Harley's Graduation

Friday evening Harley graduated from the 8th grade. She is now officially a high school student. The ceremony was impressive, as graduations always are, and Harley won awards in addition to being valedictorian. The whole family is so proud of her!

In the photo below Harley and Cierra Dennis presented the class history.

This is Harley with her Mother.

And Harley with her sister, Haley, and her Dad

Harley, all smiles after the program was over. She had a large group of family in attendance.

We are finished with graduations for 2 years now, until Haley graduates from high school.

Presented with pride,

Grandma in the yellow house

Birthday-Farrell David

Today is Uncle Farrell's (Doc) birthday--87 years old! He still gets around well for his age. He goes grocery shopping, walks to his mailbox every day, pushes his trash container to the street on pick up days, and still watches all the Cardinal baseball games.

This photo is of Uncle Farrell at about age 4, taken probably in 1927.

Farrell served in the U.S. Army near the end of WW II, but spent most of his life on the farm, helping first his father and then brother Virgil with the farm chores and field work, and also helping his mother with the gardening, the chickens, and the household chores.

We had German chocolate cake to celebrate, but no candles.

Hoping he will have more happy days

Grandma in the yellow house

the Birthday Party

Our great granddaughter is now 16 years old. Her birthday was the 28th, but the party was last night at her Uncle's farm. It began with a big barbecue, followed by dancing with live music provided by a local band.

The surprise birthday gift, a 1999 Ford Ranger. She was hoping for a new truck, but alas, the finances did not stretch that far, even with both parents working. I could have told her I did not get a vehicle until after I was married, but I am very sure she would not have appreciated that information. Is it obvious that she comes from a redneck family by wanting a truck rather than a convertible sports car?

Haley , third from left, with some of her friends who were at the party. They all had a good time.

This is Haley dancing with one of her nephews. They call him Little Bubba, another redneck tradition. They start dancing at a very young age here.

All the adults and teens enjoyed the dancing. I can see Haley way back on the left, just in front of the band, being whirled around the floor.

I did not stay long at the party, but put in my obligatory appearance, and wished Haley a happy 16th, then came home to put my feet up.

Grandma in the yellow house, who only dances in her living room these days. When no one is watching......

The Killer Tomatoes and Harley

This is Harley now, at almost 14, but I remember when she was about 6, she was fascinated with the movie "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. I know we watched it more than a dozen times.

The movie was made in the 1970's, with the really weird fashions in clothing and hairstyles, and it has been voted one of the 7 worst movies of all time, also voted one of the best movie titles of all time.

Harley was not the first child in the family to be fascinated with this movie. I remember her Uncle Jack (Powers) watching with big eyes riveted to the screen. He was probably about 5 years old at the time.

I also remember both of them giving sideways, wary looks at the tomatoes in the kitchen after seeing those "killer tomatoes" chasing people down the streets and attacking them in their homes.

We lived in Jacksonville (IL) when Jack saw the movie, and I was in the habit of taking him and Sunshine for walks around the neighborhood. We always passed a home with a big garden near the street, and when the tomatoes were getting ripe Jack noticed them, moved to my side away from them, and grabbed my hand, and whispered, "Grandma, let's get out of here quick!" Next time we went for a walk, he did not want to go down that street.

We still own a copy of this movie, and I can't help but wonder if the next generation, D'Anna and Serenity, will be as spellbound with it as their folks were.

grandma in the yellow house, movie lover from way back.

Ridin' with Haley

Yes, I rode with Haley yesterday, but there was good reason. She had to go to the orthodontist at Mangum, there was no other driver to take her, so Grandma in the yellow house was drafted. She is still a few days away from 16 when she will officially be old enough for that coveted piece of plastic (driver's license), but does have the permit to drive when accompanied by a licensed driver--which would be me. She seemed a little surprised when I handed her the keys, guess she doesn't realize what a brave person I am. We made the trip with no cause for panic attack. She is actually a very good driver, and with more experience she will improve even more.

The photo was taken while Haley was on spring break, spending a few days at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch at Amarillo where her cousin Charli along with husband Chris are houseparents.

She said she enjoyed her visit there.

I did enjoy the trip with her, it was the first time in quite awhile I had spent one on one time with her. She has grown up so fast, she is already making plans for college and planning to be an orthodontist. We are wondering if she might be a pod child. (Remember the old movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers?"

Grandma in the yellow house, who is proud of all her grandchildren

Fishin' Weekend

Sunshine got 3 days off this past weekend, and we have photos to show how she spent her time. Harley helped, but Haley had other "fish to fry." Pun intended.

These were caught at Quartz Mountain State Park, and they were so heavy "uncle Jackie" had to carry them up the hill to the parking lot. Jackie is Sunshine's brother-in-law, and Harley's uncle.

I asked Sunshine when the fish fry will be and she made it plain she does not clean or cook, she just catches them. I may be waiting for a long time for a bite of fresh fish.

Grandma in the yellow house, who does not go fishing, or clean them, but is willing to cook.

Further Adventures of Serenity

Serenity came for lunch today(along with her Mom, Dad, and Grandpa) and as usual she had an adventure.

Of course she had to taste it to see if it was good to eat.

And check over her handiwork.

It did make a nice pile on the floor. And when she was finished she helped pick it all up and put it back in the tub. That was fun too.

Grandma in the yellow house, who has decided she is no longer able to keep up with an almost 2 year old.