"Abigail's Birthday......"

As I mentioned yesterday, we stopped at Patrick, Julie's, and Abigail's on the way to our weekend accommodations. It worked out well since we were then able to spend some time with them, having Abigail get a little more used to us, and have her open her birthday presents from us, too. As you can see, "getting used to us" was a fleeting thing.......she was "OK" with being held, but for a very short time only.......that wasn't a smile for the camera but a plea for "let me down, let me down". :)

Her interest was caught by the ribbons on her presents......she found them VERY interesting.

Getting a different view of the "springy" things.......

After she pushed the packages around the floor (they slid easily along on the carpeting), she sat down for a closer look at the ribbons again.

Mom Julie helped her get started with opening her packages.......

She got into ripping the paper off when she understood how that worked.

More things to pull out! She did enjoy her card, too.......although it is set aside on the floor so that she could see and pull other things from the open box.

This is the little "hoodie" that I knitted for her. She can grow a little more before she wears it. My hope is that Patrick and Julie will take and send a photo to us of her in it.

Tomorrow.....opening the present from Grandpa Don.

"Documenting Abigail's 1st Birthday....."

Don and I gave Abigail a set of tins which are for documenting her hand size in plaster for several birthdays. Here is Patrick beginning to mix the plaster........

Taking a break from mixing to write down the facts (name, age, date) of when the process was done.

Back to mixing..........

Julie and Patrick getting Abigail ready for her hand imprint.

Jiggling the plaster to clear an unsuccessful attempt for a clear handprint.

Imprint she did.....although a bit too energetic for what was wanted. She wasn't at all hesitant about putting her hand in the wet, white, gooey stuff, and actually tried to grab the plaster, taking some with her when retracting her hand. After a few more tries, it was decided to use a "foot print" instead........she hasn't learned to grab with her toes yet. ;)

This actually took place on Abigail's birthday, too. We drove over on Friday (her birthday) to attend her party which was being held on Saturday, but stopped for a quick visit, prior to our checking in at Crystal Mountain Resort, where we would be staying for the weekend. Stopping by that night happened to work out very well. We got to see this documentation process and Abigail also opened her presents from us, too. Don was in his element and took a number of photos.......a "few" which are, and will be, used for posting on here. ;)

"A Short, No Photo Post......."

Don and I drove to upper, lower Michigan this past weekend, to celebrate our granddaughters 1st birthday. I will be posting more about it, but after Don does some processing of photos. He, of course, took "a few" photos.........I believe he said somewhere in the area of 450!!!!

The weather couldn't have been nicer for travel. Bright sunshiny days with warm Indian Summer temperatures. The Fall colors were close to being at their peak, too. A beautiful, but much too short, trip.

More of it later.........

"Tiny Tomatoes....."

My Aero Garden is once again producing beautiful plants. This time, I have 1 Golden Harvest Tomato and 2 Heirloom Salsa Tomato plants.

They're developing very nicely and looking quite sturdy. With the cooler weather and shorter days of sunlight causing the plants to decline outside, it is nice to have these to look forward to for harvesting when it is cold and snowy outside.

"A Fun Site......"

For those of you who had checked out Monday's post prior to Tuesday night, I did a little "add on" of this photo.

On "Live at 5 News" last night, The Gadget Guy did a demonstration of a free site called http://cards.funphotobox.com and Don produced this little number afterwards.

I went to the site and whipped up the following 2 photos.......

A fun site.......try it......you might like it! ;)

"My Musical Debut......."

While out on the deck for coffee yesterday, I decided I would entertain myself while I waited for Don to join me. When he did, he turned right around to go and get the camera. I guess it was kind of a "Tiny Tim" moment............

Even though I wasn't able to make the little instrument sound like our friend Dan, of "Clovis Mann" fame is able to......I humored myself while playing it. I wonder why Don thought it was so funny? ;)

An "add on" Tuesday night. We saw a demonstration of a free computer program on "Live at 5"......"The Gadget Guy" ( http://www.funphotobox.com/), which caught Don's attention. A little later, I received this in an email. :) Pretty neat, eh?

"This and That........"

Julie sent me more current photos of Abigail and included some from their trip over to Port Austin, in Michigan's Thumb, and also where Julie grew up. Her parents have a farm and Julie's horse lives there until the kids sell their homes (yes, Julie's condo is still up for sale...sigh, plus their house is now, too) and they can find a farmstead to buy.

Here is Julie with Abigail. I "think" this is the first time Abigail has been on a real horse. Patrick did tell me that Abigail's Michigan Grandparents bought her a "rocking horse" of her own, but I believe this is her first "real" horse.

A shrug I knit and sent to Maniphone. Pretty nice fit, eh? ;) Jonathan had a suggestion for her as to how to wear it, but I won't go into it here. A really interesting suggestion though.........I guess the stories about "those quiet ones" has a ring of truth to it. ;)

Maniphone and Henry at his tennis lesson. He celebrated his 4th Birthday a few weeks ago. Where does the time go???

Last Sunday we rode over to the Willy Street Fair. Here is a photo of "Navan" a Celtic singing group. We first met Elizabeth (2nd from right) and husband Adam (not shown) when they were at Lonny and Charlie's one night, then had a chance to chat with them once again while at Lonny and Charlie's baby shower. As you can see, they too, are expecting a child soon. Both Don and I enjoy them very much.....the couple AND Navan! ;)

Don noticed this growing on a tree in our backyard and took some photos of it. Truly a beautiful organic shape! He, in my opinion (and I'm sure in many others), is an excellent photographer.