Granddaughters-Last weekend at the lake

Grammy and Butterfly relax in the hammock.
Ladybug on top of the boathouse.

Surely it's not getting close to naptime already?
Nothing better for a nap than Grammy and a hammock.

Princess Flower and Granny T goofing around.

The weather was so horrible they had to play inside a lot this weekend. But I think they enjoyed that too.
Princess Flower and Butterfly

Hurricane Fay stalled out over the lake house this past weekend. Lots of wind and rain blowing sideways. Saturday was an impossible day. Everything got soaked with water. So, it looks like I didn't get too many pictures made....and Dragonfly was REALLY there. I guess she was napping inside when we made all the hammock pictures on Sunday when the rain finally stopped.

We're heading back to the lake house in the morning for Labor Day weekend. Looks like it's going to be a girls weekend. None of the sons are going to be there :( SO SAD!!

# 1 son has conflicting plans, #2 is too far away, # 3 is working, # 4 is going to see his grandparents. So, it's just be Granny T., Grammy, a couple of the daughters in law, 6 granddaughters, one great aunt, one regular aunt and one Papa. Poor guy!! Hope he survives.

I promise we'll do better with the pictures this weekend. We'll have to do the traditional girls in the swing and girls on the wall shot. Those are always fun to compare from year to year.

Those of you who are missing from our family end of the summer bash this year.... We miss you!! It's not the same without you here!

Granddaughters Outside

Friday morning we played outside before lunch and naps. It was a little windy but a terrific day to be outside since it wasn't so hot.

Why do none of my baby dolls have clothes???
Riding the spring horse that belonged to Papa Buddy when he was a little boy.

Oops...how'd she get that stick so quick??
Princess Flower made ornaments for the cherry tree from pine needles, flower petals and berries she found.
This red car was a Christmas gift to their oldest uncle way back in 1977. So, it will be 31 years old this Christmas.

She's crawling but I think walking is going to be late....hopefully not quite at last as Ladybug at 16 months. Her first birthday is about 3 weeks away.

We spent last Friday together before leaving for the lake that afternoon. Their Mommy went to spend the weekend with her sisters on the coast. Sister R. is getting married the weekend after Labor Day. That's the real reason for the trip but that means we get to enjoy the girls for an extended visit. I've been talking to their father who won't be down until right before the wedding. I don't think he's enjoying these days without his family around. He'd better get use to it because he'll soon be leaving for OCS.....and months away from his family with only an occasional visit home. We wonder where the next duty station will be. 700 miles from home is rough on visits already. There's a chance it might actually be closer....and two that it will be across country or the ocean. Pray that it will be closer!!

Granddaughter Fun

Just a box of clown clothes from a circus unit I used teaching kindergarten years ago was worth hours of fun and lots of laughs. Here's Ladybug.

Butterfly loved the glasses.

Even Dragonfly let her sister put on the wig for a second.
Princess Flower and Butterfly have great imaginations.

We're having such a good visit with the girls...even with all the rain when Hurricane Fay stalled out over us at the lake last weekend. These pictures were taken at our house on Friday before heading to the lake that afternoon along with their other Grammy. You'd think that 2 Grandmas could handle 4 little girls. When we made a stop for hamburgers on the way to the lake we discovered that we'd loaded them into the car and only Ladybug remembered her shoes. Princess Flower put on Grammy's flip flops and we carried the other two. We'll be sure to double check the packing list next time!!

Enjoy some of the pictures.

Granddaughters Are Here!!

At last the car turns in. Our neighbor also has a black Pilot and came through a few minutes earlier. I had my camera all set to snap pictures but it drove on past! My neighbor probably thinks I'm crazy jumping up and pointing the camera toward their car.
Princess Flower and Crystal the kitty.
Ladybug having a bite to eat.
Butterfly is happy to be here.
Dragonfly having a snack too. Her daddy use to sit in this highchair when he was a baby.

That's the best news any Papa and Granny can have. Four of our granddaughters arrived in time for supper last night after a long, all day drive from "up north". We're heading to the lake house to spend the weekend with them and their other Grammy. As you can see from the pictures, it didn't take long for the fun to begin.

Making Pickles...and other fun stuff.

Today we went to our State Farmers Market over on the far side of our big city. It's a place that I use to go as a child...hasn't changed too much except now most of those selling things speak Spanish. And there were a few things for sale I have no clue what they're called. But being there brought back some fond memories for me.

We bought a bushel of shelled crowder peas, a bushel of pickling size cucumbers, some hot pepper, okra, a dozen of mixed lemons and limes, and of course, a watermelon.

Now, back in the "old days" we would have shelled our own peas....but seeing them there already bagged up and ready to go was more than I could resist. I can relive my past without having to shell them myself!!

So, guess how we spent the evening?? You're right, fixin' them. You can't let all this good stuff go to waste. Do you have any idea how many pickles you can make from a whole bushel of cucumbers....oh, about 10 gallons. We're making the 13 day kind. Today of course, was day one....twelve to go. I'm afraid to count ahead and see what I'm doing on that 13th day when they have to be finished.

We also "put up" the crowder peas. They have to be washed, blanched for 90 seconds (exactly) and then put in ice for for 90 seconds and then put into freezer bags. We got seven quart size bags of those. We saved out enough peas for a "mess" tomorrow. Now, if you don't understand the term "mess", it doesn't mean we're going to mess them up or something. A mess means just enough left for a good meal.

I guess we're practicing for the time we have our own garden at the new house.

I'll post the 13 day pickle recipe later...I'm ready for bed and it's almost midnight.

Tugwell- Driveway Part 2

Looking out at the road from the driveway.

Looking up the drive from the road

Buddy and "the Tango". :)

This is where the driveway turns to the left by the old group of dogwoods.

There's our Edge up on the spot where we can park the RV and stay while work is being done on the property. They also put down gravel there so it won't be so muddy.
Another shot of coming up from the dogwoods and curving there to the right to the RV parking spot. Buddy heading down the drive toward the road.

All you need is a garden, a table, a box full of grocery bags, a price sign, a scale and a gallon jar to hold the money. What a novel idea!!
The famous tomato patch.
Looking for the perfect tomato.
Daddy and Dabby Do. She said she holding an "apple".

Today was an exciting day. After going to a meeting at school for a couple of hours this morning we were able to head for our home town to be to see the completed driveway. It was so great to just be able to drive right in all the way to the back, even in our little car. We pulled in to the back, got out and looked around imagining what things are going to look like and what the next step might be.

Son #3 and Dabby Do met us there and walked around with us for a little while before we headed to the local diner for lunch. After that, we headed to the famous tomato patch where we were able to gather some more tomatoes just getting ripe. It looks like this might be the end of this years harvest but it has been fun picking them and even better eating home grown tomatoes. How will we survive the winter without them?

We didn't get to see MoRo or her Mom today. They were going to head out to meet us after school but it was just too hot and we needed to head back to the big city. We missed you two! And we didn't get to see our neighbors and cruise buddies either. One day is too quick of a trip.

I'm going to try to get the pictures to load tonight. Hope it works better than last night.

Yea!! It worked!!

Tugwell- Driveway is in!!

We have more pictures today from our neighbors of the driveway that was finished today. I know that it probably doesn't seem like a finished driveway but you've got to look ahead to the big picture and think about how it's going to be when the house is finished and we're living there.

You've got to remember that we've had this property for 3 1/2 years too. It feels so good to be finally getting started.



Well....we have pictures but I can't get them to load onto the blog.....you'll just have to trust me that it looks great!!

Marine Family Special Events

Here is our son with his daughter, Princess Flower, after getting his new Staff Sergeant rank.
Semper Fi!!
These are pictures of our daughter in law participating in a recent Triathlon.

She's wearing a green hat.

Well, just in case some of you don't read the other blogs going on in our family, I thought I'd add a note telling a little about what exciting things are going on in some of their lives too lately.

This is about our second son, his wife and four daughters, Princess Flower, Butterfly, Ladybug, and Dragonfly. Our son is a United States Marine and stationed up north of us....about 700 long miles from here. So, we don't get to see as many of their exciting events as we'd like to.

I've tried to steal a couple of their pictures. If you'd like to see more, please check them out at: http://www.lifethrowsyousurprises.blogspot.com/.

First, daughter in law (do you have a blog name??) CBC, participated in a Triathlon recently and came in 197 out of 310. Not bad at all!! She swam 300 meters, rode 11.5 miles on a bike and ran 3.1 miles. Great job, CBC!!

Next, our son on Friday was promoted to Staff Sergeant!! That's wonderful, son. He's finished his college degree and has also been accepted into officer's candidate school which begins in October of this year. In December, he will be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. We'll be there for sure to see that!

And I'm not forgetting our oldest son who has also completed his Master's Degree and is presently working on becoming a Certified Public Accountant. He's passed three of the four tests necessary to become a CPA and I know it won't be long before he has this last one finished also.

Working full time, going to school, getting married, becoming a step-father! Their life is busy and full all the time!

For those of you that are wondering about our 4th son, Trainman, he's doing wonderful. We actually get a call from him ever now and then. He has done well in his training so far. He loves where he is and the friends he's made. The vocational skills training he chose is in lawn care. He's making good progress, is taking driver's ed. and will most likely be home by Christmas.

I've bragged enough....and I've probably forgotten a lot. Anyway, this is really just a blog about my immediate family anyway and we're sort of empty nesters now. You'll have to check out their blogs to keep up with all their happenings.

Master's Degree Graduation

Here are the proud parents of the graduate!!
Waiting for things to start took a long time. Making pictures was a good time filler.
Dabby Do was a little quiet at first.
Daddy and MoRo coming back from the bathroom....AGAIN!!

Two alumni together!!
Yep, it's official!!
Started Pre-K yesterday and wearing a graduation cap today. The time will seem to go about that fast!
A family moment!! Now, let's get out of the sun!!

More camera fun...they love that timer feature!

Dabby Do is sure she play two of these games at once! Cracker Barrel for the after graduation dinner was nice. Afterwards we could shop a little and sit outside in the rocking chairs and visit.

Daddy and MoRo working together.

Today was a pretty special day for one of our three daughters in law. She finished her Master's Degree and we had a chance to go watch her graduation ceremony. Another little bonus is that it's the same college that my husband received his bachelor's degree and his was held in the same gym. Aah, memories!! It's kind of funny that she and I got our bachelor's degrees from the same college too. So, both husband and I share a little bond with her in regards to our Alma Maters.

We're really proud of JHC for getting a 4.0 while teaching, being a wife and mother.

Of course, we had fun playing with MoRo and Dabby Do while waiting for the graduation to begin. Cruise pals and neighbors to be were pretty good company too. It was a good way to spend Sat. afternoon.

I've got a few pictures to share!! Enjoy!