Day Ninety Eight 2013

I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game.
~Walt Whitman

Grandson Elijah is back in the swing of things this evening, as he played his first T Ball game of the season. He’s a seasoned player on a team made up mostly of newbies. He’s definitely the tallest player on his team ~ The Sharks. They played hard but lost the game, 25~4.

Day Ninety Seven 2013

Parting Shots

‘Pa’ and grandson Knox and Elmo going for a walk Saturday morning. Knox has a monkey with a long tail riding on his back like a backpack, which is a very clever leash to keep the kiddo from running willy nilly into the street.

Knox and his mom headed back home this afternoon after being with us for a little over a week. We enjoyed some coffee together (well, Knox enjoyed his tasty yogurt snack) before they hit the road. He watched a slide show on my iPad, while the big folk enjoyed this beautiful day outside. It’s always hard to see them go.


Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

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 Ninety Five 2013

T G I F !

Grandson Elijah got to take a stuffed animal to school today to sit on his desk ~ a real treat. He took ‘Cookie’, his new dog he got at Cracker Barrel the other night. ‘Cookie’ was decked out in Elijah’s skeleton bow tie ~ very manly.

Grandpeeps Elijah, Knox, and Shelby are always up for yummy frozen treats at Cream City Ice Cream Shop and Coffee House.

Daughter Kelly says ‘Where’s mine?’ She eventually ordered a scoop of pistachio ice cream.

Shelby got Tennessee Fudge and Cake Batter and shared a lick with Aunt Kelly ~ well, sort of.

Grandpa Neil shared his with Knox. Who knew this kid would love cheesecake and caramel ice cream.

I think Grandpa [Knox calls him ‘Pa’'] managed to get a few bites for himself.

Shelby’s ice cream was lip-lickin’ good. Elijah has been wanting a frozen hot chocolate. That’s what he ordered but he didn’t like it. It was mostly ice and you could barely taste the chocolate.

He got a second chance at a treat he could eat ~ Tennessee Fudge ice cream on a cone. Now that was good.

After our treats, we headed outside to play in the sunshine of this beautiful day. Knox is rarely without his Elmo these days.

All that brilliant sunlight knocked Elijah right off his feet.

They all love jumping on the trampoline. Shelby and Elijah are experts. Knox has gotten the hang of it pretty quickly.

Our cherry trees are blooming ~ my fave in the spring, especially against a backdrop of endless blue sky.

Bouncy Knox ~ and Elmo, too

Elijah flies through the air with the greatest of ease.

When Knox is on the trampoline, Shelby and Elijah try not to jump high or hard so Knox won’t go flying off into the deep blue and beyond. Fun times for these cousins.

Knox’s Aunt Holly bought him some Elmo jammies. What a happy way to end the day.
Happy TGIF, y’all!

Day Ninety Four 2013

Strawberries on steroids. Neil bought a box of strawberries last night at Wal-Mart for grandson Knox, who loves them. We’ve never seen ones so large, have you? Makes you wonder what they’re feeding these things. Bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, though, because the giant ones aren’t as sweet as the smaller ones. I guess we’ll just have to dip them in chocolate. And whipped cream.