Backyard Photos

VIEWS OF MY BACKYARD

Banana plants

Calla Lily

Some variation of a rose

Little girl statue within the plants

My sorry tomato plants.
They got water logged with our 10" of rain.
Most of the leaves turned yellow, then black.
It looks like they are starting to perk up a bit.
I've got only one tomato about the size of a plum.

My strawberry patch

The peach tree

Not too many peaches on the tree this year.
We had very heavy winds in the early spring, when the blooms were budding.
This is how big they are now.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day - May 25, 2009

Karl and I accompanied Grandma Lyla and Grandpa Melvin
to the Memorial Day services at the cemetary.

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May.
Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), it was expanded after World War I to include American casualties of any war or military action.

Grandma Lyla and Karl are just waiting for the services to begin.

Here comes the fire truck!

The American Legion leading the parade.


Terry Jo Janssen
April 9, 1963 - April 9, 1963

My father's parents
Gerd W. Janssen 1904-1988
Martha C. Janssen 1911 - 1948

The back of my grandparents headstone.

My husband's mother's parents
Marjorie Christensen-Murphy 1919 - 2008
Carl Christensen 1909 - 1970

Chris Kuklenz
1874-1948

Edwin Collier 1884-1942

Lizzie Kuklenz
1881 - 1929

Clarence Kuklenz
1910 - 1950

Lucy (Collier) Kuklenz-Hersom 1910 - 1996
Lynn Herson 1911 - 1993

Pocahontas County Veterans Monument

Sunday, May 24th
We visited the Pocahontas County Veteran's Monument

There are a total of eight different monuments (see below)

June 2008, Doug and I (and Garry, Debbie and Jenny) paid to have my dad's name
put on the veteran's monument as his 50th anniversary gift.

Christmas 2008, Doug and I paid to have Doug's dad (Melvin Kuklenz) name
etched on the Veteran's Monument This is the main monument (above and below) front & back.



This is a close-up of the names etched on the monument.

This is my dad(Wilbert Janssen) posing next to the Peace Time
monument where his name has been etched.

John V Graduation

Congratulations John Veencamp.
John is my first nephew to graduate high school.

Karl and I flew to Minnesota on a great travel deal.
$59 each way - $118 round trip
John will attend DMAAC in Ankeny for 1 1/2 yrs before attending
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY to study meteorology.

BEST OF LUCK JOHN!!!!

Happy "70th" Birthday

Happy 70th Birthday to my Mom!

Interesting facts from 1939:

Karl - SHSU Graduation

Karl graduated with his Masters of Science degree in Chemistry
Saturday, May 16th 2pm
Sam Houston State University

Chemistry Grad Students: Jonathan, Michael, Tricia & Karl (Sajini is missing)

The proud parents!

Sister & Brother

Karl and his girlfriend, Audrey

Where's Waldo...Can you find Karl?

Karl..sportin the Science - master's hood.

Karl waiting for grauation to begin...He found us!

Karl and his chemistry professor, Dr. Darren Williams

The graduation cake

Karl giving his dad a tour of the Chemistry building on campus.

Master Bath Floor - Day 5 of Tiling

The last day of laying tile.

Final tile laid in toilet room.

Final view of completed floor.
Now comes the selection of grout colors.
The swatches have been on the floor for days.

Happy Mother's Day!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY MOMMY!!
WE LOVE YOU!! :-)

from your kids...
Karl, Jill, and Jackie

Master Bath Floor - Day 4 of Tiling

Saturday, May 2nd

Doug tiled the area by the master closet door.

The toilet room and the small amount of area by the entry to the bathroom is all that remains.