A Cool And Refreshing Change

Fresca has become my friend once again.  She isn’t my bestie but it is good to have many pals to ride life’s journey with you.  Fresca was there for me when I was young – she was actually born in 1966 so I was seven but we probably didn’t meet until well into my teens.  My BFF DP (Diet Pepsi) has been around way longer than that and she has seen me through a lot of life’s challenges.  She is the soothing pal.  Fresca however is sparkling with a little grapefruit, citrus flare to her.  It is good to have a great circle of friends.  And of course, I wouldn’t forget my sassy buddy Dr. Pepper.  She is a keeper too.

And They Cried!

All the years when our children grew up “they “were our entertainment.  There was wresting on the living room floor until someone cried, sitting around talking, the babies learning to walk and goofy little boys that naturally make us chuckle.  Now we reenact those entertaining moments every Sunday but with our grandchildren.  Today while at Bret and Britta’s we peered out the sliding glass door to see Cal and Remi both crying – not because they were hurt or anything but crying to one another.  Cal was on the bike crying because Remi wanted the bike and Remi crying because Cal was on the bike she wanted.  Mouths wide opened,  looking at one another trying to maturely express desire just came out as wales of pure entertainment for us.

Always The Heads

You youngins won’t remember this but us oldies will.  Back in the day when we took pictures with our cameras we had no way of knowing how they would turn out.  All of our film would be sent in or taken in for processing and then the horrific viewings began.  Some of the photos had eyes that were closed, (we had some wedding photos that were like that) often people had the red devil eyes (there wasn’t an option for red-eye removal like now) and then there were those where the heads were completely taken off.  We can blame that on the photographer too.  We have come soooo far in our picture taking skills – you kids have no idea how rough we had it.  While scrapbooking Kyla’s book I found this gem.  You get the point.

 

 

 

The First Are The Worst

Oh to be sooo loved.  I must have the sweetest blood, the chubbiest flesh, the perfect blood type or I am facing some lifelong punishment for all the errors of my ways because mosquitoes totally dig me.  They dig me so much that they dig into me before anyone else even gets bitten.  And they linger long – way longer that any other person.  I was attacked while painting three days ago.  The attackee did a real job on my arm and my leg and both punctured sites have been swollen, red and so incredibly itchy the entire time.  The venomous monster bites even wake me up at night.   What is a girl to do?  I need to shower myself in bug dope, quit eating sugar if my blood is so sweet and quit doing all that sinning

 

Ketchup and Fry Sauce Too

What is missed?  When I asked a few family members and friends what has been so missed during this pandemic these were the responses I got:   going to church, browsing in a store, eating in a restaurant, school, actual school where there is a teacher, a bus and a lunch box, taking the kids to places where they can play, interacting with friends, taking the kids into Costco, snacks in Costco and a slice of pizza when the shopping is done, and hugs – nice long hugs.  My number one missed thing is bottomless fries from Red Robin.

Stock in Croc

Nancy Sinatra sang it well.  “These boots are made for walking.  And that’s just what they’ll do.  One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.”    I’ll have to substitute shoes for boots but seriously my shoes have walked all over everyone and everything.  The classic black gems on the left are my “house shoes” and have seriously seen and walked over everything for so many years I can’t even remember how many.  They are Crocs and I should be sending my testimonial to the Croc company.  These babies have never failed me, never hurt my feet, been washed and dried and painted all over.  They have stepped on dogs, cats, legos and probably a little spit up or poop.  They will not be thrown away but archived somewhere as the newer sleek, camo Crocs are now taking their place.  It’s time babies – move on over and let the new kids on the block do their thing.

My Tree

If “my tree” sounds a little possessive it should be.  This is my tree, my family and my posterity.  My sweet daughter-in-law Brooke added more leaves onto my tree so it is now complete and up to date.  Our little G babies, Gwendolyn and Georgie needed their leaves to be added.  I just love my tree.  It is now in a new frame, all complete and hangs in my dining room, a place where we all often gather.  “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  Matthew 18:20.

 

Copley Gray and Elephant Tusk

I felt like I just finishing painting our house but that has now been three or four years ago.  I think. Where does the time go?   Now I am painting the garage and reminisce often about those days.  It took me from April to August to get the house all done in between the weather, children, church responsibilities and life.   This time the garage will be done in a week (or so.)  My helpers come over most days and we roll together which has been a huge help.  We’ve got Gwennie in her shades, Kelcy who paints fast and well and some 80’s music going with Grammie (that’s me)  on the high ladder.

 

Help More Sand Needed

Cal and Remi love our turtle sandbox.  They enjoyed it so much they dragged their little green chairs over there to relax while digging.  Granddaddy just poured four new bags of awesome sand into the clean turtle and I bought a brand new dump truck to add to the sand collection of toys.  After dinner on the deck we all watched them play and pour sand out of the turtle.  They didn’t listen to a word we said.  Out went the sand.   So why did I buy the turtle anyway?  Wouldn’t a huge mound of just sand be fun?

 

Cheese

It was the smile.  Brooke is amazing at posting pictures and videos of the kids and their life in Juneau.  Every time I saw that smile – something sparked inside me.  That smile was so familiar.  Oaklee smiles from left to right, from ear to ear, kind of the Charlie Brown straight across smile.  I love it.  Then I realized that the smile was me.  No wonder the familiar straight, slightly curvy grin hit home every time I saw it.  I pulled out my old picture of me on a beach in Vancouver, British Columbia.  There it was.  Oaklee.  Let’s rock those smiles together.