“I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it.” ― Lee Maynard

"Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well." ~George R.R. Martin, Game Of Thrones

Had to snap pics as Neil and I walked around the block at lunch time yesterday. The sky was amazing.

 I should probably leave any camera at home when we go for walks but old habits die hard.

 Peeps and grandpeeps at my house after school yesterday. Beautiful day to be outside. Grandson Knox enjoyed a Nutty Buddy [after his dad removed the nutty part of it] [Daughter Kelly was working, not surfing] 

 Granddaughter Shelby brought her homework outside to the swing

 Knox brought me this pretty red leaf and told me I can add it to my leaf collection. I didn't know I had a leaf collection but I guess it's never too late to start one.

 Grandsons Elijah and Knox had a great time playing together on the trampoline and taking turns batting and pitching. Shelby decided to join them for some play time

 This afternoon Knox's Mother's Day Out hosted Cookies With Grandparents. I sure did enjoy sharing a chocolate chip cookie with him and his class and all the other grandpeeps. Neil was stuck at work and couldn't make it, but Knox sent him a cookie to enjoy at home.

 Elijah was excited to receive his prizes from school today for selling Smart Cards. He got a big pen that has different colors of ink, a whistle that is shaped like a mustache, and these crazy round glasses  [which I think was his fave item]. This is a good look for him don't you think? Reminds me of a walrus for some reason ....

 The leaves are already turning

 How can it already be the last day of Summer?

Summer should get a speeding ticket. I don't know who said this, but it's true. I'm not quite ready for the sun to set on summertime. The older I get, the harder it is to let go of those hot days and warm nights. But Autumn is good, too. It's all good.

Oh how we love pumpkin season. You did know this gourd-ish squash has its own season, right? Winter, Spring, Summer, Pumpkin.... We anxiously anticipate it every year. ~Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer, October 2010

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

 For me, this is the most wonderful time of the year -- when the pumpkins appear. We take the grandpeeps to a local farm produce stand and have a great time picking out pumpkins and gourds. This is one of my fave traditions. I think it's the first time grandson Knox joined us. He found a cute tiny pumpkin.

 Granddaughter Shelby gravitates toward the tiny ones, too, but she found a pretty white one to call her own.

 Grandson Elijah loves the gourds, the weirder the better ...

... like this one [which ended up coming home with me -- I like weird ones, too]

 Daughter Kelly chose an unusual green one -- not sure if it's a pumpkin or a gourd [maybe it's both]

 I go for the gnarly ones. These look like they're covered in peanut shells -- so wonderfully strange

 One of these days I'm going to buy one of these enormous pumpkins -- talk about Big Orange!

 These always make the best jack o lanterns

 I wonder if the inside is orange

"Have you come to sing pumpkin carols?" ~Linus, It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

Granny's Little Pumpkins -- love 'em! I had a great time picking pumpkins with you all today!

Happy TGIF, y'all!

An Apple A Day ....

Crunchy sweet Gala ~ Autumn is apple time ~ one more week of Summer, y'all ~ And then, Fall!

"When bobbing for apples, an idealist endlessly reaches for the best apple, a pessimist settles for the first one within reach, while an optimist drains the barrel, fishes out all the apples and makes pie.” 

― Vera Nazarian, The Perpetual Calendar of Inspiration

COUGAR RUN ~ Elijah's Last One

Capshaw Cougar Run is the elementary school's only fundraiser for the year. All the kids dress in cool Cougar T-shirts with the school colors, blue and orange, and run or walk laps for about forty minutes.  Anyone can pledge a lump sum donation or pay a certain amount for each lap the student runs. 

The weather was perfect

Elijah is in fourth grade, his last year of elementary school at Capshaw. This is his last Cougar Run.

Elijah's Aunt Kelly and his mom Holly are Capshaw Kids/Cougars from way back in the 1980's. Holly is wearing her vintage Capshaw Cougar T-shirt.

Past, present and future Capshaw Kids ~ Holly, Elijah and Knox

Elijah's cousin Knox is a future Capshaw Kid and enjoyed running some laps with Holly and Elijah

The final run. The last lap. 

He ran/walked a total of 21 laps. I think that's a new record. Way to go, Elijah!

Elijah said it made him sad running his last Cougar Run today. Me, too. It's been fun watching him do this each year. End of an era ~ until Knox starts school in a few short years. 

Below are snapshots of past Cougar Runs starting with Elijah's first run in kindergarten and ending with his fourth grade final run today. Good job!

9-9-2011

9-7-2012

9-6-2013

9-5-2014

9-11-2015

RUN, COUGAR, RUN!

“There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world that is not intended to make us rejoice.” ― John Calvin

Sunset this evening looking out my front door. Amazing. My snapshots never do it justice.

“I want to say something so embarrassing about September that even the leaves start blushing and turning red.” ― Jarod Kintz

Happy September, everyone!

“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul... but I must confess that I love you only because you are a prelude to my beloved October.”

― Peggy Toney Horton

WHERE DID AUGUST GO? The GOOD The RANDOM The FUN

summer's almost gone

 Neil, Elijah, Shelby at Cream City

 Heavenly sunlight

 Cougar Run, coming soon ~ this will be his last one

 fall ball ~ kid's pitch

 daisy

 elusive butterfly

 pray

Knox Wii bowling ~ he's really good

Lego Senate Commando Troopers

Elijah turned 9 this month ~ loves Legos

almost fall y'all!