I had a very busy, but relaxing Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately, I was too lazy to take very many pics. I did manage to snap a few at my dad’s.

We camped on Janet and Richard’s (James’ mom and dad’s) property Friday night. Richard cooked dinner and breakfast over a campfire. The food was delicious. There’s a certain flavor that only a good campfire can give pork chops and bacon and eggs. James and the girls slept in a tent in the front yard!! I figure I have one more year of taking Anjelia home and sleeping in our own beds before I will have to join them in the tent! I think next year we’ll have a two room tent with a tunnel. There’s just not enough room in one tent for the six of us! Thank you Mom and Dad D for a wonderful time.

The next morning we went swimming and then headed home to get ready for a night out with adults. Tori babysat for us while we went out to dinner and a movie with Carl, Mary, Jeff, Keri, Abby and Mike. We saw the newest X-Men movie. It was very entertaining. James and I really needed a night out. I think I could use another date night with James!

Sunday we went to my Dad’s for barbeque. He fixed me the best grilled cheeseburger I’ve had in years! My dad and Connie are basically raising her two grandsons. The girls have a lot of fun playing with them. We spent several hours four wheeling around the property. James took me for a ride clear up the big hill to the back of the property. It was really fun and the view of the countryside is GORGEOUS. Lydia told James that it was romantic for him to take me there! Girls!!! I wish I’d snapped a pic of the view, but I didn’t take my camera.

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My dad and Lydia.

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Daddy, Elaina, and Anjelia. The girls had a blast!

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James and Baby. I fished a lot in that lake when I was a kid. I loved to stand in the water and watch the little fish nibble on my toes.

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Me!

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Me closer!

Yesterday, we picked up Grandma Dorothy and spent the afternoon and evening at Mom and Larry’s. There was a big dead tree in the back by the chicken house. Saturday Mom and Larry decided to pull that huge tree clear out of the ground roots and all. Next weekend they are going to tear down the chicken house. James had fun helping Larry burn the limbs and the gigantic stump. They said it will probably take a couple of weeks for it to completely burn up. We had a nice relaxing time watching the pyromaniac (James)!

I won’t keep boring you with the details of the weekend. I hope everyone has a good week!

I’ve learned that good-byes will always hurt, pictures will never replace having been there, memories good and bad will bring tears, and words can never replace feelings.”

FIND THE MAN

*I don’t know if the following is true and I am not going to take the time to find out!!

Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, your right half of your brain is better developed than most people.

If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, your right half of the brain is developed normally.

If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein.

If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger.

(And, yes, the man is really there!)

I guess this proves it; I am within normal range! . . . just in case there was any doubt!

“If you want to improve your understanding, drink coffee; it is the intelligent beverage.” Sydney Smith, 1771-1845

After spending a few days in the good ole South, I really appreciated this cute e-mail my Aunt Kathryn sent me. I dedicate this to the women in my family with a southern drawl! Actually, I think I’ll dedicate this to all the ladies who love the South.

Southern women appreciate their natural assets:
Soft skin
An easy smile
That unforgettable Southern drawl

Southern women know their manners:
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Don’t you DARE…”

Southern women have a distinct way with fond expressions:
“Y’all come back, soon!”
“Well, bless your heart.”
“Call when you can.”
“Can I get you a glass of tea?”

Southern women know their summer weather report:
Humidity
Humidity
Humidity

Southern women know their vacation spots:
The beach
Shopping
Shopping at the beach

Southern women know the joys of June, July, and August:
Summer tans
Strapless sun dresses
Air conditioning

Southern women know everybody’s first name:
Honey
Darlin’
Shugah

Southern women know the movies that speak to their hearts:
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind

Southern women know their religions:
Baptist
Methodist
Football

Southern women know their country breakfasts:
Red-eye gravy & Country ham
Grits
Mouth-watering biscuits with momma’s homemade jelly

Southern women know their cities dripping with Southern charm:
Charleston (Chawl’stn)
Savannah (S’vanah)
New Orleans (N’orlins)
Atlanta (Addlanna)

Southern women know their elegant gentlemen:
Men in uniform or tuxedos
Men who open doors for women
Rhett Butler, of course!

Southern girls know their prime real estate:
The Mall
The Country Club
The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the four deadly sins:
Having bad hair and nails
Having bad manners
Cooking bad food
Wearing too much makeup

Southern girls know, men may come and go, but their
girlfriends last fahevah!

On May 11th my two oldest girls and I went to our church’s Mother/Daughter banquet. It was such fun! James took our pic before we left. I thought I’d post a pic of my Belles.

“In the South, the breeze blows softer…neighbors are friendlier, nosier, and more talkative. (By contrast with the Yankee, the Southerner never uses one word when ten or twenty will do)…This is a different place. Our way of thinking is different, as are our ways of seeing, laughing, singing, eating, meeting and parting. Our walk is different, as the old song goes, our talk and our names. Nothing about us is quite the same as in the country to the north and west. What we carry in our memories is different too, and that may explain everything else.”

–Charles Kuralt in “Southerners: Portrait of a People”

***SPOILER WARNING*** Don’t let Grandma Vera read this!

Here I am sitting in our new ’99 Suburban while wearing my new hat! I am ready for our visit to the Sweet South!! I don’t think my hat is pulled down on my head like it’s supposed to be. You get the picture, though!

You can tell a true cowboy by the type of horse that he rides” Cowboy Proverb