Fall and "nesting"

"NESTING"

No, I'm not pregnant...that would mean another Star in the East had been sighted. No, what I mean is it's Fall and all my NESTING genes are kicked into high gear! A friend noted on Facebook that it was wonderful to cook when the temps were below 90! It has been such a brutal summer, temperature wise, here in Sweet Home Alabama that the subtle nudge of fall is enough to send me into full fledged Autumn Gazing Domestic Bliss!

Fall is just over the hill, meandering over my way, painting the sumac leaves red and heaving the occasional acorn onto my roof. I sometimes stop and remind myself that it's not hunting season YET... just the POP of an acorn landing on the shed roof is enough to send my Border Collie, Hank, into an all out panic attack!

Fall announces itself with the honking of geese flying south (further south than Sweet Home Alabama) and color that creeps up on you over night. I"m certain that my sugar maple didn't have the hint of red/orange this time yesterday that is peeping at me today when I drove up in the driveway.

I live on a small farm in the country and my driveway is melodramatic...in that you can be returning from whatever and the minute you pull into the first 10 ft of asphalt it's like I'm entering a different world...one that is quieter, cooler, slower, further away,...one that locks the "world" outside and s l o w l y wraps me in a cocoon called "You're Home".

At the very end of the driveway, on the edge of the backyard, grows a Sugar Maple, the offspring of a much bigger Maple that had to be put to sleep 20 yrs. ago. I've watched this one little seedling grow slowly before my eyes on a daily basis. Right after Big Mama went to tree heaven we didn't notice the little one and when after a few years we did take note, everyone agreed she had to go too. I'm not sure why nothing was ever done but year after year "tree baby" continued to grow. Now, in 2010, she is a mature young lady, much like her Mama, who has earned her right to grow old on the farm.

My sweet Sugar Maple announces each season in her own unique way; however, fall is her most triumphant time of year! The flaming red-gold leaves actually make her look like she's on fire. The color begins at the top and works itself slowly down my showy little lady....often over night...until her entire ensemble is one mass of flaming Fire!

In Fall,not only do I begin leaf peeping more,baking more, cooking more, and decorating more, I sit on the porch more... reading from 2-3 books or 3-5 magazines as the mood leads me. I've finished "Three Cups of Tea" and begun the sequel, "Stones for Schools". The covers of fall magazines have this magical lure for me...I can't see a pumpkin, fall table scape, or apple creation on their cover without plopping open my wallet. I HAVE to Have it...I save each edition from year to year so now I have quite a collection after approx. 7 yrs of collecting Southern Living, Family Circle, Woman's Day, etc...If the cover looks like fall I will buy it. I actually do read them but they seem brand new every year.

Cool fall afternoons while the Grandpeep sleeps is a lovely time to read a fall recipe, how to make a fall door wreath from items in my yard, how to decorate my table in the newest autumn tablescape, or ideas for Halloween.

Halloween...ahhhh!!!...now that's another post for another day. Oh how I do love Halloween!! Maybe it comes from my childhood or taking my own children "trick or -treating" before it became politically incorrect. I just Love me some Halloween!!

For now, I have apples sliced and baking utensils cluttering my kitchen counters. The window is up and a most wonderful breeze is blowing. I wish for the smell of leaves burning but unfortunately due to the summer drought we are under a burn ban so... no burning leaves for now. The smell of cinnamon will have to do for now. Time to suspend the journey down memory lane and time to get my autumn "behind" out of this chair and GET BUSY!!!

What are your Fall Memories???

AUTUMN MEMORIES TAKE ME BACK

AUTUMN MEMORIES

As fall weather begins to peep around the corner for those of us here in the Deep South, I always think back to my childhood in the beautiful hills of West Virginia! Oh those gorgeous MOUNTAINS!!!!! I took them so for granted growing up until I migrated south and I would hear people call a local geographical upheaval in the earth's crust a MOUNTAIN, when in my mind, it was nothing but a "HILL"!! I suppose it WAS/IS higher than most points around North Alabama but when I think MOUNTAINS, I think of those West Virginia Hills "so majestic and so grand" as the words in the state song reverberates in my head. The sun glinting on the leaves as I walked home from school left me with childhood fantasies of raking enough leaves to make the largest pile in the whole world for all my friends to jump in, or living my own brand of the show "SURVIVOR" in the woods around my house, or carving the largest Jack-O-Lantern on Center Street Fall 1964. Fall made me HAPPY! For some reason, Fall made everything GOOD.

So, as Autumn quietly descends upon me, I still feel like that little girl walking home from school wondering if I could get my homework done fast enough to go outside and play in the leaves. Often, Mama would give me a reprieve from homework immediately after school and allow me to play outside. Mary Shrewsbury believed outside and fresh air was kin to godliness and ranked right up there with finishing homework so...fall meant I got some extra time outside. I didn't need playmates if I were pretending to be surviving in the woods. For some odd reason, my favorite pretend play was consumed with being homeless, on the run, or abandoned and having to survive using the elements of nature as my only resource. I thought it was weird of me to like that sort of role playing until I found out that my youngest daughter used to love to pretend the very same sort of "survival of the fittest" games. Collecting acorns was a real passion as was pine cones. My love of Shredded Wheat cereal was not due to the fabulous taste (especially to an 8 yr. old) but I just knew it was what grass tasted like! Sometimes I would sneak those little shredded wheat "biscuits" outside to place in my "secret hideaway" and to further enhance the whole survival experience. Alone, I could be anyone, say anything, or act out my "story" to my heart's content.

In West Virginia, we had a 4 day weekend each fall for "teacher workdays" which translated to me and all my friends, "playing in the leaves" vacation! We would each have our own rake and the object was to see how high we could build a pile. Once the jumping began, one self appointed leaf fairy would volunteer to RERAKE the leaves after each jump. That person was usually someone allergic to leaves and whose mother had told them don't go jumping in those leaves! You might fall on a stick and impale yourself." The rest of us had mothers who had given the same dire warning to watch out for sharp sticks and other foreign objects lurking hidden in and under leaf piles but to a group of 8 & 9 yr. old kids, our Moms were just party poopers who wanted to take the fun out of everything! Oh to be a kid again, strong and energetic enough to rake & jump in leaves for hours! In my mind, I can see the yellows, gold, red and brown of those leaves, smell that musty damp odor, and feel the grit in my eyes from leaf debris.

Inevitably, someone would get hurt, either they found that ONE pointy stick in the leaf pile, or had the wind knocked out of them from landing too hard in the leaf pile after underestimating the amount of "cushion" a 6 ft. pile of leaves can provide a bunch of 8/9 yr. old booties. This meant the day was pretty much over and one by one we would meander back home whether home was next door, down the street, or 2 blocks away. Some rode their bikes and the rest walked home. Living in a small town back in the 50's/60's afforded us as kids the luxury of being away from our home with little or no supervision...armed only with the strict instructions given to us by our mothers or fathers as to how we were to act & behave. We were given rules as to how long we could stay, what our parameters were, and the consequences of breaking those rules. Life was easier that way and I don't remember any of my closest friends ever breaking the rules. I know for certain, I never did! The thought of disappointing my mother was devastating to me as a child and continued to be that way until she died at age 86. MY mother was my rock, my mentor, my guide, my heart, my EVERYTHING! To this day, 7 yrs after she passed away in 2003, I still find myself wanting to pick up a phone to call her and recant the "Trauma" of the day or week. She always loved to hear mine and my sisters' stories. Her interest in even the smallest details of our lives gives me some insight as to how God must feel when I don't pray on a consistent basis...how He knows the number of hairs on my head and yet so often,I leave Him out of my life's minutia. I know HE KNOWS before I tell HIM, but like my sweet Mama, HE wants so much to personally hear it from me!

AHH! Fall or Autumn whatever floats your boat. You make me HAPPY!!...... from each candy apple, caramel apple, candy corn, & popcorn ball to every "Trick-or Treat, Jack-O-Lantern, black cat coloring page, and apple orchard...You, Autumn, Make ME HAPPY!!! On any given fall Saturday in the Hill's Dept. Store parking lot, the memory of homemade apple butter simmering in a huge black "witches" cauldron by the Women's Guild of the Methodist church still wafts in my mind of cinnamon, cloves and apple peelings, curling in piles beside the "apple peelers". Did you know that you can tell the first letter of your future husband's name by taking one long continuous apple peeling, holding the peeling up & allowing it to unfurl, then dropping it on the floor. Whatever letter is formed will begin to spell the name of your one true love. Of course, all us little girls (and big girls too) kept dropping the apple peeling until it formed the letter of our current true love (only known to ourselves) and which verified the inevitability of our future union. FALL makes me HAPPY!!

School Fall Festivals were highly anticipated events. That game of "Go Fishing" was definitely going to result in me winning at least 10 of the cheapest items in the prize box. Cheap prizes from China didn't matter because I was there, I had money in my pocket, and I was with my cousins David & Scott. Not having had brothers, David & Scott provided me with the next best thing...boy cousins that were LIKE brothers but you didn't have to live with them all the time and keep them out of your stuff.
However... when they insisted I go through the Haunted House I wanted to disavow any family relationship to them!! Both would tell me in no uncertain terms "You HAVE to go in with us because we were told we couldn't leave you by yourself, so if we go, YOU go!"

To this day, I have NO love for anything Haunted HOUSE!!!

We were usually tired and ready to go home after our "haunted house" visit; so we set out to locate our parents who were most likely patiently waiting in a designated "parents only"classroom with a coffeepot.....none of these helicopter parents walking lockstep with their children narrating each event and/or making judgment on where to go, what to do, or what group has the best chance of upgrading their child's social status on Monday morning. Nope, we were on our own and liked it that way. Considering my mother would have been considered a lenient parent by today's standards, it is almost funny to learn that Mrs. Mary was by all accounts a very "picky" mother when it came to where I went, who I went with, and most importantly did I "mind my manners" while there. Yes, Fall Festivals made me HAPPY!!

More Minutia of my Life Pictures

Check out this great find!!!

Hubby found several of these "drawers/trays" back in an old "shop" classroom. Not sure if they are UFO's (unclaimed foreign objects) or what??? He even found a few birdhouses! Hubby is a Guidance Counselor/Coach at a local High School and he loves to dig in old storage closets for hidden gems. These drawers/trays are solid wood and quite heavy!!

I have a few ideas and Of course I'll paint at least one White but I would love to hear some good ideas from YOU!!! Stenciling, painting, organizers, etc....?????

QUILT
FOR
BABY DAUGHTER ANNA LAURA

Grandmama/Mama Jane & Anna Laura
Gulf Shores Beach

SCOTT EXERCISING LIKE HIS DADDY

JAMES BEING STRETCHED
BEFORE
PHYSICAL THERAPY CAMP DAY #2

JAMES EATING ICE CREAM AT THE ZOO
(SORRY FOR THE SMALL SIZE)

So there it is...a FEW of the wonderful minutia making up what I call MY LIFE!!!

What's Yours????

LIFE IN MINUTIA

MY LIFE IS IN THE MINUTIA

I'm having issues with posting pictures and can't figure it out. I'll have to call Number One son and get him to navigate me thru this maze. I clicked on the add image icon and it just autosaves??? Oh well, please come back, I have some great pictures to post!!

This post was prompted by a Facebook post from a friend who wanted to know if the rest of us in FB land was tired of knowing where everyone was at any given time...sort of a GPS report...many agreed and as I read doqwn the list of comments I began to think I was alone in my thoughts of WANTING to know where everyone was !!! THEN....... a very eloquent comment came up talking about enjoying the minutia of life in his own life as well as the life of his family and friends.


HMMMM?????? I'm thinking that the bits and pieces of my life that bring me the most joy are in the minutia of my life............I WANT to know that Mary Ellen and James arrives safely at the zoo and enjoyed strawberry ice cream on a very hot August day.....I want to know that Number One Son is going to play Starcraft with his old college roommate online before he takes a leisurely nap.....I WANT to know that my Baby Girl ate at the buffet after church (she has been sick and couldn't eat so now I know two things..she ate AND she went to church)....

IF NOT
for
FACEBOOK

those are the details of life that may get lost once everyone grows up and has busy lives of their own!
In fact, the wonderful friend who wrote the original post had not been in contact with me for over 20+ years until we found each other on Facebook!!! Yes, we knew exactly where each other lived...we knew telephone numbers....but no connection until FB. I now know she has a daughter getting married and one came home recently and lounged around the pool with her mother. I now know she helped plan a lovely wedding shower and even got to see pictures!!! I now know she may not be as interested in my grandson's potty training schedule as I thought but hey, if she waits long enough I'll give her a post she'll like.

So...to all my dear friends on Facebook and in Blogland....I WANT to hear about your latest home decorating project, or when you had tea with a neighbor, or when Aunt Sue's surgery is scheduled and you might want an extra prayer going up...or someone had a great visit from a Grandbaby, friend, cousin, aunt, uncle, or a Blogland friend

I'm interested......Please keep posting the Minutia of your lives and I'll keep reading, praying, and joining in your circle of people who care!!

PICTURES will be FORTHCOMING...Grandson's new wheelchair, my newest quilt projects, a junking find...AND possibly a slice of Pound Cake I intend to Bake...IF that's not TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!

Let ME Hear your take on my musings????

BLESSINGS
GMAMA

HOT SUMMER AND GOOD INTENTIONS

HOT SUMMER & GOOD INTENTIONS




I had the best of intentions to blog at least weekly but LIFE happens. One daughter came down with acute colitis which meant 4 days at my house and then 4 days in the hospital. Since I'm still the Mama, I stayed with her round the clock. She was tested for everything from appendicitis to Chrones Disease, ovarian cyst, etc.. due to the severe pain. Thankfully, it was determined the colitis was due to either a viral or bacterial bug perhaps from food or source unknown. The healing process has been long and 15 lbs has been lost...by my daughter, not me! She has returned to her own house whom she shares with a roommate and life is returning back to normal.

All this trauma occurred after a relaxing week spent at "Spa Christie" ....translated my sister's house in NC. I'm not usually the recipient of nurturing rather I'm the dispenser. So a week of pampering was quite rejuvenating to say the least. I ate all my favorite foods, had an hour massage, visited with an elderly uncle, took naps, slept late, drank gourmet coffee, sonic ice (I love it), and in the evening Sister, BIL, & me all played Farmville on our 3 laptops. It was Fabulous! Everyone should have sisters!

One aspect of the trip has not been noted...I finally overcame my fear of flying!!! In order to visit my sister and avoid an 11 hr. car trip, I decided it was time to face my fears and fly the friendly skies. Other than being "wanded" by Big Mama, the flight was smooth sailing. I only had one layover in Charlotte which wasn't difficult to navigate at all. I found out I like the aisle seat best because of the extra elbow room...either the seating has shrunk or my booty has gotten bigger??!!

The Heat Wave here in the south has been BRUTAL!! the first 2 weeks in Aug. were triple digits with heat indexes between 102-116. School has started back around here which meant I started back keeping my youngest grandson. The heat has forced us indoors for most of the day...a few days we could get out very early till about 9:30 before the heat & humidity drove us back inside. Autumn can not come too soon. I love cool weather anyway and winter doesn't bother me one bit. In fact, I miss snow very much having grown up in West "By God" Virginia! Everyone tells me I'd get tired of it but I remind them I grew up and lived in snow country till I was about 25 yrs. old. I even drove to my first teaching/speech therapy position in 22 inches of snow!! One day I ran off in a short ditch and had to walk to the nearest house to call my principal to tell him I would be late. I was informed I needed to get there ASAP...NO SYMPATHY for snow...teachers were expected to have studded snow tires and be at their post. In rural WV back in the mid 70's, bad weather often meant the only heat or meal a child may have would be at school. Therefore, schools opened even if classes were suspended. Schools were the heart of a small Appalachian community and teachers were highly regarded which meant much was expected. I learned a lot and have many stories from those teaching days that I need to write down so they won't get lost over time.

SO.....it's the DOG DAYS of SUMMER...and life is suspended until we get into a fall weather pattern ...maybe two more weeks according to the local weather gurus. We finally got some rain the last 2 days. We've had no rain since July! I have lost TWO HYdrangeas and many of my summer flowers bit the dust long ago. It was too hot to get outside to water and for the first time ever, I allowed my flowers to die a slow death in front of my eyes. SAD!!

Grandson James is in B town for intensive physical therapy after having spinal surgery back in June. Daughter and James are staying in the local Ronald McDonald House for two weeks. She says it is unbelievably clean and comfortable. Corporate sponsers make sure they have a hot meal every evening, Starbucks in the a.m plus a continental breakfast, snacks available at all times, free wash facilities, etc... This is the first time experiencing the gratitude for R McD House ministering to my own family. I look at those little donation boxes at McD's in a whole new way!

Hopefully, I'll add pictures of James in PT camp!

Blessings
GMAMA

HOSPITAL AND ANNA LAURA

July 4th Friend's Lake House

JULY 4TH, 2010

TIMS FORD STATE PARK

BELVIDERE, TENNESSEE

THIS IS MY CONTRIBUTION TO

FRIDAY PRETTIES!
PLEASE VISIT MY FRIEND JOYCE
OVER at
www.Iloveprettylittlethings.blogspot.com

We visited some wonderful friends at their Lake House on the 4th.

This is my idea of Heaven on Earth!!

Here is the view from the top porch of the Lake House

THE SECOND STORY DECK OVER
LOOKING THE LAKE!



This is a partial view of the 6,000 sq. ft. lake House

I just returned from camping last week so my blog post will be short. I need to go to bed and get some rest for I have many projects on deck for tomorrow.

I want to sit down and share my camping stories such as the meeting with a snake during my morning coffee and counting the many deer who came up for a handout.

The whole week was a lovely time with my hubby and after 37 yrs. he is still my best friend.

GOOD NIGHT & GOD BLESS

GMAMA

GRANDMAMA'S GARDEN

LOOK AT THE BOUNTY FROM MY GARDEN!!!!

ALABAMA PRODUCE

SQUASH, CUCUMBERS (PICKLING & SALAD VARIETY) & BIG BOY TOMATOES

WILD BLACKBERRIES PICKED ON MY FARM
THESE WILL DEFINITELY BE IN A COBBLER
TONIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY SWEET HARD WORKING HUSBAND PICKED ALL OF THIS PRODUCE! THE HEAT HAS BECOME SO UNBEARABLE FOR ME THAT ALL THE HARVESTING HAS FALLEN ON HIS SHOULDERS.

I FEEL VERY GUILTY ABOUT THIS AND WANT TO HELP LIKE I USED TO BE ABLE TO DO. I DON'T LIKE NOT BEING ABLE TO DO THE THINGS I USED TO COULD DO. I BLAME FIBROMYALGIA BUT BEING OVERWEIGHT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT AS WELL.

TOMORROW GRANDSON RYAN IS GOING TO TAKE THE EXTRA PRODUCE AND HAVE A ROAD SIDE STAND. HE WANTED A WAY TO MAKE SOME MONEY TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE "ARM" HE BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT OF THEIR SUV. THUS THE ROAD SIDE VEGETABLE STAND VERSUS LEMONADE STAND WHICH DOESN'T WORK AS WELL OUT IN THE COUNTRY. I'M ANXIOUS TO SEE HOW WELL HE DOES.

I PLAN TO CALL ALL MY LOCAL FRIENDS AS WELL AS NOTIFY THEM ON FB AND MY BLOG TO MAKE A RUN BY RYAN'S VEGGIE STAND TO PICK UP SOME FRESH PRODUCE!!!

How many of you Love a Tomato Sandwich?? I love mine with fresh soft white bread, lots of Hellman's Mayo, slices of tomatoes with salt. For Variety, I'll place a slice of cheese or make a BLT: Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato. YUM!!

HOW DO YOU EAT YOUR TOMATO SANDWICH? DO YOU EVEN LIKE TOMATO SANDWICHES??

GMAMA

Mama & Baby

MY GARDEN

FRIDAY PRETTIES

My patio Wave Petunia

I have to learn how to link this back to my blogger friends. My Blogger friend: I Love Pretty Little Things.blogspot.com hosts Friday Pretties and I'm learning how to link back to her page. Patience my blogger friends as this old dog learns new tricks.

Oil Spill Victim Gulf Shores Alabama

GULF SHORES, ALABAMA
BP OIL SPILL VICTIM

THESE PRISTINE BEACHES ARE NOW COVERED IN REDDISH COLORED TAR BALLS
THE BEADS OF OIR ARE SO SMALL YOU CAN'T SEE THEM WHEN YOU SPREAD A BEACH TOWEL OUT ON THE SAND. PICK IT UP TO SHAKE SAND OUT AND THE BACK OF THE TOWEL IS ONE GREASY OILY MESS WITH A RANCID ODOR. IF YOU GET THE OILY RESIDUE ON YOUR SKIN IT IRRITATES AND CAUSES INFECTION.

THIS IS MY FAMILY'S NUMBER ONE VACATION SPOT EACH YEAR. THESE PICTURES WERE TAKEN IN O8 IN OCTOBER.

CLEAN SUGAR WHITE SAND
GULF SHORES SUNSET

Papaw & Grandmama

Sand Sculpture 2008

A Poem

James on Race Day in his New Wheelchair with his name and
car logo monogrammed on back of his seat


James and Uncle Matthew cross the finish line in the 2010 Cotton Row Fun Run

I want to share a poem written by my daughter

A POEM FOR MY SON

Challenged
Some say that I am disabled
But you know that isn't true
I simply have a challenge
A little different from you.

My slight inconvenience has taught me
Things you could not know
Each obstacle is a victory
Enabling me to grow.

I'm not really any different
I cry, I laugh, I snore
I don't want to be treated
As if I'm not a person anymore.

Out of good intentions
People are afraid to let me try
But sometimes I have to fail
And sometimes I need to cry.

God gives me strength and dignity
And the courage to be all I can be.
For He doesn't see me as disabled
He just sees me as me!

written by:
MaryEllen Hillis Pollard
Mother of James Patrick Pollard (born premature Oct. 8, 2007 and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at 6 months)

Miscellaneous Musings

Since I haven't posted in over a week, my brain is overloaded with random thoughts and musings about a little bit of everything. Coming home from St. Louis and the aftermath of James's surgery has left me mentally and physically exhausted. My fibromyalgia can rear its ugly head at the most inopportune times. I have to listen to my body and know when I've had enough. However, when I'm needed as support, I can't give in to my shortcomings...I just have to keep on keeping on.

I'm absolutely amazed at the progress James has made only 7 days out from major spinal surgery! He can take a few steps on his own power, wiggle each toe individually, and even his upper body is "loosey goosey" just like those precious legs. I love to squeeze his little legs and kiss them when I get the chance. Would you believe his speech is even clearer??

Thank you Dr. T.S.Parks and St. Louis Children's Hospital for allowing God to work through you in performing such a miraculous surgery on my grandson. I don't want to raise unattainable expectations but based on progress so far, I truly believe James will walk independently. In my heart of hearts, I wish for James to "WALK" into Kindergarten on his own two legs. Daily therapy is grueling, not only for James, but for my sweet Mary Ellen. She is such a wonderful mother but she has her limits as we all do. I need to pray daily for her to have strength both physically & mentally. She and James have a long road ahead and although we are all there to help & support, the reality is that the brunt of the work is on Mary Ellen's shoulders.

I'm so appreciative of all those who have pitched in to help with dinners, grass cutting, and the many other words of encouragement. Mary Ellen's circle of friends is the best she has ever had in her entire life. She has always wanted good friends and sometimes friends disappointed her in the past but I truly believe this group of friends are mature and genuine.

While we were in St. Louis, over that weekend,Ryan (8) thought it would be a good idea to see if he could "hear" the ocean by holding a small seashell up to his ear. Somehow??? the seashell became lodged in his ear and serious attempts by Matthew, Dr. Laura Lee, and 4 Grown men in the ER, could not dislodge the seashell. A trip on Monday to the ENT finally achieved success. During the ER process, Ryan became extremely frightened and had what I call a "come apart". He fought off 4 grown men and in the process his ear drum was punctured (or that is our belief). The ENT must have made an impression on Ryan in their heart to heart conversation because Ryan quietly laid down and allowed him to successfully remove the shell without incident. The Dr. told Ryan that other patients couldn't be helped until Ryan allowed the Dr. to do his job and remove the shell from Ryan's ear. This logic made perfect sense to Ryan and appealed to his compassionate heart. Ryan has and will always be someone whom needs to be dealt with as a compassionate, deep thinking little boy who wants things to be explained to him before anything happens to him. Ryan needed his Grandmama for moral support! Ryan's sense of humor rose to the occasion when on Sunday after living with the seashell in his ear for over 24 hrs., Ryan told his daddy "The sea shell called and says he can hear the ocean and wants out" I really laughed at that dry remark which sounded more like something Clay would have said!

Speaking of Clay, here is a sneaky little story that describes Clay's personality. His mother, jenda, was folding clothes and heard the two boys wrestling. Not one to intervene too quickly she listened from afar to shouts from Clay of "Ryan let me go!! Please let me go!! Mama, Ryan won't let me go!!" After several minutes went by, Jenda, slipped down the hall and peeped into the room to see Clay on his back with Ryan on top and Clay has a grip on Ryan's hands and feet not allowing RYAN to get up yet it was CLAY yelling for help!! When Jenda walked into the room and said Clay's name, Clay immediately let go of Ryan and looked at his Mama with a sneaky grin and said "hee Hee Hee" Oh, that is SOOO Typical of sneaky little Clay...the pot stirrer. Poor Ryan said he knew everyone would think Clay was the victim and yelling for help would have been useless. The dynamics of those two brothers is funny to watch and listen to..

My sweet Emma Grace is feeling left out being the only girl in the family. She wants to play but the boys are unmerciful to her! I'm letting her spend the night Sunday night and taking her for an Emma Day on Monday. She needs some individual attention and getting to spend the night before the boys will be a real
treat. She loves to help me bake and plant.

Scott seemed to be so happy to be here last night when he came down with his family. He went straight for his little basket of cars/trains, and then to his riding toys. it was as though he was home and doing his own thing in HIS world. Jenda laughs at how comfortable Scott seems to be at Grandmama's house. I think Scott is missing his daily "spa time' when I would bathe and massage his legs after lunch and before his nap. The family is going camping next weekend and I think Scott will end up staying here with Gmama & PaPaw. Camping in a pop-up camper without the comforts of home and AC is not his idea of a good time which makes for a miserable time for everyone else. I want the other Grandpeeps to have fun camping so I think Scott needs to come back to Gmama's spa hotel. I miss him so I will enjoy having my Scottie What back home with me.

PaPaw is off fishing in the Big TOC fishing tournament in Scottsboro. He looks so forward to this tournament and believes every year he is going to win one of the prizes. I would give anything to see him actually win for catching a big fish!!! That smile would be seen from coast to coast!!! Watching him get ready for two days of tournament fishing is like watching a 9 yr. old getting ready for sleepover camp. I love to see him excited and I love the time to myself. I'll be ready to have him home but for now let me enjoy the house all to myself. The kids are close so if I need anything I can almost yell out my window for help.

The weather is truly Alabama HOT & HUMID. I hate HOT like this but I like the sunshine so I won't complain. My AC is cranked up high and I now sleep in a bedroom at 67 degrees. Delightful!

I'm enjoying reading some of the blogs I've discovered. I need to learn some more tricks of the blogging trade to make my sight more user friendly plus get more pictures up. Your suggestions are welcomed. I write most of this as a way to journal our family's journey for posterity regardless if anyone reads it or not. If you do visit, let me know. I'm new at this and it would be interesting to know if anyone is reading what I write.

WRITING GOAL:
I'm planning to write each Grandchild a story about them and give to them on their respective birthdays. Scott will receive the first one. It won't be anything fancy but it will be something they can keep from me. I want to bind it as a book complete with illustrations made by them.

Welcome and come back for a visit:

Would you like pictures of my veggie garden and its bounty??? Let me know!

Miracle Journey Begins/St. Louis Bound

Today begins my grandson James's miracle journey to a "vertical' life! Being born premature at 33 weeks on Oct. 7th, James was in the NICU for almost the entire month of October 2008. Our little pumpkin came home Oct.31st. Being a special education educator for 27 yrs. at the time, it didn't take long for Mary Ellen and me to determine James was not meeting milestones. We knew in our heart of hearts, something wasn't right and began searching for a diagnosis. No one in the medical community wanted to label James and especially didn't want to suggest Cerebral Palsy. In fact, one physician told my daughter,

"James is just a wimpy little white boy."

Fast forward 2 1/2 yrs and hundreds of Dr. visits/therapies later, James does indeed have Cerebral Palsy and is about to have a life changing surgery at St. Louis Children's Hospital with Dr. T.S. Parks. SDR surgery which stands for a very long medical term that basically means the Dr. will open James's spine and clip the offending nerve pathways causing spasticity of James's muscles. This will allow Physical therapy to retrain James's legs and allow him to walk independently. The quality of walking will be in question for the first year but James will definitely live a more vertical life than he would without the surgery.

Intensive therapy 5x a week for the first year after surgery and at least 3-4x a week for years 2-4 are a required commitment of caregivers for children receiving SDR surgery. Dr. Parks has perfected a specific technique only performed by himself here in St. Louis or two trained colleagues at Duke & Vancouver Canada.

So...PaPaw & Grandmama are here in St. Louis with James, Mommie & Daddy and the love and support of many many people who have made this trip possible. The outpouring of donations, acts of kindness, gifts, love, hugs, and most of all prayer have been overwhelming and quite frankly... unbelievable. Everytime a roadblock appeared, God had an angel ready to move that stone and pour out a blessing.

James goes to the hospital Wed. for pre-op procedures until noon. Surgery will be early Thursday morning. Tomorrow we're planning a trip to the St. Louis Zoo and to meet up with nephew John and sweet wife Martha! A little fun is required medicine before surgery!

The countdown to surgery begins.........

Race Day

Check out my Sweet Baby James (SBJ)!! His Uncle Matthew "ran" with him in the Cotton Row Run on Memorial Day!! James was so proud of his green participant ribbon!! ALL my grandchildren got to run in the race. We treat James just like all the other grandchildren. SBJ will be having spinal surgery on June 10th so who knows, SBJ may even run the race on his own two legs in the very near future. Stay tuned for Miracle Watch...God has big things in store for James and I can't wait to journal this miracle journey...hope you will pray with us along this journey...shout for joy over each little STEP...pray with us when he stumbles knowing God will carry SBJ when necessary!

James on Race Day

Summer Musings

I feel like I'm in a candy store and don't know what to pick first...this long stretch of summer days and weeks ahead. There are so many "to do" projects I don't know where to start. Many items are "have to" projects" such as painting the bathroom, cleaning the laundry room, shampooing the carpet, washing the windows, while others are "want to " projects such as tiling the kitchen back splash, painting some garden chairs/old windows, planting flowers everywhere, quilting, quilting, & more quilting. Then there are old friends to invite to lunch, folks who need a visit, garden produce to can/freeze, camping trips, blogging, and play dates with Grandchildren. How on earth do I get it all in?? I think I'll make a cup of tea and ponder awhile...

Ok, so as I'm pondering quietly to myself on this first day without any grandchildren, just me and my quiet house, the phone rings. Can I keep the peeps while daughter-in-law goes to get her teeth cleaned...only take an hour at most...sure why not?! Phone rings again..daughter has invited some old friends who are passing thru on their way home to Canada to MY HOUSE!!..sure why not?!

By 1:30 p.m. I had all 5 grandchildren, one daughter, one daughter-in-law passing thru, 2 adults with their 5 yr. old little girl and then PaPaw comes home early from fishing wanting to know if I can help him locate some long lost item....

Where did my quiet day all by myself go??????????? Just a typical day on the farm at Grandmama's house!

The rest of the week will be spent packing and getting ready for our trip to St. Louis Children's Hospital for Grandson James's spinal surgery. Our visitors today went thru this same surgery with their 5 yr. old daughter back in Feb. We were anxious to see Ellie and marvel at the progress she has made since surgery. Thanks Boggs family for giving us encouragement and hope. Families who live with a child with Cerebral Palsy have a common bond, knowing full well the daily struggles each one deals with. James is a gift from God to our family. Please pray with us for the entire medical team that will be operating on James this June 10th. Pray for us to know what to do to make James comfortable after surgery. Pray for daughter Mary Ellen to have the strength to care for James during those first 24 hrs after surgery and for Daddy Josh to be the support his family needs. Pray for PaPaw & Grandmama to be a strong support for Mary Ellen & Josh so they can concentrate on caring for James.

Today is the Day that the Lord hath made!

I pray that we will all remember the true meaning of this Memorial Day weekend by praying for and honoring those fallen heroes from wars past & present! May God Bless Them & their families!

Memorial Day is the beginning of summer in my mind. My porches and patio are getting closer to being ready for the summer grilling season. The morning coffee tastes better outside on my front porch since its cooler than the patio in the early morning. I need to plant more flowers in my containers since my dogs love to dig up anything I plant in the ground. Hank, my border collie, dug up my brand new Hydrangea bush. He's living on the edge, that crazy hyper active dog!!

Tomorrow begins with the Grandpeeps participating in the local Cotton Row Fun Run. They will run/walk the 1 mile course along with my son Matthew who will be pushing Grandson James in his super cool new lime green wheelchair. For those of you new to my blog and our family, James is 2 1/2 & born premature to my wonderful daughter, Mary Ellen and son-in-law, Josh. James has Cerebral Palsy with the main affected areas being the legs. Cognitively, James is a very bright child & knows his colors, letters, and can read certain words such as POW, POP, etc...

James may be "pushed" in this year's race but with the Grace of God, our prayer is that he may use his own two legs in next year's race. You see, James is having a very life changing surgery on June 10th at St. Louis Children's Hospital which is a 6 hr. drive from our home here in Alabama. This surgery involves opening up his spine and clipping the nerves that cause the tightness (spasticity) in his legs. After a 3-7 hr. surgery, James will be much like an infant motor wise and will begin the long long road of daily therapy to regain/reteach his muscles/legs how to move & walk.

Right now, all we can think of is making it through the immediate surgery and getting James home safely. You can understand why "Running" with his Uncle Matthew in this race is so symbolic for our Sweet Baby James. Please pray with us as we prepare for the difficult road ahead. Pray for the medical team who will perform the surgery, Dr. T.S. Parks, therapists, nurses, parents, &Grandparents, that everything will go as God wills it to go. Pray for us to be able to leave James in God's hands.

This surgery is called SDR for short and you can Google those letters "SDR surgery" and get more info. There may be a person out there with a child or family member in need of this surgery. In fact, my daughter found out thru a blog and her own research about the surgery and Dr. Parks in St. Louis.

Today's post has been more serious than funny but it was important to me to share these thoughts with you.

God Bless America and Our Soldiers

GMAMA

Last Day of Camp Grandmama 2010

All good things must come to an end and Grandmama Camp 2010 is no exception. The 4 amigos arrived this morningwith a slight "hitch in their get-along" complete with sun-burned shoulders, 1 skinned knee, several bug bites, and starving! Son Matthew said the kiddos were so tired last night that sleep was fitful and restless. A few whines are in order after having played so hard for the last 3 days.

Brreakfast was bacon, scrambled eggs, and buttered toast w/honey plus orange juice. An hour of cartoons let the troops relax, breakfast settle, and energy return. A few sprinkles dictated the morning craft would take place on the front porch. Supplies for painting wood picture frames were set up and directions given. It often amazes me how children will ask, "Can I paint it like this..........?" as though they need permission to be creative. As the adults in their lives, we are always telling them what to do and children have become so afraid to make mistakes that creativity often suffers.

That's why I like giving free reign during art projects. It is important to me for them to "own" their art, for better of for worse. I've seen adults take over children's projects, "fix" them, then hand them back and expect the child to be proud.

I'll try to post the results of the picture frame art project. I took several pictures of the troops so as to choose one to place in the frame as a keepsake. I wonder if those picture frames will mean anything to them in 10, 20, 30, yrs??? I hope I helped make some memories this week.

The last hour or so of the morning was spent sitting together watching two of our dogs, Hamk & Lucy, tear into an old rotten log in an effort to capture whatever critter was lurking. We didn't know if it would be a snake, rat, mole or whatever?? Ryan stood watch, ready to CATCH whatever came out the other end of that log. We couldn't have paid for more exciting entertainment. Purely spontaneous, unplanned, yet another great teachable moment about nature, instincts, habitat, and cycle of life. What was in the log??? Unfortunatley, we never found out because PaPaw drove up in his truck and chased dogs & critters away. Quite anticlimactic but a call for Golf Cart rides warded off any whining.

Camp ended with an hour of golf carting, taking turns driving (even Emma Grace!), and the person in the passenger side got to be the tour narrator. We narrated brush piles, wildflowers, barn contents, playground items, natural habitats, squash report,etc...! Each day we measured the squash and hoped it would be ready for frying before friday but alas, it was not to be!

The day ended early since Mama Jenda came to pick them up around 12:45. Cries of "Why are you so early?", "But we don't WANT to go Home???!!!!"

CAMP GRANDMAMA Day 3 Pool Party

Pool Party!! Day 3 of Grandmama Camp and everyone is ready to go swimming. Only one problem...the pool party was rescheduled for June 10th and Grandmama didn't read her email stating the change! Can you believe it? So...not to be outdone, I call my son and ask permission to take the children to their own pool. My daughter Mary Ellen and grandson James joined us and Plan B turned out to be Fabulous!

Lots of splashing, giggling, diving, jumping, sliding, flipping, cannon balling, snacking, and all out fun! Little Scott and I paddled around while James showed off his swimming skills with his Mama. That little stinker has so much therapy in the pool, he has learned to swim at age 2 1/2!

After 2 hrs of pool fun, we had a picnic lunch and headed home. Four little heads barely hit the pillow before snoozing off to la la land. What is it about swimming that makes you so hungry and sleepy in that order??

So...tomorrow is Friday and only a half day of Grandmama Camp. Mama Jenda gets to come home at lunch so Camp is dismissed at 11:30. The children are going to paint special picture frames to commemorate Camp Grandmama 2010. Each frame has a special wood cut out to signify a special interest: Ryan/Green frog, Clay
/train, Emma Grace/princess crown, Scott/crocodile, & James/Dinosaur.

Summer begins, camp is out and I have 6 weeks of free time...Hmm??? It's going to be terribly quiet around here...I have so many projects to either complete or get started. I'm missing the kids and they haven't even left yet!

Next stop...St. Louis Childrens' Hospital and James's SDR surgery. I'll talk more about that in the upcoming days. Just know that James will need your intense prayers for this life changing spinal surgery that will hopefully give him the opportunity to walk independently. James was born premature and was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. He is loved beyond measure and expected to do great things with his precious little life. Stay tuned...

GMama