FOUR, THREE, TWO

When do the days of Christmas begin the countdown?

Today is Amy's birthday. Paul and I went to Memphis to take her to lunch and take her a birthday gift. I told her about this time (12:30 p.m.) 38 years ago I was counting her little fingers and toes. There is not another feeling like it - unless you have other fingers and toes to count, which we didn't. So hers were extra special and I'll never forget what that felt like. No mother does, I'm sure.

We had a good lunch at the Sidecar Cafe once again, but this time the service was fast. Amy had brought me and Paul two Christmas stockings with ornaments in them - little pet frames (I'll put Oscar, Lucy and Tommy's pictures in them) and three little ornament dolls representing her, me and Paul - the whole family. Sweet. And I can use the stockings on the mantel to see if Santa will leave anything in a few weeks!

It rained on us from about Highway 385 on to Germantown and same coming back. We stopped in Corinth and got a pre-lit Christmas tree at Walmart, plus some ornaments since we don't know where our tree is. Later on the way home I told Paul I remembered the tree from last year (Amy's) was in the box it came in at the foot of Mama Nick's bed for a long time. After that, I don't know what we did with it.

Yesterday I helped with the kids' Christmas party at the library. Fredda had it so well organized and it went great. There were kids and parents lined up to get in when I got there around 8:30. She said last year they had about 150; I think there were more this year. My game station was finding Santa's reindeer. Each child got a sheet of paper with pictures of the nine reindeer and then had to find matching pictures with numbers, write the number beside it's match, and return the sheet to me. Then their prize was a little bottle of bubbles. The sign said "Ages 7-12" but a lot of parents joined in the fun and helped wee ones. Great way to let children use the library or see it for the first time. Many Friends of the Library volunteers. Great Santa, too - I didn't even realize who it was till Paul told me - one of the men from the men's breakfast who left early to fulfill his Santa "helper" duties!



Friday night Paul and I went to the old Courthouse Museum to wait for the parade with Brenda, Cindy, Austin, Andrew and others, which turns south just past the courthouse, down by Mineral Springs Park, for judging. Naturally, I didn't get good night pictures, but some turned out okay.  We met the son of one of Paul's classmates (nephew of one of mine). To think of Terry with grandkids! Like Rip Van Winkle - you move away, you move back, other people have gotten "old" or "mature" and you wonder how it happened these kids have grandkids! When the parade was within sight of the courthouse the kids rang the enclosed brass bell which still hangs inside, and rang it again when it was over. Great tradition! I asked Bren wonder how long it had been since we'd seen a parade together?

Looks as if Santa's reindeer have run amok... Car and street lights as we drove east on 72.

Old Tishomingo Courthouse Museum entrance. Paul...

On display at the museum.

Upstairs in the old court room. Paul and Dustin Lambert. The old coal stove is one from Oldham Baptist Church. May be the very one I remember warming to on Sunday mornings. Herbert Robinson faithfully started the fire before we got there on winter mornings.



On display at the museum...Sitting on the steps leading up to the court room.  Very Best Friends since high school.

Bren and her oldest grandson Austin whose birthday it was Friday. He was 14 and is at least 6 feet tall already!  This old safe weighs over a ton. The tall door behind Bren was from the old McDonald home which used to be located near our old high school.

Ring the bell! The parade has begun! Andrew, Bren's second grandson and Terry's granddaughters.The bell was also rung in the old days when a jury had reached its verdict.

One of the better night pictures, have no idea what the camera setting was. Just lots of lights on this float, I guess. Music was from Beverly Hillbillies; Granny looked like Granny!

One of the antique tractors. Alas, not Jim or David's (Bren's husband and son). My battery went kaput just after this. Alex, the youngest grandson rode with his dad. Most were antique John Deere. The boys love the JDs!

So those have been my last three days. This week is already booked except for tomorrow and I need to put that tree up, get some of my old ornaments from the attic, return the wrong window candles (cords and I meant to get battery-powered), figure out finger foods for two different occasions this week, deliver a plant to Mama Nick (a beautiful pink Christmas cactus for her room), do laundry and clean the bathrooms, make Sher's Christmas gift. At this moment those are the most pressing things. Tomorrow it'll be something else. I'm just thankful I have the time, health and enough energy to do them. I've loved it all. It's been fun having time to have fun.

Tomorrow is Five - but that's another day, Scarlett.

QUARTERLY PICTURE

We got around to having my birthday breakfast this morning at Colby's. (I was in Iuka the first three weeks of March.) It's always good to be with the TBs for our birthday breakfasts... My birthday gift was a book of events of the year I was born, which was 1984, ummm, I mean 1948. Big typo.  

 

However...

This group we did not make happy by sitting at their table.  But we got there first and I think they got over it...

EMMY'S BIRTHDAY

The days pass and I get my "events" out of order...

On February 12, Amy and I went to Emmy's birthday party where the theme was "All Things Princess." Oh, how sweet all the little girls looked in their princess dresses, tiaras and tiny "glass slippers!" They little guys were dressed to the nines in knight and king outfits. Tara and Tara S, the dads, all did a great job keeping all the tykes occupied with crafts, punch, ice cream push-ups, cake, little "mice" Hershey kisses... The "disco ball" in the princess tent, I heard Tara say, was her Grandmother Jackson's Christmas light ball from her porch many years ago. She finds so many ways to keep the great-grandmothers and grandmothers' memories alive and a part of the little ones's heritage.

MORE SNOW

It's becoming a white world once again.  I went to Forrest City this morning for Carolyn's birthday lunch and it began just after I got there. By the time I got back home around 1:00, yards and trees were practically covered and now our whole back yard is white.  It's beautiful. I stopped and got the ever-essential milk and some Little Debbie Smores (habit-forming), so I'm set.  Paul's truck was at City Hall; I know he had some meetings unless they've been cancelled by now. But the roads are okay.  Amy had a call to go to Memphis so I hope she doesn't have any trouble getting home. She should be home before it starts freezing on the overpasses.

While I was at the office, Wesley gave me this neat website that our church music minister has: Wynne Music. David is very organized, enthusiastic, worshipful, and people-oriented.  The first time I met him I felt as if I'd known him always.

There is some laundry to fold. I think I can just manage that before I go snuggle under a quilt with a book.

DADDY NICK

Today is Paul's dad's 100th birthday anniversary. It's hard to believe he's been gone for twenty-three years. He loved his overalls. At one time Amy had a pair of them, probably still does. He was a gentleman and a gentle man, who loved his family. In later years he talked on the phone to many of his buddies almost every day, just checking on them, as they did him, as well. He loved his Ashley heater, too, that was in the den and which he kept stoked and roaring in the winter time.

This picture was made at Mama Nick's sister's home just across the way (Aunt Ginny and Uncle Wendell's). They had made ice cream and we were all sitting around on the patio enjoying the "cream" and each other.

This is probably my favorite of him - with Amy, the first grandchild, and with Sally, the horse. Amy (nearly 2 1/2) loved her DaNick. This was made at "the Kimberly Place," on Highway 72 West, where they lived at the time.

Daddy Nick died in 1987, and at the time that seemed to be an old age. But it really isn't, now, relatively. I wish we could have had him with us much longer.

David, Paul's brother, called him last night and during the conversation asked Paul if he knew what tomorrow was. And he did. Wonderful that the brothers remembered this very special day.

More Happy Birthday

Paul came to Amy's about 10:00 this morning and we had a small "to-do" list for him: one of the fluorescent bulbs in the front bathroom had gone out, and I think we'll have to ask Placido back again for minor plumbing. I went to Target to exchange some hair color. (I'm aging, but of course, my hair isn't.) By the time I got back Paul and Amy were knee deep in leaves - raking and bagging. I even helped rake the front yard, full of tiny limbs that had fallen from the menacing river birch, whose roots were found in the sewer line. It was a gorgeous day, sunny and perfect for being outdoors. This robin didn't get the worm; Amy did...

I got my hair done pretty fast, and it rinsed out purple, so I thought, oh, what have I done?? But I made a good choice - it is just about the same beauty shop color, but covered all the unbelievable gray roots! Just can't imagine where they've come from!

~~~~

After we all cleaned up from yard work (Paul and Amy also cleaned leaves from in front of her garage and where her dogs are fenced) we went to Huey's for my birthday supper. Getting to be regulars there...

Somehow the conversation usually turns to cemeteries and since we had nothing else to do, drove through Memorial Park, off east Poplar near the interstate. It's really pretty large and has a National Historic register plaque at the entrance: A unique cave was constructed by Memorial Park founder F. Clovis Hinds and Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez in 1935-38. Natural rock and quartz crystal collected from the Ozarks form the background for nine scenes from the life of Christ. The cave and environs were built of concrete in imitation of rocks, boulders and trees. This naturalistic art recreates links with history and literature.

This link will take you to more information about it.

http://memphis.about.com/od/outdooractivities/ig/Crystal-Shrine-Grotto/

Happy Birthday, Amy!

Mercy me, I didn't mean to be so late - I mean, I wished her a Happy Birthday today - but to acknowledge it here!

The night she was born there was a terrible windstorm through Wynne and I remember the front door of the little house on Cottonwood nearly blew off as Paul was trying to get me out to the car! I'd been sent home once, the nurse or doctor or whomever was on call, that it "wasn't time yet." And late that night we went again. She was born at 8:59 A.M. How I remember seeing her for the first time - this little baby with all ten fingers and ten toes, plump and dark-haired and perfect. I just can't believe it's been that long ago. I don't think she'd mind telling her age because a lot of people who find out can't believe she's 36.

She got the best and the worst growing up, being an only child. But we always tried to be sure she was involved in things and with other kids whether at school or on trips - we took her friends with us many places.

But she's still our "baby." Every child should always be their parents' baby. Even when they're grown up.

Happy birthday, Amy!!

Mama's Birthday

Mama would have been 81 today. At Christmas time we always gathered on her deck and lined up in the corner for our Christmas picture. This year, Sher had her family at her house and decided to carry on a bit of that tradition. Assorted pets wandered in and out of camera range and in one, Jordan's cat reached over for a snag of her sweater and got her arm in the bargain. I promised not to post that one! ("No one will know why I'm looking that way!") So this is Jordan, her son, with his cat; Sher with Bailey jumping up on her; Nate in front of mom Melanie, and dad Kevin.

With the bay nearby, there are opportunities for sunrise and sunset walks and a little kayaking, as Jordan has found he enjoys.

Sher put up her tree with assemby help from Jordan and Kevin; she, Mel and Nate decorated. Jordan made the angel treetopper years ago when he was not much older than Nate.

Paul and I decorated today, too. He got my little table-topper tree out of the attic and I plugged it up. This is pretty much it, except for putting Christmas red and green in the grapevine wreathe, getting the extension cord out so I can turn the wreathe lights on (which stay on the wreathe year-round). Mama always managed to get her little tree decorated (table-top also). Of course, I miss that part of Christmas - but not so much any more. I have a really old Nativity that I think I know where is, so I'll get that out, too. The most important thing is celebrating His birthday and being with family. Anyway, my knees would not allow me to bend down into the storage cabinet for much more than the few Christmas ornaments that sit beside the tree. Oh, well. Jesus didn't have a decorated tree; and it's much less to put away after Christmas. I'll enjoy the bright full moon and stars He has put into the heavens.

Mississippi State won the Egg Bowl 40-27. Go Dawgs!! Brother Mike is an Ole Miss fan. I had no idea! He enjoyed the day with Paul, though. They ate supper in Tupelo on the way home. Razorbacks not so fortunate - LSU 33, AR 30. Some good games this weekend. Tennessee just won over Arizona 20-17 in the last 6 seconds!

If I can stay up long enough, I'd like to see the Hallmark movie "A Dog Named Christmas," but I have it taped. Paul has a scratchy throat and has gone to bed; we stayed tucked in tonight and didn't go to church.

May Birthdays

Danielle, Vera and Norma starting out the day with some of the goodies we brought for their birthdays, which are today (Norma, Danielle) and Vera's on Sunday. James's was on May 7.

Peeps

Jean had left this on my back door Friday afternoon (last Friday) and I had already put it with my "keepsakes" before I thought - well, I didn't even mention it! The Peeps has a story going back a long way - at least to when we girls went to Gulf Shores in 2005. The Peeps went with us to lots of places - restaurants, shops - and so this little guy shows up in a store somewhere and Jean couldn't resist. Great memories! Thanks!

Today

Some about the right eye - the pressure was up today - 24. Not great. Nothing to panic over right now, Dr. Billy said. Could be the steroid drops I'm still using; could be just the time of day. There's another drop he is going to ask about. Tomorrow is the day for the left eye surgery. It already had a dark spot in the vision field. And if I have to, I will just use the IOP drops like I did before. Naturally, it's a little disappointing to think maybe the ECP didn't work, but I knew there was a possibility. They've had good results, and this is not the I have the drops routine memorized, but still keep a chart on when I use what.

This afternoon, being home early for the appointment, I stopped by to vote and Oscar and I walked over to school and back. On the way back, the cutest little boxer puppy ran out into the street to greet Oscar and O didn't know what to think! Roscoe just wanted to play and O wanted to get behind my legs like a kid! Beautiful day today for a walk. Supposed to rain tomorrow.

Paul has gone to city council meeting tonight. O and I are home and it's quiet and I made french toast for my supper. Of course, he got a little tidbit of egg.

Becky's son Art and granddaughter Justine came by the office before I left (visiting from Arizona) and I got a few pictures of them. Justine's such a pretty girl, and got the cutest haircut since they've been here and that makes her look even more grown-up! Beck will be off till next Thursday I think.

More...

Sher sent me this little fellow. He's a Fern Animal (www.fernanimals.com) made by Ashley Anna Brown. Sher knows I love cats. I think Sher and Amy both had seen this site and talked about it when sister was in Memphis back in early winter. Thank you, Seester!

While I was at Walmart, Polly Fisher brought by a loaf of fresh homemade bread. She's so thoughtful and dedicated! She's been making bread for years and it's always melt-in-your-mouth delicious. It won't last a day. There was also a small bottle of lotion which I can definitely use - always needing that size in my vehicle or carry-around bag. Thanks, Polly!

I got Corky's BBQ at Walmart and we had that for supper. Walked Oscar - nice to be outside. Very windy though. Studied my SS lesson. I finished folding clothes and putting away what Tina had done earlier in the week. Catch-up day. I moved the rocking chair in the den, took down some small framed pictures and stored them, took magazines out of Mama's basket (and asked Paul to see if he could repair the handle), bought some CD storage containers to clean a few out of the Ruby Buffet. I'm thinking about just switching storage places with craft things to the buffet and CDs in the craft closet so I can have it as a work table. (Of course, covering the top of that beautiful old piece of furniture.) I'll see how that goes. Didn't even have a nap today. I was craving a cherry Dr. Pepper so I got one at Sonic but didn't drink the whole thing - too much caffeine - and sugar. But I don't think I'll have much trouble going to sleep - haven't really slowed down today.

Yikes! The striking clock just reminded me! It's Daylight Saving Weekend - Spring Forward - and lose an hour's sleep!

Good night, Gracie...

Another Birthday "Surprise"

Sister Sher called me at work yesterday and said, "Weeellllll..." And I knew it meant she got the job at Tyndall AFB. Wow! I'm happy for her - it'll be great for her in more ways than just her job and pay increase - she'll be near Melanie and Nate, only about two and a half hours away! The bad news is that she'll be so far from me! Only one other time in our adult lives have we lived this close to each other, when she was at Blytheville for two years. Now she'll be eleven to twelve hours away from me instead of four.

I cried, but I was happy for her. Then I thought, you know, God put her in Columbus for a "season," to be near Mama before she died, being only a couple of hours away from Iuka. Several times she would just "drop in" on her for the weekend, and she and I could meet there so easily. It was good to have her near us again, after being overseas for years and then in San Antonio. Then when Mama got so desperately ill, Sher was able to be there, and then again we were together caring for Mama in the hospital before she died. I'm thankful they had that time together once again, and that we all could be together.

So the preparation begins, and she knows all the work involved so well - listing her beautiful house in the woods with her realtor, getting lodging (hopefully pet-friendly quarters so she won't have to board Bailey and Minnie), paperwork, looking for another house in Panama City. And she'll have other family very nearby - our cousin JoAnn and Aunt Margaret live in PC. Aunt M is in assisted living center. We have JoAnn's cell number we'll call her - hopefully she'll be able to meet Sher and get her acquainted with the area. (Not that my sister ever needed that - she's a pioneer in that respect - if it's to be explored, she will...)

This morning brother Steve called and wished me happy birthday. I told him he and I could go spend some time with Sher soon when all is settled. (Of course, Paul can, but I doubt he would want to stay as long and I would... but that's fine, too. I think he's getting more mellow about watching the surf...) Anyway, my next few thoughts after Sher told me were - gosh, I'll have to drive that long way - I'll be worn out - wonder if I can stop and spend the night somewhere - I could fly, but I couldn't take Oscar. Steve said, "You've never been afraid of anything." Surprised me! Well, nervous about new things probably, but I guess he's right - never really afraid of anything, so I'm sure I could make the trip driving. We had already planned to go to Iuka first part of April, so that'll be good - it'll could be a while before we're all together again. Just hope Sher's new house has lots of bedrooms so we can all pile in on her!

Paul is washing my truck! And it hasn't fallen apart! I thought the dirt and grime was all that was holding it together! He does such a meticulous job - it'll be so clean and pretty again. Supposed to rain tomorrow, but it'll be clean for a day. Thanks, Honey!

Birthday Blessings

Recently I framed my senior picture and for lack of a better place to put it (the walls are full), I hung it in "Amy's" room across from the bed. I see it a lot. I see that young girl looking so serious. I see backward now to her future and it has been blessed beyond what I could have ever thought.

I'm thankful for my family, friends, co-workers, health, and home. And for freedoms that are afforded us who live in this nation; for our Lord Jesus Christ who makes the greatest Freedom possible. I'm thankful for this 22nd anniversary of my 39th birthday! I bet ol' Jack was thankful for all his anniversaries, too!

Some sweet surprises from sweet people in my life...

...And happy retirement, Tom Snider! This is his last day to work. He and JoAnn are going to move to Texarkana, TEXAS, by the first of April. "Metering Shop" will never be the same!

Happy Birthday, Caroline!

Today is Carolyn's birthday so we arranged a little party early this morning. I baked a cake last night (the frosting stuck to the lid but it didn't keep us from eating it), Wesley bought her a Woodwick scented oil diffuser and a little plaque about our "best friends" - dogs - from all of us. (She has a Westie named Rufus - "Rufie.") Becky led the singing of "Happy Birthday... and Many Moooooore!" Carolyn was a happy camper though she did shed a few tears. We keep wondering what we will do when the day comes we won't see each other every day! But for now, being together keeps us going!

(I told her all those people gathered in the Mall in DC were really there to celebrate her birthday!)

Important Day

Full day yesterday. Left work to see ortho doctor in Memphis and he quickly diagnosed my knee pain as bursitis! Pressed here and there a little and I flinched and sucked in my breath a lot! "On your feet a lot during Thanksgiving?" "Yes." "We see this a lot this time of year. Probably 10 or 12 so far." Plus on my knees doing that drawer cleaning thing. The knee was duly x-rayed and he gave me a nice cortisone cocktail injection with a long needle, which thankfully was sort of blocked by that lidocaine (I think) in a can spray, including lidocaine in the injection. (That wore off about 12:30 this morning.) I got the new medicine but it "may make you spacey." Now did he have to tell me that! It is to be taken at night and it is the lowest dose. And I can't cut it in two this time because it's a capsule. So I will just be a big girl and take it - try it anyway. Maybe it will do some good for my itchy-twitchy legs - peripheral neuropathy. Just one more incentive to clean out from under the bed and the top of the closet and the garage closet - now while I can still sit on a stool and do it!

When I got home we went to the Fire Department chili supper, then Paul drove his Camaro to the parade and I went to a meeting at church. I asked him if he wanted me to ride with him, I felt a little guilty going off and doing something else. "Up to you, but there's no place to wait while everyone's lining up. You'd be out in the cold." 'Nuff said. I went to church. Woodruff's float won Grand Champion for the second year in a row! I don't have any pictures of Paul in his car, or the parade. I think the float is the same as last year's. He said there was a good turnout even though it was so cold. Of course, it's prettier with lights on and kids/adults riding on it.

Since it was the first Thursday our church women's ministry grief support group met and it was well-attended by about a dozen ladies. Claire was our speaker and afterward many of the women had questions or comments. It so helps to talk and it helps others answer questions they've had. It's a comfort to know God is there singing over us, sometimes in a quiet stillness. There were two main verses Claire chose: Psalm 30:5 and Zephaniah 3:17. The holiday seasons seem especially difficult for those who've lost loved ones and she encouraged us to "listen for our songs" for this Season and the season of our lives.

Our December calendar is filling up so fast and it's good to be with friends and just see people we (I, especially) don't get to see often since I don't work in Wynne. To my regret I have to ask Paul peoples' names - I know their faces - but if I don't see them except two or three times a year... Well, part of that is because I'm not in Wynne 5 days of the week, and part is my memory! And more frequently it is becoming my eyesight! Another "challenge!" So if I squint at you funny and don't know your name - just tell me who you are!

And Thursday, the 4th, was Amy's birthday - The Day. I called her while driving to Memphis thinking she might be off that day and we could meet for lunch, but she was working. As I drove to work today and after going inside, I thought, 35 years ago I was doing very important work - bringing a new life into the world. She was born at 8:59 A.M. Sometimes I've wondered if my labor was delayed through the night and it was just a good time to deliver a baby and they missed it by a minute - why not 9:00! Funny. But that was her time to arrive and she was the prettiest plump, dark-haired, sweetest baby! I can remember the first time I saw her and how I wanted to touch her toes and fingers and be sure, as all mothers do, that they were all accounted for. There is nothing like that wondrous look at your new baby for the very first time and just be amazed at this little life you carried for nine months and then she is there for you to see and she is a real baby. Those memories seem to have been made so soon, yet it has been 35 years. How did it go so fast? Maybe I'll post a baby picture of her this weekend. She was beautiful then and she's beautiful now. And always my baby.

It was also Bren's husband Jim's birthday on the 4th - I called and wished him a Happy Birthday, too!