Gardening again after 10 years

I've always had a desire to do gardening. But with fishing, astronomy, and aquarium...we'll did not want to take too much more from family life and be selfish. But Kim got the gardening bug from a project sponsored by her work at the Central Virginia Chapter of the Red Cross. WE found this neat website..... www.squarefootgardening.com that approached gardening a little differently, even to the point of not using our native soil in the backyard as the nurturing source. Anyway if you are interested in growing an abundant crop in a little space you should check out the site. I'll share the project we did today in a pictorial format. Once we got our stuff and got home today the actual project took no more than 4 hours from start to crops growing in our back yard.The 1st picture shows all the goodies we got to get started....Compost, peat moss, and vermiculite for the "Magic Mix", plants from The Red Cross, lumber from Lowes.
Well it is time to really get to work. Had been a cool, cloudy day until we actually began to work...then the sun came out and got a little warm. But that is ok, a little sweating never hurt anyone...has it? Kim's getting that magic mix going. If it works like we understand we should have a good supply of fresh veggies for the late summer and early fall and YOU can have some too....but it would be more fun to grow them yourself. I have tried to figure out how to put the Pics in the order I want, but you probaly can see I have not been very successful. Guess I'll have to get hold of my Blogger Guru Holly when she get back from Roanoke this evening. But you can sort of figure out the order and see the progress right down to the final product complete with growing already going on. I'm glad to see Kim take an interest in this, and it will for the most part be here project with me in the background for advice or more likely brute force as it is needed to dig, transport, or run off varmits as directed by the Director of Gardening, Mrs. Kim D. Brown. Also Happy Mother's Day out there to all those who are, are trying, in there hearts are, or like to think they are Mothers. It's your day, you deserve the best and I hope you get it. God Bless each and every one of you who truly understand the importance and impact Motherhood has on us all....kjb

Spring has Sprung at Dudley Mountain Rd

Spring...at least the blooming part of Spring, seems to have lagged a little for our neck of the woods this year. Usually by now it seems that our azaleas have bloomed and gone by now,but are just coming to their high point of bloomalosity. In case you are wondering that really is not a real word! This is one of the most enjoyable times of the year for Kim and I. The drab of winter has left, the green is flourishing, the temperature is still most comfortable, and we get to enjoy the shrubs and plants that have been given to us by our children or bought over the years, as they reach the peak of their celestial glory. Anyway we thought we would share with you some of the things that bring us a special feeling of peace and home each Spring. May you too find great joy in the creative powers that are for all of us to enjoy and may you find comfort in that place you call HOME...kjb

First Bass of 2008

Most of you out there who know me (Keith) know I enjoy the opportunity to fish for that great North American Fish "The Largemouth Bass". Recently the weather has been cool so I have not gotten out to fish at all yet and here it is May. Mark and I were going to go last Tuesday, but clouds and cold kept us both away from the James River on that day. This week I knew I would be in Crozet at least once, so I called my good friends, "The Zobrists" and asked if I could stop by onme morning before work and just get the feel of fishing out of my system, and as always Sharon called back...on all 3 of my phones....and said sure come on anytime. So at 720am this morning, with Kim's blessing I headed for the pond. It really was a little late to be getting there, but what the heck...fishing is fishing!!!!!!! My first appointment was at 9am, so I had about a hour. The water in the pond was up to full capacity...ran into 2 dozen buzzards on my fishing area, so they left when they saw me coming...good thing!!!!! Anyway, not a great first fishing trip, but certainly better than many all day trips I have been on. Caught 2, nothing huge, but for all those that fish you understand catching as HOG would be great, but just catching fish period is pretty awesome also.
So I am sharing with you, especially those who have not gotten out yet, my first line wetting for 2008. Of course it is always "catch and release", so no fish dinner tonight. Instead I will reflect on the one that got away, (and it did), and on the ones that got landed, and the times ahead for you and I to go fishing again. Everyone have a great day,...... and if you have children, take them fishing....guarantee it will be a memory maker............kjb

Virginia Beach and Old Friends

Well, Kim and I decided this year to use one of the many time-shares that we have instead of giving it away, selling it, or letting it slip through our fingers due to inactivity, and we headed down to Virginia Beach. We had lots of things we wanted to do, but for me a highlight was to try and hook up with my best Friend Paul. That's him right here on the left with the big smile>>>.
And we we also had the opportunity to meet Dave while we were there. We had an awesome time catching up on things that were happening and remembering many great times from the past. Paul and Dave took Kim and I to the "Lynnhaven Fish House" for dinner, and we just had a wonderful couple of hours. Paul even bought me a special gift packed in a beautiful bright yellow gift bag. It was a large can of tomato soup and a box of crackers. There are some of you who will understand the significance of the gift, and for any of you that want to know the details, just give us a call or send a comment and we will update you on the history of this fine gift. Anyway we enjoyed each others company, talked, laughed, and sometimes even felt a tear of joy come to the eye, and at the close of the evening said our goodbyes, for the time being.
Kim and I went on to enjoy the rest of our time at the beach and did a few things, but mostly relaxed and enjoyed the opportunity to "NOT" have to do anything if we did not want to. Kim's sisters..Joann, Debra, and Wanda came down to visit the last part of the week, and we had told them they could use the time share for the last few days. So we visited with them Wednesday evening and night, and had a bunch of laughs and fun,(you can see above where we were all on the Boardwalk and enjoying one of the few pretty days we had while Kim and I were there) and then bid them farewell on Thursday morning a left them to enjoy a nice condo and the beach, while we returned home to prepare for "REAL LIFE". I think the girls had a good time, though I heard there were some of those "Meeks" moments, but they worked through them and they all came home happy and friendly!
Kim and I had a really good time and have decided that each Spring we will do the same, so if there are any of you that would like to spend some time at the beach in Spring, let us know and maybe we can share the week with you next year. Until the next time....Keith and Kim signing off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Families are Forever

Yep it's another entry to the Ole Blog. Just thought I would focus for a minute on what I feel is the most important aspect that I can see in Blogging.....Family. It is a great way to stay in touch and up to date on what is happening. A time to share experiences, hopes, and yes pictures. So having said that, I'm not oo rich on time this morning, so I will just add a few pictures that say it all for me. My family........... One is a group shot of everyone at our past Easter get together, including Mom's boyfriend Charlie...did I tell you he was 83....never to old to date. Anyway the other is all the grandchildren. There is Emma and Luke (Joshua and Ellie's children) on the right, and Jay and Stephanie's 3 girls (Iris, Ella, And Phoebe) on the left. WE always in our hearts understand the importance of family. But as we get older that importance gains momentum, particulary as we see the importance of turning the hearts of the Fathers (Mothers) to the Children and the hearts of the Children to The Fathers (Mothers). When all is said and done...Family is what will make the differnece for each of us in the Eternities, as well as now....PS..by next year we are planning on seeing at least one more grandchild in the family group shot.. see if you can figure out who will be holding that baby!!!! Signing off now, "The Star Gazer"

Update coming......Just got back from Waynesboro with Kim and Holly. Today is Holly's B'day so we spent some time and energy on her today and ate at her favorite all time breakfast spot "Shony's" then went shopping with her. She and Kim had a pretty good time, and I endured the process. You know us guys like to go get what we want and leave, but the female gender shops a little different and my legs are feeling it right now. But we had a good time and the all day party continues as we are getting ready to go to Ediths for a BDAY dinner.

I've been really busy this late winter and spring. Kim got me a telescope for Christmas and it awakened the start gazer in me. Since then I have craved more light gathering and magnification so be able to see some of those deep space galaxies and Nebulae. Anyway here is a pic of my most recent purchase and the point of much of my attention these days. I love the scope Kim got me, but this one really take me out there!!!! We got to see the actual rings of Saturn several nights when we actually had clear skies!! It is amazing how different the stars look through a good quality scope, and I seem to be craving knowledge about the universe and all its parts and dimensions. I had a scope when I was ten and was fascinated with the things I found in the sky, and now it is even more over-powering. But I enjoy it much and Kim...well she tolerates my midnight escapades and will even come out and join me now and then.

And speaking of stars, here is a pic of two of my favorite stars that have no rival, even in this great universe we live in. These are only two that occupy my heart, so don't anyone feel left out...just found what I thought was a good pic and wanted to play with this BLOG THING a little more. Well until later...may the stars shine upon each of you, and may you feel my love for you each....keith

New to Blogging

Well, it's finally happened the Brown's (The Older ones) are blogging in an attempt to keep family and friends up to date with us. Since getting DSL lately we have found there are many things we can do on the internet that are not too painful anymore...never did like sitting and waiting for 30 minutes to download my grand-children's photos, even though I love seeing their cute little faces.
Last week would have been a great time to blog if I had taken a picture of the tree I put through the roof of my utility building. Now that would be interesting!!! But for now ans just getting started I'll leave a Pic of Kim and I, and see if it actually makes it to the web. So long for now!!