Grandpaparazzi's Neighborhood

3/19/2011

Great Grandad Visits Orchard Park

GGD went to see the new Senior Living facility where he is planning to move next.
He was greeted by his friend Sharon, whom we became friends with at Stonefield Assisted Living, his previous home.

He also was greeted by another friend from Stonfield, who is now working at Orchard Park.
Small world.

3/18/2011

Grass To Garden: Driveway Planting Bed

After 4 years of study and discussion, we finally moved ahead on the 'do something with the sloping patch of weedy grass next to the driveway' project.

We started by detaching the fence panels and wiring them up to the neighbor's fence. This gave us access to the space behind the fence posts, provided storage for our fence, and partially hid the neighbor's fence. We were surprised about how much the extra 18 inches opened up the space.

This is looking toward the street. The gray bricks on top of the red retaining wall are temporary. They will be used to make a pad for the trash bins. Later. Some day.

We got 3 cubic yards of 'soil blend' from the Plano/Collin County recycling plant. They take in yard waste and turn it into mulch and other garden products, and sell it.

Mimi was ready to do her part unloading the trailer!

Here's the view back toward the shed, after filling in with the new soil.

... and the view toward the front.

We can hardly wait to plant some veggies and flowers!

3/16/2011

Meet

Gaylord Texan

We (finally!) got visit the Gaylord Texan thingy - thanks to our friends Carol and Dick Best (see them in the background.

This is them in front of the mosaic fountain wall at the Texan Grill restaurant, where we had a yummy lunchner on the way home from DFW. Thanks, Dick and Carol!

3/14/2011

Daffodils in the Dark

Since Jessica showed off her Spring flowers, I thought it proper that we should do the same. Except when I thought of it, it was dark outside. Not to be deterred, here is a photo of our daffodils - at night.

3/08/2011

Pancake Day - 2011

Today we celebrated Pancake Day (aka Shrove Tuesday - thanks, Jessica, for calling it to our attention!) We began with authentic almost home-made ingredients.

Batter complete - all natural, no artificial sweetners.

First cake onto the skillet.

Add all the tasty enhancements - all natural, no MSG.

Enjoy the fruits of our labor!

Of course, we being us, we each had to make our own version, in our own way, on our own time.

Blueberry (the nasty looking ones), pecans, and cranberries... yum!

We ate separately, too. Of course.

(First to Blog!!)

2/14/2011

Valentine Day

Big celebration today... starting with mailing calendars to Julie and Jessica, breakfast at LaMadeleine, returning an item to Belk's, and getting cold medicine at CVS.

Also, a stop at the library to pick up a Book of Lists - very intriguing, by the way.

Then home to veg out the rest of the day.

Aaah...

2/12/2011

Breakfast at IKEA

As soon as we arrived, Naomi took charge of the kids' area in the cafe. She and Pa watched cartoons on the small TV while Mimi, Danielle and Jenny got breakfast.

Danielle likes feeding herself. She did a great job, in spite of the largeness of the spoon.

After breakfast and shopping were completed, Mimi gave Naomi and Danielle an exciting ride in the shopping cart.

As usual, it was a fun outing for everyone!

2/08/2011

Christopher

Christopher at preschool, reading with a friend.

He sometimes sits cross-legged. Very regal.

Happy to be eating blueberries. He ate the whole batch...

John

John leaping after gymnastics - he wanted some time to play 'in the grass' (outside the gymnastics center).

Playing with wooden toys made by his Grandpa Mike.

Sliding on his fort in the back yard.

2/02/2011

Off to the Park

Christopher loves beans! (as well as practically every other kind of food...)

Today after school, Julie and Pa took the Three Amigos to Camelot Park for an outdoor play time, since yesterday was cool and kind of misty. No, this is not a police cruiser - Keats is in the back behind the dog screen.

John climbed.

James climbed.

Andy climbed, and Julie had heart flutters.

Keats kept a close eye on the proceedings.

Off To Clemson: Escaping the Storm

Off we go, to Grandcamp East, once more! We headed east just before the 'Superstorm of 2011' hit our area.

Each time we go through Shreveport-Bossier City, there are a couple of B-52's practicing touch-and-go landings at Barksdale AFB. As old as they are, they are still an imposing aircraft...

As soon as we got there, we gathered up the boys and headed to Fuddrucker's for some good grub. My, how they've grown in just 8 weeks!

Christopher is quite a block builder, now.

And generally very happy!

Both boys enjoy playing with John's collection of miniature cars - mostly "Cars" movie characters.

Chili Lunch for Teachers

One of Mimi's many activities is working with a team of ladies from Christ Fellowship Church to provide monthly luncheons for the teachers at Webb Elementary School near downtown.

This month, the ladies provided several varieties of home-made chili, with all the fixin's.

As always, the teachers seemed to enjoy the meal and attention.

1/20/2011

Hooray For Panasonic!

Due to an unfortunate interaction with gravity, my little Lumix camera developed a case of 'stuck lens' - aka, broken.

Upon visiting the Panasonic web site, I submitted a warranty request. They responded with a case number and instructions for sending the camera in for replacement.

And... a week later, back came a factory-refurbished brand-new-looking camera!