Transportation, Trees, and Imagination

Wednesday - November 5, 2008

The day after election day! We could be philosophical and discuss the election and what may be in store for our future according to the politicians - but we really don't want to do that. We wanted to write something that was entertaining and light and that might let your emotions of laughter, your ability to recognize nature's beauty, and even you ability to use your imagination to form a picture from a knot on a tree trunk take over and make you forget the worries of the day. Challenging as it may seem, try it! It may take away some of that stress you may be feeling!

A means of transportation that just doesn’t get you anywhere is what Bill was relying on this past weekend as I had the car with me at Mom’s! This is usually the case every weekend, but we try to make sure he has all the necessities to make it through the weekend - sugar free ice-cream, chocolate syrup, sausage, eggs, bread, and whatever else he might like to fix! Many weekends I may go to Mom’s and stay Friday evening, come back home and then go back Saturday. Other weekends I am there from Friday until Sunday.



Days get really long for Bill, so this past weekend he came up with a plan to go to Wal-Mart. He got this bike out of the shed and set it on the driveway for a spin to the store! He said he got on the bike and started pedaling! He pedaled and pedaled, but he said he never did move from the driveway! He got a good workout, but never did make it to the store!!!! I guess we will need to find a different bike that will at least get him out of the driveway!




We have some really beautiful trees in the front yard. We didn’t think they would turn to be as beautiful as they have in the last three or four days. They are so pretty right now, but in a few days, oh the work they will cause. Our neighbor just had someone rake up his leaves, and their yard looks absolutely great – nice and clean. But I dare say that by tomorrow evening, more leaves will have fallen and taken their place! We are going to try and mulch the leaves using the lawn mower – hopefully we won’t have to rake or blow too many leaves over to the creek bank! Now talk about fun, Toby has had a blast jumping in our nice neat leaf piles in the past! Hopefully we will capture some pictures of him playing in the leaves.

These trees are in our front yard and the yellow and orange hues really show up with the sun beaming down on them!





These pictures show how blue the sky was in the background. One of the trees is virtually bare - it is on the creek bank - while the other one is still full with the beautiful fall leaves.




We also have a very interesting tree on the creek bank across the road from us. Bill noticed it this summer and kept talking about seeing a “face” on the trunk! He finally pointed out this spot of interest to me a couple of weeks ago. We tend to let our imagination roll, and I did see a face – a face of a bear!!!! Of course the face Bill saw was one of a human! I’m not sure which one of us has the more vivid imagination! We’re going to post several shots of this tree with the face to see if you can use your imagination, connect the dots, and come up with your own picture! Ready, set, go! Let you imagination go!

Notice the “knot” below the yoke of the tree. The first picture is from a distance. The next two pictures show the knot a little closer. If I could draw a border around my face with a magic marker I would, so use your own magic and see what you can draw around the knot!






Remember our cloud pictures from the beach? Here’s another look at them. To me it looks like a parade marching up the beach!




This is my "Angel" cloud!



When we get down, we can read God's words and His promise to us. We can also look at his creations around us and lose ourselves in the beauty He has created. Forget the stress and problems for the day and enjoy the beauty around you! Hope you all have a great day!

"Todd-a-Roo"

Saturday - November 1, 2008

Thirty years ago today a blond haired blue-eyed son was born to my youngest brother, Mike and his wife Renee. Matthew Todd Layne was to be the second grandson for Elmer and Irene Layne. He looked so much like his dad, Mike! Now I had two nephews to dote over and spoil! Billy was the first and was only three months older. These two boys were together constantly when visiting Mamaw and Papaw. Then along came nephew number three, Bobby Layne. These boys were unique in their own individual ways. Billy and Bobby were a little more adventurous, while Todd was more cautious. It paid to be cautious especially when their papaw and dads were around! Nephew number four came along in May 1980, JD. These boys did not get together as much as they would have liked, but oh when they did - fun, fun, fun!

I use to call Todd, Todd – a – roo. Why? I have no idea! I had bought three mice from Home Interior. They were eating items supposedly taken from the kitchen. I named them Bill, Bob, and Todd. They knew which one was their name sake! Sometimes I would forget, and they would inform me which one was who!

There are many things I remember about Todd as he grew up into the wonderful man he is today. It is so hard for me to realize my boys are no longer boys! One Saturday, my cousin Pat and I decided to take the boys on a trip to McDonalds and let them order their own meals. Some were hesitant that we would be able to “handle” three boys at McDonald’s. Our response was that if we can handle over 20 kids in a classroom, surely we can handle three four and five year olds!!! Todd led the pack. We had them hold hands with Pat and myself leading and following the pack! Todd was the first one to go up to the counter and place his order. He did a great job!, Next went Billy and finally Bob, who needed a little help – after all he was the youngest.

Todd was and is very athletic. Once when playing T-ball, he had to put on the brakes when running the bases so that he would not pass Bobby who, with his short legs, was running as hard and fast as he could. Todd with his long legs ran like the speed of lightning and was trying to get home and not make an out. It was so cute; everyone was telling Bobby to speed up and for Todd to slow down!!! Had Todd passed Bobby and reached home first, he would have been out! Both boys made it home safely and in the correct order.

Another fond memory was the time we decided to take the kids to the rodeo! Now, Bill and Bob were all up for it as they lived on a farm. They actually thought they could ride the broncos and lasso the steers! Dink, Pat, Donetta, and I were the adults in charge of Billy, Bobby, Todd, and Janetta. Bobby was the youngest at about three and Billy was the oldest at four. It was going to be a fun time! Dink took charge of Billy; Pat took charge of Todd – she knew which one would be the easiest to watch; I had Bob; and Donetta had her little one, Janetta. Dink got the bright idea to buy cotton candy for the kids! Billy and Janetta did okay with only a little mess; Todd did great with hardly a mess – smart move Pat; and then there was Bob, who literally took a bath with the cotton candy. I just looked at Dink and said, “He’s all yours!” I took Billy, and he took Bobby and cleaned him up!! What a night. Todd was glued to his seat and he didn’t take his eyes off what was going on in the ring. He was not about to get close enough for those big horns to get a hold of him – can’t say I blame him! He really had a great time as did the rest of us!

One thing about Todd that you will soon learn while being around him is that he is a true "HERDS" fan. He bleeds green all the way - rain or shine; win or lose; Marshall is his team and always has been. Wonder how much of that is his dad's fault???

There are so many “cute” stories that I could write about Todd, but it would take a while to write them all down on paper. What I can and will write now is about the man he has become. He has been a member of the Campus Crusade at Marshall and was involved with doing some missionary work during the summer. He went to Gatlinburg one summer; worked at a local restaurant; and witnessed to all around him. There was a group from Marshall that went down as well as members from other campuses. It was on this trip and in this group that he met his fiancée, Cassie Bordea. These two will be married in May, 2009. Todd is working at “Brite-Rite” mainly doing delivery and pick-ups for the lab while attending Marshall majoring in physical therapy. He knows what he wants to do and is going after it. One day he may be able to help me with my back!!!!!

We all love Todd very much and are very proud of his accomplishments and his dreams. He has come a long way from that baby 30 years ago. Happy birthday Todd! We love you!
I am including pictures of Todd through the years. Hope you enjoy them!

Todd and Billy sitting together at Mamaw and Papaw's.



Todd giving us the "Hulk" impersonation!



The following two pictures are similar but different. One is of the father, Mike; and the other is of the son, Todd! Which is which?




The living room couch has been a place in which many pictures have been taken. The oldest sibling holding the youngest. One is of my three brothers and me; another is of Billy, Bob, Todd, and Meghan; and then we have Billy, Bob, Todd, Dawn, and JD.





Todd with his cousins and sister! (Dawn, Billy, Todd, Bobby, JD, Lindsay, and Meghan)(Oldest to the youngest!)




Todd and Meghan - then and now!





Todd the boy; Todd the man!




The future Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Todd Layne

Memories from the Classroom Part 1

Wednesday - October 28, 2008

Some of you are old enough to remember Art Linkletter and his “House Party.” The show actually started out on radio and was eventually moved to the television screen for a half-hour program meant for entertainment. The first fifteen minutes was usually a discussion by adult guest about things that would be of interest to most housewives. It was the last fifteen minutes that I really remember and loved to watch. Art Linkletter would have four school age children sitting on a small stage. He would walk below the stage with his microphone and ask them questions. Kids are kids – no matter when they were born or where they lived. He would ask they simple questions such as “what do you want to be when you grow up?” or “who do you want to marry?” They always had an answer – an answer that would cause the audience to laugh, and I’m sure all those watching at home. I always loved the last fifteen minutes! I use to wonder how those kids got on the show! Little did I know they all lived in California and had to audition to be on the show. WV is a long way from California.

Years later, Bill Cosby started a show based Art Linkletter’s Show, but he called it “Kid’s Say the Darndest Things.” This was a phrase Linkletter would use after the kids would respond to his questions.

After starting my teaching career, I could have had my own show in my classroom every day. Bill and I were talking about some of these funny moments we had in the classroom and thought we would share some of them! There have been times when I wished I had written things down that had taken place in the classroom – you think you can remember them all, but time has a way of causing them to slowly fade away! Today, we are going to share a couple of things from Bill’s teaching days!

Bill has two things that came to mind which happened sometime during the last ten years of his teaching career. He taught WV History to eighth graders, and one of his responsibilities was to prepare the kids for the “Golden Horseshoe” Test in which all eighth graders take in early spring. To qualify for your school, the test was generally given in December. Needless to say, there was a lot of information that needed to be shared in order for these kids to do well on the test. Some obvious bits of information included those who held what office in the county as well as in the state! Most of the kids did well in knowing the mayor, magistrates, sheriff, clerk, etc. Our County Clerk, Bob Pasley has been in that office since 1975. He was actually elected to that position in 1985, but he served as a deputy clerk before being elected. Most of the kids knew who Bob Pasley was. He would come down with his “mountaineer” outfit and rifle and participate in the schools “ramp festival.” When going over who held what office, one student raised his hand to ask a question. “Mr. Hardin, I thought it was Brad Paisley who was the clerk!” Needless to say the kids cracked up – but Bill had no idea who Brad Paisley was! This made them all laugh harder. Of course if you listen to county music, then you know who he is. As the years progressed onward, the state required the kids to know “famous” people from WV. These included Don Knotts, Soupy Sales, Mary Lou Retton, Larry Bird, and eventually they added Brad Paisley. Bill said that Bob Pasley might like the idea that the kids mistook him for Brad Paisley!




Another requirement for the kids was to learn all 55 counties in the state. They had to be able to label them on a blank map! After several weeks of working with the kids and breaking the counties down into regions which made it easier for them to learn, Bill felt good about their progress. Then one morning a group of boys came back to his desk before class took up to tell him something really important! Bill thought they were serious (or so they thought). The spokesman for the little group asked Bill if he had heard that they had added another county that began with the letter “O?” Bill of course replied he had not. This student then stated with a face as straight as an arrow said, “this new county is called Out Wayne!” Bill said those kids had the best time with that because they caught him off guard!



What is really funny about both these stories is that yes, the kids did catch him off guard for a second, and they loved the fact he played along with them! We discovered many years ago you do not have to be straight lace, no smiles, or no humor to have a good teacher-student relationship with the kids. Talk to them straight and treat them fairly and you will be surprised at the progress you can have with them.

Not all our memories are ones that we can share – actually we would just as soon forget some of them. Kids are kids, some are good and some, for whatever reason, try to be bad. Kids do say the “darndest things” and most of the time it is because they are so innocent or just want to have a little clean fun!

Celtic Thunder Concert

Tuesday - October 21, 2008

Celtic Woman has been a favorite group of mine since I first heard them in January, 2006. I was home trying to recover from a sciatic nerve problem and all I was able to do was sleep and watch TV! Even with satellite, there wasn’t a whole lot on TV that interested me! One day I came across the Celtic Woman. I saw a clip of them singing and then an advertisement that was promoting their first DVD. I was hooked; ordered the DVD and the rest is history. I have been able to see them twice in concert – once in Huntington and the second time in Toledo. Both concerts were fabulous. These ladies know how to sing and put on a show! The original girls include – Chloe, Maev, Lisa, Orla, and Máiréad – who is sometimes called the “fairy dancing fiddler!” These five ladies captured my heart with their singing and talent. They were instrumental in helping me heal from the loss of Dad. I could be carried away with their music, and forget about the pain in my back and leg as well as in my heart! They have had others join their show as a temporary replacement for Lisa and a permanent replacement for Maev. Lisa was off for maternity leave, and Maev was pursuing other avenues on her own! That’s show biz! Lynn, Alex, and Haley all added their own talent to the show and it was wonderful.

Now Celtic Thunder is what some call the “male counterpart” to Celtic Woman. The plural forms are not used in either of these groups name mainly because they are individual performers and do some group songs. Each artist has their own style of singing and that is shown throughout the show. But when they sing together, oh the harmony is so sweet and pleasant! Bill referred to it as listening to a “barber shop quartet” group. When the group first started, Damian was only 14 while George was the oldest at 39. Four of them are from Ireland with George being the only one from Scotland. They all had to audition and were ultimately chosen by Sharon Browne and Phil Coulter. This is their first tour in the US and we got to see them live in concert in Columbus. OH. It was everything I expected – only better! I have watched their DVD and listened to their cd’s so much, I know the songs by heart - even the ones they sing in the Gaelic language. What they are saying – I have no idea – but it is beautiful! Damian is now 16 and not wearing his braces and his voice doesn’t seem to be as high pitched – but oh did he do a really great job singing “Young Love” and “Puppy Love.”

If I had to choose what my favorite song is –that would be so hard to do! I love hearing Damian sing “A Bird Without Wings”; Paul does a great job singing “Nights in White Satin”; Ryan’s rendition of “Desperado” is superb; Keith does a wonderful job singing “I Wanna Know What Love Is”; and George’s singing “The Old Man” is one that makes tears come to your eyes. Each one did a beautiful job singing all their individual songs. But, I really loved the songs they sang as a group. These songs sung by the ensemble brought most of the crowd to their feet. My favorites may include “Ireland’s Call” and “Caledonia.”

Bill and I have enjoyed going to the different concerts even though some people don’t understand why we go. Five, ten, or even a year from now, we may not be able to attend these concerts. We want to go to the concerts while our health will allow us to do so. This is something I was so glad that my father was able to do when he retired back in 1984. When he first retired he and Mom were always on the road! It may have been a day trip, but it was something they wanted to do and were able to enjoy! I hope we can enjoy our retirement years as they did.

I am including the URL for the Celtic Thunder YouTube site that will allow you to see for yourself on how much talent I think they have! You will need to copy and paste the following URL's to your browser; wait for it to download completely and then listen - you will get a better feel of how well they sing and then will be able to keep up with the message in the songs. Hope you all enjoy! Once you get to YouTube you will be able to see many other links that show Celtic Thunder, their songs, interviews, and pictures. You will get an idea of who they are and what how well they sing! (I may have figured out how to insert the link without you having to copy and paste it. Try clicking on the link and see what happens!!)

The following link will take you to YouTube with the group singing "Ireland's Call," and "Caledonia." (Two of my favorites)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlnLk4Y_kKM

This is a link that takes you to "Christmas - 1915". It wasn't on the DVD or part of the show we saw, but it was on the second cd they released. Get the tissues ready - it is a tear jerker! This one really brought tears to my eyes when I first heard it on the cd! So Sad!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqqlaTRBxas

The Answer Is - - - - - - -

Monday - October 20, 2008

To those who responded to our first picture identification post - thank you!!!
The answer is Bill holding Courtney (John and Laurie's grand-daughter and the daughter of JD and Darcie)in the living room of Mom and Dad's in 1998. Congratulations to Billy - you won! Your prize - it will be a surprise!!! . . . and Rhonda you get a prize too!!

Courtney with her Papaw John - 2006.



This is a picture of Courtney a few years ago - growing and becoming a beautiful young lady! No I'm not prejudice - just truthful! :):)



Keep reading because we will soon post another picture!!!