Day Seventy 2011

Gunfight At Granny And Grandpa's

Neil bought a three pack of little guns for five bucks that shoot spongy missiles. He had the day off today, so he and grandson Elijah chased each other all over the house, shooting at each other. It was all out war and they both won because they both had such a great time playing with each other. Hope your TGIF was fun!

Day Sixty Nine 2011

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant."

~Anne Bradstreet

Day Sixty Eight 2011

A little sunshine on a gray rainy day--cell phone camera pic in Solaris color setting.

Day Sixty Seven 2011

I like the fancy curls on our Pampas grass. It's starting to get all fluffy again since spring is around the corner.

Day Sixty Six 2011

Grandson Elijah spent the day with me. He usually stays with his other granny on Mondays, but she wasn't feeling well today. Elijah is still a bit under the weather himself, but he wanted to go to ChickFil-a for lunch, probably because of the playground. He found a playmate to hang with, this cute little red-haired girl (Charlie Brown would have been envious), who is apparently one of his classmates at school. They had a great time together, laughing and racing around and playing hide and seek. Every time I tried to get close enough to take a picture of them with my cell phone camera, they would spot me, stop what they were doing, and get all shy. I think she's pointing to me in this picture as if she's telling Elijah, Don't look now, but your stalker grandmother is taking our picture again. I couldn't resist. Too cute. And one of the highlights of my Monday.

Day Sixty Five 2011

I guess it was naive to think that the warmer temperatures were here to stay. I don't think it got out of the 30's today. Neil got a fire going in the wood stove, and that's where Buddy Cat parked himself for the rest of the day. During his recent trip to the vet, he was shaved to remove these big clumps of fur that had got all knotted up on his backside, so needless to say, the warmth from the fire felt pretty good on his naked skin. Only two more (official) weeks of winter. Good riddance, I say.

Day Sixty Four 2011

It has rained all day here. I have not left the house. I've been digi scrapping most of the day, working on scrapbook pages for granddaughter Shelby. We had these chicken pot pies for supper tonight. A little high cal, high fat comfort food for a cold, wet evening. It was delish. I hear it's going to feel like winter again tomorrow (which isn't surprising since it is still officially winter). I seem to be rambling, so back to my digi scrapping. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Day Sixty Three 2011

Grandson Elijah spends Fridays at my house. Today he was running a fever and was feeling miserable, but he said he wanted to go to Ocha (our fave Thai food deli) for some spicy chicken and rice (his fave). By the time we got there, all he wanted to do was sleep in his mom's lap. So we put his meal in a to-go box and took it home. When Granddaughter Shelby got home from school and realized there was Ocha leftovers, she had to have some (it's her fave, too). Elijah was a good boy and shared his meal with her. And here they are, enjoying their rice and spicy chicken. Also, notice the little cat face there beside Shelby, waiting for his chance to grab a bite of the goodies. (He was not successful). Wishing one and all a happy TGIF!

Day Sixty Two 2011

"And then my heart with pleasure fills, and dances with the daffodils."

~William Wordsworth

Day Sixty One 2011

Gratuitous pic of my kitty cat Buddy. He's thirteen years old. Looks pretty good here. I found out yesterday during a trip to the vet that he has jaundice which means he's got liver troubles. There's nothing to be done about that. Makes me sad to realize he doesn't have much time left. In the meantime, I'll take his picture and pat his little head more often.

Day Sixty 2011

Grandpeep Shelby is hooked on Dolce Cafe hot chocolate, and grandpeep Elijah is hooked on Angry Birds. So daughter Kelly, son in law Kerry and I hit the Dolce Cafe this afternoon and treated these two to some kid-sized hot chocolate and a little Angry Birds action on Uncle Kerry's iPad. Good fun (in quiet tones) and good coffee, too.

Day Fifty Nine 2011

My hubby Neil celebrates his 60th birthday today. Here are a few photos of him through the years.

~~HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY!!~~

Day Fifty Eight 2011

My hubby Neil celebrates his 60th birthday on February 28, so of course his family got together (a day early) to make sport of him and inflict torture on him to mark this major milestone in yet another completed trip around the sun.

His airplane-shaped birthday cakes were made by my daughter's good friend and consummate cake baker, Tammy, who, I believe, outdid herself this time. Kudos to Tammy! That cake was to die for. And for those of you who don't know my hubby, his passion (in his old age) is building and flying remote controlled airplanes, thus the airplane cakes.

No, that is not Elton John in those glasses. That is hubby Neil blowing out his candles while grandson Elijah sounds the trumpet and granddaughter Shelby ends the birthday song with a flourish. Hope he made a good wish. Probably had something to do with airplanes.

He got lots of birthday cards and what this family calls "flat presents" meaning gift cards/cash. Neil enjoyed receiving them all and had a great time celebrating the BIG SIX O.

Happy (almost) 60th Birthday, Neil! Wishing you all the good things you deserve on your birthday and every day. I love you!! (PS-expect more torture on your actual day of days tomorrow.....)

Day Fifty Seven 2011

I still have a wooden bowl full of mini pumpkins from last October because they refuse to die. And I can't bring myself to toss them in the garbage can, which is where they belong. Well, this one is finally showing signs of decay. Or maybe it's dessication. I do have two or three from years ago that I let sit in a dry place until they looked like tiny shrunken heads--with stems. I know. I'm kinda strange that way. I may hang on to this one. It looks promising. I'll keep you posted. Or not.

Day Fifty Six 2011

Self portrait of me, freezing at the Nashville Flea Market this afternoon. Would loved to have had my scarf and gloves.

I like old cameras. Guess I've always had the picture-takin bug.

Saw lots of weird things at the flea market--like deer heads in a wash tub. It's sad to me that these once beautiful animals ended up like this. I'm guessing they came from an estate sell.

Old dolls always creep me out for some reason. I think it's the staring, glazed-over eyes. This was a ventriloquist's puppet, which will probably haunt my dreams tonight. Neil and I always find interesting stuff at the flea market. Looks like it will continue at the Tennessee State Fairgrounds for all of this year. We hope the city or the state comes through and saves the place.

Day Fifty Five 2011

Rainy day here in my town. I used my little macro lens for my cell phone camera to take this picture of a tiny raindrop that was hanging onto one of the chairs on our deck. Lots more raindrops headed this way later tonight. I don't mind the rain, but I could do without the storms.

Day Fifty Four 2011

The Buttercups are blooming! They must know something that we don't know.

Day Fifty Three 2011

Grand daughter Shelby brought in a little tomato from her school lunch today. She thought it was cute. I was playing around with my macro lens for my cell phone camera and took this picture of her tomato. Up close and personal. This one is for my sister, Ann, who can't wait for spring so she can plant her garden. At lunch today, she was saying that it's almost time for tomatoes. And BLTs!

Day Fifty Two 2011

Yesterday the twig was brown and bare;

To-day the glint of green is there;

Tomorrow will be leaflets spare;

I know no thing so wondrous fair,

No miracle so strangely rare.

I wonder what will next be there!

~L.H. Bailey

Tulip sprouts are popping up in my backyard. Don't they know it's still winter?

Day Fifty One 2011

We had to scrap our plans to take the Grandpeeps roller skating again today since their parents came back from their trip earlier than we expected. Daughter Kelly and I took granddaughter Shelby for a quick trip to Dolce Cafe. Shelby had never been there before. She got some hot chocolate and loved it. Snapped this pic of her with my cell phone camera in the Solaris color setting. Isn't that the look of love? Dolce Cafe does have very tasty drinks. Nice way to end our weekend together. Now, look out, here comes Monday.

Day Fifty 2011

Neil and I enjoyed watching our Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah at the skating rink this afternoon. They are spending the weekend with us while their parents are out of town.

Elijah likes to skate, but I think he has more fun playing the arcade games at the rink.

Headed over to Cream City Ice Cream Shop for some frozen treats after skating. Elijah was so worn out, he almost fell asleep in the window seat.

We finally got a chance to check out the Cookeville Depot Museum. It's usually closed when we go for ice cream at Cream City,which is just across the street from the depot. Lots of cool railway memorabilia from a time long gone and totally lost upon these two, who would rather climb around inside the train cars than look at vintage steamer trunks and train schedules.

Daughter Kelly came in this afternoon and demonstrated her jump rope moves from back in the day. She's still got it! Good times! Great Saturday! Hope yours was, too!

Day Forty Nine 2011

Grand Peeps Elijah and Shelby are jumping for joy because it's TGIF! Elijah and I swept off a bunch of dead leaves and limbs from the trampoline this afternoon, and he busted a few moves for the camera. Shelby did Jump Rope For Heart at school today. She's learned a lot of jumping routines, just like her mom did back in the day. She's really good at it! They are spending the weekend with us while their parents are out of town. Happy TGIF!
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Wishing my son-in-law, Jerry, a very Happy 33rd Birthday today!! Love you!!

Day Forty Eight 2011

Having some fun with perspective and my kitty cat Buddy, I took this picture with my cell phone camera set on the Solaris color setting and using my fish eye lens for cell phone camera. Pretty funky. Hope you found a way to amuse yourself today, too.

Day Forty Seven 2011

"Of winter's lifeless world each tree

Now seems a perfect part;

Yet each one holds summer's secret

Deep down within its heart."

~~ Charles G. Stater

Day Forty Six 2011

Grandson Elijah's class had their Valentine party today at school. He brought in his big decorated envelope and dumped his goodies on the couch to inspect the heart-shaped sweets and Valentine cards from all his classmates. He was thrilled with all his candy (the cards, not so much). What kid wouldn't be? When you're that age, that's what Valentine's Day is all about.

Day Forty Five 2011

Love is patient and kind. Love does not envy or boast. Love is not proud, rude, self-seeking or easily angered. Love does not keep a record of wrongs or delight in evil. Love rejoices with the truth. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. Of faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love.

~~First Corinthians 13~~

Wishing everyone a Happy Heart today!