"Of Course It Is"

IDOS FINALS!

Here is MY winner!

2010 WORLD CHAMPS

SwampGravy

Swamp Gravy, Georgia's Folk Life Play, has been a love on mine for several years. When I lived in that area, I was a cast member (trust me, ALL are amateurs) and loved every second on and off stage. We performed at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, in Washington DC at the Kennedy Center, and of course at home, every spring and fall! Colquitt earned it's place on the map because of Swamp Gravy.

Check it out on SwampGravy.com, much more detailed.

More on the young man and his son at the end.

For the first time in its history, a play was repeated! The choice was *The Gospel Truth*, my personal favorite and evidently the favorite of many more. The first one was in the mid-90's! It was great being in the audience, knowing all the lines, the songs and enjoying it from a different perspective.

John and I arrived an hour early, just to walk around and watch the ladies quilting, look at the bricks with our names on them, touch the special woodwork in Cotton Hall (a restored cotton warehouse) and look at the museum rooms of antiques left over from the ancestors that the storied are about!

Two fellow castmates that are still performing, Gayle and Charlotte, both the backbone of Swamp Gravy.

Angie is also a former cast member, Mary left and came back, sang the original *Amazing Grace* in a manner that brought tears to your eyes. While it is being sung, folks are raising their candles, verbally remembering their deceased relatives.

This is a case of *You won't believe who I saw at Swamp Gravy!*

Scott, a pilot at my cousins crop dusting business, is fairly new to Georgia, came about the time he and his wife were newly married. They have joined us for Family holiday gatherings for so long that we feel related! Then, his family is Mormon so we always have something to share as we frequent our favorite Utah Mormons! Feels like we are *double related* as they are just part of our family now. She was at home with the baby who is now 20 months old. Both Scott and son are GREAT *Swampers*. I had no idea they had joined the cast, was good to see them!!

He had his sister with him and she is headed for her mission in Guam!

Papa John and I loved every minute of it... the season finale is next weekend, I am taking Sky, Blace and Karen for a ladies day out!

Class of 1966 Ladies

The Grand Finale!

Fredonia Church, special music by Annette, sermon by Hugh,

followed by lunch at the Plaza.

What a TREAT!

Mostly due to FaceBook, several of us were able to get together for a *Ladies Only* mini-reunion for Thomasville High School Class of 1966!

A delightful stranger took this picture, his Cocker Spaniel joined us!

We met at the Rose Gardens, swapped tales and pictures, moved on to George and Louie's for some Famous Greek Salad (George was also a classmate).

After lunch, some shopped the bricked streets downtown, later met at *The Homecoming* for catfish dinner, then will meet up again for Church Sunday Morning.

GLORY GLORY TO OLE T'VILLE!

Sweet Little Buddy!

Little Carter had surgery today and we wanted to feature his sweet face

because he has been in our hearts and minds!

He is home and resting, hopefully will recuperate fast!

~God is Good all the Time, All the Time, God is Good~

Be Well Buddy, we sure love you!

~Toot Toot~

I am tooting our horn LOUDLY!!
This is my Hyperbaric Medicine Colleagues,
Melissa, Physician Assistant, Susan,
Wound Care and Hyperbaric Nurse, Theresa, Wound Care and Hyperbaric Nurse,
Glenda, Wound Care Nurse and Rettia, Receptionist!!
This was a little feature in the hospital's newsletter *Images*

I am the old lady in front, only ONE of the others are not young enough to be my daughter!!

GOOD LOOKING IMAGE WE ARE!!
(Thanks to one of our most delightful patients!)

~Happy 11th Birthday Lacey~

Lacey Suzanne O'Neal

March 2, 1999

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRETTY GIRL!

Good Luck Braydon!

Braydon took the Accelerated Learning Lab test today!

It was a full four hours!

His cousin Leigh, who teaches here in Georgia, advised him to take one section at the time!

GOOD ADVICE FOR ANY TASK OR TEST!!

The location was a nearby school, not the one he attends, but one in Saratoga Springs.

Here he is looking all handsome and scholarly!

And here he is looking all SWEET!!!

GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST!!

(PS-Congrats on that spelling Bee)

Chester's Retirement Party

Papa John with his buddy Chester!

Chester is trying to get his glasses, Papa John is preparing to grab them!!

Chester is a Red Lord Amazon, adopted by Charles and Thelma back in the mid 90's.

Chester traveled the nation with them enjoying every minute!!

Chester retired today, was adopted by Daddy's sister Terry who lives in Jacksonville, Florida.

Of course, Thelma is sad to see him go but happy that he will have a great retirement with other birds and younger bird friends.

Mother and Moriah have slowed down but Chester is still flying (literally)

SO... we had a retirement party for Chester! The Jacksonville relatives were coming so we had a as many Blow's as possible over to help us celebrate!!

We used to be *just cousins*, now we are GRANDMAS!!

Cindy, daughter of Terry and Earl (Terry is Daddy's sister)

Brenda (note the flowery halo over the head)

Nancy AKA Cissy, daughter of George (Daddy's brother) and Mary!

Dottie and Bobby Blow (Daddy's baby brother)

Dottie (Bobby) , Mary (George), Terry (Earle), and Thelma (Charles)

My favorite picture, except John took it and somehow managed to leave out MAMA!!

Cindy, Nancy aka Cissy, Brenda aka Honeygail, Terry and Mary!

We had a wonderful celebration, went to Seminole Wind for lunch with NO thought of diet...

returned to Mama's for a LOT of chat, laughter, hugging, loving and sheer joy to be together!!

Mother had some tears for Chester as he was driven away to his retirement home, and surely it will be hard for her until she makes the adjustment of just she and Moriah, but we hope all will be better soon, they will have a quieter, more laid back daily life and Chester's memories will remain smiles! I know we surely appreciate him bringing the Blow family together for a day!!

Daddy would have LOVED the gathering (we told a lot of his funny stories)

THANKS CHESTER!!!!!

ENJOY YOUR NEW HOME!

Meet Jake

Last Sunday we were in our typical pew~ the associate Pastor came to face us in the pew in front of us. He lingered after the morning greeting, finally asked us if we were willing to help him find a home for a miniature schnauzer that he and his wife were no longer able to care for. Of course we agreed, especially in light of the fact that neither he nor his wife are in a good state of health! The next day they came to our house, dropped Jake off with his papers and leash... shed a few tears, and John assured them that we would find Jake a GOOD home!!! (I was at work)

SO...we did find Jake a great home! Ours!!

The Senior Schnauzer Committee held a window seat meeting with Jake, explained to him the house rules, mainly that the new kid on the block was required to entertain the last new kid on the block! (that would be Bonnie, age 1)

Jake is 5 months old, a spry little fellow, checked out great by our vet and is of course the newest member of our family!!

One would wonder if we are slowly becoming a Schnauzer Rescue Center!!

Smiling Frog

We have a frog story that includes my Daddy! Actually we have many frog stories and some rabbit stories, but the FROG in particular has become a beloved representation of the life of Charles Blow. Recently, my first cousin gifted Mother with one of her award winning pictures of a frog. It looks a little like this one, but this one (Thank You Ranes) is SMILING!!

I LIKE!!

Tyson's Valentine!

Tyson's Valentine Creation for the School Wall.

Grandma and Grandpa LOVE it!

I love February because I get valentine cards with candy.

I give valentine cards with candy.

I get to visit my grandmas and grandpas.

My valentine is to my girl friend.

I love valentines day because I get candy.

I love candy because candy is good to eat I think.

I love my family because I get to watch TV

and play with friends, too.

I get to go visit my grandma and grandpa

if it snows on my grandma's and grampa's pool.

~Happy Anniversary Ranes and Heather~

~The Fabulous Five~

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

RANES AND HEATHER

~ WE LOVE YOU FOR ALWAYS~

Nephew Jonathan and The Winter Olympics!

If you are watching the Olympics these next 2 weeks, look for and cheer on Trevor Marsicano from Ballston Spa, NY. He is our Nephew's (Jonathan Meacham) friend, mentor and "big Brother" from the Saratoga Speedskating club who at age 19 qualified for 4 long tract speedskating events. He is one of the youngest US speedskaters to qualify for the Olympics. I believe the 4 events are men's 1,500 meters, 3,000 meters, and 5,000 meters and the team persuit (relay race). The 5,000 meters race is today, Saturday.

Enjoy!

The pix is from Jan 2009 Lake Placid for the Jack Shea sprints when Trevor was in town training.

GOOD LUCK TREVOR!