Back Down The Drive

This morning's 7:05 sunrise was tinted lavender...like a hint of Spring.
Plus, warmer temperatures are predicted for a few days.....
which means more comfortable walks for me and our grandchildren.

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All 9 of our grandchildren live within walking distance;

some just take a little hike and cross a creek to get here.....

while others can come down this easier path to our home.
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Yes, that's a cemetery adjacent to our driveway.....

that they have to pass by.....on their way here.

It's an early 1800's cemetery.

Sometimes they don't even make it here.....

.....but end up in the field chasing butterflies like Amanda!
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This is granddaughter Katie and great niece Alicia

helping granddaughter Alivia, their cousin, down the drive.
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They gather here in the summer and sometimes play a game of corn hole .

That's Nick, Katie, Nathan, and Tori (not a grandchild...but Katie's cousin).
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Katie and Nick
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Most are all teenagers now,

except for Andrew and Dylan...

but when younger they all

had fun in this small pool.....

and often ended up on the back porch

......eating s'mores.....like Dylan here with

Jacob (another cousin, but not a grandchild).....

and sometimes they could be convinced that reviewing

some school work, with Grant's help.....could be fun!

I enjoy all of them coming to gramma's for

warm summer time fun, being all together .....
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or for cold winter time snowball fights.....
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or like Katie and Tori.....

to play monopoly... with Alivia looking on.....
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They can come and camp out in my living room anytime,
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or just for quick little visits...like Dustin.....

before they go.....back down the drive.
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Deer.....not grandchidren.....

going back down the drive!!!

Discovering Snakes

Did you see where the Nature journal reported scientists have recovered fossils from a 60-million-year-old South American snake from a Cerrejon coal mine in Colombia. Researchers estimated that it weighed 2,500 pounds, measured 42.7 feet, and was so wide it would have reached up to a person's hips. They named it Titanoboa Cerrejonensis. This is an artist's rendition of what it might look like.

We have some small discoveries ourselves here on the property-

and some not so small-

He needs a close up

Some are very easy to spot on the bare ground-

or in the autumn leaves.





Sometimes they can be found sunning themselves.
Here's Grant, our resident nature guide, with cousins

Andrew and Dylan, discovering a snake doing just that!
Can you spot it? Click for a larger view.

Here are some closeups.

The grandchildren seem pretty brave when it comes to dealing
with snakes, but if they discovered anything bigger than this-





I think this is what we would see.......
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They really aren't as high as they appear to be -
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Cousins - Katie, Grant, Nathan, and Nick - standing
Andrew and Dylan - still up a tree!

Disclaimer (this picture was taken a few years ago - they are now older)

Don't want any grandkids upset with gramma!

Here Comes the Snow!

I did say a few posts back, "More snow please!"

Well, the prediction is 6 in. by Wednesday morning.

I should go take a walk while there's only an inch or two,

because anything deeper makes it some what harder to navigate,

especially if you are dressed like this -

"Andrew"

- or if you're only 4 and need a little help from Mom! -

Alivia, Nick, & Sherri

Deep snow may also mean - Dylan to the rescue,

as here, when he thought the cat needed some assistance.

What Grandsons do!

Our Grandsons have some serious snowball fights-

and they all camp out - deep in the woods - at night.

Some are content - to just stare at mud.

Some have built numerous forts in the woods they love.

They carve their names in the bark of the trees-
some initials are hard like the letter G.

They climb grapevines and swing in the air-

and sometimes pretend they have fallen from there.

They can choose the field to ride their dirt bikes -

- be in the woods -

or just down the driveway, if that's what they like.

Sometimes they look guilty - conspiring - what to do next-

-a quick walk on the fire pit and then on to the rest-

look for some mud -when riding those bikes-

leaving their "tracks" - is what they like.

Very often they venture -over to the wood pile-

and maybe throw some hickory nuts - if only for awhile!







Winter finds them caked with snow-

or just letting off some steam - before they actually blow!



"Grandsons"
Dustin, Nathan, Grant, Nick, Andrew, and Dylan!!!!!!