Remembering Grandpa

He taught me how to fish. He made my first reptile box. He showed me how to milk a cow. He played the harmonica so that I could dance. He took me blackberry and blueberry picking.

He had the greatest laugh and best work ethic. He told me that "the reward for hard work is more hard work." And I've never forgotten these words.

He was always fun to be around. He made wine (giving me my first science lesson in fermentation), had his own ice shanty and snowshoed. Plus, instead of snowmen, Grandpa made snow chickens with us. I still make them to this day.

He was a man of the land. He raised cattle, pigs and chickens. He gardened, trapped, fished and hunted. And forever, I will have an image etched in my memory of him in his solid denim overalls, red plaid shirt, red mesh hat, standing in the middle of his garden, leaning gingerly on his hoe, resting and taking in the day, living it to the fullest, giving it everything he had.

And so, it is to this memory that I give this photo. A photo that I took last week in Yellowstone National Park. It's been cropped, resized, sharpened, saturated and given a special halo effect. And especially for my Grandpa, I added his favorite animal, a cow. I hope that when he's lifted up on Eagle's wings this week, he will find his green pastures once again.

Love you, Grandpa!

P.S. This photo was enhanced using my new favorite tool, Picnik. I'm excited to use Picnik's puzzle effect to help develop my second grade science inquiry lesson plan on picture puzzles for my Thermal Biology course! But, if I have to pay for the premium puzzle feature, then I'll use a free puzzle maker.