“The month of August had turned into a griddle where the days just lay there and sizzled.” ― Sue Monk Kidd, The Secret Life of Bees

August 1

Grandson Knox is ready for all the firsts

First day of school — First day of Middle School — First day of Fifth Grade

borrowed this pic from his mom Kelly

August 4

Granddaughter Ella is ready for her pre-ballet class

borrowed this pic from her mom Kelly

August 9

First day of school (Mother’s Day Out pre-school)

She was excited to see all her friends again

borrowed this pic from her mom

August 13

Neil and I enjoyed lunch at Mamma Rosa’s with the cool kids

Grandson Elijah and his girlfriend Kiara and granddaughter Shelby

Thankful they don’t mind hanging out with the old folks

August 13

Ella had a close encounter of the moo kind at the county fair

Pony ride

A county fair Grandpa tradition — riding the merry-go-round with the grands

Knox and friend flying on the swings

Ella wanted to ride everything — even a roller coaster

Her mom Kelly rode this one with her 

Knox and friend are right behind

Screams are optional

August 16

Neil and I enjoyed lunch at Steak n Shake with Shelby

This was her last week of summer freedom before

she had to pack up and head back to college

August 17

16th Birthday = Driver’s License

Congratulations, E!

Celebrating 16 with family and friend

The picture on the right was taken by Elijah’s dad Jerry on their way home from a doctor appointment

where ten year old E was given a blue balloon tied around his wrist. I think this is one of

everyone’s favorite pictures of E because here’s this ten year old kid, staring straight ahead through those cool shades with this balloon tied around his wrist. Maybe just a tad too old to get a balloon at the doctor’s office, much less tied to his wrist. And he’s good with it.

Doesn’t get much cooler than this.

The picture over the years has achieved legendary proportions in our family.

So on his 16th birthday, he was good-humored enough to have fun with it and recreate the look.

But wait, there’s more …..

It’s been suggested by various family members over the years that this picture

would make a great T-shirt. His cousin Sarah put the idea into motion and had T-shirts

made for all of us to wear on this milestone occasion. E’s cousin Knox happily modeled

the T-shirt as E recreated the iconic look.

Needless to say, never in his wildest dreams was E expecting all of his party peeps

to walk in wearing this awesome T-shirt. Of course, we were all in on it, and his mom Holly even

planned his party theme around that long-ago blue balloon. He was totally surprised, and it made

for a very memorable 16th birthday.

Elijah and Sarah

Thanks again, Sarah, for making it happen!

August 18

Another close encounter of the moo kind

Moo!

August 21

Momma’s little kitchen helper stirring up homemade spaghetti sauce

borrowed this pic from Kelly

August 27

Be happy

August 29

Grass growing update

The front yard is green again

August 31

“Tell me, what else should I have done?

Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do

With your one wild and precious life?”

~Mary Oliver

"August of another summer, and once again I am drinking the sun….” ~Mary Oliver, “The Pond"

August 1

When dinosaurs, cows, and giraffes ruled the world

Ella enjoys taming these animals as did all my other grands before her.

Her mom tamed Ella’s wild hair into this sweet bun.

August 3

First day of 4th grade for grandson Knox

Last year of elementary school

First day of sophomore year for grandson Elijah

Don’t know what they were discussing

My guess would be a video game

August 6

Getting ready for our Friday walk

Don’t even try to help her do anything

Her personal mantra is:

’She believed she could, so she did.'

Things we see on our walk:

Kitty cat paw prints in the sidewalk

Modern fossils

Things Ella collects on our walk:

Flowers, leaves, sticks

She finds it all worthy to bring with her along the way

August 7

Knox and a couple of his buddies at the county fair

This was the last fair at the current fairground location 

which the Putnam County fair has called

 home for the past 61 years out of its 95 year history. 

 They watched the demolition derby and then 

ended up getting to ride only two rides because the lines were

so long on the last night.

August 10

Hanging out at the playground

August 11

Neil has worked hard the past several weeks replacing broken

limestone on the path that runs along the north side of the house.

Cutting stones to fit and then getting it all level is

tedious labor in the August heat and humidity.

But it’s going to look great when he’s finished.

August 12

We are not lacking in rainfall this month

August 13

Time for our Friday walk in the neighborhood

We usually stop at our house and she always wants to play upstairs

She discovered my little collection of bent willow chairs

which are perfect for a gathering of huggable friends

August 14

Speaking of huggable friends...

Big friend hugs at VBS

August 15

Love those Oreo McFlurries

Where did the flu go? Just wondering.

August 17

One of the teachers at the elementary school across the street

brings her goats to roam in a fenced in area at the school.

The kids love to watch them and sometimes share

an apple slice or two

August 17

Grandson Elijah celebrated his 15th birthday

He’s looking forward to getting his driver’s permit soon 

August 18

Edge to edge, corner to corner

She colored every inch of this 12x12 sheet of paper

Found a 4-leaf clover and wasn’t even searching for one

Lucky guy

August 20

Autumn is coming

Friday walk

“Here, Gwanny, hold my weaf."

Two more old maples bite the sawdust on our street

They were topped long ago and also starting to decay from the inside out

Last month, one of the larger branches fell, blocking the whole street

They were beautiful in the fall with their orange and yellow leaves

Hated to see them go

August 21

August 22

We never go to Starbucks

But when we do….

The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappacino is good

and apparently is now on their permanent menu in case you’re interested

August 23

Granddaughter Shelby is a junior in college this year

majoring in biology with emphasis on marine biology

She spent her first two years of college here in town but never really

got to enjoy the college experience of a large campus, and then

the virus forced her into isolation, taking her classes online which was zero fun.

Now, for the first time ever, she’s living far from home (well, a couple of hours drive away)

navigating this new chapter in her life, as she dives into her major studies.

I know she’ll do well, and though we miss her being here, she’s only a Face Time call away.

(Good grief, I got all teary-eyed just typing this)

Love you, Shelby!

August 25

With a church van full of fellow workers, Neil and I traveled to the non-profit 

Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort in Nashville 

to help pack boxes filled with food and other necessary supplies

that will be taken to recent flood victims in west Tennessee, North Carolina,

and other places that need assistance in their recovery. 

The assembly line moves along at a rapid pace for two hours non-stop,

but with probably 150-200 helping hands, it’s amazing how quickly

the time passes while packing 1500 boxes.

Disaster Relief also helps rebuild homes and replace furniture and appliances

with brand new items. It’s a cause that’s certainly worthy of your monetary donations.

https://www.disasterreliefeffort.org

August 27

Friday fun at the playground

She was (happy) screaming at the top of her lungs

August 28

Ella is back in swim lessons every day at the local YMCA

although she’s not learning to swim at this point.

She’s being instructed in the life-saving skill of flipping

herself over in the water from facedown to floating

on her back. She’s doing quite well and is starting to move past

the panic I’m sure she’s felt during this, but her mom says 

Ella didn’t cry yesterday or today.

So…progress. Yay, Ella!

August 30

Minding my own business, shopping at Walmart, when this bag of candy corn

flings itself right off the shelf and into my shopping cart.

True story.

Kidding. I know there are people who have already decked their halls

with all things autumn, but I like to live in the season we happen to be in now.

Summer will be gone soon enough. I’m going to enjoy shorts and flip flops while I can.

However….

I won’t stop a bag of candy corn from flinging itself into my shopping cart at Walmart.

August 31

“...August: the summer's last stand.” 
― Sara Baume