Kari and Eric Engage

It has been a little over three weeks since Eric came by to ask for Kari's hand in marriage.  He laid out a proposal setting idea that, though complicated, came off almost without a hitch.  Eric's idea was that the proposal would have even more meaning if it occurred while Ben and Penny were here.  Eric also wanted to propose on the ice rink at Seattle Center, a place of special meaning for him and Kari.  How could Eric get Kari to go to Seattle when Ben and Penny were here?  Barb came up with the idea that Penny make up a story that she wanted to meet her aunt for drinks/munchies midafternoon on the 27th.  Eric, on hearing Penny explain she needed to go to Seattle on Tues afternoon, volunteered to drive her and Ben with, of course, Kari riding along.

Ben, Penny, Eric and Kari left the house around 4 p.m.  After they left, we scurried to our cars to secretly follow them to Seattle.  Barb and I picked up Bill and Patty, Eric's parents, on the way.  Eric and Kari dropped Ben and Penny off at the downtown Cheese Factory, the alleged meeting site with Penny's aunt (Penny really does have an aunt and uncle who live on Whidbey Island).  A  few minutes later, Ben and Penny met us nearby at the Monorail Station in Westlake Center.  We all rode the Monorail to Seattle Center and there met up with Eric's Aunt Kathy.

The twelve of us descended the steps to the ice rink and stealthy located ourselves at the edge of the rink.  Kari and Eric were, hand in hand,  routinely skating the oval as Nathan raised Jane and sat her on the wall bordering the ice. Kari then spotted Jane and she and Eric skated to the wall.  Jane handed Kari a box which contained a big ugly plastic ring.  Eric remarked, "I've got something better than this."  He then guided Kari to the middle of the ice, kneeled and proposed.  Most other skaters stopped to witness the event.

Fun and very special.  A class act precisely orchestrated.  Bravo and cheers!

Nathan, Cailyn and Kids arrive at Monorail station

The short ride to Seattle Center

Bill and Patty, Eric's parents

Jane, on the wall, giving Kari the box.

Christman 2011

Ben and Penny flew in on the eve of Christmas Day so our family gatherings were the 26th and 27th.  They flew out the morning of the 28th.  Jensen fought the flu Christmas Day and was not up to par on the 26th.  By the 27th he was his rip roaring self.  Hope and LeRoy joined us for the day on the 26th. 

It was a short two days but the time was very special.  

Checking the new ap

Cribbage game

Wrapping in the wreck room.  Yes, I meant to spell it with a "w".

Auntie Hope and Grayson

Coloring contest

A little Christmas cheer.

Need some engineer help?

Through the tunnel.

Ben and Jensen

Penny on the trike.

The March toward Christmas

This is such a special time of year - the preparation, the baking of traditional food, the decoration, and the opportunity to dream like a child.

learning to make lefsa

This lefsa flour makes a wonderful car track.

Grayson with Dad and Mema Akers.

Hmmmm.  Which dessert should I have.

Barb, Terrie and Kay making krumcake.

This year's boot production for the new grandson.

Setting up the train under the tree.

Helping GramB bake cookies.

This is where the cookies go.

Jensen loves trains.

Gkids, Fall and Halloween

We are having a beautiful fall with much color and blue skies.  However, it has been a bit cold.

Planting bulbs

The Mick

Recently I read the biography, "The Last Boy, Mickey Mantle and the end of America's Childhood."  I was surprised and delighted to read that Mantle, my boyhood hero, spent his last days in a home on Lake Oconee.  Sadly, as this hero aged, details of his off the field antics and his alcohol abuse were revealed.  Mantle spent his retirement years promoting casinos, working the baseball card and memorabilia circuit which has now crashed, and dealing with health issues regarding his alcohol abuse.  His marriage was in shambles due to his extramarital exploits and drinking, his 3 sons alcoholics, and his fortune diminished.  He made a living going from one corporate promotion to another, being paid a lucrative salary to hang out in bars or on the golf course.  It was during those years that he met his "girl friend" who brought him to Georgia and introduced him to the developers of Harbor Point Golf Club and community.  Mantle and his girlfriend shared a home there. A street is named for Mantle's son, Billy,  who died as a young adult, and the golf clubhouse has a few photos of Mantle from the annual Mantle tournament.   A small room has a display case of some Mantle memorabilia.  It, sadly, was not much of a tribute to a great player, but somehow befitting the sign of the times.  Boyhood heroes are no longer perfect, and no longer protected from the press.  No, their indiscretions are a feast to the American eye which now appears to be more focused on the flaws of society rather than the achievements.  The "Last Boy", a fitting title for a story that reflects the change of American society.

That  eve, as Barb and I gathered in front of B and P's television to watch the World Series, a picture of Mantle was flashed on the screen. Mantle still holds many World Series records, including most home runs.   It would have been his 80th birthday.  Interesting coincidence.

Penny's New Store

Bogoloo's II opened this spring in a shopping area in the Atlanta area of Brookhaven.  The interior of the store was a "hands on" effort of Ben and Penny as they assembled shelving, lights and racks, as well as building the brick wall behind the check out counter.  Penny's artful eye is in full display at the store.

The stores are all new with apartments rising 3 stories above.

They built the brick wall and put together old doors for the check out counter.

A storage shelf from an auto shop

An old shutter

A metal rolling cart from an auto shop

They built the wall display unit designed for flexibility.

Hang a couple of old doors.

Check out counter

Ben, Penny, Dogs and Oconee Revisted

Our annual visit to Georgia was one of our best, with fine weather, ample time with Ben and Penny, and some real quality experiences on and at the lake.  It is always fun to touch base with neighbors Kenny and Maxine, and this time meet granddaughter Nolie.

Penny, Charlie, and Louie

Neighbor Maxine with gdaughter Nolie

Lake Oconee

A canoe ride up one of the rivers that feed the lake.  Thankfully no gators in this part of GA.

B and P's lake home