Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Golf Group

We have a group of friends that we golf with once a month. They have been giving me a hard time (well, Jorj has been giving me a hard time) that I  never write about them on my blog. It is a little hard to take photographs and golf and the same time.

So, when Priscilla and Warren invited us out to their place, I knew I would have some time to take a few photographs. Here is the gang in beautiful Waxahachie.

Robert, Terri, Kerry, Beth, Barry, Jan, Jorj, Mike, Linda, Andy, Linda, Warren



There also happened to be four people celebrating a March birthday, so a birthday cake was thrown into the mix. Priscilla provided the Krispie Kreme hats, but no Krispie Kreme doughnuts. That was just rude, Priscilla.

Happy Birthday, Warren, Beth, Mike, Andy


The birthday cake did have the largest candles ever on it. But, the candle second from the left was a dud. It had no wick. Trust me, there were several people who had opinions on how to get to the wick. Finally, the candle was just cut up and but there was no wick. It probably cannot be returned now.


By the time we lost the good light outside, everyone decided they wanted to have their photograph made. These people exasperate my photographic skills. (But in their defense, it doesn't take much to do that)

Priscilla had a ladder that her father had made that she wanted in every photograph. I should have just taken a photograph of the ladder for her. (A little side note here. Priscilla also has a golf photo book where she has photographs of everyone with whom they have golfed. Guess who is NOT in the book. Barry and I. Yet, she takes great pride in showing me this book. )

Here are the host and hostess, Warren and Priscilla. Priscilla looks nice, doesn't she. Don't turn your back on her. She will put banana peels or water on your golf cart seat, rocks in your camera bag, or stuff your car full of trash. 


Terri and Robert's youngest is away at college. Don't they look happy having all the kids out of the house?
Terry is also in charge of organizing the group's golf outings. Bless her heart. 


Beth is the best at helping Terry keep us organized. Kerry and Beth like all of us because we are "nice".  Beth, have you met Priscilla? Are you in her photo book?  Kerry is a great golfer, quietly takes our money each month, and puts up with us all.


This is Jorj and Mike. Jorj, here's your chance to be on the blog! Turn around!



 Ahh, much better. Aren't they sweet?


Then, it was our turn. Priscilla offered to take our picture. I refused because last time I gave Priscilla my camera there were several pictures of my butt.  Priscilla will be receiving a copy of this photo for her Golf Book. 


 Next up was the always fun and photogenic, Andy and Linda. Andy and Barry are the resident magicians of the group. Linda is the beauty queen. 


One couple, Mike and Ellen, couldn't make it that evening.  It will give me something to write about later. 


That is the monthly golf group in a nutshell. Speaking of NUTS.  Sometimes, that is how things end up.





Tuesday, March 20, 2012

It's Spring!

Welcome spring. I do believe spring has become my favorite time of year. The blog today is in honor of spring and in memory of Barry's Uncle Melvin. Mel passed away last week.

A few years ago, Melvin called Barry to tell him that a hummingbird had nested on a fountain that was in the sitting area of his back porch. He loved watching this bird sit on her eggs. She let Melvin sit right there beside her. It was fun to get his calls with the daily reports of the hummingbird. When the babies hatched, Melvin sent us these photographs of the hummingbird family.

©Melvin Caplan

©Melvin Caplan

©Melvin Caplan

I can't help but think of all the wildlife photographers with their equipment that try to get shots like this and Melvin was able to just sit right beside these birds and take these pictures. Amazing!

As spring begins, watch for all the new that will be emerging in your yard. You never know, there could be incredible things going on right beside you. Take some time to observe it. Happy Spring.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Sometimes Life Gets In the Way of Blogging




The last two weeks have been a whirlwind around here. After we got home from Houston, I awoke Tuesday morning with a killer virus. That afternoon, Michelle called to tell me her blood pressure had gone up that morning. Her doctor made her come in immediately, began testing her for preeclampsia, and sent her home to bed for the rest of the week. Although Michelle was upset, all I could do was tell her to follow her doctors orders. I texted her sister, Joanie, to call her, and then continued to be sick.

Needless to say, I recovered, and was able to go with Michelle to her doctor's appointment for the "verdict".  Yes, she does have preeclampsia, and she is on bed rest until the baby is born. The baby is doing well, and Michelle, is doing better now that she is off her feet.

As Michelle began feeling better and wrapped her head around her fate for the next several weeks, Miles and I had to laugh. At first she was very resistant to let anyone do anything for her. Then, as she started to get more used to it, she began assigning us volunteers jobs. I think she realized she could get us to do things that she didn't really want to do at all (like clean out the refrigerator).

Michelle is actually very sad about not being there for her students and her fellow teachers. But, sometimes we come to those paths in the road we didn't plan on taking, but must go down. Who knows where they will take us and what we might encounter on the way?  We may find new adventures and ways of making our way through life we never imagined. We may also find that those around us bring more to our lives than we allowed them to beforehand.


Saturday, March 10, 2012

It Doesn't Just Happen to Cinderella

Sunday, we went to Houston for Lucy's baptism. 

Jessica, Jacob's sister is Lucy and Ava's godmother. 


Barry and I were all smiley too. 


We all wanted our picture made with the girls.
Jacob's parents, Roger and Delma were next. Notice how we took the time to change our setting and poses.
Umm...maybe we will remember to do that in the next photo session.


After patiently posing, Lucy compared her shoes with mother's shoes. 


 Then she started out for a walk. But, something was already going amiss.


"Something feels weird."

 "How did my shoe get back there?"


"Hey, all you adults over there, look what happened!"


Mom to the rescue.


Then a run to Poppy. 


Monday morning, we were already back home. It was a quick trip, but a fun visit.