Before I start in on our busy tri-directional weekend, I want to show you part two of the series featuring our four dogs ~ painted by our resident artist "Sara"! If you missed the first of the series, click here - "Ode to Scout" and you can check it out...that
is when we discovered Sara could really paint and I commissioned her to paint the rest of our dogs. If anyone is interested, you can send her a photo and she will paint your pet for you!
is when we discovered Sara could really paint and I commissioned her to paint the rest of our dogs. If anyone is interested, you can send her a photo and she will paint your pet for you!
This is Libby...Ellen's Golden Retriever...she is the most active of our dogs and comes from a famous hunting blood line in Texas. We bought her in Liberty, Texas on the Fourth of July weekend, thus she was named Liberty and we call her Libby for short. True to her heritage (52 hunting championships in her bloodlines) she is an awesome huntress and hunts anything that moves, but most importantly, is a great duck hunter!
This weekend brought three different activities for three different girls! Elizabeth had her initiation in Kappa Delta sorority - and since I am an alumni of KD from LSU, I flew up to "pin" my pin on her!
Ellen performed her long awaited production of Suessical Jr.! I did get to see it on Thursday and it was, as their productions usually are, fabulous! One of the few middle school drama clubs in LA, they are equal or above the level of most high school drama clubs...our drama coach has been at this for around fifteen years, takes every single person that tries out, and always pulls a great performance from them. It is months and months of work and stress but worth it in the end. Ellen loves it!
Ellen and some of her buddies.
And Sara had her "Sadies" dance ~ she and her friends dressed as a bowling team! Gary held the fort down for this one...and and deserved an Oscar for his performance in the role of Mr. Mom! He even hosted the after party, serving ribs and fries, lighting a most awesome bonfire (so I am told) and was the hostess with the mostess! Unfortunately, I missed all of this event as I was not here, but have this photo courtesy of Sara texting it to me!
Love technology for letting us stay in touch
Love technology for letting us stay in touch
when we can't be in three places at once!
So, here we are ~ at Elizabeth's KD initiation...there were only three other Mothers there, so it was pretty special to be a part of this. Being so far from Elizabeth, I have only been to see her once while she was in college, thus, I was quite excited to visit again, and to meet all of
her friends she has been telling me about.
her friends she has been telling me about.
We did not do this "back in my day" You form a K and a D with your interlocking fingers.
Makes for a fun photo! Well, that and those two cute girls ......:)
Here I am before the initiation...with my "pin" which didn't surface until the last minute!
When you are in college, you don't think about saving all your stuff for a child that might follow in your footsteps one day! Seems SO FAR away when you are young and nineteen...but, here we are; and it is weird to think that all this time has passed!
Some of Elizabeth's friends who were getting initiated with her....such cute girls they all were.
Not sure what group this was! My job was to snap LOTS of photos! My next request is to upload all of them to facebook for them! I am not a facebook person, but guess I will figure it out!
Elizabeth's "BIG" ~ which is what they call their big sister! She has been wonderful to Elizabeth and showered her with love and lots of wonderful little KD gifts...many of them home-made! She has been more then generous to Elizabeth and
Elizabeth adores her!
Elizabeth adores her!
Here Elizabeth is writing a paper, and her roommate is hanging out too.....I did what Moms do when they come visit and their daughters have to do homework...CLEAN! They actually keep their room fairly straight but it needed a good wiping down and dusting...so that kept me
busy while Elizabeth got her work done!
I would be smiling like that too if my Mom was scrubbing and cleaning
my room from top to bottom!
I found the most adorable Inn...an old house turned into a hotel - it had so much charm and character! So while the college kids went out on Saturday night, I snuggled down in my cozy little room and just had a ball hanging out by myself! Isn't it funny how you don't mind peace and quiet when you get older? I would have been so lonely and depressed when I was younger to be by myself on a Saturday night in a hotel room, but now I love it...I can knit, blog, read or watch a movie...
order room service - it is wonderful!
In front of the KD house....
One of her good high school friends who now attends Birmingham Southern, was on
Spring Break and stopped by to visit.
Here we are on the way to the "Steakhouse"...their university features a "holistic" education and has a five star steakhouse on campus that is part of their meal plan. They can eat there once a week. At first glance, one says ( I did) that is ridiculous!
But the logic behind it, is to "teach" students how to eat in a fine dining establishment....the waiters and waitresses "correct" manners, educate students on different types of foods from various parts of the world, teach them how to order from a menu, what utensils to use for what courses..etc. Students have a nice meal and have to carry on conversation ~ in this day and age of texting....that is a skill
that needs to be practiced!
No alcohol is served but wine glasses are used! It is really nice! The logic is that you will use these skills just as much as book knowledge, if not more, to interview for jobs and dine out with executives for the rest of your life. After four years of dining in a nice establishment once a week, with someone looking over your shoulder, you will be able to pull it off without thinking about it, and focus on what you need to be focusing on for your interview or meeting.
Students have to dress nicely; boys wear ties, girls wear skirts or dresses - they turn off cell phones and practice their very best manners and conversation! Just one of the many different concepts put into play at this university! The president has some unique ideas and does not hesitate to implement them!
We are giving Andrew a tour ...everything is in bloom and beautiful!
Elizabeth is in the gardening club and is the only student that has remained faithful to showing up and planting the bulbs and plants populating the campus right now....in fact, she was asked by the Head of the Landscaping department to give a speech to the faculty at a meeting in April about gardening on campus. ...too bad I am not close enough to be able to attend that as I would love to hear it. Maybe, she can have someone video it and email to me...Hint, Hint Elizabeth ~ if you are reading this!
I left on Sunday, but not before I took this hungry crowd out for a good breakfast to a local diner...it was so nice to have some time to get to know Elizabeth's friends, and see first-hand how well she has adjusted into college life ~ great friends, her grades are good, and most importantly she is HAPPY! I came home to a nice clean house...a fridge that had been cleaned out ( WOW) and even some folded laundry! That is just the icing on the cake of a fabulous weekend! See why I want to award Gary an Oscar...but I kind of think that Ellen and Sara deserve one for best supporting actresses!!!!!!!
Sounds like a busy but fun weekend. Having a child away is so difficult. You can't help but long to be near them. Hugs! Bonnie
ReplyDeleteI know ~ I often wish I could just jump in the car and go have "lunch" but it is just not the case...she does come home for long breaks and holidays though!
Deletewhat a fantastic post! your family is beautiful and you dear, are gorgeous and look like you still belong in college yourself. How great to be there for your daughter like that, i'm sure she appreciates it so much.
ReplyDeletemakes me a little wistful, missing mine so. we have an upcoming trip, but after that, i need to start making plans for visits also!
such a sweetie husband you have, isn't that the best feeling to come home to the house under control? thank you so much also for the kindest words you left for me. i appreciate them SO much too.
xxx lori
Thanks - you are doing my ego some good because believe you me, after being around those cute, young college kids all weekend, I am not feeling that way! I feel like the wrinkles and crows feet are glaring! But I do appreciate the sweet comments! Can't wait to tag along on your trip to Africa via your blog!
DeleteWhat a great time you must have had and from the photos it looks like you should still be in college, you look just like all the other beautiful girls!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you found your pin to pass on to your daughter. You are so right about being young and not thinking about what you will give your children.
I love Sara's newest painting of Libby. A good duck hunting dog? Oh yeah, she's a keeper. One of my son's just called to say he and his wife both just got turkey's so they are pretty excited.
Thanks Tracey! You are so sweet... it was a fun weekend! I will pass along your comment to Sara too! Sounds like you come from a family of hunters also! We have lots of turkeys running around but they are some of the very few birds we don't shoot as we like to look at them! Actually, we don't shoot anything on OUR property! We go other places! :)
DeleteSounds like a whirlwind weekend! I can't imagine not seeing my daughter, she goes to school 1 & 1/2 hours away and carpools home often :) Very special for you to go to her initiation!
ReplyDeleteI love the painting Sara did of Libby. Very talented girl.
What an incredible weekend! I love that your husband had one party at home to cater and you were off pinning your daughter :) The photo of the girls in white dresses is so pretty. You look stunning in your white dress, what dark circles???? Love the hotel room too-cozy and quiet!
ReplyDeleteYes, the circles are definitely there....but thank you! Fortunately, the adrenaline was pumping too, so I wasn't tired! Boy, I am feeling like a million bucks with all these nice comments ~ thanks everyone! Next weekend should be much calmer (I hope) and I hope to get some gardeing in! Maybe some knitting too...can't wait to see what YOU knit next....you always amaze me with your creations.
DeleteWhoa what an awesome weekend! You all look so happy and beautiful! I remember the days of those college bunk beds. Oh and ribs at a party, I needed to be there too! What a wonderful and talented family. Congrats on all of the fun and cool milestones! Thanks for stopping by my space too!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Ang
These are great pictures and show the wonderful memories you will have of this special weekend! Isn't it great that Spring has come.
ReplyDeleteLove the barn on your header. :o)
Layne, just reading your profile made me exhausted. I am always amazed when I find younger women who are tending families, as well as doing numerous other things, and yet find time to blog. I "just" take care of our orchard, garden, bees (and soon chickens) and yet find it a challenge to make time to blog.
ReplyDeleteLove the pics. I still cannot believe that Tiny E is already in college! She looks like she is doing great and so do you!
ReplyDeleteI am sure Gary did a great job as hostess with the mostest, He has a great mom who has taught him how to be just that, but I'm certain that he had lots of help from Sara and Ellen. I know how helpful they are to me when we hit the beach! Cant wait to see all of you over Easter.
So good to hear from you Dottie! Yes, he was taught by a pro!!!! Easter should be a blast as my family will be joining the crowds...I think we might break the Guiness World Book of Records for most people in the country for a holiday! Looking forward to it! Call me sometime and lets catch up!
Delete