Old goats...

Groups of Americans were traveling by tour bus through Holland. As they stopped at a cheese farm, a young guide led them through the process of cheese making, explaining that goat's milk was used. She showed the group a lovely hillside where many goats were grazing.

'These,' she explained, 'are the older goats put out to pasture when they no longer produce.' She then asked, 'What do you do in America with your old goats?'

A spry old gentleman answered, 'They send us on bus tours!

~~So yesterday's gathering of gals and a few old goats was great. We were kept company by a big herd of cattle that was grazing on the hillside right next to us. They were far more interested in the grass than us, so that was good. And the fence kept us all where we were supposed to be. That was also good. And speaking of critters, a doe with a pair of fawns following her crossed through our front yard yesterday, heading from the water over to the woods. I sure love seeing them. They are welcome any time.

Enjoy your last day of August. Life is good...here in paradise!

Beta beginning day...

This afternoon is our official gathering of Beta Sigma Phi sistas to kick off Beginning Day, after the somewhat hiatus of summer meetings. We are each bringing a dish to share, with the club furnishing the ham. Our guys are always invited to this, so there will be much merriment and food galore. Can't beat that! I'm looking forward to seeing these important women in my life. The guys aren't half bad either.

This always means that summer is coming to and end, and that is OK. I'm ready for some cool weather. Our leaves are beginning to turn colors, so I know fall is just around the corner. Bring it on, baby!

Our annual sibling gathering is just around the corner, too. That's another thing to look forward to...in about 10 days. Stay tuned...

So enjoy your Sunday. Go out and make it a good one!

Saturday something to think about...

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

~~~Have a peachy Saturday. Life is good!!!

Friday catching up...

Rain greeted us this morning, and the two doggies next door didn't want to get out in it and come over here to eat breakfast...so I did the doggie 'meals on wheels' bit (I am such a good Grammie!), and found the campers back home! At least for a few hours. It was no fun being couped up with two small boys, so Doodlebug went to playschool while Amy and Jason came home to get a few things done. No wonder the doggies didn't bother to come to me when I yelled for them!

I am back to my photo scanning job today. Our parish celebrates its 25th birthday in September, so a couple of us are putting together a historical booklet, hence the scanning of (mostly) old photos. It is a major project and involves a lot of my time, but it will be so worth it in the long run. And all this history needs to be preserved anyway...and passed down to all the generations that follow us current folks. Like I needed another project! Like I don't have photos of my own that I need to work on!!! I need a clone...

OK, enough of this. Back to work I go. Enjoy your Friday...enjoy your weekend!

Help someone in need...

From my friend Alice...

Go to the Kraft web site shown below and with two clicks you can give one box of Kraft Macaroni to someone in need. Isn't that easy? It won't get any easier to help others.

Where else would we have such an easy task of providing for those less fortunate than we are? All you have to do is 2 clicks. The first to take you to the web site, and the second to provide 1 box of Kraft Macaroni to someone who needs it.

Click on the Kraft URL NOW. BEFORE you go read one more blog...CLICK THE WEB SITE RIGHT NOW!!!

www.sharealittlecomfort.com

Kraft's goal is to give away 1,000,000 free boxes of macaroni to people in need. They can't give it away if we don't click.There are so MANY hungry people in this country. Clicking ONE time a day is NOT more than you can do. Nor is it more than you should do.

In ONE day, the clicks provided 1,615 FREE boxes of Kraft Macaroni. We are still WELL short of the 1 Million goal. We are at 760,437. Add your click to the total and contribute to that 1 Million boxes.

~~Now that was easy, wasn't it? Enjoy your Thursday, especially since YOU are fortunate enough to have a roof over your head...food in your tummy...family...friends. Count your blessings! Life is good!!!

Tuesday funny...

Life explained in 4 bottles...

Sh*t---I'm already at stage 3!

Hat tip: Johnnie T.

Monday funny…

Out bicycling one day with my eight-year-old granddaughter, Carolyn, I got a little wistful.  'In ten years,' I said, 'you'll want to be with your friends and you won't go walking, biking, and swimming with me like you do now.’

Carolyn shrugged.  'In ten years you'll be too old to do all those things anyway.'

~~~Now why does this remind me of something Miss M might say?!!!  I hope you find something to smile about on this Monday…I just did.

Life’s simple pleasures…

Roasting marshmallows outdoors.  Remember when?  That is a fond childhood memory of mine.  Doodlebug had fun last night learning the tradition down at the fire pit by the lake.  He is also learning about safety and the dangers around fires.

We’re going back for another session tonight, and adding just a few more kids to the mix…and some hot dogs and some baked beans.  Come join us!  The weather has cooled off and the fire will be hot.  Happy Sunday, y’all!

Thursday things...

Yes, I have been quiet on the blogging front this week, not because I WANTED to, but because I have been busy doing this and that. Nothing actually exciting in the fun sense...just paperwork, meetings...the normal *stuff* of every day life and living.

But one nice thing has finally happened. Amy arrived Monday morning and Wednesday morning to begin training to be my paperwork fairy, so that made me think of this pretty gal to look at as I type......and tell you how happy I am to have my trainee, who will be back Friday morning for another session. She brings along her sidekick, Scooter, who is walking...and gets into everything. It's a good thing he's cute!

Amy is learning the billing and reporting end of the RV park, and all the ins and outs of what it takes to run the park office (right here, at our house...next door to HER house). Somebody's gotta eventually take over my job, and she drew the short straw! She'll be great...she's quick.

Dick fires up the moho tomorrow to take over to the park. The real park, where he is going to be manager for three weeks (scary thought) while our 'real' managers take a trip and go have some fun. He'll take his computer with him, so that will keep him occupied. He'll spend time at the pavilion talking with our great camper folks...and doing whatever chores that need doing. Over there. He'll be fine. I think he can handle that job. He's experienced! But it will be lonely without him sitting at his desk across from me. I think I can handle that! I have my own chores to do.

So that is life here at the old fun factory. Oh yes, our brand new Walmart opened yesterday, forever changing life here in Mayberry. We are entering the 21st century...well, we will when there are beer and wine sales going on, but that is another story! Life is good...

Wordless Wednesday...me!

Check out this big boy!

Meet Gigantosaurus, the world's largest meat-eating dinosaur! That is one BIG boy!!!

This guy and a smaller one next to him are on exhibit at Fernbank Museum in Atlanta. Personally, I wouldn't want to run into either of these two on the actual hoof. They are pretty awesome as they stand here in the lobby, totally non-threating in their stillness.

Our grandkids sure enjoyed visiting here. The bubble-blowing area was a definite highlight. Dino-Mite time all around.

The dinosaur special exhibit ends on August 22, so hurry up and go check it out if you are in the Atlanta area.

Sunday on the ground...

No flying today to So. GA to the clan gathering. The weather isn't cooperating between here and there, so we are staying put. It is beautiful outside here this morning, but rain will be moving in. Safety first!

So what will we do instead? Endless possibilities of doing *stuff*.........or doing............nothing. Having freedom is important on so many levels.

Whatever you do this day, stay safe...and give thanks...and be sure to give someone a hug. Hugs are good. Life is good!

Lake time...

Doodlebug sure has grown since this photo was taken with Grumps last summer. I'll have to get some new photos, because now it is time to turn the wheel over to Scooter this August!

We'll take some time off to go outside and play on the water today. Logan and Reid needed the pontoon boat today, so Dick and I get to go enjoy BBQ at the 'playhouse' on the lake. Now that's a great trade off! Want to 'borry' it again tomorrow???

Just another day in paradise! Life is good...go out and enjoy!!!

Beware Government Help...

New Healthcare symbol:

Beware of these ten words:

I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you.

Run, Forrest, run!

Future Tour champion!

First day on his new bike, and Doodlebug is already doing amazingly well!

Any bets on whether he'll have the training wheels off by the time he turns 3 in October?! Stay tuned...zoom, zoom.

Go, Little Bike Dude!

Hey, sweet boy...

This is what I'll see in about an hour. This sweet boy is on his way over to nap at Grammie's house while Amy takes his big brother to the lake to play with his wee friends. I walked over to check out the injured lip last night, and it looks fine. Maybe we can stay injury-free today!

Dick is off on the Gator to check out the noise in the neighborhood. We can hear a piece of equipment working nearby. Of course sound carries far on the water. Is someone clearing for a house? There are empty lots on our circle. Hmm...we'll see. Inquiring minds want to know!

Dick is back. And the answer is.......a neighbor is simply putting in a concrete driveway. That still puts a few bucks into the (bad) economy, so that is good.

Have a happy day. I'll have a big smile on my face with all the hugs and sloppy kisses I'll be getting. Can't beat that!

It's Monday!

Amy called very early to say she had an upset tummy and could I PLEASE keep the boys? I could tell by her pitiful voice that she didn't feel good, so I sent Grumps over on the Gator for pick up. Are we good grandparents or what?! That made all three boys happy.

Until........Scooter took a tumble outside and is now sporting a fat lip! Doodlebug loves to pee outside (whatever it takes to get them potty trained!). Scooter is new to this walking business, so he took managed to trip on the concrete outside during the peeing performance, and of course did a face plant. Great for this to happen on my watch! I may lose my Grammie License...

Amy just called and is feeling better and will be over to retrieve the munchkins. Scooter took a good nap, so life is still good! And the lip doesn't look too bad. I think there will be a happy ending after all.

Avoid bumps and watch your bumpers today!

Sunday stuff...

Missy is wondering where the water is going, but it is August and the lake is draining. It happens every year, since TVA controls the levels, with just a little assistance from Mother Nature. Summer fun is on the way out.

So after three hours, my geek had us networked and running properly. He tweaked all the computers so they would run faster...yaayy for that! And I can send stuff to the printer from the kitchen. How cool is that?! If I copy files to the network drive, I can see them from any of the four computers in the house (now WHO is the geek?). BTW, have you backed up your files lately? Do you back up off premise??? Important files need to be stored off premise, just in case of fire, OK? At least back up to a CD or memory stick and store it away from the computer. I know you are saying that you don't have anything important on your computer, but think of your photos. See, gotcha! Now I'll get off my soapbox.

Happy Sunday, y'all. Do something special today--give someone a smile and add a hug!

TGIF!

Whew, it has been a busy week, what with working three days in the church office, getting rear ended, and just the normal work that I do for our own business. I could use a break, and this photo gives me a happy feeling while I wait on the computer guy to show up here.

He is bringing a network drive with him, and he is going to tweak our network situation so that all the computers speak the right bytes to find the network and the printer! Woohoo!!! I like it when everything cooperates and plays nicely.

Enjoy your Friday. Share a smile!

Happy birthday, Nan...

Happy birthday, little sister! You know that Mother is smiling down on you...I sure miss "Miss Willie!"
I have church bulletins for two services ready to fold and then stuff the inserts inside. Whew, it's been a busy two days. At least I don't have to go home and cook dinner tonight. Life is good!!!

Bumper to bumper…

The only TWO vehicles in the whole parking lot, and the lady manages to back her truck into my car after lunch yesterday!  And I don’t know how she managed to hit this side of may car, as she was parked not only across the lot from me, but she was closer to the *other* side.  Now that takes talent!  Idiot.  Her big ole trailer hitch put a hole there in my bumper.  It is not a pretty picture.

The claims adjuster will be in touch today or tomorrow the insurance lady said.  You can count on it getting fixed right.  This car had NO dings on it till now, even though it is six years old.  I am not a happy camper.

But the good news is that no one was hurt and *stuff* is fixable…and life goes on………and it is still good!

Happy Tuesday, y’all.  Stay accident free!

Monday, Monday...

The fog should be lifting shortly so that Dick can once again see this beautiful view as he makes his flight today. Just as humans need an annual check up, so do airplanes...and today is the day for that. He'll be happy just to be up flying!

I will be playing church secretary this week while Maureen has knee surgery, so I'm going in this afternoon for a refresher course on what to do. And cleaning off my own desk here so that I can be off working elsewhere!

And then tonight, the whole family will be over to celebrate Brian's birthday, now that he and Jason are back from their fishing/lobstering trip.

Thanks to all who sent comments and good wishes to Haley. It made us both SMILE. You can click on the *smile* if you missed it, or want to see the follow up:-)

Cheers for your Monday...make it a good one!

Sunday smiles...

Everyone deserves a SMILE, right? Some children can't enjoy this basic function. Haley has helped make a difference in a child's life (of course she is a teacher and she already makes a difference in LOTS of lives, but this time it is something very different...and foreign...and fulfilling...and fun)...............

This proud mama wants you to go check out her site to see what she did. Leave her a sweet comment, OK? She and I both will appreciate it.

Enjoy your Sunday, y'all, and count your blessings. Be sure to share a smile with someone today...and every day! It makes a difference.

Happy Birthday, Bike Dude!

Happy birthday, honey! I remember so well our happiness upon your arrival in the world. And it has only gotten better. You have always been a joy to Dad and me, and only an occasional pain in the you-know-what. We love you very much. For sure.
Doodlebug misses his "Bike Dude" and wants you to hurry back. You are such a good uncle to all the kiddies!

Celebrate your special day!!! No, you cannot have the keys to the airplane!

Saturday morning update: Brian and Jason finally got into ATL late last night and friend Matt picked them up at MARTA and drove Jason home this morning. Brian's new bike frame needed to be picked up and then his bike re-done, so that is how he is spending his birthday. Then dinner with friends. We'll celebrate with the family tomorrow!