Summer is here, and I figured it was about time to show some pictures of how our yard has changed since January!

As a reminder, here's the front in the winter:

And here's the front today: 

Yes, the hedges are getting a bit unruly!

The backyard in the winter:

Today:

That thing on the bottom of the pool is a Kreepy Krauly.

The pool in the winter:

Today!

See the shark in the pool? :) He's our chlorine dispenser.
Sadly, at the moment, our pool seems to have a leak 
(which is why the water level is so low.)

Everything's so much prettier in the spring/summer/fall than in the winter!

Italy Part 17: Vatican City - Architecture

The Vatican has an overwhelming amount of priceless paintings, sculptures, tapestries, etc., and I'll post pictures of those soon. However, right now I'm going to show you some photos of domes, staircases, lamps, and buildings!

 Vatican spiral staircase!

Too bad I couldn't climb on the ceiling to get an overhead view.

St. Peter's Basilica's dome viewed from the porch/patio near the beginning of our tour

 Zoooooom...

Belvedere Courtyard. See the pinecone?

 After we saw the Sistine Chapel 

(where photo-taking was not allowed, but that's OK, because check this out!)

we walked down these stairs. 

The doors at the top open into the Chapel.

 We also came across these stairs, which are apparently reserved for the Pope.

From a courtyard below the Sistine Chapel.

 The top layer of building, with the buttresses, is the Sistine Chapel.

Near St. Peter's 

 Swiss Guard eying the camera

Italy Part 16: Vatican City - St. Peter's Basilica addendum!

Oops! I forgot to include one very important photo in my post about St. Peter's:

Michelangelo's Pieta

Italy Part 15: Vatican City - Popes and Pope-mobiles!

One of the first places our Vatican guide took us was into the Pope-mobile archive. From old gilded carriages to the bullet-proof modern truck, they're all there!

Fancy carriage

Many more carriages used by past Popes

Moving up a bit....

Everything a modern Pope needs!

In my previous post on the Vatican, I forgot to mention that in St. Peter's, we saw the tombs of two of the previous Popes:

 Inside St. Peter's Basilica - the tomb of Pope John Paul II

The mummified corpse of Pope Innocent XI

According to the Catholic News Agency, Pope Innocent XI's previous resting place was where John Paul II is now entombed, but he (Innocent) was relocated to make way for the latest arrival.

There are many more former Popes buried in St. Peter's (146, according to the List of Popes Buried in St. Peter's!), but these are the only two I got pictures of. 

Happy Father's Day!

We interrupt our regularly-scheduled Italy blog for a special announcement:

Since this is Father's Day, I'd like to pay tribute to my dad! I've known him for 37 years now, and I have to say, he is the best father anyone could ask for. :) He is kind, caring, intelligent, supportive, generous, loving, and funny, and he makes the world's best popcorn! He's been there for me at every stage of my life, and here are a few of my favorite photo memories:

On top of the Empire State Building when I was...7?
(With Fozzie, my ever-present companion!)

At Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City, December 1983. I was 9.

Hayride in the woods when I was around 16, so 1990-ish


Reading to my brothers, Joe and Rob, 1993

Popcorn, his specialty! (1994)

At my college graduation, 1994

At my wedding (obviously!), 1998

Danika, Dad, and me, 2004

Mom and Dad in York, England, 2007.
The four of us went there together for Spring Break week.
It was one of the best, most fun vacations we've ever taken!
Hopefully we can pull off "Vacation: The Sequel - Italy" in a few years. :)

In front of York Minster

Dad and me chilling by Lake Superior in Duluth, MN, summer 2009

Dad and Mom with Lake Superior behind them, same day

In the field behind their house, 2009

Mom and Dad in Menomonie, WI, August 2009

With nearly the entire family (minus Lydia) at Grandpa Nelson's funeral
December 2010

I love you Dad!

Italy Part 14: Vatican City - St Peter's Basilica

On the Tuesday we were in Rome, we went on a guided tour of the Vatican. It was advertised as being 3 hours long, but it ended up being over 4, and when it was over, the guide actually took those interested on a little side excursion. (We went off on our own at that point.)

This post and the next few are going to be out of order. We saw St. Peter's Basilica at the very end of our tour, but I'm posting it first. :)

The front of St. Peter's.
The very top of the dome can be seen rising above the entrance.


A partial view of St. Peter's Square.

Another view, with the ancient Egyptian obelisk in the center.
They were either setting up or tearing down for some big event.
Either way, their chairs cluttered up my picture!

There are 284 columns surrounding the Square, which was designed by Bernini in the 1600s.
The banners hanging between them are all pictures of the late Pope John Paul II.
They were there to celebrate his beatification on May 1 by the current pope.

Inside the Basilica.

Sunlight shining through one of the secondary domes.

The main altar.
See the glowing stained glass in the center?
Here's what it looks like close up:

Approaching the main dome.

A painting of St. Mark.
This painting can be seen in the top-right corner of the previous photo, too.
According to our guide, the feather Mark's holding in his hand is nearly 9 feet long!

A mosaic.

Closeup of the mosaic.

Next up: Popes and pope-mobiles!