Day One Hundred Twenty

'Bud' The Caterpillar

Grand daughter Shelby found this caterpillar on the school playground today. She sneaked him into her classroom and hid him in her backpack--the side pocket that is mesh, so the caterpillar could breathe. She fished him out when she got to my house--said it was a girl because a classmate in the know said it was. She named her 'Bud' and made her a bed of leaves inside the bug box we keep handy for such situations. I'm telling you, kids don't require toys to have fun. She enjoyed petting her and talking to her and making sure she had everything she needed to be comfortable. Then she wanted to go inside and read a book. Cool.

Meet 'Bud'--a most cherished caterpillar if ever there was one. 'Bud' says, "Thank God it's Friday!"

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend.

Day One Hundred Nineteen

Water Gun Fun

This is one way to get the plants watered ...

This is what you look like after you've squirted yourself in the face with a water gun ... Don't let the look fool you--he thought it was fun ...

Shoot the bee! It's not easy shooting a bee with a water gun. But it's the best fun ever.

Hope your Thursday was fun!

Day One Hundred Eighteen

Elijah Man In Motion

Who needs toys when you can make your own fun? On your mark. Get set. Go!

Day One Hundred Seventeen

Looks Like A Tuesday

Grand kids Shelby and Elijah veg on a bowl of ice cream and kiddie TV after school this afternoon. Totally engrossed. I don't think they even realized I was taking their picture.

Shelby and friends at school have started a fashion design business. Shelby has been busy putting together her Winter Collection. Spring designs are on the way.

This is one of my faves. Wonder if I could get that in a Granny size?

Elijah and Grandpa Neil amused themselves by dropping five bouncy balls from the stairs then trying to catch them as they ricocheted off the walls.

If you look closely (and use a powerful magnifying glass), you can see the five balls dropping together. More fun than human beings should be allowed to have on any given Tuesday.

Day One Hundred Sixteen

Rainy Days And Mondays ... And Hostas

The rain was welcome, and Monday hasn't been such a bad day as Mondays go. The Hostas got a nice drink today and the rain beaded up on their pretty green leaves. I love these plants. You can never have too many Hostas in my opinion. Go Hostas!

Day One Hundred Fifteen

Sunday Funday

Buddy Cat got a back rub from Kelly while we sat out on the back porch this afternoon and enjoyed the beautiful blue sky and puffy clouds. Buddy loves it when Kelly comes to town because he loves it when she pets him.

A little smoothie/coffee talk at Poet's coffee house before Kelly headed back home. Neil and Kelly wanted to take those comfy chairs home with them, but Poet's probably would have frowned on that.

Have a great week, everyone!

Day One Hundred Fourteen

April Showers

The rainfall looks like white threads or scratches in this picture, but it's the best I could do without getting my camera wet. We are getting lots of much needed rain today, and thankfully no storms so far. It was a great afternoon for a nap! Happy Saturday, one and all!

Day One Hundred Thirteen

Roast

What do you get when you put together a fun family, a fire built inside an old oil drum cut in half, a bunch of long sticks whittled to a point and three bags of Jet Puffed Marshmallows? You get the Ranft/Kimbrough/Myers/Foy/Sissom Annual Marshmallow Roast (although we've come to call it many different things over the years, some of which no one else on the planet would understand besides said family members). This is the first roast we've had in about the last four years due to circumstances beyond our control--usually foul weather or family members unable to attend. When that happens, we just don't have it. We've also come to add hot dogs and S'mores to our menu. It's all good and it's great fun and once again the neighbors didn't call the police. Let's do it all over again next year, guys!

Day One Hundred Twelve

Crowned

Elijah came in this afternoon wearing the crown he decorated at school. He was pretty proud of it. He had it on when he left. King for a day. You rule, Elijah Man!

Day One Hundred Eleven

Elijah's Day

Loading up the (vintage) Fisher Price circus train--frogs and owls welcome to go along for the ride.

All aboard! The train is leaving the station.

Circus train derailed in a tragic accident. Animals scattered all over the track. Film at eleven.

Lunch at the Chick. Vanilla cone is way cool. Elijah waves to his fans.

Burning off those ice cream calories while climbing the pole like a monkey.

Move over, Picasso.

Elijah and Granny: Self Portrait. Killing time while awaiting Shelby's arrival after school.

So, we meet again. Two of the best kids on the planet. Great Wednesday! See you tomorrow.

Day One Hundred Ten

Tuesday

Our little Azalea bushes are blooming all pink and pretty. They finally got a drink of water this morning.

These look like storm clouds of Biblical proportions hanging over my back yard this afternoon, but apparently they were just showing off. The rain has moved on. Too bad. We need it.

Elijah enjoyed a good day at pre-school today. He made this Itsy Bitsy Spider that climbs up the water spout when you pull the piece of yarn. He told me the spider is his hands. He was very proud of his craft.

Shelby had a good day at school, too--once she realized the tests she had to take (we called them achievement tests when I was her age) were not really the horrifying big deal she thought it was going to be. Plus, the new fairy book set she ordered came in. I think that made her day. She and Elijah always make my day. Happy Tuesday!

Day One Hundred Nine

On This Date In 2007 ...

All of my blasts from the past turn out to be grandson Elijah from 2007. (Mainly because I have tons of pictures of this kid and most of the digital pics on my computer begin in that year, in case you're wondering, which you probably aren't.) He was 8 months old here in his mommy Holly's arms at his sister Shelby's T-ball game. Perhaps I'll remember to take some new pictures tomorrow.

Day One Hundred Eight

Sunday Afternoon Picture Postcards From Kay's Cell Phone Camera

Day One Hundred Seven

One Last Tulip Picture

Beautiful Saturday. Threat of a freeze tonight. Neil planted some flowering things today, so we covered those up, just in case. He says a freeze won't hurt the Tulips. They won't last much longer anyway. So, here's one last Tulip picture.

Day One Hundred Six

Friday Flies

Dandelion garden. You don't need a green thumb to grow these.

Miss Shelby: Visiting Artist. She was very painterly today.

Snowball. So pretty and they smell good, too. The kids like to throw them at each other like snowballs.

Tree seeds. I call them "those whirly things". The wind scattered them in countless numbers today. They are everywhere.

Fridays always fly by way too fast. Hope yours was grand.

Day One Hundred Five

Color Me Purple

These purple Iris are just about the prettiest things growing in our yard right now. I never get tired of looking at my Tennessee state flower.

Day One Hundred Four

Lovey Dovey

It's mating season--the birds and the bees and such. These two Doves might be mates. Or just hanging out together on the deck rail. Their call always sounds mournful to me. Makes me think of that Prince song 'When Doves Cry'.

Day One Hundred Three

The Big One

Anyone who knows my hubby Neil knows his passion for radio controlled airplanes--he buys them, builds them, flies them, sometimes crashes them, and repairs them. Last Saturday at his fly club's swap meet, he acquired this vintage RC plane (vintage meaning they don't make these anymore, it's pretty old and it needs some work). The wing span is probably close to nine feet. Maybe ten. He could probably fit our Buddy Cat in the cock pit. It's the big one. Looking forward to seeing it fly.

Day One Hundred Two

Happy Flower Closeups + Miss Shelby And The Dandelion