Barn Cat 03.26.24

My barn cat Casper had kittens on March 20th. Casper trusts me so much that she showed me where the kittens were.  They are a week old here.

I wanted to share the ritual I have with Casper  every day when I go to feed. She cracks me up!

Have a good one!

Spring Break

This year during Remi's Spring Break (March 18-22), Vanessa planned a family trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The kids invited Grammer to go. She was so excited. They had invited Doyle and I to go with them but we already had plans to go to California March 5-11th. Neither of us felt that we needed to be gone another week so soon. 

The kids drove, leaving very early Saturday morning March 16th. They picked up Remi in Arkansas then drove on to Memphis before stopping for the night. The drove the remainder of the way on Sunday.

Vanessa did share a few photos with me while they were gone.

This was from their ATV trip.

They did some hiking. Grammer stayed at he vrbo while they did that.

Remi, Kennedy and Kashton.

Korin

Remi looking at the small falls.

Korin.

Kennedy and Remi are in line for a ride!

They are braver than me!

Crazy girls!

One day everyone went to explore downtown Gatlinburg.

I  also snagged some of Remi's pics from her Instagram account.

I didn't know they went zip-lining until I saw this picture!

Typical "teen" photos 😉.

They had a great time. I haven't yet had an opportunity to visit with any of them to learn more about the trip but I will soon.

Have a good one!

Trip to Northern Cali

 No matter how you do it. It's all day to travel to where we go in California. We left Tuesday March 5th at 8am to drive to the airport. Then fly to Sacramento (about 3 1/2 hours). Rent a car and drive to Redding (2 1/2 hours). We get to our VRBO about 4:30pm. We settle in and make a list of items to get from the store after we eat dinner.

We brought two ladies from our church with us. Meagon who has come with us before and Michelle.

I do like the drive from Sacramento to Redding as it goes through farm land. Miles of almond and olive trees. They were in bloom this trip.

The conference we attended began on Wednesday night. However we went earlier in the day to check in and pickup our registration packets.

The weather wasn't as good this trip. It was raining upon arrival. It rained some on Wednesday. There was a break in the weather when we picked up our registration packet. Doyle said if I wanted to try to see the eagles we would need to go that day. We had a few hours before the conference started so I grabbed my camera.

Since we had learned about the Redding Eagles we have been following them on their Facebook page and tuning in occasional to their live-stream on youtube. There are eggs in nest which makes for a greater opportunity to see one or both of the eagles. 

Here is the nest. If you click on the picture to see it larger you can just see the top of an eagles white head about the middle of the nest.

I figured it was a long shot whether I would see the eagles switch to sit on the eggs but I hoped.

I was chatting with a park employee who was watching as well when we heard the eagle in the nest trill. We both started looking for the other eagle. Sure enough the mate was just across the interstate in a tree.

I got ready as I was anticipating the switch was about to happen.

Here the eagle comes flying right over our heads!

Making it's way to the nest.

I didn't manage to get the eagle landing on the nest. I was still pretty pumped!

We met up with our friend Kamilla.

On lunch break between sessions.

L to R Michelle, me and Meagon

Doyle with Michelle and Meagon.

The white capped mountain behind us is Mount Shasta.

Weather was nice this day. In fact the sunny days were while we were in conference! Go figure!

We had a great time. 

Have a good one!

Kashton turns 11!

 Kashton's birthday was March 5th. We were flying to California that day for a church conference so I took him to lunch the day before. 

Vanessa put his name on the Ritz sign downtown on the 4th because the sign was reserved on his birthday. I was glad since I wasn't going to be here.

Kashton was an easy date. He wanted to go to Braum's. After that he asked to go to Funky Monkey. It's a fancy snow cone business using shaved ice.

It was there that I gave him his gifts.

This is the card I made for him.

He wanted some black Nike sports socks. Silly boy, he asked "how did you know". I have my ways 😉

Then he also asked for Legos. This kid is amazing how he puts these sets together. 

It's a plane for putting out wildfires. It has over 1,000 pieces! 

On my way to take him home we stopped for pictures at the Ritz Sign. That picture was at the top of this blog. I took this one so you could see it was on both sides.

Vanessa had his party while we were gone too. Personally, I think celebrating with him this way was more fun for us both!

Have a good one!

Valentine's Day

I thought Valentine's would just be another day. Boy was I wrong!

About 10:30am I see Keannon and Kashton walk into my office. Kashton is carrying a vase with a dozen roses! He was smiling from ear to ear!

I asked if this was his idea and he said "yes". I went on to say "I hope you did this for your mother" to which he replied "and my sisters too!"

Wow! I was impressed!

I proudly displayed them on my desk! 

Not long after that my husband walks in with flowers! 

I laughed and said "your grandson beat you to the punch". However, I still gladly received them. 😉

Here they are together! So pretty! I definitely felt loved!

When I got home Doyle and I went down the street to the kid's restaurant for lunch. Keannon, Kennedy and Kashton were just about to leave. They stayed to visit while we ate lunch. Good time! 

Have a good one!

Too Pretty 02.01.24

 Who would have thought it would be in the 60's in February?! I had to take advantage of it. I decided to ride. It has been way too long.

I don't think Fancy enjoyed it as much as me this time. She seemed very nervous and jittery. She really worked herself up into a lather! 

I did enjoy it but I must say it wasn't the relaxing ride I had hoped for.

She took a roll in the dirt as soon as I turned her loose!

It has been a very mild winter. We had one severe cold snap that only lasted 3 days.

Although the drought is better we still are in need of significant rainfall. Our water source is at 38% and it won't be long before the days are much warmer and evaporation will be greater.

A friend and I went to our water source Lake Palo Pinto and prayed. We are standing on the boat ramp.

Have a good one!

Coronation 01.27.24

Mineral Wells High School hosts a Coronation every year. It is a formal event. This was the 96th year!
Kennedy was invited by her cousin (Krystal) to attend this year.

I can't believe how grown up Kennedy looks!

She is so beautiful!

I think I like this one the best.

Her cousin Krystal is in the blue dress.

Time slow down!

Have a good one!

Destiny's Wedding 01.13.2024

Niece Destiny and fiance, Ryan, got married on Saturday January 13th in Fredericksburg. It was a quaint rural wedding venue. The Arctic front held off until after the wedding. It was still cool enough the wedding was moved indoors.

I'm really falling down on the  job of taking pictures. I hardly took any photos at Destiny's wedding! Shocking I know. 
What few I took were not very good. 

Some of the photos I'm sharing I took from Facebook so you may have already seen them.

It was a beautiful ceremony and Destiny was a beautiful bride.

I love this picture!

The reception area. There was a good crowd.

The wedding theme was "Lord of the Rings". Ryan and Destiny cutting their cake with a sword.

The lighting was horrible for taking photos.

Destiny wanted to dance with cousin Aaron (he's actually my cousin but 2nd's and 3rd's get confusing for me). He is the son of my Uncle Alan (Dad's youngest brother). Aaron and his daughter, Vera came all the way from Missouri for the wedding. That was pretty special!

Mom, Doyle and I stayed in a cottage on the grounds of the venue.

This is what you see when you walk into the door.

This is looking the other way opposite the fireplace.

This is the bedroom Mom stayed in. We stayed in the other.

The Bathroom was in between the two bedrooms.

When Keannon and Vanessa got there, Friday we went to dinner with them while mother was at the wedding rehearsal and dinner.

Saw some wild turkey Saturday morning. Also saw several deer Friday evening but didn't get any pictures of them.

When we left Sunday morning it was 17 degrees! The Arctic blast had made it!

Have a good one!