Day Two Hundred Sixty Four 2013

"It is the summer's great last heat;  It is the fall's first chill:  They meet."     
~Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt

Bidding Summer a reluctant goodbye.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Three 2013

Randomness

At the carwash ~ so long bird poo and tree sap

This was a most welcome sight this evening ~ Slim Fast for breakfast and lunch is getting Old Fast but sticking with it ~ so Ocha Thai food for supper was quite yummy

We try to walk every day ~ mostly for any amount of time my decrepit knee will allow ~ look at all those leaves ~ you’d think it was Fall

Moving right along~ creepy picture ~ my toes look freakishly long ~ weird, huh? I was prepared to do another lap around the block, but Neil wimped out on me after only ten minutes

I tend to pick up things that catch my eye when we walk ~ like these little acorns ~ I’m a little nutty that way ~ Happy TGIF, y’all!

Day Two Hundred Sixty Two 2013

It’s beginning to look a lot like my favorite time of the year.

Day Two Hundred Sixty One 2013

When her dad bought a new cell phone, granddaughter Shelby got his old one. She’s very happy happy happy about this sudden good fortune, to say the least. These days it’s not such a bad idea for your child to have a cell phone. It’s a great way to stay connected. See, she’s got the hang of it already ~ she can hold onto her Nutty Buddy ice cream cone and work a cell phone at the same time. I'm glad for you, Shelby! So call me, maybe.

Day Two Hundred Sixty 2013

And it’s back to low fat, low cal subs and chips for supper this evening. Makes me appreciate that steak dinner last night even more. {{sigh}}

Day Two Hundred Fifty Nine 2013

Thanks again, sisters (and your families), for the Outback gift card you gave us on our 40th anniversary. We used it once, back when we first got it, and it was so generous that it still had plenty on it for another great meal. We decided to use it this evening, because after a week of being on a Slim Fast for breakfast and lunch kick and Subway for supper, we were in the mood for some real food. I didn’t particularly want broccoli, but I figured it would be a healthier choice than the sweet potato fries [I was amazed by my self control ~ those fries are pretty awesome]. The meal was such a nice treat, and we really do appreciate round two of this yummy gift.

Day Two Hundred Fifty Eight 2013

“Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere. He's gotta pick this one. He's got to. I don't see how a pumpkin patch can be more sincere than this one. You can look around and there's not a sign of hypocrisy. Nothing but sincerity as far as the eye can see.”  ~Linus Van Pelt, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Neil and I went for a stroll around the block today after lunch and discovered that the rogue pumpkin vine that had sprung up months ago at the very back of our yard had spread all the way down the hillside and almost into the street. I had totally forgotten there was a vine growing there.

And happy happy joy joy there is at least one pumpkin growing in this massive patch of pumpkin vines. Woo Hoo! What a pleasant surprise. I’m hoping there might be one or two more hidden in there somewhere. Maybe I’ll have a Great Pumpkin by Halloween. It looks like a sincere pumpkin patch, doesn’t it?

Day Two Hundred Fifty Seven 2013

Wallowing in sidewalk chalk, grandson Knox spent the whole day creating art at his house with his mom and me, while his grandpa replaced the front porch banisters. Knox’s mom and dad are getting their house ready to sell. Knox was pretty much covered from head to toes in colorful chalk and didn't mind one bit. Good times on a gorgeous fall-like day.

Day Two Hundred Fifty Six 2013

The weather has taken a sudden turn. Today was fall-like perfection. Neil and I strolled around the block after lunch. We checked out a house for sale nearby. Not for us, but for daughter Kelly and her family. It looked nice and worth the time to see what was inside.

So daughter Kelly and grandson Knox popped in this afternoon to have a look at the house. It had lots of space inside, lots of rooms and an upstairs. Kelly was torn about it, especially since she and her hubs have already made an offer on another house in the neighborhood. In the end, she decided the first house was the one for them. Knox doesn’t really care where they live I guess. He had some fun jumping on the trampoline.

Headed to Cracker Barrel for supper before they had to head back home. I’m still amazed when I run into stuff like this and it’s still basically summer, on the calendar anyway. No, there is not a feeling of Christmas in the air, thank you.

Knox waited for his mac and cheese and carrots, passing the time coloring and playing with the peg game, and sucking on lemons. He loves to suck on lemons. And not even a grimace or wince. Go figure.

Sometimes you can’t get out of Cracker Barrel without buying stuff that catches a grandson’s eye [way to go, Grandpa]. Beanie Ball Pooh and Tigger were pretty hard to resist.

Knox loves those rocking chairs, so we sat for a while and rocked after supper and Knox rocked his Pooh and Tigger. Didn’t linger too long. The wind got cold. Not used to that. Kelly and Knox didn’t linger too long with us, either. Had to get on the road back home. Lots to do to get their house ready to put on the market soon. Busy days ahead. Have a happy TGIF, everyone.

Day Two Hundred Fifty Five 2013

Grandson Elijah decided the other day that he’s ready to walk to my house from school. All by himself. He said I could wait on the back porch for him, but I told him I’d meet him at the steps into the back yard. He has to cross three traffic lanes ~ two in the school parking lot and then the street itself ~ but I think I trust him to look for cars. He seems to be handling it pretty well.

Day Two Hundred Fifty Four 2013

 

Freedom itself was attacked this morning by a faceless coward. Freedom will be defended! 

 

~President George W. Bush, September 11, 2001

 

These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of America's resolve.

 

~President George W. Bush

Day Two Hundred Fifty Three 2013

Some tortures are physical
And some are mental,
But the one that is both
Is dental.
~Ogden Nash

Having dental work done never really bothered me until recently. For whatever the reason, I have panic attacks whenever I’m in the dentist’s chair. I’m guessing it stems from being claustrophobic, which has escalated in recent years. I keep telling myself that it is irrational, that it is no big deal, but the minute I sat down in that chair this morning and his assistant strapped that bib around my neck, I started to break out in a cold sweat, my heart started to pound, and I could feel myself starting to fade away. Talking to and laughing with the assistant helped some. The doc had to fill in a couple of places where spaces had developed between teeth and gums, and then I had to have new night guards made ~ one for top, one for bottom ~ cause I’m a grinder and have broken three night guards already ~ so I get two this time. No big deal. No big deal. I can do this. Dental work is always tedious, so I try to go someplace else in my head ~ anywhere but the dentist chair. An hour later, it is over. I survived it without totally freaking out [or passing out which might not be a bad thing]. My dentist is very kind and understanding and well aware of my neurosis and I’m thankful for that. In the meantime, my goal is to take really good care of my teeth so I never have to sit in that chair again. Smile, y’all, and have a nice day.

Day Two Hundred Fifty Two 2013

Grandson Knox kicked back on a Monday morning, eating a Krispy Kreme doughnut for breakfast, and watching Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood ~ one of his most favorite shows. Life is good. Even if it is Monday. He and his mom and dad went home this afternoon. Miss you guys.

Day Two Hundred Fifty One 2013

Grandpa can color and watch Cowboys football at the same time.

A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart.  ~Anonymous

Day Two Hundred Fifty 2013

Shades Of Gray





Had some fun with the monochrome setting on my Rebel this afternoon. I forget about black and white most of the time. Laid back Saturday filled up with food and football and a nice little nap. Did your team win? Mine did! The Vols beat Western KY 52~20. Woot!

Day Two Hundred Forty Nine 2013

COUGAR RUN!

Today marked the 25th year for the Cougar Run ~ grandson Elijah’s school’s only fundraiser for the year.

Elijah’s second grade class is all lined up and ready to run! [Elijah is fifth one sitting down from the right]

This Cougar is ready to run!

The school mascot and the school principal join in on the first lap.

They ease into it, walking the first lap or two.

But you gain more laps if you run. The kids are urged to pace themselves. They run to the beat of all sorts of rock and roll music.

Elijah’s mom, Holly, who also attended this school back in the day, wore her vintage Capshaw Cougars T shirt and ran/walked some laps with Elijah.

Elijah stops long enough to get his lap mark. [I wonder how many kids run right past and forget to get their mark…]

Grandson Knox, hopefully a future Capshaw Kid/Cougar, got in on the action with his aunt Holly.

Elijah picked up the pace during the last song.

Knox was a bit confused by it all and probably wondering why all these people kept running in circles.

Mom and son walking the last lap together

Running out of steam ~ time to quit

17 laps for Elijah! Not too shabby [especially when Granny and Grandpa pledged two dollars a lap].

Stick a fork in me; I am done. Good job, Elijah! I’m very proud of you!

Back where they started ~ only this time hot and tired and happy to have that cup of cold water. Good job, all you Cougars who ran so hard today! They were rewarded with a hamburger/hotdog picnic and could play the rest of the day or leave if their parents gave the OK. Needless to say, Elijah opted to hang out at Granny’s house. Good choice.
Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Two Hundred Forty Eight 2013

Nine of us showed up for lunch in Dogwood Park today. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of the lunch bunch. Niece Sarah got to join us. She brought sidewalk chalk which thrilled grandson Knox. When Sarah had to leave, he didn’t want to give up the chalk.

But he did get to play in the fountain, which also thrills him, so that was a fair trade for the chalk.

This afternoon, we watched grandson Elijah play in his first game of the season for Fall Ball. This time he’s playing in the coach’s pitch league ~ no more T Ball. In Fall Ball, they play for fun ~ no score.

Elijah played second base in this game and did pretty well ~ knocked a player down when he tagged her for the out. Oops.

I guess this was Fun and Games Thursday for my peeps who continue to grow up way too fast. [Granddaughter Shelby went to her first homecoming game at her middle school where I’m sure she was snapping pictures for the yearbook ~ hope she had fun, too.]