Family

makes good neighbors when they help build a new porch.  One set of steps done, one to go.  Marcy is glad.  The boards are straight the tags are crooked.

Waiting for warmer temperatures to finish.

After Watching A Show

about the happenings that led to the book and the movie called The Exorcist, I have decided to repeat I was reminded of a local tale from years ago.  I will not take sides nor state my beliefs only what happened as I know it.

A family lived on the north side of town that consisted of Grandma, Uncle, Father and Daughter.  A family that was a little different from the norm of wife, husband and 1,5 children but a family nonetheless.

The family had lived and worked in this area for years. They was not in the uppity social circles but Daughter attended school, Grandmother was the mother figure and the men worked as they could to support their family.

When Daughter was a young teen, trouble began.  I did not see it but know of people who did. Things moved with out reason, the bed daughter slept in bounced and levitated,  The family was terrified and uncomfortable with the attention this brought.  A television crew came and investigated.  It was quite the media event.  A reclusive family was now in the lime light and they were not happy.

Whether the family left by choice or the trouble ran them off will never be known.  They moved. Within a month of their leaving the house burned to the ground. Arson was the reason.

Today nothing stands where the house once stood except an empty lot with spring flowers and weeds.

The Keeper of Mamma's Flowers

I had the nicest compliment the other day from my nephew, Toni.  He said, The farm is beginning to look like Grandma and Grandpa are here.

As it must happen to all of us, our parents die.  That was a hard thing for me to accept because although I was getting older in my mind and heart Mom and Dad would always be what they had always been, loving, supportive, helpful and well, just there.  It didn't happen that way.

My sisters and I rallied and supported them, not financially but emotionally and lovingly.  As their needs increased we helped with everything from personal bookkeeping to personal care.  We as a family traveled through a heart condition, a stroke and Alzheimer's.   Both my parents would vocalize their sadness that they needed help and they shouldn't be such a burden.   I simply answered,  You cared for me for eighteen years this is nothing.  Oh, but it was.

I know many of you have lost loved ones and cried because you could not do more to ease the way.  I guess it's under the title of Shit Happens or Simply Life.  You do what you can.

My parents are gone.

We live where they began.  Honoring the land, honoring their wishes.  Never was much of a gardener, not my passion.  I was always a more hands on animal person but I've changed as we all did.  We do what's needed to return the farm to Mom and Dad's time.

My sisters and I are here with family and we are the elder ones.  Through tornadoes, ice storms, personal illnesses and family emergencies we still are here.

I look around  and agree with Toni, even though there are tons of things left to be repaired, upgraded, cultivated, it's beginning to look like Mom and Dad are still here.

There is a peace here that I find no other place.  We try to follow in our parents' foot steps but find it difficult for us.

I feel the joy they felt and see the treasure they saw in this beautiful valley. I know they are watching over us and proud of what we've accomplished by doing it their way.

I smile.  I know Mamma is pleased that I am still tending her flowers.

Summary of Sanity

or is that insanity?  Toni, my nephew, Bev's oldest son has been isolated in Alaska for two years.  We have all missed him.  Jake was worried he may be twelve before Toni ever came home again.

Toni always gives each of us that special attention, the respect that makes us all feel special.  He is the most like Dad.

We had planned on an auction but were not impressed so we ate out and took what the day dealt us.  We had rain but that did not stop our exploring.

We found a public access point on South Fork of Spring River and kayaking and fly fishing both came to mind.  Toni is a dyed-in-the-wool fisherman and takes his fishing seriously.  This place caught our attention.

Toni has farmed a little.

He has escorted Marcy on Ranger rides and to appointments and to family dinners with nephews and nieces.

I don't know what day we did our thing but the week has been a whirl wind of basketball games, appointments, and home cooking.  

We are all glad Toni is home again.  I'm fairly certain Mom and Dad are smiling.

Things I Learned During The Holidays...

No matter how little or how much you cook, there will be leftovers...send food home with guests.

Family is family.  Different, strange, or just down right cantankerous, family is family and we love them.

The taste of food is directly related to the amount of calories.  The higher the calories, the better the taste.

Every one hears the call to dinner but few hear the call to wash the dishes.

Children under four will love the box their gift came in far better than the gift.

Clean house after company leaves.   That way you only have to clean it once.

Joining Two Shoes In Texas
for Two Shoes Tuesday #17
FAMILY
Can
Be
The
Monkey
On your back
Or
Sometimes
The
Smile
That
Touches
Your soul.

Faces Of Christmas

What Makes A House A Home...

self

friends

past family

daring to be yourself

surrounding yourself

with things you love

and present family.

What I Got On Mother's Day or Down And Dirty

I got some land leveled.  That is a good gift and Hubby was grinning.  He did it because he knew it made me happy.

Or was it because I was on my hands and knees?

I was looking for arrow heads.

The spring pond is close by so I decided I would pull some moss to use for mulch in the garden.  These trees are still here from the tornado and ice.  There were more trees, Hubby has removed one now and then and finally we are down to the last two big ones.

Here's comes Hubby to mess up my play house.

He has cut the spillway so we can drain the pond lower,

remove some trees and some silt,

and generally make a mess.

Wonderful moss will make wonderful mulch

and enrich the ground.

My feet got mucked and I fell down!

Got just a tad muddy.

I did get a bucket of snails for Four Two.

Jake, my middle grandchild,

named Marcy's koi 

 when he was learning to count, thus...

Four Two.

I found a deep hole and then fell forward.

Thanks goodness there was an island.

We had stick boat races as the pond was draining.

It was hard for anyone to win with Maggie's eye on the sticks.

We did some snake hunting.

Bev found one baby and the guys saw it's granddaddy.

Can't you tell Jake in wanting in there?

Luke looking tough

Very little work was done in the garden

Everyone was too busy supervising.

The perfect Mother's Day,

surrounded by family,

every one laughing,

and I got to get dirty,

One of my most favorite things to do.

Hubby made a big pot of Gelbvieh chili,

the perfect meal for a perfect day.

Wild Weekend

Didn't know how badly I needed one until I finally had it.  The weekend was wonderful.  I worked Saturday but after work, the wild started.  Magic is wondering what those crazy people are up to now.

Even the cows walked away!

Maggie didn't mind, she's a little wild too.

Zander and Aunt Bevy

Maria and her sons, Andrew and Zander

Maggie, Andrew, Hubby

I am ready for another one, just like this!

To See The Beauty in Every Thing...

is art of living. The wonderful birds are somewhere in Searcy at a hospital where Marcy sees her voice therapist. She is never without her camera. My nephew, Toni, takes her since she is not comfortable driving that far. They always have a good time stopping and looking at whatever catches their fancy. If you are ever in Bald Knob, Arkansas eat at Who Dat's. It is a very unique and enjoyable place to eat.
They shopped some farmer's stands, Big Lots, and some other stores and had a great but exhausting time.