Day Two Hundred Forty Three 2013

Randomness

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.

Neatness counts. But it doesn’t last. And that’s OK. The most fun can be had in making the mess.

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.

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.]

Day Two Hundred Forty Two 2013

Summer Winding Down




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.

Day Two Hundred Forty One 2013

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.

Day Two Hundred Forty 2013

Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you.   ~Richard Brinsley Sheridan

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.

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.




We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer's wreckage. We will welcome summer's ghost.
~Henry Rollins

Day Two Hundred Thirty Eight 2013

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!!

Day Two Hundred Thirty Seven 2013

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.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Six 2013

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?

Day Two Hundred Thirty Five 2013

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.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Four 2013

This is our second trip to Ralph’s Donut Shop this week [and it’s only Thursday].

Cheaper by the dozen. We like their new orange cream filled ~ so yummy!

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.

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].

Good times clowning around with peeps on a Thursday night!

Day Two Hundred Thirty Three 2013

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.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Two 2013

Terrific Tuesday

A day without bubbles is a day without joy.

Grandson Knox lulled to sleep in his swing, holding a bubble wand that is his favorite color

A day without rain … would be a shock at this point

Grandson Elijah insisted that watching SpongeBob would not be a distraction while doing his math homework. He was wrong. Thank goodness for erasers.

Granddaughter Shelby gave her homework the raspberries ~ might be more fun if it was on her iPad

This evening, somebody [Neil] mentioned doughnuts, and we were all over it at Ralph’s. Knox knows what he wants. That one!

The full moon was gorgeous tonight hanging there in the clouds over West Side. Cell phone camera can do only so much ~

Just dump me in the box and I’ll eat my way out

Mm mm……it’s that good! Doughnuts help make a Tuesday even more terrific. Hope yours was, too!

Day Two Hundred Thirty One 2013

Enjoying a Thai food lunch at Ocha ~ hubby Neil, niece Sarah, daughter Holly, grandson Knox, and daughter Kelly

Knox hijacked Granny’s strawberries and cream drink at Starbucks. He likes the whipped cream.

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.

The kids love playing on the trampoline ~ even daughter Holly, who might be the biggest kid of all.

Knox thought this was the best fun ever.

Beautiful afternoon

Happy face

Monkeys on a trampoline, having fun and being eaten alive by skeeters

Granddaughter Shelby making bubbles which makes a Monday even more fun ~ hope yours was, too.

Day Two Hundred Thirty 2013

ELIJAH’S 7TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Grandson Elijah turned 7 years old on August 17 (Saturday). He celebrated today with his family and friends at his house.

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.

Granddaughter Shelby, grandson Knox, grandson Elijah and daughter Holly had a blast on the slide.

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.

The happy birthday boy

Blowing out the candles

Elijah enjoyed his ‘Tammy cake’ and yummy ice cream and homemade punch.

We all enjoyed it! There were 20 people at Elijah’s party today.

Of course, the best part is opening all those great presents.

He received lots of cards, too, and read them all.

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!!