Day Two Hundred Thirty Four 2012

This And That

When daughter Kelly was here last week, she wanted to check out the local health food store. Wandering around in this aisle made me feel like I was at Hogwarts School For Witches and Wizards. I almost expected to run into Snape and his magic potion book.

I’d never heard of this, but I liked the name, so I Googled it. Mugwort is a perennial plant that is a member of the daisy/sunflower family and a relative of ragweed used traditionally as a healing herb to soothe the rash caused by poison oak. Apparently, you can smoke it to ‘enhance your dreams.’ Don’t say I never taught ya nothin’.

I’m still trying to walk every day, which I did this morning. The clouds in the blue sunny sky were pretty cool. That red thing is the sun flare off my cell camera lens.

Chain link fence made a cool shadow on the sidewalk. I know. I’m supposed to be walking, not taking pictures. I got my iPod out last night because it suddenly dawned on me that I could listen to my tunes while walking which certainly would make the walking more pleasant (and maybe drown out the screaming coming from my left knee). And I realized I have this little fitness app on there that will track my steps taken, miles walked, calories burned, time of walk, etc. It was a Eureka! moment (or more like Duh!) I walked over a mile this morning. Not too shabby for Kay’s creaky old knees.

This afternoon the grandkids Shelby and Elijah hit the trampoline for the first time in months. We had to sweep off all the dead leaves and limbs and bugs and such first before they could jump. Shelby showed Elijah how to do a handstand flip.

They love doing flips. They are fearless. (Which freaks me out sometimes.) They also batted the ball and we threw the Frisbee around for a while which was fun. Today was a beautiful day to be outside. The cooler temps and lower humidity make me long for Fall. But I’m not going to wish away the rest of the Summer. No way.
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Wishing my sister Ann and her husband Terry a very happy 30TH wedding anniversary today! They are celebrating this milestone in their marriage at the beach this week. Love you guys!

Day Two Hundred Thirty Three 2012

I’m so excited (and apparently it doesn’t take much to excite me). The pumpkin vine growing wild just off my deck in the back yard has been blooming for weeks, and now it has produced one little pumpkin. I toss out withered pumpkins in this spot every year, and sometimes the seeds sprout and grow, but rarely do they produce any fruit. So I’m excited and hopeful that it will grow up before the birds or bugs discover it. Maybe I’ll have a homegrown jack o’ lantern this Halloween.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Two 2012

Grandson Knox got up close and personal this afternoon with some animals he’s seen only in pictures. We took him to the petting zoo our church was having for vacation Bible school. He was so excited to see the llama, goats, a calf, a cow, a baby buffalo, and a couple of donkeys.  One of the donkeys starred in the VBS play for the children which brought to life the story of Balak, Balaam, and the talking donkey from the old testament book of Numbers, chapter 22, which was our lesson for this evening. Talking donkey, you say? (Luke 1:37 says ‘Nothing is impossible with God.’) Check it out. Knox will learn that story one day. But in the meantime, these donkeys said ‘Hee Haw!’ And Knox knows that the cow says ‘Moo!’

Day Two Hundred Thirty One 2012

Elijah Celebrates Being SIX!








Grandson Elijah turned 6 years old yesterday, and today his family and friends helped him celebrate this happy milestone with an Angry Birds themed party and a huge Slip and Slide in his back yard. Cake, ice cream, punch, balloons, birthday hat, slippin’ and slidin’ on that giant water slide, and taking a shot at the Angry Birds pig piñata then gathering up a bag full of candy all added up to a very happy birthday for one of the best kids on the planet. I’m glad I got to watch you having so much fun on your special day. Happy Birthday (again) !! Granny and Grandpa love you very much.

Day Two Hundred Thirty 2012

Happy 6th Birthday, Elijah!

My grandson Elijah is soooo excited to turn 6 years old today! He’s been counting down the days, and it’s finally here. His big party is tomorrow, so we treated him to ice cream at the Marble Slab Creamery after school this afternoon and gave him his card and present. This evening he’s eating his birthday dinner with his mom, dad, and sister at a local hibachi grill. Elijah, you are such a great kid! Your grandpa and I are so blessed to have you as our grandson. We wish you The Best Year EVER!  We LOVE you!!

Day Two Hundred Twenty Nine 2012

Lunch Bunch Peeps! These days the get-together is every other week, but the tradition lives. Today’s group: daughter Kelly, daughter Holly, hubby Neil, nephew Chris, sister Ann, grandson Knox, and brother Ken (and me). We met in Dogwood Park with good food and good conversation and, as always, lots of laughs. The day was warm, but we were blessed with some shade and a nice breeze every now and then. Knox came home with red cheeks and nose, a first for him. Fun stuff. Until next time….

Day Two Hundred Twenty Eight 2012

Stopping by the woods on a pleasant Wednesday morning, I really wanted to sit down on this nice bench because my shin muscles were screaming at me to stop walking. Today is my third day in a row going for a brisk walk for at least 20 minutes at least twice a day. And of course I have overdone it, but I’m determined to keep this up for my own good. My leg muscles keep begging to differ, but I refuse to listen. It’s a good thing I didn’t sit down. I never would have made it back to the house.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Seven 2012

I snapped this quick pic with my cell phone camera of The Dark Knight Rises movie poster before hubby Neil and I headed into the theater to see the latest Batman movie this afternoon. It is two hours and 44 minutes of a somewhat complicated but interesting  plot line with lots of explosions and death and destruction that pretty much wraps up this particular Batman trilogy. I did not like the bad guy Bane character who was very difficult for me to understand most of the time as he spoke through a mask that covered his mouth (the voice reminded me of Darth Vader), but overall I liked the movie, a must-see for those who saw the first two movies. I thought Anne Hathaway made a most excellent Cat Woman.  And out of all the guys who have played Batman, Christian Bale is my favorite. I’ve heard that he’s said this is his last Batman movie, which is a shame, because I’m pretty sure the door is open for more caped crusader stories.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Six 2012

Since I quit my exercise class nearly two years ago, I’ve become a sedentary slug. The scales in my bathroom remind me of this fact every morning. So, in spite of a very sore left knee and my pair of worn-out tennis shoes which offer my old feet no support whatsoever any more, I am determined to walk for at least twenty minutes at least twice a day. I have a wonderful neighborhood to walk around in with a nice network of sidewalks. I’d never been on this sidewalk before (I’m always on the other side of the street I guess). I had to stop and take a picture, even though it doesn’t do justice to the scattered leaf imprints in the concrete. It was such a neat thing to see all up and down this sidewalk.

This chain link fence was all decorated with beautiful  blooming Morning Glory vines. Again, this cell camera pic just doesn’t do it justice. A little eye candy on a morning walk.

Along the sidewalk beside the elementary school in my neighborhood sat this nice big yellow apple (a Golden Delicious?) that might have rolled out of some kid’s backpack this morning on the way into the school. Apple for the teacher. Or somebody’s snack. Who knows. I left it sitting there. And yes I did actually walk briskly for 23 minutes in spite of the photo ops. I have the achy shin muscles and sore feet to prove it. Hubby Neil and I even went back out this evening after supper and walked (briskly) for 25 minutes (no sidewalks, lots of hills). I plan to do this every day. I’ll let you know how that goes.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Five 2012

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability. ~Sam Keen

Day Two Hundred Twenty Four 2012

“What’s for lunch, Grandpa?” Neil and I are visiting grandson Knox and his mommy Kelly and daddy Kerry today as we often do on Saturdays. And usually each Saturday we enjoy a fantastic lunch at The Chop House. Knox loves to chew on the menus, and now that he’s got nearly six teeth, maybe someday soon he’ll be able to enjoy one of those delicious Chop House lunches along with the rest of us.

Day Two Hundred Twenty Three 2012

Needless to say, I was a little surprised when I went to pick  up grandson Elijah after school, and he came out the door wearing this. Today was pajama day in his first grade class. Talk about your casual Fridays. Angry Bird PJ's and a skull and crossbones robe  is about as casual as it gets. He said it was lots of fun. That’s what Friday is all about. Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Two Hundred Twenty Two 2012

Back porch swing fall down, go boom this morning with hubby Neil, daughter Kelly and grandson Knox sitting on it. Neil was on the side that fell. I was walking toward them across the porch and saw it suddenly fall and the three of them go tumbling down and backwards and right off the end of the porch into the weeds and mud and rocks. My biggest concern was for eight month old Knox who landed face first with his little head right beside that rock beside the downspout. Neil and Kelly were both scrambling to get back up, and she snatched him up before I could get to him. The whole thing scared him and all of us half to death. Knox was wailing but basically unhurt, thank God. I expected to see a cracked skull and lots of blood. The three of them are OK, although I know Neil and Kelly were sore after all the hubbub, and I think Kelly’s going to have a sore bottom in the morning. And I’m pretty sure Knox has long since forgotten the whole thing. I hope so anyway, because he loves our porch swings.

Day Two Hundred Twenty One 2012

Grandson Knox and his mommy and daddy are visiting. They brought a basket load of toys for him, but in true kid fashion, he gets a bigger kick out of playing with this bag of baby wipes. It makes these way cool crackling noises when he holds it. More fun than pint-sized humans should be allowed to have.

Day Two Hundred Twenty 2012

The sky is the daily bread of the eyes. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson