Day Three Hundred Twenty Five 2013

Picture Postcards From My Big Back Yard




Autumn is the hush before winter. ~French Proverb

Day Three Hundred Nine 2013

The autumn sun, in wonder, 
  Is gayly peering through 
This silver-tissued network 
  Across the frosty blue.  ~Evaleen Stein, November Morning

On my way to Wal-Mart about nine this morning to do some much-needed grocery shopping and had to stop and gawk at the gorgeous November sky. And snap a quick picture, of course.

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 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 Thirteen 2013

Thrilling Thursday

Neil and I have eaten our lunch in Dogwood Park almost every day this week ~ very enjoyable ~ although the picnic table was pretty soggy today after the rain ~ lots of people in the park with the same idea

We started out gray and finally turned into blue ~ not too shabby

We took a quick stroll around the park after lunch ~ Neil spotted this kite eating tree ~ Charlie Brown must have been around somewhere

I Spy with my little eye ~ a butterfly ~ see it? As I was heading across the back yard on my way to pick up Elijah after school, I saw this large butterfly [flutterby] soaring along from plant to plant ~ I only had my cell phone camera and managed to snap a picture before it was gone ~ it was really beautiful but it’s washed out in the bright sunlight ~ I was thrilled to get this shot ~ so I guess that makes this a thrilling Thursday. It’s the little things. Happy first day of August!

Day Two Hundred Ten 2013

Miscellaneous Monday

Lunch in the gazebo at Dogwood Park with my honey/hubby Neil ~ those cool breezes felt like fall ~ noisy there today ~ they were cutting down a huge dead tree by the picnic tables near the stage

Down my street ~ the weather today was perfection

Seedless black grapes ~ yummy but kind of dry ~ thinking about using them in some chicken salad with some apples

My Geraniums have had a tough time blooming this summer ~ they like heat and sun ~ a rare commodity this July ~ very unusual

Creepy crawly on my backyard garden flag [garden?]

Sunset in the Kroger parking lot ~ Neil was pumping gas into my grannymobile  [dirty windshield ~ must get car wash]  Neil was aggravated at the guy in the car next to us because the guy’s wife/girlfriend/whatever was out there pumping the gas while he waited in the driver’s seat ~ I thanked him for pumping gas into the car I drive every day ~ and  for still being so chivalrous [he still opens my car door for me almost all the time] Monday wasn’t so bad, was it?

There are no miracles on Mondays.
~Amy Neftzger

[I say it depends on your definition of miracle ~ just saying]

Day One Hundred Eighty Eight 2013

Will you look at that! It’s blue sky and sunlight! All day! We’d almost forgotten what this looked like.

Grandson Knox enjoyed his Strawberries and Cream treat at Starbucks this afternoon.

And then he jumped up and did his happy dance ~ just because. So here we go. Another week begins. Hope yours is joyful.

Day One Hundred Eighty 2013

EVER LOVIN SATURDAY! 
Miscellaneous Random This And That

At the carwash

Pretty clouds today

Lunch

Busy bee

He was too fast for me

Yard work

Pole dance ~ me and Mr. Clean ~ those sponges really are magic

Reward for hard work cleaning back porch posts

Gratuitous foot shadow picture

And the sun slowly set in the west
Happy Saturday!

Day One Hundred Twenty Nine 2013

On a beautiful day like today, it would have been a crime not to spend at least a few minutes of it outside, so Neil and I headed to Dogwood Park to eat some lunch and bask in the sunshine.

It was one of those days that brings out the smiley face in everyone and everything.

There were dozens of people in the park, especially around the fountain, even though you can’t tell it from this picture. What a blessing to have such a beautiful place to just be in this town.

Grandson Elijah told me on the way home from school this afternoon that three girls told him he was the cutest boy in the class. He was very pleased with that information. Can’t say that I blame him.

We watched Elijah play T Ball this evening. Enjoyed the perfect weather and the honeysuckle-scented breeze that was blowing. We also enjoyed watching his team win, 24~6. Elijah hit a home run when the bases were loaded. He and his team played well.

After the game, Neil and I treated ourselves to a DQ milk shake and a Moolatte and decided we’d enjoy them even more while sitting in Dogwood Park and watching the fountain change colors. And we were right. Hope you had a happy Thursday.

Day Ninety Seven 2013

Parting Shots

‘Pa’ and grandson Knox and Elmo going for a walk Saturday morning. Knox has a monkey with a long tail riding on his back like a backpack, which is a very clever leash to keep the kiddo from running willy nilly into the street.

Knox and his mom headed back home this afternoon after being with us for a little over a week. We enjoyed some coffee together (well, Knox enjoyed his tasty yogurt snack) before they hit the road. He watched a slide show on my iPad, while the big folk enjoyed this beautiful day outside. It’s always hard to see them go.


Wishing everyone a wonderful week!