Tuesday in Paradise

Good morning from Mayberry, where it is softly raining and completely overcast. I am enjoying the bird chorus and sound of the raindrops as I sit on the deck. And now I am joined by a sweet Jammie boy. One up, one still sleeping. Sweet!



Of course this rain might just mess up our big swimming plans. Bugger. Two girls are joining us for some Grammie time later today. I'm sure we will think of something fun to do.

Goodbye, July...time and the calendar march on. Rapidly.

And now it is time to enjoy some sweet sugah!

Life is good, y'all!

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Olympic fever…

We both have it, and are enjoying watching it on TV.  I wouldn’t want to be there in the crowds though.  It was fun back in ‘96 being in the middle of everything, but watching the games on TV is sooo much easier.  If we want to see a replay of a move, we just back it up and watch it again.  Easy peasy.

Friends Larry and Michelle lured us from the games yesterday and took us for a boat ride here on the lake.  Silly us for being inside on a beautiful summer day!  Duh…that’s what TIVO is for, right?!

So now it is Monday, blessed with another beautiful summer day, but work and laundry and broken equipment all loudly beckon and we have to be adults and git’er done.  Bugger.

But first…(you knew there would be one), I need to decide what’s for dinner and check my grocery list.

Did I mention that it is Monday?

Foggy Sunday in Paradise…

 

This is what I looked and felt like yesterday after our little mishap in the GEM, my little electric car.  I think Ansley accidently hit the accelerator instead of the brake, as well as over-steered into the R turn.  Coupled with the slant on our road, that recipe took us right into the ditch.  The tree saved us from rolling over…thank you, Mr. Tree.  Glad you are tough.

MM wasn’t home, so Logan and Haley came right on over.  His assessment was that it could be driven straight ahead and on out.  He moved tree limbs to keep the windshield from breaking, and away I went.  Easy peasy, plenty of room.

Ansley didn’t want to get back under the wheel (probably EVER), but back on that horse she (unhappily) went, without little sister to backseat drive (annoy).  I had her do a couple of loops through the property, and asked if she was ready to park it.  Nope, she wanted to do ONE more!  That’s my girl.  She did great.  Srsly.

I told Ansley that she had gotten her first accident over and done with early in the game.  Smooth sailing ahead for this gal…I’m certain she is not damaged for life over this.  As MM would say, it builds character!

And the GEM?  It is a mixture of two previously wrecked ones, so it has had a hard two lives already and the battle scars to prove it.  MM bought another wrecked one that he’ll fix up (since he has a lot of parts) and sell.  At least that is the plan.

Slightly shaken, but not stirred, life is good, y’all!

Saturday oops!

The girls decided playing with their cousins outside was more fun than going to the Green Bean Festival:

So Macey got to drive the GEM and did fine:

Ansley flunked Driving 101, but everyone is OK:

  Maybe we should have gone to the festival after all!

Stuff happens…and life is still good!!!

It’s Friday in Paradise…

 

And my inbox is full…and not just with papers!  My helpers are so (un)helpful.  Gotta love’em!

Raise your hand if you are excited about the Olympics!  I am, especially since Joy and I were volunteers at the ATL Olympics back in ‘96.  Man, was that a long time ago!  I also had the honor of being one of the torch bearers here in our mountain county when the torch came through en route to Atlanta.  Good memories.  I never did finish that scrapbook…and it won’t happen (again) right now with that pesky cruise coming up pretty soon.

This has already been a “but first”morning.  You know, you start one thing, then “but first” need to do this one other thing…that leads to three more.  Oh yes, I am Queen of But Firsts, which is why there was no post first thing this morning.  MM was one of those interruptions, needing some tax (boring) stuff.  Done.  Check.

And now the wait is on for the computer geek to arrive and tweak our house networking that is not doing its job so all the computers can communicate.  Looking forward adding that particular CHECK.

It’s just another Friday here at the ole fun factory.  Have yourself a whole bunch of smiles today, y’all!

Grammie Camp…

Boys and girls, what is this shape?

It is an OCTAGON.  Let’s count the sides:  1, 2, 3…

Good morning!  Two boys are content watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while I get ready for the day.  They wound up spending the night with us.  Love it!

So yesterday at Grammie Camp, Jennie brought her Sean over, Macey arrived, and the kids played inside and out on the deck and then wanted to go fishing.  Bad day of fishing…no fish biting, but then again, three boys couldn’t quit talking!  And I didn’t take a single photo, too busy untangling hooks and stuff.

Macey elected to leave the wee boys to go have fun with her mom, so Jennie and I fed the boy critters and then took them to see Ice Age, which was a very cute movie.

After dinner and  Dr. Seuss story time, two wee boys went to bed.  Followed by Grammie and Grumps doing the same not too long afterward.

End of Day 1 of GC. 

Nana picks the boys up this morning so that Amy and I can go do some errands together after Amy’s morning meeting.

End of Day 2 of Grammie Camp.

Can you stand all this excitement?!!!

Life is busy, so savor each day and smile, y’all…and roll with the punches!!!

Fun in the sun…

MM pounded with the sledge hammer and won me a purple inflatable alien!  Doesn’t every girl need one of those?!  MM at least had fun.  He is still my oldest child.

Dollywood is not just a “fun” park, it is also a place to learn about stuff.  It has a 30,000 square-foot aviary, which houses the country’s largest presentation of non-releasable bald eagles. You get a rare glimpse of some of nature’s most impressive birds of prey in this beautiful mountain setting as members of the American Eagle Foundation interact with these spectacular animals.

Birds of Prey at Dollywood are under the care of the American Eagle Foundation, which is authorized to possess birds for education, exhibition, rehabilitation and breeding under permits from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.

We thoroughly enjoyed the bird demonstration and highly recommend seeing the show.  Pardon the blurry photo, but this big guy wouldn’t quit moving!

 

                                         But these boys were just sitting around having a pow-wow and loving the attention of those passing by and admiring their fine feathers.

Dollywood and Splash Country are both great family entertainment areas.  We will go back!

But now our thoughts are on to our next great adventure, the upcoming river cruise.  Our info packet arrived, as well as our German rail pass.  Boy howdy, it is gonna be fun!  And the ship has complimentary wi-fi.  That makes me smile!

But first, Grammie Camp is in session today, and I need to get ready for that.  I hope you have some smiles in your day.  I sure will!

Life is good, y’all!