I declare.

Thursday I told Daughter. I unofficially declare this = "The Summer of Love". She asked. Why? My reply. I am a sanctioned member of the Peanut Gallery. And as such, we disdain all things official. Thus I declare it unofficially. Summer of Love. Say it. It feels good. It feels groovy. She asked if it had anything to do with my counseling session with her via Skype last night. I said. Yes. It has everything to do with that. And she reminded me. Love wins. So! There you have it. It isn't even here yet. And yet. I can just feel it. Can't you just feel it? All things lead to love.

Now that you know, you can get a head start. Spread the love. Erich Segal says we never have to say we're sorry. Love. Nike says just do it. Love. The Bible says 'the greatest of these is love'. Get your love-fest going people. It is going to be that kind of summer.

Just checking in.

I am over the hump of this week. And over the hump of this sinus thing. Whew. Starting to gain some momentum on the upcoming shower for Garrett and Amy this weekend. Sister-in-law and I spoke yesterday. Compared our lists. We are on track. This thing is happening. And. It will be good.

Beef briskets are thawing in the fridge. They will be cooked tomorrow. Cookies will come out the freezer tomorrow. All the drinks and dishes are stacked in the kitchen. Sitting on ready. Sister-in-law and our other co-hostess are way beyond capable. We will knock this one out the park.

June is my elephant. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. That is just what I plan to do. One at a time. One bite at a time will keep me sane.

My walking shoes await me. This day holds potential. Ready. Set. Go.
Be sweet.

Feeling patriotic?

I hope this has downloaded correctly. Hope you enjoy!

For Tucker.

Thought it was the allergies early last week. By week's end it manifested as a full blown sinus infection. Complete with multicolored yuckiness. Drove east to visit Daughter and make a Sam's run. By early afternoon I felt zombie-esque. Mouth breathing.
Mr. Macho went to help cut his Dad's yard yesterday and I only did one or two things. In the afternoon I let Bob Ross lull me into a stupor that actually revived me a bit. Enough to travel into town and pick out a suit to be ordered for Mr. Macho. Hope it gets in and altered before all the wedding festivities of the nephew commence. Yesterday we also dropped by the Sears so Mr. Macho could order a new weed eater. He also invested in a new self propelled lawn mower this week. We should be set for a while. Good to go. And mow.
Weekend weather is most agreeable. Wish I felt perkier to enjoy it.
I put ribs in the oven yesterday. I thought we would finish them on the grill. But Mr. Macho didn't much feel like it after all the yard work - his Dad's and some in our very own yard. And I think the shopping is what did him in. Always does. Can work like a trojan from dawn 'til dusk. Five minutes of shopping and he's down for the count.
Anyway. Ribs are on again for today. No way to cook a small amount of ribs. So I froze two meals' worth and am warming some for dinner right now.
***
Tomorrow we will celebrate Memorial Day with a dance/cookout with friends. That will make the work week short. Nephew's tool shower slated for next Saturday. We have kept it simple. Prep will not be difficult. Should be fun.
***
T-Bone (Tucker) has a birthday tomorrow. Seven. Seven years ago I was present for his birth. I spent the night before at Daughter's house. She and Son-in-law rose early and drove to the hospital. I stayed with Lauren until Son-in-town and his wife arrived to babysit. Then I joined the birthing pair at the hospital. It was an induction. Labor. Labor. Father to be and I ate Chinese for lunch.  More labor. Late afternoon and it was time. The doctor came in. Pushing and anticipation. 6:29 pm. Birth. Gray baby. Not breathing. No panic. Within seconds the room was filled with medical professionals. Nurses pumped breath into baby and he pinked up right away. It all happened so fast and so smoothly that it was over before I realized something was really amiss. And Tucker was fine. And now Tucker is going to be seven. A second grader next school year. Sending Tucker my best Nanny love on his birthday. You are a great guy. Happy, happy birthday.
Trying to figure how to share a song for you. I will do it in a separate post...but it is for you, Tucker.
Be sweet.

Mississippi.

Today is one of those "some days". You know. Some days are just poetic.

So. I am walking. It is not hot. It is not cold. It is just right. Muddy Waters is singing to me. Hoochie Coochie Man. In my ears. Fog. There is fog. On my third lap that sun is trying its best to burn it off. I wax nostalgic. Only days ago it was mustard season. Mustard powder in the tree tops. Mustard powder on the cars. The dogs. The birds. Stand still long enough... You get it. Then the rains mix it up and the mustard flows in the street. The showers leave behind inland oceans of tall green velvet. Oh spring. Now comes the sweet season. Every sweet thing under the sun is in bloom. Magnolia. Privet. Honeysuckle. Infinity. Sweet.

It is gone too soon. We will long for these days of sweetness when the mean season is upon us. I want sand in my shoes. Waves in my dreams. This season often wipes our southern slate clean. Again. And again. Then we stand on the shore and throw out our chest. And raise our fist. And wake up and do it again. Build it. Lose it. Curse it. Build it. Lose it... We collectively hold our breath until the dog days are behind us.

And relax and sigh at the first signs of cool and frost. Autumn. Our roads get sprinkled with southern snow as truckloads of it are driven to the gin. Harvest. When truckloads, and trailer loads, and over loads of orange tubers can ben followed for mile upon mile. Gleaners in the field collecting the broken pieces. Football games. Home teams. This land of at least one king. And a multitude of queens.

Cold days. Few and far between. Sweaters instead of coats. Warm hearts. Season of giving among professional givers. That is what we are. That is what we do. We excel at generosity.

Back to the season of yellow mustard.
This State. This state of mind. My mind. My home.

what.

After reading Kelle Hampton's blog this afternoon it was all downhill. I watched a video about a young man that died of cancer yesterday. I cried. I emailed two of my children. I cried some more. Then I poured some wine. And cried some more. I don't think I am finished crying.

Mr. Macho joined me on the back porch for some beverages and reading the newspaper. And. Enjoying the breeze. Shooting the breeze. And a little bit of. Yes. Crying.
***
For supper we enjoyed egg McMuffins and sauteed spinach. We reminisced about the egg McMuffins we ate the morning before our first child was born. Our daughter. I love egg McMuffins.  I love nostalgia.

And now I have to go because I have flip flops on the wrong feet. I will probably log on tomorrow and explain all this away. But right now it is emotions and egg McMuffins and nostalgia. And a little bit of wine. Be sweet.

Roller coaster.

A dear, dear friend died last night (Wednesday night). I am in charge of the funeral repast. I can not even express how moved and please I am with the response from my church family. Don and his wife, Ruby, are so loved by all those that know them.
***
I started this post on Thursday and got side tracked. So here I am. Saturday. The funeral is over. The meal has been served. I am depleted of energy but full to the brim with the wonder of how so many people came together to feed Ruby and her family. Not just literally, but emotionally, too.
Two days ago I said to myself, "48 hours. And I will have a moment that I can breath and feel accomplishment." I had that moment. In the church kitchen surrounded by ladies that worked hard to make a comforting meal for Ruby's family. Surrounded by love in action. Surrounded by church family. I felt gratitude and job well done and satisfaction. Being needed is a good feeling. And these last three days - that is what I have experienced.
***
Tonight Mr. Macho and I will travel west to our friends, Jodi and Lee's, house and let them take care of us. It's the circle of life. So many days we are either taking care of or being taken care of. Rare that this happened in the same day. It clicks into place in my heart. I loved helping with the meal. I need Jodi to feed me. Then tomorrow? I'll do it some more.
Carry on Warrior. And that's what I am doing.
Be sweet.

Fly by.

Was standing outside a few minutes ago visiting with my neighbor-friend when all of a sudden a bird flew by my head close enough to rustle my hair. It was one of the weirdest things that has happened to me. When I looked up to the tree where the bird flew I saw that it looked like a swallow and on the very next branch was a bright goldfinch.

Dad would have loved this story. He was quite the bird watcher. Sometimes he would use his computer camera to try and show me the fat dove or the hummingbirds in his back yard. 

Dad would have been 93 years old today. Have had him on my mind all day. Feeling the good vibes. Thankful for a Dad that taught me to do right things. For teaching me to say "I love you" often. 

In the quiet.

The house is too quiet this morning. It is all good. I can sit here and feel the warmth left over from the weekend. Last night felt very cool and made it a bit harder to get out from under the covers this morning. Alarm clock sang us awake and the day called me forth. And. Here I am.

Saturday was a good work day. Rain had been predicted and it threatened on and off most of the day. Mr. Macho and I drove over to his Dad's house early. His yard needed some TLC. Between the two of us we trimmed bushes, pulled weeds, cut down small trees growing in beds, ran the weed eater, hauled  the refuse to the burn pile, pulled vines off walls...ran to town to pick up some Wendy burgers, and then more pulling, cutting, weeding, and hauling. Worn out we returned home. Mr. Macho washed his company truck. I fiddled with some weeds in the back yard before giving up and just helped wash the truck by squirting off the suds. Then it was porch sitting time. And finally we heard about a dozen drops of rain as we sat and enjoyed our beverages. Mother Nature was feeling a bit cooperative that day.

Sunday was, indeed, a Happy Mother's Day. Mr. Macho even remembered to wish me a HMD. Early. Before any prompting. Each of my children added to the joy of my day. They called and came over and brought flowers and grandchildren and it was noisy. And we ate and we did cheers on the screened porch and we picked flowers and we played hide and seek. And I loved it. All those shmarmy, gooey, sentimental things they write about motherhood? They are true. And it goes by in the blink of an eye. And I am so proud. And I am so thankful.

 I was able to talk to myveryown Mom. Not once. But twice. That made both of us happy.

*****

Son-in-town and his sweet wife found out on Thursday that their baby, due in September, is a girl. Sweet Pea is going to have a little sister to love and play with. We are pleased beyond measure. And now we can say 'she' when we talk about the baby. She is more real now. She is a sister. A daughter. A granddaughter. Her parents will negotiate over names for many weeks. Un-welcomed name suggestions will be forthcoming. From me.

****
This week = bizzy! Much to do. Gearing up for wedding showers and birthdays and dance functions and more. Dentist appointment this week. Food festival next Sunday. Saturday night dinner with friends. I look forward to it all.

I hope you have some fun plans for the week. Be sweet.

You snooze. You lose.

I was in the mood for shopping today. I was going to drive east because I had a 35% off my total purchase coupon. 35% off is a really good coupon! But the rain came. And I forgot to take Mimi's mirror into town to Paulette yesterday. Mimi forgot it when she left last weekend. Paulette is driving down today and can get it to her. And. Son-in-town needed me to arrange for the birthday cake. Tomorrow is his sweet wife's birthday. We are all going out to eat tonight.
So. I tried to shop the Coldwater Creek coupon online. Only it kept denying the code. I even 'chatted' with a live person. She gave me another code. Her code didn't work, either. She told me to go ahead and order and then call and then they would reimburse me and then I would be p.o.'d and then I wouldn't want to shop there anymore. And then. And then. 

So. I dropped the mirror off at Paulette's office. I secured the birthday cake and delivered it unto the restaurant of choice. I shopped at our local Belk's. I had a 20% off coupon there. Instead of the three pair of pants that I had tried to purchase at CC I ended up with two pair of crop pants, a pair of bermuda shorts, two pair of sandals, and an aluminum serving tray. For about the same price. And I didn't leave town. And I didn't have to buy lunch. And. And. It is a good day. And I am not p.o.'d.

Coldwater Creek, you missed out.

***

To my Mom: 

Thanks, Mom. You did the very best job you could do. With all nine of us. As an adult I have come to realize that you aren't perfect. But you are pretty darn close. I hope that my children will forgive me for not being perfect, too.

She is such a sport. Even at 92.

On the occasion of her 90th birthday. 

 Being a Mom is the best and hardest vocation in the wide world. I can only say that I feel a measure of success as evidenced by the three greatest children in the universe. They are grown up children now. But always my children. My breath. 

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers. 

Cinqo de Mayo!

Happy Fiesta! What a mixed bag of weather we have had this weekend. Oh my. Rainy. Warm. Sunny. And finally. Cold. Windy. And rainy, again. 

Our very own Market Street Festival was dampened but not rained out. So sorry that Friday night was a wash. Yesterday it was pretty fabulous, though. 

***

Sister, Mimi, drove up on Thursday. Mr. Macho arrived home from his business trip about 30 minutes before she arrived. We were so happy she came up. She and I had planned this mission and adventure for a few weeks. And. It was fun. I am still glowing. 

My new gurgle pitcher. Compliments of the ultimate guest = Mimi. Thank you! You should hear this thing! 

***

Mimi is a first-time-grandmother-in-waiting. Baby due middle of June. Our job this weekend was a search and rescue. The search was for an antique rocker. There was no rescue. It just sounded good with "search". 

Friday dawned and the rain held off until the afternoon. We got in some exercise then showered, dressed and headed for town. Streets were already being closed off for our city festival. But we were able to park and walk. We perused two shops with no real finds. We made a quick visit to our welcome center that is an old house and Tennessee Williams' birthplace. Then we met sister, Paulette, at a new-to-me Thai restaurant. Though they have been open for about a year, it was the first I had heard of it. It was good. Food was well done and full of different flavors. The atmosphere also gets a thumbs up.

Paulette headed back to work after our repast and we headed to Belk's. And each found a few items that we thought we needed.

Second round of antique looking brought one definite maybe. Good structure. Needed re-upholstry. We had to think on it. No purchase. We decided it was five o'clock somewhere and headed home to porch sit and sip our beverage of choice. 

Sun burned off the fog and chill fairly early Saturday morning. We headed to a neighboring town to check their wares. We found one and two stores before lunch. We thought we found THE chair. 

When we saw it we both did a quick air intake. Mimi sat in it and saw her future grandchild in her arms. Tears sprang to her eyes. Then, sadly, we examined the chair and found it wanting. There were cracks in both rungs and other structural flaws that made it un-buyable. It broke our hearts. It was a lovely chair to look at. But, alas, it wasn't meant to be. 

We moved on. We took in some lunch at the Ritz Cafe. And enjoyed every bite. Tomato basil soup, a wedge of lettuce salad, a cranberry chicken salad. Yum. 

Back to our mission. Only this time Mimi said, "Let us just enjoy looking and not worry about finding the rocker." When we walked into the next store we recognized some women that we had crossed paths with at earlier stores. And one was at the counter paying for a rocker that looked just like what we wanted! We struck up a conversation and found all kinds of connections with the woman. She was even married to the son of some good friends of our parents. Small world. She was on the same shopping mission as we were = "new grand baby on the way necessitated antique rocking chair" mission. We soldiered on in this new store. We saw old stuff. Vintage stuff. Junque stuff. Rockers. We sat in them. Some we didn't give a second look. Ugly. Wicker. Upholstered. Solid wood. Bad fabric. And then. There it was. A little Victorian walnut with caned bottom and back. We touched it. She sat. It fit. We turned it over. We check for flaws and cracks. She sat some more. She declared this rocker "The One". And we were happy. And it was on sale. 20% off. Ahh, success (insert satisfied smile here). 

It was such a good day. On our way back into town we stopped by the Market Street Festival and enjoyed looking around, mostly at the other people, ran into Paulette, then headed home. Totally warmed by our shopping prowess and full of ourselves for holding out just long enough. 

We came home to more good beverage and we tag-teamed a fiesta meal. 

It was so good having Mimi here. I totally enjoyed the weekend. 

I miss you already, Mimi. Come back soon. Please.