Trick or Treating at Mom-mom's House

Trick or Treating was on Saturday here. Paul and Kelly brought the girls here to trick or treat. Pop-pop went with them.

The cast of Characters:

Rease as a Bride

Helena as a colorful, but friendly Witch

Piper as a little Strawberry

Re-grouping, again

On our way - with some minor delays. Notice Pop-pop is "hanging" out.

Corn Maze

We made a plan earlier in the month to go to the corn maze in Linkwood last Friday night of this month. It was only a twenty minute or so drive, so it was a do-able thing at night with the girls. The "team' consisted of Ben, Bob, Paul, Rease, Helena, and myself.
Flashlights in hand - off we go! Spooooky ;)




I think I blinded Rease with the flash - tee hee !


The entrance to the maze.

A map for reference - which happens to be at the beginning of the maze and does us little good unless we have "Maize-O-Vision" glasses or happen upon a "Maize-O-Vision" station. Which is easier said than done!

This was our first clue station. Not a bad start. And . . . the bridge would come later - much later!

This particular maze was dark - very dark. No additional lighting from the building to cast any kind of shadows. The only help we had was our flashlights. It was hard navigating. The fellows and Helena took turns choosing the "right path". (I know my place in something like this - I am very, very directionally and navigationally challenged!) The unified word of the night was: "muuuddd"! It was a mess, and of course Paul wore flip flops. That'll learn 'im! Not to mention , with the wind chill, it was about 2 degrees out there. Well, not really, but it was cold! Helena and I shared my gloves (I'm thinking that I was pretty smart wearing gloves). I lost my camera - once.

After about an hour and no progress, Rease suggested that we follow the north star. Hey, I'm thinking, there's a novel idea! No takers, nope, not those men.

We spent an hour and a half in the lower left quadrant of the maze. An hour and a half. Ben decides that "cheating" was our only way out alive. We hadn't even made it to the first bridge or the center of the maze. Oh - the game sheet did have their phone number on it - just in case. In case of what? What was lurking out there that we weren't aware of? Could we have even gotten reception in that abyss? We didn't tell the girls - 'casue, you know, what if? What if we were transported to the - I can hardly say it - "Children of the Corn" nightmare? What if?

We were willing to break the rules and cut thru the corn! So, Ben confiscates my camera, enlarges the map, and off we go! Thank goodness for modern technology! I think we could have used the North Star, if we had to. Just sayin'.

We found two more clues, for a grand total of six out of eighteen, and two rubbings. We finally made it over one of the two bridges and passed the center tower. Yea for us!

We were cold, tired, and muddy. We were ready to abandon all other prospects of finding more clues and hit the muddy trail back to the van!

It was a good night. Well, except for the "Children of the Corn" episode!

Blue Skies with Gray Clouds

I love the fall days when the skies of blue are decked with dark puffy clouds.
When the sun shines thru and they float on the wind.
The contrast of cool gray with the brightness of the sun that allows me to feel hope.
Nature's motion picture of life.
Warmth and coolness.
Peace and sorrow.
Comfort and sadness.
All rolled into one fleeting moment.
A soul searching.
An appreciation.
An undestanding.
Life.

Miss Piper

This little gal has just passed her five months mark! It's amazing how much she is growing and has grown since she was born.


She loves this bouncy thing-a-ma-jig! When I first put her in it, about a month ago, her little toes barely touched the floor!



Now she gets this thing bouncing so high I think she might come out of it!

I also noticed these past couple of days, that when she puts herself to sleep, she likes to have her little head on or near her dollie. Yesterday she was laying on it like a pillow! She still prefers her thumb ~ ~

I don't think it will be long before she starts to crawl. When she wakes up and I don't get to her fast enough, she gets all ticked off and pulls her knees under her and pushes herself up against the cradle. Not sure if I'm ready for crawling!

About Blogging

I've come to realize how much I enjoy blogging. I mean, really enjoy it. It is almost an obsession with me. I am surprised at how attached I've actually become to "writing".

When Christie first asked me to try it, I thought, "Yea, right". I had no clue what she was talking about and the whole blog thing sounded like something too tech savvy for the likes of me. Then I visited her blog. I must say it took me some time to muster up the nerve to do it, but once my "toes hit the water", it had me - hook, line and sinker. I haven't looked back since, nor have I regretted starting a blog - well, two blogs now.

It will be two years this March since I began my journey down Bloggy Lane. I have learned a few things about myself. Blogging is my written therapy. Blogging makes me think. Blogging keeps me real.

I've learned to share things that are on my heart openly and in third person so as not to hurt someone else or make them feel uncomfortable. After all, my blog is - me. But it allows me an extra way to vent, lest my Aaron and Hur get bored of me!

I have realized, that, although folks may like to read my blog(s) they may not like to write. At first this was a little hard for me to understand. But as I blogged along I came to accept that because that is just the way it is. I just remember that I have tried things that others have a passion for just because they have that passion, but it quickly fell to the wayside for me. So, all you non-bloggies out there - I get it. Sorta. :)

I became brave enough to put some of my poetry to "pen" for you to read. I have loved poetry forever. Reading it, writing it, singing it. It feels as if it is embedded in my soul. Sometimes my poems come in the middle of the night, sometimes when I am showering, doing dishes, or driving along. I never know when a poem is going to manifest itself! It's like waiting for a surprise. I give credit to blog land for that. Otherwise, they would be tucked into a tablet somewhere - not that that is a bad thing.

Well, enough about one of my favorite past times.

Thanks for dropping by -
Catch you on the flip side!

I Can, But I Can't

I can stand beside you,
But I can't remove you from your spot.

I can wipe away your tears,
But I can't get rid of the cause of them.

I can listen to your complaints,
But I can't make them go away.

I can hold your broken heart,
But I can't remove the pain.

I can give you motherly advice,
But I can't make you take it.

I can show you a clearer path,
But I can't make you walk it.

I can always be ready for your need,
But I can't make you come to me.

I can only be what I know to be,
But I can't make you understand it.

I can only love without expectation,
But I can't make you reciprocate it.

He loves her.

I hate when I don't go to church. But today I feel like I've been bowled over. My head hurts, my throat is a bit sore, when I look down, my nose runs like a faucet, and when I look up, my head aches more, and I'm coughing and sneezing like it's my job!

On my Sunday mornings home I notice the folk going to the church across the street. Having a church located in this vicinity is a constant reminder to me where I should be. Today is no exception - even though I don't feel well. I will really feel the nudging when the church bell rings. I love that they ring their bell on Sundays! Just love it. It transports me back to simpler times. (like Little House on the Prairie times!)

This morning as I was dawdling at the window I noticed Mr. Singleton and his wife walking across the bank parking lot (it becomes overflow parking for church on Sundays and any other time something is going on over there). Mr. Singleton looks like a cross between Santa Clause and Charlie Daniels. Mrs Singleton was moving slowly and deliberately. It looks as if she may have had an injury or something. She is holding Mr. S's hand. And . . . he too is walking slowly. . . with her. Slowly they move across the lot, across the street, all the time he is holding her hand, and he patiently pauses for each step as she makes her way up the steps to the church door.

His body language indicates nothing but patience. No shifting from foot to foot. No slouching of shoulders, no deliberate stop and go, stop and go. Just steady, even, hand holding steps.

You can just tell. He loves her.

My Poetry

To all the young loves out there that have "loved and lost". It is not over. Your love is there - waiting. Maybe not today. Maybe not next month. And maybe not even this year. But it will be there.

Young Hearts

Young hearts are sweet and young and tender
Unscathed by the world's affairs.
Young hearts are sometimes given freely
To someone without much care.

Young hearts don't have time that's taught the old
To seek those things which are true
Young hearts may leap at Love's first light
And see skies of only blue.

Young hearts see only the good in that
Which it's chosen to call it's own.
Young hearts don't look down the winding road
And ponder what's not known.

Young hearts fall hard when they fall
The warnings they could not heed
Young hearts aren't familiar with the pain
That makes their young hearts bleed.

Young hearts may think that life is nil
When it comes to feeling such pain.
The young heart can't see their skies of blue
When all they hear is rain.

But young hearts grow with every change
Though they may not see it clearly
Young hearts will heal from pain endured
To learn to love more dearly.

Young hearts will learn life's lessons well

As their young hearts mend and grow

And when Young heart chooses the one to love,

That heart they'll get to know.

Crickett

Happy Birthday to my boy!

It feels like 23 minutes instead of 23 years!

Time knows no boundaries.

I love you little man!

MOM

Thurmont, for real!

Going to the Coctoctin Colorfest is certainly something to call home about! It is amazing how one little town transforms itself for one weekend. We heard that there were upwards of 100,000 people that attended this event!


The first picture is the exit into Thurmont. Our gang is the first two cars in the second picture. We have just entered town. You can see the tents of the vendors already. This is where Donna and I got out. We were very excited! ! We wanted to get a jump start. We told the rest of the gang we would hang out around this area while they parked and to meet us back here.



In the background here, you can see the Cotoctin Mountains. It is a beautiful sight.




These are the first two booths Donna and I hit when we got out - in our excitement. We breezed thru the first one. The second one was a different story. This vendor always has something different and this year was no exception. But with demand comes "wait". Wait in line. Wait for an hour. Wait. Wait. Wait. The gang covered a lot of ground while we waited. And waited. And waited. In line. We eventually got out of there and hooked up with our heckling gang and moved forward.





I couldn't resist taking a picture of this old stone wall. It was behind the building where the Amish were set up selling pictures and furniture and textiles. It shows how old the town really is. It was amazing.

Now, there were gazillions of vendors with all kinds of things. The wreath on the left was made of some kind of seed pod that falls off trees. They are very, very prickly and not the least bit friendly to touch. I have a story about those things. But that will have to wait until another day.

And of course there were trillions of yard sales. From one end of town to the other and on the back road heading out of Thurmont. It reminded me of the "400 Mile Yard Sale" I went on with Jenny and the girls.

And of course there was food. Food everywhere. My and Bob's favorite place to eat there is this pit beef stand. The contraption on the right is an old peanut roaster. Mmmm. What can I say? Should've bought some!

Amidst all the clamor of people there was a creek that ran under a bridge that ran down the main drag in town. Reminded me of Papaw Wymer's creek. A little.

They had a band in the park. Along with another gazillion vendors.




It was crazy the amount of people in this town!

We are heading out. We were parked with the hoards. Many, many, many.

Amanda - on the left - looks like she's drifting.

Bekah has completely exited stage left.

Donna - red shirt - is using one of her goodies as a walking stick - tee hee

Greg - front and center - is a man on a mission - to get us out of there!

Denise - purple shirt, Amanda's mom - is drifting to the left

Bob - orange guy - looking back at me - seemingly saying: "Are ya coming Barb?"

Dan - ah oh - something's caught his eye - sorry - keep walking!

Bekah took some hysterical pictures this day. It was a majority consensus to "people watch"!

She has blogged about it. I haven't read hers yet, but as soon as I am done here, I am headed there! Can't wait!

It was a wonderful day. Great family, good friends, good food, good weather. ""What more could you want?", I ask. "What more?"

Thurmont

I'm going north this weekend. Northwest, to be more speicific.
Bob and I try to do this trek annually.
I LOVE it! Bob is learning to love it!
We go with Donna - who by the way is the one who got me hooked - and Greg and whomever else wants to go.
It's right up there with the "400 Mile Yard Sale".
It's awsome.
It's a woman's dream come true.
It's yard sales, craft sales, artwork, textiles, and food all rolled into one little town.
It is Cotoctin Colorfest in Thurmont, MD.

I am going to try to take some pictures this time. Try. That's all I can promise.

"We are where we are for a reason."

I borrowed this title from another blog I am following. Although she is talking about a particular place, I think it could apply to a "place" in time.

I am in that "place" in time. A LOT. I often think about my life and where I am. Why I am here and what good is it bringing and to whom.

Sometimes I think I am "here" to be available, accessible. Available physically and accessible personally. I think being home all the time makes me a little more so.

Life's situations give no regard to time of day. Neither does sorrow or pain or joy. It comes when it comes. Give no mind to what is on the plate for that day or time frame.

I don't know the reason for my "place" until it has come and gone. I just know that when I look back, had I been working or distanced from the situation, where would that person have gone at that moment in time? With whom would they have cried, or laughed or vented? What blessing would I have missed?

Sometimes the need comes to me and sometimes I find myself going - unbeknownst to me - to the need. I am always amazed at that. And sometimes I ask "Why?". And sometimes I feel scared. And sometimes I feel clueless. And sometimes I take it personally.

And. And, sometimes I am that need.

So, I pray for wisdom, compassion, understanding. I pray for good friends. I pray for my Aaron and Hur team and I am thankful that they are "where they are for a reason".

We all have that "place". The trick is to understand and accept it. To not fear that which you can't control, but to accept all that which you can pray for. And we can pray for ALL things.

One of my favorite quotes is: "To comfort people is to accept the risk of getting the plague of another's sadness or pain on our hearts." And I think the compliment to that would be: sharing their joy.

And that's all I have to say about that. For now.

"Inspiration"

I hardly think of myself as one who inspires. Every day I entertain one emotion or another. I don't usually stop to think about my impact on others. (It's usually just me and myself here!). So, I need to be more mindful that my struggles - even the worse ones - are handled in such a way as to give credit where credit is due. And that a positive reaction is always inserted, somewhere! God ultimately leads me along the way - and the things I write are given much consideration as to how they reflect on me, the ones I write about, and Him, but they are things on my heart. It's hard for me not to be brutally honest sometimes. I have a difficult time hiding my emotions and those very emotions do get me into trouble on occasion! But sometimes, just sometimes, there is a pleasant surprise!



My niece, Bekah, emailed me last night to tell me that I inspired her to start a blog. (Bekah's Babbles) I can't tell you the span of emotion I felt when I read that note. My initial reaction was "yeah, a new bloggie!", but when the reality of her words set in, I was humbled, touched, if you will.

To inspire someone is quite an honor I think - to cause them to try or do something they may not otherwise try or do. And that thought alone is - scary. It conveys trust. Trust that they can muster up the ability to do something that may intimidate them, and succeed at it. And that is what is motivational and scary for the "inspirer".

Thank you Bekah for allowing me to be an inspiration to you!
I love you, Little Lady. You are going to make a wonderful bloggie!

Little Miss Piper Rylee

I haven't posted much about this little lady simply because a lot was going on in her world.
She has grown leaps and bounds these past four months!


She is liking her thumb here at three months. She also likes the outdoors! And she is growing! Just look at those little feet ;) , and those little cheeks, and those pudgy little hands!

At four months she is learning to pull the string on her toy to make it play music. She is a doll - so pleasant and sweet. She loves sitting upright - I think she has a little "Nosey Nellie" in her!

She hardly ever cries. Just when she's hungry, wet, or tired. She wakes up smiling and smiles all day long! What more could one want? She steals your heart in a blink! We love her - dearly!

What a blessing God has given us!