-original-width="3382" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzF18Jb3eUw4PBd2sxV5mPpmNYNChzvM3WjME781gfBuLGdNbailtk7BXauczth6kTWs-r1whYqjpebxw9wLCagSTHeCk0z10KjUBoR0EjWxSygrIEG2xlZQY5lnzMWhawZ23yLeAh1HSQ6h6qXbkSXRCiVdR14VCkZu22vVWQLkm0SUU_jkeqjLua/s320/20240225_160726.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The children loved the river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rhtMX1OueXHJOvKL_sksB6h7zNd76Ha1A4qoSCcbBsFqtPe42CeatyorcB89KceR6HCB5vCFpiMAUojetml7RXpqQLRdzr9LkvmDOzVhMwwBiw2sscB4eJkteuMH_jJNMclZy436EA5STKSzwhTVmAljDIY0gcjHr3pjDX8j_9Bwlt5VClLhgMzK/s3557/20240225_160827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2787" data-original-width="3557" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rhtMX1OueXHJOvKL_sksB6h7zNd76Ha1A4qoSCcbBsFqtPe42CeatyorcB89KceR6HCB5vCFpiMAUojetml7RXpqQLRdzr9LkvmDOzVhMwwBiw2sscB4eJkteuMH_jJNMclZy436EA5STKSzwhTVmAljDIY0gcjHr3pjDX8j_9Bwlt5VClLhgMzK/s320/20240225_160827.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Crossing the pedestrian and cyclist bridge.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm-opIqabW0dnlkyIT9idY_y78J5jafyA5p2DHvP2-3w0pcooN56M24wIGFfbqmg9zg1rn5GIUHEbHwP8UqK4MkwNFkHzGH0jVoqJjUHqGRKgqVmLk3A83i5rnXi3g62Tx34pejOjRAsm0aiyPqkAADaq97vsT_yLQQJgBtF0IOIeYWsVMWZStKd-/s2202/P1100069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1410" data-original-width="2202" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEm-opIqabW0dnlkyIT9idY_y78J5jafyA5p2DHvP2-3w0pcooN56M24wIGFfbqmg9zg1rn5GIUHEbHwP8UqK4MkwNFkHzGH0jVoqJjUHqGRKgqVmLk3A83i5rnXi3g62Tx34pejOjRAsm0aiyPqkAADaq97vsT_yLQQJgBtF0IOIeYWsVMWZStKd-/s320/P1100069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lufthansa jet climbing out of Detroit bound for Frankfurt, Germany.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-64767555898156996872024-03-07T04:35:00.001+02:002024-03-07T04:35:18.799+02:00First Cycle of 2024...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUaVb7PcQxr17vJe0BpffiJMi0L6M3s_DW8WK41BbQji1-siMG-01UWF9fjWL5X6NUak81rJDJ-an2Se4CsPvrDMav4wMlVQzOF_M3vJnDxtlvMzRsKGi3c-KED1lgbLR03vKG7SDkktGDAT3wGpPe61j94lC1s6mxjzSmvOptxxZimHPowOedppz/s3408/20240221_172841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="3408" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtUaVb7PcQxr17vJe0BpffiJMi0L6M3s_DW8WK41BbQji1-siMG-01UWF9fjWL5X6NUak81rJDJ-an2Se4CsPvrDMav4wMlVQzOF_M3vJnDxtlvMzRsKGi3c-KED1lgbLR03vKG7SDkktGDAT3wGpPe61j94lC1s6mxjzSmvOptxxZimHPowOedppz/w200-h150/20240221_172841.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The last fortnight has been lovely in southeast Michigan. The sun has shone more often in this two-week time frame than in the previous two months! I have been able to get out on my bike four times, with my first ride of 2024 being after work on Wednesday, 21st February. I just rode 20 kms (12 miles) that first time - and I could certainly feel how unfit I've become in terms of cardio exercise!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmNg85pLQTi5ziihPTNuD78kkMIoeKyrmhe8sXftaxC5Zix68cSr4n0W31VXPSfU-cc2qjII83uWqZDc3gcFdQ7HHxiLhOSy6nClRycUeTEWESH5Vdf2ihw5E-30CE2wgHZBRpkE4m1fRj4k1tKqEfe_8WfbUGtixTCl4JtGHfCX-I4WhNELFz9Ip/s4000/20240221_172854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmNg85pLQTi5ziihPTNuD78kkMIoeKyrmhe8sXftaxC5Zix68cSr4n0W31VXPSfU-cc2qjII83uWqZDc3gcFdQ7HHxiLhOSy6nClRycUeTEWESH5Vdf2ihw5E-30CE2wgHZBRpkE4m1fRj4k1tKqEfe_8WfbUGtixTCl4JtGHfCX-I4WhNELFz9Ip/s320/20240221_172854.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The sunset was quite pretty on that first cycle.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-40135525673115180002024-03-03T16:23:00.005+02:002024-03-03T16:23:57.738+02:00Eliza's Sixth Birthday...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdXleEhhn9o5OpSInDzQ3yJkankbS8Kg_tdDdt_J-zsA23nPVFsanlqf-FQlFsNnkFUGL8dnddRPhs2kmlGmQKqS3uexTnMCB_-XUFi-PpC8WwYg2PC7YdQhkaF58vZx_QJZ90ygqrXl_mQzpV-hvgLe1BT0mtvGDvCY2hyP2xo-DqYObstP6C1kV/s3205/20240209_160633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3205" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdXleEhhn9o5OpSInDzQ3yJkankbS8Kg_tdDdt_J-zsA23nPVFsanlqf-FQlFsNnkFUGL8dnddRPhs2kmlGmQKqS3uexTnMCB_-XUFi-PpC8WwYg2PC7YdQhkaF58vZx_QJZ90ygqrXl_mQzpV-hvgLe1BT0mtvGDvCY2hyP2xo-DqYObstP6C1kV/w188-h200/20240209_160633.jpg" width="188" /></a></div>Eliza Lucy turned six years old on Thursday, 8th February. Unfortunately, Eliza's day coincided with a nasty tummy bug doing the rounds in our family. We were all sick, but Eliza still enjoyed her special day, and received video calls from family in South Africa, Scotland, and Indiana. Two weeks later, I took her out for a traditional birthday hot chocolate! You can see how much she has grown since her birthday last year, by <a href="https://mercyshipadventure.blogspot.com/2023/02/elizas-fifth-birthday.html">clicking here</a>.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUAsVHnpbQmErFwTduwwlapIAkxMrbZa7uQie2vr4n56f4UW-oE4gaI87Z5x7tKcta-6oEIdi0wzgkcceiMcRMUChaJPdCmO-5c5B4F4uCh-OEYK2yYTmUfaPPvQ_bggBW4pvh5bM8_fSGWsvluQPfKd9btcIMamnrVVr9-JjbqZx7zKv4wgjY78J/s2875/20240211_161607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2821" data-original-width="2875" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMUAsVHnpbQmErFwTduwwlapIAkxMrbZa7uQie2vr4n56f4UW-oE4gaI87Z5x7tKcta-6oEIdi0wzgkcceiMcRMUChaJPdCmO-5c5B4F4uCh-OEYK2yYTmUfaPPvQ_bggBW4pvh5bM8_fSGWsvluQPfKd9btcIMamnrVVr9-JjbqZx7zKv4wgjY78J/s320/20240211_161607.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Birthday cookies from her grandma in Indiana.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1dElF58fzZJeS_X6Vm5ZZSjVsy5vPXXdBElrKwMf3yCrhTUPjUk7LmzJBNEVle3B9aQ_ePYdmURz-zXPF4ku13eN6NLU0S9vDPbPPK9HXyZMUnoLthdQzM2kRMPhBFb8czXk-hIioDyIm2KQmJXDnN6wUbX4lKpEuMegYofIQA_PqPAoN9Abq-6E/s2466/20240208_120505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2466" data-original-width="1545" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1dElF58fzZJeS_X6Vm5ZZSjVsy5vPXXdBElrKwMf3yCrhTUPjUk7LmzJBNEVle3B9aQ_ePYdmURz-zXPF4ku13eN6NLU0S9vDPbPPK9HXyZMUnoLthdQzM2kRMPhBFb8czXk-hIioDyIm2KQmJXDnN6wUbX4lKpEuMegYofIQA_PqPAoN9Abq-6E/s320/20240208_120505.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Opening her presents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaANi0FZKj4FFkX6WwFjGqAWUOmkvvOs-fRVu4NeXfXHc5IsmOYrS4c_QTM9s2Mj1T4fFFdjIFM-YcJdgo6ikKBoW11WeLakk9kiZSw9Md7jF1CjV8ESY_YlLCd807o5gg6GpVuiLuf29H3UgQgfS4QGWbQOQKQ5qfr6PGDIH3grqtilMXvCVN1S_H/s2074/20240208_120633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="2074" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaANi0FZKj4FFkX6WwFjGqAWUOmkvvOs-fRVu4NeXfXHc5IsmOYrS4c_QTM9s2Mj1T4fFFdjIFM-YcJdgo6ikKBoW11WeLakk9kiZSw9Md7jF1CjV8ESY_YlLCd807o5gg6GpVuiLuf29H3UgQgfS4QGWbQOQKQ5qfr6PGDIH3grqtilMXvCVN1S_H/s320/20240208_120633.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A Lego unicorn set...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmRZCsRC-1JrMMLx4vuq3pBXNeLPp3KA8wWde89d7_C_KqvptLNaN5kJds7ehjRb2NgNkIFg_SdwOKfNZ_jUB_XkdKpQGKBRj0ILGLad7I7K47pmBwoH-heP9NKKuQMzFS-S5kDHnuGBWgQ8q1MAZ0Ryl0umZ_c02bHic7CCCqQwVVeB8vKrzuDWE/s2824/20240208_120704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2807" data-original-width="2824" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgmRZCsRC-1JrMMLx4vuq3pBXNeLPp3KA8wWde89d7_C_KqvptLNaN5kJds7ehjRb2NgNkIFg_SdwOKfNZ_jUB_XkdKpQGKBRj0ILGLad7I7K47pmBwoH-heP9NKKuQMzFS-S5kDHnuGBWgQ8q1MAZ0Ryl0umZ_c02bHic7CCCqQwVVeB8vKrzuDWE/s320/20240208_120704.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">... And a unicorn helmet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmQU8f4FWAQlaiVHEu2f7AFRDbciYCN5Mv2_NBKQG07JekVhwcZAKZh3gSct9ums4Qm5qPjNrelv46cbg4lNl_v1ny-H-5yaGX870wA1hPsazZoDBkyP5URLR3wf1SyuCuF43ZTmtfZSxo8j2Qjc7fQX0XLrN6-jKOMDZAalvSi1hLhGkB-9rBjrw/s4093/20240223_125141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2894" data-original-width="4093" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmQU8f4FWAQlaiVHEu2f7AFRDbciYCN5Mv2_NBKQG07JekVhwcZAKZh3gSct9ums4Qm5qPjNrelv46cbg4lNl_v1ny-H-5yaGX870wA1hPsazZoDBkyP5URLR3wf1SyuCuF43ZTmtfZSxo8j2Qjc7fQX0XLrN6-jKOMDZAalvSi1hLhGkB-9rBjrw/s320/20240223_125141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hot chocolate date with me. :)</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-36449454028714505552024-02-29T20:03:00.007+02:002024-02-29T20:03:59.515+02:00My 40th Birthday...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fik4yDhKh1n-k2A5jKBiDNEBkn6Lmf6SJ-UDyOrCTQLv9zPyUWYo0AuIZLYeXjlctr_YVuSxWusBqrwz4qZxhQr_rfitYccqR9q08jEdrjSr_ZsPy53awqbbsoIBd0WaHJ341L6yb5CA6CGvctWXSK1MkCsngqERg7QlzqQ7jy5m7JdNGDeP5jnk/s4000/20240205_113643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Fik4yDhKh1n-k2A5jKBiDNEBkn6Lmf6SJ-UDyOrCTQLv9zPyUWYo0AuIZLYeXjlctr_YVuSxWusBqrwz4qZxhQr_rfitYccqR9q08jEdrjSr_ZsPy53awqbbsoIBd0WaHJ341L6yb5CA6CGvctWXSK1MkCsngqERg7QlzqQ7jy5m7JdNGDeP5jnk/w150-h200/20240205_113643.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>I celebrated my 40th birthday on Monday, 5th February. It was a good day; the morning was spent at home with my lovely family. Candace and I then dropped the children off at a friend's house and drove to Plymouth, where we ate a lovely pub lunch. I enjoyed delicious fish and chips! We then walked around the town, before driving back home in the late afternoon. :) I'm excited to see how the Lord is going to lead us in this new decade of life!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_EKbraJDnPddOb1cb74H_vduITZUljVqxlFZ6vDLtbr48LXC0K8d6Yp1E-qMYy0pcHBtlYP8SHV9IFB-6BCRH0zVib2UlEPvyA-jWwDD6M9v5kFezFt0TZW9qRHU4a2R1maXnfp9sOEe_Lan5kSeoBuM1WX9XZN3r3YNyw1Tfe-q9pG_UXeYcffV/s4000/20240205_082021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_EKbraJDnPddOb1cb74H_vduITZUljVqxlFZ6vDLtbr48LXC0K8d6Yp1E-qMYy0pcHBtlYP8SHV9IFB-6BCRH0zVib2UlEPvyA-jWwDD6M9v5kFezFt0TZW9qRHU4a2R1maXnfp9sOEe_Lan5kSeoBuM1WX9XZN3r3YNyw1Tfe-q9pG_UXeYcffV/s320/20240205_082021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">English breakfast. Yum!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Lsbv1nt4Ztiv_9rX1OLWU0JZa8TbGWXVbo085mzV7A6jdJo-L2AWwO8ulW24l6Tv5IgwqjZ1_IgvPQfR_PBrxsqzy-b2Wm6nPR0YiF6-Chufhi5ZV40EpQj1jxOkNoVJvDaBK9hOcRQjobhCbKci_HwjP1ciCvxCiiHPV6CTXIefqDk14yqVuTkM/s4000/20240205_085652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Lsbv1nt4Ztiv_9rX1OLWU0JZa8TbGWXVbo085mzV7A6jdJo-L2AWwO8ulW24l6Tv5IgwqjZ1_IgvPQfR_PBrxsqzy-b2Wm6nPR0YiF6-Chufhi5ZV40EpQj1jxOkNoVJvDaBK9hOcRQjobhCbKci_HwjP1ciCvxCiiHPV6CTXIefqDk14yqVuTkM/s320/20240205_085652.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cards that I received from South Africa, Scotland, and the USA.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid62NKolN2zs8OGfmWd21B52YDebVHjmd_-N1jfHACElOqdJxEBRuHAoa5gt8BQiAqUXYxOdChLtkM6IfT_NHa1vyrrEYJXo1W7D2yxYPen3g6-DDfUeKhV45FXSNzS6KhFX-b1bBkFD3nwyq3Dwyu7-fFQE-kg85sZpWa2c4zCrJpCr8RFIh5l3px/s4000/20240205_100351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid62NKolN2zs8OGfmWd21B52YDebVHjmd_-N1jfHACElOqdJxEBRuHAoa5gt8BQiAqUXYxOdChLtkM6IfT_NHa1vyrrEYJXo1W7D2yxYPen3g6-DDfUeKhV45FXSNzS6KhFX-b1bBkFD3nwyq3Dwyu7-fFQE-kg85sZpWa2c4zCrJpCr8RFIh5l3px/s320/20240205_100351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This year's presents. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofJeYX3jJH0w8aaWNK0zta8P3ko_M0T0Ujznb7FyBptx9sad7SmaYCDm81rlIhmuxTZhRH5p_eCe9jVvHuwMFe0dPw2dxXixcOTo7U3KPeBy6BO3IyyNMp2MxPLr_-yU8GhqPrMZclwKoJ37JZREqzJEMhwSbhbGMF_PrAIqPcfwyC89oxiUchDt7/s4000/20240205_113340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofJeYX3jJH0w8aaWNK0zta8P3ko_M0T0Ujznb7FyBptx9sad7SmaYCDm81rlIhmuxTZhRH5p_eCe9jVvHuwMFe0dPw2dxXixcOTo7U3KPeBy6BO3IyyNMp2MxPLr_-yU8GhqPrMZclwKoJ37JZREqzJEMhwSbhbGMF_PrAIqPcfwyC89oxiUchDt7/s320/20240205_113340.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Birthday cookies from Candace's mom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9JqxV8yj5h9BAIvOYSPbjk2YnRf0is89WuUqsehjXHNVIq9qAwBr7hzDo9l-21m0ldfYL1blSZwuNgCDQ7Zv8CeVbaURZs0f76HhmBu4lYeoDYb9r86RQuRsW1MGX6G4Ms0HtCSfgm32o14u68j2F1eB2iR6qyh_qe-TOYlh-XNz9beoKu2DnWKT/s4000/20240205_150013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9JqxV8yj5h9BAIvOYSPbjk2YnRf0is89WuUqsehjXHNVIq9qAwBr7hzDo9l-21m0ldfYL1blSZwuNgCDQ7Zv8CeVbaURZs0f76HhmBu4lYeoDYb9r86RQuRsW1MGX6G4Ms0HtCSfgm32o14u68j2F1eB2iR6qyh_qe-TOYlh-XNz9beoKu2DnWKT/s320/20240205_150013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was by far the best fish and chips I've had in America!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEvEIKudhNH8qC4NnEsbskCkJ3FfH8dS8ZRE0rqJLLERjdyTy8o7iTpeNpvjQW9vPp0Bub6z7GaGNAzJ5YRyMuWDgxC8XnzoTiJIF73x1jvplcMqyx1FgEXj-giETIbkh1Yakq5dgg5gED2rBnxTJMxiJYghWd209PMMzRot8kVClj-SH4RtB3ocY/s4128/20240205_150028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPEvEIKudhNH8qC4NnEsbskCkJ3FfH8dS8ZRE0rqJLLERjdyTy8o7iTpeNpvjQW9vPp0Bub6z7GaGNAzJ5YRyMuWDgxC8XnzoTiJIF73x1jvplcMqyx1FgEXj-giETIbkh1Yakq5dgg5gED2rBnxTJMxiJYghWd209PMMzRot8kVClj-SH4RtB3ocY/s320/20240205_150028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">With my beautiful bride on our first proper date together in years. :)</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-22634999486414842502024-02-29T15:12:00.001+02:002024-02-29T15:12:48.829+02:00Another Beautiful Quilt...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNF3C0wUgUNkMN_FxhwyXSResyhfZ_dIvLM6oXgtJvuSY6egVhvQuRuPoq7j8RanpeRLXBQnDYAN3wBzOM1RgOJJZ7NuwkdQn3wlseQs9M3auBajYMm2O5-Nus-d98VEFIlP2oaAQVQnr_bQ7qDaMMhd39C8cYBIQRfpQ-azL5YL_Y-1JnPOe7Zls/s4000/20240205_213717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJNF3C0wUgUNkMN_FxhwyXSResyhfZ_dIvLM6oXgtJvuSY6egVhvQuRuPoq7j8RanpeRLXBQnDYAN3wBzOM1RgOJJZ7NuwkdQn3wlseQs9M3auBajYMm2O5-Nus-d98VEFIlP2oaAQVQnr_bQ7qDaMMhd39C8cYBIQRfpQ-azL5YL_Y-1JnPOe7Zls/s320/20240205_213717.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Earlier this month, my talented wife completed this colourful quilt for us to use as a bedspread. Isn't it so beautiful?</p>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-49382795144841356752024-02-29T05:39:00.000+02:002024-02-29T05:39:00.552+02:00Detroit Riverfront Walk...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpT-u_Pl4xK0fBG6T2a7yb3fxGqq3fXS4MT38TeEjxjsFRsVkSWXp21ItUrE-Rv5MKujSULNqwF4M10UCsa5G85GViyWFPVLzE-v_J35gh9yUNVbmJsWWPRB2o28xsVZCIrKq2UekZ17WhF8DpWFMB0EhyphenhyphenlaX09iPXyILQVr3V8DyN42Q3Dx5lKCy/s4000/02a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpT-u_Pl4xK0fBG6T2a7yb3fxGqq3fXS4MT38TeEjxjsFRsVkSWXp21ItUrE-Rv5MKujSULNqwF4M10UCsa5G85GViyWFPVLzE-v_J35gh9yUNVbmJsWWPRB2o28xsVZCIrKq2UekZ17WhF8DpWFMB0EhyphenhyphenlaX09iPXyILQVr3V8DyN42Q3Dx5lKCy/w200-h150/02a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The first Sunday in February was absolutely lovely. It was slightly chilly, but the sunshine was glorious and we decided to go to the Detroit Riverfront and the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_G._Milliken_State_Park_and_Harbor">William G. Milliken State Park</a>. We walked along the Detroit River - while the children zipped along on their scooters - and we enjoyed seeing the beauty of the city. :) There is even a replica lighthouse located at the entrance to the small harbour there.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y0SYOYetdOaBiydqVOMHZhKEXE6Gga1-2NRz5vlE6xdx1luHVv2WWR3NEtPMstFs1bTFVwqu_9lJNkUj9SQf4su3WrcBNRstYj09uiiPR1cLuhXL0_nc2MhDo6eqjABJ0PlMm-EHzWru8iyuLubW1ciFF92IKF6_CM9FXrsY1FYGyrIIIbrGmZq3/s4000/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Y0SYOYetdOaBiydqVOMHZhKEXE6Gga1-2NRz5vlE6xdx1luHVv2WWR3NEtPMstFs1bTFVwqu_9lJNkUj9SQf4su3WrcBNRstYj09uiiPR1cLuhXL0_nc2MhDo6eqjABJ0PlMm-EHzWru8iyuLubW1ciFF92IKF6_CM9FXrsY1FYGyrIIIbrGmZq3/s320/01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Take only pictures and leave only footprints. My kind of place!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4GyMS8SB6OOA-e2BO46r3zSrbpp_0_aytJzi0zLGyHUcteOiiV6PqJXXcccBrBYT8dXSzo7GCJkTyT06AuLWgBvCHqK2oEMD36FbpgCRE7qkncghnMUZzJCgut81iFUABxmL-nzGe2I1he8FdoEWR4Rynkx3aPUjsRBYnYhVQ4bC4ZS9vEJDn6ea/s4000/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4GyMS8SB6OOA-e2BO46r3zSrbpp_0_aytJzi0zLGyHUcteOiiV6PqJXXcccBrBYT8dXSzo7GCJkTyT06AuLWgBvCHqK2oEMD36FbpgCRE7qkncghnMUZzJCgut81iFUABxmL-nzGe2I1he8FdoEWR4Rynkx3aPUjsRBYnYhVQ4bC4ZS9vEJDn6ea/s320/02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Detroit River with Canada in the distance.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6R7_XKfg1HYS3OYmSUcoyPmh1K-Zoia-PBIobBW7aI9uexQzvPtSUE89gGbMnjTJm1I4awHj5EUc3JsELoahiXaj22wsk3BVQIZk5RPL8-5uZNFpUulyNMWLSo8REA9VTNgXpD2lQa2U4WbbdeBqCLDXLbym4ajtBQsUgahFVgXvSXOrnV_CxHgd/s4000/04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG6R7_XKfg1HYS3OYmSUcoyPmh1K-Zoia-PBIobBW7aI9uexQzvPtSUE89gGbMnjTJm1I4awHj5EUc3JsELoahiXaj22wsk3BVQIZk5RPL8-5uZNFpUulyNMWLSo8REA9VTNgXpD2lQa2U4WbbdeBqCLDXLbym4ajtBQsUgahFVgXvSXOrnV_CxHgd/s320/04.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mini iceberg glides along the river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8MQzdLpdxkvG97nESeGQWkAeH1-YYFq9dA6DHu6CuPGM36ehhjUIlWgRIL0YCWj72ykgm9Xj89DGGlUs36VpzfKEqHfkSYWRgxlovxWngZlgzb1Ey8_A_XF2TxSjPHDP4_5-k-STdtdxA4m31yHh4zvTZPWWqzonS91bDZbWRVgEMpb8C4YrLxGa/s4000/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8MQzdLpdxkvG97nESeGQWkAeH1-YYFq9dA6DHu6CuPGM36ehhjUIlWgRIL0YCWj72ykgm9Xj89DGGlUs36VpzfKEqHfkSYWRgxlovxWngZlgzb1Ey8_A_XF2TxSjPHDP4_5-k-STdtdxA4m31yHh4zvTZPWWqzonS91bDZbWRVgEMpb8C4YrLxGa/s320/06.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There are wetlands along the river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQEDWJ1jyJ0RVE_Ox0-nP-XFoczWoGcB-Gf5qx7JliHM_gqv9KfRupHiCZJn1Bczw8FDoZRxAmwnfWWgE_aQqCkCGyK9r62Ruimg-LjkKyth93MSvnqNcPDtHVIxq1zJE0UWTVGrgVDbHprGQNDfQVX5Z7vHqyTWiq0gkA1YCOKQlfOq_p20c0U4K/s4000/06a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQEDWJ1jyJ0RVE_Ox0-nP-XFoczWoGcB-Gf5qx7JliHM_gqv9KfRupHiCZJn1Bczw8FDoZRxAmwnfWWgE_aQqCkCGyK9r62Ruimg-LjkKyth93MSvnqNcPDtHVIxq1zJE0UWTVGrgVDbHprGQNDfQVX5Z7vHqyTWiq0gkA1YCOKQlfOq_p20c0U4K/s320/06a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">View towards the lighthouse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigR0vZunaxj7eNUWYz21hf25zwyHMksOi9uxIG-RdlYwbYvshQAzMiyMlMFh0bhJC3ugJ5DnyPRxh_PInjiq2IpdB4ld6CavnjTRpiY7dqtc1mZoH-ZDW0FMNKyym457ldvjpeDamUDDMv69ns5E2FQyU06bG5K6yWebLQiqdJg09Rlhqm9D8xT2Pl/s4000/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigR0vZunaxj7eNUWYz21hf25zwyHMksOi9uxIG-RdlYwbYvshQAzMiyMlMFh0bhJC3ugJ5DnyPRxh_PInjiq2IpdB4ld6CavnjTRpiY7dqtc1mZoH-ZDW0FMNKyym457ldvjpeDamUDDMv69ns5E2FQyU06bG5K6yWebLQiqdJg09Rlhqm9D8xT2Pl/s320/07.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lots of bikes available to use!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4QhTRilKhBGdhgt2EpN3aaKrF1raVFdK6LDuvHbLTOWGtfvHd_2HDGRQOGDr0Q8CTQmRO5QAwgI2Og_djL-D0cFjyO_1ItKzdJm91Dp5X9BGcWTezRKn8LnML3J2doiZfonAz2kagTdIq1HlaPv4FtuQiUBBO5hIFyAUFiLqeb3TkOpiFneJ4BHt/s4000/08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW4QhTRilKhBGdhgt2EpN3aaKrF1raVFdK6LDuvHbLTOWGtfvHd_2HDGRQOGDr0Q8CTQmRO5QAwgI2Og_djL-D0cFjyO_1ItKzdJm91Dp5X9BGcWTezRKn8LnML3J2doiZfonAz2kagTdIq1HlaPv4FtuQiUBBO5hIFyAUFiLqeb3TkOpiFneJ4BHt/s320/08.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">View of the lighthouse at the entrance to the small harbour.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLVqWclBLDNM2mufCzGwGVS0VAGFgihSoOm4T5TP9MXxyRHraEpWigyLqCzK5PHVpbcb4aMPy8zN39YzJKlFdNyshcy8ZpyYkTXvKrV_WhcmKunwydhL9xOssapKFbnXGdVRbxB1Vsm9InA42NjNZiJnaOIDGW7a6reynLqDPjkAHF34sORfg9zcN/s4000/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLVqWclBLDNM2mufCzGwGVS0VAGFgihSoOm4T5TP9MXxyRHraEpWigyLqCzK5PHVpbcb4aMPy8zN39YzJKlFdNyshcy8ZpyYkTXvKrV_WhcmKunwydhL9xOssapKFbnXGdVRbxB1Vsm9InA42NjNZiJnaOIDGW7a6reynLqDPjkAHF34sORfg9zcN/s320/10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A still Detroit River.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBKe4RrlSFu94bG_pRWPSfzzFH4WWhHLTtVrMr44I2hSOHR3bTbHhLSq-7ei8tpEh80rroWCLs_skOsnrrVQmVKxE0Djooag-cgFem-_ZkTi30XlDYjYPvublkN7-g3qiB1KiCy1Rl2JH8or-FNldHnRe1vJYsLuhGzm1fRMmo8PNzEBU7P03WN-2/s4000/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBKe4RrlSFu94bG_pRWPSfzzFH4WWhHLTtVrMr44I2hSOHR3bTbHhLSq-7ei8tpEh80rroWCLs_skOsnrrVQmVKxE0Djooag-cgFem-_ZkTi30XlDYjYPvublkN7-g3qiB1KiCy1Rl2JH8or-FNldHnRe1vJYsLuhGzm1fRMmo8PNzEBU7P03WN-2/s320/13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anchor sculpture near the lighthouse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI38FsIeXzze3yzvwVwBJr3Y5vOuWbizUUr-AuA3AjitVa3hFlyZE0kK0-fIBBWxOscaVvVMzMi19KyG0gh9RjqOd1r41WYW4uF8SWGKdE9haVVhlFmeXE3f8WPy3MXPbSl0Vz_OcZrDUqqqwztQAeneDlM8H_SPLC8uv9lsBtq-xR0ADHTK8HVKSw/s4000/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI38FsIeXzze3yzvwVwBJr3Y5vOuWbizUUr-AuA3AjitVa3hFlyZE0kK0-fIBBWxOscaVvVMzMi19KyG0gh9RjqOd1r41WYW4uF8SWGKdE9haVVhlFmeXE3f8WPy3MXPbSl0Vz_OcZrDUqqqwztQAeneDlM8H_SPLC8uv9lsBtq-xR0ADHTK8HVKSw/s320/14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">View towards downtown Detroit.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb39umP1uBn9rvlx9sGOYCpWnATKG-Luv9kDIgkSvZfL5_t-gCncnMW7g6X-SRfBf3e3PqFpZgLicWf3rpbg2tgpGmqRiXcx9J7MBc1fpyWbkYoyGOedbKOn1gRhBDu_FzvDCA3VqOeOpZyHdMgY7Qipb5QLkZRBChz8d8xHFIyw4JRHF-t95hpS5l/s4000/15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb39umP1uBn9rvlx9sGOYCpWnATKG-Luv9kDIgkSvZfL5_t-gCncnMW7g6X-SRfBf3e3PqFpZgLicWf3rpbg2tgpGmqRiXcx9J7MBc1fpyWbkYoyGOedbKOn1gRhBDu_FzvDCA3VqOeOpZyHdMgY7Qipb5QLkZRBChz8d8xHFIyw4JRHF-t95hpS5l/s320/15.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ice clings to the side of the harbour here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHtLrXtffbFrEmMDAgFjrrBEVfA2HISZFEcyKtSmmpsebWG8UkT7iJCcjx1-0CqR8D70pUa7eTlVdsZPwXHSVYeTKuNu4dI83Xi5a_i6_ZlWB4UA5n13CpIzofQUN4FiX4Kc_7IxGWmSjSLk64NsNLd5L0TFxCzZN4DVC2kfCUJSq2CtBHJJSkaOT/s4000/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikHtLrXtffbFrEmMDAgFjrrBEVfA2HISZFEcyKtSmmpsebWG8UkT7iJCcjx1-0CqR8D70pUa7eTlVdsZPwXHSVYeTKuNu4dI83Xi5a_i6_ZlWB4UA5n13CpIzofQUN4FiX4Kc_7IxGWmSjSLk64NsNLd5L0TFxCzZN4DVC2kfCUJSq2CtBHJJSkaOT/s320/16.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anya and Candace (with Riaan and Eliza in the distance) walk back towards the car.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-7830330791257809252024-02-26T14:54:00.006+02:002024-02-26T14:54:58.610+02:00Sunshiney Afternoon...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5vJgt9Y1ft7MZLiKoes9ohU4UIXYe-3HDmdiruhTyvGqIBAyDm608TcYSP6CDZN6YvuOSQCZe0mP76uVxLJA0xjxKjVQgJD8UWraEDTBk7KZYbhHionICfyf0g3aVrE5W7SJkRDf8kgIU7k7UhUiHejlJIE_-MsaVfoVqtfVTEm97GJ42fT9Kho3/s4000/20240203_150903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu5vJgt9Y1ft7MZLiKoes9ohU4UIXYe-3HDmdiruhTyvGqIBAyDm608TcYSP6CDZN6YvuOSQCZe0mP76uVxLJA0xjxKjVQgJD8UWraEDTBk7KZYbhHionICfyf0g3aVrE5W7SJkRDf8kgIU7k7UhUiHejlJIE_-MsaVfoVqtfVTEm97GJ42fT9Kho3/w200-h150/20240203_150903.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This is what you do when the sun has been noticeably absent for days... and finally makes an appearance one chilly afternoon in early February. You get outside - even when it's only 2 degrees Celcius (or 35 deg Fahrenheit)!<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkZQ7Dh2_X0cpt9RyqPEBA37VUpDm5Xt6ON798bAtjlaTs4uzkSmo9D0LIuE4ceUlwxlyS2KhC4_1rSzZzg5b_Z3bv6APcMmxC1u2SEgCkA9nukefMIWssok_mnHU129X4gv0Dq_eUXoY8__B8aNLC1dVJZ8sHpG7FYM69aSzhUjzXfKJsztuCwjm/s4000/20240203_145227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkZQ7Dh2_X0cpt9RyqPEBA37VUpDm5Xt6ON798bAtjlaTs4uzkSmo9D0LIuE4ceUlwxlyS2KhC4_1rSzZzg5b_Z3bv6APcMmxC1u2SEgCkA9nukefMIWssok_mnHU129X4gv0Dq_eUXoY8__B8aNLC1dVJZ8sHpG7FYM69aSzhUjzXfKJsztuCwjm/s320/20240203_145227.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Riaan loves reading in the sunshine...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowe9whZDZSx7qzivrse5gXZ5ohzZD4YjYHjKd_SCMZvW604nQvwxKnEJVOnFaDgtQnbXTd-YJ7-QBH0BWKPJ4Yx7He7xkS1MobC6J8kzx8EWOpsL__95GEWOPCWSFDdIBaqeHTblAuThFFg7MOiSMMGQZZs9dKL5zD6Z9VgoJEhdENvhqUDLb6qKD/s4000/20240203_145504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowe9whZDZSx7qzivrse5gXZ5ohzZD4YjYHjKd_SCMZvW604nQvwxKnEJVOnFaDgtQnbXTd-YJ7-QBH0BWKPJ4Yx7He7xkS1MobC6J8kzx8EWOpsL__95GEWOPCWSFDdIBaqeHTblAuThFFg7MOiSMMGQZZs9dKL5zD6Z9VgoJEhdENvhqUDLb6qKD/s320/20240203_145504.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">While the girls love their small sandpit!</div><p></p>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-80861991908358238792024-02-25T15:51:00.002+02:002024-02-25T15:51:07.915+02:00Home Depot Craft Morning...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q1DZx2RHvdXDj8jMvxeKBfmypaS9bzbmBtzb-0U42JjRBdsAHcVf2JNf9AzpsMRsX3ObamNBRXmYiRgnunKaM2ycOquEGyqTGIigGnfFw8McjaQ-kdBqhr0ATHtOut8ZZiYZhpWNuPoptm2e4Zt3CvG3sAn5ue0UcFKwWnJ3jv3vvmY90hmSzdMr/s4000/20240203_103736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Q1DZx2RHvdXDj8jMvxeKBfmypaS9bzbmBtzb-0U42JjRBdsAHcVf2JNf9AzpsMRsX3ObamNBRXmYiRgnunKaM2ycOquEGyqTGIigGnfFw8McjaQ-kdBqhr0ATHtOut8ZZiYZhpWNuPoptm2e4Zt3CvG3sAn5ue0UcFKwWnJ3jv3vvmY90hmSzdMr/w200-h150/20240203_103736.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Once a month, the Home Depot store hosts a fun craft activity for children. We've taken our children to several of these mornings, where the children get to build a toy or craft. This February, the craft was a Valentine's basket. :) All three of our children loved it!<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65hWXypile0jQIpnt2MGLLfznwKBTDY5mQsfabgtpLOCMzC1wP5-35SChr48599C28hJ4zfpeymfOlDplpRUcdjU6BXb49pDUoH0rr8XujYuV4l7YplZAQa984Jt9ZEjkS_0_2E3RdHObaB1MK9DXBWeX9Qxa11tKsC-bPckHYPI6Ov6QA2cyLsZg/s4000/20240203_104816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65hWXypile0jQIpnt2MGLLfznwKBTDY5mQsfabgtpLOCMzC1wP5-35SChr48599C28hJ4zfpeymfOlDplpRUcdjU6BXb49pDUoH0rr8XujYuV4l7YplZAQa984Jt9ZEjkS_0_2E3RdHObaB1MK9DXBWeX9Qxa11tKsC-bPckHYPI6Ov6QA2cyLsZg/s320/20240203_104816.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Painting the basket.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jL934H8vi6Mt56yrUPM7m45xbN60AfsiOuVBWqqoaf9UEzeDViXnVk3ptTnkNf2ir5NPnb4KrcRQG9vehAmzMDbhyIcxl84aDAWixVq8oc7FBxe3IypFe1KG5w1yen4KevNOOpXnfc-skUbFo0tjilPE_QvjHZ-Mk31gTl-ZCoV_d3x2KjGuJFzK/s4000/20240203_104837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jL934H8vi6Mt56yrUPM7m45xbN60AfsiOuVBWqqoaf9UEzeDViXnVk3ptTnkNf2ir5NPnb4KrcRQG9vehAmzMDbhyIcxl84aDAWixVq8oc7FBxe3IypFe1KG5w1yen4KevNOOpXnfc-skUbFo0tjilPE_QvjHZ-Mk31gTl-ZCoV_d3x2KjGuJFzK/s320/20240203_104837.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">They have so much fun with these craft mornings!</div><p></p>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-85764921846991802812024-02-19T03:30:00.009+02:002024-02-19T03:30:58.804+02:00Sunrise in Detroit...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC52qPpYEGXLP_RaHV1SEHNx7oXOMhXy3m_0lda2cy9iF4w7cNqs598m9zZvDVNlymVfl63d5INP4GAxEw5xJaP_t2OhfUFlLk6EiJYJrabbG6h1Z-k4dc-GUDYRhady9_gF4QWxMfHb7N-7lTPeqjk4wPXWRLU_nZkT1OkWjmHc8v9DbdngcqSqK/s4000/20240207_073650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTC52qPpYEGXLP_RaHV1SEHNx7oXOMhXy3m_0lda2cy9iF4w7cNqs598m9zZvDVNlymVfl63d5INP4GAxEw5xJaP_t2OhfUFlLk6EiJYJrabbG6h1Z-k4dc-GUDYRhady9_gF4QWxMfHb7N-7lTPeqjk4wPXWRLU_nZkT1OkWjmHc8v9DbdngcqSqK/s320/20240207_073650.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> And a lovely early morning sunrise a few weeks later. :)</div><p></p>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-54079820129023050702024-02-19T03:29:00.000+02:002024-02-19T03:29:01.595+02:00Snowy Sunset...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXGHPt9JET2fp8e7tEk8YVjIdGy5jWx-qunML2A3ru5M_JNIWDsKgF5D4_n5n9zgz7N0WKL-WppJEJynnN9ekgjE9_bHDGCYivm_cosn6dKRE42BW5q_PBq0MaR8ynvFD6LPGou-scYYEYt5dq42jfzh33ECvvbApCKylcTrOOt1tWNTVIUHx02gQ/s4000/20240121_174323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXGHPt9JET2fp8e7tEk8YVjIdGy5jWx-qunML2A3ru5M_JNIWDsKgF5D4_n5n9zgz7N0WKL-WppJEJynnN9ekgjE9_bHDGCYivm_cosn6dKRE42BW5q_PBq0MaR8ynvFD6LPGou-scYYEYt5dq42jfzh33ECvvbApCKylcTrOOt1tWNTVIUHx02gQ/s320/20240121_174323.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A beautiful snowy sunset one chilly afternoon in Detroit. :)</div><p></p>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-66883152583039269592024-02-15T03:25:00.005+02:002024-02-15T03:25:49.333+02:00Belle Isle on a Wintery Day...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3UOEHUl2nbHMCJhUyGePTI9bHgbK_z2qssAk9rTCqfztvf4oUiqjBZAa9SmmyoG0i4B7IQIU5zg3mkkTn44KMNNgVuFiW9c4C-bWRpKcIMT2UoTGAhXpfvbjffD1M6bNlqpDJAtC1Ub6NxtjJFL1bGxH-uoBmm-Qwi8ywIj_HYKJUb1mulpBgC3t/s2905/P1090866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2642" data-original-width="2905" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3UOEHUl2nbHMCJhUyGePTI9bHgbK_z2qssAk9rTCqfztvf4oUiqjBZAa9SmmyoG0i4B7IQIU5zg3mkkTn44KMNNgVuFiW9c4C-bWRpKcIMT2UoTGAhXpfvbjffD1M6bNlqpDJAtC1Ub6NxtjJFL1bGxH-uoBmm-Qwi8ywIj_HYKJUb1mulpBgC3t/w200-h182/P1090866.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>We visited Belle Isle one frigid afternoon in January - a week or so after the winter storm had rolled through the area. The temperature had been consistently cold and the ice on the small lakes on Belle Isle was thick enough to walk on - although the ice cover on the Detroit River was rather sparse. It did, however, hold the weight of a magnificent bald eagle perched atop his meal of Canada goose!<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyb1Pf4MpzXLnQsOM0NSS1I7LS50fz8Euvkk8wzXw_tyrD1QSJl8Oqz6KVZ3yqrPpgLEza_WIXUEaEZ4HMylzz-DdiH98krMTR4OmBRBJEVRIAxuUddn1j-fPn2ze76h3QZOimL9Gfbfzs28HNB4YaZdDl0y6yK_a0ws491huEp-UqWtfRnVOhTO00/s3003/P1090955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2928" data-original-width="3003" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyb1Pf4MpzXLnQsOM0NSS1I7LS50fz8Euvkk8wzXw_tyrD1QSJl8Oqz6KVZ3yqrPpgLEza_WIXUEaEZ4HMylzz-DdiH98krMTR4OmBRBJEVRIAxuUddn1j-fPn2ze76h3QZOimL9Gfbfzs28HNB4YaZdDl0y6yK_a0ws491huEp-UqWtfRnVOhTO00/w200-h195/P1090955.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>After spending several minutes watching this amazing creature, we continued our drive around the island and visited the Nature Centre, where the children had a wonderful time in the warmth inside. It was a lovely afternoon's exploring. :)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-KkawEdFiGJBySVduuwDi9t6c7XEb3phY9emMjde-tOUW3daRYi3ipiuw-2xumjYFiR_gT0IyBWIz4Akp5fdux_s_UJiHnEliMFwal9aX_6KTdjvQ6LHlkCwzQAL0Tv-tL8HGfX48W0KRf2L9PC_C7mYWjmgnvIR6_-wbxF7-t3mplHMRqxdwm-b/s3761/P1090850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2579" data-original-width="3761" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-KkawEdFiGJBySVduuwDi9t6c7XEb3phY9emMjde-tOUW3daRYi3ipiuw-2xumjYFiR_gT0IyBWIz4Akp5fdux_s_UJiHnEliMFwal9aX_6KTdjvQ6LHlkCwzQAL0Tv-tL8HGfX48W0KRf2L9PC_C7mYWjmgnvIR6_-wbxF7-t3mplHMRqxdwm-b/s320/P1090850.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Downtown Detroit from Belle Isle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBen4gRG2RCOzjcdza4YTGilcAuDV5r8h7lOYdhSz6TEQt7h-OzDi_mELcsVenHhehMLXRfQhhQ-PHlfmTva5jx4AJNCkLvNoWjylIOe-ZTBL0P1hGGgOHlVwGUtqwMvtd5v0eH-QroQ1zoF7AV3TDvfCxrc4T63ow0kh6m3jNMWkVhD0kexvKfYED/s3297/P1090853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2531" data-original-width="3297" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBen4gRG2RCOzjcdza4YTGilcAuDV5r8h7lOYdhSz6TEQt7h-OzDi_mELcsVenHhehMLXRfQhhQ-PHlfmTva5jx4AJNCkLvNoWjylIOe-ZTBL0P1hGGgOHlVwGUtqwMvtd5v0eH-QroQ1zoF7AV3TDvfCxrc4T63ow0kh6m3jNMWkVhD0kexvKfYED/s320/P1090853.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The replica lighthouse at Milliken State Park. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i70mgogDvy1lu8sDz0ergpjIGDnhYa4XxZVtAuEcpYREOOMxztZhg4JX_laNoKb0-SLYaS5GkvlwxwzMKi2jNtx39oWPxn2dMThIo6jIQyqt10Vpk4iKRQGrVYqtyfyid8fAzXXoOgpJJtw1LaDezw3hmBf9RX6ge1pjnhQKSADfnJc9oonB02eO/s2643/P1090863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2643" data-original-width="2077" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3i70mgogDvy1lu8sDz0ergpjIGDnhYa4XxZVtAuEcpYREOOMxztZhg4JX_laNoKb0-SLYaS5GkvlwxwzMKi2jNtx39oWPxn2dMThIo6jIQyqt10Vpk4iKRQGrVYqtyfyid8fAzXXoOgpJJtw1LaDezw3hmBf9RX6ge1pjnhQKSADfnJc9oonB02eO/s320/P1090863.JPG" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The bald eagle enjoying its afternoon meal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAO0bSj6nJCW39CxknDkQUD764uv68pBeFwnXII1qJ5n4w1-KV1pE6YPTAsLiOS4r6KG5Wq99EgozV-t2gQEG0eN0W_jOgHWPyewGbcP36v6bBwjI3DMxR6zDShmazDb59c3YGRP1SXNK6FvLSkVxyD4ucab1xCumiC_RkcYCf3h550U8sMB8F-wS/s3795/P1090891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2782" data-original-width="3795" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAO0bSj6nJCW39CxknDkQUD764uv68pBeFwnXII1qJ5n4w1-KV1pE6YPTAsLiOS4r6KG5Wq99EgozV-t2gQEG0eN0W_jOgHWPyewGbcP36v6bBwjI3DMxR6zDShmazDb59c3YGRP1SXNK6FvLSkVxyD4ucab1xCumiC_RkcYCf3h550U8sMB8F-wS/s320/P1090891.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Frozen lake at Belle Isle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HNwzvdlvNEGBF0jGpleWJCCXCmFUghIsFxw267NMeMzP2k9oXMEyHCOy36RK1eLQ5aVPOlP4jcseYzP1mL7it8TScwy0r8H27BWfa1eFNdcxPEqQbV_BvAKbpRgk9-WKrTGAwJG4vvnW6RJ9fW0gwDy3V3kJ8qIP1usBgPk7x2R_cfycBqX3sE4G/s3676/P1090894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2586" data-original-width="3676" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HNwzvdlvNEGBF0jGpleWJCCXCmFUghIsFxw267NMeMzP2k9oXMEyHCOy36RK1eLQ5aVPOlP4jcseYzP1mL7it8TScwy0r8H27BWfa1eFNdcxPEqQbV_BvAKbpRgk9-WKrTGAwJG4vvnW6RJ9fW0gwDy3V3kJ8qIP1usBgPk7x2R_cfycBqX3sE4G/s320/P1090894.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">View towards Canada from the maritime museum.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEytSdUYoVaxRhrUh-eRo3-z4FpeipIpOlWyFjR4hvy-NVVfFTNN6MWdszQH5lcnYV1DkKTEnMMxxEV3EzWbrEq6a-3sdLRMi_P7-dUFnOoM_Xfl6HFWGrhvKiGh4bLDEmdiSz0mlFMFSud3T3Q8grMWOZh1nlKcxpTqx5pc7uJ1EMAGdT7k26ri3M/s3148/P1090901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2864" data-original-width="3148" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEytSdUYoVaxRhrUh-eRo3-z4FpeipIpOlWyFjR4hvy-NVVfFTNN6MWdszQH5lcnYV1DkKTEnMMxxEV3EzWbrEq6a-3sdLRMi_P7-dUFnOoM_Xfl6HFWGrhvKiGh4bLDEmdiSz0mlFMFSud3T3Q8grMWOZh1nlKcxpTqx5pc7uJ1EMAGdT7k26ri3M/s320/P1090901.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The snow-covered anchor of the <i>Edmund Fitzgerald.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCmGoIbG4QTLEXWTrN195PAYay9jG4LhQ9uxhyJOVisG2Kr8NrmCHV5EhpZQB0zdBKJiRAvANCznhawq6eXOryugKVYbl4xkxf3cKddE7Y1VxsPDi6luVu51ze5CTLDLrGYHmLGbtR6aKVKUoAzpebw4XqVUgwdtYUoEMquWFFbpZ1SRQcws1A_BZ/s1308/P1090944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1128" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCmGoIbG4QTLEXWTrN195PAYay9jG4LhQ9uxhyJOVisG2Kr8NrmCHV5EhpZQB0zdBKJiRAvANCznhawq6eXOryugKVYbl4xkxf3cKddE7Y1VxsPDi6luVu51ze5CTLDLrGYHmLGbtR6aKVKUoAzpebw4XqVUgwdtYUoEMquWFFbpZ1SRQcws1A_BZ/s320/P1090944.JPG" width="276" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Bald eagle nest.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK0rfgorB-GthWQphR_P-DXD43ZOj3Jv6wlzLwygjwtBDnuCupKgRCKFMkjE-s1Hpepj9gvPlsltWyUae8DX0TCjexvUuOlJJigBiEXF37skwfZDtb65-8hyphenhyphenJLg5KI-TqmsgQagU2s-ae4f7wUPBz6INfiadHaV8Ol-cxKcmmBoYXlBxbM5eSUgGZ/s3446/P1090950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2365" data-original-width="3446" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK0rfgorB-GthWQphR_P-DXD43ZOj3Jv6wlzLwygjwtBDnuCupKgRCKFMkjE-s1Hpepj9gvPlsltWyUae8DX0TCjexvUuOlJJigBiEXF37skwfZDtb65-8hyphenhyphenJLg5KI-TqmsgQagU2s-ae4f7wUPBz6INfiadHaV8Ol-cxKcmmBoYXlBxbM5eSUgGZ/s320/P1090950.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">View towards William Livingstone Memorial Lighthouse.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDugdnWSWhWZ88phHmZE0rfEcn9jfPnvW3XOuzUdXXw20vug3UKDDvhJMyicAHItqgfEq7f9r3nZw1iAo0mZCnllpThcDwpSFAjZY4tBHz2i_k_JUYfibb4SEOt9wTCJGfenKjmasUAQ45D0fWyOHU0bKVqIx8BzKvIOYv0JQj0SZpmfJ4_wEI4q0j/s2945/P1090957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2945" data-original-width="2346" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDugdnWSWhWZ88phHmZE0rfEcn9jfPnvW3XOuzUdXXw20vug3UKDDvhJMyicAHItqgfEq7f9r3nZw1iAo0mZCnllpThcDwpSFAjZY4tBHz2i_k_JUYfibb4SEOt9wTCJGfenKjmasUAQ45D0fWyOHU0bKVqIx8BzKvIOYv0JQj0SZpmfJ4_wEI4q0j/s320/P1090957.JPG" width="255" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Riaan looks under the microscope.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WWtHi9ulKudvqHUAG9RgkhDcqd2jZqYu3qvWMv2X-a5mO7COzvyn-Cr3UPMCz30NnmmIaHxlWVZstEitFoZBu7U-6ZEFUHNwK8FGvD4KrnBvDo58apc_BjcHIhb4De3q5yvjf5xmF-8fAM7CEvtp22839_Q8JMO7Yg6qwem2GUHDEmgHKf6ceJtE/s3920/P1090959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3920" data-original-width="2494" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WWtHi9ulKudvqHUAG9RgkhDcqd2jZqYu3qvWMv2X-a5mO7COzvyn-Cr3UPMCz30NnmmIaHxlWVZstEitFoZBu7U-6ZEFUHNwK8FGvD4KrnBvDo58apc_BjcHIhb4De3q5yvjf5xmF-8fAM7CEvtp22839_Q8JMO7Yg6qwem2GUHDEmgHKf6ceJtE/s320/P1090959.JPG" width="204" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eliza loved the animal puppets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDbeZlq5e3wIEWNhxbNS-qNUZkpOSHHD0XeLLxGKfpDB7h9r-k75pfqc2rWIen7FwDFzq97GYfhuTzBSwE67qj4paqE6WdwiFDUF_UGGOHWE7bJfSdgIVKGSlJL9Dnz6cPSuH5i9AF4ffdVgSIoKh0PqrM9nvG8LK8gE_G8cO8Cmj4hMd9PFdDj_s/s3643/P1090964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="3643" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDDbeZlq5e3wIEWNhxbNS-qNUZkpOSHHD0XeLLxGKfpDB7h9r-k75pfqc2rWIen7FwDFzq97GYfhuTzBSwE67qj4paqE6WdwiFDUF_UGGOHWE7bJfSdgIVKGSlJL9Dnz6cPSuH5i9AF4ffdVgSIoKh0PqrM9nvG8LK8gE_G8cO8Cmj4hMd9PFdDj_s/s320/P1090964.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Honey bees were a little less active than normal.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDfPGOsimqZtp0HwzuAuh0ySdC2GXooLnDDNtR40JFA6ZNAn8ShgLaXV-16vdCCWAYTa5oiDvLZGiY13naui7-ORmRPWsgVD6eEEOgzdaqAaa7MhQWXLHOhVM5pUr1HMUHDSSdjXwxqx-wDK4pVOO6K_ovV6zXaUouQhHK30ulBbZ_lZyZ4L46dOI/s2885/P1090980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2885" data-original-width="2342" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDfPGOsimqZtp0HwzuAuh0ySdC2GXooLnDDNtR40JFA6ZNAn8ShgLaXV-16vdCCWAYTa5oiDvLZGiY13naui7-ORmRPWsgVD6eEEOgzdaqAaa7MhQWXLHOhVM5pUr1HMUHDSSdjXwxqx-wDK4pVOO6K_ovV6zXaUouQhHK30ulBbZ_lZyZ4L46dOI/s320/P1090980.JPG" width="260" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tiger salamander.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bKIwzh3HeVRhU7W1nLyekebuSodKXZIH8YHkYp82fEh_aNADb2LrvXDnKNJuydibum5JGxbLSagcVdQfaVe1N5wVwdu3bROG4lDXZvTgjCdsSu8fqWlblgnQDvROvc30Qc5qK1vz063FgmSXPqHyEibNSkaASkYnuoepk4h3LpiQ8Ymj_cXMRRQr/s3629/P1090989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2753" data-original-width="3629" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-bKIwzh3HeVRhU7W1nLyekebuSodKXZIH8YHkYp82fEh_aNADb2LrvXDnKNJuydibum5JGxbLSagcVdQfaVe1N5wVwdu3bROG4lDXZvTgjCdsSu8fqWlblgnQDvROvc30Qc5qK1vz063FgmSXPqHyEibNSkaASkYnuoepk4h3LpiQ8Ymj_cXMRRQr/s320/P1090989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Deer enjoying the bird feeders outside the nature centre.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPupXwALO7KnpLeUpeup-ZfbednWncdG51lwLyzuxd457hJGxO1Btlmt9hHzjyhV3lGl0qwfwQGD77JC8Kf-tA9XMDSJrR_Uwr0dTIGcdwmxy0EJ4rbY_jLeYfeqpxITYGmduU9qI53uUbBc0nVQiYdREJDeuH58S7Adb24TCIu84tAOYMNQChf7_/s2578/P1090997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="2168" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPupXwALO7KnpLeUpeup-ZfbednWncdG51lwLyzuxd457hJGxO1Btlmt9hHzjyhV3lGl0qwfwQGD77JC8Kf-tA9XMDSJrR_Uwr0dTIGcdwmxy0EJ4rbY_jLeYfeqpxITYGmduU9qI53uUbBc0nVQiYdREJDeuH58S7Adb24TCIu84tAOYMNQChf7_/s320/P1090997.JPG" width="269" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There's Anya!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1nFKfnx88qB2J2oEaCT4H1ixA5Sw5Vc7znUpVC3k2g47i4POF7LR3Xg4ejRdbSbOS-ZtwgGY59wpKi5AhzrD6wB-nIJxDDOE0LgTDr_W0vzvBTXDhtjyA68CYnmb6S2jKjRvgHitGVZnCufKcUmQmSl1OmCEN5qFPjzuv3i_EbXCrjADSrb6V8hx/s3770/P1100003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2915" data-original-width="3770" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1nFKfnx88qB2J2oEaCT4H1ixA5Sw5Vc7znUpVC3k2g47i4POF7LR3Xg4ejRdbSbOS-ZtwgGY59wpKi5AhzrD6wB-nIJxDDOE0LgTDr_W0vzvBTXDhtjyA68CYnmb6S2jKjRvgHitGVZnCufKcUmQmSl1OmCEN5qFPjzuv3i_EbXCrjADSrb6V8hx/s320/P1100003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sky as the sun made its journey toward the western horizon.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-3289886087589615372024-02-07T19:25:00.001+02:002024-02-07T19:27:17.695+02:00Ice Balloons...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78S2QGjGzFZzkTlme2AkzSU4TMlxNVEpwHgVTo6o41TLUY_uky84zj-TYUejpoZLE3Nls9ZUok0aPOcPeGG90rr64F-Y8N0OCofvamOTHOf8rsOggj7-hJlMhHabMLHtPLryv7_vELhaQWRUxkK-LMQ81tI6tLo-NN7IMUYHmteolCD_Bb_wT-qp6/s4000/20240116_140649.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78S2QGjGzFZzkTlme2AkzSU4TMlxNVEpwHgVTo6o41TLUY_uky84zj-TYUejpoZLE3Nls9ZUok0aPOcPeGG90rr64F-Y8N0OCofvamOTHOf8rsOggj7-hJlMhHabMLHtPLryv7_vELhaQWRUxkK-LMQ81tI6tLo-NN7IMUYHmteolCD_Bb_wT-qp6/w150-h200/20240116_140649.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Candace and the children did a fun science experiment, when it was really cold several weeks ago. They filled balloons with coloured water and left them outside to freeze. Once fully frozen, they removed the outer balloon layering - leaving us with colourful ice balls decorating our front path! We've done these experiments in a similar cold snap <a href="https://mercyshipadventure.blogspot.com/2021/02/snow-and-ice-experiments.html">back in Indiana</a>.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT0pjtpyXktukj4Y_UtXwzXL-FndWl_flKozXQLIMpBl_ATi19QFXJT8SgqB6qbXr3PdRd0IB9aDWXr9AoDSxOklF3VQNUl2MlIZCPZpWl13KKYEHsbpt_YevvCHusUOkovReshNYTT5HyvO6qr_usEW0X1hx0c7HY8pWIe6cdmJ3Sm3jQyxymc1F/s4000/20240116_095910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnT0pjtpyXktukj4Y_UtXwzXL-FndWl_flKozXQLIMpBl_ATi19QFXJT8SgqB6qbXr3PdRd0IB9aDWXr9AoDSxOklF3VQNUl2MlIZCPZpWl13KKYEHsbpt_YevvCHusUOkovReshNYTT5HyvO6qr_usEW0X1hx0c7HY8pWIe6cdmJ3Sm3jQyxymc1F/s320/20240116_095910.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Removing the balloon from the frozen coloured water.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-82471087707072066012024-02-06T01:07:00.008+02:002024-02-06T01:07:51.070+02:00Sledding Fun...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0NUBTJ90AX69egeDzlgdPp1AjCJjs8nwLWsbtM-1LYR_R8T03RIUmXKEFpdkxRt4KcQ94CQXPP2vP_kFRelhSiVTHPRU7LgWKE259ctPXPxUAbFcCs54mpz2FAXF-E6VUwaR4EL9Ky9cA5ROSDL_O3Bvk9hnWerwRiAhj8_A032oP8qusrpJvAgi/s4000/20240113_152239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0NUBTJ90AX69egeDzlgdPp1AjCJjs8nwLWsbtM-1LYR_R8T03RIUmXKEFpdkxRt4KcQ94CQXPP2vP_kFRelhSiVTHPRU7LgWKE259ctPXPxUAbFcCs54mpz2FAXF-E6VUwaR4EL9Ky9cA5ROSDL_O3Bvk9hnWerwRiAhj8_A032oP8qusrpJvAgi/w200-h150/20240113_152239.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The day after the winter storm we joined some friends in sledding at a nearby high school. There is a large hill that was perfect for speeding down. Our two older children had a wonderful time, while the youngest was still unsure.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipL0rgUXURbLAS82ISnuJTX3xNtfbXrgzxOiZRnv2xP9UihYco5_UOQ2RBfVmCsh-ofzoaGu7mHANlZVKY7DWCg3z2pScOzTtdAa3ClM-H0n9Vj-LYvGgAoc2swFcQnIV8Enna_T6uxWb9rez0Bay0edrLNsDPJrZm_Z_Da-8uSsJhjl66exBTUF3F/s4000/20240113_150839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipL0rgUXURbLAS82ISnuJTX3xNtfbXrgzxOiZRnv2xP9UihYco5_UOQ2RBfVmCsh-ofzoaGu7mHANlZVKY7DWCg3z2pScOzTtdAa3ClM-H0n9Vj-LYvGgAoc2swFcQnIV8Enna_T6uxWb9rez0Bay0edrLNsDPJrZm_Z_Da-8uSsJhjl66exBTUF3F/s320/20240113_150839.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eliza had so much fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPbMf0xVWyw98QfRTcNAN3N4laISSJGdRo0y-Spopq5w6j0yiYIyiRgnOAfm7JEVF0vn8B0rqRlKOINkm9dhkZ2KLdK2CYJ8tW0Th9VE-PXmxUfaswpX22KFSiqFQwz1iHCF2fl9efNDRs0147y27nUoumgHn7VVcPK1foUY0h5mYw79_BBkH_DK3/s4000/20240113_152253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZPbMf0xVWyw98QfRTcNAN3N4laISSJGdRo0y-Spopq5w6j0yiYIyiRgnOAfm7JEVF0vn8B0rqRlKOINkm9dhkZ2KLdK2CYJ8tW0Th9VE-PXmxUfaswpX22KFSiqFQwz1iHCF2fl9efNDRs0147y27nUoumgHn7VVcPK1foUY0h5mYw79_BBkH_DK3/s320/20240113_152253.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Candace with Anya.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd2qpY_oUIiFaByZt3XsbNZJJc5Qs7GySP4YV-EszInHuDxPRv2jr__mVD5_1E-zZGFVefL_BcAhxDdbJ_pYF0aYXoABTRPCPxoljM4x9fq-wtY6OjXHdG1FyrjbZPvCPMdsm9MYZH3jg_hYUkFkvg4ygwiYKGr1Zc66BH7tVzKlaxeqsU7THfBnl/s4000/20240113_152310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivd2qpY_oUIiFaByZt3XsbNZJJc5Qs7GySP4YV-EszInHuDxPRv2jr__mVD5_1E-zZGFVefL_BcAhxDdbJ_pYF0aYXoABTRPCPxoljM4x9fq-wtY6OjXHdG1FyrjbZPvCPMdsm9MYZH3jg_hYUkFkvg4ygwiYKGr1Zc66BH7tVzKlaxeqsU7THfBnl/s320/20240113_152310.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Riaan heads down the hill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiFxLRPYcMkwJA_D3XFGjHUN1UDqaYVi6ASIvkGdwR0KzfXdRgFd9hyphenhyphenGaLlEfvqkRgmfRRpT1OyBWgkuiuYkIShxCpeUFy8pLA1sJrk4cJ79is__NuNlwTNHNeDdpSpvlf1Uqk-ezQAWmjXf-U5HEsKtUhFPjTWGMrarKmX4ZwvT5XZrKFj8TJBtk/s4000/20240113_152434.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiFxLRPYcMkwJA_D3XFGjHUN1UDqaYVi6ASIvkGdwR0KzfXdRgFd9hyphenhyphenGaLlEfvqkRgmfRRpT1OyBWgkuiuYkIShxCpeUFy8pLA1sJrk4cJ79is__NuNlwTNHNeDdpSpvlf1Uqk-ezQAWmjXf-U5HEsKtUhFPjTWGMrarKmX4ZwvT5XZrKFj8TJBtk/s320/20240113_152434.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">View towards the top.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-66226669303621003702024-01-31T23:57:00.002+02:002024-01-31T23:59:39.810+02:00Winter Storm...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg_mpPpgko2qvwJY28qVd3zZ83HOt0Q6BfWsLPB6RKtRGnBU_dIdpwrWkKEtWGBohb9PEOu0RspL1qqHmZvRqSm3YBrFVvhyphenhyphenniCusOamaL0WS06Lo5BRU-KcFne-K8-wnuFHa6SLHwFN3093B9lMaPKNXnPVJdwTJoTTMdGD6I0RFW0OBEMKXfpp5/s4000/20240112_165007.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg_mpPpgko2qvwJY28qVd3zZ83HOt0Q6BfWsLPB6RKtRGnBU_dIdpwrWkKEtWGBohb9PEOu0RspL1qqHmZvRqSm3YBrFVvhyphenhyphenniCusOamaL0WS06Lo5BRU-KcFne-K8-wnuFHa6SLHwFN3093B9lMaPKNXnPVJdwTJoTTMdGD6I0RFW0OBEMKXfpp5/w200-h150/20240112_165007.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>A winter storm rolled through Michigan on Friday, 12th January. It quickly dumped four inches (10 cm) of heavy, wet snow late that afternoon. The snow was accompanied by strong, gusty winds and transitioned to rain as the temperatures warmed a bit. The rain then turned back to snow later in the night. We bundled up warmly that weekend - enjoying the beauty of the snow in multiple layers!<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PGJ9CIzBobU96ewCb5GR7-04Rae_wwx_zl9XpoZotbHmyMvxlXnL4_Ps6hYqu3lnEvr9WNGpEDzp6QXN8pCmPhKZ0XVxyfVwJLrJ10WBzsk7Rq3f0bDi9Of5bf0NwcvXcxW4sFrjPUNoVDvH2PsWiA2nLNSR35NHXZ-WkiSn8pdbGJ1VgAssUznB/s4000/20240112_155418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7PGJ9CIzBobU96ewCb5GR7-04Rae_wwx_zl9XpoZotbHmyMvxlXnL4_Ps6hYqu3lnEvr9WNGpEDzp6QXN8pCmPhKZ0XVxyfVwJLrJ10WBzsk7Rq3f0bDi9Of5bf0NwcvXcxW4sFrjPUNoVDvH2PsWiA2nLNSR35NHXZ-WkiSn8pdbGJ1VgAssUznB/s320/20240112_155418.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The road quickly became thick with snow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkZs_ZLdDBfNX8Y6W0m7DU7nPurC_4qo90EsWcDHgW1FWZJcNUNGOZ5hXoN3LzCJXlQLeZZLJpmWvcCvR4YZnQWGDCbB3iI0gcHcbNwMbQAZlRgfiqURfW_PQ13jnvr9Rquac11MJjdYPzAykDXJD4nN3IVJ4Oga7eHUJlfQkIQWkXoR8BJiQfGzL/s4000/20240112_164606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwkZs_ZLdDBfNX8Y6W0m7DU7nPurC_4qo90EsWcDHgW1FWZJcNUNGOZ5hXoN3LzCJXlQLeZZLJpmWvcCvR4YZnQWGDCbB3iI0gcHcbNwMbQAZlRgfiqURfW_PQ13jnvr9Rquac11MJjdYPzAykDXJD4nN3IVJ4Oga7eHUJlfQkIQWkXoR8BJiQfGzL/s320/20240112_164606.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">View towards our house in the back garden.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DNBDuh1Ub3anTz4Ww_GcM947e1AVuS7y2lqlsWsLH4hgRLPmdVpKwsUOk91XEGLG_EtQv2XQUyrSR7xFoZVOj7tvB3-yyTOFWO9OzJqRWGwTinfwyr-4SgrYbIUTarge6ubVuNtoeYMs2hmykM1TBvKTMu4LqS3dQCHIFi7TEna-zmiYfFf7Mvgu/s4000/20240112_171222.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DNBDuh1Ub3anTz4Ww_GcM947e1AVuS7y2lqlsWsLH4hgRLPmdVpKwsUOk91XEGLG_EtQv2XQUyrSR7xFoZVOj7tvB3-yyTOFWO9OzJqRWGwTinfwyr-4SgrYbIUTarge6ubVuNtoeYMs2hmykM1TBvKTMu4LqS3dQCHIFi7TEna-zmiYfFf7Mvgu/s320/20240112_171222.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Anya loved the snow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIKbGqUWta63iNArN6qOHQB6LQXb0S40Fi2rf_84fsgniKxziJCC0bqmZgmWaZWRT-FowQwxM8xC9Cua4dnVKrFdzmUEXOCsYtj9A-XRWZAdXzYa2FSA0KkB4PALMKB9tB8G-Q0nxGh1tv_OaaraYweWVyZ-d396obvdhA0eYvs83l-9ACgFBZIrK/s4000/20240112_171405.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiIKbGqUWta63iNArN6qOHQB6LQXb0S40Fi2rf_84fsgniKxziJCC0bqmZgmWaZWRT-FowQwxM8xC9Cua4dnVKrFdzmUEXOCsYtj9A-XRWZAdXzYa2FSA0KkB4PALMKB9tB8G-Q0nxGh1tv_OaaraYweWVyZ-d396obvdhA0eYvs83l-9ACgFBZIrK/s320/20240112_171405.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beautiful snowy tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgID3kfgsfDi3hdc20-zKkb3IyQrLP8hstc0htuW5Zsw1th_pcUB1z3Q-_YyqnkSLFAFWFFHQkmfwziofptRMfaPXLRvkEyVI-blqYpgHQ6NytAru5fbqNg7fDwcDoD-uLo3cKXU-ix0Rpb2DYaa6d_ZuNuUUeeAh6wibNVKJGja2lkxGn6SC12nzm/s4000/20240114_094519.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgID3kfgsfDi3hdc20-zKkb3IyQrLP8hstc0htuW5Zsw1th_pcUB1z3Q-_YyqnkSLFAFWFFHQkmfwziofptRMfaPXLRvkEyVI-blqYpgHQ6NytAru5fbqNg7fDwcDoD-uLo3cKXU-ix0Rpb2DYaa6d_ZuNuUUeeAh6wibNVKJGja2lkxGn6SC12nzm/s320/20240114_094519.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Car covered in wind-blown snow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACM5kd5ulxiZjIkZHL3qJQJeD07Nr-4JOQP8PcRW3BrYDbh-cl4o_AYnXh1z_wfUGawxLXb1kZLA1MHGtX0VCeFgGcqcY3sV986fE2SnQM2lPB6IL5OVPQ2G8GC7fsdVljcGj4McocQC_AsqknDWRf7tumRiY3Ud_zujehkxTdq39gNMnx2JdBZU1/s4000/20240114_100054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACM5kd5ulxiZjIkZHL3qJQJeD07Nr-4JOQP8PcRW3BrYDbh-cl4o_AYnXh1z_wfUGawxLXb1kZLA1MHGtX0VCeFgGcqcY3sV986fE2SnQM2lPB6IL5OVPQ2G8GC7fsdVljcGj4McocQC_AsqknDWRf7tumRiY3Ud_zujehkxTdq39gNMnx2JdBZU1/s320/20240114_100054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The front of our house on an icy morning...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihm7JqweQd8u9hQWjsMftcarbJwSHBdRENqzaA74dnswR6Re2Eiq8MBYBG3lSXEVySgH5rsayk5Yx1xi9IqllNHYEhU7xYTLDUbqKomxwoM-OnFqCRR-HHEQ2XI5l_cGhDL7rYfb6m9JKbHayMFYgdgJ000Wa2rxndnwI1vvn_zG7-1Cy7MNGIuLUB/s4000/20240118_084632.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihm7JqweQd8u9hQWjsMftcarbJwSHBdRENqzaA74dnswR6Re2Eiq8MBYBG3lSXEVySgH5rsayk5Yx1xi9IqllNHYEhU7xYTLDUbqKomxwoM-OnFqCRR-HHEQ2XI5l_cGhDL7rYfb6m9JKbHayMFYgdgJ000Wa2rxndnwI1vvn_zG7-1Cy7MNGIuLUB/s320/20240118_084632.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">So icy that there was an icicle hanging from our light!</div><p></p>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-69977524238860952132024-01-31T05:11:00.000+02:002024-01-31T05:11:00.911+02:00Best Bokkie...<p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKHydiZvm4MS9kz2iWFTPXIC-UUNmkj2OhnUgSzIxqRFgQKSg_Jp6AIGzubb_6AGFGdN_IxFRlcvpdQK5CYiFWSyRlU4lNQIv3wUMVjqmXIMx4LKcHH3yLHD9rpvm8dsg_wK3vaotVDPUgUBcAMYZRTn7zDoMAUHV3Mj8JdqcDQcWUMXXBv4WtCD1/s4128/20240108_143124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKHydiZvm4MS9kz2iWFTPXIC-UUNmkj2OhnUgSzIxqRFgQKSg_Jp6AIGzubb_6AGFGdN_IxFRlcvpdQK5CYiFWSyRlU4lNQIv3wUMVjqmXIMx4LKcHH3yLHD9rpvm8dsg_wK3vaotVDPUgUBcAMYZRTn7zDoMAUHV3Mj8JdqcDQcWUMXXBv4WtCD1/s320/20240108_143124.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="text-align: left;">Someone loves our little Bokkie - the mascot of the Springboks, South Africa's national rugby team. :)</span></div><p></p>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-56032979792068187522024-01-21T21:57:00.002+02:002024-01-21T21:57:24.632+02:00CROSS 2024 Conference...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCzVjs37RRS_WCXRYwQDBd5fAS7pxXNbX2eiEWZZXn4uq0EUUDI5xfO9aAkN8NJKMq2WC7hz_Lj8dMvz-sDcz_g1Jr7EsUclHGTh7KhyphenhyphenFN5K6L45Ko1LLIHIpPY8tY_rb8Lh6EScTCt3HUhYeyB8kyDm4TYAGraacOw5rxgj0SxP3efL9ujT2-JHu/s4000/20240104_115503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCzVjs37RRS_WCXRYwQDBd5fAS7pxXNbX2eiEWZZXn4uq0EUUDI5xfO9aAkN8NJKMq2WC7hz_Lj8dMvz-sDcz_g1Jr7EsUclHGTh7KhyphenhyphenFN5K6L45Ko1LLIHIpPY8tY_rb8Lh6EScTCt3HUhYeyB8kyDm4TYAGraacOw5rxgj0SxP3efL9ujT2-JHu/w200-h150/20240104_115503.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Despite having a nasty sinus infection, I was able to spend a day down in Louisville with fellow Horizons staff members for the CROSS conference. This conference brought together over 10,000 students for a time of teaching, worship, and learning about international missions. Horizons had a stand at the event, and the team and I were able to talk with many students about serving in ministry both at home and abroad.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfSl9lPXv4Ohh7taW7S8nSwTrVS05MXz92yPsX9752GiNuMHJ1ek5ffeOBx2q3YB55h7hFdCp1URiLysuakX6rawhvd2g4p8L4yaEaIWlUM3ODUgVXaF-o_toOZuVMbvGsXSPJdolUkLG5oiuQ2QJRPiJNgqVTrd1k50zBTLGDwMqhn_vpzZTy00b/s4000/20240104_113552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEfSl9lPXv4Ohh7taW7S8nSwTrVS05MXz92yPsX9752GiNuMHJ1ek5ffeOBx2q3YB55h7hFdCp1URiLysuakX6rawhvd2g4p8L4yaEaIWlUM3ODUgVXaF-o_toOZuVMbvGsXSPJdolUkLG5oiuQ2QJRPiJNgqVTrd1k50zBTLGDwMqhn_vpzZTy00b/s320/20240104_113552.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The theme of the conference was "Undefeated."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp91le6ZW-JHSNJjMYN9PJ9HZQS9bZadTl5LC9_L7WED8b1Wwb2pZANAIuQ8J20puyOVJWusCrdDMeHXbH-ZGxqYbJL0lIbG1CXciKmZ6Eapyn2ETxq_Qd8UOaBhTxmwLv_n2vQDGG5H2nQF-cWv_2OIO5Uv4PLn8JnthAuW1-WPUu4yfBxVBhW1bn/s4000/20240104_115821.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp91le6ZW-JHSNJjMYN9PJ9HZQS9bZadTl5LC9_L7WED8b1Wwb2pZANAIuQ8J20puyOVJWusCrdDMeHXbH-ZGxqYbJL0lIbG1CXciKmZ6Eapyn2ETxq_Qd8UOaBhTxmwLv_n2vQDGG5H2nQF-cWv_2OIO5Uv4PLn8JnthAuW1-WPUu4yfBxVBhW1bn/s320/20240104_115821.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A view towards the main hall.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJhyO1Kos_1HFOZuPn8Gd7V4dQxKfFuBK1xTRfIbiVOTnTtHXED_H6LPVCOLUwJurUkf-kwrPn9y5dS36KMvpx6hGkYsxnicKiy91AR-lCDWhPeGzgvmGRLFjilkfwgeEkp34m-pyd8O5V4ZIM_riLKJGrzR_oA3o71ZDCU4NZa8SX_q06aB74Fw_/s4000/20240104_120004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJhyO1Kos_1HFOZuPn8Gd7V4dQxKfFuBK1xTRfIbiVOTnTtHXED_H6LPVCOLUwJurUkf-kwrPn9y5dS36KMvpx6hGkYsxnicKiy91AR-lCDWhPeGzgvmGRLFjilkfwgeEkp34m-pyd8O5V4ZIM_riLKJGrzR_oA3o71ZDCU4NZa8SX_q06aB74Fw_/s320/20240104_120004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is truth. Praying that all would come to know Jesus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiv9H7cd9rvDDm0EdI3lkynTOSkt7MVb-UMtG2dxs1W4BL3PHZG5B81sxhZtk3dj2yue1RO695mYnhL4eDcKWMDU7OwH1U3BZvHNsnagrjM7bf6g6aed_ykr6rUKYryHtPoFI_jle5aUWp_IF42dmhyphenhyphenNDEA5pKOBwIgUvKj82e0t8puFjikbYMQY-/s4000/20240104_151856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFiv9H7cd9rvDDm0EdI3lkynTOSkt7MVb-UMtG2dxs1W4BL3PHZG5B81sxhZtk3dj2yue1RO695mYnhL4eDcKWMDU7OwH1U3BZvHNsnagrjM7bf6g6aed_ykr6rUKYryHtPoFI_jle5aUWp_IF42dmhyphenhyphenNDEA5pKOBwIgUvKj82e0t8puFjikbYMQY-/s320/20240104_151856.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">There was an extensive bookstore here as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2TURH0mCU-aIGPmEMqD-wQypX2bZHZJY66TFAJ-cbgjdedFr9crUKjZPRx-aqHrsT9sx1jAc47KaJB7wrvs7fJVBrSgYEh062bQajvdM5OXA2nduZWo2IXMsOEQWVH2kLcGQEUwOzpa8_otMOQtxceZP8BDwkyG07r75O0BafTf9_U4hoIBNWzLD/s4000/P1090742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2TURH0mCU-aIGPmEMqD-wQypX2bZHZJY66TFAJ-cbgjdedFr9crUKjZPRx-aqHrsT9sx1jAc47KaJB7wrvs7fJVBrSgYEh062bQajvdM5OXA2nduZWo2IXMsOEQWVH2kLcGQEUwOzpa8_otMOQtxceZP8BDwkyG07r75O0BafTf9_U4hoIBNWzLD/s320/P1090742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Engaging students at the Horizons stand.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-88150606854867245802024-01-21T06:06:00.002+02:002024-01-21T06:07:02.711+02:00Trip to Daviess County, Indiana...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmhMqlBvb2R6zsIOhRKpwsKweoVhsxSKYYEN7rZjcqMnWF9Z76OIWeR71m60DSY8DIxDOH5Oq18lR5O8JmGiLw7Mu_fja0BtrLtg-oI4_g2tKnjAGN9eyCJjjLQM_mhFrmJ01727Mbu8-1v5FdF1w_XbwD4jM4n_HWm2yoNc7LyL59_XoA15kiXNN/s4000/20240105_140838.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRmhMqlBvb2R6zsIOhRKpwsKweoVhsxSKYYEN7rZjcqMnWF9Z76OIWeR71m60DSY8DIxDOH5Oq18lR5O8JmGiLw7Mu_fja0BtrLtg-oI4_g2tKnjAGN9eyCJjjLQM_mhFrmJ01727Mbu8-1v5FdF1w_XbwD4jM4n_HWm2yoNc7LyL59_XoA15kiXNN/w200-h150/20240105_140838.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>We started 2024 with a trip to visit family and friends down in Daviess County, Indiana. I was heading down to Louisville for the CROSS conference that week, and so we thought we'd combine a family visit with my work trip. I worked from our favourite Cherry Ghost Coffee House for most of our time in Daviess County.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipfkAzCi21NFrLIzm9ir5NghV_utZWM7QLIc5a2xmZiUOsF-n-DrbT_ogSc7AqwIznfZYtCSQ7Yj9r8zYK_7TAqs0lJYQmC26Udc28znKFKaSIlokNw_6GiXOvjp5wHtRlHTfK7bUeifh0saXXx2E9ShPe87XSZqKGi-3IjpXWS0QXWMLP1ZxDYix/s4000/20240106_171340.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipfkAzCi21NFrLIzm9ir5NghV_utZWM7QLIc5a2xmZiUOsF-n-DrbT_ogSc7AqwIznfZYtCSQ7Yj9r8zYK_7TAqs0lJYQmC26Udc28znKFKaSIlokNw_6GiXOvjp5wHtRlHTfK7bUeifh0saXXx2E9ShPe87XSZqKGi-3IjpXWS0QXWMLP1ZxDYix/w200-h150/20240106_171340.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Unfortunately, both Candace and I were still suffering from raging sinus infections, which somewhat disrupted our plans, but we still had a wonderful time seeing so many family and friends. We also celebrated Christmas with our Indiana family on Saturday, January 6th. We came back to Michigan late that same day - with all three children fighting tummy bugs. :(<p></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPtyCxgaHrutSsB3mKhLIULRg4nkaQ_WSZ7lleMUB5ICm4bZ4tzMcJg-EvbNgosGrUgCxkX2cML-f4syv8ci3WfSzdwNU_tA_G66ujInro-1mlJSxagT05q1qGL8Ds4JfklUsL6u_2RHaC2xB_K6qJZB8g5WHieXSYMVLnWFB7LaIS4iI9IuOplbs/s4000/20240106_115608.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPtyCxgaHrutSsB3mKhLIULRg4nkaQ_WSZ7lleMUB5ICm4bZ4tzMcJg-EvbNgosGrUgCxkX2cML-f4syv8ci3WfSzdwNU_tA_G66ujInro-1mlJSxagT05q1qGL8Ds4JfklUsL6u_2RHaC2xB_K6qJZB8g5WHieXSYMVLnWFB7LaIS4iI9IuOplbs/s320/20240106_115608.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Opening stockings. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrQgna9NXfCk8P0ot8Ns_foh3dCp1Ww7beqcGVmKfxgF4y7d7smkWdERTKEMN1ivi2r5xPHtZhEZvq12hYVxCgqsmcmO7KMcfUCH03Tf-4aeqRzzNuaKFth2qIyhdlV-v2gaec83ef_sjoR0FqotUe-0TpDGTEsn7Hpyhz5Jor2lhhpJmkImM7XzG/s4000/20240106_132344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNrQgna9NXfCk8P0ot8Ns_foh3dCp1Ww7beqcGVmKfxgF4y7d7smkWdERTKEMN1ivi2r5xPHtZhEZvq12hYVxCgqsmcmO7KMcfUCH03Tf-4aeqRzzNuaKFth2qIyhdlV-v2gaec83ef_sjoR0FqotUe-0TpDGTEsn7Hpyhz5Jor2lhhpJmkImM7XzG/s320/20240106_132344.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eliza was not well and opened her presents downstairs.</div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65enJWBZxqnw06u8PZAP9ymulJgRHeDQJJXY_pCGQcqTirwCPFqK41LDQJupqng4ZkZE80UHmnPjcGuELp5lDL8BoW4lMdA2M60vDtXj8bkb3yUoe9gC8JciIUHgHHElWXt22Z-X-Yeh5DsbdApS-jU172g8gKZXo3unFCrQD2tUdrqSWyFfD9naf/s4000/20240105_160933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65enJWBZxqnw06u8PZAP9ymulJgRHeDQJJXY_pCGQcqTirwCPFqK41LDQJupqng4ZkZE80UHmnPjcGuELp5lDL8BoW4lMdA2M60vDtXj8bkb3yUoe9gC8JciIUHgHHElWXt22Z-X-Yeh5DsbdApS-jU172g8gKZXo3unFCrQD2tUdrqSWyFfD9naf/s320/20240105_160933.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">A new wall mural in Washington, Indiana.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-66916652899635199112024-01-15T01:22:00.001+02:002024-01-15T01:22:23.574+02:00Christmas Day 2023...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXD5C1zdlcf6n77y5Zd7cxm9oOlLu4k-vWC-U19FbtlpHV45jWFAMyjyUQ9b06JXTiszlJHB9eMu19shuGxdRfuOXas3cbVJEZXjQ2pHX3dRHL_aUKS812iW9ZBiBu1MaYmEKt7MP46qIt0VcdkSg0K5pUkjjuGO0mWd3-x1FOGHoT3wRqF-X2IMK1/s4000/20231225_092435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXD5C1zdlcf6n77y5Zd7cxm9oOlLu4k-vWC-U19FbtlpHV45jWFAMyjyUQ9b06JXTiszlJHB9eMu19shuGxdRfuOXas3cbVJEZXjQ2pHX3dRHL_aUKS812iW9ZBiBu1MaYmEKt7MP46qIt0VcdkSg0K5pUkjjuGO0mWd3-x1FOGHoT3wRqF-X2IMK1/w200-h150/20231225_092435.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Our first Christmas Day in Michigan was a pretty quiet one. We were all fighting off bugs and flu and apart from a family walk in the afternoon, we spent the day indoors. The children were up early to open stockings and presents - and they spent most of the day playing with their new presents. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGy3Rcwtv8_evbh8Q8gF0oEXvP5FdY8KplMAg3fEcdjDed4ZTEM7gpfww_1kxtR2bTA0uKR3N6LohFpVHAvWCmz6UV6BAZCuapyxdyg9v7BdGIwdTfFHecvZtWKA3z_b5KrR_HkX9dX8z1MDFdVOIy1YQy-1vKRRFWEygpKxlYaA3-BcJrvtBUtUC/s4000/20231225_092339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGy3Rcwtv8_evbh8Q8gF0oEXvP5FdY8KplMAg3fEcdjDed4ZTEM7gpfww_1kxtR2bTA0uKR3N6LohFpVHAvWCmz6UV6BAZCuapyxdyg9v7BdGIwdTfFHecvZtWKA3z_b5KrR_HkX9dX8z1MDFdVOIy1YQy-1vKRRFWEygpKxlYaA3-BcJrvtBUtUC/s320/20231225_092339.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Stockings hanging ready to be opened.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLsSU_ih8ZAKtkj2dgVBDTyGcPYBO3Ig4Fj_3_wlq8bxWSgxEJo44OLBlZcipK3R-7kgXgVs_eURXh9LEMrmzZjY7__jG9RRc4Pq1up7wv76Lm2FuMy3zOhG3JoXK2pH8BlCsl8KYAjutmepD56dq1E1UvOQOw3tBqCvBe-GpX0Xp_pbG-M9bXAqu/s2930/20231225_092456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2621" data-original-width="2930" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLsSU_ih8ZAKtkj2dgVBDTyGcPYBO3Ig4Fj_3_wlq8bxWSgxEJo44OLBlZcipK3R-7kgXgVs_eURXh9LEMrmzZjY7__jG9RRc4Pq1up7wv76Lm2FuMy3zOhG3JoXK2pH8BlCsl8KYAjutmepD56dq1E1UvOQOw3tBqCvBe-GpX0Xp_pbG-M9bXAqu/s320/20231225_092456.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The joy of Christmas stockings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXl4ZyyhEpCtr9qP7aZaARDEB_qdJ5hXU0CdZ0_BoiNp3EG92XCp-rjBW1Z2lIfvII3fVpN7J83LgvRWKYW2ms_0nfug6XCSpaL6a7va4ffzB6F1CHgUuIxYwqITAR5mLO2JrwW_gxAm-r66B9sJ3RwqookEs_qZV43p7I9-nZqZfV_mekdHn_Gwco/s4000/20231225_093740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXl4ZyyhEpCtr9qP7aZaARDEB_qdJ5hXU0CdZ0_BoiNp3EG92XCp-rjBW1Z2lIfvII3fVpN7J83LgvRWKYW2ms_0nfug6XCSpaL6a7va4ffzB6F1CHgUuIxYwqITAR5mLO2JrwW_gxAm-r66B9sJ3RwqookEs_qZV43p7I9-nZqZfV_mekdHn_Gwco/s320/20231225_093740.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eliza received some wooden Tinker toys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQL97o62e-qsBPIo7KNheg1i3x-RX238QRrFeTu9bhVzSHMOYuskXAIUQMmnkFy05Vnl5xLw7ONSfJtEaiANYOzzxjR5omps7Gm3ps43XeboaFYDPQx3lwvigo8ECOFJgEX3geBKfUkPdMzAacWHpA8Aua8ZpqP5c57VLSo9zakELqiNVrvDO-VtP/s4000/20231225_093823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQL97o62e-qsBPIo7KNheg1i3x-RX238QRrFeTu9bhVzSHMOYuskXAIUQMmnkFy05Vnl5xLw7ONSfJtEaiANYOzzxjR5omps7Gm3ps43XeboaFYDPQx3lwvigo8ECOFJgEX3geBKfUkPdMzAacWHpA8Aua8ZpqP5c57VLSo9zakELqiNVrvDO-VtP/s320/20231225_093823.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Anya received some magnetic shapes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6BbUponQlI9rJHyRxuOGZFYJFxl8WKwqgHRnQzYMH7pzY-1jIZtagQq6Phv5P4kqFujIeVtY-MqoLgrJYkPICoQZZELbvcXNfR1VRD_ggOpYy3Jpr_75OO8Bk2ATJZIn5vBjKVM1K_MmVEeKHYWHwTUl5Hd3pm16VM7V_Z6b3EVf8Q7ful25KIi4/s4000/20231225_093849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6BbUponQlI9rJHyRxuOGZFYJFxl8WKwqgHRnQzYMH7pzY-1jIZtagQq6Phv5P4kqFujIeVtY-MqoLgrJYkPICoQZZELbvcXNfR1VRD_ggOpYy3Jpr_75OO8Bk2ATJZIn5vBjKVM1K_MmVEeKHYWHwTUl5Hd3pm16VM7V_Z6b3EVf8Q7ful25KIi4/s320/20231225_093849.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Riaan got a build-it-yourself Music Machine!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnijQRqUZDR21of6E6cND7Te0g5dsmdIJ6uNjrct_F8t1m1UXj_8FbGFqsJyaEEqBBHV4y2WsB9_AZMwcedbQdWkwKWRy1llNzpSE1MJL1bBhczYzDmIXlh0x3HitOyEIR-LpFbShn5NSBIi70fLrDdshlb1RTYhoigVPlos4CRvPF_qTTycSGPKpB/s4000/20231225_102842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnijQRqUZDR21of6E6cND7Te0g5dsmdIJ6uNjrct_F8t1m1UXj_8FbGFqsJyaEEqBBHV4y2WsB9_AZMwcedbQdWkwKWRy1llNzpSE1MJL1bBhczYzDmIXlh0x3HitOyEIR-LpFbShn5NSBIi70fLrDdshlb1RTYhoigVPlos4CRvPF_qTTycSGPKpB/s320/20231225_102842.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Simple fun on Christmas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cQZOij7GqLqJNS-YiRuYI64Y7QPARg3fojgPvN2EHc5upM9jmsBpWJ_jpYlBoHAs4qdUKLHuoxoRebfMPYt1PX7bC2fciajfYTNzGzHDLXy96WAqdoJvJSCa5SC181NvRxr9o30h6T8aznmJayku3dFEn-m8WuC00Vf0xhnmT5qTkuoyKfrFTw1Y/s4000/20231225_104717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cQZOij7GqLqJNS-YiRuYI64Y7QPARg3fojgPvN2EHc5upM9jmsBpWJ_jpYlBoHAs4qdUKLHuoxoRebfMPYt1PX7bC2fciajfYTNzGzHDLXy96WAqdoJvJSCa5SC181NvRxr9o30h6T8aznmJayku3dFEn-m8WuC00Vf0xhnmT5qTkuoyKfrFTw1Y/s320/20231225_104717.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The process of assembling Riaan's Music Machine. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQYjYBobz590gCG0OpLhBo9Ux0v8mYgXVKtMjs8ZEZu9rb8VjM-Jhhyphenhyphencoe36Zq8nVMZFrS3pNp7vfD7JMNiGBBsWdN8OP3qikPL_M7fdqw6Hhhy1nyeYNTwGeTT5sPpo1_nYVM2YUST9S-yEFJAB90TU1nJIkqX1G_PAWCg5Qr_GP99gogNaE_qfd/s3668/P1090734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2625" data-original-width="3668" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQYjYBobz590gCG0OpLhBo9Ux0v8mYgXVKtMjs8ZEZu9rb8VjM-Jhhyphenhyphencoe36Zq8nVMZFrS3pNp7vfD7JMNiGBBsWdN8OP3qikPL_M7fdqw6Hhhy1nyeYNTwGeTT5sPpo1_nYVM2YUST9S-yEFJAB90TU1nJIkqX1G_PAWCg5Qr_GP99gogNaE_qfd/s320/P1090734.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The walk later that day. The Rouge River flows through the area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5aB-32IcF5keChiLktYMZok8Y-jNPQJiDxmNg1m7q9dvuiD3ELiCktsouEr9Jd15qRIX7L6Ga45Q2XI6ZewZ-Zbd8xmzJxwyY98nZjAkXBMWTtgS-EoVorGRkA4IjDdEO7mBv2rU9U_TPxt86bRL8zM77wI5O49nq37ukr9-Gm8No7A2CHUsL-tK/s4000/P1090721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5aB-32IcF5keChiLktYMZok8Y-jNPQJiDxmNg1m7q9dvuiD3ELiCktsouEr9Jd15qRIX7L6Ga45Q2XI6ZewZ-Zbd8xmzJxwyY98nZjAkXBMWTtgS-EoVorGRkA4IjDdEO7mBv2rU9U_TPxt86bRL8zM77wI5O49nq37ukr9-Gm8No7A2CHUsL-tK/s320/P1090721.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Beaver activity is evident here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2le5XIGf7tdskbVMe12szLW82ucb17szWypsk9GOdCNuPCcYmmLt-kRXHg4403UBd47Tv9qedGyh80Wx1iQ0LeDaIaYI84OoCcR_kJl7Cet896fOWJSemXfN6WwoD-mclAW_uRQcfvrdDlaOBaPoc7pmHxsE2AnDCzKdc1Fz1gliVYGpH9IiU7SE2/s3215/P1090712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2152" data-original-width="3215" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2le5XIGf7tdskbVMe12szLW82ucb17szWypsk9GOdCNuPCcYmmLt-kRXHg4403UBd47Tv9qedGyh80Wx1iQ0LeDaIaYI84OoCcR_kJl7Cet896fOWJSemXfN6WwoD-mclAW_uRQcfvrdDlaOBaPoc7pmHxsE2AnDCzKdc1Fz1gliVYGpH9IiU7SE2/s320/P1090712.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Heading down the trail on a mild Christmas day.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-33889444807056208542024-01-12T05:28:00.005+02:002024-01-12T05:28:37.751+02:00Christmas Eve 2023...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNuvVEidGVYsL9D8Upo5BfgCgFDuR-XOeMnK_9nJSa8ArOV1QE1RFGqQAAEbctYvjyAvQdBNztvwZc0OMMIsqa6KUAPUsonSWN7mSO4T-LEvdcSbeHo8VI0gsFAmHSiF2ukBt5dLZTBh7N4RLTQn6fW0asmjwnhL15FBOGYAERXqEekBIvd7JJPWH/s3792/20231224_182149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2847" data-original-width="3792" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNuvVEidGVYsL9D8Upo5BfgCgFDuR-XOeMnK_9nJSa8ArOV1QE1RFGqQAAEbctYvjyAvQdBNztvwZc0OMMIsqa6KUAPUsonSWN7mSO4T-LEvdcSbeHo8VI0gsFAmHSiF2ukBt5dLZTBh7N4RLTQn6fW0asmjwnhL15FBOGYAERXqEekBIvd7JJPWH/w200-h150/20231224_182149.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Despite the majority of us being under the weather with flu and sinus infections, we continued with our annual Crawford Christmas Eve dinner. We played games and read stories throughout the day, while I also worked on preparing the meal.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSjKmSaPImjlAgXq85zgZeY5XpKmz_UB6hxpi0mJBIu-SS9umW6GT0k9v3RclQ488ntO6InkGLHmYcAcrMk4JoXVLDfN_va7wYI_xOgO06gBgILZGjk5-4Lgq2k6RbXoVuvL6FeHkxjkTKwvYXyuR7xkkQO7W-uO9fn3_lTGxaMav95RLdJj6qQWS/s3851/20231224_182141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2559" data-original-width="3851" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSjKmSaPImjlAgXq85zgZeY5XpKmz_UB6hxpi0mJBIu-SS9umW6GT0k9v3RclQ488ntO6InkGLHmYcAcrMk4JoXVLDfN_va7wYI_xOgO06gBgILZGjk5-4Lgq2k6RbXoVuvL6FeHkxjkTKwvYXyuR7xkkQO7W-uO9fn3_lTGxaMav95RLdJj6qQWS/w200-h133/20231224_182141.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>True to tradition, I stuffed a chicken and roasted it together with a mini leg of lamb. We also enjoyed roast veggies and, a couple of hours after the meal, Christmas pudding with brandy butter. We ate our dinner down in the basement, as there is more space around that table.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAinAtB-Ohm05mNKhJuKftcVQDmHlr9dHBHx2M71O3QfCIHDeaMeOhC4UJ88I06D-ClKT2vetcIqYJI3nFCW4AcRJgGYmJnTDHQbBWKRQmBwTWNWenUVwr04JfmYc5trbXC8ILpOptf2ozgIzPJuxWNmWVF4K9SGR_I8P-eK3dbsq7xeF-z_i6ahnk/s3205/20231223_160008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3205" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAinAtB-Ohm05mNKhJuKftcVQDmHlr9dHBHx2M71O3QfCIHDeaMeOhC4UJ88I06D-ClKT2vetcIqYJI3nFCW4AcRJgGYmJnTDHQbBWKRQmBwTWNWenUVwr04JfmYc5trbXC8ILpOptf2ozgIzPJuxWNmWVF4K9SGR_I8P-eK3dbsq7xeF-z_i6ahnk/s320/20231223_160008.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Eliza was so excited for Christmas! She wrote this card herself. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2U-qVFeKa2nGeS9w-uCFjlSlzUG5urVd_6VZ-RzXJzWoDTcVrTh6kmpIlDViEunym0cYLNEg9BS3npzqr3gNdDqnsQqhDit9L2VQhM_7nNiSG0Gks2vXRm23Xh-gITpIKME7kIspd0mD9sueTXf7Yt4KOqDIoTxy7IZMgeB5FprFiraVHzZXT48G/s4128/20231224_165917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2U-qVFeKa2nGeS9w-uCFjlSlzUG5urVd_6VZ-RzXJzWoDTcVrTh6kmpIlDViEunym0cYLNEg9BS3npzqr3gNdDqnsQqhDit9L2VQhM_7nNiSG0Gks2vXRm23Xh-gITpIKME7kIspd0mD9sueTXf7Yt4KOqDIoTxy7IZMgeB5FprFiraVHzZXT48G/s320/20231224_165917.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Playing <i>The</i> <i>Lord of The Rings </i>Monopoly game.<i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zQrthv-_KKfuZB936yhwd9HSoXjRW3RtCJ0bH27GXKbcRmJXqWJzkif9Il4NhBqfVRjYy3BHrlH3lhPTUk-uDAqryBC_YhNuVGGtGxATPMlzcKP-VSGLnRwj7ShFi9jADeBbQRJSfy7jzcbLp5YSTw76MWYJuTex1TK-Ip4ejkJe43Hau2F84Fhk/s4000/20231224_181729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zQrthv-_KKfuZB936yhwd9HSoXjRW3RtCJ0bH27GXKbcRmJXqWJzkif9Il4NhBqfVRjYy3BHrlH3lhPTUk-uDAqryBC_YhNuVGGtGxATPMlzcKP-VSGLnRwj7ShFi9jADeBbQRJSfy7jzcbLp5YSTw76MWYJuTex1TK-Ip4ejkJe43Hau2F84Fhk/s320/20231224_181729.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The annual photo of my dinner plate.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nUJ619woQ_QVP0NUt_0Sht9ofpWqvWMEojeGIe8Yh7ZA9lHV679dbSh1KJV3pv5H9rrnRetfrmpz7DAA1aTTr4vJCzb5J_7k8Ng6sAKdm_FIKVt02iApSEEfcfRJhyfT5feR1WwlB0b1klyWxdp45fOyqE_df8moyBSg6fzdkdA0YvFpgk5K2J-h/s4000/20231224_201903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9nUJ619woQ_QVP0NUt_0Sht9ofpWqvWMEojeGIe8Yh7ZA9lHV679dbSh1KJV3pv5H9rrnRetfrmpz7DAA1aTTr4vJCzb5J_7k8Ng6sAKdm_FIKVt02iApSEEfcfRJhyfT5feR1WwlB0b1klyWxdp45fOyqE_df8moyBSg6fzdkdA0YvFpgk5K2J-h/s320/20231224_201903.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas pudding with brandy butter. Yum!</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-4391284945560565182024-01-11T05:33:00.007+02:002024-01-11T05:33:56.860+02:00Gingerbread House Fun...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZ_FIwrsugqGgnD64jVg__16X_4dAe2dQjtHunf0bUObrxGCDnSxUAKo5uQKAWiio5H2UFT2dr2pOVCQ9YSUsFRkkWYg0I7_OyJRVtFtfQDE8O_mnQzidi700IE3TnIdAjdi4qDeVmLXuEsq78drvo4Rpl2nYqp0vhhP33pckW6dIPeylUEISvsY8/s3647/20231220_193133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2830" data-original-width="3647" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZ_FIwrsugqGgnD64jVg__16X_4dAe2dQjtHunf0bUObrxGCDnSxUAKo5uQKAWiio5H2UFT2dr2pOVCQ9YSUsFRkkWYg0I7_OyJRVtFtfQDE8O_mnQzidi700IE3TnIdAjdi4qDeVmLXuEsq78drvo4Rpl2nYqp0vhhP33pckW6dIPeylUEISvsY8/w200-h155/20231220_193133.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Candace and the children spent a fun late afternoon decorating a gingerbread house - one of our family traditions - before Christmas. Of course, the children also helped Candace make our favourite mince pies for Christmas, too!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_SmpE1cv_EhftNPIn6UPVBU0Qf3sUsdNMUSDB5ZVF7CYmk1dKScdMEvkr0L_cfmOR4dTuGNnIt_h8fHqYkPMXDgRjQeFclMXQV6BhbE-L7ioGhqMPgRSRkPUf61bkI9Fo9jKWmVv7rK6YMwE1xAfMwXpMpLtoFSCS7OYB772CniQpf5u-U9XAFLA/s4000/20231220_195318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_SmpE1cv_EhftNPIn6UPVBU0Qf3sUsdNMUSDB5ZVF7CYmk1dKScdMEvkr0L_cfmOR4dTuGNnIt_h8fHqYkPMXDgRjQeFclMXQV6BhbE-L7ioGhqMPgRSRkPUf61bkI9Fo9jKWmVv7rK6YMwE1xAfMwXpMpLtoFSCS7OYB772CniQpf5u-U9XAFLA/s320/20231220_195318.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The back of the house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXmnBodctmNkWMmKPalQGKCpvAzJ2LEMcqEPE-vSSj2VKNK6RijVOA2_VJN5HZNRYM0Nll6EheptyPQgqPfYDEMS8waktMzp1JjhSuSUjKU_Ted7JcYtdLb1RgYs4-X8tnoD-iqWt-XbsTzVPlV2kiSY4DRp0bpadBUEv1zk6-SiH62-46orLtjiu/s2909/20231220_195346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2909" data-original-width="2040" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXmnBodctmNkWMmKPalQGKCpvAzJ2LEMcqEPE-vSSj2VKNK6RijVOA2_VJN5HZNRYM0Nll6EheptyPQgqPfYDEMS8waktMzp1JjhSuSUjKU_Ted7JcYtdLb1RgYs4-X8tnoD-iqWt-XbsTzVPlV2kiSY4DRp0bpadBUEv1zk6-SiH62-46orLtjiu/s320/20231220_195346.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The front view of the gingerbread house. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3DxRNBN9UrH7BB1vQ8jLp1TQrJdAoKUqbodW3tJ6Sser3NIBoEHYepowZswsaqyRrX0bI9c1bz0xI-n7UJcRWLBxWGmOQbTWNZW4LEF1Iqcc8kU5yWAOfGxU_Kq6a4KrcLxrLPTRXLRUJOrK9uUiGeybfeO3lKUucnZ4uJ_193OsPMAQI1OUVgcN/s2824/20231208_131249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2824" data-original-width="2313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3DxRNBN9UrH7BB1vQ8jLp1TQrJdAoKUqbodW3tJ6Sser3NIBoEHYepowZswsaqyRrX0bI9c1bz0xI-n7UJcRWLBxWGmOQbTWNZW4LEF1Iqcc8kU5yWAOfGxU_Kq6a4KrcLxrLPTRXLRUJOrK9uUiGeybfeO3lKUucnZ4uJ_193OsPMAQI1OUVgcN/s320/20231208_131249.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Cutting out shapes for the tops of the mince pies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpEtwg_QGhxTWJjKKA4Yp9vmkj-9062STdZgZg2Nsc8YLlb7DQKTASkk2skLEvEvibLy6_1-KYNgnNXLiMlAZQeAzTAQwXPFBdRv53bRjoiiuUcSCVBczU-pBFL6u6QoC1r2N8a_lp9vp13eRn3D7Ayy5Ocu423eemMbE3xUK6UxGIjt0aVIzckIq/s3552/20231208_131316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="3552" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVpEtwg_QGhxTWJjKKA4Yp9vmkj-9062STdZgZg2Nsc8YLlb7DQKTASkk2skLEvEvibLy6_1-KYNgnNXLiMlAZQeAzTAQwXPFBdRv53bRjoiiuUcSCVBczU-pBFL6u6QoC1r2N8a_lp9vp13eRn3D7Ayy5Ocu423eemMbE3xUK6UxGIjt0aVIzckIq/s320/20231208_131316.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hmmm, yum! Mince pies are the best.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-6675163369874855532023-12-30T04:40:00.003+02:002023-12-30T04:40:21.450+02:00Father Christmas...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95_-Ogh2HmR6RYfOCEKoGeihdJ0iqKyJ19O9dBBmIKO4FL3fC5dhQlrgl3DFt00tC9dRr4qhpS4L4RWE39QbKe03dB-z2rpPAMv7hZuw3nUO8giWf9Th2htIvoa9_fiHYz2Dq4ItrPHwyis2hlXsKJAqhw1sjjhF1VAYDrCznckoctrBbgwlxX0Iq/s4000/20231218_105457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj95_-Ogh2HmR6RYfOCEKoGeihdJ0iqKyJ19O9dBBmIKO4FL3fC5dhQlrgl3DFt00tC9dRr4qhpS4L4RWE39QbKe03dB-z2rpPAMv7hZuw3nUO8giWf9Th2htIvoa9_fiHYz2Dq4ItrPHwyis2hlXsKJAqhw1sjjhF1VAYDrCznckoctrBbgwlxX0Iq/s320/20231218_105457.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Santa Claus visited me in my upstairs office. I love the beard! :)</span></p>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-75476539029680669282023-12-29T15:28:00.007+02:002023-12-29T15:28:52.388+02:00Candace's Birthday...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCr4gC3b3wTjIVxlPcYeciGB_Sl_M2fa7YdgR50o5W7YpL-k9Of9wpWfb9FtNYd1BbMJ8elhg4qPfogllXKRxwd2Y2my5_-nvRW1S6HqocIgvbh1TruVHVKoxbOqzRVXMS8d3AcFW_PR0geLeQAJlwfs1OI-iO5rWUYbc_YTJTg_1_jUJ3k3DbmwX/s4000/20231209_140404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCr4gC3b3wTjIVxlPcYeciGB_Sl_M2fa7YdgR50o5W7YpL-k9Of9wpWfb9FtNYd1BbMJ8elhg4qPfogllXKRxwd2Y2my5_-nvRW1S6HqocIgvbh1TruVHVKoxbOqzRVXMS8d3AcFW_PR0geLeQAJlwfs1OI-iO5rWUYbc_YTJTg_1_jUJ3k3DbmwX/w200-h150/20231209_140404.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Candace's birthday is just two days after Riaan's birthday, and so this year we combined a small party for the two of them on Saturday, December 9th. A number of new friends came around for tea and cake, which was absolutely lovely. I am so thankful for all that Candace does for our family!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38atVPOApKPQ2VkYEvOld5TPInn41M_f3NRzaEYnL1QBFZds5clJL2DICZN7eY2l2PHTBTrsBh2XrrxhmOB5raZqTrpKUZhM3S8gTu7STXgJD2fFkNK95VZ-t2zJm5-m5SapGBf3Xvl8l6PfNWFCCx8xYKHWhQBDX1GV29wNFeJOLkiGxDHkbdiKK/s4000/20231209_084820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh38atVPOApKPQ2VkYEvOld5TPInn41M_f3NRzaEYnL1QBFZds5clJL2DICZN7eY2l2PHTBTrsBh2XrrxhmOB5raZqTrpKUZhM3S8gTu7STXgJD2fFkNK95VZ-t2zJm5-m5SapGBf3Xvl8l6PfNWFCCx8xYKHWhQBDX1GV29wNFeJOLkiGxDHkbdiKK/s320/20231209_084820.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Birthday breakfast. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT8ELhyphenhyphenLTNCbeWazZAV99TSgAjGRFuLAIWZzPmG3sHbWjaswEuLP7S36ck93vKRvi1Bd982-ptuzzC-tmRJ_dOKZhUeu1kqAvJMVm9slm-1sLvgy53oGI7H3jwn9_zLHXEZaq-m2NnRBv0v-XQK92KSYEYUGhCNKKXNimkqLFMoPySyQT952SRjRY/s4000/20231209_084833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRT8ELhyphenhyphenLTNCbeWazZAV99TSgAjGRFuLAIWZzPmG3sHbWjaswEuLP7S36ck93vKRvi1Bd982-ptuzzC-tmRJ_dOKZhUeu1kqAvJMVm9slm-1sLvgy53oGI7H3jwn9_zLHXEZaq-m2NnRBv0v-XQK92KSYEYUGhCNKKXNimkqLFMoPySyQT952SRjRY/s320/20231209_084833.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Candace's new pin that Riaan gave her. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmfwpacrZS9hoL1wd_E0bNEc1XRzrNNttu54ZM9S3T9iAChTCmRGXlmM684XD_-herTKAP1mNv2HJXHHuPJfYo1cufN-aAX-gHX_wprc9lnk4vQL8CiQ9bCq61mXN5PF57e5JlY5fhtsBsgQ_Yv4a6mbp3azG4xDPoFpHImCM-qIdwJpUKW1buDuQ/s4000/20231209_122817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVmfwpacrZS9hoL1wd_E0bNEc1XRzrNNttu54ZM9S3T9iAChTCmRGXlmM684XD_-herTKAP1mNv2HJXHHuPJfYo1cufN-aAX-gHX_wprc9lnk4vQL8CiQ9bCq61mXN5PF57e5JlY5fhtsBsgQ_Yv4a6mbp3azG4xDPoFpHImCM-qIdwJpUKW1buDuQ/s320/20231209_122817.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Reading cards from around the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqnYdGcla_M34826o-hadPIlpzcMdYec58sdgVI0SlTjbpgIVweJPVqMnDib4j-5sy4i0yOYuDU3wYCMrzx3kxeG1lOSes77hN9ZKFU-ZHD7cAASaJppNIBMhOozB0etOckMkoO_Y_htN98G_xQ0FoMN_sWQZhtmJldVJQcPicYftVzFtpsO4v4yl/s4000/20231209_143805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqnYdGcla_M34826o-hadPIlpzcMdYec58sdgVI0SlTjbpgIVweJPVqMnDib4j-5sy4i0yOYuDU3wYCMrzx3kxeG1lOSes77hN9ZKFU-ZHD7cAASaJppNIBMhOozB0etOckMkoO_Y_htN98G_xQ0FoMN_sWQZhtmJldVJQcPicYftVzFtpsO4v4yl/s320/20231209_143805.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Friends join us for an informal time of tea and cake.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-19759403464756115092023-12-28T04:02:00.004+02:002023-12-28T04:02:49.383+02:00ESL Craft Night...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusosKYPAEYD-7cX_vOMYExanwRf-EvZt85PjMsiiqEnhQGRvb9pfXCUMtP4zQJZTQxn8p_hwYyvbwN-bd3N8sLpy1ycYKCAbhluIy_Z_pO0RMHsVdzRL9w0_oee8h5CXej6ow_QYo5OHbUXiwQPSgyWIyPYOsyd3ADWJcrchXYyWHy-1qReD5XS5O/s4000/20231208_200653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjusosKYPAEYD-7cX_vOMYExanwRf-EvZt85PjMsiiqEnhQGRvb9pfXCUMtP4zQJZTQxn8p_hwYyvbwN-bd3N8sLpy1ycYKCAbhluIy_Z_pO0RMHsVdzRL9w0_oee8h5CXej6ow_QYo5OHbUXiwQPSgyWIyPYOsyd3ADWJcrchXYyWHy-1qReD5XS5O/w200-h150/20231208_200653.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>A few weeks before Christmas, Candace shared her crafting skills with the ESL students. She taught our friends how to make Christmas ornaments (stars) out of strips of fabric. It went really well, and I was so proud of my little family!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFrl6fNDjs158AyRj6AZYtfQlSAZQPhOH-io_PLQ5WcaHAHU8fV544OeAZeL5JasqvAUe-IZmD780xOupLNxKk2u97S5Boza_THM1Xi4T2TYBstE2OQ3kuoIBckGY6WQn5z3ZsHQCBWdHP-aEclk6hZB2Ck-KFRgVBadp5GIVAWygAiii25IMTF3w/s4000/20231208_200804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFrl6fNDjs158AyRj6AZYtfQlSAZQPhOH-io_PLQ5WcaHAHU8fV544OeAZeL5JasqvAUe-IZmD780xOupLNxKk2u97S5Boza_THM1Xi4T2TYBstE2OQ3kuoIBckGY6WQn5z3ZsHQCBWdHP-aEclk6hZB2Ck-KFRgVBadp5GIVAWygAiii25IMTF3w/s320/20231208_200804.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Making stars out of fabric strips.</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1773093910885506596.post-74685888539954330602023-12-27T00:44:00.000+02:002023-12-27T00:44:24.686+02:00Riaan's Eighth Birthday...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMCQMTy4vmfB4I-dqMKu8L_Pa9wkEwBPH9SlhtdNaez7pvSaFYC3fuyM6OEfWfX_kPC7u-NPRAmG5dTzmrfT9KgQK__wZhh2MFkZrHRV4PRJDFY8Yf5C_69yi471zdlZEK4Na3rIi8-DBDwlddGnbMlULAWP1IY3wRoG-1F6HA9zCdRUqobK9j86P/s4000/20231207_124519.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMCQMTy4vmfB4I-dqMKu8L_Pa9wkEwBPH9SlhtdNaez7pvSaFYC3fuyM6OEfWfX_kPC7u-NPRAmG5dTzmrfT9KgQK__wZhh2MFkZrHRV4PRJDFY8Yf5C_69yi471zdlZEK4Na3rIi8-DBDwlddGnbMlULAWP1IY3wRoG-1F6HA9zCdRUqobK9j86P/w150-h200/20231207_124519.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>Riaan marked another year older on Thursday, 7th December. Hard to believe that in just a couple of years he'll be into double digits. He is such a sweet, caring soul who loves to read, read, and read some more! We celebrated his day with presents, a coffee/hot chocolate date with me, and a little tea party with the neighbours in the afternoon. We enjoyed his favourite (and somewhat traditional) Hobbit's Breakfast for supper. <p></p><p>As always, here is <a href="https://mercyshipadventure.blogspot.com/2022/12/riaans-seventh-birthday.html">last year's birthday post</a>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YnRkS1HqHBqqoXt3jpGGiU4HVDHaOyLok6j-1ZaESy-JA1DQOUYH9EFmeNpuDcDaOwQ8Ku902jsfBKNXSziBCI9B9pQZbVPAkotKtlsG72Ly_3YU3O0_G7nQGV8-C0F35vD8-JgJ6D9t8-Gx_2pXNK46YmvjLoszOZ6LkXCKx5gPCMbwUji_yKzC/s4000/20231207_084552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YnRkS1HqHBqqoXt3jpGGiU4HVDHaOyLok6j-1ZaESy-JA1DQOUYH9EFmeNpuDcDaOwQ8Ku902jsfBKNXSziBCI9B9pQZbVPAkotKtlsG72Ly_3YU3O0_G7nQGV8-C0F35vD8-JgJ6D9t8-Gx_2pXNK46YmvjLoszOZ6LkXCKx5gPCMbwUji_yKzC/s320/20231207_084552.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He received some new pyjamas...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSS_FzdYFoO_1hfRNCu2RJ3Tw5VFeYoDJ6JOFMBHCIxb5eFTGeAchZwBihLpgzOG-BSKHUqUUKfbpUPdDdjsW662-RQ52BPzCtmzd8cHJJNLjJvfD5yrsiGlVrZ4Zra2MX9y0g6fNCT56lF5rB1y7stYCH3kqz9PRWkwaL8crf_njLdJRDutn_f3mY/s4000/20231207_084830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSS_FzdYFoO_1hfRNCu2RJ3Tw5VFeYoDJ6JOFMBHCIxb5eFTGeAchZwBihLpgzOG-BSKHUqUUKfbpUPdDdjsW662-RQ52BPzCtmzd8cHJJNLjJvfD5yrsiGlVrZ4Zra2MX9y0g6fNCT56lF5rB1y7stYCH3kqz9PRWkwaL8crf_njLdJRDutn_f3mY/s320/20231207_084830.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Along with Enid Blyton's </span><i style="text-align: left;">The Famous Five</i><span style="text-align: left;"> book series.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnluZtfBDbeLnnFAo9Ak4HqnGP4ThO3wQ7MLc166NIAdacbKuvMSD9MxObIhDsvO3gcuCLQtz4Uzw_KuVYt6_6ZGts98Qvpr8BT0pqzgJpHiGDTw87XH_H1lRTp7oQ5-b6nZSlWvxGDg8QhSvMULwkxMrdElhFU3Xal_YqnWUaK4ixKGYFLac0MD9/s4000/20231207_091305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnluZtfBDbeLnnFAo9Ak4HqnGP4ThO3wQ7MLc166NIAdacbKuvMSD9MxObIhDsvO3gcuCLQtz4Uzw_KuVYt6_6ZGts98Qvpr8BT0pqzgJpHiGDTw87XH_H1lRTp7oQ5-b6nZSlWvxGDg8QhSvMULwkxMrdElhFU3Xal_YqnWUaK4ixKGYFLac0MD9/s320/20231207_091305.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He also opened several birthday cards from South Africa, Scotland, and Indiana!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_r0BV101OjbQCc7vyNolM4MYJm5MDfIcOjYgFM484hV5-_Sw-jToDjbaZDI-ZsoENdtpKNIWhyphenhyphenKsfhBF1pLherff9-O9YXWZXkiuuTdqYaOACVwhVX3BV6EyElddobEfOuyOXy-yrjN3wT1n6DkB9GAvO1iBNoOtNIB2vO5bOJKAtK4NPzwoTtW5/s4128/20231207_113408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="3096" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7_r0BV101OjbQCc7vyNolM4MYJm5MDfIcOjYgFM484hV5-_Sw-jToDjbaZDI-ZsoENdtpKNIWhyphenhyphenKsfhBF1pLherff9-O9YXWZXkiuuTdqYaOACVwhVX3BV6EyElddobEfOuyOXy-yrjN3wT1n6DkB9GAvO1iBNoOtNIB2vO5bOJKAtK4NPzwoTtW5/s320/20231207_113408.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Coffee date with me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKULI23akejxGkxLlRWn9-aWc7tQlq5mFUlBekku1SICP61Lvxjsthn0UcgKnr7_tCN2Ltk628Eb4E_Lrr19_8SFsiVY2dmiBULaMcu7LhRoImplrwgTBbrXd09OHBcOOO8VmdABQlQQFVMJkmlhNS_xpXjgINkHXc10mcw2z5JeGqI8esJt828E4/s4000/20231207_162303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimKULI23akejxGkxLlRWn9-aWc7tQlq5mFUlBekku1SICP61Lvxjsthn0UcgKnr7_tCN2Ltk628Eb4E_Lrr19_8SFsiVY2dmiBULaMcu7LhRoImplrwgTBbrXd09OHBcOOO8VmdABQlQQFVMJkmlhNS_xpXjgINkHXc10mcw2z5JeGqI8esJt828E4/s320/20231207_162303.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">He had a strawberry shortcake for his cake this year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfNdA1KKhIFLgjM1ru-PM7fIXAZBGQXIW0Ib2KIjLqj7vUV0DHtxFLiZ-CVavTJHyJJNgqObcCHevt4mB0bxrRccWVKXcdkg5_qM_hMp0DLuN8ErbZmd_GTEp1tDb168vuv7sJsEBycqktLnE_bz0ljcJe9l-9h8jRGmBULrDyZb8vd_p8_hS7V66/s4000/20231207_162813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfNdA1KKhIFLgjM1ru-PM7fIXAZBGQXIW0Ib2KIjLqj7vUV0DHtxFLiZ-CVavTJHyJJNgqObcCHevt4mB0bxrRccWVKXcdkg5_qM_hMp0DLuN8ErbZmd_GTEp1tDb168vuv7sJsEBycqktLnE_bz0ljcJe9l-9h8jRGmBULrDyZb8vd_p8_hS7V66/s320/20231207_162813.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Tea and cake with the neighbours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VgTAP1QelJCNxOmZWZ9Cac2SDa-n58ndNAZ7U93hufPTlarJToDYQnn_TiAdmKHg6YKTTOc8N63SK4pZONPAhrv9zCCiQhHtSagJi4JYkxsiUp47ScMhhuDZvv3md5PN8z-J0jI_R1sWurqEWBE54-29hQkGuj-jz2NSyVhv-fvLWRBAkVDuqM-m/s4000/20231207_182008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VgTAP1QelJCNxOmZWZ9Cac2SDa-n58ndNAZ7U93hufPTlarJToDYQnn_TiAdmKHg6YKTTOc8N63SK4pZONPAhrv9zCCiQhHtSagJi4JYkxsiUp47ScMhhuDZvv3md5PN8z-J0jI_R1sWurqEWBE54-29hQkGuj-jz2NSyVhv-fvLWRBAkVDuqM-m/s320/20231207_182008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Birthday dinner - a Hobbit's Breakfast!</div>Murray Tristan Crawfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16056514311805367019noreply@blogger.com0