Redbuds and Wrens

Monday, January 21, 2013

Elmo wishes Andy a Happy 1st Birthday!

Andy has invited his family and friends to celebrate his 1st Birthday!

He is a sweet boy with the best parents.

A special day, for a wonderful boy and a great time!

Love,

Elmo

Everyone!

Monday, July 9, 2012

Welcome baby Aiden!

In the scorching, sweltering heat of the summer the Long family has been blessed with the arrival of:

A handsome and dapper baby boy!

Wishing his mother and dad, Heather and Derek, "Congratulations and Best Wishes"! You have showered us with joy and happiness upon the arrival of little Aiden Ryan! May the coming days bring smooth sailing and the making of many cherrished memories!

photo credit: http://www.nauticexpo.com/cat/multihull-sailboat/sailboats-cruising-catamarans-VN717-_2.html.

Love,

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Greetings from Missouri ~ the Show Me State

We arrived at our destination, Land's End Condominiums, Osage Beach, Missouri early afternoon on Thursday. For a peek inside, it's listed under vrbo 65127.

After having lunch, it was fun to get out and explore our surroundings.

The time was filled with plenty of laughs, giggles, screams of excitement and smiles.

It was only a four hour pontoon ride, but it was a great four hour pontoon ride!

After an eight hour drive and afternoon spent at the pool we began to relax in our comfortable surroundings to a good night's rest. I arrose at the break of dawn, made myself a cup of coffee and relaxed on the screened patio to take in the sites, sounds, smells and peaceful calm.

Our time was filled with activity.

"Here I will spend my leisure, secure from the worries of business and the excitement of city life. I will fish and loaf and explore the caves of these hills, with no fear of intrusion."

-Robert McClure Snyder about the property he bought to build Ha Ha Tonka Castle

Quote from the website: legendsofamerica.com

If you desire to view the above website, it's interesting to read how the castle got it's name and met it's destruction.

Cleveland Indians vs. St. Louis Cardinals

We headed back to St. Louis on Saturday and took in the St. Louis Arch. It was interesting to learn the fore sight that Thomas Jefferson had for this area and it's contribution to the expansion of America to the west. Everyone had smiles when we joined together. My family went to the top and I viewed a movie on the making of the Arch. It all worked out great.

We spent a beautiful Saturday night viewing one of our favored baseball games.

It was filled with music, excitement for the kids with character mascots, catching baseballs and getting their gloves autographed by their favored team players.

Thanks to the most wonderful posts created by Pat of http:// backporchmusings.typepad.com./, I was able to enjoy this family trip planned since last Christmas. It had everything that I was looking and hoping for that would interest everyone in our group. Even though I'm recuperating from a broken leg, I was able to participate with the long awaited plans of our family trip. By getting in the lazy river children's pool at the condo, I was able to get in and exercise to help rehabilitate my leg and the walking helped to get me trying harder at it. Dennis and I were both tired. He from driving the distance and assisting me in getting around in hilly terrain really took a lot out of him. Our meals depended on where we were and what we were doing at the time and I think that drained his energy too. Do to the terrain, I used my wheel chair often and walked with my walker when possible, but the riding for the duration and not elevating my leg like I normally would do, caused it to swell and stiffen. I'm so appreciative for the great family time we shared and wouldn't have traded it for the world.

Pat has the most beautiful photographs and her writing style is so enjoyable. You'll want to keep coming back for more once you've read just a couple of her posts. That's how I became hooked on a cold, snowy January night when I referred to my laptop for inspiration. I noticed that she had just visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina and we had just taken a family trip there before Christmas and thouroughly enjoyed the candle light tour. After viewing her lovely photos and reading about her preparations for Christmas, I couldn't wait to read her review of their experience traveled there. She's gracious, kind, open and most generous with her helpful creative insights. She's assisted my recuperation process on a daily basis through here blogging. I always look forward to her newest thought, idea or creation for they are always stunning and executed to a "T".

Have a wonderful summer.

Be safe,

Love,

Monday, April 16, 2012

A Room That Little Boys Are Made Of.

Life is full of changes and new chapters. After our youngest son moved to an apartment across town, we decided his old room would be a logical guest room for our two sweet grandsons when they come to visit.

So, on the first weekend, after picking out a cute little boy blue, Dennis helped me to paint the room and transform it into something appropriate and comfortable for them to enjoy and stay in while visiting.

On the following Tuesday morning, I got up early after working the night before and was anxious to finish the white trim. I made myself a cup of coffee and proceeded to the room with it in hand and an arm load of some necessary tools. After being up and down the ladder a few times moving it along as I went, one time would prove to result in a very unfortunate accident with an extended period of healing time. After repairative surgery and time spent healing a broken bone below the knee, the time and desire had finally come to finish the room.

Part of my inspiration to decorate the room came from an enjoyable trip with our grands on a beautiful spring day to Carriage Hill Metro Park. Carriage Hill is a great place children love. It's all about life in the 1880's. There are demonstrations and reconstructed life style activities. At times someone can be making a wonderfully aromatic meal of fried chicken and bisquits in the summer kitchen while ladies might be quilting in the parlor. Outside, are other smells of coal and scented woods from a fire for the blacksmith who is busy at work. There are farm animals of the time.

It's great to see a pony for the first time! An earlier encounter.

You also know you're growing up when you ride one for the first time at a carnival.

Tucker's first ride.

It wouldn't be a really comfortable room if it didn't include baseball. Especially Cleveland Indians baseball. Grandpa remains a tried and true Cincinnati Reds baseball fan so there is always a little friendly team rivalry bantering going on.

Dennis put together the bunk beds that Jamie and Matt had given us that they were no longer using. This set of bunk beds were used by Matt and his brother, Brian, growing up. They look very well homemade and I'm curious to hear more of the story behind them. Dennis helped me to make the beds also.

The comfortors were picked up at a steel of a price on clearance at WalMart. The stuffed ponies were also on after Christmas clearance. I thought they added, warmth, comfort and softness not to mention a sweet memory.

While viewing Pinterest this weekend, I came across free letter and numbers to download to use for art projects. They are by Leo Reynolds on Flickr. After downloading letters and numbers I liked, I went to Picnik to create the collage to use as framed artwork.