Day One Hundred Forty Six 2012

A Day At The Nashville Flea Market

It was so hot today at the Nashville Flea Market, all this silverware could have melted and you would have had enough to build a small car. Actually, this vendor was lucky to be in an air conditioned building.

I love old shoes. These were baby shoes. No pesky laces to tie.

It seems an entire American Indian tribe was for sale. I remember they used to sell dolls like these in Cherokee, North Carolina, back in the day when I was growing up near the Smoky Mountains.

I like top hats. It would be fun to wear one.

Calla lilies for sale. These were an awesome dark pink that a picture just doesn’t do justice.

Lots of garden stuff for sale and slowly withering in the heat. You can find a good variety of flowers, bushes and trees here. If you’re in the market for growing things.

This produce was yummy looking, especially the peaches, but my peach-loving hubby Neil walked on by. Go figure. He probably just didn’t want to carry them around.

This vendor had one of the most colorful booths I’ve ever seen. The painted furniture looks good enough to eat.

Ninety nine dollars? Really? For this cement bunny garden ornament with a broken left ear? Really?

Wonder if anybody ever bought that big ole Buddha head? This booth always has interesting stuff. They’ll tell you it’s from Romania or some such. Whatever, dude.

It was apparently top hat day at the flea market. Wonder where this one has been, and whose head did he sit on…..

See? Top hat day. Even Paul and Linda were stylin.

Hubby Neil checking out the cuff links. He loves them. Sometimes he buys them. But not today. No peaches. No cuff links.

Smells like teen spirit from the fifties. Let’s do the twist. I think the cases had 45’s in them but I didn’t look.

Lady Liberty, probably melting in the sun. I know I was.

Election year campaign buttons

Skeleton keys galore…and skate keys….and clock keys…..I’m always attracted to these.

Guess I’ll always have a love affair with typewriters, especially the really old ones.

Some long ago little girl’s well-loved baby dolls.

Gratuitous self-portrait of me melting in the heat at the flea market.

Need a hand?

I told Neil that this elephant looked like he was doing the Fig Newton dance.

We found the sea of green…but no yellow submarines.

Sold to some frog collector perhaps.

This was the cutest little bear! He didn’t have a steel rod sticking through his furry skull, honest.

In honor of Memorial Day weekend, vintage American flags for sale.

H.O.T.

Look who we went to see after the flea market! Grandson Knox had just woke up from his nap.

Bath time, splash time!

Nighty night time! Loved seeing my peeps—daughter Kelly, son in law Kerry and grandson Knox! Thanks for feeding us! Love you guys and hope to see you again soon!!
Happy TGIF, y'all!

Day One Hundred Forty Five 2012

Afternoon In Dogwood Park

Today was my first visit to our newly expanded Dogwood Park, which is a gorgeous green zone right smack in the middle of old town Cookeville. At the center of this little piece of heaven is an awesome fountain where kids of all ages can run around, get wet and cool off on a hot day. I took grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah there this afternoon. Elijah wore his vacuum-sealed rubber boot over his cast so he could splash, too. The day was hot but the water was cold, as you can see by Shelby's tense body language. Elijah plunged right in, but it took Shelby a long while to finally get soaked. They had a great time. Who wouldn't? I sat in the grass under a tiny tree which offered enough shade to escape the heat of the sun. That is my only complaint about the park--it will take decades before the small trees are mature enough for some real shade. Otherwise, I'm blown away by this place and can see myself spending time here as often as possible. I know I'll be taking my grandpeeps back again (and again) this summer to play around that way cool fountain.

Day One Hundred Forty Four 2012

Bragging On My Peeps!

My hubby Neil recently won the 2012 Spirit Of Flowserve award for Commitment. You have to be nominated, and they only give it to a couple of people each year. I'm really proud of him for getting this award. He is a hard worker with an amazing work ethic. He would not pose for a picture with his award, saying, "It's corny." I don't think it's corny at all and am more than happy to brag about him

right here. 

On the other hand, grandson Elijah was more than happy to pose with his recent award. He received a medal for memorizing the Days Of Creation in his kindergarten class in Bible school at church. He was thrilled to get this honor. I'm so proud of him, and I hope it inspires him to keep on learning about God and spiritual matters. Good job, Elijah! (and Neil!)

Day One Hundred Forty Three 2012

Randomness

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

~Buddha

(and, every once in a while, enjoy some randomness)

Day One Hundred Forty Two 2012

School's Out For Summer! Today was the last day of school for Grandpeeps Shelby and Elijah. They are both smart kids, and each one had an amazing school year, making awesome grades and good friends. Elijah mastered Kindergarten and will move up to First Grade. Shelby was sad to see her Fifth Grade year come to an end, but she'll be in Sixth Grade when classes gear up again in late July. Enjoy the next eight weeks, kiddos, because it is going to fly by.

Day One Hundred Forty One 2012

Neil and I visited grandson Knox, his mommy Kelly and his daddy Kerry this afternoon. He's grown a lot since we saw him last week. He's having a blast jumping around in his new bouncy chair. He loves peas! And he enjoys bath time in his way cool bath pool. Life is good! Love you, sweet Knox!!

Day One Hundred Forty 2012

Hubby Neil and I are celebrating our 39th wedding anniversary today. We must be having fun, because the time has certainly flown by in our marriage. We don't give each other anniversary gifts except cards, but today he gave me these beautiful white roses. Happy Anniversary to us! 

Day One Hundred Thirty Nine 2012

We often praise the evening clouds,
And tints so gay and bold,
But seldom think upon our God,
Who tinged these clouds with gold.
~Walter Scott

Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day One Hundred Thirty Eight 2012

RANDOM

Yesterday at the DQ: Double Fudge Frozen Hot Chocolate. Can you say Yummy?!

This afternoon on my front porch after school: Peeps! grandson Elijah, niece Sarah, granddaughter Shelby and niece Julia.

This evening at Ocha Thai deli: rice and spicy chicken for supper. Can you say Yummy again?!

This evening after supper: side trip to Ralph's Donut Shop for these things called 'fruit bars'--three for the price of a donut--raisins and something like gingerbread and icing on top. Can you say Yummy one more time?! 

On the way home through the town square--that fat cloud looks kind of like whipped cream. (I think I could use some exercise.) It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

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Four years ago today, my little brother, Rob, passed away unexpectedly. Missing you, little bro! Rest in peace.



Day One Hundred Thirty Seven 2012

Grandson Elijah has been diagnosed with Kohler's Disease, which is caused when the navicular bone temporarily loses its blood supply. As a result,tissue in the bone dies and the bone collapses. Here is a link that explains this condition:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6hler_disease

He received a cool camo cast and a good prognosis from the orthopedic doc this morning. He is going to wear the cast for two weeks and then maybe a boot for a while.

This is the last full week of school, which is a good thing especially for him. He'll be going back to school tomorrow to show off his way cool camo cast.

He's getting better with those crutches, but he still needs some help. He can't put any weight on that injured foot, and even his other foot is at risk. The x-rays showed that his uninjured foot also has the same lack of bone density in the same bone. Today, since Granny was out of Bomb Pops and Drumsticks, Elijah, granddaughter Shelby and niece Julia headed to the DQ for some tasty frozen treats. Please continue to keep Elijah in your prayers for a speedy and complete recovery!

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Wishing my daughter Kelly and her husband Kerry a very happy 4th anniversary! Hard to believe it's already been 4 years since that beautiful wedding on the beach in Destin, Florida. God bless you both with many more happy anniversaries to come! I love you!!

Day One Hundred Thirty Six 2012

This was yesterday after grandson Elijah had his foot x-rayed for broken bones. (Saturday afternoon, he was jumping over a big bouncy ball in his back yard with no shoes on and landed hard on the toes of his right foot. Major hurt!) He was trying hard to maneuver on his crutches in these pictures. Today, he went to school, not wanting to, because he was afraid the kids would point and stare and laugh at him. Well, they did stare for a bit, but they didn't laugh. Instead, they rallied around him, helping him get through his day on crutches. He even got to ride in the school elevator. His x-rays showed some fracturing in the Cuneiform bone--that large bone in the big toe. He's headed to the orthopedic doctor in the morning for more x-rays to determine if there are other, more serious problems with his bones in that foot. Keep him in your prayers for a positive prognosis!

Day One Hundred Thirty Five 2012

Look what showed up at my front door sometime yesterday afternoon. We have no idea where he came from. He just suddenly appeared on our front porch, all cuddled up on the doormat. He's either lost or someone dumped him. He seems to be part beagle and part something else. And, yes I know he's cute as all get out, but Neil and I don't want any more pets. We haven't made any efforts to find his owner, if he has one, because daughter Holly and grand kids Shelby and Elijah have already fallen in love with him. Shelby calls him Benjamin or Ben but says he looks like a Rocky. He's been fed and watered and given a (temporary) pillow to cuddle up on. He's already used my wicker rocker as a chew toy, and he's out there on the porch, wailing right now for attention. I don't know why he chose our house. We are cat magnets. Just ask the neighbor cat, Lily, who hangs out in our wicker rocker. No one seems to be missing this cute face. Maybe by this time tomorrow, he'll have a nice home with a couple of kids who have already claimed him as their own.

Day One Hundred Thirty Four 2012

Daughter Holly and granddaughter Shelby came by this afternoon to deliver a beautiful hanging basket of flowers, plus some citronella plants to keep the 'skeeters' away, and a sweet card, all to wish me a happy Mother's Day. Grandson Elijah stayed home with his dad to nurse an injured foot. Elijah was jumping over a big bouncy ball in his yard yesterday afternoon and landed on his foot in a way that hurt it pretty badly. His foot is swollen and very sore and he can't walk on it. For mom Holly, just another day in her busy life. She's a terrific mom and, alongside husband Jerry, is rearing two great kids. Happy Mother's Day, Holly!! I love you so much, and I'm happy that we got to spend a little time together today.

Day One Hundred Thirty Three 2012

Visiting daughter Kelly and grandson Knox today for Kelly’s very first Mother’s Day. She’s a great mommy, who—along with husband Kerry—is rearing a—how shall we say—‘quirky’ son. He’s always in motion when he’s awake and unpredictable from day to day. Keeps his parents on their toes. Never a dull moment.  Knox is totally precious. I could squeeze the stuffing out of him.  Happy Mother’s Day, Kelly!! I love you so much and am so blessed to have you in my life!! Never doubt that you are a wonderful mom. Knox is blessed to have such a loving and caring mother.

Day One Hundred Thirty Two 2012

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. ~e.e. cummings

Day One Hundred Thirty One 2012

RANDOM

The birds have discovered the mulberries, which make for a very colorful mess (literally) on the windshield of my car.

The baby birds have flown the nest and are everywhere. They, too, know a good mulberry when they see one.

Beautiful pink lilies basking in the sunshine

What an awesome day! Felt a bit like fall which is always OK with me.

And last but never least, Grandson Elijah played T Ball this evening. His team, the Diamondbacks, got beat by the Reds 17~11. They played well, though, and Elijah did some great fielding. They turned an eleven point lead into a six point lead. Not too shabby.

Day One Hundred Thirty 2012

Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe.
~Voltaire

Day One Hundred Twenty Nine 2012

²⁵"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? ²⁶"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ²⁸And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
³¹"So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' ³²For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
~Matthew 6: 25~34