Grass Mowing Season

We have had enough warm weather lately that the grass needed mowing.  Mike took care of that this week.  He cuts his mother's yard as well as ours and that is no small feat - several acres.

I guess it is grass mowing season for our entire family.  It seems we sort of have a thing about keeping the grass looking well.

My dad breaks his multiple acres of mowing up and does it in tracts...for days...marked on the calendar...in rotation.

Mike's son, Stephen, mows the grass surrounding his store, Bonnie's Barnyard, his yard, down the driveway, out the highway, and around the creek.  He and Mike keep it looking like a park around here.

Our son-in-law, Corey, operates his own lawn care business.  He is The Yard Boy and makes not only his own, but also many, many lawns look beautiful.

My son, Bryan, has always had strong interest in grass cutting.  When he was a little boy, his backup plan for a career was to cut the grass on the baseball field.  Then, when he was in college, he got the chance to work for a lawn care business and called me one day when he was cutting a college football or baseball field to inform me he was 'living the dream.'  His focus on making his lawn look beautiful had intensified this spring because they have their house on the market and are hoping to sell and move.

Maybe they all have a little help coming along...

I think the one in our family who seemed most focused on the mechanics of grass cutting this past weekend might have been our eldest grandson.

When he was visiting us, he had to climb up on Mike's mower and check everything out.

Every...

Single...

Thing.

He knew that the control handles had to be pulled over in front of the seat to drive it.

He knew the ropes and did his best to master it.

He even knew that wearing the radio/headphones was a big part of the job.

He was intent on getting the job done.

After all, the pride of the family grass moves from generation to generation.

I think ours is in good hands.

Lillie's Days

Almost since birth, my granddaughter, Lillie, has come to spend a few Days.  It is a special treat for me to be able to have an extended time with her when I don't have a hustle/bustle to be at work.  It gives me a wonderful opportunity to get to know her better and love her even more.  

At some point, when she was quite young, she informed her mother that she needed to "go to Grand B's to spend some Days."  (It was probably shortly after the birth of her younger sister and she needed some extra attention, but I don't recall exactly when she prompted us to start calling these extended visits Days.)  It has sort of become a tradition and we simply refer to her extended visits as... Lillie's Days.  (We are original and unique and creative like that!)

A couple of weeks ago marked Lillie's Days.  We were lucky enough to share about four days - all of them quite hot days.  It was quite wonderful for me and I think she enjoyed the time as well.  What did we do?

Well, visited the local library.  The one way that girl is like her grandmother is that she has ALWAYS loved books.  

Even as a baby she was intrigued by them.  That is one thing that thrills my heart.  She picked out a couple of books at the local library.  It seemed that the criterion for what a wonderful book is to her is that it must involve a horse in some way.  Her selections were Everything but the Horse by Hollie Hobby (Who knew she was an author?  Not me!  I thought she was just a doll who wore a bonnet.) and Liang and the Magic Paintbrush by Demi.  

The teacher in me tried to steer her toward a couple more of the books I love but she had none of that.  She is a girl who makes up her mind and sticks to it.  As it turned out, the books were quite wonderful and we both enjoyed them tremendously, reading them every single day that she was here.  We also had to read our traditional favorites, The Alley Cat's Meow by Kathi Appelt and What About Emma? by Ken Rush.  

The conversations are always interesting and mature when we sit down to read and discuss our books.  The comments from this less-than-fifty-pound, shorter-than-five-feet, seven-year-old scrawny little thing are always enlightening.  As I would read, Lillie would ask me questions like this, "Grand B, remember when I was a little girl and you would..."  

Another activity we both enjoyed each and every day was to go to "Nan's pool" (My sister and brother-in-law who live here on the 'family compound' have a backyard pool.)  

She loves to splash and jump and imagine and experiment.  She started off quite cautious and wearing water wings and a ring floaty.  

Then, she discovered that she could touch the bottom and not risk the danger of getting her face underwater (truly a catastrophe if that were to happen!) and she was a free and flippery little fish.  (Of course, I sat a little bit closer to the edge and was a mite more alert.)

Our days were full of fun and we both wish they could happen more often.  Wouldn't it be nice if we had no responsibility and could just take a few Days to spend wherever we like whenever we wish?

Lost!

The other afternoon, I had a stressful, hectic, busy day at work. After leaving my last school for the day, I swung by Publix to pick up a few necessities.  When I got home and toted in a handful of bags, I let Toby out to take care of business.  I toted in another handful of bags.  Then, I went back to get my school bag and purse.  With hands full, I walked round and shut the truck door with my hip, and immediately started calling and looking for Toby.  No show for my black pooch.  So, I started walking and calling - went up to the Mother-in-Law's, to both our barns, and started up the hill to Stephen's.  Mike had gotten in on the search and drove all over the front half of the farm looking and had circled up by Stephen and Bonnie's house, out to the highway, and back down to Jim's barn.  Thinking I would check the back pastures and drive out to the highway to check again, I opened the door of my truck and there he lay in the driver's seat!  I think I have lost my ever-loving mind!

Happy Birthday to My Favorite Son-in-Law!

Mrs. O

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday.  I don't think she will mind me sharing that she is turning eighty today.  (If she does, sorry, Mrs. O, but I'm glad you are.)

No, she doesn't look eighty - whatever that may "look" like.  She looks lovely and spunky and loved.  No, she doesn't act eighty - whatever that may be.  She is lively and active and loving.  I know I can speak for my favorite sister-in-law here and say that we both feel quite lucky to have her as our second mother.  She looks after us and our entire family.  She loves socializing and searches for reasons to celebrate life.  She loves nothing better than gathering all her family together for fellowship, food, and laughter. 

Her sense of humor is refreshing and she continually looks for ways to enjoy good living.  Her taste is impeccable and she tries to surround herself and those near her with the exquisite.  Her energy is contagious and those who are near tend to become involved in her schemes without even realizing they have done so. 

Yesterday we celebrated her with many of her brood - both sons, most of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  It was a rowdy, boisterous, delicious gathering of folks and we all left with smiles on our faces, full bellies, and warm memories of times reminisced and shared. 

Of course, I am most grateful that she has shared a wonderful man, my husband, Mike, to fill my life and help fulfill many of my dreams.  (Yes, I know that there are also days that I wonder why she didn't mold him a little closer to perfection in my mind, but mostly she did pretty well!) 

Today, I am thankful for Carrie Lucille Stephenson Ozburn and wish her a happy birthday!

Family Weekend

I am wrapping up my holiday break and will be going back to work/school on Monday.  So, this weekend we are spending it doing family events.

Yesterday, my mother-in-law and I went to watch our eldest granddaughter play her first basketball game.  I have never had better entertainment.  Have you ever watched Kindergarten girls play basketball?  You never really know how much there is to learn about something such as the sport basketball until you watch little folks learning all about it.  Those girls were so cute! 

The coach had worked on defense and they knew their "spots" and would run to them to set up for a zone defense.  Evidently they had each practiced at every "spot" because when Lillie first went out on the court, the coach shouted, "Other side, Lillie!" and she hopped right across the key and into the right spot.  Later, he shouted, "In the middle, Lillie!" and she zipped right into the middle and those hands went into the air.  Now, I'm not sure there was much real defending against a basket being scored, but all of them knew about their "spot!"  Mostly, the game was just watching the girls run back and forth from one goal to another, but in the end, Lillie exclaimed that it was, "Fun!  Fun!  Fun!"  Isn't that what sports and games are all about?

Tonight we will be celebrating my mother-in-law's birthday.  She will turn eighty tomorrow and our crew and Mike's brother, Jim, and his crew are putting together a dinner to honor her and fellowship together.  We already know that there will be at least twenty-two of us and we aren't sure that two of our children and their families will be coming.  So, there will be a crowd to usher in her new decade of life!  I'm to bring the birthday cake and I've stirred up a Chocolate Wet Cake.  You can find the recipe HERE.

Mike's Christmas Gift

Stephen and Bonnie fulfilled one of Mike's wishes on his list. They wrapped and presented him with this HUGE spatula.  (No that wasn't on his list!  Who knew they made such a thing?)

Attached to the spatula was a printout with clipart and wording to explain that he also got twenty-one chickens! Almost as soon as all the wrapping paper landed, he was out the door and up at Stephen and Bonnie's barn to check them out. Upon return, he claimed, "Those are some pretty chickens!"

Part of his flock

Fresh feed

 

Looking them over closely

 

 

This one has sort of a necklace of grey/black feathers.

 

There are red ones, black ones, and white ones.  I don't know much about chickens but they do look pretty good to me, too.  The next project will be to expand the pens out at Mike's barn and get these new girls placed in their new home.





Design Consultant

I am proud to add a plate to the shingle I have hanging by my door - Design Consultant!  (No, I don't really have a shingle and who knows what it would say if I did - klutz, goofball, cheapo, wanta-be...) 

Recently, my daughter, Bridgette, began making garden flags to give as gifts or to sell to folks who like a custom look.  I might be just a wee tad bit biased, but I think she does a marvelous job!  See:

See, she even has a repeat customer - other than me!  (If you would like your own custom garden flag, you can contact her!)

A few days ago she was working on Christmas gifts and was stitching one for my daughter-in-law, Jessica.  Jessica and Bryan have a new house and they are having all sorts of fun making it home.  Anyway, one of the things on Jessica's wish list was garden flags.  So, Bridgette had drawn her name and decided to fill that wish. 

When we went to Sir's Fabrics a few weeks back, we had stumbled across some outdoor fabric remnants.  I picked up a piece that I'm going to use to freshen up my deck sofa and another couple of pieces that I have no idea how I'm going to use - but it was a bargain and I loved the pattern and I've learned not to let that get away!

As soon as Bridgette saw a couple of pieces of the outdoor fabric, she said she thought of Jessica.  I would describe Jess's taste as a combination of earthy, modern, jazzy, natural, and elegant.  So, I guess that is why she fits so well in this family - eclectic is how that sort of design is referenced.  She leans toward browns - tan, chocolate, caramel, etc., greens - sage, seafoam, olive, etc., blues - robin's egg, grey-blue, etc., rust, russet, etc.  Her choices are always beautiful and usually something I would not have noticed till she picks them! 

Anyway, Bridgette found a paisley-type print that she thought looked like Jessica and got it for the base of the garden flag.  Immediately Bridgette's creative brain went to work on how the finished flag was goint to look.  She wanted it to be an all-season one that could be displayed at any time of year.  Since we are southerners, it seemed natural to me that Bridgette thought of putting an initial on it. 

So, this past week, I got an email asking me if the garden flag needed an extra personalization element.  At that point, the flag had the printed background, an oatmeal-colored oval, and a printed B appliqued on it.  I was consulted by her asking me if she should also add their last name.  Then, I was consulted to know what color the last name should be stitched. 

I showed the work-in-progress to my friend and co-worker, Kris, and we recommended the color and encouraged that she add the last name.  I think we did a great job on this project, what do you think?

Oh!  And, Bridgette did pretty well, too!

Yes, this was a shameless plug for my daughter and her work-from-home business.  Yes, I was compensated for this post - she showers me with love and some of her experimental projects!

Christmas Recap

We faced Christmas with mixed emotions this year.  We mourn the loss of Mike's dad, share concern for those less fortunate, and rejoice in celebration with family.  Today, the day after, has been a time for me to simply relax and luxuriate in a way.  Mike was off to work - AGAIN and Toby and I had the house to ourselves.  It has been quiet and restful.  That was just what was needed after all the reveling.

Our celebration started off last Saturday when we joined Mike's extended family.  His mother and her sister have traditionally gathered all their family together for a feast.  It has grown into a pot-luck affair since the children and grandchildren are grown.  So, if a person simply tastes everything on the buffet, that is a heaping plate!

The grown folks are chatty and the children are boisterous and everybody seems to have a really good time of feasting and fellowship.  We gather at Mike's mother's house upon the hill across the pasture from us.  This is the view off our back porch:

She has plenty of room for us all to spread out and sit at a table to dig into the delicious dishes everybody contributes.  She and Miss Peg (Mike's aunt) and Mr. Frank (Mike's uncle) did the set up and provide the backbone of the meal.  Peg and Frank's son, Jacky, came early to help cook the country ham.  Mr. Frank was the primary slicer of the turkey and the ham.  There was potato salad, green beans, squash casserole, macaroni and cheese, creamed corn, rolls, corn-light-bread, cranberries, pies, cakes, dessert squares, cookies, and lots more.  I ate so much I could hardly breathe!

There were cousins and nephews and a niece and children galore in attendance.  Some perched in the dining room, some in the farmhouse kitchen at a couple of tables, some up in the bonus room with the children and babies, and some in the sunroom.  We ate and laughed and talked and ate and laughed and talked.

Then, on Sunday afternoon, Mike and I hosted our family.  I cooked most of the day on Saturday and set the tables.  Then, Sunday morning bright and early I was up heating the food I'd cooked and cooking some more.  (I did let Mike squeeze into the kitchen to cook up some sausage and biscuits for breakfast!)  Bridgette, Corey, Lillie, Lydia, Stephen, and Bonnie came for a late lunch after church.  We feasted on smoked ham, yeast rolls, sweet potato casserole, squash casserole, mac and cheese, green beans, cranberry salad and a plethora of sweets that the daughters brought.  I ate so much I could hardly breathe!

We gathered in the den and exchanged gifts. 

Lillie and Lydia went first with the opening.  They were excited over PJs and other clothing as well as Legos, dolls, and doll strollers. 

Lillie got a fancy belt with lots of bling that we all envied.  She also got a baby doll that Bridgette did some babysitting for between photo shots.

Lydia got a baby, too, and she immediately set to rocking it just like folks do with a real baby. 

Stephen seemed pleased with his orange and white checked shirt.  I had to take several shots to get a glimpse of his face peeking out over the top.

Bonnie's smile radiates with each opening and Stephen seems to be reserving judgement.  I was so glad that they drew names using drawnames.com and I could check in and see their lists.  It made my shopping easier - especially after I decided not to just get the guys the same things and the gals the same things.  I figured they might want something different from a set of wrenches or a personalized bag from Thirty One.  So, I checked their lists and checked them twice...

Oh, the guys still got a tool, like this ratcheting wrench by Kobalt that Corey is checking out.  Mike had seen it advertised on TV and thought every guy on our list needed one - I think he must have wanted one himself!

Bridgette asked for white towels because when they get mud, makeup, or grass stains a little bleach will restore their pristine-ness.  I think she liked them and the Origami Owl necklace all the daughters got.

As expected, the tablets for Lillie and Lydia seemed to be the hit gift.  Stephen was amazed at the techno-savvy-ness when three-year-old Lydia opened hers she exclaimed, "A tablet!"  Then, immediately after it was turned on her little fingers started sliding and touching to get to apps she wanted to give a try.  Digital natives!

I don't know who was helping whom in this shot.  Both of them seem mesmerized, don't they?

My parents dropped in after their visit to Granny's and Daddy had to check out all the gadgets everybody opened.  Then, Stephen and Bonnie were off to their next stop - Bonnie's family gathering.  Corey, Bridgette, Lillie, and Lydia were off to church.  In a couple of hours, Bryan and Jessica stopped in from their trek to see Bryan's grandmother in eastern Tennessee.  Once again, we ate and I ate so much I could hardly breathe!

 Jessica seems thrilled with her gift as Bryan inspects and reserved judgement.  Doesn't that look seem familiar?

Bryan had to send a message to Corey showing that he was reserving judgement till he knew whether the gift was a keeper.

Evidently, the lunch box works!  Jessica didn't seem so sure about the size of it, though, especially when he suggested she fill it up each day.

Mom seems to like the personalized pottery piece from Mudd Puddles Pottery I ordered for her.  It did turn out beautifully. 

All of this was exhausting for poor Toby and he had to get a little rest.  Finally, he just curled up and napped!

We all had a big day and I think we all wound up tired, content, and glad we had the time to share together! 

The next morning, we gathered at Mike's mother's for a breakfast of country ham, eggs, sausage balls, gravy, biscuits, hash brown casserole, and sweet rolls.  Mike's brother, Jim, and his entire family came as well as Mike's two children and their families.  We gifted each of the youngsters and then played a game of Dirty Santa with gifts for the adults.  There were a couple or three hot items - a griddle, a set of tools, a cooler.  So, some folks had the opportunity to choose a gift more than once.  Mostly, we all simply shared a good time. 

We also got to share our gifts with Mike's daughter Laura and her children. 

 Some gifts required studied concentration to tear into - like the one Cassie is wrestling.

 Evie immediately had to don her necklace being the girly-girl she is.  After all, a girl's got to look accessorized!

 Again, the tablets were a big hit for the granddaughters.  I think Cassie's face shows how she feels about hers.

Evie was mesmerized with a coloring app and wanted to color a Disney princess over and over, changing the look each time.

Again, I wonder who is teaching who when it comes to this technology!

All-in-all, we had a very blessed holiday.  How fortunate we are to be able to shower one another with gifts and share time together over-indulging in delicious foods!  The memories of these good times will last forever and our gratitude for our many blessings can never be fully expressed.  I hope you and yours made life-long memories to treasure and reveled in abundance as well!

Daughter-In-Law

Today we are thankful for a special young woman.  We are thrilled that she chose to share her life with our son. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Her smile brightens our lives and her personality sends sparks of happiness through our bones.  We love her and are glad to call her our own. 

Happy Birthday, Jessica!