Maggie May

Maggie May
Maggie May

Friday, July 29, 2011

Grandsons Sleep Over with Memaw and Big Daddy

We are still enjoying "life in the slow lane".......trying to stay cool in this blistering heat.  Last weekend Caroline, Phil, Lincoln and I went to visit with our newest family member.  She has really grown and is beginning to smile and develop her own personality.   On Tuesday morning I met Caroline halfway in Washington, GA to pick up the boys for an overnight visit.  It was Lincoln's first overnight away from home, and we were a little concerned but prepared to take him home if he became homesick.  Not a problem.  The boys were perfect in every way....Phil even brushed his teeth on his own without being told.  Of course, we enjoyed LOTS of activities like swimming in the lake, hiking around the park, going to the playground and having picnics.  We still didn't find time to do everything we wanted to do, so they are going to have to come back real soon.  It is so much fun to be grandparents and be able to spend ALL of your TIME and ENERGY on these grandbabies!  "Life is Good Today!"
The inside was shark, gator, and hippo "infested" water that Phil could not fall  into without bodily harm!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Lazy Hot Days as Campground Hosts

Haven't blogged much lately because we are truly living "life in the slow lane" here at Elijah Clark.  Caroline and her family spent last week at the beach and Lori and Kinley are spending this week in Jesup.  On Saturday, I drove into Augusta to pick up a skein of thread for Kinley's outfit.  Brandon was out and about doing errands so we met up and shopped for fabric together. We have enjoyed our tri-weekly Skype calls with Jackson and chatting with Laurelin on Facebook.  On Sunday we drove to Lexington to see Caroline and the boys and picked up Billy's bullet recovery system to mail.  We grilled awesome steaks out on the grill, played with the boys and were back at Elijah Clark by 3:00 to complete our rounds.  Phil came back to spend Sunday night with us and do our rounds.  After rounds, Phil and I went to the playground until dark.  After a late dinner, Phil and I went outside with our "campground" flashlight and shared a cup of hot chocolate.  Then we took a late 9:30 pm walk around the lake.  Monday morning we cooked a big breakfast outside and then went up to the front of the park to play putt putt golf.  We still have to pinch ourselves to believe that we are living in such a beautiful area.  After Phil and I enjoyed a lunch of chicken fingers and birthday cake milkshakes at Zaxby's, we met Caroline at Ingles in Washington.

Maggie "working" from the Mule on Elijah Clark.
Phil with his trusty flashlight and Wii Mario.  I don't believe he looks sleepy, but he fell asleep on his own shortly after this photo was taken.
View from our dining window!  
Today Billy is going to visit our new doctor in Lincolnton to refill a medicine that the VA lost.  Oh my!He is then going to make a Wal-Mart "run" for us while  Maggie and I complete our rounds here and do some more hand work on Kinley's little bubble suit that I have been working on lately.  This morning Billy, Maggie and I drove the Kawasaki Mule up to pick up some ice and saw four deer standing near the road.  We stopped to admire them, and they didn't seem frightened at all until Maggie saw them and barked.  Thanks for the visit and "Life is Good Today!"
Lincoln enjoying his Rice Krispy Treat
Jackson "Styling"
Phil and Big Daddy "Working"
Phil playing Putt Putt at Elijah Clark


Thursday, July 7, 2011

The Magnificent Life of a Campground Host

Seriously, I'm not joking.  We feel so privileged to be living in such a remote and beautiful area.  I must remember to take my camera out with me as we do our "rounds" around the park so that you can see the world through our eyes.  The scenery and wildlife are magnificent.

I forgot to mention that with the help of Marianne and Kevin Billy and I have discovered Skype.  It is so much fun to talk and see Jackson on the computer when we talk about three times a week.  He is sooooooooo sweet giving us "fist pounds" and kisses and then looking behind his laptop screen to see where we are!  We must outfit all the grandkids with laptop cameras before we take off out west again.  Speaking of outwest again, we are very sorry to hear about the grizzly bear attack at Yellowstone.  Yikes!  I thought it was the bison that were most dangerous.  And speaking of bison, Maggie discovered that there is a field of Longhorns and Bison just before we enter the city limits of Lincolnton, GA.  She still hates "buffalo" from our trip out west last year.

Yesterday I left Billy to his own devices and went to Athens and Lexington.  I had to pick up some Bulldawg red and black material and rick rack to make Kinley and Lincoln their DAWG outfits for this coming football season.  After stopping off at the Varsity for a chili dog (Whatta You Have?)  I visited with Caroline, Phil and Lincoln, and we went to the swimming pool.   Yoo Hoo!  Lincoln even jumped off the diving board for the first time.  Fun!

I made it back to Elijah Clark in time to go into Lincolnton with our "campground crowd" for our weekly Wednesday Italian night.  I would say that we all had a good time.   Forgot to share that Don and Debbie (neighbors from McDonough, GA)  dropped by to visit with us this past Saturday.  They took us out to the Corner Cafe in Lincolnton where we all enjoyed hamburgers, fries, and good company.  It was fun seeing them again. Billy is taking it easy today because his back hurts, but we hope to get into McCormick, SC sometime today to pick up a few things.  Life is Good Today.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Knee Deep in the Water Somewhere

Had the best of days at the lake.  The kids came and spent the day with us and a good time was had by all eating barbecue, swapping lies and swimming in the lake.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.  There is a "bad guy" (criminal type) on the loose in our area so everyone is paying attention.  Good night.  Life is Good Today.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Running with Scissors

This past week Billy and I stayed rather busy preparing our portion of the campground for the busy 4th of July holiday.  Some new Campground Hosts arrived to take some of the load off of us.  They are a delightful couple who full time and came up from a park in Tampa.  We joined about 12 other folks from the staff at Elijah Clark and went into Lincolnton, GA to Papa's Pizza.  Wow!  A real night on the town.

There is a store/warehouse Heirloom/Smocking Supplies type place called Farmhouse Fabrics in Beech Island, SC.  It is only opened to the public the first Friday of each month.  I drove about an hour to get there yesterday and found it way the heck out in the country.  It truly appeared to be an old farmhouse and it was stacked from corner to corner from floor to ceiling with any heirloom pattern, French Lace, trims, buttons, ribbons, fabric and smocking plates that you could ever want.  The next time I go I plan to take photos.  I thought of all the hole in the wall places that I have discovered, but this one tops the list.  (http://www.farmhousefabrics.com/.  Just go to to the sites marked "Gallery" and you will get just a taste of the available supplies).   I was seriously overwhelmed and spent hours in there crawling from step stools to crawling on the floor.  The next time I go I will bring a picnic lunch as well as a plan and a wish list.  I did purchase some patterns for Kinley to grow into and some GA Bulldawg matterial and trims.

Elijah Clark State Park is almost full to the max and it appears that visitors have settled in for a good time.  The kids and grand kids are coming out to spend the day on the lake with us tomorrow.  Billy and I have truly enjoyed being in this beautiful park.  The deer are plentiful and we learned that they had three babies born this spring - two of them being twins.  I saw Mama Deer with her twins who were still spotted last week.  Billy and I wrapped up our day yesterday with a refreshing swim in the lake.  So you see...........Life is Good Today.