This Bell Tolls- A Little Tribute to a Big Life

This bell tolls for all the souls set free upon the sea.

That's what the memorial reads.  We saw this memorial on our first visit to Homer, Alaska in the summer of 2009.

For some reason, the memorial touched me way back then.  The message resonated. I thought that it was strangely comforting to think of souls being set free upon the sea, rather than dying, or being "lost at sea".  I didn't realize that in 2013, the monument would have personal meaning to my family.

On July 4, 2013, we received the terrible news that a family friend was killed in a commercial fishing accident near Ninilchik, Alaska.  Lewis was a friend and has been around one or more members of our family for 30 years.  He is family.  This is my attempt at a small tribute to a loyal friend.

We will visit the memorial while we are in Homer.  We will visit it and we will smile when we remember Lewis.

Rest in peace, Lewis. 

Your soul has been set free upon the sea. 

 Thank you for your friendship.

 

Photo from the memorial held in Lewis' home town.

  Rest in peace, Lewis.

 

Zero Turn/Zero Chance-Ode to the New Mower

I confess, I LOVE to mow the lawn!  After a long Minnesota winter, it feels so good to me to get back on the riding mower and take care of the yard. 

Mowing season came late this year, in fact, we are still waiting for a nice sunny stretch of weather.  Somehow the grass is growing, so it does need a good trim!

A few weeks before it was time to cut grass....the official "kick off" to summer, if you will, the man brought home a zero turn lawn machine.

Do you even know what that is?  It is a man's dream lawn attacking machine.(It is important to  note that I said a man's dream machine.)  Since the lawn has traditionally been my domain, I decided to try the TORO. It was a failure.  I can't do it.  The machine goes really fast, so you could finish your lawn work lickety-split.  The ONLY catch is this, I can't figure it out.  It's like a giant bucking bronco video game.  *big sigh*  I have visions of being bucked off the thing and then running over myself.  It is controlled like a skid steer, which, to me, is construction equipment and WAY above my pay grade!

It will take lots of practice for me to ever be able to use this thing.  On the bright side, if I ever master it, maybe I can operate other heavy equipment!?

And just to prove my point, the men in the household think it is the best thing ever!  :)

I am clinging to the old Sears riding mower for now.