More Erin Photos

 I forgot to post this picture that Erin took of her kids.  I love it as they are looking in the church.  I know Clayton and I know what he really wanted to do was get in there and look for treasures.  I don't know how Erin "held him back".

 Here he spies the "stuff" inside.  He has on his "church" jacket.  He has what he calls snake skin boots to wear too.  Now I have no idea if they are really snake skin or if Erin has just convinced him of this so he will love wearing them.

 If that door behind Clayton is open, I would bet he got inside that church.

 Erin buys Greta's dresses off of something call Zulily, I think she said.

You will have to click on this to see what I mean, but Greta loves Clayton.  She often is caught in Erin's photos looking at her brother.    I sure hope he loves her the same.  I know he is protective of her.  I bet if someone made a bully comment about her two hearing aids, they would hear it from Clayton!

 Helen, see the little ones got to hunt eggs at Meme's.  Know they loved it.  I missed them but I am really glad that they have a Granny who loves this sort of thing.  If they could have come down here they would have gotten to hunt eggs but it would have been engineered by someone other than me.  Probably my sweet Astrid would have taken care of it all.  Oh, can you tell the photographer was not at the Easter celebration above!

Festivites

 Ingrid went to church with her friend.  I asked her about her dress...she said "it is ours".   Laura explained all three girls--Laura, Astrid and Ingrid--wear the dress.  Ingrid looked so great in it.  The hem is what Helen will like.  It looks a little different on Laura and even different on Astrid, but I know each are pretty when they wear the shared dress.  Soon little Sigrid will share too!

 Ingrid said turn the camera and I did knowing the picture would look like below and Patsy is not around to fix it.  I never really tried to fix the sideways photos because I loved having Patsy fix them for me.  Now she is gone and the photo will just have to lay on it's side in her memory.

 We celebrated Astrid's birth.  She was born April 7.  Erin and I remember it well.  Erin said "oh, it was horrible".  You see I sat by Laura's head and Erin was posted at her feet.  Well, you can imagine what I saw and what Erin saw.   I was the first person to hold Astrid.  Her Dad got so hungry he went for hamburger and she was born while he was away.

 Helen, can you see the deviled eggs?  They were pretty good and my 'asian' salad was really good!  Laura's rolls and peanut butter pie were tops, though.  We make peanut butter pie with a vanilla filling.  We always joke that the recipe is Rene's who we really loved.  She is one of the exes of Larry's brothers.

Here is the table.  I have Fiesta dinnerware like Grandma Gaddy had, but different colors.  Larry said the best part of the day was that his baby came!  He is a fine Daddy.  Often he cries when Erin comes.  He is about his kids like our Daddy was about us.  Sisters I know you will understand what I mean...it is all about love of your children.

Erin's Easter Pics

 Erin located this old church and took the kids there for Easter photos.  Pews were still inside.  Clayton does not really like having a "photo" shoot.  Greta is okay with it though.  She said it was a little cool or she could have gotten even better shots!    I love the old church.   Well, the two models, too!

My 40th Reunion

Fleta went to her 50th high school reunion.  Here is my 40th.   Patsy graduated in 1957 (she was a year behind because of going away to a private school and they would not take her credits); Clayton 1962, Fleta 1965, me 1968, Helen 1972.  Gilbert and Richard did not graduate from high school.  Debbie never went to school.

Dogwood And More

 The Dogwood down the lane is not quite ready.  They are pale green at first and then turn white--purely.

 Larry mowed for the first time today.  Mostly mowed weeds.  I tried to help by moving things out of his way.

 My Irises are the next to bloom.  The flower beds Larry built sure make them healthier.

 I have this in one flower bed.  Patsy told me what it was but I have forgotten and I can not ask her that time has past me by.  It is lush and pretty and will have one bloom on a stock...and then an orange bulb will come in the fall.  They are an old fashioned flower...so pretty and easy to raise. I dug them up out of the yard and put them here.

 My friend Mary gave me this.  I have it on Galla Creek Lane last fall I brought over some seeds and sprinkled them here.  They grow like weeds.  One year they bloom like this and then the next year an hour glass will appear.  I like them because Mary gave them to me.  Another old flower.

 Grandma Gaddy's hens and chickens are doing great.

 I like the mint because Fleta gave it to me.

I am not good with roses but Larry built this bed for this one that his Momma had and it is really lush this spring.  Fleta and Helen--go over to Patsy's place and dig up all the flowers and move them to the home place.    Sammy will not care!

Helen here is what the Dogwood looks like when fully bloomed.  Will be about a week before mine looks like this one.  I took this last year.

An old and beautiful legend has it that, at the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood was comparable in size to the oak tree and other monarchs of the forest. Because of its firmness and strength it was selected as the timber for the cross, but to be put to such a cruel use greatly distressed the tree. Sensing this, the crucified Jesus in his gentle pity for the sorrow and suffering of all said to it: "Because of your sorrow and pity for My sufferings, never again will the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a gibbet. Henceforth it will be slender, bent and twisted and its blossoms will be in the form of a cross -- two long and two short petals. In the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints -- brown with rust and stained with red -- and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see this will remember.

Easter's Here

Easter is decorated with Red Bud and Dog Wood Blooms each year.  I have a Dog Wood down the Lane and I noticed it was blooming full and lovely.  

When Mary Magdalene discovered the empty tomb, the linen that covered Jesus face was folded in a separate place.  In those days masters with servants would eat and if they were through with their meal they would place the used face wiping linen on the table crumpled.  If they were returning to eat more, they would fold the linen.  Jesus facial cloth was folded--He is coming again!

Sigrid and Company

 Sigrid has four friends over for the night.  They are celebrating her birthday.  They stayed about an hour with Pop and I.  Pop had to push them all on the swing as he can push the highest, Sigrid said. They are all very sweet girls.  Marlie (in red) is one of my favorites.  At the talent show she played the piano.  There were some pauses.  The kids would start to clap as they thought it was the end!  But Marlie would play more.  Most youngster would be flustered.  Not Marlie as you could see a little smirk on her face as if to say, "I fooled you!"  Her father is Larry's doctor.  The little girl in pink shorts is a second or third cousin to Amber Powell.  I forget if it is second or third.  I surely enjoyed her.

 I swear cake mixes are smaller by an ounce or so.  I guess it is ok, but the cake hardly fills the pan.  Here is Fish's birthday cake.  He said it was good.

 Astrid wanted new sheets.  She tie dyed them.  Aren't they pretty!

 I am having lots of Gold Finch, but they will leave soon.

 My phlox is really pretty.  I have several bunches of it in one of my beds.

Ingrid Is Stepping

Ingrid went today and got fitted for her Drill Team uniforms.  I took pictures of one of the outfits with my new phone.  She already has cheers to learn for next week.  I will pick her up every Wednesday and take her to JR High where she will practice until 5:30.

This is Ingrid and her sponsor, Ms. Janie.  Janie was telling Ingrid that she can not wear "cotton" underwear with the uniform!

I AM NOT MY SISTER

 When Ingrid started 7th grade, she was quick to remind us that she was not her sister and she was not running the mile.  Laura said--we will see.  Because even though Ingrid does not really like running we knew that she would probably be running the mile at track meets because of our dear friend, Coach Fish.

 These two photos show her closing the gap.  She took a ribbon but did not win.  She really did not want to win--then she would be her sister if that makes sense.  Ingrid trains for the mile  like the very first picture.  If she wanted to be a miler, she would really be good.  She could have won this race if it were one of her goals, but she must always prove--I AM NOT MY SISTER!!

 This is a photo of Coach Fish way back in the day.  He is in the rear sort of in the middle.  Today, he does not look like a guy who would like track, but actually he loves it.  You see he is a horse race kind of guy.  He loves taking a group and seeing what they can do and competing always to win.  If you don't watch out he will beat you too.   I told him early on that Ingrid said she was not running the mile to which he responded "we'll see".

Fish--last year with Astrid.  Ingrid does not look for a buddy in her coach!  She has lots of friends her age and she prefers to hang out with them!!

Cyclones Beat Greenwood

 Astrid is number 21.  Her number is 7 but she is a freshman and someone else has that digit.

 Astrid plays on both Jr. Varsity and Varsity teams.

 Last evening they beat Greenwood.

Here she is stopping the ball.