The Little Turtle Dove

Last week I watched the Little Turtle Dove for the first time ~ all day ~ all week ~ by myself.  Well, mostly by myself and mostly all week.  I was beyond  nervous keeping her ~ not because I didn't know what to  do, but because I didn't know what she liked to do!  Fortunately God works all things out!  School was delayed Monday for the HS students due to testing so Reasy Peacey was here with me until 10:00.  Tuesday I had all the hooligans because school was closed due to the Primary Elections.  Wednesday I was on my own.  Thursday Reasy was here until 10:00 again due to HS testing. The girls filled me in as we went and all went well!   And Friday ~ her Daddy had her (I was nervous for him too!) 

Thank goodness she's an easy, delightful baby to be around!  Makes my job much more pleasurable.

Having Rease here helped me while I got the bus schedule figured out (again). She was my extra set of eyes and ears.  Not to mention it was a N. A. S. T. Y. week last week.  One day was just a deluge of rain!  And it was cold.  So cold I had to turn our heat back on.  I was afraid she would turn into a popsicle!

Itty Bitty left her lovie for her little sister to help her make a smooth transistion.  It's almost as big as she is!   It melted my heart.

I must not be doing too badly, she's smiling. . . . .

. . . . . and napping!  Brief as it was, it was a nap!

 

We are on week two now.  I think I have a system (very flexible system) in place.  We should do fine.

As long as The Little Turtle Dove is happy, Mom-Mom is happy.

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.

A "Sticky" Situation

My Mama always told me to be careful what you wish for.

I got a call last night from a distraught young lady.  She had been on her hubby's case for some time to put his dirty laundry in the hamper with the rest of the family's or it wouldn't get washed.  And IF it didn't get washed, then by George, he would have to take care of that task himself.  

Like I said ~ be careful what you wish for

Hubs must have needed some clothes and Wife had held to her "guns".  So Hubs decided to tackle his laundry himself.  God bless him.

Wife went to get something out of the dryer ~ to which Hubs had added his wet laundry after washing without removing the dry clothes already nestled in there ~ and . . . she pulled out sticky clothes.  Kind of like "bubble gum sticky", but not quite.

Be careful what you wish for

I'm thinking when Hubs brought his dirties down, he threw them in the laundry room floor to get the washer ready.  Then he just tossed them in the dryer (on top the already fluffy dry things that were in there) and let 'er go!  Apparently a sticky mouse pad found its way onto a pair of jeans before they landed in the washer and was then transported via wet jeans to the dryer (on top of Wife's laundry) and the heat from the dryer released the sticky goo all over EVERYBODY's clothes! His accomplishment was the bane of her sanity!  (I would like to have been a fly on that wall!)

Be careful what you wish for.

Seems to me I would rather snag a pair of pants from the floor rather than let a novice laundryman have at my washer.  Just sayin'. . . . .


On a side note:

Today at lunch Itty Bitty, Ben and I were talking about age.  Don't ask ~ don't know.  All was well until this conversation (if you want to call it that):

Itty Bitty ~ to me:  "You are past old.
Me:  "What does that mean?"  (One would think I would have learned my lesson by now.  Never ask if your really don't want to know)
Itty Bitty:  "It means you are probably older than you think."

Hm.  I'm sure that could go either way.  I think I'm young, but obviously I'm not ~ OR ~ I think I'm old which means I could kick the bucket any day now. 
It doesn't help that Ben is choking on his food at that conversation.  Nope.  Not at all.

Thank you, Itty Bitty, for those Words of Wisdom.

Just A Piece of the Puzzle

I love to work puzzles (not crosswords so much) and as it turns out, most of my squirrely girlie's like puzzles too!  Itty Bitty could sit with puzzles all day long.  And I have to admit, I think about letting her!  It is wonderful watching her analyze, twist and turn and finally place a piece where it belongs.

Using the box lid as a guide I taught her to work the border first.  It would give her something to connect to, as it were. Then we would move inward.  The pieces would be encompassed ~ forced to find their place. Next she learned to look for like colors, shapes, patterns and connecting parts.  The similar things allowed the "picture" to start to take focus and excitement followed.  And even though it was far from done she could see progress.  And so the process continued ~ observation, trial and then success.  When all pieces were placed in the correct spot and she stood back to admire the work, there was pleasure.  Pleasure in her work, even though there was trial and error, and pleasure with the end result.  She is now able to see past the fact that it took forever to work that pattern on the tiger because it all looked very similar. Or all the pieces of the same color giving her grief.  Perhaps a piece went MIA ~ only to find she was sitting on it.  All the frustration was lost in the pride she felt with a job well done.  Looking back at the big picture was rewarding and the joy, frustration and the "I don't want to do this anymore." attitude was overshadowed by what lay in front of her. The pieces.  All together.  As they should be.

It reminds me that my life is  just pieces of a puzzle. It is just much larger and sometimes more complex.  In any given day I find myself, more often than not, looking for where I belong. How  I'm going to get the pieces of my "puzzle" to connect together and not damage or misplace any of the surrounding pieces.  Most times I try not to put too much thought in it and just let the pieces fall in place naturally.  But, alas, Easy is never the name of my puzzle. 

Fortunately my "border" is done. I am encompassed by the Almighty Hand.  I am forced to find my place.  I look for like personalities (colors), interests (patterns) and fellow believers (connecting parts).  When I find my similarities my puzzle begins to take form.  And my process continues ~ observation (reaching out), trial (bad, unpredictable days, short temper, frustration, on and on. . .) and then success ~ joyful, blissful days, making it through the rain, dealing with disappointment and coming out on the other side.

But, unlike working a board puzzle, the only thing I can look back on is the "work in progress".  I won't ever see the finished puzzle this side of Glory.  God holds that box with the picture on it for me. 

I will get it some day. I will be able to look back despite the joy, the frustrations and the "I don't want to do this anymore." attitude and be overwhelmed at what lays in front of me.  The pieces. All together.  As they were meant to be.

But, not today.  Not today.

September Summary

I can relate to the poor cat chasing his tail.  I feel like that's all I do anymore ~ 'round-n-'round we go!

September arrived quickly and now it's almost time to say goodbye.  A quick month for sure.

I guess that's what happens when you get busy.

Busy finishing up projects purchased in the spring:

 

This is the heinous coffee table (bottom) I purchased at a flea market for three bucks . . .

 I think I over paid.  It was rickety and glue laden.

Not to mention, filthy.

 

 

The boy taking it apart and bracing it up.

It needed to have the glue scraped off, a couple bolts and

the drawer re-glued.

 

 

 

Top sanded and polyed.

 

 

Bottom primed.

Like my workshop?

 

 

First coat of paint.

Really liked the color but it was just a little

too "beachy blue" for our living room.

 

 

Second coat - in a pale green. 

Um . . . . no.

Not quite.

 

 

The same green with a dark glaze, polyed and

waiting for knobs.

Tricky, tricky ~finding just the right accessories.

 

 

Then we have this:

 

Itty Bitty and pre-school at Mom-mom's house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course there was the bazillion birthdays and all the every day stuff that happens in life.  There is quite a bit of truth to the notion that the older one gets the faster life gets.  No pause.  No rewind.  And thank goodness, no fast forward! 

 

Toodles for now!

 

 

The Monster Mile

Warning:  Definitely picture overload and potentially wordy. 

Some time ago Kelly won tickets to the Monster Mile from a country radio station.  She gave them to Bob.  He was thrilled.   But life being busy as it is he came down to the wire on the dates he had left to go.  So he chose this weekend.   All was well and good 'til this morning when he started doubting this escapade.  Worry will do that to you.  

Kelly, Ethan and the girls met us here at 8:30AM  (didn't even finish my second cup-o-joe) and we were off, on our way to the Monster Mile in Dover, DE!

We had to be there an hour early.  To add to the nerves, we had to stop for gas, coffee and grub for the girls.  The traffic was horrible and Ethan missed his turn into the track.  I think Bob was ready to turn back then but the boy and I held firm.

 

 

Upon arrival drivers/riders checked in at one station,

Already checked in ~ waiting in line. 
Nerves setting in.

while the fan club checked in and signed waivers on the other side.

 

 One shuttle took the drivers/riders,

 

Looks like he's walking the Green Mile
at the Monster Mile.

 

while another shuttle took the fan club members.

 

 I rode "shotgun".  This is the only picture I got.

 Once he banked the shuttle and I slid towards

the middle, I figured it was time to hang on for dear life!

 

No, the camera is not at an angle.  We are!

 

 As spectators we were able to go into the "pit area".  There were restrooms
and places to buy souvenirs and snacks.  The fan club could even sit in the
race cars before the laps if they wanted to.  Once our driver/rider
suited up and started his run we could watch from the building
roof top!  You could see them go all the way around.

 

Orientation

 

Bob had orientation along with the other driver/riders.

After orientation the riders went with the pros.

Then the drivers rode a couple laps with the pros

just to get the "hang of it".  Yep, that's was

the word on the street.

Pay attention boys and girls

The Golden Ticket

 

 

Pre-run:

Suiting up

Climbing in

Headin' out

I don't think he's sold on the idea any more.  I think IF anybody

had suggested he could quit he would have left a dust trail.

But, we were diligent in our pep talks and encouragements

('cause we weren't the ones loading up in that car!).

 

Now, for the big boy games! !

 

Check it out

 

 It's okay.  You'll do fine.  Just don't drive like an old lady! And.  . . remember ~
watch the pace car, don't get too close or too far behind,
don't hit the wall, stay off the asphalt,
stay in your designated area,
AND
watch the guy with the flag hanging over the track!
He is VERY important will let you know if
you mess up! ! ! !
All that said, go and have fun.
Don't worry.   Be happy.

Pose and Load

Start the Engine!!

And he's off!

 

No  turning back now! ! !

Comin' back around . . .

 





Coming into the pit area at the end of his 15 lap solo.

 It was really cool to see him coming along behind the pace car.  Yea, he had to have a pace car even though he drove by himself.  Everybody did.  Helps keep 'em safe.  :)

This was his pace car.

 

 

 

 

All in all it was a great morning.  Bob survived to tell about it. 

I'm so glad he went.

He can mark that one off his bucket list!

The weather was perfect ~ overcast and cool

It didn't start raining until after we left.

 

We topped off our excursion with lunch at a neat place called "Cheddars".

Good food!

 

Now we are in a food coma, chillin' on this rainy afternoon.

 

Thank you Kelly for making this happen.

Thank you Ethan for lunch.

Thank you girls for being good.

Thank you Ben for pushing your dad along.

And thank you God for a wondrous day!

 



In My Spare Time

In all my five minutes of spare time ~ between cleaning out, cleaning up, buying plants, planting, moving junk stuff around, getting the third floor ready to turn into my sewing/crafting area, refereeing fights, calling the heating and air people, and trying to remember to eat ~ I have been doing this:



Don't ask me what's going on with the wallpaper here. 
I think it's user error.
Pay no mind to the candy dish ~ it contains my
sanity ~ dark chocolate kisses.

Back this winter I purchased a china cabinet from the gal who cuts my hair.   Thank you Kellie! !
It sat on my side porch until last week.  She was lonely.  I could hear her calling me.  I brought her in. She needed a good make over,  and by George, I was going to give her one! 

I didn't take "before" pictures because, apparently, I don't know how to operate my camera properly.  The memory card was full and wouldn't let me delete anything insisting the card was "protected".  Since when?  I didn't protect it.  I had to get the manual out to figure out how the card protected itself.   Hm.  Seems somewhere along the way when I took it out to download, I apparently hit a switch on the side of the card that prevented me from altering it in any way.  Now, since when do little 1 x 1.5 inch SD cards have a "switch"?  Since forever, I guess.  Perhaps I should mention that my boy helped me figure it out.  Just in case he decides to read this funny business I call a blog.   At any rate we are  back in business. 

But, if you are really curious as to what it looked like before, just look at the inside of the middle picture.  It was all that 70's walnutty color.   I haven't done the top doors yet.  Perhaps I will photograph them later on ~ just for kicks and giggles.  You will get a better idea.  The bottom doors are done.  I have to find hinges and handles that I like.  I'm thinking something black.

I'm pleased with it.  It didn't take as long as I thought it would.  One coat of some pinkish-red chalk paint over the finish made it look dark and aged.  I liked the way it turned out.  I was scared at first because it was so "pink".  But it dried nicely.  I wouldn't use it on a light piece of furniture ~ too pinkish.   I put poly over the red (instead of waxing it).  I knew it would get a lot of use.  The black is Glidden paint with primer ~ two, not so serious, coats.

When I get back from KY, I will finish her up and dress her accordingly.  She will house my milk glass collection nicely.

Sunshine On My Shoulders

Today was one of those rare days where I embraced being home all by myself.  The sun was shining, the weather was warm toasty, and it was perfectly peaceful and quiet.  I don't get these kinds of days too often anymore. Family keeps me busier than a one armed paper hanger in a wind storm!

So, just what did I do with all that extra time?  I used all that extra time to work on, and almost complete, a quilt for one of my gals.  I had the radio tuned to oldies, and when I say oldies, I'm talkin':  "The Wanderer", "I'll Cry If I Want To", "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" and so many more.  I would sew some, stretch some, dance some, sew some more, eat, sew, dance, sing a little,  and peruse the internet.  I took Audrey out to do her business so we could get some fresh air. Did I mention it was a little toasty out there?  And I stuck my hands in the pool (that we haven't closed up yet). Then we would come in a and get a treat and some iced tea and continue on.  And I had a chance to reflect ~ a LOT ~ today.  It was wonderful.

Near the end of the day John Denver's song, "Sunshine On My Shoulders" came on.  It was the perfect finish for the day.  As I was listening (I love his voice, by the way) I couldn't help but think how I would love to give everyone I know a day like I had today.  Not that it was incredible, but that it was just so relaxing.  Incredibly relaxing.  I think his words pretty much summed up the condition my spirit was in. 

So, here's my gift to you.   Just sit back, close your eyes, take calming breaths and let your cares ease away.

A Look Back at September Through Pictures

This month has flown by ~ way to quickly.  So here's the "lowdown" of how our life "went down" during September:


Our South Paw had to come to Mom-Mom and Pop-Pop's just to rest

Itty Bitt is really itty bitty!

Squashing the ants (long "A" sound here) on Uncle Ben's boat

Audrey Dog thinks my sewing space is her window to the world!  Get.  Off. Now.

A Sweet Pea named Missy gave ME raspberry jam and a bouquet of flowers
from her very own yard!  Thank you!

My washer went up so I was able to snag these from Kellifer.
Again. . . . Thank you!

We've confirmed Itty Bitty is a klepto thief.

I got to go to an estate sale as well as a barn sale!
Scored big time!  These are only a couple of goodies from
the estate sale.

We got to watch our South Paw play some fall ball!

Of course,  there was some playing with cotton, some birthday stuff, some a LOT of school and the everyday mundane stuff ~ you know ~ laundry, cleaning, cooking. . . . . .

So that pretty much sums up September this year.  Hopefully October will just casually stroll along.  Hopefully.

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.

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!