Grandpa Eldon and Grandma Margaret came down from Baltimore to visit.

Grandma Margaret is from England and is a true tea-drinker. She doesn't drink the silly herbal concoctions that we drink here. Every morning she boiled her water on the stove (the microwave is a no-no) and steeped her two bags of Tetley tea. She takes her tea with milk, no cream and no sugar. OOps, she left the rest of her box of tea bags behind. I just may have to drink it for her :) I'll add some lavendar and orange peel, hee-hee.

We took them around to see all the sights. The Botanical Garden was a really beautiful, though really hot, place to visit.

I can safely say that Grandma and Grandpa were never tempted to feed or molest alligators on their trip.

They may have been tempted to stay longer, though.......

Well, now......there you have it. Considering all the books written on the subject of happiness who could have known it could be so simple? It's no wonder, then, when vegetables are served at dinner everyone complains and some are even reduced to tears. Apparently we should be having more Twinkies!

13

It's official - the eldest is now a teenager! He has the musical tastes to prove it. Last night while I was driving home a song came on that wasn't of his preference. He said, "I'm surprised the radio isn't barfing by now."

What's wrong with Wang Chung?







Happy Birthday!

An Owl is a person in your neighborhood

We have some interesting neighbors.

At night, just as the sun is setting, this little guy likes to come out from the trees and hunt for bugs. We were lucky to snatch a few pics of him. Isn't he cute?

It was bound to happen eventually. It demands vacation time, overtime, medical benefits and a retirment plan. We will negotiate.

Louis XIV and those poor, unfortunate souls

We have decided to join Brenda's History Carnival on http://www.thetiethatbindsus.blogspot.com/. This is our very first linky party.

So, in history we are learning about Louis XIV, aka the "Sun King." He was known for his extravagance, his military skill and his oppression and persecution of the Huguenots, the French Protestants.

In 1685 he revoked the Edict of Nantes which gave political and religous protection to the Hugenots. From this point forward they were treated mercilessly:

They were forced to forsake Protestantism and convert to Catholicism:

Some fled their homes and headed to other countries like Sweden, Germany or Norway:

Some lost their lives:

Many Huguenots were experienced shipbuilders and artisans and their exodus had devastating effects on the French economy.

Louis XIV was a very wicked man. But he sure had a nice house:

Make a Smilebox postcard