PattyH999's Xanga

Matt even got it on tape!

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:28:17 GMT

It was an absolutely perfect weekend! (Well, except for the part where Lillian had a stomach virus.) Jeff, Ashley and Matt pulled off an elaborate surprise party after graduation complete with friends, family, food, music and spirits. They even arranged for my friend Amy to fly from Florida. Special thanks, also, to Jim and Judy, who served us all selflessly all weekend. Other special guests: The rest of the Harper family, Karen & Lloyd, the Storeys, the Ramseys, the Ducote clan, all of the alumni from the old college group that came (some with beautiful children in arms), and dear, dear friends from past and present. What a celebration! Thank you, all.

Graduation Day--March 3, 2007

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 12:25:33 GMT

Finally!

KK, Bruce and me after graduation!

Ashley and me at the party

There really is an Amy and she was here for graduation!

Jeff and Matt with me after the ceremony

Noelle Grace Ducote: Lasagna Chef

Sat, 09 Sep 2006 16:32:40 GMT

Step One: Saute' the Veggies

No cafeteria lady hairnet today.

Step Two: Make the sauce

Step Three: Taste the Sauce

Step Four: Mix the cheeses

Step Five: Put in all in the dish

Tuesday, September 05, 2006

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 15:37:22 GMT

Terrapin Thief

He's been doing this for months, same little guy. I just caught him on camera this morning.

The approach

Going in for the goods

The take

Escaping with the goods

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 18:35:10 GMT

Now, ATLANTA:

The IWF is a huge, international trade show held every other year at the Georgia World Congress Center. On alternate years, a regional trade show is held same time, same place. This is about our 5th time to trek to Atlanta at the end of August. Some of you may remember that we exhibited a piece of equipment there last year. As in years past, Paul and Lisa Phillips made the trip, too. The GWCC is a huge place featuring three multi-level exhibit halls that are connected by a maze of escalators and corridors. The IWF consumes all three buildings. Usually, we are able to stay at one of downtown hotels that is clustered around the GWCC and the adjacent Centennial Olympic Park but a hotel shortage this year landed us a few miles away at the Atlanta Renaissance. The IWF shuttle buses ran to and fro so getting to the show was fairly easy. Joining us at the show was our Kiwi friend Keith Robertson whose company partners with WPS on some projects. The five us of us ate supper Tuesday night at Pappadeaux's which was well worth the drive up I-85. I worked the show on Wednesday and Thursday with Jeff. Wednesday night found us at that the Braves game where the Pirates raided Atlanta but where we enjoyed third base field level seats complete with food service. The Braves' less-than-stellar season has made for great deals on tickets and seating we were told. More fine dining ...on Thursday, we were treated to McKendrick's Steak House (an alternative to Bones) by another company....on Friday we made our annual visit to one of the best Thai places. I took the MARTA train to Lennox Mall on Friday while the guys hit the show floor again. A Crocs kiosk had just opened at Lennox and I found the girls some adorable metallic gold ones. (No No's preschool recommended them for easy off and on.) Jeff went to the show again on Saturday morning and we were able to meet Jack and Cathy (Jeff's brother/wife) at a coffee show in Lilburn later in the day. On Saturday night a group of us drove up to Marietta to eat at the Pappadeaux's sister restaurant Pappasittos. This place is TDF as far as Tex Mex. Jeff and I shared Lobster fajitas. Sunday, we packed up and Lisa, Jeff and I started home. Paul and Keith left together for a series of sales calls before heading back to Ruston later this week. We were very thankful for the audio books that we had gotten at Cracker Barrel. For long trips, they are a wonderful entertainment option. You buy the books on tape or CD but if you return them within a week you are refunded all but a small rental fee.

I know it sounds like we just ate our way through Atlanta (in the same way we did Memphis) but these trade shows are an enormous amount of work. Identifying and locating potential customers, competitors, and vendors within the three show buildings is a strategic undertaking. Not to mention...the meeting and greeting part, the follow-up meetings and the transaction details.

Memphis/Atlanta--a blur of trips

Mon, 28 Aug 2006 13:34:24 GMT

Where have we been you might wonder? And, then, again, maybe not! The last two weeks have been a blurred combination of two road trips, one pleasurable trip to Memphis for Jeff's 49th birthday and one business trip (less pleasurable) to Atlanta for the IWF Expo. Here are the high points of:

MEMPHIS

We arrived at The Peabody on Thursday afternoon, August the 17th with friends Robert and Jennifer Clowers. I would have been content just to sit the gorgeous lobby of the hotel for the entire weekend sipping something but we managed to do much more than that. That night was one of the famous Peabody Roof Parties that have featured live music and a wonderful nighttime view of Memphis since the 1930's. Our band for the night was Transitt which offered a mixture of mainly 70's and 80's tunes. We skipped the whole duck parade because we had been there, done that last Thanksgiving with the whole family. Before going up on the rooftop, we chowed down on ribs at The Rendezvous where the simple, time-honored menu is always perfect. Our waiter recommended that we also sample Gus's Famous Fried Chicken while in Memphis--which we did the very next day at noon. While walking the four or five blocks to get to Gus's, we encountered a homeless man named Kenny who asked for a cash handout. Rather than giving him money we offered to buy his lunch so he accompanied us to Gus'. He took his order to-go (his choosing) but we enjoyed our fried chicken, fries, fried pickles and white bread there. A daytime walk down Beall Street took us to Scwab's Dry Goods, a curious place where one can buy a variety of "house blessing" products, very large (huge) woman's cotton undergarments, Masonic supplies, and six or seven different brands of pine tar soap. You would have recognized the place from several old movie scenes, I'm sure. A little further down the street, we saw the beer-drinking goats at Silky O'Sullivan's although we were informed by the staff that Zachary, the older goat, was now on the wagon. On Friday night, you would have found us eating supper at King's Palace and later at the piano bar at Pat O'Brien's. A late night stop at BB King's was loud and smoky and not nearly as enjoyable. On Saturday, we walked a few blocks the other way to take the monorail across to the Mud Island River Park and Museum. For $8 per person, you have full access to the park and museum plus the round trip monorail ride. It turned out to be a great bargain. Mud Island has an impressive museum of Mississippi River history that includes large scale, life-size replicas of both a riverboat and a Civil War gunboat. If you go, don't get discouraged by the opening exhibits which just showcase a few Indian and Spanish artifacts....just hold tight until you turn the corner to the good stuff. In the park, you can walk or wade down the entire "river" as it winds from state to state and empties into a gulf of paddle boats. This would be a great place for school-aged kids or maybe a homeschool field trip. Better to go in the spring or fall when it's not oppressively hot. It was very hot & humid so after riding the trolley back we devoured world famous burgers and refreshed ourselves with beer at Huey's. Eveyone landed their toothpick in the ceiling tiles via straw rockets (a tradition) except me. So, far....recount....world famous ribs, world famous chicken, world famous burgers. Saturday night, we could not think of anything better to do than eat more ribs and sing more songs at the piano bar where Jeff was now on a first-name basis with the piano players. Before leaving Memphis, we made one last stop at the zoo which was quite impressive for a smaller zoo--great layout, great population, and great location. I thought the Panda exhibit rivaled the National Zoo and the nocturnal exhibit was fascinating.

I'll hit the high points of Atlanta in the next post.

Summer Art Fun

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 19:56:01 GMT

Truth be told: Who doesn't like to draw and color?

Cool Summer Art fun for grown-ups and kids alike! Check out http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/

A blank canvas awaits you! Then save and send to all your friends. Or print for giving or refrig hanging!

Hey, I'm not the artist in the family (or the florist) but it was very fun to play!

Friday, June 30, 2006

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 17:41:14 GMT

Fr. Timothy baptizing Lillian

Granddaughters Three

After Baptism

Pray for Zach -------- Vote for Zach

Fri, 26 May 2006 13:57:48 GMT

Last Summer..........

This Summer...........

The bumper sticker is changing somewhat -- although I am sure the first one is still effectively in circulation!

Vote for Zach Ramsey, candidate for local Constable! Quoting from the Ramsey website, " I had the pleasure of being the first in our town to vote for Zach this morning. I know, I know, I know... you are wondering what is Zach up to now. He is running for the office of Constable for our area. Today was just a primary vote, he will face his democratic opposition in a run off election in Nov." Get a full update on Zach here.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Thu, 25 May 2006 13:41:48 GMT

Miss Lillian Marcella Harper

Born May 13, 2006

Elizabeth, Matt, & Lillian going home

Lillian (held by Barbara, Beth's mom)

More pictures on Matt and Elizabeth's page.