Jefferson Election 2008

Ah, the unique joys of living in a small town...during an election year! First, for months..there have been signs of all sizes and shapes plastered along each roadside, extolling the virtues of each candidate. I think the road department may have removed our street sign, because it covered some of the signs!!!

Ah, the joys of having an "old southern" courthouse circle. It got a little dangerous, yesterday, voting day, as at least 8-10 sign waving people were gathered on all 4 entrances of the circle, seeking our votes. It wasn't dangerous for them...only those of us who had to wave at all our friends, shout words of encouragement, and NOT run into the car (or school bus) ahead of us, as, of course we had to make the complete circle, so we wouldn't miss anyone.

Ah, the joys of living in a mostly Democrat county, when you are a Republican. Since many of the important races have no Republican candidates, the Democrat who wins the Primary goes on to serve in that position. I didn't even get to vote for my School Superintendant or Sheriff :(

Ah, the joys of living outside the Tallahassee newspaper coverage. As I got up this morning, we heard snippets of results...but not complete...So......checked the paper.NOPE...every county in the big bend EXCEPT Jefferson! Not to despair..got on the computer google searched Jefferson County election results...they had some listings from 2004...then got on the Tallahassee newspaper website...went through all the headings clicked "more", and got terribly excited when I saw Jefferson County news! However, the article explained that at 2AM this morning, a state trooper couldn't see two completely black cows, who had escaped their pasture off US 19 S. Fortunately, the trooper escaped with minor injury, his cruiser totaled, and the two cows are now grazing in greener pastures. Sooooo, as I was driving this morning, through the circle at the courthouse, there were people with signs standing and waving??? They were the WINNERS...thanking their supporters for the victories!!! Who needs the paper OR the internet...I should have known to go to town to find out who won!!

I did not include pictures this time, because I left my brand new camera in the float boat on Lake Burton. Ah, the joys of "Senior Moments"!!

Concerts

Reading Meagen's blog about The Jonas Brothers' concert brought back some cool memories. Don't get me wrong, Dean and I were NOT big concert goers. So, when Meagen asked if we could remember our first concert, well, I can count them all on one hand!

Our first concert was at FSU, as were two of the others. They usually accompanied Homecoming activities. The Lettermen came our Sophmore year. We loved their song, "Unchained Melody" and our favorite of theirs, "Goin' Out of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off of You". This was such a great concert, I couldn't wait until the next one!

I was so excited to hear that Paul Anka was coming to campus. Of course, this is how I remembered Paul Anka from the 60's. A REAL heartthrob, along with Frankie Avalon, and Bobby Darin. I couldn't wait to see him in person, and hear "Puppy Love". This was a "comeback" tour for him, and I wondered what his new songs would be like, as well. Dean and I got there, all excited, and then this "OLD MAN" walked out on the stage...what happened to that gorgeous head of hair????

He did sing "Puppy Love", and his new song, "Put Your Head On My Shoulder" was a big hit!!

I couldn't really brag to my friends about his concert, because, he later came out with the all time "sexist pig" hit, "Having My Baby"!! No self respecting women's libber ever drooled over Paul Anka, again!! Besides, he had lost all that beautiful HAIR!!

The last concert at FSU was the BEST!!! It was again, Homecoming...Seminole Pow - Wow. We even invited Dean's parents to attend...The emcee was Richard Pryor, and after the litigy of "Blue", Dean's parents politely left!! They missed the concert, but that probably didn't matter to them. Out on the field came The Ike and Tina Turner Review. That was the first time I had actually seen the group, but had been listening to their tunes. Well, let me tell you, I was physically exhausted,especially after "Proud Mary". Miriam and I had a half way decent imitation of that dance!!! We were a LOT younger, so don't ask.....

Our last concert was another comeback tour. The Righteous Brothers got back together in the 70's and appeared at Busch Gardens. Though they were indeed "older", the sound was magic! I could listen to Bill Medley's mellow bass voice forever!! They had one new hit, "Rock and Roll Heaven", which I love, but , as Top Gun afficionados will agree their best..."You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" can still bring down the house!

The very last concert I attended, Dean did not even go. My friend, Adie and I took our boys to a concert in Tampa....the group? A very popular and entertaining group that sang and danced across the stage to such tunes as " Blame It On The Rain" and "I'm Gonna Miss You". I believe this is the group that influenced Adam and David to transform our living rooms into "recording studios", as they "performed" for hours at a time, when they got together...Yes, this was the group, Milli Vanilli, who were later exposed as "frauds", because they actually Lip-synched all of their songs, not just on stage, but did not even sing their songs on their first records. I DO remember that they were extremely entertaining and LOUD! I guess, when you don't have to actually sing, they can pump the volume up as loud as they want!!

So, except for one other appearance by Kenny Rogers...I guess it can count as a "concert", though it was a small venue with assigned seats, that is the extent of our concert going... "Aging Boomers" enjoy going to Broadway shows, or Vegas venues, where we are inside, cool, and NOT too far from a comfortable BATHROOM!!

New to Ranching?

As many of you know, we lease part of our land to the Tuten's. They are a ranching and farming family who have lived in Monticello for awhile, now. They raise beef cattle, and keep about 100 "Mamas" on our property. The bulls come in to do their "job", but do not "live" on the property. The Mamas have their babies in December, after about a 9 month pregnancy. This is truly an exciting time, as the babies are such fun to watch. They struggle to their feet, wobbly at first, and then playfully kick up there heels and do what all youngsters do...PLAY!!!

The Mamas are truly caring and protective of their calves. Aside from the nourishment, they protect their calves from predators. I have yet to see or hear of a calf lost to coyotes, as we experienced with the goats on our property. They appear to work as a unit in this protection, as they also share the "calf-sitting" duties. We have noticed on many occasions, one or two Mamas with many of the young ones, while the others are away grazing. Those six months are such fun to watch and observe, not only the antics of the young ones, but the "loving" nature of the Mamas.

This is the very saddest part of the year. The calves are now big enough to sell and take to market. Gary and his crew, ride their horses on the property, separate the calves and Mamas, and load the calves in a trucks to send to their next stage. I believe they take them to the midwest, where they are grain fed and grow to a " marketable" size.

Left behind, the now pregnant females, prepare to deliver their new babies in December. But, the sad part is, they loudly mourn and search for their "babies" over the next two or three days! Every time you drive near them, it is almost like they are asking you for help in locating their errant "kids". They literally bellow and "scream" for them for days...I know that steaks and hamburger are a large part of our diet...and that these cows are raised for that specific purpose...but still...the Mama in me suffers with them.

Welcome to America... Happy Birthday

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Friday, July 4th, Lori and Adam had a party with friends and family to celebrate America's and Ellie's birthday. What a wonderful day we had! The weather was perfect and the company was grand. Great Grandpa, "Sweet Willie", met Ellie for the first time. His impressions?? Remembering that he does not see too well (macular degeneration) " She certainly is a strong little girl!" He told all his prayer group in Monticello about the party, and what a great time he had. He also bragged about how well Adam and his friends took care of keeping him out of the sun!! He is so proud of Adam and Lori....he thinks they are doing everything right.

Grandpa and Grandma spent a ton of time in the water with the grands. Though prunes look a lot better than we did, we had a great time! We saw fish, found shells and sand dollars, dove, acted silly and played like kids. I heard a great saying the other day, that applies to us.... "Growing old is necessary, but growing up is optional."

It was wonderful celebrating with friends and family! A great time was had by all!!

Daddy's 90th Birthday in Biloxi

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We all had a great time with Daddy in Biloxi. Though no one "struck it rich", we were rich in love and family memories. It had been a long time since the cousins had all gotten together with their grandpa at the same time.

Daddy thought that he would never make it to fifty years, much less ninety. He has said, "If I had known that I would make it this long, I would have taken much better care of myself." Though he couldn't see well, his smile stayed on for days, as he visited with everyone.

Our Friend, Bill Hall......Happy Birthday to you

Watermelon Festival 2008

Today, June 21st was the 58th Annual Watermelon Festival Parade. There were queens, Grand Marshalls, Volunteers, and because of the election year....politicians, politicians and politicians!

Dean drove the little car, and the Grand Marshall, his wife, two kids, his mama and a few extra nieces and nephews. I don't know how they all got in there, but they became a close knit group. For those of you who do not recognize Super Bowl cornerback for the New York Giants, Sam Madison, he is a local football hero, former 4X Pro Bowler with the Miami Dolphins, who was the Grand Marshall for the parade. Dean says his Super Bowl ring was huge.

This is our Altrusa Float. We won for the best Civic Group float. Yes, that is me as the "Reader"..I got that position on the float for two reasons...after 8 years in Monticello, I am still the new kid on the block and I taught school soooo...I was in charge of the little ones riding. My friends know, that I intentionally NEVER taught below the second grade, but as usual, I learned a thing or two from these little ones, especially Gabbie, who is my new "Best Friend"!

This is Gabbie holding, "David", a snail she picked up in the parking lot before climbing up onto the float. For the life of me, I could see no snail, but since I had no glasses on to see, I guarded him with my life throughout the parade, while holding on to crawling, kicking, and hitting little cuties, who were SUPPOSED to be listening to a "story" and waving to their parents and grandparents. While we were waiting for the parade to begin, we were in the shade, so it was cool...as soon as we were in the sun for 5 seconds the little ones began getting a little grumpy!! Gabbie, started holding her head, complaining about the heat, and asking when she was going to get to ride the float. When I told her that we were on the float, she asked "But where is the water?" See parents?? Children don't always understand, even though they hear??!! I explained that it was a "dry" float...the parade would last a few minutes, and we could get some "drinking" water when we got off the float. Oh NO, I just remembered...I think I lost "David" ! :(

The next pictures are examples of the politicians with their floats, tractors, horses and mules!!

After the parade, I went home to pick up Dean, since he did not want to park the little car downtown. We attended the Children's Theater production, "Don't Trash Mother Earth". Many of the children in the production were part of our church family, and it was a precious show!

All in all, it was a great day...after the parade and theater production, downtown was filled with blue grass bands, cloggers, food vendors, and artisans lining the streets. In a small town, with a big celebration, food is cooked by everyone or anyone with a grill..you can get the best barbecue, fried fish, and of course fresh watermelon all over the town!! This evening, there will be ghost tours in the "Most Haunted" small town in America....And all day there will be seed spitting contests, food eating contests, face paintings, and music ,music , music.

For those of you getting "jealous", or just "curious"...the Watermelon Festival is held on the third weekend of June...The Lazy J has rooms...the "caretakers" may be in the parade...and if you get here early enough so may YOU!!! :)

College World Series/Father's Day

  Dean spent Father's Day without his dad for the first time this year. Adam called to wish his dad a happy day and to remind him that he is loved. Adam sensed the significance of this particular Father's Day and kept his dad in prayer. Thank you, Son.

  We spent the day wandering around the Old Market in Omaha, and finished up with the 6PM game at the College World Series. All in all, it was a good day.

  We met a couple, Lennie and Deb Risner, who were also completing a "Bucket List" item for Lennie. We just started talking to this couple from Ohio....Deb shared why, though they had no team in the Series, they were making this trip. You see, 4 weeks ago, they arrived in Omaha for a liver transplant that Lennie needed to save his life. A week prior to Father's Day, 3 weeks after the transplant, Lennie had a heart attack. This was the first heart attack that this clinic has had with a transplant recipient. God had them in the right place at the right time.

  And here they were, this lovely couple, smiling and looking forward to a College Baseball Game at the College World Series. Please keep them in your prayers, as Lennie has a long way to go. But Sunday, his children and grandchildren could celebrate the blessings of having him a little longer and for one more Father's Day.