family

Paisley is two months old today.  When we were at Mom and Dad’s this weekend, we introduced her to a new favorite treat: live mealworms.  Not my pick, but hey.  More photos on Flickr.

For the weekend, we returned to Lynchburg, Tennessee for the Jack Daniel’s 2008 World Championship International Barbecue with Mom and Dad.  A good time was had by all.  Again, more photos on Flickr.

I stopped on my way home from work to take this photo of an egret on one of the docks along the marsh.  He was less pleased to see me than I was to see him.  Wish I’d had my Nikon, more patience to sneak up on my victim, and an invisibility cloak.  Sony Cybershot DSC-P10, ISO 400, F10, 1/100, 23.7 mm.

I also have some more photos from Mom and Dad’s visit this weekend.  These two were taken on the deck at Mimi’s Creekside on James Island, which has the best marsh-side views of any restaurant I know.  (And, for the record, Chopper says the shrimp and grits are the best around.)

Chopper and I got back yesterday from several days at the lake with Mom and Dad, and we made a brief foray up to Lynchburg with them and Margie to eat lunch at Miss Bobo’s. When one is in Lynchburg, one goes to the Jack Daniel’s distillery. That is the way of things.

Chopper, Dad, and Margie are all Tennessee Squires, members of a group of “special friends” of the distillery. When visiting the distillery, squires spend a little time in the Squire Room, and get a little TLC from the distillery staff. Squires sign in with their squire number, or they can be looked up by last name and address in the database.

I paraphrase, for your enjoyment, a conversation had between my grandmother and the very nice lady (whose name I unfortunately did not get and will subsequently be referred to as “VNL”) in the Squire Room. I suspect this tale will be repeated. Often. And my dear grandmother will probably be slightly upset for me for committing it to print (so to speak).

The VNL asked Margie for her squire’s card, which Margie didn’t have with her. The VNL gently and humorously asked her why she didn’t keep it in her wallet.

“Oh,” said my grandmother, “I take it out before I go to church on Sunday.”

Mom broke her ankle and is in a boot for the next few weeks. Dad and Margie are keeping her company and making sure she’s not putting any weight on that ankle!

For my birthday, Mom sent me this picture of the two of us when I was a few hours old. What great hair we have!