Surprise, Surprise

OK, I would never expect to find what Mosey and I found yesterday while riding….a pony.  A brand spanking cute hairy white pony lose in a dirt red plowed field.  He was trotting around close to another horse that was across the fence from him.  He was in a bit of a tizzy you could tell by his behavior.  He was pretty frantically wanting inside that fence where the other horse was.  He was about 50 yards from us when he finally saw his riding up.  I stopped Mosey for a second so he could get a good grip of what he was seeing…but then again he has never seen a teeny tiny pony like that.  Well it looked like him, sort of white only about 1/4^th his size.  So in a hurry, in a lope, here came the little pony.  He stopped short about 6 feet from us.  I got off to see if he would come up to me…but he would not.  I got back on and let him come up to Mosey.  They greeted like old friends.  Mosey was amused.  He never pinned his ears back or looked nervous.  He just stode still and waited while the little pony tried to figure us out.  After a bit, we started walking again toward his friend across the fence.  There were some other horses across the fence too and I figured that is where he came from.  However, I could not see a way to get him back in there.  I suspected the little guy (by that time we figured out he was a guy) would stop by his horse friend and we would just keep on going.  Well, that didn't happen.  The little guy took off after us and kept coming.  I wasn't sure what to do.  There seemed to be no way to get to the road where the houses were across that fence.  We went up another fence as I could see his tracks had been up that way as well.  Again, another dead end, no way to get to that road.  Well, we had to head home.  Time was running short on where I needed to be later.  I hoped again he would go back to his "friend" across the fence when we rode back by there.  However, he did not.  He was going with us.  The little white pony was taking about 4 steps to our one, but come along he did.  He'd get behind and trot to catch up.  Then he'd get behind and canter to catch up and run in front of us.  He was determined to stay with us no matter what.  We traipsed along across roads and plowed fields, and back through the cotton field about 6-7 miles.  I tried hard to stay away from the paved roads so no cars could get close to him.  We were almost to the barn when we passed a colt in a pasture and the pony decided he had gone far enough. He just stopped.  He was however, right on the roadside.  Mosey and I rode on toward the barn.  Mosey however, did not want to go on without his new friend.  He kept trying to stop and kept looking back at every opportunity.  Finally we made it back to the barn.  I rinsed Mose off, fed him and put away my saddle.  I drove back up the road as I was going to call 911 and tell them about the pony and stay until someone arrived to get him.  Unfortunately he was no longer there.  I drove up the street back to the cotton field to look to see if I could see him heading home.  Nothing.  So I drove back toward the barn.  Looking off to my left I saw him…in the BACK of a PICK UP!!!   I pulled in to tell the men there what had happened.  Apparently someone had seen the pony on the side of the road, recognized him and called his owner.  His owner had come to pick him up.  I have no idea how they got him in the back of that pick up but I'm guessing the little guy was very glad he was not going to have to walk back home.  He looked quiet and calm.  Maybe Mosey and I travel back that way some time and hopefully see our friend inside his fence where he belongs.  We will give him a little wave.  I just love a happy ending.  

The Blue Jay

Sounds of the Blue Jay

I've heard it before.  This morning, I heard it again…the song of the Blue Jay.  He's loud.  He's big.  You cannot mistake his song.  It's different.  It brings back memories.  Memories of when I was a little girl.  I remember early mornings, lying in bed in my upstairs bedroom, the window open.  I could hear him outside.  I could hear the rustle of the leaves blowing in the fall breeze.  It was so peaceful, so restful, so innocent.  This morning when I heard him, I wanted to be back in that place, back in the safe place of my bed in my parent's home as a little girl.   There was nothing then that could hurt me.  At that point, nothing really had; no tragedies, no deaths, no lost loves.  All of what was to come, was still a mystery, still the unknown, unbelievable that such things might happen in my future.  As a child I was hopeful.  I had big dreams of true love, of a marriage like my parents had.  Was there any reason not to believe that that too could not happen to me?  No, no reason at all.  They loved, my parents.  They sacrificed for us.  They lead us down a golden road of patience, faith, and unconditional love.  As he hugged us hello daily when he got home from work, my dad would give us brightly colored bubble gum balls.  We looked forward to that. Isn't it funny that such a simple gesture formed a life long memory.  Our immediate family was close.  We were close to our extended family too.  They meant something.  We spent time with them.  We enjoyed each other's company.  We had big meals together with wonder food and fellowship.  There were good cooks in our family.  There were traditions in our family…turkey and dressing, Christmas Eve with my dad's family, Christmas morning with Santa at home; Easter Sunday dress up clothes, Fourth of July fireworks, sparklers and homemade ice cream.  Those were the days.  Those were days I remember about my childhood.  Those are the days that the sound of the Blue Jay brings back to me.  Lazy days, lying in my bed, dreaming of tomorrow…of a life full of just more love.

It's A Little Like Riding A Bike

When my daughter was a baby, I don't believe I ever thought about for one moment what it would be like to take care of a child again, after her.  I don't think I thought for one moment about a grand child.  I don't think I thought for one moment if I would remember things I did as a mother and how that might affect taking care of a grandchild later.  Not for one moment.  Not one thought.  I'm sure I was concentrating on the moment I was in, the child I was taking care of, and how taking care of her was just, well, mostly instinct.  I mean because who really gets lessons in parenting?  Who really takes a class on "how to be a parent"?  Who has time?  We just do it.  We get pregnant, we give birth, we parent…the end.  Some of us do it better than others.  Some of us don't do it well at all.  Some of us eventually have proof by how our children turned out that we either did a pretty good job, or a crumby one.  Looking at my child, somebody did something right.  God blessed me with a fabulous child.  And I'm absolutely sure He had a ton to do with that!

So here I am, however, some 26 years post baby of my own, getting an opportunity to care for my 8 month old grandchild…for three days no less.  No for a few hours, not overnight, but for almost three full days…by myself!  Wow, they (the parents, my daughter and son in law) must really trust me, they must believe I did a pretty good job (on her); they must believe I am worthy of taking care of their most precious gift from God.  Wow, what an honor.  They know I have only cared for him by myself for about 24 hours…I did ok then, nothing bad happened.  They know I have not parented or cared for a child for that length of time in over 26 years.  They know me.  They honored me.  They gave me a few instructions, handed him over to me, and drove away in a car, and headed off to New Orleans for their anniversary.  Wow, cool!

And you know what?  We did OK, my baby grandson and I.  He was actually fabulous (which also tells me what great parents my kids are).  He and I just hung out for three days.  We didn't get to stroll too much because it was just entirely too hot and humid.  We both love to stroll.  I love to walk and he loves to ride.  He just watches and sits quietly for as long as I'll go.  We've walked 4 miles in one day before…we like it.  This time, we didn't get to leave until after 8 or 8:30 and after 45 minutes or so the sun was up and the humidity was high.  We enjoyed it while we could.  But before we strolled he ate.  Can I just tell you, that boy has not met a food stranger.  He loves to eat.  He loves everything my daughter has put in front of him.  He puts everything in his mouth.  Everything is a possible food opportunity!  He even put a baby chicken in his mouth at his Easter photo session!  But you gotta be fast.  You gotta get that spoon up to his mouth in record time.  He swallows and immediately wants the spoon again.  If you don't get it there fast enough, he'll holler out "Hey lady…where's the food!"  Watching him eat is a sight to see!

And we played on the floor.  Who knew I could stay on the floor so long.  Stackable toys, musical toys, chewable toys, he likes them all.  And the belly crawl, he's got that down to a science.  He can move across a room in record time.  He can grab the dogs food in record time.  He inspects the floor with every move so you better have any little do dads, dog food bits, fuzz, etc up off the floor because when he finds it….food possibility!  In his mouth it goes.  No telling truthfully what that boy has ingested so far.  He can pick up the tiniest thing with his two fingers.  He gives it a good once over then in his mouth it goes.  You gotta be quick to get it before it goes in his mouth.  When he ever gets up on his knees, he's gonna be double trouble.  He doesn't stay put much.  If you leave the area he follows.  He hollers then he follows.  I think he was saying "hey lady…where are you going…here I come"!

The boy also loves to swing.  Also a bit hard to do in such hot weather…but we managed to do it anyway.  Once the sun moved off the porch, we were swinging.  He loves that too.  When I finally figured out how to move the little tray out of the way to get him in, it proved to be much easier getting him in and out.  He never was ready to quit, I just thought it got too hot.

Talk about jabber.  That boy is a talker.  No idea what he is telling me but it is a story worth telling.  He is very very verbal whether it is to tell you he is hungry, tell you to get the food in faster, tell you he is tired, or just tell you a story…he is a talker.  Jabbers like a bird…a big bird.  Yack, yack, yack…baa baa baa…daa daa daa.  If you can make that out…let me know.

Bath time needs to pretty much be in and out at this point.  No messing around in there.  Just "get 'er done"…and on with bedtime.  He napped and went to be like a trooper.  He gave a little cry out, a little shout out for just a few minutes each time I put him down, but it was minimal.  He just went right to sleep.  Praise God!

One of the coolest things was when mom and dad called on Tango and he could see them via video on my iPhone.  He absolutely knew them.  He hollered and reached out for the phone.  He wanted to see them in person.  He got a little upset but ultimately was ok with that.  They of course were happy to see that he was doing fine, still healthy and living life.  Tango is a good thing!

Overall we, me and my baby grandson, had a fabulous time.  I think he eventually knew that I was the one caring for him.  I don't believe he really recognized me or knew who I was (his grandmother Annie) or anything like that.  But I do believe he knew that I was the one temporarily in charge and that I was going to be sure he had everything he needed.  He knew that I was going to take care of him.  He just had a good feeling about that. 

So next time they ask me to keep him I'll be a little more reassured that I can do a good job.  Even though he'll be doing more things, like crawling on his knees or even walking, I'll know I can care for him no matter what.  I guess caring for children is a little like riding a bike…you just don't forget how to do it. 

Day One of Treatment One

Today was my sister's first day of chemo.  She spent 4:45 minutes in the doctors office, about 2 hours of that in the chemo room. 

Every time I would think of that poison going into her vein it made me think of the guys on death row waiting to be euthanized.  It was that same

Feeling/thought in my mind…ugh. My brother in law went with her for the treatment, so once again I was just on the outside waiting to hear from those

On the inside.  It was counting down the minutes, the texts, the almost there, almost there minutes.  Everybody else in the world going about

Their business like it was nothing.  For us it was life changing.  Like when someone dies and everyone goes home and back to their lives and you are still their

Dealing with the aftermath.  Well supposedly the "aftermath" doesn't start until between 24 and 48 after.  My brother in law did really well on sending me texts

This time and keeping me in the loop of what was happening.  He even sent me a photo when they got started.  My sister was looking at her IPhone and smiling.

Turns out she was playing Spider Solitaire.  She said when she called when she was through…"that was nothing".  So until something else happens

we'll just keep moving forward…my brother in law, my smiling courageous sister and me.

Benefit BBQ Judging

OK, truly I had been looking forward to the annual BBQ that benefits the place I work.  I am sort of the liaison between the staff and the folks at the BBQ so it was my job to get volunteers to judge the event.  I had about 9 folks volunteer along with a couple of husbands, and 7 and two others showed up.  A good turn out I thought.  We found our places.  Some of us were at the "finals" table where we only had to judge 10 of the very best.  But I had to do that FIVE times.  At the other preliminary table they were judging TWENTY NINE entries.  Seriously just thinking about that made me feel sick.  Let me fill in a blank here...I don't really even like beef.  This was primarily a BEEF contest.  Of all we tried, which included fajitas (only one was decent), brisket (all bad), ribs (one stand out), chicken (I could have eaten any of them for dinner) and desserts (several stand-outs). Oh, I forgot to mention between each entry we were to douse our tastes with crachers or cheese or grapes.  So the amount of food eaten was outlandish!  Actually judging the desserts was an honor and I was selected to be part of that judging team. By the time it was over I was more than ready to go.  I had stayed and helped hand out the awards.  It was a good day over all and I'm sure a lot of money was donated.  Oh, did I mention that after the judging I was invited to a little party for my sister.  I got there about 7.  Guess what was for dinner?!?!

Encourage one another

Christian Royalty

Well, who would have thought I would set my alarm for 4:54 on April 29, 2011.  Yesterday I was looking forward to sleeping late today.  However, last night there was so much talk about the royal wedding today, I decided I wanted to be a part of this history...even if only by television.  I had seen an itinerary yesterday which was down to the minute about everything.  It included who left where when; who arrived where when; what they would be riding in and what time the actual wedding started...after everyone arrived of course.  I don't now much about the Royals, but I suspected that the times would follow exactly as they had stated.  So I set my alarm for just a few minutes before 5am.  Sure enough, at that point Cate had just gotten into her car and was riding to the church.  She got there at 5am (our time) on the dot!  When everything was ready she and her dad strolled down the aisle.  She looked very happy.  She smiled all the way to the end.  William and Harry were waiting at the front of the church for her.  There was some whispering that went on, some more smiling and then the service.  The ceremony was very traditional.  The vows were sweet.  The priest started the ceremony with "every wedding is a royal wedding.  We are all children of the "King".  Wow, knocked me over.  After the traditional vows and William put the ring on her finger they sat down.  A service was held and he spoke about faithfulness, commitment, love, and forever.  He spoke of Jesus throughout the ceremony.  It was truly fabulous.  There was no mass, no communion, no big Catholic hurrah.  It was simple, sweet and beautiful.  At the end of the service the priest said a blessing for everyone watching.  I felt a blessing in my heart.  That was cool.  When they walked out of the church they both looked happy.  He looked a little more nervous than her.  They boarded an incredible open horse drawn carriage and rode to Buckingham Palace...still smiling.  After they went inside the palace it was going to be awhile before they were to kiss on the balcony.   So I set the alarm again for 7:20am this time and took a little nap.  Sure enough, right after I woke up again, they walked out onto the balcony and shortly thereafter, William kissed Cate.  It was short but sweet.  They waved, talked, smiled and took it all in.  In a few more minutes William kissed her again, creating history.  No prince had kissed the princess twice on the balcony after they were married.  I was so glad I had witnessed history first hand.  I'm sure the wedding has been played a zillion times on YouTube today.  I didn't see William drive Cate off in their sports car in real time.  But what a way to leave...in their own vehicle, and not telling anyone that they planned to do that.  They are going off someplace secret on their honeymoon, then going home to a 5 room home where she will cook dinner daily and William may even mow the yard.  They just want to be normal for a while...until they become the King and Queen.  I suspect that will be years from now.  In the meantime, the prince and princess hopefully and prayerfully will live happily ever after.

Encourage one another

So What's With the Pink Bed

OK, about 4 years ago I purchased a pink fuzzy dog bed.  I know I know, I have a male dog, but the bed was so soft I could not resist.  He loves it.  Always has.  Problem is, so does his cousin, Annie.  I don't know who loves it most.  And when the other one is around, the other one HAS to have it.  Last night Annie was having a sleep over with us.  I'm off doing my thing and next thing I know i hear this terrible wailing.  I'm thinking someone is hurt.  One of the dogs is hurt.  I find them.  Ikey is in the pink bed.  Annie is in the red bed wailing, shaking almost like she is having a seizure.  I touch her and she looks up at me like "what".  I say "what are you doing".  She looks over at that pink bed and actually thinks I'm going to run Ikey out of it and let her in it....uh no!  I have seen her stand over Ikey while he's in the pink bed.  She cries and cries and then she lumbers into the pink bed WITH Ikey.  I have seen him just let her and he stays put and I've seen him get up and just give it up to her.  But truthfully, I've never seen anything like it. They quite making those beds years ago.  Sad, but may the best dog win.