Day One Hundred Ninety Three 2013

HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY, SARAH!



My sweet niece Sarah celebrated her 18th birthday this evening with family and friends and a yummy chocolate cake. [Her official birth date is tomorrow] These past 18 years have rushed by, crazy fast. I’ve watched her grow up into this unique, smart, talented, gorgeous, funny and fun to be with young woman who is one of my favorite people on the planet. But then she’s always been all those things. Her future is shiny bright. Can’t wait to see where she goes and how she gets there. Wishing you all the best of everything life has to offer, Sarah. Love you to pieces.

Day One Hundred Thirty Eight 2013

The Graduate ~ Class of 2013

My niece Sarah graduated from high school this morning. She was in the top 10% of a 500+ senior class.

Turn your tassels, class!

The Graduate ~ Congratulations, Sarah!

Proud parents Don and Jane and sister Julia

Had a great time at the graduation party. And so did Harry.

'I'm free!' Sarah’s jumpin for joy with cousin Shelby and sister Julia. I’m proud of you, Sarah! Keep on shining. Love you always.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.
-- Henry David Thoreau

Day One Hundred Twenty Four 2013

PROM NIGHT



This is senior prom night for my seventeen year old niece, Sarah. Isn’t she gorgeous? I told her she looked like a princess. She’s a natural beauty, inside and out, and I love her to pieces. I hope she has the time of her life tonight. Two weeks from today, she graduates high school and heads off into her future and, I think, the most fun part of the journey. Love you, Sarah!

Day Seventy Three 2013

Grandpeeps Elijah and Shelby spent the day with Neil and me as their spring break winds down. Lunched at KFC. Elijah was playing with his Jell-o and flipped some on the wall. Shelby is making the universal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ gesture. Elijah did eventually wipe it off the wall.

Landed at the DQ for frozen treats with more peeps. Daughter Holly, sister Jane, granddaughter Shelby, niece Julia, and niece Sarah having a laugh which I missed cause I was taking this picture.

And here’s one with Elijah in the mix ~ the only man in a sea of cooties. Or is that cuties?

After stuffing ourselves with chicken and ice cream, we spent some time in the sunshine. Neil pitched ball to Elijah who is signed up to play T Ball this spring.

Batter, batter, swing, batter! He can really pop them out of the park (or into the street).

I love this picture of Shelby. She doesn’t even know I took it as she walked away, going after the big ball she’d been kicking around the yard. She’s eleven and such a great kid who is quickly growing into her teenage years. Nope. Not gonna think about that right now. Sure did enjoy spending the day with my peeps. Always do.

Day Thirty Two 2013

TGIF  Randomness

Snow came late last night.

We got an inch, maybe less, but it was nice to finally see some accumulation here.

It was a gorgeous sunny blue sky day. The temperature never reached thirty so that sun sure felt good.

Snow face.

These little finches are always all over our feeders, no matter what the weather.

I love it when I manage to capture them in flight.

Today was a snow day for the school kids (a real snow day!). Grandpeeps Elijah and Shelby came to hang out with us, and grandson Knox and his mommy Kelly are here for a visit, too.

We enjoyed a yummy lunch at Ocha deli, our fave Thai food place.

Carrots. And…broccoli? Knox loves carrots. Today he bravely tried the dreaded broccoli and seemed to like it.

My sweet niece Sarah stopped by the house to leave a book for Shelby as she was finishing up her student driving today and then stopped by again looking for her lost cell phone. She indulged her aunt Kay and let me take her picture with the Student Driver car (her instructor is in there somewhere). She’s an excellent driver (already has her license). And she did eventually find her cell phone.

Icicle curving around the gutter

Daughter Kelly brought Krispy Kremes!!

The icicles were beautiful today. The sun was creating starbursts (sunbursts?) off the ice.

One of my fave things after a snow—can’t get enough of icicles.

Impromptu peeps gathering at Poet’s On The Square coffeehouse late this afternoon. From left: sister Jane, daughter Kelly, grandson Elijah, hubby Neil, brother in law Don, granddaughter Shelby and grandson Knox. We enjoyed some tasty drinks, hot and frozen, and lots of laughs. Niece Sarah joined us later. And, hey, niece Julia, we missed you!

I made spaghetti sauce this morning (my dad’s awesome recipe) and we enjoyed a spaghetti supper~~ winter’s night comfort food. Knox says, Happy TGIF, everyone! Hope yours was spectacular, also.

Day One Hundred Ninety Six 2012

My niece Sarah celebrated her 17th birthday this afternoon. She is one of my favorite people on the planet, and I am blessed by her presence in my life. God has blessed her abundantly in every aspect of her life, and it is my prayer that He continues to bless her throughout the coming year as she heads into her senior year in high school. Happy birthday, Sarah! Love you bunches!!

Day One Hundred Eighty Three 2012

Sister Jane, niece Sarah, niece Julia, daughter Kelly, grandson Knox and I enjoyed some time together at Poet’s On The Square coffeehouse this afternoon and cooled off with some tasty frozen drinks.

Knox tried on Sarah’s sunglasses for size. Perfect fit! Way cool time at Poet’s.

Day Eighty Two 2012

I can't even begin to tell you how much I enjoyed watching Cookeville High School's production of 'Seven Brides For Seven Brothers'. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard and often and had so much fun watching a play and especially a high school play, and I've seen a whole lot of plays in my time. And I'm not saying this just because my sweet niece peep Sarah Foy is in it, playing the part of Martha, one of the brides. (That's her in this picture, by the way, in costume). Everything about it was well done--the music (with a live orchestra), songs, choreography and sets, the singing and acting, plus a great story made for some spectacular entertainment. Bravo to this talented group of young people! If you live in the Cookeville, Tennessee, area, come see this play if you can: March 22, 23, 24 and March 29, 30, 31 at 7:30 in the Cookeville High School auditorium, $5.00 admission at the door. Sarah, I'm so proud of you! I always love watching you perform. I think this play is my new favorite.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Eight 2011

POET’S





Enjoyed a yummy frozen hot chocolate with my peeps at Poet’s On The Square this afternoon. It’s always fun to get together here and chat and laugh and be silly (which means being our usual rowdy selves). A great way to spend some time on a gorgeous Autumn day. Peeps at Poet’s rock!

Day Two Hundred Twenty Six 2011

Had some spur of the moment fun with peeps at Poet's On The Square coffeehouse after lunch today. It may have been a coincidence, but for some reason the place cleared out after we came in and sat down and started making noise. Oh well. We can't help ourselves. Maybe there's something in those tasty frozen drinks that brings out the random silliness in all of us, which results in a whole lot of laughter and (loud) fun. We haven't been there in a long while, so I guess we were making up for lost time. Anyway, it was fun as always so let's do it again sometime. Soon.

Day One Hundred Ninety One 2011

My sweet niece, Sarah, turns sweet 16 on July 13. She celebrated this milestone yesterday with a dinner party for good friends and again today with cake and ice cream for her crazy relatives. We had tons of fun and lots of laugh, and I wish I had another piece of that yummy chocolate cake right now. As the line from a song goes, "Slow down; you move too fast!" I know you're growing up, but please, not so fast! I love to love you, Sarah. You are a blessing to me and everyone who is fortunate to know you. Wishing you all the good things in life you so richly deserve today and always!