Gold Medals and Arboretums

So, S.B. gets a gold medal for delivering my scrapbook to my grandma and visiting with her for awhile. She seemed to really enjoy the book and the visit. I actually made S.B. a "gold medal", but I forgot to snap a photo of it.

We visited the J C Raulston Arboretum, and I was hoping to get some flower photos, but everything was a little past its bloom time. There were still some very pretty lilies and these Gloriosa Daisies.

I used to have bunches of these in my gardens at our old house where I grew up. They are amazing when you see them open for the first time. Some of them are just enormous, and their colors and markings vary a lot. They're quite dramatic and easy to grow from seed.

Guess who came to town?!

I didn't think we'd even get to vote in the primaries, and I certainly didn't think I'd see Bill Clinton out this way. We got there two hours before his arrival, but it was worth it. He was a truly great speaker, as he's been whenever I've seen him...only this time I got to see him in person. Pretty cool.

I was a little worried when I saw the vintage Ford pickup they had set up for him to stand in, and when I heard the loud twangy country music over the speakers. I was afraid the whole thing was going to be in a talk-down-to-the-country-people vein, but I'm glad to say it was not. He has a way of really connecting with people, getting their attention, and keeping it. He talks to them with great intelligence and respect. It's impressive.

Anyway, not something you get to see too often, either in a person, or in this town.

So, tomorrow we'll be on our way to vote here in North Carolina...

Monster Chiller Horror Mouse Toy

We went food shopping today, and I stuck this in the cart, thinking it was cute. It's really called "The Cat Fancier's Association Active Cat Solo Play Cat Toy". I guess it looks kind of real. Kind of. Sort of.

That's what I thought anyway, until I heard the cashier shrieking uncontrollably. Mind you, it was sewn to a card at the time.

"Oh, I can't touch it! I CAN'T touch it! It's the tail! IT'S THE TAIL! AHHH!!"

Then she got a paper towel and tried to pick it up, still shrieking.

"AHHH!! I CAN'T!!! Oh, I can't touch it!"

The man behind us picked it up. I tried to get around her from the other side to scan it myself, but she was holding onto my arm. We were all laughing at this point, even the poor cashier, but she just couldn't get it together. She was actually shaking. I finally grabbed it, scanned it, and she held out a bag for me to drop it into, while trying not to look. I said, "It's all gone now," and apologized for traumatizing her. I hope she has recovered by now!

Back at home the Monster Chiller Horror Mouse Toy wasn't nearly as scaaary.

Banks Miniature Horse Farm

I had the best time last weekend at Banks Miniature Horse Farm in Clayton, NC. Bill and Pam Banks allowed a group of us to come photograph their adorable miniature horses, and one very friendly miniature donkey, Dixie, who was especially envious of my straw hat.

Bill and Pam breed, sell, and show miniature horses, and have the largest miniature horse farm in this Southeastern part of the country. Their horses become pets, companions to race horses, and even seeing-eye animals. They are wonderfully gentle, curious, and sweet creatures.

There were several new foals to see, one only a few days old. Bill was telling us how a couple of the foals were playing "King of the Mountain" on a pile of soil in his barn one time, and he managed to get a picture. I don't have that picture, but I do have a bunch of others I took over on Flickr. Please go have a look. Be sure to click on the pictures then "all sizes" to get to the larger-sized images...the Banks' horses have gorgeous blue eyes, which you don't want to miss.

Linda Vassilion took this one of Dixie the donkey, and Sunny giving me a kiss. Sunny and Dixie had a plan worked out, I think, to get that hat off my head.

Jay Massengill took this one, and the one at the top of this post, of me and Dixie and Sunny, still hoping for a straw hat. Bill wanted to cut two holes in it for ears!

Bill and Pam were not only nice enough to have us over, but they also have buses of school children, and handicapped children come for visits to the farm. The animals are very well-behaved with children and are a real treat to spend the day with. Bill and Pam are fun too!

Special thanks to Bill and Pam Banks for having us over, giving us the tour, and answering all my questions! I always have a lot! Special thanks to Jay Massengill and Linda Vassilion for allowing me to use their photos!

Please be sure to visit the Banks Miniature Horse Farm web site too!