Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015 Continued Update: Maggie's Cup Stacking Competition

Not everyone is an athlete. Not everyone is a gifted academic. Not everyone is musically inclined or artistic. I think we all have a little bit of each of those traits; and, we have a responsibility to develop those traits and not neglect them. The Lord has told us to be wise stewards over the talents He has given us. Sometimes our talents take unusual paths. That's what is happening this year with Maggie.
While she is an extremely gifted learner, physical activities such as dance and sports have never been easy for her. However, her elementary school does have an annual cup stacking competition for 3-5th grades. This year Maggie competed with her school team. She was so excited! We all went out to support her and she did very well; coming in second place in her age group.

Gerson and Sophie

Maggie during competition

continuing to compete

waiting for results
Aunt B told her she would buy her a set of compassion cups, a mat, and timer if she placed in the top five.
receiving her award

Congratulations!
Guess what Aunt B got Maggie for her birthday... Yep; her own cup set! Way to go, Maggie Lyn!

2015 Update Continued: Thanksgiving

We always gather at Leslie's house for Thanksgiving. This year, I managed to FORGET THE CAMERA! That is MOST regrettable because all of the kids were home! 

Some of the family members may have taken pictures with their phones but who knows! If they did this post may be edited in the future to include said pictures. 

Until then, this quote I posted on Facebook will suffice.


I have MORE than enough... I am greatly blessed.

2015 Update Continued: Halloween

For Halloween this year, we traveled to Leander to spend it with Jamie, Sophia, and Samantha.  Halloween, kids, and candy. No words are necessary!
Jamie's mother stayed at her house to pass out candy.

We had a roller derby girl, a minion, a kitty cat, and a penguin 

Our roller derby girl was unhappy her skates were too small.

The community really went all out for Halloween!

One house even provided a photo op! Gwen! Take a Picture!

The evening wouldn't be complete without facial hair!

Maggie

Sophie

Sophia

Jamie and Samantha

2015 Update Continued: Dad's Memorial Celebration

My father was an amazing man. He seemed to excel at everything he tried. One of the things he enjoyed most was wood carving. That love of wood carving led to the creation of The Central Texas Wood Carvers Guild. As Dad's health diminished, several of his guild members would visit him at home. After he died, Marty, the guild president contacted Mom and told her the guild wanted to purchase a memorial tree near the recreation center and place a commemorative plaque in his honor.  The family was invited to attend the memorial for Dad.

Dad's plaque
Marty told us how he had managed to get the park's memorial department to move a plaque from an existing tree near the rec center so that Dad's could be place there. The guild purchased another tree farther into the park and the other plaque was placed there. Marty said that since Dad was so instrumental in getting the guild started, and helping establish community participation in the rec center, they agreed.

During the memorial ceremony
As I was listening to the story, I couldn't help but think, "Oh my! I hope the other family doesn't get upset when they visit their plaque and discover it moved!"

Marty, guild president
 The guild is made up of mostly retire gentlemen. There were several other members that were active while Dad was alive. However, membership has dropped. Mom said she was worried that it would end up dissolving now that Dad was gone. I hope it continues as a living legacy to Dad.

Mom with the carvers



I'm not sure the grandkids understood what was happening. They knew that we were there to remember Dad. I loved how they all gathered around the plaque afterwards and talked about what had happened.
The grand girls
 This picture is priceless! Dad was a wonderful man who's influence is still felt by our family.

We love you, Old Poppy

dinner and conversation afterwards
Life is filled with, "if only" moments. If only one of the grandkids had learned to carve. Luckily, one of my brothers started wood carving  before Dad left us.  He continues to carve and has taken most of Dad's tools. Scott has a few knives that Dad made and gave to him. I think he would have liked for Scott to start carving. Maybe he will some day.

Chicken Coop Progress

A few months ago, I posted that we had decided to get some chickens. In that post, I warned whomever was reading that this process would take "two weeks" Money Pit style. Well, Scott has remained true to form. But in his defense, this unbelievably wet summer and fall have kept him from getting the coop completely finished before winter. I told him that he didn't need to rush because chickens don't lay much during the cold months anyway.  However, it is now possible to see that he is turning my sketches into a reality and I'm starting to see what the coop will eventually look like.

The picture below shows the rear view of the coop. The openings are to the nest area and will have doors with latches to keep predators (and grandkids) from getting in. On each side, Scott will cut pieces of plywood to fit and add hinges to the outside. It will make it easier to keep the interior clean. He is going to run the chicken wired down along the bottom so the chickens have an additional area to access.

 The next picture shows the front of the coop. There will be ramps from the doors to the ground. He built it higher in the front to allow for rain run-off and a place to put a perch. We are putting a galvanized tin roof on the top; but, you can see that there is a space along the front that doesn't reach where the roof will be. Scott left that open so that he can put wire across it and allow for ventilation inside the coop.
back of coop
front of coop
 The coop sits on the west end of the property we own in Killeen.  There will be a large run in the front of the coop. It will have a screen door in it so that we can get inside without having to stoop over.  We have been stalking Pinterest and other blogs for innovative ways to dispense water and feed. Some of them are pretty far fetched and other are pure genius.

side of coop

I've done some research to see which chickens are the best for the hot climate we have in Texas. I also do not want to mess with raising chicks. We hope to get our first chickens around Easter time. So far, I'm really please with what Scott has done. I can't wait to see if completed. 

2015 Update Continued: Fall Begins to Arrive

As I looked through my pictures to decide what my next update post would be, I realized that I had become a little lax about hauling the camera out. And, it seems as though the pictures I took were for no apparent reason. The result was a jumbled mass of random photographs that didn't seem to tell a story. When put together, I realized they actually contained a message; don't let life pass without truly enjoying each and every moment.
Because summer is always jam packed with the never ending to do list, it seems as though it flies by.  When that list is whittled away, I suddenly realize it is Fall!

1. One of the first signs of Fall, is the plethora of Fall Decor that suddenly appears on the shelves of every store in town. During one family dinner, Jamie, Sophia, and Samantha joined us. They painted pumpkins to create a pumpkin patch for Grandma. The next time we visited her, they decorated her flower boxes on the patio with their little pumpkins. Of course, that was one picture I didn't take.





2. This event will mean nothing to anyone not from Texas. One of our native companies is an ice cream producer established many years ago in the town of Bremen, Texas. The make the most delicious ice cream. Unfortunately, there was an outbreak of food contamination in one of their out-of-state factories. The company made the decision to end production in all companies until they could feel confident that the contamination was completely eradicated. We impatiently awaited the return of production, worried that the incident would spell the end of an family owned and operated company. Luckily, the company has survived and is once again placing products on the shelves. Welcome back, Blue Bell!

3. Another thing that seemed to happen over night was my grandson, Seth, growing up! This boy is the sweetest young man. He has always held a special spot in my heart. It is a painful fact of life that as the grandkids grow up, they spend less and less time at their grandparents' home. I know that, and understand that, but there are times when I sure do miss that little guy.


4. Not matter how many things change, there is always one constant: Ron, snoozing in front of the television. 


5. Maggie decided she wanted to learn to sew. Leslie brought the girls down on Saturday during General Conference and they all worked on sewing projects. Sophie used an orphan block made by Mom to make a pillow, but for some reason we didn't get a picture of it. Maggie used a yard of fabric her mother had in her stash and some random fat quarters from mine to make this cute pillow. Leslie started a Christmas quilt; but, it is still hanging on my design board. Maybe she will get it finished during next year's conference weekend.


6. Boomer has been part of our lives for a couple of years now. We bought him at the flea marked in Wheelersburg, Ohio during one of our visits to Ron's mother. He is a mutt; part beagle and part basset hound that we call a bagel. His hind legs are longer than his front, he has the beagle head, basset height, beagle tail, and beagle nose. Quite a funny little guy; but, he sure loves our family.


 One new experience we had with him was a long anticipated event which turned into a huge disappointment. The city built a dog park near one of our largest recreation areas. One reason they put the dog park at it's current location was the location. It is actually in a flood plane. So, it is closed more than it is open due to the crazy amount of rain we have had this year. We finally took Boomer and the grands' dog, Tico, to the park. It was a mistake! That beagle nose did not give Boom any rest! He ran and sniffed the entire time! It wasn't relaxing at all. If he goes back again it will be with Ron. I'll settle for long walks in the neighborhood.


Tuesday, December 29, 2015

2015 update continued: Plano Hot Air Balloon Festival

One of the many things I have had on my bucket list has been to see a hot air balloon festival. I always thought it would wait until retirement when Ron and I could go out to New Mexico. I didn't realize there was one here in Texas until a few years ago. This year, we decided to go.  Leslie and the girls went up with us on Friday afternoon. We were able to see the balloons filled that evening and then watched the night illuminations. I really wanted to see them launch the next morning and then the landing competition. However, the weather was extremely windy with a possibility of rain, so they canceled the morning launch. However, what we did see was simply breath-taking!

Ron, Leslie, and the girls at the main entrance.

Maggie's own balloon!

Spreading out the balloon...

attaching it to the basket...

being filled...

the night glow...

Saturday morning balloons...

one of our favorites...

In the background there was an inflatable playground, food trucks, and vendors from the community.

Saturday's crowd was much larger than Friday. I think
we were smart to go up the first day.