More from "My First Photos"

These photos come from my first set of pictures with my new digital camera. As I have mentioned before, Tom does all our photography. He wasn't there when Lily was born, so I got myself a camera so I could get a few shots. First, we have a picture of the new Mom with her precious bundle.
Here we have Mom, a sleeping Lily and Lily's big brother Ryan.

Finally, we have a picture of the two brothers. Their shirts say 'Big Brother Ryan' and 'The Biggest Brother Zach' respectively. Don't they look pleased with themselves?

Happy Birthday, Carolyn!

This is a picture of Carolyn looking out the window of our hotel on Le Mont St. Michel. On one of Carolyn's visits to us in Belgium, Tom arranged that we visit there as a fulfillment of Carolyn's fourth grade dream to visit Le Mont St. Michel. She had studied it in school and it had made such an impression that she always wanted to go there. It truly is a beautiful place and I'm glad we got to see it with her!

Best wishes for a happy birthday, Carolyn, and a wonderful year to follow.

Nice visit

Bill arrived from North Carolina this morning, as planned. It was so nice to see him! Bill had called earlier, so we had a good idea what time he would arrive. Tom arranged to be home and the three of us had a nice visit. It was so nice. I really enjoyed it. After a bit, Tom helped Bill bring in the piece of furniture that Bill had brought all the way from Massachusetts. We chatted a bit more then we said goodbye. Before Bill left, Tom gave him one of the candle cabins he made for Christmas this year. I thought that was a sweet thing to do. Then Tom led Bill to the local road that would lead him to I-95 and on to Florida.

I hope we get to see them again, soon.

Still feeling good...

I sent notes of congratulations to a few friends for their nominations and awards for the Tournament of Plays. A few have written back -- Tracy could not go to the awards show and my note was how she learned she won. She sounded so pleased in her response. Isaac wondered where I got my information as he works for the American Forces Network and wanted to do a story. I was able to give him the link to the website with the complete list. It is so nice to hear from friends you haven't seen or spoken to in a while! And Jacque sent me the link to the official pictures from the show. It was great to see all those familiar faces looking so happy!

In recent days I have also heard from another friend from Belgium. She and her family attended the same church we did, and she and I were members of the same book club. When Tom and I won a piece of furniture the day before we left Belgium (after our household goods had been shipped), Aileen and her husband agreed to bring it with their household goods. At the time, they were to be coming to the same duty station. Once we left, that changed and they went to New England! They have stored that piece of furniture all this time, and will be bringing it to us this week when they go get their son from college in Florida. How sweet is that? I was hoping to get to see Aileen, but it seems her hubby will be coming on his own. He's pretty cool, too, so it will be nice to see him.

Finally!

Tom showed me today how to download pictures from my camera. I am embarrased at how easy it was....

Without further ado, one of the first pictures of Miss Lily Grace from my new digital camera.

I feel so good!

A little back story: The US military in Europe offers Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs for it's personnel and their families stationed overseas. One of these programs that Tom and I were very involved in while we were stationed in Belgium is the Community Theatre program. The SHAPE program was very active, offering at least five shows a year, sometimes more, with several shows a year participating in the Tournament of Plays. These plays are judged by three professionals in the field of Entertainment. The Tournament culminates with an awards show held at the Roadside Theatre in Heidelberg, Germany where participants gather for an evening of fun. The results are in...The Toppers Awards show for 2006, our own little 'Tony Awards' for US miilitary theatres in Europe, was this past weekend. SHAPE Entertainment did really well with an unofficial count of 44 nominations and 15 wins! Since I was not involved this year, you may wonder why I care... Well, we both worked closely with a lot of people at that theatre and many of them are still there. A lot of our friends received both nominations and awards for their work this year! I am so pleased for them, and proud of them, too. It is almost as much fun as being there (OK, not quite as much fun, but I really am pleased for everyone).

Another reason I am so pleased to see the results is that Ankara, Turkey entered for the first time ever this year. Their program was started by Clay (a Colonel in the Army) who was disappointed to arrive there after being stationed at SHAPE and find no Theatre Program. With some guidance and nurturing from Jacque (the SHAPE Entertainment Director), and I'm sure a lot of help from the folks there at Ankara, Clay got this program up and running -- and they received seventeen nominations, three trophies and one special award in the Tournament of Plays this year. I'm so pleased to see how well they did!

So, here's to all the participants in this year's Tournament of Plays! Congratulations to the nominees and especially to the winners. In my book, you're ALL winners. I miss you guys....

Jeopardy

Did you watch Jeopardy tonight? The final question was "What was commonly referred to as the 'WhiteMountain'? Do you know the answer?

Next birthday -- one week.

You may have noticed that April is a big birthday month in my family. In another week, we celebrate Tom's mother's birthday.

When I spoke with TJ for his birthday yesterday, he mentioned he was going to have some of the birthday cake Jen made for him when he got home from work. I'm glad he had that cake from his sister. It was a thoughtful thing for her to do.

Tom worked late again last night -- he's been late every day this week because he has a special detail going on. Also last night he had an intramural volleyball game. So he came home, didn't eat because he had already had a big lunch and he didn't want to eat right before physical activity, changed into his sports clothes and went back to the base. I went along to watch the game, but it turned out the Chiefs (Tom's team) forfeited because not enough of them showed up to play. There were enough players present, but one Chief was not there to play, he was there to officiate. Definite conflict of interests if he had played and officiated their game! So that guy officiated the other game and the rest of the players had a scrimmage with the other team.

Tom says he won't be 'too' late tonight. We are volunteering with the Earth Day activities on base tomorrow and there is a Music Festival in the capital city this weekend, so we might give that a go, too. We'll see.

Happy Birthday, TJ!

Twenty-six years ago today, our youngest child -- a boy -- was born. He completed our family perfectly. TJ, I hope your day is a good one and your twenty-seventh year is the best one yet. I love you.

Happy Birthday, Michelle!

I found out yesterday that my nephew's wife has her birthday today. I've known her for years and never caught on to the fact that her birthday falls between my kids' birthdays. Sometimes I can be so dense!

I hope you have a great day, Michelle, and that John makes you feel special and cherished, not just today but every day.

Happy Birthday, Jenny!

My baby girl was born this day in 1977. Her father and I were so happy to welcome this sweet little thing to our lives. We're still happy. Jen, I hope you have a wonderful day!

The Chronicles of Narnia

Just finished watching the home DVD. Good movie -- great special effects, obvious Christian themes. Not sure about allowing young ones to see it. The violence wasn't gory or too detailed, but there was LOTS of it!

Now I have some errands to do. More later....

Happy Easter!

A quiet day at home for the two of us...first we went to Mass. We went at the time we saw in the base paper under "Easter Church Services" which was 7:30 am. I was suspicious of this because we attended Mass on Palm Sunday abnd Holy Thursday evening and nothing was said about Easter Sunday Mass being earlier than our usual 9:30 am. I should have really questioned what I was seeing when I read that the Protestants were having an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 PM, but I didn't More fool me... When we arrived at the chapel in time for the 7:30 Mass, there was not another single car in the parking lot. Of course we realized what this meant. Two extra hours raiding the Easter basket! No, seriously, we came back home, had some breakfast and went to Mass at the usual time. Once we returned from that Mass, .we considered going to Swan Lake to see the flowers and the birds, but it was so HOT that we ended up staying home and piddling around the house. Tom worked in the garage -- staining the cabinet he is making me and tinkering with the motor scooter he bought at a yard sale. He also added water and chemicals to the pool, getting it ready for the warm weather.

I did some gardening -- potted some plants, watered some established pots and fertilized the vegetable garden. By the time I was done, I was ready for a nap! I settled for some quiet time with my library book under the ceiling fan.

We just finished dinner -- turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, cranberry and orange relish and a fresh garden salad. Yummy! A bit much for just the two of us, but I thought we should have a nice meal for the holiday.

I hope you had a great day. Did the Easter Bunny hide your eggs well?

Good Friday

Yesterday afternoon, something told Tom that Holy Thursday is a holy day of obligation for us Catholics. It's not, but I let him research it himself...anyway, he was already in a mindset to go to Mass, so we attended the Holy Thursday Mass at Our Lady of the Skies. It was a good thing.

In other news, the plants I planted earlier this week are all still alive. Another good thing! I got some more potting soil for the remaining pepper plants and will be taking care of that today.

The vegetable garden...

...is planted. There is a cherry tomato plant, a 'lemon boy' yellow tomato plant (just for fun), a 'Mr. Stripey' tomato plant (more fun), two 'Better Boy' tomato plants, one each of red, orange and green bell pepper plants, banana pepper plants, jalapeno pepper plamts, zucchini, cucumber, yellow squash, and cantaloupe. There are some other various pepper plants that Tom wants to grown in containers. Three of those containers are planted...I need more potting soil. If I can actually get edible vegetables from these plants, I will be ecstatic!

Glorious

When I walked outside to put some mail out for the mailman, I discovered how beautiful a day it is outside! Blue sky, singing birds, sunshine. I'm headed out with a good book to sit in my new glider (built by my darling husband) and soak up some rays!

Cute visitors

Let's start at the beginning...yesterday afternoon, my next door neighbor asked a favor of me. She has two small children at home and was expecting someone who wanted to buy their dog (another story altogether). One of the children was feeling badly, so could I possibly go to the nearby drugstore and pick up some medicine? No problem, there and back in about twenty minutes. Later in the day, Tom has arrived home from work and we are out in the backyard, doing a few little chores. Tom goes back into the house to fetch something and returns with the two little ones! They come out the door and run straight to me on the pool deck. They have a ziplock baggie of cookies for me, to say thank you for helping -- and Hannah says she feels much better, now. They watched as we did a few things at the pool, cleaning it up for the season, and helped themselves to a cookie. Then Daddy came over to make sure they weren't making pests of themselves. Mommy joined us, and we visited for a few minutes. It was nice. I pointed out to them that we have the gate on the privacy fence secured, so it won't be easy for her children to get into the pool area unless someone from the inside opens it. I hope we can get the whole family to join us for a session or two in the pool. Actually, I'd like to have lots of people come use the pool. Why have it otherwise?

Gardening

Well, we got the garden all laid out. Tomorrow I plant. Looking forward to it.

Also this evening, Tom trimmed some overhanging branches away from one of our Japanese maple trees. During our first week in this house, a lightining strike split a tree in the neighbor's yard, which fell against another of their trees, hanging a bit over into our yard. I noticed that this year, the overhand is impeding our little tree. Not anymore! I love having a handy husband. I think I am going to like the garden this year, too.

Another Dental Appointment

Yes, I know, who needs this many dental appointments? Apparently I do. Sometimes I think 'new' patients get lots of work on principal... anyway, today's filling was a composite resin. Seems it didn't go beneath the gumline, and there was a small crack in the tooth that the dentist felt would be better served by the bond of a composite filling. I really feel better about these fillings, anyway.

When I got home, my face was numb from chin to just below my eye. Even my nostril was numb! It was so numb it seemed like the nostril was closed--like I wasn't breathing properly. For some reason, there were four injection sites for this one tooth. I was definitely not going to feel pain while this tooth was being drilled. As usual, I was hungry as soon as I got home. Naturally, since it is not smart to eat while anesthetized as you could chew your cheek, lips or tongue. Did that once. Not pretty. So I had to wait. I am just now getting the feeling back, so dinner is calling my name. It's ready to cook, just waiting for me. See ya later!

Sunday

What a beautiful day! The sun was shining, the air was warm, the sky was blue with puffy white clouds and there was a light breeze. After church, we stopped by the BX for some picture frames for the Thomas Kincade prints my darling husband bought for me while I was away. While we were walking towards the entrance, we spotted all the 'outdoor' items on the side of the building; we detoured, just in case we needed anything for our garden. Tom pointed out the cement garden borders he is considering as a replacement for the wooden ones already in place at our house. He is concerned about provided enticement for the rampant termites in the area. Then we spotted the vegetable plants. Our house had an established garden when we moved in last June, and we really enjoyed all the fresh tomatoes and peppers in our salads all summer long. Knowing that, we decided to have a garden this year, too. Most of the plants came in packages of six or nine plants--probably more than we will want. Tom suggested we offer the extras to the neighbors for their gardens. Why not? We chose several types of tomatoes, red, orange and green peppers, cucumber, zucchini, jalapeno and banana peppers, and cantaloupe. I don't know how successful we will be with all of these--the cucumber and zucchini vines died in the heat last season, and I have never tried melons successfully. Once we got inside the store, we picked out our frames, then got some clay pots for the pepper plants (Tom wants to makes some holders and hang them on the fence) and some chemicals for the pool.

As soon as we got home, Tom changed and started on the lawn. He had a military funeral to go to in the afternoon and he wanted to get done beforehand. I carried the new plants to the back yard and stayed out of Tom's way (I'm no fool). He had to leave about 2:30, and I relaxed with a book on the pool deck. I actually got a little red on the left side. I had dinner ready to go for a little while by the time Tom got home -- grilled chicken, baked potatoes, and a fresh salad and/or taco soup. We spent a quiet evening with TV and preparations for the work week.

Today I plan to lay the garden plastic and set the plants out. If all works well, I will begin planting. If not, I will wait for Tom's input and we will work on the solution together, if there is still enough light when he gets home.

What's going on in your neck of the woods?

Mill Pond Restaurant

Last night, Tom took me to dinner at Boykin's Mill Pond Restaurant. Yummy! He had heard about it from one of the guys at work, who said it was 'pricey' but the service and the food were good. He was spot on about the 'pricey' part! Bottles of wine over $230! Yikes. I didn't have wine with my meal... We didn't make reservations, but there was room for us. Perhaps we should have made reservations, though, as it was obvious our server was totally inexperienced and very nervous. He forgot a number of things -- like telling us about the specials, asking how Tom wanted his steak cooked, bread, and when he brought our salads, he forgot the pepper mill...another gentleman brought it to him as he set down the portable table for his tray...then he forgot to ask if we wanted any! Perhaps we would have had a more experienced server if we'd made reservations... Anyway, Tom had a King Cut Filet Mignon with a tomato and onion salad and Scalloped Potatoes au Gratin, and I had crabcakes with a chopped salad. We both had sweet tea. The food was absolutely superb! My crabcakes were, as the backpack on Dora the Explorerer says, "Delicioso!" Tom's steak was good, too - he let me try a bite. So, I can heartily recommend the food at the Mill Pond Restaurant in Boykin. I'm hoping our server improves with experience. ;)

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today is my Dad's birthday. You know, it was only in my adult years that I realized why 8 and 4 were his favorite numbers...but I digress.


Photo by Jen

Here is a recent picture of Dad with his Great-granddaughter Lily Grace. This was their very first meeting.

Here we have Dad with great-grandson Ryan this past Cookie Day.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I hope you have a great day and a fabulous year to come!

"Sordid Lives"

The play we went to see last night was fun. "Sordid Lives -- a Black Comedy About White Trash." Even the title is funny. The play revolves around the death of Peggy--sister, mother, grandmother, friend, adultress-- who dies when she trips over her lover's two wooden legs, falls, and hits her head on the sink when she gets up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom in a seedy hotel while conducting a torrid affair with a married man. This leaves her sister - who recently quit smoking- and her daughters, LaTrel -in complete denial about the truth of her whole life-, and LaVonda - down-to-earth white trash and proud of it- to prepare for the funeral. Throughout the course of the evening we also meet Ty, LaTrel's gay actor son; Brother Boy, locked up in the loony bin since he was eightteen years old because his homosexuality prevents his living a 'normal' life; Wardell, bartender whose beating of Brother Boy resulted in his commitment to the loony bin; Odell, Wardell's younger brother who participated in the beating; Juanita, the funniest drunk I have ever seen; and Bitsy Mae Harlen, honky-tonk singer and friend to Peggy. The actress playing Botsy Mae was a fabulous singer. What a voice! Tom wanted to check to see if she was siniging anywhere else or perhaps had a CD available. Turns out she is a teacher when she is not acting. Surprise! We had a great time at the show. How was your Friday night?

Friday

I actually got some things done today...I packed and mailed a package for Jen and family. Just some bibs for Lily, an egg decoration kit I think the boys will enjoy, some stickers, labels and box tops for Zach's school and some iron cleaner. I found the iron cleaner at the BX today. I had mentioned it to Jen and TJ when Jen's iron got gunked up with some melted fabric while TJ was using it. I tried to buy the kind I usually use at the commissary at Andrews AFB but couldn't find it. I got another kind but wasn't satisfied with the way it cleaned the iron plate. When I saw my usual brand today, I picked up two packages -- one for Jen, one for T. I figure with all the starch he uses, he probably needs some, too.

Also today, I got some banking done for an organization I volunteer for and picked up some salad stuff at the commissary. I did notice that Tom added 'Icy Hot' to my list, so I got that, too.

Now I am on my way outside to pot some flowering plants. The little girl next door is sitting on her porch looking bored. I think I'll ask her if she wants to help.

Wednesday evening

Whew...another dental appointment today. This one was to replace a broken filling. I didn't get the tooth-colored composite filling because this dentist feels, due to the fact that part of the filling was beneath the gumline, a composite is not the best way to go. I do wish the industry would just make a decision and stick with it. The two dentists I have worked for both feel that composites are the best, bar none. They don't even DO amalgam fillings anymore. Yet, three other dentists I have seen since I left Virginia six years ago, feel amalgam is stronger and better suited in certain cases. Apparently mine. I tried to find a dentist in this area whose philosophy mirrored Dr. H., but no go. They all do composite fillings, but mostly as a cosmetic procedure. Argh.

In other news, Tom is back in the state after a short visit to Alabama for an NCO Academy graduation, and some other military stuff, too. I know he is in the area because he called me while he was on the road, and I have received some 'informative' emails from his work account. It is 7:00pm. I wonder when we will be eating dinner tonight? It's all ready to cook, just waiting for word from the man of the house. I want to discuss our weekend plans, because we will have a 'guest' with us. I received 'Flat Stanley' in a note from my grandson, Zach(see below), and I am requested to take him on an adventure and write back about it. I hope I can do justice to the assignment!

Note to self

Always use a mirror when applying lipstick after a dental appointment involving anesthesia.

Monday, Monday...

Quiet day...got my new prescription for the dental cleaning I have scheduled for tomorrow. The clinic was closed Friday for a Base Goal Day (75 days without a DUI) so I called this morning. The clerk seemed to think there might be difficulty getting this done today since they were closed on Friday. Huh??? That's why I had to call today. Anyway, someone from my healthcare team called back, asked a few questions, then ordered the prescription from the pharmacy. All I had to do was pick it up. They even provided enough pills for my other appointments. Woohoo! THAT'S how it should have been handled the first time! So, dental cleaning tomorrow, nice, smooth teeth tomorrow afternoon.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Here is Mom with great-granddaughter Lily Grace in March. Lily was born March 2.











Here we have Mom and Lily Grace with Dad and Lily's brother Ryan...wonder what the guys are thinking here? Happy Birthday to my mom. I hope you have a great day, Mom!

Happy April Fool's Day!

Hubby and I were wondering if my brother had visited Mom and Dad's house today in order to play his usual tricks. He used to *torture* our mother as a teenager -- plastic wrap on the toilet seat (which our father -always first in the bathroom- carefully removed and replaced so Mom would have the opportunity to enjoy the day's fun, too), a balloon on the shower head, shaving cream on the telephone receiver...the boy has an imagination. Mom and Dad may have to resort to pranking each other if Tommy is too busy today!

For us here in Carolina, today is the Squadron Easter Egg Hunt. I know it is really early, but we had conflicts with the schools' Spring Break. ACES (Association of Civil Engineer Spouses) is sponsoring the hunt and associated party, so I spent yesterday baking and decorating cupcakes for the big event. The sky is overcast and it was beginning to drizzle when we returned from yardalsing this morning. Tom says it is supposed to clear up by Hunt time. I hope so. Pictures later. (Maybe I'll even figure out the software and downloading of all my pictures from my stay with Jen and family....)

Tom is busy with a 'surprise' project in the garage. He has had some problems with his router and had to redo part of it...he said yesterday that he needed to 'glue up' the project. I wonder if that means he is almost done?

***update***

Mom tells me it wasn't the plastic wrap Dad removed and replaced, it was the rubber band on the sink hose. Then she went on to tell me Tommy played his tricks on Alice (his girlfriend). When she opened the fridge this morning, she found a large rubber spider looking at her...not a good thing before coffee!