Quick Trip to High Island

The cottage is timeless.
My father and brother fixing the tripod for a picture of all of us that should be on his (Grandpa's) blog soon.

I took a trip to High Island to see my parents and sisters who had come in to help with clean up after Hurricane Ike. My parents' friend Houston took us down the Boliver Penninsula that leads to the ferry to Galveston and it is all but wiped out. What struck me was the brown landscape because the storm surge of salt water killed all the vegetation. As you go over the rise from High Island to the gulf it changes from green to brown. It looks blighted, like a moonscape or a war zone. Power poles are leaning over or broken and only piers are left from the houses there. Cars are sunk in sand at crazy angles where they were abandoned because the water rose so quickly the people had to wade out ( just before you get to High Island where the road dips down and the water claimed it early). There are no more dune barriers. They were flung to the other side of the highway. Huge barrier tubes of sand are exposed like beached whales along the coastline. A few homes remain, but not many. Houston showed us a lot that was formerly listed for a million dollars. Probably worth next to nothing now without a town to go with it. Houston's father-in-law had a hardware store that was completely swept off its foundation and crushed. I didn't have the heart to take pictures like a gawking tourist. Your grandparents' home is fine since High Island lived up to its name and the sea did not claim it.

VHA Trip to Charleston, S.C.

This is the Charleston Place Hotel. I liked it because it connected to my current favorite store, Chicos.
Here we are at Fort Sumter by one of the cannons. It was windy and cloudy.
All these flags have a history over the fort.
I went on a walking tour and here I am outside the graveyard where John C. Calhoun is buried. (My thumb looks a little scary)
We had a great time, but Monday we'll be back to school and work!

Kitchen finally done

Here are the final pictures of the kitchen. I still would like to get dark switch plates, etc., but that will have to wait for another day.
It took all this time to get the new glass for the oven door. I should have taken the towels down so you could see how shiny and new it looks.

Here is our new sink and I really like the faucet. I feel very elegant using it. I keep dirty dishes out of it! It's easy to do that with only two people. The only big day is Sunday and then Rosalia knows there are lots of dishes to do, but one big day a week I can handle.

1988-2008 Bethany's Class Reuinion

Here are the slides for Bethany's 20th class reunion. My student council was helping with the get together at the high school and I decided to take pictures because Bethany could not be there. Everyone was very gracious. I even teach some of their children!

Betty turns 89

Betty or Grandma Blanton turned 89 today. She was born on August 19, 1919. We went to her favorite Mexican restaurant where she was serenaded given a birthday dessert. Happy Birthday to Hayden who is 15 today! Our oldest grandchild is growing up!

Eric and Cindy

Eric sent me this picture to put in the paper and I just wanted to see if I could upload it. I managed to get it on a CD to take to the paper tomorrow. I think it's great! They are so photogenic.

Counters and Deep Sea Fishing in Alabama

The counters are in, but the sink has to still be installed. You can see that I put on handles and knobs and tried to spiffy up that cabinets.

Here we are in Orange Beach, Alabama for the Louisiana Hospital Association. Your dad caught the biggest fish (24 inches and 11lbs)(red snapper) and I caught my first fish (21 inches and 9 lbs). Ted actually caught three!