Saturday, August 31, 2013

Day Two Hundred Forty Three 2013

Randomness
IMG_2123
I was in organize mode today upstairs in the bedroom where grandson Knox plays when he’s visiting. Having grandkids is like your own kids never grew up and moved away from home. Knox obviously has a great time playing in here.
IMG_2124
Neatness counts. But it doesn’t last. And that’s OK. The most fun can be had in making the mess.
IMG_0971
Neil spent part of his afternoon cleaning out the debris in our 1920s basement. He always finds interesting stuff down there ~ leftovers from a bygone era ~ like this strip of linoleum that used to cover the kitchen floor, maybe back in the thirties. He also found an old rusty ax.
IMG_0975
It seemed like a good night to make a pot of chili, maybe because it’s Football Time In Tennessee! Go Big Orange! They trampled all over Austin Peay ~ 45 to ZIP. Not surprising, but we’ll see what happens when UT plays a real team.  Hope your Saturday was a winner! [So long, August, we hardly knew ya.]

Friday, August 30, 2013

Day Two Hundred Forty Two 2013

Summer Winding Down
IMG_0960
IMG_0961
IMG_0966
IMG_0969
Summer, please restart yourself.  ~unknown

I suppose summer is officially considered done come Monday, even though [calendar-wise] there are three weeks left until fall. I have no idea where it went, only that it always goes by way too fast.  Happy TGIF, everyone!  Enjoy this Labor Day weekend.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Day Two Hundred Forty One 2013

IMG_0957
My accidental pumpkin patch. I didn’t throw out any old pumpkins this year, so I don’t know where this vine is coming from. It made its appearance a little too late in the year to be sprouting anything good, so I’ll keep my expectations low and maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised by October.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Day Two Hundred Forty 2013

Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you.   ~Richard Brinsley Sheridan
0828031142
Neil and I had lunch in the rose garden today. No, not that rose garden but a local rose garden. This is the view from inside the gazebo at Dogwood Park. It is surrounded on three sides by all different kinds of rose bushes and the scent in the air is delicious. The bright sunlight almost washed out all the pretty colors, but you get the idea. Apparently, a local rose society plants and maintains the garden for all to appreciate. It’s a pleasant way to spend some time with my hubs on his lunch break.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty Nine 2013

Backyard Wandering
"Not all those who wander are lost", a line from the poem All that is gold does not glitter, written by J. R. R. Tolkien for The Lord of the Rings.
IMG_0947
IMG_0953
IMG_0954
IMG_0956
We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer's wreckage. We will welcome summer's ghost.
~Henry Rollins

Monday, August 26, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty Eight 2013

0826031306
Grandson Knox knew he was getting ready to head back home this afternoon, so while his mom scurried about gathering their stuff, he started packing his toy bag with the blocks he recently discovered in Granny’s toy box. [They’re called Bristle Blocks ~ the ‘bristles’ mesh together to make really neat buildings and such and his mommy played with them when she was little ~ he doesn’t know that nor does he care ~ all he knows is that they’re way cool blocks and he was going to take them home] He pulled them all apart and stuffed them into his bag one by one until he was done. Then he went upstairs and found even more cool toys to take home. Have fun with your ‘new’ toys, Knox! Miss you guys!!

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty Seven 2013

0825031735
This is one of daughter Holly’s neighbors [tee hee, could not resist], and grandson Knox got a kick out of petting her velvety soft nose this afternoon, although he was a bit intimidated by the size of this animal. The horse was very gentle and loved our attention. Then she suddenly turned her back on us and ambled away. To find greener pastures, I guess.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty Six 2013

IMG_2101
Jungle cat stalking its prey among the exotic flowers. No, wait, that’s just Lily kitty from next door strolling through the back yard on a Saturday afternoon. And a lovely Saturday it was. Was yours?

Friday, August 23, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty Five 2013

IMG_2086
My beautiful granddaughter Shelby, who is in 7th grade this year, was chosen to be on the yearbook staff. She had to sign up to do this and petition three teachers to recommend her. She found out her good news today and is very excited to say the least. I know she’ll be good at this. She already has a good eye as a photographer, so she’s looking forward to that part of it. Congratulations, Shelby! I am so proud of you!!  Happy TGIF, everyone.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty Four 2013

0822031959
This is our second trip to Ralph’s Donut Shop this week [and it’s only Thursday].
0822031959a
Cheaper by the dozen. We like their new orange cream filled ~ so yummy!
IMG_2082
Grandson Knox could hardly wait to bite into his chocolate covered cake doughnut.  He was done about four bites later. It’s not the quantity but the quality, you know.
IMG_2083
Look who popped in to share a doughnut with us ~ niece Julia and niece Sarah [actually we knew they were coming over to visit and called them while we were at Ralph’s so they could put in their doughnut order].
IMG_2084
Good times clowning around with peeps on a Thursday night!

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty Three 2013

0821031052
Back to the bone doc for me this morning for my follow up. Had a cortisone shot six weeks ago in my left knee. It worked like magic. No pain or swelling. No limping around like I’m a hundred years old. My knee felt back to normal until two weeks ago when I put my foot into some slick mud and fell and apparently wrenched that knee on my way down, which wiped out all the magical effects of that shot. The doc says I most likely have a meniscus tear and surgery looms large in my near future. He was sympathetic but it is too soon to have another cortisone shot ~ apparently you have to wait three to four months between shots. I told him about our beach trip coming up in a month. He said to come in the day before we leave on our trip and he’d give me another shot. I love that man! Now all I have to do is limp my way through the next four weeks. I can do that. I’m used to it by now.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty Two 2013

Terrific Tuesday
photo 2
A day without bubbles is a day without joy.
photo 4
Grandson Knox lulled to sleep in his swing, holding a bubble wand that is his favorite color
photo 7
A day without rain … would be a shock at this point
photo 5
Grandson Elijah insisted that watching SpongeBob would not be a distraction while doing his math homework. He was wrong. Thank goodness for erasers.
photo 6
Granddaughter Shelby gave her homework the raspberries ~ might be more fun if it was on her iPad
0820032022a
This evening, somebody [Neil] mentioned doughnuts, and we were all over it at Ralph’s. Knox knows what he wants. That one!
0820032025
The full moon was gorgeous tonight hanging there in the clouds over West Side. Cell phone camera can do only so much ~
0820032031a
Just dump me in the box and I’ll eat my way out
0820032034
Mm mm……it’s that good! Doughnuts help make a Tuesday even more terrific. Hope yours was, too!

Monday, August 19, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty One 2013

0819031158
Enjoying a Thai food lunch at Ocha ~ hubby Neil, niece Sarah, daughter Holly, grandson Knox, and daughter Kelly
0819031317
Knox hijacked Granny’s strawberries and cream drink at Starbucks. He likes the whipped cream.
0819031317a
We had fun hanging out with Sarah at Starbucks this afternoon. She’s loving some freedom after high school and before her college classes begin next week.
IMG_0909
The kids love playing on the trampoline ~ even daughter Holly, who might be the biggest kid of all.
IMG_0913
Knox thought this was the best fun ever.
IMG_0919
Beautiful afternoon
IMG_0922
Happy face
IMG_0925
Monkeys on a trampoline, having fun and being eaten alive by skeeters
IMG_0937
Granddaughter Shelby making bubbles which makes a Monday even more fun ~ hope yours was, too.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

Day Two Hundred Thirty 2013

ELIJAH’S 7TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
IMG_0776
Grandson Elijah turned 7 years old on August 17 (Saturday). He celebrated today with his family and friends at his house.
IMG_0786
His mom and dad help make his day really special each year with a giant water slide ~ one of the joys of having a summertime birthday.
IMG_0814
Granddaughter Shelby, grandson Knox, grandson Elijah and daughter Holly had a blast on the slide.
IMG_0828
A close family friend, Tammy, made Elijah’s awesome camo cake. Elijah and his dad love to hunt, so the cake was decorated with deer, turkeys and a hunter with a cross bow.
IMG_0836
The happy birthday boy
IMG_0841
Blowing out the candles
IMG_0844
Elijah enjoyed his ‘Tammy cake’ and yummy ice cream and homemade punch.
IMG_0850
We all enjoyed it! There were 20 people at Elijah’s party today.
IMG_0866
Of course, the best part is opening all those great presents.
IMG_0892
He received lots of cards, too, and read them all.
IMG_0896
Elijah had a monstrously good time at his party. Happy Birthday, Little Man, who is quickly getting to be not-so-little any more. Granny loves you!!