Don't spit into the wind

Don't pull on Superman's cape

Don't spit into the wind

Don't tug the mask of the Ole Lone Ranger

And don't sleep in your braids!

Happy Birthday to Me

Happy Birthday to me!

Photo was snapped at Oakman Elementary School

Wanda was in school there and Mother

took me in on picture day

Mother called this morning around 7 a.m.

She said I was born around 6 a.m. and

Aunt Doris and Uncle Jerry stopped

and saw me on their way to school that day

I was born at home ~ located on what is now

known as the Kings Mill Road.

Happy Earth Day

Today is Earth Day

If you are an environmentalist....

hug a tree

If you are not....

you can still hug me.

I too am bio-degradable

Last one

This is the last eye post. I just thought you would want to see the new and interesting colors I'm wearing today. It's becoming a rainbow!

And then it was ....

So, this morning I got up to a NEW color on my eye. The top is "going green" while the purple/blue is drifting down under the eye. Buck (who has experienced more black eyes than I have) assures me this is normal. The main annoyance is the swelling below my eye because I can SEE it when I look down.

Day Three

As you can see ~ the color has moved

under my eye this morning.

The swelling has gone down,

so at least I can see out of both eyes today.

I've had some "interesting" questions

about the shiner so here are my answers:

No I did not run into a door.

No Buck did not hit me.

No it wasn't one of our boys.

No this won't stop me from going to future games.

Yes this is my first (and hopefully only) black eye.

And yes it hurt.

Lesson Learned!

Ever been at a baseball game when you hear everyone yell "Heads up!?" Well, I'm here to tell you they DON'T mean "heads up" ~ what they mean is "DUCK AND COVER!" I attended Topher's ballgames yesterday and was happily enjoying the games (which they won) and visiting with the people around me when a young man named Mason popped one OVER the ten foot fence. I looked up and "KAPOW!" I heard ringing in my ears ~ it was a surreal experience. One observer said it sounded like a pumpkin being thumped (I have an empty head??) They were quick to bring me ice and Kim was kind enough to straighten my glasses ~ they didn't break but the frame bent. Mason's mother brought him over to apologize and I assured him I knew it wasn't on purpose. Skoot offered to get me a helmet for the rest of the game. LOL

This is how it looked at the ball field.
and when I got home
(Buck asked me
"why didn't you just catch it?")
Good morning to day two of the black eye.
(actually it is a lovely shade of purple)

What should I wear to church this morning

that is going to compliment this??

Other people's grandchildren and a brand new car!!!

I have a friend in Fort Smith, Arkansas who shares her grandchildren with me via emails. It is a mutual admiration system ~ I ohhh and ahhh over hers and she does the same for mine. Grandmothers are great people ~ aren't we? So, here are the Montgomery grandchildren. Clay and Madison are siblings and Trey is their cousin. Very handsome group, yes?

The Montgomerys

Trey, Clay, and Madison

We have been tossing the idea of a new vehicle around for some time now. Should we trade? Should we buy? What to get? With the threat of HIGHER gas prices this summer ~ we decided. Yesterday we purchased a 2010 Toyota Prius II. I think I'm going to like driving it and I know the gas mileage will be MUCH better on my trips.

The Toyota Prius II
Supposedly EXCELLENT gas mileage
(we'll know for sure after my Colorado trip)

The color is "banner blue" metallic.

I bought the tag today.

Today's Conundrum

A conundrum is something that is confusing or puzzling. Today's confusion is brought on by the two photos below.

Why was there a 9 foot 3 inch alligator

in an abandoned mining pond in Alabama?

Authorities were called and the alligator was killed

BUT WHY WAS IT THERE????

Why do people out where I live put up

fences for their cows and goats if

they aren't going to monitor them so

they stay INSIDE the fence?
What if I had been texting or looking down

and ran smack into one of these???

To quote Lady Gaga

"Once you kill the cow....

ya gotta make a burger"

Sunday

It's a new week and I can look on the calendar and see I will be traveling to Colorado in a little over a month. I have the good fortune of going on a field trip with Sarah's kindergarten class! I know there will be blogging to do then! I was able to snap a few "yard" shots before the rains came.

We have a finch feeder in this tree

they are turning yellow now

(the finches ~ not the tree)

A shot across the yard after I mowed and it needs to be done again already. I liked the red against the white in this photo.

No BIG news ~ no THOUGHT provoking words of wisdom. Have a great week ~ big hug!

Sunday

The last day of convention was Easter Sunday. When we opened our door there was a basket outside for each of the boys. Church service started at 8 a.m. The next photos show part of the crowd. Jack Norris (an 11th grader from Sixth Avenue) was one of the speakers.

After church and a few good-byes, we went back to our room and packed up. Each of us had a suitcase to pull out to the curb, where the boys and I waited while Kim went to fetch the vehicle. People were very courteous ~ no pushing and shoving to be first in line.

We stopped at Shoney's for brunch.

I had breakfast ~ everyone else had lunch.

Jakob's "signature" pose

And Topher says "buh bye"

Day Two

Day two of the convention dawned and I was up at my usual 6 a.m. Kim and the boys got up around seven and jumped in the shower and dressed. Jakob had speech at 8:30. This was his first year to try it and we (Kim and I) thought he should have been in the top three. He wasn't but he did get positive feedback from the audience. Next year he will practice more and maybe not be as nervous.

Jakob had a honey bun for breakfast.
Isn't he a handsome guy?

We went for a boat ride inside the hotel! There is a running commentary about the hotel/convention center. The boys had saved their money so they could treat me to this ride. As we were standing in line ~ the folks in front of us offered us a free ticket (they had one too many). Lucky for the boys, I used the ticket and they saved some money.

Two of the ducks that live on the "river"
That dark spot is a HUGE catfish.
One of the fountain areas.
You may not see it but the water
jumps from spot to spot.

After lunch we headed back for singing. The participants are divided according to grade. Topher is in the K - 2 group. His particular section had 29 song leaders. After drawing numbers, Topher was # 9. He did a great job with "I Love my Savior, too". He looked up from time to time and sang with his heart.

Up through 2nd grade, certificates

are awarded. This is part of our group.

Jakob made it to the top six in his age group and was awarded a trophy.

Jakob and Topher on one of the

grand staircases.

We met some of Kim's friends for lunch on Saturday at the Aquarium restaurant. The tables are grouped around this HUGE saltwater aquarium ~ complete with sharks, rays, other fish, and divers.

Our puppet presentation featured the

march around the walls of Jericho.

And the walls came tumbling down.

Actually the puppet theater almost came tumbling down as well. Halfway through, the structure began to move. Luckily Billy Thompson was nearby and went to stand in the back and hold the whole thing steady. Points were not deducted for this malfunction.

A Topher, Kim, Jakob dog pile.

They were getting a little tired.

Forgot to tell you Allison Sortino and

Jakob were the banner bearers for the

parade of churches on the first night

of convention.

After another long day, we headed to our room at 10:30 p.m. Everyone was happy with their awards and talking already about what they will do differently for next year.

And YES, I was tired! LOL

Nashville

This past weekend the Lads to Leaders convention took Nashville by storm. There are also girls involved, called Leaderettes but this is my take on the weekend as the Magra of two boys. Jakob and Topher have been involved with the program for several years but this was my first time at the convention ~ held in the Gaylord Opryland Hotel complex.

I don't even look tired (yet)

We left Jasper around 3:45 Thursday, April 1st, afternoon. Kim and the boys picked me up after school and I was packed and ready to roll when they got here. It was a great drive ~ blue skies (no rainbows) Blue Skies and Rainbows

We stopped at a Crackle Barrel

(Topher's words) for supper

Kim, Topher and I had breakfast. Jakob had a steak, baked potato, roll ~ I did not think he was going to get full that day. . . .he also helped Kim with her bacon while downing a bottle of root beer.

What would a drive be without a

GameBoy and DS??

The boys were well behaved and alternated playing video games and practicing their presentations for the convention. We sang together then listened as each of them read their scriptures and Jakob practiced his speech. (which was awesome, by the way)

Here I am with Jakob in our hotel room.
The boys "striking a pose" in the Atrium area.

Is this a gorgeous view or WHAT?

Jakob and Topher at the Glow in the Dark

Putt Putt Golf place in the mall.

Kim won the round but I came in #2.

(or Peace which ever way

you want to read this photo)

We walked to the Opry Mills mall where there is this really cool indoor putt putt place with glow in the dark balls. They had some easy holes and some not so easy ones. Kim pulled out a victory and I came in second. There was a "Galaga" game there, as well. . . . one of my all time favorite arcade games ~ so it was a win win for me.

Kim, Jakob, and Topher (lining up his shot)

at hole # 17.

The box to the left of Topher is a light box so you can "re-glow" your ball when it starts to fade. Pretty cool, huh?

Kim and I in the "required" pose

We had lunch with some friends at

the Rainforest Cafe.

The Rainforest Cafe has animaltronic elephants, monkeys, and gorillas. There is lightening and thunder at set intervals and yes those are REAL fish in the tank behind the children. The girls belong to Billy and Cindy Thompson but I'm sorry to say, I don't know their names.

We posed outside the entrance to the cafe

in front of some great tropical plants.

Kim had this yummy caramel, pecan encrusted apple

for dessert (and snack later)

After lunch we walked back to the hotel so the boys could get ready for their first event ~ bible reading. They each received a certificate of recognition ~ no trophies for this event. Later that night at the awards ceremony each of them received a trophy for Centurion of Scripture. This requires them to memorize 100 verses of the Bible.