3, 2, 1,

BLAST  OFF
I'm in the airport waiting to board a plane.
I'm bound for a Girlfriend Getaway!
Nashville, here I come!!

Stories and photos to follow when I get home.
10 of us gathering for some fun.
Can you say " Five Day Slumber Party"?
Whee!!

Sanford and Son

.I keep gathering all sorts of things for the wedding and Lil' Mama and her guy are gathering all sorts of thrifted furniture for the apartment they'll have. Remember the old TV series, "Sanford and Son"? This may have been how they got their start?!

Look what I found!!

Someone's trash has become our treasure!  I was driving home through our neighborhood and found this (the arbor - not Lil' Mama's fiance) curbside among trash for pick up. I went home and got Lil' Mama and we went to claim our "find".  We somehow wrangled this big ol' arbor part way into the back of the SUV - much of it was hanging out the back.  Lil' Mama sat in the back holding onto the "find" enough to allow us to get it home.  Trust me when I say the photo makes it look much better than it actually looks close up.  It needs a lot of TLC.  It needs some repair, sanding, priming, and heaven only knows how much spray paint.  But we are up for the challenge.  We think it'll be great for using for Lil' Mama's wedding, and then I'll have it to put in my rose garden.  Win/Win.

We're waiting for a little cool weather then we'll begin the transformation project.  I'll try to remember to post before and after photos.  Love me a good find!

274

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"Twas the night afternoon before September

and all through the house

not a creature was stirring...

...they were all Napping!"

(Yes, I even hear some snoring

among our ranks.)

I've opted to stay awake and bemoan the fact that this is really the last day of Summer.  Once September arrives "it's all over".  Forget the Flip Flops, the Beach, the Lemonade. It's time to say goodbye to Summer 2014.  

Woe is me!

*sniff  *sniff

Yes, I live in the south.

Yes, it's still gonna be hot here for quite a while.

Still, the air smells different, and that means summer has gone,

but don't worry about me.

I'll get over it.

Heck, by the end of May 2015

I'll be back to my good time Summer ways!

Only 274 more days!

Fudge

"Families are like fudge - mostly sweet

with a few nuts".
   ~author unknown

We had such a good "fudgy time" when we were in Tulsa last week.

Our oldest Grandoll

turned Sweet 16!

I still remember clearly the day she was born.

I can tell you what I was wearing

and how my hair was combed.

Becoming a YaYa is a highlight of my life.

And, wonder of wonders -

she was born on MY Birthday

and named after me.

Mister with his Sister (rhyme)

meeting our new little Grand niece,

Linley.

Aunt Erma.

Everyone should have an Aunt Erma.

Two of our cousins

all grown up now

with babies of their own.

"Cheese!"

Family Dudes.

Scott, one of the nicest people

I know.

Forever to be known now as

"Linley's mom and dad".

Youngest Tulsa Granddoll.

Few people more fun than

a feisty red head

Me, enjoying a chat with my

handsome nephew.

I.Am.One.Blessed.Sweet Tea.

Oh the Things You'll See. . .

As planned, we made the trip to Tulsa and enjoyed and nice long weekend.  Nice person that I am, I shared the tummy bug I'd had previously, with Mister, soooooo one of the days we were in Tulsa we spent to ourselves, so as not to spread the nasty tummy bug with others.  (Perhaps I have just written the longest, run-on sentence in the history of blogging!  You're quite welcome.)  We spent our quarantined day in the car driving around the town we once called home.  Lots of changes we noticed, as well as some amusing things along the way.  It's absolutely amazing what one can find when driving randomly for hours.

Ever been to a "Bean Bar"?

This was a first for us, but we didn't go in.

Late in the day we came upon this monstrosity.

Look at this.  

Look hard and see all the intricate details.  

What is it?

To get here one must drive south from Tulsa.  Waaaay south to where there is nothing but country roads.

Then take a right at the stop sign, go across the railroad tracks, up a small hill, then just as you begin to come down the hill - BEHOLD!  We did some asking around but no one seemed to really know what this is.  I have my own theory but would probably be arrested if I shared my thoughts with you

Things that make you say, "WEIRD"!!

Kombucha, anyone?

We've been told about this drink that is to be extra good on one's tummy.  I couldn't find the drink here, as we have no Whole Foods or Sprout's stores, so we made it our business to grab some up to try while we were in Tulsa.  The first flavor we tried was "Pineapple with Greens".  It looked, smelled, and tasted like stagnant creek water.  I tried to like it, but ended up pouring it down the drain.  YUK!  Then, after leaving the other flavors in the hot car we realized these are to be refrigerated immediately - so the other flavors had gone bad and we didn't even get to try them.  At $3.69 a small bottle, this was a "FAIL".  But I'll try again the next time I have the opportunity.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

BTW, while we were away I had a very "serious" birthday.  It's official - "I'm old!", but I refuse to linger in that thought.  Denial is my friend.  *smile  We had a huge family party to celebrate the many August B-day's in our family.  I'll share this in my next blog post.  Remember to breathe between now and the next post.  I know it'll be hard to wait.  *smirky grin

Nuts.

Sometimes blogging serves as my therapy.
Today is one of those days.
You've been warned.

Doctor:  So, Ms. Sweet Tea, what seems to be bothering you today?

Sweet Tea:  Let's begin with the fact that my toe is killing hurting me.  I have jammed it, or broken it, and it hurts with most every step I take.  *whine  *whine

AND,

we're going on a road trip next week to see lots of our extended family to celebrate a carload of birthdays and meet our newest little "grand niece" (my term) and to take my Mom for an extended visit with my sister.

Doctor:  So Ms. Tea, those sound like happy occasions, so why the long face?

Sweet Tea:  Doctor, you know I hate road trips, but even putting that aside, my Mom finds the process of going for a visit both bitter & sweet.  She likes the thought of visiting my Sister, but also feels that neither of us "want her".  This breaks my heart.  Everyone tells me that we must have breaks from time to time since we are full time Caregivers.  I know that's right, but it makes for guilt on my part. . .Once Mom knows she is going for a visit she begins to over think it and obsess, like dementia patients do.  Then the constant barrage of questions and insinuations begin.  Over and over and over and over...Did I mention that my toe is in a vice?  Well, it feels like it...Mom doesn't understand that she has dementia and that the court has ruled that she must live with me and have extended visits with my sister periodically.  This ruling allows her to stay out of a nursing home.  Doctor, she views us (my sister and I) as mean children who won't let her live in her home.  Of course there is a part of me which wants desperately to reason/explain to her what the issues are.  Perhaps she'd feel differently if she could understand, but that's just it.  She can't understand or reason, so this will go on for the entire next week until she actually arrives at my Sisters.  *sigh*  I love my Mom and it's so frustrating that she can't see that. . .Thanks for listening, Doc, I feel so much better just getting to vent a bit...Perhaps I forgot to mention that my toe ACHES.

Doctor:  Ms. Sweet Tea, take some Ibuprofen and quit whining about your toe.
You.Big.Baby.  You have friends who are battling cancer and there are people in an Atlanta hospital with Ebola.

Sweet Tea:  Oh, Doctor, I wanted to talked to you about the goofball who decided to bring Ebola into our country.  I'm worried about that too.

Doctor:  Ms. Tea, your time is up.

July Bye-Bye

July is winding down and try as I may I can't stop it.  If I had my druthers I'd linger longer in the sunshine and warmth of these days.  It seems each summer day blurs into yet another day, all too quickly going by.   Most of my days are spent with the very young, (HK) and the elderly (my Mom).  I love them both and treasure this season of my life, still, I admit it has been an adjustment of sorts. Sometimes I long to be "out and about" a little more than my current circumstances allow, but most of the time I'm content just to simply "be".  Mister comes home each day to a house full of women.  He has learned to not only survive, but live well within this estrogen household.  Here's how our last week of July is rollin' by.

Boudxy doesn't care if it's July or January.

He's just concerned with gettin' his snooze on.

(The suspicious looking "thing" beside his

head is a toy, not an accident.)

Twinkies!
What are the odds of doing this?
Sunday, my best friend and I showed up at church wearing the very same outfit.  Too funny!!
Great minds, and all that. . .

I seldom read books, but am actually on my second read of the Summer which is some kind of a record for me.  This book is thought provoking, but not nearly as practical as I thought it would be.  Still, I love to see/hear how people live their lives so I'm enjoying this peek into the author's world (though I enjoy reading blogs much more).  Just sayin. . .

I hope July has been a good month for you

and that August is even better!

A "first" for me.

Wedding venue - A Barn!

I had never even been in a barn before and certainly never to a wedding in a barn.  It seems this is quite popular with many young brides   We drove one and a half hours to this wedding, going down back roads that weren't even recognized on our GPS or google maps.  It was an adventure and I'm still amazed that Mister was able to find it, but he did.  Everything went well and I was totally relieved to find the barn was even air conditioned.  Everyone was lovely and Miss Haylee Kate held her Mom's hand as they walked in unison down the aisle (bridesmaid & flower girl).  Flawless.

Who said this Flower Girl idea wouldn't work??!!

"Uh, I think that was me".  *blush

Have you ever been to a wedding that was in a barn?
Have you ever been inside a barn?  

"Help me!"

I'm enjoying the summer as it flies by.
It seems like each day is different than the day that went before, so "routine" isn't part of my vocabulary lately. That's OK.  Things are rolling along nicely and I'm completely surprised that we're already into the middle of July.  I have some friends who are miserable with the hot weather and being somewhat confined indoors most of the time.  I'm not one of them.  I thrive with the sunshine, even if I'm cloistered indoors with the A/C roaring and dodging mosquitoes when I dart to the mailbox and back.

This weekend Lil' Mama is to be a Bridesmaid in a summer wedding. and Haylee Kate is to be the Flower Girl.  I think being a Flower Girl is a  totally wacko, silly, unreasonable honor, but no less an honor, for a 16 mo. old toddler.  The idea is for her to sit in a wagon and be pulled down the aisle to the front. (Let the record show this is an outside wedding.)  Still, just the thought makes me wonder why anyone thought this was a good idea.  I'll let you know how it goes down.

Thinking about weddings.

I was once at a formal, church wedding and when the young groom turned to face the minister (which meant his back was to the audience) he had a sticky note on the back of his tux that said, "HELP ME!".  Obviously a prank by one of the friends.  *giggle

What's the funniest thing you've ever seen at a wedding?

Suckers!

Most of our 4th of July celebration was indoors,
but when we ventured out to watch the fireworks in the evening, these nasty Suckers found me.  My ankles and calves got the worst abuse and I've been itching and then scratching ever since.  I've even had trouble sleeping at night due to the itching.

This has been my best friend

 for the past couple of days.

Thinking back to when I was a child.

I played outside a lot and got lots of bites.  We'd never even heard of Benedryl.  Mom always had us rub a bit of stick deodorant over our bites when they itched.   If Grandma decided we had chiggers rather than mosquitos she would make a paste of baking soda and water to smear onto the bite.  It was thought to help with chigger bites and any type of sting.  Lots of remedies that didn't include actual medicine.

What are your remedies for bites?
Do they work?

Yankee Doodle Dandy

I could listen to Lee Greenwood sing

"I'm Proud to be an American"

over and over again.

Can anyone listen to this song

and not get chill bumps?!!

We are so fortunate to wake up each morning

in our great country.

God bless America!

Mother-in-Law faux pas

Last Sunday morning, after church, many of our friends gathered around Lil' Mama and her fiance' to admire her ring and congratulate them on their engagement.  Fiance's name is "Izaiha", pronounced like the biblical name, "Isaiah".  I began to make the introductions . . .

Wait for this.
It's that good/bad. . .

Still waiting? . . .

OK.
Here it is -

I introduced the fiance' to our friends, calling him "ELIJAH", rather than "Izaiha".  Being the good guy he is, he responded, "Close enough" and laughed it off.

Biggest blooper, blunder, faux pas

I've made in a while.

Everyone needs a mother-in-law like me!

Just sayin. . .

Forever and Ever. Amen!

Remember the handsome young man I've mentioned several times?  It looks like he's gonna be stickin' around.

He "put a ring on it".

Yes he did!

Congrat's to Lil' Mama and Izaiha!

Engaged to be married next May!

Mister and I are so happy for both of them, AND for Haylee Kate.  Looking forward to much happiness for this sweet little family-to-be. 

*Stop by to visit me on Wednesday and I'll tell you the BIG mother-in-law blooper I've already pulled.  *blush*

Moody Beauty

It's been a busy week on the bayou, playing "catch up" after being away for a week.  Not complaining, just stating a fact. . .

It seems that Mom and my sister did very well while we were away.  My sister also reported that Boudxy was a "very good and smart boy".  Extra treats for Boudxy!!

While we were away Mom had to miss her weekly hair appointment - that's happened once before and didn't seem to be a big deal.  This time it WAS a big deal.  She refused to go to church Sunday because of her hair.  I understand that, however during the entire weekend she was very withdrawn.  I suspected perhaps she was angry that we had not taken her with us on vacation.  I talked with her and tried to "draw her out".  She didn't seem angry.  Hmmm?  Then on Monday she refused to come to the table for dinner, saying "I look awful and don't want to leave my room".  It was her hair that was causing all the angst.  I brought her dinner to her on a tray, but explained that after her hair appnt on Thursday we'd need to go back to eating dinner with the family.

Yesterday was "Beauty Shop Day".  Afterwards we went to lunch, then for ice cream, and on to the Library.  She looks beautiful and seems right back on track.

How we look really affects how we feel.
I've always felt that way.

Problem solved!

Do you think our appearance factors into our mood?

What say ye?

The Week that Wuz!

I had intended to blog while on vacation, but found I didn't have the know-how for blogging using my ipad, sooooooo... Here's a "photo journal" of a blessed week spent at Orange Beach AL with most of our "kids" and all our Granddolls, as well as my Favorite SIL.  Truly, Heaven-came-down-to-earth it was such a good time!

 

Fun to go
and
Great to be home!!

*Special thanks to my Sister who entertained Mom

while we were away. (and spoiled Boudxy even

more than usual.)