Birthdays and the Mississippi Pilgrimage

On Sunday the 27th of March we celebrated Jesse’s 28th  Birthday. Since her brother-in-law, Ryan has his birthday the same week we celebrated for both of them.

Gideon helps Aunt Jesse open her present. 

On Monday the 28th I packed up and left early the next morning to go to Mississippi to meet up with Darryl. He was staying in lovely town of Columbus, Mississippi, Birthplace of Tennessee Williams. This town has scores of beautiful Antebellum homes and the week we were there they were celebrating their Pilgrimage, the time once a year when people open their homes and gardens for tours. Below is a small sample of some of the beautiful homes in Columbus.

This home is called “White Arches” circa 1857. An eclectic mix of several different types of architecture.  As you would drive by these pieces of living history you would see southern Belles sitting on the porches or walking in the gardens. They were volunteers from the Air Force Base. I am sitting in front of the Barrister house, the bed and breakfast where we stayed.  This is Jackie who co-owns and operates the Barrister House and also manages the gardens at Homewood, Circa 1836.  Darryl and I in front of the pool and gardens at Homewood. The house is there but the gardens are designed to show off the stone artwork from Nigeria Africa.  

The front of Homewood.

The back of Homewood where the old house blends with the new addition and the garden.

Driving around this town is like taking a crash course in  in pre-Civil War Architecture.

  Most of these homes have names out in front and a sign that tells you when the home was built.

 

A close up of the stonework at Homewood Gardens.

And the Barrister House. Circa 1832.

Quilts and Gardens

Just over a month ago this is what it looked like here. Luckily the snow melt is here and it is beginning to look like spring.

I also finished the Birthday quilt for little Mary Alice (Maggie).

And finally, I noticed something exciting happening in my flower beds. Last year we dug up the beds and sorted out all of the bulbs and then replanted them. Now they are peeking up through the ground.

And finally, these last pictures are for Darryl so he can see how much the snow has melted.

Spring is almost here!!! Yippee!!

OUCH!!! No Wonder it Hurt!!

It happened around the 1st of March. I was running down a quiet street in Laie, Hawaii when a sharp pain shot through my ankle. I had a lot of fun still waiting for me in the Aloha State so I wrapped it up tight and kept going..... for the next 10 days.

It kept hurting and nagging me but I was undaunted. I was a little shocked at how swollen it got when I flew home, but it was bearable. I even taped it up on Saturday and power walked my first 5K. Sunday it was extremely sore, more than normal and last night it hurt so bad I had trouble sleeping. This morning I had enough and finally went to the Dr. to get an X-Ray.

Diagnosis: Broken Fibula in the ankle. Miraculously, it was still in alignment, so the Dr. put me in a knee high stability boot for the next 4-6 weeks. I hope I am a quick healer! I want to get back to running.

A Message From Parker

Hi everyone, it's me, Parker. I want to tell you what a great Saturday we had here in Idaho. It was a fun day. (Hey.... Don't you love my new outfit that Nana got for me?)

First thing Saturday, Mommy and Grandma went to the park to run a race. Well, Mommy ran but grandma just walked it real, real fast because she had a hurt ankle.

Mommy was fast and beat grandma by a lot. Probably because she's an experienced runner, but she was proud of grandma for not wimping out and going the whole 5k distance.

Yea for Grandma Cindy!! And to think that a year ago she couldn't even walk without a handful of painkillers or a cane. Grandma's time was 44:41. That's walking a 14:32 mile. I don't know if that's good or not but for grandma it's great!!

This is Adam. He works with Grandpa and Grandma at Dome Technology and this was his first race. He ran the 10k race.
He and Grandma are the "DOME RUNNERS".
*********
Saturday afternoon was the best!!!!

Sunday is Gideon's 3rd Birthday and Mommy and Daddy threw him a BIG Party on Saturday!!!!
Mommy put on a great buffet with lots of delicious food.

Everyone ate and visited and then it was time to ......

Play Games!!! It was a Back Yardigans party and the game was stick the bow tie on Pablo!

The little kids didn't have to use the blind fold. I didn't get to play.. I was keeping Papa busy.

After Games it was time for Gideon to blow out the candles on his cake. Where are the candles you ask? They are the little stars on the sticks. Gideon is good at blowing out the candles. One puff and they were all out!

Then Gideon opened TONS and TONS of presents!! Wow!!! He is soooo spoiled. But it's okay because he always shares with me.

After the presents it was time to eat cake and Ice Cream. Ashlynn and Eden did the serving.

Grandma, I am so proud of you for doing your race today I am going to give you a big surprise!!!!

A great big slobbery wet kiss!!! I love you grandma!

Oh.... and this is Gideon's new girlfriend Eden. He calls her Edie. I guess those college guys better watch out. Gideon is stealing their girl.

That was our Saturday. I hope your's was just as fun.