YEA!! YAHOOOOO!! YIPPEEEEEEEE!!!.....

only FOUR more days until we are in the air and on our way to the great state of Washington.....the Pacific Northwest.....the Left Coast!! Daughter and family didn't get to come back to Indiana for Christmas; so, we are going out there on New Year's eve for a week. They have made plans for us to travel up to Whistler, B.C. in Canada. Now, Whistler is a touristy kinda town a couple of hours north of Vancouver (which is about 30 minutes from where Daughter lives). People go there to ski and skate and do all manner of wintery-type activities. WE are going to go "tubing". (I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with rivers or whitewater or bathing suits.) Well, 'round here, we're not too big on winter sports; so, we have nothing to keep our fingers and toes and tushies warm and cozy. Tony kinda does because he works sorta outside during the winter. But I needed some serious cold-weather gear. Tony and I went to Clarksville this weekend and I got some AWEsome stuff. Dick's Sporting Goods and the Pro Bass Shop had just the things we needed. Not only will I be keeping warm, I might even manage to look cool. (No, not the kind of cool where the snot dripping out of your nose turns into an icicle but the good kind.) Take a look!!

What you see there is a toboggan on the shoulder of the coat, the waterproof coat, waterproof boots (which came from a different store than the coat but match perfectly.....BONUS!), some nifty socks (which I expect to keep my toes toasty) and my waterproof gloves. The coat and boots were on sale! You might have noticed that I don't have any waterproof pants. I figure if I can keep the majority of my self warm and dry, I'll never notice a numb butt. Besides, that's where most of my fat is and everyone knows fat is a good insulator!.................We are also going to go see some of the Olympic game venues in Whistler and Vancouver. Whistler is where they are going to hold all the outdoor events; and, the indoor ones will be in Vancouver. (I think) Pictures of the wonderful tubing adventure to come later!

ONE MORE CHRISTMAS POST.....

(sorry.....I couldn't resist! This one made me laugh out loud!!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!.....

THIS PAST MONDAY.....

we attended Tylie's preschool Christmas program. There were 7 people there to see Tylie. Now.....multiply that by about 50 which is how many kids were performing. Let's just say it was a tad "crowded" in there. Plus, I could barely see Ty. If there wasn't a kid's head stuck in front of her, there a teacher's BIGGER head. So, I didn't get any pictures of her until it was over. (I did get some very wobbly video. But it almost makes me seasick to look at it.) Here are the pictures of the little cutiepie. Yes, her dress was supposed to look like a Santa outfit. She apparently wouldn't or couldn't wear the hat. :-P

Papaw DOES "heart" his girls. And I think they "heart" him back!

Nana even managed to get in a picture this time!

I NEEDA GET ME SUMMA DESE.....

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.....

we went to the Loogootee Christmas parade. We had Ty that weekend and naturally took her. She loves parades. What kid doesn't? She's not too crazy about all the sirens; but, once those are past, she can really get into the candy-grabbing. Once in a while, she asks to be held. This was one of those times. Wonder what they were watching come down the street.....

It was the.....

GIRLIE TRACTOR!

Here's a look at all the goodies she (and Papaw) picked up off the ground.

She got so much of it, we decided to send some to the three Washington State cousins. Ty helped me get the package ready to mail to them. Now we just have to wait 6 months for the next parade!

AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR.....

some folks send everyone on their e-mail list pictures and videos of neat Christmas lights and decorations. Well, I've found one; but, because I'm somewhat weird, most people will find this one a bit odd (if not downright gross). If you want pictures and videos of neat Christmas lights, I hope one of your "normal" friends e-mails them to you. LOL

I'M DOING ALL.....

my Christmas shopping online again this year. But I just realized something.....Shannon and her family won't be HERE for Christmas. That means I have to MAIL Christmas to them in WASHINGTON STATE! And ordering things online means shipping time. I either need to get it all ordered yesterday or get to the store to finish up the shopping. Even sending a package priority doesn't mean a thing to the post office.

THREE AND A HALF.....

weeks 'til Christmas, folks! Can you believe it? I hope I don't forget to get my tree out!!

WELL, WE HAD.....

Ty again this weekend. (If you pay attention, you'll notice that we have her about every other weekend.) Today we went to eat lunch at the new Chinese buffet. I usually get hot tea. There's something about drinking tea out of those little cups with no handles that is just so.........Chinese! Ty was very interested in my hot tea. She dipped her finger in it a couple of times and then decided that she'd like a sip. She declared it "delicious"!

(Yes, she is actually drinking hot tea through a straw. By the time she got to it, it was merely tepid. LOL)

IS IT JUST ME OR.....

does this little gal look like a human Barbie doll?

I HAD TO GO.....

to a doctor's appointment in Bloomington today.....at 8:15 in the A.M.! Which means I had to get up BEFORE the buttcrack of dawn. It just so happened that Tylie stayed all night with us last night. She's not a morning person, either. She was an angel today, tho. We had already discussed stopping at Wal-Mart to spend her birthday money from Grandma Walton. She finally talked about something that she really wanted.....not just a vague "toy".....a Barbie Pop-out Camper. Because I had to get her up so early, she fell asleep on the way home. (And, yes, I pulled off the highway to take this picture!)

WE HAD A VERY NICE.....

couple of days this past weekend. Tylie came Saturday a little after noon. We played all afternoon and then went out to eat Saturday evening. Of course, we engaged in the obligatory trip to Wal-Mart. Earlier in the day, she and I had decided that we didn't like the gum in the gumball machine. SHE wanted to put strawberries in it. I thought that perhaps we should stick with something smaller and not so prone to rot. I suggested either M&Ms or jellybeans. She chose jellybeans. She also helped me dust a bit and decided that she wanted a swiffer duster to use in her bedroom. So we started a list. On the list was: jellybeans, strawberries (she just wouldn't give up), juice, a toy (duh) and a swiffer duster. We ate at Ponderosa and she yelled "Hi" at everyone who walked past our table.

The next morning, we went to church. And then came home to kill some time before we headed to Bloomington. We had decided to take her to the children's museum up there. We left home in time to eat lunch before the museum opened. Cracker Barrel sounded good to us. Naturally, we had to wait to get in and spent the time enjoying the wonderful weather and the rocking chairs.

The museum was great. She ran from one thing to another and then back again for two solid hours.

There were two stories in the museum and an elevator to use. Believe it or not, she seemed to be MOST excited about riding in the elevator. We made SEVERAL trips up and down.

While we were there, some folks put on a demonstration of Korean percussion instruments. They explained about what the different instruments were, the Korean name for them, how they sounded and what element of the weather they represented.

There were two drums and two gongs.

They were VERY loud and Tylie spent the whole time with her left ear pressed against my shoulder and my left hand pressed against her right ear. She didn't want to listen but she watched the whole thing.

The last thing she did before we left was to make a drum. There were some students there from Bloomington North High School Japan Club helping the little kids. Ty colored the plates and then the students put them together.

It was a GREAT day. The only way it could have been any better was if there had been FOUR little girls with us instead of one.

THERE WAS A GORGEOUS.....

full moon Sunday night.

Here's a bit of trivia for you about the November full moon: Nov. 2, 2:14 p.m. EST -- Full Beaver Moon. Now it is time to set beaver traps before the swamps freeze to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Beaver Full Moon come from the fact that the beavers are now active in their preparation for winter. This is also called the Frosty Moon, and as this is also the next full moon after the Harvest Moon, it can also be referred to as the Hunters' Moon. With the leaves falling and the deer fattened, it is time to hunt. Since the fields have been reaped, hunters can ride over the stubble, and can more easily see the fox, also other animals, which have come out to glean and can be caught for a thanksgiving banquet after the harvest.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

ISP PSA.....

my brother, the Indiana State Trooper

AH.....I'VE HAD A REQUEST FOR.....

some info on the wreck. I and three other ladies had been to a library conference in Columbus, OHIO. I drove. It was Friday night; and, we were on our way home. Between 8:15 and 8:30, we were south of the Burns City turnoff and north of the Raglesville turn off. I think it actually happened right about Barnhart Crafts. I was driving along at about 55-60 miles an hour. I'm pretty sure I had my cruise control on. It had been on pretty much the whole way. And BAM.....there was this huge explosion at the rear of the car. I immediately looked for a place to pull off the side of the road and found a little gravel lane right away. I pulled in and another car pulled in right behind me. WE HAD BEEN EFFIN' HIT IN THE REAR END WHILE WE WERE GOIN' DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55-60 MPH!!!!! The other driver hopped out of his car and started apologizing. We were all still trying to figure out what had happened. Thank goodness he hit us square. I guess we might have ended up anywhere. We called the sheriff and he came. The other driver told him that his brakes failed. At least that's what the sheriff told me. I did my best to stay away from the imbecile that had just hit me in the rear. No one was hurt, thankfully. We all kinda wondered how he managed to get slowed down, turned in behind us and stopped if his brakes failed. And then, after all the fun stuff was over and we were thinking about finally getting to go home, the sheriff asked him if he could drive his car home. We had noticed some steam coming out from under the hood when he first stopped and he had lost half his front bumper on the highway and the other half was hanging; but, HELLO!!!.....didn't he tell you his brakes failed???? The idiot got in his car and tried to start it. Luckily he had cracked his battery, as well, or I guess the sheriff would have let him back on the highway with a car that had no brakes. He didn't get a ticket but his insurance company didn't bat an eye at paying. It was about a week after that that I realized I had failed to get my driver's license renewed earlier in September. The sheriff totally missed THAT, too. Hope that answers all your questions.

LET'S SEE.....

No pictures with this post. Just a bunch of things (with no details and in no particular order) that have happened recently: I was in a wreck. We celebrated my mother-in-law's 80th birthday. I stubbed my pinkie toe and came close to breaking it from the looks of it. (It's all purple and black on the side and bottom.) Worked two days last week at the Eastside Branch in Washington. I haven't been called to work there for over two years. Cleaned hangers out of our closet. Got my fingernails done. Went to eat at the Golden Corral in Bedford. Got a flu shot. Finally watched "Superbad". Paid some bills. Switched purses. Started reading a Dean Koontz book. Bought a couple of grandgirl coats. Wished I live next to Alton Brown. That's all I can think of for the moment. If you want details for any of these, let me know.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.....

to the 1150 Riders for another wonderfully successful Memorial Weekend. It never ceases to amaze me at the amount of work and time that these folks and their families put into this event. Tony and I, and on behalf of Tylie, want each of you to know how very fortunate we think Willie was to have you for friends. What you do each year speaks volumes about what you thought of him.

We ask God's blessings on each one of your lives.

FROM THE WATERMELON PATCH.....

something even sweeter!!

ONE MORE WEEK.....

until the Third Annual Willie Walton Memorial Weekend. The Riders have added a map of the ride route on the main page of their website. Be sure and check it out. Please come if you can. Please ride if you can.

AWESOME, AWESOMER, AWESOMEST!!!.....

I just checked the 1150 Riders website and you all did it!!! 30,024 hits in the last two years! Thank you all so much for visiting the site and passing it on to family and friends. Please come to the cook-out on Oct. 3 and help us celebrate Willie's life. If you're a motorcycle rider, join in the ride on Oct. 4.

ODD.....

I just realized I've never gotten any formal pictures of the two older grandgirls in their dance recital finery. HMMMMMMMMM.....

29,528.....

That's how many hits the 1150 Riders have gotten since they put the website up two short years ago. The next Memorial Weekend is Oct. 3 & 4. I'd like to see them get 30,000 hits by then. Everyone pass the word, please!

All proceeds go to benefit the college fund for Willie's daughter, Tylie, who is four years old.

THE COLOR OF.....

the ocean never ceases to amaze me! It really IS this blue.....

WHILE THE GIRLS.....

were here in July, we made a trip to Holiday World / Splashin' Safari one day. These are the only three pictures anyone took. We were too busy habbin' FUN!!

GOTTA LOVE.....

those Jonas Brothers!!!

(Play video)

THESE ARE A COUPLE OF.....

views of the ocean from the beach area where we spent the morning on Coco Cay. We walked far enough down the beach that we got away from about 98% of the other people who also spent the day on Coco Cay. There were lounge chairs and permanent umbrellas every so often even way down past where we decided to stop. The dark area all the way across the water just a little way out from the edge was seaweed lying on the bottom. The water only got about knee to thigh high waaaaaay out. Lots of people were walking and floating out past that dark area where it appears to get lighter again. Since the island is owned by Royal Caribbean, they fed us at lunch; hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecued chicken, lots and lots of salads and fruit and, of course, dessert were offered. And you couldn't walk ten feet without being accosted by someone trying to sell an alcoholic beverage. They didn't have to try very hard with me......LOL It was a really nice day!

I WAS LYING ON MY STOMACH IN THE.....

water on the beach at Coco Cay.....minding my own business, chin in hands, eyes half closed..... when I hear this man say, in a conversational tone of voice, "Did you know there's a jelly fish right beside you?" Needless to say, I hopped up pretty quick and replied, "No, I didn't. And thank you very much!" I grabbed my camera and snapped a few pictures of it. This is probably the best picture of the bunch. It's about 7-8 inches across. Kind of pretty, really. The scallopy edge was a lovely shade of lavender. We heard several people complaining about the jelly fish that day.

OK, THE FIRST THING.....

I want to tell you about our trip is that we had awesome tablemates for the dinner meal. (On a cruise, everyone is assigned a certain table for dinner during the entire cruise.) What a diverse group we were. Of course, there was Tony and me, typical midwesterners.

Then there was the family below. Susan, Sophia and Daniel are a family that has lived all over the world. Susan is from the US and is married to Daniel who is from Honduras. They have a son and a daughter; their daughter, Sophia, was vacationing with them. They have lived in Honduras and Taiwan and now live in Spain. Sophia is going to college in Washington, DC. They were all three extremely interesting people to talk with and Daniel kept the whole table in stitches every evening. He has a really sharp wit!

Next around the table, and on the opposite end from me and Tony, were this daughter and father. Mother could not come because of work. This is Thuy (pronounced "Twee") and Liem. Liem is from Viet Nam. I'm not sure where Thuy was born. Liem lives in North Carolina and Thuy just finished law school in New York City. She took her bar exams right before they came on the cruise. She won't find out until October how she did.

Next around the table were Jimmy, Michelle and Erica. They, too, are from North Carolina and found that they live relatively close to Liem. Jimmy's mother was pregnant with him when the family moved to the US from Greece. So he is a first generation US citizen. He works for an airline. Erica sat right next to me and we had a WONDERFUL talk the first evening. This was her first cruise and she was so excited. The one thing she was looking forward to the most was swimming with the dolphins which she got to do on Wednesday while we were in port at Nassau. She is very grown up for her age and quite a little lady. As you can see, she's going to be a heartbreaker. Dad has his plans made. He has a gun and a boat and won't be afraid to use them. LOL

I can honestly say that I looked forward to dinner each evening knowing that these were the folks with whom I'd be sharing my table.

I'VE BEEN ON.....

vacation. But, I'm back. And, I'll get around to posting some stuff about it. Sooner or later. Probably later. Maybe.

DID YOU KNOW THAT.....

once Play-Doh has been pressed into the sidewalk, it cannot be totally removed except by a torrential rainstorm? (I have submitted photographic evidence below.) And, did you also know that Nana and Papaw don't care because it makes the little girls happy?!

THIS PICTURE.....

of Kristin, getting ready for one of her dance recitals, always makes me think of her Aunt Lauren. *shrugs* Dunno why.....it just does. :-)

OF COURSE!.....

the big girls got their turn playing in the sprinkler by themselves.

TWICE even.....

While THIS one was busily playing in the water.....

the redhead was complaining that she was cold. I told her to go run around the house a few times. LOL She did and it warmed her right up.

And while the older two were playing in the sprinkler, the baby of the bunch was sitting on the porch steps and having a little one-on-one with Papaw.