Isabel

 We had a wonderful weekend! Isabel and her mother came for a visit. :D We had frogs in the pool, so of course had to have a frog rescue.

It was strictly catch and release - catch out of the pool to release in the pond. (There are SIX in the cup!)

I can get this one! I expected her to go in, but she didn't...she didn't catch the frog either.

Time for some water dipping...and pouring.

Pawpaw supervises from the sidelines.

The STREAK!

The next day we went to the Pittsburg Art & Wine Festival. We really enjoyed ourselves because it wasn't a big to-do! The humidity was horrible as is evident by Isabel's sopping hair.

She had a switch and was switching at Uncle Jonathan. When he would grab the end, the smile left immediately as she said, "Mine!" As soon as he turned it loose she would come at him again.

My garden... 

I was so disappointed when I discovered that my husband did not like to garden. Isn't that what you are supposed to do when you are retired and have TEN acres? Sigh...so this was my idea for this year. Tomatoes in old flower pots and a brittle bucket. Doesn't matter the "venue," I am going to get a few tomatoes!

They do have to be watered every couple of days. And since they are in containers, if they are still alive as it gets hotter, we can move them into the screen room out of direct sunlight.

A word about the pool. It looks a mess. Even though it is clean and algae free, it does not look it. And did you see the "bull-nose" tile edging the pool? The pool man who came out and looked at the pool said that it needed to be drained, cleaned with muriatic acid, then refilled...to the tune of $1500. He also said that he'd never seen the edging do that. Of course what happened, is that tile is not sealed so that when it rained it became saturated and then when it froze, the water expanded and "popped" the tile. 

When we made our offer on the two-year old house (bank repossession), we deducted the value of the pool. The bank readily accepted our offer. I tried to get Sam to knock a couple of holes in it to fill it in. He didn't want to then and still, even though he complains about the pool, does not want to fill it in now. Our budget being what it is, it has to stay this way for a couple more years until my Tahoe is paid for. We are aiming at the winter of 2016 for a pool renovation.

On to Grander Things

Isabel's second birthday cake! She enjoyed eating the frogs...except for the legs. She gave them to me, I handed them to Colt and told him if he ate them that he would turn into a frog. He ate them, turned to his mommy and said, "Me frog." LOL

Daddy feeding Isabel some cake...see the lily pad in her hand? (LOL That lily pad has legs! Must be a frog on a lily pad.)

Isabel in Granny's arms.

The first gift she opened. She saw the netting sticking out of the top of the gift bag and wanted it. Great Aunt Carol helped her pull it out. She grinned from ear to ear while Carol tied it on her. Throughout the afternoon, every so often she would stop, kick out a leg, and watch the netting flutter. Brought a smile to my face every time I saw it.

Colt and Isabel playing kitchen.

Cain got in on the action too!

The tutu above was just "icing on the cake" so to speak. My former sister-in-law told me she still had MY baby doll bed that I had given to my niece, Lacee...did I want it back. WELL YEAH! Sam repainted it for me. I made the soft-sculpture doll, "mattress," and doll quilt. As the gift opening wound down, I pulled the goodies from a trash bag, placed the mattress in the bed, laid the doll down, and covered completely with the doll quilt. The quilt is made from scraps of Isabel's baby quilt. Isabel pulled the quilt off the doll...looked at the doll...put the quilt over her head and walked off. :D

As an aside: Christmas week, Cody and Brook sold their old home and purchased this new home. John gave or loaned them the bed Sam made for the A-frame John did live in. When he and Erin purchased their new home, the bedroom had 9-foot ceilings. The bed just did not work in there so they purchased another. Brook is very excited about the bed.

 I made the quilt for Brook and Cody when they married. It all looks pretty good together, doesn't it?!

The Kids

My grand-niece, Brianna (Bri for short), at her kindergarten Christmas party.

Colt and his BFF

Cain can sleep in any position imaginable! Oh to be able to sleep like this!

Um...normally aren't the Pygmies supposed to be on the outside of the pot?

Colt's favorite place to chill out.

 

Isabel and Pawpaw sharing special time on his 77th birthday.

This granny enjoys her special moments too!

My new boots! I've been wearing my old navy ropers, but they are in pretty bad shape. So... :D ...Justin boots made in the USA! I bought them at Country Outfitters - got a great buy and free shipping AND received them in just a couple of days! www.countryoutfitters.com

ANY Weekend Spent with the Grands...

Is a GRAND weekend!

BIRTHDAY Time!

Grand niece's birthday. Brianna is now officially 6 years old!

This is poor preemie Ty. He turned a year in June. Awful skinny isn't he?! ;-)

He is in therapy to help develop his motor skills.  Looks as if it's working!

Here's Isabel in the dress I made...showing one of her many tricks.

Visiting with Isabel

Sam dropped me off for a visit with Isabel, Brook, and Cody while he attended a wedding.  I enjoyed being with sweet Isabel so much more than I would have enjoyed the wedding. :D

Puleeze!  Can't you see that I'm reading?!

After her nap, Brook dressed Isabel in the dress I made her.  It was a bit large, but Brook left it on for us to go visiting and to eat supper.  Isabel walked down the hall and stopped.  She patted her ruffles, then did a spin for us.  Sooooo cute!  No picture. :( I did get a photo on my cell phone at the restaurant, but just the bodice shows.

This little girl is a parrot.  She has a pretty large vocabulary and will repeat just about anything you say.  First rattle out of the box...I pointed to Sam and said, "There's Pawpaw." She looked at him, pointed, and said, "Pawpaw."  Sam just beamed.

More Than Father's Day

My crepe myrtles in full bloom!

Rains bring beautiful clouds.

A ladle?  You give me a crummy ladle?

AHA! Revenge of the tourists on safari! Self-basting pygmies!  bwahahaha

I just bought that swim suit!  I can't get it wet!!

Taking a quick spin to dry off. :D

Isabel riding with Pawpaw.

Aw.  Isabel with Granny's little rocking chair.

Splish Splash!

 They didn't seem the least bit concerned that we big people are going to have to wait another several weeks to take a dunk in the swimming pool!  

Isabel enjoyed her exposure to country music so much that she started dancing in the pool!  

A little Boot Scooting Boogie anyone?

 

 Colt dipped as much water out of the pool as he could.  LOL  

Then he tried out his Texas Two Step on the back porch.