On Saturday, our church hosted a Fall Festival for the community. There was nice weather…a little cool, a little windy…but no complaints from the kids who were playing games, getting faces painted, munching on pop corn, winning prizes, and jumping around in a huge inflatable! Then there were hot dogs for everyone…as well as a fleet of cars, full of candy, waiting for ‘Trunk or Treat’! I didn’t really get to observe the other areas, because my friend, Monty, and I painted without stopping for the whole time! Such fun! Too bad several of the festival go-ers wanted much more elaborate art work than we were qualified to perform.
We were distracted at one point by the cutest little monkey! He didn’t have any interest in having his face painted…but was happy to steal a hug and a kiss from us!
They then went to Abbeville to see John Thomas and the Fall Festival at Will and Tara’s church.
Hooking up with John Thomas, they stopped long enough to pose for a picture together…
Hold up for just a minute, John Thomas…we want to see your turtle costume…
Since Saturday, Levi has developed a cold. Teething and runny noses…they all go together. But, he put on his best face and made it through Trick or Treating (his version). First stop…Levi and Grandaddy…
And, one more…smile for the camera…
Isn’t that sweet face just the picture of happiness ? OK here’s a couple of cartoons…
It’s true…they are nowhere to be found. And, there are 3 more not pictured. You would think they would be packed up with al the other fall decor that I get out and pack back up every year. But, no—–obviously I thought I had a better place to store them than in the correct place. Why do I continuously sabotage myself? Oh, well, it’ll be a great surprise when they do turn up. (Sorta like when I hide my own Easter Eggs)
So, if you happen to see any unaccompaned minor bears…please call 1=800=334=Fnd=Bers..
I found this delightful piece of art in some of my picture files. The prayer written within made me laugh..especially a few of the words…you’ll know which ones. There was no information other than what is included on the piece. And, try as I may, even with a huge magnifying glass, I can not read the name written sideways at the bottom of the card. So, I do not know who to give credit to. If you do, please pass along the info, so I can give the artist credit. And, he/she deserves to be credited for this amusing piece. Enjoy!
PS. Please take no offense that I wrote the words to the prayer out for you. I am sure none of my readers have any need of a magnifying glass, and could probably read this just fine with no aid whatsoever. However, I had to use my handheld magnifier to read the instructions on the box of Rice-a-Roni tonight. I’m now getting the large print Sunday School books. I already wear TRI-FOCALS!!! This is not something I am proud of, in fact, it distresses me greatly. However, I really did enjoy the look on the cashier’s face in Michael’s the other day when I pulled the glass out to read the expiration date on my coupon! (I tend to lose things if they are small and inconspicuous…so this magnifier is 10 inches high…and the glass is 4 1/2 inches across). She tried to stifle a smile. I fixed my steely glare on her and said, “Be very careful, my dear. My grandma told me this would happen if I laughed at her. I laughed anyway, and look at me now.” Then, I told her that my coupon had expired. She gave me my 40% off anyway.
Dearest God,
One day I will be old. One day my body will be six inches lower than it is now. But, before I sag…will I have learnt how to be a decent human being? Can I…through practice…not become selfish, cranky, arrogant, grumpy? I don’t mind becoming a saggyugly,wrinklycrinkly lady…if in the meantime I learn how to act stunningly beautiful. AMEN
Forgive me, please, if I don’t share with you how many more inches I have to go.
I have been in and feeling bad for tooooo long. I started on another medicine this week and it has helped tremendously in getting my heart rate down. I’m not near 100% yet, but, I’m lots better! And, so, I was looking forward to being able to go to church today. I even had our clothes ironed and ready. I have missed being there and missed worshipping with ‘my family’.
Yesterday, the Creekhouse played host to my sweet friend Olivia and her 13th birthday party! It was such a delight! And, the perfect kind of party for me! They brought the guests, they brought the food, and they took all the mess home with them! Olivia’s Mom, Terri, has been a friend of mine since SHE was a little girl. (Don’t think too long about that…it may make me seem old…or something). I was her piano teacher way back in 1976 or so, and then we have been friends at church with she and her husband and 3 beautiful girls. Terri has known Adam since he was very little, and so came to know Suzanne. She was instrumental in helping Suze get a job when she came back to Dothan. And, Terri, her husband, Brian, and Suzanne all teach at the same school. Whew! Lots of history there.
*********NOTE TO OLIVIA: Something dredful happened to my pictures. I don’t know how to explain it, but they were on the card, and then they were on the computer and then a big grey box covered them all up. I wish I could explain it…or fix it. I even got Alex up to look at it…he had never seen anything like it before…and he’s a computer genius!!! So, so sorry! I’m just going to tell everybody about them. I’m sure they’ll be able to see them in their mind. XXXXXX Yes, they will. ‘K ?************
Here’s some great pictures we made at the party. Here is me and Olivia Older Sister. I’m the short one. She’s the beautiful tall one. She likes artsy things, too! And, she’s a TEENAGER! Next is Faith Ellen Middle Sister holding Sweet Levi. Isn’t she just the cutest thing…and she’s way smart too, and dances, too. And Levi…well…he’s just so full of cute it’s busting out all over!! Next is Maybry Younger Sister, doing a very good trick in the pool. Can you see? She was standing there and then she bent over and picked up her foot ond pulled her whole leg straight up in the air ! And, she smiled while she did it! She’s a dancer and a real good swimmer, too. She wanted me to try doing the trick with her, but we did not have a net on a pole big enough to get me out! And, I’m pretty sure I would not have smiling either. Then, here’s the presents, and here are all 12 girls in the pool….playing and splashing!
After the fun was over, Suzanne and I rode over to Targ*t, to get this:
Have you seen these things? It is amazing what all it does. Amazing to me, at least. But, remember, I’m just a NEW grandmother…not a VETERAN grandmother. 🙂 So, I’m just getting used to how much things have changed since about 1986.
This thing can be a bassinet, or a changing table, or a play mat with toys overhead. AND…a play yard. It will sing to Levi, or vibrate. It even has a remote control, so I do not even have to move…but I will, of course! It also folds with the touch of a button, has pockets all over to hold my Diet Dr Pepper while I’m changing him, and wheels so he can push it around behind me…..if he wants to follow me. 🙂
All this because he is going to stay with me 3 days a week when his Mom goes back to work. And, we here in this Owens home, are so excited. We are Ready Freddy !
Adam came and he and Suzanne took Levi swimming. We sat and talked, and talked and sat, and they swam and we talked. I made some supper and we ate in shifts…between the sitting and talking and swimming. After they went home, we went to bed. And when I tried to swing my legs over the side of the bed to get up……
I can hardly move. A soon as the pain meds and muscle relaxers wear off…it starts back. And, those of you whose backs go out know there is not really much to do but rest, and take your meds, and wait. At least I can use my computer a little. But, between this pain, and missing church, and the computer destroying my beautiful pictures of Olivia and the party . I’m losing it. Maybe it’s some sort of conspiracy to drive me bonkers! The computer and my back must be in cahoots. Well..maybe they are or maybe they’re not…no mind…I’m still very close to the BONKER level !
Well, that makes me feel a little better. Are you one of the ‘best people’, too?
PS. It’s Monday and my back is a teeny bit better…at least I can go to the potty without yelling!
Today, I felt well enough to get out for a while. I had lunch with two dear friends. We caught up on all that has happened in the last several months. There was not a minute of silence until we split up to go home.
Don’t you love having friends like that? Those that you can see 5 or 6 times a year…and it is like you’ve never been apart. We would love to get together more, but, one has her first grandchild on the way…in another city. And the other has 2 sweet grand boys who live out of town. And I am involved with Levi and Alex. Plus the other things we are all involved in, leaves little time for such frivolity as whiling away 3 hours over lunch! But, even though we don’t get together as often as we’d like…one call would bring any of us running at a moments notice. I hope you have friends like this.
Since I was out, I tried to run an errand or two. Went to one store to pick up a gift. I started to the door and was getting in the check out line. But I must have been tired or something because I forget…... I MUST peruse the homegoods just in case there is something new on the shelves that they are saving for me! But, today, after I made a quick glance… only a set of nice sheets that I had been looking for was of interest to me. I must tell you that I LOVE *RL* sheets. In case that does not make sense to you the first name is ‘Ralph”. Alex loves these too. When we moved into the Creekhouse, Mom bought Alex two sets, and had them monogramed on the pillowcases. That is the only sheet he wants, and the only sheet he sleeps on. The ones he’s using now still look very nice, and are not even beginning to look like they are wearing out. They are more expensive $$$, but they feel sooooo good. They are usually sold in better department stores. However, if you are a wise and observant shopper…like ‘huh um’…ME…you can find them at stores such as TJM*XX.
Passed by the kids section, and thought that it wouldn’t hurt to look for something cute for the GREATEST GRANDSON IN THE WORLD !!! So I look for the baby boy clothes. There they are. No, they are over here. No. WAIT ! They are back there. This drives me crazy. They have clothes here, there and everywhere, and they are all mixed up. Sale things, clearance things, and regular price. No rhyme or reason to their method. And, the sizes are sorta mixed up, too. Though, that is really not their fault. Lots of people just hang things wherever they want. Also at fault, that Mama and Grandmama who are letting their kids crawl UNDER the clothes racks and come up in the middle and swing on the racks while they (the adults) are laughing and talking and gossiping (I heard them) and generally paying them no mind and all the while clothes of every size are falling on the floor beside the racks and under the racks and piling up on the floor…and in their loudest OUTSIDE voice, they are singing, in a sing song fashion, which gives music a bad name, “You ca-n’t see me. You ca-n’t see me. I ca-an do this and you ca-n’t stop me.” They sang it once, twice, two hundred times! I couldn’t help myself. I was already in a mood, because I was, and this was NOT helping. So, I went around on the other size and pretended I was picking something up off the floor and stuck my head under that rack and looked those hoodlums straight in the eyes. They were scared, they did not know what was coming next. Most grown-up people don’t play with them under the racks. And, I said, quietly so the adults would not come over and take me down, “This is not acceptable. Only wild and crazy children act like this. I will not stand for it, I tell you. Now do the right thing.” The girl had quivering lips, and the boy had tears forming in the corner of his eyes. I don’t care. I’m happy to play the Mommy if the real Mommy has forgotten how! They came out of their hideout under the clothes. Their lips were sealed. They couldn’t speak. They went to the imposters who were pretending to be their Mama and Grandmama and hung on for dear life. They never said a word. And I travelled around the 3 long racks looking for something for Sweet Levi who is really growing. ( Have you seen this guy lately? He’s a chunk!!!)………I shopped in peace. They never made a sound. Each time I pushed past them, they got further and further behind the adults. I finally found some little onesies in Levi’s size and prepared to leave the war zone. I made one more pass by them and gave them both a big smile, and went on my way.
It’s not nice to mess with a tired, sick Grandmother when she’s ‘in a mood.’
What? You’ve not ever been in that situation? I know you have. So, I had to address it. You think I was mean? It was either make them stop or go in there and join them, Cause I was in a mood, after all…you understand.
And so, I really headed to the check-out. And, then I heard it…there was so much rain falling on the roof and in the parking lot… even some hail…I could not even see my car! Now, my friends, you know I don’t do lightning…and it was! And, they don’t have a nice set of chairs to sit and wait in. So, I kept walking, and looking. Found some wonderful things that asked…practically BEGGED!…to come home with me, but I just was not in the mood. It is bad to be stuck in a store, and not feel like shopping. And I really needed to sit down. There were some benches between the outside door and the inside door, but they were both made of glass. Which meant I would be very close to the lightning and I would have to look at it because the bench faced out. This would not have been good for my ‘mood’. Not good at all. So, I headed for the shoes. They have two little benches at the end of two of the aisles. It was empty and no one looked as if they needed it, so, I took a seat. Whew! “Lord, please let it stop for 5 minutes, so I can get to my car.”
There was an elderly woman…much more ‘eldier’ than me…sitting on the other bench, trying on shoes. A shiver ran down my spine. I prayed to be invisible. I knew when I saw her she did not like to shop alone. She needed someone to bounce ideas off of. And, I was right.
EL: Hon, whatdaya think about these shoes?
They were green and glittery with a big, blue, glittery bow on the top.
ME: Well, they are really pretty if you have the right dress to wear them with. Are you going to a party?
EL: No, but I’s go to church ever Sunday…and I’s jest thinkin these ‘uns would look good with my new white suit.
ME: Well, I just bet they would. (I was not in the mood to give her the benefit of my fashion sense, or I would have told her they were hideous and should only be worn in one of those ‘Womanless Beauty Pageants where the men dress up like women. Every thing is a joke…just like those shoes.)
EL: I jest don’t knows what to do. I’ma thinkin’ I could wear ’em with a lot of things. See, I has a blue suit, and a black suit, and my new white suit. I’m thinking I could wear them with all those suits. Don’t you think so?
ME: I’m sure they would make an undeniable statement if you did.
EL: What’s that mean?
ME: Just that everyone will notice your shoes when you wear them.
EL: Well, these is the kinda shoes to notice.
ME: Oh, yes ma’am!
EL: I bet you might like these better.
And y’all, she picks up a pair of red shoes….bright red patent leather shoes. A strip of zebra striped fabric went over the toe and around the whole shoe. The stiletto heels were black…patent leather, of course.
ME: Hmmm. Those really are interesting. Don’t think I have ever seen any like this before. What are you planning to wear these with?
EL: Well, you knows I got them suits I told you about. I could wear these with the white suit or the black suit. But, I don’t think they would look good with the blue, do you?
ME: No, I think you are right. You like unusual shoes, don’t you?
EL: I suppose I do.
ME.: I can understand that…so do I.
EL: (She looked over at me, and looked down at my shoes…black T*ms.)
Well, I’m just telling you, Girl, them shoes you got on sho’ don’t do nothin’ for you.
ME: These are comfortable, and I like them. But, the truth is, they don’t make shoes like you have picked out in my size. Those are usually just for people with really BIG feet.
And, with that, I stood up to look outside and it had stopped raining, so I said: “Gotta go, it’s stopped raining. You have a great day. And, I think you should get both pair of the shoes!”
She was still staring at me, and said nary a word. Good. O.K. Then.
I was able to check out quickly and get to the car. Then I ran ( well, walked ) into the grocery store to pick up only the ‘must haves’. And, headed home.
Oh the experiences one can have when you least expect it!
PS……….If you like green glitter shoes with a big blue bow on top, I think that’s great. YOU are wise enough to know you have to have the right dress to wear them with……………………………….and it is NOT a black suit that you wear on Sunday…but you know that!
PPS……….If you like red patent leather shoes with zebra trim and a black stiletto heel…well, good for you! You are obviously a fun person, and wise. Wise enough not to wear them to church on Sunday.
PPPS……….If you are a Mama or a Grandmama and you let your children act like wild Indians and throw clothes on the floor and damage the ear drums of other shoppers, I will not go shopping with you if they come along.
I was such a pompous girl when I was pregnant for the first time…”My children will never throw food in a restaurant. My child will never throw himself down in the floor and have a tantrum. My child will never climb under the clothes racks and scream and swing.” How quickly I learned that “Yes, Ma’am, they will. ” But…only once. Unless they totally lose their mind and forget the lesson they learned as soon as we left wherever we were when they provided such wonderful entertainment.
Of course, Sweet Levi would never do things such as this when I take him out in the future. But, should he try. I’ll let his daddy or his uncles explain to him why he better not ever do it again !
I am a Christian woman who has survived many years on the planet. God has blessed me with a wonderful family: husband, 3 sons, a dear DIL, and a precious grandson. I also have dear friends to keep me inspired. I am an artist of sorts and am finding my way through the great blessing of retirement. I recently retired after 20 years as a music teacher. Life is good!
My Boys
"All your sons will be taught by the Lord; and great will be their peace." Isaiah 54:13
Read their stories... Adam Alex Ian
Hello, my name is Everly. I am a blogger living in New York. This is my blog, where I post about interior design and decoration. Never miss out on new stuff.
Hooking up with John Thomas, they stopped long enough to pose for a picture together…
Hello, my name is Everly. I am a blogger living in New York. This is my blog, where I post about interior design and decoration. Never miss out on new stuff.