Late May Birthday Party

Can you guess that the theme was John Deere??  Ayden's cake in center of table.

l to r: shelby, Carol A, Ava, Gary

The birthday boy on dad's lap.

l to r:  sam, shannon, ayden, ?,?, Carol E.

Opening presents.  Ayden reminded us of Greatgrandma Ella as he was VERY carefull with the wrappings.

Ava wants a cupcake!!

Korby wants a cupcake, too.

The John Deere cutie.

Full face.

Shannon's dad, Sam, Kim, Korby.

I think Kim was excited that all of the candles were finally lit on Sam's cake.

We had lots of good food and desserts to go along with the cakes.

Thanks to Kim and Shannon.

Big Rain While Ron was in Maryland!!

The boat ramp was a roaring rapids as well as the rip-rap lined ditch down from the burn barrel.

The new rock wall along drive behind house was diverting some of the water that flows from the second tier and past the garage.  The asphalt drive also handles a lot of water.

The parking area was washing away as the culvert was blocked with branches and leaves from "cathedral cove".

The water down the boat ramp was NOT flowing where it was supposed to!!  Need to raise the boards across the deck supports so the water can flow thru to the lake.  We had a lot of rock and dirt wash into the walkway under the deck.

Muddy water flowing from second tier past garage, thru upper rock garden, across asphalt and then over the steps by the rental.  Washed out a lot of dirt and smaller rocks.  I've chipped an "overflow" spillway into the concrete retaining wall to divert the water into the flower garden spillway to hopefully prevent this.

Water finally runs down steps in lower rock garden and over seawall into the lake.  This water was "met" by the flood coming around the cathedral side and running under the deck.  A mess but so far nothing structurally damaged.  They opened up the dam enough so that the river below was almost out of its banks.  The two docks below the new bridge were sticking straight out and almost a little bit "upward"!! 

 The middle road down to Liebler's was washed badly as was Robin Road.  Have those passable but still need some more work.

Photos from Bob for TX trip

Tried to get this to load correctly twice and am giving up.  From top to bottom: Ron, Carol E., Gail, & Bob.  We have life preservers on as we got off of the pontoon to walk to this nature training site.  Most of lumber came from downed trees from hurricane.  That is a mangrove "swamp"/"bayou" behind us.

White orchid

Crested heron

Little green heron "fishing"

The heron rookery:  Bottom left ??heron, roseate spoonbill, 2 or 4 egrets, and bottom right another ??heron

Thanks Bob for the CD

Skate Party - other shots

Ashley (blonde) is helping McKenzie (friend of Sammi) around the floor.  Sammi says the guy in front in white shirt is Richie.  I thought it was Justin who is now taller than his dad!!

The crab walk race was a new event.  Probably because Maryland is noted for crabs??  Boys lined up on side wall and had to walk upside down across the rink.  Don't remember if any prizes were awarded or not??  Justin did good.  He is in white shirt and in second place.

Ben (Rachel's "squeeze"), Rachel and Justin

I have no idea what this is all about.  I think I had a nice shot of Kelly and Sammi with Brandon just seconds before this, but my camera response time in low light is REALLY SLOW!  Something must have occurred behind me.

May have more pictures when I can get Rachel's camera (used by Eric) downloaded.

Skating Party - Sammi's 9th Birthday

Waiting in line for the birthday parties in front of us to move into the rink.  Sammi is front left, Eric is the tall guy and Ashley has on a light grey hoody.  It had rained all the way to the rink, stopped so we could get in "dry" and then it POURED.

Sammi putting on her white socks and then roller skates.

Getting started around the floor.  Kelly, Sammi, friend, daughter of bus driver, Marrisa, friend, bus driver (school) Karen in blue, unknown guy.

Pizza time.  There are six areas like this that are set up for birthday parties.  Very well organized.   Sammi is in middle to right of girl with pink cap.  Eddie is in back with red shirt.

You have to imagine that the candles on the cupcakes are lit.  Sammi with pink/red sash is about to blow all nine of them out.  Rachel is near the end of the table sitting down and facing camera.

Sammi opening cards and presents.  Michelle (aunt) is in pink blouse in background.  Marrisa (cousin) is to the left with the black blouse and glasses.  She has really grown up and become a young independent lady.  The party ran from 12:30 to 4:30 so I'm sure there were lots of tired kids that night.  Maybe even nursing a few bruises, etc.  I decided not to skate although I really wanted to.  They played contemporary music which kept the kids reved up!!

Carol's camera Shangri La Flowers and containers.

Dress up your fountain with dusty miller

Put a little red and white in your big iron kettle

Line your sidewalk with wandering Jew.  Yep, that is Ron and Gail to the left.

Play tic-tac-toe with green lines, yellow marigolds and purple petunias

Line the end of your greenhouse

Put a few posies in your LARGE ceramic bowls

Blend red with variegated leafy stuff.

Hey, I'm getting old and don't remember the names of many of the stuff we saw!!

More of Carol's view - Shangri La Orchids, etc.

TX-ARK trip thru Carol's camera -- Shangri La, Orange TX

A front view of the discovery zone building.  Ron and Gail are to the left.  Representative animals are suspended from the ceiling.  All glass sides to allow viewing outside into gardens.  Many timbers used to construct came from downed trees when hurricane hit.

Gail and Ron looking for frogs in the frog pond.  Actually there are NO FROGS, but the pond was built for them.  They don't stay around.  Evidently the natural swamp is more "attractive"

Mural designed by daughter of Bob and Gail but done by a student??  It is right by the butterfly and herb gardens.

A whimsical bench couple!!

A whimsical boat couple!!

This is a two handled pump that kids can work up and down like a teeter totter and it will water the plants in the background.  No that is not MAX!!