Day Two Hundred Ninety Eight 2010

It's Under There Somewhere

The sky tried hard to be blue today but never quite made it. Storms swept through here last night, but apparently I slept through it all, which is good. I'd much rather be asleep than laying awake, wondering if a tree is going to fall on the house. A limb did hit the car, barely missing the windshield, and put a dent in the roof. We need the rain, but I can live without the bluster.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Seven 2010

Blast From Halloween Past

October 31, 2006, Halloween. Nieces Sarah and Julia were Veggie Tales characters, daughter Kelly was a Giant's football player, Shelby was a cowgirl, and Elijah was a two month old baby pumpkin. Can't wait to see what their costumes will be this year! Stay tuned.

Day Two Hundred Ninety Six 2010

"The clump of maples on the hill,
And this one by the door,
Seem redder, quite a lot, this year
Than last, or year before..."
~~David L. Cady
October In Vermont

The little poem also applies to October in Tennessee. The leaves on our red maple by the back door are on fire. What will I take pictures of when they're all gone?

Day Two Hundred Ninety Five 2010

TGIF At The Flea Market

The Nashville Flea Market at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds in October is billed as "The Big One" and rightly so. Every booth is taken and filled to the brim with so much stuff you can't possibly see it all in one day. I get a kick out of the vintage clothing and the mannequins that model it. A hat is a must...unless you're headless.

I saw this man lugging a big old bass fiddle around. It was taped up, perhaps to keep it from falling apart. I wonder if he has some restoration in mind for it.

Vintage baby dolls are the creepiest. I'm just saying.

This sign is typical of the outrage the flea market vendors feel toward the powers that be in Nashville. (I'm not sure what that last word is on the sign) The flea market will be here at the fairgrounds through next April. We hear it will be relocated to the old Hickory Hollow mall.

This is good stuff to know. Because you just never know when you might be abducted by aliens.

I wanted this, but I was just crazy enough not to buy it.

I wanted these, too, but Neil didn't want to carry them.

Signs like these always jolt me.

A young man was selling "sound machines" and radios he had restored. We've come a long way, baby.

Self portrait. Me and my shadow, purse, lemonade and the ten gallon crock I bought that was too heavy to carry to the truck which was parked in Timbuktu. Neil had to drive the truck to the crock. Maybe I should have grabbed those cool pumpkins while I had the chance.

We met up with daughter Kelly and son in law Kerry for some supper at Olive Garden in Mt. Juliet--our little after the flea market tradition. Fun day. Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Two Hundred Ninety Four 2010

The Best Report Card EVER!

Granddaughter Shelby displays her "best report card ever!" to put it in her words.

7 A's and 1 B. She was hoping for all A's, but this report card is not too shabby, huh?

So of course we all headed to the Cream City Ice Cream and Coffee Shop on the west side of town, got a ton of tasty ice cream and took it across the street to eat it at the train depot because it was such a gorgeous Autumn afternoon. Eating at the depot was Elijah's request. He loves to climb inside those train cars.

It was a great way to celebrate an awesome report card. Also, when Shelby took a bite of her waffle cone, she discovered she had a loose tooth. Later, when they were exploring the train cars, she suddenly yelled, "My tooth fell out!" So she took that home to put under her pillow for the Tooth Fairy tonight. I am so proud of you, Shelby, for making such good grades and just because you're such a sweet, good person. I love you!!