Memorial Service Betty Ann Paris July 30, 2022

 Well, if an outdoor affair was needed, today was a perfect day. After  all the heat, then rain, it was so  nice out  today. 

Though your loved one is gone, you always want  to do just one last thing to remind the world of what they were to you, that they were here, that they mattered. 

I believe this little patch of purple and memories did just that.  It was a reflection of a Mom who loved her people, her dog, birds and flowers and angels and the color purple.  

While I started out getting some pictures, things just got too busy. 

Thanks to Phil's brother and sister-in-law for hosting and to the many hands that provided such a great meal for the masses. 

Thank you Lord for a beautiful day. 

And They Are Off

 I kind of wanted to get Handy Man out for  bit during this sad and strange time. I mean for so long that is all you think about. Wondering every day for weeks if his Mom would take a turn.  Your days revolve around it and then that need is gone. 

Well, anyway, I could only find something at the same time as the last scheduled Playdate.   Boo Hiss.  Well, Rae is an old hand at this Playdate business and I could create a little fun to keep them busy until I got back a couple of hours late.  So I put supper in the oven, actually both my ovens and Handy Man and I headed out. 

I left this note on the door-

Gramerly and Pap have been taken away

To get them back and save the day,

There is a treasure you must find

Work together, always be kind

Number 1 You’ll find your next clue where food is laid

                 You may have to wait, but you won’t have to pay- bawk, bawk

And said clue was found, in the nest box of Cluckingham Palace. 

Number 2 Your next clue can be found, surrounded by blue

                  A place where you went as a baby it’s true.

                A sway in the breeze, near an old Maple Tree,

                That just said farewell, one day last week. 

And they were off to the Ol' Dolphin Swing, that is no longer very functional, sad to say.  The back half, of that maple tree,  holding the iron pipe, upon which the swing was hung, fell last week as well and our neighbors rescued us yet again. Have mercy, and thank the Lord for good neighbors and that no one or nothing was harmed .

Number 3 Off to the place, a way up high,

                  Climb the stairs, half way to the sky

                  Fluttering like the wind through the tree

                  Pinned to our old friend, Mr. Mullberry.

To the tree fort they did scoot and quickly found the last clue.

Number 4  You are almost there, just one more place

                  Where everything is new in that space

                  Find the spot where science you see

                  As liquid becomes solid, as cold as can be. 

( ahh the teacher in me, always throwing in some review) 

And again they are off!

And the treasure is found!  

But alas, the treasure was frozen in a block of ice 

Number 5  You’ve found the treasure, but you aren’t done

                   The bounty inside must be undone.

                   Out to porch with salt and a dropper to use

                   Releasing the prize, ending the clues

                   Next share evenly what you have  found

                   This will bring Gramerly and Pap back around. 

And so it did!

And finally, water in the creek.  Though kids were everywhere, this butterfly only had eyes, feelers, umm, something for sweet Finn. 

What, is it  me she likes?

So, my first work day is tomorrow, a retreat. Saturday will be the get together for Phil's Mom.  

Ready or not. 

Phil's Mom

  Phil's mom has not been well for a long time, since before Christmas.  This picture wasn't that long ago, maybe three years.  She loved lemon meringue pie and I made her one for her day after Christmas birthday every year.  

We shared a love of lemon pie, flowers, cooking,  and a Handy Man. I took her one last bouquet on Wednesday,  to add a little soft color and sweet fragrance,  to  a sad setting. 

 So thankful her daughters were able to grant her wish to stay in her home. She sure loved her little house and her little dog and hung in there for so long. She loved nature, watching birds, plants both indoor and out. She made all the kids wedding cakes and they looked like they were carved from porcelain. When Conner was wee, he loved Davy Crockett, and called this grandma after Davy's gun, Ol' Betsey. She got a kick out of that nickname.  Rest in peace Ol' Betsey. December 26, 1934- July 22, 2022.

I know there are folks who believe in signs and that things that happen are not necessarily a coincidence, and then there are people who don't.

I remember when Kaye died and my rose bloomed that one perfect  rose that frosty November morning. 

My roses haven't been great since the spring flush. It has been so hot and then beetles.  On Wednesday I picked every one to make Betty that little bouquet.   I was out watering this morning and audibly gasped when I turned the hose to the roses. Roses galore. 

Then as I continued to water I came upon this little Butterfly Sweetpea. Till last winter, I didn't know there were blue sweet peas that you could make dye and drinks from.  Rae tried to start them for me and ended up with two pitiful little bits that I've hovered over for almost four months- nothing, till I found this today. 

And these putting on a show-

And finally a bloom here- 

So much sadness and so much beauty in this ol' world. 

Again

 Rinse, wash, repeat.

So, I guess you could say, perfect timing in one respect, the most important respect, none of my gramerlings, or my dog were under it. So, thank the Lord for that. 

In the First World Problems, just being human respect, I had just begun to clear the mess of the last three months. Phil's Mom is showing all the signs of reaching the end, and that is where we should be. This time it hasn't just landed, and could be ignored. No, it has blocked the road not only for us, but for the eight people behind us, who have no way out. Also, I absolutely feel I have more than called in all my favors on the last tree and then the kitchen.  Did I mention it is raining  and I've hardly had any internet connection or cell phone service.  Poor me. 

Fairies Abound

 We're back in business over here. I've probably fed seventy people since Sunday. 

I was surely glad to be able to work in a few Playdates before summer's end. 

The fairies descended yesterday and we created resin jewelry, lip balm, rings, soap and hand sanitizer spray.  I wasn't sure about Fairy Day, but the littlest gramerling declared that it needed to happen and happen it did. 

Thank the Lord for the return of normal around here. 

Sweet

 A week ago Thursday my brother installed the last appliance. My little Finn got to help him drill. 

Then the work of getting everything where it goes. Handy Many took the week off to finish a hundred and one last minute jobs. 

Thursday rolled around and the kids were here, so time to try out this oven for the first time.  Worked great, thank the Lord. I had had most of the appliances for sometime and was relieved to find that they all worked. 

 And then today, time to put it all together and feed some people. I have to say, it was a bit awkward, just figuring everything out, but I got her done with help from Handy Man and Aunt Tish and it was a fun day of visiting. 

Back to camp tomorrow. At least this will be inside. 

YES!

 The kitchen is done- praise the Lord!  

I'm thankful on so many levels, but number one is that even though  a worker literally did fall through the floor ( one leg anyway), that was the worst of the injuries. 

So very many people involved. So much time and talent in in making a sow's ear into a silk purse, starting with the planning with Adam-construction wise and Tiffani, design wise, over a year ago. 

So, come on over- 

The  Ol' Tumbledown Farmhouse with a Side of New Kitchen

Open House   

July 10, 2022  11:00 to ?   

We'll see how our design holds up to the traffic through this new space. I figured I'd better do it sooner than later and remember that the objective wasn't ever to create a show piece, but to stop the water damage and prevent serious injury, like, you know, the roof caving in.  It was finished at 5 o'clock Thursday and I haven't cooked one thing. For one reason there is still a ton of work to be done, moving everything back in, and cleaning up all the inside and outside mess. Oh my.  Also, I just need to look at a minute. Since I am Pigpen, I know this is the only time it will look like this. Soaking it in over here. 

I will ever be grateful for every hand that stopped what was important to them, to do what needed doing here, whether with a hammer or a meal, or listening to me moan, or any other thing. This job absolutely took a village.  Again, thank you Lord for my village and for safety.