News from Melber

I'm trying!

2008-03-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

I just don't have anything to say. I could tell you that Shelly went riding with Reece and me yesterday, but I've already told you that. I could tell you that it has rained all day today, sometimes in downpours, but you know rain better than I. Let me tell you about the mud at the barn! It is deep and thick and each hole is full of water, very nasty and no fun at all. Right around the barn is not too bad, but you have to walk through a river of water and mud to get to the gate and the dry lot. The geldings pushed Fancy through the fence last week and skinned her up pretty good. We haven't decided how she got into the dry lot with them but she is pretty clever. She ended up breaking two fence post and the barbed wire. Those devils!!

Baby Ryan

2008-01-31T12:44:00.000-08:00

It snowed last night and all of the schools around here were closed. I had promised myself that the first snow day I would continue to organize some of my pictures. I found this picture of Ryan taken by the hospital when he was two days old. I scanned it but I didn't know how to crop just the picture. I thought you might enjoy seeing how beautiful he was even though he looks like they startled him to get his picture with his eyes open. I will send more later. Can you give me some cropping instructions?

Ok Ok Gloria, I'm posting

2008-01-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

Hello from Melber. Everything is fine here. I thought I would add Cecil's Christmas picture even though I know you and Jess have both already seen it. I know he is not as cute as Mabry but maybe you'll enjoy seeing him again. By the way Jess, I love checking out your blogspot and seeing Mabry every chance I get!!!

David entertained everyone during the announcements last night when he announced that Gloria and Ryan were expecting. Kay came up to us right before class and asked us if we knew it before David's announcement, we laughed. After church several of the ladies wanted to know what I want to be called. Granny is out, that is my mother. MawMaw is out, never wanted that. Grandmother is all right, that is what I called my grandmother Benifield. Mama Bruce was my other grandmother, but if I'm Mama Mabry that is what Randy's grandmother was, I can't picture that. So here's my idea, what about Nay Nee, or Ne'Nee, not sure how to spell it, but it comes from my name Renee. What do you think ladies? Randy doesn't care what he's called, he says he'll let the baby decide, but let's face it, we are so far away and we'll see the child only after months of intervals our names and who we are will have to be reinforced by Gloria and Ryan. Granddaddy is a great name and I kinda lot Pop. What do you think Ryan? What fits your dad best? Randy says everyone at Coke has been teasing him and acting quite goofy about Randy finally becoming a grandfather. Same with me at school, after I sent a school wide email to all of my colleagues they have been emailing back with their best wishes. Lots of the ones I have taught with for years are already grandmothers so they are especially excited. They are worried too, they want to know how I'm going to stand living so far away from my first grandchild. I have told them, "who says I am going to live from away, I might move." That's the truth!

I saw a great piece on the Today show this morning. It showed a school that had challenged its students to cancel all their unwanted sales catalogs. It told of the countless trees that were sacrificed each year to supply these sales papers that end up mostly in the trash not even looked at. Go to www.catalogchoice.org and see the clip. Then sign up and have all your catalogs canceled. I even cancelled my beloved State Line Tack catalog. I thought that anytime I wanted something I could go to the website and place an order just as easy. It took me about 10 minutes to sign up and cancel several catalogs. On another note, I ordered something over the phone today. Gloria, I went ahead and ordered those insulated riding boots, I think I showed them to you over Christmas. Anyway, while I was talking to the sales person I asked her if I could have my name removed from the list that gets sold to other companies and she took care of that for me. Now I won't be inundated by a multitude of western supply catalogs just because I have placed an order with one. (If I were a true blogger, I might be able to figure out how to send that clip from the Today show on my blog. Since I am a novice, you'll just have to go to the website and see it from there.)

By the way ladies, I saw on the news yesterday about the dangers of putting too much personal information on blogs and my space type websites. It said it was not uncommon for employers and potential employers to check you out. I know you all would not post anything controversial but..... I'm a mother, so sue me!

I hope this short message satisfies you two but seriously I will try to do better about sending messages more often.

Halloween Fun - Trunk or Treat

2007-11-03T15:51:00.001-07:00

This Halloween was our first "Trunk or Treat" in the parking lot of the church building. Fun was had by all! Even Lucy, Jasper, and Simon got into the spirit of things. Jasper loved showing everyone what a "Super Dog" he is. Lucy had to be coaxed to stay out of the car because she was embarrassed to be "Bat Dog". I guess she wanted to be "Bat Girl". Simon didn't have a costume, so he was just his lovable self. Enjoy the pictures!

Pictures from our trip to visit Ryan and Gloria

2007-10-23T18:19:00.001-07:00

Ryan, Gloria, me and Randy at one of the falls on Mt. Rainier. Very funny story about this picture. Randy had the camera and using lots of sign language and pointing "asked" an oriental man to take our family's picture. The guy took the camera and said "oh, ok!"

I thought this was a nice picture at the beach. Notice the silhouette of the seagull.

My favorite soldier!

Ryan and Gloria on the trail on the mountain. Ryan is "posing" for the camera!

I have discovered that when I load a picture it always goes to the top of the posting. Is there a way I can load the pictures in order? Anyway, this is my favorite picture from the aquarium. Gloria, my picture of the octopus is not a good as yours, it turned out dark.

Ryan and Gloria buying fish from the fiendish, screaming fish mongers at the market place.

Reece the "shotgun" exhibitionist

2007-09-25T14:27:00.001-07:00

Reece was watching the history channel at our house a couple of weeks ago and he got this idea from a famous gun exhibitionist. I think his name was Hugh Parsons and he was awesome at his sport. Reece was inspired so he took his shotgun to the front yard and kept practicing throwing up clay targets and trying to shoot them before they fell to the ground. I think Hugh Parsons could shoot 7 or 8 before they hit the ground, but Reece only has 3 shots so that was what he practiced. He finally got it and I got it on video. Forgive me that you have to watch this video sideways, I don't know what I was thinking when I filmed it.

Labor Day Weekend

2007-09-03T14:14:00.001-07:00

Friday night Randy and I left for Bay Creek to camp for only one night. It was a lot of work for one night, but it was the first time we had camped since Missouri in June. Vana called right before we left and told us they might be later getting there because Danny had a fire call. Luckily, the fire was small and contained to a corn field that had already be combined. They got there about 9:00 and camped right beside us. I had the potatoes baked and put the chicken on the grill as they were unloading. We had a nice campfire and even though the campground was almost full it was a very quiet night. Saturday morning we got up and after breakfast decided we would ride to soldier's grave. I started out on Fancy but she was excited and I lost my nerve and Randy and I swapped horses after only a short distance. I didn't want to be a baby but I wanted to enjoy the ride and talk to Vana and not deal with a cranky horse. Of course, after Randy got on her she was perfect! I have included a picture of soldier's grave. The name and information on the stone is John C.B. Ramsey, Co. A, 17th Ky Inf. I do wish I knew the history behind the grave. Someone occasionally decorates the grave site. There is evidence around the site that it was once enclosed with an American wire fence.

Today was our annual family reunion. There were approximately 54 people at the civic center to eat and visit together. That number is not as many as we usually have. It is harder for us to get together like we once did. Someone had on a t-shirt that we had printed several years ago and it said "Benifield Family Reunion 1975-1999." I am pretty sure we had our reunions on 4th of July before 1975 and of course we've had one every year since 1999 except the year Grandmother died. She died September 2, 2003, the day after Labor Day. No one felt like celebrating anything that year.
As usual, there was lots of good food. I took roast beef and pepper gravy, corn, iced tea, and homemade strawberry ice cream. We also had pineapple ice cream (Vana) and butterpecan ice cream (Reva). We laughed, talked and gossiped for a few hours after dinner. Not like in the olden days when we played volleyball all afternoon.

Pampered Chef Party

2007-08-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

Last night I went to Debbie B.'s Pampered Chef party. I don't usually "do" sales parties. Usually regrets are given and I buy something from the hostess to ease my conscience, but Debbie is so sweet I could not tell her no. Actually I HAD told her no, but she lured me with the promise of a mocha skillet cake with a coffee ganache, chicken nachos and virgin margaritas. Who could resist that invitation? I had to rely on my memory of how to get to her house because I had left my invitation stuck to my refrigerator door. I found the road easy enough but when it came to the house number I was without a clue. I knew it was on the left. Finally I saw a driveway full of cars. Some of the cars I even recognized as belonging to people we know. I pulled in, careful to be the last one in the driveway so I could make a quick escape if I became overwhelmed with too much fun. The basement garage door was open making it easier for late arriving guests. I proceeded up the stairs and with a you-who opened the door at the top of the stairs and walked in. Greeting me were about six surprised faces, all of them strangers! I said, "Is this the party?" They just looked at me like I was a crazy bag lady or something! I finally apologized and told them I must be in the wrong house. I high tailed it out the front door. Phooey on superstition, I went out the first door I saw! I got in my car, breathed a big sigh of relief, thanked my lucky stars and drove a little farther down the street. A few doors down Kerry was at the end of the correct driveway, sitting in his Ranger waiting to greet guests and show them where to park on the cul-de-sac. He followed me and brought me back to the house. We all had a big laugh about what had happened to me. Myra said that something like that could only happen to me. I don't know, I highly doubt I'm the only one to ever go into a stranger's house and ask for a party! We had a lot of fun and I wasn't even the first to leave!

I have talked Randy into getting a high speed DSL! I will save my pictures to post till then. It takes a tremendous amount of time to download pictures to this site using dial-up. I already have a cute video of Reece shooting his shootgun at some clay targets he has thrown up in the air. He was inspired by a show he saw on the History channel about Hugh Parsons, the great shooting exhibitionist.

Saturday morning

2007-08-25T08:18:00.001-07:00

I got up this morning determined to figure out how to add a picture to my blog. I did it! But I have decided that we MUST get DSL, it takes too long using dial-up. Randy is mowing the pasture this morning. All he is mowing are weeds because all the grass is dead. It is cooler this morning and it is only supposed to get into the 90's. It is supposed to rain later this afternoon. I hope so. We are grilling steaks and chicken for a birthday supper for Granddaddy Rex. I have made a coconut pie. Reece is supposed to come home for supper, he doesn't have to work tonight. I need to go now and put the meringue on the pie. I just got off the phone with BaBa and we had a good laugh or two. Talk more later.

My First Blog Message

2007-08-24T18:29:00.000-07:00

I think this is going to be fun! Gloria, you have been an inspiration to me in yet another way.
I have now joined the ranks of many mothers before me, those who are experiencing an empty nest. After a lifetime of apple juice, little league, car pools, pony club and 4H, our children are grown. Of course they have really been grown for some time now, I just didn't admit it. But since Gloria and Ryan have moved out West there is no denying it any longer. Yes, Ryan has been on his own for several years now, but while he lived in Kentucky it seemed he still was "in the nest". Even after he and Gloria married three years ago, we didn't lose Ryan, we gained Gloria. What an important part of our lives she has become. She truly has become my daughter. All mothers in law should as blessed as I have been.
Reece has been in his apartment almost a year now and has become a very independent college man. We are thankful that he lives fairly close and comes home often. He especially likes to come home for Sunday dinner.
Even though we miss the antics of the boys, Randy and I are learning how nice it is to have the house to ourselves again. We have lots of company with our dogs, cats, horses and oh yes the adopted snake, Belinda. Belinda couldn't move to Washington with Ryan and Gloria because she was not welcome on the base of Ft. Lewis where they are living. So we are learning about snake care. I am getting rather fond of that snake and I check on her frequently in the afternoons and evenings. I may take her to school with me and share her with my class. I am pretty sure they will enjoy getting to know her like I have. Even though she is now living with us, she is a small responsibility.Thank goodness Libby and Dax, our grandpups, were not only welcome but are very happy in that much cooler climate. As much as we love them, two high energy huskies are a lot of work. They are great fun when they go horse back riding with us in Illinois, but trying to keep them satisfied in the back yard the other six days a week is almost impossible. Gloria this is where I wanted to add a picture, but I need a little help. We'll talk and I'll get the hang of it!