TBT–November 2005

 

I stumbled across this photo of Mother and me, taken almost exactly a year before she died.  Gosh, I sure miss her.  I’ve been crawling around the family trees recently, and I have sooo many questions I would love to ask her about folks, places, and just a ton of family history questions that will go unanswered.

I sure wish I had paid more attention, written stuff down…but life was always pretty busy…and we always think we have plenty of time left with our loved ones…but there is never a guarantee.  And there is never a second chance, much as we would want one.

So, my Redding clan is having its annual reunion in hawt SOWEGA (that’s South West Georgia, for the uninformed) next month, and God willing, I’m going, armed with my computer, ready to record any new info people want to share.  Also, ready to look up and share any info that I may have, should anyone want to know stuff.

Yep, digging can be fun.  I have found several (previously unknown) cuzns online, and last Friday, MM and I met one of them for lunch.  John (popular name in my family) is a sixth cuzn, but who’s counting?  He is into genealogy, and into sharing, so I have gotten lots of info and photos from him over the years and was delighted we got a chance to finally meet:

I haven’t changed much in 10 years, right?  Ha!

Happy Thursday, y’all.  Keep smiling…and getting older!

Moho Monday

 

Blog absence just means that the usual ho-hum stuff is going on, so now I will catch up a bit.  Moho Man has been busy designing and refining another project—a lift that he can use to tow the Prius (no, his other hitch would not work for this particular vehicle).  That’s a long story.

Why not buy a tow dolly, you ask?  Sure you did!  Because MM does not do things the usual way.  A tow dolly is an item that has to be removed and stored somewhere when not in use, not always practical in most campgrounds.  He has one; doesn’t want to use it for this purpose.

My engineer left-brain Moho Man wanted something that could stay attached to the Moho, but yet be raised up and clamped out of the way when not in use.  Great idea!  Nothing to store in a different place.  Nothing to go and retrieve every single time you need to get on the road.  He’s about got everything all figured out, but is still perfecting the product.  Stay tuned.  Life is never dull with my guy.

This is my tired guy at a little birthday celebration for Logan yesterday.  Poor thang:

So, we got the guys over the cobblestones of Paris yesterday, and the Tour is now over till next July.  There are some cheap river cruise deals in France right now, so sez my personal travel agent (MM), but our calendar is a tad too busy to take advantage of them.  France just isn’t on my agenda right now.  MM will just have to get over that disappointment…and get back to work on his hitch, where he needs to be, bless his heart.  We are already booked for a cruise in September, so he can just look forward to that.

Welcome to Monday, where laundry and paperwork are definitely on my agenda, while being entertained by two hummers at the freshly-filled feeder.

Could life get any better than this?

TBT–May 2006

 

That’s today’s birthday boy Logan with the wee girls at Arches National Park way back in ‘06.  And Haley, the photographer, of course.  Such a beautiful, fascinating place…just in case you have never been there.  It is definitely worth visiting.

Logan is turning a special number today—that he wants to ignore.  HA.  Like that’s gonna happen!  That’s what families are for…to give you a hard time…but it’s because we love ya!

Happy, happy birthday.  And many more!

Life is good, y’all!  Get out and enjoy it.

More FFF

Nephew Jeff and partner Bjarne arrived Sunday evening to a very UN-Danish dinner, a low country boil.  Amy got caught adding the magic to that pile of goodness, Old Bay seasonings.  Bjarne, a great cook himself, was fascinated with the process (cooked in that big stainless steel pot on the R) and curious about the seasonings.  He was also curious about this bit of pole dancing by cuzn Brian:

He was actually doing a little electrical assistance for his sister.  Then we had a little hair braiding lesson:

And then we decided the chairs were a little too hard, so we moved next door to cushy chairs, and some fam photos:

The guys left yesterday morning, heading up to NC to tube at Deep Creek before going on to visit more family on their whirlwind sweep of the south.  Loved seeing them, and seeing the slideshow of their majorly remodeled summer home in Denmark.  Like in…tore down the old building and put up a new one remodeling! 

Y’all come back now, ya hear?!  Your room is ready, any time.

Life is good when surrounded by family and friends…right?  And it will be even better AFTER a root canal that is happening this morning.  Bugger to that!

Awesome friends

 

We enjoyed having Susan and John visit with us last weekend.  They are part of “Team Awesome” Tuesday trivia way down in WPB.  MM and John graduated from high school together, so we have a LOT of history with these two.  Love’em!

Of course we had to take them out on the lake…with grandkids in tow:

And at the helm:

Yep.  Get these kids trained now so that they can drive the old people around in a few years.  MM and I actually enjoyed being “chauffeured,” so that we could relax and enjoy the scenery and chat with our friends.  We might get used to that!

MM has finished his bush hogging job and has gone to retrieve his equipment and bring it all back to the shop this morning.  Tonight we will definitely party with the old people—a friend is having an 80th birthday party.  We should be home by 8p, right?!

Life is definitely good here in Paradise, y’all!

Maintenance Man

Dishwasher problems are never wanted, especially three days before guests arrive. Yikes! Where's my kitchen fairy?!

Heck, I've got something better'n that. My own favorite Maintenance Man!

MM didn't need this additional chore, what with him busy bush hogging this week, but he jumped right on it.

It is not a simple keypad problem. It appears to be a motherboard problem. That sounds serious, as in the dishwasher won't be working Sunday when I need it, with the whole family being here.

We will survive. We will resort to paper and plastic to feed our crowd.

Who's coming? Nephew Jeff and Bjarne...all the way from Denmark! They had lunch with sister Carolyn yesterday and are now heading our way, visiting friends en route.

We are expecting 90 today. May the God of the A/C continue to smile on us all!

Life is good, especially now that the motherboard is on the way here!

Happy Friday, y'all!

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TBT–Tour de GA

This photo is of Brian giving Lance his third place stage win at the ‘06 Tour de Georgia.  Brian and I were both on the local organizing committee to put on this race through the GA Alps.  It began on a chilly morning in Mayberry that day, and ended up at Georgia’s highest peak, Brasstown Bald.  We had a blast!  MM got to tag along for all the festivities, of course.

 

Brian and I are still watching the current TdF every day…and remembering the thrill of actually BEING there for several segments of the race.  Good memories with our sweet son.

Somewhere or other, we have photos of that trip to France with Brian for the ‘03 Tour de France.  Bugger.  I need to dig a little deeper on MM’s computer to find them.

Live…love…laugh…and make some good memories!

Birthday gal!

Our Faith is having a birthday today!

We sure are glad she said YES and joined our family. Brian is a mighty lucky fella, and I'm sure he will do something special for the occasion. Or else!

Don't disappoint your mama. I raised you right!!!

Hugs to Faith from her blessed in-laws.

Life is mighty good, y'all!



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TBT–Sisters ‘05

 

Haley and Amy…with a little Christmas chaos.

My wee girls…Ansley and Macey…in the “growth chair” that belonged to MM’s grandmother.  I need to get the girls to pose beside that chair again.  Sniff, sniff.  They are big now, and Ansley is driving!  How’d that happen?!

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Sadly, there are no more babies around here to rock, however the cobwebs and dust continue.  Bugger.  Babies definitely “don’t keep.”

Life is good and all about attitude, y’all!

Lucky #20!

 

Can it be 20 years since Haley and Logan got hitched?  No way!  Time has literally flown, but two kids and a couple of moves have happened since then, so yes, it has been 20 years since this fabulous day.  So much has changed over these 20 years…people gone; our family has increased; the then new church now grown and remodeled already (this was the first wedding held there); more people living in our area; and we got computers and the internet!  Hang on to your hats for the next 20-year ride!  I can predict that it won’t be dull…and it will also swiftly fly on by.

Dad and I love you two.  Happy Anniversary, and many more!

Spa day

Relaxing, waiting on my massage therapist. It is birthday spa day, with Faith being the birthday gal this time. She, Haley, and Amy are having their massages now, while I sit listening to soft music, and the gentle tinkle of the water feature in the wall next to me. Can life get any better than this?

This is a great tradition my gals started. The next birthday gal is in far off December. We may have to come back for a "just because" celebration before then.

MM and I thank everyone for the good anniversary wishes. I need to explain that we have a 99 year contract on this marriage, with an option to renew. I should have stated yesterday that I was extending the "option" by another year. My guy is a keeper. He is off bush hogging today, bless his heart.

Life is good, y'all!


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Love and Marriage…

Go together like a horse and carriage…and we two have been going together for 47 years today!  Some say I earn sainthood when we hit #50.  I’ll let y’all know!  Hopefully we will get to that big number.

Happy Anniversary, honey.  I would marry you all over again, if I had to go back and choose.  Let the adventures continue, because life has never been dull with you by my side.

Maybe my memory is fading…jk!

I’m renewing our contract for at least another year.

Long live the long ride!

MM and the mighty oak tree

While sitting and enjoying my morning coffee on the deck yesterday, I am greeted by more than birds chirping—a sudden CRACK, followed by a huge splash does not bode well.  I saw a big dead limb floating in the water, then noticed this oak leaning precariously way over the water, too near the diving board.  Not good.

MM to the rescue to analyze the situation, determining that the tree had to be cut down.  Bugger.  It is a good thing he did, because the innards were rotten and it wouldn’t have lasted in place much longer.  Plus, he got rid of some smaller stuff:

And got “ate up” by the blasphemy vines and had to wash off all the blood:

Then hook up and drag off the tree (so the kids could use the diving board):

Missy had to inspect before giving the “all clear” signal to begin use:

And then the fun of the fourth began, with lots of good food and fun times for friends and family.  Everyone was happy (except for two kitties) when the neighbor’s fireworks began at dark, but all survived the noise and chaos.  Macey and I beat Joan and Ansley at three games of marbles.  Ready for a rematch, girls?

How was your celebration?  Hopefully it didn’t include a chain saw!

Happy Independence Day!

Many, many men and women have died to give us these rights, as well as our freedom.  MM and I do not take this lightly.  Our hearts are grateful to be blessed with family and friends who will gather here later to celebrate this special day with us.  Rain is expected, but it won’t dampen our spirits.

God bless America!  And may God bless our family and friends.  Amen.

Life is good, y’all.  Celebrate it!

TBT - 1969

My sweet hubby climbed that coconut tree to retrieve a coconut for me.  Be still my heart!  I had never had fresh coconut until then. 

That was at the USCG station at Marathon Key, where we had honeymooned the previous summer.  Bob and Bonnie went down there with us on this particular spring trip.  We hauled along the boat, of course, so that we could ski and fish.  That was a mighty fine boat.  It and this truck (along with a Triumph Italia sports car) were most of MM’s dowry when we got married.  I had my own car, kitchen stuff, and a bedroom suite.  That was about all newlyweds needed way back then.  Times have sure changed.

That boat was our major source of entertainment in those Coast Guard days.  We spent many hours skiing with friends, and just exploring the many waterways around Miami.

MM had camped all his life with his family, so he got it in his head to build us a camper topper so that he could introduce me to the world of camping.  He had more time than we had money, so he got busy and built this little gem:

 

We christened it over at a campground in Ft. Myers…in the hawt summer…and within an hour or so of setting it up, we found us a store and purchased a small fan to cool off this new OVEN!  And to get more insect repellent.

There were many more trips using this camper, customizing it as we went along.  I sure don’t want to go back to that way of camping again, tyvm, especially cross country traveling in it.  Yes we did…and with a toddler, and I was pregnant!  Oh the stories…mostly good ones.

Many miles and many smiles with my guy…and our kiddos.  And we will be making more of both…soon…but now we are “glamping”  when we hit the road.  We’ve earned it!

Happy memories, minus the mosquitoes!

New fridge!

Out with the old problem fridge that is a brand that has caused tooo many moho fires:

Of course MM had to first remove the driver’s side window in order to get that big sucker outta there.  I reminded him that he was going to need testosterone assistance, but he managed it with the help of his trusty piece of machinery.

However, when it came time to get the replacement INSIDE, no guy help was around so I had to assist, with a large bruise on my thigh to prove it (no photo of that):

 

It was at this point that I had to go inside and help guide the fridge in far enough to go beyond his driver’s seat (and over the steering wheel).  Sheesh!  At least it is finally in place…and working just fine and dandy, and popping out ice cubes.

Since this is a “house” fridge, MM had to add pivoting hooks to keep the doors locked in place while in transit.  They were white and green…um, no way did I want them to be installed, looking that ugly, so he used a special plastic spray paint…and now we are both happy.

Life is all about compromise.  And safety.  Yes, safety is more important, but I still don’t want ugly.  So there.

Brian stopped by Sunday and got to assist with the window re-installing, so now the moho is pretty much ready to hit the road whenever we want to take off.  Whew!

That MM has been one busy, retired guy…and he hasn’t even gotten to my honey-do list yet!  Poor thang. 

Hello, July…how’d you get here so quickly?!  Life sure is busy here in Mayberry, y’all!