Happy Birthday, Bekah!

AKA:   Beeka, Bekah-Boo, Becky Crocker!

 

I just want you to know I love you and think about you ALL.  THE.  TIME.

Have a wonderful day in the Son.

 

Love,

AC

AKA:  FB pic snatcher ;)

Love this one!

 

PS ~ You're getting near the top of the "30" hill.

Don't thank me.  Just tryin' to keep the public informed! 

Land of "The Lorax"

A couple weeks ago I ran  across a deal on Hibiscus trees.  They normally run around $25.00 to $30.00.  ~ the reason as to why I don't buy them.  To me that's a bit pricey for something you may not be able to nurse through the winter.  But, now, at $10.00 I can and will do that.  So do that I did.  I purchased two of them for my deck.  Yay for me! 

As much as I loved them, they looked  . . . . naked.  All exposed in those pots.  Something had to be done.  It was bugging me.  So I Googled ~  "companion plants for Hibiscus trees", and true to Google's form, it led me all over the universe to look at other tropical plants, but, not really answering my question.

A trip to my favorite local roadside nursery was in order.  Off I go with babes in tow  ~  tee-hee.
Pickin's were slim, it's a little late in the season, but they did have some things I could use. And I had to plant my strawberry pots as well. Each pot has nine cups, meaning I had to buy thirty-six little plants.  Adding that to the companions for my Hibiscus trees I thought I might have to leave one of the kiddos as payment!   Good thing they were on sale.  As we were meandering the isle Goldilocks spied some feathery looking Cock's Comb.  Mom-mom, she says, don't these remind you of The Lorax?  Well, yes, yes they do!  Into the flat they went!  I had my companions!  Through the eyes of a child ~ we should all live there!

 

 

Off we go.  I. Am. Stoked!   Got my stuff planted this weekend.  I like how it turned out.  During Reasy Peacey's birthday party Colin told Kelly that the plants in my Hibiscus pots reminded him of The Lorax.  Say what?  Seems some of us do live through the eyes of a child!  He said they felt like feathers ~ um. . . you touchin' my plants Dude?   He must be a hands on kinda kid! 

 

 



I am so glad I got them.  I never really thought about planting through the eyes of a child, but this year, can I  say,  my eyes were opened in a whole new way.  So now I have a little, very little, Lorax field on my deck.  I love how it turned out.  I am glad I didn't "poo-poo" Goldilocks's vision.  I'm glad I let her be my eyes.  I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad.

So, what do you think?   Does this remind YOU of  The Lorax?  Would you plant a Lorax field in your pots?  I hope so!

I will leave you with this.  I don't know why I like it, but it sort of ends my wordy little Lorax post!

Happy Birthday, Catie!

Happy Birthday, Catie Bug!

I hope your day is as lovely as you are.

 

 

 

I love you!

Aunt Crickett

 

PS ~ Had to snag a FB pic ~ 'cause you're as bad as

the Elusive Butterfly!

I look for you, but I can't find you.

When you light back upon the Eastern Shore, let me know.

Please, and Thank-you.



Happy Birthday, Alicia!

Happy Birthday ~ Happy Birthday

Happy ~ Happy
Birthday ~ to You! !

 

I miss you.  Have a lovely day

and know I'm thinking of you.

 

Hugs and Kisses from the Land of Sand

MOM-MOM

We Have A Tadpole!

We've only had the pool open a couple of weeks. 

At first Itty Bitty wasn't so sure of herself. 

She had to be held by someone.

Then it was okay to be led around in an inner tube.

Next she would float along by herself in the tube if someone was nearby.

Finally she was confident enough to float around by herself. 

She even slid into the inner tube from the ladder.

But today ~ today Pop-Pop taught her a little about doggie paddling.

And it was on like Donkey Kong!

Now she can "swim" around like the big girls.

She can even jump scoot from the ladder into the pool and swim on.

There's no turning back now!

 

I surmise by the end of the summer she will be holding her own.

Happy Birthday, Rease!

Happy Birthday, Reasey Piecey!

12 whole years old.

How can that be?

When did that happen?

Weren't you just in Kindergarten?

I love you! 

Have a wonderful day!

Living in A Small Town

Living in a small town has it's pros and cons.  But, here in my little town, I can't think of hardly any cons.

Saturday I had my hair cut.  No biggy.  Everyone gets their hair cut (at some point and time).  I just happen to have a hair salon in my little town ~ Kellie's Hair Place.  It is within walking distance from my home, as are many conveniences we use in our lives ~ Churches, a Post Office, a grocery store, a bank, Town Hall, Fire Department, carnival, Schools, antique store (when Pop-Pop Ayers is there), a little Diner, a car repair shop, day cares (both in home and "free standing"), and on occasion, a Mom and Pop store will spring up. All this, tucked inside farmland.  In addition to these things we are only minutes from the "bigger" city, the "Bury", a half hour from the beach and day trips from sites to enjoy.  Our little town even has an Easter Parade and hosts a marvelous fire works show in honor of the Fourth!  All of which I can enjoy either from my sidewalk or the comfort of my deck.  Yea, I am ideally situated in my little town  and I am spoiled rotten about it.  I would probably  NEVER have to leave this town for sundries, but I love me some Marshall's, and Lowes, and Hob Lob! 

But, that is not what prompted this post.  As I was getting ready for my hair appointment on Saturday I had and "ah-ha" moment.  Kellie's little shop reminds me so much of the beauty shop on "Steel Magnolias".  Everyone knows everyone. You can catch up on the "goings on" around town.  You can talk girl talk, you can confide, you can ask someone to pray because you can openly talk about God. You can "let your hair down"!  You have the freedom to be who you are and be accepted for who you are because everyone knows who you are!  Chances are you know most of the guys and gals that come in there, too.  Even Pop-Pop Ayers strolls in with his fury friend Annie and a Cup 'o Joe to shoot the breeze or chew the fat!  Local artisans can ask to display a taste of their work in her shop and she is happy to oblige their requests. It's an eclectic place with a homey feel.

Kellie started her little shop in the back of her home. My girls grew up working there, shampooing hair, tending to her kiddlings while she worked, learning life lessons and responsibilities.  A small shop in the back of her home with a big heart! Where else can we get that?
Now, now. . . . she has a free standing shop, and   . . . she commutes from her beach home in DE every day just so she can stay connected to us town folk.  Talk about love.

With all this said, that does not mean I would not move back "home" (to the south) if opportunity presented itself, 'cause I would.  I would have to be very picky as to where I lived, for I know I would not find this setting anywhere else.  I would miss this little town.  I own being spoiled rotten living here in this little town.  It has somehow managed to sabotage my life quietly slip into my bloodstream.  How'd THAT happen may I ask?

So, here's to all the small towns and those who love their small towns.  May they forever hold their place in our country, because they are what makes our country.

Food For Thought

As I was checking my email, Goldilocks engaged me in her world while she was eating her Rice Krsipies.  Here we have it thru her eyes:

G:  "Mom-mom, did you make this?"
M:  As I turn from the computer she is holding a tomato pin cushion.  "No.  It was already made."
G:  "I thought you made it.  Where did you get it?"
M:  "Someone gave it to me with some stuff.  I'm not sure who."
G:  " It's really hard."
M:  "Yea, they use a special stuffing so it keeps the pins sharp.  And it's really packed in there."
G:  "Oh.  Like six-pack hard."
M:  (where is this going?)  "It's a little harder than that, I think."
G:  "It feels likes a six pack to me."

Now, since when does an eight year old know what rock hard abs feel like?  Specifically, six-pack, rock hard abs?

Just some food for thought to begin the day.

It's That Time of Year

It's that time.  The end of school is but a breath away.  Four more days.  Then, school's out for summer.  (I feel a song coming on!)  

Goldilocks informed me this morning that her awards assembly was  . . . . this morning.  Jiminy Crickets!  Can't ya give me some notice?  I didn't promise I would come ~ on such short notice and all ~ and my brain was trying to recover it's plans for the day ~ mainly, playing with fabric, both in the laundry jail and on the Singer!  Singer being my place of choice.

Any who, I went.  I'm glad I did.  She was excited to see me there.  And I would be needed at the end.

Awards Assemblies are loooong and borrrring until it's time for your little kiddling to take front and center and receive her awards!

But something was fishy in Denmark.  Someone didn't look quite right.  That someone was my Goldilocks.

She wasn't at all pleased.  I could tell by the look on her face that tears were just under the eye lids.  She couldn't blink, lest they would fall.  I had initially planned on exiting Stage Left right after she received her awards, but something said:  "You better stay."   As I watched, she examined her awards and then looked up at me and was at my side in seconds.

I took her into the hall where she finally let the tears slip down her little cheeks.  It was all I could do not to cry with her.  She had not done as well as she expected.  She wanted to go home ~ I wanted to take her but knew she had to "face the music".  I encouraged her to chat with her teacher and let Mrs. Brown be the bad guy explain to her the awards tucked in her folder.  As it turned out, she did get an Academic Award as well as a Reading Award (as in books, not the subject).  She was a little better after that.

These are "dog tags". They collect them for various things during
the year and they go on a chain like, well, dog tags. 
Sometimes they receive these instead of paper rewards. 
But, honestly, I think sometimes they prefer the certificates!

But I'm sure when she gets home after school we will have to talk about being the best you can be ALL year long.  She is a very good student, but she had a wonky year this year. 

Life lessons are hard, but it is the wise soul who learns from them!