Welcome Fall...

Wow! Fall is finally here! The air is crisp and cool and the trees are turning beautiful colors and scarecrows and pumpkins are everywhere. This is my MOST favorite time of the year. We've had such a good time this month. We went to Glenwood, Arkansas. close to Hot Springs for the annual Shriner Golf Unit Tournament on Oct. 11th. We all stayed at the golf lodge and fried fish one night and cooked delicious grilled steaks the next. While the guys played golf, the ladies went shopping or caught up on our reading or just visited. We had some great games of Mexican Train and Texas Hold'em, too. The weather was beautiful. We had a surprise when we got home though. One of our Bradford Pear trees between our house and the next door neighbor's house had fallen over on his house and fence. It was a live tree and there was no wind, it just decided to fall over! Thank goodness there was very little damage done and we had it cut up and hauled off the next day.

Last weekend, Oct. 25th, we had a Fall Fest at our church and it was a big success. We had over 200 people attend and play the games, get their faces painted, jump in the spacewalk, do sand art, bob for apples, do the cakewalk and eat the delicious hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, snow cones and nachos. It was a lot of hard work but everyone had a good time and we got to know some of our neighbors and introduce ourselves to our new community. We plan to do it again next year.

Wednesday night, Oct. 29th, we are having our annual churchwide fall party at Kelly's Seafood Restaurant in Haughton. I always plan the games and entertainment so I hope it will be fun for all.

Looking forward to seeing pictures and hearing all about all of your Fall Fun!!

Buster and Buddy

We had our granddog, Buster with us from last Saturday through Tuesday. Matt and Denise took a well deserved few days off and went out of town, so we got Buster! He's a mixture of Bassett Hound and Labrador Retreiver, or as the vet calls him, a Bassador! He was a good boy at grandma and grandpa's house and he and Buddy got along just great. Buddy wore him out playing tug-of-war constantly. Buddy would not EVER let go, so Buster just slung him around like a rag doll until he ran out of energy. He's a big teddy bear, but I'm sure glad Buddy is a little guy compared to him. He eats like a horse! Mugly just ignored him for the most part, but you could tell that she didn't care for another dog invading her territory!

Our Granddog's Visit!

Ryan's Surgery

On Friday, September 26, 2008, Ryan had to have surgery to repair the duct from his belly button to his bladder. He is so little to have to go through anything like this, but he came through it like a little trooper! These pictures were taken after he woke up from the anesthetic, but he was still a little woozie. He is so CUTE!! And growing like a weed! We are so thankful that his ordeal is over and he is going to be just fine. You can tell by these pictures that he is the apple of his mother's and grandmother's eye!

Ryan Christopher Hardey

Annabeth Pictures

These were taken at our house the day Laura and Annabeth spent with us after Hurricane Ike. She is so precious!

After the Storm

Thank God, Ike didn't do too much damage here in Shreveport. The worst thing was being without electricity but even that had it's positive side. You can talk to each other better if the tv is off and candle light is kind of nice unless you're trying to read or put on your makeup. And at least the weather was a lot cooler, so you could raise the windows and stay pleasantly cool. The best part, since Pam and David's power was still off Laura brought Annabeth over Monday and spent the day with us. She got caught up on her laundry and we got caught up on hers and Brent's lives. And Annabeth was the most perfect baby you could ever imagine. She smiled constantly! We took her to The Glen Nursing home to visit an elderly friend of ours and everyone who saw her just had to touch her or hold her. One lady kissed her tiny feet. She gave everyone lots of smiles and of course they all told us how beautiful she is. We had a great day and Harry and I enjoyed it so much. We're going to miss Laura and Brent when they move to Texas soon.

I DONT' Like Ike!

Well, Gustav gusted and brougnt down a lot of tree limbs in the yard and now Ike is headed our way! We have been praying for the safety of all those in it's path, especially our friends and relatives in Texas. Harry's sister Linda came from Baton Rouge Sunday and stayed with us until Tuesday because she still didn't have electricity at her house. She had fence damage due to a fallen tree and had an electric line down in her yard. When she got back home, they had just repaired her neighborhood.
We went to Crystal's house last Saturday for Josh and Lane's birthday party. We really enjoyed our visit and got lots of hugs and kisses from the kids.
I've been very busy this week and last selling and delivering the Altrusa Calendars. We have just about all of them sold!!! What a relief that is!
Stay safe everyone and let us hear from you.

Thought for Today

You are never too old to set a new goal or start a new dream.
C. S. Lewis

Great picture of Jamie, Brandi and Emma

Well, I just had to add a few more

pictures from our wonderful Labor Day weekend trip to Texas! We made so many good memories with the family. Donna, Joan, Vonda and Steve really went all out to make it a weekend we will cherish forever.

Sunday morning wih Donna, Joan and Emma

Jamie taught the kids how to play poker!!! Even the preacher's kids!!

Donna, Emma, and Mom Brandi

All the kids love to play with Jamie!

Cousin Susan

Nick chillin" in the pool

Four Generations of the Hurt Family

Here are some of the memories we made this Labor Day Weekend in Texas

Donna and Kristi working on
a great dinner.

The Kids--Leah, Cody, Nick, Emma, Jordan and Bekah

NaNa Donna and Emma Faith

Cody flying high!

Jordan and Steve

Jamie and Emma

Leah and Mike

Bekah and Mike

Nick and Mike

Texas Trip

This has been a fun-filled weekend starting Friday with our visit with our ole' cousin Raymond Risk in Fort Worth. He showed us around town and we ended up in the old Stockyards for a great steak dinner. We really enjoyed our visit and got all caught up on everyone in the Risk family. Raymond walks 5 miles or so every day and up to 20 miles on the weekends. He's in top notch shape and has not aged a bit since we saw him 5 or 6 years ago!
Saturday, we went over to McKinney and got to see Jamie, Brandi and Baby Emma. She is a CUTIE! She's such a happy baby and wakes up with a big smile on her face. We went to Vonda and Steve's Saturday afternoon for a great cook-out with all the trimmings. Donna and Joan and Vonda went all out! It was so good to get to be with them and Mike and Kristi and their kiddos. Cody and Jordan enjoyed being with their cousins, too, and Emma gave all her kisses to Jordan! Susan, Frank, Cathy and David were there. too, so we had a great reunion! I took pictures all weekend, till both sets of batteries ran out of juice...so be prepared.
It seems that all we did was eat!!!!!!!Joan and Donna fixed a delicious brunch for us Sunday, so we all got another good visit before heading back to Louisiana. Wow! What a great time we had!

Great Grandmother Joan and Emma

Kristi and Donna

David and Cathy

Brandi, Emma, and Jamie

Kristi and Mike

Vonda and Steve

The Guys

Sweet Baby Emma

Emma and Aunt Rosie

Thoughts for Today

Tomorrow's happiest memories may be the things you do with your family today...No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?
Sometimes I'm surprised by the experiences of my life that have turned out to be my fondest memories: the never-ending car trips, the trivial spats I had with my brother Tommy when we were kids, those embarrassing home movies and pictures, jokes, and hugs and kisses from old aunts and grandmothers. I treasure these experiences and find now that no matter how I felt at the time, today reliving those memories makes me smile.

Jamie, Donna and Baby Emma Faith

Fun Days

Well, today was a REALLY fun day! I had to have injections in my neck to try to relieve some of the bad pain I've been experiencing more and more of lately. They actually knock you out somewhat and you have to have an IV, but it wasn't too bad and I already feel better! Like I said earlier, "Old age isn't for sissies!!"

Harry and I are going to Fort Worth Friday and have dinner with ol' cuz Raymond if he's available, then we're going on to McKinney Saturday for a sort of Hurt Family Reunion! My great nephew Jamie and Brandi and their 7 month old baby, Emma Faith, are coming from California. I can't wait to get my hands on her! We'll also get to see Michael and Kristi and their 3 great kids, who now live in Victoria, Tx, where he is the pastor of Parkway Church. We haven't seen them or their kids, Nick, Leah and Bekah for over a year. Susan and Frank (cousins from S'port) and their daughter, Cathy and her new husband David who live in Little Elm, Tx will also be there. We're all going to party and visit at Steve and Vondas's house with Jordan and Cody, Donna Marie (my neice and Jamie's mother and very proud grandmother of Emma Faith) and Joan, my wonderful sister-in-law and the Matriarch of this family. We can hardly wait! So start looking for pictures whan we get back home (I've started using Harry's camera since mine got killed on Ellerbe Road!)

My Sale-ing Buddies: Gerry Barnes, Doreen Blyler and Me

A SALE-ING WE GO !!

What a fun day we had sale-ing Friday! We got a late start because the four of us who play Mah Jongg on Thursday nights, plus Doreen, cooked and took lunch to our friend Carole, who just had back surgery. Gerry and I both left bids on things and we both got them! I bought a new Ethan Allen sofa for our church for $220.00(!!!!) and Gerry got a pretty dressing table for her daughter, Taylor. I also bought a beautiful lamp and some other smaller goodies and Gerry and Doreen found some treasures, too.

Today, Saturday, we had a work day at the church and two much younger women and I painted the Narthex. Would you believe that a group of about 8 women picked out the color in just about 2 minutes!! And some people don't believe in miracles! It looks so beautiful and the new sofa and other furniture looks great in it. Now we only have the other 6 rooms to do in that building!

I don't know about the other two, but when we finished painting and got everything cleaned up, I was sore, tired and achy that I could barely walk. I came home and took a hot bath and got into my gown and took a long nap! It's hard for me to believe that I can't do as much as I used to do without paying for it later. Old age ain't for sissies!!

It was a great day, though, and all of us together accomplished a whole lot and had great Christian fellowship while doing it.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Kenny's grandchildren, Hannah, Kaylie and Lane

Crystal's Kids

Proud Grandmother, Pam and all of her grandchildren

Emma, Seth, Pam, Eden, Rosie, Fox, Erin, Harry and Annabeth

These last 2 weeks have been the best part of our summer. Saturday before last, we got to be with Crystal's precious children. They are the cutest litttle stairsteps and baby Hannah keeps right up with Kaylie and Lane. They play so well together and Lane really looks after his sisters.
Then last weekend, we got to meet Fox and see Eden for the first time since Christmas. We also got togehter with Laura and Brent and sweet Annabeth, and Shelley and her little ones. Seth and Emma are getting so big, we can't call them "little ones" much longer. It's a shame we can't give them all "midget pills"! Fox is so cute! He definately looks like a Thompson! And Eden is looking more like Mandy as she gets older. She has the same curly hair and her smile is just like Mandy's. On Saturday afternoon, we all got together for a fish fry at Pam and David's and got to see Spencer and Candace's tiny baby, Ryan Christopher. We lined them all up on the sofa and took their picture. Joey, Hope, Gabrielle, Stephen, Julie and Holli and her friend Mike were there, too. It was so great to be with all of our kids and most of our grandkids and great-grandkids. I know that I didn't have anything to do with the gene pool of all these wonderful people, but I could not be prouder of them or love them more if I had given birth to each and every one. I feel so priviledged to be a member of this family and call you all my children.

I had one bad mishap Saturday. I forgot and left my camera on the side of the truck when we left to go to the fish fry and missed it about half way there, so we went back and there it was in Ellerbe Road and it had been run over and smushed! I was able to retrieve the card, so my pictures were not lost, but I couldn't take pictures at the fish fry! Harry said I did it on purpose so I could get a new camera.

Other than that, we had a great time Saturday. The food was excellent and you couldn't beat the company!

This is my first attempt to add pictures to my blog, and again, thanks to Shelley, who walked me through it on the phone, I can do it!!!!!
This picture was taken at the Johnson Ranch this spring. We took a wildflower tour in Texas and saw some really spectacular scenery.

This was taken this spring at the Johnson Ranch while we were on our Texas Wildflower Tour.

Yea!!! Thanks to Shelley, I have now entered the world of BLOGGING! I'm so excited! I hope Harry and I will have some "happenings" to talk about. We both lead busy lives, but it's all pretty mundane stuff. My BIG thing this whole summer has been producing the Altrusa Club Civic and Cultural Events Calendar, which is our yearly fundraiser. It's a really big job which requires countless hours of phone calls and computer work. I have it all on my computer and except for proofreading, I pretty much do the whole thing myself. Today, I feel as though a heavy weight has been lifted because I took it to the print shop for the final printing!! It's a wonderful relief. I feel like I've sent my baby off to camp!

Harry's been very busy all summer with the relocation of our church. He is the chairman of the board and everything concerning the sale of our old building and the move to the new one and the purchase of the new building has had to be run by the board. It's been really tiring and it takes a lot of diplomacy to accomplish such a thing, but Harry has been the right person for the job! He is always such a peacemaker and gets along well with everyone.

Well, enough for this first time. I think this is going to be fun!
Thanks again, Shelley. You make it seem so easy!