Happy Birthday, Seth!

 Happy Birthday, Sefferdoodles!

You are like the elusive butterfly.
Can never seem to find a current picture of you
Why is this, oh why?

But do not worry my Little Man
A picture will surface that I can use
Yes I will, yes I can!

Happy Birthday!
Love you
Aunt Crickett

Fall Is In the Air

Fall is upon us
I feel it in the air
It is slowly marking it's territory
But ~  not quite everywhere.

The evening sky is shades of pink
The morning sky as well
The leaves show hints of color
But time is yet to tell.

Not long all green will fade away
Upon Nature's changing land
Her canvas will host warm new colors
At the touch of her Master's hand.

Gold, red, yellow, brown
Just to name a few
The mixture of all these shades
Will wash the land with lovely hues.

Breathtaking will the landscape be
Blazing like flames upon the earth
Then to fizzle to a gray
Preparing Nature for rebirth.

But until that time has arrived
We will bask in the warmth of it all
Watching as Nature gives to us
Glorious fireworks we call Fall!

It's Time For A Name Change

I almost feel it's long overdue, as a matter of fact.  One of my sandy haired, blue eyed, squirrely girlies is getting a name change.  Truth be known, the name could fit another of my squirrely qirlies ~ only difference is she's a dark haired, blue eyed girly.  Maybe I should number them.  Ha!

Little Miss Reasey Peacey is now, until further notice, renamed Chatty Cathy 2. 

 

 

"Why?", you ask.

I'll tell you why!

 

 

Not because she watched The Beast tie up lures and managed to figure out how to do one herself ~ no, that's not why.  She was, by the way, extremely proud of herself.

 

No ~ here's why.  Yesterday was a fresh reminder as to why a name change is in order. 

 

3:20PM  Home from school

3:30PM ~ After necessary breaks there comes one of several snacks

3:40PM ~ Homework ~ and selfies while doing said homework

4:00PM ~ I know ~ it didn't take her long to do homework.  Hmm  . . . .  The  "Chatting" begins!

 

I tell you ~ if our (our being me, Ben and Goldi) ears were made of wax they would have melted off our heads.  I don't believe Miss Reasey Peacey paused for more than 10 breaths of air!  All the while I am hyperventilating just listening to her!  The only topic that I was able to hold on to was her historic information behind the writing of The Wizard of Oz.  Everything else was a blur.  She could easily be diverted down the proverbial bunny trail, either of her own doing or someone else's.  One word from anyone concerning anything led to another whole realm of information!  I must say I was worn out by the time she left!  I think my head may still be reeling from the vocal activity of yesterday afternoon!  And here it is ~ almost time for her to arrive home today.  Glory be.

 

So, with some minor consideration ~ it really is a "no brainer" ~ Little Miss Reasey Peacey shall be called "Chatty Cathy 2."  That will remain her alternate, new, nickname until such time her vocal energy subsides to mild wisps of conversation.  Not that I expect that to ever happen given her track record. But one can hope, right?  One can hope?

 

Oh and just for kicks and giggles:

 

Rease:  "Mom-mom.  Have you ever been to a side kick?"

Me: "Side kick?"  Confused, I know there are weird names for the social media ~ snap chat, FB, Instagram, but side kick was new, very new to me.

Rease:  "Yes, a side kick."

Me:  (here I go ~ I'm going to ask) "Rease, I'm not sure I know what that is, but I've never been to one.  What is it exactly?"

Rease: "You know.  A person who can tell your future."

Me:  ? ? ? ? ? ?  Deer in headlights look going on here! ! I had no words. None.  Nada.  Zilch.

Bob:  Rolling ~ "Rease, that's a 'psychic!"

Rease:  "Yea, yea.  That's it.  Have you, Mom-Mom?"   O. Bliv. I. Ous.

 

That girl.  God love her.  She's the apple of my eye.  "No, honey. God warns us about them. They are of the devil." I say.  And she nods.

 

And all is right with the world.  For now at least.



I Will Walk a Mile

On Monday I started a walking regiment with Donna Mae!

I had walked in the past with a friend, but she hurt her foot, life got hectic and our early morning walks came to a stop.  I missed walking (not necessarily at 5:00AM) but more than that I missed our
conversation.  We chatted about our families, how to pray for them and life in general.  And when one walks that early there is no traffic and it is not uncommon for the very early morning sky to still be dark.  And with that darkness came beauty.  The beauty of the stars in a black sky.  The moon shining down on us.  The cool crispness of the air.  Sometimes we would just stop and stare in awe at the amazing canvas God had painted that morning.  And then we'd be off again.  Heading to our destination ~ home.

So you can't imagine how thrilled I was when Donna Mae suggested we "walk together"!  We can chat on our phones all the while getting our heart rates up a bit.  We can start our days ahead of the game.  Why is she smarter than me hadn't I thought of that!!?  Not only that, I get to chat and walk again with someone who is as interested in my life, as I am hers.  We can solve, or at least vent, our own little "world problems" to each other.  We can laugh at them, get ticked off at them, go "hmmm . . . ."  at them, and most importantly, we can pray for them!

 Now, with that said, we do need to pick up the pace. We chopped 3-4 minutes off our time this morning, but the fact that The Boy indicated we were "lolly-gagging" makes me want to kick him in the knee cap up my game.  But give us some credit here.  We've not been on the beaten path for some time.  It will take a little warming up to get up to speed!   Plus, plus we have to watch out for the morning traffic!  Schools buses, cars and trucks and tractor trailers blowing by like giant bees!

But, Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we will be on our "A", well, maybe "B" game in no time!

I think I will claim this as my "Walking Verse".  To remind me to TRY to keep my conversation pleasing to the Lord, because I do walk before Him in the land of the living.

Happy Birthday, Bob!

Happy Birthday, Old Timer!

 

No Monster Mile this birthday, but you have certainly conquered a Monstrous Year!

Keep checking off items on your bucket list!

 

Happy Birthday!

Love,

Barb

 

Johnny Appleseed

It seems that even as we get older we never lose the ability to be amazed at the things Nature throws our way.  And so it is with My Boy.  He's well into his 20's but can still find a curiosity in the simplest of things.

Back in late Spring, early Summer "Johnny" was enjoying his daily routine of an apple, a banana and a glass of OJ.  Simple enough.  Boring enough.  But Nature threw him a tidbit.  She gave him two seeds in his apple that were already germinating.  It never ceases to amaze me the little surprises that come along. 

Being of the curious nature, "Johnny"  promptly removed them and placed them on a damp paper towel and then placed them in a baggie.  He let them grow there until he was confident they would survive in a pot.

Speaking of pots, don't you just love these?   

He fusses over his little trees  like a mother hen. 

Don't, I repeat, don't mess with his babies trees!

Here we are ~ nearing Fall.  I'll be curious to see how Mr. Johnny Appleseed  "over winters" them.
Curious indeed.

Happy Birthday, Jenny Wren!

Time has certainly flown by since the day you were born.  It's one of the three things that still remains clear as a bell in my head.

 

Any day is a good day for a birthday, and today is certainly no exception!

 

Enjoy today's gifts and file them in the archives of your memory vault.

 

I love you to the Moon and back  times infinity!

 

Happy Birthday

Love

MOM

Out of the Mouth of. . . . . .

Goldilocks.  I can always count on her to insult me come up with clever verbiage.  Sometimes I just walk into it with eyes wide open.  Never thinking of the outcome.  'Cause I'm stupid innocent like that.  Sometimes I think I am more clever than she only to find out she has insulted me in the most sly of ways.  Never see it coming.  Such as it was a couple weeks ago.

Goldi and I were standing in the kitchen. I was leaning on the sink. She  nestled in between me and the dishwasher.  Should have been suspicious then, but nope. Not me.

I was drinking coffee from my new favorite mug:

Donna Mae gave it to me for my birthday.  I L. O. V. E. it!  Of course Goldilocks knew this but that didn't stop her from asking ~ again ~ about it.  So (silly me) I proceeded to tell her ~ again ~ about my favorite mug.  That Donna had given it to me because we were sisters.  You know, simple and to the point.  So she says, "That's why there are two girls on there?". " Why, yes. You know that." I say to her.  Her eyes start to sparkle. Awe, how cute.  BIG WARNING SIGN HERE I CHOSE TO IGNORE.  (that's all I'm saying about that)   She gently turns the cup towards her as I am holding it, looks at it, looks at me, and then in an ever so sweet voice says:  "I can see the resemblance."  Insert 'deer in the headlights' look here. 

Why, oh why, can't I just learn????  But, always a but, I took comfort in knowing that there are two happy little girls on that mug. So, if I resemble one, then Donna must resemble the other!  That's my theory and I'm sticking to it! !  Sorry Donna.  tee-hee

Happy Birthday, Joseph!

It finally happened.  You've slid over the crest of 30!  How?  Just exactly how did that happen?

At least I know you still have a lot of "kid" in you!  But, as I can see, having a snowball fight in July does tend to take it's toll on someone of your age.  Need some oxygen there Ol' Timer?  Bahahahaha! ! !   Those last three sentences seem contradictory don't they??  Hmmmm.  Oh well.

Have a wonderful birthday!  It's a great day to celebrate!

Love you to the moon and back
Aunt Crickett

It's Official

This Itty Bitty thing started school last week.  Because they rotate K-5 for the first week she only went on Thursday.

But, we know there's always a "but", she starts "full time" tomorrow. 

So, it's official.  She is a bona-fide, by school standards,  full fledged Kindergartner.

Let the craziness begin!

Happy Birthday, Greg!

 

 

Happy Birthday Pappy!

It's a lovely day for a birthday!

Enjoy the moments of today

For they will be your memories tomorrow!

 

Love,

Crickett

Happy Birthday, Gavin!

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to Energy on Feet!

It's hard to believe you are 4 years OLD!

 

You are sunshine and gumdrops

May your curiosity never stop

May your adventures be grand

May your memories awesome!

 

Love you bushels and pecks

With hugs around the neck!

 

Love

Aunt Crickett

 

That Tree

Aside from the fact that school has crept up on us and barreled over us with a vengeance, the weather has been somewhat "hinky" this summer season. 

Our Spring started out quite cool.  Warm days, cool nights.  I could have compared it to fall except the leaves were green instead of those lovely amber, golden, red and brown colors.  But, apparently, "That Tree" across the street from me couldn't get it together.  It must have lost the memo about Spring's foolishness silly antics!  Just in case, though, it covered its bases:

It proudly displayed one little grouping of amber leaves.

Hm.  What do you suppose the other trees were saying?  I bet it was the talk of the town!

But, it refused to drop the amber goodness.  It did do a good job shielding it from an unsuspecting passerby ~ that is, until these past two weeks. Summer had brought on heat wave after heat wave. No cool nights. Sometimes it was almost too hot to get in the pool.  The water was like bath water.  Too warm to be refreshing, but too tempting to ignore.

So I think these last couple of weeks really played with the mind nature of That Tree.  It just could not stop itself from displaying its "true color".  The amber group of leaves that had made it through the bulk of  summer finally succumbed to the impending fall weather ~ which by the way is no where in sight!

It unashamedly donned its little grouping in a beautiful red!

 

For the love of Pete!  I can only imagine its transition when Fall finally announces her arrival

Now, don't get me wrong ~ I love That Tree's little antics.  It amuses me on stressful days. It tends to remind me that even though change is inevitable, you can add your own flare to it.  Be it out of season colors or be it accepting a change you may not care for ~ you don't have to go the "whole route".  You can keep a little reminder of things past.  It may prevent us from returning to where we came from and help us anticipate where we may be going. 

Change. Learn to live with it because you can't live without it.
.