Guess who is visiting in New Mexico from Chicago?

Gavin poses with his proud grandparents.............

And his "Grand Aunt" Diana too.............

Grandpa gives a tour of the Roundhouse and everyone enjoys the art....

Gavin has grown up quite a bit this year....

Here's another novel artwork......

Really novel!................

Talking "Man talk" with the boy.......

Then a sad farewell at the train......we are so impressed with how mature Gav has become and are anxious to see him again soon!

APRILL 2008

As the morning arrives, the pets are waking up from a sound sleep..........

Winston gets up and finds a new place to sleep.....

Tallulah has commandeered Winston's bed.....

Poor Winston! He's reduced to sleeping in a paper sack............

"Is this anyway to treat the King?"..................

Daddy takes the dogs for a well-enjoyed walk.....

All on April 2nd--Grandma's birthday!! Hope your day was fun!

HEY, WASN'T IT SPRING A FEW DAYS AGO?

All the blossoms and early leaves are now covered with snow......

All her footprints in the snow prove that the snow doesn't slow Solange down....

White dogs, white world, this is their time......

"Hey, WHAT IS THIS???"......

The snow doesn't stay around too long because the ground is warm....

The goddess Diana is now a snow queen............

Portrait of a "bucket destruction" battlefield......

"My feet are COLD!"..............

One glamorous eye.............

The sun is coming out................

But nothing deters Solange from attacking her bucket--or what is left of her bucket...........

Snow dancing...............

A frozen garden.....

A lonely gate.......

But Solange is in her element!.............She's a snow dog!...........

And while New Mexicans weather the storm..........

New Yorkers are posing for classic portraits.................

IT'S APRIL!

Click on image to enlarge calendar photo for April 2009.

Click on image to enlarge calendar dates for April 2006.

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month from Rachel who has a birthday this month. She'll be 31!

A NEW CROSS

The Cathedral is all aglow in the early morning hours.......

A huge crane is getting extended to do an important task......

It is carefully adjusted to reach to the very top of the Cathedral's roof.....

And moved to the center-front position.....

The new cross is carried out in its crate.....

The darker insert is from the old cross and contains the original date of erection.....

Measure twice, cut once.............

The cross is padded in case of any bumps............

Many vigilant parishioners watch the historical project.................

Down comes the hook of the crane...............

It's ready to move........

Up it goes........

And up and up.......

Up above the street......

And up above La Fonda.....

And above the entire city.....................

To the front of the church......

On the top of the scaffolding, a crew is waiting to move it into place.....

And here it finally rests--back lit by the rising sun.

A photo from the newspaper coverage of the event. Haven't these people ever seen a church or a cross before?