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 One Hundred Forty Five 2013

Ever Lovin Saturday!

Neil and I are spending the night with daughter Kelly, son in law Kerry and grandson Knox. Murfreesboro is all set up for their Memorial Day celebration. This field of flags was pretty breathtaking, as far as the eye could see.

Knox loves this way cool playground/park near their home and was excited to be there.

He was a blur coming down that slide so fast. He loves the slides.

Knox says ‘Happy Saturday, everybody!’ Summer has officially begun!

Day Ninety Six 2013

EVER LOVIN’ SATURDAY!  lunch at mickey d’s and fun at dogapalooza in dogwood park

On our way to McDonald’s for some lunch. Riding in the backseat~grandson Knox, grandson Elijah, and Elijah’s good buddy Anthony.

Mickey D’s Lunch Bunch~from left~daughter Kelly and grandson Knox, granddaughter Shelby,daughter Holly, grandson Elijah, friend Anthony, and Grandpa/Pa/hubby Neil.

After lunch, we went to the 4th annual Dogapalooza at Dogwood Park~an event where citizens and their pets can enjoy a fun day together. Dogapalooza consists of various animal demonstrations, an off-leash play area, an agility course, vendors, activities for owners and dogs, educational areas and a Kid's Dog Show. There is also a silent auction with all proceeds going to benefit the Cookeville Putnam County Animal Shelter.

Holly, Shelby and Elijah brought their dog, Charlie, a Miniature Pinscher, to join in the fun. Shelby entered him in the Kid’s Dog Show in the ‘prettiest dog’ category.

Meet and greet~doggy style. Charlie checks out a potential friend [or enemy~ya never know] Looks like a Pit Bull doggy.

Group shot at the Dogwood Park fountain [thanks, Neil, for taking the picture this time].

Shelby encouraged Knox to have some fun in the water.

The fountain in Dogwood Park is one of the best things that has ever happened to our town. Knox, Kelly and Shelby agreed that the water was on the chilly side today, even though the day was in the warm and wonderful seventies.

Elijah did not fear getting wet. He was having too much fun to notice  that the water was cold.

My beautiful granddaughter Shelby~didn’t have to get wet to have fun.

Knox would run into the water and then run back to his mommy, laughing.

More fun than pint sized human beings should be allowed to have.

You wet!

The special guest at this year’s Dogapalooza was University of Tennessee mascot Bluetick Hound ‘Smokey’ [#10].

‘Smokey’ was happy to have his picture made with the kids.

Knox had the best time with this balloon.

Here’s Shelby walking Charlie across the stage in the Kid’s Dog Show competition for ‘prettiest dog’.

Sad to say, Charlie did not win, but that’s OK. I’m sure he enjoyed strutting his stuff with all the other dogs. He was very well behaved the whole time and got to spend a few hours on a beautiful Saturday in the park with his own kind. What a fun day with my peeps!

Day One Hundred Forty Five 2012

Afternoon In Dogwood Park

Today was my first visit to our newly expanded Dogwood Park, which is a gorgeous green zone right smack in the middle of old town Cookeville. At the center of this little piece of heaven is an awesome fountain where kids of all ages can run around, get wet and cool off on a hot day. I took grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah there this afternoon. Elijah wore his vacuum-sealed rubber boot over his cast so he could splash, too. The day was hot but the water was cold, as you can see by Shelby's tense body language. Elijah plunged right in, but it took Shelby a long while to finally get soaked. They had a great time. Who wouldn't? I sat in the grass under a tiny tree which offered enough shade to escape the heat of the sun. That is my only complaint about the park--it will take decades before the small trees are mature enough for some real shade. Otherwise, I'm blown away by this place and can see myself spending time here as often as possible. I know I'll be taking my grandpeeps back again (and again) this summer to play around that way cool fountain.