Out like a lion.

Thursday, March 31, 2016. National and local weather prognosticators had called for nasty weather. Wednesday wasn't too bad in our area. Thursday started off rainy then cleared for the afternoon. But. It got unseasonably warm. And I knew. 

Mr. Macho and I had just sat down for a small supper while we watched the local news. About 6:20 our local weatherman cut into his own newscast. He quickly reported a tornado on the ground and he warned people in our very own community to be in our safe place. Right. Then. 

What does Mr. Macho do? Right - he steps out onto the front porch. Where he could hear the tornado siren going off. I heard it, too, after a few seconds of listening. It had gone from being scarily still to wind whipping around. I insisted we both get into the hall. And we did.

It got loud. Mr. Macho thought he was still hearing the siren. I told him that was no siren -it was the tornado. I thought I heard very loud hail - Mr. Macho said that was limbs and projectiles hitting our roof. I was afraid the two enormous pines in our front yard were coming down on our house. 

Then it was over. 

Other than cones and limbs and leaves in the yard - we were unscathed. 

Our neighbors did not fare so well...

Quickly the sound of emergency sirens and chain saws filled the air. Pick up trucks and emergency vehicles saturated our neighborhood for two days. Even today I have had to dodged trucks and clean up crews on our street. Blue tarps went up fast. 

We lost power for about 6 hours and so had to use flashlights and candles. I was worried about losing all the food in my fridge. I had made 5 pounds of potato salad just that afternoon. 

I think I was in a little bit of shock. I had lots of adrenalin. Then I got very tired with a little headache. Then I began to shiver. Finally I went to bed. And. It was so dark. At about 12:30 our power came back on and I had to get up to turn off the teevee. 

Friday brought more of the same - emergency personnel and clean up crews. I walked around a little bit and hugged neighbors I didn't know. I didn't walk all around because people and crews were so busy attending to the clean up. I don't like looking at other people's misery. 

By Saturday I was ready to see it all. So I walked around to look. Twice. Some houses had nasty gashes. No injuries were reported. Thank heavens. 

Saturday one of the local baptist churches set up shop in my next door neighbor's front yard and cooked 200 hot dogs and 200 hamburgers to feed all the neighbors. My children and grandchildren had arrived for the weekend (planned weeks in advance) and we all dined on the burgers and dogs. I just have to say how good it felt to be taken care of.  

View from Linda D.'s front yard. 

***

I was glad to have family distraction over the weekend, especially since Mr. Macho had Daddy Duty. He took the day off Friday to clean up the yard then left that evening to care for his dad over the weekend. I was sorry he couldn't stay and visit with his children and grandchildren. 

Peyton and Millie were the first to arrive. When Cecilia got here it was a happy squeal fest! These cousins were so glad to see each other. Then more squealing when the Tuscaloosa cousins arrived on Saturday. I can't described how it feels to see them all loving each other. Tucker and Lauren are so good and gentle with their small cousins. Merritt has so much fun with these girls. We got to play a few games over the weekend. The kids watched a movie or two that I had purchased last week. 

I had the best time on the way to church Sunday morning with 4/6 of the cousins in the car and Katie Perry singing "I am the champion" - and we were all singing at the top of our lungs! Of course, the grandkids know the words much better than I do! It was great fun. 

****

I hear chain saws right this minute as I type. Our Friday garbage has not picked up, yet. Dump trucks have carried away loads and loads of storm debris already. There are still mountain of trees and limbs that need hauling off. My little neighborhood will not look the same. I will even have my pines cut down for fear of damage with the next big wind. It is sad but necessary. 

I am hoping for peace and good weather in April. 

Namaste. 

Easter glow?

It was a quiet little Easter. Very nice. Mr. Macho and I attended mass, as usual. Then we enjoyed a delicious pork loin dinner. He had requested butter beans. He got butter beans. A green salad with spinach, strawberries, and red onion accompanied the pork and butter beans, along with rolls, and a store bought lemon meringue pie for dessert! It was a meal that required only slight preparation. Oh happy day.

For the first time ever I did not purchase even a single piece of Easter candy. Miraculously I was able to walk away from the 50% off milk chocolate Dove bunny yesterday. I did, however, indulge in a bottle of chardonnay over the weekend. Ah.

This week has got me breathing in a brown paper bag. For whatever reason I am feeling panicky this morning. I have already overbooked my Friday and have had to abdicate my First Friday brunch responsibilities. Just breath breathe. (Thanks alot, Rusty.)

Fun find for the week is a new silver polish. It works miracles. You can buy it in the automotive department at the Walmart or an auto parts store...Eagle One original Never-Dull wadding polish. I just want to sit and polish! Warning: wear gloves and understand that it has a chemical smell.

Lunch with my girlies today and then back to the store for a few items I need for the next few meals.

Mr. Macho has taken the day off to mow his dad's yard. Before the rains arrive tomorrow. It will take him most of the day to accomplish the task. It takes him about 45 minutes to do our yard. His dad's yard is 2+ acres.

Speaking of his dad...not going very well at present. The orthopedic foot doctor finally gave us valuable information last week as to where his foot pain is coming from. He has such poor circulation, and that causes extreme pain. Mystery one solved. Mystery two is - can the poor circulation be remedied? Stay tuned!

Got to run. Much to do. Hopping right along.
Here's hoping your Easter glow is with you still. And always.
Peace.

Just for fun...

I couldn't wait to post...

A few pictures from the party today...

Meat pie, asparagus, deviled eggs, cucumber stacks. Delicious bread and salad were served. Key lime pie for dessert. 

Seated ladies. 

After we viewed the final episode we had tea and scones. 

The butler did it. 

So many more pictures, so much fun. 

Quick post on random doings.

It has started a chilly spring day. Welcome sunshine will warm it up a bit. Am I speaking with a British accent? Yes. My girlfriends and I are gathering to view the last episode of Downton Abbey this afternoon. We are all dressing in Downton fashion and have agreed to speak with our best British accents. We will dine beforehand on, what we think, is typical Downton fare. I am con-tributing (said with my best Mr. Carson accent) cucumber stacks and deviled eggs. I am assured, on the internet, that deviled eggs were a staple in Mrs. Patmore's kitchen. I'm sure we will take snaps and I'll try to post some another day.

Father-in-law is having a rough go. Those of you I know are up to snuff on the situation. Suffice it to say that he is suffering and his children are making valiant efforts to see that he is well cared for. It is hard.

I have just finished polishing a wooden box that belonged to my mother. One of her grandfathers was a cabinet maker. He made the box for her when she was a child. I think it is cedar. I will have to ask. I have had it for years and, am sorry to admit, I kept it in my attic. It is dry from years of heat exposure. So, very often, I try to put furniture oil polish on it. Belatedly I am making the effort to keep in in tact. I need for it to hold together.  Long enough to be my mother's last resting place. Today I dubbed myself, "Keeper of the Casket". While I polish it I wonder - should I include some things inside the box when we bury her. A photo of her and dad when they were young? Her rosary? At some point  I'll ask my sibs if they would like to contribute an item. I have mentioned my plan to use the box to Mom. She liked the idea.

I must be off to clean up for my party. The cream cheese has been piped onto the cucumbers. The devil has been piped into the eggs. They will be delivered on silver trays.

Y'all have some fun today.
Cheerio!

Can you say, "dry spell"?

We haven't had rain in two days. But. That isn't the dry spell I mean. I've been busy and have been avoiding and ignoring my blog posts. Don't know why. If I knew I would correct it.

Call it a funk. I've been fairly busy. But I can't seem to finish projects right now. Three baby afghans are lingering on multiple surfaces. I am dragging my way through a never ending book. Still. House cleaning isn't a priority. Is it spring fever? What is it? I need a little Christmas. Or something.

We had a nice weekend. Saturday Mr. Macho and I drove to the neighboring town to check out the new Kroger grocery store. It is fabulous. I want one here! Sunday we visited with Ceclia and her parents. She is crawling! And chewing on everything. Teeth can't be far away.

Daughter and family are planning to come over for a spend the night on Friday. I am looking forward to that. Lauren has requested spinach dip. The cold variety. Merritt - brownies. I had to ask Tucker. He chose boneless chicken wings. I'all have to search for those. It isn't an item I am familiar with.

I did get a few items that I no longer used bagged up and in the car. Give aways. I have to start thinking in terms of kitchen makeover. I am planning it a year in advance. It is the last frontier in our home. All else has been updated. I even looked at some refrigerators whilst Mr. Macho was buying the new weed eater at Sears on Saturday. Oh. There are some fun new gadgets on the new refrigerators. It is fun just looking.

I've rambled enough. I do have one basket of laundry awaiting my folding skills. Better do that.
Peace.

Tornado Tuesday.

Here we are again. Tuesday. Stormy weather. Intermittent hard rain. Very dark skies.

I have opted to cancel on my Downton Abbey viewing for this afternoon. Call me chicken. Call me lazy. I don't care. It just feels good right now to be home. In the rain.

I actually stayed home yesterday whilst my windshield got repaired. Two days in a row and my house has many fewer herds of dust bunnies. I have put my decorative bunnies out for the Easter season. I am going to clean a floor or two this afternoon. All the while watching the sky and the clouds.

There will be a sit down meal tonight with Out-of-Town Son. Complete with a brand new to everybody marinated salad. My own creation. Then chicken. gumbo and rice. I think. Not 100% sure that is what is thawing in my fridge. But it smelled like gumbo.

More racing around and bizziness for the rest of the week. Mr. Macho is the man-on-duty next weekend.

This Lenten season is providing some very tough personal challenges. The least of which is giving up alcohol. Once or ten times I have been very tempted. To say that harsh word. To go ahead a get that glass of wine. You know? Sometimes it doesn't feel good to resist right at that moment. Like, it would feel so good to just let it rip and say something sassy. Then the moment passes. After a while I am so glad I didn't say the hurtful thing. I am so relieved I kept my thoughts to myself. I erased the email. Whew. Man does not live by bread alone. Thanks to Glennon Doyle Melton for reminding me that - "We can do hard things!" That cocktail can wait.

Here we are, though, in March. Easter is right around the corner. Sap is rising in the trees right outside my window. Life is changing right before my eyes. Every day.

Dirty floors are calling my name.
Shalom.