I am sorry that I was not first to blog about our July 4th weekend in South Carolina. Peg's blog did a great job in describing the activities, I c an only add that I can't remember a better weekend anywhere.The food was abundant and tasted great. When I got on the scale at home it said "One of you will have to get off." Steve cooked his heart out and we could not stop eating. We gabbed and talked ate and drank and just about wore the house out.
It was so much fun to be relaxed with so many of the family. I don't think anyone stopped smiling until it was time to go. The steaks were great, the ribs were just right and even the potato salad was wonderful. The fireworks show was so much better that the sparklers and helicopters I used to provide my family.
The deck was out of this world. The weather was wonderful and I could have lived on that deck all the time. Steve did a marvelous job. It's big and shady and very comfortable.
I can't thank Steve & Peg for their most generous hospitality. It truly was a wonderful long weekend.
Love
Monday, July 6, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
An Addendum and More
My last blog was about our trip to Helen and to 'Babyland General'. I was reminded by Peg that I had forgotten a very unusual sight. While we were shopping at the Ingle's Supermarket in Cleveland, in the produce department I spotted a lady in a wheel chair who was evidently blind because she had a 'seeing eye' pony. The pony had a harness just like a seeing eye dog with a handle and all. She was holding on to the handle and being led by the pony. Now that is something you don't see everyday. But wait..... there is more! While we were in a shop that sold beautiful 'Dresden China', I noticed that the lady running the shop spoke with a German accent. Not being bashful, I asked if she was in fact from Germany. She confirmed that she was. I asked what part of Germany she was from, because I was stationed in a little town called Goeppingen. Her eyes widened and said that is the town she had lived in. Small world isn't it? I was there in 1951 & 1952, She left there in 1954. She had married a G. I.. I forgot to ask her who she married. It might well have been somebody I knew because ours has the only unit in that little town.
And now on to the present. My Father's Day was a big success. I either heard from or saw all of my children. I even had the pleasure of dinner with Jim & Sue on Monday evening.
Then came my Birthday. Another round of calls and visits from the children. I once again had the pleasure of a lovely dinner with Mike, Michelle & the girls at one of my favorite restaurants.
All in all, this summer, so far has been nothing but a real good time. So now I'll stop writing because my mind is going soft again. I know I forgot a lot and will hear from my Children. Love.
And now on to the present. My Father's Day was a big success. I either heard from or saw all of my children. I even had the pleasure of dinner with Jim & Sue on Monday evening.
Then came my Birthday. Another round of calls and visits from the children. I once again had the pleasure of a lovely dinner with Mike, Michelle & the girls at one of my favorite restaurants.
All in all, this summer, so far has been nothing but a real good time. So now I'll stop writing because my mind is going soft again. I know I forgot a lot and will hear from my Children. Love.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
A little late!
It's been a week since we returned from our trip to Helen, so I thought I better blog and fill you all in on the trip. I picked the ladies (Betty & Elanor) at the airport and we set out straight away for Helen. Thanks to the GPS, we made it there with no problem. We were a little disappointed that there were two flight of steps to get to our unit. This rural location in the mountains should have tipped me off, but the catalog never mentioned steps.Always the gentleman, I told the ladies to I would bring the four suitcases up. I made it in two trips, but was completely winded. It was at this point while I was sitting and trying o catch my breath, When Bill called. He seemed concerned that I was having a heart attack, he was close. The unit was comfortable, was not a luxury operation we have been getting at other resorts. There were several wall switches that did nothing. I'm pretty sure they originally did something. The living area seemed a little crowded so we decided to rearrange the furniture. This stuff was too big and too heavy to move. I mean even the coffee table wouldn't budge.
Helen has a General Store, but not a supermarket. We were sure that the General Store Was just a for show, tourist place. We drove into Cleveland, the next little town and stocked up on groceries. We also had to go to church In Cleveland.
We spent the week seeing the sights. Peg called to let us know that she would like to visit, of course we welcomed her with open arms. She spent one night with us on the sofa (we couldn't move the coffee table to open the sleeper sofa). We did some of the little town with her the next day and 'Baby Land General' to marvel at the birth of a Cabbage Patch Baby. Her visit was a very welcome interlude.
One of the days we visited the General Store and were pleasantly surprised to find it was really a very nice little market with fresh meat and produce. The prices were very much in line with the supermarket. They even made fresh sandwiches at the deli counter. We tried them for lunch one day and they were very good.
During the week, we visited several local wineries for some wine tasting I think the ladies really enjoyed that. Of course we had to buy some of the product.
All in all, it was a very good week and very restful for El. The Friday to Friday thing is what we like, but this was a tough year to find a spot.
Hope I don't take so long to blog next time.
Love.
Helen has a General Store, but not a supermarket. We were sure that the General Store Was just a for show, tourist place. We drove into Cleveland, the next little town and stocked up on groceries. We also had to go to church In Cleveland.
We spent the week seeing the sights. Peg called to let us know that she would like to visit, of course we welcomed her with open arms. She spent one night with us on the sofa (we couldn't move the coffee table to open the sleeper sofa). We did some of the little town with her the next day and 'Baby Land General' to marvel at the birth of a Cabbage Patch Baby. Her visit was a very welcome interlude.
One of the days we visited the General Store and were pleasantly surprised to find it was really a very nice little market with fresh meat and produce. The prices were very much in line with the supermarket. They even made fresh sandwiches at the deli counter. We tried them for lunch one day and they were very good.
During the week, we visited several local wineries for some wine tasting I think the ladies really enjoyed that. Of course we had to buy some of the product.
All in all, it was a very good week and very restful for El. The Friday to Friday thing is what we like, but this was a tough year to find a spot.
Hope I don't take so long to blog next time.
Love.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Happy Memorial Day
I'm not going to apologize for not blogging, I'm just a dull old man. Nothing noteworthy seem to happen in my life.
Yesterday was the exception. Most of the day was dull or partially sunny until Nancy & I started to leave the house around 4:30 PM. We were headed to the new Gwinnett Stadium for a G-Braves game. The tickets were a Mother's Day gift from Dennis & Doreen. By the time we got there the rain had ceased. The handicap parking put us about 50 feet from the stadium entrance. As we approached, a young lady asked if we wanted a wheel chair. Much to my surprise Nancy agreed. She was wheeled right to the top of the aisle. Every one we encountered told us to enjoy ourselves. Even the usher who showed us to our seats said "Enjoy the game." I commented that I guess I better enjoy it since everyone told me to. He said. "It's mandatory sir."
The young lady with the wheelchair came by and took our names and told us any time we were ready to leave, to tell the usher and she would be back to get us.
The sun was bright and the breeze warm for most of the game, unfortunately the Indians were beating the G-Braves. I got a call from Tom that Jessa and Ben were also at the park. the stopped by to see us. Our seats were really great, we were right at the "on deck circle on the 3rd base side.
Unfortunately about the bottom of the 6th inning the clouds got dark and the wind picked up. The young wheel chair lady stopped by to tell us some severe weather was coming our way and anytime we wished to leave, she would come and get us. Mid 7th inning we decided to leave. The usher call for the wheel chair and out we went. She took us right to our car. as soon as we started out of the parking lot the rain started.
Just to sum it all up, we could not have had a more pleasant experience. It is a beautiful facility and the staff could not have been more gracious.
Until something else happens, that's it for now.
Yesterday was the exception. Most of the day was dull or partially sunny until Nancy & I started to leave the house around 4:30 PM. We were headed to the new Gwinnett Stadium for a G-Braves game. The tickets were a Mother's Day gift from Dennis & Doreen. By the time we got there the rain had ceased. The handicap parking put us about 50 feet from the stadium entrance. As we approached, a young lady asked if we wanted a wheel chair. Much to my surprise Nancy agreed. She was wheeled right to the top of the aisle. Every one we encountered told us to enjoy ourselves. Even the usher who showed us to our seats said "Enjoy the game." I commented that I guess I better enjoy it since everyone told me to. He said. "It's mandatory sir."
The young lady with the wheelchair came by and took our names and told us any time we were ready to leave, to tell the usher and she would be back to get us.
The sun was bright and the breeze warm for most of the game, unfortunately the Indians were beating the G-Braves. I got a call from Tom that Jessa and Ben were also at the park. the stopped by to see us. Our seats were really great, we were right at the "on deck circle on the 3rd base side.
Unfortunately about the bottom of the 6th inning the clouds got dark and the wind picked up. The young wheel chair lady stopped by to tell us some severe weather was coming our way and anytime we wished to leave, she would come and get us. Mid 7th inning we decided to leave. The usher call for the wheel chair and out we went. She took us right to our car. as soon as we started out of the parking lot the rain started.
Just to sum it all up, we could not have had a more pleasant experience. It is a beautiful facility and the staff could not have been more gracious.
Until something else happens, that's it for now.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Time rolls on.
As everyone says, not much new here. Just wanted to blog since it has been a while. I have enjoyed reading others blog very much. I am really having a good time on 'Facebook', even I don't understand what is happening.
Last week, while the children were on spring break, Tom's family and I went to the High Museum to see the exhibit " The First Emperor's Terracotta Army". What a great exhibit, very impressive. While we were there, for less money than it would have cost for all of our admissions, we became members of the museum. This means we can go to all the exhibits free and bring guests. Pretty cool.
I did have a mower adventure this weekend. Even though we are still decorating the rooms we had painted, the weather was good on Friday and the grass was getting out of control. I got the front yard cut and shut the mower off while I attended to some other chores. When I got back on the mower, not only would it not start, but it sounded like the battery was completely dead. I tried to jump start it, but it did no good. I removed the battery and took it to the shop that services mowers. They charge it and tested and said it was 'good to go'. I put the battery in and it acted just the same. I felt the battery cable and it was really hot. I was sure I had a dead short in the electrical system. Dennis came over on Saturday morning with a trailer and we went back to the shop. As I explained the problem to the mechanic, He asked to look at the mower himself. Dennis was ready to get the thing off the trailer. The man raised the hood and shook the fly wheel back and forth. He said it's fixed. Seems the starter was hung up on the fly wheel. We brought the tractor home and, much to my consternation, I had to cut the back yard.
Last week, while the children were on spring break, Tom's family and I went to the High Museum to see the exhibit " The First Emperor's Terracotta Army". What a great exhibit, very impressive. While we were there, for less money than it would have cost for all of our admissions, we became members of the museum. This means we can go to all the exhibits free and bring guests. Pretty cool.
I did have a mower adventure this weekend. Even though we are still decorating the rooms we had painted, the weather was good on Friday and the grass was getting out of control. I got the front yard cut and shut the mower off while I attended to some other chores. When I got back on the mower, not only would it not start, but it sounded like the battery was completely dead. I tried to jump start it, but it did no good. I removed the battery and took it to the shop that services mowers. They charge it and tested and said it was 'good to go'. I put the battery in and it acted just the same. I felt the battery cable and it was really hot. I was sure I had a dead short in the electrical system. Dennis came over on Saturday morning with a trailer and we went back to the shop. As I explained the problem to the mechanic, He asked to look at the mower himself. Dennis was ready to get the thing off the trailer. The man raised the hood and shook the fly wheel back and forth. He said it's fixed. Seems the starter was hung up on the fly wheel. We brought the tractor home and, much to my consternation, I had to cut the back yard.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Happy Easter everyon.
I have really been enjoying all the blogs on this net. I know it has been some time since I blogged so, since tomorrow being Easter I thought I would take this media to wish all of you a very happy and blessed Easter.
And I thought I would share some memories of Easter in my youth. I know this tale will strike some of you as really odd, but trust me this is the way it was.
Of course when we awoke on Easter morning, my brother and I ( My sister was not born yet)would hunt down all the hidden dyed eggs in our house. Believe me it was always a spirited competition. We were never allowed to eat any of the eggs before church. We lived, at that time in a two story row house on Arizona Street.
After church we changed clothes and too some of our Easter Eggs out side and participated in an annual ritual. We would stand in the middle of the street an holler "Epper". This was the challenge call for a one on one battle of the eggs. If someone responded to the call we would square off. The person that answered the call would hold one of his dyed eggs tightly in his fist with just the end showing. The challenger would then take one of his eggs and crack it down on the held egg. One of the egg shells would crack, this was the looser. He had to forfeit his egg to the winner. There were all types of theories as the how to grasp the egg to ensure victory. Of course none of these meant a darn thing. It all had to do with the hardness of the shell. There were always guys that found ways of cheating so you had to check the other guys egg. One kid had a China egg and he suffered a severe trouncing when we caught him. There was always the wise guy that brought out a raw egg that would cover your hand and your egg with yoke when he came down on your egg and hand.
These thoughts came flooding back to me today as I thought of writing a blog for Easter. I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane.
Love.
And I thought I would share some memories of Easter in my youth. I know this tale will strike some of you as really odd, but trust me this is the way it was.
Of course when we awoke on Easter morning, my brother and I ( My sister was not born yet)would hunt down all the hidden dyed eggs in our house. Believe me it was always a spirited competition. We were never allowed to eat any of the eggs before church. We lived, at that time in a two story row house on Arizona Street.
After church we changed clothes and too some of our Easter Eggs out side and participated in an annual ritual. We would stand in the middle of the street an holler "Epper". This was the challenge call for a one on one battle of the eggs. If someone responded to the call we would square off. The person that answered the call would hold one of his dyed eggs tightly in his fist with just the end showing. The challenger would then take one of his eggs and crack it down on the held egg. One of the egg shells would crack, this was the looser. He had to forfeit his egg to the winner. There were all types of theories as the how to grasp the egg to ensure victory. Of course none of these meant a darn thing. It all had to do with the hardness of the shell. There were always guys that found ways of cheating so you had to check the other guys egg. One kid had a China egg and he suffered a severe trouncing when we caught him. There was always the wise guy that brought out a raw egg that would cover your hand and your egg with yoke when he came down on your egg and hand.
These thoughts came flooding back to me today as I thought of writing a blog for Easter. I hope you enjoyed my trip down memory lane.
Love.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Happy April Fools day!!!
Today is a very favorite one to me. As a youth I was prone to participate in some sort of foolishness on this special day. It has always been a fun day for me. It's not that I haven't had jokes played on me, on the contrary, I have been the but of some good pranks.
The greatest Aprils Fools prank was perpetrated by my son Tom. He knew that it was my habit to read the newspaper while I ate breakfast, even though the paper was delivered in the afternoon. I would ignore it so that I might enjoy it with breakfast. He had saved the paper for a whole year and on April 1st he replaced the real paper with the year old edition. I never caught on and read it from front to back. I really got angry that the Braves were still paying a lousy pitcher that we had dumped a long time before.
I even mentioned to Nancy that a new store was opening up in our area. She argued that that store had been there for a long time. This sort of thing went along for several days, and Tom thought I was angry with him because I never mentioned about the prank. Nancy finally showed me that I had read a year old paper. What a classic gag. You gotta love it.
This year I don't think there will be any high jinks on this day, but one never knows.
Later this afternoon I will will be participating in a fund raiser at the Gwinnett Senior center. It's called "Sit For A While". It is to raise money to fight hyperactivity in seniors. It really looks like it will be a lot of fun if we can keep all the participants awake.
That's about it for now.
Love.
The greatest Aprils Fools prank was perpetrated by my son Tom. He knew that it was my habit to read the newspaper while I ate breakfast, even though the paper was delivered in the afternoon. I would ignore it so that I might enjoy it with breakfast. He had saved the paper for a whole year and on April 1st he replaced the real paper with the year old edition. I never caught on and read it from front to back. I really got angry that the Braves were still paying a lousy pitcher that we had dumped a long time before.
I even mentioned to Nancy that a new store was opening up in our area. She argued that that store had been there for a long time. This sort of thing went along for several days, and Tom thought I was angry with him because I never mentioned about the prank. Nancy finally showed me that I had read a year old paper. What a classic gag. You gotta love it.
This year I don't think there will be any high jinks on this day, but one never knows.
Later this afternoon I will will be participating in a fund raiser at the Gwinnett Senior center. It's called "Sit For A While". It is to raise money to fight hyperactivity in seniors. It really looks like it will be a lot of fun if we can keep all the participants awake.
That's about it for now.
Love.
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