Oops! I dropped my pessary!

Patsy, Maria, Bek and Jacob arrived yesterday for a visit. We were expecting Patsy and Maria, but what a sweet surprise it was to see Bek and Jacob. Herman and Jacob were in heaven. I can't believe I didn't get any pictures.

Maria walked through the door with two jars of preserves she had made with her very own little hands, peach and tomato. This immediately put her on good footing with Dad. Patsy, (I still can't believe this one) brought him an almanac. A few weeks ago I ordered an almanac for Dad, because just about everyday for a month or so, he mentioned that he wanted one. He loves them, but for obvious reasons was not able to pick one up this year. When the one I ordered arrived in the mail a few days ago, he was completely underwhelmed, saying that he could make "hide nor hair" of it. He then gave it to Connie when she came over.

When Patsy handed him the one she had brought, it became obvious that it was "the almanac" he had been requesting. How the heck was I supposed to know? I thought all almanacs were equal. Little did I know. After they left, he called me over, and pointed out two pages with recipes. There were several he wanted to try, and wanted to make sure I saw them. He told me not to forget the page. Yea, yea. He kept the damn thing on his table by his bedside the rest of the day, and it's still sitting there this morning. He just keeps thumbing through it, and finding "something new" each time he looks at it. Arrrg!

Just as I knew he would, Dad fell in luv with Maria! Everyone who was in the room could see it. She plopped down beside him, leaned into his space, and started talking to him as if they were old friends. Everything about her said, "Old man, you're just gonna luv me," and he did. I pose the question, "Who on earth could resist Maria?" She has several things going for her though, she makes homemade preserves (and brought some to him), she lives on and has a working knowledge of farms, she's knowledgeable about NASCAR(I'm still trying to get over that one.), and she (Are you ready for this?) was born in Germany. Who knew? Dad loved this, because his family is from Germany. No matter that she was actually born on a military base, it was still Germany to him. This morning when I gave him his orange juice,

Dad ~ That Maria was born in Germany; did you know that?

Me ~ No, Dad, I didn't know that.

Dad ~ Yep, Germany, can ya beat that?"

Me ~ No, Dad. Can't beat that."

I probably did know Maria was born in Germany, but I guess it just didn't impact me the way it did Dad, so I didn't remember. Go figure! On her next visit, I'm sure we'll learn that she's a long lost relative. Bek and I decided he would probably want to put her in the will if she stayed much longer. I told Bek, when he asks how to spell her name I'll spell it wrong.

Patsy, Maria, Bek and I went to lunch at Panera's. After lunch we went next door to Ben and Jerry's for dessert. After that I took them to my favorite thrift shop. They found lots of bargains.

Bek had gotten an apple with her lunch. On the way home, she dropped it. She said, "Oh, I dropped my apple." Maria said, "Well, it's better than dropping your pessary." In unison, we all said, "What's a pessary?" Answer here. After reading the answer, I'm sure you will agree, Maria is correct, it is much better to drop your apple than your pessary.

It was a great day, enjoyed by all. Only one problem, I miss all of you even more, if that's possible.

The only downside: When Dad tastes Maria's preserves, I'll have to listen to stories about her all over again. He's found a new friend.

The Kiss

Isn't this the cutest picture of Little Miss Ellie and Jacob? Patsy took it when they were at Maymont. She later entered it in their contest. I don't have all the particulars, but I do know that this photo won third place. (should have won first) She received a ribbon and some prizes, all of which she told me about, but I can not remember. I do know she received a gift certificate to Richmond Camera, which seems very appropriate.

Congratulations, Patsy!

Aside: Notice Jacob's expression and the way he's cutting his eyes around toward Ellie. I don't think he's sure he likes what's going on, but Ellie obviously has no doubts whatsoever. By the way, her middle name should be "Adorable."

.....and here's the ribbon.....Ain't it purddy?

Back by popular demand...

I received a phone call a short while ago. It was Bek. She was in the grocery store, and wanted the recipe for a meat loaf I made for one of our famous, and long ago Thursday nights.

Mama's got a new set of wheels....

Fire engine red...Pretty, pretty...I see the bonus has arrived...Congratulations!

We Miss You, Jacob!

Even though we don't see you, Jacob, we are thinking of you.

These are some Christmas photos that Patsy sent to me.

Jacob and Bek! (Notice those beautiful hardwood floors.)

Who is that hiding there in the background, in the red and white checked pajamas. Is that MaMaw? I bet she's holding a cup of coffee. I would recognize that familiar coffee clutch anywhere!

Could that be dinosaurs? (Can you believe all those dinosaurs all over Bek's beautiful hardwood floors? I hope they don't leave any droppings.)

Cheese!

Look, Santa left a big boy bike, and I can ride it all over Mom's beautiful hardwood floors.

Would love to stay but I have a train to catch.........And a Merry Christmas was had by all.....

The Visit

Patsy, Jacob and Bek arrived a little after noon. It was so great to see them. Jacob loves where we live. There is so much for a boy to do here. Herman and Jacob walked down to the creek. They went fishing and caught a lot of things.....they weren't fish though. They found a toy truck, and two balls and fished them out of the creek.

Jacob climbed up on my father's red tractor.
He really enjoyed my brother's boat.

Pretend fishing turned out to be more fun than the actual fishing.

A very special candy cane...

Through thick and thin...

I love these two photos. Can't you see what good friends they are? When I was a little girl a very beautiful and wise woman once told me, "Men will come and go, Bonnie Ann, but a good girlfriend sticks." That's it, isn't it? Through thick and thin, their in!

Feelin' The Love...

Buddies forever...

Isn't she lovely?

"You don't look like my mama."

Pretty Woman!

Hot Babe!

Merry Christmas!

Jacob and his mom and ma maw came over to our house the night before Christmas Eve and we opened presents. It truly was an evening to remember, one of my most favorite Christmases ever. It's amazing how difficult things can be at times, and how friends can simply make it all go away for awhile. In the midst of everything that has been going on in my life, this particular evening was an oasis of joy.

Patsy and I got to see both our grandchildren in the same room. What could be better than that? Nothing! Jacob and Herman got to see each other for a while. They have missed each other since Herman and I moved to Newport News to take care of Dad. Of everything and everyone whom we miss, Jacob is the one we miss the most, and probably the one who misses us the most.























Presents were shared.

Jacob got a new skateboard. Mom and Herman helped him suit up....

Brandon couldn't resist...

Jacob and Ava finally got to meet each other,

and Patsy and I got to sit back and enjoy...

The Jack-O-Lantern

Patsy stopped by to pick me up after work and drove me over to get my car from the garage. It was being repaired. Two of the motor mounts broke and I was lucky that I didn't lose my engine while riding down the road. Don't ask.

.....but anyway, I followed Patsy over to Bek and Jacob's house in the dark. Both Patsy and I are blind as bats in the dark. That was appropriate since it was, after all, Halloween night, the biggest night of the year for bats. The only problem is that bats, even though they are blind little creatures, have sonar radar which keeps them on track. Patsy and I, however, do not have any sort of radar, nor can we read street signs at night. This can turn into a little bit of a problem if you don't know exactly where you're going, and sometimes even if you do. Needless to say, we got a little lost....well, shall we say, not lost but delayed. Patsy took a few practice turns down the wrong road and then I lost her. She found her way to Bek's, but it took me a few more minutes, and a few more wrong turns before I did.

We finally arrived safely and Bek and Herman took Jacob trick-or-treating while Patsy and I stayed at the house and gave out the candy. Later we went to Wendy's for chili and sandwiches. It was a fun night, filled with simple pleasures, something I haven't had for quite a while which made it all the sweeter. Love you guys.

Bek and Jacob did a great job on their Jack-O-Lantern. It was by far the scariest one on their block.
Bek's and Jacob's front step decorations...

The Alligator/Dinosaur Monster...

Jacob was an Alligator/Dinosaur for Halloween this year. Boo!

Happy Halloween

...from my web site to yours...

Howdy Partner...

Jacob was a cowboy for Halloween last year.

The Fun House

Herman and I finally got to see Bek's and Jacob's new house last week. It's great! Cute as a bee's knees, and it has hardwood floors. I'm jealous.

Jacob loved it. It's the perfect house and perfect yard for him. The back yard is fenced in (if ever there was a boy who needs a fence, it's Jacob) and it has a tree house and sliding board. Paleeze! When it was time to leave he said, "I want to stay here."

Take lots of pictures over the years, Bek, because he's going to make wonderful memories at this house.

After Patsy, Bek and Jacob came over to our house last week, we ordered pizza and brownie bits. Herman and Jacob made the man, and then Bek and Herman moved her mattress down from our attic, and we headed over to their house for the first time. Darkness was falling but I still snapped a few pix. Here they are.

Bek gazing at her new house while Herman unties the mattress.

Bek gazing at Herman's butt, and what a cute butt it is.

Bek's chrysanthemums, a mound of purple blooms are growing on either side of her doorstep. I just have to believe that purple flowers greeting you at your front door are a good omen, like butterflies and finding a bird's feather.

Jacob's slide and tree house. As you can see, the slide has gone for some time without a boy's bottom sliding down it. Bek assures me that it's a lot cleaner now than when I took this photo last week.

The Making of 'The Man'

Once again the leaves are falling, the temperatures are dropping, and those colossal orange globes are lying in the fields, inviting children, young and old alike, to claim them and take them home. They will be painted and carved with ghoulish expressions, and carefully placed on porches, steps and stoops throughout the land, in hopes of keeping those tiny, mischievous goblins away.

These familiar signs of the changing season can mean only one thing at our house. It's time for the 'Making of The Man'! Yes, the 'Making of The Man' is an autumnal tradition at our house. Jacob is three years old, and anyone who knows anything, knows that once you do something more than twice in a row, it's tradition. So, here are a few pictures of my very favorite tradition, 'The Making of The Man.'

Ooooh! He lost his head!

Jacob helping!

Notice that seemingly unremarkable piece of burlap lying on the ground. It will soon be transformed into the unique but charming (in it's own way) head of 'The Man.' It's the same old story every year; we try to make The Man's head to scale with his body, but year after year he ends up with a hydro-head, way too big for his exceedingly buff body.

Jacob and Herman, making The Man's head. The big question looms, will they make it to scale this year, or will he once again have a swollen head?

Help, I've fallen, and I can't get up!

Then ... On goes the magic hat, and there you have it, 'The Man' is made. After all, didn't Mark Twain say , "Clothes make the man." Hydro-head or not, don't you think he's a pretty good looking guy? If he had a steady job I bet I could find at least a dozen women who would like to get to know him. I feel confident that he will keep the goblins away from my door, at least the unfriendly ones.

Don't you just love tradition? It may not be the actual fabric of life, but it is one of the threads that weaves the fabric, and it enables you to make your very own fabric as rich and beautiful as you wish. The Making of The Man is a simple tradition that only takes a few minutes and cost nothing, but it sprinkles our lives with anticipation, it marks a beautiful season and the passing years in a boy's life, and best of all, it's just plain old fun. I love it. BOO!

~ Jacob and The Man ~ 2006

~ Jacob and The Man ~ 2005

~ Jacob and The Man ~ 2003

Gotta Luv It