Can You Believe Turtle # 5?



Guy  # 5

My grandsons came to spend the day with me today.  I got out the laptop and showed them the pictures of my various turtle friends.  My grandsons live wayyy out in the country ... like, they have to get on the bus an hour and 15 minutes before school starts out in the country.  I asked if they see box turtles all the time.  No, they haven't ever seen one out there.  Hmmm.  Then my older grandson got up to let the dogs out into the front yard and said "Grandma, your turtle is back!"  No, this is a different one.  He has a big crack in his shell up near his head.  Definitely a different one than I photographed before. He has orange spots on his legs, although not as many as turtle # 3, so I guess he is another male visitor.  Of the three turtles I have seen this year, and who knows if there have been more that I just didn't see in the yard, they have all shown up in the past 12 days.  Just call me the turtle whisperer, I guess. 

Tim's Place in Albuquerque, NM

I am sitting here watching the CBS Evening News and just saw such an inspiring story! Tim Harris is a young man born with Down Syndrome. He was born to goodly parents who wanted him to be as successful in life as his brothers and able to take care of himself when they are gone. They have helped him accomplish many things in his 25 years. He has won many medals with Special Olympics, graduated from high school, attended Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell where he received certificates in food service and office skills, lives on his own, and last year his parents helped him open his own restaurant, Tim's Place: Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Hugs, at 8050 Academy NE in Albuquerque, NM. He is the hug giver and has a hug counter in the restaurant (today's official count ~ 18,561 hugs served). If I could eat lunch there I would have his Out to Lunch Shredded Beef Burrito served with papitas and calabacitas, garnished with lettuce, tomato, hugged with red or green chile. Sounds good to me! As far as his parents know, Tim is the only person with Down Syndrome that owns and operates their own restaurant. Tim says his heroes are his parents. Here is the link ... http://timsplaceabq.com Not only was his story featured on the CBS Evening News but also in the May 21, 2012 issue of People Magazine. I will have to go to the library and ask to see the issue.

Totally Delightful Books

I want to suggest a series of books for all grandmas to read. (Or adults, being a grandma is not a requirement.)  This month I checked out a book for my grandsons to read and I read it as well.  It is just delightful.  How many books have you read recently that you could say are just delightful?  The 3 titles I especially enjoy re-reading are written by Richard Peck. The Washington Post described him as the best living American author for young adults. I would say Amen - well, at least one of the best.  He is the first children's author to have been awarded a National Humanities Medal.  The delightful books I want to recommend to you to read even if you are an adult are these three: A Long Way From Chicago (Newbery Honor winner), it's sequel A Year Down Yonder (Newbery Medal winner),  and a companion book (the one I read this week) A Season of Gifts.  Just delightful (I can't say that enough). You will find in it the youth chapter book section at your library but I think you really have to be my age (50's) to thoroughly love these books.  The main characters are a grandma and a 15 year old girl in the first two.  In the companion book the same grandma is the neighbor of the new preacher and his family. If you like heartwarming, down home, humorous, insightful, coming of age, reminds me of The Worst Best Christmas Pageant Ever story, make-you-smile-for-days books then read these --- even if they do come from the youth section.  And of course, if you have not ever read The Worst Best Christmas Pageant Ever then get it while you are at the library too!

We've Had Rain!

I just have a few white blooms

I found yellow 4 o'clock  seeds last year

Morning Glories are just coming up

We have had rain this week and my 4 o'clocks have appreciated it.  I know I am grateful for it --- there is a world of difference between rain and water out of the hose when it comes to my yard.  It has been wonderful for my older morning glories  -- and I think they grew an inch just in past two days that we have had rain -- but the ones just coming up looked drowned.  We will see what happens with them.

most of my 4 o'clocks are pink

I don't remember having red blooms before. 

Cousins Just Chillin'

Today I am grateful that:

• My grandchildren have each other.  I grew up without cousins my age, or any, of any age, that I knew at all. People with extended families -- they are the lucky ones.  These cousins love each other :)
• That my grandson found this K'Nex roller coaster kit at a thrift store for the amazing price of $6. (retail is more like $50)
• That my granddaughter did not tear the roller coaster down, or even attempt to, after they got it built! She is an angel.  My grandsons are angels too. They allowed her to stick some extra pieces on it.

Some Good News For Fighters of Forest Fires in New Mexico

So far the Little Bear fire has burned over 37,000 acres of the Lincoln National Forest and burned at least 224 homes.  As of tonight, I think this is day 6 of the fire, it is about 35% contained.  My niece is somehow, thankfully, one of the lucky ones and her home is not only unharmed but she was allowed to go back home about 4 days after being evacuated.  The greatest thing so far is no one has been seriously injured.  The second greatest thing re: the two wildfires in NM this month is that 

President Obama  signed a bill into law Wednesday that cuts the red tape for fighting those wildfires. It will allow the forest service to waive a 30 day waiting period and buy seven new air tankers to dump suppressants on fires in the west. The forest service is upping its existing fleet to 17.... according to this article http://www.krqe.com/dpp/weather/wildfires/crews-attack-little-bear-fire-from-all-angles  In my book there is no braver person than any fire fighter, and anything that helps with these terrifying wildfires is just pretty darn good news. The wildfires have just been horrible but there are few things to be grateful for ... additional planes, homes that were untouched, and a caring community to aide those 500 or so still in shelters or with friends in Ruidoso, NM and don't have any news yet of the status of their homes.

Butterfly Bush

I have wanted a Butterfly Bush for years and I have planted I don't know how many but have never succeeded in growing one.  I was surprised this week when a shrub bloomed at my son's house - a beautiful lilac colored butterfly bush.  Here I have babied the plants I have brought home and planted only to have them die, and my son pretty much ignores the shrubs along their house and they grow like crazy. This bush is just loaded with blooms. So pretty -- photo does not do it justice.  Since mine have never actually lived after I planted them I didn't realize this is what the shrub was until it bloomed.  That is my grandbaby, who is waving at her aunt who pulled up to the curb behind me as I was taking the photo.