tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24238799841648042492024-03-14T08:23:03.919-05:00In a ShoeKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.comBlogger722125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-223345826294302662020-02-08T14:47:00.000-05:002020-02-08T14:54:57.620-05:00You Either Have It or You Don't<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Today my sisters and I celebrated my mom's 97th birthday. Of course we took pictures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This one was taken around 1960 and you can see that my mom was the ONLY cool person in the picture.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Here we are 60 years later. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Nothing's changed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">She's still way cooler than us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday Mom. Love you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-11756626486661110462020-02-07T11:32:00.001-05:002020-02-07T11:34:11.681-05:00It Takes a Couple of Generations to Raise a Child<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My daughter and her husband are going to Europe for an anniversary trip next month. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Personally I think all marriages should be celebrated with "<i>getaways"</i>. Europe is nice, of course, but I've also had some pretty good times at Home Depot when we've snuck out without the kids.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My son in law, Nate, the <i><strike>bossy pants </strike> </i>social coordinator of our family, summoned the grandmothers over last night to make sure that the three kids will be adequately cared for in their absence. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzkFB6JWWjk7FVxwiT1m_XvFPYQqan0q-Ab1wSEE4wAxjR7-2exon-46oeodMXqypMEb_MUH6Ai8DrawyW6idE7uOQe9MKyJzl0CDeQp_MrohhujxF06xu7NriAhHEMbNr1ce1Bao8QBB/s1600/Grandmothers+planning+child+care.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzkFB6JWWjk7FVxwiT1m_XvFPYQqan0q-Ab1wSEE4wAxjR7-2exon-46oeodMXqypMEb_MUH6Ai8DrawyW6idE7uOQe9MKyJzl0CDeQp_MrohhujxF06xu7NriAhHEMbNr1ce1Bao8QBB/s400/Grandmothers+planning+child+care.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We sat with our planners,laptops, calendars and phones to cover all the practices, play performances, piano lessons and church stuff they needed to go to. Looks like it's going to take both sets of grandparents to pull off what Kara and Nate do all the time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Oh, and Nate enticed us to this strategic planning meeting with a delicious dinner. We would have come without it, but I DO love when people cook for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Thanks Nate!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-72965946410409501692020-02-05T10:44:00.000-05:002020-02-05T10:45:38.510-05:00Old is Good - Right?<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Yesterday I had to visit our local social security office to enroll for medicare. Surprisingly I'll be 65 next month. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Okay, well it's surprising to me. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I get it - but really! Can I be old? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">#1 I snap chat my kids instead of calling them because I'm aware that even though we pay their PHONE bill, they do not consider their phones something that you would actually make or receive calls from. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">#2 I have posted to tic toc, however I have 0 followers so no one knows that I did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">#3 Every morning I get up at 5:30am and walk 3 miles but I start dreaming of my wonderful, soft, amazing, bed around 7:30pm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">#4 I own no mom jeans but I find that in my 60's I'm growing a mom body.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">#5 I have kids at my house EVERY day and most of them call me Grandma Kate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So yes. Yes I am old.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Oh well....at least I get to grow old with James. 🧡</span><br />
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Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-36790142177493486612019-08-01T10:19:00.000-05:002019-08-01T10:19:52.686-05:00Mexican Thumb<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I love gardening.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I love garden books and thumbing through seed catalogues. Essays on gardening are such a delicious read. Walking through an arboretum is intoxicating. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I love gardening.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mYoIQWisYhV6LsMHD504yVnzSU4q-xKJDooSEEKkJe2BUHVP_nWptB4JLl63Lh1KEklqxDZ8iSAojMrroCrhf9GNdSx4rQ4TN1N72kU3U7X2UfVdoe_ivIZlfqvnEndEWdGi3iCpxL_7/s1600/Garden+books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1mYoIQWisYhV6LsMHD504yVnzSU4q-xKJDooSEEKkJe2BUHVP_nWptB4JLl63Lh1KEklqxDZ8iSAojMrroCrhf9GNdSx4rQ4TN1N72kU3U7X2UfVdoe_ivIZlfqvnEndEWdGi3iCpxL_7/s320/Garden+books.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In theory.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In reality not so much.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I hate weeding a lot. Hot weather just makes me mad. I could erase June, July and August off the calendar and be perfectly content. Gnats, the official insect of West Virginia, are an offence when you spend any time outdoors. They have a penchant for flying halfway down your throat, fluttering their wings and causing you to hack and vomit on the ground. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But my love for homemade salsa counters all heinous gardening tasks.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So I have a salsa garden. It's all I need.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">My salsa is really that good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK86IBtBa3P4A-gUYqn4Fv1TnmVRJCQStkEyT8Vx2kooFJp4jR-YujDDgLkfjoKgBg3I2bRaMKbpbTt5wikBgKcg-mxwD3DKAKsqeYmwpg9xxuPrEAKhJF6goLJlNjG1mC0hcjYZO3CfF/s1600/Salsa+garden+harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK86IBtBa3P4A-gUYqn4Fv1TnmVRJCQStkEyT8Vx2kooFJp4jR-YujDDgLkfjoKgBg3I2bRaMKbpbTt5wikBgKcg-mxwD3DKAKsqeYmwpg9xxuPrEAKhJF6goLJlNjG1mC0hcjYZO3CfF/s320/Salsa+garden+harvest.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-9697846218067107382018-12-14T22:46:00.002-05:002018-12-14T22:46:51.895-05:00Boys<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Having grown up in a household of three sisters and then raising ten of my own daughters interspersed between eight sons, I know how to do girls. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Girls make sense to me, annoy me and yet... I get them. It's been my normal. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> And now I find myself some 40 years since that first little girl was placed in my arms, surrounded by boys. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Teenage boys. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's a strange often alarming way to finish this job. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Now, these aren't bad/evil boys, but everything is different. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nobody wants to sing songs with me, or go to museums or sit and talk about their feelings. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">They even eat different.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I make lots of meatloaf now.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn83NjWtmyU8YnGNx_IKQRgHf5PnHWr9UsKfbMk3EUZmMMLYHWjp3GhPrnKB1cbysl6aNZL6AIVUsqMDAqgM4Jk0M78zJLbBZOVbMgFhVVUMCdJsS9SN90tVXBm8HK2m0gnmQRjpCAIr3Q/s1600/Fancy+meatloaf+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn83NjWtmyU8YnGNx_IKQRgHf5PnHWr9UsKfbMk3EUZmMMLYHWjp3GhPrnKB1cbysl6aNZL6AIVUsqMDAqgM4Jk0M78zJLbBZOVbMgFhVVUMCdJsS9SN90tVXBm8HK2m0gnmQRjpCAIr3Q/s400/Fancy+meatloaf+dinner.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So sometimes when I feel alone in my girl-ness, I make the meatloaf and they get to sit at a very lovely table.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One of them said tonight, "Dinner looks different Mom."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'll take that as a compliment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-55241252853636874772018-10-18T17:40:00.003-05:002018-10-18T17:40:44.372-05:00"You're Still the One" (Decided that's our theme song)<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> James and I headed to the Mountain House to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary this week. We got married when I was 18 and he was 19, so this many years later I find it remarkable that it's still our best thing. Very best.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BKYyFiLGUoUsA4OSKSDAFkb-YzIOkl_x_Ne7Ogi7jjBWIbkOZasyan6pidjL_iHXzd585fkNvF7Arr-iRURavhWN7TRKRSPZrMpIfW3jzrFYjxg7vdn7LdZ-7cb_mOF_KVL7q-uLPAsM/s1600/DSC_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1018" data-original-width="1600" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BKYyFiLGUoUsA4OSKSDAFkb-YzIOkl_x_Ne7Ogi7jjBWIbkOZasyan6pidjL_iHXzd585fkNvF7Arr-iRURavhWN7TRKRSPZrMpIfW3jzrFYjxg7vdn7LdZ-7cb_mOF_KVL7q-uLPAsM/s320/DSC_0238.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Luckily we married in October so our celebration trips, which we manage to squeeze in every year, are in the fall...the best season. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cNU_cnvM2WD8LKDplS6dUBTDGAXaBkdqzh2LYnNNWBmOoL7JvB7UJ8tc0okX7VIoANEbja54VXP4RzUWi4V87KHfFpeU6QflVoX3hpb4beEJZkVaG7MfUvyydxzY7f3nCRSlrEYGm84R/s1600/DSC_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4cNU_cnvM2WD8LKDplS6dUBTDGAXaBkdqzh2LYnNNWBmOoL7JvB7UJ8tc0okX7VIoANEbja54VXP4RzUWi4V87KHfFpeU6QflVoX3hpb4beEJZkVaG7MfUvyydxzY7f3nCRSlrEYGm84R/s320/DSC_0243.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Today James agreed to hike up to Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory in Monroe County, WV.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbeIdYl66ULxjotEAMOTz57fG5dp6Qt9gVmejl8flKjDgRuSXXACxp8IttNHoHFea6JKbQNjt_LqvbQAtoEiOU7dIRa9c3oKVokFhfR2wovcBOMXlimVfbZZvfpJlT1rpTsXqHD4IofQe/s1600/DSC_0267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbeIdYl66ULxjotEAMOTz57fG5dp6Qt9gVmejl8flKjDgRuSXXACxp8IttNHoHFea6JKbQNjt_LqvbQAtoEiOU7dIRa9c3oKVokFhfR2wovcBOMXlimVfbZZvfpJlT1rpTsXqHD4IofQe/s320/DSC_0267.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I don't think he loves hiking, but fortunately he does love me. It was a briskly, chilly, sunny day - perfect for hiking. It's a short 0.9 mile hike, but ascends to 3,800 feet. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBLId_RuzSIG5SstU6Cfp8zmkOuVKo_9glVxtWBeTeZAelpuyUlSPKPRB6DgDGB2pP06-UlIcrcaCj6MEcviMZ7vmrM9QeIK2XCdicyUzl1SWvjLiLkMfWyT7AalUTmupHHxNKq0EH7p-/s1600/DSC_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCBLId_RuzSIG5SstU6Cfp8zmkOuVKo_9glVxtWBeTeZAelpuyUlSPKPRB6DgDGB2pP06-UlIcrcaCj6MEcviMZ7vmrM9QeIK2XCdicyUzl1SWvjLiLkMfWyT7AalUTmupHHxNKq0EH7p-/s320/DSC_0263.JPG" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> It was worth every rocky step and shortage of breath when we reached the top. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyfbw2AyCyxYP_wrDfoOBF598mj6Z6_k4DmD4LlBvBsV61ijlju6Vv-W2iA6WIybCG6Egt4rgemItbbr_pu-iUv9kOS2I0vpHHGr1bt_ab2Ep6aCuNkVX17fGFAxVEUseCf666EMGAj-T/s1600/DSC_0257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1063" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyfbw2AyCyxYP_wrDfoOBF598mj6Z6_k4DmD4LlBvBsV61ijlju6Vv-W2iA6WIybCG6Egt4rgemItbbr_pu-iUv9kOS2I0vpHHGr1bt_ab2Ep6aCuNkVX17fGFAxVEUseCf666EMGAj-T/s320/DSC_0257.JPG" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The view was spectacular, although we saw no raptors. There were some serious bird watchers in the tower, but I think you'd have to have a bit more patience than me to see an eagle or hawk. I thought James was cuter than the birds anyway.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXaBSeMekR5dC8Y90BZaJhS3ywc_kHkjvZpiRv63BrH7kz7kCN43zYq-2o37xH-46egfmZho-6Ow-PP0HU8IJIdbdxcjKdWpVQVA5AO3uzJ8jp1oaPXN1yYDS8s7w8T9b82_Cf-zcQXEo/s1600/DSC_0258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXaBSeMekR5dC8Y90BZaJhS3ywc_kHkjvZpiRv63BrH7kz7kCN43zYq-2o37xH-46egfmZho-6Ow-PP0HU8IJIdbdxcjKdWpVQVA5AO3uzJ8jp1oaPXN1yYDS8s7w8T9b82_Cf-zcQXEo/s400/DSC_0258.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It was the best day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-20131415602947036352018-07-11T16:14:00.000-05:002018-07-11T16:14:04.972-05:00Happy Birthday Aaron<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3jdVaRSQzno1-qVT43zUUgSSpwTOg6jZ9ZWXWjl1ZvOi7zwmRuyWJgiulHOaCc_hHgjUnk9DkUSPSutmeCKFRQTUzYSvE83dJ4_1suV7ZRoOz9rFtnQkx6cfJLitp3lfYC-CfAd3FODf/s1600/Aaron+4th+birthday+lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3jdVaRSQzno1-qVT43zUUgSSpwTOg6jZ9ZWXWjl1ZvOi7zwmRuyWJgiulHOaCc_hHgjUnk9DkUSPSutmeCKFRQTUzYSvE83dJ4_1suV7ZRoOz9rFtnQkx6cfJLitp3lfYC-CfAd3FODf/s640/Aaron+4th+birthday+lunch.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Aaron is one of our 26 grandkids and today he turned four. Luckily, he lives right across the street, so it's easy to borrow him for a few hours to celebrate.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">His dream birthday included:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#1 Lunch at McDonald's where he ordered fries and a vanilla milkshake. That's all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">#2 Trip to Walmart where he randomly threw toys into the cart and a Black Panther t-shirt. Simple enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We then dropped him back off to his mom because we told him she missed him and probably wanted to hug and kiss his little face. He said that "was just gross".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Grand-parenting is pretty much the best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-53857812635479281652018-06-24T05:59:00.000-05:002018-06-24T06:00:41.213-05:00Well That Really Stinks<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Yesterday I learned something new - you should never go to the local landfill on Saturday. When you think about Saturdays in summer, you might think people are swimming, picnicking, hiking....no! Everyone in your town who owns a pick up truck is at the dump. I drove our truck yesterday, even though I can't quite reach the clutch all the way in without semi laying down in the seat.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsb1Ub0mtyHF5q64cHHUaZSsDti5ObOwvxNgkfr4PD2xYueL_8CNwRMadDV7cyiy7Jy6Cp1OR0E7Hl1PSxuo_nwXYLEpAqtcEb7sSLKuG4GWFX2U0scK1TYLdT_TPwnYHTV3kTU3XoVus/s1600/The+dump+hood+up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsb1Ub0mtyHF5q64cHHUaZSsDti5ObOwvxNgkfr4PD2xYueL_8CNwRMadDV7cyiy7Jy6Cp1OR0E7Hl1PSxuo_nwXYLEpAqtcEb7sSLKuG4GWFX2U0scK1TYLdT_TPwnYHTV3kTU3XoVus/s400/The+dump+hood+up.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> The line was really long waiting to get in, and the driveway was a steep hill. Who doesn't love a wait on a hill with a clutch? By the time it was our turn to dump, the truck was overheated and the battery died. And it was raining.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirijb_OlNlldMl0jH8-a8ufAcolg9Y_3XercbGYcD29ZJZnYjA-zDYO016qQ6X1c4NGpZGXossbonhFpHmAmVhbGVOk3-3fMaKOtrV1rleU70rhLdptxiLHZQtN_7WZ56HM5DlSCBL86wh/s1600/The+dump.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirijb_OlNlldMl0jH8-a8ufAcolg9Y_3XercbGYcD29ZJZnYjA-zDYO016qQ6X1c4NGpZGXossbonhFpHmAmVhbGVOk3-3fMaKOtrV1rleU70rhLdptxiLHZQtN_7WZ56HM5DlSCBL86wh/s400/The+dump.jpg" width="193" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmdQC41WyFCr6XGunWX4LM9lXZa7vw9WCCBI3SHvSFkcQpJFn8bvafbu9VUKFrRqjd7NMiplsdDvI1-VYGt7zBIbz0p9RZl8fgyabcVrAWgXPAlW_zTNwBoyeVBQeWIAHYNmSaV-AK47K/s1600/The+dump+boys+working.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAmdQC41WyFCr6XGunWX4LM9lXZa7vw9WCCBI3SHvSFkcQpJFn8bvafbu9VUKFrRqjd7NMiplsdDvI1-VYGt7zBIbz0p9RZl8fgyabcVrAWgXPAlW_zTNwBoyeVBQeWIAHYNmSaV-AK47K/s400/The+dump+boys+working.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> With a <strike>little</strike> lot of assistance the truck was running and my two very capable sons were tossing stuff into the wet stinky pile. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> I can now happily cross that experience off my bucket list. #notreallyIhatedit</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-29445641635089655042018-06-17T08:01:00.002-05:002018-06-17T08:01:56.329-05:00My Apologies to Hopewell Virginia<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I offer my apologies to the wonderful, honest people of Hopewell, Virginia. I misjudged you on my shallow perception of your character, based on my observation of your town. You have obviously experienced hard times as noted by the many closed stores, neglected homes and run down streets.</span><br />
<a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5296/5443504991_894565e82e_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for hopewell va sign welcome" border="0" height="212" src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/6/5296/5443504991_894565e82e_b.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Yesterday we ate in one of your restaurants. There was an interesting group of fellow patrons. One elderly lady had hair color that rivaled the brightest sunset. I couldn't look away. Most were dressed in things I had never considered wearing and some people seemed as though they had worn the same clothes for a month. I felt as if we were in a different country.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> When I got to the car I realized I had left my phone inside. I was sure I would never see it again...because... well... you all looked very different from my family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Shame on me. I went inside and asked and YES, someone had turned it in!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> So to all you amazing people in Hopewell...Thank You! I'm glad to have my phone and even happier for this lesson in being humble.</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-87190902584036340482017-07-02T07:13:00.002-05:002017-07-02T07:14:35.697-05:00Along the Road<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">There is much said these days about eating clean and eating local. With such a large family we mostly eat bulk. Bulk has no clearly defined origin. It comes in large containers often printed with the words - "New and Improved", which alone is suspect. I picture men in white lab coats sitting around a large table putting spoonfuls of cereal in their mouths, spitting into their napkins saying, "This is disgusting! I can't believe people have been buying it. More sugar.... we must improve this!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> In the summer however, while my sweet children are sleeping, I sneak away and eat the good stuff. Our neighborhood streets are not lined with sidewalks and street lamps, but with wild thickets of various plants and bushes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> The first two weeks of June yield beautiful blackberries. The plants are prolific but do have short thorns. I carry a pitcher</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvWyLZgG0XlZ4pji0FsbEcjwp0SsjNqCY5Tn5qJksJqKrlezx0R2Pdwm3iNw8YjUG7Uc_6m65vdKENaEaslwfSEzoxMDO9EmtMXh6KpiINqxR58lJLh_JaN00x9tY13Sx2_uVPb-nwZp1/s1600/Blackberries+in+bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvWyLZgG0XlZ4pji0FsbEcjwp0SsjNqCY5Tn5qJksJqKrlezx0R2Pdwm3iNw8YjUG7Uc_6m65vdKENaEaslwfSEzoxMDO9EmtMXh6KpiINqxR58lJLh_JaN00x9tY13Sx2_uVPb-nwZp1/s400/Blackberries+in+bowl.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> on my walk, collect them while they're still warm from the early morning sun and throw them into my yogurt when I get home. Amazing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> Shortly after the blackberries are finished off, sometimes the deer beat me to them, the wine berries are ripe. Wine berries are the perfect combination of sweet and tart, but the plant makes you work for these treats. They grow in dense patches </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcl5xtfFYF-mhuiIKLlMN_T2KTh9yyCR5SV5ydPJHN3tQ6dq63LONyO7gE9-8jiIOmm5pE5Q2IW8yLZZi9DQwLBO1KzDfbJg8-vUdzHrQLXsu8-pdj5a75jZfnABFJmqB1xGeY9lydmM2/s1600/wine+berries+on+counter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcl5xtfFYF-mhuiIKLlMN_T2KTh9yyCR5SV5ydPJHN3tQ6dq63LONyO7gE9-8jiIOmm5pE5Q2IW8yLZZi9DQwLBO1KzDfbJg8-vUdzHrQLXsu8-pdj5a75jZfnABFJmqB1xGeY9lydmM2/s400/wine+berries+on+counter.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">and their thorns are long and wicked sharp. The picking invitation specifies formal wear - long sleeves, long pants and gloves, but oh so worth it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> By the time the kids wake up for their breakfast in a box, I have washed the berry stains off my hands and they are none the wiser.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> I'm always thankful for God's<i> original</i>. l<i>ocal</i>, <i>clean food</i>, which <i>never </i>needs improvement and is <i>new</i> every day.</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-17637980480225265102017-04-09T14:39:00.001-05:002017-04-10T05:17:48.181-05:00A Late Fool is Still a Fool<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> Every year we have our <i>Fools in the Pool </i>day on April 1st, but this year there was a delay. Our twenty five year old liner was starting to leak, and we knew it was time to replace it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2cRn5hRMm60QNVQv-teCoAY3RIYrHldbOz-UjhuSWPnw6teGLgT_6viNAbHnAuMewqNOLVDEi_fahm9J5x66U7a6J62MMB2debzXc2mZNNXEnf2MiKFeRFfpayaTm-c7zfsHcuNez2eM/s1600/empty+pool+with+old+liner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2cRn5hRMm60QNVQv-teCoAY3RIYrHldbOz-UjhuSWPnw6teGLgT_6viNAbHnAuMewqNOLVDEi_fahm9J5x66U7a6J62MMB2debzXc2mZNNXEnf2MiKFeRFfpayaTm-c7zfsHcuNez2eM/s400/empty+pool+with+old+liner.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">After draining all the water out, it was creepy seeing it naked.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsulC-GT1zG4p-dUXsZcTlyomShsaZGVVpRVOmhYBKaO_vivCNirM1CwDaEcNg0FBaI19P3W_2kl0hQMOmGH0aWMMiAAeNpbXhvPgmRUMISesgZUk_U60cpGoWd4WDra7yg4eHCplH5pNX/s1600/Pool+liner+half+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsulC-GT1zG4p-dUXsZcTlyomShsaZGVVpRVOmhYBKaO_vivCNirM1CwDaEcNg0FBaI19P3W_2kl0hQMOmGH0aWMMiAAeNpbXhvPgmRUMISesgZUk_U60cpGoWd4WDra7yg4eHCplH5pNX/s320/Pool+liner+half+off.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">And even worse was what we saw under the old liner. But now the new liner is on and WE ARE READY! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsQZqdSI7JB0jFITlbn9FiVlgtTqpCygvrYcvAk2ll9kmDjNN3x07VaiqVy-cEMhQoxPiErpZgOpHjzwdEko7WIqoStyIV8rwX5pC6v8HLcjFaHUibAsofxrxIz47uh1r_eFQWim28COU/s1600/Pool+with+new+liner+in+place.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsQZqdSI7JB0jFITlbn9FiVlgtTqpCygvrYcvAk2ll9kmDjNN3x07VaiqVy-cEMhQoxPiErpZgOpHjzwdEko7WIqoStyIV8rwX5pC6v8HLcjFaHUibAsofxrxIz47uh1r_eFQWim28COU/s400/Pool+with+new+liner+in+place.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">So if you dare. If you feel you are FOOL enough, come out tomorrow, April 9th, 4:00pm for <i>Fools in the Pool</i>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Bring your own towel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">The management is not responsible for frozen children.</span><br />
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Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-76023032816325593422017-03-30T10:35:00.000-05:002017-03-30T11:43:12.498-05:00So It's Come to This<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsVAJSHpb_VvCdaKSwqkQn43Lc3hrhXb_RjcejsL58hAKfiXXF86tX-u4XFXda-87b9EMmHEtIK1RaiTGE8lW4SgiXeDb4MrigU9dGM4uMaXld2tOwJ2bvnwlKSK_cPGQlTYCGBnH1KXD/s1600/Boys+underwear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsVAJSHpb_VvCdaKSwqkQn43Lc3hrhXb_RjcejsL58hAKfiXXF86tX-u4XFXda-87b9EMmHEtIK1RaiTGE8lW4SgiXeDb4MrigU9dGM4uMaXld2tOwJ2bvnwlKSK_cPGQlTYCGBnH1KXD/s400/Boys+underwear.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> I do all the wash for the boys in the house. All of it. So, I know things about my boys. Things that you wouldn't know just by seeing them on the street. The person that does the wash knows lots of things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> I know when they sneak Little Debbies from the garage and hide the wrappers in their pockets. I know how much they spend at Walmart on food listed right there on the receipt. I know who walks looking down and finds special rocks or soda tabs. I have found lighters and love notes, speeding tickets and bad test grades.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> All of this is interesting and informative, but lately I came to realize something very very disturbing while doing the wash. THERE WAS HARDLY EVER ANY UNDERWEAR IN THE HAMPER. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> Being a <strike>mean</strike> clever mom, I made a new rule. No screens until I see their dirty underwear from the day before. I'm hoping that this will bring a renewal of good hygiene to our home. We'll see. </span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-20051285631774178122017-03-21T19:52:00.000-05:002017-03-21T19:52:20.415-05:00All Bark - No Bite <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0mxV6rzzIYrYGzELN8U0J0FRecqZ7X_KFryvJl0iBjPaBHyFcd4Y16chAhUGPWGh8-qjjLuKYyzVaiVZXSR6HXgFUWAmFTMqa6IPTnwZPgKd93fonK-5ybs5OKJ45H5mFruaZAEmQxdN/s1600/Whitt+with+no+teeth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0mxV6rzzIYrYGzELN8U0J0FRecqZ7X_KFryvJl0iBjPaBHyFcd4Y16chAhUGPWGh8-qjjLuKYyzVaiVZXSR6HXgFUWAmFTMqa6IPTnwZPgKd93fonK-5ybs5OKJ45H5mFruaZAEmQxdN/s400/Whitt+with+no+teeth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> This is Whit, our mean, nasty little Min-Pin. There's almost nobody he wouldn't bite if given a reason. Or if there's no reason at all. He likes to be mean and has been for the last 8 years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> He's actually a family favorite pet. He really loves us and I think he only has bitten Samuel in our family, but Samuel has this thing about climbing into Whit's bed.....yeah...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> If you come over, he'll bark and growl and act like he's going to kill you. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> But everything has changed for Whit. We took him to the vet because he really and truly had the worst breath EVER. Turns out all his teeth but three were rotten. So they pulled twenty one teeth, which was a surprise for me because I didn't know that dogs had that many to begin with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"> So now, he can growl and lunge and be hateful, but if he's going to bite you, you're going to have to be very patient, because it's going to take awhile for him to get those three teeth into your leg.</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-83073298017328703672017-03-13T08:57:00.000-05:002017-03-13T09:03:46.865-05:00Cousin Tony<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8XByLXgWq9aKUxYMd1Mgu0NmaZYJFUAW4-s-AoMLyWfOUqO5B00wR8jrfGFZ-7R1bUK08Krhh9e8gnbMRc3OlW4CNP6LX1zyI6RDWUJAlBEcVX-OGwDTU3fUc5LIkZov7-Mvnj49VTmb/s1600/Tony+breakfast+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8XByLXgWq9aKUxYMd1Mgu0NmaZYJFUAW4-s-AoMLyWfOUqO5B00wR8jrfGFZ-7R1bUK08Krhh9e8gnbMRc3OlW4CNP6LX1zyI6RDWUJAlBEcVX-OGwDTU3fUc5LIkZov7-Mvnj49VTmb/s400/Tony+breakfast+4.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SLqSpozjZOlf4oJx3-A9UTQ2nmemFhTWGeKYJTrnRxSs4jjuP-IehWDx4EG_NbHMMFzyPTCW9TYnl76i8N35m-pfTXehk6XHH_etbhlLj3nje_QRNxlIIDPIhLJAx5qejO6vxQu5waI2/s1600/Tony+breakfast+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SLqSpozjZOlf4oJx3-A9UTQ2nmemFhTWGeKYJTrnRxSs4jjuP-IehWDx4EG_NbHMMFzyPTCW9TYnl76i8N35m-pfTXehk6XHH_etbhlLj3nje_QRNxlIIDPIhLJAx5qejO6vxQu5waI2/s320/Tony+breakfast+12.jpg" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">When Cousin Tony arrives from New Hampshire for a visit (and lately there have been many more) everything gets just a little more exciting. Every regular day seems special and just sitting around talking is an event. He's loved by everyone and the visits always seem too short. The only good thing about when he leaves, is the over- the -top enormous breakfast he makes the day before. He issues an invitation to everyone he knows and then the eggs start cracking. Breakfast is made to order and I chose Eggs Benedict. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGurCg08OlOHrIflucuMSyAoOPIicFLCGhCynDEJqTvfxZWcSBKm58gZbw9gBkoZT4GP9kYELK1VdtvfwU5uAg8aJ8nSd-zFSWTafDBKnL8wtDp73HgehxvO9OfAIUr-EyixIX92WyF0ZK/s1600/Tony+breakfast+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGurCg08OlOHrIflucuMSyAoOPIicFLCGhCynDEJqTvfxZWcSBKm58gZbw9gBkoZT4GP9kYELK1VdtvfwU5uAg8aJ8nSd-zFSWTafDBKnL8wtDp73HgehxvO9OfAIUr-EyixIX92WyF0ZK/s320/Tony+breakfast+6.jpg" width="180" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooOZpbeTaaMqZQ242oX3so9BFTbBgu3dXeWd2xziyxLOO7JKjMdyTGQ1cVIdjbSFmDrq8GWtzKyoTxQBP20o2i5zzuLLa1jf_VF_5lBJKk39V0nDsqa6Fm8sQJR5ap-f_cBae7u_M36Km/s1600/Tony+breakfast+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooOZpbeTaaMqZQ242oX3so9BFTbBgu3dXeWd2xziyxLOO7JKjMdyTGQ1cVIdjbSFmDrq8GWtzKyoTxQBP20o2i5zzuLLa1jf_VF_5lBJKk39V0nDsqa6Fm8sQJR5ap-f_cBae7u_M36Km/s320/Tony+breakfast+10.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">There was french toast and bacon and homemade hash browns. It was all rather amazing and everyone left with a full belly.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Ab6vDC13NFu-l1Wir3ly8rSpVJG9UBakiUI4QbBx4UZP-z2l2-rC9BTu0q2lR02b2JyE8byT-UCaSj3DU_hfELuayYZdUvNBVgFOBG4nRTvnP8n8sVOxd5lGlWCdcxRa5Etr2gqH3Sg/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6Ab6vDC13NFu-l1Wir3ly8rSpVJG9UBakiUI4QbBx4UZP-z2l2-rC9BTu0q2lR02b2JyE8byT-UCaSj3DU_hfELuayYZdUvNBVgFOBG4nRTvnP8n8sVOxd5lGlWCdcxRa5Etr2gqH3Sg/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>And of course Cousin Tony visits Avaline, which makes my heart so so happy!~</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-29098258369415288022017-02-20T16:51:00.001-05:002017-02-20T16:52:07.136-05:00She Seems so Light<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXSz8OY6pD5HYDIuR8EM4Hsj4qXx0_6D4v7lQ26b85UR83W_krrfhxiVezoCizOggTzMCY1PW2qPXFY5D64UFTy-WYOV9g8v7NG_XfA97VL3b_vq1_UuhSeYiZqAGdPvRkKRXARWWosG-/s1600/Avaline+at+2+months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXSz8OY6pD5HYDIuR8EM4Hsj4qXx0_6D4v7lQ26b85UR83W_krrfhxiVezoCizOggTzMCY1PW2qPXFY5D64UFTy-WYOV9g8v7NG_XfA97VL3b_vq1_UuhSeYiZqAGdPvRkKRXARWWosG-/s320/Avaline+at+2+months.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> So this very cute small baby showed up here at our house. Well, I mean she actually came the conventional way - my daughter had a daughter and they live with us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> Although Avaline is small in size, she's caused a large shift in life around here...there's l</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">ots more pink in this predominately</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> boy house. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My daughter has college classes, so Avaline hangs out with us during the day. Being only a few months old, I don't have to chase her around much. Couple of bottles, a burp and she's good to go.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNwDasd7EUVcof_LKGe20DLPe1YvJK7XMunsES5QICpoGpbRTqFA8zzrcnlW2s02cG0as6lGoUffhHVeECjhtlAEi1gEsAn7gE0OcwIoxQVzgC2z-T508uwz2LVo8g9zpbLLFLZVeVZjO/s1600/DSC_0001.NEF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNwDasd7EUVcof_LKGe20DLPe1YvJK7XMunsES5QICpoGpbRTqFA8zzrcnlW2s02cG0as6lGoUffhHVeECjhtlAEi1gEsAn7gE0OcwIoxQVzgC2z-T508uwz2LVo8g9zpbLLFLZVeVZjO/s400/DSC_0001.NEF" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I decided this morning to take her on my usual 3 mile walk with friends. Why did I think that was a good idea? We have this "<i>wrap the baby up and wear</i> <i>her</i>" thing, so I thought that might be a good way to go. The wrap was about 18 feet long and I was lost after the watching around 5 seconds of the how- to video. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSxrVRJqho_gEi9hP80tcSTYrGohsUHxMA3jPsBQEqAvKTqj-JLojar7CoGofImJGxLmE1kBv0ytpS2q0CPWBLXrVCU1BKzYGvt6JtwPV-XsIxIGF1r-IoY0h-8CfWnXg2KB8Mr7qpwKS/s1600/Walking+with+Av.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSxrVRJqho_gEi9hP80tcSTYrGohsUHxMA3jPsBQEqAvKTqj-JLojar7CoGofImJGxLmE1kBv0ytpS2q0CPWBLXrVCU1BKzYGvt6JtwPV-XsIxIGF1r-IoY0h-8CfWnXg2KB8Mr7qpwKS/s320/Walking+with+Av.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> That was when I decided to just carry her in my arms. I know that you've already figured out from reading this, what took me about a mile into our walk to understand. That was a STUPID idea. My friend Nancy had to push me from behind just to get up the hills.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> One us us really enjoyed the walk. One of us feels like death. </span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-16719144053783554222017-02-19T17:16:00.000-05:002017-02-19T17:16:50.242-05:00They Didn't Rest in Peace<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> We have an apple orchard in our back- yard and about four years ago,<a href="http://bigreddriver.blogspot.com/2012/09/summer-harvest.html"> we had an enormous harvest</a>. The kids spent a week peeling and chopping apples. I made apple butter, apple sauce, apple crisp, etc. until I was so sick of apples that I threw all the rest in bags and tossed them into the bottom of our largest freezer. When you land in the bottom of the big freezer you have crossed into no man's land. You could literally live out your entire frozen apple life and die and no one would be the wiser. And I was good with that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Fast forward to last week. I'm looking for something deep in the freezer and I stumble across 10 bags of something. Could it be? The apples. I'm annoyed already and I haven't laid eyes on them in three years. Seriously. And worse, they didn't look dead yet. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> So today, on this glorious almost summer day in February, while everyone was out in their shorts and weird white legs...I was canning apple sauce. And after sitting all that time, virtually ignored, they only got sweeter. Come by and try some - it's so good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcQ5icp2mQHMu6GcmR5bYnPj4Mr_jCVh9T_MKPrSeStMSyx4I-O4CSOrydotND1pbdkykVHixrISRCBS0-TJutC5VUzIqOJqfFc9o5Bv1-XLISVlUkeKKGXaogQtMQgWaAdAXTd_mHHvO/s1600/applesauce+three+years+later.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcQ5icp2mQHMu6GcmR5bYnPj4Mr_jCVh9T_MKPrSeStMSyx4I-O4CSOrydotND1pbdkykVHixrISRCBS0-TJutC5VUzIqOJqfFc9o5Bv1-XLISVlUkeKKGXaogQtMQgWaAdAXTd_mHHvO/s640/applesauce+three+years+later.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-40431822798955829142017-02-18T14:02:00.000-05:002017-02-18T14:04:50.946-05:00Every Boy(and their mom) Needs Some Culture <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Our homeschool group has decided this year to take advantage of the amazingly convenient place we live and go to Washington D.C. once a month. The trips have been perfect. We take the train from the Brunswick, Maryland station to Union Station smack downtown D.C. and then we get walking. and walking. and walking. My fitbit has been smoking!</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Yesterday our first stop was the National Gallery of Art. The boys have been studying the Renaissance artists, so we had a list of "must sees" that we wrote down. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD4U4teTTVmcsZvOz6Ken94AF0lfWOwjhxCXx_N3yDqr6_GFtmenuYRVraJLfZ7AKiQW5rbEMN23FcrRHlXvTzbLfQayYa99dO6vl5VHX31bu8tGFQRoRnek-tEhpuQvGispWq8npHd0I/s1600/Planning+for+Art+Gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUD4U4teTTVmcsZvOz6Ken94AF0lfWOwjhxCXx_N3yDqr6_GFtmenuYRVraJLfZ7AKiQW5rbEMN23FcrRHlXvTzbLfQayYa99dO6vl5VHX31bu8tGFQRoRnek-tEhpuQvGispWq8npHd0I/s320/Planning+for+Art+Gallery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We hit the Raphaels, Titians, and most exciting of all, the one da Vinci painting on display in all of the Americas.."<i>Genevra de Benci"</i>. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Dfm4Z1KbEnYYaxwSm2GWKeJsNbzVVRDe-talYc8buGmwA3VHMXn36TUdZUJhwJWSy9Vc4oeRX2s6mzyykVnwlaOduL2m-rZIbS3Cs0MmbDNK4kt2q8xHrKJgGoiM5mZTeX-we1O3DL9t/s1600/Mobil+better.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Dfm4Z1KbEnYYaxwSm2GWKeJsNbzVVRDe-talYc8buGmwA3VHMXn36TUdZUJhwJWSy9Vc4oeRX2s6mzyykVnwlaOduL2m-rZIbS3Cs0MmbDNK4kt2q8xHrKJgGoiM5mZTeX-we1O3DL9t/s400/Mobil+better.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">After lunch we visited the Modern and Contemporary Art building. The boys were not as impressed, but had a great time choosing their favorite in each gallery. Why does everyone say, "<i>I could paint that</i>" when they see modern art?</span></span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsalfGlw62Dq0eE-aFl7l8-hvFGKY21rkvoBydV5SaVb8MpHTgee8XLG5LA7uaOALVPPkOGNzEWjYsanRQcaowAlLiI7Od5H6AkVDX106_4kDm5HbrrZrjwCWrMvLvYHpI8DBqFxmXPXef/s1600/chocolate+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsalfGlw62Dq0eE-aFl7l8-hvFGKY21rkvoBydV5SaVb8MpHTgee8XLG5LA7uaOALVPPkOGNzEWjYsanRQcaowAlLiI7Od5H6AkVDX106_4kDm5HbrrZrjwCWrMvLvYHpI8DBqFxmXPXef/s400/chocolate+tree.jpg" width="225" /></a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our last stop of the day was the Botanic Gardens. After a long day and even longer walk, there is nothing as relaxing as strolling (or mostly sitting) in the gardens. And how did so many of us not know that chocolate grows on trees. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Can't wait for next month's trip!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #1d2129;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span></span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-54250759877299135122016-07-25T13:37:00.002-05:002016-07-25T13:45:05.276-05:00When My Mom says Float, We Float<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXC0lijan5OukixlUBnzbXKZ1HZpdBvGwVeJRPd_mWbm8v3tzBedY5f9rXhgIWUwTMBZ5-vaL54MzqdxJ3tVQ8nz1GisgfIVgf4cwg8wk51902GaFvDgn_FUydyPxrPsb7-ZTnuFY4sS_4/s1600/FullSizeRender1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXC0lijan5OukixlUBnzbXKZ1HZpdBvGwVeJRPd_mWbm8v3tzBedY5f9rXhgIWUwTMBZ5-vaL54MzqdxJ3tVQ8nz1GisgfIVgf4cwg8wk51902GaFvDgn_FUydyPxrPsb7-ZTnuFY4sS_4/s640/FullSizeRender1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T<span style="font-size: small;">hat's my mom on the far left.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ofmXwmQ8b1GPj6jtgq8RYu-cu74u8CXdvmmGcjmgUeAP18fQd6S0drOrz9LZxuPrlZs_pOkMGEbRGUr-onuEJDNeyeSPJaEMGxh6yWTpvPDYDGvhu_s5L8i9xZikz_szUx5WTWSmyI0n/s1600/IMG_90101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ofmXwmQ8b1GPj6jtgq8RYu-cu74u8CXdvmmGcjmgUeAP18fQd6S0drOrz9LZxuPrlZs_pOkMGEbRGUr-onuEJDNeyeSPJaEMGxh6yWTpvPDYDGvhu_s5L8i9xZikz_szUx5WTWSmyI0n/s400/IMG_90101.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My mom, who turned 93 in February has been asking me to go on a river float with her for a few years. I had some reservations, but she told me last week it was something she wanted to do before she died. How can you deny someone an adventure on their bucket list?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Since the Shenandoah River is right across the street, we decided that today would be the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">With the help of neighbors and two of my boys, we took a float. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> It was peaceful and lovely and perfect. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> My mom is more than amazing!</span><br />
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<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-37463086543640447982016-05-20T21:05:00.000-05:002016-05-21T07:49:25.723-05:00School's Out!<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> After 35 weeks of slogging through history and learning to write effective essays, and tackling the ever elusive lowest common denominator, we are officially done school for the year! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGDdRcPcxNjuQsvNchJLApoBH-Bo7chN5ZoPLRMKzK1Gq2TW_EcLKoNpHy_ns1fRXW6JC9EPis45Kcd17rGzX_kEf9RW1SQDgr8n05qIfWk4j_NXUOlAdkOyCa6oteosn7yTVPJewZn5Q/s1600/20160520_101004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGDdRcPcxNjuQsvNchJLApoBH-Bo7chN5ZoPLRMKzK1Gq2TW_EcLKoNpHy_ns1fRXW6JC9EPis45Kcd17rGzX_kEf9RW1SQDgr8n05qIfWk4j_NXUOlAdkOyCa6oteosn7yTVPJewZn5Q/s400/20160520_101004.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPzw2R299aSeDB3iXpfZrO3gjzinHSyK_Z7IEBZMXaAZT3wn5Y-PNJ0q2lfd1GT56nwp7VlgnFmQ24Ruz8IocKeLR4R2ChLlD-g9ECInOKQ79F_w1iou5FC4E4U644ULneV2n5-oX9XqN/s1600/20160520_115837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPzw2R299aSeDB3iXpfZrO3gjzinHSyK_Z7IEBZMXaAZT3wn5Y-PNJ0q2lfd1GT56nwp7VlgnFmQ24Ruz8IocKeLR4R2ChLlD-g9ECInOKQ79F_w1iou5FC4E4U644ULneV2n5-oX9XqN/s400/20160520_115837.jpg" width="266" /></span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> To celebrate, the boys voted that we spend the day at the mall and then head to Golden Coral for lunch. We made a quick stop at Walmart and I cut the boys loose while I picked up some groceries It was fairly easy to track where they were in the store even though I couldn't see them. I simply listened for the overhead announcement for "security sweep in area G". That translates to - "large group of teen boys seen in the electronics isle".</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> We'll be doing some math review for the summer, but mostly I'm dreaming of sleeping in, swimming and not teaching a single thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-9303161214060243522016-04-06T21:02:00.000-05:002016-04-06T21:07:09.690-05:00She's Driving!<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">After a fairly long, but successful trip to the D.M.V we have another new driver! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Emma is about the 15th person I have taught to drive.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">James decided many kids ago that he was not going to participate in driving instruction. He obviously has a stronger sense of self preservation than I do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">It really is the absolute scariest part of parenthood. Harder than labor, tougher than the terrible twos and the closest I have ever come to looking death in the face.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Some of the kids have been harder to teach than others. I will mention no names but they know who they are and why I have grey hair.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">Three more left to learn and then I'm done. I might actually survive this.</span><br />
<br />Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-56872530162351647522016-04-05T11:58:00.001-05:002016-04-05T11:58:22.981-05:00Good Things Come in Twos<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jsKXOBzT79ZbZ_v37eQLTqEA7b1lLxhB4_pd3Obda36Wv4khY_BDhwt4B3HQmyIXrttcvmbt_jzAIRnGSiY4Iyhxq3qmWq17wVTYRRhAWUTXx6lh1ymuSvNMEPPRkygP6nOu9BbkH5qW/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jsKXOBzT79ZbZ_v37eQLTqEA7b1lLxhB4_pd3Obda36Wv4khY_BDhwt4B3HQmyIXrttcvmbt_jzAIRnGSiY4Iyhxq3qmWq17wVTYRRhAWUTXx6lh1ymuSvNMEPPRkygP6nOu9BbkH5qW/s400/DSC_0168.JPG" width="265" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> Today is a birthday for two of our kids. Both Emma and Samuel were born on April 5th.. 6 years apart.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Emma is embarking on that much anticipated and overrated journey into adulthood. Happy 18th Emma - enjoy the freedom and endure the responsibilities.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Samuel is the youngest of the heap of children and still not a teenager, turning 12 this year. Happy birthday Sam, can you stay this age forever?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHJKRCbrWXKi4h8NUkEtbjZ-OZBuAK5RpjI9izAHkWqOTSlqDPFkDhOLF6BsMG8s8pyLd_TF_yi_ZwPedAVi9sQ-GqsBV1ag7IDxgCN6WDNl5u2rrzo8VDhs81b2e8OZk4vyO4I6fMT6s/s1600/IMG_0759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpHJKRCbrWXKi4h8NUkEtbjZ-OZBuAK5RpjI9izAHkWqOTSlqDPFkDhOLF6BsMG8s8pyLd_TF_yi_ZwPedAVi9sQ-GqsBV1ag7IDxgCN6WDNl5u2rrzo8VDhs81b2e8OZk4vyO4I6fMT6s/s320/IMG_0759.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"> Lots of cake and presents and another year goes by.</span><br />
Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-3086547757147879582016-04-03T20:16:00.002-05:002016-04-03T20:19:21.959-05:00Fun with Vultures<span style="font-size: large;"> I really enjoy living in our rural West Virginia neighborhood. It's peaceful and beautiful and the land is so fertile you get the sense that carrying a machete might be useful if you should wander off the road. People here don't try to grow grass - they spend hours every week trying to get it to stop. You won't often see a truck with a "Lawn Care" sign travelling around, but you can bet there are as many John Deer mowers as there are pick up trucks parked in the yards. We are hemmed in by the Blue Ridge Mountains rising about the Shenandoah River, which was apparently striking enough to cause John Denver to immediately write a song about it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> All this beauty is not without its flaws. With the trees and grass come deer and gnats. I really hate them both. The gnats are forever in your face and the deer seem to take bets with each other to see who can cross the road in front of your car without getting hit. They usually loose that bet.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzhx9MMQp6awFDn6VjD_DNVwq7gHI1PuJLhy-Q75tAW-Fjn7YP8AL_HikoxTuBsNqyebDcjOUZ8P7XyXob5J9SLApPCO5zW7nNLmgl5pLv8Hjseqh4jg0oVHXs-vJ_JWZHzKNMzFaj3At/s1600/vultures+in+tree+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAzhx9MMQp6awFDn6VjD_DNVwq7gHI1PuJLhy-Q75tAW-Fjn7YP8AL_HikoxTuBsNqyebDcjOUZ8P7XyXob5J9SLApPCO5zW7nNLmgl5pLv8Hjseqh4jg0oVHXs-vJ_JWZHzKNMzFaj3At/s400/vultures+in+tree+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">But lately a new pest has invaded our land...vultures. They are huge, ugly, they eat dead stuff and their poop is everywhere. They roost in our pine trees every evening and they give me nightmares. My friend Nancy,who has a interest in getting rid of these birds due to her fear they might fly off with one of her small dogs, found a great on line store that sells "bird repellents" because, believe it or not, vultures are a protected species. They probably have some environmentalist's cat held hostage to maintain their status. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzxZngcOHbZb_i65qEYw5SlyJgWwVaGje0w91Kt5yqrzBIlOJqoQLkaRRIMmGLKaL_xOLkQcX-cddJ3EzUAMi9NihDwEjYMzuvdGyCQRf0jHqCQEVXgjDZSUlNoXGDVKpyQtRL2KsiSpq/s1600/DSC_0161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzxZngcOHbZb_i65qEYw5SlyJgWwVaGje0w91Kt5yqrzBIlOJqoQLkaRRIMmGLKaL_xOLkQcX-cddJ3EzUAMi9NihDwEjYMzuvdGyCQRf0jHqCQEVXgjDZSUlNoXGDVKpyQtRL2KsiSpq/s200/DSC_0161.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, I sent away for the 15 mm double shot Scare-Away Launcher and </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">the Screamer Siren ammunition. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafoYCAw9oSGLMCMu7P0qDZfoI-VrAqHEP5aEtUWKGjEllxpTfnvMayUBLk64JN9dnqObGX7KQBXS_Czx-5AXmmkUnqvjxEo9p3iASLatAlggNBSPT3vT8Kl883D7EZHI0m9yBx9_Zpeys/s1600/DSC_0160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafoYCAw9oSGLMCMu7P0qDZfoI-VrAqHEP5aEtUWKGjEllxpTfnvMayUBLk64JN9dnqObGX7KQBXS_Czx-5AXmmkUnqvjxEo9p3iASLatAlggNBSPT3vT8Kl883D7EZHI0m9yBx9_Zpeys/s200/DSC_0160.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
The gun sends an incredibly loud shrieking, whorling ball of pyrotechnics into the air. The first time I fired it, about 60 vultures flew out of the pines in my backyard, across the street and into the trees behind my daughter's house. It was very impressive and many of the neighbors came out to watch as there was nothing else going on that night.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've shot it a few more times and the thrill of watching them fly up flapping their enormous wings as they leave, only gets better. I smartly purchased 100 rounds, which should provided </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg05DjZHoCLW7zHnSQ8Ym_7xGANCxDEjF2VS-i9V5GHGJ52vma_gHWlJmMwgvU72ooHu2RNtentlhhDMzFmMqIC-_kCaeNj9ZYmdrtU2CRreGDbm3vnLPsRqaCSoVWBSJDQw7yiYSr_qR/s1600/DSC_0163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNg05DjZHoCLW7zHnSQ8Ym_7xGANCxDEjF2VS-i9V5GHGJ52vma_gHWlJmMwgvU72ooHu2RNtentlhhDMzFmMqIC-_kCaeNj9ZYmdrtU2CRreGDbm3vnLPsRqaCSoVWBSJDQw7yiYSr_qR/s200/DSC_0163.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">entertainment for the better part of the summer.</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-9162761554162002822016-04-02T16:05:00.000-05:002016-04-02T17:06:50.784-05:00I Was an Auction Virgin<span style="font-size: large;">Until today I had never been to an auction. I have this friend, Samantha, who talks about all the things she's gotten at such great deals. She's talked about it for years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But today, something she said made me want to go.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And that is dangerous.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QuPv2GNcRL727lDP8HT1neHOibs2zjJgru48vT8-8eNJW9f165H3gyXpIrOnV5EbA-dX0sKrpFuAP6LlDxNP__km_nAcrru1eIliuxzuZ89hqFw6xAqKtCJXr42tO_0ki9pEcxPP0AJH/s1600/White+pick+up+truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QuPv2GNcRL727lDP8HT1neHOibs2zjJgru48vT8-8eNJW9f165H3gyXpIrOnV5EbA-dX0sKrpFuAP6LlDxNP__km_nAcrru1eIliuxzuZ89hqFw6xAqKtCJXr42tO_0ki9pEcxPP0AJH/s1600/White+pick+up+truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><span style="font-size: large;">I can only liken it to the best deals of Goodwill, combined with gambling, which of course I don't condone on any level and fierce competition and wow! The heady feeling of beating someone else out and getting some amazing thing at a ridiculous price - it's just pretty much the best thing EVER. I felt a little bit of an addiction coming on as I drove home with my new couch and love seat ($20) and 5 boxes of assorted crap and treasures ($10) and a flying pig ($30). The pig was a little over the top expensive but he was there and I had to have him. I don't really understand why either.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPm9ai7TTEk0GedRUQhu5T8uz_1wCqBYeUT9umuadQApTN_oQ4X-6ITqAWh87j-_9kFna65bCYa0B18NqryWiqTPdbte2oWXSpevbt6afQbx_WoPiM9nk_roYGa4qT9YsjKdtRTTtPGbxN/s1600/DSC_0157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPm9ai7TTEk0GedRUQhu5T8uz_1wCqBYeUT9umuadQApTN_oQ4X-6ITqAWh87j-_9kFna65bCYa0B18NqryWiqTPdbte2oWXSpevbt6afQbx_WoPiM9nk_roYGa4qT9YsjKdtRTTtPGbxN/s320/DSC_0157.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Apparently I have to be a bit more savy when it comes to bidding. Samantha gently told me afterwards that I need to be subtle about the things I really like and not bring attention to them as the bidding begins. Maybe I was a little too excited. I really loved the way the cool auction people did the imperceptible head nod thing when they bid. I can do that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I heard there was another even better auction next Saturday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Should I be worried that I can think of nothing else?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">And I had never driven our pick up truck before today either. It was a big day.</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-10227562005576052312015-12-30T16:29:00.000-05:002015-12-30T16:29:12.633-05:00My Locket Her Locket<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Having 21 grandkids is pretty much amazing. They seem to me to each possess remarkable character....some speaking eloquently at a young age, some with a sense of humor that surprises me, some are kind and sweet and some quiet and self assured and others are feisty and wild. I find it harder to not be biased toward my grandkids than to my own children. Maybe the freedom to just enjoy them rather than having to worry whether I was doing everything right. Or maybe I'm getting old enough to worry a little less in general. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">All of this is to say that I really like them all - greatly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Leah, grandchild number 18, lives right across the street and we see each other every day. She has always loved my heart locket and told me that she wanted me to get her one for Christmas and <u>she wanted my picture and hers inside.</u></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J_88si-CIrpKfslZTEHfRePHsvSk88KHM83TcgcdrKAUpuEACAqv5_lz_HjvS46gORjKIHB91pjnywjNsHtr0Dd1xtnKCljhAIRP2lCkFCCjYidusoxYvnTHXeXqMqmtj0f6tUCS36v6/s1600/IMG_9122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2J_88si-CIrpKfslZTEHfRePHsvSk88KHM83TcgcdrKAUpuEACAqv5_lz_HjvS46gORjKIHB91pjnywjNsHtr0Dd1xtnKCljhAIRP2lCkFCCjYidusoxYvnTHXeXqMqmtj0f6tUCS36v6/s400/IMG_9122.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Okay - grandmother melting right there. So of course I got it for her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Merry Christmas to Leah and Grandma Kate.</span><br />
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Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2423879984164804249.post-77974043795672868182015-12-23T17:43:00.001-05:002015-12-23T17:43:55.030-05:00WOW Samuel - You Stink!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Samuel, being the 11 year old youngest of this very long-large family, has the distinction of doing everything for the last time. <a href="http://bigreddriver.blogspot.com/2012/04/farewell-you-annoying-thing-you.html">This is the day he outgrew his car seat</a>. His oldest sibling is 42 and so I am often very very very glad to see the end to a phase of parenting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> Today while heading out to town we all smelled something. Something evil and wretched. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It was Sam. It was B.O.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> I almost cried, both from the smell and the realization that my baby needed deodorant. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Aahh. Another rite of passage.</span>Katehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03013947479211215908noreply@blogger.com1