Wednesday, September 30, 2009

What We've Been Up To

September has been super crazy for us. I was gone a week for vacation, then John was gone for a few days to work in Plant City, we threw a big birthday party for Larry, then I was gone for a week for a business trip, then John worked a few more days in Plant City. So, it's been really, really crazy for us. In between all of that, life still goes on.

This is Drue and Lisa's new horse, Rain. I'm in love with her. She's about 14 hands tall and is super sweet. And, she supposedly drives a cart but we're not sure about that. We've been out to see her a couple times so far and I'd like to go ride her some more.


The kids are also playing soccer which means practice Tuesday and Thursday evenings and games on Saturdays. Luckily, they play on the same team - the Micanopy Six Shooters (6 and under team). Will is getting into it and is starting to understand the game. Kaity really doesn't get it yet, but likes the uniform.


My business trip was to the annual Garden Writers Association conference in Raleigh. It's a really nice conference and the bonus was that I got to have dinner with my cousin Sondra one night. GWA is great because of all the free plants you get. We drove a van up and brought back probably close to 100 plants (free and purchased) between the three of us. Here are some of the babies that I've repotted and am hoping to keep alive. I've got some crape myrtles, aloe, gardenia, and a crinum lily in the little pots. The Earth Box is probably ready to be redone, but I haven't gotten to that. Suggestions on what to put in it? Maybe some mums to greet me with fall color? Or veggies?


The kids and I made a bed while John was gone. I didn't take a before shot so you can't see the drastic difference it made. These were all free plants that we received from various vendors at GWA. I planted a bamboo muhly grass in front of the water softener. There's a lorapetalum, some nandina, a couple aloes, and a daylily. In the pot, is another lorapetalum that has white blooms. The kids helped spread the mulch also. The cooler temps in the evenings definitely made this activity more enjoyable.




Here's the bed John built me a couple weeks ago. It has knock out roses and confederate jasmine. Ignore the junk under the porch. The jasmine should fill in and we won't be able to see that.



The chickens absolutely love digging for bugs in this bed. They keep kicking the mulch out, so hopefully this heavier pine bark mulch will stay more in place.


In the midst of all this, it's been the first month of school and adjusting to a new schedule, Will has more schoolwork (and spelling words that he's doing GREAT at!), we have our normal meetings of cattlemen's, 4-H, Ag in the Classroom, etc, every Saturday is Gator Football, and the house is an absolute disaster! I guess that's what happens when one of us is always gone. I'm looking forward to October! Although it promises not to be any slower than September.

Friday, September 18, 2009

Kaity's Dance Moves

Check out the quite talented little miss herself in action. She's got some moves. I think she's a cross between a cheerleader and a dancer.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Anyone Need a New Dog?

"Dixie" showed up 6:30 Thursday morning.  John opened the door and she came bounding in.  She's wearing a gator collar and has a name tag on that says Dixie.  She's young.  Probably less than a year.  I think she's a boxer/pit mix.  

Kaity says since she's lost and we found her that she's ours now.  I'm not so sure about that.

Trip to the District

Over Labor Day, Dad and I went to DC to visit Alli. We did lots, walked lots, and saw lots.

Here's the rundown of what we did.

  • Wednesday evening - flew into DC
  • Thursday - Mount Vernon all day, Fireflies in Del Ray for dinner, FDR and Jefferson Memorials at night
  • Friday - National Mall, Memorials, American History Museum, Ben's Chili Bowl for lunch, National Archives, Jazz in the Garden (met Sarah there), dinner at a very nice Mediterranean restaurant whose name starts with a Z.
  • Saturday - Old Town Market, Eastern Market, lazy day in the afternoon for me, Dad weedeated Alli's yard, bought Alli a grill, Palace of Wonders to see the Skullduggery and Skins burlesque show
  • Sunday - Scottish Festival out in the Virginia countryside
  • Monday - Harper's Ferry and drive through the Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland countrysides with Sarah
  • Tuesday - Georgetown, flew out that night

So, rather than the whole story, I'll just show you a few of the better pictures.



Me at Mount Vernon.  You can barely see the Potomac behind me.



The side of Washington's home that faces the Potomac.



I forgot to take a picture at the beginning of the trip.  Alli and Dad are making fun of me for having to have a picture with the sign.



FDR Memorial at night.  Ruby had a real problem with this fake dog.



At one of the Memorials.  I think Lincoln.  It was hot.  We probably walked 12 miles that day.



WWI Memorial.  I liked it.  It was shady, quiet, and left alone off of the main track.  It had more of a memorial feel than the other popular ones.



Alli's new grill.



At Harper's Ferry

Kaity's Version of the Pledge

Kaity impressed us yesterday by showing us that she knows the whole pledge of allegiance.  Her version is mostly correct.  Here it is.


I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republix for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.


She can even say indivisible!  But, I guess living in the South with Publix as the main grocery store has some influence.  
 

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