Tomorrow is Father’s Day. And, I bet you a shiny red apple that I will hear him say tomorrow, “Every day is Father’s Day.” And, he really feels that way!

Last year, on Father’s Day, my Mom had the whole family together at her house. She was sick and did not feel like cooking and preparing for us. I know that Pop stayed right with her for 2 days, helping her with whatever she asked of him….peeling potatoes, shicking and cleaning corn…whatever was hardest for her. He knew how much she wanted to have us all and he wanted it for her as much as she did. As it turned out, that was the last time we all ate one of her most wonderful meals.

Now, Pop wants us all to eat with him, at his house, tomorrow. And, Joy, great sister and daughter that she is, has cooked all the food. Looking forward to us all being together. Ian came home last night so he could be here with us, too.

So…just sharing some pictures that are special to me…

Our little family, many years ago…

On one of many trips to NC, Pop would pull off the road when he saw a good place. And, he would get Alex or Ian or Adam out of the carseat, and take them for a short walk to stretch their legs…and his, too, I imagine! Here he is with little Alex…love this pic.

My family around 1986. My boys have been blessed with Donald as their Father. He is a Godly man, and has set the highest example for his sons.

A sweet picture, though not clear, of Don, his father and Adam…in 1975.

Happy Father’s Day to all…but especially to my Pop!

This is going to be a long post, so this may help you figure it out:

Donald………Tonja………..Suzanne………INFO……….

ALSO…this happened LAST week, before the bridal shower, so this post and the shower post should be flip-flopped, and that may happen at some point in time or not…just as long as you understand this is a week behind…which is just the way I do most things…well not ALL the time, sometimes I am on time, if I have to be, but if not…well…nevermind, I find myself going off on a tangent here…which is another thing I do frequently. Just read on……

WEDNESDAY…June 9

Since we moved in to the Creek House, I have wanted to finish my pool area. All last summer…it didn’t happen. Of course you remember how long it took me to get dining room chairs! Anyway…I had a bridal shower coming up for the son of a dear friend. About 6 weeks ago, I started reminding DH that I wanted it finished. And, he took me to place #1 look at some large glazed pots for next to the pool fountain. Well. I could have walked away that day with pots, but he did not 1. want to spend what they cost 2. decide then and there 3. buy pots on a day ending in ‘y’. So, we didn’t. I looked at several places over the next weeks, and reminded him again that the date was approaching…several times. Last Monday…LAST MONDAY !..(June 7)…he went back to the store where I liked the pots, and saw some others for about 1/2 the price. He sent me pictures of 1. an ugly concrete pot 3 ft tall, with horrid patches of stain down the sides 2. an ugly concrete pot 2 ft tall, with horrid patches of stain down the sides 3. the pots I liked to start with…still at the same price. Would I like concrete 3ft or concrete 2 ft. Why, no. No, I would rather put a bucket from the paint store atop a few brick next to the fountain. So you still want the green ones? Not necessarily…I think we can find some we both like somewhere. This was 4 days ago, you remember…shower is on Sunday. Tuesday, was a bust. On Wednesday (June 9….today) DDIL called and said she would go with me to another nursery she knew about. So, we set off on a mission to visit place #2.

Friends…you will not believe this. We drove up at this nursery…and DDIL said, “Look!” And, sitting there right out front was a pot…EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE I LIKED AT THE OTHER PLACE!!! “How Much?” I asked. She looked, and got the garden type person to look. “Mrs. Tonja, you are not going to believe this…it is $X” (This is less than 1/2 what the exact same pot was at the other store.) DH called about that time and asked what we were doing and I told him about the pot. He asked 1. was I sure? 2. was I looking at the pot to be certain it was the same? 3. was I looking at the price with my own eyes? Yes, X3. I hung up and went to explore this wonderful turn of events. Did they have 2? Sorry, no.

Can, you just see the bubble bursting all around me? But, DDIL, never one to back down from a difficult situation, started looking around at all the other pots they had. Their prices were excellent! Much better than the first place. Not as many, but, what they had…I really liked. DDIL found 2 that would work, then 2 more, and I found 2 more. And all were excellent prices…and matching sets! So, I called DH back, and again: 1.was I sure these were good pots 2. was I looking at the prices with my very own eyes? 3. was I sure I liked them…because I have a way of thinking I like things and then deciding I really don’t and then wanting something else, and we are not going to do that with these pots because we are only buying pots one time and that is all the pots we are ever going to buy…so was I sure? (FYI:::that is so not true…I do change my mind sometimes, but I can live with my mistakes…) 4. Maybe I just need to go check them out myself, maybe I can go one day this week.

No, not that was not going to happen. I knew…even if he did not know it yet…that I was leaving that place with 2 pots and something to be planted into them! And, that is exactly what I did. I picked out 2 pots that I really liked, and then picked out some Endless Summer White Hydrangea to plant. They loaded them into my car, and carefully I drove home. Alex helped me get the flowers out, and then Don took the pots out when he got home (with hand trucks) and put them into place. I like them. He likes them. I am as happy as can be with the pots and tomorrow, I will plant them and all will be well. The sky will be blue and little birds will sing and fly around the beautiful pots filled with beautiful flowers by the beautiful fountain. And, I will post this tomorrow morning and you will be happy for me, too, ‘Night! FYI: Below are the pots from place #2.

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Oh, how foolish I was! When will I learn that things can never be simple in this life of mine?

THURSDAY…..June 10

This morning around 11:00, the phone rang. It was DH.

DH: You will never believe what I am looking at in the paper. This is unbelievable.

T: What is it?

DH: Place #1 that had the pots you liked is having a 40% off sale on all their glazed pots! 40% off. Now that would bring them down to a reasonable price.

T: How about that? But, I really like the ones I got yesterday, so all is well.

DH: But, you really liked the pots there. If you had just waited…..

T. But, I am totally satisfied with what I have. You are not wanting me to take them back, are you?

DH: No, I just think it surprising that they did this today.

T. Well, do you want me to go and get them? (I knew he was going to say ‘no’ because we were only getting 2 to start with)

DH: Yeah, I think so. Why don’t you go and get them…just make sure they are on sale.

T: ( I. was. shocked. Go get MORE pots? Really? ) Who are you? And, what have you done with my real DH?

DH: Don’t be silly.

So, I got dressed in presentable clothes…and drove across town to Place 1. And, there they were…the pots I really wanted to start with. Yes, they were on sale. Great! Now, let’s fill them up with plants…lots of plants…oh, and soil…I need enough soil. The bill still ended up below the price we would have played originally for just the pots. They got it all together…loaded it into my car…and I carefully drove home. I knew I was going to have to call in reinforcements to get all this done by Sat. Hello, Tina?

SATURDAY…….June 12

I really should not be surprised that today is Sat. and I am just now starting to work on the planting, and placing, and cleaning up. I really wanted this to be done way, way, long ago…..

And, so Tina and I started work at 7:00 in the morning. These were the plans: 1. All the pots would be planted. 2. The table will be set and all decorations in place. 3. I will sit and look at all the pots and flowers, and reminisce about all the events of the last few days.

And, she and I planted and replanted and switched pots and pulled stuff out of storage and watered and even went and sat in the pool for while! Then we went inside and got all the mercury glass out, and put the table together, did a touch up on the decorations in house. We consumed many peanut butter M&M’s, cookies, DDP…AND…we finished!

Now, honestly. Was it necessary to go through all this stress and aggravation? Never mind, I know the answer to that! It was totally unnecessary. But, now I have 4 huge green pots, 3 small green pots, all planted and ready to grow! And, we only went 2 big pots, 3 little pots and lots of flowers over budget!

AND, we also (Tina and I) managed to climb a few trees, and get this great chandelier hung in the tree…one of the bendy trees that I begged the cutter guys not to cut . And, they didn’t…and this is why! Don’t ya love it? You can put candles in it or a vase of flowers. or both! (Notice the cute little crown at the top? PERFECT!)

I am happy. DH is happy. Even DDIL is happy. But, if these plants don’t grow…you know who’s gonna get the blame!!!

Here are just a few more photos from around the pool and backyard.

Above, crotons in antique French pots….2 of these.

Above and below are on Alex’s back porch…

Below is next to house, looking from the pool…….these go all the way across the back…

Now…if you’ll excuse me…I’ve got things to do. In the backyard. In the pool!

And, tomorrow is the shower!

Look at these beautiful beaches! These are the waters, and sand, and seashore that is less that 100 miles from my home. The sand is pure white…and soft…and like sugar. The water is blue, and green, and cobalt. There is some seaweed…some times more than others. There are little fish that will nibble on your toes. All along the beach, there are stands of sea oats. Don’t pick them! It’s against the law. If you sit on the beach and look back toward the houses…you will see all manner of steps leading up to the highway. Some are new and sturdy. Some are barely holding together…no one cares to fix them…they just go to the next one down.

This is my beach. This is where I would go for Spring Break (when Mom and Pop would let me). This is where I used to love to walk out on the big pier in Panama City. This is where youth from our church would spend a week or two every summer. This is my beach! I love it! This is where I came the day after my 16th birthday. I had a brand new Chevrolet Camaro, and 3 friends in the car. I still remember having to call my Pop and tell him that a car full of boys had rammed my car in the rear! “Are y’all OK?,” he asked. We were. “Can you still drive the car?,” he asked next. We could. “Well, go on and enjoy your day and we’ll see about the car when you get home. Call me if you need me.” We did…go on and have a good day. Oh, I remember the feeling….16…new car…new bikini…cute boyfriend. Life was good…at my beach! (I was much older than 16 in the pic below…in case you wondered)

This is where Don and I would bring our boys when they were young. Oh, how they loved to go to the beach. They would swim all day. And, at night, we would all go to Miracle Strip Amusement Park…a sort of mini fair, where they could ride and eat and have the time of their lives. Later a wonderful water park was built, Shipwreck Island…and then our time had to be divided between there and the beach! Sweet, sweet memories!

And, I HATE what is going to happen to my beach. I think this is a tragedy beyond measure. And, there are beaches in Alabama, in Louisiana, in Mississippi that are in just as sad a shape. The water, the fish, the birds, the sand…the people. How sad for those that make their living from the ocean, whether fishing or tourism. And, since Obama has closed down drilling, more than 20,000 jobs are gone. It is sad, my friends. It is a tragedy.

” Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host,
the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein,
and thou preservest them all;
and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.” Nehemiah 9:6

Please pray for our beaches and the people who make their living from them and the countless others who enjoy them.

Thirty -five years ago, I became a Mother. My first son was born…Adam Ryan Owens. I was only 10 at the time…just kidding!! 🙂 Actually, I was 22. He was a delightful baby, the first grand baby on both sides, and adored by all. My dreams for him were the same dreams every mother has for her newborn child. I wanted him to be happy, and healthy, breeze through school, get married to a beautiful wife, and raise a family…who would be happy and healthy, ….and , you know it…it’s the same dream we all have for our children, isn’t it?

The thing is, life is not always going to work out according to our dreams. There are bumps, detours, even roadblocks on the road of life. Sometimes you even have to turn around and take a different road. Adam has had quite a few of these rough places to go through. But, he’s made it through, and has the beautiful wife, and a photography business that is growing, and he has the ‘happy’. If you have never read his story, look on my side bar, under the picture of the Brothers. God has had His hand on Adam from the very beginning 35 years ago, and continues to lead him now. I am so very proud of him! Following are a few pictures through the years…

At 6 months…Joy’s wedding…

with Pop…

With Donald…

With Great Granmothers Townsend and Merritt

With Tonja…

Loves his gun….he killed all the refrigerators we ever had!

On his minibike…

At the beach…

With beautiful Suzanne…

Happy Birthday, Dear Adam, I love you!

This is what is happening at my house…and it has been for the last 4 days. There are men in trees, men on the ground, men driving machines. And, the noise! Lots of it!

When we built, we decided to leave as many trees as we could…and it really was pretty! BUT it was way too snaky in the back yard…sort of like a jungle! And, we discovered that quite a few of the trees were diseased. So, Don decided it’s time to cut down, weed out, and carry away!

It is sort of scary to sit here and watch those men hanging in the trees. They are tied in with ropes and the chainsaws are tied in, too. When they finish cutting a limb, they just drop the chainsaw and let it dangle. Then they pull it up again when they need it! My little friend, Lucy Jane, and I sat and watched them yesterday from my big window in the studio. Neither one of us felt very comfortable with what we were seeing. We soon decided closing the blinds made us both happier!

I did manage to stake a claim to the trees right outside the same window. They are so pretty and green. And, even though some of the trees in those two clumps are just scrubs, together they make a wonderful mixture of greens in every shade! I pleaded and begged for them not to cut down my little stand of trees. The limbs at the top of this stand are so flimsy that they curve and bend making a delightful walkway between the two. Not that any human could ever use it, of course. But, the squirrels think it is perfect. And they use it all through the day. What kind of host would I be if I let the tree cutting men take away their walkway?

They have a little riding thing called a Bobcat. It’s quite powerful, I’ve learned. But, they drive it like they are on a race track! Using the huge claw on the front of the Bobcat, they go and pick up the trees they felled and carry them to the big dump truck on the street. And then the Bobcat chews up all the foliage that is left on the ground and spits it back out as a nice mulch for the ground.

So, no naps around here, just the whine of the chainsaw! Hopefully, we’ve only got another day or two to go!

This won’t be a problem for me…but if too many trees are cut down elsewhere…this could be the result! 🙂