Getting busy.

Who you gonna call?

Mr. Macho had to get busy spraying for the invasion of army worms. They were everywhere. Destructive little boogers. We think round one goes to us. We haven't seen a live worm in days. 

The real busy season is about to open. September will bring welcome activity. August has been a reading month for me. I have read 4 or 5 books. But in doing so, I have been stagnant. Tomorrow, with the new month, I will start back with my Bible study and Garden Club. Friday is Mass and brunch with the church seniors.

Next week I head to the coast to visit Mom ahead of her 96th birthday. And. I plan to attend grandparent's day at Millie's preschool. We will celebrate Millie's #3 birthday while I am there, too. Plus I get to visit Sister Mimi, post-op. Hope I can cheer her up and make her feel better. The knee. She is having the surgery on the knee.

As soon as I get home from the aforementioned trip, I will turn it around and head to Florida with my girls. Yep. Girl trip! Not looking forward to the long ride, but know we will have some fun together.

Last weekend Mr. Macho and I were able to help out at his Dad's place. The sisters-in-law are preparing it for the upcoming estate sale. We have decided on a date in October. Several items have already left the premises through natural selection. A few other things have been sold.

Yikes! We found this creepy monkey while cleaning out a closet last weekend. He has taken a trip to the local landfill. And all were much relieved. This is the kind of thing nightmares are made of. 

***

A break in temperatures is predicted for the weekend. It is most welcome. Hot again next week. But for two nights it might actually dip into the '60's. Yes.

Labor Day weekend will bring unexpected adventures, I'm sure.
Hope your labors are few and your hearts are light this weekend.

"Do small things with great love." - Mother Teresa

The best by far...

In the month since father-in-law died we have received many lovely sympathy cards. Then last week this one arrived...

Her Mom explained that this was totally Merritt's out of the blue idea.  Merritt wanted to make Grandaddy a card because Grandaddy Bob died.  I understood it immediately. 

Do you? (Three are standing: Nanny, Merritt, and Grandaddy. One is laying in the ground: Grandaddy Bob.)  

How much sweeter can it be? 

Out-of-Town Son and family were up this weekend. He and Mr. Macho went through Grandaddy Bob's workshop and found some tools that Son wanted. Not many. He also selected some for his brother, Beach Boy. 

On Sunday we delivered a few furniture items to Daughter. 

I am happy to have inherited a potting table...

I see it out my kitchen window. 

I think of my mother-in-law and father-in-law when I look at it.

The cabinet top will have to be replace since it is worn out and disintegrating. 

It is a happy place. 

***

Got to run get this day started. We plan to meet a sister-in-law and niece for supper tonight in Starkvegas. 

Other items on the agenda this week: 

1. battling the biblical invasion of army worms 

and 

2. tropics watching. 

Be safe. 

Be sweet. 

The ties that bind.

 Last week wasn't great. No need to elaborate. It was just funky. Slow and a little blue.

Watching father-in-law's house being disassembled is just sad. I didn't realize it would feel like this. My own parents lost so much in The Storm that, when the time comes, there aren't that many material things to handle. And, I know - it is only things.  I am working through the emotions. 

Sisters-in-law are doing all the work. They have cleaned and sacked and already gotten rid of much stuff. They have been real trojans taking it all on themselves to get the work done. 

The week ended well, though. 

Saturday an extended family reunion was attended by all these first cousins. Mr. Macho and his sisters really seemed to enjoy reconnecting with family. Aunt Thelma (seated on the right) is their last aunt on either side. Her husband of a few years is seated next to her. With the suspenders. 

Saturday night we celebrated our anniversary. We ate at one of my favorite restaurants downtown. Macho even relaxed and enjoyed his meal. It seemed like everyone that walked into the restaurant waved at him like they knew him. Until finally someone that we did know came in. It was funny. Macho even found the prices not as bad as he expected. (That is a plus for him.) 

Afterward we visited with Sister Paulette at her home. It was a most pleasant evening. 

Sunday afternoon we headed to town to spend the gift cards I gave Mr. Macho for his anniversary gift. The closer we got to town the more ominous it looked. We made it to the store before the storm broke. It didn't last long, but it was oh so loud on the metal roof of the store.  Macho found a MS State shirt that he liked. I found something, too, and felt guilty spending some of the gift on myself. Macho insisted, and so I came home with a nice pink windbreaker. Both happy. 

39 years. Mom said this morning she doesn't know how she let me get married so young. We really look it in this picture. Many miles since then. 

And the trip just keeps getting better. 

Peace. And love.

Be sweet. 

Tucker's weekend.

We are having a quiet little end to a fun weekend. 

I drove over and picked up Tucker on Friday morning. That was after I had attended a mass where I learned that a long time acquaintance had died the day before. He was younger than me and I was pretty shocked for most of the day. Still can't quite get my mind around it.

Anyway. Tucker and I made a Sam's run and then headed back home. We stopped at the Jack's burger on our way home to grab a bite for lunch. Then we stopped at the Country Mart for some night crawlers. (Those are fishing worms.)

I had planned to swim but

I hadn't realized that our lifeguard was not on duty Friday afternoon so...

 Tucker spent time doing calisthenics in front of the teevee. We played 'Naughts and Crosses', Battleship, Zip It, and Tucker did work in a workbook we had purchased at Sam's. (Before the weekend was over Tucker had me figured out and finally beat me at Battleship. Way to go Tucker!) For supper we dined on meatball sandwiches and cole slaw. I think we even watched some of Jaws that night. Tucker had to text his Dad when he realized that Jaws was on teevee. Apparently, he has seen it before. I was deep into a book and read most of the evening. 

After a breakfast of cereal, fruit, and honey buns we headed over to the lake for some fishing. I spotted these lovely morning glories near the lake. 

We tried to fish from the bank in several spots. Macho and Tucker went up and down the bank to no avail. 

Then we decided to head to the dock to try our luck. 

Tucker actually hooked one, we think a catfish. It bent his pole good before it got off his line. Mr. Macho hooked a big one and just as he got the fish to the surface his line broke. We had old fishing line that had been sitting for years and years. We should have known better. There was a nice breeze that kept us from being too, too hot. We watched some kind of hawk dive over and over again into the water trying to catch fish for himself. 

We did get all our ducks in a row! (These are actually geese.) It was funny watching the parade. We had ducks swim by us checking us out a couple of times during our fishing excursion.

Finally we gave up on catching any fish and donated our remaining worms to a young couple that had just arrived on the dock. They happily accepted our gift. 

A lunch of leftovers and a siesta later and we made our way to the YMCA pool for a refreshing swim. It was uber hot by then and the water felt great. We remembered our sun screen and nobody got burnt. After an hour and a half it started thundering and the life guard required all to exit the pool. So. We went home, took showers, and went bowling. 

That was fun. 

Tucker was a little discouraged with his score, but I think he had some fun. I did. Bowling is a blast. Then he and I rode 3 minutes on the bumper cars. I can check that off my bucket list. It was sorta fun. Tucker couldn't figure out the controls. I figured I had no control and just went with it. 

Next stop - Mi Hacienda! For a Mexican feast. I had the #28. Tucker had the #22. Macho had #37. And then we came home to watch The Fifth Wave. Tucker looked over and asked, "Nanny, why are your closing your eyes?" I was falling asleep. It had been such a busy day, I was worn slam out.

Today we dropped Tucker back home after church and a good lunch. All in all I had a fun time. I hope Tucker will look back and feel like he had some fun with us. 

I think I want to go bowling again. And you know I love fishing. 

Ready for the next adventure. 

Bring it on.

Be sweet. 

Nothing really.

Our days have gotten mellow. For the most part. High tensions morphed to sadness. Yet. Our mourning hearts are lighter. Our witness to the suffering is becoming our history. We are finding a little laughter. Not belly laughs, but lighter ones. Our teasing each other is returning.

Tucker is coming for some Nanny time this weekend. We are hoping to go fishing. I don't know what else, but we will seek adventure. The days are too hot for vigorous outside activities. Heat indices are over 100. Melt your toenails, man.

My bug man is due to arrive in an hour and a half. He is only 2.5 months late. I think I am going to get him to spray. I can't keep up with the tiny spiders that keep spinning webs on anything/everything that stands still for more than 30 seconds.

Peaches. Finally. Finally ate a delicious peach. Best one of the summer. Yes. Roadside stand. Yes. Chilton County peach. Oh. My. Gosh. It really was the best. Ate it as soon as I got it in the house and washed it. Then I ate another while watching teevee last night. Then another with my cereal this morning. I am longing for another right at this moment. So good.

No big plans on the horizon. Well there is a girl trip in September that threatens to fall apart. Strong personalities at odds.

Getting on with the day.
Namaste.