50 years of the Mandan Rural Fire Dept.

Today the Mandan Rural Fire Dept. celebrated 50 years 

My Dad, Donald Shaw was there from the very beginning of it's creation.

Here are some pictures of their celebration

 Dad also served as Assistant Chief from 1962 till 1991. He was also on the board from 1961 till 1996, when he retired.

 Showing past members. 

 Philip reading the board of past members and former Chiefs.

 This is my dad, Donald Shaw, giving a speech on the history of the Mandan Rural Fire Dept.

 This is the last truck my dad helped the fire dept. purchase before he retired. He was in the process of helping them get the truck when he had his heart attack and stroke. After his recovery, he helped with the final process of securing the purchase of the truck and then he retired.

 Much of my life (my whole childhood) revolved around the Mandan Rural Fire Dept. I spent a lot of time a the fire hall with my Dad, and saw more fire safety movies than I'd care to mention.  Dad was very dedicated to the fire hall, and his years as a volunteer are to be applauded.  We need more volunteers to help protect our rural community.  It was sad to see the member numbers so low, compared to what I saw as a kid.  

Yellow June Fields

Todd, Quito and I went on a walk the other night to look at the beautiful Canola field behind the house. Here are a couple of shots from our walk.

 Dad was baling across the road.

 What this picture doesn't show, is the heat. It had been in the 90's all day, and my dad was out there baling! As you can see there's no AC on his tractor.

 I'm trying to learn to take landscape pictures.  I'm still working on it. Just always seems like there's something missing in them. Oh yah, people.  Love taking portraits.

 Just can't get away from getting someone in my pictures. My handsome Cowboy Todd.

 Dad's bales lining the bike trail.  Guess he doesn't get as many bales now that the trail is in.

 Canola Flower. They're really pretty but smell awful!

 Todd and Quito having a little talk.

 There's just something about a cowboy and his dog. :-)

 Something just so pretty about a North Dakota sky

View along the bank.

The Canola field. Oh so pretty!

Trip to Willmar June 2012

Kade wants to tell you all about our time there...

"So my Mom and Dad went on a Cruise to the Bahama's? Who cares, I've got my own pool in the back yard!!" 

"Me and Grandma Kelley. I like her!"

"Playin' is fun, but I get tired, and want to go take a nap. I like my naps. Sometimes Gramma took a nap too."

"Mom and Dad came back from their trip and then we went to the church and they Dedicated me to the Lord. It was pretty cool. And I didn't even throw up on Pastor Rod this time."

"This is after the Church Service with my mom and dad, and Pastor Rod and Annette Rice, and also Pastor Brad Brede. They all like to pray for me, I think that's really special."

"Grampa Todd and Gramma Kelley wanted a picture with me and my mom and dad. I mean who wouldn't want a picture with me, I'm so cute!"

"Since it was Father's Day, my mom and me got my dad some discs to play disc golf. I really don't understand it, but this is a picture of my dad trying to find his disc."

"Gramma likes to take pictures, and this is one of them. I think they call it a bike. Some man was riding it, but he got off to go fishing."

"Dad and I had a lot of fun with the swing. He's a pretty cool dad."

"Isn't my dad handsome?  Because of me, he had his first Father's Day. Pretty cool huh?  I knew I was special!"

"Since I'm almost One year old, Gramma said I could be a princess.  It was pretty fun. I got to drool all over this pretty princess dress, and crawl around in the grass while Gramma laid on the grass with this big black thing in front of her face. I don't under stand what it is, but she sure gets pretty excited about it every time she picks it up. Maybe when I'm older, she'll show me what it is."

"Thanks for listening and looking at my pictures about my Gramma and Grampa's visit to Willmar. They said I really am their little princess."

Love, Kadence

Mom's Roses

My brother and sister-in-law gave my mom these lovely roses for Mother's Day. 

Nothing prettier than a rose.