Visits

I've often talked about how blessed I am to have such wonderful friends.  It's especially fun to get to visit with them and with family!  Last week was a week for visits and it was lots of fun!

First I went over to see a couple of my dear friends a town or two away and even got to keep little Anna Cross for a few hours while her mama was in a meeting.

Anna Cross was happy to get home and see Lily who was just as glad to see her.

Anna Cross was supposed to change into her t shirt and take a nap, but instead decided to put on a pair of her mama's shoes and show me her baby doll.   Seriously, she couldn't take a nap.....she had company!

We played and played and had such a good time with all her toys.  Anna Cross wanted me to ride her horse, but I told her I might be a little too big.  

A little later Mary Grace and Grady came to visit....I'm not sure who was more excited.....me or Anna Cross.  She loves her cousin Grady!

Mary Grace   

These two know how to play 

 Katie got home and we all had a good time talking and catching up on what has been going on in all our lives.  It was the cliff note version or we'd still be there!  

Anna Cross and Grady were forced to sit with me and get a picture sat with me so I could have a picture with them.  Emily, you'll want to lecture me on my posture!

 We had a great time visiting before Mary Grace and Grady had to go home and Katie, Anna Cross and I called it a night.  

  Anna Cross wasn't feeling well and was headed to the doctor, so we said our goodbyes and I headed home to get ready for more visitors.

I pulled over and took a few beach pictures on my way home

Even though it was a short visit, I was so glad to get to spend some time with Katie, Mary Grace and their children.  Thanks Katie, for the yummy dinner and for stocking your refrigerator with diet pepsi.....in the bottle, just because you know that's how I like it!

Later in the week Tommy, Claudia and Charley came to town.  Tommy and Matt's mom was visiting from Minnesota, so they had good visits at Matt's new house and Saturday Mema came and we all had dinner here and had a nice visit.

And of course, I can't find a picture of Matt's house so just use your imagination here!  Someday I'll get a handle on how to keep my pictures in good order, or maybe not.

Here are a few pictures of our time together.

Daddy and Charley very absorbed in tv

I like plums

Charley liked climbing and standing on this little stool

Four generations

Playing with Grammy Jane

Peek a Boo with Uncle Matt

Chatting at dinner

It was a big week and next week is Thanksgiving???

I'd really be interested in the answer to this question.  How many of you shop on Black Friday?

Sixteen years and counting!

Wow, I completely missed blogging about our anniversary!  

You can read about the actual day here and here and maybe a few other places, but I wanted to add a couple of pictures that I recently scanned.

I don't know how you got my bouquet, but hand it over! 


That's what it looks like I'm saying.  A dear friend of mine at the wedding.  I'm not sure why she did have the bouquet, but I'm sure she was going to give it back!

I love this picture of us with Russell's grandmother.  What a wonderful lady she was and the superhero loved her so much.  She was in her 90's when we married and she lived to 107.  Incredible!

One of the things that has been such a blessing in my life is having such wonderful family given me by marriage.....that was a slick way to get out of saying inlaws.....I don't like that word.  I always figured that if I became one flesh with my husband, his family was mine too.

Anyhow, we had a great anniversary day.  We went to the superhero's mama's house and sat and watched the sunset, then went to dinner at Car*aba's.  Being an Italian restaurant.....and being as we were having the Ironman Triathalon the next day, all the athletes were there loading up on carbs, so we had a long wait.
It was well worth waiting and we loaded up too.

We didn't get a picture at the restaurant, that wait staff was way to busy.

I don't know how the time has gone so quickly.  Some days have been like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, but most have been wonderful.  We have more gray hair now and carry a few extra lbs. but it's been a great time and I pray we have many, many more years ahead!

A visit and a confession...

But not necessarily in that order!

First the confession......

We didn't stay home and give out candy last night for Halloween.  Nope.....I knew if I bought candy, I would be the one eating it, so I suggested we go out to eat and not come home until after trick or treating was all over and done!  

AND.........

since the superhero's sister is here for a little visit, it all worked out beautifully.  We went over to my MIL's house, sat out on her back porch on the bay watching a dolphin roll in the sunset and had a glass of wine.  Once we were all relaxed and the sun was down, we went to eat at Ca*pt. A*nder*on's.....a great place for seafood.  After a really great meal, we headed home and managed to miss all the little trick or treaters, thus saving millions of calories from sliding down my throat and straight to my middle!  Whew, that was close.

Oh, the really good food we ate?  Well,  I'm not counting that, silly.

Backing up to Sunday, we all went to church, then after a bite of lunch, it was off to make a few rounds with sister Sue.

I'd like to tell you a little about Sue......or should I say Dr. Sue.  She's a professor at D*ke Univers*ty where she does research and don't ask me the specifics because I don't know.  She writes papers that we can't read because we can't understand the titles.  She travels all over the world giving talks or some such thing.  She's married to her wonderful husband Johnny who grew up in my part of town and they have three children.  She's a pretty busy lady, so she's taken some time to come down and visit mama and spend a little time with us too.

First we took her to see our youngest son Matt's new house, then it was off to our farm to show it off.   We spotted the Axis deer  and watched him for a while before he bounded off into the rough.

Then we headed over to what was at one time land owned by superhero's grandfather.  Forty Forty thousand absolutely breathtaking acres of forest and lakes and ponds.  The grandparents lived there where they turpentined (don't hold me to any technical terms).  All the grandchildren had a great time there and loved going.  It was a bit sad to see that the house had been torn down where they spent many a happy day.

We drove to some of the lakes and ponds which are very low since we have had practically drought conditions for some time.

They're looking out over the pond and standing next to what used to be an old bridge.

This is one of the smaller ponds

After we had ridden a long, long way, we stopped at everyone's favorite pond, Big Blue Pond.  This big oak tree was what Sue said she remembered from coming up as a child.  The family used to have a shack they would stay in that was one big room and a bathroom.  It was long gone by the time I came into the family, but I've had many good times here.

Sue and Russell

Russell and me

Sue, Russell and their mom

We sat our chairs out by the old oak tree and had wine and snacks.  We usually just bring our wine in water bottles, but since we had company, we brought real wine glasses.  We sat and watched the sky change from one glorious scene to another

The sun going down behind Blue Pond

The sky was lighting up like it was on fire

We stayed until almost dark, then packed it up and headed home.

We had to have one last look

When Russell and his cousins are gone, that will be the end of going there.  Our children won't be able to go.......grandfather retained hunting and fishing rights down through his grandchildren, so this will all end and I hope someone else sits and watches the beauty!  I hope it's never developed but stays in it's natural beauty.

We also saw several deer running across the roads.

The beauty of creation.  The wonder of the Creator!

Date Night!

Or should I say date afternoon.  This afternoon the superhero and I went to the farm to pick up the big roots and limbs that were left after tilling the ground. 

I only went because the SH wanted me to always love going to the farm and was excited that we were going on a Friday so we could officially say we had a date.  We're trying to get ready to plant and the fields have to be prepared.  At least that's what I hear, I know nothing about farming but I'm afraid I'm about to start learning.

This is the pole barn.  Notice the skylights at the far end?  That will be an enclosed area with a bathroom.  Bathrooms are very important in my book!

Some may remember that this Kubota was my anniversary present a few years ago.....oh, you know I was thrilled.......that romantic man of mine!  In the background you can see his tractor, which I'm sure was another thought filled gift for me!   This day, my job was to drive slowly as the Superhero picked up roots and limbs and put them in the back........then I would back up to a main pile and dump them.  I actually became quite proficient at driving and dumping in case I ever need to get a job.  

I saw this little beauty and had to take his picture

A little target shooting......this was the main part of the date.....Russell had a beer while I sipped delicately from my water bottle of wine.  Pure class!

Evidence of my one bulls eye!

As we started our drive home, I had to get a shot of the pure beauty that is creation!

Have a great weekend all.

The last few days in review.....

The title translates to this......I don't have a lot to talk about.....at least not a lot that you care about hearing.

But, I now have proof that it's Max that's doing all the texting around here.  Yes, that's my phone, but I don't know how he got it!

This week my brother, Tommy and his wife Lois had their 46th anniversary!  Happy Anniversary!!

Jack loves my MIL and was so torn when both she and Matt were here that he decided two laps were better than one!  

We went to dinner at the O*ive G*rden to have an early celebration for our daughter in law's birthday.

We had it early because granddaughter Devin is moving to Ohio and her mama is helping her drive and will be gone on her birthday.  We will really miss Devin and pray for her as she spreads her wings to fly out of the nest.

We all had a good time and Happy Birthday Arwen!

We also attended a lovely wedding over the weekend, and I attended a baby shower for my next door neighbor.

Isn't she beautiful?  She's having a little girl in December....the same month her only other child will be 13. Surprise!!  They are over the moon with excitement and astounded at how things have changed in 13 years.  We can't wait to have a little girl in the neighborhood!!

The shower was right on the gulf and the monarch butterflies were everywhere as they migrate to Mexico.  It was a beautiful day and setting for celebrating a new little life.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are upon us.....so.......
who does a Christmas card with a picture and do you use different ideas each year?  I'm nagging about getting that done and trying to think of a cute idea.


And finally,  the Mercy Uganda calendars are here and they are really nice!  We will be having our third annual banquet in a couple of weeks and looking forward to hearing and seeing all that is being done in Uganda in the name of Jesus.  A young ministry, God has used it to glorify Himself and help the women and children of Uganda.

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Well, it's Monday y'all!  Time to start a new week.....have a great one!

Oh, deer!

On our little stretch of property where I don't want to live....ever of heaven, this deer has been sighted several times.  

We think it's an Axis deer, unusual in this part of the country, and because of the size, we think it is a female.  I'm pretty sure Axis deer came from India and most are now located in Texas.  Maybe she ran away from home!

She's a beauty and we hope she stays and enjoys the feeder you see in the background.  She would actually be smart to stay because I've declared this land a sanctuary where there will be no hunting.  One day last week, we saw three of the little fellas at the feeder.  I love seeing them and don't like the thought of eating one of them even though my boys are all hunters.

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It's been a pretty good week for mama.  She has seen daddy twice during the night.  I asked her how she feels when she sees him there.....happy, sad, frightened?  She said If I could get out of this chair, I'd like to kiss him!  Yesterday when I was there I asked about her night and she said well, I didn't have any visitors.

Which leads me to this.......

Russell and I have been walking about four times a week.........it's our get fit plan and we hope it works because that's all we're doing.  One day while walking, I was asking who would take care of us when we get old and his answer was let's just keep healthy so we can take care of ourselves and maybe one day we'll just drop dead of a heart attack.  ???????????  Hello........not if we stay healthy!  We won't worry about that today, we won't worry about that today, we won't worry....oh, who am I kidding.

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After a nice lunch with a friend and her three grandchildren, I emailed her to say how much I enjoyed spending time with her........she wrote back to say when she was praising her grands for being so nice while I was there, one said Yia, Yia, she's our friend too and we like visiting her.  Made me feel real good!

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I almost forgot.....exciting news.  The Mercy Uganda calendars are in and they are beautiful!
You will really want to have one.....every month you'll see the beautiful children of Uganda.
For information on getting one, please go to our website or see Mercy Uganda On Facebook.

this is just because I think it's funny!

This is all I've got folks.

Southern women......

After a conversation with a friend lately, she sent me the following email about southern women.  


I want to share it with you along with some thoughts of my own.

So here you go.....

"For my mother, being Southern means handwritten thank-you notes, using a rhino horn’s worth of salt in every recipe, and spending a minimum of twenty minutes a day in front of her makeup mirror so she can examine her beauty in “office,” “outdoor,” and “evening” illumination. It also means never leaving the house with wet hair. Not even in the case of fire. Because wet hair is low-rent. It shows you don’t care, and not caring is not something Southern women do, at least when it comes to our hair.

This is less about vanity than self-respect, a crucial distinction often lost on non-Southerners. When a Southern woman fusses over her appearance, it does not reflect insecurity, narcissism, or some arrested form of antifeminism that holds back the sisterhood. Southern women are postfeminism. The whole issue is a nonstarter, seeing as Southern women are smart enough to recognize what works—Spanx, Aqua Net—and wise to the allocation of effort. Why pretend the world is something it isn’t? Better to focus on what you can control (drying your hair) and make the best of what you have. Side note: Southern women do not capitalize on their looks to snag men, though that often results. The reason we Southern women take care of ourselves is because, simply, Southern women are caretakers.

There are other defining attributes, some more quantifiable than others. Southern women know how to bake a funeral casserole and why you should. Southern women know how to make other women feel pretty. Southern women like men and allow them to stay men. Southern women are not afraid to dance. Southern women know you can’t outrun your past, that manners count, and that your mother deserves a phone call every Sunday. Southern women can say more with a cut of their eyes than a whole debate club’s worth of speeches. Southern women know the value of a stiff drink, among other things.

I want my children to know they belong to something bigger than themselves. That they are unique, but they are not alone. That there is continuity where they come from. Comfort too. That there are rules worth following and expectations worth trying to meet, even if you fail. If nothing else, I want them to know how to make biscuits. And to not feel bad about eating a whole heaping plate of them.

Because before I know it, my girls will be grown. And they will be Southern women too. And that, I believe, will have made all the difference."

-Allison Glock, Aug/Sept issue of Garden and Gun magazine


 Since I was old enough or maybe not to wear makeup, I haven't  been anywhere, including the garbage can without my hair fixed and my makeup on.......

And a few things other things.......first, I didn't give birth to girls........but boys, you should look for a good, Southern (or at least Southern at heart) , Christian girl.

Southern women also don't hesitate to get into the private space of an obviously pregnant woman to feel their belly.  Or to give advice. Or to just talk to a stranger in the grocery store.....and give them advice. I have seen on Facebook that many of the young women/mothers today don't really like the actions of older Southern women.  Well, that's just silly!  Bless your hearts, we just want to help and give you a little advice!