Day Two Hundred Eighty Four 2012

Fall break is winding down. Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah are spending the night with us tonight. They love the Indiana Jones movies, and they’ve seen them all—except for the first one. Neil rented Raiders Of The Lost Ark from Blockbuster (amazingly still in business). We had the best time watching this movie. I’ve seen it dozens of times, but it’s a blast watching it with people who have never seen it. Shelby and Elijah loved it (Elijah stayed awake until the end). I never get tired of this classic movie. I may have to break down and buy a copy.

Day Two Hundred Eighty Three 2012

Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah are on fall break this week and spent the day with me. The day started out with the first frost in our area, too cold to go outside, so we spent most of the day being slugs, until the sun took some of the chill off this afternoon. And a beautiful blue sky October day it was—perfect for batting the ball around and swinging on the backyard swing.

Day Two Hundred Eighty Two 2012

I couldn’t find any global warming, so I lit a candle. I feel all toasty just looking at it. The temps here in the mid-South should warm back up into the normal range in the next day or two. I hope.

Day Two Hundred Eighty One 2012

I cut my little homegrown pumpkin from the rogue pumpkin vine growing beside the deck. I’m amazed it survived the heat and drought this past summer, not to mention the insects, the lawn mower, and the powdery mildew that finally covered the pumpkin vine leaves. It will eventually turn orange—I hope before it dies. And when it dies, I’ll toss it outside beside the deck into the dirt from whence it came, cover it with dead leaves and see what happens next spring. 

Day Two Hundred Eighty 2012

Neil and I enjoyed lunch at Toot’s today in Smyrna not only with daughter Kelly and grandson Knox, but also with daughter Holly, granddaughter Shelby and grandson Elijah who had spent the night at Kelly’s. Yummy good times.

Day Two Hundred Seventy Nine 2012

He’s back for his annual visit.  My granddaughter Shelby calls him Jeff and waltzes with him whenever she gets the chance. When Jeff appears, I know Autumn has truly arrived. Jeff says Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Two Hundred Seventy Eight 2012

GOOD TIMES THURSDAY AFTERNOON!
Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah are on fall break from school this week and next. They spent the night with us last night. We slept late, enjoyed Grandpa’s homemade blueberry waffles for breakfast, and then for lunch we landed at our favorite Thai food deli, Ocha. Shelby got cold and pulled up her hoodie. Not to be outdone, Elijah followed suit.

Then it was off to feed and water kitty cats (whose humans are vacationing in Florida this week). Only four showed up, but we saw others trying to hide in the bushes. This one wanted to play.

Next we stopped at  a local family owned produce store to size up the pumpkin selection.

They always have a great selection of pumpkins and gourds. I like the gnarly ones.

Elijah chose this long tall pumpkin.

Shelby said this was the perfect pumpkin for her.

We also picked out some white (ghost) pumpkins. Love those. My orange pumpkin is the one on the far right. It has the thickest stem I’ve ever seen.

Onward to Dogwood Park. The day was sunny and hot—a good day to play dodge with unpredictable water spouts.

I never get tired of this beautiful fountain.

The park is the perfect spot to throw the Frisbee.
Beautiful October day

Shelby said the cool water felt good on her legs.

When Shelby and Elijah went bow hunting with their dad yesterday morning, Shelby didn’t wear pants, and the bugs just about ate her alive, leaving itchy swollen welts on her legs. She counted forty bites. Not fun. (Shelby called this evening after I posted this to let us know that she does not have bug bites all over her legs but poison ivy!)

The afternoon wound down at Mae Pearl’s Frozen Yogurt where the grandpeeps managed to chill out before packing up and heading home. Good times, great memories! Love you guys!

Day Two Hundred Seventy Seven 2012

Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah are on fall break this week and next, so we’re having a sleepover tonight complete with campfire, marshmallow roast (s’mores!),  a movie (The Avengers) and popcorn. Fun stuff, good times!
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Happy 15th Birthday, Julia (Ocean Child) Foy!!

Day Two Hundred Seventy Six 2012

For the first time ever, overweight people outnumber average people in America. Doesn't that make overweight the average then? Last month you were fat, now you're average - hey, let's get a pizza!
~Jay Leno  (You know what else? There is a quote for everything.)

Neil and I enjoyed our fabulous mushroom pizza at Gondola tonight. Neil did not always enjoy mushroom pizza. I think it was on our second date, waaay back in early 1972, we landed at Gondola, only it was in a different location then. They had, and still do have, some of the best pizza on the planet (and they still cut it into squares, not triangles, which I think makes it taste even better.) I guess he thought he’d be sweet and let me order the pizza. Much to his horror, I ordered a mushroom pizza. I didn’t learn, until years later, that he was horrified at the time, because he ate it and didn’t complain. Sweet, huh? He has since changed his tune about mushroom pizza and enjoys it as much as I do. I reminded him tonight about that second date and how we seem to have come full circle. Like a pizza.

Day Two Hundred Seventy Five 2012

You’ve heard that song It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year. For me, that means Autumn, and especially October. Hooray, it’s here!

"October's the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down -
October is red
And golden and brown."

Day Two Hundred Seventy Four 2012

The leaves at the top of the Red Maple in our back yard are starting to turn. Not sure whether to be glad or sad. I guess I feel a little of both.

How beautifully leaves grow old. How full of light and color are their last days.   ~John Burroughs

Day Two Hundred Seventy Three 2012

Happy 15th Birthday, Julia!

My sweet niece, Julia Foy, celebrated her (almost) fifteenth birthday this evening with all the good things that make for a fun party—family, cake, ice cream, punch and, of course, cards and presents. She gets to be at the beach when she officially turns 15 on October 3. She’s one of my favorite people on the planet—smart, funny, sweet, loving, talented and beautiful inside and out. Happy Birthday, Julia! Love you bunches! Hope all your birthday wishes come true!

Day Two Hundred Seventy Two 2012

This was after lunch yesterday. Neil and I enjoyed a fast food meal at Dogwood Park and some sunshine time beside the fountain. The day was hot, but every now and then a  breeze would blow some cool mist from the water into our faces. Nice. And all for free. Neil needs to learn how to relax. Today was overcast and cooler and wanting to rain but never really did. I didn’t take any pictures, so these will have to do. Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Two Hundred Seventy One 2012

Grandson Elijah’s Fall Ball T Ball team (The Tigers) played two games in the tournament tonight. They won their first game, but lost their second game, which eliminates them from the rest of the tournament. They played so hard and played very well in both games. Congratulations, team, for a job well done! Way to go, Elijah! You just got better and better with each game played. We are so proud of you!

Day Two Hundred Seventy 2012

"In the garden, Autumn is, indeed the crowning glory of the year, bringing us the fruition of months of thought and care and toil.
And at no season, safe perhaps in Daffodil time, do we get such superb colour effects as from August to November." - Rose G. Kingsley, The Autumn Garden, 1905