Let heaven and nature sing...

Christmas isn't even here and it is already fading into schmarmy,  silly, sticky-finger memories. Our large family gathering on Saturday with Mr. Macho's side of the family was a hit. Nephew and his wife hosted and the sun shone on the day. Literally. And. Figuratively. Their home is large and lovely. They were warm and welcoming. They made it a kid-friendly-fun-filled day. Too much food. As always. Funny story reading game. Cookie decorating for the children. Family pictures. I will share some of my favorite snaps from Saturday...

"How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?"

Miss America.

Lauren and Sweet Daughter-in-Law.

A very patriotic Super Carrot.

The Father-in-Law sporting his new hat. 

Cookie decorating fun. And. The photo bomber strikes again. 

Saturday night we came home and played our own dirty Santa game. More laughing. Sillier gifts. 

Sunday was better than I had even hoped. All our children and grandchildren were in church with us. I can't even find the words to say how I felt having us there. All together. 

Sometimes the stars just line up and you know it is weighty. 

This one moment in time filled me with Christmas.

This is our old church that we use as a chapel now. It is the church my children grew up in. 

We came home and opened all the rest of the gifts and enjoyed a huge pot of red beans and rice. Beach Boy (via Aunt Mimi) provided some french bread and it made the meal. 

Tucker is already having a magical Christmas. Football cards, eye black, and shoulder pads were the shizzle. He gained 50 pounds of tough. Immediately. 

Our fashion designer, Lauren, sporting her new ear warmer. (Not sure what to call it!) She is gaining in grace and her sweet disposition adds to her beauty. 

Miss Alabama. Glitz and bling. And. Mr. Bubble. 

These two, along with their parents, have been here since Friday. This afternoon they traveled to their other grandparent's house where they will spend the rest of the week.

 Breakfast won't be the same tomorrow. 

Sweet Pea and I promised we would think about each other and think happy thoughts. 

This afternoon has been filled with washing sheets and towels. And. A little cooking. 

***

And so it went. 

Today. Mr. Macho and I made a mad dash to the grocery store to buy supplies for dinner on Christmas day. We will spend it at his Dad's house. It will be quiet. And nice. 

Again this  years I find our Christmas evolving. It isn't the same any two years in a row. 

Daughter and I watched one of her favorite movies in tandem last night, "The Family Stone". It was good for a little emotional release. A good little cry. 

Ah, nostalgia. You are my friend. Sometimes I try very hard to keep you in the box. But times like these it is good to take you out and shake you off. And wallow in it. 

And so. This brings me to my Christmas Eve mantra, that I must repeat, yet again...

"Backward, turn backward

O time in your flight;

Make me a child again

Just for tonight. " 

-Elizabeth Akers Allen

***

Wishing you a Christmas filled with wonder. 

May you welcome the Christ child with a joyful heart. 

Merry Christmas. 

On being present.

It has been several days since my last post. I have visited this spot thinking I might...but thought better and decided to just wait. And so. I did.

I am trying to enjoy each day during this Advent season. We haven't had parties to attend. We have done a minimum amount of Christmas shopping. All is well. I have had my regular monthly bunkos to attend. Each with their fun dirty Santa gift exchange. We do white elephant items, which means you wrap something that isn't new.  Yesterday I cam home with a box of designer matches. I have already tried one this morning. It struck beautifully. Tonight I hope I come home with something equally fun.

Mr. Macho spent the night with his Dad last night. And will again tonight. I think Macho is catching a cold. This duty is discussed and revisited each and every day. Taking care of a parent is much like taking care of a child. Reminding ourselves that we do this out of love is our unending conversation. We are trying to be thankful for this gift of time to honor our parent.

Daughter and her family have all been under the weather this week. Husband and three children have all been taking the Tamiflu(?). Daughter had steroid shot and a z-pack of antibiotics. She finally sounded alive yesterday. Poor baby, she was not well first of the week. Having to nurse a sick family while sick your own self is the pits.

Our Christmas celebration weekend begins tomorrow. Family will begin to arrive. By Saturday our house will be filled with love and laughter. Meals will be shared. Gifts will be given. And received. I sometimes don't know how it all gets done. But. It does. My house may not be spic and span, but today! Today I will steam mop my kitchen. I have graduated from the back brace and I am free at last! I will promise not to overdo, but sweeping and steam mopping is about to commence!!

Then on to lunch with my girlfriends.
Go.
Find the peace and joy that awaits you today.
I'm all about the base. No treble.

The week in review.

The two week point was marked by a doctor visit. What else?! Doc said I could "ween" off the back brace, I can drive, I can walk on a treadmill, walking is good, do light housework, lift 15 lbs...but for another two weeks no sweeping, vacuuming, and no extensive bending over. 

Check. And. Check.

I stayed in the road on Thursday and Friday. Freedom felt good as I celebrated my 58th birthday. Yep. Me. I bought a dozen cupcakes from my neighbor/baker. Got home and ate two right away. Happy birthday, a day early, to me. Mr. Macho treated us to a nice restaurant Thursday night. We shared a chocolate eruption dessert. Happy birthday, early. 

On Friday I had a hair appointment followed by lunch with two of my good friends. More sweets - we split and ice cream sundae for dessert. Happy birthday to me. I picked up some barbecue and fixin's for dinner at father-in-law's house. And ate another cupcake for dessert. Happy birthday to me. Mr. Macho spent the night at his Dad's. I came home. And. Ate another cupcake. 

Now. The birthday calories don't count. Today I am back to a more healthy ingestion. Turnips greens and such. 

I'll spend the afternoon resting my back. I have been up and moving since about 6:30. I got three weeks' worth of paperwork filed away. Cleaned up the yarn explosion. Replaced it with Christmas wrap explosion. 

I've cleaned a toilet, mirror, and dishes. I want to clean my floors, but that is off limits to me for now. Argh. Really need to steam clean. 

Pacing myself is not my favorite. I want to do things as I see them. Ah well. It is what it is. 

I thought I would put out a few decorations today. That hasn't gotten done. Yet. The day is young.

Going to kick my feet up for a few.

Be sweet. 

Pssst.

It's December.

It's December?

It's December!!

Birthday month. Woot. Woot.

Tomorrow is my two week post-surgery appointment. I have hopes that the doc will say
#1. You can lose the back brace.
AND.
#2. You can drive.
Please-oh-please-oh-please.

Warm day yesterday. Was glad to have a neighbor and a sister-in-law come over. They each visited and helped me pass the day. Last night I started a puzzle that Daughter brought to me. I worked on it for hours this morning. It, too, has helped pass the time. Today it is light rain and bone-chilly.

The stir crazies are knocking at my door. I am chomping at the bit. To do things. I have gathered the Thanksgiving decorations (what few there are). And have put out two (2), count them, 2 - Christmas things.
A. The mouse count down calendar
B. A plaid table runner
I gathered dirty towels and got them to the laundry room. Shhh. I dusted. Be quiet. Yes I did. Just a little.
In the last week I have finished two crochet projects and am working on the third that I started before the surgery. It will not get done 'cause I don't have enough of the lilac yarn.

Other decorating things may not get out until the last minute, if at all, this year. It is okay. I am not sad nor panicked. It is what it is. I have so many residual good feelings from being well taken care of during my convalescence that I will not complain. I am going to rock this Advent.

Be sweet. Fa-la-la-la-la. La-la-la-la.

Giving thanks. Still.

Sat in church this morning just letting the gratitude flow. I glowed with good thoughts about being on this side of my surgery and all the good and happy time we got to spend with our children and grandchildren over the past few days. Warm, fuzzy, good thoughts were running rampant.

Today at the end of November and the first day of Advent it is sunny and warm. Leaves are blowing and falling, still. It looks like fall and feels like summer. Ah. My south. I do love it. Who knows what weather next week will bring?

Mr. Macho is in overdrive. He is washing clothes, vacuuming, cooking dinner. Bless his heart. It has been a study in patience for me, this letting him do. He is very insulted if I try to direct. It isn't easy, this keeping my mouth shut. I am really trying, though.

 I am going to leach out and soak up all the gratitude I can muster today. Wallow in it a bit. Let it blind me to the little things that that aren't getting done. Allow gratitude to shut off the complaint valve that is itching to point things out. This is me - letting it go.

Namaste.

The Eve.

One more hour and Mr. Macho will be on Thanksgiving holiday. I want to take this quiet moment to do a little thankful reflecting...
This year is one that will, for me, go down in infamy. A back issue started just after Easter and didn't let up until the fall...and finally led to surgery one week ago...
In the spring, and again two weeks ago, Father-in-Law experienced some severe dizziness. This time it was accompanied by total deafness in his left ear and some numbness in his left leg. One visit to the E.R. and an MRI later and we still don't know the cause...
These are life changing and defining moments for us.
I am ever so thankful that the back surgery went well. I have had a multitude of prayers, many calls and cards, some visits, flowers, and a few meals sent my way. It lifts me up. It makes me feel so cared for. Especially when all three of my children check on me so frequently to make sure things are going good for me. My heart stays warmed by those three offspring of ours.
And. I can never say enough about the one person that has gone above and beyond, with no complaints whatsoever. Mr. Macho. With absolute patience and his endearing humor he has cared for me.
I have tried to repay him by not asking too much and never complaining. I am so thankful. And, my friends, that might just be the winning understatement of the year.
Tomorrow the two of us will sit at our table and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal, ever mindful of what is important and what we are so very thankful for. Friday children and grandchildren will fill our house with love and noise and blessed chaos. For this I am truly thankful. For family. For love that is so noisy it fills all the cracks in body and soul.
My hope and wish is that you have someone to share your meal.
Thank you, God, for what we have received. It is enough. Amen.

Big help.

Thanks, Bob!

Road to recovery.

Giving thanks for the normal bladder function today.

Finding the thanksgiving.

Let me just say. The surgery went well. Body functions virtually shut down and that has been the worst part. Slowly. Ever so slowly the functions are returning.
The surgery pain is about what I had expected. Soreness is there. It is tolerable. The back brace I must wear for two weeks limits me significantly.

Today I am so very thankful for Mr. Macho. He has gone above and beyond the call of duty. I am trying very hard to not get on his nerves. I am trying hard to not tell him what to do. I didn't realize how much he would end up doing for me. You wouldn't believe. He hasn't complained nor gotten testy with me, yet. For that I am ever thankful.

Namaste.

Come on ride that train.

This train is leaving the station.

36. I am thankful that today is finally here.

Peace out.

For this I am truly thankful.

35. For all the family and friends that have offered prayers on my behalf as I undergo back surgery tomorrow. I am so very appreciative.

Sunday gratitude.

34. This rainy day.

A good day.

It really was a lovely day. Despite the cold. These were my happy spots today...

30. Three year old kisses.
31. Goat farm.
33. Grown daughter hugs.

Thank you, Lord. Amen.

Count down to surgery.

Today I did the grocery-ing. Have cooked and frozen meals this week. Scrubbed our bathrooms.
Tomorrow I get to enjoy Daughter and The Carrot for the day.

Mr. Macho has continued to be the "bath-man" for his dad this week. There are no significant improvements in the way he feels.
28. Nor any worse symptoms. Thank heavens.

29. Today I am thankful for the warm scarf around my neck. Unusually frigid temps are here. Even colder air is on tap tonight.

Be snug. And. Warm.

This day.

27. Resolved insurance issue.

Tuesday.

I am starting to feeling hurried. I finished my broccoli casserole for Thanksgiving today. Check. I have a few more grocery items on my list and I will be ready for Thanksgiving. And surgery.
I am also starting to feel anxious. Not because of my surgery. Because of my insurance. Let me just say that United Health Care is NOT a company I would recommend. They routinely drag their feet on processing. They did it to me three years ago. They are doing it to me now. It is a game. And. I don't like to play. They say that a "committee" has to review my case. Do you really think there is a committee that reviews every case that comes along? I don't. Argh. Health insurance = my nemesis.

Father-in-law is about the same. Mr. Macho and his two sisters are trying their best to take care of him while he is under the weather. It takes a lot of their time. Love in action, for sure.

Frigid temps are blanketing our country. Low digits are due tonight. And. We have yet to turn on our heater.

Today it is a stretch to find the thanksgiving. I am reaching for it. Oh. There it is...

24. For shelter. A home with a heater.
25. For the big pot of potato soup.
26. For this feeling in my heart that yearns for kindness and compassion.

I hope you find warmth this day.
Peace.

Small Monday post.

Today I am thankful for:

21. Being able to give from our abundance.
22. Fingers that work.
23. Cabernet sauvignon.

Good night.

Long day.

Father-in-law had an episode this morning. Extreme dizziness sent him to the ER. Short story = the doc thinks it is vertigo. 

Back home now. He is. We are. Sister-in-law is spending the night with him tonight. We will see what tomorrow brings. 

Mr. Macho and I had to leave mass suddenly this morning and some people misinterpreted. They thought I was feeling bad.

18. I am thankful it wasn't me.

19. I am thankful it wasn't worse than it is.

20. I am thankful for caring conversations. 

Sleep tight. 

Oh snap.

Oops. Just realized that I skipped yesterday. 

My garden club met and I was one of the co-hostesses. It took up the better part of the day. 

Here are a few food photos for  your enjoyment.

My friend, Patricia, invited our little circle over for lunch before the meeting. She had prepared a roasted corn chowder and waldorf chicken salad. Let me just say, she makes her own pasta. Anything that comes out her kitchen 'es bueno'. 

Patricia also prepared some brie in puff pastry. On the side she served some roasted, peppered red grapes with walnuts. Oh. It. Was. Good. 

Our table looked very fall-ish. My contributions were the pumpkin spice muffins with cinnamon cream cheese frosting seen on the left side of the picture. The ladies of the club enjoyed and complimented profusely. 

***

I am chock full of gratitude this week. Magnanimous feelings abound as I drive into town and home again with the colors of fall filling the eye with a palette beyond imagination. The brightest colors are fleeting, yet striking, with few trees looking 'en fuego'. 

Most local trees have had the good taste to simply turn maroon in color this year. 

Maroon. 

White.

Fight, fight, fight.

17. I am sincerely thankful for a winning football season.

Go Dawgs!

Mid-week thanksgiving.

What would we do without our sense of smell? Today I am reflecting on the good job that my nose performs every day. Usually without thanks.

Here are just a few items that my olfactory has detected in the last 24 hours:

14. Lysol.
15. Pumpkin spice muffin aroma.
16. Lingering lime juice on my hands.

Yo. Smell ya later!

Vote.

I love the seasons. The changes. The colors. 

Two of the oaks in our yard make nice big acorns. The other oak makes go-zillions of small ones. This is not a bountiful year for the big acorns. I had to look hard to find these. 

My pumpkin vines produced three mature pumpkins. The vines grew out of compost seeds. They are  a small variety pumpkin. 

My last Belgian waffle from last year's batch. Time to make more. 

Today is election day. This guy sat on a busy corner. His sign read "Honk if your proud to be American". There were honks aplenty. 

And so today I give thanks for:

11. My right to vote.

12. My state and country.

13. My beautician. 

God bless America. 

Lack of focus.

Some days it is just hard to find the groove. Today is one. I'm feeling out of sorts. Like I can't get anything started.
I am down to one crochet project and feel the need to get another one going before I am totally out of things to do with my hands. I have plenty of yarn, only I just can't decide what next. Is there such thing as a crochet slump? A dry spell? I must be in it. I think I need to visit Pinterest. For inspiration.
I have done the usual things today, though. I exercised. I donated my two gallons of chili to the soup kitchen. Breakfast dishes got cleared away. I even wiped down the top of the fridge and dusted the fan in our bedroom.
It has finally gotten cool enough at night to not run the fan. For the last two nights we have piled on extra homemade afghans to keep warm. No heater, yet. I like the house a little cool, especially at night.
I have taken care of the bills. And the mail. Done my newspaper puzzles. After which I noted that my roll-on Biofreeze has taken up permanent residence next to Mr. Macho's chair. He had a shoulder thing last week. The Biofreeze did the trick. Now it sits right there. Waiting until the next time.

Oh well. I'll think of something. In the mean time I have half a dozen eggs waiting to be made into salad. Soup and sandwiches for supper.

9. Abundance of colorful yarn.
10. Time to decide.

For these things I give thanks.

Be sweet.

Sunday. Funday.

5. Sunshine. My heart is lighter when it is sunny.

6. Eyesight. I am a visual person. 

7. Finished projects. 

8. This is a weird one = self affirmation. I am actually thankful that my leg is hurting today. Strange, huh? Not that I am glad it is hurting but that it is hurting TODAY so that it confirms my decision to have surgery. 

Be sweet. 

Happy November.

Much to be thankful for.  And so it starts. The 30 days of thanksgiving posts.

I am thankful for:
1. The love that ties my family together.
2. This cold snap, as it stokes the holiday spirit in me.
3. Facetime.
4. Trick-or-treaters aplenty.

I hope you are enjoying some feelings of gratitude this morning. I challenge you to address and acknowledge those feelings throughout this entire month.

Namaste.

Visit to The Patch.

Let me just say, though we need some rain, we have enjoyed some fabulous fall days for the last two weeks. Cooler temps and copious amounts of sunshine. It does the head, heart, and body good to be exposed to sunny-ness. We all got our doses of vitamin D when we visited the local pumpkin patch yesterday.

Daughter brought her children over for the adventure. The kids ate a terrific lunch. They looove the chicken nuggets. And. They ate the green peas and fruit I had prepared (right out the can). This was followed by dessert of rice krispy treats, right out the box. 

Mr. Macho and Tucker led us north in the little red truck. It is 10 years old and has less than 30 thousand miles on it. It is our favorite kind of truck = paid for! 

Anyway, boys in the truck. Girls in Daughter's minivan. Headed to the Patch. It felt like it took forever. And then we were there. The owners of Country Pumpkins in Caledonia each fall create a farm play land for children and adults. There is so much to do I can't remember all of it. They have free games to play, concessions, rest rooms, multiple venues for photo ops, free pony rides, and shady spots to sit and enjoy. There are a few things that require buying a ticket. The train ride, the hay ride, and the corn maze. Mr. Macho, Daughter, and Tucker ran the corn maze. It took a long time. Lauren, Merritt, and I entertained ourselves with the farm slides, bean bag toss games, covered wagon, and sat in the shade for a few minutes before we decided to go ahead and do the pony ride. Lauren was most anxious to get on a pony! And she loved it. She rode twice! I think she is a horse whisperer. Tucker and Merritt each rode a horse. Merritt's was a little pony. She was a little scared, at first. But she warmed up and was smiling big when  the ride was ending. Tucker rocked the pony ride. 

All three are growing up. As you can see...

It won't be long before he hits that 5 feet level. 

Lauren is about to pass me up. 

Presenting Miss Personality, The Super Carrot!

Loving the pony ride. 

This is a serious cowboy. 

It takes two to drive this truck. She steers. He reaches the pedals. 

Two girls in a covered wagon.

Day is done. Time to pay for the pumpkins. 

***

After we said goodbye I ran over to the great-nephew's birthday party for a very few minutes. I delivered his birthday card. There were plenty of people there and some very fun looking vehicles including a tractor and fire truck!! Wow! 

Football, leftovers, and resting my back took up the rest of the day. 

*****

There is a roast cooking in my crock pot making the house smell delicious. I'll cook some rice to go with it. Come on over. 

*

Tomorrow I meet the doctor. Orthopedic surgeon. I am slightly anxious. I hope he has his magic wand ready. 

Peace. 

Just kicking it.

That's what I'm doing today. Kicking it at the crib. A stay home day. Oh. Lots to do...have already changed the bed sheets. And. Did all my good stretching. In a few minutes I will get all the towels in the washing machine, windex the inside of my car windows, do some floor maintenance, and see what else I can find that needs attention.

My time is being filled these days. With good things I can do. I have found some fast-working crochet projects...

This was accomplished in two days. Could have finished it in one. 

I liked the pattern so much that I made it in another color combo. I love the picot edging. 

I liked this pattern. It worked up quickly. Might try it in other colors, too. 

I am anxious to work on a yellow/white/gray pallet. Sister Marsha gave me some big skeins of yarn that I might use for a full size afghan. Am trying to finish a pink baby girl afghan right now, too. 

Cooler months tend to make me want to do the crochet. I might even find a fun little hat project to work on this week. That usually goes fast. Fast projects = feelings of accomplishment.  

Don't ask me who these things are for. Most of the time I have no one in mind when I make them. Then. Someone pops up pregnant, or my neighbor comes over because she has been invited to a baby shower...and voila! I have the perfect gift. 

The yarn fairy has set off her bomb, again. The bed right behind me is a hot mess of yarn right this minute. It gets the creative juices flowing. 

***

I am trying very hard to stay engaged in social activities right now. Both of my bunko groups and my garden club have started back after the summer break. Little projects and fund raisers are happening these days. And. I am trying hard to be involved. Even though it is at a minimal level, it helps my psyche to go out and do. 

***

Can you hear that? My dirty car window is calling my name. 

Namaste. 

Hump day.

Just a few unimportant thoughts as I reach the mid-week mark.

Mr. Macho's birthday was hailed with little pomp. And no circumstance. All our children and grandchildren were at our home to share in some cake and ice cream on Sunday. Loved the chaos. Got worn out. Modus operandi.

Two crochet projects have been completed. Two more are on the assembly line.

Temps are much improve after the stormy weather moved through on Monday.

I am keeping to my three-days-a-week work out schedule. I am ramping it up ever so slightly. Because I can.

We will go get our flu shots after work today. Hospital give-away.

The whisper of holiday gatherings has begun. Procrastination seems to be the best course to take, at present. Doctor appointment in a week and a half. Will be able to do some planning once we get a date set. Eek.

That was a soft eek.

Love where you live.

This morning I am feeling tired. And a little schmarmy. I love it that I can drive a short distance and buy quart size jars of local honey. On the honor system. The jars sit on a little bench with a sign that reads, "Honey $10 - honor system." There is a slit in the bench that I slip my money into. And. The honey is delish.

I also have an egg lady. She doesn't live very far, either. Her husband died this weekend. I am baking a coffee cake for her right this minute, as I type. I will deliver it after my shower this morning. Along with a nice bag of coffee, some napkins, and paper cups.

I love my YMCA. Where I exercise. And socialize. There is a loose camaraderie among us early morning athletes (wink, wink). I am still having to work out at a very slow measured pace. But I am so proud that I can do it. Lots of problem solving and prognosticating goes on around the coffee pot most mornings.

This morning I noticed a particular maple tree in my neighborhood is just showing signs of fall color. This weekend was near perfect. Rain on Friday brought down the temps. On Saturday - all felt right with the world. The high did not even reach 70 degrees. And the sun shone on Mississippi, literally and figuratively,  in a rare confluence of the most cheerful events in the history of our sports. Our. Teams. Won. In a big way.

Here are some pics from the past week...

Naked ladies in my back yard. A sure sign of autumn.

Pinterest biscuit recipe was the bomb-dot-com. 

I finished this afghan. For a football player I have never met. 

Why? 

He asked. 

Here is the photo from the "trying new things" department. Harvest pumpkin ale. It was good. 

Saturday morning I hedged my bets with three different color pom-poms. Maroon and white. Red and blue. And. Crimson and white. Just in case. 

I thought Katy Perry was hysterical. She did what she does best. Act redunculous. 

I must admit something here. I enjoyed, even gloated slightly, that Lee Corso and his cohorts got it wrong this time. 

We cheered on the Bulldogs. Mr. Macho truly enjoyed watching MSU beat TA&M. 

Then. And then. To our great surprise - the Rebels beat the Tide. I didn't think it could/would happen.

Our Sunday morning papers declared the weekend, "Unbelievable!" It may not happen again for a long time, but for one Saturday we owned it. And. We enjoyed it. 

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y!

Victory. Victory. That's our cry. 

Hail dear old State.

And.

Hotty toddy, y'all.

Almost gone.

This month. Another slippery slope. Gone too fast. Ah well.

The weekend. Bueno. Almost felt normal. Mr. Macho and I checked out two new stores in town on Saturday. A sporting goods store. A craft store. Our little metropolis is growing. More shopping options feels like progress. Progress is good.

Saturday afternoon I cooked the huge pot of chili. I had a yen and googled some new ingredients for the chili. In addition to the usual beef, beans, onions, peppers, tomatoes, chili powder, and cumin - I added a beer and 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder. The chili was the smoothest, richest chili I have ever made.

Veering from the norm, I did not cook Sunday dinner. Instead, we opted to eat at the Buffalo Wild Wings. It was my second repast at this particular BWW, and Mr. Macho's first. He has declared, "I have been to Buffalo Wild Wings!" - which translates to, "I won't make that mistake again!" So many teevees. So much noise. Screaming our order to the waitress is not our idea of a fun dining experience.

Next on the agenda was a movie. Mr. Macho had decided he wanted to watch Denzel on the big screen. He rarely thinks about, much less verbalizes that he wants to go the the movies. I jumped right on that band wagon and off to the movies we went. Denzel did not disappoint. He is such a good actor. The good guys defeated the Russian bad guys. I was so relieved that his movie friend/side kick survived the entire ordeal. I was going to be so agitated if he had not.

After a big milk "shape" (thanks Tucker) at the Sonic we caught a quick visit with Macho's dad. Afterwards we just vegged at home for the rest of the evening.

Out-of-Town Son is due in after work this evening. He will be working in town the next two days and will crash at our maxi pad. I am cooking breakfast for supper tonight, trying a new biscuit recipe. I hope  they taste as good as the picture looks.

I am pleased to announce that I walked 1.5 miles again this morning on the treadmill. And. I shaved 3 minutes off of the time from last Wednesday.

With that uplifting note I am off to the shower and a little more folding clothes and dusting before the wind runs out of my sails.
Be sweet.

Slow day at the hive.

It is a slow day here at Bee Central. The buzz around here is that there are better days ahead. Today is pretty darn good.

This week I enjoyed having lunch with my girl friends on Tuesday. On Wednesday my new daytime bunko group convened. Fun connections.

Tuesday I had my annual mammogram. The process has been streamlined so that I was back in my car in 20 minutes. Nice. Three years since "The Scare". Nice.

On Wednesday I saw the P.A. at Orthopedic for post epidural shot follow up. Shots and physical therapy have helped. Considerably. What next? The pain is reduced, but not gone. Looks like, for me, surgery is going to be the best option for my long term health. My choice. The surgeon is booked until after the first of the year. I will wait.

Fall has come in on kitten feet. Back porch sitting has been premium. A single hummingbird has been spotted at the feeder. As opposed to the frenzied swarm that was here last week. I will not refill. Naked ladies have been spotted in the back yard. (Some call them spider lilies.) Pumpkins can be found at every market in town. Tomorrow I am cooking chili.

Today - look someone in the eyes and ask how they are feeling. 

Remember - a soft answer turneth away wrath. 

Be sweet. 

Bodies in motion.

Any kind of effort at organizing a 3 year old birthday party is a bit like herding cats. Do not attempt. 

The birthday girl arrived in royal attire. She greeted her guests and  upon their departure graciously acclaimed, "Thank you for coming to my birthday party!" 

I am three. 

Jackson struck this pose on his own. No one was hurt in the filming of this party. 

Posers. 

The venue was the best. Room for all to run, jump, roll, romp, climb, hide, and have fun, while being noisy. 

Complete with tiara and scepter, the Birthday Princess poses with her father. 

Parting shot. Yes. She picked out her socks and shoes, too. She is 'The Total Package'. Princess from top to bottom. 

I do not think it could have been any more fun for the birthday girl. She exuded birthday love throughout the entire party. 

The Tumblebus Station is THE place to host a 3 year old birthday party. Could not have been better. 

Her Royal Highness and the Queen Mother were duly worn out at day's end. 

Birthday eve.

Tomorrow the International Day of Peace will be celebrated 'round the world. 

And.

We will celebrate the 3rd birthday of our Ambassador of Peace.

Super Carrot's first kiss. 

Her aura is peace. Her mission is love. 

Celebratory photos will be posted at a later date.

Peace out. 

Milestones. One lap at a time.

I love the smell of rain in the morning. Today? It smelled liked progress.
I completed one entire lap in my hood. Hurting. Every. Step. Of. The. Way. And finished = smiling. Not crying.
I can do hard things.
I win.

Bee the adventure.

We took to the road over the weekend. It felt good to leave town for a few days. Change of scenery did the head and heart some good. The body, not so much. We left early Friday and headed for the coast. Doctor recommended frequent stops to stretch the legs and back. And so we did. 

Years ago Out-of-Town-Son lived in Hattiesburg and introduced us to the Plaid Rhino. We like stopping in from time to time. They have changed the menu, but we still got the things we wanted. For Mr. Macho it is a hamburger with a fried egg on it. 

For me it was the shrimp po-boy. 

We stopped at Mom's before checking in to our hotel. It was her birthday weekend and that was part of the reason we were there. She is actually 94 years of age today. Can you imagine? Other than being extremely hearing impaired she plugs along amazingly well. With a little help from her friends. 

The other reason we traveled to the Coast was to see Beach Boy and his family and to attend the Friday night football game of the team he helps coach. We cheered on the Bearcats, unsuccessfully. Not a bad game...there is hope and good things happening for the team. The best thing happening is that they have some terrific coaches in place that are really teaching the boys football and life lessons. Being a part of a team is chock full of good life lessons. Having  good coaches is icing on the cake. 

Our Millie couldn't hang. She and her big sister lasted until right before half time when they got to go home and sack out. 

Saturday morning we attended the inaugural "Pigskin and Pearls" football fund raiser in the high school cafeteria. Well done, coaches' wives! 

For lunch we went to the local eclectic eatery...Darwell's. It is a favorite spot. I love the way the owner greets most all his customers and schmoozes them up. This time he regaled us with his wrestling prowess. 

The art on the walls is the work of the owner's father, who is reputed to be the author of the lyrics to the old Three Dog Night song, "One (is the Loneliest Number)".  It's a good story. I hope it's true. 

After lunch we did a little shopping in The Pass and drove over The Bay bridge. Trees laden with spanish moss stir something deep inside me. My idea of heaven = sitting in a comfortable chair, facing the water, with a cool drink under one of these beauties. 

We got to spend a few more hours visiting with Mom and taking her to Saturday Mass at her Parish church. She can not hear what the priest is saying, but she wouldn't miss it. 

Later we went to watch some football with Beach Boy & Co. Sister Marsha dropped by for a brief visit.

Sunday we had a lazy start. Slept late and took our time checking out. We met Beach Boy and family for a brunch. 

Nice stranger offered to snap our photo. Sweet Pea doesn't particularly like to stand still for the photo op. You can see her yellow dress behind me, and one purple flip-flop clad foot between me and Mr. Macho, if you look close. 

I told her I wanted to show her something. And when she saw us on the phone screen she said, "I know what that is. It's a selfie!" Of course it was. I think her great Aunt Rhonda taught her that! 

The ride home was fine with a nice stop at Out-of-Town-Son's house for a quick visit. It was good to get back to our locale. The sight of cotton ready to pick let us know we were back in our county and almost home. And. I have to say, as much as I looove the adventure, there truly is no place like home. 

***

My back behaved, for the most part, this weekend. This morning is good. I have been to the gym. I feel stronger. 

On to the next thing.