Day Two Hundred Forty Nine 2013

COUGAR RUN!

Today marked the 25th year for the Cougar Run ~ grandson Elijah’s school’s only fundraiser for the year.

Elijah’s second grade class is all lined up and ready to run! [Elijah is fifth one sitting down from the right]

This Cougar is ready to run!

The school mascot and the school principal join in on the first lap.

They ease into it, walking the first lap or two.

But you gain more laps if you run. The kids are urged to pace themselves. They run to the beat of all sorts of rock and roll music.

Elijah’s mom, Holly, who also attended this school back in the day, wore her vintage Capshaw Cougars T shirt and ran/walked some laps with Elijah.

Elijah stops long enough to get his lap mark. [I wonder how many kids run right past and forget to get their mark…]

Grandson Knox, hopefully a future Capshaw Kid/Cougar, got in on the action with his aunt Holly.

Elijah picked up the pace during the last song.

Knox was a bit confused by it all and probably wondering why all these people kept running in circles.

Mom and son walking the last lap together

Running out of steam ~ time to quit

17 laps for Elijah! Not too shabby [especially when Granny and Grandpa pledged two dollars a lap].

Stick a fork in me; I am done. Good job, Elijah! I’m very proud of you!

Back where they started ~ only this time hot and tired and happy to have that cup of cold water. Good job, all you Cougars who ran so hard today! They were rewarded with a hamburger/hotdog picnic and could play the rest of the day or leave if their parents gave the OK. Needless to say, Elijah opted to hang out at Granny’s house. Good choice.
Happy TGIF, everyone!

Day Two Hundred Forty Eight 2013

Nine of us showed up for lunch in Dogwood Park today. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture of the lunch bunch. Niece Sarah got to join us. She brought sidewalk chalk which thrilled grandson Knox. When Sarah had to leave, he didn’t want to give up the chalk.

But he did get to play in the fountain, which also thrills him, so that was a fair trade for the chalk.

This afternoon, we watched grandson Elijah play in his first game of the season for Fall Ball. This time he’s playing in the coach’s pitch league ~ no more T Ball. In Fall Ball, they play for fun ~ no score.

Elijah played second base in this game and did pretty well ~ knocked a player down when he tagged her for the out. Oops.

I guess this was Fun and Games Thursday for my peeps who continue to grow up way too fast. [Granddaughter Shelby went to her first homecoming game at her middle school where I’m sure she was snapping pictures for the yearbook ~ hope she had fun, too.]

Day Two Hundred Forty Seven 2013

Wacky Wednesday

Today was Wacky Day at school. Grandson Elijah was decked out in a knit cap he wore when he was a baby, his Angry Bird T shirt which he wore backwards, a cape which was also worn backwards, a pair of skull and crossbones PJ bottoms, a necktie, a bow tie, a glow in the dark necklace, two different shoes and one short sock and one long sock. And a pair of huge horn rimmed frames. Now that is wacky. And yet he did not win the wacky day contest for wackiest outfit. Go figure.

Grandson Knox got in on Wacky Day mania [forced to wear Elijah’s glasses simply for the photo op ~ but he obliged].

For Wacky Day, Granddaughter Shelby chose her paint splattered fedora, green and gray striped top, and pink and brown floral jeans. Wacky and tacky and a whole lot of fun that breaks up the boredom of a day at school.

Day Two Hundred Forty Six 2013

Daughter Kelly needed a caffeine jolt and had a 99 cent coupon for a coffee at Dunkin’ Donuts. So that’s where we all ended up for treats this afternoon. It’s been decades since I’ve had a Dunkin’ donut. They’ve got a lot more than that now. Kelly got her coffee, Kerry, Elijah and I got frozen hot chocolates (which Knox hijacked) and Shelby got an orange juice freeze thing. Kelly had coupons for donuts, too, so why not? We had a yummy good time.

Day Two Hundred Forty Five 2013

Grandson Knox and Pa sharing some strawberries and cream [Cool Whip] this morning ~ the breakfast of champions. Happy Labor Day, America!

Day Two Hundred Forty Four 2013

{Howdy, September!}

No arm-twisting to get Neil to go to the D.Q. this afternoon for sweet treats. He chose a banana split. [After all, bananas are good for you, and also pineapple, strawberries, and yes even chocolate.] No health food for me. I went for the Butterfinger Blizzard with extra stuff on top [worth every penny of the extra 49 cents]. It is Labor Day weekend here in the good old U.S. of A. ~ a holiday tomorrow ~ no work. [A bit of irony there] But unfortunately Neil had to go back in to work right after our D.Q. treat. [That’s why all those pens, pencils and highlighters in his pocket] Grab the good times while you can. They sure do fly by fast.

"Sorrow and scarlet leaf,
Sad thoughts and sunny weather.
Ah me, this glory and this grief
Agree not well together!" ~Thomas Parsons, 1880, A Song For September

Day Two Hundred Forty Three 2013

Randomness

I was in organize mode today upstairs in the bedroom where grandson Knox plays when he’s visiting. Having grandkids is like your own kids never grew up and moved away from home. Knox obviously has a great time playing in here.

Neatness counts. But it doesn’t last. And that’s OK. The most fun can be had in making the mess.

Neil spent part of his afternoon cleaning out the debris in our 1920s basement. He always finds interesting stuff down there ~ leftovers from a bygone era ~ like this strip of linoleum that used to cover the kitchen floor, maybe back in the thirties. He also found an old rusty ax.

It seemed like a good night to make a pot of chili, maybe because it’s Football Time In Tennessee! Go Big Orange! They trampled all over Austin Peay ~ 45 to ZIP. Not surprising, but we’ll see what happens when UT plays a real team.  Hope your Saturday was a winner! [So long, August, we hardly knew ya.]

Day Two Hundred Forty Two 2013

Summer Winding Down




Summer, please restart yourself.  ~unknown

I suppose summer is officially considered done come Monday, even though [calendar-wise] there are three weeks left until fall. I have no idea where it went, only that it always goes by way too fast.  Happy TGIF, everyone!  Enjoy this Labor Day weekend.

Day Two Hundred Forty One 2013

My accidental pumpkin patch. I didn’t throw out any old pumpkins this year, so I don’t know where this vine is coming from. It made its appearance a little too late in the year to be sprouting anything good, so I’ll keep my expectations low and maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised by October.

Day Two Hundred Forty 2013

Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you.   ~Richard Brinsley Sheridan

Neil and I had lunch in the rose garden today. No, not that rose garden but a local rose garden. This is the view from inside the gazebo at Dogwood Park. It is surrounded on three sides by all different kinds of rose bushes and the scent in the air is delicious. The bright sunlight almost washed out all the pretty colors, but you get the idea. Apparently, a local rose society plants and maintains the garden for all to appreciate. It’s a pleasant way to spend some time with my hubs on his lunch break.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Nine 2013

Backyard Wandering
"Not all those who wander are lost", a line from the poem All that is gold does not glitter, written by J. R. R. Tolkien for The Lord of the Rings.




We know that in September, we will wander through the warm winds of summer's wreckage. We will welcome summer's ghost.
~Henry Rollins

Day Two Hundred Thirty Eight 2013

Grandson Knox knew he was getting ready to head back home this afternoon, so while his mom scurried about gathering their stuff, he started packing his toy bag with the blocks he recently discovered in Granny’s toy box. [They’re called Bristle Blocks ~ the ‘bristles’ mesh together to make really neat buildings and such and his mommy played with them when she was little ~ he doesn’t know that nor does he care ~ all he knows is that they’re way cool blocks and he was going to take them home] He pulled them all apart and stuffed them into his bag one by one until he was done. Then he went upstairs and found even more cool toys to take home. Have fun with your ‘new’ toys, Knox! Miss you guys!!

Day Two Hundred Thirty Seven 2013

This is one of daughter Holly’s neighbors [tee hee, could not resist], and grandson Knox got a kick out of petting her velvety soft nose this afternoon, although he was a bit intimidated by the size of this animal. The horse was very gentle and loved our attention. Then she suddenly turned her back on us and ambled away. To find greener pastures, I guess.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Six 2013

Jungle cat stalking its prey among the exotic flowers. No, wait, that’s just Lily kitty from next door strolling through the back yard on a Saturday afternoon. And a lovely Saturday it was. Was yours?

Day Two Hundred Thirty Five 2013

My beautiful granddaughter Shelby, who is in 7th grade this year, was chosen to be on the yearbook staff. She had to sign up to do this and petition three teachers to recommend her. She found out her good news today and is very excited to say the least. I know she’ll be good at this. She already has a good eye as a photographer, so she’s looking forward to that part of it. Congratulations, Shelby! I am so proud of you!!  Happy TGIF, everyone.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Four 2013

This is our second trip to Ralph’s Donut Shop this week [and it’s only Thursday].

Cheaper by the dozen. We like their new orange cream filled ~ so yummy!

Grandson Knox could hardly wait to bite into his chocolate covered cake doughnut.  He was done about four bites later. It’s not the quantity but the quality, you know.

Look who popped in to share a doughnut with us ~ niece Julia and niece Sarah [actually we knew they were coming over to visit and called them while we were at Ralph’s so they could put in their doughnut order].

Good times clowning around with peeps on a Thursday night!

Day Two Hundred Thirty Three 2013

Back to the bone doc for me this morning for my follow up. Had a cortisone shot six weeks ago in my left knee. It worked like magic. No pain or swelling. No limping around like I’m a hundred years old. My knee felt back to normal until two weeks ago when I put my foot into some slick mud and fell and apparently wrenched that knee on my way down, which wiped out all the magical effects of that shot. The doc says I most likely have a meniscus tear and surgery looms large in my near future. He was sympathetic but it is too soon to have another cortisone shot ~ apparently you have to wait three to four months between shots. I told him about our beach trip coming up in a month. He said to come in the day before we leave on our trip and he’d give me another shot. I love that man! Now all I have to do is limp my way through the next four weeks. I can do that. I’m used to it by now.

Day Two Hundred Thirty Two 2013

Terrific Tuesday

A day without bubbles is a day without joy.

Grandson Knox lulled to sleep in his swing, holding a bubble wand that is his favorite color

A day without rain … would be a shock at this point

Grandson Elijah insisted that watching SpongeBob would not be a distraction while doing his math homework. He was wrong. Thank goodness for erasers.

Granddaughter Shelby gave her homework the raspberries ~ might be more fun if it was on her iPad

This evening, somebody [Neil] mentioned doughnuts, and we were all over it at Ralph’s. Knox knows what he wants. That one!

The full moon was gorgeous tonight hanging there in the clouds over West Side. Cell phone camera can do only so much ~

Just dump me in the box and I’ll eat my way out

Mm mm……it’s that good! Doughnuts help make a Tuesday even more terrific. Hope yours was, too!