A Bit of a Chuckle

I was scrolling the other day and paused to read one of those screens that look like words or wisdom. The message made me laugh out loud.

(Please know that I am not advocating nor proposing violence. It just struck me as funny to think about!)

Just 3 Things | #18

We had a nice few days of sunny and warmer weather and then winter blew back into our lives with gusto. I'm a few days late on this installment of Just 3 Things because - well - life. 

- What I've Been Reading -

I finished up my reading of Jimmy Buffett: A Pirate Looks at Fifty. Let me say, first, that I am no Parrothead. However, I think I knew lots of folks who might have been during my younger days. I've always had the impression that Buffett was a free spirit, a sort of ne'er-do-well, a guy who just floats through life with no responsibility and who is just looking for a good time. Yet, this text sort of blew that concept out of the water for me.

It does seem that Buffett was sort of a free spirit and went down the road of Bad Boy for a while. I sort of got the impression that his wife, Jane, must have pushed him toward the more responsible life or, maybe it was them having children that nudged him in that direction. At any rate, this story of looking back at a month vacation to celebrate his fiftieth birthday made me see that at that stage of his life - and probably beforehand as well - convinced me that he was not just the free spirit floating along that he wanted everybody to believe he was.

It was sort of like listening to an old friend about his life and hearing about how different people and experiences influenced him and how he changed over the course of his life. Buffett is a great storyteller. His music fans could probably have all told me that as his stories all seem to tell a story. The book is sort a mish-mash of travelogue, reminiscences, and history. Many of the chapters started with a few lines from one of his songs. So, I would click over and listen to the song before reading the chapter. That convinced me that Buffett was more philosophical as well as a meticulous planner who coordinated planes and hotels and all sorts of things to make the vacation work out.

I think that what sticks with me most is that Buffett really probably could have been an English professor. It was really an oversight on our part not to recognize his intelligence and love of books and unique philosophical writing. Maybe I will read something else about this fellow to learn more and appreciate more about him!

I started a couple of other books this week. A light read, Snowed In by Catherine Walsh. It is an age old story with a bit of a twist. A couple who grew up together bump into one another and agree to go home to family Christmas celebrations and fake being one another's date. It is entertaining and easy to read. I also read a short story by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Leave it Up to Love. It was an Amazon Prime freebie this month. I like those freebie choices as a way to try out an author or read a book that one might not want to buy. I also started The Pursued by Corey Mead. It is a true story about a stalker in the heartland of Kansas. I must be honest, knowing it is a true story is not really a plus for me. Maybe it is that we have watched too much suspense on the television lately, but I have a hard time reading this one right before bed and then falling right off to sleep!

I do love reading using my Kindle or Libby app. However, every now and again I wish I had the physical book to loan out to somebody else.

- What I've Been Loving -

I visited with my son and his family this week. I always love spending time with the grandchildren and letting them teach me about the world and them allowing me to show them a little piece of it as well. When I arrived for my visit, I went straight to the gym where the granddaughter, Linley, was playing basketball. This is something she really enjoys with her little competitive spirit. Of course, it certainly fit right into my competitive edge as well. 

Her group was separated into three teams and two teams would play one another for a few minutes while the other team watched. Then, one of the teams would rotate off the floor to rest and get water while the other two teams played one another and so on. As soon as it was her team's turn to catch their breath, she came over and gave me a hug and showed me the strawberry on her knee that she had just earned while diving for the ball. Then, it was back to the team and prepping for the next rotation. She stole the ball a few times and dribbled it down the court to her team's goal, she scored a couple of baskets, and she did some boxing out - a skill she and her dad had worked on the week before. After a while, the coach/teacher worked with them on skills like stealing the ball and a much harder concept of learning to pivot on one foot. 

When we got to their house, we trekked down to the barn to feed their lambs and I learned all about their personalities and eating habits. I also got to observe both Linley and her brother, Harris, driving the go-cart. Look out Mario Andretti! 

I learned about school, their friends, and how a couple of girls followed Harris and his buddy around Urban Air when they were at a birthday party. He and his buddy were "Hot Guy 1 and Hot Guy 2." When we asked which was who, of course, we learned that Harris was #1 but he did admit that if his buddy told the story, he probably claimed that title and pushed the other off on Harris.

While Harris showered, Linley and I worked on her homework. She read me a story and we discussed it and she answered questions using complete sentences. She was amazed that the questions I asked at paragraph breaks were also the questions that she had to answer with complete sentences. She told me that I, "may as well be a teacher."

Then, we played a Guess In 10 game. Linley asked if I wanted to play the animal version or the space version. Knowing that she has been focused on learning about the planets lately, I chose the animal version in hopes of having a fighting chance at winning a time or two. She informed me as we were getting started that she is also an "Animal Expert," so, I knew then that I probably would not fare well. It was great fun to hear the questions she asked and to get the clues she would give me. In the end, though, she truly was the animal expert, of course.

I also sneaked  snapshot of a sign that Linley had posted on her bedroom door. It just screamed little sister. I don't know where the handout came from but her personalization of it was priceless. No Boys! Yet, at school recess, she generally is running and ripping and playing football with the boys. I guess that rule just applies at home with the boy there. Notice that there is a bold underline informing the masses at their house No busting in Brother.

Peace is silence. I also like how she extended the h in shh...and the o in Go! As a second grader, she already understands that adding exclamation points emphasizes a point, to!!!

- What I've Been Working On -

I'm gearing up for a few sewing projects. I'm going to recover an ottoman that is in my bedroom. The upholstery guy is working to recover the chair that I inherited from my Granny. So, I'm going to make the ottoman match the new upholstery. I had to order extra fabric because the guy ran out before getting the seat cushion covered. So, I had to do some online searching to find matching fabric. Fingers crossed that what I found is a match. 

I absolutely love the paisley fabric that will cover the chair. It is a few yards that I picked up years ago at a store called Sirs that burned almost a decade ago. It was a place that we all loved to visit and was a wonderful resource for folks who stitched or who were decorating or redecorating. I still miss it terribly. Yet, I still have a few flat folds and remnants that I purchased there and they are great for projects. When I bought the nice linen fabric, I had planned to make some drapes. I changed my mind and used a different bundle that also came from there. I guess you could say that if you only buy something that you really love, it will always work in your home. I think this is going to be a fabulous accent chair and with the colors in the fabric - blues and tans - I could use it in any room in my house. I will share a reveal when I get it back here. I hope Granny would approve.

My son also has a chair that needs a repair. It will be a simple project, I think. It will just be a simple director's chair type back. I ordered heavy duty needles, though, to stitch that up. I have a couple of other sewing projects waiting in the wings. So, I hope these two go smoothly.

I've started the transition from winter and Valentines to spring accents. The wind is still blustery and makes the temperature feel like something cooler but I know that it won't be long till all the days are warm and getting warmer. I hope the breezes blow in something nice for you!

Today I noticed...I really appreciate a good inspirational post.

I often pause to read inspirational quotes. Sometimes I will pass those along to folks who I think would appreciate it or to folks who I think might need a little inspiration or a little pick-me-up. My granddaughters are really good at reading and responding to them or to sending me something silly and inspirational that they have stumbled upon, too.

Sometimes a little pick-me-up is the highlight of the day or the warm fuzzy to end the day.

Then, there is something that is a good chuckle.

I really appreciate those, too!

Activities

Shortly after Harris started going to Preschool a couple of days per week - well after the crying stopped, he and I had a conversation about what school was like.  He explained to me that they have story time and play time and lunch time and did some activities.

I asked a bit more about these activities and was informed that it is when you make stuff and sit and do stuff and paint stuff. School activities. 

Soon preschool took a break and Harris was home again with his mom.  One day when I talked to him on the phone, he let me know that he and his mother had done an activity the day before.  You see, he had a newborn sister and I think mother needed a bit of quiet, still time out of the little fellow. 

I asked Harris about it and he informed me that he did a color sorting activity.  Then, when I talked to his mother, she let me know that she might run out of fresh ideas because he didn't like to repeat the same activity.  So, I made a suggestion and Harris wanted to know if I had some activities. 

Well, tradition continues and now that we are staying at home, like I shared yesterday, Harris is doing a little school work and Linley now is doing some activities, since she is at home from preschool as well.

I learned that one of her favorite activities is a color sorting one.  Again, tradition continues.  Only, this time, the color sorting activity doesn't involve little cars and colored stickers.  This time Linley is sorting colored cereal pieces.

Look at that little genius!  I told her mother that my grandchildren were destined to be true geniuses!  After I got the photo above, I got another message from her mother:

And then there were a couple of photos.

And a message from her mother, "true talent!"

I think she inherited that talent from me!

The Rules of the Classroom

I am an educator and my family knows that I put a lot of stock in reading, writing, and learning.  I also know that keeping the learning going while we are staying at home is very, very difficult.

I've checked in on a pretty regular basis to make certain that everybody is doing alright.  I've inquired about everyone's health and that of their extended family and asked about their food and toilet paper supply.

Sometimes I'll ask about their continued education but lots of times I let that go because...well...we are staying at home.  School and learning is hard enough to do when you go to school and learn.  So, when everybody is home and they have to be home ALL THE TIME, some things have to be let go at times and that is all right.

I checked in this morning with my son's family.  I hadn't talked to Jessica in a while and I cannot even imagine being at home ALL THE TIME with a six-year-old-boy who is full-of-energy and a two-year-old girl who is two years old.  I remember those years of having two littles at home with you and it was probably some of the hardest work I ever did.

Anyway, I digress.  Knowing that school is usually a part of the morning routine, I asked if they were having school this morning even though it was Good Friday.  Jessica assured me that they were and reiterated with, "We tend to work better when there is structure and a routine."  I get it. Rambunctious.  Busy.  Boisterous. Bouncing. I get it.

Linley was working on one of her favorite activities - color sorting - but that is another story for another time.  What I was intrigued by is that Jessica informed me that she was really learning a lot from Harris and the curriculum that he has as a kindergartner.  She said they'd had to Google something yesterday to be sure they had gotten it correct.  But that's not all!

She also informed me that when they started using the bonus room as the school room, Harris let her know that they needed some rules.  He liked the rules they had in his classroom at school.  So, he wrote them out and asked her to post them on the wall.

I kind of expected rules like Be Nice To Your Sister or Do What Mama Says.  These rules were all business, though.  The rules involve Hand Signals.  You see, if you need to go to the bathroom, you hold up one finger.  If you are in need of a wipe to clean something off your work area, you hold up two fingers.  Hold up three fingers if you need a pencil.  Four fingers signifies that you need some water.  If you have a question, hold up five fingers.

Jessica let me know that she has a difficult time remembering the rules.  She sees Harris following the rules and sometimes she is attending to Linley and her activity and cannot see the rules posted on the wall to clarify the difference between two and three or something like that and it is a struggle for her.

She sent me a photo of the rules and this message: "Just in case you and Mike need some rules around there."  I think I would be lost in keeping up with the rules, too.  I tried to text her back but I was laughing so hard I could hardly see my keyboard.  I said that maybe I just needed to start waving my hands in the air!

She said, "That should cover it!"

Dare Devils on Wheels!

We always love getting photos of the grands!  Each of the random photos below brings a smile to my face every single time I see them.

Every.

Single.

Time!

My first thought when I saw this one of Levy with his helmet, elbow and knee pads, and sporting Spiderman ensemble from head to toe made me smile.  Doesn't he look like a dare-devil.  We would have called him Evel Knievel back in the day.  Bicycle training wheels and all, this five-year-old looks like a wheeled sport to be reckoned with!

Then, there was this guy!  At the top Easton was shown riding his dinosaur four-wheeler with superhero knee and elbow pads, dino helmet, and swinging a badminton racket to heard goats out of the yard and back into the pasture.  The close-up just does not do justice to this dare-devil's speed and flexibility with those scampering goat kids!

Patience

I've been bugging Mike to put a new top on the table for the front porch.  A few months back a strong wind storm did a number on it and broke the glass top that was on it. 

Mike doesn't have quite the urgency that I do for the project.  So, I'm having to be patient. 

Patience is hard for me.

Yesterday, when I had finished working from here at home, I hopped on the ATV with Mike and we went for a ride.  We rode all over our ponderosa and even a little bit of the neighbors'.  We wound up back at Pop's barn where I checked out the progress of the seedlings he has been nurturing.

Then, we eased around the side of the barn to go close up the greenhouse for the evening to keep the new seed trays from getting too cool during the overnight temperatures.  I noticed something as we rode by the seedlings again.  Do you see it?

I think my exact words to Mike were, "I like how you crafted that plant table."

He responded, "Now, honey, that is a fine example of some redneck-carpentry there!"

So, today, when I mentioned how nice it would be if I had a new top on that table on the front porch so I have a place to set my coffee cup, he began to tell me how he would be glad to bring me one of those red plastic tubs and some different pieces of lumber to stack upon it.

Somehow, I'm learning that patience might be easier than I thought.

Soup In A Cup

Oftentimes children have to be coaxed into liking different foods.  I fondly recall that my children were 'good eaters' but that doesn't mean that they liked everything I ever served.

Bridgette, Bryan, and I often will bring up stories from their childhood which cause us to chuckle.  Generally it is in relation to something that their own children are doing.  One thing that we have chuckled about for years is my fondness for tomato soup and the fact that, as a child, Bryan did not share that fondness.

One day I served up tomato soup and we probably had grilled cheese sandwiches as a side item.  Instead of pouring our soup into bowls to be eaten with a spoon, I served the soup up in a mug or a cup.  

Bryan was having none of that.

Honestly, I don't know if he wound up eating something else or if I was that awful mother who told him to do without till dinnertime.  Miraculously, he survived my horrible parenting - whichever option I provided.

That afternoon when we went to the dairy farm to do our chores, Bryan was tagging along with my Daddy and he asked him, "Papaw, do you wike soup in a cup?"  I'm sure my father had a wise response or perhaps asked him a question to find out what type soup was being referenced.  Bryan clarified, asking, "Do you wike wed soup in a cup?" (red soup in a cup)

I can imagine Daddy not criticizing the red soup but not expressing delight either because I don't think it was one of his favorite options.  Daddy was more of a meat, beans, and potatoes kind of a guy and would have wanted something more like beef stew.

Finally, Bryan informed him, "Well, Papaw, I don't WIKE soup in a cup!"  There it was.  His preference stated.  And it was a fact that we all chuckled about when Daddy shared the conversation with us later.

To me tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich warms me up like no other meal.  So, when we had a cold, grey, damp, rainy day last week, I warmed up my favorite go-to.  Just like almost always when I have this menu delicacy, I sent Bryan a picture and the message, "Good day for soup in a cup!  Hate you missed it!"

Haircuts!

Somebody got fresh haircuts last week and had to come down the hill and show them off!

Of course we all were excited about a new summer haircut.  Why wouldn't we be?!

Especially after it was pointed out to us...

"It's spiky!"

Oldies

Old photos rake up old memories.  Most of the time, I think we find that old photos make us chuckle.  Other times, I think they make us question past thinking.  I'll never forget years ago when I was moving and some of my son's old photos surfaced.  He paused and looked at a school picture of himself and asked, "Mom, why did you let me wear my hair like that?"  I couldn't help myself, I just laughed out loud.  The main reason is because my memory of that stage of his life was of me thinking, why does he want to wear his hair like that?

Some old photos were found recently when my mother was packing up to move.  Some of them fell into my hands, somehow.  I was ever grateful to get most of them and was also glad to share some with cousins and aunts.  Of course, again, I chuckled. 

There was one incredibly horrible photo of one of my cousins.  She was always a really cute girl.  Oh, she went through a gangly stage at one point in her life, but she still was a cutie to my recollection and turned out to be a beautiful woman.  However, this particular photo was probably taken sometime around her first through third grade years.  I won't post it here because that would just be cruel.  However, her hair was chopped off right about at the bottom of her ears and was sticking out around her ears.  Her bangs were chopped off about an inch above her eyebrows and she had a really snarly look on her face.  To give her mother credit, my cousin, Janice, had on a really cute jumper and blouse with beautiful cotton lace around the Peter Pan collar and puffed-sleeve cuffs - a classic ensemble for a little southern girl.  Her outfit was hand-made and not home-made looking.  However, the remainder of the picture just really was unflattering.

Not having her mobile number, I texted it and a few other photos to Janice's sister, Joyce.  She and I spent about an hour laughing till our sides ached texting back and forth about this and several other photos I sent her.  Then, we also had a phone conversation that was at least a half-hour long talking and laughing about those photos and wondering where our mind was at the time to think all that was attractive.

I love photos and I really love looking back and reminiscing about days gone by.  Having somebody to contribute to the memories makes it even better and I am ever grateful to have photos and relatives with whom to share them.  I am constantly telling myself that I should take more photos and even after taking a pot-load of them, I always wish I had more. 

My plan is to take some time here to share some of those old photos from time to time so that they are not lost sitting in a box or stored in an online album somewhere.  I hope they bring a smile to others like they do to me.

Today's photo is one of me.  I am almost six years older than my sister.  I think my parents worried that I needed playmates.  I also know that my parents wanted me to be school-ready and socially aware when I began school.  So, I was enrolled in the local Head-Start program.  The best that my memory serves me is that I went to Franklin High School for these interactions and at some point, I must have been told that I was going so that I "would learn to play with other kids."  That really is about all I recall.  Goodness!  I wasn't even five years old, yet! 

At the end of my time in the Head-Start program. I do recall a graduation ceremony of some sort and getting a rolled-up piece of paper, tied with a ribbon, while wearing a mortarboard hat made of stiff, white paper.  The photo of me shows my snaggle-toothed self standing, wearing that hat, and holding my rolled-up paper.  Like my cousin, Janice, was in her picture, my hair is the style of the day, chopped off and straight bangs across my forehead. 

My snaggle-toothed smile is one I wore for several years, because aforementioned cousin, Joyce had kicked me to get back away from her when I was taunting her for something and she was sitting atop the washing machine, to the best of my recollection.  I was four and she was three and I lost my two front teeth that didn't grow back in till I was aged six or so. 

My dress was a cute one that was probably hand-made by my mother because I don't think I owned a store-bought dress till I was in the fifth grade.  I was really dressed up because I was also wearing lacy, white socks and white shoes.  I well-remember that white shoes were reserved for Sunday-wearing and special occasions! 

I'm sure there are many other photos of me over the years wearing a mortarboard hat and dressed in my finest because, after all, I went on to graduate from high school, as an undergraduate from college, and with a graduate degree from college.  However, this will probably always be my favorite photo of me as a graduate.  Good times!

Another coach in the family?

Back when the days were still chilly and the skies were grey and there were no leaves on the trees, a certain little fellow signed up to play a little T-Ball.  This grandmother asked his dad whether he was planning to help coach and got this as a response, "I think I'm going to just watch and see how things go. It might not be the same here as it was where I grew up playing and I can learn how things are done here this year."  This grandmother smiled.

Then, ball practice started.  This little fellow had a bit of early coaching at home from dad.  So, he sort of knew a wee bit about what to do on the ball field. 

However, when all of the team gets together, that back-yard coaching sometimes flies out the window and chaos ensues!  Players rolling in the grass, fighting one another for the ball, and other general preschool fun takes over.  So, even though there is a head-coach and an assistant coach, other auxiliary coaches are needed to step up. 

When this grandmother asked the ball player's dad how practice went and called him Coach Dad, I was immediately corrected with, "I'm not coaching, Mom.  I just help out a little bit during practice."  Once again, this grandmother just smiled.

Call it what you may.  But, I think I see Coach Dad out there on that field giving a little instruction and playing catch with the team.

Look at that pair in the background.  I'd bet somewhere in there is a phrase about squaring up your feet and your shoulders as you face the ball.

Now, I know Coach Dad feels a responsibility toward this player as seen in the background but I really had a little suspicion that the coaching didn't stop there.

Somehow, I really believed the coaching went a wee bit beyond this player and improving his fielding and his batting. You know, maybe Coach Dad might be helping some of the other little sluggers as well as our own favorite.

Maybe it was just a gut feeling on my part.  Somehow, in my mind, I kind of thought the other little players might be getting just a wee bit of Coach Dad's coaching as well.  But, this grandmother just smiled as Coach Dad protested.  Then, the first game came along...

I called to find out how things went and talked to Coach Dad.  I was told that our little slugger walloped the ball!  This grandmother just smiled and listened to all the details.

I asked how the ballgame went when the little players were executing defense and who was out in the field with them during that time.  The response went something like this, "Gosh, Mom.  We all were out there.  It was just chaos.  There were three or four of us standing in the field with them and nudging them into positions and telling them to get baseball ready. Then, the batter would hit the ball and we would have to tell some of them to stay near a base or to go cover home plate and nudge them in that direction.  It was sort of like a three-ring-circus.  They would fight over the ball and everybody ran after the runner no matter whether they had the ball or not. Then, it was nudging them back into position to get ready all over again for the next batter and be baseball ready...  It was a lot like herding cats!"  And this grandmother just smiled.

I asked about a couple of our little slugger's friends whose names I could recall.  Coach Dad's response was, "Aw, she did pretty well.  She has a lot to learn but she is just the sweetest little thing!"  And this grandmother just smiled.

So, I said, "Sounds like Coach Dad is doing a pretty good job." And the response I got was, "I'm NOT coaching, Mom.  I'm just helping out a little bit."  And this grandmother just smiled.

Me thinks he doth protest too much. 

We are glad to have another coach in the family!

Silly Boys and Water

I think most everybody has memories of running through a sprinkler during the summer time.  Now, Levi will have such memories as well!

Doesn't that look like fun on a hot summer day?  Thanks for sharing the fun time, Bonnie!

Silly boy!

Funny Face

I don't know if Levi has learned to make silly faces from seeing folks make selfies or if he was planning to blow us a kiss.  Either way, this photo sent by his mom made Mike and me chuckle!

A Sad Day

Well, yesterday was a sad day in our household.

We had to bid goodbye to an old friend.

We had been served well.

After all, that friend had only been a part of our lives for thirty-plus years.

Yet, when I set it atop the mate and pushed down on the center spot like I have countless thousand times before...

My finger just pushed straight through the trendy avocado center.

Sadness abounds.