Down on the Farm

with Mr. GreenJeans, aka Granddaddy. Well, you all know that Granddaddy got all "farmer-fied" this spring and planted 1/2 the acre in a vegetable garden. Do you think he was trying to outdo Mr. Tom and Mr. Wendell? Since then I have given him the nickname Mr. GreenJeans ~ don't think he likes it much, but oh, well! Even though I have kidded with him alot about it being where my pool was to be, we sure have loved having homegrown veggies just a few steps from the back door, even the Fabulous Five love his okra and corn.

He's been a little puffed at me, though, because I haven't blogged about his garden . . . didn't even know he knew I had a blog . . . but sure can't have him mad at me so here goes . . .

Granddaddy's Special Blog Post:

The Pool, oops . . . I mean "GARDEN."

Sweet Merritt Corn ~ on-the-cob with butter dripping off it (or cutting it in "sheets," right girls?) & Silver Queen for covering our okra . . . the "P" family tradition.

Just look at those beans ~ not 1 bug bite!

White Half Runners ~ Pop wouldn't have any other kind.

S.U.P.P.E.R ~~ It was Yummy!!

One night we had stuffed bell peppers ~ Granddaddy wasn't so sure about them but he LOVED them and asks for more. I'll have to share the recipe soon. Ya'll might like them, too.

Thanks, Mr. GJ, for working hard so we could have such wonderful goodies & I believe you did outdo the guys ~ at least your corn was still standing & we didn't find 1/2 eaten tomatoes on the deck! Just one more thing . . .

Can't end this post without showing off Granddaddy's little helper in his garden . . .

Meet Miss Gigi

She has made a wonderful scarecrow for the garden ~~ she even caused quite a stir when a flock of black birds decided to feast on the corn. What a racket they made as she ran through the garden ~ they flew off never to return. And we're the only house in the neighborhood who doesn't have squirrels eating up everything. Guess you've earned your keep now, Miss Gigi, and you're here to stay ~~ as if you weren't already because you are so loved by the Fabulous Five and we all know that whatever they want, they get!

(hummmmm . . . do you think I can get them to ask Granddaddy for a swimming pool? I'll have to work on that)

Tradin' in their Green & White . . .

for the Red & Black of the Bulldog Nation.

Today, Taylor officially becomes a DAWG and begins paying his dues as a member of the REDCOAT band. Heather left Friday to begin her new life as a GEORGETTE. Wow, such an exciting time for them!

Never any doubt these 2 talented Indians would be selected as Redcoats!

Watch out if you're in the Athens area today ~ there may be a flood as Doodah leaves her first born behind. Tears are being shed here today, as well; right, Nana??

We just couldn't send them off without a farewell party at Sissy's & Uncle Man's. Danielle said she thought Granny would have been so proud of us. Hope so, because she sure loved that 1st great grandbaby.

Here's a little peek into what things looked like at the acre on Thursday night ~~ we celebrated where they had been with the Green & White of MCHS and where their new life was taking them.

I quickly raided the "Dawg House" downstairs for anything red & black, brought out all the tailgating supplies and we were ready. Hamburgers & hotdogs on the grill, baked beans, homemade ice cream and a "huge" cookie cake complete with a super G. Sorry AG & AC that Mimi didn't have the corn & okra you were hoping for! Matt, Beth and the "C" girls were greatly missed!! Sorry, everyone, I just got so busy I didn't even pick up my camera after we started to party. Think of Ailee in her red & black for Tay-Tay & "Dorothy" & you'll get the picture.

Of course, our history expert, Taylor, refreshed our memories on a little UGA history. Did you know that the UGA Redcoat band originally started in 1905 as a section of the UGA Military Department with only 20 military cadets? HOW DID THE BAND GET THE NAME "REDCOATS?" Check back later to find out one theory! If you have an idea, leave a comment to see if we match.

In 1959, Phyllis Dancz, wife of Roger Dancz who was director of the Redcoats, formed the “Georgettes,” a dance line that performs alongside the band during the pre-game and halftime shows (now you know what the Georgettes are). You want to know a little history about your Mama . . . when I was a flagtwirler way back when, the Danczes came to our little high school and directed our summer band camp--aren't I so special?

Full tummies; lots of hugs, laugher, & tears; little ones playing upstairs in the nest; family surrounding 2 beloved children; and God's presence in the form of a much-needed rain shower ~~ what more could we have asked for on such a special night?

Taylor's 1st UGA game with his favorite Georgette 13 years ago

Fourteen years ago, our Mande was MCHS's 1st-ever student to become a Georgette; Heather is the 4th one to follow her lead. Taylor joins a very small group of other Indian Band members to ever march as a Redcoat.

Heather and Taylor, as you begin this new chapter, please remember the prayers that were prayed over you on Thursday night as we wrapped you in our love and know that we are all still praying for you both daily ~ prayers for strength and courage to face the challenges of life on your own, endurance for the endless practice schedules, that you feel God's arms lifting you up, that His amazing grace be poured out on you continuously, that you seek Him and to do His will first and foremost, and then that you give Him all the glory.

"Those things which we have both learned and received, and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace shall be with you." Philippians 4:9

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Only 26 more days 'til game day . . . Go Dawgs!!

Just a Cruisin' . . .

to a new adventure . . . today we drove the '65 corvette to our first-ever "Cruise In." We traveled in a caravan of 4 old vehicles for an hour's drive just to raise the hood, sit under a tent, do a little shopping in the cutest little shops, eat at a great resturant (or it would have been if they had only taken reservations so the wait wasn't so long!) then load up and drive an hour back home. Might I add that the temperature was only 98 degrees? But the girls cheated and rode in the Bronco which was air conditioned, YEAH!! The highlight was when 3 of our little angels came to check out granddaddy's little red car while we were there; of course, they brought Mommy and Daddy.

I must admit that it really was fun ~ not something I would want to do every weekend but once a month maybe; even though, MT said that doing so meant "we were officially OLD."

Here's a little review of some of my favorite cars . . .

Granddaddy and his Baby

Now, don't these bring back memories?

Cheryl's Bronco ~ thanks for the air-conditioned ride!

Danny's '64 Galaxy

Mr. Wendell just got in on the "old toy" act last month when he bought his '63 splitwindow corvette. It gave us a little scare when we pulled into the lot, though ~ smoke was boiling out from under the hood.

Here the boys are trying to decide exactly why there was smoke. Miss Darlene and Miss Cheryl looking on in the background not wanting to get too close. Turned out it was nothing major and a gallon of water the "A" girls brought him fixed the problem. Thank goodness ~ not sure we could have pushed it all the way back home!

Now isn't this just the cutest little thing ever?

Gotta love a man and his red corvette!!

Thanks, Danny & Cheryl, for inviting us. It was definitely a fun little adventure and I'm sure we'll be Cruisin' again real soon!

P.S. on Sunday night~~

Just found out that another sweet couple now have an old toy ~ a jeep ~ another couple to cruise with!! Mr. & Mrs. B, get your cruisin' clothes on!!

August 5, 1919 . . .

. . . August 5, 2010

Today my sweet Daddy would have been 91 years old.

On a park picnic in March, 1997 while ya'll were home for college spring break.

His 80th Birthday Surprise Party ~ not really sure what this gift was and, love his heart, he had already torn off part of his apron wording ~~ I really needed my embroidery machine then! He was so happy to see all of his friends and was so totally surprised he didn't even realize for a while what was happening -- he just couldn't understand why they had come from all over to eat barbeque to support our FFA ~~ guess my little "white lies" really worked! Sorry, Daddy, but you weren't normally that easy to surprise.

Happy Birthday!! We love and miss you so!

Today is special for another reason ~~ a happy reason, even if I'm wiping tears while writing!

Anna Grace started First Grade today!

Doesn't she look so sweet with her toothless smile!! Mimi loves that new shirt your Mommy made you. I can't believe summer is over ~ again . . . where did the lazy, hazy go?

Cousins Camp 2010

Girls, can you believe it has been 2 weeks since camp ended?

Waiting on the campers!

Hope ya'll had as much fun as Mimi & Granddaddy! Look how much you have grown in only 1 short year . . .

Cousins Camp 2009 ~ Picking flowers for the "Mimi & Me" Tea Party

Here you are ~ my little stairsteps ~ ready for our "Mimi & Me" Watermelon Party which, of course, had to include W-A-T-E-R!! Great job coloring your watermelons! Notice we added a new camper this year ~ turning 3 has its advantages, doesn't it Cybil?

Camp started on Sunday this year with a lunch of good food from Granddaddy's garden ~~ what did you like most . . . the corn or the okra? So glad AG's & AC's mommy, daddy & baby Adelynn could join us for some homecookin! Right after lunch you all had to open your treasure boxes which held your camp shirts, flipflops, and a red ball cap for our special surprise trip; but first you opened a big camp gift . . . a water slide/pool.

Traditional camp favorites: swimming at Miss Sheila's; golfing with Granddaddy; pizza, popcorn & a movie; crafts; cooking (special treats this year were "Thank You Cupcakes" for Miss Sheila & Mr. Jim for letting you swim); S-mores; and the breakfast tea party on the deck complete with our pink polka dot tea pitcher and cups.

This year's new "field trip" ~ The ZOO!!

All Mimi's Monkeys

I think all your friends who came for the Mimi & Me Watermelon Party really liked the water balloons, your homemade bubbles, and water slide until the rain came and forced us inside. Then, as usual, "dress up" was the favorite activity along with your "cars." Wonder what fun party we can plan for next year with all of Mimi's friends and their Fabulous Girls? It's going to be so much fun to look back over the years and see how all of you have grown. We really missed those who were out of town ~ maybe next year!

We had a B I G first this year on the 2nd day of camp . . . Anna Grace lost her 1st top tooth while we were eatting dinner at "Five Guys, Burgers and Fries!!" You were such a big girl to pull it yourself. AND . . . the tooth fairy even found you at Mimi's!

One morning during breakfast one of you ask if you would still come to cousins camp when you got in high school. "YES, of course, and even when you are married, you'll have to tell your husbands you have to go to Mimi's for Cousins Camp without them," was my answer. A Mimi can dream can't she? After all, as my new sign by the back door says . . .

"MIMI'S HOUSE . . .

where cousins meet to become best friends"

. . . and besides . . . where else other than camp can you live in pj's, swimsuits, & flipflops???

Two Special Couples

Just a quick break between "girl fun" to wish "Happy Anniversary" to our precious children ~~

Matt and Beth celebrated their 9th wedding anniversary on July 14 with a little hiking expedition.

July 14, 2001

July 14, 2010

Mande and Jon celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary on July 22 with a week-long trip to Mexico.

July 22, 2000

July 22, 2010

It's hard to believe that many years have passed since both of those beautiful summer weddings. We are so very proud of the choices you made for soul mates and of the wonderful lives you have made for yourselves and your precious babies.

Congratulations and Best Wishes for many, many more wonderful years together! And thanks so much for letting the Fabulous Five stay with us while ya'll were celebrating!!

Where's the Lazy, Hazy?

Remember this song? Well, I've lost the lazy, hazy part of my summer!! Things have been hopping around the acre . . . corn to put up, beans to pick, trips to Splash Country, The Track and Lake Winnie. . . just to name a few all while trying to keep the gardens watered. And it's about to get a whole lot crazier!! (you'll find out why at the end!)

Also, our little town has made history this week ~~ a full week of Wagon Train and no RAIN in sight!!!! That has NEVER happened as long as I can remember! Boy, was I going to be glad to see WT get here this year so I could stop pulling those water hoses around. Guess God thought I needed the exercise! Another Birthday for another special boy ~~

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BUBBA!!!!

Hope you are enjoying your birthday on the beach!

Aunt Sissy will have your "special birthday" entry complete with pictures up a little later ~ sorry, buddy!! I still have one more birthday ~~ my first-born's ~~ to "blog" about that I missed posting in March and then I'll be all caught up until the next one in September. Wow!

NOW . . . It's HERE . . . Mimi's Cousins' Camp!!

Invitations are sent to the girls for camp and another to their friends for the annual "Mimi & Me Tea Party," the "Nest" is all spic and span with clean sheets on the wall of beds, wood's in the firepit waiting to make smores and all the "projects" are waiting for little hands! Starting Sunday 4 of my Fabulous 5 will be here for camp! Granddaddy and I are so excited to have the girls here without parents so we can spoil them as much as we want! In fact, for the next 2 weeks after camp we'll have all 5 of them to ourselves ~~ the all A girls one week by themselves and the following week the C girls will be here for a few days!!!! Soooooo . . . I'll be absent from here for a while . . . no blog, no email, no facebook . . . just GIRLS!! My kind of life!!! After I rest up a bit, I'll be posting Bubba's & Matt's birthday pages and lots and lots of pictures from our camp. Ya'll have a good summer ~ maybe yours will be lazy and hazy! . . . and, Mommies and Daddies, enjoy your week all to yourselves 'cause we sure will be having fun on the acre!!