Happy Birthday, Goldilocks!

Happy Birthday to my Goldilocks

Who turns fourteen years old today.

It's not been that long ago

You came into our lives to stay.

I can still remember the wonderment

Excitement and awe

And the curiosity you had

With everything you saw.

I want for you to have those things

As you grow with age

And learn to read what life gives to you

Just like a book, turn page, to page, to page.

Keep that spirit within you strong,

And sweet and full of grace

And you shall go far, my girl

Winning life's hectic race!

Happy Birthday, Goldilocks!

I love you to Infinity and beyond times a million!

Love, 

Mom-Mom

Home Base

 According to Goldilocks:

"Mom-mom's house is home base.  When you are here no one can touch you.  Kind of like tag. It's where you go to be safe. They can chase you and hoover around home base, but they can't come onto home base.  You are safe.  But once you leave, you're fair game. Anyone can get you."

This was said to the Mama Bear yesterday while laying in my kitchen floor with her hands to her head in dread.  She'd been here since she got off the bus and dropped her things by Papa Bear's.  I knew why and watched the above scenario unfold after she told  Mama Bear her dilemma ~ as she had told me:

*Papa Bear got an email from Teacher stating her concerns about Goldi's academic situation.  Seems Goldilocks has been slacking a bit.  And. .  . she's had her phone on in class.  And Teacher had to rearrange seating for chatting reasons. Definite no-no's.  I scolded her about the phone and raised my eyebrows about the rest.  Apparently I didn't raise my eyebrows loud enough, because she told Mama Bear I didn't yell at her,  I just listened.  Oh, the joys of Grand-parenting.   But back to Papa Bear.  He texted our Little Goldilocks (while she was still in school) to say he had received the email and they would discuss it further when he got home. *

Thus the reason for the wringing of hands and the comfort of "Home Base". She wasted no time getting here, and stayed 'til the last possible minute.   Mama Bear wasn't any the more happy with her.  I felt like I needed to squirm.  Don't know why ~ . . . .  But I will say, I was glad I was on "Home Base" myself.  I did take the Mama and Papa Bear's sides.  We can't let our girl fall to the way side.  She needs to be held accountable. 

She got her phone taken away and she can't come to Mom-Mom's until her grades come up.  Now, WHAT did I do??  Seems to me she wasn't the only one to be punished here.  Yes, I am complaining, and whining.  And venting.  So much for taking the parent Bear's sides.  Pft. 

Oh, and in honor of today:  BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH!!!!
Who is your Brutus?!  I think mine is the Bear parents. 

Happy Birthday, Goldilocks!

I can't assemble the way I feel

To know you've turn twelve years old

Growing up is part of life

Many times, this, I'm told

But it's okay to carry on

The game of birthdays and such

It will never keep me from saying,

I love you  ~ Very Much.

Happy Birthday, Goldilocks!

Love you to the Moon and back

And a great big hug around the neck!

Love,

Mom-Mom

Before I Forget

Much has happened since my last "serious" blog post.  I honestly don't remember a lot of it.  But there are a few things that have just stuck with me.

I always say, if you need to speed, you needed to leave earlier.  So I said.  I wasn't needing to be anywhere at a specific time but I was hasty. Thus the following:

For some odd reason I had both Reasy Peacy and Goldilocks during a weekday.  I don't know if the HS was using it's building for PSAT testing or what, but never-the-less, I didn't have Ittly Bittly.
I decided to take the girls on a fabric excursion since we had the day together and well, you know, the fabric store was calling.  We pile in the red tin can, buckle up and off we go. We are just chatting away going down Lillian.  As I approach the bend I see a sheriff's car parked in a lot.  I look at my speedometer and notice I'm going 40 (in a 30 mph zone).  No need to slow down now.   I round the bend preparing to pull over just as Reasy Peacy says:  "Oh look, Mom-mom, the cop has his lights on."  "Yes, Rease, those would be for me." I reply as I'm pulling over.  We go through the usual, license, registration, and waiting.  Reasy Peacy is in the front with me.  She proceeds to tell me:  "That is Deputy Donut from Mardela."
Oh yea?  Then she says, ever so sweetly: "I may or may not have made him angry at me at school."
"WHAT? Turn around and look out that passenger window.  Do NOT make eye contact with that man.  Do not say ANYTHING!" I warn her.  She's cracking up.  I'm not.  Last thing I wanted was a ticket because "Deputy Donut"  recognized a student he had to rebuke.  He did give me a warning ~ asking when the last time I was pulled over.  Geeze ~ years ago, why?  'Cause apparently I had two incidents on my record.  But, in his defense, he couldn't tell me when.  (I'm understanding his name now)  And, I just realized ~ Goldilocks sat silent the whole time.  Hmmm.

To and insult to injury:  Next day Kellifer told me she was putting on her make up and watching the news when Ittly Bitty came down the stairs. 
Itty Bitty:  "Oh man. I missed it!"
Kellifer:  "Missed what?"
Itty Bitty:  "I thought they were going to say something about Mom-mom speeding."

Okie dokie. Thank you girls for sharing that event.  

Let's continue, shall we?

I had  Itty Bitty this weekend.  We are sitting on the sofa with our gadgets.  She is so close to me she might as well be sitting in my lap.  She does that.  Anyway, she nonchalantly says to me:  "Mom-mom, you married the right Pop-pop for me."  Awe.   No words.


*edited* ~ I was "informed" by Goldilocks that Officer Donut is really Deputy Donut. 
Well, gee willikers Mr. Wilson.

Old and Weak

They say:  "Out of the mouths of babes."  That's what they say.  Who ~ who invented that statement?  Just curious.

All the local grandies, some nieces and nephews, and kidlings in our lives by association met here Saturday night to go Trick-or-treating.

Bob, aka, Pop-pop went with the younger hooligans and their parents to gather the bounty of the night, aka, candy. 

The older hooligans stayed behind to hand out bounty to the tricksters.
I stayed behind to monitor the older hooligans.  I actually monitored them from across the street.  I opted to chat with my front door neighbor as she handed out loot for said tricksters.  I think I watched my hooligans eat half the bounty they were to distribute.  Not sure, but they sure were chatty!  I'm thinking:  Sugar Rush?

Allotted time slot for perusing the avenues was from 6:00PM to 8:00 PM.  Then at 8:00PM the hooligans and all other tricksters headed for the fire hall to parade their creative attire, get refreshments and try to guess the weight of pumpkins. 

Goldilocks came in 2nd for pumpkin' guessin'.

Itty Bitty came in second for her costume.

Itty Bitty.  She follows closely in Goldilocks's shoes, which brings us to topic at hand.  "Old and Weak".

Bob said Itty Bitty seemed to be slowing down as they were perusing the avenues.  He offered to carry her bag.  She politely declined stating:  "That's ok.  You're old and weak.  You're not as old as Mom-mom, but she is weak too."  I just really have no words.  

I thought of that statement this morning when I tried to open the window over the kitchen sink. I couldn't get it up very far.  It gets all cock-eyed in there and won't go up smoothly.  It had me wondering for a moment if I was as weak as she perceived me to be (however that is).  Didn't feel old, but I did feel weak ~ just for a moment mind you ~ just for a moment.

Old and weak.  A combination of "state of mind" and "state of being".  You are as old and weak as you allow yourself to be.  That's my point and I'm sticking to it!

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, Goldilocks!

How can it be that you have turned eleven? ? ? ?  How? 

I'm in denial.

Just remember, you may be cute, and you may be getting taller, but . . .  you are still my "Little Goldilocks"!   Forever and ever.  So ~ there. 

 

I love you to the moon and back.

I love you a bushel and a peck

With a hug around the neck.

 

Happy Birthday, Goldilocks!

 

Love,

MOM-MOM

Little Boy Blue ~ July Visit

I know you know this Little Fella stole my heart the moment I laid eyes on him!  He just did.  I have no words for it.  But, alas, Little Boy Blue, he is a'growin'. 

And he still melts my heart. 

I think he has taken favor to "someone" and "someone" has taken favor to him (although he won't admit it).

Big  Boy couldn't get too far out of Little Boy's sight.  He made sure he shadowed every move the Big Boy made.  We discovered Little Boy was smitten with baseball!  He would sit with Big Boy and watch all day long if he could.  It was priceless to watch him "hit the ball (with what ever would work as a bat), throw his "bat", run the bases and slide!  We know what his calling is!

Watching the Home Run Derby
on the computer
 

Then there was the fishing ~ yep ~ even though Little Boy didn't get to fish didn't mean he didn't have a shared interest with the Big Boy.

 

 

Let's just see what we can find online to spark our "creative juices" or maybe some sweet boat to pine after.  Who cares as long as it involves a fishing pole, lures, water and a boat!  And speaking of boats, let's just see what Big Boy is up to with his!

A key!

There's lights and buttons
and switches!

Train 'em young we say.  No need to wait 'til they're old and set in their ways.  Nope.

And if it wasn't bad enough he had stolen my heart, Goldilocks was just as smitten with him as me!
She couldn't get enough of him.  Can't say I blame her. 

Be still my beating heart!

I wanted to just put him in a box and hide him until they had gone back home.  I just WANT TO KEEP THAT BOY!

October Woes

October has flown in and almost gone ~ before I could even get caught up with September.  What's up with that?   I truly had good intentions of blogging regularly.  So much goes on and I can't rely on my mind to remember.  It's stubborn that way.  So before November gets here I'd better put pen to paper, as it were, and make note of the goings ons here, lest I forget November gets here first.

Goldilocks broke her little arm.  Yep she did. Her right arm ~ her dominant arm.  She was doing a one-handed cartwheel and came down wrong and heard a loud crack.  Daddy said she was "fine".  But when she woke up next morning, all wasn't fine.   Pops took her to the doctor and the doctor said ~ after x-rays ~ that she had broken a piece off her elbow.  Queasy feeling here.  He said they would probably just cast it and the piece would go back in place, but he wanted her to see the orhtopedic doc.  They would better be able to "diagnose".  She came home with a temporary cast.

BEFORE ORTHOPEDIC APPOINTMENT
SEE HOW HAPPY SHE IS.

 

Hm ~ not all was well in OZ.  Kelly texted the day of the orthopedic appointment and said they told her she would have to have a pin put in the elbow.  It was worse than the original x-ray showed.  She said Goldi flat out told them,  "No.  You can't do surgery. Can't you just push it back together?".  Needless to say she lost that battle, tears and all.  She was a wreck.

AFTER ORTHOPEDIC APPOINTMENT. 
IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY YOU'LL SEE
PUFFY, RED LITTLE EYES.  BUT NOTHING
A BAGEL WON'T FIX. 

As it turned out, she needed two screws in her little elbow.  I'm so glad she didn't know that before the surgery.  We would have needed to knock her out before she ever left the house.
She is mending nicely.  Her arm was just in an ace bandage with a sling.  The bandage is gone now, and the spoiling can return to a minimum.  Poor thing.  Plus side:  she had scribes to write for her, she became a car rider and basically everyone was at her beck and call.  She couldn't (and still can't) lift anything heavier than a fork until next visit in November. 

And on just as grim a note:  Reasy Peasy's hamster, Chubbles, died.  Poor girl.  The only thing Kellifer had to bury him in was a Tampon make-up box.  They said a little prayer for the poor little thing.  Itty Bitty informed me that they buried Chubbles when the sun was almost gone (sunset) under the trees, in the dirt, that he was still their pet, that they still loved him and they could visit him any time they wanted.  She also informed me that if she really wanted to play with him she could just dig him up!  NO! NO! NO!  I politely told her that being in the ground is what keeps him safe.  When I told Kelly about our conversation (via e-mail), this was her reply:

"Well this conversation was had last night… she said “sooooo I can dig him up when I want to see him if I miss him” almost in unison Ethan and I said NOOOOOO leave him alone he needs to stay in the ground so we can visit him. P- “I sure will miss him. I miss you Chubbles you are my friend”

I feel like she is going to have to stay out of the backyard unless supervised for quite some time.

 Just keep reminding her that he has to stay in the ground he has to. Mom I would simply die if I walked out back and she was carrying around in my “makeup box” simply die….

 

Glory be.  I still don't have a peace about this.  N. O. No.

Let's just get a grip on the week remaining.  Shall we?

But, likely,
I'll see you in the funny papers.
Promise

Things. That Make. You Go. . . . .

. . . . . . Hmmmmm. 

I stopped by Kellifer's over the weekend to drop off a fall wreath and to see her Halloween and Fall decorations.

 She had in her yard, this:

I.  Want.  This.  Thing!  He's so stinkin' cute.  I've seen the traditional round chimeneas, but this guy sports character like no other!   When it was time to leave, one of the girls asked Kell if they were going to have a bon fire.  About that time Goldilocks runs up.  Kellifer said she probably was going to do the chimenea.  Goldi asks:  "What's a chimenea?  Some kind of ritual?"  Oh. My.  You can only imagine the thoughts running through my and Kell's heads.   Go ahead Kellifer.  Explain this to your Mama.  I'm waitin'.  We got a good silent belly laugh out of that one!

And, today is October 1st.  Already.  And this is how I feel about that:

 

Lop-eared and all. 

 

Now to go wish Happy Birthday to one of my fellas.

 

 

We're Back. . . .

Still playing catch up here.  Summer vacation raged through our summer like a forest fire on dry kindling. 

Getting home after twelve hours in the back of an SUV with just enough leg room for a five year old takes its toll even on the youngest of us.  But we lived to tell about it!

I was holding my breath on the strawberries this year.  I was afraid they would be done by the time we got back home from KY.  But it was all good.  Plenty of berries to be had if we just worked for them.  This was Hope's first year picking.  I can't imagine not having a berry field nearby.  But they don't, so Eastern Shore Berries it was!

Hope and Sarah teamed up.

 

 

 

Looking for Rubies.

 

 

Our bounty.  (First go-round)

After they'd eaten what they could hold, it was Hope's turn to serve up some Strawberry Pie!  The process never changes.  Just the cook.  The recipe was handed down several moons ago by a sweet lady we attended church with.  I found out just this summer that it was handed down to her by a sweet lady.  I could tell you what it is, but then I'd have to kill ya.   tee-hee

Mixin' up the syrup

Oooooo. . . . . ahhhhhh. . . . . liquid Rubies!

Pouring the liquid Rubies over the red Rubies!
Makes me drool just looking at the picture.

Hope did a great job with the pie. Now all we had to do was wait for it to set up and add some homemade strawberry whipped cream.    It was  To.  Die.  For.

As if that wasn't enough, we made Strawberry Jam.  Hope and Sarah took turns helping.  Each has their own batch to claim. 

I'm supposing the jam will make its way back to KY when we go.  Both girls had to fly home at the end of their stay and couldn't take their bounty with them.  Not to worry.  I will keep it safe. 

About all they had time for was swimming and lounging.  But that was okay.  I was happy to have them here with me.

One of their favorite things to do in the pool.

Another favorite pool activity.  I wonder if you can tell which
sets of girls are most alike?

The week was short.  Very short.  All the girls have grown so much.  Not just my KY gals, but the ones here at home too.  Would it be too much to ask to put time in a bottle for just a little while?

I will leave the summer here for just a day or two.  Another birthday will be celebrated tomorrow.  (Told ya about those September birthdays.) 

 I'll be back after that ~ Lord willing and the creek don't rise.

Mr. Webster

If you know me, specifically if you are of school age, you know I love the dictionary.  It should be required reading for everyone.  The girls hate it when they need to know what something means or how to spell a word and I send them to the dictionary.  "How am I suppose to look it up if I can't spell it?" they always ask.  Well, if you know what it begins with and how it sounds, you should be able to find it.  Did I say they H. A. T. E. it?  

Up until this past fall most of the dictionaries here were collegiate dictionaries with very small print and hard to use.  You can only imagine how elated I was to find a Children's Dictionary at a Goodwill in Lexington for FIFTY whole CENTS! Practically brand new!  Goldilocks was thrilled when I presented it to her.  I would find her "reading" it at any given time.  The print is kid friendly and it has pictures for some of the words!  Score! !

All was going well until one night when Goldilocks was doing definitions for spelling.  We hit a very, very unexpected snag.  Pages 640 thru 672 were MIA! !  Gone were the last half of the "R's" and the beginning of the "S's".  By the looks of how it was bound, they were NEVER there to begin with.  What a bummer dude.

Where's this going?   Well, yesterday, I went thrifting with Divine Di and Bert.  Both heard the story about the dictionary.  Both love books.  That's the first place they gravitate towards.  (the glass sections scream for me)  So being the attentive good friend that she is, Bert found another Children's Dictionary.  It's a little different, but still nice and illustrated.  And . . . . it was a big fat QUARTER.

Goldi was a smidge skeptical I think, but I figured if anything was MIA in this one, between the two, we could combine and have a complete dictionary. Unless, of course, it's "R" thru "S".  Then we'd be up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

Hey, don't laugh ~ you know that's genius.  But, if all is here, then I have a nice "cut up" book.  Win, win, don't you think? 

She Had A Dream . . .

She, being, my Goldilocks.  We've been having some weirder than weird dreams around here lately.  Don't know why, but they have been doozies!  

A couple days ago Ben and I were discussing this anomaly and sharing our dreams.  Goldilocks, being nosey attentive, chose to share hers.  Here it is as best I can relate it:

"I dreamt that when I got off the school bus it was the same, but different.  Across the street where Larry's fence is there was a row of bathrooms.  There was this old woman following me and she had my violin and backpack and wouldn't give it back to me.  I was following Ben and he turned around and said: 'Why are you following me?' I tried to tell him the old woman had my violin and I wanted it back.  Then he went into one of the bathrooms. When he came out I asked him to get my stuff back.  After I got my stuff I started walking toward home and the old lady jumped on my back and started doing the "giddy up" motion to make me walk faster.  I finally shook her off and ran home!  Mom-mom, she was a short old lady with white curly hair! She scared me to death!" 

And as my Goldilocks was re-living this terror, her voice was all rapid and breathy.  When she finally came to a place where she could catch her breath she calmly, but matter of factly,  said to me:  "I need a dream catcher."    I told her I was pretty sure they were only for looks and really didn't work.  She politely informed me that Natalie had one hanging over her bed and she  NEVER  has dreams.   Well, there you go.  The proof is in the dream catcher.

So, being the sensitive grandmother that I am, I found her a little something today at Salvation Army for a whopping twenty-five cents.  (apparently it didn't fit the bill for the previous owner).

Her very own. . . .

 

. . .  Dream Catcher!

 

She was thrilled!  As a matter of fact I think her very words were:  "Thank the Lord!"    What can ya say?

Yet, Another Snow Day

There's snow on the ground.  Again. It snowed the night before last and school was canceled yesterday as well as today. Add that to the fact that they didn't go at all last week.  And it's so cold out there the girls can't even go out and play, lest they freeze solid as an ice cube.  It's even been in the negative digits.  We all know that means we have to find something to do inside - besides stay in our pajamas all day - again.   So Goldilocks and I have been doing a book report.  It's due tomorrow - that is if they go to school. 

Here's the work in progress:

 
She had to use a shoe box - put the name of the book and the author on the lid - decorate the sides with scenes from the book (she really had to think on this one since the book wasn't illustrated) and she had to put six items inside the box that represented something from the story and tell how they were relevant.  She then has to summarize the book.  We are she is almost done.  Only one more item for the inside and the summary.  I hope I get she gets a good grade!

Reasey Peacy is working on a denim pillow for her bed. 

 

 

 

 She has to wait eons for the puff paint to dry before she can continue on!   But she's cool with it 'cause she's got "Bones" on Netflix, her knitting and that trendy rubber band bracelet thingy to keep her occupied.

All in all, it has been a peaceful day.  Cold, but peaceful.

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!