Day Ninety 2011

Grape hyacinths growing wild on the hillside in my back yard. And since they grow wild around here, I figured they were a weed. I was wrong, which wouldn't be the first time, especially about plant life. Here's something I learned: they are not hyacinths but a member of the lily family, native to the Mediterranean area and Asia Minor and they have a musky-grassy smell. I like them and wish we had more. Guess I could head over to Lowe's and buy me some grape hyacinth bulbs. Who knew?

Day Eighty Nine 2011

Grand daughter Shelby is stylin in her Vera Bradley dress that she got at TJ Maxx. She noticed the designer name on the dress because it's the same designer name on her glasses. She's pretty style-conscious at the age of nine. When I was nine, I somehow had clothes on my body and wore some hand-me-downs from older girl cousins. Now my daily uniform is the usual T shirt, jeans, and tennis shoes. I guess I should let Shelby teach me a thing or two. But I'm probably beyond any help in that area.

Day Eighty Eight 2011

'Tis my faith that every flower Enjoys the air it breathes!' ~~William Wordsworth, "Lines Written in Early Spring," Lyrical Ballads, 1798

Day Eighty Seven 2011

What a beautiful, sunny, chilly, blue sky spring day! Monday is always my busiest chore day, so I got outside only long enough to watch grand daughter Shelby cross the street from school and snap this picture of the cherry blossoms against that awesome blue. I'd like to enjoy those blossoms as much as possible. They'll be gone soon.

Day Eighty Six 2011

Today we celebrated my mother's birthday. She turned 90 years old yesterday. Thanks again to our go-to cake creator, Tammy, who once again made a totally delicious birthday cake. Believe me, it tasted as wonderful as it looked!

Here's the birthday girl, blowing out those big numbers. Her sister, Joy Brown, who is 96 years young, is sitting right there next to her, thanks to my sister Jane, who made sure Aunt Joy got to help Mom celebrate today.

This is the year of BIG-O birthdays! From left to right: Mom's great grand daughter Shelby Myers turns 10 in July, Mom's grand daughter Kendra Shelton turns 30 in July, Mom's grandson Chris Mabry turned 40 in January, Mom's daughter Jane Foy turns 50 in October, Mom's son in law Don Foy turns 50 in May, and Mom's son in law Neil Ranft turned 60 in February. And of course Mom hit the Big Nine-0 on March 26. How cool is that!

Here's Mom with all but two of her grandpeeps and great grandpeeps. Front row left to right: great grandson Elijah Myers, grand daughter Julia Foy, grand daughter Sarah Foy, grand daughter Kelly Kimbrough, grand daughter Kendra Shelton, and grand daughter Evan Mabry. Back row from left to right: great grand daughter Shelby Myers, great grandson Ethan Mabry, great grand daughter Ashley Mabry, grandson Chris Mabry, and grand daughter Holly Myers. (Missing in action: grandsons Ian Mabry and Alex Mabry)

Mom's peeps! Back row left to right: son in law Don Foy, son in law Neil Ranft, grandson Chris Mabry, grand daughter Evan Mabry, son in law Terry Sissom, grand daughter Kendra Shelton, grandson in law Al Shelton, grand daughter Kelly Kimbrough. Middle row left to right: grandson in law Jerry Myers, grand daughter Holly Myers, son Ken Mabry, daughter Kay Ranft, daughter Ann Sissom, sister Joy Brown, daughter Jane Foy, and great grand daughter Shelby Myers. Front row left to right: great grand daughter Ashley Mabry, grand daughter Sarah Foy, great grandson Ethan Mabry, great grandson Elijah Mabry, and grand daughter Julia Foy.

I'm telling you, folks, this is THE BEST FAMILY on the planet. I'm so thankful we could all be together today to celebrate our mom's/granny's/great-granny's 90th birthday! Looking forward to doing it all over again next year, Mom! Love you!!

Day Eighty Five 2011

Happy 90TH Birthday, Mom!

My mother, Hampton Gailbreath Mabry, was born March 26, 1921 in Gainesboro, Tennessee, and celebrates her 90TH birthday today. She doesn't look 90 years old, does she? She's never looked her age.

Our family is having a birthday party for her tomorrow, but I wanted her to have something special on her actual day of days, so I took her a gorgeous spring bouquet and some Krystals, with a chocolate milk quake. She was surprised and pleased to say the least. Krystal burgers are her fave (and they'd better have plenty of pickles on them!).

Happy Birthday, Mom!! I love you gooder 'n snuff!

Day Eighty Four 2011

The Nashville Flea Market

I loves me some crocks but didn't buy any.

Always lots of weirdness at the market...like this head.

I always see vintage boots but never buy--just not practical plus my big feet would never fit inside these tiny shoes.

More heads. Maybe to display wigs. They were all lined up on a shelf which looked really neat, but before I could take a picture, this young guy started picking them up and moving them around. He actually bought two of them. And was very picky about which ones he chose. Would love to know what that was all about.

It must have been head day at the flea market. They were everywhere.
Can you believe this old camera? I think it's called a box camera. I saw lots of ancient cameras today. A collector could have a field day buying those.

I really like this head. She may end up as my profile picture on Facebook one of these days. Love her flirty little green hat that matches her eyes.

Hey, look, it's my head. Gratuitous self-portrait of me all cold and wet at the flea market today. Just plain fun.

Nice collection of purple medicine bottles. This glass does not start out this color, but it turns purple through some sort of natural chemical process over time. (Blurry pic, too. Seems most of my pics today are blurry.)

Besides the heads, this is probably the wackiest thing I saw there--a shopping cart full of pink flamingos. Everyone should have at least one pink flamingo in the front yard.

Somebody had an actual fire hydrant for sale (a hundred bucks) and advertised it as a 'dog potty trainer'. Would look great in the front yard along side the pink flamingo.

And last but not least, the flea market is where I go when I need to stock up on ammo. This booth sold all sorts of vintage military stuff--boots, hats, uniforms, ammo....and another weird wacky head to help display it all. Rambo would love it.

Neil and I had a good time browsing around, even though it was cold and wet. We met up with daughter Kelly and son in law Kerry afterward for some soup and salad at Olive Garden. Very enjoyable. And we even managed not to lock ourselves out of the truck this time.

Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Eighty Three 2011

Blue Jay on a chilly day.

Squirrel pig.

Grand daughter Shelby on her way in from school, not knowing I was taking her picture.

Grand daughter Shelby and GREAT REPORT CARD! 5 As and 3 Bs. WooHoo! She was ecstatic. I'm so proud of you, Shelby!!

Day Eighty Two 2011

The Mega Block dawgs that grandson Elijah and I built this morning.

He had fun destroying the wacky building I made. That's why he's laughing.

The first tulip bloom. I love tulips. We don't have as many blooming in recent springs because the bulbs need to be dug up and separated and replanted. That sounds like work.

The irises bloomed, too! One day they look like that iris on the right, and the next day--poof! I love these--the Tennessee state flower.

Mama Cardinal and other birdies looking for food. The feeders are empty because the squirrels pig out on the seed all day long until there's none left for the winged creatures.

Papa Cardinal probably found more seed to eat on the ground under the feeders than his mate found on the feeders. Getting some rain which we need and storms which nobody needs. Hope you are safe and dry where you are.

Day Eighty One 2011

"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom." ~ Terri Guillemets

Day Eighty 2011

Even as these near-eighty degree temps wilt our beautiful buttercups, the purple irises are starting to sprout. I hope the heat doesn't kill them before they've had the chance to bloom. I'm loving the warmer temps, but, hey Mother Nature, give Spring a chance!

Day Seventy Nine 2011

The best way to celebrate the first day of spring is to go to the D.Q. and eat a Blizzard. Or to eat a sundae just because it's Sunday. We never need an excuse to eat such treats--as long as we don't do it too often. Happy first day of spring, everyone!

Day Seventy Eight 2011

"Spring is Nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'" ~ Robin Williams

Day Seventy Seven 2011

Winter says goodbye, and I say good riddance! The last day of winter offered up almost 80 degree temperatures and a breathtaking sunset that my little cell phone camera just could not do justice. I wish I had been on some vista at this moment, high above all the clutter of this town which is so hard to escape, especially when you're trying to take a picture of a beautiful sky. I hope you can see the silver lining. So long, Winter! Happy TGIF, y'all!

P.S.~~I'm getting ahead of myself~~today is the NEXT to last day of winter and tomorrow will be winter's last hurrah. Sunday is first day of Spring! I guess I'm anxious to get rid of winter and so ready for a more colorful world :)

Day Seventy Six 2011

It's spring break here for the kids, so a big bunch of us got together at Mom's place and enjoyed some lunch and laughs. From the front and circling left around the table are grand daughter Shelby, grandson Elijah, hubby Neil, niece Julia, sister Ann, MOM, niece Sarah, great niece Ashley, great nephew Ethan, nephew Chris, and sister Jane. Daughter Holly joined us, too, but wasn't there in time for the picture. It's always a blast to be together like this. We don't get to do it often enough. Later, Mom, sisters and I sat out on the big porch on the swing and rocking chair and soaked up a gorgeous afternoon. It's almost spring. Everything is turning green--just in time for St. Patty's Day! Happy St. Patrick's Day, y'all!

Day Seventy Five 2011

Sitting in the Arby's parking lot at lunch time, waiting for hubby to come along, and suddenly the dark clouds parted and lo and behold there was blue sky! Sight for sore eyes. Looking forward to the nice weather the next few days.

Day Seventy Four 2011

Some Random

Grand daughter Shelby's breakfast~Granny Smith apple slices

Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah on spring break this week~playing games on Nintendo DS

The Ides of March (Latin: Idus Martii) is the name of 15 March in the Roman calendar, probably referring to the day of the full moon. The term ides was used for the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October, and the 13th day of the other months. The Ides of March was a festive day dedicated to the god Mars and a military parade was usually held. In modern times, the term Ides of March is best known as the date that Julius Caesar was killed in 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was stabbed (23 times) to death in the Roman Senate led by Marcus Gaius Cassius Longinus and 60 other co-conspirators.
On his way to the Theatre of Pompey (where he would be assassinated), Caesar visited with a seer who had foretold that harm would come to him not later than the Ides of March. Caesar joked, "Well, the Ides of March have come", to which the seer replied "Ay, they have come, but they are not gone." This meeting is famously dramatized in William Shakespear's play Julius

Caesar, when Caesar is warned to "beware the Ides of March".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ides_of_March

So now you know. Don't say I never taught you nothin.