Winding it down.

Waiting for Beach Boy and his family to arrive yesterday I stirred up a family favorite cookie recipe. You can see how well loved it is. A former neighbor wrote this before she moved away more than 30 years ago. 

 This little one seemed interested in the crochet project I had started. I gave her a brief history of how I learned to crochet. Wilson's step grandmother taught me. She fancied trying her had at it and so I showed her. She sat next to me on the sofa last night working her little fingers at it. When she woke this morning she wanted to get back to it. She made a pot-holder size swatch of crochet. I was amazed at how serious and interested she was. 

Our company is out for the day but will arrive home late to spend one more night with us before relocating to the other grandparent's home. 

We will spend a quiet New Years together dining on tradition. 

Namaste. 

 

Seasonal post.

 

By necessity I changed my email address months and months ago. I haven't made a very valiant effort to figure out how to get back on this site...and just happened to click the right button today. So. Hello, again. It's me. Another year older and wiser. And still grateful for this fabulous family of ours. Son in law was absent and missed...the rest of us had a short but sweet visit. I hope your Advent season is starting with love and light. 

Namaste. 

Winter solstice.

 The winter solstice is tomorrow, Tuesday. Saturday it was muggy and the children ran around in short sleeves. This morning it was 32 and frosty when we woke up. Today feels like Christmas. We are still aglow from activities and family togetherness this weekend. If only Our of Town Son could have been there it might have been perfect. 

I am slated for a dental appointment this morning so this will be quick. I have reminisced about Christmases past this morning while I was cutting up the fruit for ambrosia. My childhood, my children's childhoods, nostalgia, nostalgia, nostalgia...

Beginning to plan our Christmas dinner. Anything I cook will be too much. So I'll just go for it. 

Silly us at the family Christmas gathering. 

Husband and his sisters. 

Peace on earth good will toward men.

Shalom. 

Long time coming.

 I've been having a difficult time getting back to this space. By necessity I have had to change my email address. Navigating old sites and ways to get to them is an ongoing challenge. 

After feeling fairly free to roam about the territory this summer we are back on a bit of hunkering down. We go where we must and avoid unnecessary exposure to the general public. 

We did attend a niece's wedding this month. We stayed close to the Ole Miss campus and were able to take some nice long walks while there. So here are a few photos from being with siblings that weekend...

Sister Amanda and me in front of the Lyceum. 

Sister Mimi and me at Rowan Oak, home of William Faulkner. 

Though the home was not open to the public we were able to walk all about the place and even take a nice long hike. 

New things in my life since I last wrote here. I have a house cleaner now. Today she is home sick. I hope it is not the virus. 

So Wilson and I cleaned our own bathrooms today. Then he mowed the lawn and I scrubbed the grout in the kitchen. I scorched our lunch, too. 

Also new are our  iPhones. We are slowly learning how to navigate them. Next will be a new computer. I am trying to work up to ordering it. 

Our summer garden is mostly played out. Only okra, two jalapeños, and a cherry tomato are still in the ground and producing. 

I hope I can find my way back here next time I have something important to say. 

Until then, Shalom. 

The feels.

It is a lucky day. Found three pennies in the parking lot leaving the YMCA this morning. Always makes me think of my Dad. He loved it when I found any money on the ground. A penny saved is a penny earned. Even one found is good. He and Mom lived with us after the big storm that blew their house down. (Well, almost down.) So every time I find a penny, whether on heads or tails, I pick it up, say thank you Dad, and put it in my poor box when I get home.

This afternoon I was putting dishes away from the washer. When I opened the cabinet I caught a slight glimpse of a plate I had painted for Mom for Christmas years and years ago. She displayed it on top of her china cabinet in her dining room. As I glimpsed the plate I was momentarily transported there, to her dining room. I had a strong urge to call her and talk to her. Then I thought of finding the pennies this morning and I just welled up. 

Dad's birthday is Saturday, May 15 . 101 years ago he was born. He died the first day of 2013. Mom died on the very day she was 98 and a half, March 15, 2019. 

Most days I can think of them, no problem. But today. Couldn't find any of my peeps that were available to talk. And so I write. And weep just a little. And thank God for such great parents. 

Happy birthday Dad. Love never dies. 

Shalom.

 

New normal

It felt so normal today. Started the day by attending a Mississippi Public Radio Broadcast

at our local Farmers Market. Felder Rushing, The Gestaltd Gardener, did a live show. Anyone can call in and ask a question. 

Yes, I did ask a question in person. 

He is very entertaining. His knowledge is expansive. 

 

Some of my Master Gardener friends and Felder. 

From there I went to lunch with my girlfriends. First time in well over a year.

It was almost a record for the time we spent talking. 

This evening I attended a local celebrity/artist "Art in the Garden". 

I bought a new bangle for my walls. Not sure where I'll hang it. 

Today felt so good and almost normal. 

Namaste. 

Back into the wild.

 

First road trip since the virus took over. We drove to the coast Friday and stayed with Beach Boy and his family. 

It still feels risky to walk into a restaurant without a mask - like we are going into the wild. Most people did not have masks this weekend. It feels like there should be dramatic music playing to indicate something bad is about to happen, like in the movies. 

I don't know why my photos load in reverse order but, oh well. 

After breakfast we visited a park where the girls had fun playing.

Millie took our picture. 

Wilson had the "Hangover III". That is one biscuit with eggs, sausage, and gravy.

This was the "Sun up" breakfast. That biscuit was huge. 

I almost ate the whole thing. 

Silliness with a son. 

Millie and her mom sat at the high table. 

Sunday morning we dined at Fill up with Billups. 

Wilson and Sweet Pea both enjoyed their meal. 

Saturday lunch with some siblings. Bacchus did not disappoint. My shrimp scampi was scrumptious. I didn't even eat half the pasta. It was so so much. 

I didn't get my fill of hugs, but I got as many as I could fit in. We played games. My favorite was Rummicube. The sibs have different rules than Beach Boy's family. It was a little confusing, but fun nonetheless. 

The weekend was over in a flash. 

Then we drove home. 

We went on a walk. I watered my plants. 

I washed the dirty clothes.

I wish I had some little bodies to hug right now.

Shalom.