Nanna & Pappy's Posts: April 2012

A Bandera Bulldog Sports Weekend

We arrived in Blanco on a cool Friday afternoon

to watch the Bandera Middle School kids

compete in a track meet.

We were so proud of Caitlin

and all of the Bandera Bulldogs!

Caitlin got a 5th place in the long jump,

and a FIRST in the triple jump.

Pappy got some good shots!

She jumped almost as far as the high school girl

who got first the next day!

The running events were great for her, too!

She got a 4th place in the 4ooM

The two relay teams she ran in...(4 X 8 and Mile)

BOTH teams earned FIRST PLACE!

WTG RELAY TEAMS!!! (and Caitlin)

The coach is congratulating them.

Five events...5 ribbons--3 of them first place!

A volleyball tournament Saturday morning...

And a baseball double header Saturday afternoon

rounded out the 'all sports' weekend.

Hunter got to first each time at bat,

one hit made it all the way to the fence.

It was fun to watch him pitch...

bat...

and come home!!!

Another treat we experienced while there

was getting to see Hunter in his letter jacket!

It wasn't cool to act like he's proud of it, but I can tell... he is!

Lookin' good!

Congratulations, Hunter for your hard work, earning your jacket.

We're particularly proud of the academic icon on your Bandera B.

Blogging for the month of March:

Sometime around the first part of March...

It was pretty exciting when Kim and Scott started calling to tell us they had a Bald Eagle perched on a limb over the pond in their yard. I was even more pleased when I could say I had seen it with my own eyes! An Eagle, on our farm... I know... on their pond, but that was the pond we were on when Wayne proposed to me... it was Wayne's dad's then, so I still think of the whole property as the family farm---regardless of whose name is on the deed. Eagles are not very common here, so as backyard birders, we are more than pleased to add this majestic bird to our list of yard birds.

(Kim's photo)

The next main event was Doug's 16th birthday. 3/15/12 --- Beware the Ides of March--- He's getting taller and bigger by the minute, and is harder than ever to fill up. He is a fine young man, and we are so proud to say he is our grandson! I have noticed that sometimes, looking at pictures, I see a strong resemblance to my niece Brenda's son Rob. (and that's a good thing)

March 21, 2012 was my birthday, but I would just as soon forget to celebrate it as such, except whether we celebrate or not, I still have to add that year to my age. Better to add it, than the alternative! So, that said, we celebrated in a fine fashion! We went to Brazoria and celebrated with my sister Janet and her friend Warren. Our idea of celebration is probably not what some would call a celebration, but we had a great time on a birding tour of the area. We birded Quintana, some sloughs around the area and we drove the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge loop and saw many interesting feathered friends and one not so friendly critter of the reptilian kind.

Laughing Gull

Great White Heron

Brown Pelican

Sanderling

Alligator (see you later, Alligator!)

Spider lilies

Black Necked Stilt

Foraging for food... (notice his bright red, looong legs)

Red tailed hawk

Northern Shoveler (drake)

White faced Ibis (non-breeding plumage)

He's also foraging for food, a never ending occupation.

YYY

And, last but not least, my BFF and baker/cake decorator extrordinaire brought over a cake which I used as the dessert for my bridge club meeting. Rhonda made an Italian cream cake and put ME on top, feeding my bluebirds. She also made cup cakes which I served the group at dessert time. It was a real hit! Scott and Kim and their kids came over and ate with us, and shared cake with us the next day. I thoroughly enjoyed the day, and the month!

I always enjoy playing bridge with this group... no pressure!

The best part of the month was that when Wayne purchased my birthday gift he surprised me BIG TIME! My Birthday Surprise... a buffet from Top Notch here in Garrison. He brought it home and put it in the dining room unbeknownst to me, and I didn't know it for 2 days! He had to make me go in there so I would see it! I love it!