Dirt Bikes and Trees ... yup they are both green

Dirt bike... One of the most satisfying things in life is to work hard and reap the rewards. Tyson is growing up and this summer he is working hard doing tree work. Last summer he also did tree work.. but suffered lots of poison ivy, thank goodness he's been spared some of that this summer. He has grown taller and probably because Tyson has always been a quiet guy in the background - I haven't written very much about him. Tyson LOVES oreo cookies and milk; cookies and cream ice cream; tropicana orange juice; donuts; 'Reeses' peanut butter and chocolate chip sandwiches; chocolate milk; stuffed snow cones; cold cereal and anything that has sugar in it. He tolerates plain lettuce and dislikes all vegetables and loves a meal based on meat. Tyson has always been responsible to get up and catch the school bus or (this past year) get Mom to drive him to school... I think it's just to know he's cared about and gives me a chance to say 'I love you'. Tyson loves remote control vehicles and is really skilled at controlling them... so last year his earnings went toward RC helicopters & cars and fuel & repairs. He has always wanted a dirt bike (and since Mom and Dad can't afford one) - Tyson bought his own. He did the research, called and found and purchased a dirt bike. Now he's enjoying his dirt bike... some day he plans to ride motor bikes ... so this is the prerequisite. I'm happy for you Tyson.

Trees... yesterday Todd needed me to drive to Mandeville and so Macy, Me and Bella drove to the jobsite (first we picked up donuts at the donut shop) mmmm (better than Krispy Kreme and Tim Hortons). Tyson and Todd were working in 'the sanctuary' subdivision (beautiful homes). Recently Todd found an injectible fertilizer that helps to save trees that are dying, Louisiana is known for the beautiful oak trees and many are over 100 years old but since Hurricane Katrina many are losing their leaves and dying. While Macy acted as Todd's assistant injecting some trees, I took Bella for a walk on a nature trail. The nature trail reminded me of years of cub scouts - a trail was clearly marked and the trees were identified and labeled (looks like a great eagle scout project). Then I drove Todd to Lakeshore drive (Lake Ponchartrain) and he and Macy injected some Magnolia trees and a huge live oak tree (the oak tree was huge) while Bella and I tried to escape the 93 degrees outside and walked along the lakefront and then rested in the shade under one of those amazing oak trees by the lake - it felt good with the breeze off the lake. I wish I had taken my book and my camera... it would have been a sweet picture of Todd and Macy working together smiling and talking under this gorgeous oak tree... (a celestial snapshot)

I've always loved trees and when we lived in Virginia I learned all about all the different plants and trees in Virginia... I want to learn all about plants and trees in Louisiana so I can identify them and plan the landscaping in our yard. I think it would be cool to have a 'nature walk' in our yard where each of us pick a tree to plant in our yard - label it and dedicate it to that person in our family. So many trees have been taken out - I feel strongly that many need to be replaced. I feel so good about Todd wanting to save some beautiful trees and it will bring in some income too.