Alphabe Thursday

Don't these three look like triplets? These three darlings are Jayden (precious grandboy turning 4 this year). Andrew my beautifully handsome grandson and daddy to these two darling boys. Michael (Mikey) the brand new addition the the phamily. I figured Ms. Jenny and the Alphabe Thursday gang would enjoy my "D" for Darling post.

Jayden was looking like a rocker dude til he decided he wanted this new haircut! He is so grown up. He told me recently "Grammie you can not say the word "stupid" because it is very naughty! "So I said how about "Silly Goobers"? He said to me," Hey grammie, please say it again, it's funny!"

A darling smile from Miss Drazah! She turns four next month and she is such a doll! I love having her around too.

Tarrah is the Darling of Andrew's life. She is a precious little mama too! With tiny, tiny baby
Michael.

Rebekah and Nick and I took a little trip on Tuesday to the Wild Animal Sanctuary. It was a blistering hot day and I wish we could have done it on a different day but it was a very wonderful experience. The tiger on the left is one of many of the rescues. Most of the animals here have been rescued from people who thought, "Gee, let me buy an exotic tiger or a grizzly bear!"  Never thinking they would grow up into an 850 pound bear. Hmmm....most all of their stories were horrific and these rescue volunteers are true saints for saving these beasts from death and other doom! You may see this wonderful rescue Here. They run this place strictly on donations so it was an amazing experience. It is located in Keenesburg, Colorado about forty minutes from my home. I am glad we had the experience. Itook a little video of one of the bears having an afternoon bath to refresh his soul. He was quite the show off. Here is a photo of this fellow enjoying the cool water on a hot day.

He was too quick for me to catch him under the waterfall. He thought he'd rather not show off  anymore I suspect!

 We have two cats, Rose and Mr. Kitty but they often feel fearless like the King of the Jungle, The Lion. I suppose because they are ancestors to these majestic creature. Lots of the animals were resting under their shady homes due to the heat of the day but the experience was one I will not soon forget.
Please visit all the folks at Alphabe Thursday.

"C" is for Cuteness

I am tickled blue today! Hee Hee! Michael Dresden made his entrance via C-Section at 1:30 P.M. today June 3, 2015. He was a whooping seven pounds and ten ounces. He is nineteen inches long. As Jayden told us, "He is so soft".

"Hey gram, my hats slipping!"

Hey world!

Hello world, I am seeing you for the first time!

I had to share some cuteness with you. I thought perhaps  Ms. Jenny and the folks at Alphabe Thursday would like this cuteness for the letter "C".

I am tickled for Andrew,Tarrah, Jayden and Drazah and of course, brand new baby Michael Dresden. I want to just cuddle with this kiddo.

"B" is for Baseball

I love baseball. Everything single thing I know about the game I learned from my late father. He was an incredible person. He played in a semi pro league long before I was dreamed of and he was a catcher.

A truthful statement! I really love this baseball image.

This is not the most fantastic photo but I could pick my dad (4th man in on your right). His older brother, my Uncle "Moon" (Rudy) is the first gentleman on your right side as he was the manager. These guys played baseball for a local brewing company, Walters. It was quite the place in it's heyday. My dad and his brother were steelworkers. My dad spent 47 years at the Colorado Fuel and Iron Corporation. He retired at age 62 as a head roller in the Rail Mill.

My mom was a baseball fanatic too. She played with other gals locally but WWII women had pro teams while the men went off to war. The Rockford Peaches were from Rockford, Illinois. I know many women who could play as well well as the guys.

Ah wise words from a wise baseball man Casey Stengel. My dad was the catcher so of course, I love watching a great catcher call those pitches!

My dad had an autographed ball signed by the Great Babe Ruth.

I thought I would add a fun fact for you here.

One of my favorite New York Yankee players, Derek Jeter. Aw....baseball isn't the same without him as he retired last year.

Although Warren Spahn was a Milwaukee Brewer he was a great pitcher. Check out his form. He always said "Hitting is timing, pitching is upsetting timing." Plus he was left handed and you can't beat greatness! (Wink wink)

Thurman Munson was a favorite Yankee player. He perished in a plane crash way too soon but he was an amazing catcher. More than that, he just wanted to be a good dad to his kids and a devoted husband to his wife. Forever in my heart.

Ah...Joltin' Joe DiMaggio the great Yankee 'Clipper'! He loved the game with a passion we don't see today.

Rich "The Goose" Gossage grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He was a first class closer, a relief pitcher. He attended Wasson High School so as a teen I had the opportunity to see him play  before he became famous. His only baseball regret, that his mom did not live to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Satchel Paige played with the St. Louis Browns. He was ahead of the times and played the game with heart. He is quoted as saying "Age is a question of mind over matter, if you don't mind, it doesn't matter, "

My two favorite quotes as I hope you will visit Ms. Jenny and all the "B" Alphabe Thursday folks! I guess you knew I was choosing "baseball":

A is for Authors

I thought I would share some of my favorite authors here!  This is a book I just finished reading, Maeve Binchy wrote about her beloved Ireland. She was a wonderful storyteller. She could weave all the characters together. I have several of her books and was saddened when she passed away way too soon in July 2012.

The very first Amy Tang book I read was "The Joy Luck Club". Amy writes about her culture and the land her ancestors came from, China. She ties in the Chinese American experience beautifully. I like the fact that she writes about the relationships between mothers and their daughters. I gave my daughter Noelle an Amy Tan book for Mother's Day! We are both avid readers.

I have read every book this terrific author has written. The wedding is a favorite. Nicholas Sparks writes stories that always touch my heart. He is a master storyteller and he hails from North Carolina and ties his heritage into his books.

Another North Carolina native, Jan Karon writes stories that draw you into the lives of the characters and the town where they live. She is a master at holding my attention in each one of her books. Her books always make me want to read another one. I am a huge fan.

Debbie Macomber is a native of Yakima, Washington. She writes about the Northwest where she resides. I have enjoyed her books and last year Hallmark Channel created a series with the Cedar Cove books written by Debbie Macomber. Although I enjoy stories I was disappointed in some of the story lines the television directors used as well as the types of characters they portrayed. I think the original book versions are premier and often too many important characters or places are changed to accommodate a broader audience and the stories lose some of their flavor.

Harper Lee was born in Alabama. When I first began blogging I met a lady who lives in Harper Lee's hometown and she told me some wonderful stories. I have a few postcards Beryl sent me from their hometown. The 1960 Pulitzer Prize winning book "To Kill a Mockingbird" deals with racism and it is my all time favorite book. I am sure I have gone through half a dozen copies of this book and truly love it.

My second favorite book ever written. Pearl S. Buck grew up in China. She was the daughter of missionaries in China. Her writing style impressed me at a very young age and I have worn out two copies of this beautiful book. My late Uncle Louie was a history buff and he knew his Colorado history well. But he also read a variety of books. While his wife, my Auntie Ang read romance novels, something I never was terribly interested in, he read more "meaty" books. He lent me his copy of "The Good Earth" while I was in high school and I can remember seeing it in his barrister case in their living room. It holds many good memories for me.

 Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers. ~Charles W. Eliot

I hope you visit Ms. Jenny and everyone who participates in Alphabe Thursday.  I also hope you will share your favorite authors with me here today, and please enjoy a wonderful end to your week and a terrific weekend.

Graduation/The Letter "Z"/Good Fences

Finally, this day has arrived! My sweet grandson Colton is a high school graduate. With a lot of pain and perseverance, tenacity, honesty and by the Grace of God, he graduated today. I was so happy to be a part of it all. He and I have had a close relationship. How many of you have a teenage grandson? He has often shared his heart with me and many times I was privileged to his phone conversations with girlfriends. He and I have a trust thing, it started the day he was born! I am very proud of all his hard work. He graduated with a small class, 103 total students and each and everyone of them has been accepted to attend college! He works at UPS and he is a very good young man. I wish him the best in everything!

It was a joyful occasion. Every single one of his fellow graduates all have a zest for life!

zest

zest/

noun

noun: zest; plural noun: zests

1. 1.

   great enthusiasm and energy.

   
   

   "they campaigned with zest and intelligence"

   
   

   synonyms:

   enthusiasm, gusto, relish, appetite, eagerness, keenness, avidity, zeal, fervor, ardor, passion; More verve, vigor, liveliness, sparkle, fire, animation, vitality, dynamism, energy, brio, pep, spirit, exuberance, high spirits, joie de vivre; informalzing, zip, oomph, vim, pizzazz, get-up-and-go "she had a great zest for life"

   antonyms:

   apathy, indifference

   • a quality of excitement and piquancy.

     
     

     "I used to try to beat past records to add zest to my monotonous job"

     
     

     synonyms:

     piquancy, tang, flavor, savor, taste, spice, spiciness, relish, bite; More excitement, interest, an edge; informalkick, punch, zing, oomph "the lemon pepper and cilantro will add zest to the sauce"

     antonyms:

     blandness

2. 2.

   the outer colored part of the peel of citrus fruit, used as flavoring.

   synonyms:

   rind, peel, skin "the grated zest of an orange"

verb

verb: zest; 3rd person present: zests; past tense: zested; past participle: zested; gerund or present participle: zesting

1. 1.

   scrape off the outer colored part of the peel of (a piece of citrus fruit) for use as flavoring.

   
   

   "zest the orange and lemon, taking care to discard all of the white pith"

I thought this was the perfect word for our letter "Z" and I wanted to share it with Ms. Jenny and all the wonderful people over at Alphabe Thursday! I hope you will enjoy my choice too.

A quick zany share for the Alphabe Thursday challenge. I love to be zany. Some would say my choice in graduation wear was zany! I love the flowing flowery pants with tops that remind me of my youth!

We walk at the Margaret Carpenter Open Spaces and there are some different fences up there. This one is well worn and a good place to watch the ducks and other water creatures swim by. I like to lean on this fence and enjoy the warmer weather. I hope you will visit the other folks who enjoy Good Fences with Theresa.

Words from Dr. Seuss! He was a brilliant man! Enjoy a beautiful day and get on your way....

XOXO = Hugs and Kisses

Today is the day! It is very bittersweet for me and I  am sharing my "X" post for Ms. Jenny and the gang at Alphabe Thursday! Today is the day our oldest son Jeremy moves from his childhood memories and siblings and parents and moves into a brand new chapter in his life, home ownership! We are excited for him and Brittany to say the very least! It will be a new experience for him as Brittany has a seven year old daughter Addy and they will be a sweet little phamily! It is hard to let go but he deserves this. He has worked hard on getting his education, finding a job with wonderful benefits and he has had a few promotions already too! He is one of those kind hearts. He is the person who would have reached out to you at school if you were looking sad, lonely or lost! It is just his nature.

This is the little boy who grew up to be an incredibly handsome and beautiful young man. He has met the love of his life and she too, is a serious Denver Bronco fan!

They are very good for each other and I know they will have a wonderful journey together.

I am clearing out Nick's things in the nightstand and chest of drawers that were too large for our bedroom when we bought our new bedroom set five years ago! It is really good quality furniture so Jeremy is taking it to his new place. Nick will have all this new furniture because Jeremy helped us by paying for the chest of drawers and nightstand. It was a very good trade!

While Jeremy and Brittany set up their first home, we will be painting and getting our own home in order. We have had many  blessings and for that I am truly grateful.

We will all be happy at our home sweet home!

When Noelle and Roger bought their first home, her friend Mary from Ireland gave her a similar plaque like this one. I want to find one for Jeremy and Brittany. I am sad Ms. Jenny has been suffering with so much pain. She paints the best signs! Sigh!

xoxo (abbreviation) : an abbreviation for hugs and kisses

I was sorry for what I did yesterday. I gave my girlfriend xoxo. 

I wanted to share that I truly did find this in the Merriam-Webster dictionary on line and thought Hugs and Kisses would be so appropriate for Jeremy, Brittany and Addy today!

I hope you visit Ms. Jenny and Mr. Steve to say hello and join Alphabe Thursday today.

Good Fences and Alphabe Thursday "W"

This is a lovely home near mine and their tall white picket fence loves lovely against their perfectly manicured yard.

Please, no parking in front of this fence and gate!

This neighborhood owner wants total privacy with a high wall added to his fence! The problem with this, you are such an easy target to be burglarized! Years ago we had an elderly couple for a back fence neighbor. He put up a 7 foot retaining wall made out of concrete blocks. He disliked our puppies who probably yapped at the squirrels when they were outside. He also disliked neighbor Rich who drank a lot and loved to visit with neighbors, but Rich is the one who called 9-1-1 when another neighbors home was firebombed! One day Karl and his wife were gone, broad daylight, and the police came to the door questioning neighbors if we saw anything. I took the officer in my backyard. He chuckled, that wall was soundproof! The burglars cleaned out their home. I guess the neighbors on the front did not like Karl and his wife either! Please visit TexWisGirl and as many participates as possible please! Thanks to all who faithfully comment. Your thoughts are very much appreciated!

I Keep Six Honest... - Poem by Rudyard Kipling

 

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest.

I let them rest from nine till five,
For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
For they are hungry men.
But different folk have different views;
I know a person small-
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!

She sends'em abroad on her own affairs,
From the second she opens her eyes-
One million Hows, two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!

Rudyard Kipling

This poem is a phamily favorite! Great for graduations! So in honor of the letter "W" and Ms. Jenny and all the participates of Alphabe Thursday this is my What and Why and When and How and Where and Who post~

Enjoy and please visit as many participates as you can. Thank you