May 2008

May was all about the garden, little league, and the end of school. It was also very warm, alot of days above 100.

Here is Ben standing in between the sunflowers he planted. Man they grow fast and they aren't through.

Here is some of the harvest and was it ever good. We are still eating pickled beets.
An overview of the garden. We also enjoyed some corn on the cob. The cobs were small but they still tasted good.
Ben and Bobby relaxing on the cement blocks.
A crape myrtle bush which has bloomed all summer.

Here are Bobby's carrots. They didn't get very big, but we had to pull them finally when the ground got so hot.
The beginnings of our memorial garden.

The last day of school and awards program.

Ben received 6 awards. For grades, perfect attendance etc.

Yesteryear in Bastrop

In April, Bastrop celebrates Yester year. Like it's name, the people participating dress up in yesteryear garb. They also have lots of things for kids to do (and buy). Lots of booths with things!!! So Grandma and Pop took the boys to see what we could find.

There was a petting zoo with lots of baby animals and the boys got to feed them. Here is Bobby with a wallabee.

Ben found a Bison.
Ben also found a place to make a beaded necklace. So he did one for his Mom.
Of course we also witnessed a shoot out on the street. Boy was it loud. Bobby had his hands over his ears and kind of hid behind us.

This is one of the historic homes in Bastrop. We took a buggy ride around the downtown area to see several of the historic homes.

This is one of the wagons doing the tour. They also had people doing old time work, like the iron works making pots, horse shoes and utensils. It was a fun and warm day.

April 2008

Well it is time to catch up on what we have been doing. Between doctor appts there was little league, the garden, Ben's first communion and his 8th birthday.

This is the start of our spring garden. The foreground shows squash, broccoli and then on back was beets, peas and corn off to the side. We enjoyed the harvest, but it just didn't last very long due to the hot weather and the drought.
Pop is planting carrot seeds with Bobby, Ben is looking on. Ben planted sunflowers and some bean seeds they started at school.

Here we are after Ben's first communion. A happy day for the family.

That looks like an 8 yr old grin about to dive into a cupcake.

Our Winter Home

Our usual course of action is to spend the winter in Bastrop, TX and then the summer in the NW. This year we were going to go to the East coast and see some relatives in our journey through Florida and Maine. Our plans were changed after visiting the Dr. and having to deal with some medical issues. All that is behind us now and we ended up staying in Bastrop for the summer as well. We keep hearing the phrase... the weather is unusual. We broke heat records from 82 yrs ago and we hope we won't have to do this again any time soon. Now we know why we travel in the summer (up north). Anyway we thought you might like to see where we live. These pictures were taken in March, so the trees still look like winter.

This is what our place looks like from the front. There is a double car garage with a multipurpose room behind it and the garaport for the Montana on the side.

This is on the back corner of Brett & Paula's property.

This is the back end where we have room to sit in a couple of rockers!! That is a gardenia bush in the bottom left corner. When it blooms, the aroma is heavenly.


These are fire ant hills. We don't like them...


The big oak tree is in the front yard near the road. It is really gorgeous with all it's leaves.

A favorite climbing place for the boys.

This is the big house where Brett, Paula and the boys live.

Another shot of the 5th wheel.

Easter 2008

Easter traditions, and one of them is the egg hunt. 40 yrs ago it was hard boiled eggs, now it is plastic eggs with treats or money inside. At least when you miss one, it doesn't rot after a week or two.

After Brett and Bob hid the eggs in the front yard... out the back door came the boys with their baskets.
The hunt was on.

Under the trees, up in the trees, in the tall grass etc. They were all found.

Ben spied another one and is on the run to get it.

Another tradition is Cascarones. They are blown eggs, dyed and filled with confetti. You smash them on someone's head for good luck. It started in Italy but has fast become popular in the south. Brett is smashing one on Bobby.

Ben is running away with confetti in his hair. Everyone got into the game till they were all gone. Then we went into the house for a wonderful dinner.

Pop and Bobby

There is something about grandsons. I looked out the window and saw Bob and Bobby in the garden spot. A great discussion was going on.

Little did I know that a plan was in progress.
A train was being built.

Here is the final product. Pop is the passenger and Bobby is the engineer. That is the engine in his hand.

Bobby loves sticks. This one is a walking stick he propped up on the big tree.

More later....

Baseball and T Ball Tryouts in February

The sport of choice this spring is T Ball and Baseball. Of course they have to try out first. So away we went, first to Bobby's T Ball field and then to Ben's field.

He knows how to hit that ball and can do it from either side. This is his first year and there is a big learning curve on how everything works.
Here he is in the field waiting to catch a ball.
Ben is playing coach pitch baseball. For this age group, they don't have the kids doing the pitching. The coach puts the ball in a machine that flings the ball at them. You never know where it is going to be, so keeping your eye on the ball is really important.
Here is Ben in the field. He has a pretty good throwing arm. After the tryouts they wait for a call to tell them what team they are on. Then they get their schedule. Ben seems to have 2 to 3 games a week and a practice night. Bobby has maybe one game a week plus practice. It has been a learning experience for us also. The rules are different for T Ball and Coach Pitched Baseball. Grandma and Pop are on a learning curve also.

An Adventure in Shopping in February

Bobby's birthday is Dec 30th and we were not there for it. So in his birthday card was a coupon for a shopping trip with Grandma and Pop. I don't know who had more fun.

We started looking at Sears and saw this popular guitar game. He wasn't too enthused about this and we were grateful, as it is very expensive!!
Of course they have wonderful shopping carts. That is the coupon we made, well worn and slightly torn, in his hand.

When we hit Toys R Us, we had to visit the car ride. Funny thing we didn't have any quarters, but he didn't care. We must have looked at every toy in the boy's section and some of them twice. We must have had 2 or 3 in and out of the cart. But finally decided on a hot wheels car wash.

And what is a shopping trip without a stop at McDonalds. Pop and Bobby are having a very deep conversation.

Of course before we left we had to go to the playground. He is up there in the top somewhere.
Finally heading home and playing with the toy from the Happy Meal. For those from the NW, that is a Samish Island sweatshirt.

January 27, 2008 Another very special grandson

What a great way to spend Sunday afternoon than to have the Grandsons come visit. Our 5 yr old grandson, Robert Daniel Nicholas Logan, full of mischief.

Coming down the driveway to Grandma and Pop's.
And right behind him is big brother Ben.
You can see the twinkle in his eye.
This is his serious side. They signed up for baseball and T ball today, so get ready for some fun shots in the future.

This is another way to spend Sunday... meditating to the sewer line!!! The line separated and when we dumped the tanks, we had running water down the hill. Please note, he is wearing vinyl gloves. Of course he has his helpers... one in a tree and one picking up sticks.
Here is the finished prep work, but he still had to shovel out more dirt to get the lines to come up etc. Not an easy fix, but doable.
Here is the other helper, daddy Brett, pulling up the one end to slip the pipe in etc.
The finished product. Testing will happen tomorrow!!!!