Canyon Lake, Part 2

After a relaxing shut-in day of reading, and steady news about hurricanes and politics, Patty and I headed out to the quaint town of Wimberly. To get there, we drove on the Devil's Backbone, a winding scenic route with incredible views of the Hill Country.We turned on the hazard lights and parked beside the road for pictures.
Can you tell it was windy? I don't know why it destroyed my hair and not Patty's.
Lucky Patty! She found the Yellow Brick Road!
This was a cute shop in an old home. This room was full of little girl frills and stuff. Very pretty.
The kitchen in the same home was stocked with beautiful plates and bowls, and other kitchen items. We visited one kitchen store that carried all kinds of cute gadgets and every conceivable thing needed to furnish a complete kitchen. I hate to cook, but I love to browse kitchen stores.

By the way, we miss Donna and Shelley terribly!

Canyon Lake, Part 1

Patty, my ulcer and I made the long trip to Canyon Lake. I was so ready to get in the condo and find some relief. Surprisingly, it worked. I was finally ready for a relaxing few days after a horrendous week of newsletter, final touches at work, laundry and packing, and the ever present threat of Gustav. Once we were nestled in the safety of the Hill Country, with no schedules or commitments, my stomach cooperated and decided to enjoy the rest of the trip. We did nothing that day but rest. We had a few groceries left over from Galveston and we were happy to settle for those.When we did get out, we needed to replenish the milk we hadn't taken with us when we fled the island. That's a story in itself. Let me start at the beginning. Patty and I were enjoying the view from our 4th-story balcony when we heard our neighbor sneeze. Patty said, "Bless you," and the woman laughed and told her thank you. A conversation began. We would direct our voices to the wall that separated our balconies and talk to a person whose face we could not see. She and her husband decided to leave early, too, and go to their home in Conroe. Since that was a short distance, we offered them our milk that hadn't been opened and other perishables, which they were glad to receive.Later, back in the condo, Shelley was slapping at mosquitoes and other insects on the wall and I reminded her we had neighbors in the next unit. We all laughed about how that must have sounded to the other vacationers, actually one of those moments you had to be there for to fully grasp the humor. We arranged to knock on our neighbor's door early the next morning and deliver our groceries and swap cell numbers to keep them alerted about the traffic.

It was still dark when the four of us left our condo and knocked on the door. I was concerned. There was a staircase between our condo and the one next door and I wondered how this woman we had chatted with could have sounded so close. Anyway, no one answers and we knock again - on both doors that are side by side. Finally, a door is slightly cracked and then shut again as the four of us stand there in the darkness looking totally innocent, I'm sure. Time was running out and we wanted to get on the road, so we left those sacks of groceries by the door. In the parking lot we encounter the woman's husband who is walking their dog or allowing it a bathroom break. We told him where we left the groceries and he informed us that they were on the floor BELOW us, not next door!

Yes, Patty and I felt a little ridiculous knowing we had directed our voices to a wall instead of the floor. Donna hurried up the elevator to get the groceries and deliver them to the man outside. I can just imagine the words that will be written on the comment card that we all fill out after our trip. This resort is gated with a guard at the entrance. Our unfortunate neighbors who endured knocks on their door before daylight should have some choice words about their stay in Galveston. Oops.

With the Galveston fiasco behind us, Patty relaxed in the condo at Canyon Lake with a book about Obama, while I read a novel in a comfy chair next to the sofa. Nothing like no routine, pajamas and a good book. Peace at last.
You can tell by the furniture that Canyon Lake opted for the rustic decor while the Galveston condo was a beach theme. Both were perfect for the setting. The resort is a sprawling complex of three-story buildings on both sides of the highway. It has a big activities center with a grill, a movie theater, large selection of games and movies to take back to your unit, 4 pools and one indoor pool, and a miniature golf course, shuffleboard, tennis courts, and an arcade. The only ones we took advantage of were a hamburger at the grill and two games of miniature golf. Our tenure as golf pros will be a post in itself!

Galveston, Part 2

By Saturday, only day two of our long-awaited trip, weather reports suggested that Gustav was aiming straight at Galveston. The local stations warned that we should be prepared and that Galveston Island would be first to evacuate. It was guessed that mandatory evacuations would begin Monday morning. We had no desire to sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic so we met with the resort managers. I asked if I could be moved to another condo somewhere else, and finish out my trip. They graciously complied. I was told I could leave Sunday morning and stay at Canyon Lake outside of New Braunfuls. That was a relief, but I hated cutting an extra day off my trip with Donna and Shelley who couldn't stay the whole week with Patty and me.

We had to spend part of Saturday night loading the cars. Oh, but we managed a lot of girl time! How fun to share a condo with such marvelous women. The only bad part of the trip - besides the threat of Gustav - was the swarms of mosquitoes that tried to attach themselves to every bare inch of skin. Such are the joys of being at the beach.

Finally, jammies and relaxation. Patty and Shelley settled in for the night.
My beautiful sister, Donna, with her winning smile. Her and Shelley's bedroom had a small kitchen in it. Two coffee pots are a bonus!
It didn't take me long to slip into pajamas and join the fun. Allison, Cheryl, and Deborah, you missed one great weekend!
Shelley in a second pair of PJs by Donna, the practical, girl weekend kind.
Everyone says Donna and Shelley favor. I think so, too, and it's a big compliment for both of them. Both are beautiful ladies, inside and out.

Alas, morning arrived early, 5:00 AM and I am not a morning person. But we were up for good reason. Traffic was predicted to get bad with evacuees from Louisiana so we wanted to get on the road. Gustav had turned and the threat wasn't as great, but our plans had been made and we knew a storm could turn again and head for the Galveston shores. We followed each other off the island and met in Houston for breakfast. Then it was time to say good-bye to two people who had made the weekend so much fun.

Thank you, Donna and Shelley, for sharing this time with us. We have got to do this again soon! You two are a blast and I love you both!

Now, a confession: Galveston and I don't mix. We were there in September, 2001, in another condo with Robin's sister and her husband. We were there when we got the news of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. A couple of years later, Cheryl and I got a condo there in February. The shuttle blew up as it entered our atmosphere and we saw a school yard cordoned off with wreckage of the shuttle as we traveled to Galveston.

Robin and I were just outside of Galveston almost two years ago when I was rushed to a hospital for emergency surgery. And on this trip, Gustav almost made an appearance and my ulcer did a number on me and I threw up in Donna and Shelley's bathroom since we were all on their bed talking. The pain stayed with me for three days, off and on, until we arrived in Canyon Lake and I ate a piece of bread to soak up the acid. So, maybe my days in Galveston should be history. Nothing good comes from it.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Robin and my first date was also in Galveston, on a Labor Day weekend like the one past, just 13 years ago. Yep, Galveston and I don't mix. (Just kidding, Baby, not that you read my blog unless the subject matter is sleeping nekked.)

Galveston, Part 1

First off, I want to thank Allison for keeping my blog rolling while I was on vacation. The condo only had access to the internet at the activities center and it was too much trouble. Guess I'm not as addicted as I thought! Thanks, Allison. That little diva prancing on this site in her cute pink boots and prissy hip moves was a sensation.

Our small entourage, three cars driving in from three different directions, arrived in Galveston last week for some girl fun. Gustav, of course, was a concern but we managed to have a great time in spite of all of his hot air. We met at a Mexican restaurant on Seawall Blvd. for dinner, then on to get groceries to stock the condo. I say stock, when actually we were keeping our purchases to a minimum since we knew there was a chance we'd have to evacuate. Oh Gustav, you men have a knack for ruining things.We had lunch at Joe's Crab Shack. I'm not into seafood so I ordered a hamburger. I'm sure not many people get this huge hankering for a hamburger and pull into Joe's Crab Shack. Odd, but we had a ball as only four women out together can have.
Donna fell in love with this giraffe purse, the "latest rage", so I'm told. She used tremendous restraint and left it on the shelf after Shelley told her it could be bought cheaper elsewhere. Now, we all want one.
Shelley and Patty were admiring all the goodies this store had to offer. Patty bought a pink leather purse and flip-flops for her and me. Donna walked out with the cutest pair of yellow sandals (after paying for them, folks). We browsed several shops on the historic Strand and indulged in an ice cream stop that beat the heat for us tired ladies.

As is the custom on girls vacations, we exchanged pajamas. Patty and I had exchanged ours before the trip, but we had fun watching Shelley and Donna open the pajamas they bought for each other. Actually, the pajamas turned out to be sexy little nighties that would be more appropriate on a second honeymoon trip. They treated us to a style show as they modeled their new nighties and there was so much talking and laughing and we hated for the night to end.

One morning we had coffee on the balcony and spotted some field mice, a rabbit, and a coyote. He was too quick for my camera, but I tried. Patty entertained us all by feeding the seagulls some of the pecan bread we'd picked up at Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana. Those hungry birds aren't shy and came right to the railing to get their treats.

More to come on Galveston, Gustav, and iffy plans as the storm appears to have us on its radar.

disaster or blessing

posted by - dee

My family and I were enjoying a nice labor day at home and my husband said "did you do this?" I looked up from the cup of coffee expecting to see my purses contents dumped onto the floor ala Sophia but instead noticed that Brian was wading in about 3 inches of water - on our hardwood floors! My washing machine had emptied out the bottom on the machine and there were about 20 gallons of water in our laundry room, 1/2 bath, into the hall-way, into the garage and threatening to enter my kitchen. WITHOUT freaking out I calmly went into the garage and grabbed my steam cleaner and started sucking up water. It was not that hard at first. I didn't even have to move the stem cleaner, the water filled up within seconds. Brian was frantically grabbing towels but there were doing no good. I called my neighbor and asked to borrow his shop vac so Brian and I could attack this in the most efficient way.

Twenty gallons later our floors were really clean but when you walked on the floors water would come up between the slats - not good.

This disaster led me to a hall closet that has been long forgotten except for the occasional tornado warning and water disasters - this is not our first. As I was pulling stuff from the closet I began to go through some of the contents to toss out and make room for more junk. Travel brochures, ticket stubs from trips, my many (ha ha) awards from my previous life as a travel agent/corporate trainer, and oh yes, high school notes that were passed to boys I had crushes on and my BFFs from 20 plus years ago. Then there it was - my box from my dating years with Brian. I looked at the long letters he wrote to me while I was a camp counselor in Arkansas, the little notes still paper clipped to the bows that once decorated the dozen roses he sent to me and all my wedding preparations. There was even a poem that he wrote me during that same camp summer. I vacillated between laughing and tearing up as I read his very creative words.

I started to envy this young girl who had such a love struck admirer. From what I could gather from the words of her long-distance lover she was cute, always had a smile on her face, had big beautiful blue eyes and a body that was POW POW POW! My words - not Brian's. She was sweet, positive, compassionate, loved kids and never-ending patients with her campers. He was tall, tan, funny and handsome with a body that was POW POW POW - my words not Brian's. These love letters were there in front of me as proof that there was life before a father dies, before the never ending grind of the stress of life, work, money. Before we put so much focus on our kids and life instead of each other.

And then I went there! What happens when Brian and I are gone one day and my adult children find this stash of love letters? Will they say "that sounds like mom and dad!" or will they think "mom married a different Brian than the author of these letters!"?

I also came across this rare gem. The poem my pepaw wrote to me on the eve of my wedding. He gave it to me at my lingerie party:

A Gift For Sweetie Face

I felt compelled to get a gift for your personal affair
I searched the town and taxed my mind to find this nightly ware
I knew you'd want the very best to impress the love you chose
So I hurried to get this wrapped and placed with the other dainty clothes

There are a few instructions and warnings I must say,
To keep this garment fresh and clean and ready for each day,
Use bubble bath or Leaver soap when you put it in the wash
Detergent, bleach, or lye soap would be painfully too harsh,

Don't put it in the dryer or hang it on the line
Never try to iron it though you'll find it wrinkles with time.
You'll discover the greatest storage from ten p.m. till five,
Is in between two fresh ironed sheets to keep the texture live.

There may be varied consequence for wearing this attire,
But brave it girl, you'll soon have jumped from the pan into the fire.
If you find this gift is too extreme or material doesn't suit,
You may feel you'd like to trade it for a jogging suit and boots.

Under this typed poem was a picture of a smiley face and his way of saying my most important lingerie was a smile and nothing else.

LIttle Pink Cowgirl

Guest post - Randee - duh!!!



Sorry, Sharon! I was trying to resist posting this video until after your birthday but I knew I'd forget if I didn't get it done over the 3-day weekend. Happy Birthday Sharon!!!!



We went to a small town for dinner on Friday. The town is known for their little fried chicken place and there was a 45-minute wait. We decided to take a walk around the block and I took this video of Sophia. 1 Bohemian skirt +1pair of pink boots + 1 "High Maintenance" Purse = one cute little Miss Priss. She got lots of attention to from the patrons who were waiting for a table!

Happy Birthday, Sharon!

My lovely friend, Sharon, and I met for lunch today to celebrate her birthday next week on September 2. We're both going to be out of town so we decided to meet together one more time before we leave. Sharon asked me how I managed to fit in lunch with her while preparing everything so I can get away for a week. I had to admit that I selfishly needed to see her. There is such a calming peace in her presence and I needed a healthy dose of it before I could even think about finishing the tasks ahead. Sharon is my booster shot, my B-12, my therapist, my Prozac, my minister, my good friend and now, my sister. I asked her to adopt me as her sister and she graciously agreed. She needs to meet Donna now that she has joined our sisterhood!
We discussed the possibility of a fun trip with our daughters, Rachael and Angela. Are you girls up to this? We might beat you in the best friends game. We think we'd have a ball, the four of us spending some quality time together.

Sharon, my friend, have a wonderful birthday with your husband (they share the same one, just like Allison and Brian!) and enjoy your trip. I will miss you and can't wait to hear all about how you celebrated and where. I am so blessed to have you in my life. And, as always, you are so photogenic!

Happy birthday, Sharon, with love!

Happy Birthday, Baylee!

Baylee is one excited little 4-year-old today. She has waited for this day to come for a long time. She was over yesterday for awhile and told me several times that her birthday is tomorrow and she would be four. She is spending this special day with her family for a quiet (???) celebration. Baylee had her birthday party at my house this past Sunday. She had a blast! Her friends were here, two sets of grandparents were loving all over her, and she had birthday cake, ice cream and presents. What more could a little girl want?
Baylee and Sophia enjoyed sharing a raft as she looks sweetly into the camera.
Baylee and her friend Katie held hands and jumped off the diving board. They are so cute together. And now, as of today, they are both four!
This picture is a reenactment of what happened the day before when Allison entered her kitchen to find Sophia on a stool and eating Baylee's birthday cake. Brian suggested that she bake another one, but Allison thought the damaged one was perfect. We all got a laugh out of it and none of us were afraid to eat after Sophia. Baylee asked for a pound cake topped with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. Does that sound like a 4-year-old?
I love that my granddaughters have this picture of them with the three women who love them the most, their Mom and both of their grandmas. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one is what a blessing looks like. For all of us.

Happy birthday, Baylee Girl! I know you will enjoy your day with your family. I'll be calling to sing the birthday song and ask how it feels to be four. Memaw doesn't remember. I love you, sweet girl!

Robin's A Home Wrecker

I should be ashamed to post this picture. Unfortunately, a blog addict usually forgoes any sense of decency that might be present. So, here before you is an orphan that the Great White Hunter snared tonight. This baby could possibly belong to opossum #1 and 2, that met a similar fate. The city will come tomorrow to carry off this small creature, most likely away from its mommy. Unless opossum #3 that I've seen stalking our back yard is the actual parent of said baby. We're infested and I see no end in sight.

I had my reservations about Robin setting a trap for this baby. I've watched his cute way of walking around, and sitting to munch on a morsel of cat food. He is kinda cute. Most baby animals are cute, excluding reptiles, amphibians, and insects. But cute baby opossums grow into big hideous opossums who tear into our garbage and scatter it all over. Still, I feel some sadness about a possible separation between mother and child.

I know it's silly to give human feelings to an opossum. Yes, he's scared. He has a built-in instinct for survival. Whether he feels this great tenderness towards his mother, I don't know. I just know how I feel. And I feel guilty. I am an accomplice. Sure, it was Robin who set the trap, the Big Man Hunter who can capture a small, defenseless baby in his caged trap. But I'm just as guilty because I haven't opened the door and released the poor thing.

We've created an orphan. I'll probably have nightmares tonight.

My Date with Baylee

Baylee and I had a marvelous time shopping and dining for her birthday. She kept telling me it was a day just for the girls and the girls were both in pink. A pink girls day. I like that.Baylee chose Steak 'N Shake for her birthday lunch celebration. I placed the chef hat on her head and snapped a picture while we were waiting for our food. She could hardly eat. Her excitement was greater than her appetite. But it wouldn't be any better if we shopped first and ate later because she was anxious to play with her new treasures.
I led Baylee down the "girls aisle" at the store. I asked if she wanted a doll, she said no and walked straight ahead without looking at the sweet faces in the cute clothes just waiting to be taken home and loved. She walked with a purpose and when she got to the aisle where all the animal toys are displayed, she stopped. She knew what she wanted. I should have known. Baylee and animals just go together.

She chose a sweet little lamb that moves its head and baa's. Her next choice was a plush pony who drives an ice cream truck. In Toyland, animals can do anything. As we walked to the register, she told me, "Mama will be so mad because this is too many dollars." I assured her we had stayed within budget.

I was so proud of Baylee (all my grandchildren are this way) for being so selective and expecting one thing. I have to remind them we still have money for something else. Let's face it. Most kids roar into a toy store like a freight train, tossing items into the cart with both hands. She said no to most things she examined, until finally finding the right one. It says a lot about how she is raised. I appreciate that.

I so enjoyed my pink day with just the girls. We had so much fun and I especially loved hearing, "Thank you for inviting me, Memaw", and "You are the best Memaw ever". YOU are the best Baylee ever and I love you!!!

Happy Birthday, Callan!

It's hard to believe a year has passed since we waited anxiously for the birth of our little Callan. And this happy guy was well worth the wait. He's celebrating his first birthday today with his family. I'm sure he will be allowed to plow into his vegan cake. We want pictures!

Callan John

Our wait was finally over,
The result was mighty fine!
As your Daddy announced the arrival
Of my grandchild number nine.

As tears streaked your Mommy's face,
She held you to her breast.
And together you forged a bond
As you settled in peaceful rest.

Your presence is still a blessing
For we all love Calle Bear;
With your captivating eyes of blue,
Blond locks of curly hair.

You're such a happy baby,
The cutest smile adorns your face.
And those eager little arms
Are always ready to embrace.

You have a sunny disposition,
Never much to fuss about.
That you are loved and wanted,
You never had a doubt.

God surely blessed this family
When He gave us YOU to love.
For you're a gift from heaven,
Finely crafted from above.

This picture was captured during one of my visits while he watched Ashton and Juliet climb a tree in their front yard.
Callan with his proud Mama on his first Christmas.
Look at that smile! He's such a happy boy who brings smiles to the faces of others.
Here he is at two weeks old when I got to meet him and fall in love all over again. I love those tiny feet peeking from the blanket.

Have a wonderful first birthday, Callan. I love my little guy so much!

15 Years, BB, and Counting

Fifteen years ago today I met Cheryl at a grief recovery seminar. Neither of us had any idea our life was about to change even more. This time, for the better. Much better. I couldn't have gone through the grieving process without her support and understanding. Our Story, posted this time last year, is adding more chapters all the time.

Cheryl, this is dedicated to you and our friendship. You inspire me, you lift me up, you encourage, you listen, you understand, you help in so many ways, and you accept your less than perfect friend the way she is. I cherish you as a friend and an incredible woman. Cheers, BB. Fifteen years and no end in sight.

Girls Night Out

A group of us enjoyed another Girls Night Out. It was spur of the moment so many "girls" in our group had other plans. We look forward to them joining us next time to meet the newest "girl" on the block, Jan. Jan just moved back here from Oklahoma and lives very close to the area where we usually meet for an evening of fun and laughter. My niece, Shelley, is Jan's daughter and she was in town to help Jan and Kenneth get settled into their new home. This is why we threw together a little party at the last minute.Tomorrow is Jan's birthday so she got to wear the tiara that Patty bought for the birthday girls to wear. We had a few little gifts for her to open and we all helped her eat a chocolate birthday treat that was loaded with calories and taste! Yummy! It is wonderful having Jan so near and available to party with us. She is so much fun!
Here are cousins Allison and Shelley. Both are picture perfect, bubbly, and keep us older gals on our toes. The only thing better than having a night out with the girls is being able to have a daughter or two join the fun.
This is my sister, Donna, with Jan the birthday girl. Oh, how we laughed! One of these days we are going to be thrown out of a restaurant.
Finishing up the group tonight are Patty and me. I kind of felt bad about how long we sat around the table laughing when I saw the crowd outside waiting for a table. But I didn't feel bad for long!

We all went to Jan's new house to give our stamp of approval to the decorating she and Shelley had already accomplished. Each room was beautiful. If it were me, I'm sure there would have been unpacked boxes everywhere. We got to spend some time with Kenneth and he was very gracious about all the women who piled in on him.

Happy birthday, Jan! We are thrilled to add your smiling face to our crazy group. You will fit in perfectly!

Sleeping in the Buff

This might be TMI for some people, but I will try to be discreet. It's simply a subject I am curious about since most of what I hear and read indicates that sleeping nekkid is passe. I'd appreciate your comments on this.

I grew up believing that married couples slept in a natural state. Of course this wasn't something I witnessed, but I knew it to be true. My parents didn't bother with pajamas and for all I know, they still don't.

When my oldest daughter was about to be married she asked my Dad what was the secret of his long, happy marriage to my Mother. Allison wanted words of wisdom, something she could incorporate into her own marriage. My Dad told her, "sleep naked".

Shortly after, we all gathered for a lingerie party for Allison. She opened some beautiful gowns and teddies. One box, though, was very light. As she tore into the wrapping and opened the box she noticed it was empty. But on the bottom of the box was a message from her grandfather: "sleep naked".

I totally understand what my Dad was getting at. It's the electrifying experience of feeling skin against skin, an intimacy that is shared and unique to their own relationship. It's a special closeness. And, of course, there's the comfort. No clothing is getting twisted or confining during sleep. It's the same sense of freedom as skinny-dipping, providing one has a private place to do so.

When I lived alone I always wore a nightshirt. There was no one to cuddle with and I felt secure knowing that if someone broke into my home I wouldn't appear ready. Since it was up to me to be the protector in my own home, I took certain precautions. When I take vacations with friends I always pack pajamas. We have no interest in it being any other way. But marriage is a different story. Each couple must decide what is best for them and their comfort. Personally, I don't understand getting dressed for bed.

However, I do know the drawbacks to sleeping in the buff. One never knows when a child will have a nightmare, get sick, or appear bedside for some special attention. On those occasions, I left a gown at the foot of the bed so I could dress in a hurry and take on my motherly role. Then there's the threat of a tornado. I have nightmares about a tornado hitting my house during the night, sucking me up in its funnel and depositing my nude body in a tree for all the world to see. And there's my stomach. I love to sleep on my side. Unfortunately, my belly sleeps on the bed beside me. Not pretty. If it weren't for the sheet, I'd be forced to wear a nightshirt for that reason alone.

Most sleepwear is not husband-friendly. He wants something appealing, we want comfort. Teddies that fit like they should are not made for comfort. They are made for modeling. They are designed to look so good that they are soon removed and we are back in our comfort zone. If I were to sleep in something it would be a shapeless, roomy gown that gave me freedom of movement, one that my husband would call a granny gown. I'm serious about my sleep.

So, why do most couples that I hear about sleep in clothes? Am I missing something here? Is there a negative side that I don't know of? Can sleepwear really be comfortable? Until someone sets me straight on this and can prove my Dad wrong about the secret of a happy marriage, I will be sleeping teddy bare.

Happy 30th Anniversary, Patty & Dave!

My precious friend Patty and her husband Dave are celebrating 30 years of marriage today. What an awesome event! I spoke to both of them and they feel the years have passed very quickly. At least they didn't say it felt like a century instead! I'm so proud of them for this fantastic milestone! Way to go, guys!

Thomas the Birthday Boy

The cupcakes were delivered to the birthday boy today. He had all his new birthday toys out playing with them and was delighted to show them off to me. His party at Chuck E. Cheese was a big success.
This picture is a good view of his new T shirt, compliments of Aunt Dee and family. It proudly announces his new age. He's getting too big!
Here's Thomas with his Mom. She was commenting on how tall he's getting. It won't be long until he surpasses her in height. Why do they grow up when we aren't looking? Notice the missing teeth as he attempts to devour a cupcake.

So glad my boy had a happy birthday!

Happy Birthday, Thomas!

Happy birthday to my brand new 7-year-old! I love this picture that shows Thomas's missing top teeth. He's a handsome boy with a big heart and ALL boy. When we were shopping we passed the aisle of dolls and I asked if he wanted one. He quickly said no. Then he brought it up on the way home.

"Memaw, when you asked me if I wanted a doll, I said no. Dolls are for girls. I like girls, but I don't like girl toys."

I thought that was a healthy explanation.

Thomas asked for cupcakes instead of homemade ice cream. Once those are made and delivered there will be more pictures of the birthday boy!

Happy birthday, Thomas. I love you!!!

What an Awesome Day!

When I decided to play hooky from work today and go to the farm to see some relatives I haven't seen in awhile, I had no idea how good the day would be. At a moment's notice, Sharon was ready and willing to come with me. I was anxious for her and my parents to meet. She fit in so perfectly.It's obvious from this picture that my mother has adopted Sharon. It made me so happy that they hit it off so well. It says volumes about both of them.
Here's cousin Floyd and his wife Linda. Floyd's father and my mother's mother were brother and sister. I met Floyd in my teens when he was stationed in Fort Hood. We teased each other unmercifully. I don't see him often since he lives in California but the teasing still begins when we see each other. I was delighted to meet his wife of almost two years. Linda and Floyd seem perfectly matched. Welcome to our crazy family, Linda.
Look at these lovely sisters. I'm very proud of this picture of Aunt Dorothy and my mother. And they aren't just lovely, they are a hoot. I don't know when I have laughed so hard!
Here's Sharon with Farmer John. My dad had traded in his shorts that displayed his cute legs for overalls so he could change the oil on his car for their trip to Cleburne tomorrow for their annual cousins reunion. He complained that he was dirty, but he still looks handsome in farmer clothes.

Mother fed us well and Dad (Sugar) entertained us on the piano. We shared memories and laughed. The time got away from us quickly and Sharon and I had to leave. I wish so much that we all lived closer together and could have this much fun on a regular basis. My endorphins are happy today.

Opossum No. 2

The city came yesterday and picked up our first caged opossum. Robin set the trap again tonight, thinking we'd start catching the raccoons. Apparently the first opossum has a brother. Or a sister. Or the city dropped the first one off at our corner. Anyway, we're infested.

My Date with Thomas

I had a date today with a handsome, much younger, man and I enjoyed every minute of it. He was none other than my oldest grandson, Thomas, who will be 7 this Saturday. We had our traditional lunch and shopping trip. I was told he was up and ready to go, wondering why Memaw wasn't already on his door step.Check out those baby blues. And two missing teeth never looked so good! He dug through all the Lego toys, Bionicles, and transformers. He was very careful in making his final decision.
Here he is striking a pose with some sort of laser gun or transformer fighter gun. I'm stumped. But he can tell you exactly what it is, how it works, and who uses it.
Unfortunately, this youngster chose McDonalds for lunch. The older grandchildren have more discriminating tastes. But I walked away with more money in my wallet.
Thomas wanted to come back to my house and spend the day with us. He told me Papa Robin would love his toys, which he did. He showed off everything and assembled the Lego car and track in no time, by simply following the instructions. I didn't know guys did that. Anyway, he's really into Legos like his Dad was. His Dad said Thomas can actually build more creative things with Legos than Ron could. He's made his own transformers that actually transform. He also designs transformer outerwear out of empty soda cartons. I admire this because a transformer looks like a foreign subject to me.
I, too, sat in the floor and watched this genius create. One thing I do understand is that he can transform my face into a big smile. What a great day with a special guy!

It rained on us a little as we drove home and we got into a conversation about lightening and its dangers.

Thomas: "You have two chances with lightening. The second time you're hit, you end up in heaven."

Memaw: "I want to go to heaven. Heaven would be a wonderful place to be."

Thomas: "But in heaven you won't be able to see your grandson."

Memaw: "Well, I want all my kids in heaven with me."

Thomas: "But if you go to heaven first, you will be lonely. Wouldn't you rather live on earth with your grandchildren? In heaven, you can't come back. If you do come back you will scare your grandchildren because you'd be a ghost."

Memaw: (Are we back to scaring grandchildren? I can't win for losing.) "Don't worry. I think I will stay here with my grandchildren."

Then he asked that I define the word deny. I told him when we deny something we are either telling the truth or lying. He couldn't grasp that concept and I gave many examples. He finally ended that conversation by telling me he was confused. I was beginning to get that way myself.

Caged Animal

Robin invested in a cage (trap) to catch all the opossums and raccoons that raid the cat food at night on our patio. The city has assured him they will come for the caged animals and let them loose in a more natural setting. They have posed a problem in the past. A raccoon chewed through an eave on the house and had her babies in our attic. They can be pesky critters, but even though I'm revolted by this trapped opossum, its big black eyes pull at my heartstrings.

He's trapped and scared and I don't like having to witness it. Sure, it didn't bother me enough to refrain from taking his picture while in helpless captivity. That's a real blog pitfall. We will sacrifice a lot for the sake of the blog.

I guess my aversion to opossums started in my teens. My dad had a beard at the time and was driving a very old 1949 Pontiac with a sun visor over the windshield. You've got to visualize this. He was driving home from work one night and saw an opossum. Knowing how much I love cats he assumed I'd fall equally in love with this hideous creature. He stopped the car, chased the thing until he caught it, then drove with it hanging out the window and my dad clutching its tail.

My brother, Gene, was the first to be humiliated by this sight. Dad drove to the 7-11 where Gene worked and pulled right into the lighted parking lot with the opossum hanging from his window. I don't think Gene acknowledged this man as his father.

His next stop was home where I was doing homework in my bedroom. He knocked on the door and told me he had a critter for me. Expecting a furry, soft cat, I opened my door in a hurry. What I saw was this gnarly opossum baring his teeth. Then Dad laughed, told me the story of how he caught it and how he brought it home. I was mortified. But I still think Gene got the worst end of it.

So, I'm not overly fond of opossums. You just don't see cuddly opossum plush toys. They just don't have the look that endears us to them. Their hair resembles mine when it's been wet and allowed to dry naturally into an ugly haphazard mess. And that hairless tail! How awful is that? They have absolutely no redeeming qualities. Yet, the sight of that poor thing in a cage, helpless and full of fear, has touched a chord of pity in me. It's not his fault that his lot in life was to be a hideous opossum. He can't help how he looks.

I'll be going through this again. Once the city picks him up, we will get the cage ready to trap the other cat food thieves. It might even be harder on me next time because you do see plush toys in the likeness of raccoons.

Sharon's Back!

My new friend, Sharon, was out of state during the month of July and I really missed her. Now that she's back, we wasted no time meeting for lunch. We had catching up to do, plus we're still learning so much about each other. Sharon is like a soothing balm for troubled times. She has a special way of relating to me that makes me feel as if I can shove off all my problems while in her presence. She also sees good things in me that I didn't know existed and we all need a friend like that!!!

Welcome back, Sharon! Special just doesn't seem adequate enough to describe your friendship and the person you are. Just know you are loved and appreciated! You are also very photogenic! Every picture of you comes out great.

Rhyme Time

I wrote the following poem when my son Ron was a child. I thought it was a good time to share it since his own son has a birthday next week. Actually, I have two grandsons having a birthday this month so it's appropriate to honor boys today.

This Moment

This moment while you slumber,
Lying peacefully in your bed,
I bend down closer to you
And plant a kiss upon your head.

Tonight you're just a little boy,
All exhausted from your play.
Sleeping soundly and preparing
To face another day.

This moment I stand in silence
Thinking how grand you are to me.
Remembering little things you've done,
You're all a son should be.

I smile when I think
Of all the clever things you say,
And how your expressions change so much
In that boyish little way.

Oh, this moment, my dear little son
Is passing quickly before my eyes.
Soon morning will ease the darkness
And the sun will warm the skies.

If only time would pause awhile
Instead of rushing at its pace.
To give me time to look again
Upon your youthful face.

But tomorrow will come and go,
And one day when you awake,
I'll no longer see a child
For a man's place you will take.

Oh this moment is so important
I must grasp it while I can!
Before my child grows up
From a boy into a man.

- Peggy Chrusciaki
Circa 1978