Loep Web Site

After many months of planning and information gathering, the LOEP website is officially up and running. Please stop by and take a look. Comments are welcomed. Keep in mind that the website is a labor of love and not a professional website by any means. What we tried to do was get information out about LOEP and the children of the orphanages. If you would like further information about LOEP, please take a minute to drop us an email (from the website link) and we'll be happy to provide you with the requested info. The picture of this little cutie is just one of hundreds at the orphanges. Enjoy the website and we look forward to hearing from you all. Thanks to Google for making it easy to do. The website address is: loeproject.org

It's ALIVE

It's been a couple of months since anyone posted anything on the blog. Now, I know everyone is busy doing this and that, working, etc. BUT surely there must be something going on in your lives that you would like to share. Come on you people.......Ok I'll start, Mom and I are going to Mexico in May. It's a trip that I won from Agfa. We'll be taking a long weekend in Cancun at some resort. Although not the kind of trip that we'd normally take, we'll go because (a) it will be nice to get away, and (b) it's free :) I'll be posting pictures.

We are excited about seeing Kris and Gina in a few days. Both are in town visiting and Aunt & Uncle are hosting a "thing" for them while they're here. It will be great to see both. Again, pictures should be forthcoming.

Mom and I have been busy getting the LOEP web site ready. The unveiling will be very shortly. All of this comes at a time while one of the Liberian Orphan directors is in town. From CRM we will finally get to meet a representative. Pictures? you bet!

Post when you can........I know the weather is getting nicer and all of you will be busy doing outside chores, but keep in touch!

Super Bowl Thoughts XLI

Come on, give it up to the Colts! They did what they had to do. To be honest, I'm done with "da bears" I know, I know, Lovie Smith and his storied path to the "big game" but let's not confuse who was the better team: "da Colts" regardless of their escape from Bali'imore (hon). I mean who among us would NOT want to escape that place? Baltimore got what they deserved: Ray Ray! Perhaps another year for them.

OK, I got tired of looking at PM.

A Princess in Atlanta

Look at this cute Fairy Princess that Mom and I visited in Atlanta over the holidays. Grandad Richard certainly agress she's a Princess!



The Princess in a more relaxed, reflective moment.

Dog days in the Valley

Char and Abby putting on a "heeling" demonstration at the Relay for Life Dog Walk held in November at the Blue Ridge Community College.



Haley and Abby kickin back during a break in the action.




It's back to work for Abby (Haley was saving her place int he shade). Easy to see why Abby was voted in the top 20 in the APDT Level 2 Rally Obedience class. Look at how attentive she is to Char. If only SOME OTHER dog we all know and love paid that much attention.




Congrats again to Char and her girls! Keep us posted on the medal count Char

Anyone having problems blogging?

To all regular bloggers: If anyone is having problems posting a comment or a new post, please let me know. It looks like everyone who is a regular is doing ok. However, Blogspot has changed to a new design and evidently "some" are having problems. Let me know if you are and I'll try to get it corrected. In the meantime........blog away!!!

Happy Birthdy to Win!!

When Dad and I got to the doctor's office the morning of Jan. 10, 1976 Dad dropped me off at the front door and went to park the car. The doctor took me in immediately, checked me out and said, "You are going to have a baby in about 15 minutes. Hurry up, I'll meet you at the hopsital".

I went to find Dad and told him we needed to get to the hospital right away. He said, "Do you want to walk over there or do we have to drive?" I kid you not!! His first thought was worrying about finding a good parking spot in the Hospital lot (located a block away)!! Of course, I said "DRIVE and make it quick!!!".

Win, you have made life interesting ever since. Happy Birthday!

In my defense, I was thinking ONLY of mom when I suggested we walk....knowing that the hospital was just across the street. As it turned out, I'm glad we drove (no, I did NOT find a primo parking spot), because 'lil' Win showed up only minutes later. It's been a "long strange trip" one, that I'm STILL beaming about.... and so the road goes on. Happy Birthday Win!! (um, I did try to call you early this morning) You're a special one!

Abby & Char go National!

Let's all give it up to Abby (and Auntie Char) for their selection into the National ranking of top obedience teams in the country! Way to go you two. The following is the announcement from Auntie Char....

I just found out last night that Abby and I made the Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) National Rankings for 2006- We were ranked the #20 team in APDT Level 2 Rally Obedience for the year! The top 20 teams in each category qualify for special awards-so we JUST made it! We didn’t even go to very many trials, but her scores were so high (including 3 PERFECT scores) that it was enough to qualify in the rankings for the entire year-a total surprise for me!!

Haley almost made it too-but she had one lower score (an ‘off’ day) which pulled her average out of the rankings. Well, she might make it for 2007!

Now I need one of those “honor roll” bumper stickers- “My dog is nationally ranked with APDT”!

Love, Char

PS: Happy Birthday Auntie Char!!!! (added today-1/8/07)

Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center

Win sends this information and link to the new Southwest Virginia 4-H Education Center's blog. Check it out!

http://swva4h.blogspot.com/

News From Browntown

News From Browntown
What a wonderful Birthday/Christmas present came into our lives just a few short (30) years ago! Ever since then Dec. 1 has been my own inner marker that heralds the Season of Giving...
Happy Birthday Emma!
Anybody have a memory to post?

"Neeeee... you know I don't wike wooms!"

Making the annual search to find the perfect Christmas tree one year, was me and Emma. Her in her yellow snow suit that made it pretty much impossible for her to walk (3 yrs old?) and trying valiantly to keep up as we treked around the tree farm in the snow. Falling every two feet or so. We got it done though, didn't we Em? Hope you have a great birthday weekend! Love Dad

News From Browntown

News From Browntown

Well, I cannot believe that we let the entire Thanksgiving holiday go by without one single picture of the group together! We are getting so bad about remembering that. It was lovely to have everyone together though and it was nice to have you all three home for a couple of days - it has been a really long time since we were together in Browntown, it seems.

Agree about it being too long between posts and now we are really getting into the busy time. Finals are about over for me and I can really focus on the Christmas prep which will be minimal - not much more than Thanksgiving actually. Hope to have all together again for Christmas although we know you will not be there, Andrew.

Will post more this month, I promise.

Turkey Day

Emma is right, way too long between posts. Mom and I are looking forward to having everyone home for the holiday. As of now, the birds are bought, the fixin's are on the shelf, the house is ready (sort of) and Cleo can hardly contain herself. This year promises to be as special as every year on this favorite of holidays. Our extended family includes the usual suspects, but the Turner's (Laine as well) AND a certain Mr. Campbell Barrett! Shaping up to be a great time. Everyone please be safe in your travels home. See you all tomorrow! oh, and the rest of you on Thursday :)

Ready for the main event! A fine looking table, wouldn't you agree? (check out the fancy name cards on the dishes :)

Turkey Lurkey

No real update from Atlanta, it's just been too long since anyone posted. I'm looking forward to seeing everyone later this week!!!

Halloween in Atlanta

I thought you all might enjoy some pictures of Halloween in Atlanta. These pictures are actually from "Halloween weekend" rather than actaul Halloween. After all, last night was a school night.

News From Browntown

Norma Rae Lives!
I guess all those years of being surrounded by labor icons including George Meany's portrait in PawPaw's office and the famous poster of Salley Field as Norma Rae posted in my office got to Emmalee. Our very own Norma Rae joined the picket line last night along with her brother and sister union musicians and other assorted union members (including some IBEW members who always show up to support a picket line for any of their labor brothers and sisters). Apparently Emma and the President of the IBEW Atlanta Local had quite an interesting chat as they walked the picket line together carrying their picket signs.

Click on this link for the Atlanta Journal Constitution story -
http://www.ajc.com/search/content/lvballet1026a.html
Emma was interviewed for this article but her comments did not make the cut - which is okay because she was there and did her part! You go, girl!
Paw Paw would be so proud.

News From Browntown

News From Browntown
It is going to be very, very quiet on the compound for the next couple of days. Dad is in South Carolina and Grammy has gone to Williamsburg. Just Cleo and me to hold down the fort in the cold!

What can I say?

http://www.stampandshout.com/shop/bumper-stickers/frodo-failed.php

The Weekend That Was.....On Rupley

So this weekend literally had too much going on to pack into a blog entry, so Ill let the pictures speak for themselves. Friday night, was our big shindig we had for friends of ours, as well as the neighbors, featuring everyone;s favorite classic rock cover band, Swami Gone Bananas. A few of us who have some musical instrumentation skills (well, I use that term loosely for some of us. And by that, I mean me) decided to jam a little ourselves while the headlining act set up their rigs. See below, the band, me, Ryan, Jarrett, TJ playing as well. Emmalee decided not to bust out the bassoon, I think it was a fear of it being broken, which is understandable.

Saturday night was Eric Clapton, which, as I told you dad, you can't really "review" Clapton, he was either awesome, or out of this world. Really no in between. Didnt get any pics, as the security folks I assumed were going to be a little tight with photos being taken and all. Derek Trucks never ceases to amaze. Maybe one of these days Ill be able to put my thoughts of the concert together enough to warrant a review. For now, enjoy the pics.

Field Day

Well, somebody had to post something, so here are some pictures of our field day activities in Piedmont Park this past weekend. It was great weather, and great times with friends. Silly games such as dodgeball, tug of war, water balloon toss, relay race, and obstacle course. We ended up as the Double Vision team quite by accident, the real team didn't show up, so we Ruplians took over. And we were quite glad we did! Next year we're gonna plan ahead and begin training earlier in the season...

It's The New Toy On 991 Rupley....

Dad, Win, check it out...it's the newest arrival.........