Fiddle Heads and Viburnum

I Twittered (or is it tweated?) this morning that I was out taking some pictures before I drove to Clarksville. The lighting on overcast mornings is perfect for outdoor pictures.

I have several different kinds of ferns in my back yard. I bought some and I brought some down off the hill. When they put new growth out in the Spring the fronds are called "fiddle heads" because - goodness. I hate explaining things that are so obvious...

Well, anyway, I thought it was a cool idea to take a picture of my fiddle with the fiddle heads. (actually, this is my viola)

While I was out there I couldn't help but notice how incredibly beautiful my viburnum were in the overcast light.

You probably know this variety as "snowball bush."

I don't know a common name for this one. But since there are 150 or more varieties I suppose you can't know all of them. http://gardening.about.com/od/treesshrubs/a/Viburnums.htm

Hannah and Benjamin

Grani told me to put up another post because she doesn't like seeing those snakes every time she stops by here. She uses the links on this page to get to the grandbabies' blogs.

I didn't have any new grandbaby pictures so I had decided to post about vibernum. Ooooo! Sounds exciting don't you think? Probably still will, but later. So to help push the snake pics off the bottom of the blog I'm putting up some pictures that Crystal took of Hannah and Benjamin that she posted on Facebook.

Aren't they beautiful! (the grandbabies, not the pictures. although the pics are good too.)

The Creek

Why Papa loves his creek.


Why Grani doesn't.

Passion Play Night

Randall came down from St. Louis with his family to see Hilldale's Passion Play. We had a great time playing together. These are pictures of Hannah and Benjamin and two of my nephews, Isaac and Asher and Aunt Christy.

After the Passion Play we played and checked out the set.

Handbells

I have birthday party pics I need to put up here, but I thought I'd put these up before I get farther behind.

Hannah and Benjamin went with Grani and Papa to the East Tennessee Handbell Festival.

On our way to Jefferson City we stopped to play in Knoxville.

Hotel rooms are tons of fun!

We went to Carson-Newman for the handbell festival. I think their mascot is the eagle.

Notice Grani's new young cool glasses and hair cut!

There were 20 handbell choirs there!

This bell is bigger than the kids! It's a C2.

A Trip to Red Lobster

Months ago we were going to Red Lobster for supper and Hannah was in one of her contrary moods and she said, "I don't want to go to Red Lobster. I want to go to Blue Lobster."

But last night she was in a great mood. She usually is. (I know Uncle Roger won't believe that.)

Here is a video of her explaining what the lobsters in the tank were doing. Notice how when her daddy asks her something she tells him that she is telling the camera.

Benjamin was talking up a storm until I turned the camera his way. But then we were able to get him to talk about what was on his plate. I love the way he says broccoli.

Hannah was afraid to touch the lobster, so she touched Grani's hand while Grani touched it.

Benjamin didn't mind touching it at all.

Imagine Spot 1 - Super Bowl Ad NBC Rejected

NOT a Good Thing

I posted last Tuesday that it was a good thing to have an African-American as president. However, being a person of color is NOT enough. You can read my thoughts on my worship blog.

http://hilldaleworship.blogspot.com/2009/01/not-good-thing.html

Here's an article titled "A Dangerous Time to Be a Black Baby."
http://thepublicdiscourse.com/viewarticle.php?selectedarticle=2008.10.28.001.pdart

Hannah Loves Papa's Camera

If Hannah sees my camera she has to take it and start taking pictures.

She says, "say cheeeese."

But she hasn't completely figured out how to aim.

And usually she has her finger in front of the lens.

But she has a wondeful time.

A Good Thing

It would be easy for me to make a list of reasons why I would have liked to see a different result in last November's election. As a social conservative and a fiscal conservative (you give away enough trillions and pretty soon you're talking real money) I have many concerns about congress and President Obama being from the same party that has many things in it's platform that I disagree with.

My hope is that in the years to come black conservatives will have their voices heard as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_conservatism_in_the_United_States

But even though I have concerns, I am glad to have a president of African-American decent. Why? Because I have grandchildren who are. (Notice how beautiful they are.)

And we, as a nation, have generations of blacks who feel disconnected and overlooked and they must realize that the American dream is their dream also. I want my grandchildren - and the children of Bordeaux and Detroit and Harlem and wherever - to have black men and women who are successful and godly and strong and courageous to look up to. It is a good thing that we as a nation have elected a black man to be our President.

Benjamin doesn't know about skin color yet. He thinks his Papa is one of the coolest people around. (He's right, of course.) I know some day he'll realize that he and his Papa are different shades, but I don't think he'll care. I sure don't.

But I also know that someday - probably much sooner than I hope or imagine - he will experience the hatred of racism. I hear things now and see the looks and notice the whispers. I've heard many rude things said by white people about our new President because of the color of his skin. It's OK to disagree with proposed policies and ideas, but only because of a different view of how to solve a problem, not because the one offering the solution is black.

My prayer is that an African-American president will not only inspire and encourage the black community, but that ALL communities will realize Martin Luther King Jr's dream of seeing all men judged by the content of their character and not their skin color.

Wii Bowling with Great-grandma and Great-granddad

Videos would be much funnier! I may try to get one later.

Christmas at Great-Great-Aunt Norma's House

Wrestling with Papa

Kari, Great-grandma, Alyssa, Great-Aunt Jamie, David, Diane's girls, Michelle, Melissa and Meagan with Beau

Diane wearing the dress she wore in Papa and Grani's wedding 32 years ago!

Jon-Michael and Beau

Great-grandma and great-great aunt Norma. (You get extra greats when you are an aunt for some reason.)

Kylee, Glenna and Haley

Great-uncle Roger, Jonathan and Mindi

Gibson, Grani and Haven. Haven was sick.

We had fun.