Smith Farm

The farm where I dog sit once belonged to an excavator. The house is almost completely surrounded by water. Beautiful place! My friends (and neighbors) bought the place the same year I moved to my farm. Although we didn't know it at the time; we live about a mile from each other, in the middle of "About Nowhere"!

Yesterday, I had the most unique experience at their farm. The wind was blowing hard and the lilly pads (just under the waters surface) were reflecting their shiny undersides with the current. This must have attracted a pair of Bald Head Eagles. The huge birds were almost stationary on the wind while they searched the lakes for fish. I could hear the splash as one of the birds dove down for it's meal!

Now armed with my camera, of course; the birds are no where to be seen!

The Entertainer

My brother Buddy knew one piano song by heart. The Entertainer by Scott Joplin. I was recently reminded of this because a co-worker has the song as a ring tone on her cell phone. Hearing it sparked some fond memories of the past.....
Buddy had always been the class clown, the joker....the entertainer. He sparked laughter everywhere he went. From re-inventing the four food groups with the waitress of a fancy restaurant (butter, salt, spaghetti, fat), to getting his uptight nurse in trouble for giving him IV Baby Ruths; after she repremanded him for eating sweets. He hung the empty candy bag over his IV bag, then reported her to her supervisor. They all had a good laugh. Never a dull moment in his company!
My favorite picture of him was taken at the old Revolution Mill (now renovated into Revolution Mill Studios). He found a petrified raccoon that had been stuck in a wall for who knows how long and kept the nasty thing around for years. He loved animals and felt sorry for it....introduced it and it's "sad story" to everyone that came over....lol. Then he'd make it "attack". Should've seen people run!
I suppose anyone that met Buddy had no idea that his IQ was over 160. Master in business, Deans List...... made more money than most of us will hope to make in our lifetime. The one thing they all knew was that Buddy healed everything with laughter and entertainment.
Anton W. Bantel Jr. October 28, 1959- June 25, 2007

Sweet Memories. ALBERT April 2001-February 22 2009

Albert, aka "The Needy" -never missed a teddy bear photo session! Sometimes I felt like putting Albert on E-Bay instead of the bear!!! I will certainly miss his sweet face and gentle-needy nature. He was my little angel! :o(

YouTube - Lifehouse's Everything Skit


Samantha,
Early CONGRATULATIONS on your graduation! YIPPIE! You are an inspiration to those around you and I hope life takes you to beautiful places. The video reminds me of you and all the love you spread where ever you go! Wish I could've been there for the play.
Big Teddy Hugs!

Norman

NORMAN June 1992-January 1, 2009