Christmas Wow

I got my Magellan Handheld GPS for Christmas from Cheryl.

I wanted it to use on the boat so when I find fish I can give them a waypoint and then can fish the areas where the fish hang out.

The Magellan is what the soldiers used in the first Gulf War that allowed them to surprise the Iraqis by coming through the desert where even the Iraqis got lost.



Cole arrived in a totally new outfit. It included an Underarmor shirt with Football on the front. It is athletic wear and he sure looks as if he has been playing.

He showed us his new shoes, new jeans, and new shirt. I wonder if he had on new underwear?












Conner is really growing up. This is strange but it makes me a bit sad. You can see his maturity growing when you realize he is almost as interested in the gifts of others as he is in his own gifts.

He is such a sweet young man. I am blessed with three Grandsons who are each their own individual but each so sweet and well mannered.


Conner and Jason were hiding behind a big present so no-one could find them.

Jason has now learned how to pose and say cheese when someone wants to make a picture. Sometimes it is so extreme he closes his eyes as he says cheese.











Mentioning saying cheese, you better get ready. Cole was so disappointed that he didn't get a digital camera at home but you know Santa coordinates with grandparents. Every time he comes to our house he ends up wanting to take pictures with my digital camera. Here is a picture of us taking a picture of each other. He took pictures of everyone and everything. I had 209 pictures so I wonder how many he had?


Here is a picture of Jason after he hit his finger with the hammer Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jim put in his toolbox they sent.

Okay I am really kidding here, that is Jason saying cheese with every ounce of his joy. He is not crying, he is saying cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese.

The boys all got tool boxes but Sarah bought tools that matched their ages. How sweet.

Since Brad went to Heaven to live I guess family is just that much more important to me and I did call my parents and brother and sister to wish them Merry Christmas.

Conner and Cole show what Uncle Henry and Aunt Debbie gave them.

These boys love to color and Conner is in art class and is doing really well. He is an amazing artist. Cole is really good about staying in the lines, too.

I put these pictures on so my sister and brother can see how happy they made some little boys. I failed to get Jason in the picture of the gifts from Henry and Debbie.

At least in 209 photos I got one of him opening his present from them.

There was sure a lot of activity going on with the crowd we had. Cheryl's mother, her eldest brother John and his daughter Kendra, her brother Robert, Bart, Kip, Conner, Cole, Erika, and Jason. Cheryl and I were both in grandparent heaven.

Christmas Eve

It is Christmas Eve and oh how I look forward to tomorrow. It will be Christmas and it will be a time of fellowship with our family with Christmas Dinner and then opening packages in the afternoon. I am afraid the recession has not hit here yet. It will be here later I suppose though I paid off the credit card bill today. We don't carry credit card debt forward so the surprise should not be too much after January.

I bought an artificial Christmas Tree last year at the 90% off sale and I see now that a 7.5 by 4.5 foot tree is not big enough. Here is a picture.

You can see we have a big Christmas in store and Santa has not yet even come. And Bart and Kip still have theirs to come tomorrow.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas.

A Great Day

I was a bad boy today but had the opportunity to play golf at the invitation of Randy Griggs, my counterpart from Alabama and his son, Scott. Bart could go so we left his house about 7:30 to go to Veteran's Park at Cordele. It was Sunday and normally I would have been in Sunday School and Church but I seldom get the opportunity to bond with Bart and I crave every opportunity because he has grown to be quite a man.

It rained a bit but God must not have been too offended because he didn't ever soak us and gave me one of if not the best first nine's I have ever had. What was way more exciting is that Bart had his best round ever and I was there to witness it. It was his first time breaking 80. He shot a 78. I would just love to break 100 but that could not have made me as delighted as when Bart told me his score. He has a natural swing and if he played more than once or twice a year he would be an absolutely awesome golfer.

I have always been amazed by him in any sport because he is a natural athlete. I am so uncoordinated that for me it is all play. For him it is all finesse. It is art!

I sure wish I had more opportunity to do things with Bart but I guess our schedules just don't permit that right now.

Christmas

Christmas is only five days away and we have everything we have bought wrapped. I am sure we will have a few more last minute gifts.

I hope each of you have a very Merry Christmas.

Family Christmas

Christmas is my most favorite holiday. It is a holiday of remembrance of Christ's birth and a holiday of excitement for children.

Grandchildren have demonstrated to me how lucky a man I really am.

Last night we had Christmas with my Mama and Daddy and the Children and Grandchildren. I loved the present I got from my Grandsons, A group hug. Three little boys all hugging me at once. Wow!

Here is a Christmas Picture for you. What fine looking young men, self included. I was only fifty-two when this picture was taken.

My Birthday

Today is my birthday and I am in Atlanta in a meeting instead of sharing it with family. Yuk!!!

Dissapointment

Inez was to have laryngoplasty today to fix a paralyzed vocal cord but her pace maker has a battery that is nearing life's end and they decided in pre-op that she needed the pacemaker battery replaced before they do the surgery on the voice box.

She had prayed that if she was not to have the surgery she wouldn't. I guess today was not the day.

She will go back to Tifton and get the pacemaker replaced and then back to Emory for the voice surgery.

I was pleased that the folks here confirmed Dr. Johns is the best in his field. They really spent a lot of time discussing the situation and I am glad that there is another day to do this.

My First Christmas Present

I got my first Christmas present tonight and wow what a present.

For a couple months Jason would look at a picture of me and say Papa, his version of Grandpa. When I would look at him and ask who am I and point to myself he just looked at me with this dumbfounded look like, don't you know who you are?

Tonight he and Erika were at the house and he looked at a picture of Erika and Brad, pointed, and said Mama. I asked, who am I and he looked at me and said Papa. My heart jumped for joy.

Decorating for Christmas

I love Christmas. It is the most colorful of the holidays, the most Joyous and oh the true meaning, Jesus Christ as a Lord and Saviour, what better gift could there be?

Cheryl and I started decorating today. I love the lights, the music, the Christmas Tree, the face of a child their hope, joy, and love.

Our tree is really a highlight for us. We have some absolutely gorgeous ornaments. We have the entire collection of White House ornaments from the White House Historical Society, we have ornaments from all over the World bought on our trips. We have ornaments that have been given to us by special people or for special events.

Here is one of our newest gift ornaments, a Christopher Radko Plains GA ornament signed by President Jimmy Carter. It was a gift from the Plains Peanut Festival Committee.

Yard Work

I really like having a neat yard with many different plants. I love the flowers and the color they add. I hate yard work.

We did yard work most of the day. We did a lot of pruning and I really don't like that and weeding junk out of the flower beds. What we did sure looks nice.

I hope the folks at Lowe's never learn how to water plants because I love checking out their sale rack. I bought seven Encore Azaleas which are normally about $13 each for $1 each. That is a pretty serious discount and when I got them home and watered them they perked up and knew they were loved.

I have adopted a lot of their orphans and they appreciate it so much they just do better than the full price plants.

Flag Football

We went to Cole's flag football game tonight and it is so much fun to see little boys just playing. They run around and have so much fun. The Y does a good job here. Everybody wins.

We went to their favorite place to eat afterward. Ruby Tuesday loves to see us coming with them because they are relatively good and such pleasant little boys. We had our usual dishes, Cheese fries as an appetizer, salad bar, Conner and I split the shrimp pasta dish, Cheryl gets soup (tonight the white bean chili), Cole gets Mac-n-Cheese.

As we left an elderly gentleman eating by himself told me they were some fine little grandsons. I assured him they were the apple of my eye.

Choir Practice

Tonight was choir practice. I really like our interim Minister of Music. We are working on Christmas music right now. I love Christmas because Christ's birth began the greatest gift ever given to man, a Lord and Savior.

The gift was completed on Easter Sunday when Christ rose from the grave and left our sin buried in that tomb. The gift of salvation began at Christmas, was completed at Easter thirty years later and lives on through a living Lord today and for eternity.

Keeping Jason

Friday before last I got to keep Jason. I think Erika had no other choice and I did promise not to teach him any of my bad habits.

We started the day by cooking and eating pancakes. He ate 4 and a banana too. Had chocolate milk to wash it down. We played, I changed my first ever and second diaper, and we took a nap.

We met Cheryl and Erika for lunch and everyone was amazed at how well we did, just us boys. What did they expect?

A Good Sunday

Today had been a dreary Sunday but it has been good, too.

Our anthem this morning was in Christ Alone and I did the solo. The pollen and weather had my voice in terrible shape and I was really concerned about my ability to sing. I had been praying to God for him to use me as an instrument. There are two notes in the solo that are very high for a bass voice. God took control and nailed them for me. God truly can do what we can't.

This afternoon we went to pick up some things from Erika and Jason's house and for some reason it just hit me worse today than yesterday but only for a minute. How can I grieve for Brad when he is in Heaven. I grieve my loss not his.

Fall Is My Busy Season

Fall is my busy season and I haven't been at all efficient on updating my blog. We have a lot going on in our lives right now.

In the past month football season has started for Conner. We had an 80th birthday celebration for Inez. I took Conner and Cole for our first ever round of golf (the most fun I have ever had on the golf course.) Cole starts football Tuesday after several weeks of practice. Jason was here Tuesday and he is just growing up so much.

I am singing a solo Sunday as part of the Anthem. I hope it goes well, I have been trying to get bronchitis and have been trying to take it easy to ward it off. The song is "In Christ Alone." It is a beautiful testament.

I promise to try to do better but this coming week is the Sunbelt Expo so not this week.

Fun Day

We started the morning out at the football field watching Conner play football. Then Conner and Cole went with me to the Golf Course and we played nine holes of golf. It took us almost four hours and we had a blast. They play pretty well for five and eight. I guess we lost about a half dozen balls which is pretty good for three people. It was our first time to go play a round of golf and at the end I told them to keep the ball and tee they had in their pocket as a reminder of our first golf outing. They are spending the night and playing marbles as I write this.

Busy time

As fall approaches my schedule at work is such that doing my blog is only a luxury.

Cheryl and I kept Jason a bit this weekend, I did yard work, went to a funeral, and Sunday School and Church today. I almost meet myself coming and going.

Well this week is the Georgia Peanut Tour and so it will really be busy on top of other irons I have in the fire. Still, I would rather stay busy.

This is my mom and dad with my three grandsons. I am fortunate to have loving parents and loving grandsons on either end of the spectrum.

It was Mama and Daddy's 60th Wedding Anniversary and we had a celebration set for them at their house for Sunday afternoon but Hurricane Gustav had other plans and they were under a mandatory evacuation starting at 6 Sunday morning so we had our celebration with family and then all ended up going our separate ways.

Still, we had a nice family get together over the weekend and had a really great seafood dinner with the family at the Blue Marlin on Saturday night.

Here is a picture of the family except for my brother, Henry and his family. It seems that it is hard to get us all hemmed up together to get a picture but I have learned to cherish the time we have no matter how little it is.

Family is truly one of the gifts that God has given us.

Good Weekend

It was wet and sloppy this weekend but Friday night Conner and Cole came to spend the night with us and we had fun all weekend until they left this morning to go to Sunday School and Church. I love my grandchildren even though they tire me out when they visit. They are not perfect but they are little boys and are certainly some sweet little boys that are well behaved.

Cole is still all about the camera. In front of and behind the camera. Here is a picture of him as a Blues Brother.

We had to find plenty of rainy day activities to keep them occupied. We wrapped change, made pepper jelly, played computer games, tossed a little soft ball, watched cartoons (what ever happened to Scooby Doo?), and more.


Cole took this picture of his Granny. I guess she is a Blues Sister?

Trip to Europe

I just returned yesterday from a trip to Beligum and Holland. The picture of me in front of the windmill at the Duyvus factory is proof that I was really working and not on a vacation. It was built in 1620!

We left Atlanta on Saturday and got to Belgium on Sunday. We were in a town called Luven which is about a half hour from the airport in Brussels. It is a College town and the closest town to the company we were visiting. Belgium Electronic Sorting Technologies has an x-ray machine at which we are looking to use to speed up a 50 year old grading system.

We ended up with about 3 hours to look around Luven one afternoon and about two hours in Brussels the next day before we went to Amsterdam. While in Brussels we visited with the Ag Minister from the US to the European Union. He was from Georgia and was glad to see some home folks. They are really helpful in working through problems that may arise with importing countries in the EU member countries.

In Holland we met with the head peanut buyer for Duyvus which is a Pepsico brand. They make a cracker coated peanut which I wish someone would market in the US. It is almost like a peanut coated with a shell of flavored corn chip. It has a nice crunch and many flavors. Folks all over Europe love them, especially young people.

We had about three hours to tour Amsterdam when we returned from the Duyvus factory. We took a one hour cruise of the canals. It is a typical central European city. We got to see Anne Frank's home on the tour.

Here is a picture of windmills in Holland and of the Cathedral in Luven.

Fun Day

I had a really fun day today. Conner and Cole spent the night. It is a real treat and truly a reward to grandparents when our grandchildren spend the night with us. This morning we walked to McDonald's and had breakfast. We also took a walk across America and back. There is this map of the United States at Northside Elementary School and Conner and I go step on the different states when we go out. This was Cole's first walk across America.

After McDonald's we came home and did yard work. They were some help but mainly just company. It takes me a bit longer to do my yard work but I don't at all mind. I don't see my family nearly enough because everyone is always so very busy. Sometimes I think it would be fun to have a big slumber party and have the whole family over for pizza and to spend the night. We could watch movies and eat popcorn and just enjoy each other.

Conner and Bart ran an errand and Cole and I watered Erika's plants. He was so proud that he could do that for her. He is truly enamoured by Jason, too. I love seeing them together. Cole will just look at him and sometimes just reach out and gently touch him. They are two little rough and tumble little boys, well, they are just little boys, but they are also so good and if you tell them to be careful they truly make an effort at whatever it is you told them to be careful about.

I wish I had known how to correct my children as well as I do my grandchildren but I don't have a time machine so no need lamenting that fact. I think they always knew I loved them and I continue to love them today, Brad included.

Conner got this wild scooter for back to school. It is like a razer scooter but has three wheels and wings you stand on. The two back wheels are casters and it does some really interesting stuff. He rides it with no fear.

Cole's and my morning started with us throwing a football. He has a great arm, throws a better spiral than Joe Namath. Only problem is that most of them are just slightly over knee high.

Cole has got this newfound interest in being the next Ansel Adams. He loves taking pictures with our digital camera. He won't be five until August 19th but he is really good at his hand eye coordination. Last night he wanted to get the camera as soon as we walked through the door. Some of them are at his level and his perspective. His granny has learned to bend down for the camera. Sometimes I forget.

Morning Walk

It seemed that for a bit my morning walk had gone by the wayside but this morning I was back at it. I got up at 4:30 and did my three miles. It is sure a great way to start the day. I listen to my Ipod and have time to think about what I need to do. The weather this morning was a bit muggy but at least not as oppressive as trying to walk in the afternoon heat.

Sunday Supper

In the south we eat supper after five in the afternoon. Sunday Dinner is often associated with dinner on the grounds at the church though the big Baptist churches like ours now have kitchens and hostesses and we never eat Sunday after Church.

Tonight for supper I joined with Cheryl, which I do often and helped with the meal. I did a squash dish in which you split the yellow squash and then hollow them out. Save the innards and mix with spinach, sour cream, Italian blend cheese, and a bit of flour and water to thicken the stuffing for the squash. Top them with Italian blend cheese and then bake until the squash are tender.

Next, I did Armadillo Eggs. They are jalapeno peppers halved, cored, then stuffed with sausage and cheese (Fiesta Blend) and put back together and then wrapped with bacon. Bake them until the bacon is browning and the peppers are cooked.

I used the balance of the sausage and cheese mix and made sausage cheese biscuits. Just dump in a bag of Wal Mart's biscuit mix and a half cup of milk and stir it all together and spoon out in an iron skillet and bake until done.

My next contribution was Tomate al Riso. We had that in Italy and I came home and re-created it. You start by cooking rice in a pot and potatoes in a skillet in Olive oil and salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Then mix the rice and potatoes in the iron skillet you cooked the potatoes in. Core tomatoes on the stem end carefully and be sure to leave some body of the tomato to stuff and bake. Trim the good stuff off the cores and mix with the rice and potato mixture. Lay a bed of rice and potatoes in the bottom of a glass baking dish and then place the tomatoes cored side up and then finish filling them with the rice and tomato mixture. Then bake them at 350 and when they are about half done put Italian Blend Cheese on top and finish baking them.

I also grilled boneless, skinless chicken breasts with some squeeze margarine, salt, lemon juice, and lemon pepper.

Cheryl cooked baby carrots and Fordhook Lima beans. I love those both. She at the last minute parsleyed potatoes and they smelled good.

Now it is time to eat.

Hot Pepper Jelly

Cheryl and I made hot pepper jelly today. It is made purely from Habanero and Caribbean Reds (the red version of the Habanero). It has the most beautiful color, a rich amber/orange. We made three batches which yielded a total of 24 half pint's of the most delicious jelly known to mankind. Cheryl says it is hot, really-really hot! I had the dregs from the pot and it was delicious.

For supper I had a ham and cheddar sandwich with sliced tomato and pepper jelly as the condiment on the bread. It was one of those perfect, to die for sandwiches. It was home baked ham and a home grown tomato.


By the way, You can buy the jelly for $25 per jar. I cut all the peppers and stir it as it cooks and so I can tell you my time is worth that. Frankly, the jelly is too.

Hot Day for Yard Work

Today was a day a 52 year old man should be riding around on the lake or staying in the AC and not doing yard work. I did the rest of what I had at the lake and then came home and before I got un-sweaty I did the yard here and picked blueberries.

I edged the drive and flowerbeds including using this little pointed hoe I have to make the edges really nice and distinct. Mowed, blowed (blew didn't rhyme), hoed... the works.

I had lost my little camera that I carried for blog pictures and all and when I got ready to take pictures of the yard for my blog with our newer camera guess what i found in the camera bag. That is the last place I would have looked for my camera.

Well, here are pictures that show our yard after I finished. As a rule it gets cut and edged every week and gets a bit more detail every two weeks or so. I am proud of how our yard looks and growing up always hated doing yard work. Come to think of it I still hate doing yard work.

Panama City

I really enjoyed having Cheryl and Erika and Jason in Panama City with me for part of the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. I got to work in time with them. Jason and I did some beach time and pool time. He is the sweetest little boy. His demeanor is just another of God's blessings for Erika and also for us.



Jason has a thing for bowls. He loved playing with them. I guess I will get him a three set of stainless mixing bowls for Christmas.





Jason didn't seem to be fond of any hat we tried on him but he sure liked Grandpa's new hat. What a cool dude.

Speaking of cool dudes look at his new shades. He is just too cool. He loved the water and especially the breaking waves and the waterfall in the pool. I wish I had had a lot more time with them but it was a working conference.

Panama City

Today was our fist day in Panama City and when I finished with Debra who is our main contact for the Growers Conference I went to the pool with Erika while Cheryl stayed with Jason who took a really long nap. Then I came back to the room and cleaned up and Mama and Daddy got here a bit after that.

We did pictures on the beach this afternoon and then went to Supper at Pompano's. It was really a nice evening and family time.

Now tomorrow it is back to work on the Conference more diligently.

PC Beach

I had a meeting in Albany today and came to Panama City this afternoon in prep for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. Normally, I would have come tomorrow but I decided to personally pay for another room night and Cheryl and Erika and Jason came down after they got off work. I went shopping when I got here about 4:30 and was here when they got here at 8. Jason is so sweet and Erika is a really good mother. She has been sick and seemed really tired so I hope she just gets some rest. It will be nice to have some time with them tomorrow before things get rolling for the conference. I have to meet Deborah and go over VIP's and other things sometime tomorrow so I will probably leave it to the heat of the day. I am glad that they are here. I love family time.

Trip to Panama City for the Growers' Conference

I leave Wednesday after a meeting in Albany to go to Panama City for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference. Cheryl, Erika, and Jason will be coming that evening late and will stay through Sunday. I will have a bit of time Thursday and Mama and Daddy are coming to visit and to go with me to Southport to see where my Great Grandfather William Henry Taylor is buried. It will be nice for them to see Erika and Jason. Though I will have work to do the free time will be nicer with family there.

Back from the Lake

I have had an enjoyable week. I needed a vacation really bad. The only thing that could have been better was if Cheryl could have taken the week off, too.

Saturday started with a visit from Erika and Jason and an early morning boatride and swim. Jason loves the water and he would splash and then just laugh. He laughs so funny. Erika is doing very well but I am certain that she will always grieve the loss of Brad. Her grief is tender and personal. She is very protective of Jason but with what she has been through you can understand that.

The weather cooperated pretty much all week. I had my yards cleaned up, the house cleaned, mopped, and dusted when everyone got there. Bart and Kip were there just a short time but left the boys and we brought them home tonight. They stay so busy and told us tonight that the first time they will be able to spend the weekend will be after school starts. I so look forward to that. We will have Labor day together but that will be the 60th anniversary celebration for my Mom and Dad so it will not be much quality time because there will be a lot to do for that celebration.

We ate Friday night with Roger and Linda and he fed us really well. Boiled shrimp and Blackened Tilapia.


Yesterday we had a family day including Roger and Linda coming for lunch and fireworks last night. Lunch was hamburgers and french fries and Salt Lick's medium smoked link sausage.

Tonight, we ate at Zaxby's before taking Conner and Cole home. We had a fun day at the lake today, just the four of us.

Here are few pictures from the lake house and lake.

Family Time

We had a small family supper tonight. Cheryl's brothers John and Robert were here, Jason and Erika were here and Cheryl and me.
















Here are pictures of Jason playing in the floor, one has John looking on. He loves to eat and to play and is starting to talk now. He says the same word for Daisy and Lacey, two of the dogs. He learned to say yes tonight when he was asked if he enjoyed Grandpa's mashed potatoes. He is a meat and potato and pea and bean kind of guy. We had a pork loin roast, green butter beans and zipper peas mixed, creamed corn, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and gravy. Dessert was blueberry crisp that I made with fresh blueberries from our bushes in the yard. It had ice cream on top and was delicious. Jason loves ice cream, too. If Erika didn't feed him fast enough he reached for her arm and tried to rush her up.

Busy Saturday

Today was a busy Saturday for us. We got up and did our running around. We finished our running after lunch at Docia Farms picking tomatoes. The vines had been picked for market up until now and though they are about too far gone for market tomatoes they were still loaded with some pretty tomatoes. We got a five gallon bucket in less than ten minutes. We came home staked tomatoes here and picked blueberries and then went to Erika's and let the dogs out. We cam back and got cleaned up to go to a wedding. Keith Belk is a really nice young man and a really good AC man. His father Wesley drove Brad and Erika from the Church to the reception in his restored 55 Chevy when they got married. We came back home and relaxed a bit on our patio as we studied our Sunday School lesson and now it is time to clean up again to go to bed. This will make three showers today for me.

Vacation

I am taking a vacation this week at the lake.

I will get everything cleaned up and ready, take the boat out, may fix some stump markers so i can come in after dark with my docking lights, and so forth. I plan a big hurrah the weekend of the 4th starting with a day on the lake, good food, fireworks and more fireworks. I don't have a clue who will be there and It may just be Cheryl and me but we will have fun.

I bought more flowering plants to take so it will be nice to have a week to water them to get the root system partially established.

I hope you all have a happy 4th of July.

Concerned Over my Mother

Last Sunday morning I had breakfast with my Mom and Dad before I left the Grand Hotel to continue my journey. At breakfast Daddy asked Momma if they had told me that Dick had died (Dick is one of Daddy's cousins by marriage)? We had that discussion and then finished breakfast and went up to my room to get my luggage. Mama asked me if they had told me that Dick died? I assured her that we had just had that discussion at breakfast. When we got to my car and were hugging goodbye Daddy told me that Mama appeared to be in the early stages of Alzheimer's. I had seen some of that the previous visit with them. Also, Sarah had mentioned it as well after their visit there at Christmas. I called Henry and asked him to talk to them and try to get her checked out so that if she is in the early stages they can start her on treatment. He said he hadn't really noticed but would go talk to them and try to get her to go get herself checked out. It is hard watching your parents age like this. I am also concerned that if their house is still as it was and not with Daddy on it as Joint Tenant with Right of Survivorship there could be real problems if something happens to Mama first in that event.

Home at Last

There is a verse in song that says, "be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." How true that is. After a week on the road It is sure nice to be home tonight. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed. I got home to find my blueberry bushes loaded. I picked a gallon Ziploc bag full this afternoon.

Long week

This has been a long week. I have been to a meeting in Perry, a promotion in Atlanta, a meeting in Washington, the last session and graduation for our young leaders class and then finally tot he USA Peanut Congress. I am getting too old for this and am just about worn out. I am really looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tomorrow night. I also sure want to see my grandsons because it has been too long since I have seen them. At least I got to see Chery when I went through Tifton Sunday afternoon to unpack and repack.

Lake Time and Now Back to Work

I had a nice sabbatical at the Lake in spurts, a day off to get there and then an afternoon after the Cotton Commission meeting. Today it is back to work with a conference call and travel to Atlanta and then DC, SW Alabama, and Amelia Island, FL before I am back at home for a night next Wednesday.

I took the boat out twice and the first day there was not a pontoon boat at Ed Dorminey's house, the next day there was. Looks like Janice won that discussion.

I know it is crazy to plant stuff at the lake when you are only there a couple times a month but look at these pictures and you will understand why I like to have some plants there.

Muggy Monday

Yesterday was an emotional day for me. Brad's loss is deep for me and I will never stop missing him on this earth. He truly knew I was his father and we neither of us ever doubted that. The fact that he is in Heaven is the only reason I can get up and go on with my life every day.

Well this morning I got up and went for my walk. I was on the street at ten till five and boy was it ever muggy. You could see the haze around the street lights and the streets were wet. Still, it amazes me that there were a lot of folks that had their irrigation systems on after the rain we had yesterday. That was water and money that was just running down the gutter. If we all managed water there would be plenty for all our needs.

Well, time to finish getting ready for work.

Father's Day

Bart called me bright and early and wished me a happy Father's Day. I am not sure if anyone can understand how much my family means to me. If I can put God first, family second, work third, and everything else after that I will have a successful life.

I have been blessed with a great Father. Daddy has worked hard all his life, has battled cancer twice and beat it, he loved vacation time because we did stuff together with no distractions. Mama always said, "we are never doing this again." Thank goodness Daddy always won out because I have so many fond memories of our vacations.

I remember he hiked the Odom Scout Trail with Henry and me. We got the medals but I got a lot more from that than a medal; a hike in the mountains of the Talladega National Forest with my Daddy. Daddy just got to be tired but he never once winced. I learned a lot from my Daddy. He was not perfect but none of us are but he loved us and took care of us.

I guess if I had a time machine I would go back and do some things different in life but one thing never ceased and never will and that is the fact that I love my sons and and now their wives and children. I love my Mother and Father and siblings. I am truly blessed this Father's Day.

I now have fond memories from our family vacations when Bart and Brad were growing up. The best advice I could give to someone is to remember just a few things. They were the unwritten rules for our family. Go to Sunday School and Church on Sunday, eat Sunday Lunch out as a family, eat Sunday Dinner at home and let them bring whoever they want with a bit of advanced notice of course, and take a family vacation to someplace new and different every year.

Thanks to Daddy (and Mama because we knew she was just putting on when she said no more vacations) I got to see Washington DC, panned for gold and for rubies, went with him to Summer Camp and ate at the Cherokee Restaurant, went up in the gateway arch in St. Louis, (oh yeah he let Sarah take that dang rat Boo on one trip), we saw Monticello, Mount Vernon, you get the idea. Vacations were fun but I grew from them. God Bless our Fathers.

Man I'm Tired

For a guy that hates yard work, I worked really hard today. I pruned fifty foot row of Susanquas pretty radically with hand pruners. That took about three hours. I trimmed some more Nandinas. The trash men will love me. I edged the flower beds and driveway and curb. Mowed the grass and ran my weed eater. I blew off the driveway. I raked the straw off the roof of the house, fixed some nails that were pushing up some shingles, sawed off some pine limbs that were hanging over the roof, picked what few blueberries the birds haven't robbed from the bushes (they sure are good with peaches on my cereal I am eating now), and went to Erika's and hung blinds, except that I had to find something to use for shims on the mounting bracket for the door so I will get that one tomorrow after Church.

Our yard looks nice if I do say so myself. I hate yard work because it has no reward and has to be done over and over again. It is hard work at times. I told Cheryl if anyone ever wants to hire her yard man tell them they cannot afford him. Still, at the end of the project you can see the result of your toil for a short moment before the squirrels throw down a pine cone or the wind and rain knock down leaves and limbs. But now it is finally raining so I will not fuss about rain.

We had Jason around most of the day. He is so cute and I love the noises he makes. He laughs, when he eats he says mmmmm, he jabbers, says words that Cheryl and Erika can understand better than I, and doesn't cry too often. He even helped me with the blinds.

They also had the four dogs with them. Let's just say that at times things got pretty active.

Her blinds were a really good selection for her house. They look perfect and they are really nice blinds. They hang really easy on the inside of the windows, especially because her house has good wood surfaces around the windows.

Well I have had my cereal, studied my Sunday School lesson and now am ready to take a shower (the second today) and crash and burn.

I may try to take a day off this week because starting Thursday I will not have a day off again until the Friday of the next week. If I don't do that it will be two weeks straight. I am getting too old to handle that schedule anymore. After today I sure feel my age.

Yardwork and Jason

Ugh, more yardwork today. The pruning is the worst part. But one bright spot, Jason is coming to visit this morning and he will keep me entertained.He has this little practical joker in him already. He is so sweet.

I have to prune a long row of susanquas, edge the flower beds, driveway, and curb, and mow the grass and hope to be done before lunch. Never happen!

Tim Russert

America lost a great political analyst today.

Tim Russert had a heart attack and died at the age of 58.

Russert was NBC's Washington Bureau Chief and the moderator of Meet the Press. He was one of, if not the best political analyst in America. He was a devout Catholic, a family man of character, and a committed and dedicated professional.

Tim Russert was part of my learning what the term Generation Gap means. Once when Cheryl and I had taken Bart and Kip to Washington as part of their Christmas present we went to a nice restaurant called the Palm. While dining Kip exclaimed, "that's Matt Dillon." The Palm has caricatures on the walls of all the celebs that have dined there and immediately I start looking on the wall for Marshall Dillon. I didn't see him and asked and discovered it was an actor named Matt Dillon and he was right at the table beside us. I was all over 'who is Matt Dillon' and they told me. A few minutes later Tim Russert walked by our table and I got excited and exclaimed,"that's Tim Russert." They said who?

God got a good man in heaven today.

Yard Work

I started the day by taking Roscoe to the vet. He seems to me to be losing weight and acting lethargic. He about ate Dr. Branch and me up when Doc tried to get a stool sample to check for worms. Never got enough to check so he wormed Roscoe and gave him a B-12 shot and told me he really looked fine and maybe it was the heat.

I am not sure if anyone realizes this but I hate to do yard work. It is even worse to do the lake house because no one will ever go with me and I would love to get on the boat and ride for a bit after I finish but the boat is too hard to uncover and cover by myself.

I got my yard cut and trimmed at the lake and the new plants watered. My gladiolas should be in full bloom while I am gone next week and can't go enjoy them. I will be gone for a week straight starting Thursday of next week. I will be in Atlanta, Washington, Point Clear, AL, and Fernandina Beach, FL. Did I mention by chance that I hate to travel?

I like the 40 miles to the lake but no further. I wish I had a friend that liked to go to the lake so it was easier to take the boat out. I like a nice leisurely ride and stopping to swim. The water is so refreshing this time of the year.

On Memorial Day I was telling John about Judy Branch stepping on an arrowhead and lo and behold he stepped on one about three minutes after we got in the water at Loren Williams Park.

I got back home this afternoon and it took me two hours just to trim the Nandinas. Did I mention that I hate yard work. I got a blister from the pruners. I am getting soft in my old age.

More pruning and yard work for the whole day tomorrow.

I will take a bit of a break and help Erika hang blinds at her house. We had supper with Jason and her tonight and they are both so sweet.

I Didn't Get Lost

I haven't forgotten my way to my blog. It has just been a really busy week for me. We did committee meetings and the Board meeting to pass a final budget for the coming fiscal year which begins July 1.

Work is all I have done lately and last night I worked until 10:30 and was back at work this morning at 6:45. I was tired when I got home today.

Donald Chase who is one of my board members brought us some corn today and we put it in the freezer tonight creamed. We had 90 ears of corn and ended up with 8 full quarts of creamed corn. It yielded really well.

We had Bart, Robert, John, Inez, Cheryl and Me here to help though after it was shucked and silked it seems that most of the help left except John and he stayed until the first batch was done and then left. Inez made a spaghetti dish for supper to make sure we were fed.

Farm Boys

Bart and Kip and the boys along with their girl cousin Sammy came by to eat supper and then went to pick blackberries at Robert's house. After the dishes, Cheryl and I went out there and I dug potatoes with help from three little sets of hands. Then we picked some corn that was a bit firm but just right for corn on the cob for the freezer. I like using it for my low country boils.

Those kids loved the experience of the garden. They were surprised to see the potatoes intertwined with the roots of the plant. They ate berries and peaches and nectarines. Conner wanted to pick beans but dark was catching us. Cole helped even though the bucket was as big as he is.

Getting dirty and even eating a bit of dirt makes strong children. It is amazing how little it takes to entertain them and even more amazing the gift from God that family is. I am a blessed man.

Nice Surprise in Church

Ryan and Christee Branch and their children Mackenzie and Josh were in Church with Ryan's father Robert.

Ryan is like our third son. He and Brad went all the way through school together and were best friends. Ryan was always a regular fixture around our house and even made a trip to my Mom and Dad's house one time. He and Brad were so close. Ryan lost one brother younger than him, that is who Josh is named after. Losing Brad was like losing a second brother.

Ryan found a gem in Christee. The more I get to know her the more I realize she is sweet, sincere, secure, and just a great compliment to Ryan. They are both really special people. Put all four together and they are a basically a storybook family.

Ryan became Athletic Director at Berrien County High School and Head Football Coach. He just finished his dissertation for his Doctorate.

They have been special to Erika in her grief and healing.















Here is a picture of them at Jason's first birthday. This picture is a perfect expression of just how nice this whole family is. They are so pleasant to be around. And, Josh likes Zaxby's.

Family Night Tonight

Tonight we celebrated John's birthday, Brad's birthday, and father's day and even gave Bart his birthday present. We had a nice family gathering. Next to Salvation, family is God's greatest gift to us. We had all three grandsons and also, John's daughter Kendra came. She and John need each other a whole lot but they just haven't figured that out yet.

Bart and Kip stay busy all the time and I cherish what time we do have with them. I really hope they can come to the lake for the 4th of July weekend but frankly, they are so busy I almost hate to ask. Bart is a hard working and successful business man and I am so proud of him. I hope I had some part in shaping his being. Kip is bright and beautiful and such a sweet mother to two of my grandsons, Conner and Cole. And, those boys: I never tire of their company. They are really good boys even if they are boys. They are different and yet Cole wants to be so much like his big brother.

Erika and Jason were the first here and she is so sweet. Jason is a perfect little boy. He always has been. He is eating real food and loves it. Tonight he had his first real squash and said mmmm. Erika liked the Broasted Potatoes that are my most recent recipe. They are easy. Wash and scrape the potatoes and then spray an iron skillet and spray the potatoes with the butter version of the cooking spray. Sprinkle then with creole seasoning and a bit of olive oil and bake them at 350 for at least an hour and more if you desire. They crust on the outside and are tender and moist inside.

I also grilled Conecuh sausage and ham steaks. I shucked corn for creamed corn and Cheryl cut it off. The potatoes were dug by Robert and me today. He brought the corn and squash and green beans. It was a home grown and very fresh supper.

I love family time. Here are some pictures to share with you:

Jason loves real food and I guess Conner must have eaten too much ham because he sure is hamming it up.

I have three wonderful and lovable grandsons. They are being silly but I don't mind silly. They are growing up too fast as it is. Conner helped set our table for the first time. He put the glasses in place.

Here is John's daughter Kendra with Conner and Cole. She is a pretty 14 year old but sometimes needs to be reminded of it. She is smart like her Daddy. I hope she will use it. Growing up in our society is difficult today. I can't imagine what Conner, Cole, and Jason will face.

Cole was all about posing and being in front of the camera. Peace Out! Bart deserves him.

John is like a big teddy bear with kids.

Cheryl loves her boys.

Grandsons

We kept Jason tonight and went to dinner. We invited Conner and Cole and they came and ended up they are spending the night with us. Conner has lost a tooth and has another that is about to come out. Inflation has raised the price for a tooth from a dime to $2 for the cheap ones and $5 for the better ones and if you lose two at once those numbers are multiplied to $20 to $25 for the pair.

Here Conner shows his missing tooth.




















Here Cole explains to Granny that he doesn't wet the bed but uses the bathroom.















Aren't they a pair? Man I love them.