1981 Farm Photos

While sifting through some files on our computer, I came across these photos from circa 1981 that I just had to share.  Someone scanned them and emailed them to our whole family several years ago -- can't remember who -- but they are great...

The photos were taken during a weekend at our family farm near Montevallo, Alabama.  The fashion is classic!

The Whole Fam-Damily.
Rick, Terri (with Meg & a football), Hippy-bearded-bell-bottom-wearing-Gilbert, Cokey, Gil, SuSu, Walter, Donny



My mom and her siblings
Walter, Terri, SuSu, Gilbert



The Fergusons
Terri (with Meg), Gil (with football), Rick

 Oh, how far we've come!
Meg

Follow Friday: Working Mom Blogs

Blog neophyte here.  Yes, I admit that I am relatively new to this blogging thing, and only in the past year or so started subscribing to blogs and reading them regularly.  The world has really opened up for me!  There’s so much junk insightful information out there to absorb!  From working mom to recipe blogs, righteous religious fanatics to sinners, politicos to self-involved narcissists, there is an endless stream of knowledge, advice, and humor to keep me entertained during the day at work  at home on the weekends and in the evenings.  People truly will say anything on this here world wide web… as it were, this has also caused me to emphasize the validity of the age old saying, “Don’t believe everything you read.”

I am also new to Twitter, which features a 'Follow Friday' trend.  If you haven't yet jumped on the twitter-wagon, here's the deal:  On Fridays, using the tag #FF, twitter users promote their favorite fellow tweeters.  I thought I would try that here, but promote some of my favorite blogs on Fridays.  I probably will not do it every Friday because:

A.  I don't follow that many blogs, not nearly enough to create a substantive list each week. 

and

B.  I probably won't remember on every Friday in the rush to get the weekend started.

But anyway, without further ado… here  are a few blogs that I enjoy reading… er, following?  I think some of you may also benefit from perusing them from time to time, especially those working moms out there.  

• Current Mom
• MomCorps Blog
• AlphaMom
• The Juggle (Wall Street Journal)

And… to bring some much needed luck to the Tigers in their effort against the bayou bengals this weekend, here’s a photo of Tripp sporting AU gear that his cousin, Anne, and great-grandmother, Cokey, bought for him.  He sure does seem excited to be wearing it, so maybe that will help pull 'em through.  WDE!

Have a fabulous weekend!
Meg

Happy Birthday, Cokey! (a.k.a. The Queen)

As promised, below are some pictures from "The Queen's" 80th Birthday party held at The Club on Labor Day weekend.  Her actual birthday is today, September 15th.  So.... Happy 80th Birthday G-L-O-R-I-A! 

The party was a blast.  Anne, Terri (Shug), and SuSu did a great job planning and executing such a special event.  All grandkids, both biological and "adopted," gave a toast to the Q, and shared a special memory with the group.  It was a great gathering that we will all remember for a long time to come.  Thanks to everyone who helped plan!  (P.S.  The story of the nametags is a long one)

Here are a few snapshots.

 The Roughen Family

Tripp (3 months), Matt, and Meg

Cokey with her Grandchildren & Great-Grandchildren

Front Row: Meg & Tripp Roughen (3 months), Cokey Kurtts, Gil & Ann Fulton Ferguson (1 year)

Back Row:  Mary Catherine Ferguson, Anne Hopton-Jones, Bailey & Walt Johnson, Matt Roughen, Trey Hopton-Jones

 Terri (Shug) Ferguson & Tripp Roughen

 Cokey & Her Children

Susan, Terri, Cokey & Gilbert

Cousins 

Meg, Tripp, Ann Fulton, and Gil

Tripp, getting the royal treatment from the Queen & Aunt Anne

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Stay tuned for pictures from Colonel Albert Hugh Roughen, Sr's (Tripp's namesake) 80th Birthday Party that was held this past weekend in Thunderbolt, Georgia. Hooray for the 80th birthday party circuit!

Meg

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day!  War Eagle, Wahoowa, and Go Jackets!  It was a happy, winning weekend of football for the Roughen household.  Weekends during which all teams win are few and far between, I'm afraid, usually due to the less-than-mediocre Cavaliers... so we must celebrate them as they come.

Our weekend was jam-packed with fun events and new friends.  On Friday, September 2nd, we celebrated Tripp's great-grandmother's 80th Birthday.  Cokey was joined by all of her friends and family at The Club, overlooking Birmingham, to share memories, a breath-taking view, yummy food, and strong drinks.  Pictures to come from that party... It was fun!

Then, we headed to the lake for college football (finally!), more yummy food, cold beer, and the meeting of the cousins.  Ann Fulton (1 year old) and Tripp (3 months old) had a chance to check each other out.  Below are some pictures from the first of many cousin photo sessions.

Checking Each Other Out...  

Tripp's Reaction:  Ew.  Girls Have Cooties!

Ann Fulton's Reaction:  Why is he so loud?

After a few minutes, the two cousins warmed up and played together well. 

... and by the end, they were fast friends.  Looking forward to the next meeting already!

... and now we are back in Atlanta, safe and sound, despite the severe weather due to Tropical Storm Lee.  Hope everyone had a great weekend and is ready for the (short!) week of work!

Meg