4th of July

Tuesday, July 5th. Boys had t-ball scrimmage game (all stars) before paps birthday dinner.
Jacobson Park, Baker reunion. Granny is not in picture as she is weak from recent hospital stay.

Colby & Eric (above) Women before all the crowd arrived.

David (g daddy) and Cameron. Sweet baby!

Kelli & Colby, such a wonderful mommy.

We had a fun but busy 4th this year. We got home from our road trip on Friday evening. On Saturday, we started our picnicing with friends over for hamburgers, fixings & cornhole. Nice night, fun. Sunday we prepared for Transy and that turned out fun. Hot, but beautiful evening with a very good crowd (our party & the crowd in general). Monday, the 4th, we prepared food for yet another picnic. The Baker family reunion held at Jacobson Park. Ended the long day by going to Nicholasville to park at the high school for RJ Corman's fireworks display. Then on Tuesday was Clyde's birthday and we grilled out chicken. Great grilling CB! I made a peach & mango salsa that was served as a side or on top of chicken. We had fresh corn on the cob and Becky cooked fresh green beans & potatoes. Very good! Ended with peanut butter pie.

Driving the Blue Ridge

I thank God for the internet and weather updates! We planned to leave on our ride last Sunday, but it was raining and looked like it was "set in" where we were heading until Wed. So Tuesday morning (June 28th) we started out to get on the Blue Ridge at Fancy Gap, Virginia. We ate at Breaks Interstate Park before getting on. At first site I loved it. Very few signs, no overhead wires, poles, commericals. Just beauty. All around us. We drove it to Boone, N.C. and stayed the night. On Wednesday, the day could not have been more perfect, weatherwise, and otherwise. Just a great day to drive the ridge. There are tons of "pulloffs", lots of "vista views", enough hiking to sites for the hikers and benches along the way for those of us that need a rest. We loved the waterfalls at Linville and the best part of the trip for me.....the Rhododendrons were in bloom everywhere! These are the native ones, not planted ones that bloomed a month ago. Just glorious! Color all along the side of the mountains, roads, in and around everywhere. Thursday was just as beautiful, so our drive had perfect weather, perfect car to drive it in, and no traffic. Really ideal conditions for such a ride. I was thinking ahead (for once) and brought us some great fruit, those great crackers from Sams (multigrain, nutty ones), Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss that went SO GREAT on them, homemade chicken salad & bread, and yummy iced tea. For two days this was our "pull off" picnic and we were SO glad to have it. Ate too much at night! Great little four day get away!

Road Trip

When Clyde had his Harley, he wanted to take a road trip and ride the Blue Ridge Parkway. He never got there, although he had the chance to take many road trips. We are thankful for the trips we have been on, due to ones he either did on his bike or wanted to do. Like this one! We got on the Blue Ridge (BR) in Virginia, mile marker 200 on the BR. We drove Tuesday afternoon to mile marker 285, Boone, NC and stopped for the night. We stayed there in the Fairfield Inn and had supper at Applebees (it was beside the motel:) Today we started at Boone, traveled all day (only got 100 miles with all our stops and slow driving!) and stopped around 5:30 in Ashville. We had the most glorious day today for the ride. The weather was perfect. Not hot at all or too cool. Just sunny, warm day. Loved it all. We felt like we were traveling in Arizona and Colorado. Two summers ago we drove two days to get to the Rockies, and this trip felt very similar, except that we are a half day from home. The mountains aren't as high (not nearly) but they are SO beautiful. The waterfalls are nice, although not as many as in the Rockies! The ride could not be more lovely. We were surprised that the Rhododendrons are prolific and they all were in bloom! These are not the cultivated ones, but from nature's own beauty. No words to express how many and how pretty. We just had a very good day! Tonight we are staying in the Courtyard by Marriott and ate at Outback. CB is outside reading and that's where I'm heading. Tomorrow we will get back on the parkway, travel on to Cherokee, NC into Gatlinburg, stay the night before heading home. Not last year's trip to Mackinaw Island, but one that Clyde really planned out and I believe the road is all he hoped it would be.

Iphone pics

Made this wreath at Christmas with a candycane type bow and stuck a couple of plastic canes in it. Took them out at Valentine's Day and added a glitter "Love" sign. Took that off and add this red & blue bow for 4th of July.

Big boxes make nice "forts".

Nana "Maggie let me take a picture of your flip flops"....raises her leg up for me to see it and I get the bottom of the shoe. Thankfully there are two:)

I think Calla lilies are just about perfect!

Butterfly bush is doing well and attracting the butterflies!

Daddy's Birthday

A long time favorite at nana's house...dried pastas & lots of kitchen tools!

Maggie with her first manicure! Becky let her choose the color, first she said "black"!

Another Saturday morning and we are not at Atlanta Bread Company:( For some unknown reason, it was closed this morning...no note on the door, no lights on, just dark inside! A few weeks ago our bagel breakfast sandwich was cold/frozen in the middle, so this may be enough for us to be discouraged to keep going there. We like whole wheat bagels and they never have them (a third reason)....oh well, here we are at McD's with a whole lot more people and construction here.

Today is June 25th, daddy's birthday. He would be 91 today. I hope to cut him some flowers and take them out to the cemetery later. I need to pack for vacation today, but if I can I need to go visit mom or ask her and Kent to come over to play rummy. That's the card game of choice since dad is not here to play Rook.

I missed not having my family (sisters & their kids) over for daddy's Father's Day & birthday combined party this year. My niece, Stephanie, always enjoys the backyard to the max. She oohs and aahs over the flowers, even though she & Ben grow their own "award" winning gardens.

We leave tomorrow for a ride along the Blueridge Parkway to end up in Gatlinburg. It ought to be a beautiful ride and we are looking forward to it. It's been cool here, so it will be extra cool up way high....jackets are a must!

Beautiful Wedding

Matthew has the sweetest face and bluest eyes.
Matthew & Maggie dancing, so sweet. He dipped her and she loved it.

Pretty live flowers on each table were SO nice. Austin's tie is about gone.

Not sure what Ms. Maggie is thinking.

She asked me to lift her up, but she was shaky and wanted right back down.

Bride and groom! Mr. & Mrs. Jon Blanchard! She was beautiful! Her dressed was so lovely and it was perfect for her.

Pap & Maggie dancing.

Jason Allen, Becky & Jason K. after dinner.

Squinty Maggie. It was hot before & directly after the ceremony, but there was actually a little breeze and I thought it was very pleasant.

Cousin, Megan on Sue's side. Katie (sister of the bride) and MJ.

After the ceremony, ties are loose and shirttails are not tucked so tight.

Maggie's EOY Pictures

Ms. Judy is a jewel! She has six at daycare, there must be a couple of siblings in this pic.

MJ in the middle in pink flowery dress. She had wonderful hand motions!

During the play the girls were "princesses" Izzy, Maggie & Cara

The play was a Christian themed one where the girls were saved from the "evil" one by the good "king" (God). The kids sang Christian songs