Georgia (and Grandkids) on Our Mind

With masks in hand and a picnic lunch to avoid contacts,

we ventured south for a long postponed reunion with 

Amanda, Stephen, Bri, and Hunter.

This was the welcome in our guest room.  G'ma and G'pa.

That's how I sign our e-mails.  How sweet!

Board games and conversation could have filled the 

whole trip, but the Talberts had some special treats in store.

Tuesday morning we all headed to a little known gem of 

Georgia parks (not a state park): Sprewell's Bluff.

This is a view of Georgia's Flint River. You can't see the middle
of its horseshoe, but you get the picture.

Never would I have imagined a river like this in Middle Georgia.
It was free-flowing and stony, and you felt like you were a
million miles from civilization.  Which is our kind of place!

Us with Bri and Hunter at the overlook at the park entrance.

Proof we were there.

Ach! Something stinks!

Help! I don't think he's a vegetarian!

Preview of a new Disney series-- Kid Zombies!

In spite of Judy's sweater and Amanda's ear muffs, the rest of us
didn't think it was cold. Just cool enough to keep you from sweating
on a hike. And we're off!

Don't fall in!

Look close and you'll see Stephen at the top of this rock formation.
He and the kids found a way up while we were posing.

There was an interesting assortment of rocky sand bars.

It's a long way down from this overlook.

Happy Wanderers.

Ah, let's explore this little nook.

Grim Reapers?  I think not.

If you look at this right, you may see a bear.
Shadows can play some sneaky tricks.

Here's some of that good ol' Georgia red clay I've known since
boyhood.  Fortunately, it had been fairly dry, and we had no issue
avoiding mud.

Someone who precded us had built a little rock dam which
created a perfect pool for play.

The kids were ready for this after the hike.

These kids take to water like ducks.  So I guess they're not zombies.

This was the best place for skipping rocks that I'd seen in years.
Stephen did some masterful instruction and both kids had success.
I skimmed a bunch myself, as there was no shortage of ammunition.
I was careful not to throw my camera in.

Here's Bri in action.  Success!

Here's Hunter's successful skip.

There was a nice little trading post. Nothing we needed, but we
found a few items to save for Hunter's birthday. The park has
quite a few cabins and campers can get some supplies here.

On the journey home we stopped at this historic covered bridge.

It was the longest covered bridge Judy and I had ever seen.

The next day Amanda took us to a local park with

beautiful boardwalks and greenway trails, plus a pond

and wetland. We saw all kinds of interesting sights.

Here are the most interesting sights I saw-- my FAMILY!

Let's explore!

This huge snapping turtle was the first item of note. Apparently
he is used to people feeding him, but we didn't.

Bri and Judy doing scientific observation.

Amanda had friends that had reported seeing copperheads in this
park, so we were ultra cautious, but didn't see any snakes at all.

From the second boardwalk I saw this beautiful patch of Royal Fern.

It's hard to tell, but this tree is overgrown with Resurrection Fern,
which is my absolute favorite.

I love the inscription at the bottom of this plaque.
I would aspire to have similar things said of me.
But NOT until I'm dead and gone and I hope that's a long time!

This wasn't primarily a "play" park, but this slide and another
were a great reward for the kids after our hike. They got quite
a workout climbing this hill over and over for the thrill of a slide.

We were so thankful to get this pic with the kids before we came
home the next day. If it looks like Bri has grown a lot, she has.
So has Hunter.  But a disclaimer: Look closely and you'll see
that Bri is on stilts!

This is our "staged" goodbye photo.
The Talberts and Loyds kept waving all the way through their
neighborhood until we were out of sight. 

We had another picnic lunch on the way home and

were back in North Carolina before supper time.

Masks and all!

Can't wait till we see the Talbert crew again!

Ken's First 100 Piano Song Posts (Facebook)

On Tuesday, March 24 of this year, I embarked on a journey 

to share some of the music that is dear to my heart.  I've been

playing these songs for many years for friends, nursing home

residents, hospital outpatients, and my school classes.  Okay--

for anybody who would listen! The precautions for the corona virus

have curtailed my public playing, so this was the logical response.

And what a blessing your reactions have been to me.  I love starting

the day with a song I love and finding out how many others have a 

place in their heart for that song. I'm so thankful Mama and Daddy

encouraged me along the way, that my teacher, Mrs. Louise Griffin

was lenient in the extreme, and that I've had the myriad opportunities

to find joy and fellowship through God's gift of music.

Here is a list of the first 100 songs I've posted on Facebook. You can

browse through my video collection on my Facebook page. It also 

includes stories, string tricks, and children's Bible songs, but they are

not listed among these 100. Please visit and revisit and I hope you'll

always find a song that uplifts your spirit or stirs a special memory!

NOTE: ON MY FACEBOOK PAGE ONE WAY TO LOCATE A

PARTICULAR SONG IS TO GO TO THE SEARCH BOX AND

TYPE IN "KEN LOYD" plus THE TITLE FROM THIS LIST.

#1 Misty

#2 Alley Cat

#3 In the Garden/How Great Thou Art

#4 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

#5 Windy

#6 Pink Panther

#7 It Had to Be You

#8 Majesty

#9 St. Elmo’s Fire

#10 Espana Cani

#11 Spanish Flea

#12 Lullaby of Broadway/Give My Regards to Broadway

#13 Memory (from Cats)

#14 Lara’s Theme (from Doctor Zhivago)

#15 Ashoken Farewell

#16 O Mio Babbino Cara (from A Room With a View)

#17 Amazing Grace

#18 Theme from The Godfather

#19 Ain’t Misbehavin’

#20 Hello Dolly

#21 More (Theme from Mondo Cane)

#22 Time in a Bottle

#23 Side By Side

#24 Easter Medley

#25 Begin the Beguine

#26 Theme from The Third Man

#27 Those Were the Days My Friend

#28 Autumn Leaves

#29 In the Mood

#30 You Light Up My Life

#31 Mansion Over the Hilltop

#32 There Are Smiles That Make You Happy/

        Put on a Happy Face/ When You’re Smiling

#33 Somewhere Over the Rainbow

#34 My Heart Belongs to Daddy

#35 All My Loving

#36 And I Love Her

#37 Chattanooga Choo Choo

#38 Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You/I Say a

        Little Prayer For You Medley

#39 Awesome God

#40 Cabaret

#41 Last Night on the Back Porch/Cuddle Up a

        Little Closer/You Were Meant for Me/ I’ll

        See You in My Dreams

#42 Edelweiss

#43 Seventy-six Trombones

#44 I am a Poor, Wayfaring Stranger

#45 No Other Love (Chopin)

#46 Under the Double Eagle

#47 Come, Now is the Time to Worship

#48 Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)

#49 Cinqo de Mayo/Parade

#50 Boogie Woogie

#51 Red Roses for a Blue Lady

#52 Unforgettable

#53 Moonlight Serenade

#54 Can’t Buy Me Love

#55 Be My Love

#56 As the Deer (Two versions)

#57 Sunrise Serenade

#58 Summer Samba

#59 Beer Barrel Polka

#60 Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue

#61 Always

#62 Strauss Waltz Medley

#63 David Bell Worship Medley

        Hosanna You’re the King/ God, I Love You/

        Lord, Give Me a Willing Heart

#64 Sweet Georgia Brown

#65 You Made Me Love You

#66 New York, New York

#67 I Got Rhythm/Manhattan

#68 Hey, Jude

#69 Close to You

#70 One Day at a Time

#71 When the Lights Go On Again All Over

        The World/ The White Cliffs of Dover

#72 St. Louis Blues

#73 Deep Purple

#74 As Time Goes By

#75 All of Me

#76 If You Knew Susie

#77 I’ll Fly Away

#78 Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man

#79 I’m Looking Over a Four-leaf Clover

#80 Oh, You Beautiful Doll

#81 Love and Marriage

#82 Love Story (Where Do I Begin)

#83 Never on Sunday

#84 When the Saints Go Marching In

#85 Simple Gifts

#86 Camp Cherokee Medley 1

#87 Camp Cherokee Medley 2

#88 Cheek to Cheek

#89 Let Me Call You Sweetheart

#90 Zip-a-dee-doo-dah

#91 Themes from A Man and a Woman/

        Live for Life

#92 Downtown/Georgie Girl

#93 Scott Joplin Medley The Entertainer and

       Other Songs from The Sting

#94 It is Well With My Soul

#95 Around the World in Eighty Days

#96 Yes Sir, That’s My Baby/

       That’s My Baby Gal

#97 Theme from Romeo and Juliet

       (A Time for Us)

#98 He Keeps Me Singing/ In My Heart

        There Rings a Melody

#99 Ain’t She Sweet

#100 Stardust

A Ramble in the Woods at the "Old Loyd Place"

It wasn't exactly an early birthday present, but I'd been

wanting to take the Kirby grandkids up to our old property

for a long, long time.  When Judy and I moved four years ago,

Evan was only 5 and Claire was 7.  Ryan was 3 -- but he was

in China -- and that's another story!

So with the kids out of school and springlike weather (on the

last day of winter), Judy and I picked them up and took them

on a "ramble" at the old place. Claire and Evan still had vivid

memories of many times there, but for Ryan everything was

brand new. As we roamed the five acres, he asked, "This was

all yours?" I answered, "It's all YOURs, too!"

We started at a huge magnolia tree right on the edge of our

remaining property.  But now there a ladder which 

allows them to scale the huge, high branches.  Those branches

once sheltered them when we pushed them around in strollers!

Watching big sis Claire climb it gives Ryan his motivation.

Clear the way-- Evan wants to get to the top, too!

Claire had to descend about 15 feet to get in this picture.  She
went as high as one possibly could. The branches are sturdy and
well-spaced, but almost too big for easy gripping.

Like Jennifer and Amanda a generation before them, these three
are no strangers to treetops.

 When all had climbed down, we headed for the stream

and its multiple waterfalls.  Claire and Evan remembered

when we could drive Judy's Tacoma within a short distance

of the stream.  But though the walk was longer, there

was plenty to see along the way, including these flowers.

At the stream, Claire demonstrates to Ryan how she and Evan used
to "fish" for these plastic rings with hockey sticks.

Quite a haul, Claire!

Ryan was successful, but thought it was pretty easy.
On to other pursuits.

This is one of several bridges that criss-cross the stream.
I salvaged it from an old bridge from the SFL Nature Trail.

Ryan is waiting for one of the hoops that Evan is floating down
the stream.  Evan had the bright idea of using his hockey stick
to make "waves" to hasten the hoop's journey to Ryan.

Ryan takes in the panorama of bridges, waterfalls, and islands.

 After a good long time at the stream we headed to 

the old tree house, which I built in 2015, two months

before I had my first knee replacement. Ryan is

examining the pulley system for sending "shipments"

or "mail" from the basement to the top floor.

Ryan shows his mastery of the delivery system.

Ryan relaxes on the upper deck bench seat.  Beside his foot you'll
see the old vacuum cleaner hose that is part of our "intercom" system.

It may not equal what Tarzan or the Swiss Family Robinson had,
but for Evan and Ryan it's enough.

 Claire had already gone to our trapeze swing.

Ryan found it to be a lot of fun when he arrived there.

I had raised the bar a while back, so I needed to lift Ryan up.
No problem.

Claire is so tall she had to pull her legs up, but it was no less fun.

You can create your own acrobatic act on this swing,
spinning and swirling as you wish.

I was so impressed with Ryan's strength, agility,

and endurance.  

Claire creates a free-style program of her own.

Claire demonstrates the skills of rappelling.

Yep, the rope is still strong enough!

If the rope supports Claire, then Ryan can count on it, too!

Ah, the great outdoors!

 We made one last visit to the tree house before

time to head home.  Hi Grandma!

Judy snapped this memory shot for me.

 We weren't taking the kids to their home-- it was

 back to our house-- for my second birthday celebration.

It took me two tries to blow out two candles (a large 6 and 7).
That can't be good!

One of the kids said "Raise your hand if you love Grandpa!"

Boy, did this response make me feel special!

My "real" birthday would be the next day,

but it wouldn't top this day.

So in 33 years, when I'm 100, Ryan will be 40.

That's hard to imagine, but I'm looking forward to it!

From Georgia to the Land of Ice and Snow

Since Brianna and Hunter moved to Georgia four years

ago, they've only seen snow one time.  So when they arrived

at our house on Friday they were delighted to find at least

some remnants of Moore County's latest mini-blizzard.

Here's a quick summary of some of our fun.

First order of business: snowball fight! Everybody's a winner!

Even though all of our grandkids have had trampolines of their
own, the simple allure of this old mattress was a throwback.

Here's a series of short videos showing Bri and Hunter
doing forward rolls, "Donkey Kicks", and "taking a spin."

There was a lot more fun of that wacky sort.

Let's move on with more snapshots of fun.

Bri is now the Mistress of Slime. She loves creating the stuff
in a variety of colors and with special additives like glitter.

She may have gotten her love of gross stuff from her mother.
Not her parents.

Bri and Hunter collected snow from every conceivable nook and
cranny of our yard. 

Hunter checks the hardness of the ice in this birdbath. This was
the morning the temp was in the low 20's.

Creative people can cook without water.  Didn't you know that?
Dishes requiring liquefied ice had to wait until that afternoon.

After a little melting, Hunter was able to remove this ice from
another birdbath intact.



Note: I know the above makes it sound like Hunter was melting,
not the ice, but I intentionally left it in for people like myself to enjoy.

The Kirby grandkids joined us for the afternoon.
Somehow, I got all five grandkids in the same photo.

The dogwood tree is a good jumping off point, especially now
that we have the mattress.

We started a fire in the chiminea to take the chill out of the air.
Ryan helped supervise it for a while, but later it was left to just
me and Judy.  The kids had too many other options for play.

These "sassy" girls have just collected a porcelain bowl with
just about the last of the snow.  They packed it down so Bri
could show it to Amanda the next day (which she did).
I didn't know it at the time, but the girls are role-playing here.
Explanation below.

Judy is playing the role of customer in the girls' restaurant here.
Claire and Bri pretended to be sisters, and were intentionally being
"unhelpful" and even "rude". Now that took a lot of acting!

The time flew by all too quickly.  Here are some of the

many things Bri and Hunter also did, which I didn't

get to document with photos:

Got doughnuts at Duncan and Granny's Doughnuts

Found bargains at the Sandhills Coalition and Episcopal

Thrift Shop

Played baseball (Hunter's just been chosen for a team)

Played Foxtail Baseball (they invented it)

Played Haunted Mansion I Spy on an old laptop program

Played Payday (a high finance board game)

Played Sleeping Queens (a clever card game)

A Unicorn game (can't remember the actual name)

Bubble Talk (a $2 "steal" for a $40 game)

*Note about Bubble Talk.  It's a game where players

submit funny captions for random photos.  A "judge,"

one of the players, choosiest the funniest or cleverest.

After a wild round of that game, I showed Bri and Hunter

photos on my blog from their early years, where I delighted

in submitting my own funny captions. You can look at just

about any blog in my archives to see some samples.

Click here for a sample from 2009

We also spent a great quantity of time enjoying

meals and snacks lovingly prepared by Judy.

All those activities require energy, you know!

Great weekends like this leave me and Judy eager for

more time with this lovable bunch. ANY time is good for us!

Every Kid's Dream: A Mattress You Can Jump On!

Judy and I gave ourselves a new mattress for Christmas. 

Rather than immediately get rid of the old one, I set it

out under our dogwood tree with a tire swing and rings.

In no time, Evan had found a way to employ tree, swing,

and rings to catapult himself onto the nice bouncy mattress.

Best part?  No grown-up saying "NO BOUNCING!"

Here's his first feat.

Claire and Ryan found the mattress useful as a

launching pad for the tire swing, too.

Claire shows her usual exuberance over discovering

something new and fun.

It also makes a large, safe surface for tumbling stunts.

It wasn't long before Ryan determined to try the jump

from the dogwood. He sat a while with his eyes closed.

I asked him, "Are you concentrating or praying."

"Praying," he answered.

His prayers were answered.  Not only was he not hurt,

he bounced up ready to go again.

This week, Brianna and Hunter may get to try the

mattress (if the snow's not too deep).

So maybe I won't be getting rid of the old mattress

as soon as I thought!