Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Day Two Hundred Seventy Three

Just Can't Get Enough ...


I know. I'm repeating myself. I guess because we've had so much cloudy, rainy, gray skies the past couple of weeks, I just can't get over how beautiful the sky has been lately. I took this with my cell phone camera through my car windshield this afternoon as I headed to cardio/sculpt class. It turned out to be kind of an interesting shot with all the reflection. That red spot looks like Saturn turned on its side. I don't know what that bright flare is, but the little white dots are sap on the glass. That's weird wild stuff. Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be more of the same. Bring it on!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Day Two Hundred Seventy Two





There's just nothing like an Autumn sky! I took these on my way to pick up some Krystal burgers and chicks at lunch time today. Fluffy white clouds in deep blue sky--awesome! (The only regretful thing was not getting Mom a milk shake!)


Monday, September 28, 2009

Day Two Hundred Seventy One



The rogue pumpkin vine was nice while it lasted. I took these pictures Saturday afternoon after it finally stopped raining. I'm glad I did. I guess the rain that made it sprout was the same rain that killed it. It must have drowned. By Sunday afternoon, the vine was totally wilted. It's a goner. But not forgotten. I got a kick out of taking pictures of those cute little tendrils and curls. Maybe next year.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Day Two Hundred Seventy

The Magic Word


Elijah: "I want a Popsicle."
Granny: "What's the magic word?"
Elijah: "Hocus pocus!"
That is a magic word. And he was totally serious. So I gave him a Popsicle :-)

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Day Two Hundred Sixty Nine

Random Pictures From The Day With Shelby And Elijah


Shelby and Elijah spent the day with us while their parents went white water rafting on the Ocoee. Since it was scheduled to rain the whole day, I guess Holly and Jerry figured they were going to get wet anyway. The kids dug out blocks they almost never play with and built castles and towers.

McDonald's is a great place to hang out on a rainy day. You can eat a cheeseburger (after peeling off the cheese), then play like a monkey on the indoor playground. I'm glad these kids choose apple slices over French fries. After McD's, we hit DQ for cones with sprinkles.

Shelby spent most of the day creating Halloween art. She was especially proud of this spider and its web that she drew and colored. She drew a ghost with mean red eyes, and it kept freaking her out every time she looked at it.

The rain stopped late this afternoon, and we ventured out on the back porch. Elijah wanted to swing, but the tree swing was soaked and the ground too muddy, so he settled for a ride with Shelby and Grandpa on the porch swing.

I snapped this picture when Neil said, "The sun is out!" They all had to turn and look. Sunshine has been at a premium these last couple of weeks.

We blew some bubbles to amuse ourselves. And it always does. Elijah was trying to blow the biggest bubble ever!

I could almost hear the angels singing when the sunlight popped through the clouds. What a glorious sight. By then, it was on its way down. Tomorrow is supposed to be dry.

The four of us got into a nasty pillow fight just before supper. Lots of giggling as these two just kept swinging at each other.

Neil and I got out of the way and let them go at it. Shelby landed the most head shots. By the time we finished supper, they were running out of steam. Holly and Jerry picked them up around 7:30. They were exhausted from their rafting (apparently after all the rain, the Ocoee was a raging river) but they had a great time and want to do it again. I'd love to have some pictures of that! Good times, great memories!

Friday, September 25, 2009

Day Two Hundred Sixty Eight

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year


For me, anyway. Ornamental gourds like these are just a few of my favorite Autumnal things.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Day Two Hundred Sixty Seven

I Almost Ate The Whole Bag


You have to try these. I had them last year when they first hit the shelves with the other Halloween candy, so I already knew how awesome they taste. Brach's Milk Maid Caramel Apple Candy Corn (made with Real Milk, as if that matters!) Since I have zero willpower to resist such treats, I grabbed a bag of these while we were at Super D drugstore this evening. Serving size is 22 pieces at 130 calories. Not so bad. Unless you eat half the bag before you realize what you've done. Just about made myself sick, but it was totally worth it. Check 'em out!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Day Two Hundred Sixty Six


I've been known to toss a rotting pumpkin or two under the bushes surrounding our deck out back. With all the rain we're having lately, I guess it's no surprise a pumpkin vine would be growing out of one of the hundreds of seeds that landed there.

The vine has the cutest little curls and pods and fuzzy stems.

The vine started growing only a couple of weeks ago. It's a shame it couldn't have started earlier. I might have had some home grown pumpkins by now.

And totally unrelated to rogue pumpkin vines, I noticed this huge praying mantis enjoying the day while perched on this pink flower growing in the back yard. I think it may have been a female because it looked like it was about to deliver a bunch of baby mantises. I'm just glad it didn't jump on me while I was taking it's picture.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Day Two Hundred Sixty Five

The Wind And The Leaves
by Charles Hubert Hastings Parry
(published 1918)


“Come, little leaves,” said the wind one day,“Come o’er the meadows with me, and play.
Put on your dresses of red and gold;
Summer is gone, and the days grow cold.”

Soon as the leaves heard the wind’s low call, Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew, Singing the soft little songs they knew.

“Cricket, good-by, we’ve been friends so long! Pretty brook, sing us your farewell song;
Say you are sorry to see us go. Oh! you will miss us, right well we know.

“Dear little lambs, in your fleecy fold, Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
Fondly we’ve watched you in vale and glade: Say, will you dream of our loving shade?”

Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went: Winter had called them, and they were content.
Soon fast asleep in their earthly beds, The snow laid a coverlet over their heads.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first poem I can remember hearing. My mom's dad, George Bain Gailbreath, taught me the first stanza and I've never forgotten it. I always thought that was all of it and figured it was something he had made up. I never realized until today that it had other verses and was made into a children's song. This old poem is full of melancholy, because as beautiful as Autumn can be, it makes me sad for the little leaves that have already begun to change and fall. Now that I've bummed everyone out, Happy Fall, Y'all!!

Monday, September 21, 2009

Day Two Hundred Sixty Four


Walked around the block with my camera today after lunch and saw this old water meter in front of that empty lot down the street where there is no sidewalk. It must be pretty old because it's not like any of the other ones on this street. Anyway, I thought the word 'water' was appropriate for today and every day for the last two weeks. I'm long past ready for the rains to stop for a while now. A sunny day would have been nice to mark the final day of Summer.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Day Two Hundred Sixty Three

Kitty See, Kitty Do


Buddy loves to climb on the fence and the wood shed. And whatever Buddy does ...

Eddie has to do. (I removed Neil's tree pruning shears before Eddie impaled himself)

Buddy pretty much ignores Eddie (unless Eddie gets in his face--then there's swatting and hissing). But Eddie ...

follows Buddy like a pesky little brother. Eddie kept his distance, this time. Buddy was long gone by the time Eddie made it across the roof of the wood shed. Maybe these two will be friends one day. But that's probably just crazy talk.


Saturday, September 19, 2009

Day Two Hundred Sixty Two

Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807-1882
American Educator and Poet














Friday, September 18, 2009

Day Two Hundred Sixty One

Second Annual Boot Scootin' BBQ & Homecoming
Morningside Assisted Living
Proceeds Go To The Alzheimer's Association


The gang's all here! Shelby, Elijah, Holly, Julia, Sarah, Kelly, Don, and Mom dig in to the traditional meal of Savory Pulled Pork BBQ, Southwest Chili, Mexican Cornbread, Cole Slaw, Hot Dogs (enormous!), Fritos, drinks and Killer Brownies.

Kelly, Don, Ann, and Mom enjoy the meal and the fact that it finally quit raining and we got to be outside.

Ken, Neil, Mom, and Jane in various stages of filled stomach contentment, waiting for the band to play.

Listen to the band! The Back Roads Band performs country cover tunes that keep your boots scootin'. Even though Elijah kept shouting out "Freebird!", they never did play it.

Mom and her kids. We've never needed an excuse to get together and have some fun, but we do take advantage of any opportunity, like the Boot Scootin' BBQ and Homecoming. We had a blast and the proceeds go to the Alzheimer's Association.



Thursday, September 17, 2009

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Day Two Hundred Fifty Nine

Today's Forecast: RAIN!


The big news in my neck of middle Tennessee today is rain. Our town got over 6 inches. This spot in our back yard always floods in a heavy rain.

Schools let out at 2 PM today because roads were flooding. When I walked over to the school to pick up Shelby, the water was ankle deep.

The road that runs behind our house and just across from the school flooded a bit, along with some pavement erosion. I did not envy the crossing guard's job this afternoon. Shelby had to remove her shoes and socks before she could walk through our yard to the house. The rain has slacked off this evening. Thursday's forecast: 60% chance of rain.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Day Two Hundred Fifty Eight

Randomness ...


This creepy crawly worm with a weird flat head was trying to slither its way through my front door today. That didn't sound like a good idea to me. I tried to pick him up with a stick, but he wasn't slimy slick. He was sticky. So I blocked his path with the stick and re directed him toward the front porch. He eventually got the idea and slithered off elsewhere.

Elijah wanted to blow bubbles this afternoon. So we did. Major fun, as usual.

Raindrops caught in a spider's web looked cooler in person than in my picture.

We did have some sunshine today, but I didn't mind the mostly rainy day. We needed it.

After being sequestered in the bathroom all night and all day, Eddie Kitty is feeling much better and was ready to play ball again this evening. We still have to keep him inside for a few days "to let the male hormones get out of his system"--so says the Surgical Aftercare Procedure sheet the doc gave us. "Otherwise, he may get in a fight and infect the surgical site before healing and be very bad for him." Wouldn't want that to happen. Buddy Cat has already hissed at Eddie Kitty, so we have to make sure Eddie is closed off in the bathroom when Buddy is in the house. Sometimes Buddy doesn't play well with others. I hope by the end of the week, things will be back to normal. Whatever that is.