Jack I can well imagine it with that keg of strong drink hanging from its neck, going through the Alps to help lost wanderers
Yes St Bernard were known for their gentle loving nature.

That is a photo of my Eldest Daughter and her 3 Grandchildren up in Connecticut. Caden just went 9 the other day and the twins will be 6 in January. Where does the time go.  Wish they lived closer. Daughter makes a trip up at least every month. Retired so she could do that.  Waited a long time to get GC. For awhile there we  thought would not be any as Neely, my Granddaughter was in her 30s by the time she got started. They keep her busy now.

Jack. That puppy is getting big fast. Love how the little Doxy wants the big one to play. Must be something when they all start playing in the house. Will cost a fortune to feed when all get fully grown. Worth it though. I remember we had a big St. Bernard when I was little.  Use to let me ride on his like he was my horse.

We are really having  a bad storm here at the Moment.  Went to a funeral at 1:30 today. Just managed to get home before it really got bad. Wasn't a big one as he was cremated and just a small service. Glad it wasn't one where I had to go to a Crematory. Seems the ones I have to attend always fall in the Winter when it is snowing, really cold. Always the saddest ones. But more and more seem to be cremations now.

JeanneP, I looked at radar and saw where the storm had left you, but it is still raining.  I also noticed there is snow north of us - up around Cadillac, which is 100 miles north.  At 40 degrees all day, I can see snow coming here soon.

I liked the picture of your daughter and her grandchildren.

I also liked the pictures Jack posted of the Leonbergers and doxie.  Norm had a couple of doxies when his boys were young.

Mary Ann

Those are beautiful dogs.  Does your son have a lot of space for them to exercise?  The food bill must be humongous.

Jack, when we lived in Navy Housing in Monterey, CA, one of the other residents had a huge St. Bernard.  The owner had a small VW and he would drive around our housing development holding the S. B.'s leash out the driver side and going slow enough to let the S.B. run along beside him.  I finally figured out the resident couldn't keep up with the really large dog's pace when it wanted to run. 

Sue

Darling family, JeanneP, I don't think your daughter looks as much like you as the kids do.  Does she look like her father's side?  My daughter looks just like her father & his mother.... but because she got my short legs & we all had dark black hair, people thought she looked like me until they met him. 

Love the 4 legged family, Jack.... and would love the big pup except for the food bill!  That must be a whopper!  My, but they are cute.

I've spent the entire day with sons over helping get Fitbit & computer problems taken care of.  Oldest one called before I had breakfast & said he "had some time to spare so think of what I wanted done".  The youngest had called last night & said he'd be by to visit after he got off work.... so I fixed tacos & all the stuff that goes with them for him.  I had mixed up meat spread for the oldest & since he had spent too much time getting my cell phone to accept the new password for Yahoo mail.... did y'all know that the little ~ (whatever it is called) on the computer will NOT be the same on android so can't use it in a password?  You know now!  That meant I had to change my password again, 3rd or 4th time in the last week or so. Yahoo has been demanding they be changed because of the hacking.  Got everything up & running but my brain is tired.

Sue, one time our German Shepherd got out & ran through a muddy, plowed wheat field a couple blocks away, so when I found her (driving around with my kids in the back seat calling her), I wouldn't let her in the car & made her follow as I drove slowly home.  Only time she ever minded me like that (she thought we were equals).. but she knew she was in trouble by the tone of my voice. 

I'm heading to bed & have such a long list of "to-dos" for tomorrow, I'm tired thinking about it!  Shirley

Fortunately my son has a large fenced in area, problem is the little dachshund that can find her way out.   My dil takes them out for  walks daily and sometimes to Oglebay.  The big one does not pull, fortunately, but I would not walk him.

Shirley.  Yes . The eldest daugher looks just like what her dad did.  Tall also. My youngest looks more like me. Same with their Personalities. Youngest into animals, Outdoor type. First one and father thought staying at a Holiday Inn was roughing it. and not into any type of outdoor things. Won't let a animal in the house.

Larry and I usually take a walk in the evenings and saw several Rose of Sharon bushes with some lovely blooms.  Took a picture with my iPhone.

JeanFL.  You people will be lucky and see such blooms all winter. Not us. Right now we can enjoy the trees for a few weeks and then. nothing.  Unless we get a one great big snow fall.

Sad on the Florida orange situation.  Thousand of trees . No fruit.  One man had 700 acres.  Already Oranges have gone up 100% and as yours usually make the juice it has double in price also.  I am not a big orange juice person.

FlaJean, that rose of Sharon is beautiful.  I have one that when I moved in here, my new neighbor came over and planted in  my yard, that was 32 years ago.

JeanneP, My doctor told me to take OJ, with my water pill. So I guess I have to pay.  Sorry for all the growers.  we need to keep all our farmers all over the country.  So many of our big farms here have become vineyards.

Gorgeous bloom!

Jean a great blossom, and from the phone.     Not much color here, driving down to daughters in Virginia,tomorrow for the weekend, hope to see some color.  Have to get away for a few days.

The change will be good for you Jack.  Try to enjoy and... take photos for posting!

Jack, have a safe trip to your daughter's.   It should be a beautiful week end.  Last week I saw my great-niece who goes to James Madison.  She just loves the area. I was asking her if she had seen the bridge that you had posted a long time ago. I still keep the fall one on my desktop.  She couldn't picture what I was talking about. 

Take care.

Joy

Bubble and Joy  thanks.  Joy tell your great niece it is in the Arboretum right on campus.  She has to give it a look, and I may again this visit.

JACK, safe travel to your daughter's.  Enjoy the visit and the views. 

Beautiful colored Rose of Sharon Blossom, FLJEAN.

Linddancer.  I was just in the store and saw a bag of what they are calling Tangerines. Selling for $1.99 a bad of about 2lbs.  I bought some but they sure are not Tangerines. I think they bough some of those oranges that they had picked in Florida not fully grown oranges. Size of a Tangerine.  I just peeled one and it was hard to do like thin skinned orange. Tangerines have thing peel. 

I make little bags for Halloween. Think I will just put these with some candy into the bags. Hope get some kids as weather will be nice.  Not had any for 3 years.

Jack. Should be a nice drive down if some of the trees have started to change. Was showing the Smokey Mountains on TV this morning.  There they are beautiful.
Enjoy the weekend.

JACK...
...have a safe journey to your daughters..... I fully understand what you meant by,.... " have to get away for a few days..." warmth, good company, hugs, and a sympathetic ear, is the company you are now needing the most at this sad and empty time...

FLAJEAN....
..what a pretty flower...doesn't it just look so perfect?

I had a Rose of Sharon bush many years ago and had forgotten how pretty the blooms are.

I also add safe trip, Jack to see your daughter.  A nice time of year to travel.

I love flowers. In the summer, in the parks, I often take photos of the flower beds or wildflowers and grasses along the riverbeds.

Then in the winter you can look back at all the loveliness that awaits you in just a few months and lets you know that the cold is only seasonal and will eventually pass.

Everything in the states seems so connected. Here, in the mountains, it is an eight-hour drive to the next large city.

There are small towns and villages here and there. But mostly it is wilderness, mountains, valleys, ridges and rivers. And trees, lots and lots of trees that the highway winds through on it's way to yet more of the same.

Jack, have a good visit and enjoy your time spent with your daughter. Let family and nature sustain and guide you.

This week my daughter and family went to visit a garden of orchids nearby named Utopia.
Lots of flowers, birds and water falls all around. Little Aviv enjoyed it much.

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Now Bubble, that is a very cool family photo! I would love to be behind a waterfall or even that close to one safely. Thank you Junee for the idea. I Googled and saved the site in my favorites!

Another nice family photo!

Bubble,
I googled those gardens and received 194 beautiful photos. Nice to enjoy even if by internet. Junee

JUNIE, is that a new picture of you?  It is very nice. 

BUBBLE, lovely photo of your family in front of the waterfall.....wish we could hear the water.

Pleasant dreams to all,
Jenny