Day One Hundred One 2013

Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. ~Rainer Maria Rilke








Hark! the hours are softly calling
Bidding Spring arise
To listen to the rain-drops falling
From the cloudy skies
To listen to Earth's weary voices
Louder every day
Bidding her no longer linger
On her charm'd way
But hasten to her task of beauty
Scarcely yet begun.
~Adelaide Anne Procter

Day Eighty Five 2013

SNOW DAY [again]

Grandpeeps Elijah and Shelby were thrilled to have another snow day today. We enjoyed lunch at Arby’s.

I’m thinkin’ curly fries.

It was another cold day with snow flurries. I always enjoy snow flurries and watching the birds on the feeders.

Does anyone know what kind of bird this is? I thought it was a Mockingbird. I don’t think I’ve seen one like this in our yard before today. Maybe some kind of wren?

The woodpeckers crack me up when they’re hanging onto the feeder and trying to eat at the same time.

Blue Jay Away

Enjoyed some yummy frozen yogurt at Mae Pearl’s this afternoon.

Elijah was in desperate need of a haircut, so to save his mom some time after work today, I took him to Village Barber Shop where Russell trimmed him up neat and nice.

Shelby spent time this afternoon making a colorful Happy Easter picture while Elijah played some ‘Zelda’. They both had fun playing Wii Sports and Mario Karts together, too. I’d be surprised if they didn’t go back to school tomorrow. The snow has melted and it’s supposed to be warmer [forties maybe?]. Elijah is looking forward to his first grade class Easter egg hunt on Thursday, and then Friday they’re out for Good Friday. Two day school week = not too shabby.

Day Eighty Four 2013

SNOW DAY

Ah, Spring! Who’d have thought March 25th would be a snow day? Talk about March madness. Students and teachers in our neck of middle Tennessee woke up and rejoiced and then went back to sleep.

I was going to make a new recipe this morning for the Crockpot that called for mild chopped green chilies. I had the chopped green chilies, but the operative word here was ‘mild’. Alas, mine were hot. Just wouldn’t do. So off I go to Wal-Mart for the proper ingredient. First, had to scrape the snow off the car. Looks like we got an inch or more.

It’s spring time in Wal-Mart (or maybe more like summer time). Guess Mother Nature didn’t get the memo.

It couldn’t have been a bleaker day, but I do like the snow flurries. It flurried here all day long. May get another inch or two tonight and tomorrow.

The new recipe  is White Chicken Chili ~ thus the need for chopped green chilies [mild]. I’m not a great cook, but I do know how to create a great mess when trying some new recipe.

Looked good. Smelled good while it cooked all day long.

I used the last of the bird seed to fill up one of the feeders this morning. And I always put out peanut butter when it’s this cold. The birdies love that stuff.

Even the doves didn’t want to be walking around on the cold ground today. They’re always welcome on the feeders …

… if they can manage to hang on and eat at the same time.

Grandpeeps Elijah and Shelby came to stay with me around lunch time today. Since our fave Thai food place is closed for the next six weeks, we had lunch with the Colonel. I wish I knew what Elijah was saying to Shelby … that’s what happens when you’re too busy taking the picture … you miss stuff.

Meat and potatoes kind of guy.

And girl. Love those KFC taters.

We hit Ralph’s Donut Shop after porking out on chicken and brought home a dozen to be savored later at snack time. With cold milk, of course. We didn't eat them all ~ just in case you're wondering.

The White Chicken Chili turned out great. A hearty meal on a cold windy snowy spring day. Especially with a dollop or two or three of sour cream. Fritos, too, which are always good anytime anywhere.

Seems like it was a day for chicken in various forms. Since we were out of bird seed, Neil and I went to Tractor Supply after supper to pick up some seed [the birds still need to be fed until the bugs start to hatch] and they had baby chicks for sale. [Easter is on its way.] They’re such cute fuzzy little peeps. You just want to hold them and squeeze them and love them.

And they had Easter bunnies, too.

And Easter ducks. Quack! Hope they all end up in good homes.
Happy Monday, y’all!

Day Seventy One 2013

Sunny day
Chasing the clouds away
On my way
To where the air is sweet …

Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah are on the second week of their spring break. We spent the day together, attached to our iPad minis and computer, until we realized we were missing out on a perfectly gorgeous day outside.

Sunny blue sky day with a cool wind ~ who could resist the tree swing?



We enjoyed some low tech fun blowing bubbles.



And letting the wind do the work sometimes

Hard to catch, bubbles are

Couldn’t let the sunny day go by without making a gratuitous shadow picture

Then we trekked into the woods, looking for a swinging vine to no avail. Elijah contemplated this question mark shaped stick and thought it was interesting enough to take home with him.

Shelby had a great time hanging long limbs between tree trunks. It’s the little things, you see. We don’t need no stinkin iPads to have fun!

It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood which I enjoyed spending with my grandpeeps, especially once we escaped the house and went outside. I took pictures of bare trees and blue sky which always makes me happy and even found a cool walking stick [Shelby called it a ‘Gandalf stick’] [and if you don’t know who Gandalf is, Google it]. Can you tell me how to get … how to get to… ? You know the rest, don’t you? [if you don’t, Google it]
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My little sister, Ann Mabry Sissom, turns 54 years young today. Happy Birthday, Ann!! Love & Hugs from me and Neil.

Day Sixty One 2013

Ever Lovin Saturday

We’ve had some snow here, starting this past Thursday.

It started coming down again late last night.

We got maybe an inch. Maybe.

Really pretty. We don’t get big snows any more. I miss those. But we’ll take what we can get.

A bird in hand is worth four in the bush. Inflation, you know. I think these are waiting their turn at the feeders.

Since daughter Kelly and grandson Knox are visiting this weekend, Neil made yummy blueberry waffles for (a late) breakfast.

His blueberry waffles are the best. Did I say they are yummy? They are.

Grandson Knox didn’t care for any waffles. He just wanted to take his socks off.

We went to Starbucks for some coffee (what else?), squeezed in at a little table by the window, all cozied up next to about ten other people, and watched it snow. There’s something about Starbucks that just makes you want to kick back.

And fall asleep in Grandpa’s lap. Not even the aroma of caffeine could keep him awake at this point.

The proverbial blanket of snow, sliding off the hood of the car into fluffy white folds. It snowed again tonight and replaced all that was lost with a fresh blanket.

Neil finally got to celebrate his birthday this evening. He turned 62 on February 28, but due to other stuff happening in the family, we postponed the party until a more opportune moment which turned out to be tonight.

Happy Birthday, honey/hubby Neil! We enjoyed cake and ice cream and punch and a whole lot of chatter and laughter, as always when our family gets together. (Not that there’s always cake and ice cream and punch but that would be nice.)

And Neil enjoyed lots of cool cards and great gifts, which as you can see, he gave a thumbs up. Fun party. Worth the wait. Let’s do it all over again next year.
Happy Saturday, everyone!