Hummingbirds

One Sunday Gavin came in and said that he had got a hummingbird to sit on his finger, so we tried to get a picture of it, but we couldn't ever get another one to do it.  They came close, just would not land.  But we did get some pretty good pictures of these cute little creatures.

Just come down a little bit more, birdie...

Hummingbirds are just the most intriguing little things to watch.  I love to sit out on the deck and watch them flit around.....and they really do hum. 

Vacation End

It's Friday and vacation is just about over.  Gary goes back to work Monday, school starts next Thursday, babysitting starts Monday, my GEM job continues............ Gary got the tractor started and did some yardwork and will brush hog tomorrow.

Colby is waiting for a bird to get thirsty.......

 And Rambo is just........Rambo!

Summertime is coming to an end for this year.  But I really love Fall, so....bring on the cool, crisp fall air with the leaves turning colors.

Have a great weekend!!

Road Trip!

Wednesday, August 10th was our 43rd wedding anniversary.  We don't usually do anything big...maybe overnight at Branson..see a show..  One year we went to Memphis for a couple of days.  Since we watch Gunsmoke every night during the week, I had been thinking about Dodge City, Kansas...wondering if there would be much there to see and do.  It was just 7 1/2 hours away..supposedly, there were museums, and the Dodge House, etc.  So, that's what we did.  Tuesday, the 9th we drove out across Kansas to Dodge City.  When we got there, it was a little disappointing.  We didn't see an "Old West" town.  We stopped at the Visitor's Center to find out where the Dodge House was.  Turns out it is way up the street
away from the museums and Boot Hill.  But it was fun.  Did you know Doc Holiday stayed in Room #24 of the Dodge House to practice his dentistry?  FYI. (Not this one, of course)

Pool Area, volleyball, basketball, ping pong, etc.

There is one main street in the town...Wyatt Earp Boulevard. One the north side is Boot Hill and the museum.   The other side is pretty much grain elevators all along the street with fast food restaurants in front of them.

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad

Engineer Gary

The Front Street Museum

Who's the prisoner?

It's Me!

We got so close we could almost pet this buffalo........just kidding!


Exhibit in the Plains Indians museum

Gary buying us a saspirilla at the Long Branch Saloon

We spent Wednesday morning touring the Boot Hill museum.  Then ate some lunch and  headed for home.  When we got to Wichita, we found Old Town and there was an incredible museum that we spent over two hours in.

I wonder if these dinosaurs come to life at night?

This might not have been the best place we've ever been, but it still served our purpose...to give us some uninterrupted time together for a couple of days, just to focus on each other.  We have the best time just driving, singing our oldies, or classic country with the radio.  I guess we wouldn't really have to have a destination....we could just drive around.

Oh well, Happy Anniversary to the man of my dreams.... my best friend!  I love you, Gary Wallace! 

Bicycling Anyone?

Well, I think I will write this story, because it's been about a week now and the pain has subsided and actually seems kind of funny to me now.  Maybe the grandkids will get a kick out of it someday, even though I am admitting my clumsiness openly.

I got my bicycle out of the garage last week because I have been thinking that I could get some good exercise with it, since I love riding my bike.  I have also been thinking that I should possibly get a helmet since I am 61 years old and not quite as adept as I used to be.  In fact, I have to practically lay the bike on its side in order to hike my leg over it to get on.....or, as I discovered, stand on the deck with the bike on the ground and climb on that way.

Anyway, I took the bike out my garage door and thought I would just take it around to the back of the house and leave it out, but....hmmmm, maybe I could go in and push the garage door button and run across the garage and get under the door before it closes.  That way I wouldn't have to come back around and shut the door.  Well, it worked.  I felt really proud that I was fast enough to beat the door and not get squashed under it while it closed.  However, as I was patting myself on the back, I realized that probably all the other doors were locked.  Oops!  Sure enough, I checked and they were all locked.  I was locked out!  I could either tap on our window and wake Gary up.....or ride my bike to Todd and Heather's and get their key.   I chose to ride to Todd and Heather's.  She rode back with me and I put my bike up and unlocked the door.

 The next night, I decided I would just ride around the back yard for a few nights until I got my legs in shape to ride any distance at all, since the previous night's ride just about killed me.  Well, I rode around in a pretty large circle for a while, around the trampoline, between the trees, behind the shop, and back around the deck to the trampoline.  I did that for about three times, but the last time, I must have waited a little too long to turn around the trampoline, because all of a sudden I saw myself heading for the sandbox. I thought to myself, if I try to turn this thing now so sharply, I will fall over and hurt myself....So, I just went straight....straight into the big, plastic frog sandbox.  My bike stopped and I fell over....and hurt myself.  I got up thinking I had broken my ribs and my shoulder....but I didn't cry.  I just picked my bike up and walked it over to it's parking place and left it.  I went inside and told Gary and he felt sorry for me...so I felt better.

I don't really think I broke my ribs, but they sure did hurt for a while and I did take a picture of my arm.....the biggest bruise I think I have ever had.

When I think of what I must have looked like, I think of Ruth Buzzi in the old Saturday Night Live episodes where she was the little old lady on the  little tricycle riding along and all of a sudden she just falls over.

Well, I did buy a helmet, but actually my head was the only part of me that didn't get hurt.  I think I need full body armor or a grown-up tricycle.

Donna

Ava's Baby Dedication

Sunday, July 31st, was Ava Hope Wallace's Baby Dedication Day at Springhill Baptist Church.  This is always such a big day for our family.  This is a day that Matt and Lindsay could bring Ava before the church to demonstrate that they covet the church's prayers as they try to bring her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  They want to commit her to Him, as well as themselves as parents.  It doesn't mean that Ava will not still some day see her need for Jesus as her Savior and commit her own life to him and be baptized, but it is signifying that, as parents, they want to guide her and model before her a committed Christian life.  Thankfully, Matt and Lindsay have already been that kind of parent to their other two children, so Ava is blessed to have that foundation already in place.  Our Pastor prayed for her and for her parents and family.  What a sweet time of communion with each other and the Lord!

I tried to get pictures, but after one pic my purse camera went dead, so I hurriedly pulled out my phone camera. 

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Wish I had a closeup of her beautiful little white dress and shoes and headband and bow.  So precious!!

We love you, Ava Hope, and echo the prayers spoken for you that day.  It is our privilege to pray for you daily as you grow into a beautiful Godly woman.

Mema and Pappy