Monday, February 23, 2015

More catching up to do...The Big snowfall...

"I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields that it kisses them so gently.  And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, 'Go to sleep, darlings, 'til the summer comes again.'" -Lewis Carol

On January 22, we had a pretty nice snow, and it happened to fall on the day we have the grandkids over.  Since it does not snow very often around here, we do not have stores that stock sleds.  So we made a trip to Hobby Lobby, and got foam board to use as sleds.  PawPaw kept saying it would never work, but we decided to give it a try.
Yeah...we are hoping the foam board works...

We packed down a path to use as the sled run...and in no time the kids were sledding with record breaking speed.  The foam board worked...!!!!
I think he will be ready for the winter olympics...

He learned pretty fast how to maneuver to get the greatest speed...

The Eskimo boy...love this hat...in fact, I wished I was wearing it.

Here she was trying to forge another path...so they could race...
I even made a few trips down the hill, but since I am the photographer, there are no photos to prove I actually did it.  Pawpaw watched, and froze...not that were not frozen too, but when you are moving and playing, you do not notice the cold.
Notice how deep the snow is...up to her knees...

Earlier in the day, when it was snowing very hard a fellow friend, and I braved the weather to try to capture some great snow photos.
My friend, Gennean...

Gennean took this photo, and sent it to me.  The vest is one that Jane, my lady who I took care of for so many years had given me.  I finally got to wear it, and it was very warm.  
I think we got some amazing shots...

South acres RR track.  I like how the track seems to go on for eternity.  


An abandoned house...

Another perspective...


These horses had a lot of fun frolicking in the snow...


They came right up to the fence to see us...probably looking for something nice to eat...

Only we did not have anything for them to eat...

I was going to say cows in the snow, but these are bulls...They were pretty curious about us.  Probably wondering why we were out in the snow...

I love this picture too...the irrigation line seems to go on and on...all the way to the houses in the background...

Another abandoned house..with a bicycle parked outside it...

The pecan orchards that I walk by almost everyday...

Sunken garden at Cahoon Park

Cahoon Park

Love the reflection...it looks like the tree has leaves in the reflection...

The day after the snow, the sun was shining, and Maggie wanted out to play in the winter wonderland herself.  It was so cold that the snow was frozen hard, so she just walked on top of it.
Maggie...snow cat...

Hmmm.  I think I will make a snowball...see it at her feet...

In no time at all, she was rolling a ball for a snowman again...
I'll roll it this way a little while...

It was a tricky job...the snowball kept getting away from her...
Come here...

She went into her sneak up, and attack mode...


Take that, you old snowball...


This was as far as she got with her snowball...no snowman today...


She did not stay out too long...soon she wanted into our nice, warm house...
The warm house...calling her name...

and settled in by the heater...
Ahhh, heat...

I think everyone enjoyed our snow, that was pretty much melted in the next couple of days.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Catching up around here...guests, and twins 3rd birthday...

"I believe...that everything happens for a reason.
people change...so you can let them go.
things go wrong...so you can appreciate them when they are right.
and sometimes... good things fall apart so better things can fall together." -Marilyn Monroe

In case you did not notice, there were no posts for a long time...but it is not without a good reason.  My good friend, Deborah, from Carlsbad texted me one morning with a shocking message...Her brother had a mild heart attack, was flown by helicopter to a hospital here, had a CT scan, and it was found that not only did he have a heart attack, but he had cancer too!  Long story, short her brother and his wife stayed here while doing the 15 treatments of radiation therapy.
me and my friend, Deborah...

Kenneth

Kenneth, and Deborah
Her brother, Kenneth, sailed through the radiation treatments.  The doctor said he might have various side-effects, but he seemed to not have problems at all.  With each treatment, he seemed to be getting better, and better.  I attribute it to the fact that he is being bathed in prayer by friends, and family.  His wife, Betty, made things very easy for me.  I found my dishes miraculously washed, and put away, laundry mysteriously washed, and folded, my windows washed, and the pool area swept.   We had many wonderful conversations, shopping trips, and meal preparation time together.  I was sure sad when the treatments were over, and they went home. But I know they were glad to get back, because there is nothing quite like home.

I, also, made a trip to NC for the twins third birthday.   It is always a fun time when I can see the twins.
Yummy cupcakes made by Jordan...

Sawyer...

Wearing some cake, and ice cream...

Tate enjoying his cupcake, and ice cream...

Sawyer...

Tate...looking serious....

The lighting of the candles...

These suitcases were a big hit with the boys...

Party time is over...time to go home...

They took these suitcases everywhere filled with everything...

Serious again...doesn't it look like he is reading this?  Maybe he is...

Luke...taking iPhone photos...
Later in the day, we went to the Y to swim.  Luke bought them goggles,  diving rings, and diving sharks.  They could not wait to get to the pool to try out the new items.
First pair of goggles...Come on let's go...!

They had to wear them on the way to the pool.
 Finally in the water.  This Y is a fantastic facility.  I was very impressed with the lifeguards, and all the staff.
Swim lesson time...

Play time...notice the goggles are off...they did not wear them very long before they wanted them off.

Goggle adjustment time...
One of the things I gave the boys for their birthday, was the Mercer Myer book, I was so mad.  It was one of Mark, and Luke's favorite books when they were boys.   It seems like it will be a favorite of the twins as well.  Each morning they crawled in bed with me, or Luke, and wanted the "Mad" book read to them.  I am so glad the boys like books so well.
Reading...
On my last day there, I wanted to try to get at least one photo of me, and the boys.  It is hard to get everyone settled down for a good photo.  Two out of three people in focus is not bad.  I think the boy's hair is pretty styling.  I think Luke enjoys doing it so much, because he does not have any.
We almost got a good picture.

 
I was happy that Zach was working on the day I flew home, because that meant I got to see him.  I stopped by his restaurant, and had a nice visit with him.  Man my head looks so tiny next to his head.  


It was a good trip, good to see Luke's family, and good to see Zach, but I was glad to get home to Warren, my cat, and my own bed.  Ahhhh!
 
© Rob's Blog