On his blog, Barry challenged us to a MEME post in which we EACH list 7 facts about ourselves. It took a long time for me to think of seven facts but at long last I was able to think--and here they are.
1) Research--I love research! I really do and that is probably why I enjoy genealogy. Lets face it--our family is pretty boring but the history surrounding them is fascinating. The internet allows us access to us so much more information than in the past. No longer do we have to "walk" the cemeteries to find family graves.
2) Der's smile during a jam session makes everything worth while. No one enjoys music with his friends more than Der.
3) Museums are totally stress free. The world is up tight but once you enter a museum and feast your eyes on the riches of the past, all worries and stress evaporate. My favorite picture is St Matthew in the Kimbel. However, I also vist the Remingtons and Russells in the Amon Carter.
4) College students are a breath of fresh air. They are on their own for the first time and all time stretches in front of them. They are a real joy.
5) No one can go to the PraiSingers Choir (age 55 and up) with Bill Pearson and not experience true fellowship and hard work. The music is fantastic and Bill is a very patient director--even if we don't look at him as often as he would like. Bill is probably the biggest optimist there is, too. He expects us to learn at least three of the songs we are singing. Keep in mind--all of us are over 55 and some of us are way over!
6) The sound of close harmony must be the music of angels (or is that angles?).
7) Whenever Der and I travel we have adventures! There was the time in CA we were on a (closed) one lane dirt road up the side of a mountain with a 1500 foot drop off and met a road grader--which we had to pass--and did with God's help. The time a lady asked us to be a spotter as she skied on one ski around Big Bear Lake in CA. Her husband drove the boat and told us all about the mobsters who used to own the property. In Vermont, we met a family who knew my Dad. In fact, one of them had bailed hay for him! We were really shocked when we met the trader at an Indian trading post in Arizona whose wife was raised in Sundown, TX--where some of Der's relatives lived.

Just for free--here is an eighth fact! You'd never guess, but I love exclamation points! They are fun, interesting and add pizzaz to just about everything!

So, come on family. Lets here your 7 facts!
PS: Dad will add his later.
Mom

Update from the Granbury Rowells

Hey, everyone! I know it has been awhile since I blogged, so I thought I would update everyone on what is going on here in Granbury.

First, let me share some pictures from my birthday celebration on September 21 at Ken & Elizabeth's house in Mansfield:


Above: Katie, Ken & Dad chatting in the living room.
Mom & Elizabeth, who were not sure about getting their picture taken, and may kill me for blogging it :) But what the hay, you only live once! *grin*

Since the only kids I have are furry ones, I thought I would upload a few cute picts I took:

Above, Lemur and Andy took a bit of a catnap on the clothes I had just pulled from the dryer. And below, Millie and Perky in the office window - is it any wonder I cannot grow anything in that pot? :)

I have recently started fostering for the Hood County Animal Shelter. I have a family of cats (Mama and two kittens) living in my guest room. They were rescued from a possum attack and only two of the kittens survived. I will be fostering them until the kittens are weaned (3 more weeks) and will then return them to the shelter (or other rescue organization) for adoption. Since I am going out of town for the Thanksgiving holidays, I won't get a new foster family until after I get back.

I am trying to get involved with some of the Parker County rescue organizations so that I can foster animals that can go to the new PetSmart every weekend for adoption. Currently, once the Hoood County shelter only has adoption events once a month. I am hoping that if I can get involved with one of the Parker County rescue organizations, I can foster cats from Hood County, but take them to the Parker County weekly events as well as the Hood County monthly events. The idea being that the more they are seen in public, the better chance the animals have at being adopted. Anyway, I thought you might want to see my very first foster family. I call them Little Mama, Noisykitty, and QuietOne (not names, but descriptions really, I cannot and will not name them for obvious reasons).

Well, I guess I better sign off, I still have to finish my expense reports for work, and laundry waits for no woman!

With all my love,

Ellen

Surpirse at night

I gave my friend, Valerie, St Francis from Peggy's house. Then we decided to start decorating him for the different holidays and their birthdays. SO for "pay back" this is what we found on our porch, straight from Mexico!

This is Mary and she came with two candles.

What a great surprise.

Bekah wasn't sure what to think! We did not light the Mary or Jesus candle. I am not sure what Jim will think of it. But I am glad we have tall bushes because I REALLY don't know what the school and school friends will think of Mary. How do you solve a problem like Mary?

Fun times with the Cookes

Mom and Dad came to Midland to watch Will play football. He was the starting center for the first time and he did great. Especially since he had not practiced that position before. I was glad Mom and Dad were able to be there. Then we celebrated by eating Mexican food. YUM>But Jim and WIll went to a Tech game instead of eating with us.

(I will add pictures of Will playing football later. I am not sure how to do it from a cd.)

The next weekend we went to Ft. Worth.

We had a great time . Bekah and I went there to see Mom and Dad and to celebrate my high school reunion. It was fun to eat at Risky's BBQ in the stockyards. It was a quick trip but fun. The week before that was crazy with homecoming activities. I have included some pictures for your enjoyment.

Powderpuff football seniors vs jr. Senior won. Bekah was the center part of the game, just like her dad and brother!

This is Bekah's Ft. Worth project. She painted the skyline with glitter paint. It looked great. For an added treat to her presentation she served coke in Kincaid glasses that the manager of Kincaid's gave her!

This is a dresser we got from Peggy's for Will. It is solid Maple. I wish I had gotten a before picture. It was an ugly green/black color with brass handles. I painted it black and spray painted the handles silver. I think it looks pretty good!

We celebrated Wll's birthday at Chili's. This is his new camera! Happy 14th birthday!

Pickin' Party

Your Dad usually sits over by the lamp. But the best part of one of these events is the smile on your Dad's face. He picks up the guitar and never stops smiling.

Pickin' party in the living room. Not the picture I intended but can't see real well! Der is admiring our new sidewalk. I know, at one time the pavers had a red and white pattern and although the design was very attractive it did detract from the overall picture. Der has enjoyed sitting in the chair (just behind him) and watching the world go by.

UPDATE!

Hi All! Maybe I can get this post published but I haven't had much luck so far!

It is nice and cool here--perfect fall weather. If it weren't for the mosquitos it would be great to be outside. We have finally taken all the red paving stones up and replaced them with white ones and I think it looks a lot better. Your Dad still isn't too certain, but if, over time, he doesn't like them we'll replace the red pavers. I'll take a picture and try to post it! (Good luck on that one!) We put two plants on plant stands and one of our chairs on the front porch and it looks really nice. You can't get in the door but it looks nice.
Dad went to the optomitrist this AM and will have cataract surgery--one on October 13 and the other one on November 11. The process is supposed to be pretty simple. Your Dad is really ready to get it done.
PraiSingers sings with the chancel choir this Sunday as Kirk Cameron is our guest speaker. That should be a lot of fun.
Der played with a group over in Richland Hills at a B-B-Q place and really had a lot of fun. I went to a Bible Study at church--should be interesting as it is on the "Ascent" Psalms--120 to 134. These were the songs the Jews sang on pilgrimages each year.
Love,
Mom n Dad

Cookes and Rowells at Joe T. Garcia's

My pictures aren't very good, but I thought I'd share them all with you all anyway (spreading my pain around, perhaps...? I dunno...). We had a such a wonderful time with the family (depleted by one-quarter, of course, but don't think we didn't talk about how much we missed you, Heather... by Sunday morning, it was starting to get a little maudlin, actually...). It was all too short, as always. When Catherine and I were driving to Wichita Falls along Jacksboro Highway, we passed (as we always do) the exit to Newark (Texas, of course). And every time we pass it, we wish that there truly was a wormhole from just across the river in New Jersey to just northwest of Fort Worth so that we could be only an hour away from you all.

We love you all and can't wait to see you all again!
Barry and Catherine