Scott

Scott has been studying to take his Project Management Certification for almost a year now.  He took the four hour long test yesterday morning and passed it.  It was a grueling test!  I am so proud of him for all his efforts.

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/MyHusbandScott

Now he can go back to making his guitars.  They are truly beautiful!  He gets compliments often for their quality as well. 

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/ScottMcNeillSGuitars

 

 

 

 

Mom and Ray's dogs

My mother and Ray have two of the most precious dogs I have ever met. 

 

Pixie, I met when she was about eight weeks old and we have a special bond.  My mother can say “Elaine is coming” and she will perk up and start to watch for me.  The first night that I am visiting, she will keep getting up and coming to check to make sure that I am still there.  When I pull my suitcases back out, she gets sad. 

 

Buttons I just met a few years ago.  She has adopted me as well.  While I’m visiting, she constantly watches me.  A visitor went to shake my hand and she promptly growled at him.  She is terrified of storms and she decided she had to sit in my lap.  Unfortunately, Pixie thinks she needs my lap as well!

 

My life is full of pets that I love! 

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/MomAndRaySDogs

 

Bird Watching

 

I started my day early with a walk for the dogs.  Then, Jack came for the morning.  We went to Lowe’s and then to Wild Birds Unlimited.  My birds love their seed because it is so fresh.  I love to watch my birds.  Oftentimes, Duncan will watch with me.  Many people are irritated by the squirrels eating the bird seed, but I like to watch them as well.  They look so funny munching on bird seed.  My dogs love to chase them off the deck.  All I have to do is yell “squirrel” and they are both heading for the back door. 

 

I sent my camera with Julia to Germany so I am using Scott’s camera.  I don’t like it as well as mine.  Oh well, it does take pictures that I can post. 

 

Hope you enjoy the pictures! 

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/BirdWatching

 

The middling bunny day

You ask what is a middling bunny?  It is a bunny that is not small, but not fully grown.  I think I made that up myself, I’m not sure though.  This morning I walked my dogs for forty-five minutes.  During the first five minutes Chloe saw three middling bunnies.  I think she was trying to dislocate my shoulder!  Bear on the other hand, walks close to my heels when he sees a bunny.  He is my scaredy-boy!  People really ought to be careful with wandering animals instead of torturing them.  Bear wandered around for several months before he was found on someone’s doorstep.  He had his sister with him.  He is terribly frightened of most things.  He sounds ferocious when someone comes to our house, but he is actually just frightened.  Chloe wasn’t fed well so she will dump her food behind her bowl saving it for emergencies.  As you can tell, we did the dog rescue option when we went to find our new pets.  Our cats we got through our vet as we had an expensive experience with a kitten that we adopted. 

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/BearAndChloe

 

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/Cats03

 

Getting old?

Yesterday was my first born’s 27^th birthday. I felt old for a few seconds till I realized that I am my parents first-born and I turned 50 in November! They must really feel old, tehe. It will be my turn so I won’t laugh too hard. I am supposed to be on a wheat free diet but yesterday was the big celebration. I had real bread rolls, stuffing, and some yummy chocolate cake! Today I woke up with a doozy of a headache. It has kept me miserable all day. I guess if I were a drinker, it would be a hangover headache. Julia is still in Germany, so we were short one child for the celebration. Jonathan was here, of course, and Rachel and Elisha, and Joel. Scott and Joel made lunch which was a turkey dinner. We love turkey dinners, so any excuse will do for one.

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/Kids

Brookgreen Gardens

I just returned home from visiting my Dad. He and Joan took me to Brookgreen Gardens. We had a good time, but we all sweat buckets because it must have been the hottest day of the summer so far. We went to the restaurant and had a great meal together. I had the Cobb Salad. Joan had the grill cheese sandwich and Dad had a turkey wrap. We all enjoyed the lunch and the cool temperature immensely. We were watched by a brown frog. He looked like he was muttering, probably about the heat although he was in the shade. This is my first try at blogging, so please be gracious about my efforts! Here are a few pictures that I took. Click on the link, it should work!

http://picasaweb.google.com/elmcneill/BrookgreenGardens2