October Outings

Klee and LilE spent some time in Texas during October. One of the activities during the week was letterboxing. They have really gotten into this activity and we seem to enjoy it as well. The weather was perfect on the Thursday designated as letterboxing day. We found several boxes and spent the day enjoying several short hikes and a picnic lunch in the park.

After finding the letterbox there is some processing that occurs.

LilE enjoying being out in nature.

After an active day, it's bath time and a bedtime story from Pop.

The Great State Fair of Texas

Klee and LilE got to spend a few days with us during October. One day was spent at the State Fair of Texas. I've never been one that had to visit the fair every year. In fact, it had been several years since I had gone and taken our children. However, it was really fun to go and see it through the eyes of a 4-year old. The weather was perfect and made for a great day at the great state fair. LilE was a real trooper considering all the walking and walking and walking we had to do. Cotton candy and the Ferris Wheel were two really big hits for her. Klee met up with a college friend and her two boys and we had a fun day.

Pop, LilE, Mimi and Big Tex

LilE feeding the animals.

When LilE got tired she sat and rested.

The Ferris Wheel was the big event for LilE.

Klee and LilE enjoyed the ferris wheel after a long day at the fair.

Labor Day-Literally

Thirty-three years ago this Labor Day holiday we began what was many hours of "labor" to deliver our beautiful baby girl. Happy B'day, Klee!

Mother and daughter on birth day!

Baby Pacifiers

A few weeks back I helped host a baby shower for our Music Minister and his wife. My responsibility was to create the party favor. A couple of years back I had seen an article in Paula Deen's magazine on a baby shower she had hosted and had gotten the idea to use her idea if the occasion arose. Making the pacifiers is not difficult, but a little time consuming due to the drying time between each step. However, they were a big hit at the party, especially with the little girls! Paula, you don't have to worry.....I am no threat to you or your creative ideas!

August in Texas

Last week Klee and LilE came for a visit while JD visited a friend in East Texas. LilE hadn't been for a summer visit since she was 15 months old so we crammed as many hot weather activities into the visit as possible. We took advantage of the splash pad, swam at a friends house, visited the city park, and went letterboxing where we uncovered several boxes in and around town. We travelled to Wichita Falls to attend the b'day party of LilE's cousin and spent Sunday with Elle and B enjoying a good time hanging out in the Texas heat.

No playday complete without visiting the playground. Look familiar, B?

Splash pad fun.

Needed a friend to make this more fun.

Klee and LilE enjoying a swim.

Finding one of the letterboxes after following all the directions.

Letterboxes must be returned to their hiding places.

This letterbox had been "hiding" here since 2005.

Just a swinging..on monkey swing that Pop made!!!

The family enjoying a Sunday afternoon.

Pop, LilE and Mimi.....what a fun visit!

Bees: The Sequel

About a month ago I blogged about the bees and the hive that was formed above our dining room window in the front of the house. You will recall they had several honeycombs attached to the exterior part of the eaves. Those were eradicated and presumed gone. About a week ago we began hearing a "buzz" outside our bedroom windows in the backyard. Upon investigation we found bees that apparently were housed within the soffet area around the brick chimney. We called the pest control out again to eradicate the bees. It took over 2 1/2 hours to kill thousands of bees. He said he was sure the honeycombs were inside the soffet and must be scraped off to prevent another swarm of bees taking up residence. The pictures below tell the story of what we found.

First sighting of bees in the backyard.

Smitty sawing and pulling down the soffet to expose the honeycombs.

11 individual honeycombs. (Some bees still working)

Close up picture of the honeycombs and the honey inside.

Go Rangers!

I love the Texas Rangers and baseball. I love the atmosphere and the excitement of being at the Ballpark and the good excuse it gives me for eating hot dogs and nachos. I'm not sure where I got my love for the game; possibly from watching my older brother play church league ball, possibly because I lettered in junior high softball, or maybe those Saturday afternoon's watching a few innings of TV baseball with my dad. Most likely I got it from my Granddad Strickland who would sit for hours in his favorite chair and watch the early years of the Texas Rangers. I know he was not always happy when they lost and during those years losing was the norm. No matter the reason, I love to get to "know" the players and follow them through a season. We've just had a lot of changes, so during this second half of the season I have many new faces to get to know before we go into the post season. Looking forward to seeing my Texas Rangers in October!

Family Gathering

It is very difficult to get families together in today's busy world especially when we are scattered across the states, but we tried very hard to pull it off this past week. Those in Midland happened to be in the area, Mansfield residents had a free Friday night, the Weatherford clans with the exception of one family were available, so the date was set. Unfortunately, the Carolinians were missed, but distance prohibits getting here for those impromptu gatherings. We had good food and good fellowship! Hope to do it again soon with all the family. (See if you can find what is different in the two pictures below.)

Pictures 1 & 2 of the family

Resort or Hospital Stay

Monday following the July 4th weekend Smitty decided to take a little extended stay in a Ft. Worth hospital. After several days of a rapid heart rate, doctor encouraged him to get to the emergency room. After getting his heart rate back to normal the cardiologist wanted to do some testing to rule out any medical reasons for the incident. Fortunately, all the test came back negative and we were released a couple of days later. Smitty still needs to follow up with an electrophysiologist to determine why the electrical impulse misfired causing the high heart rate. We pray and trust it will be an easy fix. Very good care was provided by the heart center. The room was very large, comfortable, and provided a beautiful view of downtown Ft. Worth. I am certain that once we receive the total bill we will feel as if we stayed at a luxury resort.

View of downtown Ft. Worth from hospital room.

Road Trip--Nacogdoches, TX

It doesn't take much for us to call for a road trip with friends B & W. Through these good friends we heard of a house and some acreage in Nacogdoches for a really good price. Beginning to look forward to possible retirement and all the options available to us, we could possibly consider this as our retirement home. So, off we go for a short overnight adventure. We weren't disappointed in the land and the surrounding area. The house needed some updating, but had lots of potential. It was really fun to see the house and discuss the changes we could make to fit our needs and just imagine the serenity of being surrounded by tall pines and oaks. There was room for a large garden and lots of outside activities. Smitty just couldn't see spending his retirement years mowing 11 acres and the thought of another move and all that painting pretty well nixed taking any action. Of course on these trips, we always get our 3 square meals and usually a snack or two. These road trips are mainly a time to be with good friends, eat good food, and see some of the countryside. Remember, it is not such much about the destination as about the journey.

The first view as we approached the house.


Smitty standing near driveway that winds up to house on the right.

The front of house which needs to have shrubs trimmed to see large front porch.

View of the side of the property.

View from front of house looking toward road.

View from backyard looking toward back of the acreage.

BEE Happy!!

Last Wednesday evening as I pulled up in the circular drive I noticed something in the corner of one of the eaves. After further investigation I discovered that it was a hoard of bees. Supposing they had just appeared since neither Smitty nor I, who are frequently in the front yard, had seen them before, thought they might be gone by morning. The exterminator came for our routine treatment the following day and indicated that the bees had been there for awhile since they had made such a large honeycomb, which we had been unable to see the night before. With the worker bees away from the hive you could see the large comb. We had the bees eradicated and will now have to remove the soffit to make sure bees haven't formed a honeycomb in the interior walls. Don't Worry, BEE Happy!

Bees seen on Wednesday night

The light grayish areas which is the honeycomb

Happy Father's Day!!

Smitty, B, RW, Tex and Elle

I think fathers get short changed when it comes to celebrating "their" day. It seems they don't get the special treatment as we mothers. However, Smitty did get to spend time with one of his children and some special people in our lives. B cooked some mighty tasty ribs, pork and turkey and the girls added some other special dishes to make the meal complete. The tablescape was fitting for the "handy" men in our lives. We missed KLee and LilE, but hope that they made their "Daddy" feel special on this special day. We love our daddies!

Tribute to PM

1912 - 2010

I first met PM and B in 1970 when I started dating Smitty. They were a fun couple and I looked forward to becoming a part of the family. B passed away just months before Smitty and I were married, so I never got to know him except through the stories that PM would share through the years. PM was a fixture in the family. Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays...you name it she was there. She loved her family, and she loved her church and so many different ministries that furthered the Kingdom's work. She loved children and loved people in general. She had a way of telling stories from her childhood and events that happened through the years like no other. I was always amazed at how she could remember so many details from the past when I couldn't recall what happened last week. People loved to be around her--old and young alike. She was a people person and people gravitated to her. I won't forget the Thanksgiving dinners.....12 noon on Thanksgiving day...bring a dish! We seemed to always eat using red Christmas plates and cups and she always washed the dishes by passing around the garbage bag. We cleared the tables and all gathered around her TV to watch the Cowboy game.

When Blake was a toddler (the youngest of the 4 cousins) and an extremely "picky" eater, she would make sure there was something on the Thanksgiving table for him. Planter's Cheese Balls served in a nice bowl. There was no chiding because he was so "picky"--just served him what he loved to eat. I could go on and on with so many stories--mostly comical and told only as PM could tell them.

There is no way of knowing this side of heaven how many lives were touched and changed because of her. She truly had a servant's heart. I just know that on Friday she was welcomed into His presence with a "Well, done my good and faithful servant".

We loved you P.......

Nothing Could be Finer.....

Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina.....where the granddaughter (along with our daughter and son-in-law) reside. We were able to spend a few days over the Memorial Day Holiday with them. We celebrated my b'day and spent time working on projects and just getting to play and play and play. What a really neat treat!

Birthday Chocolate Chip Pie, Ice Cream and ONE candle....priceless!

LilE posing during our modeling photo session! Notice the Silly Bandz in her mouth? Another story for another time.

Pop and JD taking a breather after much digging and hauling pavers.

KLee and Mimi supervising the work....photo taken by LilE

LilE just after pitching the baseball....she does throw like a girl!

Lots of coloring, playing with puzzles and dressing the Groovy Girls all weekend!

Pop, LilE, and Mimi just before leaving for the airport!

Happy B'day To Me

Birthdays have always been special to me and for the last several years I have added a twist to my celebration. It is a real b'day treat for me to host a luncheon for those I work with rather than be taken out to eat. Typically, I like to invite a few into my home for a special treat, but that wasn't possible this year. So, the event was taken to the workplace. It was a special b'day for me to provide lunch for my new co-workers. Thanks, ladies, for helping me celebrate my special day in such a special way. The celebration concluded with B and Elle taking us out to dinner and then the traditional birthday cake and opening of gifts. It was a really special day!

Hidden Gardens Tour and Early Birthday Treat

Two very good friends and former co-workers treated me to a very special Sunday afternoon/early birthday treat. The Hidden Gardens of Fort Worth Tour featuring seven very lovely, private gardens in the historically-signigicant West Side neighborhoods of North Hi Mount and Crestiline were the afternoons activity. It was a nice look into some of the private gardens both large and small. D & L not only provided this wonderful tour, but also took me out for a late lunch and presented me with a potted planter to add to my own garden. What special friends I have. Thanks, girls!

The front yards were planted with lots of color.

This yard wasn't on the tour, but just in the neighborhood.

This is one of the terraces in the back yard of Ft. Worth's Martha Hyder.

Looking from the back of the house you would be overlooking Ft. Worth and part of the Trinity River.....unbelieveable vista.