When I was in the 6th grade we moved to Florence Street. Pop had the house built there while we were living on Third Ave. We loved our new house. All the bedrooms (3) were in a row down one side of the house. And, the great thing was…….they all had their own bathroom!!! Not huge, but a bathroom, none the less. And, oh! how Joy and I loved having our own space! ‘Cause she was the little sister who always got into my stuff! 🙂

We moved next door to the Peacocks. They had 3 daughters…2 were older and one was right between Joy and I in age. Oh, the adventures we had. But, I’ll have to talk about those another day, this is about time shared with the families.

My Uncle Allison and Aunt Katherine were some of the finest people I have ever known. Aunt Katherine lives with Jesus now. She and Mom have probably started a WMU (Women’s Missionary Union…it’s a Baptist thing ) in Heaven. And, if those 2 decided they wanted to start a WMU in Heaven…you can bet it’s going strong! They were 2 very determined women! Uncle Allison is still going strong. I could say alot about him, but I’ll just say this…I think when I see Jesus, He will remind me of my Uncle Allison is many, many ways.

Our families became very close. Whenever Mom or Aunt Katherine cooked something special, they made another dish for the other. Why, neither would even think of cooking one pie…always 2. But, I think the most favorite was ice cream! Now, Aunt Katherine and Uncle Allison LOVED them some ‘cream’! They had some every night before bed. There was always several varieties in their freezer. But, none of that compared to their love of home made ice cream! I can still hear Uncle Allison sticking his head in the back door and saying, “Y’all leave room for some cream. It’ll be ready in about 30 minutes!”

He would haul out the old worn freezer, along with the ice and the rock salt. Aunt Katherine would have mixed up the ice cream recipe in the mean time. Then she would pour it into the tall silver cylinder and insert the ‘do-dah’ with the little ‘flapper thingys ‘on it, down inside the cylinder. This would then be handed off to Uncle Allison who would pack it into the big bucket, and pack ice and rock salt around it. Then the top would go on. And, the hard work would commence.

I have memories of many folks in my life making ice cream. We always had a freezer…and we used to have lots of ice cream suppers at our church. All manner of freezers would be lined up out under the bus awning…and each owner working feverishly to produce the best of the night! For a long while, this consisted of the men having to turn the crank themselves. They would try to get the sons to help, but they were too clever to come near while the cranking was going on. Occasionally, they would ask one of the kids to come and sit on top of the freezer. (I never knew if that was of any benefit or if it was just a joke to see how long the kid would sit on that freezer!) They would turn and turn and crank and crank…and then without warning they would say…”It’s ready”. The tables had been gotten out of the storeroom at the end of the fellowship hall and depending on the weather, set up inside or out. The ladies then covered the tables with white butcher paper. One by one all the freezers would be opened and brought into our old fellowship hall and put on the tables. Every third or fourth freezer or so, there would be a pound cake or some cookies. A long line of silver cylinders holding ice cream made by some of the finest! I never understood this either…almost always they would leave the’ flapper do-dah’ INSIDE the silver part. It made it so hard to dip down in there and get the ice cream out. Maybe there was some reason or maybe it was just always done that way! Anyway, it was always tasty and the perfect end to a Sunday spent at church!

I also remember there always being home made ice cream when we visited in NC. It would seem as if you could not be together without several ice cream freezers going at once. My Aunt Evelyn made a wonderful peach ice cream that was soooo good, I remember it still after all these years! And, I can recall many freezers made at my Aunt Della’s home.

But, oh how nice it was when they made the electric freezers. NO MORE CRANKING!!! They could just fill them up and turn them on. The men still watched them though. Walk by and pat them approvingly…maybe add a little ice…sometimes throw a towel across the top. I think it may have made the men a little sad that their muscles were not needed to make this frozen treat anymore. The freezers may have gone electric, but the keen eye of the man in charge was necessary to be sure all was going as it should.

Really, home made ice cream was just about everywhere we went in those days. ‘In those days’…lots of things were different. Whole families got together. And, the kids all ages and sizes would play outside, even after dark. Or we would go to the den or the living room…wherever the adults were not! And, we got along. Or we didn’t. But, we got over it quickly because we knew we were all going to be together again soon! We had no video games to play, but we would occasionally watch TV…but being together and talking and playing was much more fun. After the adults had gotten the ice cream they wanted, they would call the kids. We were free to have whatever we wanted…of what was left. Usually the best was already gone! But, none of it was bad, so we were good!

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must now make a confession. I really do not like home made ice cream. I do not like how inconsistent the flavor is. I do not like having to dig it out of those cylinders full of flappers and cream. But, mostly, I do not like the texture. It is not smooth. It’s bumpy. It is grainy. There are rivers of milk running in it. It just doesn’t suit my palate. All through the years, I have pretended to like it, because I never met anyone else who didn’t. But, I figure I am old enough now not to care. ( The only exception being the peach that Aunt Evelyn made…it was smooth and creamy.)

I do not know much about the early life of my Granny and Granddaddy Townsend. But, I loved to hear my Granny T. talk about the first time she ever had ice cream. She was 16 years old! It used to delight her to tell us all about that day. And, as we become older and she become older still…..we knew it would be impolite to tell her that we had heard the story before. Instead, we learned to express our awe and amazement one more time…and we began to take the delight in waiting for the telling to come again. Here she is outside her home in Douglasville, GA.

When we are children, we can’t wait to grow up and do all the things that grown-ups do. And, know all the things that grown-ups know. What we don’t know is that the older we get, the more the ‘magic of childhood’ fades away. And, the more the cares and concerns of the world get heaped upon our shoulders. But, if we are wise, we keep just enough of that ‘magic’ hidden away, to share with the little ones in our lives. And, if we tell them the same stories over and over again…it’s OK…we were taught by the best!

What is it that little girls dream of when they sleep? They do not go happily to their rest, for what a pity it would be if they should miss something important. “Would you like me to lie down with you?” I say…in an effort to ease her into dreamland. “No, I’ll just read,” she replies. And as she turns each page of the book that came in her kid’s meal, she imagines and makes up the words to fit with the pictures as she sees them.

“You just stay over there, Aunt Tonja,” she commands, with a flip of her hand to the couch behind the daybed. And, so I do. I stay over here, and write on my laptop. “Too quiet,” I think…and choose a Norah Jones CD from my files and begin to play it softly. Her head swivels to look at me. “Aunt Tonja, are you singing over there?” she asks. (Oh, that I could sing like Norah Jones) “Why? Is it bothering you?” I ask. “No,” she says, “I like it.” (I’ll just let her think I sound like an angel a little longer…she’ll find out soon enough) And, I heard no more.

Her grandmother stuck her head in to see if she was off to dreamland. I got up to make a picture, and as I sat back down and picked up my laptop, I began to think back.

Since she came in this morning, we had….. opened up the new toys she saw and separated the ones for JT from the ones for her…..gone to the potty…..walked out to the pool to try out the fishing net and fish…..got the bottom of her shorts wet…..took shorts off…..tied up shirt so it would not get wet……bent down too far and got panties and shirt wet…..went to the potty…..went back outside to gather up toys because she was ready to go inside…..changed her clothes…..had a snack of lemonade and animal crackers…..go to the potty……go into the studio to open up the toy drawer and pull out her favorites…..she needed paper…..she needed the colored pencils sharpened…..she drew…..I drew…..we sang together…..we pasted…..we talked about her mother and her sisters and her daddy……we looked at the pictures on my computer (most especially the ones of her)…..went to the potty…….we went for a ride in her grandmother’s NEW CONVERTIBLE!!!!!…..we stopped at Chick -Fil-A…..we let the wind blow through our hair (until the rain started)……we made up a song about the rain…….we came home and ate…….and that’s when Nap Time rolled around.

I wonder if she’s dreaming of riding in her little motorized police car, or maybe she’s imagining swimming in the pool. Or having fun with her sisters, or watching the dog shows with Alex. Is she dreaming of dancing under the stars, or riding on a pony? Or maybe eating all the chocolate ice cream she can hold. Is she reliving her fun at Disney World, or perhaps playing in the snow when she went to the mountains. Perhaps, she is swimming with the dolphins that play on her shirt.

Oh! She just raised her head and looked over here at me. “You quit singing,” she said with a sleepy voice.”I’m sorry. Lay back down and listen,” I replied. She did and I pressed play. Music filled the room, and off she went…back to finish out those dreams.

She lasts about 20 more minutes in Dreamland…and then it’s over. “Aunt Tonja, can we do something?’ she says quietly. “What would you like to do ?” I asked. She answered me with determination in her voice,” Well, I got lots of work that I have to do. And, I need paper and paper…and paint.” I jumped in quickly here because painting requires advance planning and that was not in the plans for today…”No, my dear, painting another day…but not today.” “Cause we can’t paint when it’s raining, right?” she said. Not really into long discussions today, I said, “Well, it is raining, and we can’t paint.” “OK”, she said, “I’ll just take markers.” “Lucy Jane,” I say, “do you ever get to use markers here at my house?” “No,Ma’am…..I..I..meant I wanted the pencils that have the colors,” she said. “Well, you’ve just had a grand idea,” I say,”Let’s get out those colored pencils”. And, we pulled out the colored pencils…the short ones and the long ones and the paper…and she set about to do her ‘work’. “Aunt Tonja, you just look after Minnie, OK?” And, I was relegated to mouse sitting. She was in the corporate world and I was in Childcare!

Now in case you are not aware…’work’ is very peculiar if you are 3. It consists of taking a magazine and putting a sheet of paper inside…then putting it in the foyer…and repeating it 5 times. So there are now 5 magazines lying on the floor. Go back and take all the paper out, but leave the magazine. Then make some marks on each paper, and reinsert them into the magazines. Then she took 3 CDs and put them on top of the mags. Oh, I imagine it could have gone on and on. Now, even though I did not understand one little bit about what she was doing…she knew…and that’s really all that mattered.

How many little girl’s are there in this world that have similar ideas running around in their head. Things they would like to try. Things they would like to experience. Things that would serve to further fill their little brains with information about the world they live in…and about themselves…and how they fit into in this world. Oh, the possibilities in a little girl’s mind! But, they will never have a chance. Perhaps there is illness that stands in the way. Or perhaps poverty. Maybe there is just indifference from the parent. Maybe the child has learned it’s better not to ask. Or maybe their life is so deprived they don’t even have dreams to dream. And, that would be the saddest thing of all.

But, the little girl who spent the morning with me is full of life and dreams and beautiful smiles. She is blessed to be surrounded with family and friends who love and care for her. She will never know want. And, there will always be someone around to answer her questions. And lead her in the right direction. And stand ready with hugs when needed…..me included!

“Lucy Jane, I’m so glad you are my friend. I love you!”

(sitting in Alex’s chair waiting for him to put on the ‘dog shows’…which are a set of around 50 beautiful pictures that Adam took of Scooter right after we found out he was sick. She loves to watch these over and over.)

And, now all the little toys and things she likes to play with are put back in the bottom drawer that is reserved just for her. There is no sign that a little girl spent a morning here and played and sang and worked. But, it all lays there waiting for her to come and bring them to life once more. See you soon, my sweet, little friend.

VBS…’Vacation” Bible School…vacation is sort of a misnomer. ‘Vacation’ for the kids…maybe…but not the teachers!!! I may sound as if I’m complaining, but really, I’m not at all. I love VBS and always have. However, this is the first year that we have had just a one day event. We started this morning at 8:00 and ended at 4:30. Whew! Now that was a long day! And, my little preschoolers did very well…up until the last hour. By then…they had had enough of this ‘vacation’ and they were ready to go home!

We started our morning with the pledges and songs. Then, we came to our classes. After a bit of getting aquainted, and songs and games…we had our first Bible story…Adam and Eve. Did you know that the first job that God gave Adam to do was to name the animals. It was Adam who decided what they should be called. ( How did he, the first person in the world, decide what to name each one. Where did he get the vocabulary and the knowledge that it would take to think of all those names?) Those are not preschool questions, I just wonder that myself. I suppose God instilled in him the knowledge he would need.

We then broke up into 3 groups and began our exploration of different things. Some of you may know this, but some may not. The way Baptist literature is written, learning takes place in every thing that is done while they are in your care. As the activities are done, the teachers are retelling the Bible story. They are directing the learning that is taking place through the activities.

The children made fishing poles. And when they caught the ‘fish’…they found characteristics of Jesus listed on each one. Playing and learning…they go together so well. Top pic…teacher, Monty Clark…Bottom picture…teachers…Deeya Herring and her teenage daughter and great teacher, as well, Victoria. And, April Cobb, standing. In these pictures, they are making puppets that look like themselves. We are learning that, “I am wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14. We all look different, and are all made special! Here are some beautiful faces showing off their work…precious souls.

Then we had a wonderful lunch, and because our bodies are ‘wonderfully made’, they need a little rest when they are tired……..and, so we rested……some of us.

We managed to stay prone for about 20 minutes, then we got up and began to MOVE!

Afterwards, we had second Bible story. We learned how Jesus took a little boy’s lunch, blessed it and used it to feed 5000 people. The children learned that that’s what we call a miracle. And, another miracle was that there were 12 baskets left over! After the story, we broke into small groups to continue our learning.

First pic shows, how the children decorated and cut out a shape in a slice of bread. Ummmmm, YUMMY! And, then the children worked on making their own puzzles. They were able to take these home and put them together there!

And posing with Mrs Tonja…the ranch hand!

A little outside play….and snacks….and sidewalk chalk. But, not too long…it was really hot outside!

And after another group time to review what we had learned today, it was time for them to gather their things and go home. You know, some of these children I will probably never see again. But, they were brought into the lives of we four teachers for 8 hours today. Some of them are from families that will never attend church. Some of them may never even have a chance to visit a church again for a long time, if ever. My deepest hope is that some of the words they heard today will stay safely tucked into their hearts until such time as God chooses to bring it to their mind again. If all we planted was the fact that church is a nice place to be, so be it. If all they remember is that the Bible is more precious than gold…..maybe it will encourage them to pick it up again in some motel room or hospital. It is not necessary to us teachers of children that we see the words and thoughts and scriptures we planted come to fruition….it is just our jobs to plant them. Along the way, some one else may water them, and God will allow them to bloom in His time. God bless the children who blessed us with their presence today.

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!

Just a quick report that the shower today for the son of one of my dearest friends was a great success. We had wonderful attendance, yummy food, and delightful company! Plus the couple got loads of wonderful gifts. It was good to see several friends I have missed over the past few months.

My friend, Pam, said something to her future daughter in law after the guests had left. I do not think she would mind me sharing. She said, ” These ladies are dear Christian friends I’ve known over 20 years. Though we all used to go to the same church, now we are members of several different churches. But, the friendship remains. I can always count on them and they on me. I hope as you start your married life, you begin your own set of friends that will mean as much to you.” I heartily agree! Here, then, are some pictures from the day.

Tonja, Tina, Joy, Mandi, Donna, Monty. Patty

Juliann, Monty, Donna

Tonja, Monty

Joy, Tonja, Pam

Tonja, Patty, Tina

Great food, Old and New Friends, Lots of laughs…wonderful day!