SPRING IS HERE and my yard is back together again!!!

My perspective of life has changed. Spring is in full bloom, my allergies too and MY FRONT YARD IS BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. I WILL NOT miss the blinking hazard lights in the front or the code enforcer's nagging phone calls. The cherry blossoms are spectacular this year.

Grandpa's PECANS

Grandpa Vaughn has been spending the winter months harvesting pecans. He has been excited about the bumper crop this year. Who would have thought you could see him out on the main street of Collierville with his scooter picking up nuts. Today was a pretty spring day and we got some pictures. Remember this is on Poplar Ave./Highway 57- busy street at some times of day........

HAPPY NEW YEAR?!?!?!??

SUNDAY MORNING + ROTO-ROOTER = Not a pleasant thing............

I woke up yesterday, Sunday to find Roto-Rooter on the way to my house. That in and of itself is not the most pleasant thing, but the rest of the story ................
The tree in the front of the house- remember the one with the pretty leaves in November, well, it has roots that have attacked the sewer line. The line from the house to the street is broken in 3 places and nearly filled with roots, which doesn't carry sewage away from the house like it was intended. So, we get to see more of the friendly Roto-guys. Not to mention, the water is shut off, and I currently do not know if we will have functional pipes for "get ready for work and school time" in the morning. *they are still working @745 pm.....actually gone to the store for a part 3 hours ago and haven't come back yet. I guess the store is in China.


This is the front yard MONDAY

I'm trying to remain positive. here are the highlights:
The dreadful holly bushes that greeted visitors at the front door, will be gone.
The sidewalk gets replaced.



Give me a day- I'll have a few more for you.


One day we will look back on this as a ??? Laughable event?

Happy Christmas from the New Family

We had a nice quiet and "downsized" Holiday this year. One daughter out of the nest and son soon to fly (let us hope) we got a new tree- 4 foot pre-lit instead of out usual 7 footer. We got to thinking, we have had the 7 foot tree since before Marisa was born so it has been with us 23 Christmases and served us well.


Jacob, got a Lego set for "old time" sake. He loved and "lived" for Legos prior to video games, so mom got him a set. He of course had no trouble putting it together quickly and added it to his collection. Oh, well.



Marisa had worked @FedEx on the "santa Express" getting all the gifts off the final plane before Christmas and needed a nap after Grandma's great lunch.

And all the grownups needed a quick nap at Grandma's. The kids were full of vim and vigor and Christmas Cheer. The favorite attraction was the marshmellow gun...........


and Santa had a much needed nap from his Christmas Eve visits, with his sidekick, Miley the grandpup.


MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND HAPPY 2009!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

secret meeting with Santa.............

Last night I was able to take a ride with Santa and get a sneak peak at his busy schedule, pre-Christmas. Note ***he has updated to smart technology such as the cell phone and internet, and this night, he was on both at the same time. We were not able to take the sleigh and raindeer. The reindeer were under mandatory curfew and calorie upload proceedures for the big flight next week.

Santa and I took a ride (car) to see a new little fellow. This will be his first Christmas. Santa wanted to visit and get those ""first photos with Santa"" done at his own home. The parents had e-mailed that they will be traveling over the holidays. Meet Reed and his parents. Reed received Santa very well, was a happy boy the whole visit and even gave Santa a present. He was a terrific host, well prepared.



Well, that's all for now. Just wanted the world to know about my super secret night with Santa. Merry Christmas............

Thanksgiving For Family

Thanksgiving is a favorite time for family to gather and spend time together. I am thankful for all our family including as this poem say, the generations that have preceeded us and the generations to follow our footsteps. (I love genealogy, remember.)

"Courage came to me from the height of the mountain,
And with it came the dignity of manhood,
And knowledge of the Tree of Life, for now I was a branch,
Running with the vital blood, waiting in the darkness of the Garden.

To bring forth sons and daughters.
I saw behind me those who had gone, and before me, those who were to come.
I looked back and saw my father, and his father, and all our fathers,
And in front, to see my son, and his son, and the sons upon sons beyond.

And their eyes were my eyes.
As I felt, so they had felt, and were to feel, as then, so now, as tomorrow and forever.
Then I was not afraid,
For I was in a long line that had no beginning, and no end,
And the hand of his father grasped my father's hand,
and his hand was in mine,

And my unborn son took my right hand, and all, up and down the line
that Stretched from Time That Was, to Time That Is, and Is Not Yet,
Raised their hands to show the link, and we found that we were one,
Born of Woman, son of Man, made in the Image,
Fashioned in the Womb by the Will of God, the Eternal Father."

-- Richard Llewellyn, How Green Was My Valley, Chapter 24

Happy turkey day everyone!!

Heavenly Father's glorious, brillant autumn tapestry is in full bloom in our neck of the woods. I waited one day too long to get the best picture of the trees in front of our house. The rain and wind lifted some of the leaves off overnight.