Sunday smiles!

Have a happy, smiley Trinity Sunday, y'all!

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Nautical miles, mileage miles...?

Here is an interesting email from Haley (5th grade teacher) to MM (Mileage Man):

Grumps, you are going to love this!  Today in class we were talking about our spelling word, nautical, and the concept of nautical miles.  I mentioned that they were different from "regular" miles but still measure length like a mile does.  I then said that I was sure that my dad could tell them all about the difference, but that I would have to look it up.  One of my girls piped up and said, "Your dad is the total package!" 

I just loved it!  Yep, you've all been mentioned a time or two in class, but I think Grumps might have just achieved a new level of honor! ;)

I love you!  Thanks for giving me fodder for classroom discussion and other random tidbits.

Thanks, Haley, for giving me blog fodder...and another moniker for your dad!

Ansley earned her driver's license yesterday (and her boating license the day before), and just this morning had all four wisdom teeth extracted.  She is currently in recovery mode and doing well, according to Haley.  Solo driving will have to wait a few days!

 Poor thang.  Smiles...Grammie has some popsicles for you!

Missing Man

True to military tradition, the Wing Nuts posed a missing-man tribute to our friend Dick D. in the memorial garden after his service on Saturday.

My own Maytag Man represented this group and gave a touching eulogy to Dick at the Celebration of Life service.  No easy task for my guy, but he spoke from the heart, telling lots of complied history, anecdotes,  and insights about our friend.  This was very much appreciated, especially by the family.

Life goes on as usual, at least for us…changed entirely for Helen and family.  They will all still have our collective support and friendship, because that is the way friends are…steadfast through life. 

Sharing and remembering.

Because we care. 

Because we are blessed.


Because life is so darn good!

Some gave all…

 

Thanks to ALL who made it possible for us to freely celebrate this day of remembrance.  And thanks to the families who supported these troops.  Freedom is never free.

Celebration of Life

Today we celebrate the life of a great patriot, Dick D., who served for 20 years in the U.S. Navy. His career continued and grew in many ways beyond that initial retirement.

He was a good husband, father, and friend...and a member of the distinguished, local Wing Nuts. This group formed 14 years ago for beer and wings while we gals attended our twice monthly sorority meeting. They helped solve many world problems over the years, so I hear.

The group changed as men moved away, and a few other good men moved in. They are a tight group, requiring an invite to be included in this special camaraderie.

Dick was the oldest member and is the first Wing Nut-ter to die. Even at 85, we didn't have enough time with him. Don't we all feel that way about a loved one?

After the afternoon celebration, the Wing Nuts and spouses will gather here at our home to have a special toast for our good friend. Gone, but never forgotten. Healed at last.

RIP, Chief. We loved you, your quick wit......and bright smile very much. You will be missed.

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Blackberry winter

Holy moly...it is 45 this morning in Mayberry. I had to shut some windows! Even the water is warmer than the outside temperature, although the sun is slowly burning off the pretty mist.

The locals call this Blackberry Winter, a colloquial expression used in the south and Midwest N America referring to a cold snap that often occurs in late spring when the blackberries are in bloom.

I'm thinking we will have a pretty good crop of blackberries this year! Brrr. KC inspected the deck and came promptly back inside. Smart boy.

Enjoy your fabulous Friday. We sure will. It is the last day of school for all our short folks, with several of them advancing up to another school. Last day of elementary school. Last day of middle school. Slow down, kiddos!!! Y'all are growing up too fast.

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TBT–say CHEESE!

 

I doubt that the Shirley Temple curl rolls will ever come back in style.  My mother sure loved playing with my hair waaay back, a very long time ago, giving me a curl here…and a curl there.

Look at those chubby baby cheeks.  They are still here, just older.

Never mind.

Have yourselves a ginger peachy TBT.  Life is good here in Mayberry, y’all!

Catching up...

What could be cuter than a tyke in a tutu on a trike? Happy birthday, sweet Eva! This is the gal who calls Joy Grammie. She loved her new ride from Aunt Anna, so there is NO slowing down for this precious child. Zoom, zoom.

Bob and Lynne arrived Sunday night, so that is why I have been missing in blog land. The whole family loves having them here, hence I've been playing BettydamnCrocker (with great help from Lynne and my girls) and feeding the crowds. Love it!

We've toured around the county, visited with friends, shared a little wine, done a little deck sitting, and generally had a fabulous time.

A pontoon boat ride was on the agenda, but we just flat out ran out of time. Hey, y'all come back!

That's how it is with (good) family. We always want them to come back. It also works that way with good friends.

We are mighty blessed. And have the guest room available, which will be ready for occupancy shortly.

Kitties are excluded if you shut the door!

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Uptown Funk-y band parody!

 

Our multi-talented UCHS band members have put together an amazing band recruitment video.  We do NOT own the rights to the background tracks.  We just own the rights to love and promote the accomplishments of all these great kids.

Watch all the way to the end for the cute bloopers!  Enjoy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w321SATjA8s&sns=em

Cheers and best wishes to all the kids (and the band director, and the band boosters) from Ansley’s Grammie!

Friday fun!

The 8th grade always puts on a Georgia history “wax museum” (student statues) on the track each year.  This year, I had two sweeties participating.  Lil Haley researched Tricia Yearwood, and recited details about her life to those who stopped at her station.

Macey dressed as a “flapper” girl, and told of their history during the ‘20s:

Georgia history is littered with many famous folks.  Quite a few were represented today that would have been worthwhile stopping and learning about…but, I had to get myself over to the park for Alex’s field day, especially since I was bringing bug juice:


Getting “hosed” by the fire truck was a major hit!  Literally.  Alex was smart and stayed next to the truck, receiving only a sprinkle of water.

Oh, you asked about bug juice?  It is FABulous, and simple—two parts frozen lemonade, mixed with one part frozen grape juice.  That ratio fits any size can, and is loved by every kid and everybody.  This is something that MM’s mom made when he was a boy.  I asked MM about the origin of the name, but he doesn’t know how it came about…he just knows he still loves it.  And is happy there was enough left in the cooler for him to get some.  Try it and let me know what you think.  This is a concoction our grandkids will be passing on down to their kids.  No doubt.  Family tradition!

It was a busy day.  I am happy to be back home, ready to put my feet up for a little while.  Look, it is almost wine thirty!

Cheers, y’all!

TBT–My baby girl

 

Isn’t Amy a cutie?  Yep, she sure is.  She’s a keeper for sure.

She was “down in the back” big time yesterday, and spent the morning stretched out on our living room floor, letting me play mommie.  See, being a mom is never over…….and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

PSA - Be nice to your kids—they get to pick out your nursing home.  Amy says she will find us a nice cruise ship.  Love that (smart a$$) girl!  That trait she inherited from MM…of course.

After a visit to the chiropractor, she was much better by last night, and she is back for another visit to the doc even as I type.  I’m thinking positive thoughts that she will be moving better today.  She’s tough, and will survive, despite inheriting her dad’s genetic back genes.  At least she got HIS eyelashes.

There is just other normal stuff going on here in paradise today, nothing that makes headlines……and that’s the way we like life.  Sweet and normal, despite an occasional “down in the back.”

This 'n that...

This is my first bloom of the year on the Knockout Rose bush Amy planted for me. All three bushes are happy and doing well.

All the men in the family treated us women to grilled burgers with all the trimmings at the pavilion for Mother's Day, and cleaned up! That was more fun than going out to a restaurant and fighting the crowds. Plus, the kids got to swim...and then go for a boat ride. Just perfect. We should make this an annual tradition!

Brian got tasked to help hoist up our new living room TV, since I am lacking in the TV-moving muscle department. I love having my big guys! Brian even took down the dead TV that was outside on our deck. MM has to make a different bracket to mount the TV removed from the living room, so we will need you back again, Briney! Thankyouverymuch. I'm good at holding the cords out of the way.
And supplying beer.

So, we've had the last soccer game, the last school fund raiser, the last chorus/band concerts, and next week, the last of the classes. Whew. May is rapidly disappearing, so summer will soon be upon us.

How did that happen, Peaches? I'm not ready for summer yet!




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Happy Mother’s Day!

Two of the greatest influences in my life…my mother and MM’s mother.  Both were hard working, caring women who lived through some hard times, but loved and nourished their children, leaving their special marks along the way.

Without them, these precious kiddos wouldn’t have been possible.  They are the greatest joys in my life. 

Happy Mother’s Day to Haley, Amy, and Faith…and to all mothers by birth, or mothers by heart.  You each have touched many lives, and left your own indelible marks.  Carry on.

Cheers!

TBT–Siblings and sweet Mother

And now there are only three.

Enjoy today.  It is the present in so many ways, well, except for the partial lizard I just found on the kitchen floor.  Thank you, Missy-the-Huntress.  Now where is the other half of it?!  Some gifts are NOT appreciated!

Guys and gals…

Amy cleaned up the pontoon boat after its long winter storage, and Jason put it in the water for us, so naturally we had to take it for a spin.  Thanks…and thanks for the ride, Captain Alex!

He might want to work on his boating technique and license when he gets a little older.  Miss Macey just got qualified so she will be ready for summer and the jet ski!  She rocks.  Literally.

My new yard boy Will has been busy…MM said he was doing the same thing at this age, as was daddy Jason.  These boys are learning many skills at young ages.  That’s good, because they are the ones who will probably be pushing our wheelchairs!

So I am now back home after driving to South GA Monday.  My high school class gals get together every so often for a dinner, and a Cinco de Mayo party was a perfect occasion for a gathering.  It would have been more perfect had we gotten a whole group shot, but we were too busy talking…and eating.  Imagine that!

I spent the night with sister Nan, and sister Delle was also there.  Did we get a photo of this long overdue event?  No…no one had on make up, so they nixed that idea.  We, of course, had a lot of catching up to do, which was more important than primping.

It is good being back home…to hubby, laundry, kitties, and all that normal stuff that makes family life what it is…normal, with those I love most…in our little corner of paradise.  Well, that litter box is not so thrilling.  But still…

Home, sweet home.  Happy Seis de Mayo, y’all!

Monday, already?

Our massages were wonderful, but our girly time together at the spa yesterday was even better. We sat outside on the spacious deck for awhile, enjoying a glass of wine and nibbling on cheese, fruit and crackers. Pure decadence.

Faith's birthday is our next planned girly celebration. We plan to make this a (nice) habit. We deserve a little pampering. Often!

I am attending a very special girly dinner tonight, down the road apiece, with some old classmates...plus, I get to see sister Nan!

Stay tuned.

Life is good, with family and friends! Rolling south...


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Spa day

Lucky me, having a spa day with my girls. Massage next!

WYWH, y'all!

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May-be warm Saturday

More like May-be NOT. It is 39 outside, but the kiddos won't care at their final soccer game this morning. I will be watching, huddled in my coat on the sideline. Sheesh. Global warming is definitely not working here in the GA Alps.

We love these flame azaleas that normally herald Spring. They need to herald a little louder this year, IMHO. Hubby has tried to propagate some of these lovelies but has been unsuccessful thus far. At least we have a great view from our deck of several bushes across the cove, but would love to have some a little closer to home.

I'm trying a new recipe to take to a Cinco de Mayo dinner tonight. Hopefully it will taste good, otherwise the recipe won't get posted.

That's about all the news from Mayberry today, except to say that I am smiling at reading the announcement of a certain wee Princess. Blessings to this bundle of joy and the Royal family. I had a feeling for pink on this birth, and I was right.

Life is good, the sun is shining, and all is well in our part of paradise.

What's for dinner at your house?

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