Welcome to the World, Savannah!!

  We arrived in Georgia on May 23.  

Our mission was to be here in time to watch our three grandsons 

while our daughter Chelsea and her husband Patrick 

went to the hospital to deliver their fourth child. 

Her due date was June 5, 

but since she has never been pregnant until her due date,

Chelsea thought we should arrive early.  

We arrived early; but the baby, 

whose gender remained a surprise despite two ultrasounds, 

decided to tarry. 

Chelsea, who usually delivers a day or two after 39 weeks, 

arrived at  her due date, 

but instead of going to the hospital, 

she spent the day shopping 

and the evening enjoying a dinner date with her husband.

Chelsea, 40 weeks pregnant

                We find ways to pass the time while we wait for the "expected one."

The boys build trains with Daddy.

The boys dance with Gamma.

Grant plays in the puddles.

Chelsea rests up in the sumo chair for the labor to come--eventually!!

Finally, the time comes for Chelsea and Patrick to go to the hospital,

 and the three boys wait anxiously for news about a new sibling.

Chelsea bides her time in the hospital.

Gavin, Grant and David wait for baby updates.

At 1:19 p.m. we receive the message, "Savannah is here."  

I get the news!!

Our three grandsons now have a sister!!  

Savannah Kimberley Marshall was born at 1:09 in the afternoon.  

She weighs 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measures 20 inches.  

It appears her hair is brownish--at the moment.

Savannah Kimberly Marshall is here!!

Happy Mommy with her daughter.

Peek-a-boo, Savannah!!

Proud Daddy with his daughter.

Grandma and Grandpa get the OK to bring the Marshall Crew
to the hospital to meet Marshall#4.
The boys (and their grandparents!!) are very excited
to meet Savannah.

Savannah meets her brother, Grant. 

Savannah meets her brother, Gavin.

Savannah meets her oldest brother, David.

Grandma meets her granddaughter!!

Grandpa meets his granddaughter!!

The Marshall family is one HAPPY FAMILY!!!

Dad Patrick with Grant, Gavin, David with Savannah, and Mom Chelsea

We love you 

Savannah Kimberley Marshall!!

You are a precious little bundle!!!

A Day with the Marshalls

We are spending some time in Georgia 

with our daughter, our son-in-law 

and our three grandsons (ages 4, 3 and 1) .  

Our 4th grandchild is due at any moment, so we are all waiting. 

Patiently.  

While we wait, we have fun. 

David and his dad started the day off with a fishing pole.

Grant amuses Bapa.

David drives around.

Patrick and his boys fit the rocket launcher to the Jeep.

Gavin drives around.

Patrick and his boys paint the helicopter he has made for the them.

Water fight!!

David takes a break.

Grant watches the action.

Quit Asking!! I am only 39 weeks and 4 days.
(But check out the reading material)

Jack the Cat finds a resting place
 in a Cutie box (trying to tell us something?) on the office shelf.

 There is really never a dull moment--and we love it!!!

Making Wood

We like a fire.  

We do not heat our home with wood, but we enjoy our fireplace and our outdoor firepit.

 In order to have a fire, one needs wood.  

Since we no longer have a woodlot

we purchase wood.

We order our wood by the logging truckload.

Here comes our wood!

A squirrel watches the action.

Happy guy gets his wood.

Consulting about where to place the pile.

Starting to unload and set the pile.

Unloading...

Unloading... 

Unloading...

More to go...

Once the entire load is piled in the yard,

Michael saws the wood into smaller pieces.

Michael later chops just enough wood for a 

few fires and piles that in a convenient location--

right on the back deck.

Debarking and sawing the logs into smaller pieces.

Smaller pieces are later chopped and stacked.

Finally we can burn the wood!

A toasty fire indoors.

Coals are great for roasting hotdogs.

Outdoors--blazing winter bonfire!

We do enjoy our fires!!

A Need for Trees

We built our home, called HighTree, in the middle of three lots in the midst of some large pine trees and juniper bushes.  We had no grass because the pine needles snuffed that out--for which we were happy. We had no lawn and no weekly date with a lawn mower, which we did not own. 

tall trees and no grass

house is on the right--in the trees

the house on the sand in the trees--no grass.

Then came the Eagle Harbor Water Project in 2010--

and everything changed.

Because the water line would be coming down the road on our side,

many of our large trees had to be "plucked out" and the juniper removed.

Once the pipe was laid and covered up, all that remained was a 

very large area that looked like a beach with no water.

 Yes, our yard is totally SAND--no soil, no rocks and no GRASS.

I see the beach, but where is the water?

lots of sand minus big trees and juniper in front

Part of the project called for returning the owner's property to

pre-project condition.  (Not sure where that happened!!)

We were away for most of the summer of 2010, and when we returned,

we discovered grass had been planted along the entire edge of our yard.

We did not want grass so we "shaved off what we could and 

Michael dug out an area for parking. 

Then we scoured the road side for pine needles

that we used to cover the parking area.  

Michael also reinstalled our walkway that had 

been left in a pile.

pine needle parking area

So now we had our walkway and parking, but 

we still needed TREES!!

Thank you to the Soil Conservation District, we were able to purchase

100 red pine seedlings.

We planted them yesterday.  

a few of the 100 seedlings

10 planted, 90 to go

digging

We also planted a rosa rugosa hedge in the back yard.

rosa rugosa
does not look like much--but i have a vision (and hope!!)

in case someone mistakes them for grass

Hope the deer will not eat everything.  

They did manage to eat whatever juniper remained after the Water Project.

I hope to report progress in the months ahead!