Toy room transformation

Chrystal is nesting at our house. Here is the almost finished result of the toy room transformation (formerly Gideon's downstairs bedroom). The rest of the sorting will have to wait until Jared can go through his GI Joe collection. I think it's beautiful! We have ordered a One Fish Two Fish curtain from pottery barn to complete the Dr. Seuss theme. The trees are from the Lorax. Thanks to Chrystal, Gideon, Julianne & Carrie for doing the painting!

Charlie 2

This beautiful crape myrtle is at the Bohannans in the 5700 block of Forest Hill Drive. I captured this with my iPhone.

Happy Father's Day!

BILL FOWKES, 1972
Found this picture of Dad that was taken when our Valley Forge house was being built. We used to go to the building site and have picnics and even brought the guitar so we could sing.

Happy Birthday, Ginny!

Ginny marked her 50th birthday with a swimming party with about 60 friends and family on hand. Her sisters arranged a new wall of family photos for her gift and kids and friends painted the wall.

Genealogy Moment

I have not posted a family history blurb in a long time. This is my Uncle Willard and Mike Hoffman. John Willard Cameron was born on 13 March 1887 and died 2 August 1974. He spent his entire life on the family farm in Mount Pleasant and died sitting in a rocking chair on the porch. He never had electricity, running water or indoor plumbing, not even a toilet. He wanted the house to remain as it had when the first Camerons and Riddles arrived by wagon train in Mt. Pleasant in the 1840s. Maybe that is why he never married. Our Aunt Illa (who was his niece and Grandma Carter's twin sister) lived with him on the farm and kept house for many years.
Gary Willard Maserang is named for Uncle Willard.

Birds of a Feather?

I looked out my window and what did I see, buzzards visiting the geese. Actually there were about a dozen buzzards in the yard, so I took a shot with my backup camera through the screen and everything. I knew if I opened the door, they would scatter. They enjoyed their visit which lasted about an hour.

BRAZIL

A visit to the Iguassu Falls offered many photo ops and a chance to really get wet! This sand castle was a big hit on the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during my trip with the Fowkes clan. Donations were necessary to take a picture!

Cousin Mike - back in town

After 17 years of studying art in south Texas, Cousin Mike Hoffman is back in town. He is looking good and is getting settled in on the north side of Fort Worth. Welcome home!

Scholarship!

Gideon opened a letter from UTA late Saturday night and he has 2 scholarship offers; $8,000 for SAT scores and $2000 for being in the top 10% of his class. So, looks like college is free for at least one year. We don't think they'll hold it for his mission, but we'll see. So, way to go Gideon!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Fluffy has weathered the storm along with the Great Northern Geese.

Snow day!

We had a great time sledding, having snowball fights, and making real snow cones. Jared is making an igloo. The kids have rolled a 4-ft diameter snowball. Kris had his 18th b-day last night and his friends all spent the night since no one could navigate out of our driveway. Great day!

Grandkids...

I haven't posted in months, so it is time to put up some photos of grandkids. (Rejoice in your posterity!) Recently they have gotten to spend more time playing at Grandma's.

Play it again, Sam...

This trombone player braved the bitter cold to collect for the Salvation Army in front of the new WalMart on Little Road at noon on December 7. Collections, along with the wind, were brisk!