Happy Birthday, Little Red Headed Girl

 That little red headed girl is having a birthday!
She has her keys and is off to play
Full of cinnamon spice and all things nice
Humble and kind and totally fine!

No wonder Charlie Brown loves her so!
And her Daddy and Momma too!

Tony Poor 1961-2018

I lost my little nephew today.  He was laughter and joy.  He was goodness and fun.  Only 57, and he is gone from us.  To me he is still a little boy.  Frozen in time.   This is what I think he would say to his family today--
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
Mary Elizabeth Frye

Russellville High School Hall of Fame

Astrid is being inducted into the Russellville High School Hall of Fame on October 5.  She is the only female being inducted from her class.  This is the most prestigious award she has earned.  We are so proud.  She has asked Pop to ride in the Homecoming Parade with her in the convertible.   Pop and I put a great deal of energy into raising our two girls--Laura and Erin.  Now, we are enjoying watching our Grandchildren's lives!   Erin shared this quote with me--Raise your kids, spoil your Grand kids.  Spoil or ignore your kids, raise your Grand kids!  We are spoiling our five Grands!
This is what the Courier printed about Astrid

RHS Athletic Hall of Fame

Christensen earned All-State honors in cross country in 2015, 2016 and 2017, as well as All-State honors in track in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Christensen, who earned a 4.0 GPA, received a full academic and athletic scholarship to Arkansas Tech University.

“For me, her work ethic put her in the Hall of Fame,” Russellville head track coach Ben Goodman said.

“She excelled at holding teammates accountable as well as being an encourager to those around her. She also led by example with her work ethic and positive attitude.

“I never had to worry about her coming to practice ready to work or having to deal with her complaining about having to practice on a given day. She was and is a fierce competitor and got the most out of herself every year she was with us.”

Found this at the Hall of Fame Web Site! Stan Cochran wrote the article in 2016.  He is a member of the Hall.  Since writing this he has passed away.  I enjoyed learning more about the prestigious Hall and am sharing it here.

The Russellville High School Athletic Hall of Fame can trace its history back to 1923 when Wallace Bailey became football coach. It is believed to be one of the longest standing such institutions within the state of Arkansas, including the college ranks. It serves as a lasting tribute to many of the school's best student athletes over the past nine decades. By establishing the RHS Hall of Fame when he did (the first Hall inductee was All-State QB Jessie McBath in 1924), Coach Bailey was definitely ahead of his time.

As anyone in the Hall can attest, induction into the Hall of Fame is one of the highest honors any RHS athlete can achieve. It indicates not only a high level of sustained performance in the athletic arena, but an acceptable level of academic performance in the classroom and other school and community activities as well. Several Hall members have been National Honor Society members, class presidents and honor graduates. A significant number have gone on to participate in athletics at the college level, and the RHS Hall of Fame can even boast of members who went on to have professional sports careers. Hall members have also made significant contributions in government, business and education sectors. Thus, a common thread throughout its history is that selection to the Hall has generally been based on a "whole person" concept. While specific selection criteria and processes have varied somewhat over time as RHS coaching staffs have changed and evolved, a high percentage of Hall inductees have been outstanding student-athletes.

To better understand the Hall's history, it's important to review the context within which its membership has grown over the years. In its early years, football was clearly the dominant sport played in this part of the country, both at the high schools and college levels (e.g., the University of Arkansas fielded its first football squad in 1894, but organized basketball didn't appear at the Fayetteville campus until the early 1920's). In addition, high school coaching staffs of the day usually consisted of one or two coaches who coached football, basketball and track. In fact, as recently as the early 1960's, the RHS coaching staff basically numbered two: Chuck Horne, head football and track coach, and Keith Wills, assistant football and track coach, as well as head basketball coach.

Prior to Title IX becoming law in 1972, RHS sports essentially consisted of football in the fall, basketball during the winter months, and track and field in the spring. Up through the 1965-70 time frame, RHS "better" athletes tended to participate in all three sports. Thus being a multi-sport participant was a key factor for coaches and administrators in determining who should be considered for the Hall. While some RHS students did participate in other sports such as golf and tennis in the 1960's and earlier, with some actually competing for region or conference championships, it was not until Title IX that these and other sports such as baseball, soccer, and girl's sports teams were placed on the same playing field with football and basketball, and with their own coaches.

In summary, a review of the Hall's membership reveals a heavy football influence for its first 50 or so years, and then a more diverse sports representation over the past 40 years. In 2016, for the first time, all four inductees were female.

In terms of some important "firsts" for the Hall, the first to gain All-American honors in college was All-State tackle Firmon Bynum ('37). Bynum was named to the "Little All-America" football team in 1939 while at Arkansas Tech. The first African-American member was All-State basketball player Jim Marsh in 1967. Marsh was a 6'4" center who led his team to a 34-3 record, the best in RHS history. The first female honoree was All-State basketball player Becky Teeter, who also excelled in the classroom, in 1979. The first African-American female selected for the Hall was Penny Norman in 1981. Norman had an outstanding career in both basketball and track/field. The only non-alumni in the Hall of Fame is Lemoyne "Dub" Martin. Coach Martin was head basketball coach for 20 years starting in 1938.

At the end of 2016, the RHS Hall of Fame has 196 members. Of those, 51 are deceased.

Three Legged Move

My husband always finds a way.  He is going to tear down a lean to that he spend a lot of time putting up as he has decided it is a junk catcher for him.  He had to move this tractor and it only has 3 tires on it now as he has started restoring it.  A boom and chains did the trick.  They trucked right along on only 3 wheels.

Also, you will see in the video that it was really hot so for air conditioning he just removed his shirt!!

Greta Tri----umps!

 Greta finished a triathlon today--her first.  Look at that medal.  She was worried about winning but her Mom explained the goal was to finish it all.  I think first was swimming, then biking and last a half mile run!  Greta is only 7.  We are proud of all she accomplishes. 

 Clayton told his Mom not to "waste her money" on his entering.  He said that he knew he could do the swim and biking but after that he would be at a slow walk on the running.  His age group had to run a mile.  Clayton is a smart boy.  He likes the sidelines!

What If...

Last night while I lay thinking here
Some what ifs crawled in my ear.
What if I cannot go to sleep tonight
What if I get into a fight
What if my dog starts to bite
What if I get the questions right
What if I miss the bus again!!

Clayton is really liking school.  I am so glad.

Greta Ann is going to be in a triathlon tomorrow.  She will swim, bike and run!  Good luck Greta Ann.

Playing Sports

 Sigrid had a volleyball game tonight.  Below is Astrid with some of the runners on her team at Tech.  Today was her first day in College!

Finished

Greta finished her puzzle and started another one.  She is in the mood for puzzles.   

Pop is helping Astrid today at our old house or her new house.  They are cutting off the doors a bit where she has had tile added to the floor.  That raised it a bit and the doors need to be shorter. 

Astrid has received another huge honor I will blog about soon.  I do believe it the highest award she has ever earned!  Yes, earned!  Awards are earned not just handed out freely.  The new award will occur October 5th.  I am so proud for her as this one is a lifetime achievement.

Greta the Puzzle

 I bet Erin bought this puzzle at Goodwill.  She likes shopping there.  She used to buy most of her clothes there when she still lived at home.  The puzzle has 500 pieces.  Greta started it Sunday and this morning she had a lot of it completed as you can see from the picture Erin sent.

 Ingrid got Laura shopping at Goodwill.  Astrid went with her there over the week in and picked up this puppy age calendar.  Phoebe is telling us she is almost 2 years old.

 Astrid got a box of jars from my atttic and created a holder for Phoebe and Penny's dog treats!  She bought labels at Hobby Lobby and then just free handed the lettering.   Astrid starts to College tomorrow!  I am hoping she loves it!

Fun Day For Clayton and Greta

 Erin and the children went to Six Fingers, Richland Creek, and Haw Creek Falls today.  I keep hearing that Geico ad--going up in the country, baby don't you want to go!

Volleyball Today

 Sigrid made the 8th grade volleyball team. They are starting play today, but just playing each other to get started!

Pretty Penny

Astrid got another Corgi!  She is smiling!  Phoebe ignored the new member of the family for  a while but then decided she liked her!

Pond Is Filling Up

Going to be able to put fish in our pond soon!

Sig Went Dancing

Sigrid had a dance last night at her school.  She is with her friend Emily Brown here.  We picked her up Wednesday and Thursday.  I hardly know her with all the make-up.  Pop says she looks just like Ingrid.  I am not sure.

Clayton missed his bus yesterday, but he has good parents who came to pick him up after he called!

Happy Anniversary

Erin and Greg were married on this day in 2005.  Many more...

Pinetop, AZ

 Astrid had a great time visiting Logan's Dad and his wife and family in AZ.  She is back home safely and into a busy work week.  Next week, it will be work and college and running, running to keep that track scholarship. 

School days at Harrison, AR

 Clayton and Greta started day 1 of school today.  Erin took Greta. Greg took Clayton.   Clayton's school was a mad house.  Three schools are at the same location.  They made it there and into the buildings.  Hope they have great days.

 And...Erin made homemade cinnamon rolls.  Only problem was Pop and I are too far away to get one!

Our Little Renter

Our little renter is on a trip to Pinetop, AZ.  I walked over today and took a picture of the front door.  She painted it.  Took her a while to decide what color.  Astrid said she drove around and checked out expensive houses and all of those had the front door the same as the trim so she did the same.   We bought a new dead bolt lock for the front door.  The back door is new and with new latch so it did not need one.  I thought Pop would have to put the new door latch in, but, no, Astrid did that with a little help from her Mom.

 Helen, this is down in front of the house.   Astrid will landscape the yard, but she said now she would like to just wait until spring to do it.  Everything she has done looks so good.  She put in two new ceiling fans, painted the entire house--trim and walls.  Her friend put tile in one bathroom and in the back entry.  On her day off last week, I asked what she did and she said, "I bought a mop" and really cleaned the floors.   We have a fabulous renter!

She sent this from Phoenix.  She loves dogs and is thinking about getting this shirt--Dog Mom!  She starts to AR Tech Uni August 21!

Then There Were Two!

Ingrid and Sigrid started to school this morning.  There used to be three in this picture.  By the time one gets to be a teenager, one does not want to be "over" dressed.  Everyone wants to blend in...not stand out! 

Wishing these two a good year of learning and growing up.  The world is a dangerous playground.  Protect these two today, Lord.

Oh, How I Love the First Day of School

Laura makes cinnamon rolls for her girls and Eric on the first day back to school.  Oh, how I love it as she always shares with Pop and me. 

I have started school a lot of years.  I don't miss it.  At the end of the day, teachers are emotionally and physically exhausted.  Give them strength today Lord to help and guide.  I hope Laura took a photo of Ingrid and Sigrid.  Astrid finished public school days last year.  She starts to College the 21st.  Clayton and Greta start school the 15th which is Greg and Erin's anniversary.  Hope they all have a good year.

I am glad my 5 have smart parents who don't make a little problem a big problem in school.  Parents create big problems and then children have to overcome.  Some problems need to be addressed but most just need to be forgotten.  Telling a little one that "it will all be ok" helps see that it is.  We don't need to try and fix everything for a child.  Dealing with little problems and solving them helps children learn to deal with their adult life problems.  Problem fixers are really not very good parents. 

That is my opinion for today.

Someone hacked Little Sister's FB page.  I don't get it.  What is the purpose of hacking a Facebook page?  Seems fruitless and another reason to not add a bunch of your information there.  Your friends should know it!  That is a joke as many have friends they do not know at all.   I don't want to be friends with people I don't know.  One person kept asking and I thought that Larry probably "knew" her.  She was a witch.  No, really, a worshiper of the Devil.  I just befriended her.   I don't feel I need to be politically correct on FB.  I need to be me.

Clayton's Favorite Insect

This weekend Larry gave Clayton a knife that he bought from the old Bill Price and Son Store.  It was not an expensive knife but was special to Larry for he had had it about 50 years.  Hope Clayton liked it.

Apache Reservation

Astrid sent this to us.  It is the Apache Reservation.  Good thing they were not farmers!

Where Riding Is Legal

Logan's Dad works with apache  Indians and where he lives you can ride ATVs on the street!  Astrid sent this to Laura and Red about had a cow but Astrid said it was all legal there.  Hope they have a great time.  I know they are going somewhere on a hike and Astrid will love that. I know they are 3 hours from Phoenix.

Cake Time

My sweet little renter brought me spice cake with cream cheese icing.  Sooo good!

Greta Goes Up, Up, Up

Sigrid Has One Last Party

 Sigrid's swim team, The Sharks, had a big party this week.  Sigrid starts to school Monday.

Momma the Seamstress

 Momma made these tops with no pattern.  Helen's looks better than mine I believe. Seems like she made skirts with them.  The back of my picture says I am 14 so Helen was 10.  I think Mom sewed a lot of this by hand.  She loved us and wanted for us to have pretty clothes.  I hope we were proud of these.  She likely ordered the fabric from National Bella Hess.  The year is 1964!

Fleta and I the previous year, 1963.  We shared everything.  Same purple lipstick!  Hannah Aday is Sister made over.  The National Bella Hess Catalog from 1963.

Ingrid and Paul Bunyan

 I think this is Ingie and Tyler ?  And below is Clayton and Greta with Paul!