Day One Hundred Sixty Two 2012

Unexpected intrusions of beauty. This is what life is. ~Saul Bellow
The rain was beautiful today because we need it and I forgot to water my potted plants yesterday.

Day One Hundred Sixty One 2012

Hubby Neil, daughter Kelly and I enjoyed lunch at the Chop House in Murfreesboro today. Such delicious food and great lunch time prices! While we devoured turkey and dressing, steamed broccoli and crisp sweet potato fries, Grandson Knox was enjoying his own meal of yummy sweet potatoes made for people who have no teeth yet. He loves food and likes to eat when everyone else is eating. He looks like a baby bird in this picture, waiting with his mouth open for his next yummy bite. Someday, kid, you'll get your own plate. In the meantime, he also likes to chew on the menu.

Day One Hundred Sixty 2012

"Cats are such agreeable friends, they ask no questions, pass no criticisms."

 ~George Eliot

Neighbor kitty Lily is quite agreeable and could not care less that it is TGIF.

Have a happy weekend, everyone!



Day One Hundred Fifty Nine 2012

Random Macro Around My Yard~Flowers, Ant, Flower Bud, Sunlight Reflections In Birdbath




Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
~Robert Louis Stevenson

Day One Hundred Fifty Eight 2012

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in.
~George Washington Carver 

Day One Hundred Fifty Seven 2012

Grand kids Shelby and Elijah spent the day with Neil and me. Grandpa Neil had the day off and the kids are out of school for the summer and looking for something—anything—to do. After I forced him to take a break from his new favorite Wii Lego Indiana Jones video game that he played for hours today, Elijah wanted to walk down the street behind our house and swing on the big vine that hangs from a tree near the sidewalk that runs right alongside the woods.

That particular swinging vine was down on the ground and looked like it had broken off the tree. But we found this even better vine to swing on, deeper into the woods and away from the constant traffic on the street. Elijah had the best time swinging on that thing. Grandpa Neil was his bumper guard so he wouldn’t slam into the tree when he came flying back around.

These woods are really peaceful, especially with a nice breeze blowing through the  trees to keep us cool.

They had a good time running around in there.

We found this huge vine laying on the ground that must have been twenty feet long. Elijah said it would make a good jump rope, but it didn’t, so Shelby decided to wind it around the swinging vine tree to mark it for future swinging vine escapades in the woods.

So X marks the spot for the ‘sacred tree’ as she dubbed it and decorated it with leaves and clover. Elijah got more brave and daring in his vine swinging, yelling ‘Cowabunga!’  and had a blast, so we’ll definitely go back for more next time they’re here for the day. He pretended to be Indiana Jones. I hope it was more fun doing the real thing than playing the game.

Day One Hundred Fifty Six 2012

Random macro photos of an alien looking pod, a lightning bug and a bee which I did not use my macro lens on because I figured he’d get really mad at me if I got closer to him than this.

Day One Hundred Fifty Five 2012

A beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Day One Hundred Fifty Four 2012

Knox William Kimbrough is 6 months old today! Here is a sample of pictures from our photo shoot this afternoon at his house in the front yard, sitting in his Great Granny Mabry’s wicker chair.







I can’t believe Knox is already 6 months old. How time flies! Granny loves you, little man!

Day One Hundred Fifty Three 2012

He's free! Grandson Elijah got his cast off today. The doc gave him the green light to run and jump and play and swim, which is very happy news for the little man. So no more crutches. He doesn't even have to wear a boot. His mom, Holly, snapped this picture of the happy boy and his sister, Shelby, as they celebrate in the parking lot after the doc visit. Woo Hoo!
Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day One Hundred Fifty Two 2012

Since my mom passed away a month ago, our family lunch bunch had to find a new venue if we were to continue the weekly tradition. Sister Ann suggested Dogwood Park for our rowdy group, so we gathered there today where the picnic tables are near the pavilion (a stage where local talent performs concerts and plays during the summer months). We enjoyed eating lunch and hanging out together and the forecasted storms stayed far to the west of us. I didn't realize until I was looking at this picture just now that I took it too soon because the rest of the gang had not shown up yet--nephew Chris and his kids Ashley and Ethan. Sorry about that! Left to right are daughter Holly, brother Ken, sister Ann, sister Jane and hubby Neil, all at the picnic table. On the quilt are grandson Elijah, niece Sarah, niece Julia, and grand daughter Shelby. We plan to continue our lunch bunch tradition. Dogwood Park is the perfect place for now. 

Day One Hundred Fifty One 2012

Random

Spread love everywhere you go.   Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
~Mother Teresa

Day One Hundred Fifty 2012

Enjoyed one last lunch with my peeps before everyone packed up and headed for home after the Memorial Day weekend. Ocha Thai food deli is so totally yummy!

I suggested doughnuts from Ralph’s, but the grandpeeps wanted ice cream from Cream City. Grandson Elijah’s fave flavor is called Superman, which is actually rainbow colored vanilla ice cream. He also tried a scoop of cookie dough. I love his Superman-blue mustache.

Grandson Knox didn’t get any ice cream, but I don’t think he cared too much. He was ready for a nap.

Grand daughter Shelby and daughter Kelly: self-portrait taken by Kelly. I had a great time with my family this past weekend. The house is way too quiet right now. How it all flies by!

Day One Hundred Forty Nine 2012

We enjoyed a low key Memorial Day, swinging on the front porch and then watching the fountain at Dogwood Park this afternoon. The sound of the water lulled grandson Knox right to sleep. A nice lady offered to take our picture.
Happy Memorial Day, America! A heartfelt Thank You! to all those who served this country in the armed forces and gave their lives so that we can live in freedom.

Day One Hundred Forty Eight 2012

We enjoyed a Memorial Day Weekend marshmallow and hot dog roast in our back yard this evening. Son in law Jerry and hubby Neil are ready to roast.

With record temperatures this weekend, it wasn’t the best conditions for a camp fire, but that didn’t stop us from having a great time and stuffing ourselves with roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.

Here is son in law Jerry’s perfect S’more. His secret is letting the chocolate melt beside the fire while he roasts his marshmallows. Talk about yummy! This picture doesn’t do it justice because of the shadows on the plate. I didn’t take many pics tonight because the ones I did take turned out totally blurry. We had a most excellent time!  Happy Memorial Day Weekend, America!