Ordinary Life

   In FLVS Leadership, the students had to come up with a project that would directly touch/impact the community. Logan chose to collect money and baby supplies for our local CareNet center. She also crafted paper flowers from coffee filters and attached verses of encouragement to be given to women who come to the center. We brainstormed an initiative called Life Change that would utilize purple piggy banks placed within a community- all collected funds turned in to local Care Net center as well as a Life Change Perpetual Showers drive which would be an effort to collect physical item for babies and expectant mothers at set locations (in a similar fashion as Toys For Tots) Together we created a social media drive and received appx. 50 "LIKES" for the page. Unfortunately, this was only a concept and not an idea we have been able to commit energy or resources to at this time. However, it is being kept 'on the back burner' for such a time as we find enough purple piggy b...

The morning of Clay's " Business Meeting " (Ahem: Golf Tournament) we roamed & roved until time to meet back up. I had long wanted to try Maple Street Biscuit Company, so when we stumbled across their new Beaches location, it was all happy anticipation. We were not disappointed. The place has atmosphere... really nice atmosphere. Above the drink station hang Mason jar lights, wire baskets line the dining area and the long sturdy tables provide plenty of sitting room for large parties. Had the Atlantic Ocean not been lapping the shore just across the road, the warmth and earthy textures coupled with the friendliness of the staff could have convinced me that I was in a mountain breakfast house. Years of family road trips to North Carolina and Tennessee have left me quite fond of such places, though I'm inclined to believe most everyone has at least a  slight breakfast bias. {Do you?} One of the benefits of having such a "shoe-full" of children is that we a...

Jax Beach Jubilation:  Oddly enough, the first beach we hit this season was not the one closest to us. Clay had some business across town- (okay, it was a golf tournament.) Tee off was early the next morning, so we grabbed some SmashBurgers (the Sunshine Burger is my favorite) and a room near the shore.  Those of us who did not bring our clubs (or everyone except Clay & Chandler) spent the afternoon on Jax Beach while the big boys went to the driving range.  This was one of our first really pretty days- the sand was warm, the water- no so much.  Not everyone is deterred by cool water. Rye was escorted to the water's edge by each of us in turn. With Sister:  And Fisher- (she calls him her prince):  Lifeguards were training for the oncoming summer season. I think this lesson must have been "People Watching 101" or a "Rogue Surfer Roundup" drill:  No shovel or pail but plenty of sand and teamwork for castle building:  We even spotted a mermaid:...

One entry on my "Worth The Drive" list: Dukes BBQ. Other entries include: Carolina, herself, BBQ, itself and Carolina BBQ, in general- but my list is quite long, so let's just talk about Duke's today. Here are a few snaps from our recent stop at the Walterboro location:  I love silhouettes...especially of mossy trees: It's mostly about the food:  On the way in, we had encouraged Rye to take a "piggy back ride" but she only cautiously pet the piggy. She must have given it consideration throughout lunch though, because as we were leaving she asked to ride the piggy. Happy to oblige.

Tonight's game ends the season for Chandler's 15U Canes. Whew! 

As a general rule, I don't do selfies anymore. On this particular morning however, I wanted evidence that many a morning I wake to her feet in my face. Evidence for her journal..and for later.  Of course, she's only helping me kick start my day. Besides, once she has completely conquered the bed-lands, and booted me from the territory, I can steal a few minutes of quiet time and coffee before the remaining risers stake their claim to my day. 

We turned 17 riding down the highway, looking for a room. Things may have been a teensy little bit testy just that moment...we had been riding for several hours with zero luck finding 'room @ the inn' ...any inn... When midnight o'one found us on the morning of the 28th, it had already become clear that we were looking at another decent stint back in the direction we had already come from when all we really wanted to do was lie down and grab a few winks... So, we may have been slightly more interested in exactly who was to blame for our bed-less condition than is provided for in that infamous 13th Chapter of Love.  We had the whole crew with us - most every year we now celebrate our anniversary as a 'family birthday' because it sorta is, ya know? We used to go away for the weekend, just the two of us, but we often missed the kids and wanted them to experience whatever new place or experience we had chosen. So, they were along for the ride...this really long ride. S...

We Are Learning To Read: The video of the entire book read thru is 12 minutes long because that is how long it takes us right now to read the entire first Bob Book... we must do a lot of discussing and sounding out and also 'television narration'.   This past week, Rye watched an art/drawing program on t.v. so thru the entire book, she was looking at herself on camera and narrating the process as if there were viewers, and also as if she were instructing an art program about horses and the moon (because there is a moon in the beginning of the book and instructions on illustrating 'the man in the moon' were featured on the art program...and because she LOVES horses right now)  YouTube Link: http://youtu.be/mvfMUEKKLUg

Rye is all about HORSES these days. Therefore, WE are all about horses these days.  From stick ponies: On our way back home from a Sunday drive to Savannah, we stopped by Bass Pro Shop. She also got a lasso: And carousel rides: Chandler shilled out the money for baby sister to take a whirl around the mall carousel before we headed back home.  Hey, Ya'll!   To galloping and leaping around the house, pretending to be a horse:  Then finally, FINALLY meeting (&riding) a REAL horse: Stay-N-Country Ranch has a LOT of horses and other animals too. Fisher took his turn first:  Riding like a natural Kentuckian: Waiting patiently in the Peanut Gallery: Fisher holds the harness while Rye gets geared up Moment Of Truth: "Riley are you ready for your turn?" 'YES! I'm ready to JUMP FENCES?' GiddyUp & Away We Go!  Learning to command the horse and identify parts with Mrs. Missy:  Learning to care for horses is an important part of riding them.   Hoo...